Page 48 of The Ascended
Let them teach me. Let them train me. Let them believe I served their purposes.
They would discover, far too late, exactly what they had created.
Chapter 14
Starling
I wokeup tangled in silk sheets that probably cost more than our cottage back home.
Light filtered through tall windows, painting everything in shades of red and gold.
The room was massive, all black stone floors and walls covered in dramatic paintings.
The bath had been the real shock last night. Hot springs ran right through the room—actual natural springs, steaming and perfect. I'd stayed in there until my fingers wrinkled.
Now, looking around in daylight, I had to admit the whole setup was impressive. Oils and soaps lined shelves carved into the walls, everything smelling like seafoam and flowers. It was luxury beyond anything I'd ever imagined.
Part of me wanted to feel guilty for enjoying it, but when would I ever get another chance? If I was going to die, I’d certainly take advantage of this situation before then. Why not?
I reached out through the bond with Thatcher, that invisible thread that had connected us since birth. Still there—faint butsteady. He was alive, and from what I could sense, he seemed almost... pleased? At least one of us was handling this decently.
Thatcher was probably already charming Chavore. And here I was, alone in a castle with a mentor who'd rather be anywhere else.
Thatcher and I had promised each other—play the part, be perfect students, learn what we could. But how was I supposed to do that when my mentor wouldn't even stay in the same room as me? The plan only worked if I could get close to him, earn some kind of trust or respect. Hard to do when he treated me like furniture.
My stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, interrupting my mental spiral. Right. Food first, figure out how to salvage this mess later.
I forced myself from the sinful comfort of the bed and padded to the wardrobe. Inside, I found an entire collection of clothing in shades of red, black, and charcoal. The fabrics were exquisite—flowing silks, structured velvets, leather so supple it felt like water.
I settled on a lightweight charcoal dress that fell in soft, gathered pleats from a thick, knotted strap over one shoulder. The neckline cut diagonally across my chest, leaving my collarbone bare, while a narrow slit traced down the center—not bold, but enough to catch the eye. The back was completely open and the skirt was split high on one thigh to expose my tanned leg. It was beautiful, impractical, and definitely not designed for whatever passed for training in the domain of death.
The matching strappy shoes looked like instruments of torture. I left them where they were and padded barefoot from my chambers, following the scent of fresh bread and the faint sound of clinking glass through the castle's winding corridors.
The dining area I found was as elegant as everything else in this place—it held a long table of polished dark wood surrounded by high-backed chairs and tall windows offering views of the black sea. The table was set with gold rimmed plates laden with fresh fruit glistening with dew, bread still warm from the ovens, and golden honey in crystal jars.
But it was empty.
A Shadowskin appeared as if from nowhere, bowing low when she saw me approach the table. "Good morning, my lady. His Highness has business to conduct in the capital today. He sends his regrets."
“I’m sure he does,” I murmured under my breath. "The capital?"
"The Eternal City," she clarified, pouring tea into a cup. "He expects to return this evening. You are welcome to explore the estate as you wish, though we ask that you remain within the property boundaries for your safety."
So much for training. I grabbed a roll and settled into one of the chairs, trying not to feel disappointed.
"Is there anything else you require, my lady?" the servant asked.
"No, thank you." I waved her away.
A different perspective occurred to me. He was gone for the entire day, which meant I had free run of his castle.
Perhaps it was time to do some investigating.
One thing was certain.This palace was vast.
I spent hours wandering through corridors that seemed to stretch on forever, past rooms filled with purposes I couldn't begin to guess. Chambers that hummed with energy so thick it made my head pound.
The isolation was staggering. I'd passed maybe a dozen servants in all my wandering, ghostly figures in deep red and black who bowed when they saw me but never spoke. No other contestants, no other Legends, no one who might serve as distraction or ally. Just me, alone in a castle built for a population ten times its current size.
