“So, what’s the plan, then?” she asks, her tone cautious.
“As a show of good faith, we can try to unlock something now, if you’d like. I’ll need a few things in order to help you,” I reply, opening a drawer and pulling out a small leather satchel. Inside, there are several bottles and vials of various shapes and sizes.
“What is all this?”
“Magical items and remedies,” I explain. “They’re tools for accessing and utilizing your powers.”
“How do I know you aren’t about to poison me, Thaldiran?” she asks, and it’s a fair question.
“Because it’s in my best interest not to harm you, Astryl,” I reply.
“Right, I guess you wouldn’t want to get rid of your golden ticket,” she huffs. I can see Astryl wrestling with her thoughts, her eyes flickering between uncertainty and determination. Finally, with a sigh that seems to release a mountain of resistance, she nods. “Alright, let’s get this over with.”
I reach for a small, ornate vial filled with a shimmering liquid that glows like liquid moonlight. The container feels cool in my grasp as I hold it up for her to see. “This,” I say, “is a potion of ancestral vision. It will allow me to tap into your past and reveal the truths that you may have forgotten.”
Astryl eyes the vial warily. “And how exactly does that work?”
“It’s quite simple,” I explain, carefully uncorking the vial. The scent of lavender and sage fills the air. “Once consumed, this potion will connect me to your memories, enabling me to witness your past as if I were there myself.”
She hesitates for a moment, then nods slowly. “All right, let’s do it.”
I pour a small amount of the potion into a crystal goblet and pass it to her. “Drink this.”
With a nod, she takes the goblet and downs the potion in one gulp. Almost immediately, her eyes glaze over and a soft glow surrounds her, as if a ray of sunlight broke through the curtains and illuminated her.
Closing my eyes, I extend my senses, reaching out to connect with Astryl’s past. It’s a delicate process, like threading a needlewith a strand of light. I feel her emotions, fears, and hopes, mingling with my own as I delve deeper into her memories.
Visions begin to form in my mind. I see a grand kingdom in the clouds, where majestic angels soar on silver wings. Among them, I glimpse a figure who radiates divine light, a male angel whose nose resembles Astryl’s.
“Your father,” I whisper, describing what I see. “Is known to be a powerful angel, a guardian of the celestial realms—one who loves your mother deeply.”
The scene shifts, and I find myself in a lush forest where dragons with iridescent scales roam freely. One particular dragon catches my attention, a magnificent creature that seems to embody the very essence of magic.
“Your mother,” I continue, “is a dragon shifter—wild and free, a creature of fire and sky. They come from two different worlds, yet their love is undeniable.”
As I speak, the worlds collide, and I see them together, living a life of happiness and freedom. And then I see Astryl, no more than three or four years old, but it’s her eyes that give her away. She’s lost in the forest, but she isn’t afraid. Nearby, I see a portal, shimmering like a curtain of stars, and the toddler stumbles toward it, curious more than anything.
“You,” I say softly, my voice tinged with wonder, “were just a child when you fell through a portal between worlds. It was an accident, a moment of curiosity that changed your destiny.”
The glow around Astryl fades, and she blinks, coming back to herself. Her eyes meet mine, filled with a mixture of disbelief and wonder. “Is all of that true? My father is an angel?”
“Yes,” I affirm, nodding.
She takes a moment to absorb this revelation. Her eyes are wide, and her expression guarded, and I can’t blame her. Our people are sworn enemies, and I’m asking her to go againsteverything we’ve ever been taught. “I don’t know what to say,” she finally whispers.
“You don’t have to say anything,” I assure her gently. “I know this isn’t going to be easy for either of us. But I hope this helps you understand why you’re so important, why you have the power to stop the Shadowlord, and why we have to put our prejudices aside to meet that goal. You may be here by accident, but that accident has led you to where your true destiny awaits.”
“My true destiny,” she murmurs, repeating my words.
“That’s right,” I say, smiling. “Your place is beside us, among the fae, leading us to victory.”
Astryl’s hands tremble, and I see a hint of tears in her eyes, but she blinks them back. “I never felt like I belonged with the other dragon shifters,” she confesses, her voice barely above a whisper. “I always felt... different. But now you’re asking me to work with the fae. You realize that will affect my standing when I return home, don’t you? It’ll just make things worse than they have been for me.”
I nod in understanding, sympathy tugging at my heart. “I know what I’m asking. You were meant for something greater,” I reassure her, stepping around the desk to stand beside her. “Your destiny lies beyond the confines of the ordinary. I could sense it in my vision. I believe without a doubt that you’re the one meant to bring an end to the Shadowlord.”
She meets my gaze, her eyes searching mine for reassurance. At that moment, the walls between us crumble, and a flood of emotions washes over me. She’s a stranger, my enemy by tradition if nothing else, and yet, somehow, she feels familiar. She’s my charge, and yet, the sight of her leaves me breathless. I want so badly to protect her and guide her, but I’ve never felt a connection like this before. I don’t understand it, nor do I care to explore it, but it’s there, simmering beneath the surface, and my body acts on its own.
I’m drawn to her, to her essence, as if her soul is calling out to mine. Our faces inch closer, the space between us narrowing until I can feel the warmth of her breath on my lips.
