Fates and Thrones

Reverie

The silence in the house was suffocating after Aleesia stormed out. Everyone else had scattered to their own corners of this strange, shifting realm, leaving only me and Nekrosyl behind. Shadows clung to the room's edges, stretching and curling with each flicker of the dim light, like they were alive and waiting for something.

I couldn't stop replaying everything in my mind. Aleesia and I were born of Gods and Goddesses. That would make us Gods, except we weren't. We were raised as Witches. How did that even work?

"Mother raised you two correctly," Nekrosyl said, breaking the silence as if reading my thoughts. "You had small powers simply by being the twins of two powerful Deities, but without training, you were never able to develop them. Since you were raised in Liminara, you have never experienced the power of our realm. Your abilities remained dormant. These tests are designed to pull them from you."

I blinked at him, my mouth dry. Dormant? Did he not see the chaos that followed Aleesia and me wherever we went? That didn't seem dormant. That seemed like a barely contained disaster.

Nekrosyl's expression remained neutral; his golden eyes fixed ahead as if looking into another world. "In this realm, it is mainly demi-gods and others who have not awakened their powers. Yet, the peaceful realm we created has been invaded, just as our mainland has. Maiden does not like to speak of it, but I will not lie to you. The Tenebrae is becoming a major issue. Here and at home."

"The Tenebrae?" I echoed, my voice catching on the unfamiliar word.

The sound of it scraped like claws against my mind. Dark. Foreboding. Dangerous.

Nekrosyl nodded, his gaze sharpening. "A shadow that devours the light."

My blood ran cold. I froze as a memory surged to the surface—the heavy emptiness that haunted me in the labyrinth, pressing down like it wanted to swallow me whole. "You mean, like the dagger?"

Nekrosyl frowned, his features darkening before he nodded, slow and deliberate. "Exactly. Lyra was born of Tenebrae, but she has agreed to live peacefully among us as long as we leave her be. So, she remains here, in Liminara."

Running a hand through my tangled hair, I felt the weight of everything. The grime from the labyrinth, the ache in my limbs, and the bone-deep exhaustion that no amount of rest seemed to touch. Every muscle protested as I stretched, trying to shake off the weariness. "If you'll excuse me, I need a shower before we continue our trek home. We still must make it back to Mother for our deal with Athenrún."

Nekrosyl inclined his head in a gesture that felt both dismissive and regal. "The Nymphs have likely prepared your bath already. They've been eager for you to meet them."

A bath. My body ached at the very thought of hot water washing away the dirt and sweat. Still, his words carried a weight that made me pause. Eager? Why would Nymphs care about me? But I pushed the thought aside, too tired to question it.

As Nekrosyl rose, his towering frame casting long shadows that seemed to ripple around him, he added, "Rest while you can, Ajita. The path ahead will not grant you the luxury again."

The stairs creaked under my weight as I ascended, every sound amplified in the stillness of the house. My thoughts raced, chasing after Nekrosyl's cryptic words. The path ahead will not grant you the luxury again.

The hallway was dim, lit only by faint moonlight streaming through a window at the far end. The door to the bath was slightly ajar, steam curling out like tendrils beckoning me inside. I pushed it open cautiously, half expecting some new twist in this strange, ever-shifting realm.

Inside, the bath was nothing like I'd imagined. The room seemed impossibly large, with smooth marble walls that shimmered as if alive. The tub itself was carved into the floor, filled with crystal-clear water that emitted a soft, ethereal glow. It smelled of lavender and something sweeter, honeysuckle, perhaps.

Two figures emerged from the misty edges of the room. They moved like water given form, their steps fluid and graceful. Both were radiant, their skin luminous as if kissed by the moon.

"Ajita," the taller of the two said, her voice melodic and cool, like the sound of a brook flowing over stones. Her silvery hair cascaded down her back, shimmering in the light. "I am Eidyia."

"And I am Nixilei," the other added, her hair a rich, coppery red that reminded me of sunlight on autumn leaves. Her voice was warmer, like a crackling hearth on a cold night. "We've been waiting for you."

I hesitated at the edge of the bath, gripping the edge of my shirt nervously. "Waiting for me? Why?"

Eidyia stepped closer, her silver eyes calm and piercing. "If you pass these tests, you will be with us most of the time. Therefore, we wanted to meet you and get a judgement of your worthiness for ourselves."

Nixilei approached as well, her expression softer. "Do not be alarmed. We only wish to help you prepare. You carry burdens that no one else could, and your journey is far from over."

I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. Their words were as beautiful as they were unsettling. "I just... need to clean up," I said, feeling small and out of place under their intense gazes.

"Of course," Nixilei said, her tone patient and understanding. She gestured toward the glowing water. "The bath will ease your aches and cleanse more than just the grime from your skin. It is enchanted, as is everything here. Let it restore you."

I glanced between them, unsure if I trusted this. But the lure of the water was too strong to resist. Slowly, I undressed, feeling exposed under their watchful eyes. As I stepped into the bath, the warmth enveloped me, soothing every sore muscle and calming the storm in my mind.

Eidyia knelt by the edge of the tub, her fingers trailing through the water. "You and your sister are two sides of the same coin," she said softly. "Light and dark. Creation and destruction. Your bond will be tested, but it is also your greatest strength."

Nixilei nodded, sitting beside her. "Do not fear the challenges ahead, Ajita. You are stronger than you realize. You will find the answers you seek, though not in the words of gods, but in the quiet places of your own heart."

Their words stirred something deep inside me, a spark of hope, perhaps, or resolve. I let the warmth of the bath, and their soothing presence wash over me, grateful for even this brief moment of peace.

For the first time in what felt like ages, I allowed myself to relax, to simply exist.