Chapter 30
Dion’s face was a brooding mask, but he looked too unfazed to be as clueless as I was. “I’ve never heard of that place before.”
Larithia nodded, fixed her gaze on me, and began to explain.
“Amalach was destroyed in the great Ivreian-Galantan war two hundred winters ago. Amalach was an old city-state between Alkutia and Kerid. As the only permanent fae settlement on Ivreian soil, the city was classified as emissary ground. In return, humans inhabited Ivretta in Galanta, a state similar to Amalach, in the hopes that an exchange of territory would improve the inter-species relationship. Shortly before the war ended, a small squad of the fae High King’s elite warriors crossed into Ivreia and brought Teachtaire Ollscriosta with them.
Within hours, Amalach was annihilated. So many lives were lost. There was so much carnage. ”
Both Dion and I didn’t move, and we just let Larithia speak.
“High King Galrach of Galanta used the tragic fall of the once splendid city to frame King Amarion of Ivreia, although it was the fae king himself who’d issued the slaughter of an entire city—a city full of his own people—and he framed Amarion expertly.
Even today, few fae know the truth, and those who do were either involved, are too scared to set the record straight, or are quickly silenced. ”
“Why would a king order the massacre of his fellow kin, even if they aren’t living in his own world?” I was at a complete loss for words because what I’d heard made little sense to me.
The seer took a sip of her tea. “After the destruction of Amalach, Galrach collected enough support to close the portals between the worlds—something not even a king could simply decree—and only a few members of the Galantan gentry pushed back against him. In the aftermath of Amalach, they all cowered in fear of what the Ivreian king was capable of, falling for the ruse and believing the lies Galrach fed them. And the prospect of a peaceful solution to the ever-escalating war was enough for most of the important fae to support their monarch’s course of action.
Galrach’s plan had worked to perfection.
Despite hating the war, Amarion had always been an ardent supporter of open travel between the realms and would never have wanted the worlds to be separated.
He was by far the most progressive ruler ever to govern Ivreia, easing restrictions and extending a hand of peace to the citizens of Galanta.
Trade between the worlds became more important and frequent under his rule, and hired magic made life so much easier—Ivreia has never been home to many Wielder.
On top of it, Amarion’s queen and the light of his life, Theandra, was obsessed with Galanta and the fae.
She was visiting Amalach when Teachtaire Ollscriosta obliterated it—Queen Theandra was one of the victims. After the loss of his beloved wife, the mourning and grieving King Amarion was only too willing to agree to the complete separation of the two worlds and didn’t object to Galrach’s decision to close the portals at all.
He soon began sowing the seeds that would eradicate the knowledge of the existence of fae and magic from Ivreia, and he became an instigator of war between the countries he governed—although he always managed to portray himself as the hero who helped resolve those conflicts.
In the end, he died a bitter and heartbroken man. ”
“What is Teact…Teachta—?”
“Teachtaire Ollscriosta. In Ivreianos, it translates to something like the Bringer of Destruction, and it’s a sentient weapon forged by High King Galrach himself.
With the help of this weapon, he seized power and established his position as the first High King over all the lords and ladies of Galanta.
The rivers ran red with blood for decades as he secured his reign.
” Larithia was focused on me and ignored Dion, which he didn’t seem to mind as he was deep in thought himself, and I wondered if this story was new to him too.
“High King Galrach doesn’t give the impression that he was the most benevolent of rulers.”
“He isn’t. But he has too much backing from the most powerful fae in existence. As of now, no one would even dare to think of challenging him. If everyone would unite against him, there could be hope for a better Galanta—”
“Isn’t?”
“Yes, Galrach is very much alive and in power.”
“But this war you spoke of took place two hundred winters ago. How is it possible that he’s still king?”
“Fae live a lot longer than humans. Two millennia is average for them, three or even four isn’t unheard of.
So yes, they have a long time to wreak havoc.
But here I am, rambling about politics when there are much more important things to discuss.
Amalach. Or, as it’s called across Ivreia, the forbidden no-gods’-land or Godless City. ”
My eyes widened. I’d heard that term. Everyone had.
“It’s punishable by death to enter the no-gods’-land.
It’s too dangerous because the ground itself is cursed.
” I felt slightly dizzy from all the revelations, and Dion must have noticed my discomfort because he gently took my hand.
I allowed him, and it indeed grounded me.
Larithia sneered at our interlocked hands, but she didn’t comment on it.
“That’s what the royals told the common people.
In reality, there’s too much that they haven’t been able to conceal.
Books hidden by magic, artifacts behind protective seals, and so much more.
The numerous abandoned fae households alone would raise unwanted questions should someone stumble upon the remnants, as they are still different enough from those found in the rest of Ivreia.
So, of course, no one is allowed to enter the ruins of what once was Amalach, even to this day, or else the truth might come out.
The Ivreian royals try to clean up the evidence from time to time, but the magic sits too deep in the Lost City’s remains for them to succeed. ”
“You know a lot about the true forbidden history. How did you learn so much?”
“Because I’d been there when Amalach fell. I was only a child—and later that night, an orphan—frightened and alone.”
My eyes snapped back to Larithia’s ears before I could stop myself. Still round and human-looking like mine. But if Amalach fell two centuries ago, she couldn’t be human.
“You’re half-fae,” Dion finally said, nodding, and the riddle finally made sense to me.
Those eyes that gleamed so differently and the otherwise so regular appearance—apart from her extremely good looks—it made sense that she wasn’t completely human.
And this was the exact moment that I comprehended that all I’d learned was really true.
There was another sentient species existing.
Meeting someone bearing some traits had a completely different impact than just being told of their existence.
“I am. My mother was human, my father fae. Such relationships were rare—since fae think they’re the far superior species, and humans have always been suspicious and prejudiced against them—but they happened.
But I digress.” Larithia finished her tea and placed her cup down on the saucer. “This isn’t about me or my parents.”
Her eyes turned bright white all of a sudden and lost their focus. I wanted to shake her, but Dion held me back, never diverting his attention from the seer.
It only dawned on me that she must have some sort of vision when her melodic voice filled the room, sounding distorted and far away.
“Chance brought you together, the two of you sitting before me. Wielder and Amplifier you are, but yet—incomplete. The five sacred ways could be yours, five different ties to form, to possess, to protect—or to break again. Important decisions can’t be delayed.
Change or downfall, no one knows. The future is always in motion, and many players are hopeful to be part of altering its shape.
The wheels have been set in motion once more, but your fate—like no fate ever—isn’t set in stone.
The choice will always be yours. If you accept, start where history ended to seek a chance to enter the battle for the future. ”
As suddenly as they had clouded, Larithia’s eyes cleared again, and she faced us with a dazed expression. She rubbed her forehead lightly as if she needed to ground herself, and a small groan told me she was in discomfort.
Dion was the first to speak. “You had a vision, and it sounded vague.”
“That‘s how my visions are. Did you think they’d be like medical consultations? Drink this tea five times a day, and the worlds will be saved? Bah! Everything depends on choices. Only one thing is clear: you two and your company are entangled with fate, and the events started to unfold many winters ago.” Larithia fixed Dion with her gaze appraisingly before she got up.
Dion and I looked at each other, and all my fear and confusion must have been visible, while nothing in his eyes was too reassuring either. He was just as shaken as me.
The seer returned from next door and placed a beautiful wooden box on the table. The dark lid’s intricate pattern of inlays in the shape of whirls and waves gleamed like mother-of-pearl, and I had to admire its beauty for a moment.
“Don’t think that my opinion of you has changed.” Larithia faced Dion again. The seer had switched from talking only to me to addressing him exclusively. Curious. “I’m almost certain I’ll regret giving this to you.”
Dion didn’t answer, just pulled the box closer before carefully opening the cover. His eyes widened, and reverence was written in them as he looked inside. Of course, I couldn’t resist the temptation to gaze into the small case as well.