Page 45 of Petals for Deadly Power

She was balancing herself in the middle of a perfect cross. She was at thecoreof the cardinal points.

The sound of flapping wings made her look upwards, one of her feet losing its grip on the bar and making her body tilt dangerously.

“Daughter of Red,” the Core Cardinal called.

Hope frowned. She had no idea what the Cardinal meant or what she was talking about, so Hope kept her mouth shut.

The goddess landed with grace; her red dress made of feathers covering her. Her flawless skin framed her crimson lips and her flaming eyes.

“My dearest Hope.” Her voice was quiet, her eyebrows knitting as her lips tensed.

“Core Cardinal,” Hope said. “You are not happy to see me.” Was she disappointed she was the striver? Did she expect someone else?

The goddess of the Core sighed, her expression pained, and for a second Hope saw the centuries of history she bore on her shoulders.

“You came to prove your worth.” It wasn’t a question but still Hope nodded. When the Core Cardinal lifted her palms, her eyes shone brighter, determined. “Fate was written that you would make it here, yet I always wished it was mistaken.”

“Why?” she managed to ask.

“Because after this conversation, I can never see what happens next. There are too many variants, too many risks, too many causes to lose.”

The voice of the Core Cardinal echoed in the nothingness. “You may die five times, Hope Nevada. You may rise from each death stronger than before, or you may not rise at all.”

Hope was pretty sure she only half understood, and what little she could make out was enough to make her ribs feel squeezed inside her chest. She had so many questions, so many doubts, but before she could ask any, the goddess spoke again.

“You could die today, you could die tomorrow, you could die in centuries. You survived the first death after your Fifth Ceremony. Four more deaths to go.”

Four more deaths to comeback from. That could take ages, and they needed the crystal feathernow.

“Is that my ordeal? Dying four more times?”

“No, my dearest. That’s your future.”

Hope’s eyebrows lifted, and she had to restrain a chuckle.

Well, that was promising.

“As for the reason you are here . . . I must confess, I am biased. I have been waiting for you for a long time. Theworldwas waiting for you. My ordeal is simple: I have five questions for you.”

Hope’s eyes narrowed. Nothing of worth was ever given easily.

Without further warning, the first question came.

“If you obtain the Fifth Power, you could become the Organ Mandor of the land we Cardinals created. Would you protect the lives of the citizens of Thyria?”

The citizens of Thyria, who didn’t even know of Hope’s existence. She nodded. “I would protect the citizens who deserve protecting. With my life.”

“Would you Rule with fairness and justice?”

“To the best of my capacities.”

“Would you allow deserving others to assist you?”

The golden eyes and red hair of the Brachyan twin flashed in her mind. “A nation shouldn't be ruled single-handedly.”

“Would you ensure the Cardinal Queen can't harm innocent beings?”

Hope frowned. “Where is she?”

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