I knelt by the red pool, and conjured a wine glass. I dunked it into the pool, and drank from it. The pool appeared to be red wine, cherry in flavor. It was the most delicious wine I'd ever tasted. I walked throughout the room, and found the tree trunks were made of chocolate, the leaves sour candies. Even the grass below my feet was edible, some sort of gummy substance that, when I reached down to taste it, exploded in my mouth with flavor.
It was a candy land world. How interesting. Odette summoned her wings and fluttered from branch to branch, tasting all the different treats. She flew into the sky and broke off a bit of cloud, handing it to me. It appeared to be cotton candy. I placed it into my mouth, and the sweetest taste I'd ever experienced spread over my tongue.
"Isn't this placeamazing?" Odette asked, hovering from one spot to another with glee. She clapped her hands and said, "Everything in this world is edible.”
“It’s like a child’s dream.” I held out a finger, and a purple butterfly the size of my hand landed on it, moving its little antennae. I heard screams far in the background, and thewhooshingof a roller coaster in the beyond. I lifted an eyebrow and said, “Do I hear... a theme park?”
“This ismyillusion,” Odette explained. “The Hall of Wonders creates a dream land of what you want most. Go ahead and try!”
“How?” Kiara asked.
“Just come to the center of the room, and think about what you’d like to create,” Odette explained. “The room will read your personality, and build a place you’d enjoy exploring!”
Kiara tried first. She came to the center of the large space and closed her eyes.
The Hall of Wonders changed, from Odette’s vision to a broad laboratory with books and countless potion ingredients lining the walls. Cauldrons were placed over roaring fires, and flasks were on every table. Kiara’s eyes glinted, as if already thinking of all the potions she could conjure there.
When it was Delmare’s turn, the alchemy lab melted away into a duplicate of Paris. I smelled French bread, and coffee coming from a nearby cafe. The Eiffel Tower stood in the distance, and the River Siene floated underneath us as we stood on a bridge overlooking the water. If I wasn’t certain we were inside the palace, I’d figure we were in France at that very moment.
Delmare’s face softened as she took in the scene. I was sure she was remembering the time she and Stefan had spent there last summer.
We took turns working with the Hall of Wonders. Arthur created a magnificent museum, and Vara, a golden field that went on and on. It reminded me so much of Edinmyre that I nearly felt homesick. Vara’s expression was wistful as she gazed upon it, like she was missing something she couldn’t have.
“Come on, Emma! You try!” Odette squealed. Everyone was eager to see what my dreams would create.
I didn’t know what I wished for myself, or what my dream land would be. But I came to the center of the room anyway, and closed my eyes.
When I opened them, my friends had gone completely silent. My heart fell into my stomach.
The Hall of Wonders had made a perfect replica of Arcanea University. I was standing before the great double doors of the university in the gardens, the sound of students rising around me as professors called for class to start.
I felt my throat grow tight. The Hall of Wonders was similar to my hearthfire in Edinmyre, in that it created whatever room you needed, but the Hall of Wonders had a different magic placed upon it. It seemed like the room made a fantasy land for the user, gave them what theywanted, satisfying what they desired most.
I was aware of everyone’s eyes on me, and I let my illusion fall away. The Hall of Wonders reverted back to Odette’s candy land. Embarrassment ebbed at my cheeks. Why was I still wishing for something that I had long let go?
Feeling a bit perturbed, I returned to the red pool and offered a glass of wine to Vara. “Would you like some? The wine is incredible.”
Vara smiled kindly, and shook her head. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to decline. At least for the time being.”
Arthur wrapped his arms around her. He was practically beaming with pride. That look… it meant something. My feelings both rose and plummeted as I read the expression on his face. “Are you—”
“Vara and I are expecting,” Arthur said, his voice elated. “We’re going to have a child.”
My mouth dropped open. Around the room, there were notes of congratulations.
“You’re pregnant? That’s wonderful!” Kiara cried.
“We’re really happy for you,” Delmare added. “Though we didn’t expect it.”
“We were surprised, too,” Arthur said, and Vara glowed. “We just found out a few days ago. The due date is sometime next year, in the spring.”
“I can’t believe it! A little baby, running around the palace,” Odette squealed. “It’s going to be socute!”
Something festered inside me at the announcement. There was happiness, but more than that, there was alsoregret. It wasn’t quite jealousy. It was more like… pain.
Arthur glanced at me, and his face faltered a little. I realized I was being a jackass, and I forced a grin onto my face. “Wow, Arty. You’re going to be a dad? I… I can’t wait, really.”
My voice sounded so fake, but Arthur must’ve bought my shitty tone, because he said, “I want you to be there foreverything, Emma. Our child is going to love growing up in the palace.”
