The Realm Protectors

Chapter 55 - Enya

The weather for today is very fitting. Cold, windy, and gray. I can feel the chill through the balcony doors, seeping in through the cracks like shadows. Shivers run down my spine, and I make my way over to the kitchen.

It's been three weeks since the battle in Civitastella, dubbed by the news reporters as the "Battle of the Realms." Griffin Gray was placed in secure custody, and the Nox haven't made any attempts to break him out. It appears as though they're done with him.

I almost feel bad for the guy.

While Nikolina, Avani, and Nile focus on interrogating Gray for information, Lyra and Faris have been focusing on reopening the major gateways. Repairs to the old gateway structures are already underway: stone arches are being constructed for Mork and Dunia, bronze is being formed into sunray swirls for Leve, and a new hourglass is being built for the Tijd gateway. Once the structures themselves are finished, Lyra and a team of space elemental scholars and expert tunnelers will open new major gateways, restoring the balance of the realms.

Ciana and I have been working together a lot, going back and forth with our friends while they work. Carter's been working with the teachers this last week to plan the graduation ceremony. It's still hard to wrap my mind around the fact that in the midst of everything that's happened this year, I had my fourth sect year of school. Next week Nile and I graduate from Asavanra, and then... the rest of our lives as High Arches waits ahead of us.

I sigh, pulling a glass out of the cupboard and filling it with water. The liquid jumps in the glass as Nile rounds the corner. A big splash of it jumps up from the glass and hits me in the face. I cough and sputter, Nile laughing at me and my soaked shirt. He notices my expression and outfit and stops laughing.

"You're not ready yet?" He asks, taking the glass from my hands. He twists his wrist, and the water sucks itself out of my sweatshirt, flying back into the glass. I notice he's already in his perfectly tailored gray suit, ready for the funeral.

The funeral, I think, remembering what I'd been avoiding. Everyone has been getting ready for the last hour or two. I let the stylists come in and do my hair and makeup, but I didn't put in the effort of putting on my dress yet. "I am ready. I just need to get dressed."

Nile furrows his brows, concern and understanding in his eyes. He holds out his arms and I walk into them, letting him wrap his arms around me. I lean my chin on his shoulder, careful not to get any makeup on his suit jacket.

"I know you don't like these things," Nile says, pressing a kiss to my head. "I know they make you think of everything that happened with your dad."

Memories of long past flash behind my eyelids. My father, a soldier in the Fajran army, was killed in an attack on the visiting High Arches. As a reward for his bravery, the High Arches offered to have him buried in the High Garden. Mother turned down the offer, wanting to keep his grave close to home.

"They deserve their rest," I tell him, pulling away with a deep breath. "Just because I'm not happy about the fact that they had to die doesn't mean they don't get an honorable service."

"Always so strong," Nile says, kissing me on the forehead. "That's why you're Grand Arch."

I smile, his words already making me feel better.

"You should probably go get dressed, E," Nile reminds me gently. He pushes me towards the hallway, smacking my butt playfully. He laughs at my pitiful yelp as I scurry to my room. The gray gown is hanging on the dresser where I left it. The gray fabric is sewn together in layers that make me look like a whirlpool of clouds when I wear it. It's not that it's an ugly dress – it's gorgeous, just like all of Jaq's designs.