บท 5: Chapter 4 {Sage's POV}:
I finished dinner, my mind swirling with the million questions I wanted to ask, but none that I could answer. As I stood, I glanced around the room one last time before heading to Mr. Edwin's office. My fairy, still nameless, fluttered onto my shoulder, her tiny wings brushing my cheek.
The door creaked open on its own as I approached, the dark wooden frame groaning under the weight of whatever secrets lay behind it. Mr. Edwin stood behind his desk, bathed in the pale moonlight that spilled through the wide windows, admiring the view of the castle gardens. He didn't turn when I entered, not at first. He held a pipe loosely in one hand, its smoke curling lazily through the air.
Finally, he turned to me, his eyes softening as they landed on my dress. "You really do resemble your mother... Astrid."
The mention of her name hit me like a punch in the gut, but I managed to keep my expression neutral. "Why did you want to see me?" I asked, hoping to steer the conversation anywhere but there.
He didn't answer immediately, just took a long drag from his pipe, the silence stretching between us. Then, without a word, he handed me a worn leather-bound book and a letter sealed with a familiar mark.
"It's from your mother," he said quietly. "Open it when you're alone."
I stared at the book and the letter in my hands, my mind racing. My mother... had left something for me? Why now? Why through him?
I didn't ask any of the questions burning inside me. Instead, I nodded, thanked him, and left the room without another word. The weight of the book and letter felt heavier with each step I took.
Outside, the cool night air hit my face as I walked into the garden, my fairy flitting beside me. I found an empty bench beneath a tree, the moonlight casting long shadows across the grass.
I sat down, the silence of the garden enveloping me, and looked at the letter again. But I wasn't ready to open it yet. Not here. Not now.
I sat there for what felt like hours, staring at the letter. My hands shook as I finally broke the seal and unfolded the paper. The handwriting was familiar, delicate yet confident—my mother's.
"Sage, my dearest daughter,
I know by now you must be filled with questions, and I owe you answers. I should have told you the truth sooner, but I wanted you to live freely, without the burden of what you are. Please forgive me for keeping this from you."
I swallowed hard, my eyes already stinging. She continued:
"You come from a line far more ancient than you realize. Magic flows through your blood, just as it did through mine. The world you know is only part of a greater whole, one where magic exists in everything—air, earth, water... even flowers. It is a gift, a bond with the natural world that can shape reality itself.
Your powers, Sage, are tied to flowers because they are the purest expression of life's fragility and beauty. The book I left you holds knowledge that I hope will guide you. In it, you'll find details about our magic and how to control it. You will see that the connection between life and nature is deeper than you've been told.
But I must also tell you why I lost my powers. When I chose to marry your father, a human, I broke the divine laws that govern our kind. My magic was taken from me as a consequence, and I have lived as a human ever since. That is why I will grow old, and I will die like one.
You must understand, I don't regret my choice—I loved your father and still do. But I wanted you to know that my life was once different. I was the chosen one before you, but now that destiny has passed to you."
I froze. The chosen one. That was a fairy tale my mother used to tell me when I was little. The chosen one was supposed to have been born from a powerful god who ruled over fire and smoke... Smokey. I'd always thought it was a story, a creation of my mother's imagination.
But now, her words were in front of me, plain as day:
"I am the daughter of Smokey, the god of fire and smoke. He is real, Sage. And so are you. You are his granddaughter, the next in line to hold this power. I was the chosen one before, and now, it is you.
You have a great destiny ahead of you, and the world will need you to embrace it, whether you are ready or not. I only hope I have given you the strength to face it."
The letter ended there, no goodbye, no signature. Just the weight of everything she had never told me.
I sat back on the bench, staring up at the night sky, the stars blurring in my vision. Smokey wasn't just a character from a bedtime story. He was real. And somehow, that meant I was tied to him too.
My fairy fluttered close to my face, her light shimmering faintly as if sensing my unease.
The book in my lap felt heavier now, like a key to something I wasn't sure I wanted to open. Yet, deep inside, I knew my mother had written the truth.
And whether I was ready or not, the world of magic was about to reveal itself.
I sat there in the dark, the weight of the letter crushing me, until I couldn't hold it in any longer. The tears came hard and fast, spilling down my cheeks as sobs wracked my body. Everything felt like too much—the secrets, the destiny I never asked for, the truth about my mother. My hands gripped the edges of the letter so tightly that I thought I might tear it, but I didn't care. I cried for her, for the life I thought I had, for the life I was now being forced into.
When I couldn't cry anymore, I wiped my face, stuffed the letter and book into my bag, and made my way back to the dorm. The halls were quiet, the castle heavy with the silence of the night, as if even the walls held secrets they refused to share. I dragged myself up the stairs and into my room, collapsing onto the bed without even bothering to change. My mind was spinning, but eventually, exhaustion won out, and I fell into a restless sleep.
---
I was shaken awake the next morning by the soft flutter of wings near my face. "Wake up, Sage," my fairy chirped, her voice gentle but insistent. "You need to get ready."
I groaned, my body heavy and my eyes swollen from all the crying. For a moment, I considered staying in bed, hiding from everything. But I couldn't. I had to face whatever this new day held.
The uniform they'd left for me was neatly laid out on the desk: a grey skirt, a crisp white button-up shirt, a blue cardigan, and a long navy blue cape with a delicate emblem stitched onto it— a cat and a Brugmansia flower. I stared at the logo for a moment, the flower reminding me of everything my mother had told me. There was no escaping this, was there?
I dressed quickly, trying to push away the ache in my chest, but my reflection in the mirror told a different story. My eyes were red and puffy, evidence of the storm that had passed through me the night before. I sighed, running a hand through my hair, and left the room.
The dining hall buzzed with chatter as I made my way to the breakfast table. I slipped into a seat, my shoulders slumped, trying to blend in and not draw attention to myself. A few students gave me curious looks, but I ignored them.
Alohi soon joined me, sliding into the seat next to mine. Her outfit was a sharp contrast to the uniform everyone else wore—dark green lounge pants and a white, elegant button-up shirt. She looked effortlessly sophisticated, as if she belonged somewhere far grander than this place.
I glanced at her and couldn't help but ask, "Why aren't you in uniform?"
She flashed me a small smile, her snake companion curling lazily around her shoulders. "I don't study here," she said with a shrug. "I work for the gods. Xenos and I have other duties to attend to."
The mention of Xenos made my heart skip. I hadn't seen him since… well, since everything had happened. But before I could ask more, Alohi's snake raised its head and hissed softly, its tongue flicking out in the direction of my fairy.
"Well, well, look who's here. The tiny winged pest," the snake mocked, its voice slithering through the air. "Tell me, little one, do you even know what real power looks like, or do you just flit about like an insect?"
My fairy bristled, her wings fluttering indignantly. "At least I don't slither around on my belly like some overgrown worm," she shot back.
I couldn't help but smile a little, despite everything. Alohi raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, but didn't intervene.
The tension between the snake and my fairy simmered, but I didn't have the energy to care. My thoughts were still on the letter, the book, and the weight of everything my mother had told me. I was the chosen one now. And as much as I wanted to ignore it, there was no turning back.
Alohi leaned back in her chair, eyeing me closely as the tension between our companions simmered down. She crossed her arms, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips. "So," she began, her voice casual but pointed, "did you finally find out about your origins? You look like you've been hit by a cosmic revelation."
I stiffened, not quite ready to dive into the whirlwind of truths I'd just uncovered. But Alohi didn't seem like the type to dance around the obvious. I nodded, keeping my gaze on the table in front of me. "Yeah," I said quietly. "I found out."
Her eyes sparkled with mischief, though there was a softness behind it. "Tough stuff, huh? Finding out you're not just some normal girl, but the chosen one. Classic."
I sighed, feeling the weight of those words settle even heavier on my chest. "It's a lot," I admitted. "I still don't really know how to feel about it."
Alohi studied me for a second, then leaned in, her expression turning playful. "You know what they say about cosmic destinies and impossible expectations, right?"
I glanced up at her, confused. "What?"
She grinned wide. "They suck. But hey, at least you don't have to worry about student loans or applying to colleges. You're literally on the gods' payroll now. Perks, right?"
I blinked, caught completely off guard by the ridiculousness of her joke. A surprised laugh escaped me before I could stop it. Alohi's grin widened, clearly pleased with herself. "There we go! Knew I'd get a smile out of you."
I shook my head, trying to suppress a chuckle. "Only you could make a joke out of all this."
She leaned back, folding her arms again, her snake companion hissing softly in what I assumed was laughter as well. "Oh, Sage, that's just one of my many talents. Gotta keep things light when you're working with gods and dragons. Trust me, it gets a lot worse if you take it too seriously."
I wiped at my eyes, feeling a bit lighter, even if it was just for a moment. "Thanks," I mumbled.
"Anytime," she replied, flashing me a wink. "Besides, if you're going to be the chosen one, you might as well enjoy the ride. I mean, who else can say their granddad is a god and not sound completely nuts?"
The absurdity of it all hit me again, but this time it didn't feel as overwhelming. Alohi's unhinged humor had a way of cutting through the heaviness in a way I hadn't expected.
"Well, when you put it like that," I said, still smiling, "maybe I'll just start introducing myself as 'Sage, granddaughter of a god.' Sounds pretty badass, right?"
Alohi laughed, clapping me on the back. "Now you're getting it. Let the world know who you are, Sage. They've got no idea what's coming."
Alohi stretched and stood up, her snake lazily slithering up to rest around her shoulders. "Well, I've got work to do, chosen one," she said, giving me a playful nudge. "The gods won't wait forever. See you later." With that, she winked and strolled off, her snake's tail flicking as they disappeared down the hall.
I sighed, watching her go, then turned to my fairy, who was hovering by my shoulder, her wings shimmering in the light. "Well, that was... interesting," I said with a smirk.
My fairy giggled. "Her snake is so full of himself. I don't even think he knows what real power looks like."
I couldn't help but laugh at the thought. "I know, right? Imagine being so arrogant when you're literally a snake."
She fluttered around in agreement, her tiny form glowing brighter with amusement. As we shared the joke, I suddenly realized something: I still hadn't given her a name. It felt strange, this little creature had been with me through everything, and yet she was nameless.
I turned to her, my expression softening. "You know, I still haven't named you."
She tilted her head, her wings pausing mid-flutter. "Oh, I didn't even notice. Do I really need one?"
"Of course you do," I said, thinking it over. A name that fit her, something bright, something full of light... "How about Aurora?" I suggested. "Like the northern lights. You're small, but you shine so brightly."
Her eyes lit up. "Aurora... I love it!"
"Then Aurora it is," I said with a smile, feeling like something had clicked into place. I glanced at her, and she twirled in the air, clearly pleased with her new name.
A few minutes passed as we relaxed, the sound of clinking silverware and chatter filling the breakfast hall, when the door swung open and Mr. Edwin stepped in. His presence commanded immediate attention as he strode to the front of the room.
"Good morning, everyone," he called out, his voice carrying easily through the hall. The conversations around us died down as the students turned their attention to him. "I trust you've all had enough time to settle in. Now, if everyone could form a line, I'll be giving you a tour of the castle and its grounds."
There was a shuffle as everyone started to rise from their seats, gathering into a somewhat disorganized line. Aurora perched on my shoulder, her wings fluttering lightly as I joined the others.
"After the tour, I'll be assigning you all to your classes," Mr. Edwin continued, his hands clasped behind his back as he paced in front of us. "You will also receive your weekly schedules and be informed about where you'll be staying. Some of you will live here in the castle, particularly if you don't have any relatives in the village down the hill."
I felt a strange mixture of excitement and nerves as I listened. The idea of exploring the castle and finally learning more about this place—this world—was thrilling, but at the same time, I still felt the weight of everything my mother had revealed.
Aurora fluttered close to my ear, her tiny voice soothing. "Hey, at least we get to live in a castle. Not bad for the granddaughter of a god, huh?"
I smiled at her comment, my nerves easing slightly as the line began to move. Time to see what this place—and my new life—was really all about.
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