“Once you master summoning light,” she had insisted, “You are able to manipulate it to your necessity, like camouflage or to appear as someone you are not. It is all in the way the light hits.”
By the time they had finished for the day, Aurelia’s mind felt as if it had melted. Between magic and training with Clodovea, she wasn’t sure she was going to make it without passing out from exhaustion.
Illaria reluctantly retrieved her from Rehema and brought her to the library to meet with Nesrin, the last of her daily studies. Though Aurelia’s feet dragged as they walked back to the castle, she was looking forward to discovering the library which she was already sure would be her favorite room in the castle.
Ilaria abandoned her the second they arrived, leaving Aurelia to enter the library herself. Taking a deep breath, she shook off the uneasiness that seemed to remain perched on her shoulder, pushing on the grand arching door.
The doors opened to reveal a room at least three stories tall with an entire wall of windows casting light upon the thousands of books within the room. The bookshelves themselves went floor to ceiling throughout the room, not a singular empty space for another book. Rolling ladders at least fifty feet high spanned the room so that no book was out of reach, each novel anxious to be read. In the center of the library were various cozy armchairs and couches, all resting within the sunlight streaming in from the windows.
Aurelia, starstruck from the magnitude, slowly made her way into the room with her eyes wandering every which way, beginning to browse the books, enamored by how many books there were for her yet to read. There must have been at least thousands, if not hundreds of thousands within the castle library.
Quiet footsteps sounded behind her and she turned to see Nesrin making her way into the room, a pile of books in hand.
“Oh, Aurelia, I’m sorry I’m late. I got caught up, in, well—“ She hesitated for a long moment before she shook her head. “Oh, never mind.” She chuckled nervously. Aurelia’s mind immediately went to the conversation earlier of Damaris, and how her grandmother had forbidden to discuss it.
Nesrin set the books down at one of the side tables and gestured for Aurelia to join her on the couch. “I’ve heard you’ve already had a busy day.” She raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Beginning to learn magic is always so exciting.”
Aurelia shrugged. “Exciting and exhausting.”
Nesrin laughed. “Well, with me, you’ll be learning more about the history of magic and the kingdoms and the like. Most especially with what’s going on with Damaris.” She situated herself more comfortably on the couch.
“So, I figured that was where we would begin - the magical place you have stumbled upon in what we call the Continent.” Nesrin gave Aurelia a small smile.
Aurelia nodded. “I would like that.”
“Very well,” Nesrin responded easily, tucking her feet beneath her knees.
“There are five other kingdoms on the Continent. Firstly, there is Weylin, the kingdom of Fae. The Fae practice what is called elderage magic, which is a unique form of magic that only Fae can harness. They have pointed ears and vividly purple eyes. They mostly keep to themselves, really.”
Aurelia mentally took note – Ilaria, then, must be a Fae.
“Then there are the elves in Ardwen. Think of a city of treehouses, and that’s the place, though very few ever are able to visit it. Elves are similar to Fae in that they have pointed ears – something of a shared ancestry – but other than that, they are extremely different. They practice earth-based magic and have by far the strongest healing magic, though we practice healing here as well. They are highly adept at potion work.” Nesrin smiled. “I had the opportunity to study in Ardwen for a while. What a magical place.”
She cleared her throat. “Next, we have the seafolk in Oceria, which practice water magic. Oceria is home to merfolk who walk both on land and swim in the sea. It is known as the kingdom of artists, filled with all sorts of painters, musicians, and the like – with both an island castle and an underwater castle.
“There are the dwarves up in Navar, who live in the mines and are the simple folk that do not practice magic, and live their lives mining in the mountains.” Nesrin shrugged. “Good people, really, but they hardly leave their mountain ridge.”
Aurelia nodded.
Weylin, Ardwen, Oceria, and Navar.
Her eyebrows furrowed, waiting for the kingdom Nesrin had not mentioned.
“What of Damaris?” She asked after a moment, staring intently at Nesrin.
Nesrin paused for a long moment before she finally nodded, her eyes darkening. “Finally, there is Damaris.” She sighed deeply.
“They are similar to Calathis in that their goal is to train in their own form of magic, but instead they study lunar magic. Male sorcerers are much more adept at lunar magic, in the same way that enchantresses are with solar magic. In that way, they worship the moon – and the darkness, and furiously train any sorcerer that lands on their doorstep.” Nesrin shuddered.
Leaning forward, she placed a few books in Aurelia’s lap. “I brought you some books about the history of the Continent. I’m sure it's been just an onslaught of information lately and I hate to add to it, but I thought you deserved to know a bit more about the world around you.”
Her words sent warmth through Aurelia as they sunk in and Aurelia smiled gratefully as she leaned over to pick up the books, relieved to be given some of the knowledge she so desperately desired.
Nesrin leaned forward, resting her chin in her palm, hesitating a moment before she spoke, her voice much softer than before. “I can't imagine the shock it’s been to find your grandmother, who you believed had died, now alive – and in an entirely different world, no less. It must be more difficult than any of us can imagine. If you ever need someone to talk to.....” Her voice trailed off.
Aurelia froze at the unexpected words, a deep sigh emitting from her lips. “I just...” She paused.
How could she possibly begin to explain?
Aurelia met Nesrin’s reassuring gaze and inhaled sharply. “I took care of her for a long time before she died. It was a slow and horrible death, and I helped her through all of it.”
Aurelia’s stomach twisted as memories flashed through her mind and she looked down at her hands. “When she died, a piece of me died, too. But she’s here now, my favorite person in the entire world, alive, but that piece of me...that piece of me is still gone. I still feel so— so empty, and I...I don’t know.” Aurelia’s voice cracked and she broke her gaze, turning away, staring outside as if it could keep her from recognizing the truth that had escaped her lips.
A blanket of silence fell upon them.
“Aurelia,” Nesrin finally replied. “It does not do well to dwell on what once was. Time and people change. How else are you supposed to grow?” She leaned forward to squeeze Aurelia’s hands. “Embrace what will be.”
Aurelia sighed, shaking her head, her gaze still far in the distance. “I wish I could.”
Aurelia finally saw her grandmother again that evening for dinner. Nesrin’s words had echoed in her mind all afternoon, long after their lesson in the library. She wasn’t sure if she would ever find the missing pieces of herself again, never mind move past it all. She hardly recognized herself anymore.
“Fresh pineapple, darling? You’ve really got to try the fruit we grow here. Being the city of sunlight, we sure do know how to grow things,” Elowyn chuckled as she began dishing food onto her plate from the plates sitting in front of them.
Aurelia snapped back into reality and focused on her grandmother, shoving her thoughts away. “You’re absolutely right. It looks delightful.” Gently Aurelia placed a bit of everything on her plate, eager to try all of the new foods awaiting her. It was true – all of the food looked immaculately prepared and the fruit, rich and delectable, was the best part. It was clear the affinity entranchesses had for the sun positively affected the foods they grew in the gardens down in the village.
Elowyn smiled encouragingly. “I heard you had quite the day. Rehema and Clodovea were singing your praises.”
Aurelia nodded. “Yes. I was quite busy.”
Elowyn nodded approvingly. “I knew you’d do wonderful work. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish in the upcoming weeks.”
Aurelia bit her lip and gently set her fork down, the thought of her mother overtaking thoughts of anything else. “Does – does Evora know I’m alright?”
Elowyn continued spooning fruit into her mouth. “I’m sure she does.”
“But do you know for sure?” She replied quickly, a wave of emotions overtaking her at the thought of her mother though their relationship was rocky at its best.
Elowyn shrugged. “I can’t possibly be sure. Risking traveling there and back to check would be much too risky. Don’t worry, dear. She’s okay.”
Aurelia nodded and looked down at her plate, taking a deep breath.
She was exactly where she was supposed to be.
Her grandmother paused to put another spoonful of soup into her mouth. “Oh, and before I forget, we’re having a little...gathering tomorrow evening. Just to formally introduce you to Calathis.”
Aurelia stiffened at her words, her fork pausing midway to her mouth. The last thing Aurelia wanted was to be surrounded by strangers and foreign traditions. It was the kind of thing they would’ve made fun of, back home. Now, she hardly recognized the pair of them, sitting at a luxurious dining table in exorbant gowns.
The thought sent a spark of nausea and Aurelia abruptly stood up from the table. “I’m tired. I must get to bed. You know, training in the morning.” She began walking towards the door when Elowyn called her name.
“Aurelia,” She called again as she stood from the table and strode towards her, opening her arms to embrace her.
“It’s going to be alright,” Elowyn whispered into Aurelia’s ear, squeezing tightly. “Everything is going to be okay. I promise. You’re exactly where you need to be.”
Standing there against her grandmother, her eyes shut tightly, Aurelia could almost convince herself that she was a child again, at home, and that they were hugging like they always did after one of their adventures.
It was this, right here, that she would not trade for the world. Her Nonna’s endless love and affection throughout her childhood had truly healed a part of herself that her parents had broken. She hesitantly leaned into the hug, lowering the barriers she had built around herself as she embraced her grandmother back.
Suddenly, Clodovea burst through the main doors, pausing abruptly at the sight before her.
“I- I’m sorry, your Majesty, but...” Her gaze fell on Aurelia before looking back at Elowyn. “There’s been another attack. You must come immediately.”
Elowyn quickly sprung to action, pulling away from Aurelia and walking quickly towards Clodovea. “Any casualties?” She asked as they began walking out of the room.
Clodovea grimaced. “Two.”
“Witnesses?”
“Three.”
Elowyn sighed. “And they were sure it was one of Dorian’s?”
“Yes.”
Aurelia swallowed her disappointment as their voices quickly faded as they went off to deal with another nightmare sent from Damaris. Aurelia’s curiosity grew once more.
If Damaris were wanting to overtake the Continent, then why waste manpower on lowly attacks in Calathis?
Aurelia, instead of going back to her room, made her way to the library. Something felt off, but she couldn’t place it.
She stayed in the library, long after the sun set on the horizon digging through the history section, climbing ladder after ladder, until she finally found what she was looking for.
On one of the tallest shelves, seemingly untouched for decades, was a small, tattered book: Damaris: A Look Throughout the Ages. In order to make sense of the present, Aurelia first had to understand the past.
She began to skim the pages, using her limited magical ability to light the candles around her as the sun set and she poured over page after page.
It was odd – for the clear dislike for Damaris now, it did not always seem to be so. Historically, Damaris was once a popular trading post filled with goods from foreign lands. Nestled in the eastern cliffs along the beach, it was a prime location for ships to dock. People traveled across the Continent to have access to the rare supply that Damaris boasted. Lunar magic back then, it seemed, did not scare people like it did now. Its education of lunar magic was supposedly the best knowledge a sorcerer could find in the entire world.
Time, however, found Damaris slowly losing business in its trades post and town itself, with fewer sorcerers making the trek through the cold mountains for such education. That was when everything went wrong, and King Josefin inherited the throne.
Where his predecessors focused on the teaching of lunar magic knowledge, Josefin focused on the limitless bounds lunar magic brought, namely training unstoppable warriors. He was the first documented king to utilize his affinity for lunar magic in terrible ways, and opened the Continent’s eyes into the evil darkness lunar magic was. His son, Renaud, who eventually took his throne, remained impassive and uninterested in any power whatsoever, giving the Continent a brief reprieve from what was to come.
That was when the present day came – for Dorian was the son of Renaud, and had killed his father to have the power he had long been invested in.
Dorian, one of the elite warriors Josefin trained, was a heartless man if Aurelia had ever heard of one. Long before he took the throne he was notorious for his expeditions to foreign lands and returning with the heads of many, stealing their gold and jewels to keep Damaris afloat.
Soon after that, he launched an attack on a Fae village that cost hundreds of thousands of lives. Still, to this day, no one understood why.
And now, a king.
Aurelia shuddered.
Later that evening, Aurelia couldn’t shake her uneasiness after reading about Damaris. It still didn’t make sense why he would send his creatures to attack here unless he had an ulterior motive. As she stared up into the night sky, the stars shining brightly down into her bedroom, she thought about what she could be missing.
Her mind slowly wandered to the four other kingdoms that surrounded Calathis – Oceria, Ardwen, Weylin, and Navar. She was fascinated by the varieties of magic that enveloped each kingdom.
Aurelia sat up, reaching over to the stack of books from Nesrin. Lighting another candle, she began to read, anxious to learn everything she could about the magic that encompassed this world. She fell asleep surrounded by open books, pondering the possibility of elves and merfolk.
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