Chapter 55 #3
“I am Queen Skylar Royale, as you should have discovered by now, I am your great, great, great, great Granny!” Her tone was warm and kind, but her features shifted to sadness before she continued, “I know, this is a little unorthodox, but I am not here; this is an enchantment that I placed upon our most sacred artefact to activate at Rain’s touch.
I cannot interact with you, so please listen closely, as this can only be viewed once. ”
The twins exchanged a look, and Snow immediately began jotting notes in the notepad before her.
“In my time, exactly one thousand years before your birth, I had to make some extremely difficult sacrifices—not just for the realm, but for the longevity of our planet. All will be revealed in time; this book is just one of the components in place to guide you on the right path. Now, I say this with a heavy heart, my loves, but the unfortunate burden that falls upon you is far greater than you could ever imagine. Mother Aerth is dying, and you two are the key to her survival.”
Rain paled, his mouth suddenly parched. The depth of their destiny felt too heavy to bear; like the anchor of a battleship lost in torrential waters while a cyclone tore apart their foundations.
“My dearest Rain Beau,” she continued, her voice softening, “I cannot say all that I wish to within this spell but know that I understand who you are and what you have been through, and I have seen all that you will accomplish—should you succeed. I am exceptionally proud of you. You are the most important part of my legacy, and I apologise that this responsibility was thrust upon you because I failed to end it within my lifetime.”
Her tone hardened, her corporal white eyes fixing on him with a force that rooted him to the spot.
“It falls to you to not only save our world, but to save our people—aetherial and mortal alike. You must restore peace and order. You must unify our realm once again; through whatever means necessary. It is your birthright. Take what is yours. You do not ask for permission—there is no time for that.”
Her presence, though spectral, pressed against him like a physical weight.
“It falls upon you to recognise the infected wounds that live within your fellow aetherial and rehabilitate them under your rule. We are the protectors of land and life, lest we forget.”
Rain exhaled sharply and plonked onto his bed as the Queen’s gaze released him, the pressure of his inheritance festering in his gut.
Her attention shifted toward Snow, her posture straightening, her tone turning regal once more.
“Dear Snow,” the Queen began, her tone softening with a depth that made Snow straighten instinctively.
“I understand that you must feel like a shadow destined to follow and observe as your brother is thrust toward danger and destiny. While it has always been your fate to be the rock that grounds the first twin, it is not all that you are. You were born with beautiful, unwavering strength; with wit and talent that rival all others. You are just as important as he, just as powerful as he, and together you are unstoppable. If Rain fails, all responsibilities fall to you.”
She chuckled lightly just as Snow’s eyes widened in horror at the implication.
“I know you do not need incentive to stand by your brother; a twin is an extension of ourselves, after all, a soul sharing two bodies. But let this serve as a reminder that you do not wish to be in his position. So, bloom into your own birthright as his second. Not a shadow, but a leader. You are strong, and you are logical—he voice of reason amidst the chaos. You too will be tested in times to come. I caution you to remember, when times are at their darkest and all hope feels lost, that you are strong and resilient. You can endure just as Rain does. Call upon your shared strength. Do not fret, and above all, do not break. He will come for you.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Rain cut in, panic rising in his chest. If his sister was in danger, then that eclipsed everything else. The apparition paused, closing her eyes as though collecting herself, before continuing; ignoring his outburst entirely.
“Now, the book. The Prism Codex is forged from the oldest magic. Magic that I had to confine behind the vines to hold the infection at bay. To put it simply, the purpose of the book is to collect data: aetherial births, deaths, and marriages; powers new and old; all things aetherial. It is one of three magical artefacts that must be reunited before you can see them in their full glory.”
Her expression softened with regret.
“For that reason, I am sorry to inform you that you cannot peek inside. The lock will not open for you today. You must return the book to the Rainbow Palace and place it upon the podium at the Heart, along with the Blade of Truth and Consequence. The palace will take care of the rest, and all will be revealed.”
Her voice warmed, threaded with love that transcended the centuries.
“Best of luck to you both. May my love for you transcend time and space, for I may not have been a part of your lives, but you have always been a part of mine.”
And just as quickly as she had bloomed from the padlock, she vanished into nothingness, leaving the book suspended in the air until Rain guided it gently back into the crate.
Neither of them spoke for a long while; both lost to the thoughts and fears the ancient queen had left behind.