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"She's the only one I built better than the original,"

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YOU KNOW THOSE days when you feel numb and simply not alive?

It is the sudden perception of realizing there is more to life than waking up feeling this way.

That was how I woke up on Tuesday morning.

I wasn't surprised to see that I was alone in my room tonight, but this time I knew where Daya was.

She had got in pretty late last night and got up an hour earlier than I had, because of the training she and the originals had with the firewall recruits.

I felt low as I trudged down the buzzing hallways with David.

Right after breakfast, Claire had to go to training, so David and I were the only ones who had to deal with morning classes.

He was more joyful than I expected, for someone who had a newly reinstated Roman for a roommate, but when he joyfully explained that he basically spent the whole night alone because Roman had to train, and would do so for the rest of the week till Friday, I understood why he was happy.

I managed to crack a half-smile at this.

When we finally parted ways I waved him goodbye, watching as he headed down the hallways disappearing in the bussing wave of students for a moment.

My fists tightly clenched my bag straps for a second before sighing, the fake smile I had plastered on dwindling at that moment, feeling a weight crash on my shoulders.

Something I had struggled to get rid of ever since yesterday, and that feeling of inadequacy that had been stored within me.

I yearned for the simple life I had been so ungrateful for before.

Most people would think Palace life was hectic and annoying and whilst it had its moments, my life had mainly been in the palace walls, either being tutored or in my garden or the well-stocked library.

It had only been earlier this year that Dad took me on one of his business trips. Most of the time I was at home, indoors, and even when we traveled, I would remain within the walls of the hotel in most cases.

Yep, back then life was so much easier, and the only feelings I had to deal with were the natural ones. Not this rotten derailing feeling that seemed to be eating me up more than my lack of confidence ever did.

I turned slightly, head low as I walked past students who were supposed to be making their way to class but decided to lounge about until the very last second it seemed.

A bad habit in itself.

If ever Zali had caught wind that I had intentionally done such a thing I would be given a full-on lecture about accountability, something I did not desire to sit for two straight hours.

They were so lucky they didn't have Zali just about now.

Huffing at the thought, I reached my class, walking in, and stopping abruptly when I spotted my classmates.

Some students sat half-turned in their seats facing each other, talking and giggling amongst themselves.

The bookworms of morning classes had already taken out their notebooks in preference for Science, the first normal subject of the day, and someone was rubbing the board out.

My eyes lingered on my empty seat by the window, staring at it from the front of the class still locked in position.

All of it felt so plain and repetitive.

Feeling numb, my heart pounding within me, I did a three-sixty, turning away from the classroom, knowing none of my classmates had even noticed my presence when I had walked in.

I moved back out into the liberty of the hallways, my heart still pounding within me, asking me what the heck I was doing yet the only word that was ringing through my head was freedom.

Freedom, and liberty.

I moved through the students, my breathing heavy, and my hands sweaty as the bell rang.

I took a corner, walking up the stairs, stepping aside at the influx of students moving downwards finally wanting to get into the classes before their teachers walked in, but I kept on going up until I burst through the hallway.

It was now empty as the last student disappeared down the stairs.

I stopped abruptly staring at the empty hallway, spotting the bright rays of light that illuminated the far end due to the glass see-through walls that had been built there.

My breathing was low as I stared on hypnotized, my feet shuffling toward the light, walking slowly at first, then faster and faster until I was running down the hallways, adrenaline filling up my body.

Breathing loudly, I broke through into the light, stopping right at the heart of it.

Breathless from all the running, the scene before me didn't fail to take another breath away from me.

I stared out into the King's Courts in the far distance from this height, walking forward until I was up against the glass, feeling like I was near the clouds.

I marveled at the scene spotting The Cube shimmering in the sun, a diamond sparkle in the distance.

My short hollow breaths stained the glass, vapor materializing on it, rhetorically stepping back as if afraid I was tainting its beauty.

Glancing at the end of the hallway, where the arch stood wide and open, I felt a gentle breeze blowing in

I robotically walked toward it, quite attracted, and pushed past the half-open arched door.

The light breeze blew past my skin instantaneously as I walked into the open.

Pausing near the entrance, I stared at the green grass and the benches that had been placed there.

I had been here only once, with Claire the first day I had been on Kingsland.

I was standing right above the library, being given the perfect view of Kingsland as if I were seeing it from the Jewel.

Not as magnificent,  as the Jewel was much higher up but as intricate as was needed. 

I collapsed by a nearby bench, staring out into the open for a moment.

Taking in some sweet fresh air, I closed my eyes.

I could hear every little thing, from the slight swishes of rustling grass through which the wind ran, to the howl of the breeze by my ear and the tweets of the birds of the air by the trees that littered the King's courts, faint but true.

All these little hints of nature seemed to calm me and yet I could still feel salty waves from beneath my eyelashes for a moment, a bitter taste in my mouth as I tried hard to not whimper.

My jaw was crooked in a struggling attempt to conceal my emotions, feeling myself slipping away into my bitterness, and almost having my heart pop out of my chest when I heard a fast swishing and beating of wings.

My eyes flew open at the sound, starting wide-eyed as a caw erupted from the dark raven that had suddenly perched on the arm of the bench I was seated on.

I stared at it for a moment, blinking away through the glossiness of my tears. Eyes narrowing down on it, sniffing a little, watching how it calmly stood there, ruffling its dark midnight feathers.

It was larger than an average Raven, but then again it was roughly the size of Dad's the ones he kept back home in a cage.

But mom had once joked they were that way because they were lazy and Dad fed them a lot.

I marveled at its dark glossy feathers, wondering how a wild bird had kept itself looking like it lived in a palace.

For one funny moment, I couldn't help but think they could be the same, but yet again, my home was thousands of miles across the sea.

A raven couldn't fly this far, with anywhere to rest, and I was quite sure Dad would have never let them out, not that they would want to even go that far because they always came back like the lazy birds they were.

Caw!

The bird cackled startling me for a second, its beady eyes seemed to be staring at me as it perched.

My heart skipped a beat, relaxing a second later, after noting that it wasn't going to attack.

It might just be a bird but it was a big bird and I must say, that beak looked sharp enough to kill.

I stared at it for a moment, and it seemed to be staring back, beak shuffling through its feathers for a moment, before looking back at me.

My eyebrows furrowed at this action and a thought slipped my mind.

I moved toward it, slowly, eyes stuck on it for a second ready for it to fly off but it seemed to watch me blankly as if wondering why I was moving in slow motion.

When I reached half an arm's length away from it, I timidly and slowly reached out to it, fully expecting it to caw in my face and fly off, with a hearty, "Nice try human!" before thrusting its shiny black wings on my face... but none of that happened.

Not even when the tips of my fingers lightly brushed its feathers.

My eyebrows arched further, in disbelief, gently stroking its feathers and it did nothing but slightly turn as if admiring the view of Kingsland beside me.

I stared at the magnificent bird in disbelief, chuckling for a moment, as a feeling of accomplishment sparked through me.

It was silky smooth and didn't smell at all to my surprise.

It was magnificent and I couldn't believe it let me touch it. It was almost like it knew me.

My eyes trailed across its body for a second, pausing at the side of its face, then at its beak. My eyes narrowed on the thing that had clamped between my beak

I moved closer trying to get it out. For a moment, I thought it was stuck, but the moment I placed a palm underneath it, the bird dropped the item in my hand.

A stem of a flower with just one petal on it signifies what it once was,

A white rose.

I stared at the bird in disbelief at the coincidence but it only cawed, shuffling unnecessarily for a moment on the ledge before taking off into the sky, flying out.

My eyes tried to follow, stopping by the edge of the building, hands against the edges of the half-risen wall, watching the blackbird fade into the King's courts, disappearing among the trees.

My heart pounded within me as I stared at the stem in my hand for a second before a smile found its way to me.

This had to be some sign.

I didn't know from whom, or from what, probably the universe. But I felt hope, and I felt stronger.

I quickly walked back to the beach where I had put my bag, unzipping it excitedly, fishing inside, and retrieving the black wand Miss Almulese had given us to practice.

I had stared at it, unable to use it, but now, I wanted to try.

Taking a stance at the center of the platform, I took a deep breath in.

Closing my eyes, I let myself relax, let my heartbeat slow, let my body feel the nature around me, reaching out for that soft buzz that allowed me to move the stone the last time.

I pictured where I wanted to be. Under my tree in the King's courts.

When I felt calm, when I felt the silence, when I felt the soft hum of power, and when I felt strength, I let my lips mouth over the magic worse, 'lunuae- baiedan'.

I waited for the feeling, for something to scale against my skin, or feel the wind beneath me taking me places, teleporting me somewhere, but after a moment of silence, I opened my eyes, gaze stuck on the same scene of the king's court as before.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go. I felt it, I felt like I was ready but-

I shook my head sucking in another breath, my fists tightening around the wand, but repeating the process.

My other hand wrapped around the stem as if sucking hope from it as I relaxed, got calm, reached out, and imagined where I would like to be.

As before I opened my eyes having not moved the slightest inch. My heart beat faster as I tried the process again and again.

I tried swishing the wand in the air like I was leading the dang orchestra and yet to no avail.

With each try, each taste of my lips, mouthing the words, each feeling of clawing out then sinking deeper in while I was getting with each failed attempt, frustration built in me until I  finally let the stem drop on the ground, opening my eyes staring at out at the view for seconds on end...tears filling my eyes.

I stared down at the wand in my hands, fists clenching in bitterness.

Even hope was toiling with me.

Letting out a muffled silent cry, and out of pure frustration I chucked the wand out, throwing it as far as I could in the direction of the King's courts.

It was a small victorious feeling on my part for only a second before I found myself running back to the edge, wide eyes trying to spot where I had thrown it to, knowing that I was supposed to return it and that it was valuable as it was created from a wilting tree.

Trees that were now extinct.

Panic rushed through me, cursing lowly at my stupidity feeling like a complete idiot and an utter failure until I spotted something in the distance coming my way.

My eyebrows furrowed, wiping the tears off my face as I  tried to see better, getting right up at the edge as it approached, my eyes widening at the sight of the wand floating towards me in mid-air.

It stopped an arm's length away from me, just floating and I didn't know how to react, except utterly confused and surprised.

I reached out to pluck it from thin air unconvinced, wrapping my hand around its slender body and it submitted

I stared down at it in disbelief, unable to understand how it had returned.

Had I done it? Had I somehow gotten it to float back to me? How? I didn't even feel a single thing.

"Oh my dearest princess, I had hoped you had better faith youngling," a familiar voice said, causing me to turn around frantically.

I STARED AT Mr. Ogustus.

He stood before me in all his glory, eyes twinkling as they met mine, leaning against his cane, dressed smartly in a shade of navy green jacket and dimmer pants.

He moved toward the edge of the building and I watched his calm movements as he hobbled against his cane, coming to a stop beside me.

I turned with him to face the sight of Kingsland, my breathing low, heart beating softly within me knowing I wasn't supposed to be here at this moment.

I felt embarrassed that for the first time, I had ditched classes as well as on the slight account of the meltdown I just had that I was sure he had probably witnessed.

"I see that it's been a rough month," Mr. Ogustus began, side-glancing my way.

I blinked away the glassy island of tears beneath my eyelids but didn't say anything, swallowing dryly.

I looked down at the wand in my hand, my fingers fiddling with its edges in an attempt to keep busy and keep my obvious sadness at bay.

I didn't want my favorite teacher to see me like this, it only seemed to add to my growing list of failures.

"It takes years for one to adapt to change youngling, it took years for Kingsland to be what it is today, and even now, it's still changing, and we're still changing and adapting along with it. It is simply too much to ask or to expect of one person to take the world on the shoulders and balance," he huffed, wise eyes staring off into the distance.

My eyebrows arched at this, not completely getting what he was getting at and yet feeling like there was something else underlined in those words that I was simply missing.

I was a bit startled when the large bird from earlier flew back from where it had gone, this time perching just beside me, by the edge of the wall.

My hand reached out to caress its feathers once more, the black wings shiny in the direct sunlight.

"The eye of the gods," Mr. Ogustus stated, causing me to glance at him.

His eyes were on the bird beside me, adjusting his cane to the front, leaning against it, "There are many tales of gods and goddesses using animals for third sight, to keep in contact with the world around them as it changes. Much like the shadow wolves, there are specific animals that are held in reverence above others. As each god adopted their spirit animals per se," he grunted before turning back to look out at Kingsland, "these are part of the mysteries of Kingsland."

I thought this over, eyebrows slightly arched looking down at the raven that cawed, hopping down the thin wall till it was before Mr. Ogustus who brushed its feathers, in gentle moments, before taking out some birdseed from his left pocket, allowing the bird to peck at a few grains, shuffling its feathers.

My eyebrows furrowed at this, and Mr, Ogustus chuckled,

"Huginn is a usual visitor," he grinned, explaining why he was carrying a pocket full of birdseed.

He held out his arm and the fat magnificent bird perched on it, its beady eyes once more seemed to be looking out onto Kingsland too.

Mr. Ogustus's bushy eyebrows squinted at the direct sunlight before setting the bird's flight with a gentle push, "

On to Munnin," he prodded as the bird flapped off.

'm-u-n-n-i-n?' I signed, unfamiliar with what I assumed was the name of a place.

"His brother," Mr. Ogistus chuckled, before his eyebrows drew together, "at least I would like to think they are," huffed, "it's what  to expect from birds that seem to share the same mind and thoughts," he grunted, not really making sense to me, and yet it seemed that he was talking to himself more than to me before his brown eyes met mine with a warm smile-

"Some secrets can only be told by the maker," he grinned.

I was less than not, quite confused but I nodded, silence consuming us until a thought crossed my mind, and I abruptly turned to him, a little hesitant when signing.

His eyes followed my movements, "Are you going to tell Gravis I skipped a class?" I huffed nervously actually afraid of getting punished.

I didn't know what he would do, because frankly, Gravis has never been on the disciplinary end of the line in a case. Nope, that was specifically designed for either Mom or Zali.

At least not to me, but I had seen him discipline a few of the military personnel at the palace.

It was not pretty.

Whilst I knew he couldn't go that hard on me, the thought of Gravis's hard disappointing eyes on me was even worse.

"I would rather avoid disturbing him around this time, with the blood moon and all," Mr. Ogustus replied, amusement dancing in his eyes, " I would not want to disturb him with petty issues, don't you think?" he asked.

A small smile appeared on my face and I found myself nodding.

"Besides," Mr. Ogustus sighed looking out to Kingsland once more, "He may be a hard fellow, I mean his achievements speak for themselves," he grunted and I thought about it.

I never distinctively knew any of Gravis's achievements in general. But when he wore his military uniform he did have a colorful array of badges, and I would like to think he became Dad's bodyguard because of them.

"But-" Mr. Ogustus continued trailing off momentarily as he side-glanced my way, "but there is nothing more important to him than family, and that is his weakness."

I paused at this. Trying to read it in.

Gravis Herc was a man of few words till he got to Kingsland and impressed me with his added vocabulary.

But the man I had known for most of my life never took a sick day off or stayed with his family for the holidays.

Come to think of it, I never heard of his family.

Did he have one?

Was Gravis an Orphan?

My heart fell at this, quite disappointed that I never thought to inquire, that maybe the man I always looked at as the toughest man in the world could have been broken deep inside.

Maybe that's why we were like his family, why Mr. Ogustus called ME, Family.

I considered Gravis as someone I could trust, and now that I think about it, he was.

He was my family.

After a moment, I nodded, still feeling somewhat disappointed in myself for never thinking about it, after all, he had done for not only me but the rest of my family.

"And that is why I believe bothering him will bring up no conclusion whatsoever," Mr. Ogustus grinned, and I chuckled at this, strangely already feeling a lot better than I had been when he had found me, now more interested in what he had said earlier about Gravis.

He seemed to know a few things about him, and at this point, I felt it was only right that I learn.

I turned to face him, finding his eyes already set in mine before I could ask a question as if encouraging me to,

"W-what are his achievements?" I asked.

Mr. Ogustus's eyes twinkled at this, "too many to name Princess," he grinned mischief in his eyes, "but legendary," he added, "a man of few words, but believe me there are enough stories of him told by others that will last for centuries, and more," he added tapping his cane on the ground for a moment as he adjusted himself.

I pursed my lips at the reply but couldn't stop the short smile that had cornered my lips.

"Perhaps," he began, walking toward me, "you would like to hear other tales?" when my eyebrows arched in further confusion he added.

"I am the master of my kind of creation, would you look like to see?" he grinned.

My eyes narrowed at this, but before I could answer he was already hobbling off.

"C'mon youngling, the secrets of Kingsland await!" he called over his shoulder.

I watched him for a second before realizing I was supposed to follow, finally rushing to my bag, packing my wand, and following him down the glass hallways.

Our footsteps echoed down the pathway.

As I paced beside him he glanced at me, his tone low, "There are questions that must be asked to discover the truth youngling, questions that you must answer on your own," he added we walked down the hallways, turning corners to the silence.

'What if I don't know these questions?" I asked, signing them to him as we walked.

His eyes shimmered, "where do questions originate youngling? From observations, " he answered, "observe, understand, and ask," he put together, "however, know that all the right questions can only be answered by you," he added, as he stopped in front of two glass doors.

I realized there were elevators when we stepped in.

'That doesn't seem fair," I signed.

He paused at this, his lips pursed, yet his eyes thoughtful, "if life was fair, there would be nothing to discover, nothing to excite, nothing accomplish," he began, pausing for a second.

"Do you believe your arrival to Kingsland was unfair?" he asked softly.

I paused for a second at this, thinking back.

'The circumstances that led to it was unfair," I reasoned.

He nodded at this, " true, however, your survival was not," he added, " and your arrival? Despite everything, do you believe that you are better off in the far world, far away from the complications of our world, of a people such as Kingsland brings?" he asked.

My breathing shortened at this, thinking back to everything I had been through.

I met Clair, Lira, and David you showed me what it was like to have friends. Friends that I could rely on, and then Luca-

I paused swallowing for a moment, despite everything, despite not wanting to be around him anymore, he had also given me something special, and Harvest?

I stared at the glass doors at our deformed reflection in the reflective glass, thinking about all the little moments, bad and good.

The truth is, despite how unfair life felt at the moment, I had been through three times as much in this past month than ever had been in the 17 years I had been alive.

Would I trade whatever I had gone through, whatever had accomplished?

The answer was no.

I didn't want to be just another human in the world, as clueless as the next. It was a gift to know about Kingsland and meet everyone I have already, including Mr. Ogustus.

Mr. Ogutsus nodded, seeming to have been studying my expression, "There is no fair life in a word as unfair as this, but.." he trailed off as the doors dinged open, "it does have its perks."

My eyes widened at the sight before me, the largest and most modern things I had ever seen in my life, filled with all sorts of-

"Welcome to the Amory tower, youngling," Mr. Ogutus chuckled before hobbling forward and I robotically stepped into the large place, mouth slightly open as I walked into the center of what looked like a robotics lab.

It had winding stairs, leading up to a higher floor above, and a few balconies, inside, some kind of architecture that I had never seen before, that I never knew could function, everything working perfectly.

A line of suits that I recognized as the official Kingsland Knight attires placed in glass cylinders at the far edge, all sorts of robotics everywhere on the bottom floor.

Mr. Ogustus reached out to take a pair of glasses that were on the table.

My eyebrows arched at this, as he grinned back at me, "It comes with the job, the complete architect attire," he chuckled, moving toward a table, beckoning me to come close.

My eyes still trailed around how massive the Armory was.

Gaze winding up to the height of the towers, I spotted the see-through floors above with both an elevator and winding stares placed on either side.

"My dear child, there are many more wonders to see," Mr. Ogustus beamed.

I turned to look at him, shy when I found him staring at me in amusement, but he beckoned me forward hovering toward a table.

"These are the armors of tomorrow," he began showing me a few gadgets.

My eyes trailed over each one of them, all in glass cases.

"All of them are from the blueprints of Earlier designs of mine, " he grunted, "less powerful," he added eyebrows furrowing, "but suitable as the ages change," he finished.

I found the answer odd but I studied each one closely.

A shiny silver bow paired with arrows of the same color.

Something about them screamed deadly to me, yet I didn't ask.

More piqued by the next artifact, which seemed like a short metal stick, with a metal bracelet beside it.

Whilst I marveled at it, Mr. Ogutus suddenly opened the case, taking out the bracelet.

His thumb moved around it for a second and I marveled at the ancient drawings and marks that were littered around it.

He held his hand out to me, and I stared at it for a moment, my heart thudding before replacing my hand in his.

He moved to my wrist pushing my sleeve up, and then paused, freezing, his eyebrows suddenly furrowing, eyes dulling.

I looked down at the red rash on my wrists.

It was probably weird to look out and I started to feel subconscious the longer he stared at it, but without another word, he placed the bracelet around my hand, right after my red band.

He looked back at me, eyes back to shining.

"You might want to stand by the edge," he huffed, eyes trailing to the far end of the room.

I looked at him unconvinced for a moment before venturing forward, to the end of the room.

"Hand out," he grunted loudly, and eyebrows arched but outstretched my arm.

"Now this part is important, Youngling. Be firm and unshaken," he began, and my eyes met his, nodding firmly, "palms open, ready to grab," he huffed, and I nodded at this too, feeling both nervous and breathless.

"Summon her."

My eyes met his confusion for a second before he nodded softly. Gaze trailing to the stick for a moment, I took a calming breath out, adopting some of Miss Almulese's techniques.

Clear my head.

My eyes narrowed on the stick, studying it for a second before s single thought abounded in my head,

'come."

It was a swoosh, as quick and as fast as lightning, the wind-breaking as the stick traveled through the air as if having been summoned, and in less than a second it met the palm of my hand, busting out into its full-size, a golden spear elongating, shaped metal on each side, and what I would only identify as tiny wings both near the top and the bottom of the spear, glistening in the laboratory lights, curved intricate drawings on each side.

It was heavy yet somehow I knew it would be a light throw.

Holding it I could only feel one thing. Power, absolute power.

It was almost like I could lead a whole army into battle.

I marveled at the beauty of it, my heart beating inside me like a drum in war, and a small smile spread across my features in disbelief.

"A throw from her is quicker than a bullet," Mr. Ogutus commented, eyes staring in marvel at his creation, "she only obeys those that have her heart," he added and I glanced at the dull metal bracelet that was now a bright gold matching the spear.

He hobbled toward it as I marveled at it.

"She's the only one I built better than the original," he commented his hand gripping the front of the spear and in a second it tucked itself into its metal rod, the band dimming.

He studied the metal rod in his hand, "a spear like this can only be given to a god, for its power would be too great for a Convert or human alike," he huffed, "as all firsts were," he added.

I looked down at the band on my wrist, agreeing with him as I unlocked it of my own accord, I could feel the power that came with it.

It was meant for something greater.

Mr. Ogustus took the bracelet for me, studying me for a second before nodding, "Perhaps another time I-"

"Ogun, I can't stay another minute with him or I'll-" the voice paused as its owner's eyes met with mine and I looked into the faded eyes of Lucas Bowne as he paused down the winding stairs-

My eyes narrowed between me and Mr. Ogutus surprised.

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All I'm going to say about this chapter [MAJOR CLUE] is to brush up on your Greek and Norse Mythology. I swear the answers to the mysteries are right there 🫠

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