Chenzhou ended up dozing off a few volus in, curling closer to Eirian as he slept.
He looked much younger when he slept. The lines around his eyes and mouth faded away, leaving his expression more relaxed than she’d ever seen it. His hair was starting to regain its luster, spread around him like a halo, gently gleaming in the sunlight.
A generous person would call him striking, but Eirian found the graceful arc of his features surprisingly attractive. A warm, comfortable heat instead of the near-painful inferno she’d felt when she looked at Philip.
It was enough to spark a slow heat in her belly that could have beco sothing delicious if she let it, but Eirian was not going to play second fiddle to anyone. Not after she’d seen how easily she was replaced.
That didn’t stop her from reaching out and gently brushing a leaf off his cheek. The combination of her magic and the sunlight was not only helping Chenzhou heal, but the grass had started growing faster, there were already more buds on the trees and bushes, and a few more birds had shown up.
Eirian had finished reading about the Arnheim’s final fall during the Age of Warfare and the tragic deaths the last three generations had suffered. The Histories ntioned a few rumors that the deaths were accidental, but there was no proof of anything. Since all powerful families eventually fell, Eirian didn’t doubt that at least so of those deaths were at the hands of rivals, but did they have anything to do with the miasma?
Unless she stumbled on a more recent entry with proof of any of it, she’d never really know, and nothing she’d found so far provided any link to the pendant.
Frustration bubbled. She should have looked closer or found another way, sothing that didn’t destroy the pendant.
But she’d been so desperate to save Chenzhou and the Calia that she hadn’t stopped to think and now it was coming back to bite her in the ass.
Marian had lunch delivered to the garden, with a warning to stay there as long as possible.
Eirian had frozen mid-chew when she said it and imdiately demanded to know why.
Marian had sighed with her whole body. “Lord and Lady Soliel decided to take a walk this morning.”
Eirian swallowed. “And that’s bad?”
“Through the archery training field.”
“…Is one of them injured?” Eirian worked very hard to keep the hope out of her voice. An injury would send them both packing imdiately.
Marian clearly knew what she was thinking, because she gave her a regretful smile. “No. They’re back in their rooms, demanding you and Lord Ye see them imdiately.”
Eirian groaned. “Let guess, they want heads to roll.”
Marian nodded.
“What did the soldiers say?”
“They’re mostly confused about how soone could mistake a training field for a park, but the Commander is refusing to punish his soldiers for the attempted assassination. Your father’s words.”
“I figured.”
Marian glanced at Chenzhou, still sound asleep. “Lord Ye will not want to punish them.”
Eirian snorted. “Why should they be punished for my father’s mistake?” She had no doubt he would demand sothing be done, but Eirian was salivating for another chance to refuse him anything.
The sound of footsteps made both of them turn as Lord Zhao stepped out into the garden. He froze as soon as he saw them. “My apologies for interrupting.”
“You’re fine,” Eirian said, surprised and a bit confused by his presence.
Marian bowed and quickly excused herself.
Lord Zhao looked a bit flustered as she left, then managed to look even more uncomfortable when he noticed Chenzhou. “I should go.”
“You just got here.”
“I- yes, my apologies.”
It was odd to see him so off-balance. Despite his awkward habit of staring at Eirian when he thought she wasn’t looking, he was mostly in control and polite but distant.
“You can stay.” Eirian offered, curious to see what he would do. When Chenzhou spoke of him, it was equal parts admiration and annoyance. He didn’t really seem to fit with Lord Yin and Lady Yang despite being so closely aligned.
Lord Zhao inched closer. Stepping carefully to avoid waking up Chenzhou. “I was, I wanted to speak with you.”
“Then speak.” Was she that unapproachable?
Lord Zhao hesitated.
Eirian rolled her eyes. “Just co sit down.” She watched him hesitate, debating how close to sit, before he finally did, just out of arm’s reach. When he didn’t speak, she set her book aside. “You wanted to talk?”
“Yes.” He trailed off.
Eirian raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
He frowned, frustrated, and Eirian sighed. She must be more unapproachable than she thought if it was this hard for him to ask her to dinner.
Was she really that scary?
“How did you discover your magic?”
Maybe she needed to work on being more approach- “What?”
Lord Zhao rubbed his palms on his pants. “Your magic…did it just appear? Or did you always know sothing was there?”
It took Eirian a mont to switch gears. No one had ever used her magic to hit on her before. To that point, she’d never really stopped to think about it. “I guess it was always there?”
“Huh.” His eyes glazed over a bit. They were a stunning light blue. Almost electric in their intensity. They stood out even more amid his mostly traditional looks. Long dark hair similar to Chenzhou’s, but he wore it in a high ponytail with bangs framing his face. His features were sharper than Chenzhou’s, striking in the way Chenzhou was gentle. “What, what does it feel like?”
Eirian paused. No one had ever asked her that. Not even Eric. She’d never stopped to think about it herself either. It had always just been there. An endless ocean constantly trying to burst out of her. She’d never had ti to sit and enjoy it because she’d always had to hold it back. She stared down at her hand, trying to visualize the magic underneath her skin. “It feels like fire. Like an ocean of fire bubbling under my skin, and if my attention wavers for just a second, it’s going to erupt and turn the whole world to ash.”
Lord Zhao’s eyes widened in horror as she spoke. “That’s terrible.”
Eirian thought about it for a mont, then shrugged. “Not really? It’s scary when I think about losing control, but the rest of the ti…it’s comforting, I guess.”
“Comforting,” Zhao murmured and stared down at his own hands.
“Why the interest?” Eirian asked. The few people who did ask about her magic generally just wanted to know what she could do.
“I-” Zhao stopped himself, eyes darting around.
Getting ready to run, Eirian realized. What the hell was this about? “Why so curious?” He tensed, his gaze flew back to the door, and Eirian’s hand snapped out and grabbed his arm before he could flee. “Spit it out, Zhao.”
“I-” His words caught in his throat, and he swallowed with an audible click. “I can’t just…watch.” He cupped his hands together and stared at them.
Eirian stared at them too, waiting. “Is sothing supposed to be-” She stopped, eyes widening in shock as water suddenly filled his hands.
Crystal clear, it filled his cupped hands until they overflowed, spilling out onto the new grass as Eirian watched in amazent.
Breathless, she said. “You have magic.”
~ tbc
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