The morning sun streamed through the castle windows, casting long, golden rays across the floor of the planning room. The air was thick with a sense of urgency as Xenos, Alohi, Cynfael, and I gathered around the large oak table covered in maps and reports. My fingers absently traced the edge of a map as I replayed the events of the night before, my mind still swirling with thoughts of Jemisha and her terrified eyes.
Xenos stood beside me, his hand brushing against mine in a subtle but grounding gesture. His presence was steady, his eyes scanning the documents in front of him. Alohi was seated across from us, her usual lighthearted demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness. Cynfael, as always, was the picture of calm authority, though the tension in his jaw betrayed his concern.
"We need to move quickly," Cynfael began, his voice cutting through the silence. "Mortis won't stop now that Jemisha is out of his reach. If anything, he'll escalate."
Alohi nodded, her expression grim. "And we can't underestimate the ginger twins. Citrus and Cyra might have retreated, but they'll regroup."
I glanced down at the map, my eyes drawn to the markings indicating Mortis's known strongholds. "Jemisha's power… it's overwhelming. If Mortis had gotten to her—"
"But he didn't," Xenos interrupted, his voice firm. "She's safe now, and so are you."
I looked up at him, finding comfort in his unwavering gaze. "That's not the point," I said softly. "He'll come after her again, and we need to be ready."
Cynfael leaned forward, his fingers tapping against the table. "Agreed. The priority now is ensuring Jemisha's safety and fortifying our defenses. Sage, your connection with Ziri might be our strongest asset in predicting Mortis's next move. Are you willing to try again?"
I hesitated, the memory of Ziri's voice still echoing in my mind. "I'll try," I said finally, my voice steady despite the nerves curling in my stomach.
"Good," Cynfael said, nodding. "In the meantime, we'll reinforce the castle's wards and send scouts to monitor Mortis's forces near the eastern border."
Alohi glanced at me, a flicker of her usual mischief returning. "You ready for more training, Sage? If you're going to keep showing off that angel form, you'll need to know how to control it."
I smiled faintly, the weight in the room lifting slightly. "I'm ready."
Xenos's hand brushed against mine again, his quiet support unspoken but deeply felt. As the meeting continued, a sense of determination settled over us. Mortis might have been relentless, but so were we.
After the meeting, I found myself wandering through the halls of the castle, my thoughts drifting to Jemisha. She was alone in a new place, surrounded by strangers, and I knew that feeling all too well. Xenos had offered to come with me, but I'd insisted on going alone.
"She needs someone who understands," I had told him. "Not a guardian hovering over her."
Reluctantly, he'd let me go, though I could still feel his gaze following me as I left.
I reached the room where Jemisha had been taken. The maid had done a good job of making the space comfortable, but it was still just another unfamiliar place for her. I knocked softly before stepping inside.
Jemisha was sitting on the edge of the bed, her snowy white curls cascading over her shoulders. She looked so small, so fragile, but there was a quiet strength in her mismatched eyes. When she saw me, she tensed, her hands gripping the edge of the blanket.
"Hi, Jemisha," I said gently, taking a seat on the chair beside her. I made sure to keep my movements slow, non-threatening. "I just wanted to check on you. Are you okay?"
She didn't answer right away, her gaze darting between me and the door.
"You're safe here," I assured her, my voice soft. "I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but no one can hurt you here. I promise."
Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you being nice to me? You don't even know me."
I smiled faintly. "Because I know what it's like to be in your shoes. I came to a world I didn't understand, surrounded by people I didn't trust, thinking it was just another nursery school. But I had someone who helped me, and now I want to be that person for you."
Her mismatched eyes studied me carefully, searching for any hint of deceit. "You don't look scared," she said after a moment.
I chuckled softly. "That's because I've been through a lot. But that doesn't mean I'm not scared sometimes. Being brave doesn't mean you're not afraid—it means you keep going anyway."
Jemisha seemed to relax a little, her grip on the blanket loosening. "What's going to happen to me now?"
"We're going to protect you," I said firmly. "Mortis and his people won't get to you. But more than that, we're going to help you understand your powers and how to control them. You're not alone in this, Jemisha. I'm here for you, and so is everyone else."
For the first time, a flicker of hope appeared in her eyes. She nodded slightly, her voice steadier when she said, "Thank you."
I reached out, resting a hand on hers. "Anytime. You're safe with us."
We sat there for a while, just talking. She told me bits and pieces about her life before all of this—her love for drawing, the books she used to read, and her dreams of traveling. Little by little, I could feel her trust growing, and I silently vowed to do everything in my power to keep her safe.
I smiled at Jemisha as the conversation eased into more casual territory. "How old are you, Jemisha?" I asked gently.
Her mismatched eyes blinked at me cautiously before she replied, "I'm fifteen."
"Fifteen," I echoed, nodding thoughtfully. "Well, I've decided something."
Her brows furrowed in confusion. "What?"
"I'm going to consider you my little sister," I said with a warm grin.
Her eyes widened, and for the first time, a spark of curiosity replaced the nervous tension in her gaze. "Your… little sister?"
"Yes," I said, leaning back in my chair. "I don't have any younger siblings, but I think I'd be a pretty great older sister. Don't you?"
Jemisha tilted her head, a small smile forming on her lips. "I guess that means I have to call you 'big sister' now."
I laughed. "If you want to. But let me warn you, I'll probably be a little overprotective."
She giggled softly, the sound light and hesitant, as if she hadn't laughed in a long time. "How old are you, anyway?"
"I'm nineteen," I replied.
Her mouth fell open, and she gasped in exaggerated shock. "Nineteen?! That's so old!"
I stared at her, feigning offense. "Excuse me? Old? I'm not even twenty yet!"
"You're practically ancient!" she teased, her laughter growing.
"Oh, you're in for it now," I said with a mock glare. "Big sisters are allowed to tickle little sisters who call them old, you know."
She laughed harder, her face lighting up with genuine happiness for the first time. "Okay, okay! I take it back!"
I joined in her laughter, my heart feeling lighter. For a moment, it felt like we'd known each other forever, and I silently promised to keep bringing her moments like this—moments of peace and happiness—no matter what challenges lay ahead.
As I stood, Jemisha's mismatched eyes widened with panic. "You're leaving?" she asked, clutching the blanket around her.
"You need rest," I said gently, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "I'll see you later this afternoon, okay?"
"But I don't want to be alone," she whispered, her voice trembling.
I leaned down and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I promise I'll come back. You'll be okay for a few hours, Jemisha. I just need to take care of a few things."
Her lip quivered, but she finally nodded, releasing my hand reluctantly. "Okay... but you have to promise."
"I promise," I said firmly, giving her a warm smile.
As I left the room and quietly closed the door behind me, I turned to find Xenos leaning against the wall, his arms crossed and an amused look on his face.
"Were you eavesdropping?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Me? Eavesdrop? Never," he said with a smirk, falling into step beside me as we started walking down the corridor.
I shot him a playful glare. "You're impossible."
He chuckled. "I couldn't help overhearing. You're really good with kids, you know that?"
I shrugged, my cheeks warming. "I just... want her to feel safe. She's been through so much."
"And you're doing a great job at that," he said, his voice softening. "Not only would you make a great older sister, but I think you'd make an amazing mother someday."
I glanced at him, startled by the unexpected compliment. "Mother? That's... a big statement, Xenos."
"I mean it," he said seriously, stopping and turning to face me. His eyes burned with sincerity. "If I ever want kids... I want them with you."
My heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, I could only stare at him. Finally, I smiled. "You know... I might be able to make that happen sooner than you think."
His brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Well," I began, walking again as he followed, "I read in my mom's notebook that the chosen one—me—can birth a creature of a magical species if that species is on the brink of extinction."
Xenos stopped in his tracks, staring at me. "You're saying you could... create a dragon egg?"
I nodded. "But it's not easy. It requires an immense amount of power, focus, and, well... love."
His expression shifted into one of awe and wonder. "Sage, that's... incredible."
I shrugged, trying to downplay it, but his intense gaze pinned me in place.
"If that's something you ever want to do," he said, his voice low and filled with emotion, "I'd be with you every step of the way. Always."
I reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly. "I know. But let's take one step at a time, okay?"
He nodded, his lips curving into a small smile. "Okay. But don't forget, Sage—I'll follow you anywhere."
The warmth in his words made my chest ache in the best way, and I silently thanked whatever force had brought us together.