31. Rahzlyn #3
Gregorios nodded. “Water is like a mirror, a reflection of the depths of your soul. You cannot harness such power if you do not understand your own. There are texts I want you to read to familiarize yourself with the ways of water that will make our sessions progress more easily. A good ruler must also understand aero, gi, and pyro,” he explained of the other three elemental powers.
I blinked at him. “The tutors already have me reading books on proper court etiquette, political history, and economics. I’ve never read this much in my life, Gregorios. I have the attention span of a fruit fly. Studies, knowledge, intelligence were all Basil’s area of skill, not mine.”
“Your brother is not here. You are,” Gregorios said, exasperated. “Honestly, Novah, you must move forward. Your mind will fester like a stagnant body of water the longer you cling to your past.”
Novah. The name—my new name—rang hollowly every time it was used. I couldn’t let go of my identity quite so easily.
“I wish I knew if Basil was alive. I can’t focus on anything else.”
“Dwelling on your brother will do no good.”
“You’re fine with not knowing? He’s a blood relative of mine. The Treaty states he, too, must be sacrificed.” Not that I wanted to remind him, but I was sure to go mad from the uncertainty.
Gregorios threaded his jeweled fingers, the different colored gemstones glinting from the candlelight. “Very well. I thought it wise to refrain from telling you this, seeing as your undivided attention has been needed. I suppose revealing this to you may be for the best.”
“Reveal what?”
“When I compiled your natal chart, I also called upon a special tarot deck of mine. An ancient one, passed down from previous seers. Decks grow more divine with time. The cards spoke of your brother’s untimely demise. They do not believe his soul remains in this world.”
I swallowed the rising bile burning my throat. “They told you he’s… dead?”
Gregorios nodded solemnly.
“No,” I whispered, my heart fracturing. I clutched my chest, breathing through the piercing truth.
“You always knew it was a possibility. Now, at least, you can move forward and focus on fulfilling your duty.”
“My duty,” I repeated bleakly. Tears welled in my eyes, memories of my brother slamming into me simultaneously. I couldn’t move on when half of me was… was…
Dead.
“You must learn how to accept your reality and become invested in a future here, Novah. There is nothing left for you in Gemini. Your grandparents will soon join us here at the palace, but they will be sacrificed. You, hopefully, will remain.”
My ears rang.
Basil was gone, dead—his soul returned to the stars. No longer was he ambiguously existing somewhere in the world at the merciless hands of Markus and Allory. “You should have told me sooner.”
“You haven’t been in the right state of mind to accept such a truth.”
“Is anyone ever?” I countered. I rubbed away the tears blurring my vision.
“Only those ready to accept their destinies are. Love serves many purposes, except for Chosens. It is why such decrees barring it were written into the Treaty.”
My last meal threatened to make itself known. “I need time to process this.”
“It has been many years since I have lost a loved one. You must forgive my callousness.”
I sniffled, hating the gnawing sensation settling in my stomach. I wanted to flee, to run back into the past to stop myself from ever forcing Basil to use Blood Sight.
Gregorios sighed then dipped his head. “Get some rest. Perhaps you will find comfort in bonding with the element. You have grown up in an Air kingdom, and while you did not study at an Academy there, the ways of water have not been ingrained in you the way they have for the people of Scorpio.”
“I don’t want to bond with water.” I didn’t want to do anything.
“You must. Hydrate excessively. Bathe in your chambers nightly. Water is transformative. Reflecting. Cleansing,” he said pointedly. “That is the root of Scorpion culture: embracing change and regenerating ourselves anew.”
I stared numbly at the seer as he continued.
“Swim in the terrace pool or the palace gardens under moonlight. Listen to the sounds the ripples and waves make as you move through them. Certain tools and plants can amplify your connection, including mirrors, chalices, and cauldrons. It can’t hurt to practice holding your breath, either, for practice.
I promise you in doing these things, you will not only find hudro—you will also find healing.
” He paused. “Are you listening to me, Novah?”
“What am I even looking for? How will I know if I’ve found hudro?” I asked, though a part of me already knew I would never come to find it. I wasn’t capable, let alone worthy of wielding such ancient, elemental magic.
“You’ll know,” he replied ambiguously. “Everyone hears and feels the elements differently, depending on what speaks to their soul. Some hear a certain voice, some hear the sound of an animal, others a general feeling of ease or knowing. It comes from a cumulation of acceptance, understanding, and surrendering. Scorpions embrace the depth of our emotions, especially the darkest parts of ourselves. Do not fear what is innate to you.”
I was scared to breathe. One wrong move and it seemed I would find myself dead. With my family’s fates already sealed because of me, I couldn’t help but wonder what the point of any of this was.