Page 34 of The Oracle of Dusk

“What?”

A curious mind was a gift, according to her patron goddess.

“Why do you even care? He lied to gain your trust.”

“I punched you to gain yours.” Aurora shrugged.

“That was different.”

“Well, he risked his life to save me, and it seems he broke the rules to make sure we recovered from our injuries. He also just told us the truth, at great personal risk. I think he’s earned a little of our trust. And besides, studying dualism is something only high-ranking scholars are allowed to do! Why wouldn’t I be interested?”

“Dualists actually worship Lies, Aurora. Half of everything they say will be laced full of shit.”

Ah, she was getting desperate now. To think she could win against Aurora in a debate about theology or academics was a fool’s errand. This was all just bluster. Perhaps she was especially embarrassed to have been discovered in this latest tryst? Phaedra was nothing if not prideful, and kissing your family’s sworn enemy twice over was probably the first liaison she might be feeling an ounce of shame about.

“All our sources are laced with bias. Dualists wouldn’t be unique in that.”

“There’s no winning with you when you get like this,” Phaedra huffed.

“I know.” Aurora smiled, triumphant. She turned back to Silvanus, “When can we see the sanctuary?”

“Why don’t you bathe and eat first? I’ll need to talk to Macris before we set out.”

“Right. I stink. Lead the way!”

“I’m coming too,” Phaedra announced.

Silvanus parted the curtain of the homey dwelling to reveal a soaring hallway lit with the same sapphire lights as inside the bedroom, in addition to sconces lit without the use of fire. Aurora wandered over, reaching up to touch it. How did it work? Such technology would make the use of candles and fire obsolete if she could understand it. Perhaps it had been constructed after studying an ancient artefact, like the hovering trays used at the dig site and many of their other modern amenities. Phaedra yanked her along. Hopefully, she would discover its secrets later.

The bath was heavenly, hot water supplied through pipes that came from goddess knew where. Once clean, they reconvened inside Macris’ home for a hearty meal. Aurora fell on it like a starving beast, gratified that no one said a word about her lack of manners.

“Before we go out, we need to talk about your magic,” Silvanus said.

Oh. She deflated. Aurora had been hoping not to think about it, preferring instead to bury herself in a new avenue of study. She’d been so good about not letting herself remember the calamity that had chased her into the mountain.

Sensing her shift in mood, Silvanus continued, his tone softer.

“You only seem to use your magic when you panic. That’s not unusual with wild magic. Most wild magic is tied to the things that keep you grounded in your physical body. Emotions are important catalysts for harnessing it. I would like to try to coax it out for you, so you can get used to using it.”

“How?” she asked, swallowing nervously.

“By stepping into the Tapestry and tugging on the thread of your magic. Will you allow it?”

“You don’t have to,” Phaedra interjected. “You don’t know what that will do to you.”

But if she never learned to control it, everyone else would suffer. Phaedra only survived by the grace of the Triad, not because of anything Aurora had consciously done. If it came down to it, she needed to know how to save her again.

“No, I need to learn this. Do what you need to, Silvanus.”

“Close your eyes.”

She complied. The room was quiet as Silvanus worked his magic. She thought she might feel something, but whatever he was doing left no physical trace. Should that make her concerned? Was her magic atrophied so badly he couldn’t find it within her thread?

Aurora gasped, eyes snapping open as she pressed a hand to her chest. Silvanus stared through her, his eyes glittering like sapphire jewels.

“There. Do you feel that?”

“Yes,” she groaned. It felt awful, like a wriggling creature trying to get free.

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