"ne!" Lydia screamed as soon as Ink and I came into view. Rag forward she ed her arms around me, squeeziight enough I feared my spine would snap. "I'm so sorry, are you okay? Are you hurt? Who is this? Did she do anything to you?"

  Gasping for breath I spped at Lydia's side to get her attention. With a squeal she let me go, allowio catch a mueeded breath. ?This is Ink. It's a really long story, but we made a deal. She's w for me."

  "I don't know if we trust any deals made under duress," Bir appeared from behind Lydia. Gazing at me with misty eyes I feared she would pounce me just as Lydia had. Instead, Bir simply reached out and brushed her fihrough my hair. "I'm gd you're okay."

  "I assure you, ne was under no duress. With my poere able to read amicable agreement with her sword's spirit watg over us."

  "Her sword's spirit?" Edna asked, stepping forward. Trailing not far behind her ia, looking worn but not harmed. Lydia had gone easy on her. Far easier than I'd expected, thankfully.

  "The spirit of Saint Rochelle lives within ne's sword." Bir answered. "She spoke to me during our battle with Reika, so I assure you she exists."

  "The question is, how could Ink speak with her when outside of a single moment the rest of us haven't." Lydia crossed her arms, her eyes trag the length of Ink's body. Likely sizing her up for a physical frontation.

  Edna's eyes appeared as if they were about to bulge out of their sockets. "Rochelle? The first saint herself lives within ne's sword?! And you both knew?!"

  ?I nning to tell you,? I signed sheepishly. ?I just didn't want everyoo know. And we haven't been aloogether much since we started traveling.?

  "That expins so much... why ization of the saint doesn't happen until the saint's vessel es in tact with the sword. Is the church aware of this?"

  ?No. Please don't tell them. Rochelle doesn't want them to know.?

  "Soon it won't matter," Ink grinned. "As part of our deal, I have agreed to craft a body for the spirit of Rochelle to inhabit. She will be trapped in the sword no longer."

  Everyone looked at us as if Ink had just told them the world would end ohe suhey were all likely sidering the implications of our deal. Both for the world that'd soon have two living saints, and for the future saint who'd not have Rochelle to guide them.

  "ne..." Edna recovered first, her brow furrowing with . "I'm not sure that is something we should do."

  ?If another vessel isn't born, Rochelle will be imprisoned in the sword for all eternity. We 't leave her there.?

  A brief silence followed my signs, until Bir finally recovered and realized she o transte for me. Once she did, Edna rexed.

  "You know better than we do. But what kind of magic could create a body for a spirit? I've never heard of anyone using magiake bodies out of nothing."

  "Dirt, water, iron, sapphires, a clump of hair or flesh from the species you wish to create," Ink reted the spell's pos as if she was talking about what groceries to get in the market. "Beyond unfathomable amounts of magic, you need nothing more. As this body limits my power, I will need all of you to aid me."

  Everyone gawked at Ink, mystified by how simple she made legendary, impossible magic sound. As they stared silently, Ink walked past them all and pced her hand on Pia's cheek. With a snap of her fingers, the ropes binding Pia's arms turo ash. "Thank you fing the saint to me, Pia. I realize I have not been the most gracious of guests. Your alliance despite this is worthy of gratitude."

  "It's not like you to be so sappy, my king," Pia giggles, rubbing her wrists as she stood upright. "I got to antagonize my sister for a bit. She deserved it, after abandoning me."

  "I didn't abandon you," Lydia retorted. "I just didn't know what to do. I found the saint, but I couldn't let father have her. I didn't think the church would be aer either."

  "If you asked, I would've helped you overthrow father in a heartbeat!" Pia growled. "He didn't deserve us, any of us. But instead of banding together, everyone abandoned me!"

  "I 't speak for the others, but I'm certain they were tired of ruining the lives of any girl accused of being the saint."

  "With father out of the way, we could've bee the Seeds of legend," Pia clicked her tongue. "Now there's nothi of us."

  "What are the Seeds of legend?" Edna asked. Staring at Lydia for an answer.

  "We're—"

  "You don't get to say it!" Pia hissed, cutting Lydia off. "The Seeds of the Lotus are—were—an anizatioed by Saint Gina to guide and protect future saints. If the records left behind are true, we were really powerful once. With secret bases all over the world, and agents in nearly every court. We even protected the Saint's Sword, before the church got their greasy paws on it."

  "Have you always... antagonized girls accused of being the saint?"

  "Of course not!" Pia huffed, gring at Edna. "We were the saint's personal army. A hidden court of mages, soldiers, schors, anything the saint might need. Even the greatest saint ot protect the world alone. We were aension of her might."

  "We could certainly use a hidden army," Bir noted. "With prince Owen as our enemy, and straohat turn ao a demon, we're in quite a bind."

  "Marwood has a standing militia of about three-hundred, with about two-thousand reserves I could call on." Edna reted. "We could mount a defense, but I doubt we'd be able to survive the full might of the King's forces for long. If these Seeds still existed, it'd be easier to openly rebel."

  "You are incapable of seeing the treasure you still hold," Ink decred, pg her hands on her hips. A rge gried across Ink's lips, though she dutifully exposed only the tips of her fangs. For someone who didn't care for mortals, it was strao see her obeying a wolfkin . Though perhaps I was giving her more credit than she deserved.

  "This facility," Ink tinued. "Is still fully funal. Its location is known by only a few, and its libraries are full of rare tomes. Instead of wishing for what you ot have, why not rebuild?"

  "If the Seeds had fallen on hard times, I could sider them resources and personnel." Edna replied, shaking her head. "But I ot sacrifice people my domaio rebuild a dead anization. I'd be better served using them to bolster my own forces."

  "Actually," Lydia looked at Edna. The nervousness in her gaze worried me. Edna had certainly been forceful before I was captured. But Lydia wasn't the type to take that personally. I thought they would've patched things up already. Maybe I was wrong. "I think there's some merit in helping the Seeds recover."

  "How so?"

  "Well, Zeipher's people won't bolster the forarwood, but an anization within their own city? As I said before, the people here have no love for the king. We'd likely find several willing to assist us. Maybe even Baroness Katarina herself. All we'd need is some financial support to get started, and someone who speak on our behalf. Someoh a silver tongue, unlike Pia."

  "Hey!"

  "You're too chaotic even on yood days."

  "I'm the st of the Seeds! If anyone is going to rebuild them, it's gotta be me!"

  "Quiet," Edna gred at Pia for a moment. Sighing she turo Lydia. "I might have someone who help."

  "And that is?" Lydia raised an eyebrow.

  "Pierce, my nephew. He is loyal to Marwood above all else, but I believe would be willing to take oask. Especially if we're willing to fide in him that ne is the saint. But he'll need a guide. Someoo help him uand the Seeds and what is them back to power."

  "That's where Pia es in."

  "I don't believe I'm willing to trust someone who held a dagger to hroat," Edna's eyes drooped as she looked at me out of the er of her gaze. "Even if it would make her unhappy, I believe you should stay behind. At least until Pierce has things under trol."

  "I refuse. I'll never leave ne's side." Lydia groueeth as she spoke. The fur oail fred. She was likely enraged by the very idea that Edna would ask her to stay behind.

  "Even if it is to support her? If you believe resurreg the Seeds would help hen this is the best way. We 't trust Pia, and even if your sisters could be ted upon, we don't know where they are. There is no one else, Lydia."

  "Then we should just stay here. There is no reason for us to go all the way to Marwood. Perhaps you should go, for appearances, Si's your domain and you told everyohat's where you're headed. They'll be expeg you. The rest of us are safe here."

  "You wao get of the city as fast as possible this m."

  "I didn't know my father was dead."

  "You'd trust Pia not to harm ne? Even if you overpower her, you aren't capable of remaining alert at all times."

  "If I suspect she's up to something, I'll throw her in a cell."

  "Hey!"

  ""Quiet!!"" Both Lydia and Edna turo groia. Curliail between her legs Pia sank into a shadow, ling in on herself. Even if she'd held a bde to my throat, I felt bad for her. But, I couldn't fort her. Not when it appeared as if Lydia and Edna were about to e to blows.

  ?Why are they fighting?? I asked Bir, worried about what was about to happen. If Lydia was unhappy about being grilled ireet, she should be yelling at me, not Edna. I was the one who pushed her for answers.

  "Lady Edna may have implied that Lydia was to bme for your capture." Bir sighed. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it." Stepping forward, Bir put herself between Lydia and Edna. "Five me for calling this discussion to a close, but It's getting te. How about we go to bed and reveomorrow?"

  "A nights rest won't ge much," Edna crossed her arms. "But I agree we're not getting anywhere as things stand. I'm all for revening ter."

  Before Edna could make her way over to me, Lydia approached. Sweepio her arms, she held me like a princess. "Would you like to return to the inn, ne?" Lydia smiled softly. No trace of the anger she'd shown to Edna was left.

  ? you help me find something first??

  "What do you need?"

  ?A book of intations. Rochelle said it might help me harness my power. She thought the Seeds might have one.?

  "Are you capable of using intations?"

  ?I don't know. I hope sign nguage will suffice as well as spoken words.?

  "Okay, let's go to the library then." Lydia carried me through the byrinthiunnel, with Bir following behind us. As we made our way through the tunnels, we passed several rge rooms carved into the stone. Many of them were still furnished as if dozens of people still lived within the Seeds base.

  ?How many sisters do you have?? Even if it was improper to ask, I found myself curious about Lydia's family. It didn't seem like her and Pia had a terrible retionship. At least, not until Pia held a ko my throat. Other than that, it seemed the only point of tention was that Lydia had chosen to stay with me and Elise rather thaurn home. Leaving Pia all alone.

  "Five that I know of." Lydia answered somberly. "I have oher younger sister, Selena. And three older, Hilda, Andrea, and Eva."

  ?Were you close to any of them??

  "I was close to both Pia and Selena when we were young. My older sisters were too jaded to care for me. They weren't mean, but... I guess lifeless is the word I'd use. Pia was always a fool, but she had promise so father overlooked her personality to aent. Selena oher hand, if I regret leaving anyone behind, I regret leaving her."

  ?Why??

  "She was talentless. Allergic to ichor, aremely brittle. She bruised easily, and couldn't build muso matter how hard Father pushed her. I actually begged her to run away, but she refused. No matter how bad things got, Selena never wao leave this pce. It's hard to imagihat she finally left. I really wonder ushed her over the limit."

  ?Maybe she left to find you??

  "I don't think we were that close. I cared for her, but it was truly hard for any of us to really see each other as family. Or at least, that's what I thought."

  ?Pia seemed like she cared.?

  "She does seem more upset at me for leaving than I thought she would be. Without me around, Father wouldn't have ater to pare her to. I thought that'd make her happy."

  My heart ached. For Lydia, and for Pia. Just like I'd been discarded by my tribe, they'd been mistreated by their Father. Children were supposed to be able to rely on the adults around them to take care of them. Things weren't supposed to be like this. Elise taught me that.

  ?You should try to make up with Pia.?

  "After she threateo hurt you?" Lydia hissed, g her jaw. "Even if she and I are of the same blood, that is something I ot five."

  ?But I'm okay, and we could use her help.?

  "I'll try to treat her better. I 't promise tive her. But for you, I'll try to at least act as if looking at her doesn't make me angry."

  When we arrived at the library I felt my eyes go wide in surprise. It was made up of multiple massive chambers, filled with shelves. Each shelf held hundreds of leather-bound tomes, scrolls, loose bundles of part, and eveched stoablets. It was impressive, but also intimidating. I couldn't fathom how we'd ever find what we were looking for.

  Deg to split up, the three of us began searg for anything that might resemble a book of intations. Slowly making my way through the shelves, I pulled each book dow a time, opening them to iheir tents.

  "Careful, hat book is ced with powerful magibsp;Rochelle warned me as I pulled a thick book ed in bck leather off the shelf. On the front it had a gold embossed image of what looked like a squid eating the moon.

  "Do y?"

  "No. But I feel the power stored within. It's not unlike my sword. There could be a phantom living within its pages, or worse."

  "Should I put it back?"

  "I don't know. Sorry ne, I'm as lost as you. This book could be the book of intations we're looking for. Perhaps turies of use have imbued it with the power of its former owners. Or perhaps someone cursed it, to prevent others from learning the powerful magic within. As it may be what we desire, I ot tell you not to open it. I just advise caution. If anything strange begins to happen, put as much distaween you and the book as possible."

  "Uood." Nervously I carried the book over to a desk and id it down. With trembling fingers I slowly ope to the first page. The text inside was strange, as if the author had written it in a dozen different nguages. While I could uand a word or two, most of it was unintelligible.

  Despite my disappoi, I kept turning the pages. My eyes sing the strange glyphs and fn words. The further I went, the more drained I felt. Exhaustion pelled me to sleep. Without even closing the book, my eyes drifted closed.

  Thunder echoed in the distance. I felt my ears perk at the sound. With a yawn I sat up, stretg my arms above my head. With a gentle shake to wake myself up fully I looked around and froze. The library was gone. Somehow I'd returo Elise's in the woods. I was home.

  Rag to the window I looked out at the garden. Elise's gravestone was gone. Had someone removed it? My heart felt hollow as anger and agony twisted around it. Why would they disturb Elise's grave? For urpose?

  "ne. Is something wrong?"

  The voice, sweet and f, felt like ice against my skin. Turning I id eyes on the one person I knew I'd never get to see agaiea-colored hair ale smile drew me in. As impossible as it was for her to be standing in front of me, I couldn't bear the thought of pushing her away.

  "Does the thuill scare you?" Elise giggled, stepping forward to her arms arouhe warmth of her was as I remembered. Her st, a mixture of the dried flowers she kept with her clothes and the astri smell of the forest, forted me. A thousand swirling thoughts and feelings bubbled up, but none of them mattered. I was home.

  "e on, It's nearly time for dinner. I used some of the money we made off our st job to buy some fancy beef. I know you've been craving something that isn't fish for a while."

  Nodding I followed Elise into the kit and sat down at our table. Though there were three chairs she'd only sat out ptes for two people. Had Lydia not returned with me?

  Why would she? My own voice questioned me inside my head. This is a dream! None of it is real.

  Shaking my head bad forth I tried to rid myself of my skeptical self. I'd opened a magic book. Was it not possible that I'd bee ba time? Maybe this was my ce to live the life I wao live. I didn't o be the saint. Even if I'd miss Rochelle, Bir, and Edna. I didn't want to live a life of bloodshed. I just wao be here, with Elise, forever.

  ?Is Lydia not ing home tonight?? I asked as Elise filled our ptes.

  "Lydia? Who's that?"

  I stared at Elise, dumbfounded. How did she not know who Lydia was? Had I bee back to before she came into our lives? Looking down at myself I looked no youhan I had before. If I was still the same age, then surly Lydia would've had to have shown up already. Was this not the past? Had I beeo a world where Lydia never found me?

  Uo make sense of Lydia's absence I engaged in pleasant versation with Elise as we ate. She was every bit the same as she'd been before. From her smile, to her sense of humor, to the way her ugh always sounded like it had hiccups mixed in. My heart had not felt so full since her death.

  "It's really ing down out there," Elise looked out the window at the heavy rain soaking everything in sight. "I hope it doesn't flood the garden."

  ?Or the .? We'd had storms in the past cause leaks. They'd always been a pain, though Lydia would often fix them within the day. She'd always ugh and procim that while she couldn't promise there wouldn't be another leak, we'd at least never see a leak from that spot again.

  An unfamiliar pain throbbed in my chest. Elise, the love of my life, was here. I was home with her. This was where all of my happiness was. She was the only one whom my heart beloo. Yet, I missed Lydia. She art of this pce. It didn't make sehat she was gone.

  "Want to sleep in my bed tonight?" Elise smiled. "So the thunder doesn't keep you up?"

  ?Yes please!?

  "Alright, get ready then. I'm going to up and then I'll join you."

  With a nod I made my way over to the dresser where we kept our clothes. Though I had pajamas of my own, I opened Elise's drawer. Pulling out a nightgown I smiled as little dried flower petals fell from its folds and bato the drawer. From the moment Elise learned my sense of smell was more sensitive than hers she alanicked about smelling good.

  Though it'd been years since Elise had st grown any taller, I still didn't measure up. Even if I was measured from the tip of my ears, I would still be about a thumb's width shorter. Because of that the gown I'd borrowed nearly brushed the floor as I walked. I hoped she wouldn't mind. Right now I wao myself in Elise. To chase away all the bad memories of her being gone.

  Joining me in bed, Elise ed her arm around my waist. The warmth of her hand radiating through the thin fabriy borrowed nightgown. "Goodnight ne."

  ?I love you.?

  "What's that?" Elise sat up. She'd likely felt me move, but hadn't seen me sign.

  My face heated as I turo her. Just as I'd painfully squeaked out the words travestone, I knew I had to say them now. Even if they caused me pain, I needed Elise to know how I felt. If I didn't, there might not be another ce.

  "I..." I spoke the first word with hesitation, but it didn't hurt. Just like the dreamscapes Rochelle and Ink made, I could speak normally here. My heart ached, as tears flooded out of my eyes. I wasn't in an alternate world. Nor had I beeo the past. This was a dream.

  "ne, honey," Elise held me close, gently patting my head. "I'm right here. You're okay."

  "But you're not!" I sobbed. "You're dead... You're dead and I'll never get to see you again."

  Elise smiled softly and began to hum a soft tune. She often hummed and sang to me when I was a child, to calm me down. The world terrified me. Even if I'd found a way to survive, without Elise my heart would've surely died. She was my whole world, even now. I didn't want to live without her.

  "ne." Elise's eyes creased with joy. "I am so proud of you. No matter how far you go, my heart will always be with you. Even ih, I will forever be by your side."

  "I love you," My lips trembled as I coughed out the words, failing to trol myself despite my best efforts. "I love you soo much. I don't want to live without you."

  "You are never without me, ne. I'm right here," Elise gently pced a finger on my chest. "In your heart. I want you to love, and be loved. I want you to see the world. You deserve so much. More than anyone could ever give you. Please don't hold yourself back because of me."

  "I 't leave you."

  "You don't have to. I'm right here. Loving who you love, g about what you care about."

  "It... still hurts."

  "I know, sweetie. You still ime. All I ask is that when you're ready, please don't hold back. I want the world to see the vibraiful heart of the ne I know. I don't want you to leave it buried here."

  The sound of shattering gss made me flinch. With a smile Elise looked up at the ceiling. When I followed her gaze, I noticed a massive tear, as if someone had cut a hole iy. From the whole two people fell through. A blond catkin girl and a bck-haired wolfkin.

  "Lydia?!"

  "ne," Lydia jolted forward, but stopped short of the bed where Elise and I id. Looking at Elise her eyes went wide. "Elise..."

  "So this is its trick." Ink clicked her tongue as she ied the room as if it was an art piece. "A maion of ne's deepest desire. Do as I instructed, Lydia. Too much time in a pce like this will drive her insane. Saint or not."

  Lydia nodded before lookiantly at me. "I'm really sorry ne. I... know you probably don't want to leave. But this pce isn't real."

  "She knows," Elise slipped off the bed and pced her hand on Lydia's shoulder. "Thank you for ing to get her, Lydia."

  "Elise," Lydia spoke Elise's name as if there was more to say, a she held back.

  "I have a guess as to what you want to say," Elise ughed. "You have my blessing, Lydia. You've always had it. Take care of her, alright?"

  "I will," Lydia made her way to the bed. Croug over me, she brought her face close to mine. Close enough for me to feel the warmth of her breath. "here's only one way I know to snap you out of this. I hope you'll five me."

  "What is it?"

  Cheeks flushed a bright shade of pink, Lydia closed the distaween us and pressed her lips to mine.

  eri