Darian gazed down at the scene before him, with his mouth hanging open and his eyes wide with amazement. He leaned over the railing of one of the immortal boats his clan owned, looking at Crescent Moon City below. It was mid autumn, so the air was crisp and cool. The afternoon sun cast a golden glow over everything.
When he heard about how large the city was, he thought he knew what to expect. He thought Valeheart and his dream of Carina gave him enough context. He had been wrong.
Crescent Moon City was huge, easily several times the size of Mt. Wind Dance and Valeheart in terms of area. It was massive and sprawling, to the point that Darian had a difficult time wrapping his head around it. The buildings were large too. It was difficult to tell from this distance, but many of them looked several stories taller than he was used to.
Despite its size, the city didn’t look like a chaotic, disorganized mess. The streets were laid out in a neat and orderly pattern. It wasn’t a grid, but something more pleasing to the eye. It almost looked like a formation. Actually, it might have been one. A city this size would be difficult to protect without defensive formations that were just as large. Using the streets as part of those defensive formations was an efficient way to do it. In addition to this, a stone wall surrounded the city.
Crescent Moon City was a circle that was divided into two parts. There was the outer part, which Darian learned was for mortals, and then there was the inner part, which was for cultivators only. A wide canal separated these two parts, effectively turning them into two different cities. Given that Clan River Heart practiced a water technique, Darian found this fitting. Several bridges spanned the canal, each one guarded by soldiers to prevent mortals from accidentally wandering into places where they didn’t belong.
In the center of the city was a palatial compound, which was where Clan River Heart made its home. Another canal separated this compound from the rest of the city. Though, perhaps compound was an understatement. Given its size, it looked more like a large town or a small city. A city within a city within a city?
However, as large as Crescent Moon City was, it was tiny compared to Crescent Moon Lake. The lake was a crescent-shaped body of water the size of Silverwood Vale, maybe even larger. It wasn’t similar to a crescent shape, it was a perfect crescent. Darian suspected that this was intentional. A cultivator with enough power could reshape the environment to their will. Several towns and settlements made their homes along the banks of the lake, including the Gold Weaver Sect from what Elena had told him in her last message to him. Crescent Moon City was located within the center of the lake’s inner crescent.
Countless rivers and streams flowed into Crescent Moon Lake, and countless others flowed out. Looking at it from above, Darian thought that the lake was like a heart, with the rivers as its veins and arteries. Perhaps it was a heart of some kind, in the mystical sense that was. There was a reason why Clan River Heart made its home here.
It had taken the entourage from Clan Wind Dance about five days to travel from Silverwood Vale to Crescent Moon City. In addition to Darian and his friends, there were Darian’s grandparents, Elders Dominic and Bryce, and several other members of Clan Wind Dance. This was to show Clan Stone Pillar that Clan Wind Dance was taking these negotiations seriously, as well as remind them, and the other powers in the region, that Clan Wind Dance was not to be taken lightly.
They had needed three immortal boats to transport everyone.
A few Wind Dances at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage were also tagging along. This was to give them some practical experience with the outside world before they reached the Energy Gathering Stage and could take missions that led them outside of Silverwood Vale.
The trip was a pleasant one for Darian. They traveled all day, and spent their nights at inns that catered to cultivators. These inns had formations in place for the security and privacy of their guests. While they could have camped out in the wilderness, why would they? There were enough towns in between Silverwood Vale and Crescent Moon City to make the trip a comfortable one.
However, things had been tense in the beginning. His father hadn’t yet forgiven his parents for their role in Darian’s upbringing, which included neglecting his education. It hadn’t been intentional on their part, and they had been horrified when they found out the truth. However, as the days passed, Darian’s father and his grandparents slowly mended their relationship.
Another reason it was awkward in the beginning was that Darian had to introduce Astra to his grandparents and the rest of Clan Wind Dance. As Master Nova’s representative, she would sit in on these negotiations, at least for the parts regarding Darian’s marriage.
Predictably, Grandmother Astoria acted the most standoffish with Astra, given the latter’s relationship with Master Nova. The rest of Clan Wind Dance treated her with wary respect. After all, she was a Nascent Soul cultivator, making her one of the most powerful beings in the Myriad Rivers region. This alone was reason enough to avoid offending her. Her connection with Darian afforded her some acceptance from his kin.
As they traveled, Darian focused on his training. In particular, he practiced the Severing Wind technique. While Astra had finished creating the fist version, making it easier for him to comprehend it, that alone wasn’t enough to master the technique. He needed to practice it as well, which was easier said than done. Unlike Wings of Wind, which require soft “breaths” of spirit energy to use, Severing Wind required sharp “breaths”. This required a new way of thinking.
Darian wasn’t the only one who practiced it. Lucius gained some insights into the technique, thanks to Astra’s cut back at Duskfall Hall, and incorporated those insights into his own version of the technique. Vera also practiced Severing Wind, applying it to her whip. While she hadn’t come close to mastering it, she progressed in it faster than Darian had. Once, he saw her decapitate a wooden dummy while using it with her whip.
He made a note never to piss her off.
It helped that the three of them had access to several experts who mastered the technique in their own ways. First there was Astra, who tutored Darian the most. Then there were his grandparents, Elders Dominic and Bryce, and Darian’s father. They each provided insights into Severing Wind, unique to their own perspectives.
Grandmother Astoria surprised Darian the most in this regard. Her version of Severing Wind was closer to Astra’s, though it was based on the imperfect fist version. Like him, she practiced a fist combat technique, or maybe claw technique was more accurate. When Darian learned this, he gave her a copy of the perfected fist version. She accepted it with gratitude.
Unlike the rest of Clan Wind Dance, Grandmother Astoria practiced her home clan’s cultivation technique and combat arts, Harpy’s Claw. These arts focused on using one’s hands and feet like the talons of a hawk. At the higher levels, its practitioners transformed into harpies, a terrifying amalgamation of bird and human.
Grandmother Astoria demonstrated this for Darian once. Feathers grew all over her body, and a pair of wings had emerged from her back. Her hands and feet became wicked looking talons. Her facial features became more avian. It gave her an inhuman beauty. She almost looked like a spirit beast with an imperfect human form. All these changes were physical too, unlike with Wings of Wind, which only coated its users in feathers made of spirit energy.
When Astra saw this, she insisted on sparring with Grandmother Astoria. It had been an interesting match, though Grandmother Astoria lost, to no one’s surprise. Despite that, the two women got along better afterwards.
Darian also spent time sparring with the other members of Clan Wind Dance in the Foundation Establishment stage. It felt nice to spar with people at his level, instead of those above him. They put in the same amount of effort as he did, rather than holding back for his sake.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Vera asked, interrupting Darian’s thoughts.
He glanced at her, as she settled near him, leaning against the railing.
“It is,” Darian said, looking out towards the city again. “It’s unlike anything I have ever seen before.”
This was true, even if he included the dream he had of Carina. He had only seen that unknown city from the street level, where it was dirty and smelly. While he suspected that Crescent Moon City would be the same once they landed, seeing it from above gave it an air of dignity and majesty.
Darian looked at Vera again, and saw a troubled expression on her face.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“As beautiful as this place is,” she said. “It holds a lot of bad memories for me.”
Oh, right. Vera’s stepmother, her father’s first wife, had abused and tormented Vera, her sister, and her mother. The abuse only grew worse after Vera’s mother died. Meanwhile, Vera’s father had stood by and done nothing in order to avoid offending his first wife’s family. Vera only escaped when her sister, Lynda, had married into Clan Wind Dance and brought Vera with her.
Darian gritted his teeth. If he ever met Vera’s father, he would be hard pressed to avoid punching him in the face. With any luck, he wouldn’t have to make that choice.
What kind of gutless worm stood by while his wife and children were abused? He might as well have abused them himself. It didn’t matter who the abuser was, a good husband protected his family. Period.
Darian made a vow to himself that he would not stand idly by while someone hurt his family. Whether it was his first wife, his second, and so on, he would protect them to the best of his ability.
“Thank you for coming here with me,” Darian said. “It means a lot. I know returning to this place must be difficult for you.”
Vera shook her head.
“It’s all in the past,” she said. “It doesn’t matter now.” She smiled. “Besides, I can just make new memories of this place with you, Lucius, and the rest of my loved ones.”
Vera turned to look at Lucius, who was practicing with his sword a ways off. Her expression grew tender, and Darian’s heart melted. While at first he had been hurt by their relationship with each other, and the fact that they had kept it a secret from him, it now warmed him to see that two of the people he cared about the most were happy together. He wanted to protect that happiness.
“Besides,” Vera said. “As long as I don’t go to the Clan River Heart compound, I can avoid seeing my father and my poisonous bitch of a stepmother.”
“Even if we do, Lucius and I have your back,” Darian said. “You won’t have to face them alone.”
Vera looked at him and her smile widened.
“Thank you, Darian.”
----------------------------------------
Clan Wind Dance owned an estate within the inner part of Crescent Moon City, near the Clan River Heart compound. The city was the cultural heart of the Myriad Rivers region, and so Clan Wind Dance maintained a presence here, albeit a small one. From what Darian learned, only a few members of his clan lived in the estate on a permanent basis.
The Clan Wind Dance estate was a complex with a large main building, several auxiliary buildings, as well as courtyards, gardens, and pavilions. Darian was honestly amazed that his clan owned so much space within the city. Many of the buildings within the city, especially those closer to the mortal half, looked so small and cramped in comparison.
The three immortal boats landed directly at the Clan Wind Dance estate. Most people were forbidden from flying over Crescent Moon City. Darian could understand why. Given the number of cultivators that lived in and visited the city, the skies would be clogged if everyone flew around. Instead, most had to land outside the city and walk the rest of the way in. There were even docks designed specifically for immortal boats.
As one of the major powers within the Myriad Rivers region, Clan Wind Dance was, of course, an exception to this rule.
Most members of Clan Wind Dance lived in the main building, which also served as a dorm and a mess hall. However, certain privileged members of the clan lived in their own personal residence. This included Darian, his father, and his grandparents. Everyone else had to live in the main building. It was in that moment that Darian realized the status he had, or should have had, within the clan based on his lineage alone.
While he didn’t practice Dancing Wind, and would always be something of an outsider, he was still the Patriarch’s grandson. Back in Silverwood Vale, it was easy to forget that since he spent almost all of his time in Duskfall Hall and interacted with his kin as little as possible. That made it easier to ignore certain things.
If it hadn’t been for Lucius dragging him along to teach their juniors, he would have gone months without seeing another Wind Dance.
Wait a moment. Had that been the whole point?
Darian did earn some raised eyebrows from his kin when he moved into his personal residence with Ellen, and only Ellen. He glared back at them, daring them to say anything. None of them did, except for his grandmother. She looked at Darian and Ellen with a disapproving look on her face, and pulled Darian aside for a private chat. They ended up in one of the smaller gardens within the estate.
It was already an open secret among Darian’s kin that he and Ellen were lovers. They hadn’t hidden their relationship, but neither had they announced it. They had just continued on with their lives, not caring who knew about them.
“Darian, while I may have reservations about your personal life,” Grandmother Astoria said once they were alone. “I’d be a hypocrite if I tried to lecture you about relationships, especially since Darian and I had turned a blind eye to what your father had been up to when he was your age. You are free to see whoever you wish.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“However, remember why we are here. You are about to be engaged to Willow Stone Pillar. Even if your marriage is political in nature, don’t disrespect her by openly flaunting your lover in front of her. Be discreet. This marriage will already be difficult enough for her without her future husband acting like a lecherous womanizer for everyone to see. She doesn’t deserve to be treated like that.”
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Darian crossed his arms and looked away from his grandmother. She was right, though he was reluctant to admit it. Even if he disagreed with his grandmother’s assessment that he was a womanizer, he still felt like an ass for having a lover even though he was about to become engaged to another woman.
However, what was he supposed to do? Cast Ellen aside until the marriage, and then have her come back to him? He refused to do so. Ellen did not deserve to be treated that way. Pretend he didn’t have a lover and keep it a secret from Willow Stone Pillar until after the marriage? He also refused to do that. That felt too much like he was lying to her.
What was the right thing to do in this situation? Darian didn’t know.
Grandmother Astoria’s expression softened and she put a hand on his shoulder.
“I understand that you’re in an awkward situation right now. Though, to be fair, you’re only in this situation because of the choices you made. You have no one to blame but yourself.”
“Thank you, grandmother,” Darian said in a dry voice. “Your words are a comfort to me.”
“My words weren’t meant to comfort you,” she said. “They were meant to illustrate a point. Willow Stone Pillar is about to be your wife. Not only that, but she will have to leave everything behind to join your household. Her family, her clan, her home. She will have to leave everything behind she has known and loved, all for the sake of her clan. She will be among strangers, and the only person she will be able to rely on is you. I know this, because I went through it myself. How do you think Willow would feel if she found out about you and Ellen?”
Darian took a moment to think about it before answering.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “Betrayed?” He frowned. “No, I don’t think she would feel that way. At least, not on a personal level. We’re strangers to each other after all. Angry and upset, at the very least.”
“Exactly. That’s not the best start to any marriage.”
Darian sighed and looked up at the sky.
“What am I supposed to do then, Grandmother?” he asked. “I don’t want to hurt Willow Stone Pillar, but I don’t want to lie to her either. Keeping my relationship with Ellen a secret would be a lie, or at least deceitful. And before you say anything, I will not cast Ellen aside, even temporarily. I love her, and I refuse to treat her that way.”
“It’s not too late to call off the engagement,” Grandmother Astoria pointed out. “Doing so at this point would upset many people, but nothing had been set in stone yet. You can still call things off. No one is making you marry Willow Stone Pillar.”
Darian had to admit that he was tempted. When he first told his grandfather that he was willing to marry Willow Stone Pillar, he hadn’t fully thought about what that meant. Even though Ellen was first in his heart, Willow would be his first wife. Marriage was forever. Darian and Willow would spend the rest of their lives together. Was Darian willing to go through that for the sake of mortals that weren’t even his responsibility? That was the reason why he agreed to this marriage in the first place.
The answer was yes, even still. However, that decision had made a mess of his personal life.
And none of this was even taking Elena into consideration.
“No, I won’t do that,” Darian said, looking at his grandmother already. “I made my decision, and I’m sticking to it. Calling the marriage off at this point would sour relations between our clans, and hurt Willow. At least, that’s how I’d feel in her shoes.”
“Then you have a decision to make. Since you won’t cast Ellen aside, even temporarily, you’ll either have to hide your relationship with her, or risk hurting Willow Stone Pillar and angering her clan.” Grandmother Astoria paused. “Whatever your decision, make it quick. I just received a message from Darin. Clan River Heart has invited both Clan Wind Dance and Clan Stone Pillar to join them for a dinner at their compound tonight. ‘To improve relations and foster the spirit of camaraderie.’”
Darian stared at his grandmother, before letting out a sigh.
“Fine,” he said. “I will.”
“Good. We don’t have much time, so you better start getting ready.” His grandmother turned to leave, but then glanced back at him. “A word of advice, Darian. Once you make your decision, stick to it. Women don’t like indecisive men.”
With that last piece of advice, his grandmother left. Darian remained alone in the garden, pondering the situation over. Things would be much simpler if he and Willow Stone Pillar could have an open conversation between just the two of them. No elders, no relatives, no nosy busybodies. Just them, being honest with each other about what they wanted out of their marriage.
Wait. Why not do that? They were going to get married anyway, so why not meet up and discuss things between them? There wasn’t a rule against it, as far as Darian knew. Yes, their clans would meet to start the negotiations, but that was their clans. Darian wanted Willow and himself to have their own discussion. If nothing else, it would be an opportunity for the two of them to get to know each other.
That said, Darian knew that he would come out the bad guy in that situation. There was no way around it. What he needed to do was earn Willow’s forgiveness and show his sincerity. While their marriage was political in nature, and he had a lover, he would do everything in his power to be a good husband to her and for her. It was the least she deserved.
With a shake of his head, Darian headed towards his personal residence to get ready for tonight’s dinner. It had been a while since he attended a formal event like this, and he was out of practice. Thankfully, he wasn’t unprepared.
----------------------------------------
Avaline laid face down on one of her couches in her new sitting room. She was in a desolate mood, and had been ever since she arrived at this forsaken region. After her argument with her father, Avaline and most of her belongings had been packed onto an immortal boat, before they were carted off to Crescent Moon City, which was considered the cultural heart of the Myriad Rivers region.
Avaline had snorted when she heard that. What a grandiose way to think of a small city in the middle of this backwater, far from anything important. Her opinion of the place hadn’t improved when she saw Crescent Moon City for herself, and realized just how tiny it was. It was even worse than she had feared.
Granted, having never left Mt. Frost Moon before, her practical experience with the world was limited. However, she had learned plenty from her lessons and the scrolls available to her in the Frost Moon Sect’s library. Everything she had learned told her that she would find nothing of interest in Crescent Moon City or the Myriad Rivers region. It was an unimportant city, in an unimportant region, in a corner of the world that most have forgotten about.
The Crossroads, on the other hand, was another matter altogether. Now that was a real city. It was large, much larger than Crescent Moon City, but it wasn’t the largest in the world. However, when it came to significance, few could match it. Every cultivator worth the title passed through The Crossroads at least once in their life. Backed by several powerful loose Immortals, The Crossroads was a melting pot where people from all over the world congregated. All the elite clans and sects had branch offices in The Crossroads, and the rarest natural treasures, magical items, and spirit beasts could be found and purchased there.
Of course, if Avaline had been sent there, it wouldn’t have been much of a punishment, defeating the whole purpose of banishing her from Mt. Frost Moon in the first place. Five years of this. Five years away from her home, and everything she had ever known. Five years away from her mother.
Not that Avaline had seen much of Immortal Frost Moon. In fact, she had only seen her mother once in her life. She hadn’t even gotten a good look at her. Immortal Frost Moon had spoken to her through a thin curtain that obscured her features. It was a brief meeting. Avaline had just opened her Heart Aperture, and Sect Leader Trystan had brought her to a small shrine where her mother waited for her. Immortal Frost Moon sat upon a raised dais, hidden by curtains, like some kind of ancient queen or idol to be worshiped. She said three sentences to Avaline.
“Congratulations, daughter of mine,” Immortal Frost Moon said in a pure and sweet voice. “I look forward to your progress. Don’t disappoint me.”
That was it. After that, Sect Leader Trystan took her away. To Avaline’s disappointment, Immortal Frost Moon never called for her again, no matter what she did, for good or for ill. That was when Avaline really started to act out, now that she thought about it.
Still, Avaline couldn’t complain too much about her circumstances. Despite their rural surroundings, Clan River Heart were kind and gracious hosts, treating her like a distinguished guest. Whatever her feelings about her banishment, Avaline made sure to return their kindness with respect and courtesy. It was the least she could do, since she had been foisted upon them by her father. They were her kin, or at least their clan and hers had once been kin. That was enough of a foundation to build some kind of relationship on.
Carlisa River Heart, the Matriarch of Clan River Heart in particular made sure to look after Avaline’s wellbeing. Yes, she did so because Avaline came from a larger and more powerful clan, an elite sect, and was the daughter of an Immortal, but Avaline appreciated the older woman’s efforts nonetheless.
What Avaline didn’t appreciate was Matriarch Carlisa’s attempts to get her to leave her rooms. As a form of protest, and because she really wasn’t interested in anything else, Avaline had sequestered herself in her rooms from the moment she arrived at the Clan River Heart compound within Crescent Moon City. She didn’t turn away any guests who visited her, but she herself didn’t leave her rooms.
Avaline knew it was foolish to do so, since she was punishing herself more than anything, but she couldn’t find it within herself to bother going outside. It was better to hide away in her rooms and cultivate during her entire stay here.
However, even she had to admit that the isolation was starting to get to her. If it hadn’t been for Cordelia, her Frost Wolf handmaiden, Avaline would have lost her mind already.
“Young Mistress,” Cordelia said, appearing as if Avaline’s thoughts had summoned her. “Matriarch Carlisa is here. She wishes to speak with you.”
With a sigh, Avaline sat upright, straightened her clothing out, and nodded at Cordelia. The handmaiden disappeared and returned moments later, with Matriarch Carlisa in tow. The River Heart Matriarch really was a beautiful woman. While she couldn’t quite match Avaline, she wasn’t far behind either.
Carlisa River Heart was a short and dainty woman with delicate features. She had brilliant sea green eyes, long hair that was a rich brown, and a slender body. Her pale skin was smooth and silky. Despite her small stature, Carlisa exuded a large presence. That wasn’t her aura either. That was just the force of her personality.
Her most eye-catching trait, however, was her beauty. Carlisa had the kind of face that men would kill for. From what Avaline had heard, that had actually happened. Carlisa had three husbands, and at least two of them had fought and killed others for the privilege of marrying her.
Despite all this, Carlisa looked the same age as Avaline. The older woman had reached the Energy Gathering stage before she turned twenty, meaning she would look young until the day she died. Despite her youthful appearance, Avaline knew that Carlisa was three hundred years old, and had reached the Golden Core stage a century ago. There was a real chance that she would reach the Nascent Soul stage within another century or two, which would make her the most powerful cultivator within the Myriad Rivers region.
The moment she appeared, Matriarch Carlisa marched over to Avaline and pulled her in for a hug. Avaline, used to the older woman’s ways, returned the embrace.
“Avaline!” Matriarch Carlisa cried out in a dramatic voice after they pulled apart. “Look at you, my dear! You’re simply withering away.”
“It’s a pleasure to see you too,” Avaline said in a dry voice. “You’re looking beautiful as always.”
“Of course I am,” Matriarch Carlisa said with a flip of her hair.
Avaline rolled her eyes and smiled at the older woman. Matriarch Carlisa pursed her lips in annoyance, but Avaline saw the smile in her eyes.
“Cordelia, please bring refreshments for our guest,” Avaline said.
Cordelia nodded and left the room. After she was gone, Avaline sat down and gestured for Matriarch Avaline to sit as well. The older woman took a seat on the couch across from hers, sitting down with a flourish. She then crossed her legs.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” Avaline asked, though she could guess.
It was likely another invitation for some kind of outing or social event.
“My clan is hosting a dinner tonight, and I would like you to go,” Matriarch Carlisa said. “You are an honored guest after all, and it would be a shame if you didn’t make an appearance.”
Just as Avaline thought.
“Matriarch Carlisa,” she said with a sigh. “While I appreciate the thought, I would rather stay in my rooms. I have no interest in going to this dinner, or anything other event.”
Matriarch Carlisa studied her for a moment before responding.
“Avaline, my dearest girl,” she said, leaning forward a little. “Forgive me if I’m overstepping my bounds, but I will tell you right now, this little ploy of yours isn’t going to work.”
Avaline frowned at this.
“What are you talking about?”
Matriarch Carlisa chuckled.
“You’re not fooling me, Avaline,” she said. “You’re languishing away in your rooms, hoping that if your father hears about how much you’re suffering, he’ll send for you and bring you back home.”
A jolt struck Avaline as Matriarch Carlisa summarized what she had been hoping to accomplish. While Sect Leader Trystan didn’t care about her as a person, he cared about her well being. She was an Immortal’s daughter after all, and a treasure that needed to be looked after. If she suffered and withered away because he had banished her from home, then he would be forced to bring her back.
Matriarch Carlisa smiled when she saw the expression on Avaline’s face.
“As I said, it won’t work,” she said. “Your attempts to get your father’s attention are…How shall I put this? Childish. Yes, that’s right. This attempt of yours is both immature and childish.”
Avaline’s face heated up with both anger and embarrassment. The only one who had ever dared to speak to her like this was Sect Leader Trystan, and that was because he was her father. Everyone else had always treated her with deference and respect. To call her immature and childish…It was an insult that could not be born.
Avaline stood up.
“You dare-…” She started to say, but Matriarch Carlisa cut her off.
“Avaline, my dear, your father left very explicit instructions,” the older woman said in a cold voice. “You are to stay in the Myriad Rivers region for a period of no less than five years. Nothing you say or do will change that.”
Matriarch Carlisa’s tone and expression caught Avaline off guard, and she could only gape at the older woman.
“That is why it is pointless to hide yourself away like this,” Matriarch Carlisa said, her expression softening. “The only one suffering here is you, and I hate to see you do this to yourself.”
At that moment, Cordelia returned carrying a tray with tea and cookies on it. She placed it on a nearby table and then made herself scarce.
Avaline, still stunned by Matriarch Carlisa’s words, barely paid attention to this. She fell back into her seat.
“It’s real,” she said, almost to herself. “This is all real. I won’t see my home for the next five years.”
A part of her hadn’t accepted her banishment. That part thought that she could find a way to reverse the situation and return home. The rest of her, however, had known that it was futile. She had just kept denying it.
“Oh, my dear,” Matriarch Carlisa crooned. She walked over and sat beside Avaline, pulling her into an embrace. “I know this is a difficult situation for one as young as yourself. However, instead of seeing it as a punishment, see it for the opportunity that it is.”
“What kind of opportunity?” Avaline asked in a cross voice. “This place-…”
She stopped herself before continuing further. To call Matriarch Carlisa’s home a backwater in the middle of nowhere, to the woman’s face, would be a grave insult. While Avaline didn’t like the Myriad Rivers region, to insult her host like this would be churlish. Besides, Matriarch Carlisa had been kind to her. She treated Avaline like…Well, she treated Avaline like a person. It grew tiresome to be treated as a priceless treasure all the time, or a dangerous menace, or an annoying nuisance. Avaline liked just being a person, even if it was only for a short while.
Thankfully, Matriarch Carlisa either didn’t notice Avaline’s near slip, or paid it no mind.
“To see more of the world of course,” she said instead. “To have new experiences, to view new vistas, to learn more about yourself in the process. This banishment is an opportunity for personal growth. You don’t want to be a delicate flower grown in a greenhouse, do you? It would be a shame to hide away your beauty like that.”
Avaline thought about it, before shaking her head. Deep in her heart, she wanted to be like her mother. Feared. Respected. Venerated.
“Exactly,” Madam Carlisa said. She pulled away a little and held Avaline’s hands in her own. “The first step to accomplishing this is to leave the nest, so to speak.” She gave Avaline a wry smile. “Or in your case, be pushed out.”
Avaline snorted, before letting out a sigh.
“Fine,” she said. “You win. I’ll go to this dinner of yours.”
“Excellent! You won’t regret this, darling Avaline. Who knows? You might meet someone that catches your interest.”
Avaline doubted that. Even if she did, she would do her best to avoid them. That was how she had gotten into this mess in the first place. She showed interest in someone and used her Beguiling Charm to catch his attention. Doing it again here, after she was already banished, was just asking for trouble.
But what if it was someone really interesting?
No. Stop that.
“Now then, my dear,” Matriarch Carlisa said. “We have a lot of work to do, and little time to do it in. I shall help you get ready for tonight. Follow me.”
With that, the River Heart Matriarch stood up and marched towards Avaline’s bedroom. Avaline shook her head and followed her. A warm happiness blossomed inside her heart.