Aria's POV
We walked through the garden, Ryker trailing behind us. The warm sun on my skin and the sweet scent of blooming flowers filling my lungs. It was a beautiful day, and I was grateful to have Lyra by my side to share it with. We had become fast friends, after the dinner a few days ago, despite our differences, and I enjoyed her company immensely.
As we strolled along the winding paths, I was drawn to the dark and vibrant colors and unusual shapes of the plants that surrounded us. The garden was a marvel, with species and plants I had never seen before, and I always found myself fascinated by the sheer variety of flora on display no matter how much I see them.
Lyra, sensing my interest, smiled and began to point out the different plants, telling me about their properties and uses. I listened intently, asking questions and marveling at her knowledge.
As we turned a corner, I caught sight of a group of flowers that always made my heart skip a beat. They were my favorite flowers in the garden. They were unlike anything I had ever seen back at the castle – their petals were a deep, iridescent blue, and they seemed to shift and change color in the light.
I reached out a hand, to touch the delicate blooms, and turned to Lyra with a question. "What part of Everia do these grow?" I asked. "I've never seen them before."
Lyra's eyes sparkled with amusement, and she leaned in to examine the flowers more closely. "Ah, these are a rare species," she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "They're found only in certain regions of Obsidian," Lyra smiled.
I felt a surge of confusion, my mind racing with questions. "Obsidian?" I repeated, my accent thick and rich. "I've never heard of it. Which part of Everia is it?"
Lyra's expression faltered, and she seemed to freeze, her eyes fixed on mine. For a moment, she just stared at me, her face pale.
And then, it was as if a mask slipped back into place. Lyra's expression smoothed out, and she laughed, a little too loudly. "Oh, I must have misspoken," she said, her voice light. "I meant to say that these flowers are found in a… a remote region of Everia. Yes, that's it."
I raised an eyebrow, my mind racing with questions. What was Obsidian, and why had Lyra seemed so hesitant to talk about it? I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that I might have stumbled upon something important.
But Lyra just smiled again, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Let's just say that these flowers are quite rare," she said, her voice casual. "And we're lucky to have them here in… our garden."
I felt a surge of frustration, my mind racing with questions. What was going on? Why was Lyra being so evasive? And where was Obsidian, anyway?
But before I could ask any more questions, Lyra took my arm, her grip firm. "Let's move on," she said, her voice firm. "There's more to see in the garden."
I hesitated, feeling a sense of unease. Something was off, and I couldn't shake the feeling that Lyra was hiding something from me. But I had no choice, it seemed. Lyra was determined to move on, and I was forced to follow her, my mind racing with questions and my heart pounding with anticipation.
I could sense that Lyra was lying, her body stiff with tension as she tried to brush off my questions. Her eyes darted back and forth, avoiding mine, and her smile seemed forced. I tried to push for more information, my curiosity getting the better of me.
"Lyra, what's going on?" I asked, my voice firm but gentle. "You're not telling me the truth. Where is Obsidian?"
But Lyra just shook her head, her expression closing off. "I've said all I can, Aria," she said, her voice firm. "Let's just drop it, okay?"
I felt a surge of frustration, but I knew I wasn't going to get anything more out of Lyra. She was clearly uncomfortable, and I didn't want to push her any further. So I nodded, and we cut our visit to the garden short, heading back to my room in silence.
As soon as we were inside, Lyra made her excuses, citing a prior commitment, and left. I was left alone, my mind racing with questions and my heart pounding with anticipation.
I spent the next few hours pacing back and forth in my room, trying to make sense of what had just happened. What was Obsidian, and why was Lyra so secretive about it? I felt like I was missing a piece of the puzzle, and I was determined to find out more.
Just as I was starting to get hungry, Elara came in with a tray of food, a warm smile on her face. "Dinner time, Aria," she said, setting the tray down on the table.
I smiled back at her, my stomach growling with hunger. But as I sat down to eat, my mind was still on Lyra and our conversation in the garden. I couldn't shake the feeling that I had stumbled upon something important, something that could change everything.
"Elara," I said, looking up at her as she poured me a glass of water. "Can I ask you something?"
Elara's expression was curious, and she nodded. "Of course, Aria. What is it?"
I took a deep breath, my heart pounding with anticipation. "Where is Obsidian?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Elara's expression changed in an instant, her eyes widening in surprise and her face paling. She froze, the water pitcher still in her hand, and stared at me as if I had just spoken a forbidden word.
"Where did you hear that name from?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She avoided eye contact with me, her gaze darting around the room as if she was searching for an escape.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that I had stumbled upon something significant. "I heard it from Lyra," I said, my voice cautious. "She mentioned it in the garden earlier today."
Elara's expression turned even more guarded, and she quickly set the water pitcher down on the table. "I…I need to go," she said, her voice abrupt. "I'll send someone to help you with your dinner."
I was taken aback by her sudden departure, and I watched in confusion as she quickly gathered her things and left the room. She didn't even do her daily ritual of dressing me up for bed, which was unusual. Elara was always meticulous about her duties, and it was clear that something was bothering her.
As the door closed behind her, I felt a growing sense of unease. Where was Obsidian, from what Lyra said it's probably where I'm being kept but I've never heard of it and why was everyone so secretive about it? I thought back to my conversation with Lyra, and how she had seemed so nervous and evasive. And now, Elara had reacted in a similar way.
I got out of bed and began to pace back and forth in my room, my mind racing with questions and fears. Where was I, really? And what was Obsidian? The more I thought about it, the more disturbed I became. I felt like I was living in a dream world, where nothing was as it seemed and everyone was hiding secrets from me.
As the hours ticked by, I became more and more agitated. Thankfully a few hours before sunrise I drifted off into a dreamless slumber.