Page 113 of Rising Out of the Darkness
I paused, rereading the last line aloud to myself.
…seem to occur between fated mates…
…mates…
Gulping down the fear rising within me, I continued reading.
When conducting our research, we have found that mates are often able to pull from one another’s dynamis, thus increasing their own. Sometimes, we have witnessed mates using their mate’s dynamis in place of their own.
Unfortunately, there has been a decline of fated mates over the centuries, so we haven’t been able to continue our research to prove if our theories are accurate.
A huff of breath escaped my lips as my shoulders relaxed. Fated mates was such an old term. Like the book stated, it was very rare to find couples who were actually mates.
It was once said that the gods themselves selected your perfect match for you to find. As the story went, fated mates found each other through their bond—somehow it guided them on a path towards each other.
Growing up, when girls in my town used to swoon over the stories of mates, I used to roll my eyes. The idea of being boundto someone you had no choice in seemed like a nightmare to me. I believed in true love, one that was created by real connections between two people, not through divine fate. Giggling to myself, I dismissed the silly notion that had arisen in my mind. There was no way that Declan and I could be mates.
As I turned the page, it crinkled. This was one of the oldest books that I had come across, so I was curious if it would include anything about the original Light Phoenix. Not finding what I wanted on the next page, I gently skipped the pages to get nearer to the end of the book. My heart jumped when the image of a Phoenix danced across the page. Unsure what to expect, I sucked in a breath as my eyes roamed over it.
This is the one and only day we were able to witness the majestic dynamis that she possessed, because after the Phoenix rose and released it, she left this world permanently.
Wait.
The Light Phoenix had only used her powers for one day? How was that possible? Unable to control my heart from beginning to race, I kept reading.
Our cities had been battling for control over the realm, and Lord Draven of the City of Shadows was the leading choice to gain that control. His family had been known for centuries to hold the unique dynamis of shadows. It is a power unlike any other in our realm, and still, to this day, no other Elysian has ever shown signs of this dynamis. Many believed that this was a gift from the gods, that it was fate for Draven’s family to rule over Ehora.
On this day, a raid was sent into Grinwood, the City of Life. It was later discovered that they were going after a woman who had shown signs of a unique dynamis. Thereis no real evidence as to what that power was, but it was declared a threat to all Ehora. What proceeded was a massacre like no one had ever witnessed. The woman was found and assassinated, along with others who had stood in the way to protect her.
Hundreds of funeral pyres lit the night that day, but only one burnt the brightest. Through the flames and ashes rose the Light Phoenix. Once flames hit the body of the woman with the mysterious dynamis, she rose up into the sky on massive fiery wings that spread from behind her back. Her body glowed golden and her voice was described to be otherworldly. The Light Phoenix released a sorrowful cry, releasing a powerful white light across the land. The Light Phoenix perished after exerting all of her dynamis, and was later buried beneath the soil for fear of what another pyre might bring.
It wasn’t until later that the realm discovered several Elysians, including Lord Draven, had also perished that day. Many witnesses described their deaths almost like their life force was pulled straight from their bodies—one moment they were alive, and in the next dead. Unrest grew throughout the land, and there was a call for a king to be declared immediately to ensure the safety of the land.
Lord Draven had left behind a son, Kage Stallard, who had also inherited the shadow dynamis. It was made known that Lord Kage believed the Light Phoenix was sent to us as a warning of what happens when we allow evil and darkness to sway our minds. He declared the Light Phoenix had rid the land of evil and provided us with the hope of creating a peaceful kingdom.
Supporters of Lord Kage rallied for him and he eventually became the first king of Ehora. Ever since then, Ehora has lived in peace. It was declared that a Stallard shall always remain on the throne. They will bring peace and unite the kingdom, and the Light Phoenix isremembered as the vessel sent by the gods to help them complete this task.
The breath had been knocked out of me while I read, but I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the last line that passed before my eyes.
“…a Stallard shall always remain on the throne. They will bring peace and unite the kingdom.”
How fate had been proven catastrophically wrong. I wondered if the gods were shaking their heads at the state the kingdom was in, thanks to Alaric Stallard.
After the shock passed, I reread the passage just to make sure I had read it right the first time. I slouched deeper into the chair, and a heavy sigh escaped from within me.
The original Light Phoenix hadn’t even lived long enough to understand the power within her. She had been assassinated for just being different. Shivers ran down my spine at the thought. Would this end up becoming my fate as well?
I ran a hand over the tightness forming in my chest as questions flooded through my mind. Why did people look to me with hope? Had they not read this account of that day? Shouldn’t they be fearful of me instead? Or maybe they thought I’d become a weapon and take out the darkness that was shadowing Ehora?
I needed to distract myself before my thoughts turned into an overwhelming fear that I couldn’t control. This book seemed too important to place back on the shelf, so I stood and gathered it and a few other books into my arms.
“Everything alright?” Clara’s eyes wandered over my worried expression.
“Yes, I just—I’m just a little hungry and tired. I think I’ll head back to my room and take a nap.”
“You’re not coming to the dinner tonight?”
“Oh, Hells,” I groaned, “I completely forgot about the dinner tonight. At least you’ll be at this one.”
