Page 48 of A Kingdom of Shadows

And, while I haven't discovered anything on the Isle of Elements, I have learnt a lot about Terranos' history and inhabitants. Something worth researching for when Darius and I go to recover the stones.

Yet the second Darius starts to infiltrate my mind, a flare of green light bursts from the side of my peripheral vision. I turn my head, spotting the gorgeous silver scales of Darius's dragon form. Elves surround him, and his left-wing is outstretched, casting a shadow over them. Veins course through it as it slowly heals, and that same green light disperses along it.

"It's remarkable how something can be healed with magic."

I bolt upright. A soothing woman's voice has me wrenching away from my awe over Darius being healed as I look over my shoulder.

It's Meriel. Faye and Arlayna's mother.

I've not spoken to her as much as the rest, but now looking at her properly, she exudes beauty. Her deep bronze skin shimmers with gold dust amongst her shoulders, and her halter-necked gown is a beautiful shade of emerald.

"Yes," I finally reply, twisting toward her. "I suppose it is useful in life. I am just thankful he finally has a chance to be what he is without the remembrance of his severed wing."

Her grey eyes study me as she saunters over with fluency. Tall and elegant, she dips her head to the side, dark curls swaying. "You care deeply for him."

My heart pinches at her conclusion, and I disguise it with a slight shrug. "We have gone through a lot together."

She lifts a brow. "But?"

I shake my head humorously. "He is a pain."

She laughs, bright and dulcet. "Ailwin was the same."

King Dusan's brother.

All I know is that he'd perished. How and why is something I've not been informed of yet.

"We met when I was just a seamstress in the city," she continues, darting her gaze into the gardens. "I'd never known what the two princes of Terranos looked like, never seen their faces until Ailwin tumbled into my shop one day. He was hiding from people. At the time, I thought he had robbed from somewhere and decided to take shelter at mine, considering the only drabs he was wearing were dirtied pieces of clothing." The sun captures a glow in her eyes, reminiscent and melancholic. "His arrogant charm made me dislike him from the start, but that eventually grew into something more, and later on, I came to find out he was just simply trying to escape from his duty as a prince."

Listening to her, I begin to think of love. You can tell she did. Deeply.

She tells me that he gave up his throne to be king so he could be with her. Elven views in the Terranos hierarchy are a tricky thing. It's forbidden to court someone that isn't of high power. But Ailwin fought hard, and it worked despite the judgment and pain it caused the Fallcrowns.

"If you don't mind me asking," I say slowly and tentatively about whether I should ask at all. "What... happened to him?"

Her eyes find mine, and the glow vanishes. "When Sarilyn cursed Dusan, many, including Dusan's family, ventured out to find her. Only when they did... she created the forests, trapping them." She looks down. "They never came back."

My heart aches for her, for everyone. "I'm so sorry." The three dreaded words. I almost cringe at the hate I have for them.

She gives me a watery smile. "It's better not to dwell. Heartbreak can be a tricky thing."

And so, it is with many.

Silence collects like water droplets between us. Her eyes are pensive when I hear shouting and thuds from the other side where Darius is. I whirl to see him slam against a few pillars; they quiver from the impact but do not collapse, luckily. He shakes his head, his wings out and sliding across the ground as he tries to take off again.

"I thought flying came naturally to dragons." Meriel wonders, and I sigh sadly, watching Darius barely get above a few feet into the air.

"It should do."

* * *

Days rush by so rapidly that it's hard to keep up with what is happening or much of where my thoughts lie.

Each night, I read further about Terranos, fascinated by the Dark Elves. I familiarized myself with their belief that Solaris and Crello are our punishers—dark and powerful deities to cross our earth. Or how Elves' views on our world go beyond the sun and the moon, involving legends of the Elven star that can open up realms.

It was all fascinating, and every moment once the mid-morning came, I'd watch from my window as Elves helped Darius with his flying. But truth be told, I was starting to believe he was faking his inability to fly.

Call it an instinct or not, I felt it. With the way he looked at me and the pain in his expression before he shifted. But then, another two weeks passed, and I finally got a response from my brothers. They're well, which relieved me though the letter was short, telling me how the queen had ceased her search on us straight after entering the forests.

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