Chapter Seven: Blue Princess

  Astraya

  Two days had passed, and Soren still had not woken.

  Astraya sat in a chair tucked beside the tall shelves of her personal library, the soft cotton cushions supporting her back as she stared at the unmoving form on the bed. Sunlight spilled through the high windows.

  She could not spend the rest of her life waiting for him to open his eyes. No matter how badly she wanted to.

  There were things she needed to do.

  A light knock sounded at the door.

  “Who is it?” Astraya called, not bothering to move.

  “It’s me,” a young voice answered, excitement barely contained.

  Astraya was on her feet instantly, crossing the room in long strides, her long black hair flowing behind her. She spoke through the door, her tone soft.

  “What do you want, Stella?”

  Stella stood just outside, dark hair pulled back hastily, eyes bright with curiosity. She leaned slightly, trying to peer past Astraya into the room.

  “Father wants you in the High Hall,” she said. “And what are you doing in here, anyway?”

  Astraya exhaled slowly and stepped aside just enough to let Stella enter.

  “You cannot tell anyone,” Astraya said flatly. “You know the rules.”

  Stella’s excitement dimmed, replaced by alert attention. She nodded once. “I know.”

  Her gaze drifted immediately to the bed.

  “Oh,” she said softly. “So this is Soren.”

  Astraya closed the door behind them. “You were never meant to see this part of the world,” she said. “You only did because you were there when my power awakened. It’s important to remember this world is dangerous.”

  “I know,” Stella replied quickly. She stepped closer to the bed, her expression shifting from intrigue to something more serious. “Is he alive?”

  “He is,” Astraya said. “And only because he is stubborn.”

  Stella glanced back at her. “That sounds like your type,” she said, letting out a light giggle.

  Astraya shot her a look.

  Stella smiled faintly, then grew serious. “Father called you in urgently. He wouldn’t say why.”

  That tightened something in Astraya’s chest.

  “Of course he didn’t,” she muttered.

  She turned back toward the bed, studying Soren one last time. The markings were hidden beneath his new silk shirt. The air felt thick with mana, though Stella wouldn’t be able to feel it.

  “I need you to stay with him,” Astraya said.

  Stella blinked. “Me?”

  “Yes. Watch him. If he wakes, do not let him leave. Do not let anyone else in. And if anything changes, anything at all, send word immediately.”

  Stella hesitated. “Astra… if Father finds out—”

  “He won’t,” Astraya said. “Because you won’t tell him. He’s ignorant of this world, and if he does find out, he’ll think I finally brought a boy home.”

  There was a pause.

  “You trust me, big sis,” Stella said quietly.

  Astraya met her eyes. “I do. That’s why I’m asking.”

  Stella nodded, confidence settling in. “All right. I’ll stay.”

  Astraya moved past her toward the door, then stopped.

  “And Stella,” she added, her voice lowering. “If anything strange happens, or if something feels off, send word to me or Garrick immediately.”

  Stella frowned. “I think Garrick’s in the training hall, but I’ll send for him if I need to. Soren doesn’t look like he’s going to wake up anytime soon.”

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  “I know,” Astraya said with a sigh.

  She pulled the door open.

  “I’ll be back. Do not leave him alone.”

  “I won’t,” Stella promised.

  Astraya stepped into the corridor, the door closing softly behind her. The halls were lined with marble, the walls filled with exquisite paintings her father had collected for her mother.

  She didn’t want to spend time speaking with her father. But as heir to the districts, she didn’t always get a choice.

  Still, she would face him.

  She always did.

  When she arrived in the Great High Hall, it still shocked her how large the room was. The Upper wasn’t that big, but the Regent building stood in the absolute center, towering over the rest. It was surrounded by a maze of gardens, and her room was located on the third floor of the west wing, taking up more space than she ever needed. Her mother had insisted on it.

  Her father sat at the end of the long table with a glass of wine in hand.

  “Well, if it isn’t my favorite heir,” he said mockingly.

  Astra let out a sigh and sat at the other end of the table, one leg resting gracefully over the other.

  “What do you want, Regent?”

  Her father gave a slight grin. “Never the small talk with you… You’ve been in your room for days. The maids aren’t allowed in, your food’s been requested to be left at the door, and now you don’t even want to talk to your dear father?”

  He threw his hands up in mock protest. “Unbelievable.”

  Astra didn’t react. Her father liked to do this. He liked to put on a show. It had become the new normal after her mother had left without a trace. It was impossible for her to care about theatrics with the search for the Echo crystals going on. And he had no idea.

  Her father took another sip of his wine.

  “Well,” he said casually, “I suppose I just needed to tell you to be on your best behavior. We have a visitor from a neighboring district. He’s the heir to the Regent there. His name is Lucen Calder, and I need you composed. He may be a potential suitor.”

  Astra let out a loud groan. “We’ve gone over this. I will not be married off like some cow. I will choose who and when I marry.”

  The Regent smiled gently. “I always forget you have your mother’s fire in your heart.” He leaned back slightly. “Fair enough. But at least give him a chance. They could be a valuable trade partner. Things have been difficult here since your uncle took control of Highreach. We haven’t had the best trade agreements, and food is getting tighter for the Upper and Middle districts.”

  Astra didn’t respond immediately.

  “Tighter?” she repeated. “For the Upper and Middle.”

  Her father’s eyes flicked up to hers. “You know what I mean.”

  “I do,” she said evenly. “And that’s the problem.”

  He sighed. “This isn’t about philosophy, Astra. It’s about stability. Your uncle has half the caravans rerouted through Highreach. We either strengthen alliances or we fall behind.”

  “And you think marrying me off fixes that.”

  “I think unity fixes that,” he corrected. “Lucen’s district controls the river routes. Grain moves through them before it reaches us. If we secure that partnership, everyone benefits.”

  “Everyone?” she asked quietly.

  He hesitated, just slightly. “The districts that matter.”

  That was what made her sit up.

  “The Lower matters,” she said, her voice starting to rise. “Everyone matters.”

  Her father’s expression hardened just a fraction. “The Lower survives because we allow it to. Don’t confuse compassion with governance.”

  Astra’s jaw tightened.

  “This,” she said carefully, “is exactly why Mom left. The districts aren’t meant to be stacked on top of each other like this. They’re meant to function together. The people in the Lower deserve a chance to rise, not just survive.”

  “They are people,” she added, her voice steady but burning underneath.

  Silence settled between them as her father answered with silence. He swirled the wine in his glass a few times before taking a long sip.

  “I think we’re done here, Regent,” Astra said as she rose from her chair.

  She stormed out of the Great Hall just as her father called after her.

  “Astra, wait—!”

  As she entered the corridor, there was only one thing she wanted to do.

  Hit something.

  Her feet moved on their own, and before she knew it she was descending into the training hall hidden in the basement beneath the west wing. She and her older brother Garrick had spent countless hours here. It was the only place they could truly let loose and practice using their crests.

  Garrick was shirtless, sweat clinging to his skin, his burn mark trailing from his left side up beneath his cheek. Whenever she saw that mark, she felt a quiet sting of regret.

  Awakening a crest happened in phases. The first phase enhanced the body, sharpening physical and mental abilities. The second phase formed the mana channels. The eruption had been so abrupt it burned that mark straight into Garrick’s flesh.

  “You look pissed,” Garrick said over his shoulder as he grabbed one of the iron swords from the rack.

  By the time he turned with his weapon raised to block, Astra was already on him, her two short swords drawn from the rack, her eyes blazing with blue power and a look that could kill.

  Garrick flared a pulse of yellow light as his crest activated, electricity snapping through his mana channels.

  When active, the lightning crest flickered.

  White light raced along the branching fractures as Garrick dashed forward, blade drawn in an offensive stance.

  “Let’s get that frustration out.”

  Astra’s feet flared with blue flame as she moved across the room, strategic and fast. The chamber was built entirely of stone, its walls lined with every weapon imaginable.

  Their blades clashed, sparks of metal on metal and flame against electricity illuminating the space. Garrick swung high. Astra ducked and spun low, her heel whipping toward his legs.

  He reacted instantly, flipping back and planting one hand against the ground before launching into a tight somersault kick aimed at where she had crouched.

  The air cracked with electricity as it skimmed past her, singeing loose strands of hair.

  “Good. You’re actually taking me seriously,” she said with a light smile.

  Garrick chuckled. “This is usually the only way to fix your mood. Let me guess. Father?”

  Astra surged forward again, blue flame bursting from her feet as she closed the distance. Both swords swept in a horizontal arc, fire dancing along the blades.

  Garrick leapt back at the last second and extended one hand. Electricity coiled from his palm and struck both swords at once.

  Astra’s hands seized from the shock, and she dropped one blade with a sharp clang against the stone.

  “Garrick!” she shouted. “Why do you always do that? I was finally having fun.”

  She flexed her fingers, shaking out the sting. Sweat dripped down her face as they both breathed heavily, mana draining fast from the exchange.

  A sharp knock echoed from the stairwell.

  “Heiress,” a voice called from beyond the door. “Lady Stella asked me to send word for Garrick. It sounded urgent.”

  Garrick and Astra exchanged a look.

  Then they were already moving, sprinting up the stairs toward her room.