Page 16 of Cursed Dreams (Shadow and Dreams #1)
A s Miryenne led them through the sprawling grounds of the Temple, Thalia tried to take it all in, the sheer vastness of the place, the bright marble walkways, the imposing spires reaching for the sky like frozen beams of light.
Everything gleamed in the soft afternoon sun, reflecting off smooth white stone that seemed to glow with a warmth of its own.
The air smelled clean, tinged with the scent of lavender and rosemary, herbs that likely grew in the lush gardens scattered throughout the temple grounds.
Despite her exhaustion from the journey, she could feel her awe growing with each step. This was a place of knowledge, healing, and power, where the most skilled healers of Fae and Human lands came to train and teach. It was hallowed ground , and Thalia felt honoured to walk upon it.
"Did you see that statue?" Cellen whispered loudly, nudging Thalia’s arm as they passed an intricately carved figure of Amara, the goddess of healing, standing with her hands outstretched, a vessel of light hovering above her palms. "She looks like she’s either blessing the sick or summoning some snacks. "
Thalia let out a snort, shaking her head. "Cellen…"
"I mean, look at her face. Blessed be the breadsticks"
Ahead of them, Miryenne continued unfazed, though Thalia swore she saw the smallest twitch of amusement at the corner of her lips.
Nyla, walking beside Thalia, sighed in exasperation. "Do you ever stop talking?"
"Only when I’m sleeping," Cellen replied, flashing a grin. "And even then, I’ve been told I mutter brilliant things in my sleep. Usually about food."
Nyla muttered something under her breath, but Thalia found herself grateful for their banter, it eased the tension she hadn’t even realized had been building in her chest.
They moved deeper into the temple grounds, passing through archways carved with ancient runes, each one glowing faintly as they passed.
Miryenne gestured toward a wide, open courtyard where a dozen healers-in-training gathered, some sitting in circles, others practicing healing techniques on willing participants.
"This is the Apprentice’s Garden," she explained. "You’ll spend many afternoons here, practicing techniques before you’re permitted to work in the hospital wing. "
Beyond the courtyard, the hospital itself loomed, massive, multi-levelled, its grand windows spilling golden light onto the walkways. The scent of clean linen and dried herbs wafted from within.
"Those who show the greatest skill will be invited to shadow our most experienced healers here," Miryenne continued. "It is an honour, and a challenge. Many of our patients arrive on the brink of death. You must be prepared for that."
The weight of those words settled heavily over Thalia, she nodded.
As they moved past the archives, a vast domed building with towering shelves visible even from outside, Miryenne spoke again.
"The library is where you will spend much of your free time.
It contains records dating back thousands of years, including histories, magical studies, and even the old high Fae texts. "
Thalia’s heart skipped. The old texts? She had spent years dreaming of reading them, of uncovering lost knowledge and expanding her understanding of magic.
Cellen made a dramatic groaning sound. "That sounds like a trap. Books are dangerous, you know. They lure you in with interesting words, then suddenly it’s been six hours, and you haven’t eaten anything."
"Have you ever read a book in your life?" Nyla deadpanned.
"I have! Once." Cellen grinned. "It had pictures."
Miryenne finally came to a stop in front of a tall, arched doorway. "Here is the male dormitory," she announced, turning to Cellen. She handed him a small parchment. "Your schedule, your room number, try not to get lost."
"I make no promises," Cellen replied cheerfully. He turned to Thalia and Nyla, flashing them a wink. "Try not to miss me too much."
"As if," Nyla muttered, but Thalia smiled as Cellen disappeared inside.
They carried on, the female dormitory sitting just beyond a small courtyard lined with flowering trees. When they finally reached the doors, Miryenne turned to Thalia and Nyla, handing them their schedules.
"You two will be rooming together," she said simply.
Thalia blinked, then let out a breath of relief. " Really? "
Nyla gave a small nod of approval, and Thalia felt something warm bloom in her chest. She had feared being paired with someone like Lina or Roina, whose company felt more like walking on a razor’s edge . But Nyla, Nyla she felt more relaxed around.
"Get settled," Miryenne instructed. "You’ll have some time to freshen up before your induction in the main hall." She turned and left them to find their room.
As Thalia stepped into the room she would be calling home for the foreseeable future, she took a deep breath, taking in every detail.
The space was simple yet elegant, built with the same smooth white stone as the rest of the temple.
The ceiling arched gently above them, creating a sense of openness, while the large window let in streams of warm, golden light, illuminating the room with a natural glow.
Two beds sat neatly on either side of the room, each covered in soft, cream-colored linens with thick blankets folded at the foot.
A wooden desk stood against the far wall, well-crafted and sturdy, with neatly stacked parchment and an inkwell already prepared.
Between the beds was a small, round table with a simple vase of fresh lavender.
The scent was subtle, calming, and reminded Thalia of home.
She sighed, setting down her satchel at the foot of her bed and stretching her arms over her head.
"Not bad," Nyla said, tossing her bag onto her own bed with little ceremony. She flopped down beside it, bouncing slightly on the mattress. "Could be worse. At least the beds don’t feel like rocks."
Thalia smirked, running a hand over the soft fabric of the blanket. "I was prepared for something much rougher. I thought they might make us sleep in the infirmary."
"Now, that would be cruel." Nyla grinned. "Though, it’d be one way to test our patience, and our gag reflex."
They both laughed at that, and Thalia felt another wave of relief.
She had spent the last few months dreaming about this place—about leaving behind the forests and rivers of her home, about proving herself among the best healers.
And yet, there was a part of her that suddenly felt small standing in this grand temple, in this new world where everything was bigger, brighter, and more intimidating than she had imagined.
She swallowed, pushing the thought aside. This is what you wanted. What you worked for.
Curious, she moved toward a side door, peeking inside. It led to a bathing chamber, and her breath caught at the sight of it.
The room was spacious, with softly glowing sconces set into the walls, filling the space with a golden warmth.
The floors were polished white marble streaked with veins of pale gold, and in the centre sat a large sunken bath, its surface steaming faintly.
The water was crystal clear, infused with dried herbs floating delicately on top, rosemary, chamomile, and hints of citrus peel.
The scent wrapped around her like a gentle embrace.
Along one wall, a row of smaller basins was set up for quick washes, and above them, mirrors framed in intricate silver designs reflected the dim light. Plush towels were stacked neatly on a shelf, and bottles of fragrant oils lined a small stone ledge near the bath.
“You go first” Nyla smiled at Thalia. She smiled in return suddenly desperate to was off the dirt from days of travel.
She quickly undressed, stepping into the bath and sinking beneath the water with a relieved sigh.
The warmth immediately eased the tension in her muscles, washing away the grime and the lingering embarrassment from earlier.
Her thoughts drifted back to Vaelith, how closely they had been pressed together, the warmth of his body, shaking her head she shut down those thoughts.
He was fae noble, and not someone she should be tangled up with.
Instead, she scrubbed herself clean, rinsed her hair, and when she finally stepped out, she felt refreshed, renewed. Ready.
After drying off, she padded over to the closet set into the wall near her bed.
She opened it to find neatly folded sets of apprentice healer robes, all in variations of soft blues, greys, and pale whites.
The fabric was light yet durable, meant for long hours of work.
She pulled one on, fastening the silver clasps at her shoulders, and examined herself briefly in the mirror.
She looked… different. More official , as if just wearing the robes transformed her into something greater than herself.
With her damp hair left loose down her back, she turned toward the large window, pushing the curtains aside. The view was breathtaking.
From here, she could see the hospital wing, its vast entrance bustling with healers moving in and out in swift, graceful strides.
The gardens were situated to the left of it, she could see both humans and earth fae tending to the colourful array of herbs, plants and flowers.
Something about it reminded her of home, of her mother's well loved well-tended garden, it somehow made her feel reassured.
The door behind her creaked open pulling her gaze, Nyla entered, now dressed in her own apprentice robes, her hair tied into a simple braid over her shoulder.
"You ready?" she asked.
Thalia turned, smiling despite the flutter of nerves in her stomach.
"As ready as I’ll ever be.
The main hall was nothing short of breathtaking.