“But it's your home. All of Emmoria was yours for thousands of years before my people forced you from your lands. Why aren’t you angry?”
“We have no interest in war. We only want peace. We are a people who absorb change and welcome it. The uprising was a terrible, heartbreaking event, and if we could go back to save those we lost, we would, but Emmoria was just a place to live. War has been waged in Emmoria for thousands of years. The lands are muddled and rotted with the blood of our ancestors. We have created a new world here. A peaceful, untainted world away from war, bloodshed and resistance. The Temple of Gorria is our home now.”
Doraan looked out at the Sorcerers training, noticing for the first time the smiles on their faces. The joy radiating from their movements was palpable. They did look happy and truly at peace here.
“You know, every civilization has to embrace change as it comes. Your people came from war to start a new life in Emmoria, shifting the Elementalists’ lives. When your father started the rebellion, it was time for us to move on. The sands of fate are always shifting and we must embrace whatever they bring.”
Doraan thought about that for a long moment—thinking about all he knew of his people, his father, the rebellion. A part of him had seemed to shift this past week, and he found himself thinking that maybe, justmaybe,these people didn’t deserve to die. Maybe they weren’t as evil as he thought. Maybe the true culprit in all this was Forcina. She was the true enemy, even to these people. Kamira’s words came to him thenI want you to give sorcery a chance. I’m risking my life for you and your crew because I believe in you, Doraan. You are my Emperor, you are the peoples hope, both the Gifted and Ungifted alike. They need you. Emmoria needs you.
“Tonight, we celebrate the origins of our Temple. You and your crew are invited to join us in the festivities. I will show you out so you can find your crew and tell them.” The Sorcerer stood and headed toward the door.
Doraan followed suit, calling after him, “You want me to join you? My father is the entire reason you are at this Temple. Wouldn’t my presence just ruin it for you all?”
“The sins of the father are not the sins of the son, Doraan. We welcome all who come to our doorstep. There is always a reason a person ends up at our Temple, and I think you have yet to discover your reason.”
Doraan frowned as he followed him out the door and into the long corridor. “What do you mean?”
This Sorcerer already knew the reason they were there, to find a way out of the curse. Was there another way, something that Melik was keeping from him?
“The only way to find the Temple of Gorria is if a Sorcerer is on your ship.”
Doraan stopped in the middle of the hallway, flames flickering beside him, sending dancing shadows to swirl around him. “Wait, what?!”
27
Kamira
KamirawatchedasDoraanfollowed the Earth Sorcerer down a long corridor. Once he was hidden from view, she found herself looking around the room and up to the ceiling. The building was a large circle, and she was surprised to be able to see all the way up to the top of the tall structure. There was no ceiling—it was completely open all the way up. It was extraordinary, not like anything she had ever seen. Balconies lined the walls and spiraled upward. She spotted a few curious heads looking down at her, backing away as she made eye contact with them.
There was a strange pulsing sensation that had been with her ever since they arrived. A sort of itching that she couldn’t get rid of, stirring the air, and it made her want to unleash her gifts for everyone to admire. She had been fighting against it and felt the fatigue setting in from holding it all back. Adonis had told her not to allow these people to know she was a Legion, and she would heed his word. He obviously knew something about these people that she didn’t.
Cormac and the rest of the crew made their way back outside, and she quickly followed suit. She brought an arm up, shielding the sun from blinding her. It was the time of day when the sun had begun to set and was in your direct line of sight. At this time of day, there were less Sorcerers milling about, and she could better take in the sheer beauty of this magical place.
It was truly magnificent. She didn’t know how to properly describe it, but the city felt like an entirely new world, as if she had jumped years into the future. The sun glinted off the glass buildings, reflecting onto the lush ground that was perfectly manicured, not one blade of grass out of place. Everything was just so perfect—even the atmosphere held the perfect temperature. You couldn’t feel the heat of the sun’s dying rays beating down, but there was also no cool breeze. It was spectacular.
Kamira bit back the urge to jump when a voice drifted from behind her. “Would you take a walk with me?”
She turned to find Rogaan, the Water Sorcerer, behind her, his deep blue eyes holding an intensity that sent an eerie chill down her spine. He was a broad-shouldered man of average height, and despite his intimidating presence, he offered her a soft smile.
“Okay,” she said hesitantly.
“Come, we can walk by the water along the perimeter of the Temple. There is a path circling the grounds.”
Kamira followed him, anxious anticipation of what he wanted to discuss with her crawling up her neck and along her shoulders, creating an uneasiness that faltered her steps.
“You are the one who brought your crew here, correct?”
She knew exactly where this was going. He knew what she was. “I did.”
“You are a water Sorceress.”
Kamira almost sighed in relief, thankful the wordLegiondidn’t come from his lips. “Yes, I am.”
“But you are more than that,” he said, stopping their walk and turning to face her hands clutched behind his back as he narrowed his eyes on her.
The spindly, crawling feeling moved from her shoulders, shooting down her spine and through her arms and legs. “I…I..” she sputtered.
“You are a Legion,” he finished for her.
