I give Elena a small smile, reminding myself that the Princess embraces the mystics of the Old World deeply. That was something I could never get into. I may read and let my curiousness take over at times, genuinely intrigued at what magic can do, but that is as far as my interest takes me. I have no desire to practice, but can respect the power of summoning and look on with a mix of astonishment, fear and awe.
Which is a conundrum in itself as Hirovale considers me to be his Human Reborn, and the irony of that is not lost on me. I nearly laugh every time I think on it, wondering if Hiro could have predicted how wrong he chose when he claimed me as his champion. What kind of champion holds no desire to practice magic yet is at the forefront of spearheading its complete return to the Old World?
A stupid one, at best.
So no, Hirovale isn’tmyAncient. He’s just an Ancient. An Ancient that took too much interest in me and invested his time without properly getting to know me. If he regrets taking me on as his champion down the road then that’s on him. I will gladly hand over the title to someone more willing.
Elena continues to watch me, her brows furrowing and eyes dancing across my face at the same time.
“You don’t know…” she exhales softly, eyes going wide.
Stormfall grips my shoulder hard. I turn to the Bird of Ash in confusion and catch his yellow eyes with mine.
“Know what?” I ask them both.
Storm’s eyes instantly flash to gold, the sight sending the deepest of chills down my spine. I take a deep breath and look back at Hirovale in hard question, my heart stilling beneath my chest.
“Know what?” I demand again.
Elena takes a step forward and grabs my hand, pulling my gaze off the Ancient.
“He’s in love with you, Alexis.”
Hirovale?
No, that’s not possible.
“Perhaps, even, loves my brother…”
I turn away from the Princess and glare at the golden eyes on my shoulder.
No, Hirovale.
Stormfall talons sink into my shoulder.
“No!” I repeat out loud and shake my head, averting my gaze from the proud gold eyes that want to hold mine.
“He’s not in love with me, Elena,” I look at her purposely, “he’s in love with what I can give him. Whatwecan give him.”
Alanna greeted me in the castle after my talk with Elena. She was waiting impatiently, her boot and back propped up against the wall next to my door.
“Ancients, Alexis,” she huffs, pushing herself off, “you took your damn time about it.”
I laugh at the blonde Discerni and quickly walk towards her, pulling her into a hug that surprises us both.
“It’s good to see you, Alanna.”
“You too, human,” she replies in exasperation.
I turn towards my door and frown in realization. “I don’t have my key.”
My room key always stayed in my traveling bag, the bag that Desmond casually told me earlier was now in my room.
“Desmond gave me access,” Alanna replies to my anxious glance, stepping towards my door and placing her hand on the wood. The door sparkles with a flash of black under her touch and clicks open.
“Well that’s unsettling,” I laugh.
Alanna turns and gives me a quick smirk, the two of us moving into my small reading room. I stop suddenly, as does Alanna, both of us noticing the separate sets of traveling packs that now rest on the floor before the archway.
