Page 37 of The Oracle of Dusk

“Fae! Look! It’s a genuine Pre-Second Sundering artefact! Did you know the Boreas temple museum only has eight of these? I wonder what it is.”

Aurora desperately looked for a plaque to answer her query. But then another beauty caught her eye.

“Ahh! Is that…? Fae! That’s a statue of one of the tangible gods! I’ve only ever read about them in books! I think it’s the god of the air! See how he’s standing on a stylized gust of wind? He rules over your element!”

Phaedra smiled at her indulgently. Aurora beamed back, catching sight of Silvanus with a kind smile that didn’t reach his eyes.Oh. He’d done this for her. To help her forget what her magic meant. And what it would do to her mind, if she lived long enough for that to matter. Her heart swelled with gratitude.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Enjoy. We have time.”

Time was a luxury no one had, but she was appreciative all the same. She strolled through isles lined with glorious artefacts, the likes of which she could barely fathom. So much had been preserved in perfect condition. She could happily spend the rest of her days here. While she gasped and occasionally called Phaedra over to gush about one treasure or another, Phaedra and Silvanus mostly remained out of earshot, whispering to each other. Aurora began sneaking furtive glances at them. What could they be saying that they felt the need to hide it from her?

In her distracted state, she nearly walked into a hip-high case. As soon as her eyes lit on the object inside, that strange creature inside her shot out, latching onto it. Rounded like a globe, the object had several circular bands around it, each one notched, some with an undecipherable script on it. Her magic seethed inside her, her heart racing. Why did it look so familiar? Why did it feel like if she didn’t get her hands on it, she would go mad?

“Aurora?”

“Aurora!”

She shook her head, and yet the spell still had her in its grip. Her hands shook as she tried to remove them from the edges of the case.

“This artefact. I want it so badly.” Aurora gritted her teeth as her magic surged inside her, pulling her towards the artefact, warping her mind, screaming at her to take it. Goddess, how did she control this beast? How did anyone fight this compulsion?

“Hold her back,” Silvanus said, his eyes like jewels as he looked at her and then the artefact.

Phaedra pulled her away, even though everything inside Aurora told her to fight her way back to it. She needed it like she needed air. Silvanus smashed the glass casing with the pommel of the holy sword before reaching inside and pulling the artefact out. Aurora rushed towards him to hold it. As she did, weighing it, marvelling at it, she had the strangest feeling this wasn’t the first time. The beast inside settled, content, as Aurora’s mind spun.

“Isn’t that… the same kind of artefact you dug up in the old temple?” Phaedra asked.

Aurora reached into the pocket of her cloak and pulled out the only possession she still owned—Phaedra’s stolen gift. She placed it into the broken case and pulled off the lid. Nestled inside was a globe, almost the exact size as the beautiful artefact she now held. Beneath the layer of rock and dirt, she even saw the outline of one of the bands.

“Whatever it is, it’s drawing out your magic. Keep it,” Silvanus said.

Aurora blinked at the artefact in wonder and then in horror at the shattered case.

“Silvanus, you ruined the display case! Won’t you get in trouble?”

“The fate of Trisia is worth more than a dusty display case,” he quipped, biting back a smile. “And if the artefact helps with your magic, then I’m happy to burn a bridge or two.”

“My magic made me feel like I was losing control. Shouldn’t I try to resist?”

“Normally, yes. But your magic has lain dormant most of your life. You need to keep using it, stretching it, and learning just how far you can push yourself. First, we’ll work on power, then we’ll focus on control.”

“Oh, I didn’t know—”

The three looked up from the artefact and shattered case to the man at the doorway. He was a kindly looking older man with greying hair and threadbare, yet clean clothes. That kindly façade melted away in an instant the moment he laid eyes on Silvanus. Hatred suffused his features.

“Silvanus!” he spat. “How dare you show your face around here? Traitor!”

“Run!” Silvanus called, pulling Phaedra and Aurora along behind him.

They raced through the museum and out into another hall, the man’s hue and cry echoing in the mountain labyrinth. They ran as hard and fast as their feet could carry, always being chased by furious echoes.

“They can’t be that mad about the display case, can they?” Aurora asked, panting.

“What in the Loom did you do?” Phaedra thundered.

“I refused to kill your family,” Silvanus replied.

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