The glow fades, leaving only the weight of the card in my palm and the lingering remnants of Mother’s voice echoing across my mind. The realization of what this means continues to hang heavy on me.
“When will we summon the World?” one of the other Worldkeepers asks.
Vaduin looks to me, the question waiting for an answer that he clearly does not feel in a position to give.
“We’ll need to get the final golden card.” It’s something they all knew, so why does it feel like I’m damning my sister by saying it?
They exchange wary glances as if challenging one another to be the one to speak. Even Gregor looks uncomfortable; for the first time ever, my friend and I might not be standing on the same side of an issue. Does he want to push her to ink it sooner?
“It is important we move quickly,” Vaduin says, like it’s something I don’t already know. Every dawn brings another day that Ravin could finally find and kill me.
“We have the upper hand for once,” one of the Worldkeepers murmurs.
The other is bolder, louder: “We shouldn’t squander it.”
“What do you even want the wish to be?” I say. They all look at me, surprise written on their faces.
“To bring back the Worldkeepers in full force,” one Worldkeeper says.
“To give us a safe home,” Gregor says at the same time.
“To erase the whole Oricalis family,” the other Worldkeeper also says in unison. My eyes dart to them, and I force myself not to react in any other way. I know they still don’t like my proximity to Kaelis.
Vaduin is silent, eyes locked with me. I wait, seeing if he will say something. But he doesn’t. My earlier assessment seems to continue to hold true. He doesn’t actually care what the wish is, so long as it’s not harmful and he can see it made.
“We must be strategic,” Vaduin says at last. “A single wish that can remake the world is a powerful thing. We need to ensure it is thoughtful, worded correctly, and exactly what the wisher wants.”
And who will be the wisher?That question I don’t ask. I suspect we will all have different visions of that, too.
“Whatever it is, the wish will not be made until Gregor and I are initiated as Worldkeepers,” I declare. “So, we have time to figure it out.”
“Are you delaying to avoid any wishes that might harm your precious Prince Kaelis?” The Worldkeeper at Gregor’s right, the one who called for the Oricalis family to die, didn’t miss the look I gave them, apparently.
“I’m the only one who knows how to ink the vessel,” I say calmly. “Unless you’re confident that you can re-create it after seeing it done once and not knowing the recipe for the powder?” They say nothing. “What if the World ends up erasing my memory, and that knowledge is lost forever? Would it not be safer for me to be initiated first?” Phrasing it this way leaves open the possibility that someone else could make the wish. No chance of my letting that happen. But it behooves me to let them think it.
“It would give more time for Arina to continue healing, too,” Gregor says, meeting my eyes. We share an unspoken understanding. I give a slight nod, allowing relief to soften my expression at the reassurance that we are still aligned, even as our paths are diverging slightly.
“Let’s plan to make the wish on All Coins Day,” Vaduin declares. “We will induct you both into our order and make the wish following.”
“If Arina is ready,” I add.
“She must be, sooner or later.” His tone is mildly apologetic.
“Everything is in our control; we have time,” I say to try to settle the edges of their nerves. “I’ll arrange to have the Golden cards from Kaelis in time for All Coins Day, assuming everything else is in order. You’re right, we have the advantage; let’s not squander it with our haste.”
My words seem to be a balm for their collective restlessness. Still, I can see that the two Worldkeepers remain wary. They know as well as I that I hold all the cards. I could walk back to Arcana Academy right now and make the wish, the second I get Arina’s golden card.
With a few strides, I cross to Vaduin and present the vessel. He’s taken aback, eyes darting from the raised and shining ink on its surface to my face, where he searches for an explanation or any trace of deception.
“I’ll leave it with you,” I announce. The Worldkeepers—even Gregor—are shocked by this offer. “In good faith. This way, neither of us can summon the World without the other. We need each other. We must keep working together as we are.”
The words sink into the very stone that surrounds us. I need all the allies I can muster right now. And they need my knowledge and power.
Vaduin hesitates for a second and then takes the card. “I accept.”
It’s hard to let it go, but I remind myself that this is a strategic play.It’s for the best.But I also stalled because…because I’m not ready. The disembodied voices from earlier echo in my mind.
The World only truly ever answers to fate, not mortal hands. Beware the Fool who would try to contain it.
