Thank you.
My relief was instantaneous as the woman once more scribbled something upon her booklet.
“The gift of smoke, though weak, keeps you safe from The Fever, girl. You should thank our benevolent Goddess for that.”
Benevolent to whom?
The shadows were a brewing storm beneath my skin,a cloud of indignation and reproach.
Day after day we are hidden away.
Always there, but never seen.
Locked away within the body of a girl who wishes to waste us upon parlour tricks, frightened of her own blessed gift.
Brows bunching, I pushed at them within my mind, wrangling and grasping as they slipped like oil from my control.
Our patience is not infinite, little Shadow-Blessed.
Our thirst for vengeance is everlasting, long have we waited for the blood—
A gasp fell from my lips when they silenced, an emptiness ringing through my mind of sweet silence. Still they stirred, but locked were they from hissing their insidious words in my head.
“Are you quite alright?”
Head snapping, my gaze met that of the Potion Master. I swallowed thickly, feigning a tightlipped smile.
“Yes,” I answered, smoothing my hands down the tunic I wore. “Using my blessed magic drains me quickly. I’m sorry, were you saying something?”
Her narrowed eyes roamed over me, wary with a hint of worry, but she quickly spun on her heel and resumed her pace.
“I was saying that I will show you to the room you’ve been assigned for the duration of your stay within the palace grounds, after which your roommate has agreed to give you a tour of the facilities.”
I was only half listening, my head bobbing along as I took in the grounds before us. Up ahead stood the massive structure of the Solerian Palace, home to the Tavarrian royalty. Any pretense I made of listening drained away as I admired the beauty of it, architecture in its most splendid form—art. It was made of the same strong sunstone of the walls that surrounded the perimeter of the grounds, four tall spires reaching high into the sky melding into the pinks and blues as if they were a part of the sky themselves. It was then that I realized that perhaps sunstone wasn’t meant to mimic fire, but instead the light of day. I wouldn’t have been surprised if you could touch the clouds from those top rooms, the thought bringing a smile to my lips. A thousand gilded windows reflected the light, nearly blinding as my eyes traced the walls. Golden details of vines, flowers, and trees entwined into the sunstone covering the structure. It wasbeautiful,and I couldn’t imagine how long it must have taken to build such an extraordinary thing.
“Enough gawking, girl. We’re already behind schedule, hurry your pace.”
Steps quickening, she led me down a familiar pathway. One I had travelled over many times with Merle who was frequently called to the Institute to consult with the Potion Masters.
Cresting a hill, I smiled at the little valley that came into view. It was like a small town within the palace grounds to accommodate the apprentices that travelled far and wide, from all over Tavari, to complete their trials.
The buildings that would house the apprentices neatly lined one end of the valley while a small market lined the other. A large building towards the back of the valley named the Institute, was where the trials took place, and in the center of it all was a beautiful garden. The path of walking stones splitting off and going every which way was surrounded by a stunning array of flowers. The floral smell overpowering all other senses as we walked closer.
Trees were also scattered throughout the garden, great big drooping moonwillows, blooming fire blossom trees, and large oaks to offer shade in the summer. It was pure serenity and everytime I stepped foot here, I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to leave.
I picked nervously at my nail beds as I followed the thin woman through the gardens, guilt easing its way through my veins. I hadn't told Merle what the Prince had proposed, had yet to even tell Bran. I wasn't sure if I even wanted to go. I knew I would have to speak to Bran about it before I made a decision since I had rashly dragged him into it as well. However, Merle was a different story. The woman had far too much on her shoulders already, she didn't need to worry about this as well.
We approached the housing then, my building the third from the first, a large structure made of white stone that had vibrant green vines trailing all over it. Spinning as we entered, I took in the elegant dark wood flooring and high ceilings. There were plants everywhere in the building.Little potted things that lined the walls, great big ferns that hung from the rafters, flowers that bloomed along the stairway railings.
"Do all the buildings look like this?" I was awestruck. While Merle had brought me to the Apprentice Pavilion before, it was only ever to the Institute that housed the trials and held the offices of the Palace Masters. Whether it was to receive advice or give it, we had never stayed long enough for me to explore.
"Each housing unit has its own unique theme–this house was created by those blessed with the naturist magic of the Goddess Soli. It is an ode to their love for the gifts the Goddess bestowed upon them, their life's work in fact." The answer left me stunned as we continued up the stairs where I noticed sunlight filtered in through glass panels adorning the high ceiling. An elegant woven rug ran down the staircase we climbed, a beautiful fern green that contrasted so perfectly against the dark, shining wood of the stairs.
It wasn't long before we stopped at a door, the Master's hand reaching out to rap three harsh knocks upon it.
It swung open lazily, a wild mane of curls—sun bleached to a pretty honey golden color—poked out before warm hazel eyes met mine. Jumping, my heart raced as the woman let out a small squeal and tugged me by arm into the room calling out to the woman in the corridor, "I've got it from here Master Devram, thank you!"
The door shut with a resounding thud before the vibrant girl turned to face me, nose wrinkling ever so slightly as she whispered, "Cecila Devram is such a thorn, I can hardly stand more than three seconds of her company before I want to rip my hair from my head."
