Chapter 1

Prologue

The woman stood in her library, frantically weaving her hands between the emerald mirrors floating in the air in front of her. A sturdy leather bag hastily packed for the journey rested on the floor next to her.

She kept chanting out of habit rather than necessity as the crystal mirrors flashed with images of foreign lands as quickly as she could conjure them. Suddenly the room flashed with a bright cyan light, and a tall woman stepped through the portal, her long grey robe and white hair fluttering in the flow of the fading Grace. The chanting stopped, and the woman turned from her mirrors, anger flashing across her face as she raised her hand at the intruder, and the air between her fingers crackled with static.

“Long time, Nelessia," the taller of them said, and a cold smile flashed across her face. “This is how you welcome old friends?”

“What did you do to her?” Nelessia snarled.

“Me?”

The woman stepped over to the mirrors, ignoring Nelessia, and peered at the flashing images.

“It was your choice, Nel, not ours.”

Nelessia stared at her.

“Because I’m not a monster like you, Valran. I made a choice, and I stand by it.”

She stepped closer.

“What have you done to her?”

Valran ignored her and instead kept peering into the mirrors.

“I don’t say your choice was wrong, but now you’ve lost her. Just as Arthrun predicted would happen."

“Arthrun?”

Nelessia hesitantly glanced around, fear flickering across her face.

“Nel… We found you before the year had passed. We’ve known where you went for a long while,” Valran said, turning to her.

Nelessia sighed and lowered her arm.

“Then why…?”

“Why, what? Why we didn't come to finish what we planned?"

“Yes…”

Nelessia looked down, avoiding her gaze. Valran frowned.

"Because I’m not the monster you wish to see in me."

“But you..."

Nelessia looked up.

“Yes, I do admit we wanted to kill her. It was for the best,” Valran said coldly, holding her gaze.

“She was innocent!” Nelessia snarled.

“She was."

Valran nodded and sat on a chair.

“That’s why we let you make your choice and take her in the end."

Nelessia sighed and sat next to her.

“I thought you and Arthrun wanted to…”

“We did. It was the best choice we could see. But even we are not arrogant enough to believe there wasn’t any better choice just because we couldn’t see it."

“Was that why you let me go?”

Valran shook her head.

“No, it wasn’t... Knowing the best course of action and wanting to do it are two different things. I stood by her side just like you did."

“She was our friend," Nelessia murmured.

“She was…” Valran nodded.

“So you haven’t hurt her?” Nelessia asked hesitantly.

The witch frowned.

“Of course not."

“Then, where is she…? I cannot find her..." Nelessia asked, glancing at the emerald mirrors floating in the air.

"No, Nel, you need to let her go. You always knew this might happen,” Valran said, but her voice took a softer tone when she continued, “I will not let you go after her, nor will Arthrun or I interfere. She needs to find the answer by herself."

“But…” Nelessia sighed, staring at her feet.

“I will send someone to cross her path. If Amara wishes so, she will have company."

Nelessia looked up, and a soft smile appeared on her lips as she whispered,

“Thank you…”

“We’ve been friends for longer than I remember, Nel. Trust me, as I’ve always trusted you,” Valran smiled back.

“Would you like some tea?" Nel asked and got up without waiting for an answer.