Yes, that’s it!
If the spiderwebs strung between the columns here mean anything, it is that I’m the first person down here in what may be a decade. Makes sense, the residual magic just tugged at something it recognized, my valkyrie’s blood. If I’m the daughter of one of them, that means someone betrayed us, and I’m going to find out who.
The way I came in is too obvious, and I can't risk anyone discovering this place. And the river, well, sure, if I want to end up somewhere surrounded by creatures that want to eat me or worse, toy with me. A disgusted shiver shakes me. No, thank you.
They say when you're truly bonded with your familiar, it can find you anywhere as long as you’re in the same realm. I hope that part isn't just a myth.
“Skyfire!” I call into the cavern, my voice bouncing off the ancient stone walls.
Nothing.
“SKYFIRE!” I shout again, louder this time, as if sheer willpower can summon her from the skies. The sound echoes, making me cringe, and still nothing.
Magic here works best when you stop trying to force it, something I'm still trying to apply. My teachers keep repeating to feel it, to listen for the hidden whispers in everything around me. So I close my eyes and breathe deeply, slowly. Reaching beyond myself, then I feel it. The subtle shift in the air, the ancient pulse of something pure.
A minute passes, and Skyfire appears. Her silhouette slices through a narrow fissure high in the cavern wall. Her wings catch the reflections of the glowing worms scattered across the ceiling. Casting shimmers across her feathers like threads of silver. She lands with effortless grace, her hooves barely making a sound against the cavern floor. Trotting toward me, she lets out a low, familiar whinny, then nudges my shoulder with her nose.
“You’re the best, you know that?” I murmur, my fingers sinking into her soft mane. Swinging onto her back, I press a hand to her side.“Let’s go.”
Skyfire rears back, with a powerful thrust, and she launches us into the air. The wind rushes past us, tugging at my braid. My stomach flutters with the exhilarating drop. For a heartbeat, I laugh. A genuine, unguarded sound that feels like freedom itself. We move as one, rider and skyborn, weaving through the cavern's towering stalactites and shimmering crystals.
The world below becomes a blur of shadows, and for the first time in ages, I feel unburdened, connected to something greater than myself. Skyfire banks toward a narrow opening at the top of the cavern. Just as I'd suspected, a hidden way out of this sanctum, but I freeze. People will see us, out in the open. A flying pegasus isn't exactly subtle.
"Sky, we need to get down!" She lets out a soft neigh…
And suddenly, the world bends around us. Light distorts, air shimmers, and then, we vanish. Not gone, just invisible, Skyfire cloaks us; her mane a perfect mirror of the sky around us.
"You clever, magical showoff," I whisper, a grin tugging at my lips. She snorts in agreement, and just like that, we fly unseen.
30
Kai
WEIRD MYSTERY SALAD
I get homeand make a beeline for the kitchen, stomach growling like I haven’t eaten in days. I yank open the fridge and spot two steaks, thank Kvirr. Snatching those immediately. I dig around for something to throw on the side and find this bowl wrapped in waxed paper, tucked in the back. Some weird mix of white beads, peppers and onions.
Huh.
Looks... edible, I’m no chef. Hell, I’m barely qualified to cook anything other than eggs without supervision. That’s Wyll’s department. He calls it his spark, like it’s some soul-deep ritual. Says his old man taught him that everyone needs one thing that’s just for them. Something that keeps you grounded when the world turns to crap. My dad taught me how to grit my teeth through pain and not flinch in the face of danger, real heartwarming stuff.
When Wyll officially moved in with us, he used to pretend he wanted to colour or draw whenever we were hanging out in his room. Which wasn’t often, given how wrecked the kingdom was. Even then, I knew he didn’t really care about crayons or sketches. He did it for me, for my spark that was dying.
But this meal, I’ve never seen it before, and we’ve been living under the same roof for years now. Which means it’s probably Vi’s, and suddenly it's a lot more interesting. Weird mystery salad it is.
After cooking up the steaks, I settle at the kitchen island and dig into the curious side dish. First bite—Boom, explosion of flavour. The lemon hits sharp and fresh, something warm and kinda spicy wraps around it, and the onions add a little punch. Weirdly good, like someone knew what they were doing. I chew, raising an eyebrow, delighted.
“Damn... maybe I should start eating more than just meat and the cafeteria food,” I mutter to myself.
Dinner’s done, so I head straight to her room. There’s Avilyna on the balcony, rocking an oversized shirt, but unfortunately for me, it’s still not one of mine. The fabric barely covers anything, and I am one thread away from losing it. This girl loves comfy clothes, and I want her in one of mine so desperately, but my little move didn’t score that yet. Looks like I’m gonna have to replace all her damn shirts.
Vi’s gorgeous eyes lock onto me, instinctively narrowing, and I flash her a smirk. That pout she throws at me is dangerously cute. It makes my heart twitch against my will. I hate that she can make me smile like a damn fool. After years of training and strategizing with men like my father, I shouldn’t be so easily affected.
And yet…
“What do you want?” she asks, smoke curling from her lips. I step closer, enjoying the way my body towers over hers. She doesn’t move, holding my gaze, daring me to get closer. So I reach for the joint in her hand.
“Your report, Princess. Remember?” Bringing the weed to my lips, I take a slow drag. Then, grabbing her face, I pull her closer, squeezing her cheeks just enough to part her lips. Ourfaces inches apart, I’m already feeling that buzz, and I blow the smoke straight into that sinful mouth of hers. Vi breathes it deeply, locking eyes with me as I slide a wild lock behind her ear. But she pulls back, slipping right out of my reach.
