THE ARCHAIC SKY

CHAPTER: THE ILLUSTRIOUS SAINTS

"Besides, the city's not that big, we were planning to take a walk through the festival only to be told to go here anyways," Ivan said quickly, grabbing Amara's hand as they walked through the gardens of the estate.

"odd of you to want to go to a festival, you seem more of the type to sit by the fireplace and read," her cousin said. Amara pulled her hand away and walked towards her cousin to admire him. She seldom goes to her grandmother's mansion, mostly because she would prefer staying home and walking in her own gardens. Though grandmother's fountains were certainly far bigger and had much more decorations, unlike the ones in her home. It was engraved too.

"The Araceli live by their words to purge the vile abyssals and shatter the corrupted. by the judgment of Aditiya, the Araceli shall die but never yield nor perish. For an Araceli to leave people behind, to let the world burn, and to sacrifice the weak is for them to renounce their lineage"

Now that she thought about it there's a motto in her grandmother's study as well. It sounded more like a reminder though. And she didn't bother to remember. Irrelevant nonsense as far as someone like her was concerned.

"well Amara likes festivals, the air is good for her anyways, and unlike you, I'm a brother who wants to take care of my sisters, Athoren" Ivan teased.

"don't mind him, he's not in a good mood today" Amara stuck a tongue out to her brother who walked a little slower on the stone pathway to the main mansion than they did.

"I can tell" Athoren rolled his eyes "you should visit grandmother's estate more, you're her favourite after all" he added and leaned towards her ear. "I know you don't like the dresses she has for you, but if you get closer you might be lucky and she'll have to buy you dresses you like"

"Alright... honestly she treats me more like a doll each day, dressing me up and all... but i do like the foreign toys and treats she has..." Amara replied. The only thing aside from the dresses she didn't like was the sickening smell of roses in the gardens at the back. The only reason they're there was that her grandmother liked seeing them from her study, but unlike Amara, she never had to smell them.

The front gardens however were decorated with lavender, Amara's personal favourite, along with child's breath and white lilies. It was a blessing they never got replaced yearly like they used to. but for some reason, a kind of soul was breathed upon it as the winter turned to spring, the ice melted into cold water for all the flowers. The spring was much more lively in this grand estate. "I'll have to drop you off here, Amara or I'll miss the train back to the academy"

"already?" Amara jumped slightly before she whined. "but it's only been a while..."

"we've been wandering since noon, you should know that's enough" Ivan sighed placing a hand on her head. Amara held back her tears, she never liked saying goodbye nor crying in them. "I'll send you letters"

"and?" Amara raised an eyebrow.

"and I'll send you little gifts each time I could, okay?" he pinched her cheeks as he stood up again. "don't be a brat, Amara, take care... of Athoren" her brother stuck a tongue out and flicked a finger on her forehead before leaving.

Amara watched as her brother left. His sharp silhouette giving off the aura of a warrior scholar. Oddly enough, Athoren stayed to watch too. His furious face fuming. "your brother..." he nearly growled. "sweet gods, I hate him... always acting so cool... tsk, at least people have a man to giggle over"

Amara fiddled with her fingers as she tried to accept the awkwardness in the air. she glanced at him, then back to the stone path, then him again, then the bushes and fountains before finally having the courage to even let out her breath around him. he hated Ivan, perhaps out of jealousy, perhaps because he is always favoured over him. "I liked your speech... in the cathedral"