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“How… How did you do this so fast?”
I had only turned around for a moment to wish Gaelenod a brief goodbye until morning, but when I turned around - an entire camp had sprouted from nothing. The little rocky clearing was now home to two neat black canvas tents, doors tied open so that I could see bedding neatly folded in each. Lumo was sitting on the previously rolled log, idling poking the fire - just as I had left him.
“Is it… is it too much?” he chuckled. “You can sleep in the woods if you like. I just assumed this suited you better.”
“It’s very impressive,” I said, ducking my head to take a look inside.
“Good. I wanted to impress you,” he responded flatly.
“Really though, if not by Void magic - how did you make this so fast?” I rubbed the thick quilt between my fingers as I sat on the sleeping pad. Every single stitch, every fine weave. It was real but - I felt it buzzing, almost humming with magic. There was even a little hand-woven ward seal made from nearby branches and hanging from the tent door. He did not buy these from any city. These were conjured.
“Because… Hm, I’m not sure how to explain this,” Lumo said, turning around from the fire and facing me. “I… I was created by magic. I am… I am made of magic.”
“You mean… you mean from another? Like a Void beast? I thought you said-”
“No… No. Not like a Void beast. It’s very… very different from that. I was created by magic. Powerful, powerful magic.”
I shook my head. Impossible.
He sighed. “I was created to… to serve the Guides,” Lumo looked down.
“You’re - you’re their servant?” I shook my head, “That doesn’t make sense.”
He laughed, leaning forward with his hands on his palms, his golden mask flickering in the firelight.
“No. Not servant. Not exactly. I suppose I should choose my words more carefully. It’s a bit more complicated than that,” he smiled.
“Then why - Why does Gaelenod call you ‘Prince’?”
“Because he’s a silly old man,” Lumo sighed. “That ring - that ring Vasati gifted to you… May I see it?”
“I - Sure,” I stuttered at the abrupt change in topic. I carefully removed it from my finger, holding it out in my palm. But instead of taking it directly, he held my outstretched hand close to his masked face.
“Ah - just as I thought,” he smiled. “How well do you know your Lucerna history?”
“I’d like to think pretty well,” I cleared my throat, feeling a shiver of goosebumps run up my arm as his breath hit my palm, “I’ve read all of the main stories - Lord Kryon, Lord Ventas. The whole lot of them. All of the greatest battles of this age - from the Selphenian campaign through Fort Aneton, to the taking of the Akaron Isles.”
I felt my heart race as I finally got to talk about something I knew - instead of being laughed at for my ignorance. But unfortunately, my excitement was short-lived. I could tell he was holding back another spout of laughter.
“That is all very well and good, Mira,” Lumo said, a little too condescending for my taste as he gently placed my outstretched hand on my lap. “But that’s all from the Third Age - modern times in the scope of this realm. What about the First and Second eras?”
“Well - there was the Great Chaos of the First Age where wars ravaged the entire realm… and then came the Great Rest of the Second when the Four Guides came together to create peace in the realm, uniting us all and creating the four schools of study. But, you can’t really blame me for not being an expert. There’s no written history from either age.”
He stared at me, saying nothing.
I shook my head.
“Honestly, Lumo - It’s a bit difficult to read your expressions with that mask. I can’t tell if you’re once again mocking me at my complete and utter ignorance.”
He smiled. “Sorry - I forget that I’m wearing it sometimes. You didn’t even get to even see my impressive eye-roll when you mentioned Lord Kyron and Lord Ventas.”
“Oh - not a fan?” I teased, “But what does all of this have to do with this ring?”
“Right - That ring - it’s sort of like a secret sigil. A tradition beginning way back in the Second Age of the realm. The ‘Great Rest’ wasn’t very restful, per say. It was filled with spies, thievery, espionage - a silent war of sorts. The fae, as you know, are quite clever - and created little signs of who they stood with. That ancient ring, as Vasati said, lets the other faekind know that you are part of their alliance. It’s assigned to you - and only to you per her direct gifting into your hands. If someone else were to put it on - well, I’m not sure what sort of trick Vasati has in place as punishment. Probably a cruel one judging by how she acted this afternoon,” he wiped his mouth with his sleeve, “You really should have taken up her offer, Mira. One of a kind experience.”
“Oh?”
“You can’t see it, but I’m rolling my eyes again.”
I smiled, placing the ring around my finger once more.
“It’s so strange,” I mused, “Just only a couple of nights ago, I was dreaming of starting out my eager first day at one of the four academies. Would I be chosen by Herculea like my mother and sister? Or become a fierce warrior fighting in the Barrens as a Selphena knight, like Father? I know it has only been a couple of days now - but it feels so distant,” I sighed.
“Tumet.”
“What?”
“You’d be with Tumet - running around in the sky, arms full of books through the cobble streets, rushing to your next lecture. Tumet, definitely,” Lumo nodded.
I couldn’t help but smile, imagining myself in the airship city. To have access to all of the ancient scrolls, histories of magicks, talking to the brightest minds. It was a dream.
“Originally, I thought Myrot. With a face like yours.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I laughed.
“He likes the cute ones.”
I started to laugh, but Lumo only shrugged.
“Gods, I wish I could see them. Even just a glimpse of the Tumet sky ship would be a dream.”
I leaned forward, looking up at the night sky from under the tent’s low ceiling. Lumo leaned back against the log to look at them with me. The stars seemed so much brighter out here in the dark vast night, the only light that of the golden sparks of the magicked fire. It made all of my troubles feel so small, so tiny in the scope of things. Of time, of space.
“Can you tell me - what each of the other schools are like? I’ve only ever gotten to see the Herculea school because of my sister. But the others… You must have been to them since you work for the Guides. I mean - I’m sure you’ve seen them all. I know it sounds silly, but could you describe them to me?” I blurted, surprised at myself for asking.
“No.”
“No?” I frowned. Perhaps I had found a sore spot. “I’m sorry -”
“No, I’d rather show you them myself. In person. I’ll take you to see them, show you all of their little secrets…” he looked down again from the stars, mask still twinkling in the dark, “Maybe not now - but after you get settled. I promise.”
I couldn’t help but smile, but the sudden knot in my stomach pulled me back to reality.
“You-... You don’t have to do that. I still… I still don’t know how to repay you for… for everything. Without you, I would surely be before the judges by now - if not dead. At least… At least now I have a choice,” I sighed.
“Well… you did bring my oldest friend back from an early grave, and that’s no small feat,” he laughed, “Let’s just say I too wish I was given a looser lead with these reigns of fate placed upon our heads. But enough of that - time to rest,” Lumo stood, wiping off his bark-dirty hands on his trousers, “We have a long day tomorrow.”
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I was created to… to serve the Guides.
Lumo’s voice repeated over and over in my head. I rolled over in the thick quilt, trying once again to quell my thoughts. To my horror, I was now met with images of the curve of Lumo’s neck as he looked up at the stars, his hands gently beneath mine as he examined the ring, the closeness to the side of his face as he carried me to the pond -
Stop.
I shivered, embarrassed at myself, throwing the covers over my face.
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‘He likes the cute ones.’
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Stupid, vile, vile brain.
You haven’t even seen his face.
I sighed.
—
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I am at the beach again, velvet sand between my toes. The suns are bright, warm against my bare shoulders. I’m wearing my cotton nightgown, a comfort compared to the heavy traveling dress and cloak. The sea breeze hits my face, and the salty air once again fills my lungs. My hand idly finds the chain around my neck, and I sigh. Even in my dreams I am reminded of this fate.
A disciple of Solia.
I couldn’t imagine the taking of someone else’s magic - dissolving them of their very being, for my own gain. It seemed so unbelievably selfish.
I watched the lulling waves, water darkening the white sand in its path. I had only ever seen the sea once in my life - I went for a visit to Slathe with my family. It was an old port town, and the rocky docks did not look anything like this. I remember the bustling merchants, trying to sell my mother pearls, covering her and my sister both in compliments. I hid close behind father, hoping to remain unseen and hopelessly shy.
The crow-friend joined me now, as they did before in my last dream. Perhaps all this time watching Lumo in the sky had filtered into my subconscious. I watched the bird gently preen his feathers, once again struggling with the beach’s unsteady wind.
It was then that something caught my eye. There was a slight sparkle in the sand in front of me, just touching the water. I stood, walking towards it, surprised to see what it was.
Partially hidden beneath the sand was a delicate, neatly engraved hand mirror. I pulled it to my face, wrapping my hand around the spiraled brass handle, to find that I had no reflection. Instead, I was greeted with a window into an elaborately decorated room. As I moved the mirror around, I saw a grand, four poster bed, marble statues, ancient tapestries covering the walls. It reminded me a bit of Lumo’s cabin.
But just as I turned to get another view, the crow suddenly began to fly at me - pecking my hand, frantically cawing. I dropped the mirror in surprise as I swatted it away. The bird paid no attention to me though and continued pecking at the mirror, flapping its wings in panic and sending sand flying around it.
Something was very wrong.
I suddenly pushed the bird aside with a slow sweep of my leg, then, with a dramatic stomp of my foot, I cracked the glass with my heel, leaning in with my entire weight.
Just as the mirror cracked - the sky did too, and I looked up to see a deep chasm forming in the wide sky above - twinkling shards expanding from black nothingness. Lines formed in lightning patterns branching out into the horizon in horrific sundering waves. The sound was deafening - causing me to cover my ears as I watched in horror as the splinters of sky fell into the sea. Giant pieces fell in great sheets above me, leaving hollow explosions in the water. I wanted to scream, but nothing came out when I opened my mouth. I wanted to cry. I wanted to run. I wanted-
But then I was suddenly awake. Morning birds gently singing their greetings came in muffled song through the tent walls. A bright ray of light shone through the crack in the tent door, leaving little particles of light dancing in dark space. The air was rich with something - spices, potatoes? I couldn’t quite tell, but my mouth watered regardless.
I sighed, wiping the cold sweat from my brow.
I was okay.
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