Chapter two #2
Silverlight was our prized possession. It was guarded in the secure tower by Nell and Uri when my father wasn’t using it.
If it ever got into our enemies hands, we would all be destroyed.
A thousand years ago, the last great battle we’d had with the Noxlin was because a small part of Silverlight’s power had been stolen.
Burning their ancient city, Cataha, was punishment for taking what wasn’t theirs.
The Noxlin had their own dark sword, Firesoul, that was wielded by King Tamus. Xavier had been scheming for almost a century on how to get his hands on that sword. If we had Firesoul, we could extinguish it with Silverlight, destroying darkness and ridding us of the Noxlin scum forever.
It was easier said than done, though. We knew nothing of the Noxlin’s ways. Finding the location of Firesoul was impossible when we didn’t even know where the Noxlin settlement was these days.
After the Battle of Cataha, they retreated deeper into their lands, over their mountains towards their dark seas.
Eallarim, the dark lands, was more of a myth than an actual place.
It was a story told to scare young Dylin that would wander off too far from our lands.
Don’t wander too far. Eallarim night creatures will find you and take you back to their lands, where you’ll be drained of light by the Noxlin, tortured, and then fed to their beasts.
It was a story that even I had been afraid of when I had been younger. Noxlin were animals: barbaric and impure. The complete opposite of my good, pure race.
As I watched the light continue to fill into the giving pool, my mind wandered, as it often did at The Blessings. All I could do was twiddle my thumbs for a few hours while light continued to pour. I had tried once to offer my light, but it was such a dull spark that it was embarrassing.
Maybe my pilgrimage to the Barren Lands to pay my respects to Nantu, goddess of moonlight, would help with my powers.
Luz had told me my abilities were going to be great, but that I had to wait.
Trying to help them along was against the rules.
Depending on which warrior accompanied me, I might get to hold a light sword, though, to see if it stirred anything.
Looking down at my fingertips, I tried to bring the power to the surface, but that same crackling energy evaporated before it even reached my wrists.
Why was it taking so long? I couldn’t wait to see if I gained light magic like my mother had when she was my age.
My father had married her because of her power.
Because he needed to make sure the Dylin bloodline was the strongest it could be, she was an easy choice.
He bonded with her soon after her powers surfaced, and her abilities doubled with the bond.
She could control everything from the winds, to fire.
She could shape light into a weapon, take power from our sun’s if her energy was low, and control light beasts.
There had never been a queen like her. I had a lot to live up to.
My father was light itself. He could harness its full power because he was the light. He was the strongest weapon we had. His power alone took down Cataha, the Noxlin city. By channelling Silverlight, he could directly aim his power.
This was why I wanted to wield a light sword so much. I was part of my father; pure light ran through my veins. A light sword had to be the answer to my problems.
****
“YOU SEEMED VERY DISTRACTED at The Blessing,” Xavier observed, watching me carefully as we made our way out of the temple. “What is troubling you so much? Is this still about your powers?”
“Of course it is. It’s easy for you to stand there and ask what’s wrong, when you have powers.
A great power, at that!” Xavier could control fire.
In the heart of battle, it was a very useful ability.
It was how he climbed the ranks so quickly and became general of my father’s army.
He was an amazing sword wielder, too. I didn’t know anyone more fierce when I watched them train.
His power gave him the elevation that he needed.
“Are you giving me a compliment?” he joked with a smirk.
“I’m one of the oldest Dylins without their power yet. Don’t you think that is a little disconcerting?”
“You worry too much, Alora. Nell and Uri have already told you it’s about timing. Our suns must align, but you also have to be strong enough to harness it. Uri has already seen that your power is going to be the greatest we have ever seen.”
“His visions are subjective, though.”
“Not when they concern you. Have a little faith in Holy Ether and yourself.” Nodding, I watched him dart away from me to join Lito. They were probably heading to training. They usually did after The Blessing ritual.
“Alora!” Noor called from behind me. “Luz, Fynn, and I were thinking of getting some wine? Are you in?” That meant they wanted to head down to the tavern that lay beneath our great waterfall.
We nicknamed it ‘The Falls’ centuries ago.
It had the best view of the city, and a separate area for the palace staff and myself. We were all there most weeks.
“Yeah, I’m in,” I grinned. Wine sounded like a good plan.