Rise of Heroes

Chapter 24 - Someone More Powerful

‘It is almost time. A few more weeks.’ The voice spoke in Estelle’s mind and she tried her best not to jump this time. Since that night she had first opened the new spellbook, she had uncovered a whole new world of magic. And her first step into that world had led her to a page with a binding spell. She didn’t know what to expect at first, the instructions were quite vague but it was written with big, underlined letters that the spell could give one access to other people’s thoughts and memories, even the ones that they themselves did not remember. And what better place to find leverage than people’s most sacred and private place?

The spellbook said nothing about being a two-way link, though. Nor about how hard it could be to navigate to the mind you intended to connect with or how easy it was to be swept by the sensation of weightlessness and pulled into a whirlwind of energy until one crashed into somebody else’s mind.

Someone much more powerful than Estelle.

But it had all worked well in the end. At first, she was scared and suspicious of the voice in her head and she could tell her mind was being poked at. Then the voice introduced itself and the probing stopped, replaced by questions instead. They had spent all night talking ⁠— reluctantly at first, but then Estelle’s curiosity got the better of her.

Just in a span of a few hours she had learned more about magic and her powers than she did in the last year while she tried to steal books on magic from the library or find even a brief mention of it in other books, often filled with nothing but useless legends and myths.

Estelle leaned her hands on the railing, grateful to get rid of her brother’s interruptions. It was already bothersome enough to speak with one person, but conversing with two was taxing. Besides, the one in her head was way more interesting.

‘Are you still here, Riya?’ she asked, trying to make her inner voice sound calm and composed, despite the excitement she felt deep down. She shuddered at the blow of the chilly wind and considered warming herself with some magic, but quickly decided against it. That would require a considerable amount of energy and extra concentration, which would probably sever the link. She decided that a bit of cold was not worth ending the conversation with her new friend. ‘What is going to happen in a few weeks?’

‘We shall finally meet, my darling.’ Riya’s winsome voice replied with a note of excitement. Estelle couldn’t see her through the connection, but her voice sounded beautiful and pleasant, so she placed a young, pretty face on the unfamiliar woman. She imagined her dark-haired, just like Estelle herself, but taller and more mature, more powerful. She couldn’t wait to meet her and learn from her, to have somebody who understood her and helped her reach her potential.

Everybody in the castle, including her entire family, paid just enough attention to her to make sure she was alive. Nobody had even noticed her using her powers, even though she played a few tricks on them during dinner or when passing by. She couldn’t tell Aaron anything either, not until she was absolutely sure he wouldn’t rat her out to Reinhart. Not that she was afraid of the old fart, but the fact that he was watching her and trying to find out what she was up to made her want to make sure he never succeeded.

She was all alone among those shadows of people too busy with their own little lives. She wanted somebody to talk to about magic with, somebody who she could learn magic from, somebody who could teach her how to become powerful. How to become someone who couldn’t be ignored.

Now that she might have found that someone, she couldn’t wait.

‘But why wait weeks? I can come and meet you right now. Nobody will see me. I’m pretty good at sneaking out. Just tell me where you are.’ Estelle thought with hope, but the silence that followed told her she was up for yet another refusal. Riya had been really cautious about revealing her whereabouts and even more reluctant about coming into the castle to meet her. Estelle could tell the other woman was hiding something, but with the mistrust and fear that spellcasters faced, it was only natural. Estelle was a princess above all, so even if she was exposed as a witch, she’d be protected. Things were probably different for commoners. The way Riya addressed her and the confidence with which she spoke often made Estelle think the mysterious woman was even less of a commoner than Estelle was.

‘Not yet, darling, I’m sorry. I need to do something else first,’ Riya said, and Estelle imagined how the woman threw back her hair, sitting down in a comfortable chair and giving her a stern look. The princess decided not to press on the matter, so instead, she locked her eyes on the darkening sky ahead. The light gray-blue color of the morning was being sucked into the angry dark clouds piling up over the high tops of the Bushwyn forest. Not that it was unusual for the sky in Roder to darken as soon as the sun had risen, but it was rather queer how the light was so quickly devoured by those clouds.

‘Something is happening.’ She thought to herself, but then quickly realized Riya must have heard her too. It was quite possible that she already knew that. Maybe that was why she was so reluctant to come. ‘Are you doing it?’

‘Doing what?’ Riya asked, but to Estelle’s surprise, her voice sounded tense. ‘What do you mean?’

The shadows had covered most of the sky over the forest and around it, spreading toward the harbor and the main road leading toward it. What caught her attention was that they moved in a particular direction, against the wind. The air was full of palpable energy, as if a storm was coming.

Estelle’s skin prickled unpleasantly while she stared at the sky as if she was in direct contact with someone else’s spell. Now that she was looking at it more carefully, she could tell it wasn’t a natural phenomenon; someone was summoning the shadows ⁠— someone insanely powerful. The feeling she got as she sent her magic through the air was different too ⁠— not like the quiet, shimmering presence of the people she met who possessed magic; not even like the old, imposing sensation she got from her connection with Riya.

This was… Raw. Dark. Overwhelming.

‘I can feel magic in the air,’ Estelle replied, looking around. ‘The air is… it feels foul.’ She looked down at the goosebumps on her arms. She didn’t completely trust Riya yet, but she was ready to go through anything to learn how to control so much power ⁠— how to be so powerful herself. ‘How are you doing it? Teach me.’

‘I’m not doing anything, Estelle,’ Riya said, uneasiness creeping into her tone. ‘What else do you feel?’ she asked eagerly.

“Demons,” Estelle spoke out loud without even realizing it, and for a moment Riya didn’t respond. The princess shuddered at the thought of those creatures so close to the castle. She had never encountered one, but she found them fascinating, so strong and deadly. Yet, she valued her life and their presence scared her, so she had no desire to see one up close.

‘If you’re not the one doing it, then who is it?’ Estelle thought curiously, a slight smile dancing on her lips as she imagined herself doing all of that. To hold so much energy, to be able to overpower nature itself and bend the skies to your will ⁠— that had to feel amazing.

‘Bloody hell! I had no idea he had escaped too,’ Riya said, even though it didn’t sound like the thought was meant for Estelle. Something in the way she said it made the girl excited and frightened at the same time.

‘He who? Do you know who is doing this?’ Estelle pushed, but soon realized it might have been a mistake. She didn’t want to annoy the only person who could teach her how to use her powers. She hated that she had to pretend to be all nice and obedient to get what she wanted, but she was ready to do so if necessary. ‘Forgive me, I didn’t mean to pry.’

‘There are a few who exceed my abilities by far. I do not want to get in their way, you shouldn’t either. If something is indeed brewing over Roder, we must be careful.’ Her voice had turned stern, and Estelle found herself straightening up. ‘Do not try to contact me on your own anymore. Do you hear me, Estelle? If there is another strong spellcaster nearby, you may find yourself drawn to them and you don’t want that, believe me. If there is something, I will contact you.’

‘But you promised me you’ll teach me!’ Estelle protested.

‘And I will.’ Riya assured her. ‘When I come to you, I’ll teach you everything I know and more. Until then, you must do exactly as I say. Do not contact me on your own under any circumstances! Give me your word, Estelle.’

Estelle hesitated, pursing her lips. Her palm balled into a fist, but in the end, she just sighed.

‘Fine!’ she said angrily, kicking the railing with her slipper and letting a hiss when the pain spread up her leg. She cursed under her breath, making sure her thoughts didn’t reach Riya, then glanced at the darkness in the distance, trying to distract herself from the pain.

‘Good girl,’ Riya said in a patronizing tone, and Estelle rolled her eyes in annoyance. ‘Now go and prepare yourself for the guests. Do you remember what you have to do?’

‘Make sure my brother doesn’t fall in love with Princess Elaine.’ Estelle thought back, still annoyed. ‘Why is it that you care so much about my brother? You have no interest in my sister, but you keep asking about him. What are you planning?’

‘Your brother is the heir to the kingdom, we’ll need him.’ Riya replied as vaguely as usual. ‘All will be revealed in time. Your impatience, Estelle, will be your downfall.’

‘So you say,’ the princess scoffed, suddenly feeling eager to shut down the link. ‘Is there anything else I need to do?’

‘Keep a close eye on our guests, so when I contact you, you’ll be able to tell me more about them. Riya added, and Estelle gritted her teeth, holding back a scowl. Her vexation of being used as a tool and not receiving what was promised definitely didn’t help like Riya better. But she needed her, and that was that. One day, when she was powerful enough, she’d be nobody’s tool, nobody’s shadow, and nobody would look or speak down to her. She just had to have a bit more patience.

‘This is beginning to feel like you’re my Mistress, and I am your loyal servant.’ Estelle thought angrily at the end. ‘I really hope you keep your promise.’

‘I always keep my promises,’ Riya replied in a calm manner, and with that, the link disappeared.

Estelle took a deep breath, feeling as if she had just dropped down a heavy stone that she was carrying around her neck, and now she was free to move and go as she pleased. It wasn’t a bad feeling, but she somehow liked the way it felt when she shared a mind with someone so powerful.

Riya had mentioned that in time, Estelle would be able to do more than simply communicate with another spellcaster through their minds. She would be able to read people’s fears or sneak into their dreams unnoticed, even plant thoughts that weren’t theirs ⁠— if their mind was weak enough to bend under her will.

She couldn’t wait. One day, she would be able to do unexplainable things and nobody would ever call her weak or helpless. They would fear her for the power she could wield.

A flock of birds suddenly rose from the forest and flew away from their former hiding place, spreading in all directions and letting out a fearful squeak while banging their wings as if chased by death itself.

Estelle narrowed her eyes at the trees, letting her mind roam. Whoever was causing that was more powerful than Riya. Whoever was causing that was more powerful than anyone Estelle had met so far. Whoever was causing that could surely be persuaded to share their knowledge for the right price.

‘And they can teach me unimaginable things.’ She thought to herself as she smiled, all the while Riya’s warning whispered in her ear of the dangers it may bring along. Estelle chased those thoughts away, pushing herself off the railing and heading back toward the castle. She had to get out of there before her guards found her or she’d have to watch their angry expressions the whole way back.