The Descendants of the Ascendance Series - Nessa's POV

Chapter Three

I felt myself wake up presumably a few hours later - to the sun shining in my eyes. Voices around me distinguished themselves into the voices of people I knew - my parents, Addy and Silas, Jaron and Imogen, Roden.

I slowly opened my eyes, blinking to adjust to the bright sunlight streaming in from the large window. My parents were talking with Imogen, Jaron, and Roden while Addy and Silas were playing a game of chess.

Splintering pains burst from the back of my head and my left ankle, making me wince.

I groaned and sat up a little straighter against my bedposts. Silas, who had heard the noise, dropped his chess piece and broke out into a wide grin. He stood up and ran over to my bed.

"You're awake," He exclaimed.

"I am?" I teased.

"Not the time for jokes, Nessa," Addy chuckled, walking over as well. Her face softened. "Seriously though, you took a pretty bad fall. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," I told her.

"Fine?" My dad asked. "You have a concussion and a sprained ankle. I wouldn't consider that 'fine'."

"It's really not that bad," I insisted.

Addy raised an eyebrow. "You sound like Ev that one time that she --"

"Broke her arm and didn't admit it for a week and a half," I finished.

The two of us chuckled.

"I guess it does sort of hurt a little bit," I admitted.

"A little bit?"

"A lot," I corrected.

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Once my father finally allowed me to leave the castle, I decided to go to the library down in Drylliad. While I was walking, the wind brushed past my face, fluttering the pages of my book. In a split second, I felt myself run into something - or rather someone.

I quickly scrambled to my feet looking up, a pair of startling blue eyes meeting my own.

"Are you okay? I'm so sorry! I should have been looking where I was going!" The mystery boy rambled.

"I'm fine," I assured him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Oh-um-uh here's your book," He said, handing it to me.

"Thanks," I smiled softly. "So, um, what is your name?"

"Tyler," He greeted, holding out his hand.

"Nessa," I replied, grasping his hand and shaking it firmly, just like my father taught me.

"Well, I am pleased to make your acquaintance Miss Nessa," He chuckled, lifting my hand up and gently kissing it. "I hope I'll see you again."

And with that, he turned and left.

As he walked away, I grasped my book to my chest and bit my bottom lip, a light blush making its way to my cheeks. After a few moments, I snapped back to reality; I'm never going to see him again. I'm a regent's daughter and he's a peasant. It's basically forbidden. And with that thought, I made my way through the streets of Drylliad to the library.

I had a few errands to run, so after the library I made a stop at the bakery.

"Good morning Mister Cook," I greeted, walking into the quaint cottage, the familiar smells of baking bread wafting up my nose.

"Ah, Nessa, it's been too long," He smiled when he saw me. "Shall I get you what you always get?"

"That would be wonderful," I said.

In just a few minutes, he handed me a basket with my usual order: three loaves of bread, two sweet rolls, and a blueberry muffin.

I handed Mister Cook seven silver coins and turned to head out the door, when I ran into someone for the second time today. When I looked up, I was all too surprised to see none other than Tyler.

"Tyler!" Mister Cook exclaimed. "Couldn't you just watch where you are going?! Maybe then you won't run into such sweet girls as Nessa."

"Sorry father," He said. "Sorry Nessa. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," I assured him. "But I really must be going. Farewell."

"See you soon, Miss Nessa," Mister Cook smiled as I walked out onto the streets.

I walked back up to the castle and collapsed on my bed, opening my book and once more leaving my worries behind in the life of another.