Page 43 of The Divine Shallows
“You know, I’ve always looked up to you. And I’m really proud of you for what you’ve accomplished. You’ve fought for everything you deserved, and now you’re a Goddess-chosen candidate. You’ll become theprimisbecause you earned it. And once those seven years in the Trials are over, you’ll receive the final Mark. You’ll return to Eriden with your own divineanimus. You’ll rewrite your story.”
Elowyn parted her lips as if to speak more, but then closed them, restraining the words that fought to break free. She held back her fears of being alone, of facing their father without Elyria by her side. Those daunting thoughts remained locked behind sealed lips, understanding that Elyria didn’t need to hear that right now.
With a heavy heart, Elowyn halted her wandering and turned to Elyria, her eyes filled with sorrow. “I’m just going to miss you a lot, Elyria.”
Elyria’s expression mirrored Elowyn’s. Though her silver eyes revealed a sense of sadness, they also held an ocean of affection. “Come here.”
Drawing her little sister into a tight embrace, Elyria held her close. “I love you, and I’m going to miss you just the same. You mean everything to me,” she whispered. Releasing Elowyn slightly, she looked into her eyes. “I’m scared too—terrified even. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the Trial, but we’ll be okay.”
Elyria reached for the opal necklace resting on Elowyn’s neck and gently cradled the gemstone in her fingers. “Thesecharmed necklaces are two halves of a whole, remember? Always searching for a way back to each other.”
The necklace around Elowyn thrummed warmly with joy, the magical gem rejoicing at the closeness of its counterpart.
“Now, no crying, or you’ll ruin the makeup I spent all morning doing,” Elyria teased, nudging Elowyn gently with her elbow. “Deal?”
Elowyn managed a smile through her tears and wiped her eyes. “Deal.”
15
Grimwolf and Hellhound
The two sisterswandered through the scenic forest for another hour, taking pleasure in the calm away from the castle. Elowyn occasionally traced her fingers along the bark of the pine trees, admiring their rough, weather-beaten surfaces and wondered how long they had been standing. These towering wood pillars were once mere saplings, and now they stood mighty—a magnificent testament to Neramyr’s origins.
As the sunlight filtering through the leafy canopy began to wane, casting shades of warm reds, soft pinks, and stunning oranges, Elyria let out a soft sigh. “It’s almost time to return. We should start heading back.”
“It’s already nearing moonrise?” Elowyn remarked.
“At least today is just listening to the High Priestess recite tales of folklore and fables.”
“Thank the Goddess for that.” Elowyn noddedin agreement. “We’re supposed to gather at the Shrine of Oswin. Do you know the way?”
“I’m not certain, but I’m sure we’ll find someone to guide us back towards the castle,” Elyria suggested with a shrug.
“Good idea. Let’s head back before it gets too dark,” Elowyn said, lifting her rosy skirts and leading the way along the natural path they had taken earlier.
Both walked in silence for a while, mentally preparing themselves to rejoin the Third Day festivities.
Breaking the silence, Elyria voiced her thoughts. “Can you sense something different about this realm?”
“Yes.” Elowyn nodded. “Lochwald feels different… It feels more alive. There’s a mystical quality to it, but I can’t quite grasp it.”
“Right?” Elyria shook her head.
They quickened their pace, eager to reach the ritual on time. As they walked, Elowyn passed the brook she had admired earlier. They should be nearing the castle now.
“We’ve been walking for quite a while. How far do you think we’ve wandered from the castle?” Elowyn questioned, her expression confused.
“I’d say no more than two miles, given our pace. Let’s just press on—we must be nearing it,” Elyria replied.
Minutes passed by and their pace didn’t slow. By this time, the sun had already departed, leaving dusk to bloom around them.
“This doesn’t make any sense,” Elowyn muttered, her brow furrowing as she scanned their surroundings. “We should have returned by now. This is the same direction we came from.”
“It’s getting dark, I can’t tell anymore. I’m almost certain we’re walking in the right direction,” Elyria insisted.
“If we’re late to the ritual, father will kill us.” Elowyn said anxiously.
“Let’s not panic just yet. We can just moongate,” Elyria responded.
