Theurgy: The Citadel of Light (Book Three)

Chapter 8 Secrets Untold

Diana could feel that something was off once she arrived home. Already was her mind a cluttered mess from all that had transpired within less than a proper day. This strange knight comes under mysterious circumstances. Whispers of ambitions and duties she is utterly oblivious to. And then the captain of the Silver Taurus visited her personally to discuss a possible future working for them before she even graduated. And now, her mother has returned after nearly a year in the capital. Surely Fate has taken a particular interest in her in these times, one must agree. But For some reason, Diana could not shake an ominous calling, that this attention did not come with good tidings, that it all meant something, that she was meant to be doing something very soon. And she could only silently dread what her purpose is supposed to be. Her destiny. It even came from this pendant. She hadn't realized she'd been wearing it until Dominik pointed it out. It just felt natural upon her. She briefly examined it as she made her way home, its make and design were unfamiliar to her, the gold chain extremely luxurious, and she can imagine the jewelers of Aetos would have a field day trying to replicate it. But the gem. It was strange. She did not feel avra of it, not an ounce of magic. But she felt something. A feeling, an experience. And the more she looked into its ruby core the more that feeling came. Like staring into the face of something vaguely familiar. As she looked upon her home, the same as it has been for the seventeen years she's been alive on this earth, it felt different, yes. It felt . . . complete. Her mother's presence definitely brought a sort of life to it. Even now Diana could hear Fiora Sol'Louche disciplining the staff for not keeping the manor up to her standards.

"You alright back there?" Elain shouted about the rushing winds that passed them by.

""I'm quite alright, for now at least," Diana said.

"I was referring to back at the academy," she turned to her. "News is light but I heard about that knight and the duel and whatnot. I was quite shocked when I heard about it. Did you give him a good number?"

"Perhaps you could say that," she said alongside a sigh. "The way he embarrassed Kiboa and I. Everything we threw at him was meaningless. But at least it did knock Kiboa down a peg, so it wasn't a total loss."

Elain chuckled. "Yes, he's at the manor right now, arrived some hours ago in such a mood I was sure that you had something to do with it."

"Not me directly, I'm afraid," she gave a faint smile. "The knight did not hold back in embarrassing the future head of house Sol'Louche. I'm sure he shall awake at night with nightmares of that duel. A just outcome I must say, Elaine."

The maid laughed. "Well, let us revel as much as we can. Fate knows your mother will not allow that for much longer."

"I dread a conversion," he said.

"Yes, especially with Master Magévo away on business."

"Father is away?" She asked. "What happened?"

"No clue," she said. "Gave little word of his leaving. Though it appears he left soon after a meeting with the Grandmaster. Take that as you will my lady."

"Oh what impeccable timing the Grandmaster has," she sighed. "I do indeed feel some of the words of my mother, he is indeed a frustrating presence."

"Well, we shall see won't we my dear, ha!" Elaine held the reins tight as the griffins lightly landed on the cobbled ground of the courtyard where several servants stood by. More than usual. And the spirits, the many who gathered near the manor. As Diana stepped off the carriage she felt that they all seemed rather rattled for some reason. Well, more than what only her mother's presence could bring. She was growing suspicious at that point. She approached the front set of doors where Bella stood, Elaine's older sister. She was a stern sort that took after her mother more than she did. In fact, Bella often took the role of oppressive authority figure a little too seriously, unlike Elain Diana could never hold a regular conversation with the woman, she always had to take things as formal as possible. Diana mostly did not mind the seriousness, but she wished she could be just a tad more like Elaine, a friend.