Page 22 of Of Withering Dreams
“Perhaps you’ll partake?” His voice was hopeful.
A small smile crept across my mouth. “Perhaps.” I had never thought much of learning how to use a weapon. Over the turns, the Larkin brothers had taught me the basics of swordplay, but I didn’t keep up with practicing.
I shifted, facing Kaden and pushing my book toward him. “Look at this. So much information about the Ancients and our realms.”
“I bet Magister Barden would have wet himself with excitement.” Glee shined in his eyes. I swallowed a laugh to avoid Mr. Burlam’s attention again.
“All right, give it here,” he ordered, pulling the book closer and flipping through the pages. A strand of black hair flopped over his brow. I longed to brush it back and run my fingers through his unruly strands. Instead, I watched him intently.
“Ah, here’s a little history lesson. Listen to this then,” he said, looking at me. He caught me staring, and a grin cut across his face. He read on, his voice imitating Magister Barden’s. “When the Ancients first gifted ember to humans, the rise of untamed Druiks overwhelmed Midst Fall. There were no known orders to govern the use and misuse of such powerful, wild energies. The emperor was ineffective in controlling the scourge, and consequently, the empire crumbled.”
I shifted closer to him, reading silently along.
“The Ancients were uninterested in managing the Druiks. However, they eventually agreed upon establishing a ruling body of Elders—supreme wielders, to prevent the extinction of the Ancients’ acolytes. For without worshippers, the Ancients’ immortality and power would dwindle. From each region of the mortal plane, the Ancients chose the most powerful Druik—selected for their extraordinary ability and capacity to endure ultimate levels of divine ember.”
“All right, all right.” I waved my hand at him dismissively, centering the book between us. He laughed at my impatience, nudging his shoulder against mine. I smiled as we read the rest of the passage to ourselves.
Henceforth, these original Elders possessed divine bloodlines, and future descendants, or Scions, hailed from their lineage. Only one Scion from each ancestral house will exist at a time.
The founding family names are:
Oleander of Evergryn
Lotus of Haadra
Nightshade of Perilous Bogs
Aerides of Pneumali
Celosia of Pyria
To maintain balance, the Ancients decreed that each region must be represented consistently by an ascended Elder. When all five delegates are assembled, they take an oath sealed in blood. This bond grants them additional enhanced ember. If this celestial covenant is broken, their abilities diminish progressively until their gift is no more.
An Elder can often sense the new Scion’s power. Once recognized, the Scion and Elder undergo Ascension—the ritual in which the Scion metamorphoses into the new Elder.
The retired Elder has two paths: either live out their days in Midst Fall, their ember weakened and ultimately fading, or join the Ancients in astral form immediately, their physical body rejoining the earth, their gift returned to the aether.
“Well, where do I sign up?” Kaden joked.
I blew out the breath I hadn’t realized was stuck in my chest, staring at the yellowed paper.
“It’s a heavy price. I suppose after leading for so long with enhanced powers, it would be hard to cope with such a loss. Either way, they lose their ember.” Pity moved my head from side to side.
“It is, but if it is a person’s calling,” he said, his tone sincere. “Then the choice to lead—for the good of the realm—outweighs the cost.” He shrugged one shoulder, falling silent.
“Wow, Kaden. I don’t think I’ve ever seen your philosophical side.”
“One of my many hidden talents.” He winked, rising from the table. “Want to head to dinner—sans the libations?”
I snickered, rising and gathering the books. “Sure. Help me put these away?”
He nodded, allowing me to fill his sturdy arms with the stack. We walked through the aisles, returning the tomes. Their leather-bound neighbors welcomed them with a rustling sigh. I took the final book, the one that had mysteriously fallen earlier, and stretched on my tiptoes to put it back in place.
I groaned in frustration, failing to reach the shelf.
“Let me help.” Kaden stretched his muscled arm over my right shoulder. He gently took the leather volume from my fingers, lifting it and pushing it home.
The warmth of his chest seeped into my shoulders as he lingered behind me. His warm breath grazed over my temple, some loose strands of hair tickling my skin. He breathed in deeply, his exhale coming out with a sigh.
