Page 238 of The Sins of Silas

We might not have been able to be with one another right at that moment, but I would always be there for him as a friend. He trusted me with his darkest secrets. And he needed me just as much as I needed him.

Before Roland or anyone else could press on the situation, a sound emitted behind us. A light ringing. We covered our ears, turning to where it came from.

Standing in a line were people dressed in blue and white robes.

“Lena Daelyra,” a woman in the center called. “We’ve been expecting you.”

The background behind them warped, the long, plain valley shifting into a massive, marvelous city in the distance. Looming, sandstone buildings and pale blue rooftops called our name—called us home.

The woman's smile grew. “Welcome to Nereida.”

Chapter Sixty-Six

LENA

The smell of salt water and seaweed filled my senses as I gasped at the territory before me.

Nereida. We made it.

As we approached, following the robed Mages, I admired the architecture of the hundreds of sandstone buildings. Most of the women wore shelled tops and flowy skirts, while the men were topless, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts. Their bright smiles went from carefree to wary as they watched our group being led through their home.

I wonder when they last had a visitor.

The tops of many of the buildings were a pearlescent blue color. This place was stunning—more beautiful and brighter than any place on the mainland. It was hard to believe that just yesterday, I had been in the most terrifying snowstorm of my life, and now I was sweating from the heat.

The Mages walking the streets now gawked at the sight of the humans in our group, perhaps as equally as the Warlock, who gladly strutted with us in her usual form, pupilless eyes scanning the scenery.

Roland leaned toward me as we walked. “You think we're the first humans they've seen?”

“It's very likely.”

Weaving through the village, I couldn't fathom the number of Mages here. Thousands, maybe more.

They had been here, living—no, thriving—while those of us across the sea had been struggling to survive.

We were led through lush gardens and trickling fountains. A medley of flowers was in bloom, and the aroma mixed with the ocean breeze was an intoxicating scent. Palm trees were looming around us, coconuts hanging, ready to be harvested.

I'd never had coconut before.

We reached the front entry of a massive palace. The elegant sandstone building overlooked the southern sea, the pale blue domes above gleaming in the sunlight. Its size rivaled Castle La-Rune, though its design was far brighter than the gothic architecture in Otacia.

Upon entry, we were met with bright white walls and high ceilings in the grand hall, shimmering crystal chandeliers hanging above.

I studied them in awe as we moved forward. Moving up a set of stairs, I came to an abrupt halt when I caught movement near the sea.

I immediately rushed to the window. “No…there's no possible way,” I gasped.

Sitting atop a large boulder perched in the ocean were three Sea Nymphs. Their tails varied in color—one turquoise, one a medley of greens, and one a bright white.

“My Gods!” Elowen exclaimed. Her head whipped to the people leading us. “I thought the Sea Nymphs were extinct!”

The woman who had addressed me smiled. “There's a lot those on the mainland are unaware of.”

My eyes slid back to the gorgeous creatures, their upper halves appearing similar to ours. The main difference, other than the whimsical tails, was their ears, which were pointed but also webbed. Along their cheeks and temples, their skin was tinted to match their tails.

I wanted to get closer and see them—meet them. But as we continued onward, I knew meeting the ruler of this land would come first.

Sitting on a throne, a beautiful Mage woman beamed at us. A chunk of white hair framed her face, but otherwise, the rest of her curls were black. But that wasn’t her most striking feature—no, that was her skin, which was not brown nor white but a mixture of both, almost marbled. I had never seen someone with such a complexion.

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