Page 31 of A Clash of Stars

“What’s that superior focus for? What are you thinking about?”

“When we approached the entrance to the castle, I saw another strange marking on the side of the door. A star and moon lined up perfectly with an arrow holding them together. This must be where it’s held, but I must find out where they would keep it.”

My eyes filtered through the entire building, searching for anything to notify me that it was where I needed to look. Each room had been dismantled in some way. Whether it was a natural cause, manpower, or magic, I couldn’t tell.

The hallway to the right led to one room, a library full of books. I began to drag my fingers across their spines, stopping at one particular book. Black leather,golden writing etched on the side, covered with a thin dirt sheet. How curious. It reminded me of the Darthium book I had found buried away in my satchel, even now.

I grabbed the book, and a puff of dust burst out the sides of the shelf. I noticed to the left of me that Madok jumped a little, and I couldn’t help but giggle. I instantly thought, “Push it.”

I pushed the bookshelf, and to my surprise, it opened into a long, dark passageway. It was a long hall built with large stones, and I saw the light towards the end. The light pulled on me like a strange gravity between it and the core of my being. Some part of me just wanted to sprint down the hall, but I took my time.

As I took my first few strides into the hallway, Madok ever so close to me, the bookshelf closed behind us. I jumped a little but calmed down and continued to walk.

“Don’t let the boogeyman get you, Madok.” I laughed, trying to cut through the thick tension filling the air.

“Yeah, yeah. There is no such thing as the boogeyman, Clara, but there are other real creatures that we should be afraid of.”

“Really? And what scary creatures are those?”

As we approached the end of the hallway, I was delighted to see the most beautiful room. Even Madok had forgotten all about the question I had just asked him.

This must have been Athiana’s office. The whimsical paintings, the overflowing books, the vibrant colors. I perused the room, taking in every detail when I approached her desk. So perfectly set in time. It is the only room preserved in this castle, but how?

Walking back to her bookshelf, I heard a crack under my feet. I balanced back over the wooden floor and bounced a little to find the weak board. I gave Madok a knowing glance, and we immediately started to peel back the flooring, finding a wooden box. I gasped pretty loudly, and Madok’s eyes widened with surprise.

“Should we open it?” I asked Madok while I held my entire future in my hands.

He deeply breathed, “I think you should open it, Clara.”

His eyes were full of wonder at what might be in this very mysterious box. I wondered as well. My hands shook, holding this small box, unsure of what it would do to me or if this was some setup.

I cracked open the wooden box revealing an even smaller solid gold jewelry box. I tilted my head and raised the box to level with my eyes and Madok’s. There was a lock on the box.

What the abyss? Why would anyone have a key to this freaking bo—

Could it be that easy? I pulled out the key Sophia gave me and placed it in the keyhole.

When I turned the key, I carefully opened the box and was instantly hit with streams of light that poured out of it.

The light was an iridescent color with hues of the rainbow dancing and searching across the room, then finding me. It poured into my soul. I could hear the voices, whispers, and secrets being sent into my mind and an overwhelming burning feeling of power. After what felt like minutes, the light ceased to exist, and I fell to the ground, grasping the golden box.

Clara. You have captured the relic. When you awake, you mustn’t trust anyone. You have just unleashed every power of our great land into your being. You are no longer a princess of nature. You are a vessel holding every single power of our land. This onyx ring will protect your body and soul from harm. When ready, you will become the true beacon of light for our entire land. You are to destroy the curse placed over us. In time, you will learn how to do so. Guard your heart. May the stars be with you.

As I came to, I looked around the room, Madok leaning over me, shaking me with a worried look in his eyes. Everything in my head was eerily quiet now. I glanced down at my hand, still grasping the golden box. With the help of Madok, I sat up, still clutching the box.

“Are you all right, Clara? That was insane. What just happened?”

He sounded genuinely concerned for me.

I glanced at him and softly said, “I think I’m all right. I feel fine. That was just crazy. I’d never seen anything like that.”

He started to help me stand as he sought a way out. When I pulled the box closer, I saw it.

A ring.

A gorgeous and curious-looking ring.

Golden whisps wrapped around an onyx stone. On the inside of the ring were a few words carved. ‘When the stars and moon align.’

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