Angry voices woke me up. The throbbing in my head rendered me useless as I lay on the hard ground, wondering what had happened. My mind strove to clear the pounding in my skull as my hearing came into focus.
“You could have killed her. Was that a risk you truly felt necessary to take?” Sébastien’s voice came through loud and clear, as did his harsh tones.
“No need for such dramatics,” an elderly voice wheezed in. “All’s well that ends well, non?”
My eyes cracked open and were met with a dimly lit cavern. Light seemed to simply illuminate the space, radiating from no source. An elderly man stood in the distance, Sébastien pacing in front of him, as Dravyn and Kode leaned against one wall, their arms crossed in obvious distrust. Three predators with murder in their eyes intently focused on an unconcerned, wrinkled, silver-haired man in front of me. The pounding in my head throbbed, the scratches on my skin beaded with droplets of blood as I shifted slightly.
“Ah, you’re awake, dear,” the elderly man said as his head snapped in my direction. I met deep purple eyes as I sat up, my fingers touching a slight gash on my head that slowly oozed crimson. “I believe we have much to discuss, you and I.” He glided off through a door carved into the wall of the cavern.
Sébastien rushed to my side, offering his hand as I rose from the ground; blood rushed to my head with the effort and increased the throbbing. “We’ll see what he has to say,” he whispered urgently, with an air of stern authority. “He may come off like a fragile elderly man. But he’s a powerful magic assessor with the ability to wield primal magic and remain hidden from most for over a hundred years. He’s not to be trusted.”
I met Sébastien’s gaze. “If he’s not to be trusted, why are we here?”
“The Elder will give us the answers we seek—his word itself can be trusted. It’s the methods taken to get those answers that can’t be. One doesn’t survive for over a hundred years without being deceptive. He works in deals and trades, all in exchange for answers. We must watch our words with him.”
I nodded as we walked through the door the Elder had vanished through moments before, a low hum floating across the air as we entered. I took in the room we had stepped into. Glass jars lined shelves hollowed into the rock itself. A fireplace was carved into the stone, where blue flames danced in the air, then vanished. Two chairs sat beside the fireplace, a worn rug underfoot. A desk was off to one side, scattered with yellow-brown scrolls of paper. Books were stacked precariously on the desk, others formed an unorganized pile by one desk leg. The room was dimly lit on its own, just like the one we had just been in. The flames from the fireplace danced in shadows across the walls of the room.
The Elder looked up from a chair by the fire, his gaze shifting from me to Sébastien by my side. “Cassandra, come. Sit, my dear.” He gestured to the seat across from him and then he looked at the man standing only a few feet from me. “She will return to you shortly, Sébastien. You can see yourself out now.”
My gaze snapped from the Elder to Sébastien and back again, uncomfortable with the immediate dismissal. Sébastien’s form tensed beside me, a familiar chill filling the space around me as he stared down the Elder.
“Put your magic away, son, and wait outside. It’s of no use here; you would do well to remember that.” His voice cut through the room, his eyes staring at Sébastien.
I watched as Sébastien took a menacing step forward, standing tall as he spoke. “I don’t care what ancient magic flows through these mountains. Hurt her or fail to give her back in one piece and you will be wishing it was you who had been captured 100 years ago.” He turned stiffly, heading out the door.
I approached the chair he had indicated with uncertainty. I studied him for a moment, the flames casting shadows across his wrinkled face. His deep purple eyes swirled with silver that matched his long hair as his gaze held mine. Eyes that I had only seen one other time in my life… 12 years ago… the night before my family left Verastarr.
“I’ve anticipated this day for many years, my dear,” he said thoughtfully. “You have many questions, I presume?”
Swallowing, I nodded my head. “Yes. I’m hoping you have the answers I’m looking for, but first, why should I trust you?”
He chuckled lightly. “Cautious. I respect that, dear.” His gaze met mine as he continued, “I was there that fateful day, years ago, when the three artifacts were created. The day they were sent to be scattered on winds around the realm. And I knew I would be here the day the winds brought those artifacts back and the war would begin. I, dear, am the power assessor who was tasked with guiding the path of those who destiny chose. I have nothing to gain, for my life begins to end as the three artifacts return to me.”
I watched him. “I’m sorry. How could you have known you would still be alive? I was told that the artifacts were sent to be hidden; it doesn’t seem like the rulers anticipated them being found for a very long time.”
“They didn’t. But all magic requires a balance. When the artifacts were sent on through time, an anchor was linked to ensure each artifact would make it back into the hands it was meant to find.”
“It’s not possible to know who the artifacts would make it to.” I scoffed at his words. “You just sent them out into the realm—what did you expect?”
Light, raspy chuckles filled the room. “Well, of course we didn’t know who they would go to. But we did know that they would reach people who meet certain qualifications. It’s destiny, dear. You can’t escape it.”
“I don’t intend to escape anything. I simply intend to use the pendant to bring my sister and me back home to our family.”
“The necklace”—he gestured to it where it hung heavily on my neck—“doesn’t work quite how you are hoping. It’s not a magical lamp granting you wishes. It’s a bond of power waiting to be released.”
“What do you mean, waiting to be released?”
“When the artifacts were bound with the power of the four rulers,” he began, “the magic used to send them through time created a seal. Only the individuals destined to find them would be able to open the seal, and then harness and embrace the power in the artifacts. By accepting their destinies, they would gain access to the power bound to the artifact.”
My fingers picked nervously at the hem of my shirt. “What do you mean by accepting their destinies? And why can I not simply use the pendant to bring myself home? It brought me here; it should be able to bring me back.”
The Elder sighed, his fingers combed the short-trimmed silver beard absently. “The artifact presents two options to the chosen individual. It’s how the magic was cast. Call it a failsafe to ensure that only those selected could access the powers within. You can accept the power within the pendant by either accepting a destiny to help stop the power war brewing between the lands. Or you can reject the power, and the pendant will transport you back to your home, scattering itself along the wind as it searches for another with similar characteristics.”
“That seems simple enough. How does one make that decision to reject the power?”
“You must shatter the pendant at one of the sacred locations on a night when the moon is not visible.” He paused, sorrow crossing his face as he looked at me. “I must warn you though, Cassandra.” He pointed to my neck. “The artifact, if you choose to reject the powers within, will only send one person home.”
My head snapped up, my eyes searching his as I processed what he had just said. “What do you mean by one person?” My voice rose an octave. “Tell me you’re not serious! How is that even possible? It brought us both here.”
“The power inside is meant to be bound to one person. Each artifact links to a separate individual, though all entwined, they are separate. If you chose to reject that power, it would send one person back. A balance. One brought—bonded through secrets and lies. One who could return.”
“Sure. I’ve been told that part of the prophecy. But it brought two. So, it must return two. If the God is so focused on the balance of magic, then it will return us both.”
Sighing, he continued, “The God created the realm and gifted us with magic and power. We are incapable of fighting against the balance. Here.” He extended his hand. “Let me look at the necklace again. I can try to search within the bond to see.”
I hesitated briefly, remembering what Sébastien had said about trusting him, but I thought it was worth the risk. I reached behind my neck, undoing the clasp as I handed the pendant over to him gently. His chilled fingers grazed mine as he took possession of the necklace. I watched as he rose and glided over to his desk, and heard the soft turning of pages with the occasional crackle-pop of the fire as he searched.
Finally, the pages stopped turning, and I watched as he lifted the pendant in front of him, holding it by the chain. It started swinging slightly on its own as he held it in the air, swaying back and forth. His lips began moving slightly, with no sound falling from them. The hum continued growing, the pendant slowly defying gravity, floating up as he released the chain from his grasp. The fire flickered to my side, the invisible dim lighting dipping darker before resuming its normal brightness as the pendant fell back with the force of gravity, his hand snaking out to catch the chain, swinging from side to side as it settled in his hold.
“What did you do?” I whispered as he re-approached, handing the pendant back to me.
“It’s not possible,” he replied simply.
“What do you mean, it’s not possible?”
“I searched through the bonded power.” He paused, then questioned, “Have you seen what power looks like when it's alive?”
“No. In my time, the power has disappeared. Those who held it were either hunted and killed or forced into hiding.”
His eyes saddened as I spoke. “Living power, dear, has its own heartline. A line that can be found within each individual containing power. A storyline. A start when it first began flowing through its destined end.” I nodded in understanding as he continued, “The line is solid for parts that are lived through, yet hazier in the future. I was able to search within the powered bonded to the artifact. Though you haven’t accepted the power, the heartline is attached to you, the chosen owner of the artifact.”
“How does that tell you it wouldn’t be able to bring both my sister and me home?”
“The line begins with one, stretching across the space of power. A second line is entwined for a brief period, before continuing in a single span. It entwines once more, but the remaining line is a singular heartline.”
I thought about his words, thinking of the two instances that the heartline was entwined as it hit me. “You said the line entwined at two points?”
“Yes.”
“Were they both solid or hazed?”
A frown marred his face as he answered, “They were both solid. Instances of the past. The heartline doesn’t indicate any further entwined moments, meaning that only one can travel through the void of time back to your present day.”
I looked down as I thought. “But how would that even be—” I cut myself off, realizing the answer before I even began. The necklace had only utilized magic twice in my life, both times with Kateya there with me. A soft “oh” fell from my lips.
“The pendant has used its magic once before, hasn’t it?” he prompted.
“Yes, when we were younger. It saved us from a Seefer attack at our home. The future is always still uncertain; I don’t understand why the power line couldn’t be entwined again in the future.”
“It’s all a game of balance, dear. It must be balanced to evolve properly.”
Tears welled in my eyes as I looked at him; his figure wobbled as they threatened to spill over. “There must be something else that can be done.” My breath was shaking as I spoke. “Something? Anything at all. My sister and I need to be able to get home together.”
“I’m afraid there’s nothing that can be done.”
I looked at him, angry tears rolling down my cheeks. “You’re over a hundred years old and live in a mountain filled with banned primal magic. Yet you’re saying NOTHING can be done?” I shouted at him in fury.
The ground beneath me shook, pebbles falling from cracks in the room as the Elder rose in front of me, his face a mask of anger. “Don’t you dare raise your voice at me. You do not know what you’re asking. Have you not encountered the Barree Whispers on your journey here? Been attacked by Seefers? Ancient magic comes at a deep cost, a cost that you do not wish to pay. Terrible things happen to people all the time, people who don’t deserve it. The God always gives us choices in life. What do you plan to do with yours? The right choice is never the easiest, but you already know that, don’t you?”
I sucked in a breath as I stared back at him. The pounding on the other side of the door alerted me that Sébastien and the others had felt the power displayed. “She’s my sister. I won’t have her trapped here forever. I won’t do that to her.”
The pounding continued as the Elder took his seat once again. “She doesn’t have to remain here forever. As I said, power is a focus on balance. If you choose to reject the power bond within, it shall send you home, trapping your sister here for the remainder of her life in return to maintain the balance of power used.”
“I won’t do that to her,” I interrupted. “She deserves more than that. She deserves to live.”
“If, however, you choose to accept the power within the necklace, the power will accept you in turn. It should return your sister home, a restoration of balance in the release of the power. Again, that is the hope. The magic never should have brought two in the first place, so I can make no guarantee.”
I looked at him with tear-stained cheeks. “It’s me or my sister, isn’t it?” I whispered back sadly. “It will keep one of us, no matter what I choose.”
“A balance restored, yes.”
I stood, pacing slowly as I attempted to steady my breathing. Panic threatened to overflow as I realized that it was either me or my sister. All this searching, hoping, and for what? It wouldn’t bring both of us home. “We didn’t ask for this, you know. Neither of us asked to be brought back in time. To be dragged into the middle of an impending war.”
“No one asks for their destiny—it’s a path given to us by the God. One we must each choose to embrace or not. And once you make that choice, you must live with it, make the most of the choice, and stand strong in your decision. I must ask, though. Is it truly so bad to remain here? I saw the forming of a wolvyn bond inked on your skin. Would love not be a reason to stay?”
“Love?” I laughed. “Love is what I have for my sister. My parents. My friends. All in the future. This band marks a moment of weakness. Not love,” I bit out.
“An unwanted bond then.” He paused as he watched me pace, my boots digging into the rug with each step. “Consider this my token of goodwill, then. The ink in each band of the bond sets after a certain period. Roughly two weeks, occasionally a little longer, following its appearance on the skin. Yours appears to be rapidly running out of time before it’s set.”
My pacing stopped as I turned toward him. “What happens if it sets? It can still be broken, right?”
“Yes, Cassandra. It can still be broken. But like all magic—”
“Yes, I know. All magic requires a balance. What the hell is the balance for that, then?”
“The bonded ink remains—a lingering bond even once it's broken. A lingering connection to each other, even when the other has moved on.”
“Well, of course.” I laughed. “I’m beginning to learn that nothing is quite as simple as it seems when it comes to your answers.”
“Not all answers sought are answers the heart desires. You have much to think about, I imagine. We shall speak more tomorrow. If you follow that tunnel there, it will lead to a room for you to rest.”
My gaze followed his gesture as a tunnel revealed itself along the side of the wall. “Thank you for your answers,” I weakly replied as I walked in the direction of the tunnel. My mind reeled from the overload of information I had been given.