Page 16 of A Conduit of Light
Avast, open space welcomed her as she gazed in awe down the steps at the enormous courtyard below.Thetops of the birch grove swayed slightly in a subtle, harmonious dance.Theglow of the sun came from the gold-leaded windows atop of a dome shape which enclosedViridisentirely.Openhalls lined the sides of the courtyard and she tried to count the number of them climbing upward, reaching for the sky.Shecounted at least ten before her thoughts were interrupted.
“Youlook good here,Ash.”BaronRevichstood next to her, his voice low, his eyes alight in what she could only discern as amusement. “Well, everyone looks good inViridis…but you especially belong inthislight.”
Hedid not ask what name she used to enter, and she was thankful, taking the hand he offered without much thought as he guided her down the stairs.Shewas too enamored with her surroundings to refuse him and concerned she might actually fall.
Themassive golden-railed hallways opened to the center with books lining the walls continuously, leaves and vines winding their way through the shelves and trailing down the spines of the manuscripts.Perhapsthey were the truest purpose of the place, not the ornamentation to its halls.
Viridiswas in bloom.Theheady scents of jasmine and lavender floated in the air and the delicate flow of blossoms basked lazily in the light of the sun, the buzz of bees humming as they greeted each one.
Sheheld his hand still, unknowingly, as she observed a flock of birds, the color of a summer sky, flying across the open center of the oasis before her, landing in the tops of swaying trees as green as the newly grown leaves of spring.
“How…how can this place exist?Wecan’t still be in theFortress.”
“Portalmagic is rare.Fewcan use it—it’s been that way for centuries.It’ssaid thatViridiswas built before theFortress, and the two were connected by a powerfulBaronlong ago so that he could properly train his channelers within its magic halls.Iread it.Inone of these books, actually.”
Sheturned her face to him, an enchanted smile across her lips.Hisgaze met hers with the same exuberance, his features calm, but somehow deep, soulful.Suddenlyaware of their touch, she took her hand from his, color rising in her cheeks.
Heswept the hand she had held through his black locks and rested his palm on the back of his neck. “But, to answer your question,” he continued, “IthinkViridisis alive.Whetherit exists because magic exists or vice versa—who knows.Ipersonally spend as much time here asIcan.AndIprobably looked just as you do now the first timeIsaw it.”
Shegrinned, suppressing a laugh.Viridis, in its unrestrained glory, had lifted her spirits and she couldn’t deny her longing to explore its halls.
Soon, settled on a cream silk bench overlooking the first and second levels,Ashopened one of the books she had hoarded in reverence.
Shehad caught sight of bothFiguerahandClairanniaexploring the magical temple, both of them lost in their own minds at its beauty.
SimpleTruthsofFelgrenForestbyHonorahShrythewas written ten years before her own arrival in the forest and the most recently written book she could find.
Flippingto a random page she read,
“Forin my years of training,Inever did settle myself to reflect on the origin of the forest.However, after leaving it behind to be of use in my homeland,Ihave found its origins to be just as fascinating as its power, given to those of us born special enough to wield it.”
Sheshut the book immediately and tossed it aside to restock later.Ashwasn’t interested in reading about how special conduits were in this world.Culturehad shaped such thoughts throughout society, but toAsh, her magic was just a gift given to her to use as she saw fit.Itdid not make her better or more worthy of life than anyone else.
Thebeauty of life, after all, was magic itself.
Asshe picked up the next book in her pile, its leather cover worn and frayed,SimpleTruthsofFelgrenForestdisappeared from her bench with a loud puff of air.Shesat upright, searching for the lost memoir when a deep voice sounded behind her.
“Viridistakes care of its treasures.Ifyou no longer wish to read a book, close it gently and ignore it.Itwill end up in the same place you found it shortly.Andit won’t leave so haughtily.”
BaronHeimlenstood before her, his gloved hand gesturing to the space beside her in question.Shenodded and moved her pile as he sat down, a low groan leaving his lips.
“Ah,Isee you foundViridis’sConduitManuscriptHall,” he remarked, picking up the top book on the pile. “Eachconduit who leavesFelgrenwrites a memoir of their time here.Whatthey’ve learned, what they plan to do with their lives—things like that.Someare natural-born writers.”Helaid the book he had taken,ConduitMagic,AMagicalMemoir, on the end of the seat and it disappeared quickly as he added, “Andsome are not.”
Ashhuffed in amusement and replied, “Ithought that one might give an insight as to what magic is really like to wield from a trained conduit.Ihaven’t met many of them.”
TheBaronraised his eyebrows which were peppered with gray. “Ishould think theQueenwould have wanted you around conduits, helping you control your innate abilities.Iknow they are rarer inHyrithiabut not unheard of.”Hetilted his head sideways in question before continuing, “DidQueenRinaallow your use of magic,Ash’Arah?Orwas your gift suppressed asIwould guess it is to most channelers born within the city gates?”
Theinsult implied was not lost onAshand she straightened before answering, “Iwas of great use to theQueenand her son.Magichad nothing to do with it.Andit wasyouwho disrupted that life.Iwas just fine right whereIwas, thank you.”
“Iwon’t apologize for your presence here,” he stated firmly, “butIam sorry you are so opposed to it.Youare powerful,Ash’Arah.Ican feel it.BaronRevichcan feel it…Viridiscan feel it.”
Hegestured to the wall of books in front of them across the stone floor.Abit of green vine wafted languidly in a slight breeze, and upon her gaze at its leaves, it bloomed instantly, producing dozens of five-petaled white flowers.Thescent of jasmine filled the space between them.
“And,Imay have escorted you fromHyrithia, butIwas not the one who found you, my dear.Mysuccessor is who you can thank for that.”
Ignoringthe flowers that bloomed at just one glance from her,Ashturned toward the gardens below.BaronRevichwas speaking withFiguerah, and his laugh, booming in nature, echoed through the trees.
“BaronRevichdid not cure theBlackFever, nor was he there to take me as payment.”Ashcould feel her indignation clawing up though her chest, but she thought of the lessons she and all children were taught on the isle.
