Page 23 of Ocean of Silver

“Where are we going then?”

“Follow me, Rumor,” he said with a grin, raising his scar, “and you’ll see.”

* * *

Tezya walkedme toward the back of the castle by the gardens. As soon as I was outside with the sun beating against my neck and the breeze blowing my hair, I sighed heavily. Closing my eyes, I tilted my head toward the yellow rays and spun around in circles, flaring my arms out.

I didn’t care how I looked. Everything felt so fresh and open. The confinement that haunted me from the cage and the tub was in the far back of my mind. There were birds chirping loudly, all with different melodies and tunes. My nostrils flared as the briny, citrus scent invaded my senses.

Free. I felt free.

“Beautiful,” Tezya breathed.

I opened my eyes and realized he was staring at me. Heat crept along my cheeks as I turned from his gaze. “I’ve dreamt of this. Of being back here. The warmth of the sun, the heat radiating from it, the breeze cooling everything off and the smell…” I inhaled deeply again, somehow unable to resist. “I wanted this when I was over there. Everything was cold and dark and just different. But this feels like… beingalive.”

He was still staring at me when I turned back to face him again. I didn’t really know why I admitted all that to him. It sort of just blurted out. He was easy to talk to, and we’d made tons of small talk during the first week of training, but I still couldn’t believe how easily I opened up. Even though his looks were daunting, he wasn’t for some reason.

Tennebris made me reserved. I was constantly worried about people finding out about me. But being here, I felt the freedom I longed for with every scorching beat of the sun. I knew I wasn’t really free, not even close. But in this moment, I could close my eyes and almost taste it.

And Tezya practically knew everything about me anyway. I didn’t have to hide my back or fear him finding something out about me that would be detrimental. He’d seen it all that day on the monitors, so I didn’t bother with pretending. I didn’t have the energy for it anymore. And right now, I didn’t have to be something I wasn’t. I could just be me, even if all I was were broken, shattered bits.

“Being alive suits you,” was all he replied before walking away. I didn’t have time to analyze what he said as I scurried to keep up with his long strides. I could barely take in the sights around me as he moved at record speed.

I wanted to see it all. The beautiful garden we were in with its lush grass to the gorgeous pink roses and large sunflowers. I assumed all of it was manipulated by ground users, but it didn’t take away from the uniqueness of it or how everything seemed to fit so perfectly together. Tall skinny trees were scattered everywhere with no branches or leaves on their thin trunks until they feathered out like a green fan at the very top. As I looked around, the nickname for the city clicked. It wasn’t dubbed after the castle at all, but rather the town… the outside part of the Kingdom. There was color everywhere and the sun painted it all golden.

In the distance, behind the open, ashen castle, I caught a glimpse of the city. It was daylight, so I couldn’t make out any of the lights that claimed to brighten the place at night as much as the sun, but I stopped and gasped as I took in the height of the buildings. They seemed to reach the clouds. Endless looming towers were scattered around the paved brick roads. It wasn’t the boring, ugly bricks either that lined LakeWood or the jagged sandstone castle of Tennebris. No, this was something else. It felt like a different world.

Pink, red, and orange flags were sprinkled throughout the buildings with the Luxian symbol of the sun printed in the center. It added life and color along with the strange, narrowed trees and vibrant colored flowers that bloomed at every corner. If I squinted, I could just make out the bay in the distance, but I wanted to see the ocean. Ineededto see the ocean.

Tezya came up behind me. “We have to keep moving if we are going to make it to the hut in time.”

“The hut?” I repeated. He nodded his head once as he looked out onto his city, not meeting my eye.

“Come on, I want to be there before the sun sets.”

Right. The sun sets each night. I kept having to remind myself that this place had a ticking clock for the hours in the day. I felt like the moon was laughing at me each night it rose in the sky, reminding me that I, yet again, didn’t accomplish anything with my powers. Another day gone, wasted.

“I really want to see the water,” I said as Tezya started walking again. “Please,” I added a tad desperately as I tried to keep up.

“Where do you think I’m taking you, Rumor?” he asked as amusement caused his scar to rise.

“I honestly have no clue,” I admitted reluctantly, turning my gaze from the unusual city to stare up at him. “All I was told was that I needed a bag and that we’re training.”

“You have water abilities so of course I’m taking you to the ocean. Clearly the pool isn’t cutting it. While I might admire the small waves you manage to produce, it won’t be enough to impress the Lux King.”

“Thank you,” I smiled, ignoring the jab about my abilities or the hidden threat to try harder to figure out my powers. I already had a sinking feeling that his King would make me regret it if I came up at the end of this training with nothing. I didn’t need him to remind me.

But nothing could ruin my good mood right now. I couldn’t believe it. I was finally going to see the warm beaches I dreamed of. I would finally be able to see the waves and feel the sand. I couldn’t stop thinking about the memory of the ocean that came to me when I was on Tezya’s balcony—of coloring in blue on someone’s arm.

Then, my smile faltered as I recalled his words, and confusion overtook me. “You said we had to make it on time. Isn’t the ocean close since the bay is right there?”

He laughed. “Yes, the ocean to the city that is accessible to all Advenians of Lux is just past the buildings on the other side of the Luxian bay, but I’m not taking you there.”

“Why not?” I frowned, wanting to see more of the city. This small glimpse wasn’t enough. “Where are you taking me?”

“Rumor, as much as I wouldloveto take you to the city’snudebeach, we can’t practice your abilities with so many civilians around. The King has required me to keep you hidden for now, so we’re going to a private beach. It’s a half day’s walk, and we need to start now if we want daylight left to practice.”

Only now did I notice the looming forest in front of us and realized that Tezya was planning to hike through it.

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