Elshana woke the next morning in a whirlpool of regret. She tugged at what was left of her hair in a desperate attempt to make it grow longer. “Oh no no no no no no,” she muttered to herself. “I look like a five-year-old boy.”

Vashti entered the bedchamber and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Elshana. “What dark spirit compelled you to commit such an atrocity on your head?”

“Mazidi gave me a Harmony Ceremony last night and she cut my hair but it still felt too long so…this happened.”

“You’re in no condition to meet the king,” Vashti said. “Wait here while I get you a wig.”

In all the commotion, Elshana had somehow managed to forget that she was going with Isidro to meet King Tanno. By the sound of it, Isidro had some major daddy issues. She wondered what sort of events had transpired between them and if the rift was one that was too deep to heal.

“Found one,” Vashti said, tossing Elshana a thick, blond wig. “Put this on and be in the front garden in ten minutes. Prince Isidro is waiting for you in his carriage.”

Elshana slipped on her shonjan—which still felt like a foreign object—and hurried to where Isidro was waiting for her. His covered carriage had been adapted for his wheelchair. There was a ramp instead of steps and one of the benches had been removed so he could ride in the carriage without getting out of his wheelchair. When Elshana climbed into the carriage and sat across from him, he was at a loss for words.

“It’s a long story,” Elshana said as the carriage lurched forward. “Basically, I’m an idiot.”

Isidro rested his chin in his hand. “We’re going to be here a while. Tell me what happened.”

While pulling at the ends of the itchy wig, Elshana told him everything. She expected him to call her an idiot, to tell her that her behavior was unbecoming of a mage, but he didn’t.

“When you cut your hair, did you feel liberated?” he asked.

“Yes,” Elshana said without hesitation. “Like I was being let out of a cage.”

“Then be proud.”

Isidro gently removed the wig from Elshana’s head and tossed it out the window. “Don’t be embarrassed,” he said with a hint of a smile. “It looks good.”

“You’re just saying that so I feel better,” Elshana pouted.

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“I’m not the type of person who says things I don’t mean,” Isidro replied. And Elshana knew he was right. He let out a slow sigh. “It pains me to ask my father for help in this matter. Last time I mentioned Kerrim to him he told me I was making a big deal out of something that was nothing more than an old wives’ tale.”

“Well now there’s proof,” Elshana said. “Just look at what Kerrim did to the training grounds.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Isidro replied. “Still, my father chooses to believe what he wants to believe. If he doesn’t think Kerrim is a threat then that’s that.”

The carriage ride continued with little conversation. Elshana didn’t dare pry into Isidro’s personal life, and it’s not like he would’ve let her anyway. A few hours later, the palace appeared on the horizon. Isidro’s estate looked like a portable toilet compared to the grandeur of the palace. The property was so extensive that Elshana thought it may be bigger than Cinder City itself. Despite being at what had to be the most magnificent building in the world, Isidro looked like he’d rather be in the shadow realm. Elshana would soon find out why.

Guards ushered Isidro and Elshana into King Tanno’s throne room. King Tanno sat on a golden throne, the back of which extended all the way into the ceiling. Noting the king's mop of blond hair, Elshana realized Isidro must’ve gotten his dark locks from his mother. But the striking green eyes they shared made it obvious they were related.

“Why have you come here?” King Tanno asked. His voice was eerily similar to Isidro’s. “In case you haven’t noticed, I have a kingdom to run. I don’t have time for childish nonsense.”

Isidro kept his composure as he pushed himself closer to his father. “Father, Kerrim’s plan to fuse the shadow realm and the human realm is the biggest threat Vekoba, no, the world has ever faced. We need to use every resource available in order to stop him.”

King Tanno rolled his eyes. “You bothered me with this useless information once before. Why do you think I’ve changed my mind?”

“There was a documented shadow wolf attack in the heart of Cinder City,” Isidro explained. “Fortunately, the threat was subdued by a shadow mage. I even brought her here today.” Isidro motioned for Elshana to stand beside him. “This is Elshana, the first shadow mage of this realm in 1000 years.”

“I don’t care if she’s the first shadow mage in all of history,” King Tanno said. He stood up and walked towards Isidro, his fists clenched. “As I said many years ago, I will not assist you in any endeavor nor ensure you secede me to the throne until you can walk.”

Isidro gripped the wheels of his chair. “Father, you know I’ve tried so hard to rid myself of this wretched device. But—”

“Try harder,” King Tanno interjected. “You’re lucky I let you have your little estate even though all you do is sit around all day.”

Before Isidro could say anything else, King Tanno said, “As long as you’re a lame man, no one will take you seriously. Do you really think you can rule the most powerful kingdom in the world if you can’t even stand at your own coronation? Give me a break.” He turned around and walked back to his throne. “Leave this palace immediately. Do not return until my demands are met.”

Isidro didn’t argue with his father. Once he and Elshana were back in the carriage, a thick silence grew between them. It wasn’t until they were halfway back to the estate that Elshana worked up the courage to speak.

“Isidro,” she began, “why can’t you walk?”

Isidro didn’t look at her. “When I was ten years old, an assassin disguised as a servant attempted to poison my father’s water. But the poison was placed in the wrong goblet and given to me instead.” He shuddered at the memory. “The medicine they gave me for the poison weakened the bones and joints in my legs. And even though I’ve had dozens of surgeries and countless sessions with the best healers in the world, my legs are about as useful as two broken toothpicks.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“My mother supported me, but when she died, my father sent me to live on the estate,” Isidro explained. “Now the only difference between me and a commoner is that I still have the title of prince.”

“You shouldn’t believe a word your father says about you,” Elshana said. “You’re more than capable of being a great king someday, wheelchair and all.”

“There’s no point in lying to myself,” Isidro said. “I know what people think of me. I’d be laughed off the throne in no time.”

Elshana scooted to the end of her bench and pulled Isidro into a hug. “Don’t say such terrible things about yourself,” she said, adding a gentle, “please.”

It took a few seconds for Isidro to hug her back. His arms were strong from years of pushing his chair, and his skin was warm and smelled of the pine trees that grew all around the estate. “You have a good heart, Elshana,” he said. “I hope this world never takes it from you.”