Stoneheart, Chapter 9
First - Previously - AO3 Mirror
Chapter 9: Wrong Intentions
After you show High Priestess Honerva the study, you manage to catch Thace on his way to grade a few papers. You inform him of the new lessons you’ll be taking and ask him when the study is free. Thace gives High Priestess Honerva his schedule and a strained smile. He quickly and politely excuses himself after that.
You try not to let that bother you. She’s a lot to handle. Thankfully she seems to keep her sticky Quintessence to herself this time. She doesn't give you too many details on what she'll be covering with you. However, she does tell you what items you’ll be needing for your first lesson, next week, some of which she will gather with you.
Eventually though, High Priestess Honerva does inform you that she is feeling quite tired from her travels. You let her go and excuse yourself for keeping her for so long. She pats your cheek in a way you find to be condescending. You walk her back to the main hall so that a carriage can take her home.
She pauses in front of the painting with the burned corner. The same one that always catches you. Shiro did mention that she used to spend a lot of time here before when he was younger, maybe she’d know something about it?
“If I may, High Priestess?” You start.
“Yes, my Prince?”
“Do you know anything about this painting? The history of it at least. I find it to be an interesting piece.” You glance over at her.
“It’s quite a tragic tale really,” She crosses her arms behind her back. “They say the marriage between the King and Queen was cursed from the start.”
“Oh? Why is that?” You look at the couple in the painting.
“She was Galran, he was not.” High Priestess Honerva says.
“So… Stoneheart really had been the capital for the Galran empire?”
“Oh yes. And the marriage was going to create an alliance that would be for the good of the people.”
“If it was for the good of the people, how was it tragic?” You look over at her.
“Their son, the young Prince, suddenly snapped. No one knows why. During the night the prince slit his parents’ throats. Then fearing that he’d get caught he went on a murderous rampage and killed several house staff. By morning, he had lit the castle on fire and locked himself in the heart of the blaze.” She says, staring at the young Prince in the painting.
“That’s… awful.” You can’t help but wonder what it was like to be the King and Queen that night, the house staff that morning, or the survivors that day.
“They could not find the Prince’s body when the fire had died out. Many say he was taken to the Hells below. That he walked down to greet the Gods with arms wide open instead of being dragged down.”
“And you?” You ask her.
“Hmm?” She raises an eyebrow.
“What do you think happened to him?”
“I think he suffers for his crimes to this very day.” High Priestess Honerva smiles, unsettling your gut once more.
“I wonder what happened to him, though.”
“In the end?”
“No, what made him snap.” You cross your arms. She falls silent as she turns her attention back to the painting.
“You know, my prince, when I was talking to Princess Allura and King Shirogane I had told them the reasons for my words. I realized I hadn’t told you yet.”
“You were just nervous, it happens.” You smile and shrug.
“It wasn’t just that. When I had felt your Quintessence, I saw a glimpse of your fate.”
“My fate?”
“Yes. It would have not ended well I’m sad to say. There was this… thought you’ve had and it was going to lead you down a dark path with an abrupt ending.” She says.
“Was I going to…. hurt someone?”
“Yourself.” She turns to you.
“Then, why did you say what you did? Surely you would have known it could’ve pushed me closer.” You dig your fingers into your arms to keep yourself from glaring at her.
“I knew that I had to intervene somehow. I felt the best method was to scare you. I apologize again for my actions and words. I see now that there were other ways I could have handled it.” She curtsies for you once more. You wave a hand.
“I’ve already forgiven you.”
“I know my prince, I’m simply explaining myself better.” She smiles.
“Why do you keep calling me that?” You ask her.
“Calling you what?”
“My Prince. I’m not Alfor’s son, I’m not from Altea. I have no governing power over Alteans either. I wouldn’t be your prince.”
“You may not be no, but you are still worthy of my deepest respect.”
A house servant comes up to you both and announces the carriage is ready to take High Priestess Honerva home. You thank him and lead her outside.
“Be safe on your way home, High Priestess.” You tell her as you help her into her carriage.
“Be safe as well, my Prince,” She says. “There are things that wish to do you harm in this castle. I’d be wary of who is closest to you.” She says, glancing towards the rooftops. She sits back and tells the driver she is ready. The carriage pulls away as the sun starts to set.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be wary alright.” You mumble to yourself as you head back inside. You stare at the painting once more, frowning. You hope to not meet the same fate as that Prince.
You head to your room to try and relax a bit before dinner. No doubt you’ll be dragged into a talk with Allura. Especially considering that you called your abilities a ‘gift’ and asked for lessons. You spot Shiro talking with Ulaz further down the hallway. You can’t hear anything from here but Shiro seems to be agitated in someway. He’s making full body gestures, throwing both arms around as he moves back and forth.
It’s the most animated you’ve ever seen him. It almost looks like he’s having a breakdown. Ulaz simply watches Shiro, giving a nod or a head shake when needed. Apparently, Ulaz has heard enough when he reaches out and rests his hand on Shiro’s chest. Whatever he says seems to put Shiro at ease.
You should probably leave before either of them notice you. But of course, when you make that thought, Shiro tilts his head and catches sight of you. You walk over to them, pretending you didn’t see any of that.
“Lance.” Shiro says.
“Hey. I think you’d like to know that High Priestess Honerva has left for the day.” You inform him.
“Thank you. I am glad to hear it.”
“King Shirogane, would you like me to give you a moment with Prince Lance?” Ulaz asks.
“Actually, yes please, Ulaz.” Shiro says. Ulaz gives you both a bow and steps further down the hall. You’re in big trouble.
“What did you want to talk about Shiro?”
“I understand you want to learn more about Quintessence and how to control your abilities, and I don’t want to keep you from that. However, I’m not sure that I agree with who you’re willing to take on as your instructor.” He rests his hand on his hip.
“She’s a High Priestess --”
“She hurt you Lance,” Shiro cuts you off. “Don’t forget that. She hurt you.”
“I... “ You chew on your cheek. She hadn’t meant to though, she just wanted to spook you and put you down the right path. Right?
“She hurt me. I know she’ll tell you something pretty to cover up what happened and make you doubt yourself,” He says softly. “Why would you ask her to teach you?” He sounds so torn up.
“Shiro… I know she makes you uncomfortable, I know she hurt you. And I’m not asking her to teach me to get at you for anything.” You play with your hands. You notice some more tension drain out of his shoulders. He really thought you… You frown softly.
“Then?”
“Look. Something is weird about her. I’ll admit it. Honerva came to you and messed you up. Then she suddenly reappears when Allura and I do? Targets me specifically? Something is...wrong.” You finally say, getting what had been bothering you the most about your first encounter off your chest.
“You think she’s plotting something?” He asks, face turning serious.
“I don’t know. But the only way to find out is to, well, get her to talk. And I’m good at getting people to talk.”
“That is really, really , dangerous.”
“I know. But she got away with hurting you and me, and we can’t bring her to justice by just letting her walk around.”
“I’m not using you, my fiancée’s cousin , as bait. Our engagement is strained enough as it is.” He runs his hand through his hair.
“I’m willingly stepping into the lion’s den here Shiro. You can’t exactly stop me.” You say. He runs his hand over his face and chuckles lightly.
“I can see you’ve had quite an influence on Allura,” He peeks out from between his fingers. “ Stubborn when you think you’re on the right path.”
“If it’s the right path, why would I want to go anywhere else?” You smile at him. He sighs and pulls his hand away, resting it on your shoulder.
“I want you to promise me something. If at any moment, Honerva becomes too much for you, makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable in any way, you tell me. I’ll have her out of this castle so fast, she won’t even know what happened.”
“I promise, Shiro.” You rest your hand on top of his.
“In the meantime, do you mind if I look for a better teacher?” He asks. You laugh.
“I mean, if it will let you sleep better at night.” You tease.
“Thank you.” He squeezes your shoulder.
“I’ll see you at dinner?”
“Of course.” He lets you go and heads down the hallway where Ulaz had gone. You wave and continue to head for your room.
The sun has finished going down by the time your reach your bedroom door. You sigh and rest your head against it. It’s been quite a long day and your thankful it’s nearly over. You, however, feel a presence behind you and when you straighten up a large shadow is cast over you and the door. You gasp and whirl around.
“Hey.” Keith says.
“Bloody Mary, skin me alive! You can’t keep doing this to me!” You press your hand to your chest.
“I--”
“What are you even doing in here? How did you get in ?”
“I used the door.” He gestures down the hallway.
“Oh my gods,” You grab him by his arm and yank him into your room. “You can’t just wander the hallways!”
“Why not? It’s my home .” He complains. You kick the door closed and push him against the wall.
“It might be your home, but you are also nearly 8 feet of terror for someone who’s mundane!” He looks down at your hands and then up at you.
“You wanted to see me again, didn’t you?”
“Well, yes! But! Ugh!” You let him go and rub your face. “Look, it’s not you. It’s just been a crazy day.”
“Tell me about it. I witnessed two pigeons fighting over a dead squirrel. All while a handmaid was fucking a stable boy in the gardens.”
“I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not. But if you are, then yeah, you win.” You laugh. A small smile spreads across his face.
“You want to talk about it?” He asks.
“Maybe after dinner.” You tell him as you step over to your vanity.
“Fair enough.” He trails after you like a lost puppy. You grab the sheet that you had folded up on the chair earlier today and toss it over the mirror for Keith. When you turn to face him, he’s looking at what you’ve done.
“Thanks.” He murmurs.
“Of course,” You tell him. “Hey, can I ask you something?”
“I feel the day you don’t have a question would be the end of days.” He teases.
“Ha ha.” You stick your tongue out at him. He scoffs.
“Go for it.”
“You mentioned knowing magick, so do you know any… protection spells?” You ask, thinking about Honerva.
“Well, that depends.”
“On?”
“What you need protection from and why you need it.”
“Why I need it, makes a difference?”
“Yeah, a big one. It’s the intent. For example, say you want some spell to protect you from the law. You could want it because you’re going to go commit a few crimes, or you could want it because you’re being wrongfully accused.” He explains.
“Huh. Well, that makes sense I suppose.” You tap your chin.
“So, if I may, what is it you need protecting from and why?” He asks. You sigh and sit on your bed.
“Remember how someone had put their bad mojo on me last night?”
“I do.” He grabs a chair and straddles it backwards again.
“Well, her name is Honerva. She came to apologize about it. And I… may or may not have, potentially, maybe, made a mistake?” You look down at your hands. Keith is silent and you glance up at him. He’s giving you a blank look.
“So, what did you do?” He asks flatly, cutting to the chase. Gods there’s no beating around the bush with this guy.
“I… asked her to teach me magick.”
Teach you?”
“She’s a High Priestess, Keith! She knows some things about Quintessence, and I want to know what she’s plotting,” You cross your arms and huff. “But… that’s the thing. I don’t know what she’s up to and she’s dangerous but I don’t want to get hurt.” You say softly.
“So wait, let me get this straight. This High Priestess put a hex on you, a crowned Prince. Which, mind you, is pretty much on the same level as, y’know, a threat or an assassination attempt. And you, invited her to come back and teach you? What’s next, tea time with the Devil? ‘Oh yes thank you Lucy for the tea. Oh Death you’ve made a lovely cake today. High Priestess what did you put in the poison it’s to die for!’” He rolls his eyes and shakes his head.
“Okay, okay, I get it! You think it was stupid.”
“Oh I don’t think it. It is stupid. What the hell were you thinking?” He crosses his arms.
“Look, if I hadn’t accepted her apology she could have done something worse. And if I had only accepted it she still could have hurt me. So maybe if I invite her back under good pretenses, I can keep a close eye on her.”
“A close eye on her? And what will you do?”
“I… Well… “
“Magick is not a game. Correct me if I’m wrong, but you can only nudge and see Quintessence, what will you do when she launches full on attack? Do you have any training in using your Quintessence past a parlor trick?” He narrows his eyes at you. You flex your jaw and consider his words, as cutting as they are. Keith is right, sadly. If High Priestess Honerva ran at you with a knife or a physical attack you could fight back. But this is out of your league.
“Mistakes were made. But I have to deal with it. Maybe I can learn something useful!”
“From her?”
“Well Shiro mentioned looking for a new teacher…”
“By the time he finds one suitable for you, you’ll have a head full of white hair from the purification they’ll have to do to you, if you even survive that long.”
“First of all I would look amazing with all white hair because Allura looks great with it, and I’m the prettier cousin. Secondly, as much as I hate to admit it… you’re probably right about that.” You sigh.
“Okay, let’s go with this, hypothetical situation in which you did know how to defend yourself. You’d still be shit out of luck. She’s a High Priestess and has had years to train and hone her abilities.”
“She’s not untouchable Keith! Everything has a weakness! Iron for spirits, salt for demons, a handful of seeds for vampires. So what if she can just pow, pow, pow ,” You wiggle your fingers for emphasis. “With her Quintessence? She has to have a weakness.”
“With all due respect Prince Lance, what the fuck was that.” He raises his brows.
“Y’know?” You continue wiggling your fingers. He just looks at them then to you and shakes his head.
“Look man, I just want to know why me? Why now? And with her Quintessence being eerily similar to the Quintessence in the crawlspace it really makes me wonder what she’s up to.”
“Crawlspace? What crawlspace?” He asks. Does he not know about the crawlspace that connects his room to the study?
“Uh, the one that’s like a secret tunnel?” You offer.
“There’s a lot of secret tunnels around Stoneheart, you’re going to have to be more specific.”
“The one that goes from your room to the study.”
“The one that -- Wait is that how you got into my room?”
“No Keith, I flew over there. You’re not the only one with wings.” You roll your eyes.
“Fuck you.”
“Aren’t you grumpy.” You mumble.
“I’m not grumpy, I’m just trying to figure out what the hell you think you’re doing since you apparently did not learn your lesson the first time.”
“Again, she’s up to something and I need to know what it is.” You grunt.
“Do you really need to or do you want some sort of revenge for what she did?” He crosses his arms.
“I -- You have some nerve.”
“Ah, so it is revenge. You could have just started with that. I know quite a lot that can fall under that category.”
“Ugh! No! I don’t necessarily want to hurt her. I want her to pay for what she did to me sure, but more in a legal way.”
“You’re honestly just more likely to get yourself killed than anything. No wonder her hex worked so well, you have a deathwish.”
“But you already knew that, didn’t you?” You sigh.
“This isn’t the most healthy coping mechanism for it.”
“I’ve already started this and I’m going to see it through. So are you going to help me or not?” You huff. He looks you over, jaw flexing as he thinks.
“Fine. I’ll help. Only because you’re worth more to me alive than dead.”
“Wow. Thanks.” You roll your eyes.
“Don’t get me wrong this is still a terrible idea and you’re going about this the worst way possible. But I’d rather you live through it.”
“And what praytell, do you plan on doing to help me?”
“Let me teach you.”
“Teach me?”
“At the very least to keep you from getting killed immediately. Maybe to help counter the stuff she’ll try to do to you.” He hums and taps his claws along the chair as he mumbles to himself.
“So, you’ll teach me?” You ask slowly, confirming it with him.
“I’ll try. I can only show you what I know though. Some of it might not be compatible with your base or at the very least be difficult.”
“My base?”
“The color of your Quintessence, your main element alignment.” He tells you.
“Look at that, I’m already learning,” You smile. “You’re really going to help me with this?”
“I just don’t want anything bad to happen to --” You hear a knock at your door.
“Prince Lance?” Romelle calls out.
“Uh… Just a moment!” You give Keith a panicked look. You shoot up off your bed and drag Keith to your closet. You quickly shove him inside despite his complaints.
“C-come on in!” You close the closet door and lean against it. Romelle enters and gives you a look. She then sighs.
“Now how many people are in your closet?” She asks.
“No one’s in my closet!” You laugh. Something in your closet thumps. You close your eyes and bite back a groan.
“Nevermind. I don’t want to know.” Romelle huffs and rubs her forehead.
“Thank you.”
“I was just here to let you know that dinner was ready. Should I tell them you’re… occupied ?” She spits out.
“No! No, no, no. I’m not -- I am not occupied. I’ll just, take a quick shower and be right down!” You smile brightly at her.
“Mhmm,” She looks very pointedly at your closet. “Tell them to be gone once you’re heading out.” She gives you a fake smile and turns on her heel.
“Thank you Romelle.” You groan as she leaves. When the door shuts you sigh and step away from the closet. Keith pushes the door open, a few of your clothes are caught on his wings and horns.
“Sorry.” You apologize as you try to help him.
“Don’t be. Nice quick thinking, it could’ve been really bad,” He says as you help him. “I don’t think I’ve ever been shoved into a closet before.” He says once you have him freed.
“Question.”
“Answer.”
“Listen here you.” You huff and jab him with your finger.
“I am listening.” He groans.
“Ugh! So, like, are you in hiding from everyone in the castle or do you not care about who sees you? Because you just walking down the hallways like you own the place is very different from scaring me all the time.”
“I do own the place and I’m not hiding. I’m just, careful about who sees me.”
“So, you’re hiding.”
“No I’m not.”
“Dude, that’s like the very definition of hiding!” You throw your arms up. He shakes his head.
“No it’s not.”
“Well okay, so you let me see you. But why?”
“I saw you ready to jump from your balcony. What did you expect me to do? Tell you to make my night and do a flip?” He shrugs.
“You’re horrible!” You tell him sarcastically and shake your head as you head off to your bathroom. He follows behind you again and you have to press your hands to his chest to keep him from walking in with you. Oh, hello pecs.
“Now what?” He asks.
“I have to take a shower.” You whine.
“Oh, you… you were being serious about that.” He steps back.
“Yeah,” You snort. “Why don’t you sit in your chair and wait?” You wave him off as you close the door.
You make the shower quick, mostly rinsing off the grime of the day. You double check your Quintessence but nothing seems to be wrong with it. Thankfully, all the webbings from before are gone. You step out and start to dry yourself off when you realize you didn’t bring in a change of clothes. And you refuse to put on your old ones back on.
“Ugh…” You sigh and wrap the towel around your waist. You step out of the bathroom and hear a soft gasp. Keith is… still here.
“What are you doing?” You ask him. He stares at you, eyes following a bead of water dripping down your chest. It makes your face feel very warm.
“Keith?” You prompt him again, tightening your grip on your towel.
“Huh?” He snaps his eyes back up to yours.
“What are you doing?” You squawk.
“You told me to sit at my chair!”
“I thought you’d leave.” You whine.
“Why do you keep thinking I’ll leave?” He asks. You go over to your closet and pick out one of the outfits Keith had been tangled in before.
“I don’t know. I just don’t expect you to stay. It’s not like anyone else does.” You turn around and catch him staring at you once more. Your ears are burning now too.
“Could you like, turn around or close your eyes?” You ask as you wave your clothes in your hands around.
“Oh! Uh! Sorry.” He snaps his eyes closed. You watch him cover them with his hands before he pulls his wings up and around his head. You quickly change and then towel dry your hair.
“You’re good.” You tell him. He slowly uncurls and looks up at you. You spread your arms out and he looks you over.
“You look nice.” He says.
“Thanks. Now, I’m off to go eat. Unless you want to join us?” You offer. He shakes his head.
“I’ll look through my stuff to see if I have anything for a protection spell,” He says, getting up. “We can meet up back in here when you’re done.”
“Agreed.” You say ,making your way to your bedroom door.
You look over your shoulder and watch him walk out to the balcony and get onto the railing. His wings spread wide open and he leaps off. It doesn’t scare you as badly the second time as it did the first. With that, you make quick work of getting down to the dining room.
When you enter, you see that plates have already been set. It’s fine though, it did take you a bit to get down and you didn’t quite expect them to wait for you. Okay, well, maybe you did. But it happens.
“Oh Lance! We weren’t expecting you!” Allura greets you. You give her a confused look as you take your place.
“We’re glad you decided to join us though.” Shiro smiles as he sips his drink.
“What are you talking about?” You look over at him. He simply shakes his head.
“Well, Romelle was telling us that you were not going to be able to join us tonight because you had some company that you were entertaining.”
“Oh my go -- It wasn’t -- I -- ugh!” You sputter and look over at Romelle, betrayed. She simply ignores you and continues to eat her food.
“It’s alright! At least you’re not engaged to anyone. You can entertain whoever you wish.” Allura says.
“You could’ve invited them down for dinner. I don’t think anyone here would have minded.” Shiro says, looking over at both Allura and Romelle.
“It’s not like that! I swear!” You fling your arms out and nearly hit a waitress. You are quick to apologize to her and she simply smiles and sets food out for you.
“Now you’re getting defensive about it.” Allura teases you.
“Me? Defensive? While being wrongfully accused?” You cross your arms and pout. She chuckles and waves her hands.
“Alright, alright, I’ll drop it. But you know you can’t keep secrets from me, cousin.” Oh how wrong she is , you think to yourself.
“And what secrets are you talking about this time?” You ask her.
“Like you wanting lessons in Quintessence! I knew you were interested before, but I’m glad you’re finally admitting to it,” She claps her hands together. “My father would be so pleased to hear about it.”
“Yeah, your father.” You roll eyes without really thinking. Her face falls a bit.
“I know it’s a bit difficult given our respective cultures but I think your father would warm up to it if he knew what you could do.”
“Maybe.” You fake a smile. There’s unfortunately no way it would happen though.
“And from a High Priestess no less! No one is better to teach you than that.” Allura smiles brightly once again, oblivious to Shiro’s frown.
“I’m sure there are other people who are just as qualified in teaching about Quintessence.” He says softly into his goblet. Like a beast perhaps.
“But a High Priest or Priestess has undergone rigorous trials and have demonstrated their mastery of their abilities.” Allura looks over at Shiro. He doesn’t have a response, or if he does, he keeps it to himself this time.
“High Priestess Honerva just, happens to be here. Right place and right time y’know?” You offer.
“Either way, I’m glad you’re taking her on as your instructor.” She finishes her meal.
“It’s gonna be great.” You smile, but you’re heart isn’t in it.
You don’t take much longer than the others to finish up your meal. Allura offers you to join her outside while she checks out the stars, something you would have jumped on in a heartbeat if Keith wasn’t going to be waiting for you in your room. You mention that you are a bit tired and that you had made plans with Romelle to do just that tomorrow night. With that in mind, you politely decline. She gives you a teasing smirk and lets you excuse yourself.
It would be better if she didn’t assume you were actively with someone. But alas, you’ll take the excuse this time. You open your bedroom door and find it’s nearly pitch black. All the lights you usually have on are currently off. Save from the small, dim, flickering orbs a bit further in. You close the door behind you and step closer.
“Keith?” You ask when you finally make out his shape in the candlelight.
“Oh, hey, perfect timing. I hope you don’t mind but I got the space set up for us.” He looks over at you, eyes glowing in the dark.
“Whaaaat are we doing? Summoning something?” You can’t help but ask when you notice the candles are arranged in a large circle.
“Oh yeah. We’re totally summoning a protection demi-god. His name is Con of Dom.” Keith says voice flat and rolling his eyes.
“You could’ve just said no .” You cross your arms as you stand outside of the circle.
“But where’s the fun in that?” He asks.
“So what exactly did you do?”
“I purified this space here,” He gestures to the circle. “Do you have a small mirror, preferably one you can hold in one hand?” He asks.
“Uh, yeah. I think I do? Should I go get it?”
“Yes please.” He says, grabbing a thick book next to him. You go over to your vanity and open the drawers until you find what you were looking for. It’s a hand-held mirror, with a longer handle to it. Normally, you’d use it when having to do any tidying up to your back, such as making sure your hair isn’t too long.
“Will this work?” You ask him as you come back. He has his book opened and laying flat on the ground. He looks up from the pages and checks out what you’ve grabbed. He hums and takes it from you, inspecting the handle more closely.
“You have a ribbon we can thread through here?” He asks, tapping where a hole is drilled into it. You go over to your desk.
“Does color matter?” You ask.
“Preferably white, but it shouldn’t have an effect.” He tells you. You pull out one of your bookmarks from your textbook. It’s more silvery in color than white but you bring it back. You go to offer it to him but he pats the space in front of him for you to sit.
“C’mon in.”
“Okay.” You enter the circle and sit, crossing your legs, in front of him. He hands you back the mirror.
“Thread the ribbon through and knot it. It’ll need to hang up when we’re done.” He tells you. You nod and knot the ends of the ribbon together, then slide the loop through the hole. Once halfway through, you tuck the knotted end into the loop and pull it through.
“Ta-da!” You show it off to him.
“Amazing.” He snorts and rolls his eyes again.
“Jerk.”
“Let’s get started.” He says as he hands you a small white cloth.
“Okay, what do I do with this. Blow my nose?” You ask, waving the cloth around.
“First you listen.” He tells you, picking his book up.
“Yes my good sir.” You roll your eyes and mock him.
“Put the mirror in your non-dominant hand, you’ll hold it to the lights and polish it with the cloth I gave you. Moving counterclockwise with the polishing.”
“Alright.” You say moving the mirror to your left hand to be ready.
“While you polish, you’re going to repeat the following: ‘Reflect back with light and blessings; all malice, spite, and danger whether it be from false friend, foe, or stranger’ .”
“I don’t think I’m going to remember all of that.” You chew your cheek.
“You will, trust me.”
“Then what?”
“When the mirror begins to shine you’ll set the cloth down and say: ‘So it is reflected back with light and blessings; all malice, spite, and danger from those who are a false friend, foe and stranger, returned back to where it rightfully belongs’ .” He reads from his book.
“Please tell me you’ll remind me.” You groan.
“If I have to, but you’ll get it, trust me.”
“And is that it?”
“Finally, we extinguish all the candles, and you hang the mirror up over there,” He points to your wall where you are fairly certain a painting used to be. “Mirror side out, facing your door. Repeat weekly.” He instructs.
“You make it seem as though you’ve done this a million times.” You chuckle nervously as you trace the frame of the mirror you’re holding.
“I’ve had a lot of spare time on my hands.” He shrugs. All of this feels too casual. Who sits in the middle of a candle circle, with a fae, about to cast a spell and it just feels like it’s another Sunday night? You do apparently.
You feel no spark, no excitement. It’s as though you’re acting out a role in a play that you were not interested in auditioning for. Even if you don’t know what it is you should be feeling you are rather certain it is not supposed to be this.
“Prince Lance?” Keith taps your knee with one of his claws, “Are you still with me?” He asks.
“Yeah, sorry.” You try to offer him a smile but he doesn’t seem to be buying it.
“Do you not want to cast this spell?” He furrows his eyebrows.
“No, it’s not that. It’s not the spell,” You gently set the mirror down and sigh. “It’s me.”
“It’s you ?”
“I don’t think I can cast it right. I don’t know what to do.” You throw your arms up. “I already told you, you take the mirror, polish it in counter-”
“No, no, no!” You cut him off. “It cannot be that easy. This isn’t a spell , this is a wish. And wishes do not come true just because you hope they do!” You protest loudly.
“That’s enough.” Keith warns you with a deep growl that sends a shiver down your spine. He gets up and steps out of the circle. He clenches and unclenches his fists.
“You’re not wishing upon a star like you would when you were a child. It’s so much stronger than that,” He explains as he begins to pace around the perimeter of the circle. “You’re putting your intent in being safe and protected against those who would wish and do you harm for this spell.” He explains as he glares at you.
You remain seated and accept the scolding while he moves about the room. He’s irritated and you’re not sure if it’s at you or at your incompetence. You bow your head and stare at the mirror at your side.
“Your intent is your will , it is your force, your drive to exist. The very thing that gives your Quintessence its energy.” He says, still pacing around the candles. You watch as his reflection appears and disappears in the mirror.
“You cannot convince me that your will to live is weak , Lance. You were corrupted, your Quintessence corrupted, and instructed to jump off a balcony just last night. But you rejected that, you questioned it, you were easy to distract and you kept both feet on the ground!” He points an incriminating finger at you as his voice steadily rises.
“As alluring as your words are, I’m sure anyone would have been distracted with a beast on their balcony.” You spit back.
“You still hesitated! You still asked!” He stops right in front of you.
“So what?” You shoot up to your feet.
“So use it! Grab that part of you and pull him to the front.”
“That was just me being a coward!” Gosh you can feel tears starting to build up in your eyes. He flinches away from your statement.
“It’s not cowardly to want to live,” He says as his voice suddenly gets soft. “To be free.”
“Be free?”
“Look, just -- Forget it!” He snaps, hands reaching up and tugging harshly at his horns.
“May I remind you that you weren’t distracting me but scaring the shit out of me! I was trying to escape from you by jumping over the railing!”
“Oh shut up!” He growls.
“No! You listen. Don’t pretend like you understand what I’m going through, because you don’t. I’m alone. I’m broken. And I’m afraid . Everything I do seems to be like a fucking game to people. And I’m here, living with my cousin and her fiancé. Living in a castle full of maids and house staff and servants and beasts ,” You point at him. “All because I couldn’t cope with my sister’s death. And I’ve been denying who I am for years. Because if there was ever the slightest hint that I was something not normal I would have been sent away and there would have been an empty throne back home.” You breathe harshly though your nose and ignore how bad your eyes are stinging now.
“I’ve been shipped from one family to another and now I’m here. But my cousin is too busy for me, the house staff won’t look at me, hells below, the King dropped me off at science daycare because he doesn’t want to deal with me. I’m so fucking alone. I’m so alone that I feel like I’m just going to snap and go batshit insane.”
“Prince Lan--”
“And you know what, maybe I already did! I bet you’re not even real either.” You cut him off. He sighs softly.
“This again?” He crosses his arms.
“Yeah. This again. Because I bet you, when I close my eyes,” You say as you do just that and close them. “Focus in on that intent crap. I’ll open them and you will have just, poof! Disappeared.” You wave your arms around and then cover your closed eyes with them. And Keith falls silent.
It’s too quiet actually. Your hands are shaking as you pull them away and you slowly open your eyes. Your room is empty. Your shoulders slump, breath seizing in your chest. You… you really made him up. Fuck, you really are alone now. It’s what you wanted isn’t it? So why are you so upset? The start of a sob bursts out of your chest.
“I’m still here.” Keith whispers in your ear. You jolt and whip around to find him standing behind you.
“Asshole!” You slap at his shoulders before stepping a bit closer. Your hands rest on his arms, you just need to feel him and know he’s real.
“Do you know why I’m still here?” He asks you. You choke back on another sob and sniffle. You shake your head.
“Because not once has anyone ever seen me and wanted a repeat encounter. Not once has anyone come looking for me. Not only that but,” He shifts his wings off of his back and brings them around you both. “You asked me to be here. And you still haven’t asked me to leave yet, so I’m still here.” He murmurs. You rest your head against his chest and try to steady yourself. He stiffens for a moment and then his claws card through your hair gently.
“I just… I just want to be okay, to learn, to accept myself for who I am.”
“And you will. But to do that, you have to be safe and protected.” Keith says. He cradles you in his wingspan until you stop shaking.
“I feel pretty safe and protected here.” You finally say as you look up at him. He gives you a soft smile.
“Do you want to try again?” He asks.
“Yeah.” You wipe your face and lean back. Keith pulls his wings away from you and takes your hands in his. He holds them carefully as if you’re made of spun glass. He guides you back to the center of the circle and pulls you down to sit with him.
“Remember what I told you?” He asks.
“Yeah, I got it.” You say. He raises an eyebrow and you pout a bit. You pick the mirror up in your left hand and the cloth in your right.
“I polish this mirror counterclockwise, say a neat little poem, and then hang it up.”
“You have to put your will, your Quintessence, into it too.” He tells you.
“Okay, yeah. Let’s do this.”
“Then take a deep breath, and center yourself. You’ll do great, trust me.” He pats your leg and sits upright. He closes his eyes and takes slow deep breaths. You copy his rhythm, breathing deeply and centering yourself the way you do when you try to meditate. One small spell should be easy enough, and then you can take on whatever High Priestess Honerva can throw at you no sweat.
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