“Lady Velaya? Miss, are you awake yet?”

Velaya’s eyes flew open as her body jolted forward. Where was she? What time was it?

At some point in the earliest hours of the morning, after tossing and turning restlessly she had eventually fallen into a fitful sleep. A soft rapping on the door continued.

“Your grace?”

Glittery rays of morning sunlight danced into the room from a nearby open window and the baying of gulls from the harbour beyond dragged her back to her senses. The day she would leave the comforts of her life behind had finally dawned.

“Yes, I’m up,” she called out to the housekeeper. “I’ll just be a minute.”

Smiling to herself, she threw the lush covers aside and rose from the grand four poster bed. She made her way across the room into the adjoining bathing chamber where she washed up quickly. Her hair was still wet when she braided it into one long strand over her shoulder. When she returned to the bedroom, she made her way past the wardrobe to a large armchair sitting in front of the room’s hearth and where she had laid her uniform out the previous evening. After sliding into the plain, full-length charcoal coloured breeches, she put on the accompanying white blouse and then pulled the dark grey matching woollen sweater overtop. She strapped a wide black belt around her waist then pulled on a pair of basic dark leather boots. She completed the look by donning the deep violet cloak.

In direct contrast to the simplicity of the rest of the outfit, the cloak was quite the spectacle. It was made of the most unique fabric she had ever touched. It was inexplicably light and as she ran the edges of it over her hand, it felt like water gently cascading through her fingers. Despite this, it sat with an odd but strangely satisfying weight across her shoulders. Along the hem was an intricately embroidered design of moons, suns, trees, stars, and flames all twisted and stiched together in a sparkling silver thread that ran the entire length of the cloak. The symbols represented the five different types of spellcasters.

The whole ensemble was the standard for all who attended Manatide Tower. The school supplied everyone with the same vestments and supplies. It was expected that you would arrive with no personal belongings. The school provided everything you needed. This was done intentionally. All students of Manatide were treated the same. Race, titles, properties, wealth, connections - none of it mattered. Only one's ability to perform magic would set you apart from another. Or so they wanted everyone to believe.

After a final glance in the mirror along the side of the wardrobe, Velaya pulled open the bedroom door and took a step out into the hall without looking back.

The housekeeper, an older frail lady named Nora, who had called on her earlier, was waiting for her and smiled politely when she approached.

“Good morning milady,” she said, “I must say, the Tides suit you well.”

Velaya smiled. She couldn’t agree more. She’d traditionally worn costly tailored dresses in the Bellaurose colours of navy blue, in tribute to their love of the sea, but wearing the school uniform, or the Tides as it was affectionately known, felt more right to her than any luxurious dress ever had.

“Have you got everything you need?” Nora asked.

“Yes and I’ve left the rest of my things in the wardrobe.”

“Not to worry, miss, we’ll see to it and ensure it’s loaded aboard Lord Doriel’s ship,” said the housekeeper as she turned and led them down the hall.

“Thank you.” The smile slipped from her face. In her rushed excitement she had nearly forgotten what it meant to attend Manatide Tower. She would only have a few more hours with Doriel.

When they arrived at the great hall, Nora stopped but instead of pulling open the doors she turned to Velaya.

“Milady, please forgive my brashness, but I was hoping to ask something of you.”

“How may I help?”

“My granddaughter, Tessa Fyreer, is currently studying at Manatide. I have not seen her in months. Would you be able to deliver this to her?” She reached into her pocket and held out a small package.

Velaya hesitated. They weren’t supposed to bring anything with them.

“I understand if you are not abl-”

“Of course I will,” she cut her off, taking the package from her and placing it in her own pocket. It was surprisingly heavy and Velaya wondered for a moment what it could be. As far as she knew, the housekeeper had always been at Castle Valreale and had tended to her each time she visited. She figured it was the least she could do for her.

“Thank you,” Nora beamed. “Ever since you were wee, you’ve always had a kind heart, Lady Velaya. It’s nice to see that has not changed. Now come, you don’t want to start your first day on an empty stomach!”

Nora opened the doors to the hall and bowed to Velaya as she walked by, then closed the doors behind her.

The table was laden with a wide spread of various pastries, jams and fruits and large jugs of juices, milk, water and tea. Doriel was the only one there, sitting at the far end, eating a buttered pastry and pouring over a bunch of maps and charts. He looked up when she entered.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

She froze, soaking in the sight of him, committing him to memory. Faint shadows were under his blue eyes and his brows pinched in at the sides. His lips were tight but tucked up slightly in the corners. She noticed him swallowing a few times. She could feel her own eyes prickling and the lump that had suddenly appeared within her throat ached as much as her throbbing heart did.

“Don’t you dare,” he warned. He was smiling now, but his voice was more gravelley than normal.

She didn’t say anything but walked directly to him. He stood when she approached, and she wrapped her arms around his waist. He pulled her in closer, tucking her head under his chin. The familiar scent of salted ocean breezes wafted off of him. They stood there quietly holding each other.

“You’ve no idea how much I’m going to miss you tormenting me,” he said, finally pulling himself away.

She smiled up at him and he reached over to wipe the tear that had trickled down her cheek.

“Just you wait,” she said.

He laughed quietly and he flipped the hood of her cape up over her head. It fell below her eyes.

“Come, you need to eat something,” he said as he took his seat and fixed his attention back to the papers in front of him.

She lowered the hood, sitting next to him and began pulling the confections towards her, surprised by how hungry she was.

“What are you doing?” she asked, a plate full of food later. Her mouth was full of chocolate.

Doriel looked up at her and frowned, “You haven’t been wearing the Tides for more than an hour and you’ve already abandoned all decorum. Mother would be so disappointed.”

She stuck out her tongue and he laughed again. She didn’t know anyone who laughed as much as Doriel Rosemore.

“You recall how I was plotting a series of small islands off the southwestern coast of Elyzeme?” he asked and she nodded, “Well, we've heard reports of ships going missing near them and I want to investigate.”

“Have you any theories?”

“Three of them. It’s possible they were just novice sailors. The waters there were quite turbulent from what I remember. So it wouldn’t surprise me if they just ran aground. The other two are a bit more… concerning.”

He paused to take a sip of tea. He did not seem the least bit concerned.

“The other two?” she pushed.

“That the islands aren't deserted and something or someone has taken up residence there. Or that there’s some sort of beast lurking below the waters.”

A wave of dread crashed over her, “Doriel, you-”

“I have to go, Vel. There's no one else to spare for it, and despite what people say, I do care for our Kingdom. I will not leave us exposed to a threat from the seas, even if it’s currently far from our shores. We have to know what is happening down there.”

“You be careful. That’s all I was going to say,” she said, not entirely truthfully.

She had wanted to demand he refuse to go, that it was far too dangerous. But he was right. He’d endure the criticism of those who questioned his loyalty to Bellaurose but she knew how deeply he cared for their people. He was a man of action and if there was a threat from the ocean, there was no one in Aesor better suited to deal with it than Doriel Rosemore.

“I can’t wait to read all about it,” she said, receiving another one of her favourite smiles. “And remember, you promised me.”

“Promised what?” Athone said, startling both of them.

“You’ve got to stop doing that!” she cried.

Athone grinned and he strolled in from a door at the back of the room that led to the kitchens. He too was wearing his Tides, the brilliant purple cloak popping against the greys of his sweater and trousers. Perhaps there was some merit to the uniform afterall. Compared to how he looked the other night, this stripped down version more closely resembled the young, carefree boy she had grown up knowing.

“Somehow she roped me into having to write to her at all hours of the day. I don’t believe I’ll ever sleep again,” Doriel said. He stretched his arms out, smacking her gently in the shoulder as he raised them over his head and yawned obnoxiously.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’m not going to miss you at all,” she said, swatting his arm away.

Athone approached the table and began to casually flip through Doriel’s maps and notes.

“Not anything you need to worry yourself about, pupil,” Doriel mocked, as he gathered the piles of papers together. “Don’t you have somewhere better to be? Should you not be kissing your parents goodbye?”

Athone looked as though he was going to say something vulgar and Velaya stepped in, “Where are they anyway?”

“They were called away,” Athone said.

“Where to?” Doriel asked, rolling the documents up and stuffing them into a satchel next to him.

“They didn’t say. Apparently with me going to Manatide today they didn’t think it would matter to keep me informed,” he said, pouring himself a cup of water. Velaya tuned in to the bitter edge his voice took.

Doriel frowned at him, “They’re not wrong. A lot can happen in a few weeks, let alone the four years you’ll be completely secluded from society.”

Velaya’s attention shot to Athone, “Do you not plan to return here at all during our studies?”

“I agreed to focus on my schooling. I don’t want to risk becoming too distracted,” he downed the water in one swig.

“But you’re so close! It’s only right across the bay,” she said pointing towards the windows behind her. Most students would have to travel far across Aesor to attend school, leaving them unable to return home except for during the longer summer break in between the school years.

“I think an extended period of time away from my parents will serve me well,” Athone said.

“It does for me,” Doriel chuckled, earning a glare from Velaya.

“You forget how young she is, Dor.”

Velaya rounded on Athone. How dare he scratch on one of the insecurities that had kept her up most of the night.

Doriel stood suddenly, placing himself between them. “Well if you’ve already said your goodbyes to them, then perhaps we should get going?”

Athone winked at her and grabbed an apple from the table. He brushed it against his cloak and then pocketed it, “Ready when you are.”

“Vel? You’re glowing,” Doriel said.

Surprised, she looked down at her hands to see a blue aura emanating from them. She didn’t remember clenching her fists, and she had completely missed the sudden rush of mana gathering within her. She quickly tampered it. When she looked back up at Athone, she caught the delight dancing in his eyes. Doriel seemed less than impressed.

“Forgive me, I meant no offence,” Athone said, “and my parents did wish to extend their regards to you personally but you were still in your room when they left.”

Doriel pulled a gold pocket watch attached to a long metallic chain from his vest’s pocket, “It was for the best that she got some sleep.” He analysed the clock’s face for a second before tucking it back away and turning to Velaya. “However, we should leave soon if you want to make it to the docks in time. I did promise to get you to school on time, and in one piece.”

“I’m ready,” she pushed the half eaten plate of food away, no longer hungry and stood. Together, the three of them left Valreale Castle.