Day 2, but actually Day 5

I woke up warm. Sun-on-skin warm to be exact.

 I squinted and turned my face into the pillow. The light was bright. Daystar. Don’t forget.

‘What time…’ I croaked.

No bad dreams of evil queens. No alarms for exams or research papers. Just pure bliss.

After laying motionless for a few more minutes, I groaned and pushed myself upright, blinking blearily around the room. The balcony doors were open just enough to let sunlight spill in, painting the floor in soft gold. With some miracle, the reflection on the floor and ceiling hit my face precisely, waking me.

‘Oh… I slept loooong.’

No Mede at the foot of the bed. Replaced by some feathers and an indentation of where he slept. For a second, panic fluttered in my chest but it settled just as quickly.

Right. He had duties. Important fiery-bird things.

I stretched, joints popping in quiet protest, and wandered around the room barefoot, taking it in properly this time. Everything felt real. Mine, in a way I was still getting used to.

I peeked into the washroom again, stared at the intimidating fixtures, and decided after battling it for five minutes that it wasn’t worth it.

‘Tomorrow,’ I told the bath for the second time.

Instead, I made do with the sink and a cloth. I scrubbed myself awake in the most undignified way possible. Cold water on my face. Soap that smelled faintly of herbs.

I’ll be damned if someone calls me smelly ever again.

I changed into something lighter. A flowy blue dress with long sleeves that felt soft against my skin and moved easily when I walked.

Once dressed, I took a breath, gathered my courage and stepped outside.

Two guards stood immediately at attention the moment the door opened. I startled at the snappiness. They straightened so fast it made a weird noise. Is that from their uniform or from their actual form? Griffith right?

‘Good morning,’ I said instinctively.

One of them bowed and immediately turned on his heel, heading briskly down the corridor.

Yep. That’s definitely to tell Riye I’m awake.

I turned to the remaining guard, who looked very determined to do his job well.

‘Um… Do you know where my parents are?’

He hesitated a moment before answering. ‘Yes, Your Highness.’

I winced internally but didn’t interrupt.

‘The Queen is resting after a late morning meal. The King is in council but will be informed immediately if you wish to see him.’ He continued.

I nodded slowly, absorbing it all. ‘Thank you. Do not bother them. I’ll find something to do.’

I raised my hand to pat him but I stopped myself. What if one touch from me is enough excuse for Riye, Pan, even Mede to bully this boy? Hmmmm let’s not risk it.

He bowed again, and I stood there for a moment longer. The palace was awake and moving around me. I hadn’t taken more than three steps down the corridor when familiar voices drifted toward me.

‘—telling you, the calibration was off by at least two sigils.’

‘That’s because you adjusted it after midnight.’

I turned just in time to see Elliot stride past the intersection. Her tail flicked irritably behind her. Her skirt swishing dramatically around her legs. She wore full-blown feminine clothing. Layers of fabric and jewelry caught the light. He looked like a kawaii disco ball.

‘Oh! You’re finally awake! After three days!’

‘THREE DAYS?!!?’

‘Yeah! We were going to use alternative ways to feed you if you didn’t wake up today!’

‘Goodness! Just shake me awake!’

‘But! You were snoring very adorably. The King commanded staff to keep a close eye for now and to leave you to awaken on your own accord.’ Elliot explained adorably.

I could only rub my face in disbelief. Seemingly out of thin air, Elliot’s twin slowly emerged from behind her. Same fox ears and sharp eyes. Same narrow smile, but a bit shyer. Same general air of someone who knew things and enjoyed knowing them before anyone else.

All same but in plain trousers, high boots and a fitted vest with leeves rolled up. Entirely rich boy-coded.

‘Hi! Morning. You looked after Celphi right?’ I nodded at him.

He gave a micro nod.

‘My name is Aurelian. I am Elliot’s older sis—-‘

Elliot immediately covered his mouth. ‘Ina, this is my brother.’

I looked between them.

‘Why?!’ Aurelian elbowed Elliot.

‘It’s fun!’ Elliot dodged.

‘Wait… Does she believe you’re a real gi—‘ Aurelian was once more subdued by Elliot to silence.

Elliot waved a manicured hand. ‘We were just passing through. We’re heading to the equipment wing anyway.’

Aurelien tilted his head at me. ‘You look like someone who’d be interested.’

Elliot added casually, ‘Magical technology. Gate studies. Dimensional theory.’

My brain made a sound like a door slamming open. Portals!

‘Lead the way,’ I said immediately.

They exchanged a knowing look. Elliot grabbed my wrist and started dragging me down the corridor.

‘No hesitation at all,’ Aurelian observed.

‘I’m very motivated. You mentioned gates.’

Elliot laughed. ‘You’re going to like this place.’

‘Auri! Pull Princess Ina too!’

‘No “princess” please.’

As they pulled me along toward the equipment and magical technology wing, anticipation bubbled under my ribs. 

If there was anything in this palace that could help me understand how I’d crossed worlds, it would be here.

As if mirroring the excitement within, the twins skipped around in circles around me, even the more shy looking Aurelian. Apparently, I’d just been adopted by fox twins.

This is just like the kids back home…

We didn’t go through halls. Nor gravelled path. Elliot cut across the lawn and stepped on manicured grass like rules were optional. The farther we went, the quieter the palace became. No buildings. No servants. Just open ground and wind brushing through trimmed grass and some wild flowers.

‘This is far,’ I noted.

‘In case something explodes,’ Elliot said brightly. 

‘We like to keep explosions away from important people.’ Auri added.

I nodded approvingly. ‘Very considerate of you.’

At the far edge of the grounds stood what looked like… nothing. There was nothing at all. Just air.

‘Was I pranked?’ I whispered to myself.

Elliot stepped forward and waved a hand. The air shimmered, revealing layered magical barriers stacked like invisible walls.

‘Three wards,’ Auri explained. 

‘Four, if Elliot’s been touching things.’ He added.

‘Hey.’

They unlocked and passed through one by one. The air buzzed faintly against my skin. And then, after the fourth barrier spell, the structure appeared. It was igloo shaped, low and wide. Very much built with the earth rather than on it. Stone and metal fused together in magical harmony.

The doors opened inward.

The magitech wing smelled like oil and burnt things.

Inside wasn’t grand as the entrance. It was cluttered. Tables were scattered with small devices. Half-finished projects. Tools left exactly where someone had dropped them mid-thought.

Elliot immediately darted toward a shelf and grabbed a small metal disc.

‘Okay, this one changes the pitch of your voice for exactly six minutes.’ She said.

‘You used that on the guards,’ Auri said.

‘Only once.’

‘You used it on the King.’

Elliot paused and exhibit the most “oh shit” face I’d ever seen someone do. ‘That was an accident.’

I snorted. ‘That must’ve been interesting.’

Auri took the device from her hands, inspected it carefully, and placed it back where it belonged, aligning it just so.

‘What does that one do?’ I pointed at a box gently vibrating on a table.

Elliot perked up. ‘Oh! That one swaps left and right for an hour.’

‘That’s dangerous,’ I said.

‘Only if you walk,’ she replied.

Auri smacked her arm.

‘We don’t test that on people anymore,’ he said.

I laughed at their comedic duo every step of the way as they showed me smaller things. A charm that made spoons bend in dramatic shapes. A rune that tied shoelaces when it sensed spark between two people who aren’t a couple yet. A floating orb that followed you around humming ominously but did absolutely nothing else.

‘That one’s just for vibes,’ Elliot explained.

Auri rolled his eyes but adjusted the orb’s position so it wouldn’t drift into anything important. My gaze followed him. Even when he disapproved, he treated each object like it mattered.

‘You seem to be enjoying yourself.’ I said.

He paused. ‘I tolerate it.’

Elliot laughed. ‘He loves it.’

‘I like it when things work,’ Auri corrected.

I smiled to myself. Mmmm… Maybe nothing here could take me back just yet. It won’t be that easy anyways, would it?

I lingered near one of the worktables while Elliot poked at a device.

‘Can I ask you something?’ I said casually.

Auri glanced up first. Elliot followed a second later. Both of their ears twitched in sync. Cute!!!

‘Personal?’ Elliot smiled.

‘Very. You don’t have to answer though.’ I admitted.

Auri shrugged. ‘Ask.’

‘How did you two end up here? I mean… with the King. With all of this.’

Elliot’s grin softened. ‘He found us. Or maybe we found him. It’s hard to tell with people like that.’

Auri crossed his arms and leaned back against a table. ‘He was looking everywhere. Ror answers. For people.’

I frowned slightly. ‘People?’

‘Anyone who might help bring Raiona back… Scholars. Wanderers. Engineers. Children who broke the rules too early.’ Elliot said as she looked to Auri.

Auri nodded. ‘He has a sense for people. Good ones. Bad ones. It’s not magic. More like instinct sharpened by regret.’

The King rejecting Ishara flickered through my mind. His certain refusal.

Fair enough…

And then, unbidden, the memory of his coldness and disinterest whenever Celphi was mentioned surfaced. Concern crept in my heart.

Elliot tilted her head. ‘You’re thinking loudly.’

‘Sorry… Just.. connecting dots.’ I explained.

‘If it helps, we arrived after Raiona.’ Auri added.

I looked up.

‘You don’t have to worry about us treating you like someone else. You’re Ina to us. Not a replacement.’ Auri said with finality.

Elliot nodded quickly. ‘We don’t do comparisons. Messy business.’

Hah! I suppose with twins, comparisons are a daily thing.

Relief washed through me.

‘Thank you…’

Still, the truth didn’t vanish just because it was inconvenient.

‘I am her. Even if I don’t remember everything. And people loved her. Worked with her. Lost her.’

Auri studied me for a moment. His eyes were sharp but not unkind. He looked like a girl judging me there for a second. ‘Memory doesn’t make identity. But it does leave echoes.’ He said.

Elliot added. ‘And echoes can be recovered. Sometimes.’

‘Sometimes?’ I echoed.

‘There are theories about memory being less like a line and more like a place.’ She shrugged.

Auri sighed. ‘Here we go.’

‘If souls travel, then memory might too.’ Elliot explained.

My pulse picked up. ‘Waiting where?’

They both looked at the far end of the wing.

Auri spoke carefully. ‘If you’re asking about portals—’

‘I’m not,’ I said quickly.

Not yet anyways…. But then again, if it’s here then it’s here.

‘Okay. I am. But gently.’

Elliot smiled. ‘Good. Because portals can’t be rushed.’

Maybe this wasn’t about tearing memories back all at once. Maybe it was about finding the door first. And deciding when I was ready to open it.