Aurora faded in and out of consciousness, her leg burning in pain, then dowsed by salves. In one particular lapse of sleep, she forced her eyes half-open. Then she saw him.

Soren was brushing her hair back, stroking her cheek. “You have to stay with me, Aurora. I swear I’ll hunt whoever hurt you down and kill them. This is not how I’m losing you.” His voice breaks. She tried to blink sleepily, but her eyes closed against her will. The last thing Aurora felt was his lips on her forehead and his words against her soul. “You’re strong. You’ll get through this. Magic is not about to take you from me.” Then she fell into oblivion, a dark mass of dreamless sleep.

*•*•*•*•*•*•*

“Then the Shattered Crown was broken apart into pieces, and scattered all throughout the-”

“Narrating stories again? I already told you it’s a waste of time. Don’t cloud Lyria’s brain with stuff like that.”

Aurora strided through her chambers, heading straight for the walk-in closet. Her thigh was wrapped in bandages to slow the flow of the blood pouring from the wound. The healers had some trouble healing it, because it was caushed by- rune magic.

Aurora still had a hard time comprehending that, because it just wasn’t possible. The thoughts were rapidly ricocheting off the barrier that was screaming, “No! This goes against everything you’ve ever known!”

Casimir - his identity was just barely concealed in her memories, she knew he was important somehow - shouldn’t have been able to do that.

Rune magic was one of the most dangerous magics in the kingdom. Other magics– sceptic magic, enchantments, enhancing magic, and more - were allowed, although sometimes frowned upon. But rune magic? If you were caught using it, you were killed on the spot. Sometimes, you were brought to the lowest dungeons in the palace and beat bloody till you were begging for mercy, to be killed. It was… torturous, to say the least, and a death wise to even consider using it. So for Casimir and Lyn to be using it, it was quite dangerous indeed - especially since they were already smuggling ancient scrolls. Honestly, they were just asking for it.

She hadn’t told anyone yet, though, and the wound was mostly healed with one of the more powerful elixirs. It wasn’t completed, but it was slowly and steadily finishing.

“Aur Aur! Aur Aur’s back!” Lyria cried as she jumped off the tall boy’s lap and waddled over to her big sister as fast as she could. She had the same green eyes as Aurora, but brown hair instead. Chocolate, caramel, cinnamon…

Aurora softened at the sight of her and picked her up, handling the small five year old girl with ease, as she had done countless times before. She tickled Lyria and smiled at her giggles. “What nonsense has he been telling you now, Sunny?”

Soren laughed, rose from the couch, and walked over to where the girls were. Lyria reached out and tugged on the strands of his chestnut brown hair. Aurora vaguely recalled wisps of memory of Soren by her bedside in the Healing Center, but it must have been a dream.

“It’s not nonsense, Rory,” he protested. “It’s our ancient past.” He saw her skeptical expression and sighed. “Myths, if you prefer. It’s harmless fun.”

Aurora rolled her eyes. “It’s useless, that’s what it is. It’s polluting Lyria’s mind and she’s so young.”

Soren frowned. “Just because you’re stiff and old-fashioned doesn’t mean your sister has to be. It’s not useless pollution, Aurora, it’s stories that will make her a great princess when she’s older.” Better than you.

Aurora stilled. It was bad enough the things she thought people were saying. If anyone else had said it, she would’ve brushed off the pang and said, “Who cares what they think? I’m doing what I can and that’s all I can do.” But from Soren? Her best friend since before she could remember?

Without turning around, she said quietly, “Well, we wouldn’t want Lyria growing up to be like her stiff and old fashioned sister.”

Lyria peered at her worriedly and poked Aurora’s cheeks with her tiny fingers. “Aur Aur looks sad.” Aurora tried to smile at the child, but it was weak and didn’t reach her eyes.

The irritation in Soren’s eyes instantly melted away and they widened in regret. “Rory-”

“No, you’re right. I have to change my clothes, and then my schedule’s packed until the evening.” She set Lyria down gently and Lyria pouted at her.

“I thought you said you’d play with me,” she said sadly. Lyria wanted Aurora to spend time with her– she’d been asking for weeks now.

Aurora swallowed. “I’m sorry, sugar. Another time, I promise. Soren will play with you.”

“Again?” mumbled Lyria, toddling away with her head low.

“Rory, I’m sorry, I-” Soren started, trying to catch hold of her shoulder. But Aurora shook him off and disappeared into the walk-in closet, closing the door.

She tried to clear her mind and took off the training wear that was sticking to her tan skin, wincing at how much mud, dirt, and sweat there was on it from the chase through the forest. She searched through her enormous array of clothes and silently appreciated how much her maid Ella took care of her, before she put on a royal blue tunic and uniform pants.

Then Aurora slumped against the cold mirror and tried to not let her exhaustion overtake her. She stared into her reflection in the glass mirrors surrounding her, looked at her ashy blonde hair and eyes as green as poison ivy. Like her, if you got too close. But she didn’t want to be. Who wanted to be so cold, people were afraid to get close to them? Who wanted to be so lonely, so void of touch from anyone?

She could see the shadows under her eyes and there was still so much to do. But it was expected of the Princess Aurora to fulfill her duty, no matter what it took.

But what about the young girl inside that was breaking so much that even her best friend didn’t like her anymore? The young girl begging to be free from these binding chains, this loyalty to her role as the heir of the Kingdom of Luxemere?

What about Rory?

*•*•*•*•*•*•*

Soren groaned outside of Rory’s chambers, dragging a hand through his hair. Great, Soren. You’ve done it now. Might as well hand yourself a medal for biggest idiot alive. By the moons, he was insensitive. And now Rory was hurt and it was all his fault. “Mess it up with my best friend while she’s already going through a hundred other things, that’s what I do.”

He knew she had been going through so much stress lately– she never told him, like the stubborn and independent girl she was, but he knew. Staying up late, shadows under her eyes, the way she slumped from her high-held stance when she thought no one was looking. He knew.

And now he had gone and hurt her when she was overthinking everything, about some of the things she was most insecure of. And when she was hurt! With that magic injuring her thigh, she was in pain, and he caused her more pain, a fact that he hated himself for. What a great lumbering idiot he was.

Soren was so lost in his thoughts that he almost didn’t notice Rory walking out of her chambers, not realizing he was in the hall. She was wearing a fitted royal blue tunic and ankle-high boots, a determined expression on her face. Sometimes she was… a stunning sight to take in, at the least.

Quit staring at the beauty in front of you and feeling sorry for yourself, you big buffoon! Go talk to her.

He snapped out of it and hurried over to her, taking her arm. She whirled around, alarmed, instinctively taking a battle stance. Soren’s eyes widened and he brought her arms down. When she realized it was him, she instantly dropped the position. “Rory, wait. Please.” Her medallion knocked against her collarbone. From here, right in front of Rory, Soren had to tilt his head down to look at her. Rory was shorter than him, but she was far from childish.

“If this is about what you said, I-”

“No!” He burst out. “I mean- yes, it’s about what I said, but I’m not letting you brush it off. I was an idiot.”

“Surprise, surprise,” Rory muttered and Soren rolled his eyes.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Shut up and let me apologize. I didn’t mean anything I said. You’re not stiff, you’re not old-fashioned, you’re not cold. You’re not any of those things. I just got mad when you kept telling me that our stories are useless. They’re not, mind you - but what I said was wrong, and everyone gets to have their opinions.”

Rory blinked and crossed her arms. “Okay… you know you don’t have to apologize for something that’s true?” She started to turn away again.

Soren wanted to jump up and down or maybe hit a wall in frustration. Gods, this girl… “Princessa! Stubborn as a mule,” he groaned and pivoted her back around, holding her firmly in place. He tilted her chin up to look at his face as she leaned into his touch ever so slightly, and she saw a fire behind his smoky gray eyes. “Listen. You are the warmest, kindest, smartest, most adjustable person I’ve met. Why do you think I wanted to be your friend? Because you’re Crown Princess?” Rory shook her head silently. “Exactly. I didn’t care about any of those social statuses, they can go rot in Bulhorra’s Den for all I care. I wanted to be your friend because you’re Rory. The most important person in my life to me. Don’t forget that, no matter what I say. Ever. I’m so sorry.”

Rory was speechless. Stunned speechless. Soren looked at her wide eyes, parted lips, the flush on her cheeks. And then she nodded, ever so slowly, and a smile bloomed on her mouth. He fixed things. He fixed things, thank Iline. “Okay. I won’t.” She ducked her head, grinning and Soren couldn’t help a smile as he pulled her into his arms for a quick hug.

“Good,” he mumbled, inhaling her scent. He buried his face in her hair. Mmm. Bliss. A shiver ran through her and he smiled. After a few seconds, he pulled away although he could’ve stayed there for much longer. “So what happened with the smugglers? Who hurt you? Just tell me their names and they’ll regret every single decision they’ve ever made-”

“Soren,” Rory laughed. “Stop.” Soren nodded sheepishly. “I got their names - the scroll smugglers. Casimir and Lyn. Casimir paid Lyn an insane amount of tokens he shouldn’t have had. Then I was about to escape but then a stupid vase shattered-”

“Did you step on it? Any shards stuck in your foot?” Soren interrupted.

She gave him a look. “No. Now shut up if you want me to finish.” Soren sighed but agreed. “So then I ran out into the forest while they chased me. But then Casimir… used rune magic.”

Soren froze. “What? How?”

Rory hesitated. “I… don’t know. It shouldn’t be possible. Rune magic faded from everyone when Father banned it. But Casimir did. He tried to trap me in fire but I got out. It injured my thigh, though.”

How dare he? Soren’s eyes flashed with anger. “We’ll find him,” he muttered.

“And then I managed to lose them and used the medallion for the secret passage you showed me. You saved my life with that, Ren. Thanks,” said Rory sincerely.

Soren played it down, “It’s fine. You would’ve found it anyway. But… by Aurelin, that’s a lot to take in. That changes everything.” He ran a hand through his hair. It was true– this tilted the world because it changed everything that could be done and-

“I know. And now I have to go narrate that same thing to the Circle.” He said something the Circle could go do with themselves and Rory snorted in laughter. “They could, but they’re probably too busy to do that. Except for Garnoy. He could definitely do that. But Ren, I have to go.”

“Five minutes?” Soren murmured.

“I can’t. I’m about to be late. I’ll hang out with you and Lyria later, okay?”

Soren pouted playfully and gave her a little push reluctantly. “Fine,” he dragged out.

Rory smiled up at him. He grinned back down at her, but that smile lingered in his mind for more than it probably should’ve. “See you, Soren.” How can I feel this good when she says my name? I just want to drown in her voice. Even though she’s going to Aurion and I’m going to the Underworld.

“Bye, Rose.” Rory rolled her eyes at the short nickname from an old fairytale from ages past. Then she walked away, casting a last glance at Soren over her shoulder before disappearing around the corner. Soren watched her go and when she was gone, he slumped against the wall. He dragged a hand across his face, looking up to Aurion. “Farrah, save me. Something’s happening to me… and I’m too scared to admit what I know it is.”

*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*

Slivers of gold lined the walls, all leading up to a glass circular table. Decorations adorned each chair around the table, and there was a gold and silver cushioned throne at the top.

Aurora was still smiling from her encounter with Soren. Gods, that boy…

She hesitated a beat on the threshold and glanced down at her medallion, reminding herself of her duty. Duty comes before everything, idiot. Remember that.

Everything but Soren.

She tried to clear her mind and thought of jasmines and flowers, one of her mother’s things she kept with her. One of the things that got her through nights of crying in Soren’s arms.

King Alderran and his Officials were already waiting, seated at their respective chairs. “Late again,” muttered Garnoy, sneering. Aurora’s expression flattened. She didn’t know how the King tolerated him or had him as a Circle member, let alone keep him as his left hand Official.

Garnoy was simply insufferable, constantly talking back and contradicting anyone who even spoke up, including the King. His alliances were suspicious too– he was always trying to ally with some reformed organization that slipped up sometimes. It was an annoyance, to say the least.

The King looked at his daughter and smiled warmly, but she saw the strain in his expression. Lately, there’d been so many rebellions and crimes, and it was hard to keep track of everything.

“Aurora,” her father said quietly. “Come sit down, Bluebird.”

Bluebird? The pet name only slipped out in private, never in front of anyone. If he didn’t even realize… things must be worse than she thought. But she’d been handling everything… right?

She sat down in her chair next to the King. “Report?” Her father asked, as usual in every Circle meeting they had. The officials looked intently at her and she began explaining the entire thing.

The King looked relieved that the scroll smugglers were caught, and then looked alarmed when she narrated the chase. But when the rune magic came up, there were collective intakes of breath from the entire table and then stunned silence.

Then chaos broke out.

The Officials started shouting and clamoring for attention, all wanting their point to be heard. But no one could even be heard over the glass-shattering noise in the room. All their voices mixed together and one of them, Hybril, stood up on his chair and stamped his feet. Many soon followed and then there was something thrown at an Official by someone else.

“Impossible!” Hybril shouted. “This could not have happened!”

“Exactly,” Garnoy hissed in agreement for once. “Rune magic is forbidden. Aurora must be making this up, for drama or- or attention! She’s eighteen, of course she would!” Excuse me? I may be eighteen but I know and do more than you ever will.

“That’s Princess Aurora to you,” another Official, Seraphine snapped. “Treat her with respect. And Her Highness knows what she’s talking about, do you really want her to display the injury on her thigh to prove it? Disgusting,” Seraphine muttered. Garnoy had the grace to turn red and he shook his head.

“Your Majesty, what can we do?” Official Edwin said worriedly. “This changes so much, and we’re not even-”

“More alliances. More, more, more,” Nurio repeated.

“But we should keep this a secret, no?” Seriel cried. “This shouldn’t get out of this room! Anyone who is found spilling confidential information shall be beheaded!”God, this wasn’t Alice in Wonderland! Was he living in a fairy tale?

The King put his hands to his head, his face scrunching up. Aurora sent a searing glare towards everyone, which immediately shut them up, even Garnoy who scowled but kept quiet. They got down from the chairs and righted everything that had toppled over or had been thrown, trying to maintain their dignity and acting like this was all normal. Honestly, it sort of was.

“Rune magic?” said King Alderran hoarsely, after a long silence.

Aurora nodded gravely and she confirmed, “Rune magic. I know what I saw. If you don’t believe me, my scar does.” And there was no way in the Underworld she was ever showing it to Garnoy or any other Official.

“I forbade it,” King Alderran muttered to himself. “I forbade it, it shouldn’t have… oh, Farrah. If they knew how to use rune magic, we’re all dead.”

“Wait, I don’t think they do,” Aurora quickly said, if only to ease her father’s state of mind. “When Casimir drew the runes, they were really abstract. Almost like he was inexperienced in it. And if this had been happening from long before, we would’ve heard something. But it’s been quiet. So either it’s only been a short while, maybe a few weeks, or he just discovered he had it.”

King Alderran looked up at her, bearing a contemplative expression. “Indeed. Indeed, Aurora, that is true. This is why you’re my right side, what would I do without you?” He squeezed her hand gratefully. “So we still have time. Time to prepare… gather defenses… undercover operations…” he spoke under his breath.

One of the Officials, Edwin started to speak, “Your Majesty-”

But then the doors opened and Aurora glanced curiously at the incomer.

Her breath caught and in a second, she was up and across the room, holding a blade to his throat and shouting. “Guards!”

The guards immediately rushed to their princess, surrounding the man who was being held at knifepoint against the wall, looking fearful for his life and completely clueless. “P-Princess!”

The King stood. “Aurora! What’s the meaning of this?” He crossed to the entrance and pushed past the guards. “This is Ferihn, you grew up with him! He taught you everything you know except training! What are you doing?”

“Ferihn?” Aurora growled, her pulse pounding. Now she knew where she had seen him before. That same twitch in his step, the same facial structure, the same streaks in his hair. It all clicked.

“This isn’t Ferihn. This is the man who used forbidden rune magic, who tried to kill me. This is Casimir.”