“We’re here,” Dusana murmurs, the scent of wildflowers filling my chest as she bends her head to mine.
“We’re here,” Cailey whispers, resting her head on my other shoulder.
“We’re ready,” Mother Solas says. “Light magic, elemental magic, original magic, and dark magic.”
“The four of us,” Dusana says. “Together.”
I bow my head, finally letting go of my fears.
In my mind, I hear Gallium’s long-ago voice telling me he will fight beside me. I hear Galeia asking me to make her a wolf. I hear my sister telling me she loves me and Thaden taking his first breath as a human.
And I hear Erik when he growled at me, telling me… he just wanted to do one good thing before he died.
I close my eyes and inhale the scent of starlight and wildflowers.
Then I rest the black crown on my lap so I can raise my left hand to Dusana’s shoulder.
Softly, I say, “You will be the keeper of elemental magic. You will wear flowers in your hair and a tiara on your head, and you will live in a bright realm, tethering elemental magic for eternity.”
She gives me a smile. Possibly the first she’s ever bestowed on me. The twinkle in her eyes tells me she’s pleased. “As you like.”
Then she fades from view, her form disappearing. But not into nothing. I sense the power I created, a force that will only grow stronger as I create more keepers.
Mother Solas reaches for me again and I take the hand she offers. Within it, she’s holding the silver pin. I close her fingers around it and then I place my left hand over the top.
“You will be the keeper of light magic,” I say. “Your years will fall away, and you will be the warrior that I suspect you were in your youth.”
This brings a smile to her face, and she nods.
“You will have golden armor, and this pin will become your weapon,” I continue. “You will live in a peaceful realm, tethering light magic for eternity.”
She speaks as she fades from view. “As you like.”
I turn to Cailey, conscious that her light is fading fast. The darkness is pressing around us, and the monsters are swarming inward.
Until all four of us have taken our place as keepers, nothing is safe.
“Cailey.”
When my voice chokes, she wraps her hand around mine, her head remaining on my shoulder.
“Don’t be sad for me, Asha Silverspun,” she says. “I may look young, but I am as old as time. In my lifetime, I have witnessed the births of gods and battles against titans. I am ready for my next adventure.”
“You will be the keeper of original magic,” I say. “You will live in a starlit realm with a never-ending night sky and all the silver roses you could ever desire. You will tether original magic for eternity.”
She lifts her head to give me a soft smile. “As you like.”
Her form slowly fades.
Tears slide down my cheeks, but I’m ready now, too.
Lifting the dark crown to my head, I exhale and speak my final command. “I will be the keeper of dark magic. I will live in a dark realm strong enough to hold the very worst of all magic and never let it loose.”
I take a final breath while the scent of starlight and wildflowers lingers in the air, and the dust storms rage toward me.
There is only silence as death comes for me.
Lowering the crown to my head, I accept all of the darkness that will change me forever, as I say, “I will tether dark magic for eternity.”
