Chapter 57
The glow fades, leaving only the weight of the card in my palm and the lingering remnants of Mother’s voice echoing across my mind. The realization of what this means continues to hang heavy on me.
“When will we summon the World?” one of the other Worldkeepers asks.
Vaduin looks to me, the question waiting for an answer that he clearly does not feel in a position to give.
“We’ll need to get the final golden card.” It’s something they all knew, so why does it feel like I’m damning my sister by saying it?
They exchange wary glances as if challenging one another to be the one to speak. Even Gregor looks uncomfortable; for the first time ever, my friend and I might not be standing on the same side of an issue. Does he want to push her to ink it sooner?
“It is important we move quickly,” Vaduin says, like it’s something I don’t already know. Every dawn brings another day that Ravin could finally find and kill me.
“We have the upper hand for once,” one of the Worldkeepers murmurs.
The other is bolder, louder: “We shouldn’t squander it.”
“What do you even want the wish to be?” I say. They all look at me, surprise written on their faces.
“To bring back the Worldkeepers in full force,” one Worldkeeper says.
“To give us a safe home,” Gregor says at the same time.
“To erase the whole Oricalis family,” the other Worldkeeper also says in unison. My eyes dart to them, and I force myself not to react in any other way. I know they still don’t like my proximity to Kaelis.
Vaduin is silent, eyes locked with me. I wait, seeing if he will say something. But he doesn’t. My earlier assessment seems to continue to hold true. He doesn’t actually care what the wish is, so long as it’s not harmful and he can see it made.
“We must be strategic,” Vaduin says at last. “A single wish that can remake the world is a powerful thing. We need to ensure it is thoughtful, worded correctly, and exactly what the wisher wants.”
And who will be the wisher? That question I don’t ask. I suspect we will all have different visions of that, too.
“Whatever it is, the wish will not be made until Gregor and I are initiated as Worldkeepers,” I declare. “So, we have time to figure it out.”
“Are you delaying to avoid any wishes that might harm your precious Prince Kaelis?” The Worldkeeper at Gregor’s right, the one who called for the Oricalis family to die, didn’t miss the look I gave them, apparently.
“I’m the only one who knows how to ink the vessel,” I say calmly.
“Unless you’re confident that you can re-create it after seeing it done once and not knowing the recipe for the powder?
” They say nothing. “What if the World ends up erasing my memory, and that knowledge is lost forever? Would it not be safer for me to be initiated first?” Phrasing it this way leaves open the possibility that someone else could make the wish.
No chance of my letting that happen. But it behooves me to let them think it.
“It would give more time for Arina to continue healing, too,” Gregor says, meeting my eyes. We share an unspoken understanding. I give a slight nod, allowing relief to soften my expression at the reassurance that we are still aligned, even as our paths are diverging slightly.
“Let’s plan to make the wish on All Coins Day,” Vaduin declares. “We will induct you both into our order and make the wish following.”
“If Arina is ready,” I add.
“She must be, sooner or later.” His tone is mildly apologetic.
“Everything is in our control; we have time,” I say to try to settle the edges of their nerves. “I’ll arrange to have the Golden cards from Kaelis in time for All Coins Day, assuming everything else is in order. You’re right, we have the advantage; let’s not squander it with our haste.”
My words seem to be a balm for their collective restlessness. Still, I can see that the two Worldkeepers remain wary. They know as well as I that I hold all the cards. I could walk back to Arcana Academy right now and make the wish, the second I get Arina’s golden card.
With a few strides, I cross to Vaduin and present the vessel. He’s taken aback, eyes darting from the raised and shining ink on its surface to my face, where he searches for an explanation or any trace of deception.
“I’ll leave it with you,” I announce. The Worldkeepers—even Gregor—are shocked by this offer. “In good faith. This way, neither of us can summon the World without the other. We need each other. We must keep working together as we are.”
The words sink into the very stone that surrounds us. I need all the allies I can muster right now. And they need my knowledge and power.
Vaduin hesitates for a second and then takes the card. “I accept.”
It’s hard to let it go, but I remind myself that this is a strategic play. It’s for the best. But I also stalled because…because I’m not ready. The disembodied voices from earlier echo in my mind.
The World only truly ever answers to fate, not mortal hands. Beware the Fool who would try to contain it.
These words repeat with every step we take back to the academy. It felt like a warning against using this power to make a wish. Every word of caution Mother ever spoke to me returns, and the confidence I’d felt earlier wanes some.
What if…wishing on the World will only harm us in the end?
It’s hard to imagine a world I’d like less than this one. But then I think of Arina. I think of losing her, too. Of all we have lost…Mother, Bristara, Jura, the sister I knew…
I have no choice but to move forward. Failure isn’t an option, and I won’t let King Naethor win. That’s why as soon as my feet cross the threshold of the academy once more, I head to the dormitories.
I’m not wasting a second more. All Coins Day is too close, and I’ll be able to postpone the Worldkeepers for only so long before their restlessness prompts them to take actions that I might not like.
When I reach the upper levels, students and initiates cast uncertain looks my way as I stride with purpose, but I say nothing to them.
All eyes turn to me as I enter the main common area for students, and a few people rise to their feet, Luren and Sorza among them.
I hardly regard them, a singular mission propelling me.
Striding underneath the archway capped with a golden coin, I’m no more than five steps up the staircase to the Coins common area when a perfume of cedar and allspice hits my nose.
Cresting the stairwell, I get my first look at the Vault, the sanctuary of House Coins.
It is vastly different from Bladehaven, the private area for House Swords. Which makes sense, seeing as the common areas reflect the houses and suits they’re modeled after.
Golden light streams through large windows embedded in the vaulted ceiling.
It washes over the foliage that thrives in the large planters hung from the rafters with thick chains.
Their vines trellis down around pillars and carpet the floor with overgrowth.
Wooden benches that one might expect to see among the trees of River Park are here covered with luxurious blankets and plush duvets.
Pillows are piled in arcs around fireplaces for students to lounge.
I take in only as much detail as necessary to locate Thal. Thankfully, they’re here.
“Thal,” I say.
Their head tips back, hazel eyes meeting mine as I approach. There’s a moment of surprise and then…recognition.
They look to the others around them. “I’ve business with the professor, if you’ll excuse me.”
It’s rare to see professors personally coming to the dormitories. Usually, meetings occur in classrooms and offices. Other students are clearly curious about this oddity, but they say nothing of it and merely smile and nod. Coins are polite ones, for sure. But they can trade gossip like currency.
Thal follows me down the stairs and through the main student common area. I guide us swiftly into a study room down the hall where I’m more confident we can speak freely.
“No,” they say as the door snaps shut.
“I have no other choice.” I keep my tone gentle but my intention clear.
I’m not here to ask. I’m here to demand and hope they don’t hold firm.
“Look, I know I’m crossing a boundary by even asking.
I know you don’t want this, and I’m sorry.
But I have no other choice. I need her.” I swallow thickly, hating what I’m about to admit aloud, to them and to myself.
“Foremost because she’s my sister, but also because she’s a Major like us—she’s the Star.
The World cannot be summoned without her.
Someone is going to get her to ink her golden card, and it’s going to be far gentler if we are the ones to do it. ”
My chances of getting them on my side are dwindling by the second. I can tell from their slight scowl.
“I’m being honest with you because I respect you, and I want you to hear me out.” I finish, “And if you were merely going to refuse me outright, you would’ve done so in the common room.”
“I couldn’t have turned down a professor so publicly,” they counter.
“You would’ve found a way.” Of that, I’m sure.
They let out a sigh of resignation. “I knew you’d come back seeking more of my power despite my warnings.”
“Thal…I respect how hard this is for you. What do I need to do to make you feel better about helping Arina? What can I do that would put your mind at ease?”
They round the table of this small study room and head to the window, staring out at the mountain that I’ve only just learned holds the Stone Citadel. They’re silent for long enough that I nearly prompt them for some kind of response or decision. But I wait.
They tap their fingertips on the windowsill and say, “I’ll come and go to her as I please.” They shift, meeting my eyes once more. There’s a weight and a seriousness to their expression that feels different from before.
“And you’ll use your card on her?”
“Yes.” They sigh heavily. “But if I am to do this again, I’m trying something new. I will not haphazardly administer the power of my card. I have a plan I want to try.”