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TIME GOES FAST IN THE SEELIE court. For Darcie, there is no stopping, where every hour is filled with training, exploring the kingdom, or being surrounded by royalty or guards who have become friends.
It comes as a blessing with the distraction from the homesick feeling. The battery on Darcie's phone is running low, so she keeps it now for emergencies. Usually, those emergencies come when Darcie's alone in her room with her heart feeling too heavy to hold back the tears as she thinks of home.
But Darcie's noticed a difference: her senses have shifted. Everything is clearer and brighter, sounds echo sharper, and muscles have come to life. The fighting comes naturally now, as well as running, making Darcie's training so much easier. However, it's still a great difficulty to hit Karina, who dodges every attempt. But Darcie's teacher is impressed, so Darcie's taking that as progress.
Away from training, Darcie's visited the sanctuary, which is a shelter for the kingdom's creatures. Darcie had spent the entire time in awe as her birth mother showed Darcie every creature they had saved so far, but not all could be saved. Of course, there were unicorns, but Darcie's still struggling to believe that she's seen a dragon, griffin, and a pegasus now too. Apparently, here, all the fairy-tale creatures are true.
"Can you feel that, Darcie?" Tamara had asked, closing her eyes as she stroked the head of a pegasus. "Close your eyes and try."
Visiting the sanctuary had also been Darcie's first lesson in her earth power, though Darcie hadn't complained at the time. Darcie had eagerly closed her eyes, feeling a connection spark between herself and the pegasus that she had stroked. Feeling calm, the emotion was transferred to the creature as Darcie had felt its breathing relax.
The Queen had grinned. "A natural."
Though, within a few weeks, Darcie's starting to realise that she fits in with the Seelie Court. Everyone is honest and kind (even the Faerie's who try to drug their heir with the dust). Darcie's visited every district, noticing three different cultures that live together in peace.
Today, Darcie's visiting Aevum with Emberlee and Julie eager to show the princess their home. Darcie's guard joins her for protection (something she's become used to). The small-town welcome Darcie warmly, eager to hear about the mortal world, and to show her their home.
"What is it like?" Emberlee asks, eyes wide.
Darcie smiles, trying to ignore how her heart pounds. Around her, the small town has gathered as if Darcie's putting on a show. The children sit on the grass floor by Jolie's statue, staring up at Darcie in wonder.
"The mortal world is different," says Darcie as her eyes meet Milon, who nods his head in encouragement. While they are her guard, they have also become Darcie's friends. But now, Darcie's eyes fall on the humans of this world. "They have come a long way since what your ancestors have told you. The mortal world has buildings that are taller than the ones in Ceraun. They have carriages that fly in the sky. And can communicate from one side of the world to the other."
