18. Vane

Vane

T he next day passed quickly, and we fell into a rhythm again in the pastry kitchen. With a few hours of rest under my belt, I felt much surer of my movements, albeit still a bit awkward as I did my best to stay out of Saoirse's way. Maeve had come to help this time, and it was clear she'd been in this kitchen more than a few times, expertly moving around and pulling things out of cabinets as needed.

For such an old woman, she was pretty nimble.

The night passed without a hitch, and we finished much earlier than anticipated, the plates stacked neatly, covered in a thin film to protect them from the inside elements until breakfast. It was easier for us to bake throughout the night, the quiet hours slipping by as we toiled away. When we were finished, Maeve said her goodbyes, off to do whatever the old woman does all day .

We made our way through the castle's labyrinth of halls, the dim nighttime sun casting long shadows that danced, calling to my own like old friends. The castle was deserted, a contrast to the bustle of excitement that had been going on when we'd first arrived. My heart sped up with anticipation as we approached a set of large wooden doors, intricately carved, with various swirls and patterns deeply etched into the wood.

Saoirse pushed the doors open, the scent of aged parchment and polished furniture enveloping us as we stepped inside. Tall shelves lined the wall, deep-set and filled to the brim with books and scrolls. The vast room had very little windows, lit instead by wall-mounted torches that cast a warm glow over the impressive amounts of books.

I stared in awe. There must have been thousands of books in here, the room larger than most homes in Umbra. Xanthi was already there, a stack of books in front of her, so high I could only see the top of her head. She looked up, peering from around the stack, a smile lighting her face. "Took you long enough. I've been here all night," she said, gesturing to the books. "And I think I found something."

"Really?" Saoirse exclaimed, moving closer to her sister so she could get a good look at the book she was reading. "That quickly?"

"I thought the Heartshard sounded familiar, and now I remember why." Xan slid a heavy text forward, the pages brittle and worn. A Lifetime of Lightlace was scrawled across the cover in gold tinted lettering. She flopped open the book to a folded page, and we crowded in, reading over her shoulder.

Eons ago, when the heavens were harmonious and united, the gods descended to the mortal lands, with promises of a life without worry. With little choice, the humans accepted them, and all the gifts they had promised. A united front, the gods joined their powers together, creating the magnificent gem known as the Amarithe Core. This celestial stone, forged from the very essence of creation, was a vessel of unimaginable power, into which each god imbued a portion of their divine essence .

The gods sought to shape and nurture the nascent world, bringing life and order to the chaos of the humans left running rampant. A vision of a realm where mortals could thrive under their guidance. Each god bestowed their unique gifts upon the earth's people, fostering and flourishing with life. Daer, goddess of the sun, granted our people with the Lightlace magic, blessing us with her radiant energy and the power to harness the sun itself.

Yet as the years passed, seeds of discourse took root among the once-united gods. Envy festered, jealousy rearing its ugly head as the gods took on more and more of the traits of the mortals they'd so wanted to change, emotions brimming under a surface of corruption. It wasn't long before a great divide erupted, shattering the peace of the realm and casting deep shadows over the mortal world. The gods, once united, were now adversaries, and the Amarithe Core, the heart and soul of their unity, could not withstand the strain of their fractured hearts.

The Amarithe Core was shattered in the war, its fragments scattering across the realms as each kingdom's walls closed tightly on each other, each god retreating into their own dominions. The world was left fragmented, and the balance of power irrevocably shifted.

"I thought we got our powers because of the fighting?" Saoirse questioned, more thinking out loud than anything. "This is very different from what we have been taught. Did the gods willingly give their power?"

"Accurate history often gets lost in translation," I offered, just as confused as she was. "I guess it doesn't really matter how all the kingdoms got their powers. What matters more is that we find this shard. Did you find anything else?" I directed toward Xan.

"I looked for more, but the rest of the book just covers Lightlace history we already know. This is the last time it's mentioned, but this Amarithe Core… the Heartshard has to be a piece of it, right?"

"Yes, but this doesn't get us any closer to finding it," I replied.

"No," Saoirse said slowly, pushing a section of her tangled red hair behind her as she straightened back up. "But any information we have, the better, right?"

"What kind of information are you looking for?" A deep, drawling voice interrupted from behind us. Startled, we whirled to see two young men standing at the library's entrance.