Thump, thump, thump, thump.

My boots pounded against the floorboards. With every passing second, they felt heavier and heavier. Still, I kept my eyes locked onto the dark figure I was chasing.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

They were fast. Or maybe I was slow. Why was I running so slowly? I couldn't let myself think about it too much. If I did, I would slow down. The more I thought about how slow I was going, the slower I'd move.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

They have something of yours. Don't let them get away.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

The distance between us was closing, but so was the darkness around me. The figure skidded around a corner, and I followed, losing sight of them for a moment. The window at the end of the hall was open. In one swift movement, I slid through it and climbed up to the roof.

There was the shadow, already jumping away to another rooftop.

"Stop!" I yelled, but my voice seemed to disintegrate into the cold air like salt in water. The darkness was close now. I could barely see anything other than the figure. What could I do? I had no weapons. Was that what was stopping me? Or was I holding back from hurting them?

I was tired. So tired. But I pushed through it, sprinting ahead, vaulting across rooftops. There. Over there. To the left. Now this one. My feet flew over shingles, bricks, and beams. I didn't care where I landed. The darkness was too heavy for me to hold back. My eyes were stinging, but I knew it was because of the cold. My arms ached. My legs burned. Everything hurt. The darkness rushed towards me like a tidal wave.

I can't keep doing this. This has to stop.

Gritting my teeth, I summoned a bolt of lightning into my hand and hurled it at the shadow's feet.

Bullseye.

They tripped and fell forwards, sliding rapidly down a steep roof. When I caught up to them, I saw that they were hanging off the edge, their feet dangling. I knew they were only holding on by a thread. They would fall at any moment.

I loomed over them, trying to catch a glimpse of their face. But there was nothing to see. They didn't have a face. Under the hood, it was just a black void. No eyes. No nose. No mouth. Nothing.

I kneeled down to help them. My mind screamed at me not to. I didn't listen. Instead, I reached out and grabbed the figure's arm. It was stone cold. With some effort, I managed to pull them to their feet. They didn't say anything. They didn't even move. Yet, even though they had none, I could feel their eyes on me. Just...staring. Whether it was staring at me or through me, I couldn't tell. Maybe into me was more accurate.

Then, quicker than a flash of lightning, they pulled out a knife from seemingly nowhere and stabbed me right in the heart. I cried out in shock, and yet...I felt no pain. No blood seeped from the wound.

The shadow retracted its blade, then drove its heel into my stomach, kicking me off the roof. I fell, plummeting into the darkness below. The scene began melting away before my very eyes, leaving nothing behind. Right as it ended, I finally realized that I was having a nightmare.

I awoke with a start and a loud gasp, jolting upright so violently that I hit the back of my head on the wall behind me. I groaned in pain before shaking the slumber out of my system. The gentle sound of the train rolling over the tracks filled my ears. My arms were wrapped around something kind of…soft.

Slowly, I opened my eyes... Just to see Ashkan staring back at me with a surprised look.

"Hey, are you all right?" he asked, genuine concern in his voice.

I blinked. My head was still fuzzy. "Wh… Why are you here?"

"Uh… Because I didn't want to wake you by moving?"

Our shoulders were touching, his face was inches from mine, and I was holding onto his arm. Mortified, I instantly let go.

I felt my face turn bright red. "Aah! Wait, did I fall asleep on you? I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed.

"Gods, do I really scare you that much?" He just shrugged nonchalantly and returned to the book he was reading. "I didn't mind. We turned 'round a bend, then your head sort of fell onto my shoulder, and you seemed peaceful. Up until right before you awoke... You kind of...huddled into me and then grabbed my arm. That's why I asked if you were okay."

"Gah, I'm sorry..." I replied, burying my face into my hands.

"Don't apologize," he said softly. "So, I'm guessing you were dreaming, right?"

I settled back into my seat, staring at my lap. "It was actually a nightmare, but... Yeah."

Ashkan closed his novel at that, turning towards me, his expression becoming almost worried. "Oh? What about?"

Looking into his eyes, I didn't know what to say or where to start. "Just... Well, I got stabbed. So that was fun."

He stared at me, his eyebrows furrowed. I swore I could almost see a faint streak of anger flash across his face. "That doesn't sound good. Who was it?"

I yawned, my eyes fixed on my hands. "They didn't have a face."

"Hm," he replied, biting his lip. He then eyed me once more. "Are you feeling okay now?" I nodded weakly. "Right, well... Let me know...if you...want to talk about it or anything."

I watched him for a moment, his expression and the sound of his voice almost making me feel better. I guess he really did care. "Yeah, sure... Thanks."

"You've been out like a light for about an hour," he elaborated. "Where'd you learn to sleep like that?"

"I've had lots of practice," I said before sitting up straighter and taking in my surroundings. Judging by the sun outside, it looked like it was mid-evening. We were alone in the train cabin. I glanced down. My shirt had been changed into the sweater I was wearing this morning. After a pause, I spoke up, "Where's Shaye?"

"Out getting dinner for us. She left not too long ago. I would've gone to help, but… I didn't want to leave you here alone and have people think you were dead or something."

I chuckled. "So, are you going to tell me what happened after I blacked out?"

Ashkan expelled a long breath. "You're sure you're not too tired for that right now?"

"No, I’m…" I trailed off. "Maybe I'll sleep later. Right now, I want answers."

"Very well. But if you're going to stay awake, I must treat your arm. Kadia asked me to do so when you woke up. And she also specifically requested us not to bother her unless it was an emergency. I suppose you're stuck with me, then," he joked.

"My arm?" I echoed, confused.

He nodded while putting his novel into his bag and fishing out some small medical supplies. "When you fainted, your left forearm landed in a puddle of that creature's acid. Burned right through your bracer. Shaye cleaned and wrapped it while she and Kadia changed you out of your blood-stained shirt, but it apparently needs to be treated properly with this chemical burn salve that Thorne picked up before we boarded. They told me it wasn't gravely serious and to let you sleep until you awoke on your own."

I pulled up my left sleeve, revealing the hastily-tied bandages underneath. Now that I was more awake, I could feel the skin in that area burning. "What's the rest of the story?"

Ashkan took my injured arm and rested it on his knee while gently unwinding the bandages. Sure enough, the skin underneath was raw and peeling. I winced as it came in contact with the cool air. "Long story short," he began, "we all took turns carrying you out of the penitentiary."

I immediately cringed. "You did not."

"Well, it was mostly Tyrath and me who did the carrying," he clarified, taking out a clean rag and magically dampening it with fresh water from his fingertips. I said nothing to that because I was too busy wondering how I should feel about Ashkan carrying an unconscious me. "…All right," he continued after a beat of silence. "Tyrath was carrying you for the majority of the trip, but that's just because he has barrels for biceps. It doesn't matter; the point is, we wrapped you in Ty's coat and carried you out, and eventually, you came to."

"You could've just put me in a wheelbarrow or something."

He laughed quietly. "Oh, yes. If we had found one, we would've done just that." He then dipped the rag into the salve, moved to apply it, but hesitated. "This…is going to sting," he warned.

"I'll be fine," I replied.

Gingerly, he wrapped the rag around my burns, allowing the medication to soak in. He wasn't kidding. I squinted as a surge of pain flooded through my arm, but I refused to complain. After a bit longer, he removed the rag and blew lightly onto the area, causing the pain to subside almost instantly.

"How did you get past the guards?" I asked.

"Pretty easily, actually. We told them that you passed out from fear, from seeing the Rotted, and they believed it. They couldn't see the blood on you because you were covered, and it was too dark to see the relatively little blood the rest of us had on us. It seemed like they didn't hear anything of what happened."

"And everything else?" I questioned, leaning back. "Did you see anything strange when you were walking out?"

He shook his head. "Nothing except for some things disappearing. The wall with all the gears on it, for example, was entirely bare when we passed back through it. As if nothing had happened."

"Interesting." I thought for a moment before adding, "You said I regained consciousness at one point? I don't remember that."

Ashkan gave me a sideways glance as he unravelled a roll of bandages. "You were just barely awake enough to walk onto the train, with some support. That stone really drained the life out of you."

I sat up. "Shit, I almost forgot! Where is the gemstone? Is it safe?"

"It's fine, don't worry. Kadia had me tuck it away in Shaye's bag." He looked at me head-on this time. "Don't go searching for it, you hear? It might actually kill you if you touch it again so soon." The seriousness in his gaze pinned me for a second. Without another word, he went back to spraying some antiseptic on the inside of the bandages before wrapping my arm in them.

"So, if you held it, did you have the same experience I did?" I asked.

"I suppose so, but to a lesser degree. It certainly made me more tired. Perhaps you had a more adverse reaction because you aren't yet fully accustomed to possessing magic, let alone that much."

"Yet. The key word there is 'yet'."

He smirked. "Yes, right." He finished winding the bandages around my arm, then began to knot them snugly.

"I think I'm going to go take a walk to the lavatory and freshen up," I announced, rising to my feet. "I really need to stretch my legs."

"Okay," he replied. "Shaye will be back any minute now. Don't get lost."

"Thanks for the first aid," I called over my shoulder as I left the cabin.

I was grateful to get some movement in, even though I still felt exhausted. The train was mostly silent, save for a few ambient conversations nearby. Keeping my head low, I headed for the nearest lavatory, but halfway there, I heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, Brielle, how are you feeling?"

I looked up to see Morgina with a small blanket draped around her shoulders. "Oh, I'm good. Just a little sleepy," I said.

She nodded. "Aye, I don't blame you. We're just happy you can stand. I think I can speak for all the trainers when I say that fight wasn't our best work... It was really tough for me not to be plain awe-stricken by that creature."

"Yeah, I get that. It was ugly as sin."

"True, but that's not all I was thinking," she explained. "That...thing...used to be human. I just know it."

I looked at her in surprise. "How do you figure that?"

She shrugged. "It's from an old folklore tale. I'd bet my bottom dollar that that was Emrys... The Guardian of Light's Tomb." She motioned for me to step aside with her into the corner of the hallway. "It's a really common story in Shialumura. Supposedly teaches children about loyalty or something. Essentially, while Gavphine was still...active, she knew this bloke named Emrys, and she got attached to him. Some people say it was romantic, some people say it was just friendship; doesn't matter. The story says that many centuries ago, there was a giant darkness outbreak in Shialumura – that part is true. It was more like a massacre. Emrys protected Gavphine at all costs, but as a human, he couldn't do much. It's said that he succumbed to the darkness but maintained his loyalty to his goddess, and through that, he gained immortality, which we now know isn't quite true."

"You think that spider thing was Emrys? It would make sense as to why he was protecting the gemstone so fiercely," I pondered. "He must've had a horrible reaction to the darkness if he was so faithful to the light. Like mixing oil and water."

"I guess it was less of a myth and more of a really old tale... Of course, nobody knows about the gemstones, so that's not in the story. But it seems like Gavphine told Emrys about it," Morgina continued. "The Chasm must've been built around where she hid it. She probably thought it'd be safest underground; little did she know that a nearby underground prison would be used as banishment from her creations. Hmm. I wonder if all the gods have these types of confidants."

I folded my arms. "Something tells me we'll find out."

"And I'm excited for that!" she exclaimed. "My stars, I can't wait to get out and see other realms again. It's been too long... At least we knocked off Shialumura now. I can never seem to leave that place fast enough." She wrinkled her nose.

"You grew up there, right?" I asked.

"Born and raised," she replied. "Left for Winithas right on my seventeenth birthday, as soon as I could travel on my own. I don't really talk to my folks these days... Kadia and the group are more of a family to me. We're definitely a tight-knit bunch."

"Do you mind if I ask why you left?"

Morgina leaned back against the wall and grinned wryly. "If you'd known my family, you'd understand. I was a very fiery kid. Still am, I guess. Grew up having people tell me I had 'anger management issues'. They probably weren't wrong. One thing I knew was that I liked being active; I loved fighting. It helped me control my anger and release all that pent-up frustration. Thing is, my family laughed at the idea of a lady soldier. That just fueled the fire. My first week in Nelorismel, I sent in my application for a first-rank soldier – the lowest position, but I would've taken anything I could get. Lo and behold, I got in. An' the rest is history."

I smiled. "You've kind of been a soldier all your life, then?"

"Pretty much. What can I say? I'm a natural." She chuckled at the recollection, then flicked a strand of hair out of her eye. "Well, the boys are likely wondering what's taking so long. I have a map to finish updating, too. You should really get some more rest after you eat, okay? I'll check up on you later."

I said goodbye to Morgina, quickly freshened up in the washroom, and returned to my cabin. When I slid open the door, I was greeted by all sorts of delicious scents.

"Brielle, hey!" Shaye called out. She stood up and pulled me into a hug. "Feeling all right? Sorry I took so long to get your dinner; I couldn't decide if you'd like the crodotta or the tea-smoked jörmu better, so I got both. Oh, and I know the red vennwa cordial is your favourite, but they only had the gold kind, is that okay? It's pretty tasty, but if you don't like it, I can–"

"Whatever you got is perfect," I told her. "Thank you."

"Of course! I'm just relieved that you're alive and well," she said, gesturing for me to sit across from her.

I glanced over at Ashkan, who seemed to have eaten half of his meal already. He gave me a small nod. Finally, I dug into my own supper that was arranged on the fold-out table before me. Maybe it was because I hadn't eaten in four or five hours, but the food tasted like the best thing I'd eaten in months. After I'd cleaned my plate, the three of us chatted for a bit before Shaye volunteered to bring our dishes back to the kitchen.

"I shall return with dessert," she added.

"Might have to save Brie's for later," Ashkan piped up from behind his novel. "I reckon she'll have nodded off by then."

"I will not! I'm feeling very awake right now," I protested.

He arched an eyebrow. "Ah, give it a bit to sink in."

Shaye giggled. "That is fine; I can freeze it. Getting some shut-eye sounds like a good idea, Brielle." And with that, she left with our plates balanced in her hands.

A few minutes later, Ashkan turned to me and said, "Mind if I check your bandages?"

"I don't think they became undone in the thirty minutes since you last checked," I replied, nevertheless rolling up my sleeve and holding out my arm.

"I'm just ensuring you didn't react poorly to the salve," he explained, taking my left forearm. He then turned it towards me. "See? No lymph, no staining, no inflammation. No reaction. Still damaged, but no reaction." His expression was serious, which was very typical, to be fair.

I swallowed and looked down. "So I'm good, right?"

"You're absolutely fine," he affirmed. I watched his fingers trail down towards my hand but stop right before my palm. "What are all these little scabs here?"

"Huh?" I frowned and leaned closer. "Oh, um, those are from peeling acrifruit."

"Why were you peeling acrifruit?"

I swallowed again, not sure about how to approach this. "That was one of the ingredients for your antidote. Those little things are sharp, heh…"

Instantly, he retracted his hands. "Ah, I see… That must have been unpleasant. I'm sorry you had to do that for me."

"What? No, what?" I began, my voice raising slightly. "No, no, no. You don't get to apologize for that. It was Ofelia's fault, not yours."

"I know," he answered with a sigh. "But you have no idea how hard I tried to get a hold of myself."

"I can only imagine. We're just grateful to have the real you back," I said, before joking, "Well, I do miss my butler, and my personal bodyguard, and my coat check… And I definitely miss those times when you'd gaze into my eyes and tell me how they sparkle like they could rain down fairy dust or something. Man, those were the best."

At that, Ashkan burst out laughing, a genuine, deep, hearty laugh that left me smiling. I would've joined in had I not been so taken aback by the realization that I'd never heard him laugh like that before. It was just so…real. How had I missed it all this time? Something about the sound of this one in particular was different. It wasn't stifled, muted, subdued... It was pure, unfettered amusement.

His nose crinkled and he covered his mouth with the back of his hand, almost as if he was trying to wipe away his grin. Even after several seconds, his smile hadn't subsided, and I wondered if I'd imagined it. I couldn't recall ever seeing him grin like that before. It made me realize just how few times I'd had the opportunity to see him this happy. There hadn't been many.

My smile faded as I studied his face. There was something else on it besides a goofy grin, something else that I hadn't seen before. Something almost like...relief. Comfort, maybe? How often is he really suppressing his emotions? I wondered. Positive ones, too? What, did he grow up not being allowed to laugh too loudly or something?

I blinked, my attention returning to Ashkan. "What's gotten into you?" I questioned, smirking faintly. "You're smiling."

"Huh? I smile!" he insisted, shrugging as if that would get him off the hook.

"You've never smiled like that before," I pointed out.

"I smile all the time. You sound mad."

"No, I mean, I don't think I've ever seen you smile like that. Usually, you don't smile at all."

"Wh–? How did I smile? What was different?

"I don't know. You grinned and..." I gestured randomly with my hands. "It was the air around you."

He chuckled. "I think the sleep deprivation is making you loony."

I narrowed my eyes. "Whatever."

A comfortable silence fell over the both of us as he returned to his novel. Before long, after my thoughts had settled down, my exhaustion came back with a vengeance. Within five minutes or so, I was having trouble keeping my head up and it kept dropping forward. Ashkan didn't seem to notice, but I found my eyelids growing heavier and heavier.

"Here's a random question: What makes you happy?" I asked, hoping that a conversation would keep me awake.

"You know what really makes me happy?" he answered without looking away from his book. "Sleeping. You should try it."

I fought the urge to shove him out of his seat. "Why would I want to sleep?" I yawned. "I've never wanted to sleep before. Not once in my entire life. Excuse me for trying to make conversation." I was definitely lying to make myself feel better. I wanted to sleep. A lot.

He pretended to be absorbed in his book, but I could see the ghost of a smile on his face. I was pretty sure he wasn't actually reading because he had been stuck on the same page for the last ten minutes.

Despite the fact that I wanted to rest, I wanted to stay awake a little longer to make sure the nightmares wouldn't come back. It was harder than I thought it'd be. Every time I closed my eyes, images from my nightmare would pop into my head. I dug my nails into my palms, trying to keep myself awake. But it was a losing battle. Eventually, after a while of my head lolling back and forth, my eyes shut, as if there were tiny anchors weighing them down. I could feel the tendrils of sleep luring me in. Still, I tried to stay conscious, which got to a point where it was almost painful every time I opened my eyes.

I heard Ashkan whisper a while later, "Are you still awake?"

"Hmm?" I said, lifting my head.

He sighed and looked at me straight. "Brielle, seriously. You are completely drained. At this point, you're just punishing yourself. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," I mumbled. "Fine. Just tired."

"I can see that." Through my half-lidded eyes, I watched Ashkan close his book and pivot more towards me. "Well," he began, before hesitating. "If I may object, I quite think you should get some sleep. And... If you'd like... You have my shoulder to rest on." He then looked away, picking at a thread on his pant leg.

His suggestion almost snapped me right out of my haze. Normally, I would've outright refused an offer like that, especially since I'd already accidentally fallen asleep on him. I would've slept folded up like a pretzel on the bench or on the floor before I would've napped leaning against him. But at that moment, I didn't know if I had ever felt that exhausted in my life. It felt like I hadn't slept in days. I needed rest. And I was way too tired to fight against my own physical needs, let alone his unexpected offer.

"I'm gonna take you up on that, then," I decided without another thought.

He nodded. "Right, then. ...Good."

Hesitantly and slowly, I scooched closer to him and gently laid my head on his shoulder. "Feel free to shove me off at any time," I murmured.

He laughed softly, the sound vibrating through his chest. "I wouldn't dare." His steady breathing moved my head up and down very slightly, almost like the feeling of waves on a boat. I could immediately tell that it wouldn't take me long to drift off.

I took a deep breath to try to calm my heartbeat, inadvertently inhaling what smelled like his cologne. I had to consciously stop my face from heating up. He smelled really good, like a woodsy mix of sandalwood and amber. I frowned. Does he always smell like this? Why am I even thinking about it?

I rolled my head to glance up at him. This was…so damn weird. Weirder than weird. I really hoped that he couldn't see me because I'm pretty sure that I was straight up staring through my half-closed eyes. It was one of those situations where you're just fried, and it takes so much energy to think and process information that you have practically no control over simultaneous physical movement. From this angle, his sharp jawline was shadowed by the setting sun, and I could see every faint freckle on this side of his face. How long would it take to count them all? I wondered. Five minutes? Ten? Thirty?

Dismissing those thoughts, my eyes drifted closed, my body still in that supremely comfortable position. My head fit perfectly into the crook of his neck. I didn't have the strength to push myself away. I didn't want to open my eyes again. That felt like too much work, especially since I was already hyperaware of the fact that my cheek was pressed right against his shoulder. As my muscles relaxed, I probably ended up leaning into Ashkan a lot more than I had intended. But I couldn't help it; I was just too depleted and too comfy. I slowly succumbed to the pull of my own fatigue.

Right when I was on the very edge of sleep, I whispered, "Ashkan?"

His voice was close to my ear, and he must've turned his head because I felt his breath ghost through my hair. "Hm?"

"...Thanks."

There was a slight pause before his soft chuckle rumbled up into my ear and down my spine. "You're welcome. Just...go to sleep, for the gods' sake."

I giggled sleepily at the sound of a smile in his voice before finally surrendering to my own drowsiness. For some reason, all visions of my nightmare just melted away. I didn't know why I was now almost outright forgetting it. I could barely even remember what my nightmare was about anymore. Perhaps because, for some reason, it now seemed a bit easier to forget and let go of the fear. Or perhaps I was simply too tired to focus on any emotion other than tiredness.

And then I was sound asleep.

When I awoke hours later, Ashkan was still in almost that exact same position, surprisingly. His head was more angled towards me, so I was fairly certain he had rested his head on top of mine and dozed off at some point. I didn't mind. He also seemed to be sitting closer than before, indicating he'd gotten up at some point, but somehow didn't wake me. I didn't dare look up to check if he was awake now, though. Other than that, the only differences were that the cabin was darker and colder, and presumably because of that, the two of us were now covered in a blanket. To be fair, that did seem like something Shaye would do, especially since she was sitting across from us with her sketchbook and a blanket of her own. I wondered, for the millionth time, what had happened while I was unconscious.

It was evident that the train was now passing through Winithas and we'd be back home fairly soon. My eyes started to get heavy again and my brain felt like it was floating aimlessly around in my skull. Not wanting to face my responsibilities or the general public just yet, I closed my eyes and snuggled farther under the blanket.

----------------------------------------

After the weekend came to a close, I walked into the Academy on the first day of the week feeling rested, recuperated, and a bit more confident than usual. I could tell that Shaye felt similarly. However, we didn't get to bask in it very long before we were swarmed by friends, classmates and other students. Apparently, the news had gotten out that we'd just returned from a top-secret mission in Shialumura. Since nobody knew why we went there or anything at all about the gemstones, people were pressing us for details all day. During third period, Professor Jakklo had to tell some nearby students to zip it because they kept bothering us. And because we weren't telling anybody anything – we were forbidden, even if we wanted to – there were plenty of rumours floating around. Ones about us leading a heist, infiltrating the royal grounds, becoming assassins, slaying a legendary creature... That last one was true, I suppose, but we couldn't say.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

When classes ended and the hordes finally left us alone, I found myself somewhere most unusual: at Ofelia's locker. Her suspension began tomorrow, so the school let her clean out her stuff at the end of the day today. At first, I didn't know what compelled me to go over there. I knew I didn't feel bad for her, per se. She was reaping what she had sowed. Still, maybe there was a part of me that wanted to make sure we were on good terms, especially because when I saw her standing there, she looked awfully sad.

I knocked lightly on her open locker. "Ofelia?"

She turned around, and a pained expression formed on her face. "Oh... Brielle. Hello. If you've come to discipline me, save it. My ears are bleeding from it already."

"No, I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay," I explained.

"I am. Just a tad heartbroken. But..." She sighed and slipped some textbooks into her bag. "I do apologize. I'm very sorry for the discomfort I've put you all through. I already apologized profusely to Ashkan when he'd stick around long enough to hear me out... It was utterly cruel of me. I deserve to be punished." She looked up. "Is there any chance that you'll forgive me?"

I hesitated for a second, before saying, "There's no need to get dramatic, but if you vow to never do something like that again, to anyone, then I'll forgive you."

"I swear on my favourite hair ribbon, I vow never to do such a thing again, as long as I live." She then smiled a little. "I think some time away will be good for me, actually."

"The most important thing is to take care of yourself before worrying about anyone else," I agreed. "There's nothing wrong with letting things happen on their own. Things that are meant to be, will happen."

Ofelia looked confused by that. "Are you saying what happened to me was meant to happen?"

"Yes," I replied simply. "Based on the paths taken up to that point, yes. We all make mistakes, and sometimes we have to learn things the hard way. The number of mistakes someone makes doesn't indicate how good of a person they are, it's how they learn and grow from them that makes the difference."

"I guess this is another one of those times when I didn't know what I was doing was as bad as it was until I actually got in trouble for it..." She shrugged, closed her locker, and slung her bag over her shoulder. "One day, my heart won't blind me."

"Well, I should run," I told her after glancing at the hallway clock. "But... I'll see you around when you get back. Take care."

"I will. You too, Brielle."

I gave her a lighthearted, two-finger salute before we parted ways. Ofelia nodded, smiled, and waved before continuing to the exit. At last, I straightened my blazer and headed down the corridor to my own locker, where I was met by Shaye, Lilwen, and Miseris.

Lilwen, who was dressed in an official school sports tracksuit, was talking as I approached. "...What if nobody listens to me? What if I get laughed at? How am I supposed to prove I can be a swim team captain when I struggle to even speak in front of crowds?"

"They're not going to laugh at you, Lilwen," Miseris said. "They already respect you; you're by far the best swimmer on the team. You just need to have more confidence."

She started twirling her hair nervously. "But what if I can't think of anything inspiring to say?"

"You're overthinking this," Shaye told her. "You always lift us up when we're down. I know you can do it. You just need to believe you can."

I smiled warmly at Lilwen and squeezed her shoulder before opening my locker. She had a tryout today for the senior girls' swim team captain position, something she'd been working towards for years. The moment she stepped into the pool as a freshman, people practically lost their minds. She was a natural swimmer. Yet, she had trouble communicating with those she wasn't close to, so we were all busy amping her up for weeks prior to today.

"Shaye's right," I chimed in, slipping on my trench coat. "We all know you can do this. You're a shoo-in for the position. I highly doubt anyone's gonna make fun of you."

"And if they do, just let me know, and they'll be leaving the school in a body bag," Miseris added.

Lilwen chuckled. "Thanks for the support, girls. I am quite excited about this..." She then checked her wristwatch. "The sooner this is over, the sooner I can relax. As a matter of fact, I should leave now to avoid being tardy. I wouldn't want them to think I'm not punctual..."

"Go, go, go," Shaye teased. "And tell us all about it tomorrow!" A look of firm determination appeared on Lilwen's face before she took off in a flurry.

After she was gone, Miseris let out a sigh. "Agh, I should get a move on, too. I've two hours to finish a psychology paper. Wish me luck," she said as she spun on her heel and disappeared into the crowd of exiting students.

I turned to Shaye. "So, what are your plans for the rest of today?"

"A bunch of my extended family is coming over for dinner after training," she replied with a grin. "Some are arriving all the way from Hezura! I haven't seen them in years. It'll be nice to catch up. Hopefully Fenryk doesn't drop the dessert on himself again..."

"Sounds like a good time."

"Oh, certainly. What about you? Any plans tonight?"

I shook my head. "I haven't really been doing anything lately, other than training and working on homework from both universes. And stressing about gemstones."

"We should get together later this week," she suggested, "when I'm not so swamped."

Our conversation was suddenly cut off by Ashkan's voice as he walked up. "Hello. Ready to leave?"

Shaye and I responded affirmatively. I shut my locker and the three of us left the school, meeting our personal guards before walking towards the arena.

----------------------------------------

Training flew by that afternoon. That's not to say it was easy, though. I was pretty sure Kadia was incapable of going easy on us, but I wasn't complaining. After what had happened in Yethriondra, it was clearer than ever that we needed to be as polished as possible. I was always pleased to see our efforts pay off, however. Sparring between us three had become very fluid and natural – and thus, more challenging. Most of the time, we were allowed to use any fake weapons we felt comfortable with unless we had to practice with a specific one. During sparring, this allowed us to become more accustomed to fighting against various weapons. At last, I headed to the showers, eager to wash off the dirt and dust.

Upon saying goodbye to Shaye and leaving the arena, I met my guards like usual and was about to transport to Earth when I heard footsteps behind me. A moment later, Ashkan runs up, falling into step next to me. His own personal guards weren't far behind, of course.

"Hey," he said, brushing the hair out of his face. "I just wanted to ask if your arm is actually fine."

It took me a second to remember what he was talking about. When I did, I started laughing. "Oh, that! Yeah, I'm good, promise. I was just pretending."

He scoffed, feigning offense. "Why'd you do that? I was seriously worried."

When we were sparring together earlier, we were practicing hand-to-hand combat. At one point, Ashkan had thrown a punch, and I blocked it with my forearms, but he ended up hitting right where my burns were. It hurt a bit, but I pretended to be much more hurt than I actually was. I didn't really expect him to believe it, but he did. I fell to the ground, clutching my arm in pain, and he dropped his guard long enough for me to sweep out his leg and win the match. It was underhanded, but I had to admit, it was really funny.

"I didn't think you'd react like that," I admitted, still laughing.

"Fine, but I've already sent you to the hospital once–"

"Accidentally."

"And I'm trying not to do that again. The whole point of sparring is to not get actually injured."

"Well, good thing you didn't keep hitting me," I said with a chuckle. "I was totally messing with you."

He shrugged. "I'll have to stay on my toes, then."

A gust of wind blew by, making me shiver. It was no secret that the season was getting colder. I opened my bag and rummaged around for my scarf, yanking it out. As I did so, the tangled mess ended up sending the rest of my bag's contents flying everywhere.

"Damn it," I cursed, scrambling in the snow for them.

Saying nothing, Ashkan knelt down beside my guards to help collect everything. While I was busy stuffing my possessions back inside my bag, he picked something up and observed it. "These look familiar..." he mumbled. "Why'd you keep these?"

I looked up to see what he was holding, and my heart almost stopped. Two pink naedum flowers were pinched between his fingers. Or, what was left of them, anyway. By now, they were wilted and dry. A jolt of anxiety shot through me. I could've sworn I had thrown them all out.

"They must've fallen into my bag days ago," I explained, frozen in place. Good thing it was cold outside because my face was definitely flushed. I mentally scolded myself. That was the last time I'd throw flowers into my locker with reckless abandon.

Ashkan hummed in response. "It's no wonder they're ruined. They've been crushed at the bottom of your satchel for a while." I glanced over at him and met his warm green eyes. He was wearing a sly grin, almost as if enjoying my discomfort. "I've got a new theory about you, Brie."

"Oh?" My attention perked up. "What's that?"

"That you're a sentimental sap."

I blinked at him in surprise, then laughed. "Oh, geez, enough with the psychology. Yeah, right. I hate to tell you, but I chucked the rest of those flowers in the trash. They weren't exactly an intentional gift, were they?"

He thought for a moment. "No, they weren't. But...these won't do much good dead."

Before I could question what he meant by that, I watched as a small cloud of shimmery, golden dust surrounded Ashkan's hand. And then the flowers brightened, petals flourishing and stems straightening. His fingers seemed to glow as the blooms returned to their former beauty. Then, he simply held them out to me.

I took them carefully. "Wow. Thanks..."

"Don't mention it," he said with a nod. "Look 'em over, make sure I didn't miss a spot."

"So, what's your new theory?" I asked, unable to resist. "Am I a sap for appreciating such a lovely gift, or for even being aware that flowers are beautiful?"

He let out a small laugh. "Oh, both. Without a doubt. Total bleeding heart. Everyone knows that people like me only appreciate nature and art for their monetary value. We don't like flowers, or paintings, or music, or anything. No, because those are for weaklings, clearly."

"Ah, you should teach me your ways," I joked.

"Maybe later." He folded his arms and smiled as he began walking home alongside his guards. I waved to him, then reached for my necklace.

When I returned to my bedroom on Earth, I retrieved the flowers from my bag. They looked brand new. I held them up, watching as they swayed slightly as I did, as if they had their own sentience, their own inner being. I traced the petals with my fingertips. Examining them closer, I realized that two of the petals on the one bloom were different. They were darker...and had something written on them. I squinted to make out the writing.

If you aren't busy, come to my house in an hour. I have something to show you. It's about the prophecy.

- Ash

Did he really feel the need to sign the note? I thought. I smiled at his nickname. It really did roll off the tongue.

As I unpacked my satchel, I wondered what it possibly was that he had to tell me. I'd never been over to his place before, only seen it in passing a few times. It made sense that he couldn't invite me over with our guards standing there. Still, did he find some insane revelation or something? I guess I wouldn't know until I went over there.

Almost an hour later, after telling my parents where I was going, I travelled back to Emiarhia and headed towards Ashkan's house. I purposely dressed very plainly with a hood over my head since I was technically forbidden from walking around alone. The Wroet'by family lived a fair way out of the city, closer to the woodlands. I was just glad that the sun hadn't set quite yet. I strolled down the suburb sidewalks, minding my footsteps so that my boots made little noise. The naedum flowers from earlier were pinned behind my ear because I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to keep them around on Earth, especially around my parents.

The road became dirtier and dirtier until it led me into the outskirts of the forest that bordered the town. The path was narrow, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. The trees around me made it very dark, save for the lights coming from other nearby houses and businesses.

Finally reaching Ashkan's cottage-like house, I had a chance to get a good look at it. It was simple and plain, but well-made, with taupe walls and a black roof. The two-storey building was surrounded by various old trees and shrubs, with one wall being covered in ivy. It was pretty modest, but quaint nonetheless. The stone fence around the perimeter didn't quite match the house itself and was clearly built there recently at the King's request because Ashkan's a saviour and all that. I knew enough about those kinds of fences to know that it created a dome-shaped barrier of invisible magic around the building.

There was a small gate leading in, so I took that route, stepping onto the cobblestone path and pressing the metal button on the gate's bars. I saw a flash of a face in the window beside the door before it swung open, revealing a boy of about thirteen years old. Underneath his brunette mop of curls, his light brown eyes regarded me sternly. Apart from the short black horns coiling out from both corners of his forehead, his face reminded me of a mini Ashkan, but with ten times as many freckles.

"Who are you? And why are you here?" the boy asked in a demanding tone.

"Hi," I began. "My name's Brielle. Your brother invited me."

He paused, then raised an eyebrow. "Does my father know you're coming over?"

"Um... Not that I know of?"

"Then I'm supposed to tell him. I'll ask him what you're doing here. If you're going to stay long enough for tea and cake, you should really call him first. Father doesn't like to be disturbed." The boy turned and started heading back inside.

"Wait," I called out, "do you think I could just speak to Ashkan first? Is he home?"

"I'm not allowed to talk to strangers," he replied. "I don't know you. I won't let you in, so you'd better leave. A girl other than Shaylie in my brother's company is very unusual."

"Wendyll! That's quite enough!" came a voice from the front doorway. I looked over the boy's shoulder to see Ashkan approaching us. "Go back inside, please?"

Wendyll huffed and hurried away, leaving me still on the outside of the gate. I watched him make his way back to his house before turning to the brother who'd appeared.

"Apologies..." Ashkan immediately opened the gate. "Glad you got my note," he said, leading me across the front lawn and into the house.

Upon stepping inside, I took a moment to observe my surroundings. At the end of the short hallway was a small living room with wooden floors, muted blue walls, and worn leather furniture. Some books and family photos were scattered on the mantel of the lit fireplace. A thick grey carpet was sprawled out on the floor.

"I was just finishing putting some groceries away," Ashkan explained, motioning for me to follow him into the kitchen. "Can I get you anything? Tea, maybe?"

"Tea would be nice, thank you." I took a seat at the table in the corner, gazing out of the nearby window at the front garden. The last few remaining rays of sunlight streamed in through the gap in the curtains. The room had terracotta tile floors with a couple of small cracks, and wooden cabinets and shelves that were painted a soft shade of moss green. Several cast iron appliances complemented the rustic, cream-coloured counters, which were peppered with dishware, bottles, jars, and other various kitchen clutter.

"You'll have to excuse the mess," Ashkan apologized as he put away the last of the groceries. "It gets pretty hectic in here during the mornings."

"I don't mind at all. I think it's kind of charming, actually," I commented.

"It's certainly cozy," he replied, handing me a steaming mug before sitting down across from me with his own.

Noticing the tray he had also set down, I mixed my tea with a splash of milk and a pinch of sugar. It smelled delicious, like warm spices and sweet herbs. I swirled it slowly with my spoon, watching the sugar dissolve, then glanced back up at Ashkan. He was watching me with a slight smile on his lips.

"What?" I asked.

"Um, nothing, just your... You put the..." he trailed off. Shaking his head, he simply pointed vaguely to my right ear.

I raised my hand, my fingertips grazing the flowers pinned there. "What about them?"

"They're... I don't know," he mumbled, almost so quiet that I couldn't hear. "I just like...flowers. In hair. I mean, not as much as Shaye does, I guess. I don't know." I laughed at that, but he didn't. He studied me with an unreadable expression, blinking several times. "That's funny."

"What?" I asked again, confused.

"You," he began, "are... I'm not sure. Strange, is all." He took a long sip of his tea. "Um, that might not be it. Just... Flowers are good. For hair, definitely. Uh, if you want to preserve them, you can ask Shaye to press them and make you a resin bookmark. She's made me tons."

"Noted." I sipped my own tea. "You think I'm weird? I know I do."

"Sometimes." He eyed me sideways as if trying to deduce something. "Well, you laugh. At my awful awkwardness. But you have a way of laughing like you're laughing with me, not at me."

"I've never seriously laughed at you. I just like to be easygoing," I said.

"That's...good. And you... You're just... You don't seem awkward, exactly. Just funny."

That made me feel like the awkward one, somehow. "I don't know how else to be."

He cleared his throat. "Are you always like this?"

"What do you mean? I totally get awkward sometimes."

"All right, but you tend to make people feel welcome. Comfortable. At ease. Like we're... We're..." He seemed embarrassed. "We're okay."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "That's because we are okay." I looked at my tea for a moment. "Maybe the thing isn't that we're weird. It's that we're...normal. We're just sitting here. Like... This is what normal is. This is what life is. This is how it feels. It's that simple. Not everything needs to be complicated. Does that make sense?"

"I... Huh," he muttered, seemingly lost in thought.

A silence settled over both of us, but it didn't last long, as it was soon broken by Wendyll barging into the kitchen. "Is dinner ready yet? I'm starving," he groaned.

Ashkan sat up in his chair. "Not for another two hours or so. Niista's not even home yet. And, hey, why aren't you wearing your wraps?"

Wendyll shrugged and walked over to the fridge. "They probably fell off again. I was too busy winning a snowball fight to notice."

I remembered Kadia telling me a while ago that the horns I'd seen on some people were characteristic of the race native to Criosedera, a realm farther down south. There were a bunch of reasons why they aren't ever cut or dulled, with the main one being that the nerves and blood vessels underneath are actually closer to the surface than it appears, so it would be excruciating and just plain cruel to sand them down. Other than that, they also sharpen too quickly naturally to be realistically maintained, as they evolved to be a form of protection. It's also severely frowned upon to alter them, as in Criosedera, horns are a symbol of health and one being connected to nature. Hence, they're required to be wrapped when not in use for safety reasons.

"C'mere, we're not trying to gauge somebody's eye out." Ashkan stood up and opened a nearby drawer, fishing out two rolls of thick, stretchy fabric. "Blue or brown?"

With an exaggerated scowl, Wendyll reluctantly trudged over to his older brother. "Ugh. Blue, I guess..."

Quickly and effortlessly, Ashkan wound the fabric snugly around both of his brother's horns, creating two protective coverings. He then reached out and ruffled Wendyll's hair. "There. Looking spiffy. Now go grab some fruit or something to tide you over."

"Too bad you didn't buy ice cream."

"Yeah, that is a shame. It's almost as though somebody was a glutton and kept eating the whole tub when everyone else was asleep."

Wendyll grabbed a package of berries and made a beeline upstairs, calling over his shoulder, "Pretty sure it was Niista."

I turned back to Ashkan. "Who's that?"

"Niista? My older sister; she's twenty." He scratched his head. "...I never told you that, did I?"

I chuckled. "You just did."

"She should be on her way home from work right now. I can barely recall a time where she wasn't working," he admitted, leaning back in his chair. "She's a teaching assistant at the local private school up north. I don't think they pay her nearly enough, personally, but... It gets the bills paid when combined with my father's salary."

"And what does he do?" I inquired, hoping I wasn't prying too much.

"He's a carpenter, actually. Does construction and carpentry projects around the region. He has the skills for it after so many decades, so I'll give credit where credit is due."

"Is he home right now? I don't want to get you in trouble if I'm not allowed over or anything."

Ashkan waved his hand dismissively. "You're fine; he never comes out of his study in the evenings unless it's to eat. Just don't break anything and you'll be okay," he finished with a wink.

I chuckled halfheartedly. "He just stays in there all day? Is that normal?"

"For him? Yes. Some days, he leaves for work, and some days, he stays in and works on plans in his office. That, or he'll sleep all day, go out in the evening, and not return until the wee hours of the morning. It's sort of an unspoken rule to avoid disturbing him."

"I see," I murmured, trying my best not to frown. It was clear that Ashkan was used to that kind of dynamic, but it didn't seem like something that was...ideal.

He sighed softly. "I wish he'd learn to share his time, but he seldom listens to any of us. I've learned to let it be."

I nodded in understanding. I couldn't imagine trying to manage a relationship like that. It'd be exhausting. I wasn't going to say anything, but I had a feeling that Ashkan's father's behaviour was unquestionably affected negatively by his wife's death. At least he didn't abandon his children, but being the 'only parent left' isn't exactly an excuse to be seemingly ignoring them. But, hey, I wasn't at all qualified to talk about that.

For the next half hour, Ashkan and I chatted about whatever was on our minds, and I enjoyed the chance to get to know him better. There was so much that I still wanted to know about him. I couldn't deny that I found him interesting, and maybe a little mysterious. Still, I didn't want to force him to tell me anything. Besides, it was obvious that he had a lot going on in his life right now, even though he tried to hide it.

Our conversation was interrupted by the sound of a door opening and closing. Seconds later, a young woman entered the kitchen, dropping her bag onto the counter. Her sleek, black hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and I noticed that she had pointed ears like her eldest brother. One thick streak of her hair was pale blonde, presumably due to the vitiligo present on most of her skin.

"Hey, Niista," Ashkan spoke up. "You remember Brielle, right?"

His sister shifted to face us, surveying me with powder blue eyes. "I remember you told me she was coming over, yep. Pleasure to finally meet you." She bowed her head momentarily, and I returned the gesture, fully aware by now that this was Emiarhia's equivalent of a handshake. "I trust Ashkan's been a proper host? Would you like something to eat or drink at all?"

"No, no, I'm great. Thank you," I assured her, holding up my empty mug.

"All right then, just let me know if you need anything else. I'll be around," Niista said. "Enjoy your evening."

"Want to head up to my room?" Ashkan asked me. "I still have to show you that thing I found."

I nodded. "Lead the way."

We walked up the narrow, creaky staircase towards Ashkan's bedroom. As I passed, I noticed several photographs and paintings on the walls.

"Feel free to look around," Ashkan said, opening his door.

Setting foot into his room, I swore I could've mistaken it for a mini library at first glance. Bookshelves and a desk lined the walls. The desk was cluttered with notebooks and other papers, and I got the feeling that it was a sort of organized chaos. A dark green bedspread was folded and tucked neatly on the bed, which had an abundance of blankets and pillows in various neutral colours. Small piles of books were scattered in corners. A brown armchair sat beside the window, which was adorned with black curtains and gave a spectacular view of the forest behind the house.

I approached his desk, noticing that off to the side were a bunch of strange tools. Hammers, tongs, chisels... The surrounding notebook pages were full of diagrams and calculations. "What's all this?"

"Metalworking tools," he answered. "I get bored, so I like to make things. The rest of my blacksmithing stuff is in the basement."

"Really?" I said, somewhat shocked. "This looks very...cool."

His eyebrows raised. "...Thanks. They're not all that good, though."

I picked up a paper that had a blueprint of a rose on it. It looked like the petals were going to be shaped from thin sheets of metal. "Nonsense. This stuff looks amazing."

"I was going to make that for Shaye's birthday in eight months," he explained, ignoring my compliment. "Like...a flower that never dies."

I stared at him incredulously. "Are you serious? That's insanely thoughtful! She's going to love that." He just shrugged. "How long has this been a hobby of yours?" I questioned, setting the paper back down.

"Oh, for years," he said casually. "I just like it."

Nodding my head, my gaze wandered to the shelf on the wall nearest to me. It was filled with more books and numerous knickknacks and keepsakes, but what caught my attention was the framed, perfectly dust-free photograph sitting on the end. The picture was of a woman with her arms around a much younger-looking Ashkan, who was grinning from ear to ear. That had to be his mother, I figured, because he looked so similar to her. Since it was a colour photograph, I could see that she had dark grey ridged horns, golden eyes, and long, straight hair in the same shade of sandy blond as Ashkan. She also had a smile on her face that seemed like it could brighten anyone's day.

"That's...?"

Ashkan hesitated for a brief moment before confirming, "My mum. We look alike, don't we? Except for the horns. Most people say I look like her and Niista looks more like my father. Wendyll's just an even mix."

"You do," I answered. "She's beautiful. I can see where you got that smile."

"Oh... Thanks." His cheeks turned faint pink. "I must've been about ten or eleven in that photo."

"Did she do anything for a living?"

"She was a pharmacist at the apothecary closer to the city. She was also a professional ballroom dancer on the side, so sometimes she'd travel to different realms to take part in various spectacles. That's where my parents met – she was a performer at one of the Winithinian festivals." He gave an unsure shrug as if unsure if he should proceed. "Of course, as time passed, my father pressured her more and more to quit dancing. He didn't believe it to be a productive pastime. I think he was just sour that she made more money."

I folded my arms. "I'm guessing your father was working most of the time?"

"Indeed. He wouldn't be home a lot. It's actually funny how that switched after Mum died. For about three months, he was too saddened to do much of anything, so he'd drink all day instead. He just...shut down. So Niista and I were left to take care of nearly everything, including Wendyll, which we had been doing for a while anyway since my mother had been too ill. ...At least Father's still employed, so things could be worse."

"That sounds really difficult," I said. "I don't know what I'd do if things were that way."

"I'm just glad Niista never turned to alcohol," he mentioned. "She really put her head down and dove into her work, and I'm very proud of her for that. It wasn't easy."

I bit my lip, hoping that my next question wasn't too much. "I hope...your father hasn't gotten violent because of it. I know that can sometimes happen..."

Ashkan shook his head firmly. "He hasn't. A bit mean, sure, but mostly just quiet and cold. No way I'd stand for my brother growing up in a household like that. Though I do dread the day Wendyll starts asking questions... How would I begin to explain why...?" He took a deep breath. "Well, apologies for oversharing. You're probably wondering why I invited you, huh?"

"Sure," I admitted, "but I like talking."

"Then let's talk about something more interesting," he suggested, picking up a worn book from the corner of his bed. I sat down on the floor next to him. "I was tidying my room the other day," he began, "and I came across this really old history book. There's loads of information in here about Adares, specifically."

I tilted my head. "What does that place have to do with the prophecy?"

"I've pondered this myself before, but I thought I'd share it with you since you don't know a lot about Emiarhia's history yet." He flipped open the book to a dog-eared page. "Ever heard of dark magic?"

"Not really. Maybe once or twice, in passing. The mission in Shialumura was my first time actually seeing it."

"And you know why? Because it's forbidden. Outlawed. As in, fully illegal. It's difficult trying to even find information about it." His fingers skimmed across the page. "And each realm was created to represent each type of magic, right? Except there are seven realms. In school, we're taught that there are six magic types."

"You're saying that Adares represents dark magic?" I queried. "Everyone says it was created for the Elders."

"Right. But this book states clearly that Adares was formed as late as decades after the other six realms," Ashkan elaborated. "It just doesn't say how it was formed."

I leaned forwards. "So... There's a possibility that the Elders were so powerful enough to create their own homeland, as well as a whole new type of magic?"

"All I'm saying is that maybe they're not who they seem to be. Their links to dark magic are kind of suspicious."

"Wow," I said, my eyes widening. "That's... Damn."

"Obviously, nothing is for certain," he shrugged, "but I just found that intriguing. And I couldn't discuss it with Shaye because she's fairly religious. Badmouthing the Elders is essentially disrespecting the gods themselves. Which is why I'm keeping this book all to myself."

His words made me think. "What if the Elders were actually the ones behind everything? Are they just using us to get the gemstones for them?"

"I like to doubt that," he said. "But it's definitely a theory to consider."

I squinted. "Maybe I shouldn't say this, but... How do people know the gods are even real? What if the gemstones are part of something else?"

He laughed quietly. "Yeah, maybe don't go saying stuff like that in public. But I'd be lying if I said I've never thought about that."

"Are you religious?"

"I'm not big on it," he answered. "I haven't heard any other explanations of how Emiarhia came to be, so I guess I'll believe it when I see a god with my own eyes. Something about devoting your entire life to something you can't prove is real sounds a bit odd to me. But I respect it as long as it doesn't hurt anyone."

"That seems reasonable." I looked down at the book. "Y'know, I hope Lunellia's doing all right keeping the gemstone."

"I'm sure she is. Kadia wouldn't have trusted her with it if she wasn't capable."

Since Lunellia didn't possess inner magic and also had to know all about our mission because she was our main source of healthcare, Kadia decided to hide the light gemstone at her place. Being a non-mag meant that she wasn't affected at all by the stone and could pick it up as she pleased. Of course, Kadia made sure it was locked away in Lunellia's basement under several military-grade security levels, including many protective charms. If need be, Lunellia was able to move it. And worse comes to worst, if someone tried to steal it and somehow managed to actually hold it, they'd almost definitely be killed instantly. All in all, she was an optimal choice for keeping the gemstone, so Kadia wasn't too worried.

The information Ashkan had told me was sitting like a big rock in my stomach. It was all speculation, sure, but that single question alone opened up a whole slew of branching possibilities. It wasn't just me wondering if I should suspect the Elders, it was me wondering if I should be suspecting everyone. Or anyone at all. Had I already trusted someone I shouldn't have? I was still like a lost lamb in this world, even after all these months. I felt naïve. I knew that I was relying so much on others to guide me, but it was because I had to. But how was I supposed to save this world if I couldn't even keep myself safe? What if people were manipulating us right under our noses? Could I really be so innocent and oblivious?

I was promptly dragged out of my thought bubble by Ashkan poking my knee. "You look like you're thinking about something," he said, raising an eyebrow at me. "What's that cyclone telling you right now?"

I stared down at my lap. "I was just thinking that...I've spent my entire life trying to get away from everything back on Earth, trying to find my place, spending ages figuring out who I could trust and who was genuine. And now, it's like I started my life all over again, in a new place, in the middle of a new world. Everything is different."

"And?" he asked, propping his elbow on his knee, resting his hand against his cheek. "Are you happy with that?"

I shrugged, pulling my gaze up to meet his. "Does it matter?"

"Of course it matters," he insisted. "You do have a choice. You always have a choice. You being a part of this prophecy didn't force you to fight a war, it forced you to make a decision. Would you rather be on Earth with no knowledge of this place?"

"No," I whispered. "Not at all."

"Then there you go. Your decision was to stay here. Something's keeping you here." He added when I didn't reply, "Whether it's within your control, or it's destiny, or just the pull of the unknown, things will unfurl the way they were meant to."

I watched a glint form in his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

"You're here, and the fact that you decided to stay shouldn't be taken lightly," he explained. "You do realize that if you really, seriously didn't want to take part in the prophecy, you could just pack your things and never look back, right?"

I ran my hand through my hair, sweeping it over my shoulder. "I could, but I can't. This is something I have to do."

"Why?"

"I don't know, I can't explain it." I sighed and leaned my elbows on my knees. "It just is. I know in my heart that I can't just leave."

He mimicked my posture. "You can't, or you don't want to?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but realized I had nothing to say, and closed it again. The difference is one of perspective; the reality seemed that I'd always be a visitor here, an innate pariah – a sensation awfully familiar to me. And in that understanding, I knew it was possible to leave, and maybe it wasn't mandatory to stay. I could go, even if people didn't want me to. Ashkan did have a point, though. I felt like I couldn't leave because I didn't want to. I didn't want to leave everyone behind, to put that burden on him and Shaye to fend for themselves. But there's a difference between wanting to be somewhere and actually belonging there. That conflict was making my head hurt.

"What about you?" I finally piped up. "Are you here because you have to be? Or do you want to?"

Thinking, he rested his head against the bed frame behind him. "Both, I suppose. I want to protect my family, my friends, and my country. That's for certain. But it's confusing because I know that I'd still be here if there was no prophecy. I'd still be in this house, going to the Academy, my mother would still be gone... Then I guess you and I never would've met, too. That's difficult to imagine."

"It is," I agreed. "Promise me that if I ever try to leave forever, you'll snap me out of it."

"Only if you do the same for me."

"Deal." We both laughed.

"This is strange," Ashkan said after a beat of silence. "I never really...talk like this with anyone. About my thoughts. I'm always too busy being the perfect son, or brother, or student. Even with Shaye – I love her to death, but she's so doting that I feel almost guilty expressing any woes to her. Just makes her fret..."

I looked at him. "Strange in a good way or in a bad way?"

He smiled faintly. "I'm still figuring it out. It's refreshing, I guess." He glanced at me, then back at the ceiling. "What do you say we go for a stroll? The evening air is calling for me."

I gasped, putting on an appalled expression. "Without our guards? Are you crazy?"

"We'll be back before dinner, don't worry." A lopsided, roguish grin crossed his face. "I mean, I won't snitch if you don't."

"I like your style," I chuckled, grabbing my coat and following him out the door.