The Marsh had completely absorbed us as we walked; Gyra was closer to the Forest of the Forgotten, if I remembered my mother's lessons.
We were days away from Gyra, and the Marsh just kept getting deeper and deeper.
I felt so lost but at the same time completely safe.
As I kept walking, I focused my breathing; the air began to hum around me.
Mydrn paused and whispered, “What are you doing?”
I turned to him. “With Air magic, I can sense if anyone is nearby. I learned that in the Mountains of Arynthia.” I paused, remembering my mother traveling with me all over Celentra so I could learn my magic.
“Whoa! When did you do that?” Mydrn asked, his face beaming with curiosity as we walked.
Castor eyed me. “Yeah, when did you do that?”
“I was sixteen; my mother and I had already traveled to Saminda to learn my water magic, and to Arinthe to learn my earth magic. She had said I was ready for air magic, and we went to Arynthia. It was amazing there; I learned so much about air magic.” I told them as we continued down our path.
“What about fire?” Mydrn asked.
An innocent question, really, but it tightened my throat and made my heart clench. My vision swam with images of that night.
Castor, feeling my grief hit like a wall, quickly redirected Mydrn, asking him, “If you could study magic, what would it be?”
Mydrn was quiet for a moment, trying to decide. “I think I would like air; it seems really cool to be able to sense where people are.”
I chuckled, “That’s what I said when I started learning.”
We slowly made our way through The Marsh as the light began to fade.
After a while, we set up a small camp.
Castor turned to me, “You should rest.”
“You always say I should rest first; it’s your turn.” I glared up at him, determined to win this time.
He shook his head, his amethyst eyes boring into mine.
I stood my ground. “Then I guess we are both taking watch.”
He groaned, “Fine.” He sat on the ground; I moved to sit next to him.
So we sat in pinched silence for a moment, the forest stirring around us.
As the night slipped by, my eyes grew heavy. I folded my arms, trying to keep myself awake, but soon my body had other ideas.
I woke the next morning on my bedroll with a blanket covering me up to my chin. Slowly, I got up and walked over to Castor.
I kicked the dirt in front of me. “I am sorry I fell asleep last night.”
He looked up at me, amusement filling his face. “Briar, I knew you wouldn’t last the night.” He shrugged. “Kinda liked having you fall asleep on my shoulder.”
My cheeks felt hot; I tried to push away the feeling before Castor caught it through the bond.
But I was too late.
He smirked.
Mydrn walked over, stumbling over the ground. “What’s for breakfast?” he rubbed his eyes
Castor’s eyes never left me, and his smirk never left his face as he ate his Brabin fruit. “I made eggs, and we have jerky.”
“Jerky is all we have had for days!” Mydrn whined.
“We will find something else soon,” I told him as he sat on a log and began eating his breakfast.
I sat next to Castor. We need to keep moving.
He stopped chewing mid-bite and eyed me. Do you sense someone in the forest?
Yes. I told him.
We wrapped up breakfast soon after, moving at a leisurely pace so we wouldn't alert the person watching us that we knew.
Then we continued our walk through the glowing vines of the Veiled Marsh.
As we walked, I couldn’t help but let my mind drift to what would happen when Castor and I got back to the palace.
My heart tingled like a painful string as I reached for it reflexively. Soulfated is meant for everyone. Except Seers.
I had always thought it silly that Seers couldn’t have Soulfated, but I remember my mother telling me that Soulfated is something the Goddess Viana decided. Viana sees through a person’s soul and finds their perfect match.
It is known through a physical, eclectic touch.
I remembered hearing about the first time Viana granted the Soulfated partnership. She granted it because being human is already so lonely; you shouldn’t have to walk it alone.
Biting my lip, I tried to remember whether the story said she excluded Seers.
No, she didn’t. I was confident. None of the stories I had listened to over campfires and long roads included her excluding Seers.
I straightened. If she didn’t decide it, who did?
Briar, our laws aren’t formed from what we learn in stories around a fire. I am sure Emperor Jaro’s predecessors had a good reason. Castor’s voice rang in my mind.
But he can undo them. I told him as he walked beside me.
He looked down at me and raised a dark eyebrow. Undo them?
Yes, he is the Emperor, and he can change the laws. I told him confidently.
For a while, he was silent, completing my words.
I want that more than anything, but I just don’t know if that will happen. He finally said.
His words hit like a punch, and I blinked. I tried to focus on something else, but I needed the hope that we could be truly Soulfated together.
Narrowing my eyes at the path ahead, I made a decision.
I will make it happen. I told him as I sped up and walked in front of him.