Inferno's legacy (On Hold)

Chapter 33

The moment Eretria laid eyes on Dash, she knew there was something more to the young mage. His eyes were a dark shade of blue, his well sculpted nose and thin lips on a face too pretty for a man. There was something about the way he walked, she could feel the buzzing energy from him. He wasn't an ordinary mage, she concluded and she could get a view of his hair if only he brought the hood down.

He tilted his head a little when he saw her, his blue eyes studying her, she felt small under his gaze. If he was surprised to see her here, not that they were formally introduced, there was no sign of it on his face.

Just like someone she knew.

She thought almost regretfully. She had been betrayed and that person had no right to be in her thoughts.

"Princess Eretria." He said, his voice a deep timber, as he sketched a slight bow.

Eretria raised a brow at him, surprised. When was the last time she heard that title?

When he stared at her again, she cleared her throat awkwardly. "Please, Eretria will do."

He didn't say anything and Eretria had to avert her gaze.

"I'm here to see Sheila."

He barely nodded and turned around. It took Eretria a while before she followed him.

Everyone seemed to pale in comparison to him as he walked the hallway. Some bowed, while a few gave him a curt nod which he returned. Then their eyes would stray to her and she could hear their whispers.

She hated the attention every single time, it felt like they all knew who she was, and that gave her an uneasy feeling. She had to match her steps with Dash's.

"Are there all mages?" She asked, staring at the ones in light blue robes who bowed as they saw him. She could tell he was contemplating talking to her.

"No." Was he short reply.

She made a face at his reply. She noted that while some wore light blue robes, they were others in royal blue, darker blue and quite a few in black, similar to the one Dash had on, though his had a different pattern.

"The mage council trains  mages." He said, stopping in front of a door.

Eretria's lips pulled into an "oh." Then she stepped into the room, Dash stood by the door. She turned to him, eyes narrowing. This wasn't the room she had met Sheila the first time.

"She'll be with you shortly." He said and proceeded to close the door.

"You can't leave me here." She nearly hissed. When she was met with a frown, she folded her arms. "For all I know, I can be killed here."

"Did you have that thought when you came here on your own? He asked, making her frown. "She'll meet you here." Then he closed the door.

She scoffed as the door closed. Then she paced the room as she waited for Sheila.

After what felt like an eternity, the door opened and Sheila walked in, clad in a black robe. Her grey hair was tied in a bun and her slightly wrinkled face wore a smile.

"I'm glad to see you." She said, closing the door behind her. "I was worried he had hurt you. You were missing for two months." She added, walking closer.

"Things happened." Eretria said, taking a seat on one of the chairs around the small circular table.

Sheila nodded, decided not to prey even if she wanted to know. "I'm surprised he let go of you so easily. He definitely won't want you back here."

"He doesn't own me and I can leave whenever I want." Eretria said with a grimace.

Sheila took a seat. "You can leave whenever you want?" She asked.

Eretria could read the confusion on her face. "It just happened." Was her simple explanation.

"I'm guessing you're here for answers. You probably know about the curse and all."

"I do know about the curse," she said with a nod, "but I don't know what I want. He did lie to me and, according to what I've been told, is responsible for the lose of a lot of lives. Helping him, I don't know if that's an option."

"If you're asking for my opinion, you should know my answer. I don't believe he should be helped, not after everything he's done. However, if you feel the need to, you can go ahead. But magic comes with a price, every form steeper than the last." Sheila said.

Eretria rubbed her neck. "I never wanted any of this. First, you tell me of a great weight on my shoulder, the weight of the world, now, I'm the only one who  can help....I don't want this responsibility."

Sheila smiled. "We don't  choose our destiny or the responsibility that comes with it. I didn't dream of becoming the head of the mage council and trust me, it comes with a lot of burdens. The problems are never ending, as long as magic exist. And I can't run away from it. I can only face it." She reached across the table and placed her hand over Eretria's.

"I just want to help you face yours. Many believe you can't do it, that it will destroy you, but Eretria, I believe differently. Many thought a woman isn't fit to rule but I've proven them wrong. You can do same. You weren't given a destiny too heavy for you. It was given to you because you can do it."

Eretria withdrew her hand. "I don't even know what I'm doing." She said in a low voice.

"You're not alone. There are a good number of mages who are willing to help you, Eretria. With our help, I have no doubt you'll succeed." Her voice was soft and kind.

There were a lot of what ifs going through Eretria's mind. She didn't want to succumb to the fear for she knew, she wasn't the same anymore. She knew she had come in contact with something powerful.

And with power comes responsibility.

"And if I fail?"

"Failure is just one of the many steps to success." Sheila said.

Eretria was silent for a while, contemplating. She could run away from this, go back home and act as if nothing ever happened. She believed she had her powers under control, so there'd be no more disasters. But could she truly run? After about three months of facing things that went beyond her imagination, could she truly run?

Deep down, she doubted she could. Everyone had responsibilities. It just so happened that hers came with the fate of the world, a great weight on her. Whether she had to face it or not, she knew one thing.

She wasn't ready.

"I'm returning to the royal palace. Surely, my family will want to know I'm alive." She said.

Sheila drew back and nodded. "Of course. You'll be just I'm time for Princess Gwendolyn's wedding."

"Gwens getting married?" The suprise was evident in her voice.

"The king has to rule his kingdom, even in your absence. Her marriage is political."

Of course, it sounded just like her father. She hated that that was all a princess could do. Though her kingdom favours women in ways other kingdoms frowned upon, everything still led to the same point.

Gwen was getting married. She thought it best to stay away, but it might be the last time she ever set eyes on her sister, though there was every possibility that they weren't related.

"I'll leave you alone to think. I'll be in the meeting room if you need me." Sheila said, stood up and left.

As the door closed behind her, Eretria slumped into her chair. It didn't seem like a bad idea to attend her sister's wedding.

***
I haven't been updating lately and I don't like that I haven't. But I'm back now and hopefully will write a lot. There's just a lot of things going on and dealing with it hasn't been easy.

Anyway, see you in the next chapter...ciao

Loor you 😘