It had been five days since Ether and Asterion had started practising together. Thankfully the tattoo didn't change any further, making it easier to cover with random ornaments.
"Ether." Asterion called after making sure that she had stopped meditating and was thinking about something.
"Hmmm." Ether looked absent-minded.
"Do you feel any difference in your body?" He had asked the same question for the past five days.
"To be honest, my body feels cooler than it used to be. Not in the negative sense, but this feels good. I feel energised." Ether said after careful introspection.
"Do you feel any power?" Asterion asked cautiously, something stirring in his eyes, the way it had done previous time.
"I don't know how power feels. But yes, I do feel like some energy is coursing through my vessels." Ether answered, thinking thoroughly about the changes she felt.
"I had a suggestion for you. Of course we will do that only if you agree." Asterion said, the fleeting change in his expression was already gone.
"I will follow your orders." Ether said confidently.
Through the past seven days of their marriage, Asterion had managed to build a trust that no person had ever achieved to do in such a short span of time.
Even Ether herself was surprised at the blind faith she had developed for Asterion, even when he didn't do anything except for remaining calm and composed most of the time and showing his concern when situations arose.
"Since your body isn't repulsing the water element powers, should we try this with some other element as well?" Asterion asked.
"You mean carving another elemental symbol and meditating on that?" Ether asked for confirmation.
"Yes." Asterion nodded, but a little hesitancy could be seen in his actions.
"I don't oppose the idea. But if you don't mind, can we start with a fire symbol?" Ether asked.
"Symbols won't be the problem. I just hope it turns out the way I am expecting." Asterion said.
"How is the search going?" Ether asked.
She had been living her days alone in the chamber. Since her presence was known only to a few, she could not roam around. Though everything was provided to her in the chamber, she still wanted to go out and enjoy the breeze in the garden, or pick fruits while enjoying the morning view or simply bask in the sunlight every morning.
"Search team is doing their best. But to no results. The guard is still missing." Asterion said in a serious tone.
"Something huge will be happening soon." Ether said mysteriously.
"Explain that, Princess." Asterion said.
"If I know my sister well, something will be happening soon. She is not this simple. Plus she wanted to marry you, I could see that. Hence she giving up on this marriage means something bigger was happening." Ether said and the rest was understood by Asterion.
"We will see. I will make preparations for the next carving in a few days. I will need the fire element weapons for that." Asterion replied before both of them left the room without anyone noticing.
The communication between the couple was becoming more friendly with each passing day and soon it was already two weeks since their wedding but everything was quiet.
"I will be staying home today." Asterion said after both of them had their breakfast.
"Has the court matter been resolved?" Ether asked who now knew a little of the royal court of Nero from Asterion.
"Not yet. But yesterday the search team came back empty handed and father has decided to stop the search. Your father, his majesty King Ignis was informed and he will be arriving tomorrow for the same. I wanted to discuss things about tomorrow hence I informed father that I won't be attending the court today." Asterion explained.
"Father will be here tomorrow!" Ether exclaimed.
"Yes. But what have you decided?" Asterion asked.
"You want me to hide the truth from my father as well?" Ether didn't need him to explain everything, afterall she was called beauty with brains for some reason.
"I think that would be the better choice-" and there was a knock on the door.
"Your highness, someone is here to meet you." It was Medusa's voice.
Asterion walked up to the door before opening it. Outside, Medusa instantly knelt and greeted him.
"Who is it?" Asterion asked.
"Your highness, the lady isn't disclosing her identity and has hidden her face. She said she has something important to tell you about her highness Princess Ether." Medusa informed.
Asterion turned to look inside his chamber where Ether looked lost in her own thoughts, unaware of what Medusa had told him.
"Ask her to wait in my study. I'll be there shortly." Asterion said before closing the door behind him and walking towards Ether.
"Some urgent matter from the court needs my stamp. I will be there in the courtroom. Don't leave the chamber." Asterion said, hiding the truth.
"I will wait, your highness." Ether replied absentmindedly.
Asterion wanted to correct her so that she would call him by his name, but there were more important things at his hands.
He left without another word, curious to know about the intruder.
'I have never lied to my father. How can I keep my presence hidden and let him assume that his elder daughter might be dead? How shattered would he be? And how will he answer mother when he returns back to the fire palace?
And when all this is over, how will they perceive me? His highness can defend me from the royal palace and people here, but what about my own people and country? Will they ever forgive a lying daughter?' Ether was left to ponder on these thoughts.
The pale blue study room was bright with the sunlight reflecting inside it. The chandeliers looked majestic, sparkling from those reflections. A beautifully carved wooden desk could be seen decorated with golden handles, covered in blue silk.
A small wooden three legged table could be seen occupying the centre of the room, surrounded by three klismos, one of which was occupied by a stunning female, apparently in her teens.
*klismos is a sitting arrangement similar to chairs from ancient greece. Many of our references are taken from greek literature, including names of our character. The character names have meaning behind them originating from greek mythologies.*
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How are you all doing? Also I posted few posts about the book on my instagram handle @go_kizy. Do check them out!
- Kizy