Page 62 of Return of the Darkness
The concept of time was indeed far different as he continued walking. It was almost like no time had passed at all as the moon rose in the sky. Upon reaching the Garridon gate to the Neutral City, he found Sadira pacing before it. She ran when she saw him. Caellum grinned as her hair flew behind her, golden even under the moonlight. He caught Sadira and was enveloped by her scent.
“I was getting worried,” she sighed, holding him tight. “Soren has gone into the city; I did not wish to stay alone with her.”
“Are you okay? Did she do anything?” Caellum asked, frowning and pulling back. Sadira shook her head and stayed close beside him, interlocking her hands behind his neck.
“I saw my grandmother.” Sadira smiled.
“I saw my family,” Caellum whispered, and tears glistened in Sadira’s eyes as she clutched his hands tighter. “There was no darkness in my father’s mind; my parents were happy, my siblings were…” He trailed off, thrown by his emotions.
“I’m so happy for you.” Sadira smiled, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I wish I could have met them.”
“They love you,” Caellum whispered, resting his forehead against hers. “They have been watching over us and will continue to do so.” Sadira sighed at his words and pressed her lips to his. Caellum made sure to savour every moment from now on, only recognising now what it was like to have missed time with those he loved.
“Ready?” Sadira asked, clasping his hand. Together, the King and Queen of Garridon walked through the gate to the city, ready to face their fate and that of the kingdom.
Chapter Forty
Larelle
To be so young and bear the weight of such strong emotions and intellect was hard, Larelle could see that as Zarya’s small shoulders rose and fell where she knelt in the water. The urge to run and check she was okay, while scolding her for straying into unknown places, dampened when observing her daughter’s tears. She sensed her daughter’s emotions in the droop of her shoulders; she needed comforting, not reprimanding. Larelle was quiet as she pushed through the water, kneeling beside Zarya and wrapping an arm around her. The frigid water lapped at her knees, rising to Zarya’s waist. Zarya tried to shrug her off.
“We didn’t save him,” she mumbled.
“I know,” Larelle whispered into her hair before kissing the top of her head. No ripples of movement disturbed the Vellius Sea or flashes of iridescent blue. Elisara had said it was like the creature had simply disappeared in a whirl of light. A heavy sense of certainty weighed on Larelle’s mind. The creature had vanished. Larelle was still as Zarya cried into her shoulder, dampening the silk with tears, like the water at her knees. Larelle would have brushed away the responsibility of finding the other rulers if it meant staying with Zarya, but then the water rippled, and bubbles approached again. Larelle braced herself for the creature to breach the surface, though it was not blue scales greeting the Queen and Princess of Nerida, but the blue eyes of their goddess. Larelle bowed her head while Zarya’s mouth fell open in awe.
Treading water, Nerida watched her descendants. The water only reached her shoulders, but the Larelle saw thin braided strapsholding up her gown, despite being submerged. Her dark skin glistened with water droplets, and her hair appeared longer while wet. Seeing Nerida in the flesh, rather than an apparition, meant Larelle could truly look at her. A spatter of freckles dotted her nose and cheeks, just like Zarya’s. Her lashes were so long they curled when she blinked, tickling under her brow bone.
“You are sad, princess,” Nerida said in the same silky voice as their last encounter.
“He wanted me to save him,” Zarya mumbled, her eyes no longer glowing.
“The river drake?” The goddess tilted her head, and Zarya nodded. “Interesting.” A twinkle glinted in her eye, and the corner of her mouth twitched. She knew something. Larelle opened her mouth to ask for clarity.
“Why is he called a river drake if he is not in a river?” asked Zarya.
“He was in a river once.” Nerida averted her eyes, her expression forlorn. “He has travelled through many waters and endured much pain.” Zarya tilted her head, and the two were silent, as though having a conversation in their minds. Nerida swam forward until the ground met her knees and she rose, standing above them. The cerulean blue gown clung to her body, accentuating her curves and muscles. Larelle was about to rise when Nerida strode past them both in her water-soaked dress. She nodded at Alvan, whose head was bowed, before striding to Olden. His mouth hung open and his eyes glistened as he looked at the goddess. Water splashed as Zarya ran towards Alvan, who crouched to catch her in a hug when they collided.
A chuckle sounded from Olden, still on his rock. He smiled at the goddess. Larelle could not hear their discussion, although she strained to listen. Nerida’s hands were slow as she reached out, gently placing them on either side of Olden’s head. The man who Larelle knew as a father closed his eyes with a sigh as they stayed like that for a few moments, with Nerida’s hands on his head, and Olden’s eyes closed, his posture relaxed. A few more minutespassed when Olden opened his eyes again. Larelle could just about glimpse the sheen in his eyes when his trembling hand reached for Nerida’s. They shared a familial smile before Nerida stepped back. Larelle looked at Alvan, neither of them understanding what had transpired.
Nerida’s hips swayed when she approached Larelle.
“I wish to speak with you alone.” Nerida beckoned Larelle with her finger and entered the water again, making smooth forward strokes towards the island in the middle of the Vellius Sea.
“Looks like you’re going swimming,” Alvan murmured, holding Zarya. Larelle frowned while her daughter watched Olden with a furrowed brow. “She’ll be okay with me. Go.” Alvan lifted his chin in Nerida’s direction, and Larelle hesitated for a second longer before following Nerida into the lake. It was much colder the higher it reached her body, perhaps from the ice on Vala’s side of the invisible border. Larelle tried to ignore the thought of the creature swimming somewhere within as she caught up to Nerida.
“He’s gone, do not worry,” Nerida called, slowing her pace towards the edge of the island, still firmly on Nerida’s border. When Larelle reached her, the goddess did not rise onto the land. Instead, she smiled and sunk below the surface. Larelle peered for her below but could no longer see the goddess. The water was too deep and dark to see clearly.I guess I’m going down.Larelle took a breath and exhaled, sinking into the lake’s depths. Larelle had not been in the water since Alvan had found her after Caligh’s visit when he was still the Historian to her. As her hands glided through it, she realised how much the water felt like a piece of her slotting into place. Her eyes took a moment to adjust before she found Nerida swimming below across the sandy bed. The Vellius Sea was far deeper than Larelle realised. Kicking her feet, Larelle swam down, and water rushed into her lungs when she took a breath.
She followed Nerida until her stomach was close to the lakebed and they swam through an opening carved into the bottom of the island. With no idea where it led, Larelle followed her goddessthrough what Larelle realised was a long tunnel. Further and further, the two swam. A swirl of invisible power circled Larelle, propelling the pair faster, much faster than if they had swum without it. The water lightened and its height lowered. Squinting, Larelle saw Nerida bathed in light, no longer swimming but walking along the sandy bottom at the tunnel’s end. Mirroring Nerida, Larelle pushed her hair back, noting the ache in her arms, despite having had help to reach their location. Peering around her, Larelle stepped out of the tunnel onto the wet sand, the sea crashing against the rocks on her left. Larelle raised her hand to her brow to shield the sun as she looked up at the land behind. Even with the colour leeched from this plain of existence, Larelle saw where the realms merged above, where the snowy cliffs became sandy grass dunes. She had only seen the border appear between Nerida and Vala from inland, not the edge of the kingdom. There appeared to be no other way to reach the small, half-mooned beach—unless one was willing to scale the cliff edges or sail by boat. It created a serene and private cove, a space for silent reflection. Ignoring the peace and quiet, Larelle wasted no time in trying to gather information from Nerida.
“What can you tell me about Caligh?” Larelle asked, but Nerida simply looked at her. “Will he return? Is he the one who hid away memories on Novisia?” Nerida winced, but Larelle continued, rushing her words. “How do we break the curse on other lands? How do we find them?”
Nerida sighed and said firmly, “That’s not why I’m here to talk with you.”
The waves behind Larelle crashed, outraged.
“It is whyIam here, though,” Larelle insisted. “I care about ensuring no more harm comes to my people—to our people.”
Nerida tilted her head. “Is that so you can avoid your own feelings, wants, and desires? Prioritising others instead?” Larelle pursed her lips, not appreciating the psychoanalysis. “Sit with me.” Nerida leaned against the cliff-side and crossed her ankles, watchingthe rising and falling tide. Larelle clenched her fists but did as she asked, having always respected the goddess, despite doubting her motives now. Larelle breathed in the salty sea air and sat silently beside Nerida. Together, the two women could pass as mother and daughter; Larelle knew which mother she would have preferred. “There are many paths we can wander down in life, Larelle. And I fear you are perhaps at a crossroads,” Nerida said. Larelle frowned, uncertain what the goddess referenced. “You have been holding back from the lord,” she said plainly but politely. Larelle pulled back, confused by the goddess’s assumptions. Larelle did not believe she was acting distant. “You may wonder why I care about such matters, but as one of my descendants, I can sense your needs and offer guidance. It is why I felt drawn to find you before you reached the Neutral City. It is likely why all of you will have encountered your gods before you reunite.”
