Page 96 of A Monarch's Fall

“How can you think there’s nothing? What about our souls?” I asked, “Something of us has to exist after.”

“I know that you know that I know,” she said, and looked panicked, like such a vague and confusing acknowledgement would result in her immediate death from the blood oath that Selene had made her swear.

“I know you know,” I told her, and laughed a little at how silly it all sounded. The stars above us were beautiful, but I struggled to see my hand in front of my face. “You can’t have a soul match without a soul,” I told her quietly.

“I hope you’re right. But I don’t know. And I’m scared of learning which it is,” she said and leaned heavier into me. I thought for a moment before I responded.

“I think if there’s nothing, you have nothing to fear. You’ll just be here and then… nothing. There would be no self to experience the nothing. You imagine nothing as if you might experience it. But you wouldn’t. And if there's something, well, just don’t anger the Gods,” I told her.

“I know you’re trying to help, but it’s not really working… still, thanks,” she said. “It’s getting colder now,” she added.

It had become colder; the wind had changed direction and was now beginning to hit us.

“Maybe I can help with that,” I said, and placed my hand against the tree behind us, finding its roots and encouraging them to grow upward toward us, until they burst through the frozen earth. It took a lot of effort and concentration, but I managed to encourage the roots to grow around us, creating a shelter that blocked out the wind. I searched blindly behind me with my hands until I felt what I was searching for: moss. Ana giggled as moss grew beneath us and buffered us from the cold ground.

“It’s heating up in here already. Flores' magic is the most impressive,” she praised.

“Is that a thank you?” I laughed.

“Thank you,” she said.

“It’s not just Flores, I mean, I thought I was of Flores' magic, but my mother having been a dual user, I’m not sure. I’ve always been able to bring plants back so long as there was something left. I remember in the summer I did it in front of Mable, and she said that what I had done required Aqua magic. I didn’t really think much of it. I had been told that my mother’s gift was for aquatic plant life, and I thought that explained it. Anyway, I think I can use Aqua magic too, at least in some way. Maybe it has something to do with my novel ability as well,” I explained.

“I think you’re right,” she agreed, and after a long silence added, “I think I have to dump Harris.”

“Why?” I asked.

“I thought we were in love, but now I don’t know,” she said sadly.

“Has something happened?” They seemed happy, or at least Ana seemed happy when she was talking about him.

“Other than him encouraging me to join an actual war?” she asked, “No, not really.” She laughed. “It’s just, the more I think about it, I kind of destroyed my life for a boy that I don’t even know that well. I’ve been here for weeks, and he’s spent barely any time with me. He’s always chasing after Dylan like a lost puppy. He’s not even that interested in me,” she revealed, “Honestly, I wonder if all he’s ever been interested in is my friendship with you.”

“Ana, you’re amazing, you’re smart, and funny, and cute. If any boy can’t see and appreciate that, then he is clearly intellectually challenged. You’ve not ruined your life,” I told her.

“I cut my hair,” she stated as if it were some proof that things were irreversibly bad.

“Hair grows back. You suit it,” I said.

“No, I don’t,” she said forcefully. “Don’t lie to me, I’ve not got the bone structure to pull it off.”

I laughed.

“Yeah, laugh at the bald woman,” she said jokingly.

“You’re hardly bald. Anyway, your hair will grow back, you haven’t ruined anything,” I told her.

“Until I get home and Lady Syngeneia has me hanged,” she said, sadly.

“For what?” I asked.

“House Syngeneia is fiercely loyal to Borealis,” Ana explained, “We don’t break our alliances. When she finds out that someone like me ran away and joined The New Foundation, I’m as good as dead.”

“I’ll ask Selene to make it clear to your House that you’re her friend. Lady Syngeneia isn’t going to kill a friend of the Princess, is she?” Selene wouldn’t let anything bad like that happen to my best friend.

“You have a lot of faith in her,” Ana said.

“I know her. Everything’s going to be okay. We’ll meet who Arvid has sent for us tomorrow evening, and we’ll be back home, both of us, soon,” I said positively.