Chapter 32
Chapter
Thirty-Two
NISSA
Our feet crunch along dried mud and debris that litters the ground as we take in the destruction wrought on Aquaria. Years of scant rain has left most of the rivers and lakes dry and cracked. The few remaining waterways are muddy and brackish like the one Cillian and I visited.
We have approached a barren channel, filled with large chunks of earth and the broken remains of trees from past earthquakes that shook these elemental lands. I can sense the faint heart beat of the few remaining plants that have prevailed through the devastation and my magic aches for it.
Following Cillian’s orders, the Guardians are already moving into action, using a mix of magic and pure strength to clear the earth away. Fae murmur around us as they take in the ravaged lands firsthand since they were restricted from visiting years ago.
A few Elite have tagged along under pretense of helping. I’m guessing they’ve been drawn here by the novelty. Not only can they spread the stories about the damage they see, they can also pass judgement on their new king.
Cillian’s parents discouraged our efforts. Unsurprising. They claimed all past attempts to repair the elemental lands just resulted in additional storms.
But we hope by putting the rightful king on the throne and fulfilling my side of the prophecy that the Goddess will be appeased. We hope we have done enough to appease the wrath of the Goddess and stop any future storms.
Of course, we haven’t revealed that to anyone yet. Least of all his parents. I understand Cillian’s reservations but I look forward to the moment that we can get justice for the Fae that have suffered as a result of their decisions.
He’s continued to look into where Caspien went, with no success. And we’ve been unsuccessful in finding anything to support what Celyste told us beyond the prophecy.
But we need to do something—even if it’s not about figuring out who knows what. So, here we are, putting in the manual labor to bring back the magic of each elemental land.
An echoing boom pulls my attention as a massive rock finds its new home at the bottom of an empty, cracked ravine.
Five of the Guardians move to another larger boulder. Even with their magic, they have to call for assistance to help navigate the chunk of earth out of the path of where we hope water will one day flow again.
I make my way up towards them as Cillian takes up post among the effort. He calls down to the group of Elite placing small stones, one by one, in a pile on the bank.
Cheeks pale and their eyes go wide when they realize the king is calling on them to help.
I choke back a laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation. From their panicked expressions and overly adorned clothing, I’m confident none of these Fae have ever lifted anything more than an elemental experience in their lives.
“Don’t worry, I can help.” I roll my eyes as the males eye one another, trying to decide if they can get away with their queen stepping in, and avoiding manual labor.
The Guardians shuffle down, allowing me a space next to Cillian. But I don’t need a space. Standing to the side, I call on the magic that pulses through my body like a second heart beat—coiled and ready to be released.
A low rumble vibrates at our feet as my magic frees the boulder from its resting place. An earthy musk fills my nose as dust and debris fall back to the ground.
The eyes of the Guardians widen at the ease of my magical strength. But it only takes a moment before they snap back into action, helping guide the boulder out of the waterway.
The murmurs of the Elite around us start immediately. A proud smile washes across Cillian’s face.
As the sun moves across the sky, I am shocked by the lack of magic that those accompanying us possess.
Cillian mentioned that our power is more than any he’s tracked in recent history, but I don’t think I truly realized the extent.
These are some of the strongest Guardians and their energy is but a whisper of ours.
The realization rocks me and fills me with hope in the same breeze. Hopefully we can return this type of power to all the Fae once we fix the lands.
As the sun sinks low, the sky melting from amber to violet, we finally look down into the cleared gorge. The first of many to come, I hope.
“Now we wait for the rain to come,” someone says in jest, swiping dirt from his brow.
I grin at the grime covering all of us, specifically the few Elite who decided that being shown up by their queen didn’t sit right with them.
A few gasps draw everyone’s attention further up the ravine. All of our jaws fall open as a heavy stream of water begins washing down from upstream. We watch in stunned silence as the water reaches the dormant waterfall and splashes into fresh water waiting below.
“How?” a gruff-voiced Elite male asks in utter shock.
“Gaia is filling the pool from below,” Cillian responds, his eyes fixed on the now free-flowing waterfall.
Laughter and cheers erupt around us as we take in the miracle.
Looking up into my mate’s shining eyes, I smile at the immense sense of relief that is radiating from him. “You know what this means.”
He nods, a smile pulling at his mouth.
“Our strength will return!” exclaims a Water Fae at his other shoulder.
Others chime in, some plummeting into the water in celebration, sharing excitement and making plans to clear the other lands. Eager to begin the process of restoring the power the Fae receive from the elemental lands.
Cillian and I share a knowing look. Their excitement is warranted, but they have no idea of the true meaning of the flowing waters.
Gaia is on our side. The storms will be stopping.
We already know that we are the rightful King and Queen of Solevara, but this feels like confirmation that Gaia’s wrath for all these years has been a result of me being sent away. An attempt to thwart Her prophecy.
Of all the deception.
Something we still need to deal with.