Page 8 of Cursed Dreams
The dress fit perfectly, the rich green fabric draping over her frame in elegant folds. The golden embroidery shimmered in the firelight, intricate and delicate. Her hair, carefully braided with gold threads, framed her face in soft waves, making her eyes stand out brighter than usual.
She looked… beautiful.
Even she had to admit it.
Tansy stretched on her lap, lifting her head to bump against Thalia’s arm in what could only be approval.
Thalia let out a soft laugh, scratching beneath the cat’s chin. “Well, I’ll take that as your approval.”
Though she wasn’t one for grand festivals, tonight was different. Tonight, she would celebrate.
Chapter 5
The festival was alive with light and laughter.
As Thalia stepped into the village square, she was struck by the soft glow from the golden lanterns hung between the trees, their light shifting and dancing with fae magic. Tiny motes of luminescent energy flitted in the air like fireflies, some drifting lazily, others bursting into brief, shimmering patterns before fading away. It was as if the stars themselves had descended to join the celebration.
The scent of roasted chestnuts and honeyed pastries filled the air, mingling with the crisp autumn breeze. The sweet aroma of spiced cider drifted from wooden stalls, where villagers gathered, laughing and sharing drinks. Everywhere she looked, people were dressed in their finest, wrapped in warm fabrics dyed in the colours of the harvest, deep oranges, golds, and rich greens.
This festival was more than just a night of revelry. It marked the turning of the seasons, the Autumn Equinox, transition from the warm abundance of summer to the quiet preparation of autumn’s harvest. More importantly, it was a celebration of the young apprentices who had completed their exams, honouringboth their dedication and the esteemed examiners who had travelled from the temple to oversee them.
Thalia watched as a group of children darted past her, their hands full of woven wreaths of flowers and wheat stalks. They raced toward the grand stone statue of Amara, the goddess of love and light, which stood proudly at the heart of the square. The statue, carved from luminous white stone, depicted Amara with arms outstretched, head tilted toward the sky, her expression eternally serene. The children laid their tributes at her feet, offerings of gratitude for the season’s bounty and prayers for the new healers across the land, that they may carry her light into the world.
Thalia swallowed, a strange weight settling in her chest as she took in the sight. It was tradition to honour Amara during this festival, but tonight, it felt different. More personal.I’m one of them now,she realized, her fingers tightening slightly around the folds of her dress.I’m no longer just a girl from the village—I’m a healer.
A group of musicians had gathered near the village fountain, their instruments weaving together a lively tune. The melody was light and warm, the kind that invited people to dance. Already, villagers had begun to pair off, twirling beneath the lantern light.
Thalia stepped further into the crowd, the hum of conversation and laughter wrapping around her. Voices called out in joy, old friends reunited, and families gathered to celebrate the night.
Despite the warmth of the festival, she felt a familiar unease prick at the edges of her mind.
She had never been one for large gatherings, always preferring the quiet of home or the pages of a book over the bustle of socialevents. Even now, with the village in celebration, she couldn’t quite shake the feeling of being an outsider looking in.
She had hoped tonight would be different. That the knowledge of her success, of her impending journey, would make her feel like she belonged. But as she watched others laugh and embrace, she couldn’t help but feel a lingering sense of distance.
She forced herself to breathe in the moment, the scent of festival food, the golden lights reflected in the faces of those around her, the gentle warmth of magic woven into the very air.
This was her last night here before leaving for Vertrose.
If nothing else, she would try to enjoy it.
Thalia had just managed to find a quiet corner near the festival square, letting the hum of celebration wash over her, when a familiar presence sidled up beside her.
“There you are, darling,” Goldora said, her voice warm and full of barely concealed emotion. “I was beginning to think you’d hidden yourself away already.”
Thalia turned, already suspicious of her mother’s unusually sweet tone—only to find that, of course, Goldora had brought reinforcements. A trio of village women, all longtime friends of her mother’s, beamed at her, their eyes alight with excitement.
“Thalia, dear, congratulations!” chirped Mistress Olyne, a stout woman with perpetually rosy cheeks. “You must be over the moon. Passing your exam and heading off to Vertrose, oh, how exciting! I alwaysknewyou’d make something of yourself.”
Yes, because clearly, before today, I was just a lost cause,Thalia thought dryly, but she forced a polite smile. “Thank you, Mistress Olyne.”
“Oh, it’s just marvellous,” another woman, Lissandra, added with an approving nod. “You’ll be in the capital! Such an opportunity. You’ll meet all sorts of new people. Maybe even anice young male. You are getting on dear, why I was almost 5 years married by your age!”
Thalia barely resisted the urge to groan. There it was.The inevitable ‘when will you settle down’ conversation.
“Or female,” chimed in Selva, the youngest of her mother’s friends, with a knowing wink. “Just someone who sweeps you off your feet.”
Goldora cleared her throat, clearly trying to steer the conversation back toanytopic that wouldn’t result in Thalia bolting into the night. “Now, now, let’s not overwhelm her. This is a big step. She needs time to adjust before we start planning her wedding.”
