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"The power of the word," Serena repeated absently, her eyes fixated on the notebook.
"Yes. Formulas and chemical reactions combined with the right words can create powerful magic. Eritopia listens if you know what to say."
Aida
I had made notes of my visions over the past couple of days. I'd written them down along with rough sketches of the dungeons and halls I had seen in Azazel's castle in a small journal I'd found in the attic. I took it out of my pocket and walked over to Serena to hand it over.
"I've been writing down everything I remember from my visions," I told her, then looked at the Druid. "Given that you don't know what you're walking into, I figured you'd have more use for these than I will."
"Where are these from?" Draven asked, glancing over the notes.
"Mostly from Azazel's dungeons and the other halls inside his castle. I've made some rough sketches as well to give you an idea of the layout I've been able to decipher so far."
"These are incredibly useful. Thank you, Aida." Serena smiled and stood up to hug me.
I welcomed her embrace. I worried for her safety, and I needed her back in one piece, so I was doing my best to help her on this mission to retrieve Sverik. Serena was the rock in our group, the one both Vita and I had admired over the years, the light that pulled us from our insecurities. She meant everything to me.
"It's the least I can do to help make sure you come back in one piece," I whispered.
"I can't tell you how much this means to me," she replied.
"You'd better keep her safe, Druid, or I will tear you to pieces. You hear me?" I said to Draven, only half-jokingly.
"I can take care of myself, thank you very much!" Serena exclaimed.
"Don't worry, Aida," Draven replied. "I won't let anything happen to her."
His gaze softened when it found Serena's, and I instantly understood what they'd come to mean to each other. There was something deep and warm flowing between them, an energy I'd never felt before. She wasn't kidding when she'd said they were taking things to the next level.
Despite his solemn reassurance, I couldn't help but worry.
I caught movement at the corner of my eye and turned to see Bijarki get up from his chair and walk out, his eyebrows drawn into a frown.
Vita got up and left the banquet hall as well.
I smiled, mostly to myself, able to guess where she was going.
Vita
I'd seen the expression on Bijarki's face as soon as Lamias were included in the conversation. His mood changed, shadows settling beneath his eyebrows. He was concerned about something, so I decided to find out what was troubling him.
I found him in the greenhouse, cutting yellow leaves off a small potted tree and stuffing them in a leather pouch.
He looked up at the sound of the glass door closing behind me.
"Is everything okay?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
I kept my hands behind my back. My fingers fidgeted nervously. My heart was already racing at the thought of us alone in the same room. It spelled the most wonderful kind of trouble.
He nodded and resumed his collection of leaves and herbs from a group of strange-looking plants with vibrant yellow and violet foliage.
"Yes," he replied. "Just collecting some poisons for our trip. The River Pyros, and its lush banks, is home to some dangerous creatures."
"Does that include the Lamias?"
"Especially the Lamias," he said.
"What's the plan once you get there?" I asked, unable to stop the avalanche of concerns from tumbling around in my head.
"The Lamias are vicious and cunning. They love a good trade. We'll offer some rare gifts, including some of these poisons I'm collecting. You can't find these along the river. They're endemic to other regions and nearly extinct. The Druid's greenhouse is a treasure trove of such rarities."
"So," I replied, stepping toward him as my eyes scanned the flowers around me. "You're planning to offer them deadly poisons as gifts. And?"
He stood up straight, watching me intently.
"We'll propose a trade. They have plenty of reasons to want Azazel dead. We just need to motivate them to actually do something about it," he said, his voice low.
"And what will you offer in trade?"
"That will be up to them to tell us. They already hate Azazel, and that alone is the start of a fruitful negotiation."
I nodded and took a deep breath, my eyes locked on his.
"Promise me you'll be safe, Bijarki. Come back in one piece."