Chapter: 32: Word of Fate

The cameras vanished as soon as the royals were escorted out of the room.

We were no longer required to put on a show for anyone other than the other suitors, and I was too exhausted to keep my body in this unnatural state for a second longer.

I bent my knees and leaned my torso forward. The cold marble floor felt good against my damp palms, and the relief of my weight being removed from my heels was liberating.

“Are you okay?” Calla asked, placing a burning hand on my shoulder.

“Yeah,” I said, chuckling as I covered her hand with mine without looking up. “These shoes are just killing me.”

She squatted beside me and moaned in relief. “Oh, that is so much better,” she said, tilting her head backward to ease her neck.

“I thought you were used to high heels,” I said, pressing my knees closer to avoid falling to the floor.

Evie might barely tolerate what we were doing, but she would lose it if we fell to the floor in our current attire.

“It gets easier, but you never get used to it.” She laughed, pushing me so hard that I nearly fell over anyway.

“Hey!” I exclaimed, laughing. “Evie will kill us if we start fooling around before we reach the parlor.”

“Fine,” she chuckled and mirrored my pose. “But I’m taking the shoes off the minute we enter our comfort zone.”

“Me too,” I said just before Piper and Oakley joined us.

Evie’s claps had become a familiar sign for us to pay attention to her, and today was no exception.

“All right, girls,” she said, stepping onto the scene where the royals had just been standing. “Let’s move to the parlor so the cleaning crew can do their much-appreciated jobs.”

Calla and I caught up with Oakley and Piper in the hallway, but we decided not to share our experiences until we reached the privacy of the couches.

“I never want to wear heels again,” I exclaimed as I kicked the doom shoes away.

The others chuckled. “That sounds like wishful thinking, Will,” Oakley said, sipping from her glass of water.

“A good wish, though,” Calla added as she rested her head in my lap.

“Heard,” Piper said, raising her glass. “So, did Prince Atlas test you in there as well?”

Calla and Oakley nodded, and I gestured a yes that was hardly detectable to their eyes.

“I had to grow a small tree from a seed whose branches needed to hit ten different rings at the same time,” Oakley explained, sighing exhausted.

“Were you really able to do that?” I asked, unable to imagine someone achieving that kind of precision.

Oakley shrugged. “Somewhat. I missed one ring, but otherwise, yes,” she said, stroking her long hair. “What about you, Piper?”

Piper shifted in her seat, wiggling her butt to sit on the edge.

“Okay, so when Prince Atlas escorted me behind the door, I first noticed a row of ten wine glasses carefully aligned along the middle of the long wooden table.

“Beside the table was a small basin with red-colored water. Prince Atlas then asked me to use my powers to form ten bubbles of liquid matching the proportions needed to reach a red line etched into the glass.”

I was stunned. Their tests sounded so complex. I thought what Atlas had put me through had been tough, but it was nothing compared to what they’d been through.

“Then he asked me about my reasons for accepting the offer to participate in the Crown Trials and what I expected for the future if I won.”

“I got that question, too,” Calla said, reaching out to grab Piper’s knee. “What did you answer?”

Piper’s cheeks turned deep blue. “I—um…,” she said, avoiding our eyes. “I may have confessed that I had a slight crush on him before I was even offered the contract.”

“No,” Calla gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. “What did he say?”

“He smiled and told me he was flattered,” Piper explained, raising her shoulders.

“Then I assured him I’ve always wanted to make Heliac an even better place for all, which I believe I can achieve as queen.

“Both my parents are First-bloods, and I still remember how much we struggled before I mutated.”

So, Piper once had a life similar to mine. Maybe that was why she was so kind to me in the beginning.

“I want to establish a few free academies in the different regions of Heliac for the First-bloods who struggle to make ends meet. That is the first cause I would fight for if I became queen.”

My heart fluttered blissfully. I didn’t know Piper felt like that.

“What a great answer, Piper,” Calla whispered, staring at Piper with stars shining in her eyes. “I wish my answer had been half as good.”

I was about to ask Calla what she’d answered when Oakley interrupted me. “What about you, Will?” she said, eyeing me.

“Yeah!” Calla exclaimed, poking my shoulder. “You were in there for so long. What did you do?”

The room suddenly became hotter than the Desert of the Blaze, and it felt like the demanding weight of that question was crushing my lungs.

I couldn’t tell them that the prince had asked me to call him by his middle name. That could give them the wrong idea, and if Alia heard, I’d never be able to walk these halls without her watching me.

“H-he asked me if I’d been able to settle in yet,” I explained, hoping to avoid telling too many details by moving on faster than they could talk. “Then he asked me to play the blooming pipes—”

“You did that too?” Calla asked, grabbing my hand. “I didn’t know you could play.”

“I-I can’t,” I admitted, interlocking my fingers. “He asked me to try anyway, likely to test how advanced my powers were. It didn’t go well, though.”

Calla cocked her brow and sat up. “So, you didn’t get a melody you had to replicate?”

I shook my head and avoided their questioning eyes. “I could barely isolate the individual tunes, let alone play a melody I know and love.”

Then two warm arms pulled me closer. Her breath tickled the naked skin behind my ear as she squeezed my body tighter.

“It’ll get easier,” Calla whispered, gently stroking my back.

“I know the burden of the secrets and pressure from the media makes it particularly difficult for you, but we’re here for you if you need help or just need to talk.”

My eyes shifted to look at Piper and Oakley, who both nodded. “We all are,” Piper added, reaching out to touch me.

My eyes began stinging, but I choked back the tears. It would still be hours before we were allowed to retire to our chambers, and I didn’t want to spoil Adriel’s beautiful makeup before then.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice muffled by Calla’s shoulder.

Faye wasn’t in my room when the evening finally arrived.

I sighed, knowing I’d be bound to this dress until she appeared to help me get out of it.

A glimpse of something dark blue caught my eye as I passed my bed. On my pillow was an envelope, sealed by the symbol of the Water Iridis.

~Could that be from the prince?~

I grabbed the velvety paper and broke the seal without cutting my finger.

A puzzled expression of confusion wrinkled my nose as I looked at the contents of the strange letter.

It wasn’t a piece of paper as I’d expected. Instead, a thin, flexible disc and a small, folded note were caught between my fingertips.

I brought the disc to the light, checking for any hidden message engraved in the translucent material.

Instead, as the rays of light passed through the disc, I saw coils of copper connected through chaotic wiring.

I squinted my eyes, but I couldn’t recognize more than a few components.

Curious, I unfolded the note that was no bigger than half the size of my palm.

~What is required for life to thrive?~

A riddle? Seriously?

Life requires a number of things to sustain itself. Food, energy, water, the basic elements, and—

I eyed the unbroken skin of my fingertips.

The prince couldn’t expect us to activate this thing using our blood, could he?

I groaned when nothing else came to mind and stomped to the closet where I knew Faye kept a few needles.

The needle looked sharp enough to cut through metal. I gulped before I closed my eyes and pricked my finger.

The pain was quick, but it still hurt bad enough for me to silently curse the prince.

I hovered my finger over the disc and waited for a drop of my blood to hit its surface.

A rush of adrenaline made my heart leap when the disc began glowing.

Then the glow faded, and I was back to square one.

~Cursed blood~. This was even harder than playing the damned blooming pipes.

I dropped the disc beside the sink and turned on the water for me to wash the blood off my hands.

My breath hitched when the disc started glowing again, and the jet of water from the tap began moving abnormally.

I gasped and fell back when the water shot past me to hover in the air beside the sink.

The water began taking the shape of a disfigured human. A few moments later, I stood before an absurdly realistic replica of the crown prince.

He remained immovable and stared into empty air.

Reluctantly, I picked myself up and approached the water structure. My finger pierced the prince’s shoulder as I tried poking him, leaving my hand drenched.

The meaning behind the note had been so painfully evident that it was almost humiliating that I didn’t grasp it immediately after reading the words. I’d even recited the solution before I’d pricked myself.

Water activated the cursed disc. Prince Atlas was a Water Iridis.

Dad would’ve been disappointed if he knew how this place affected my ability to think logically.

~“Dear Willow.”~

I jumped back as a sharp tingle rushed across my skin. The water could talk. However, the voice sounded more like an echo of Atlas’s voice than it actually was him talking.

~“Thank you for a pleasant conversation this morning,”~ he continued, his eyes still focused on the empty air beside me. ~“I was pleased to know that you are finding comfort in the company around you.”~

~“I understand that change can be scary and difficult, especially given your situation and the reality that you did not choose this life yourself.~

~“However, I assure you that my family and I will do everything in our power to help you through these difficult times.”~

~“I look forward to following your progress and witnessing your powers improve with time.”~

~“And when Uncle Art becomes too unbearable to endure, please don’t be afraid to strike back. He could use someone to tighten his leash.”~

I snorted and covered my mouth with my hand so I didn’t begin laughing. I’d never expected Master Art’s nephew to speak so ill of him to me.

The translucent smile on Prince Atlas’s face sparkled in the artificial light. He was attempting to be funny.

~“Despite the rules of the Crown Trials, I hope to repeat this delightful conversation soon.”~

~“Kind regards, Caiden.”~

Then the structure lost its shape and reverted to its natural behavior. However, once bound by gravity, the water dropped and spilled across the entire bathroom floor.

“What’s happening in he—” Faye shrieked when she entered the bathroom, and her shoes were drenched.

“A message from the prince,” I explained, tugging my lips into a crooked smile and waving the disc in the air.

“A message from the—your dress, Will!” Faye exclaimed, rushing to my side to pull the delicate fabric from the inch-deep layer of water.

“We’ll have to dry that immediately, or the skirt will be ruined.” She sighed as she pulled me away out of the bathroom.

I’d probably be safe from her questions regarding my meeting with the prince since she’d be too busy saving the dress, but I couldn’t stop smiling.

The prince had signed his message using his middle name.

The Iridis were always presented with the opportunity to change their first name to suit their element once they graduated from an academy. However, the royals were allowed to choose a middle name.

I wondered if the other suitors had been asked to call him Caiden as well or if that right solely belonged to me.

***

The following morning was relatively peaceful.

Adriel didn’t arrive for my usual glow-up session. Thankfully, Faye was there to help me dress appropriately. I don’t think I could have done that myself.

I found Piper and Calla sitting by the corner of the breakfast table. I joined them right before Evie announced that we were allowed to dig in.

“Have any of you seen Oakley?” I asked after sufficiently scanning the room to conclude that she wasn’t present.

Piper looked at me with puzzled eyes and a mouth loaded with food.

“No,” Calla said when Piper couldn’t answer. “I can’t find her either. Perhaps she’s feeling unwell.”

That sounded reasonable, but I decided to count everyone here to be sure.

We were only nineteen if I included Evie, which meant that Oakley wasn’t the only one missing.

I picked my brain apart to remember the faces of the missing suitors.

Aside from Oakley, one Fire Iridis, two Air Iridis, and three Water Iridis were missing: Meira, Kora, Ivory, Aurora, Avery, and Halina.

Oakley didn’t join us for the compulsory courses or later in the parlor.

My skin grew clammy, yet my body trembled as if I was cold. She couldn’t have been—could she?

“Good evening, suitors.”

Caiden stepped through the doors to our dining room, the king following right behind him.

We stopped eating and lowered our cutlery to listen.

“I wanted to express my gratitude for a lovely morning yesterday. I truly enjoyed your company and cannot wait to spend more time with all of you.”

~Liar.~

“I hope you all figured out how to activate the messages you received and found them pleasing. However, I believe many of you must have noticed that we are missing a few suitors.

“I wanted to personally justify my decision to let seven of you go in case you have any questions.”

So, Oakley had been eliminated? For what reason? Because of a mere conversation and a single interview. The Crown Trials had barely even begun.

“It was a tough choice, but it is a demand of the Crown Trials, and I hope you can come to respect my decision.”

I’d expected whispering voices to spread among us, but everyone remained silent, and no one dared raise their hand to question the prince.

“If you have no further questions, I thank you for your time and wish you all a pleasant evening.”

First, he bowed; then, he walked out.

“I can’t believe that she’s gone,” Piper whispered and wiped away a rogue tear from her cheek.

Oakley was gone, and that wasn’t easy to digest. I knew I was safe for a while, but none of the others could feel like that.

They could be sent home tomorrow if Caiden desired it, and I think many first realized that now.

“When do you think the next suitor will be eliminated?” Calla asked when none of us could bring ourselves to answer Piper.

“I don’t know,” I whispered as my desire to finish my meal faded.

“Maybe weeks from now? Only three people need to be eliminated before the second phase is initiated. I don’t think the prince would want that this early in the competition.”

Both of them nodded, but they didn’t look entirely convinced.

I knew we needed more training before we were ready for the next phase.

The pressure would become even more unbearable when that happened. I just hoped Calla and Piper wouldn’t be the next suitors eliminated.