Touch of Power (Alythian Legacy #1)

It takes two weeks for me to fully recover from the Battle of Glasswood - as we're calling it. It turns out that with the combination of burnout nearly killing me and my particular set of powers, it really slows the healing process down. It also didn't help that the frost had time to seep into my body much longer than it should have, which now leaves me with a permanent chill.

We received a letter that Kit was coronated the second he got to the capital last week and he was right to keep me here away from the politics of the capital. Most people blame me for the death of the king instead of Scarlett and it's taking Kit a lot of time and patience to keep people for calling for my head. Yondou ensures me that the lords and ladies in the capital love blaming everything on anyone but them and they'll eventually forget their bloodlust for me.

While I was unconscious for those eight days after the Battle of Glasswood, Kit sent our remaining people around the kingdom to either look for Scarlett or calm tensions between powered and non-powered. Some decided to walk away from this life, even if they agreed with Kit or not, and decided to go back to their homes to grieve the ones we lost.

One of those people that walked away was Eve. After the death of Patrick, she couldn't bear to live this life without him and from what I hear, she blames me for his death and I really don't blame her. I've tried writing to her to try to explain what happened but I only get the reply, Please do not write to me again.

Naya recovered thanks to Riley finding a healer in time and the twins already set off on their own mission from the King. They at least waited a day after I woke up to leave - unlike Kit - but it still hurt nonetheless to see them leave the gates of Glasswood.

In wake of what happened here, Kit ordered that there will be a stricter process to leave Glasswood through graduation and I was to help with selecting loyal subjects. But how the fuck am I to do that? I even asked him about it in my last letter to him and all he said was, I trust your judgment, Freya.

With Glasswood on edge since Scarlett attacked, a lot of people don't know how to think or feel about their powers anymore. People suddenly started realizing that our powers are weapons and we have a higher risk of dying because of it. We may have an edge over someone who doesn't have powers, we're also the first selected for battle and will be the first to die no matter what. And now I have the responsibility of helping ease this worry despite me having this exact safe argument with Yondou before.

Another week passes and a new wave of loneliness starts to kick in. With all my friends gone on their own missions, it's hard to find people that are willing to open up to me again. People are still wary of me as I walk through the halls but now with the added knowledge that I was there when the former King perished. We had to rebuild the gym and almost every time someone eyes me to see if I'll set it ablaze again.

After heading to my room to settle down, I find two letters waiting for me on my desk. Before Kit left Glasswood, he commissioned another stamp for me to have so he and I can write letters between us without our letters being vetted by Kit's security team. But one of the letters is from Louis: Meet me at the pond at nine. Miss you, Blaze.

I roll my eyes at the new nickname Louis has been calling me. Is it bad that I actually prefer Thief now?

But then my attention snags on familiar handwriting and my heart stutters.

How have you been? Kit simply writes. Nothing more, nothing less.

I've been fine, I lie. He doesn't need to worry about me, especially when he's working so hard to keep me alive. I miss you, Kit. More than I thought I would. I stamp the letter and watch it magically disappear.