Page 48 of Cursed Dreams (Shadow and Dreams #1)

“Oh, good,” Cellen said cheerfully. “A walking magical explosion. What could possibly go wrong?”

“You’ll be fine,” Elric chuckled. “I’ll be there, of course. I think this one will challenge you, and I know how you lot thrive under pressure.”

They all nodded, grateful, a renewed spark of motivation dancing between them.

Then Elric’s eyes landed on the unfolded map on the table.

“And what are we studying here?" Nyla, cool as always, leaned back in her seat.

“Old herbs and poultices. We were comparing the regions they grew in across various historical records.”

“Mm.” Elric made a thoughtful sound, frowning slightly as he took in the older hand-drawn lines on the page. “That’s a heavily edited map.”

“It is,” Marand cut in smoothly, “and that’s the problem. Some of the ancient recipes mention herbs we can’t trace. We’re trying to figure out where they might have originated, but none of the updated maps help.”

“A fully comprehensive pre-war map would be more accurate,” Elric said slowly. “One not touched by modern political borders or post-war erasure.”

“Exactly,” Marand said, sitting forward. “Do you know where we might find one?”

Thalia held her breath.

Then Elric smiled, though it was the sort of smile that came with a raised brow and a hint of suspicion. “Why this sudden obsession with antique cartography?”

“It’s a competition,” Marand said quickly, leaning in with wide, innocent eyes. “Top apprentices earn points toward their final standing. We want to win.”

Elric made a thoughtful hmm, clearly not entirely convinced, but his small smile said he found this entertaining. “Well, if you want a pre-war map, I only know of one person who has access to something like that.”

Everyone leaned in. Thalia’s dared no breath.

Elric turned to her, still grinning. “And I don’t think you’ll have much trouble getting a peek at it.”

Thalia blinked. “Who?”

Elric’s grin widened. “Rumor has it, Lord Vaelith owns a personal collection of pre-war relics. Including maps.”

Thalia felt her stomach drop.

“He’s not exactly the sharing type,” Elric added with a chuckle. “But for you, Thalia? All you need do is flash that charming smile of yours and ask nicely. Who knows what he might show you.”

He winked. Twice. And stood, leaving them frozen at the table as he wandered off toward the dessert line, humming to himself.

Silence fell.

Thalia sat frozen, staring down at the map, though her eyes weren’t really seeing it. Her heart thundered in her chest. Her skin prickled. She didn’t need to look up to know the others were staring at her.

Cellen was the first to break the silence. “Well,” he said, eyes wide. “That makes sense I suppose.”

Thalia didn’t move.

The warmth of the dining hall seemed to fade from around her, replaced by the cold throb of realization crawling up the back of her neck.

Everyone knows or at least thinks she slept with Vaelith.

Or at least enough people to make “rumours” circulate through the healer halls and reach someone like Master Elric.

Her professor had winked at her. WINKED.

She blinked, lips parting slightly as her brain sputtered, caught between mortification and the slow realisation that Vaelith has the map she needs.

“Okay,” Nyla said finally, breaking the silence, “so… Lord Broody has a map.”

Cellen leaned forward with mock enthusiasm. “And apparently, Thalia has access to his… cartography.”

Marand choked on her drink.

“Can we not,” Thalia muttered, burying her face in her hands.

“Oh, come on,” Cellen said, grinning. “It’s not every day your mentor suggests you seduce a dragon to get access to his hidden hoards and relics.”

“I am not seducing anyone,” Thalia snapped, lifting her head. Her cheeks were burning. “And we have no proof that the map even exists.”

“But we do have a solid lead,” Marand said, her voice thoughtful. “If Vaelith really does have pre-war maps… it would make sense. He’s a Dragon. He hoards things.”

Thalia nodded slowly, heart still racing. “I should’ve thought of it. All this time, I’ve been walking around him. Arguing with him. Gods, I’ve even—” she stopped herself.

The others didn’t need a reminder of that, she didn't want to even think of that.

“I feel like an idiot,” she muttered instead.

Nyla reached over and touched her hand. “You’re not. He’s… cunning”

“And infuriating,” Marand added.

“And alarmingly hot,” Cellen chimed in.

They all gave him a look.

“What?” he said. “Let’s not pretend he doesn’t brood in a very symmetrical way, that’s easy on the eye.”

Nyla rolled her eyes. “Anyway. We have a lead. We know where the map is.”

Thalia lifted her gaze, mouth opening to respond, but Nyla beat her to it.

“We’ll break into his lodgings.”

The table fell silent again.

Cellen blinked. “That… is bold. Even for us.”

Marand didn’t flinch. “Doable, though.”

“You’re serious?” Thalia asked, voice tight.

“Yes,” Nyla said simply. “You’ve been carrying this whole mystery on your back for weeks. We said we’d help. So we’re helping.”

“But—”

“No ‘buts,’” Marand said, eyes fierce. “You’ve led us through restrictive archives, had us pouring over tombs, scrolls and maps till our eyes crossed, we are all in.”

“She’s right,” Cellen added, waving his fork for emphasis. “It’s really not a proper adventure until we’ve broken into the lair of a dangerous, emotionally unstable immortal.”

“Vaelith’s not unstable,” Thalia muttered. Then, at their raised brows: “He’s just... difficult.” She wasn’t sure why she defended him .

“Right,” Cellen said. “Difficult like thunderstorms. And venomous snakes.”

Thalia groaned and rubbed her forehead.

This was madness. This was illegal. This was, Exciting.

The word slithered through her thoughts before she could stop it.

Her heart pulsed, like a single note of music in a silent room.

They were close. Closer than they’d ever been.

The map they needed existed. It was within reach, kind of, and if they got it…

she might finally find the Forgotten Forest. The Temple of Kek.

And finally, be one step closer to Caelum.

Thalia looked at her friends, their determined faces, their loyalty shining brighter than any candle, and nodded.

“All right,” she said quietly. “We’ll figure it out.