Chapter 28 #3
Thea grabbed me by the arm and helped me over to a chair. “As you can see, Prince Sterling, Aurelia is quite exhausted from the work we have already done today. I don’t recommend pushing her any further. Why don’t you come back tomorrow, and we can show you the aura mirror results then?”
Sterling eyed us both carefully as if calculating something. “The king wants an update, and I’m here now. Aurelia can rest later.”
Sensing that Sterling would think something was up if we refused him, I weakly pushed myself up from the chair. I grabbed Thea’s hand and smiled weakly at her. “Let’s just get it over with so I can go rest.”
Thea nodded at me and helped me over to the mirror in the corner of the chamber.
Sterling grabbed the chair I had sat in and dragged it across the floor, so he was situated between the mirror and me.
I rubbed the spot on my chest where Magda’s medallion sat and hoped for a miracle.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped in front of the mirror.
Same as before, I saw my reflection in the aura mirror—dull grey eyes, long, flowing black hair, and most importantly, a significant lack of aura.
I quickly stepped away from the mirror, unwilling to stand in front of it any longer than necessary.
“See? I can’t get this test right either,” I explained pitifully as I stepped away from Sterling and the mirror and made my way to the desk.
Nocturna and Astra came over to comfort me as I stared at the floor, unwilling to look Sterling in the eye.
“As you can see, Prince Sterling, Aurelia and I still have a lot of work to do to figure out why she is not responding to our tests. It’s clear that she has some elemental arcana, but where that arcana comes from still remains a mystery.
You’re welcome to join us tomorrow as we delve into her earth and water abilities a bit deeper,” Thea offered, doing her best to defuse the tension that lingered in the air.
The chair Sterling was sitting in scraped along the floor as he stood up to his full height and stared me down, his disgusted gaze searing every inch of my body.
“Every day I find it harder to believe that something so unremarkable was capable of saving my life. Perhaps the other day with the arcana master was a fluke, and you truly are capable of nothing, as everyone suggests.” In a few long strides, Sterling exited the chamber without another word.
Tears burned my eyes as I let his insult sink in.
Thea came over and rubbed soothing circles on my back. “Don’t let his words bother you too much, my dear. He is a troubled being who is incapable of feeling anything other than misery. The sooner you let go of him in your heart, the happier you’ll be.”
I smiled weakly at Thea. “Believe me, I’m trying. I want nothing more than to be free from the feelings I have for who he used to be.”
Thea pulled me in for a deep, warm hug. Moments later she pulled away, holding my arms and looking intently into my eyes.
“You were lucky today that you had that medallion, and it was able to protect you from being detected by Prince Sterling’s untrained eyes.
I recommend that you keep that on while you’re here and allow it to continue to keep you safe. ”
My eyes widened as I remembered what I had seen in the mirror when I was not wearing my medallion.
I pushed away from Thea, scared. “The arcana master mentioned something about this during our last session, stating that I had a void within me. Sterling knows about that and told me that meant I had darkness in me. I’m not safe at all.
” My mind spiralled as I thought of the ruby platform and how I would look up there, waiting for Thalos’s quick, brutal hand of justice.
“Aurelia, if the prince truly thought you were capable of dark arcana, you would not be standing here. You would have been dead hours ago,” Thea assured me as she went to retrieve the chair Sterling had occupied and placed it back beside the desk.
“They’ve executed others for far less,” I replied. “That’s not exactly reassuring to me.”
“Then let my words reassure you. What I report to King Julian is what he will base his decision on. The arcana master did not keep in touch with the king regarding your progress, and regardless of what Prince Sterling says, he hasn’t been asked to check in on you.
That is the excuse he’s using to keep tabs on you.
” Thea laughed as my shock must have become evident on my face.
“I have only ever met a handful of humans capable of using arcana,” she continued, “which means I am quite interested to see how this progresses. I will only share what is necessary, which means excluding anything about darkness or dark arcana. I know that you have no reason to trust me, but I will work hard to earn your trust, and hopefully, one day soon I’ll be able to break through that tough exterior of yours. ”
Thea walked over to the basin and began putting away the crystal bowls.
“I think tomorrow we should focus on your strengths. I’m told you are a healer, and from what you’ve mentioned, you had success with earth and water arcana.
Go back to your suite. Get some good food in you, and rest up.
Tomorrow will be an even more exhausting day for you. ”