Azrael

Nineteen

Venus watched Adira work with a faint smile. The younger woman was seated cross-legged in the centre of her library, surrounded by a pile of books nearly as high as her head. Venus had provided her with an enchanted piece of chalk, and she was experimenting with runes on the floor. She'd even smudged it onto her forehead with the back of one hand, and as far as Venus knew, she had no idea how much of a mess she had made of herself.

The two had spent most of the past few days together, with the Seraph Sentinel being mostly a shadow behind her as Adira worked her way through learning the power behind runes.

"You know this would be a lot easier if you helped me find what I need," Adira said, looking up from her work. She ran the back of her hand across her brow again, adding to the white smudge.

Venus laughed at the result of the gesture. "I'd rather stay here, out of the reach of your hands." She debated telling Adira about the smudges of chalk on her face but decided against it. "You've been on that page for almost an hour. What is it you're trying to do?"

"Memory spells," Adira sighed. "The notes scribbled in here are barely legible in places. I'm filling in some of what I think should be part of the runes and it's not working. Who even wrote these?"

"That would be my father," Venus said as she got to her feet.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean-"

There was something adorable enough about the panic in Adira's expression that Venus couldn't find it in herself to be upset about the comment.

"Come," Venus offered, taking hold of Adira's hands. A simple spell cleared the dust off her hands and face. "You need a break. Let me show you around the Fort."

"I thought I wasn't allowed to leave the temple?"

"It's my temple," Venus chuckled, "and my Fort. Either way, we'll be hidden from watchful eyes, plus, Vera will watch our backs."

A musical giggle sounded from above, and Venus noted the flash of discomfort that crossed Adira's face when the elf dropped from her perch.

She landed in a regal bow. "Pleased to be of assistance, Sentinel."

Venus didn't miss the wink from Venus to Adira, which only made the latter's heart beat faster.

"We're visiting the ruins," Venus ordered, curt and direct. "Come along. Make sure no one sees you."

Vera nodded, the amusement gone from her face and replaced by that blank, cold stare elves could command on a whim. Vera made for a terrible companion, but a good soldier.

Too good of a soldier.

Venus had witnessed some of the things the elf could do with a blade, and it scared her sometimes.

Adira pulled back when Venus tried to put a ring on her finger.

"Relax," Venus prompted. "It's for the spell to change your appearance."

"Why a ring?" Adira asked as she held up her hand in the light, staring at the unremarkable-looking silver band around her finger.

"Personal choice," Venus said as she led Adira through a series of winding corridors and doors.

"All royal Seraphim get to choose items of power after they master their first basics of magic. Usually, it's something handy and easy to hide or call on, but it's always down to preference. I picked rings."

"They suit you."

"Azrael told me the same thing the day I got them."

Adira's face lit up at the mention of Azrael's name, but Venus raised a hand to her lips and pulled her back before she rounded a corner.