Mageia jerked awake, gasping for a lungful of air. She sat up, clinging her neck, and clenching the soft cushion of the bed.

"Great gods," someone said.

She stared at the temple slave, standing at the edge of the bed with a book. Standing behind him was a shocked nurse. The slave's eyes shifted to Mageia's right. She followed his gaze and felt somewhat relieved seeing the High Priest sitting in the corner. The old man's jaw hung open and for a minute. They were speechless.

Then the High Priest stirred alive. "Nurse, go and send for Prince Grisonce immediately."

The nurse dashed from the room, leaving the door open. Lord Hercones scrambled to his feet to approach. "Mageia. Are you still Mageia?"

"I am," she said throat desert dry. "What happened?"

"You died. Everyone saw it. But then your fire turned purple, and the sky came alive."

"Alive?"

"Alive! It was a terribly great sight to behold. The earth quaked and there was this wind of magic that swept across the kingdom."

"Probably the entire realm, it was so powerful," the slave added.

Mageia made an O shape with her lips and didn't know how to respond to this information.

"And then the sky cleared, calm and radiant in purple. The moonlight was shining upon you within the flames," Lord Hercones said with joy. "Prince Grisonce went to retrieve you, but right before hand he had a vision."

"A vision?"

"Yes. No doubt he will tell you all about it once he gets here. Oh, Lady Mageia, we returned to the infirmary with you and discovered that everyone Strange even Fair unknowingly were healed. Healed head to foot from their ailments."

"Everyone was healed because of me dying," she said somewhat not liking this thought. There had to be a few Fairs withholding defects that didn't deserve a healing for their bigotry.

The priest bopped his head. Then his gaze dropped to her chest.

"You've stopped glowing," he said.

She followed his gaze and noticed the dress they had put her in possessed a sharp dip. It revealed the marking like the one she had in the Serene. Feeling exposed, she grabbed the sheets to cover herself.

"There's another on your back too," he said then gestured to the wide-eyed slave. "You must be thirsty."

The slave quickly ran to the tables and poured her water from a pitcher. He gave it to Mageia, and she gulped the cool water, and sighed as the heat within her veins decreased.

"Where am I?"

"The royal infirmary," Lord Hercones said.

Great. Can I ever leave this palace? She thought.

"Forgive me."

She stared at the elder priest for a long time to process his heartfelt apology.

"For what?" she said.

"The Ceremony," he said. "For everything."

"It's alright. You didn't know," she said feeling her hatred of the man wash away.

"Prince Grisonce and I assumed your death had to happen. Is that true?"

"No. It was only dormant, I assume. I cannot receive its entirety until I meet Tiivon Seviine face to face."

"Do you know where he is?" Lord Hercones said, weary eyes wide.

"Um. No. The gods don't know where he is either."

"The gods? Did you meet them?"

Mageia clamped her mouth shut. She mentally slapped herself for being so stupid. Here she was still in the palace with people who did not hesitate to see her die. These very people did not take heed to Gris' theory. Well, she didn't either, but she wondered if this old man could be trusted. Though, she couldn't sense a bad bone in his body, she took a minute to think of what to do.

Something felt different within herself. Just like in the Serene when she could sense the fear of the Sacred Six before their merging, she could sense how the old man and the temple slave felt. She shifted in the bed and glanced at the door and contemplated on making a run for it.

"Lady Mageia? Are you okay?"

"Hmm," she said.

"Did you meet the Divine Six? What does the Serene look like?"

"Um..." she said rubbing her sweating palms. "Yeah. I did meet them."

Mageia swallowed hard and couldn't see how keeping her experience a secret was necessary.

"When I woke up in the Serene, the Sacreds appeared too. They merged with the gods."

"The Merging," Lord Hercones said with a knowing nod. "I've read of this in the Book of Legends."

"So, it's not a secret?"

"Thankfully, Thuriend Lariius was a writer at heart on the side of being a great magician. He wrote about his experiences in the Serene and those of his predecessors. Spoken stories passed down through generations. Tell me, what is happening in the Serene right now?"

"They are in a war, so most of their attention is on obtaining the other's power. Mesori and Rasaal are the darkest. They tried to hurt me," she said glancing at a tiny fire flickering in the hearth. "Dawnis is one of the good gods. I couldn't sense a bad bone inside of him."

"Really?" the temple slave said.

She nodded. "He was kind, almost childlike. He said the Starliin was sealed shut by Tiivon Seviine when he disappeared. The Ordained-,"

"The Spirits of the Fairests," Lord Hercones said with awe. "Did you meet them too?"

"No. Dawnis said they were being held captive in the Oracle – whatever that is – and um... Mesori and Rasaal are responsible."

"What did the Serene look like?" the temple slave said.

"Dark and gloomy, yet very beautiful," she said and shivered. "There were a lot of stars, but the sun was shining as if it was daytime. The air was cold and filled with a lot of anger and mistrust. I couldn't wait to leave."

"Great Divines," Lord Hercones said. "Are you writing this down Baron?"

"I am," the slave said.

The nurse rushed back in. "I sent for the Prince, but you will not believe what's going on out there."

"What is it? Speak woman," Lord Hercones said gesturing impatiently.

"A fire has erupted in the West Wing."

"A fire? Great gods above," the High Priest mumbled.

"The infirmary is crowding again but this time with Strange from the Slave Quarters."

"Oh no, Grisonce would be there," Mageia said sitting up straight. "His quarters are in that wing."

"Fireguards and any abled hand are headed for there now," the nurse said approaching the bed. "Master Joras is now very busy, but he asked me to do a quick check on you. Will that be okay, my lady?"

"Go ahead, but I feel fine," Mageia said mind glued on the Prince's wellbeing. She prayed he was okay, hoping the gods weren't too busy fighting to hear it.

"So did Dawnis or any of the gods give any words for the realm?" Lord Hercones continued as Mageia allowed the smiling nurse to check her eyes, her hands, the markings, and even her pulse.

"No. Dawnis told me that only a few prayers reach them because of the Starliin being shut."

"What of our sacrifices? Were they receiving them?" the slave said with worry.

Mageia thought this through first as the woman read her wrist's pulse.

"Well, no the shutdown of the Starliin has interfered with that too. Plus, I told you, there's a war going on up there. No one's paying attention to Valeera right now until I take on the full power of the Fairest."

"Do you have magic now? I don't understand. Are you the Fairest or is Tiivon Seviine still the Fairest?" Lord Hercones said.

Mageia gave a slight shrug. "They called me Fairest and Dawnis said to train with what magic that awakes in me, but I cannot gain all of the power until I meet Tiivon face to face and I do my first Ascension into the Serene."

"Oh I know about Ascensions," Lord Hercones said. "That's mentioned a few times in the Book of Legends."

Mageia recalled Prince Grisonce showing her the ancient book and reading passages from it. She drunk the rest of the water in the cup and passed it to the nurse, now listening rather than doing her job.

"Are you hungry? Oh, you must be hungry, poor girl," she said. "Allow me to get you some soup."

She felt her flat belly grumbling and twisting and couldn't pinpoint if it was hungry or not.

"No thank you," she said then to the priest. "But I would really like to speak to Grisonce."

"He's probably dealing with his slaves and the fire. He should be here soon enough," Lord Hercones said.

"I still cannot believe this is happening to me," Mageia said clinging onto the blanket again.

"I bet you are afraid. You've been powerless probably your whole life and now within a few hours you've become the most powerful person in the world."

"What if I can't do this?" she said wishing she hadn't voiced the concern.

"Oh, child," Lord Hercones said then gestured for the slave to stop writing. Baron nodded and closed his journal. He gestured for her hand, and she gave it. He gave it a comforting squeeze. His hands were warm and inviting, grandfatherly. "Allow me to give you wise words, Fairest of Valeera. The Starliin we live in has a mind of its own, I doubt even the gods understand it. It is pure and holy and unquestionably knowing. Meaning one thing." He held up his index finger and peered strong into her eyes. "It knows what it's doing, and we are only pawns to fulfill many purposes in its plans. You may not want to accept your power now, but do not deny it. The Starliin believes you deserve it."

"But I don't know if I can be- if I can be...this," she said.

"I see. Remember this, Lady Mageia. Yes, you are the Fairest. You've been since birth. But you do not have to be the Fairest right now."

"I don't understand."

"As time passes and you learn, and you experience, and you grow, then shall you walk in your greatness. Then you will become the Fairest, who you are destined to be."

His words touched her heart and she felt new hug of relief that brought tears to her eyes. She turned away and sniffled, hating others seeing her cry. Hercones passed her a handkerchief and gently rubbed her arm.

"Try not to worry yourself, my lady. Take this a day at a time, and if you haven't grown tired of my voice, my door is always open. And of course, Grisonce's is too."

"Thank you, my Lord," Mageia said.

Sniffles caught their attention. They looked at the nurse who stood dabbing her own eyes with a handkerchief.

"Are you okay?" Mageia said.

"Oh gods. Forgive me for my prejudice against the Strange. If the gods do not care about what's happening in this kingdom, then I supposed the Fair is not as important as we've believed."

"Yes, my lady," Lord Hercones said. "We've all received a wakeup call tonight. I only hope it has touched the most stubborn amongst us."

The nurse bopped her head and wiped away a tear. "I am so happy. If I had heard correctly, there were only two women who were anointed Fairests."

"You are right," Lord Hercones said. "Alalia Komali, the first Fairest who married another Fairest Gilondale Lariius. They began the anointed blood line, which you are from, Lady Mageia. And there was Aurelia Lariius-Seviine, who was known to be a fierce knight in her time."

"A knight?" Mageia said.

"Oh yes," the priest cheerfully said. "Her story is phenomenon and very inspiring for women of all ages and race. Perhaps, one day you will meet them in the Serene."

"Hopefully, if the gods stop fighting each other," Mageia said.

Thumping sounds arose beyond the room arousing the temple soldiers. Shouts flared only to die within seconds. More thumping followed and Mageia's hairs stood along her arms realizing it were bodies falling to the floor.

"What on earth is going on," the nurse muttered walking towards the open door.

A dark figure appeared in the doorway only inches from the nurse. She halted in her tracks and gasped, hand pressing her chest startled. A hissing laughing echoed about the room and the figure's arm slashed at the frozen nurse. The woman squealed for a hot second, clasping her neck. She spun to run, eyes wide in horror as blood squirted from her neck and flowed down her chest. She dropped to the floor, croaking for air, and the stench of blood took the room.

Mageia had no time to scream or to react.

The figure fully entered revealing a familiar face. He was dressed in a Hiilaan uniform with a bloody dagger in his hand. His bright blue eyes grinned with dark joy. With his other hand he threw something thin and sharp at Mageia. It pierced her neck before she could deflect it. She pulled it out, but not fast enough. Already her head grew light, and the room blurred.

Two soldiers appeared behind the soldier with swords in their hands, dripping blood on the floor.

"Hello, we meet again beautiful," he said.

He was the soldier that interrupted Eron's handsy interrogation.

"Sii," she said. Whatever was on the dart, it squeezed her lungs and began to numb her fingers and toes.

"You remember me," he said in great joy.

"What is the meaning of this," Lord Hercones shouted.

"Kill them," Sii said approaching the bed.

"No. Don't," Mageia said, but the silent soldiers slipped across the room like shadows. The slave revealed a tiny knife from within his sleeve and backed away to protect Lord Hercones. But he was no match for the sword. He went down fast, just as the other assassin went for the High Priest. With one slash across Hercones' torso, the old man dropped with a grunt.

Sii laughed, reaching out to grab her. She slapped his hands, feeling weaker and drowsier.

"What did you do?" she said glancing at the sweet old man croaking for air.

"He needed to retire anyway," Sii said nonchalantly. "Come, my lady, let's go on a little trip."

The world blurred in and out and her muscles grew stiff and weak. Heart pounding wild in her ears, she fought their hands, but they were strong and fast. Her tongue swelled in her mouth disabling her screams for help. Her magic stirred, frantic to bring aid, but the poison forced it to fall asleep. They yanked her out the bed and easily carried her from the room, down the hall, and out the back door.