XVII

The Gardens of Everwood

Kiro set her down, and Lyra gasped. They stood upon a balcony that had been transformed into a verdant sanctuary. A meandering path wound through the space, leading toward a hidden fountain, and flowers of every conceivable hue dotted the landscape.

Giggling, Lyra threw her arms around Kiro's waist. "It's beautiful! Thank you for bringing me here!"

Startled, Kiro flushed but returned the embrace, a sincere smile illuminating his features. With Lyra, he felt a unique sense of ease, a relaxation he'd never experienced with anyone else. He found himself cherishing her unwavering focus on him. After a moment, Lyra's giddy excitement melted into a sultry allure. She leaned back, her eyes locking with his. A jolt of exhilaration shot through Kiro as he watched her lips draw nearer.

"Lyra…" he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

"Kiro, I really like you!" she blurted out, then immediately recoiled, mortified. "Whoops! I didn't mean to say—"

In an instant, Kiro closed the distance between them, his lips capturing hers. His arms encircled her waist, pulling her flush against him. Surprised but thrilled, Lyra threaded her fingers through his hair, deepening the kiss. Oblivious to the hundreds of Sentinels training on the grounds below, they remained locked in a passionate embrace. Kiro's lips briefly left hers to murmur in her ear, "I like you, too," before trailing a line of kisses down her neck. She closed her eyes, a languid grin spreading across her face as his mouth reclaimed hers.

Just as he began to deepen their kiss, a loud clearing of a throat shattered the moment. Kiro sprang back from Lyra as if she were engulfed in flames. Panting, they turned to see Aden strolling into the garden, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said, his expression laced with amusement. "But Reya's been looking for you, Lyra. And Kiro, you big stud, the Princess demands an audience with you and Haken to discuss your behavior at the briefing."

Anxiety immediately clouded Kiro's face, while a deep blush crept up Lyra's neck. His gaze fell on an embarrassed Lyra. "Gods! I forgot all about Haken and…" he trailed off. With a quick bow to her and a high five for Aden, Kiro jogged back into the base.

Lyra groaned, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at Aden. "Thanks a lot!"

Aden yelped and fled as the indignant Pyre Mage chased him from the gardens and down the corridors of Everwood.

Sentinel Barracks, Everwood, Two Days Later

Green light diffused through a crystalline ceiling, illuminating a chamber furnished with four simple beds draped in royal blue and green. At the far end of the room, a large bay window overlooked the expansive woodlands. The door to the chamber burst open as Elisia and Haelia tumbled in, their shouts and laughter echoing in the quiet room. An official-looking Sentinel standing in the doorway cleared his throat pointedly.

Haelia, the Kitsune, spun around and flopped onto the nearest bed. "Bored now. Leave?" she asked, her Common Tongue thick with an accent.

Her companion, Elisia, moved to the bay window and sighed. "No, Haelia. We're official Sentinels now. We have a duty, even if the classes are boring and the teachers are lame," she spat the last word at the man, who slammed the door behind him.

Haelia leaped to her feet, breaking into a wild celebratory dance. "He go! Elisia, he go!"

Elisia grinned. "Finally. I don't know how much longer I can put up with these Sentinel stiffs cramping my style."

"Stiffs?" Haelia queried, her large brown eyes wide with curiosity.

"Stiffs," Elisia explained with a wink, "are the meanies who yell at you for sleeping in class."

Haelia grimaced. "OH! Yelling meanies! Blah!"

Elisia was about to reenact their latest classroom shenanigans when the door opened again. The pair froze, turning to see Reya standing there with two identical blonde girls—Kara and Lyra.

"Ladies, this is your new room," Reya announced firmly. "And these are your new roommates."

Lyra bounced to her feet. "Hiya! I'm Lyra! Nice to meetcha!"

Haelia beamed, smothering the eager girl in a bear hug. "LYRA! Not stiff! YAY!"

Elisia smiled, extending a hand to Kara. "Hey. We haven't seen you for a couple of days."

"There were some issues with their paperwork," Reya explained. "They're here to begin their training, just as you are. However, they are special cases. Kara is the Aether Mage, and Lyra is the Pyre Mage."

"Eh, we're not that powerful," Kara remarked, glancing around the room.

Lyra summoned a tiny flame to dance on her fingertip. "Yeah, we mostly just do tricks right now," she admitted, as Haelia clapped and begged for more.

Reya grinned and shook her head. "Well, I must be leaving. Your official training begins tomorrow, twins. Elisia, Haelia, I trust you to get them to their sessions. You have the rest of the day off." She turned and left. After she was gone, a moment of silence passed before all four girls erupted in laughter.

Drawn to the bay window, Kara gazed out at the stunning vista. As her fingers brushed against the cool green crystal, her mind suddenly expanded, her Aether energy radiating outward. She saw the Princess standing on a high ledge, accompanied by another, veiled figure. The scene dissolved, replaced by the image of a colossal mech wielding a silver sword. It loomed over the shattered remains of a crystalline building near a lake. A young girl's scream tore through the vision, the psychic shock sending Kara to her knees.

At that exact moment, Lyra shot bolt upright in her bed, her eyes wide with alarm.

Elisia, more versed in the ways of magic than her foxy friend, took a cautious step back. "They're fine," she murmured. "Just a vision."

"Sleeping sight," Haelia muttered, dropping into a respectful bow before the twins. Elisia followed her lead.

"We should let them be," Elisia suggested.

Haelia, whose ears had perked up, added, "Let's go grab them some dinner," already heading for the door.

Orlagard, Arak's Kingdom

"Do you understand the importance of this mission, Kael?" Queen Kyreth spat, her voice sharp with frustration at the bored-looking man before her. His gaze drifted away, utterly dismissive. Furious, the Queen descended from her dais and seized his shoulders. "Don't you EVER turn your back on me! Not just because you believe you're more powerful than my entire army…"

Trembling with rage, she released him and stalked away. Leaning against a nearby wall, Haken, recently returned to Arak, tried to read the Queen's aura. It was a gift he had cultivated, but it was largely ineffective against the sheer force of Kyreth's will. As Kael stepped back, Haken's eyes were drawn to a polished black crystal hanging from a leather cord around his neck. It was no ordinary jewel. With a perfunctory bow, Kael slipped from the room.

Kyreth made her way back to her throne, rubbing her temples as if to stave off a headache. The gesture reminded Haken of Reya. Closing her eyes, the Queen began to hum an ancient lullaby, a tune that once held the power of the Sacred Beasts of Mynora. The melody soothed Haken, stirring fond, infrequent memories of his own childhood. After a moment, Kyreth's eyes snapped open, tears welling in their corners as she swallowed hard.

"Haken," she muttered, her voice strained with pain. "I need you to follow this mission personally. I can't let—" She hesitated, the raw anguish in her expression receding as if she were wrestling with her own vulnerability. She hurried to the large orb that served as her scrying glass. She tapped its surface, and an image of Everwood coalesced within. The view shifted to Princess Calista, who was observing a group of sorcerers as they inscribed intricate symbols on the ground before her. A manic light shone in Calista's eyes. Kyreth growled, shattering the vision with a slam of her fist against the orb.

"Your Majesty, we are running out of time," Haken remarked, his tone grave.

"I know," she said, lost in thought. "That is why it is imperative we gather the Fated Mages. We need their power to protect the Sacred Beasts. She is getting too close, Haken. You must do all you can to get those girls out of there."

With a slight bow, Haken quickly departed the throne room to find Kael. He stormed into Kael's private chambers without knocking. "Kael! I need to speak with you."

He found the silver-haired man on the balcony, looking weary and far older than his years.

"Yes?" Kael asked, his voice faint.

Haken felt no remorse for his next words. "You had better not fail. I have no desire to clean up another one of your messes."

Kael simply stared at him for a long moment. "Haken, how do you do this? How do you train all the time and never question your Queen?"

"Ha! I question her constantly. Her sanity, her morals, her motives. There is nothing I do not question."

"Then why are you so loyal?"

Something in Kael's voice shifted. As he rose to his feet, the crystal around his neck flared with an inner light. Haken sensed a vast power surging to the surface—the Dragon's. "Kael?" he breathed.

Kael lifted his head, and the eyes that met Haken's were not his own; they were the Dragon's. A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. "Kael is a weakling!"

"I can do this job for him," the Dragon declared, unleashing a wave of power that forced Haken to leap aside.

"Stop this!" Haken cried, raising a protective shield. "I am not your enemy!"

"I trust no human or Elf!" the Dragon roared, blasting the sofa Haken had ducked behind into splinters.

Haken focused his Lumen abilities, hurling his shield to disperse the malevolent energy. "Mighty Dragon, no! I wish you no harm!" he yelled, but a surge of black flame silenced him. The Dragon roared, gathering an enormous amount of energy before leaping into the air. Haken unleashed two beams of light that struck the Dragon, causing it to shriek in agony and fall. With another wave of pure light, he blew the dark flames away.

Panting, Haken approached the fallen figure. Certain that the man was Kael once more, he bandaged his injuries and hoisted him onto the bed. He understood now that the crystal was a focus, designed to help Kael channel the Dragon's power without being consumed by it. Haken sighed, resolving to discuss the matter with the Sensei. He felt a strange sense of responsibility for Kael.

"The poor man was left with nothing and no one," he thought. "I understand that feeling all too well."