“Assumptions are dangerous.” The Seer’s voice was as rocky as the road leading to his door. “It’s a terrible choice to assume.”
“Sorry,” I said again. “I didn’t know.”
“You assumed you were a human, and look where that landed you.”
“I’d argue that it was a pretty safe assumption,” I said. “I had no clue other things existed.”
“Because you assumed. You need to keep an open mind if you’re to rule an enchanted island.”
“O-okay,” I said. “I guess that’s fair. What about my powers?”
“What about them?”
I squinted, trying to see into the shadowy darkness, but I couldn’t catch a glimpse of anything except moving blackness. “I thought you were supposed to help me learn how to use them.”
“I’m not here for your selfish reasons.”
“I’m not—it’s not selfish.” I sounded like I was begging. Maybe I was. “I don’t want to hurt anyone. I feel out of control.”
“You. You don’t want to hurt anyone.” The Seer paused. “It’s all about you.”
“But—”
“Youdon’t want to feel guilty.Youdon’t want to get in trouble.Youdon’t want to be seen as unstable.”
“I mean, yes. But I also genuinely don’t want to hurt anyone. I didn’t ask for these powers, but I got them anyway, and I need to find a way to master them for my sake and everyone else’s.”
“You’re ungrateful for your powers.”
“No, it’s not that.” I felt like I kept putting my foot in my mouth. “I’m just saying that I didn’t have a choice. I realize my magic is a gift. It’s just… not that simple.”
There was no answer from the faceless man in the darkened house.
“Please, I need your help desperately. From what I understand, you’re the only one with a chance of helping me figure things out.”
“I will help you when—and if—you’re ready.”
“I am ready now! I need to be ready. The Furies might have been defeated, but there are other dangers facing this island.”
“My training doesn’t begin on command; it begins when you prove you’re ready. You’re missing important pieces for training, pieces that I can’t provide. When you are ready, you may return.”
“But you haven’t told me how to get ready?”
“As ruler, people look to you for answers and not the other way around. You need to figure this out on your own, Alessia.”
“But—”
“That’s all for today.”
“I stopped court hours to come here—”
“Selfishly.”
I licked my lips, unable to argue with this figure in the darkness. He seemed determined to declare me selfish and ungrateful, no matter how much I tried to convince him otherwise. Sticking around longer wouldn’t help me get through to him.
“Very well,” I said. “Then, I suppose I’ll see you soon.”
I turned, feeling a wave of defeat on my shoulders like sandbags. I’d completely and utterly failed at my first attempt at training. I hadn’t even gotten through the front door, quite literally. If Seer Goddard was my only chance of mastering my magic, and if I didn’t have any time to waste, none of this boded well.
