Emily sits quietly in the grand library, surrounded by towering shelves filled with scrolls and books. The vast room is illuminated by the soft glow of a chandelier, while colorful light filters through the tall stained-glass windows, casting patterns on the stone floor.
In the centre of the room, large wooden tables stand solid and inviting, with plush, high-backed chairs arranged around them, offering a comfortable place for study. The air is still and peaceful, providing a calm space where Emily can breathe.
Emily holds a drawing of the black moon she has seen in her dreams in one hand, while her other hand flips through the pages of a book in front of her. Her gaze lingers on the text as she searches for answers.
"The full moon," she murmurs, stopping as she comes across an illustration of a bright and shining moon. "I've seen this before—during the festival."
She continues to flip through the pages until she comes to a sudden halt. Carefully, she moves the drawing closer to the book, comparing the two images side by side. "This is what I've been looking for," she mutters to herself, a spark of realization in her voice.
Her eyes shift to the words on the page, and she reads them aloud, her tone filled with amazement. "The new moon," she says softly. "A phase of the moon where the veil between the spirit world and our world is thin."
She lets out a frustrated sigh. "Well, this doesn't help," Emily mutters in annoyance, feeling the weight of her unanswered questions. "North powers are connected to the spirits," she says, her thoughts swirling.
'What does the King need my power for?' she wonders, the question gnawing at her mind.
Determined, Emily makes a decision. 'I need to meet him,' she concludes, rising from her seat. But as she begins to move, she suddenly pauses, a memory flashing through her mind—her last encounter with the King. The recollection sends a shiver down her spine, momentarily startling her.
"Just go, Emily," she muttered to herself, trying to shake off the unease. With renewed resolve, she turned and headed out of the library, the heavy door closing softly behind her.
✨🌙✨
Emily walked toward the door; her mind still haunted by the last encounter with the King. She hoped he would be there when she arrived. As she reached the door, she heard voices from the room.
"You still can't find her?" Ronan's voice echoed, prompting Emily to gently open the door and peer inside.
Through the crack, she saw Trevon, Lucinda, and Ronan, along with a young man she didn't recognize. Opposite them stood a man with a strong, battle-worn presence, his stance commanding respect. His years of combat were evident in his posture and demeanour.
"She's clearly not in the East anymore," the man said, his eyes deliberately avoiding Ronan's gaze.
Emily squinted, her mind racing as she analyzed the mysterious figure. As she took in his features, a jolt of recognition hit her. 'He's one of the people who attacked Diana in the forest,' she thought, her eyes widening in shock as the realization settled in.
The memory of the man choking her tightened her throat, causing her to visibly shake at the unsettling reminder.
"My lady?"
Emily flinched, turning towards the guards behind her.
"You are not to interfere in their meeting," the guards said blankly, gesturing for her to leave.
Nervously chuckling at being caught, Emily began to step away. The door swung open wider, revealing a puzzled Trevon.
"Is something wrong?" Trevon asked, briefly glancing at Emily before his gaze shifted to the guard.
"I want to escort her back to her quarters. Sorry, I should have noticed her sooner," the guard said, his expression serious.
"It's okay," Trevon replied, opening the door wider with a smile. "Emily is welcome," he added, gesturing for her to enter the room.
Emily avoided Trevon's gaze and stepped into the room without acknowledging him. As she walked in, everyone's attention shifted toward her. She glanced at the man, trying to gauge whether he recognized her.
'My appearance looks royal. Hopefully, he doesn't remember me,' Emily wondered, her eyes briefly meeting his before she moved towards Ronan and the others, deliberately keeping a wide distance from them.
The man's eyes followed Emily, narrowing slightly as he scrutinized her.
"What's with the stare?" Lucinda asked, noticing the man's focused expression on Emily.
Trevon walked over to Emily, choosing to stand beside her.
"Nothing," the man said, his gaze shifting away from Emily as he spoke.
"Aw, Emily, you have an admirer," Lucinda teased, her smile revealing her joy and playful nature.
"Leave now. Just follow my orders," Ronan interrupted, waving his gloved hand dismissively, his attention shifting sharply as Emily unexpectedly entered the room.
The man let out a sigh of relief, casting one last look at Emily before walking to the door.
As the door shut, Emily exhaled, her tension visibly easing. Trevon, noticing her reaction, approached her with concern.
"Do you know him, Emily?" Trevon asked softly.
Emily avoided his gaze, focusing on the floor. "No," she replied.
"Who's the lady?" A young man asked, causing everyone to shift their gaze to Emily.
"This is Emily," Lucinda said, walking over and placing a hand on Emily's shoulder. Emily remained composed, though her mind recalled their last encounter.
"She's the Northerner I spoke of," Ronan added, his gaze steady on Emily.
"Okay, will she be joining our meetings?" the young man asked again, his tone insistent.
"I don't think so," Lucinda replied, her enthusiasm evident. "Her aura might be strong, but she's not part of the council."
"My aura?" Emily muttered under her breath, more to herself than anyone else.
"Hold on, let's not get into that now," Ronan interrupted, his voice firm as he steered the conversation back on track. He turned to Emily, his smile tight and his tone more formal. "Is there something you need, Emily? You did interrupt us."
Emily cleared her throat, trying to steady herself under the weight of their gazes. "I need to understand what you need my powers for," she asked, her voice honest and direct. "It would help with my studies."
The room fell silent at her words, and Emily's brows furrowed in confusion as she noted the baffled expressions of Lucinda and the young man.
"You didn't tell her?" the man asked, his shock evident as he looked at Trevon and Ronan.
"We didn't," Ronan admitted honestly.
"What about her drawing of the new moon that you saw?" Lucinda asked Trevon. "How could she have known about it?"
Emily's mouth fell open at Lucinda's words, realizing they knew about the moon that had been haunting her.
"Destiny, I guess," Trevon said with a soft smile. "She must know about its importance."
"I do not," Emily replied, her annoyance clear.
"Let me put it simply," Ronan said, walking towards Emily and standing directly in front of her. "The day of the new moon is close. We need you to communicate with Hecate to help us with our plan concerning the non-magic users."
Emily's brow furrowed at his words. "The plan to kill them all?" she asked, her voice tinged with sadness.
"Yes," Ronan confirmed with a smile. "With Hecate's assistance, we'll ensure that there are no survivors."
"Will she agree to that?" Emily asked, her gaze fixed on the floor as she questioned whether Hecate would support such a grim plan.
"Of course," Ronan said confidently.
"Therefore," the young man interjected, "you need to practice communicating with the spirits before then."
Emily's gaze met theirs with concern. "I've never spoken to spirits before. How can I speak to a goddess? Can't you find another Northerner who has mastered these skills?" she asked, hoping they would exclude her from this grim plan.
"But you're not like other Northerners, Emily!" Lucinda exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. "According to Trevon's aura reading."
Emily's eyes finally met Trevon's, who looked at her with a softened expression. "How exactly am I different?" she asked, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
"Your aura," Ronan explained, "is far stronger than anyone else's. With such mana, you could almost resemble a goddess yourself. Only you can connect with Hecate; no one else has the strength required."
Trevon sighed, noticing Emily's frozen state and the strain in her expression. "You should go, Emily. Thanks for—"
Before he could finish, Emily brushed past him, her steps sharp and determined as she made her way to the door. The room fell silent as the heavy door slammed shut behind her.
"She seems mad," the young man commented, his face reflecting amusement.
"I trust Trevon will help with that," Ronan said with a casual shrug. "We still have some important things to discuss."
Trevon's gaze lingered on the closed door before he reluctantly turned his attention back to Ronan.
✨🌙✨
Emily sat by the desk in her room, her hand clutching a quill as she eagerly scribbled across the paper before her.
"You all should start looking for an escape route off these Islands. I'm aware of their next step," Emily read aloud, her voice steady despite the tension she felt.
She sighed, staring at the letter in front of her. With a careful hand, she folded the paper and slipped it into an envelope, sealing it with hot wax and pressing down to imprint the stamp.
'I know their plan,' Emily thought, her mind racing. 'I just need to practice my powers for a while before escaping. I won't let them use me for violence.'