Velaya froze. Even her mana pool sat with bated breath. She checked that the dark shield around her mind was still in place. It was. She’d been slowly feeding it mana for weeks. Magus Tessa could still breach it, but at least when she attempted to, Velaya could now sense the intrusion. It would give her warning, but still not react on its own to protect her. Staring at Rose, she had not received any warning. There was no Dark magic at play.

“How… I’m not sure I know… What are you,” Velaya stuttered.

Rose lightly squeezed Velaya’s knees. “Breathe, Princess.”

Velaya wasn’t aware she had stopped. She tried to catch her breath but it came in quick spurts.

“Relax Velaya,” Rose soothed, “It’s alright. Just breathe. Calm yourself.” Velaya managed to take a few deeper breaths. “That’s it.”

When Velaya’s breathing steadied, Rose stood and sat next to her on the bed, taking her hand into hers and squeezing it softly. Rose’s long, light fingers were a soft comfort to the storm raging within her head.

“The prophecy - it was made by my uncle,” Rose said softly and Velaya could only stare, her mouth agape. Rose squeezed her hand again. “He kept the original in his office and my cousins, sisters and I broke in one day on a dare. We found it but we were young and didn’t know what it meant. We were caught moments later and he administered his Dark magic to wipe it from our memories.” Velaya clung to every word, her eyes darting back and forth across Rose’s face. “But his spell didn’t work on me. He forbade me from ever speaking of it and I was terrified. Of his anger, and of what I’d read, so I agreed. I have not spoken of it since then to anyone. Yet, I still recall it, word for word as though imprinted within my mind.”

Velaya’s own mind was reeling, but she asked quietly, “How come his Dark magic didn’t work on you?”

Rose’s face broke into a sudden smile and she laughed - catching Velaya off guard.

“Princess, I may have just discovered your deepest secret and all you are concerned about is my magic?”

Velaya slumped. Why did she think to ask that first? Rose’s laughter filled the room. Filled her.

“I do not know why his Dark magic did not work on me. You’ve seen in our lessons that I bend to Magus Tessa’s.” Rose’s face scrunched, as though she was trying to remember something. “Although, interestingly enough, that was when my magic first manifested.”

Velaya shook her head. “Even still… I’m not sure what prophecy you speak of. There are many.”

“Really?” Rose’s eyes were bright. “You know nothing about a prophecy that speaks of a powerful Mage, a future Queen capable of cleansing the lands?”

Velaya said nothing, confirming they were in fact speaking of the same one. She didn’t know what to think. On one hand, she was relieved that someone else knew of it. Someone she trusted. Someone she could talk to about it. On the other, if Rose was aware of this prophecy and she’d steered the needle of the compass to point directly at her, it didn’t give her much hope that it was reserved for someone else.

Rose had been watching her quietly, and the laughter that had been in her face vanished. Replaced with compassion, her eyes soft.

“It’s why your brother is permitted to abdicate,” Rose’s voice was barely loud enough for Velaya to hear. “It’s why you’ve been recruited before you came of age. It’s why Ena and Tessa have worked so closely with you. It’s why Athone watches you everywhere you go.”

“No,” Velaya said quickly, “Athone has no idea.”

Rose’s head tilted to the side. Rose and Lilian liked to tease her about her friendship with Athone but the look she gave her now wasn’t the same obnoxious, knowing glances they’d waggle at her. No, now she just looked confused, as though trying to sort out something.

“You’re certain he does not know?” she eventually asked.

“Yes. Only my parents, and a few Magi here. I’m guessing your uncle is one of them?”

“Yes and I promise to introduce you when we see him.”

Velaya wasn’t sure she wanted to meet the man responsible for putting her directly in line to a throne she wrestled with wanting.

“Velaya, you’re shaking. I can feel your hand trembling.”

The concern in Rose’s voice warmed her. She felt as though the room was closing in on her but in the next moment, the walls were blown open and all the possibility of the world lay before her. The war of emotions welled with her; she couldn’t fight the tears that threatened at the corner of her eyes, the swelling of her throat and tongue. She forced her eyes closed. For sixteen years she’d never been able to talk freely about it with anyone. She was too afraid of disappointing those that knew. Those that looked at her as a beacon of hope and who always seemed to skip past the one word that she could never. She looked up at Rose, as a tear slipped over her cheek.

“I’m scared,” she breathed.

Rose let out a soft breath, closing her eyes briefly and reached over to pull Velaya against her shoulder, gently running her other hand down her golden hair.

“Talk to me, Princess,” Rose whispered.

And she did. She shared with Rose all her insecurities of how she didn’t want it to be about her. Or how the word “destruction” chased her to sleep every evening. How the thoughts of her magic, which had always been a comfort to her, may actually pose a threat. Through it all, Rose listened and offered a stability and support she’d never thought she would find.

~~~

You’re tired.

Magus Tessa’s voice resonated in her head.

As usual after her Dark lessons with her classmates, Velaya stayed behind to work with the Sorcerer instructor.

The season had started to turn in earnest, and the classroom felt more like a dungeon than ever before. The students were now wearing long charcoal grey overcoats to walk to and from the Tower and in their Dark lessons they often left them on.

Velaya had taken hers off and had discarded it by her bag, as tiny beads of sweat rolled down her back from having worked so hard to force Magus Tessa out of her mind and keep her out with her mental shield. She’d shown so much progress over the past weeks but today felt like she’d be teleportaled back to their first lesson.

Your focus is elsewhere.

Velaya’s jaw was clenched when she shot the Sorcerer a cold stare.

Magus Tessa seemed completely unaffected by the weather and wore her standard white blouse and dark grey breechers. She stood in the centre of the room, her hands clasped casually behind her back, her face indifferent.

Push me out, Miss Rosemore.

“I’m trying,” Velaya said, gritting her teeth.

She was tired. She’d been up most the night with Rose. Talking with her had been a mental release she didn’t know she needed. The problem now was that her body was in need of the same. Too many late nights and not enough sleep.

She was exhausted and reaching into her mana pool felt like dragging a cart through sand. It was there waiting, but every step towards it was laboured. Just as she reached for it, she felt Magus Tessa’s presence rescind on its own.

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Velaya’s shoulders slumped and she dropped her head, staring at the cold stone floor. The unfamiliar pangs of failure coursing through her. Soft clicking of the Magus’ boots on the stone grew louder until she was standing directly in front of her.

“I was under the impression the Mages of the first-year were to be allowed more time to rest,” Magus Tessa’s voice was firm. “Why is it that you have not made use of it?”

“I just… I haven’t been sleeping well is all,” Velaya said, not wanting to reveal more about her late nights with Rose, Otto and Ingrid.

“Are you having nightmares?”

Tessa’s voice was softer now, causing Velaya to look up and catch the concern in the slight wrinkle around her onyx eyes.

“No madam.”

The Sorcerer frowned fully then, her eyes penetrating in ways that her Dark magic never could.

“You’re to report to Magus Ossacus for a Soundless Sleep tonic,” Magus Tessa waved her hand in the air and a moment later a small scroll appeared within. She held it out towards Velaya. “These lessons are for not, if you are not willing to take care of yourself.”

Velaya snatched the scroll, perhaps a bit more aggressively than she had intended. If only Tessa knew that she was sacrificing her sleep by trying to take care of everyone affected by the Corruption. She turned on her heel without saying another word, grabbing her coat and slinging it over her shoulder along with her bag as she stormed out of the room.

“You alright?” Rose was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs.

“Where’s Athone?” Velaya huffed. It had been a few days since she last sparred with him or the twins. Her fatigue, along with her embarrassment at having wasted a lesson with Tessa, was replaced by anger and she needed an outlet for it.

“The Paladins were off this afternoon. They’re likely back at the dorms or heading to the Great Hall for dinner,” Rose said as the two of them left the Tower and made their way south.

A stream of students was steadily flowing towards the Great Hall and Velaya’s eyes landed on him immediately - he stood about a foot taller than most of them. Athone was walking with a few of his other classmates who were having an animated conversation. Their laughter carried across the yard as Velaya turned towards them, Rose on her heels.

“Hey Velaya,” Dylan Brokkr, a Paladin in Athone’s class, greeted her warmly.

Athone’s eyes snapped towards her, and she didn’t miss the quick assessment he gave running them up her body. Seemingly happy she was alive and well, he smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes and only she saw the hint of concern in them.

“What’s going on?” he said far too casually.

“I need you,” she said.

Athone’s brows shot up, and this time his smile did tip at the corners of his green eyes. She ignored the snicker from Rose, and the flush that traced around the back of her neck. “I need your help,” she corrected quickly.

“I’ll catch up with you lot in a bit,” Athone nodded towards Dylan and the others who continued towards the dining hall.

“What’s the matter?” Athone asked, once they’d moved away from the flow of students.

“I don’t know where Zyler is and I really need to hit someone right now,” Velaya grumbled, earning a laugh from Rose and another smile from Athone.

“Right now?” he drawled, his voice thick with amusement. “It’s almost dinner. Max said there was brisket on the menu.”

“Nevermind, I’ll go find Victor,” she said and turned back towards their dormitories before Athone reached out to grab her arm.

“I’m kidding, Vel. Come on, let’s head to the shore. Rose, there’s no one around to wager with, so you don’t have to stick around to witness this,” he said, winking at the pink haired elf.

“She’s staying,” Velaya said quickly, causing both of them to look at her, eyes wide in surprise.

“Ya… I don’t know that I need to watch this,” Rose said.

“Stay,” Velaya commanded. Rose’s eyes narrowed and she added, more gently, “Please.”

“What’s this all about anyway?” Athone asked.

Rose grabbed the crumpled up scroll from Velaya’s hand that she’d forgotten was there and looked at it quickly.

“Tessa ordered you to take a sleeping tonic?” she said, and Velaya’s face fully flushed.

Athone’s tone was sharp. “Are you not sleeping?”

Velaya waved her hand in the air, her eyes shooting daggers at Rose, who was unphased. “It’s nothing. I’ve just been staying up too late reading.”

“It’s not nothing if Tess is issuing this,” Athone said, and something about the casual way he referred to the Magus stoked the fire within her.

“Are you going to help me or not?” she snapped.

“Yes,” Athone said, and looped his arm around hers, steering her back in the direction of the Tower. “I’m going to take you to Magus Ossacus and you’re going to get that tonic. Rose is going to bring you back some food and you’re going to get a good night’s rest. Then we’ll see how you feel tomorrow about me kicking your ass.”

Rose chuckled from behind them as Velaya made a poor attempt at removing his arm from hers. She elected for the silent treatment the rest of the way there as the three of them entered the Tower and took the stairs down the right to the infirmary.

Her mana pool suddenly lurched within her and she could feel her Dark shield reacting. She froze and Athone and Rose stopped with her. She knew something was wrong immediately.

The infirmary was empty. Velaya had spent enough Sundays there now to know that students, Magi and alumni alike were always coming and going with some variety of ailment. It was unsettling and eerily quiet.

“Where is everyone?” Rose whispered.

Even the back office, behind the half wall, was still. No eyes popped out or heads bobbed around back and forth.

Velaya was familiar with the space and knew that behind the office wall, at the back of the room, were additional surgery rooms and storage facilities. She led the way towards them.

“Maybe they’re at dinner?” Athone offered lightly - failing to recognize that something wasn’t right.

“You did say it was brisket, right?” Rose said, and Athone grinned at her.

“Quiet, both of you. Do you hear something?” Velaya hushed.

They fell silent, stopping three quarters of the way into the room to listen.

A low sound that raised the hairs on Velaya’s neck could be heard from one of the rooms in the back. It sounded human, or elf - a soft moaning, slow and pained.

The three of them looked at one another, a silent understanding passing between them as they crept more softly towards the back of the infirmary. They passed the lower wall and the sounds grew louder. There was a clinking of metal rattling against stone coming from what Velaya knew was an operating room. There was no window on the door but light from the cracks indicated it was in use.

“Maybe we should leave,” Rose whispered and Velaya wanted to agree but Athone had already put his hand on the knob and was pushing the door open. He didn’t crack it open more than a sliver but it was enough for the three of them to see.

It was a small operating room but instead of a metal bed, a large stone table took up the majority of space. Chains sprouted from within the stone’s centre and tangled their way up towards the arms, legs and torso of a male body laying on top.

The human male’s arms were covered in scars, some old and some very fresh. His skin was pale, as though it hadn’t touched sunlight in years, and his bulged, dark black veins spidered under the surface. His head was rolled to the side and facing towards something on the ground behind the stone table. At the crack of the door opening, it rotated around to look over. Across his forehead was another restraint moored into the stone below. His eyes proved the most unsettling - they were wide and the whites were completely black. He rolled his head back towards the floor again.

That’s when Velaya saw him. The moaning wasn’t from the man on the table but from someone who laid sprawled on the ground beyond it. She could make out long arms and legs and a white apron. Magus Ossacus.

Rose recoiled backwards, and Athone pushed the door open further, as Velaya rushed into the room.

Velaya skidded to a halt and dropped to the floor next to the healer. His arms were bleeding, with fresh cuts and scratches but his head had the worst of it. A deep wound was slowly staining his powder blue hair red.

Athone had followed her into the room and was standing above her, staring down at the man on the table. Everything about his posture was rigid.

Rose remained at the doorway, her mouth and eyes wide in horror.

“Rose!” Velaya called out, snapping her out of her stupor. “Rose, go get help.”

Rose nodded and fled the room, her boots pounding against the stone as she raced through the infirmary.

“Athone, come help me.”

Athone turned from the table and crouched across from her on the other side of Ossacus’ body. Their eyes met above him. There was no need to say out loud what this was. They knew. The King and Queen of Ayradora had finally granted Manatide Tower with a human subject of the Corruption for their trials.