Ariadna spent the rest of the day in the library, trying to catch up on the holy texts Vayan had given her. She felt bored and unfocused, often rereading the same pages two or three times before finally grasping their meaning. Time passed slowly, but eventually, it was time for her to meet her new teacher.
On her way out of the library, she spotted Vayan. He looked at her, his expression serious and sincere. "You've been a diligent student, Ariadna," he said. "I must warn you about your new teacher. The people from his domain are connected to night and secrets, but also to betrayal and deceit. They will stop at nothing to uncover the secrets they desire. Always remain vigilant and prayerful."
Ariadna shot back, "And we won't hesitate to burn them down, will we?"
Vayan shook his head, his voice steady and firm. "Only if the God wills it. We must seek guidance in all things and act with discernment."
Ariadna scoffed but replied, "Thank you, brother. I'll keep it in mind." He gave her a contemplative look before turning to leave, saying over his shoulder, "I'll see you at morning prayer tomorrow. Afterward, you will begin your training and sparring with the holy knights." With that, he walked away.
Another small spark of anger flickered in Ariadna as she thought about the hypocrisy of her brother. Lies and betrayal seemed worse to him than burning people alive. Just as her irritation began to fade, she found herself in front of Velor's quarters.
She turned to one of the guards and said, "Lady Ariadna. Please announce my arrival."
Before the guard could respond, the door swung open, and a maid stepped out with a bow. "Lady Ariadna, the Lord is expecting you."
Ariadna entered the room after the maid and looked around. The quarters were quite spacious, featuring a large sitting room with a fireplace, a study on one side, and a door leading to a large bedroom and a private bathroom. She vaguely remembered hiding here as a child when she ran away from prayers. Now, having someone live in these rooms felt different. She could sense Velor's presence, subtle yet noticeable, as he sat on a large black sofa next to the fireplace.
"Lady Ariadna, thank you for coming," he said, looking up at her. "Come, join me by the fireplace." He signaled to the servants to leave them alone. Once the room was quiet, he sighed and slouched on the sofa with a mischievous smile. "Ah, so much better. There are benefits to being the heir to the God of Secrets. Secret meetings are kind of expected."
Ariadna regarded him with curiosity. "But don't you really have secrets?"
"Don't we all?" he chuckled. "Anyway, I hope you don't mind the informality. I prefer to keep things casual when we're alone."
"That's fine with me. I'm not used to being too formal anyway," she replied.
"Ah yes, the reason I'm here. To help you look and sound more like the heir you're likely to be." Noticing her discomfort with this idea, he added, "I also want to help you understand why we are the way we are and what we're going to do about it. But that's between us. And strictly unofficial." Now Ariadna was all ears.