abandoned battlefields - valeriaverse book 2

chapter 17

''what about my mom? she's had her wings for years. don't get me wrong, it's an absolute miracle to see someone get their wings, but he has access to someone who has them.'' Rayne tucked the wings back under her shirt as she pulled it down, then turned back around. 
''i think that's why he ended up there. even if they weren't planning anything bad, corrupted magic wants to consume power. my best bet is they went and tried to find fairies that bared their wings, hoping to find a source of power. but your mom doesn't have that power. Elena said it herself, she doesn't have a specialty. she got her wings by accident, really. but i think i understand how i got mine, and that knowledge is valuable to them.''

''however, we need to prove we know the secret to lure them in and pose enough of a threat. if all of sudden there were multiple fae popping up with their wings around here, they'll know. so now the task-'' ''is to get our wings to bare.'' Ryo finished her sentence, understanding the task ahead. Rayne nodded. ''i'm hoping we can get Lilith's wings, but the mix of physical and mental training would be good for you too.'' Ryo seemed excited to start training. after all, that was the reason he sought out lilith. never had he imagined he bargained for two of the most powerful fairies to coach him though, and his eyes glistened with the sheer excitement he tried to keep in.

Lilith wasn't as eager. it wasn't that she didn't want to try, but Lilith found it hard to keep hope she'd ever get her wings. part of the purity was being honest with yourself, letting go of the resentment you feel towards yourself and others. she could never do that. she was a monster, and with good reason, she despised herself for everything she sometimes thought or did. she'd made peace with the fact she wouldn't get them years ago. like most of the fairies she knew, she lost hope. especially after a full century with only one in thousands upon thousands of their kind actually baring the beauties. but she'd try. it couldn't hurt to try. their lives depended on it this time.
''let's do it. i can take myself through it if you take on his coaching.'' Rayne chuckled. ''and pass on the opportunity to make you work your ass of for me? like hell i would. you two are both under my command while i learn to use mine. i wonder if i can actually fly with them. i know Elena couldn't, but she also never tried as far as i know. she refused to as punishment for not saving my mom, and for what she did to you.'' Ryo knew she had made sure never to use the power they held, but the fact she never even tried to use the shimmery things themselves stung a little with the burn of guilt. maybe if he had been there instead of running away, she'd learned to love her magic. 

''it'd be amazing if you could. you's look like a flower floating away on the wind, i'm sure.'' ''THAT'S WHAT THEY REMIND ME OF! i've been trying to remember the entire time. you look like a crocus. the purple ones, mhm, so pretty. suits ya.'' the goblin made a low growl that was supposed to be a laugh, jumping off his chair. ''do ya think they're influenced by the magic? the other woman didnt have much of a special thing, did she now? but you got flowers. d'ya think Lilith is gonna get em in black? like her powers?''
''you might be on to something there, yeah. i think they represent the user rather than the powers though. Elena's were softly coloured and very open, in a way. like her personality. mine seem to mimic my appearance too, looking at their shade.'' ''i hope i get mine someday. i bet they'd be super cool.'' Lilith let a snicker escape. ''we'll see what they look like. we're going to help you get yours, if at all possible. for now, i think it's time to loop in our dear queen, don't you think? we've learned a lot since we left.''

                                                                                                    ---

it was the third day in a row now that they walked together. Maeve told him about the war, about athena, avan, their people. she told the tales of magic and beyond, good and bad, and Nivarin would listen like his life depended on it. when the words ran dry the two walked in silence. over the time he'd been there now, several months already, the glares and hatred that decorated Maeve's face had turned to soft smiles and the occasional chuckle. she'd hardly noticed the change, but her heart fluttered in the morning when she thought of the day ahead. she enjoyed teaching him almost as much as he started to enjoy learning about her people. they hadn't gotten anywhere further in the search to solve the little magic problem, but it didn't seem like that was something they could work on from their place anyway. since they put up the wards the magic close hadn't spread any further, and her people were avoiding the river at all costs. it was't like Nivarin could help without his memory anyway. 

the leaves of the soft pink cherry blossom tree fell on the path before her feet. they were soft and tiny, but they covered the stone tiles like a blanket. outside the dome of magic holding the magic at bay, the snow that fell coloured pitch black from the ashes and gunk that was left behind by nature. the wall had stopped time for nature inside it. the blossoms were slowly falling from the trees, but in no way did the weather mimic that outside. the raging wind and snow out there made the black void look even worse than it already did.
in the last few days alone, it had been spreading around their wards, circling the town. it was like it was watching them, waiting for a chance when they were weak, to strike them and leave them down. Maeve and Nivarin were silent as they looked at the havoc outside the safe bubble.
''do you think we're surviving this? if it makes its way in here, would it attack us?''
Nivarin couldn't remember the magic he wielded before, but the strength and pressing feeling of impending doom was heavy, though somewhat familiar in a way. Maeve sighed in response. 
''i don't know. all the victims here were human, and the reports of other places across the country say the same, but i can feel it, in a way. it feels like those summer nights where the heat presses on your lungs and it's hard to get any air. it's like it takes your breath away when you get too close. i don't even want to think about what would happen if this wall doesn't hold.''
he nodded. he felt the exact same way, though the dark brought a sliver of comfort for some reason. he wondered if that is how he felt wielding the powers the queen had told him about. 

''is this the same thing as what i did?'' Maeve turned her head and looked at him with a hint of wariness, though her eyes showed none of it. ''no. Lilith told me this is brought up from hatred rather than the corrupting effect yours had. this isn't just dark, it's worse. if we were on a colour-scale, i'd say yours was a dark gray. this, this is as black as charcoal. i really thought you still had your memory and was faking it at first, to be honest. i was convinced you'd know something about this. that you caused it, or that you knew who did. i was wrong. you didn't deserve that even after everything you did.'' Nivarin hesitatd, but decided it was time to come clean. she deserved the truth, at least.
''i can feel it. i feel it in my bones, okay? i feel the power and the darkness calling for me even though my entire being longs to be here in the light. you were right. i am a despicable monster and i know it, because if this wasn't here and we didn't make that bond, i'd give in to that call. i know i would. it's my home. darkness is where i grew up and darkness is where i will live until i die.'' ''i won't let that happen. i won't. you want to stay here, and i will make sure that power never gets to you.'' Maeve smiled softly. ''you could have a life here when this is over. a small, timid life. fall in love, get married. have some children, someday. just because you were bound to darkness for the first half of your life, doesn't mean you have to be for the rest of it. yo've been given another chance, Nivarin. let me help you take it.''

''i have one request.'' that was the answer he gave, his face embedded with a serious look. ''anything.'' ''train me. take me with you. let me atone for what i did. i may die doing that but if i don't, i can have a new life here. one with a clean slate, begun with a clear conscience.''
Maeve debated it in her head many times over on the way back to the castle. half of her screamed not to, and half was convinced he deserved a second chance. at the entrance of the yard she had made up her mind.
''deal. but i will train you myself. i'll see you tomorrow at sunrise.'' she hid the smile on her lips as she walked away.