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“Good boy,” Aleksy patted Odie, kneeling down and stroking the dog’s fur. Then he turned his attention back to Magda. “I figured I would find you here…near the poppy fields where we always practiced.”

Magda shrugged her shoulders. Something passed between them, the knowledge that both of them wouldn’t be able to keep this gift, and at a certain point, it would stay with only one of the siblings.

“You’re thinking of the trials?” Aleksy read her mind.

“It crosses my mind often,” said Magda. It was scary to think that someday, she and Aleksy would be forced to go up against each other in a fight, proving who had mastered the water magic better, and who should be the Guardian of Life for their generation. If they had more siblings, they would have to fight each one of them.

“Don’t worry. I’ll go easy on you,” Aleksy joked.

“You will not!” Magda laughed.

“I mean, I do have a three year head start.”

It was true. Aleksy was crowned three years ago, and once Magda was crowned, she had one year to master the magic before she would have to challenge him in a trial. If they never challenged one another, they would both lose the gift. It had been years since trials had been held in Azurem—their father, King Bogdan, had challenged his two older brothers, defeating them both. Now, one brother worked as an ambassador, and the other disappeared to the countryside, too ashamed to have lost his magic.

“Are you nervous for the coronation?” Aleksy changed the subject.

“No. I just needed a bit of fresh air,” Magda confessed. “It feels like a huge weight is about to be put on my shoulders.”

He spoke, “Before I was crowned, I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to channel the magic in front of everyone.”

Magda stared back at the rushing, white rapids that pummeled across the rocks. Unlike Aleksy, she had never channeled the water magic while growing up. Even though the coronation marked the moment in time where the Krol descendants would receive their full powers in front of the court and be named official guardian’s of ancient water magic, Aleksy had shown early signs of his powers. When he was only eight, he could turn a glass of water into ice, or sprinkle a drop of cool mist across Magda’s face. But Magda, on the other hand, had never exhibited any indications that she would be as powerful as her brother or father.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” asked Aleksy, reading her face. “I mean, it wouldn’t be the first time you missed a royal ceremony,” he paused, “or tried to run away for that matter…”

Magda hit him across the arm playfully. “We all know that you are the golden child. Try not to rub it in, okay?”

“I am not,” Aleksy laughed, his big eyes beaming. “You’re just a little more adventurous than me.”

“Adventurous…,” Magda’s voice trailed off. “Yes, that’s what all the servants say about me behind my back.”

They both stood at the edge of the riverbank, staring at each other and trying everything not to laugh as memories flashed between them—until Aleksy broke first.

He blurted out, “Remember when you dressed Odie up as a royal prince and told mom and dad that he was your date to the winter ball?”

“Or when I convinced you to use your powers to create a giant ice sculpture in your room?” she laughed.

“Or when you kissed your tutor’s son when you were supposed to be studying!”

“Oh please,” said Magda, “I’m sure you’ve had your fair share of kisses in the fortress.” She raised her eyebrows.

Aleksy’s face turned bright red, and he began walking back to his horse. He raised his arm in the air as he said, “And on that note, we’re going to be late for the coronation, you know. I also have a meeting with dad I can’t miss.”

Magda nodded. “I’ll race you back to the fortress.”

Aleksy turned back to his sister, smiling. “You’re on.”

The two returned to their horses a few paces down the riverbank. Then they dashed along the trail that followed the bends of the river. They raced along the path, each urging their horses faster, as the fortress appeared on the horizon.

Magda and Aleksy’s home was perched on a hill that overlooked the crystal-clear river. Ahead, the red roofs matched the surrounding poppy fields on the opposite side of the body of water, and large, cylindrical towers jutted from the shape of the building in an asymmetrical pattern. On the towers, a banner depicting their mother’s coat of arms fluttered in the wind, and the pastel-colored flag backlit a white elk shining in the morning sun. Snow reflected off the roof’s peaks.

At the main entrance, they spotted a caravan of carriages approaching the main gate. As far as the eyes could see, disappearing around the mountains, was a line-up of elites and celebrities arriving for the coronation ceremony. Magda noted the crowd was much smaller than during Aleksy’s coronation, for their father was weary of the illnesses spreading through the kingdom and didn’t want to spread any infections through the event.

“We’re going to be late,” Aleksy shouted loudly over the rumble of the horse’s hooves.

“Not if I have anything to say about it!” Magda laughed, and her horse sprinted forward even faster.

They made their way to a side entrance of the castle, mainly where the stables and kitchen were located, and dashed across a bridge that took them across the rapids below, until they emerged in a brick-laid courtyard.