Later that evening, the emperor took a stroll through the tower, climbing up the circular stairs to levels he had never previously visited. When his legs began to burn, he stopped and noticed that he had arrived at a grand library, the shelves of books reaching higher than the tower's structure would logically allow. He was mesmerized at the thousands if not millions of books lining the walls as he felt a presence enter the room.
"Welcome to our famous library, My Dragon," the Queen's silky voice hummed in his ear.
"The stories do it no justice at all," he smiled at her. "What is the oldest piece in your collection?"
"A scroll written by the ancients themselves," she humored him with a returned smile. "These shelves are filled with tomes full of history, magical education, and our religion, and yet there are still things that the Queen of the Magi can only learn by receiving her powers from the previous queen."
"Such as?"
She burst into a wide grin. "Nice try."
He watched her for a moment. "Please, educate me," he held his arms out and waited.
She nodded before rolling her eyes around the room, her pupils becoming hazy and momentarily glowing like sparkly white opals as a book very high quickly flew down and landed into her hand. Her eyes returned to normal before she offered him the book, and a spot to sit.
He glanced down at the book. "The History of Adhara," he read the title.
"Do you know of the old ways, Your Imperial Highness? The importance of the Queen of the Magi in antiquity?"
"I'm afraid I do not."
"It is not a fault of you or your education," she assured him. "Once The First Emperor claimed the Empire's official religion as the Children of Light, everyone turned away from the ancients and within four generations all has been forgotten."
"Then teach me, My Raven," he asked humbly before opening the book.
She smiled as she placed her hands neatly onto her lap. "In ancient times, I would have been your priestess. It was the priestess' job to ensure the future of the kingdom, and as thus… proved the crown prince's virility by ritual lovemaking. If the priestess became pregnant, the prince would be the next king and the child became the priest for the next king."
"They weren't placed in the line of succession?"
"Of course not. A King with that much power would be dangerous."
"Ah," he nodded his understanding. "So royalty and the Magi have traditionally been closely related?"
"That feels to be a loaded question, Majesty," she watched him carefully.
"I am not in the habit of showing vulnerability to anyone, yet… I feel as though I can trust you implicitly. Why is that?"
"I suspect it is due to The Thornless Rose's blood in your veins," she waved her hand, the book in his lap turning to the final chapter. "The Fierce Tiger's Empress was Queen Deandra of the Magi."
He stared at her, his breath caught in his throat. "That is why you rule over Midir," he finally spoke.
"We became queens instead of high priestesses, saving us from persecution of the Children of Light's priests. We spoke no more about our religion yet retained our authority."
"You are still subjected to the law of the land…"
"So long as it does not contradict the law of magic," she explained. "I fear the wrath of the ancients far more than your judges."
He couldn't help but smile at her candor. It was time. He was ready. He trusted her and needed to ask a very important question. "My Queen… there are times when I see things… that are quite unsettling."
She knew he held a small amount of magical ability due to his great-grandmother, but wasn't prepared for his question. The surprise quickly subsided as she took interest in his problem. "Such as?"
"My world, occasionally, evaporates around me…"
Jessica gasped loudly as she pulled her fingers away from her keyboard and pushed back from her desk. Why did she just write that? What could possibly cause her to break the fourth wall with her audience? What possessed her to write those words?
Grafi crossed his arms, his brow arching as he watched his author dash off quickly. He stepped forward, reading her last few sentences before rising to his full height and letting out a sigh.
The characters were becoming too aware. His experiment had taken an unexpected turn.
***
Jessica returned to her seat and reread the last chapter she had written. Frowning while shaking her head, she carefully placed her finger over the delete button and removed the emperor's question.
Click.
His eyes widened as the walls of the library began to fall away like sand in the wind. "It is happening again."
The queen glanced around her before turning to reach for his hand. "You are not alone. I have long known about this as well."
"What is it?!"
Click.
"It is…" her voice fell away as she slowly disappeared before his very eyes.
"Catira!" he reached for her as his world went blank.
Click.
"Okay," Jessica whispered to herself before cracking her neck and going back to work.
"You are still subjected to the law of the land…"
"So long as it does not contradict the law of magic," she explained. "I fear the wrath of the ancients far more than your judges."
He couldn't help but smile at her candor. "I have no memory of my great-grandmother, but I lived with my grandmother when I was very young. She was an amazing woman."
"The Pure and Bright Lily," she nodded in agreement. "She raised you until you were of age to begin your imperial education, at which time you schooled with your moonflower."
"You seem to know much about my life."
She tilted her head as she watched him carefully. "No one ever told you?"
"There is nothing the emperor does not know," he scoffed as he turned away.
"One can never learn enough, and I'm aware that you agree…" she hummed. "Your magical aptitude began developing when you were yet a toddler. One of The Humble Lion's concubines who had bore a son before your birth feared your power and attempted to have you assassinated. Your grandmother protected you with the help of Queen Zakimi and your abilities were muted to keep you safe. I was sure the spell would have worn off by now…"
"How are you aware of this and I am not?"
She tapped her finger against her temple. "The Magic of the Queen. I know everything my predecessors knew."
He looked down at his hands, staring at them for a moment. "All this time…"
"Perhaps our partnership will prove more beneficial than previously thought?"
"No one can know about this, especially my priest."
"The Magi are highly skilled at the art of secrecy," she stopped briefly before continuing, "Plus… you are My Emperor."
"Then tell me this…" he tested her. "What were you doing near the woods last night?"
She slowly smiled at him. "I sent a message to the High Priestesses of Angitia."
"What message was that?"
She stared into his eyes, her gray ones sparkling in the candlelight as she contemplated her answer. "There is a prophesy that until recently only my priestesses and I were privileged to. When the magicians began to lose their magic, everyone I am close to began having prophetic visions and dreams. I need… clarification," she admitted as her cheeks grew rosy. "I also do not like admitting weakness, and at this time I am… unsure."
"The prophesy is connected to whomever is stealing this power?"
"If they manage to become more powerful than me, all of Adhara will suffer and both Emperors… will perish."
"What happens if they don't?"
"The only way for me to defeat them… is to help you develop your skills and work together."
"So… we defeat them if we work together?"
"Yes."
He read her eyes, leaning in closer to her. "What are you omitting?"
"Sometimes… it is better to let the stones fall where they may."
"So you get to know all the answers, and I have to wait and see?" he scoffed at her.
"You're not the one in danger of losing her head should the emperor command it. I must let you make your own choices."
"I have other ways of finding the information I seek."
"Do as you must… as will I."
"Queen Catira," he reached out and grabbed her hand. "I understand your reluctance… I will respect your choice. My only hope is that in the future, I may earn your complete trust."
Her eyes widened as his pupils momentarily glowed with the light of a sparkling white opal. At that moment, he received a vision of Queen Catira, sitting up in a bed after just giving birth to a child. His eyes widened as he pulled his hand away and stared at her.
"And so it begins," she nodded before rising to her feet. "Eating something sweet helps with the dizziness of working with magic," she curtseyed before walking out of the library.