Page 30 of Cursed Dreams
She swallowed, forcing herself to push away the feeling. He was never staying. He had his own place in the world—one she didn’t understand but suspected was much greater than she had first assumed.
Still, when she finally dragged her eyes away from his retreating figure and turned to follow Miryenne, a small part of her hesitated.
Chapter 11
As Miryenne led them through the sprawling grounds of the Temple, Thalia tried to take it all in, the sheer vastness of the place, the bright marble walkways, the imposing spires reaching for the sky like frozen beams of light. Everything gleamed in the soft afternoon sun, reflecting off smooth white stone that seemed to glow with a warmth of its own. The air smelled clean, tinged with the scent of lavender and rosemary, herbs that likely grew in the lush gardens scattered throughout the temple grounds.
Despite her exhaustion from the journey, she could feel her awe growing with each step. This was a place of knowledge, healing, and power, where the most skilled healers of Fae and Human lands came to train and teach. It washallowed ground, and Thalia felt honoured to walk upon it.
"Did you see that statue?" Cellen whispered loudly, nudging Thalia’s arm as they passed an intricately carved figure of Amara, the goddess of healing, standing with her hands outstretched, a vessel of light hovering above her palms. "She looks like she’s either blessing the sick or summoning some snacks."
Thalia let out a snort, shaking her head. "Cellen…"
"I mean,lookat her face. Blessed be the breadsticks"
Ahead of them, Miryenne continued unfazed, though Thalia swore she saw the smallest twitch of amusement at the corner of her lips.
Nyla, walking beside Thalia, sighed in exasperation. "Do you ever stop talking?"
"Only when I’m sleeping," Cellen replied, flashing a grin. "And even then, I’ve been told I mutter brilliant things in my sleep. Usually about food."
Nyla muttered something under her breath, but Thalia found herself grateful for their banter, it eased the tension she hadn’t even realized had been building in her chest.
They moved deeper into the temple grounds, passing through archways carved with ancient runes, each one glowing faintly as they passed.
Miryenne gestured toward a wide, open courtyard where a dozen healers-in-training gathered, some sitting in circles, others practicing healing techniques on willing participants. "This is the Apprentice’s Garden," she explained. "You’ll spend many afternoons here, practicing techniques before you’re permitted to work in the hospital wing."
Beyond the courtyard, the hospital itself loomed, massive, multi-levelled, its grand windows spilling golden light onto the walkways. The scent of clean linen and dried herbs wafted from within.
"Those who show the greatest skill will be invited to shadow our most experienced healers here," Miryenne continued. "It isan honour, and a challenge. Many of our patients arrive on the brink of death. You must be prepared for that."
The weight of those words settled heavily over Thalia, she nodded.
As they moved past the archives, a vast domed building with towering shelves visible even from outside, Miryenne spoke again. "The library is where you will spend much of your free time. It contains records dating back thousands of years, including histories, magical studies, and even the old high Fae texts."
Thalia’s heart skipped.The old texts?She had spent years dreaming of reading them, of uncovering lost knowledge and expanding her understanding of magic.
Cellen made a dramatic groaning sound. "That sounds like a trap. Books are dangerous, you know. They lure you in with interesting words, then suddenly it’s been six hours, and you haven’t eaten anything."
"Have you ever read a book in your life?" Nyla deadpanned.
"I have! Once." Cellen grinned. "It had pictures."
Miryenne finally came to a stop in front of a tall, arched doorway. "Here is the male dormitory," she announced, turning to Cellen. She handed him a small parchment. "Your schedule, your room number, try not to get lost."
"I make no promises," Cellen replied cheerfully. He turned to Thalia and Nyla, flashing them a wink. "Try not to miss me too much."
"As if," Nyla muttered, but Thalia smiled as Cellen disappeared inside.
They carried on, the female dormitory sitting just beyond a small courtyard lined with flowering trees. When they finally reached the doors, Miryenne turned to Thalia and Nyla, handing them their schedules.
"You two will be rooming together," she said simply.
Thalia blinked, then let out a breath of relief. "Really?"
Nyla gave a small nod of approval, and Thalia felt something warm bloom in her chest. She had feared being paired with someone like Lina or Roina, whose company felt more likewalking on a razor’s edge. But Nyla, Nyla she felt more relaxed around.
"Get settled," Miryenne instructed. "You’ll have some time to freshen up before your induction in the main hall." She turned and left them to find their room.
