Chapter 10

My mother'swords pierce my thoughts over and over again. I try to push them aside, to banish them to the darkest recesses of my consciousness, yet they remain stubbornly persistent.

Have children, she said, as if my sole purpose, my only meaningful contribution to society, is to bear offspring.

But none of those things bother me more than her unwillingness to tell me about my magic, to help me learn how to use it.

I step into the library and smooth down the front of my cotehardie. The towering shelves loom on either side, packed with an endless array of books and scrolls.

I make my way to the shelves and run my fingers along the spines of the books. The titles blur together as I search for anything that might help me understand Aigis Siphoning. I pull out a few books at random, flipping through the pages and scanning the lines for any mention of the silver magic.

But there's nothing. No matter how many books I pull from the shelves, I can't find a single reference to Aigis Siphoning.

Frustration builds inside me. I need answers. I need to know what this power is, how to control it, how to use it, but the library remains stubbornly silent, offering no guidance or wisdom.

I lose track of time as I search, pulling book after book from the shelves until the floor is littered with discarded tomes. My eyes ache from squinting at the faded ink, and dust stains my fingers.

I rip another book from the shelf, my movements turning frantic as I flip through the pages. My eyes scan the words, searching for any mention of Aigis Siphoning, but the pages blur together in a sea of useless information.

Desperation builds inside me as I tear through the library, leaving a trail of discarded books in my wake. The shelves seem to mock me, their towering heights holding secrets just out of reach.

I let out a frustrated growl and slam another book shut. It's useless. All of it. I've been searching for hours, and I'm no closer to understanding Aigis Siphoning than I was when I started.

I sink into the closest chair and close my eyes, trying to calm the frantic beating of my heart.

"Rora?"

I open my eyes to find Emerin standing a foot away, a frown tugging her lips down.

"What are you doing?"

Guilt tightens around my chest as I stand and glance around the library, taking in all the books I discarded in my attempt to find out about my silver magic.

"I was attempting to discover more about my magic," I answer honestly.

Empathy sparks behind Emerin's unique eyes. One is silver, the other blue. Some people think people born with two different color eyes are blessed by the gods. "Did you speak to our mother again?"

I swallow through the lump in my throat. "Yes."

In a flurry of movement, Emerin picks up all the books and places them back on the shelf. "I don't like the way she speaks to you."

"I don't like the way she speaks to any of us."

Emerin pauses and glances over at me. "Neither do I."

She finishes with straightening the shelves, then returns to where I stand. "You deserve answers about your magic, and I think I know a way to help."

My brow wrinkles as Emerin grabs my hand and pulls me from the room. "But I cannot tell you yet."

"Em," I protest.

"You must be patient." She keeps tugging me down the hall as she speaks. "Let's steal some of Ashes favorite wine and get sloshed."

I shake my head as Emerin laughs. "Can you imagine the look on her face when she goes to her desk and finds the jar empty?"

I grin, then nod. "Let's do it."