Chapter 16: The Library Of Aetheria And The Training Grounds
1630 Words
After breakfast, Cassian led Daisy deeper into the lodge.
The corridors gradually became quieter.
The laughter and conversation from the dining hall faded behind them.
Soon they reached a pair of enormous wooden doors.
Unlike the others, these were covered in carvings.
Dragons.
Sea serpents.
Ancient crowns.
And symbols Daisy didn't recognize.
Cassian pushed the doors open.
Daisy stepped inside.
Then stopped.
The room was enormous.
Books filled every wall.
Thousands of them.
Perhaps tens of thousands.
Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling.
Ladders rested against towering bookcases.
Sunlight streamed through stained-glass windows, painting the room in shades of gold and blue.
The scent of parchment filled the air.
For several seconds, Daisy couldn't speak.
"What is this place?"
"The Royal Library."
Her eyes widened.
"All these books?"
Cassian nodded.
"Most of Aetheria's recorded history is stored here."
Daisy slowly turned in a circle.
The sheer amount of knowledge felt overwhelming.
"So many stories."
The prince smiled.
"More than stories."
He walked toward a shelf.
"Maps."
Another shelf.
"History."
A third.
"Magic."
Daisy stared.
The ocean had preserved knowledge through songs and memories.
Humans preserved it through books.
The idea fascinated her.
Cassian selected a large volume and placed it on a reading table.
Dust drifted into the sunlight.
"This is why I brought you here."
Daisy approached cautiously.
The title was written in elegant silver letters.
Legends of the Forgotten Seas.
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
The book looked old.
Very old.
"What's in it?"
Cassian opened the cover.
Ancient illustrations filled the pages.
Ships.
Sea monsters.
Mermaids.
Daisy froze.
One image showed a city beneath the ocean.
Crystal towers.
Coral gardens.
Moonlit palaces.
Her breath caught.
The city looked remarkably similar to the one she had seen in her vision.
"The Mermaid Kingdoms," Cassian said quietly.
Daisy stared.
Humans remembered.
Not perfectly.
Not completely.
But they remembered.
The realization surprised her.
She had always imagined the surface world had forgotten her people entirely.
Apparently that wasn't true.
Cassian studied the page.
"Most scholars believe they're myths."
Daisy glanced at him.
"And you?"
The prince was silent for a moment.
Then he smiled slightly.
"After meeting you?"
Daisy laughed.
"Fair point."
Together they continued reading.
Hours passed unnoticed.
They discovered stories of ancient wars.
Accounts of sea witches.
Tales of magical relics lost beneath the ocean.
And repeated references to something called the Heart of the Ocean.
Daisy immediately became interested.
The same artifact mentioned in the Temple of Tides.
The same artifact hidden within the prophecy.
"What does it say?"
Cassian skimmed the passage.
His expression darkened.
"It says the Heart of the Ocean was created before the first kingdoms existed."
Daisy leaned closer.
"It also says whoever controls it can command the oceans themselves."
Silence filled the room.
Both understood the implication immediately.
If Morvana found the Heart first...
The consequences could be catastrophic.
A chill ran down Daisy's spine.
The Sea Witch was already powerful.
With an artifact like that?
Entire kingdoms could fall.
Cassian closed the book.
"We can't let that happen."
The certainty in his voice surprised her.
The prince wasn't speaking as a ruler.
Or a warrior.
He sounded personal.
Determined.
As though Daisy's fight had somehow become his own.
The realization warmed her heart.
Dangerously so.
Before she could dwell on it, the library doors opened.
Rowan entered.
The captain's expression was grim.
Cassian immediately noticed.
"What happened?"
Rowan looked toward Daisy.
Then back at the prince.
"We found something."
The room grew quiet.
"What kind of something?" Cassian asked.
Rowan placed a black crystal on the table.
The moment Daisy saw it, her stomach dropped.
She recognized it instantly.
Shadowbound.
The crystal pulsed with faint darkness.
Like a heartbeat.
Like a warning.
"We found it in the servants' quarters," Rowan said.
Silence.
Cassian's expression hardened.
The warmth vanished from his eyes.
Replaced by something colder.
More dangerous.
"Someone is spying on us."
Daisy felt fear creep through her chest.
The lodge was no longer safe.
Perhaps it never had been.
Far away, deep beneath the sea, Queen Morvana smiled.
Her spy had served his purpose.
The hunt was progressing exactly as planned.
The discovery of the crystal changed everything.
The atmosphere inside the library became tense.
Dangerously tense.
Cassian stared at the black crystal resting on the table.
Dark energy pulsed beneath its surface.
A silent reminder that Morvana's agents had already infiltrated the lodge.
Daisy felt her stomach tighten.
For a brief moment, she had allowed herself to feel safe.
That illusion was gone now.
"Have you found the spy?" Cassian asked.
Rowan shook his head.
"No."
The captain's expression darkened.
"But we're searching every room, every servant, and every guard."
Cassian nodded.
"Double the patrols."
"It has already been done."
The prince looked toward Daisy.
"We won't let anything happen to you."
The certainty in his voice surprised her.
She wasn't used to having someone stand beside her.
Protect her.
The feeling was comforting.
And terrifying.
Because the more she trusted him, the more she had to lose.
---
A short time later, Rowan insisted they relocate.
The library had become a potential target.
According to the captain, sitting in one place while enemies searched for them was a terrible strategy.
Cassian reluctantly agreed.
Their destination was the royal training grounds.
The moment they arrived, Daisy forgot about spies.
Forgot about danger.
Forgot about everything.
The training grounds were enormous.
A vast open field stretched beyond the lodge walls.
Warriors sparred with swords.
Archers practiced against distant targets.
Horsemen raced across obstacle courses.
Everywhere she looked, people were training.
Preparing.
Improving.
The sight fascinated her.
"So many warriors."
Cassian smiled.
"Aetheria has many enemies."
Daisy frowned.
"I thought this kingdom was powerful."
"It is."
The prince's expression became thoughtful.
"Power attracts enemies."
The answer made sense.
Unfortunately.
A loud cheer erupted nearby.
Daisy turned.
Two warriors were dueling inside a circular arena.
Steel flashed beneath the afternoon sun.
The speed of their movements astonished her.
Humans weren't supposed to move that quickly.
Then one of the warriors leaped nearly twenty feet into the air.
Daisy stopped walking.
"What was that?"
Cassian looked confused.
"What was what?"
"He jumped."
"Yes."
"He flew."
The prince laughed.
"He did not fly."
"He absolutely flew."
Rowan appeared beside them.
"He only jumped."
Daisy pointed accusingly toward the arena.
"Humans can't do that."
The captain exchanged a glance with Cassian.
Both suddenly looked amused.
Daisy narrowed her eyes.
"What?"
"You still think we're human."
Silence.
Daisy blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then realization dawned.
"Right."
Immortals.
She had somehow forgotten.
The prince smiled.
"A common mistake."
"It shouldn't be."
"Probably not."
Daisy sighed dramatically.
The surface world continued becoming stranger every hour.
---
As they walked, several warriors greeted Cassian.
Each bowed respectfully.
Yet their interactions felt genuine.
Not forced.
The soldiers clearly respected him.
Not merely because he was a prince.
Because he had earned it.
The realization made Daisy look at him differently.
Leadership had always come naturally to her mother in the visions.
Perhaps it came naturally to Cassian as well.
A sudden commotion interrupted her thoughts.
Several warriors had gathered near one side of the field.
Excited voices spread through the crowd.
"What happened?" Daisy asked.
Rowan groaned.
The reaction immediately caught her attention.
"What?"
The captain pointed toward Cassian.
"He happened."
Before Daisy could understand, the warriors began shouting.
"Fight!"
"Fight!"
"Fight!"
Cassian closed his eyes.
"Please no."
Daisy stared.
"What is happening?"
One of the soldiers grinned.
"We want the prince to spar."
The cheering intensified.
Apparently this was a popular request.
Cassian looked deeply unimpressed.
The warriors looked delighted.
Daisy suddenly found herself interested.
Very interested.
"You should do it."
Cassian turned toward her.
The betrayal was evident in his expression.
"You too?"
"Absolutely."
The prince sighed.
The warriors erupted into victory cheers.
Clearly, her vote had been decisive.
A few minutes later, Cassian stepped into the arena.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Excitement spread through the crowd.
Even Rowan appeared curious.
"Is he good?" Daisy asked.
The captain stared at her.
Then laughed.
That wasn't encouraging.
"What?"
"Daisy."
Rowan pointed toward the arena.
"Just watch."
So she did.
And immediately regretted doubting him.
The duel lasted less than thirty seconds.
Cassian moved like flowing water.
Effortless.
Graceful.
Deadly.
His opponent attacked repeatedly.
Each strike missed.
Each attack failed.
Then suddenly the duel ended.
Cassian's sword rested against his opponent's throat.
Silence filled the arena.
The warrior laughed.
The crowd cheered.
Daisy stared openly.
"That was ridiculous."
Cassian lowered his weapon.
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
His smile widened.
Unfortunately, the smile looked unfairly attractive.
Daisy immediately looked away.
The fluttering feeling returned.
Annoying.
Very annoying.
---
As the afternoon continued, something unexpected happened.
Daisy discovered she enjoyed watching the training.
The warriors welcomed her questions.
Even when those questions sounded ridiculous.
Especially when they sounded ridiculous.
Eventually they reached an archery range.
Rows of targets stretched into the distance.
Cassian handed her a bow.
Daisy looked horrified.
"No."
"Why not?"
"I have never touched one."
"There's a first time for everything."
The bow felt awkward in her hands.
Much like walking.
Much like most things on land.
Still, she tried.
The arrow flew.
Backward.
The entire range fell silent.
A nearby horse looked offended.
Cassian covered his face.
Rowan nearly choked laughing.
Daisy stared at the bow.
"This weapon is defective."
The laughter that followed echoed across the training grounds.
For the first time since the sanctuary's destruction, Daisy found herself laughing with them.
Truly laughing.
Not forcing it.
Not pretending.
Just living in the moment.
None of them noticed the shadow watching from the distant treeline.
Red eyes glowed briefly between the trees.
The spy had found them again.
And this time, he wasn't alone.
- Writer
