The Castle of the Brethren...

Much later when she tried to relate her experience, Selene found it difficult to explain what it felt like after she went through the Mirror of Transparency. It was the most painful thing she'd ever felt but was also the most exhilarating experience she'd ever had.

Her last vivid memory after passing through the mirror was that she'd felt hot and cold at the same time.

She vaguely remembered seeing the horrified look on Benjamin's face and her mind had registered his unease as he repeatedly begged her not to close her eyes. But how could she have kept her eyes open when her body felt so heavy and weak? She had to close her eyes. She was so tired of fighting.

The moment her eyes slid shut, her heart stopped beating and her body began to get cold. Although she couldn't remember what it had been like, the only distinct thing she could recollect was that she'd felt peace. All the pain she'd felt before disappeared. It had been ages since she'd last felt that way.

It felt like she was drifting in the middle of the ocean with no destination in mind. Occasionally, she saw herself running down a never-ending hall searching for something. But mostly, her memory was blank just like when we fall asleep and can't remember what happened during the five hours or so that we tangled with the unconscious.

The only other thing she remembered was that there were times she heard an unfamiliar female voice, calling out to her.

"Child...listen...please...help...stop..my...fault..." the woman begged.

Whenever Selene stopped and strained her ears to hear the strange woman's words, it disappeared altogether with the wind.

What had the woman been trying to say?

Why was she asking for Selene's help?

Who was Selene supposed to stop?

What did the woman do?

Whose fault?

When she resumed her journey, Selene would hear the woman's voice once again. The more Selene struggled to hear the woman, the harder it became to make out what she was trying to say. She wasn't even sure she wanted to listen to the woman. What if she was evil?

The woman's evident desperation, however, quelled some of her fears. It almost felt like Selene was her last chance. Eventually, Selene was able to make out some of the words she said.

"You're shutting me out...please...I won't harm you...I want to help...the truth...you need to know the truth..."

What truth?

What help could the woman render?

Why was she offering to help?

Help in what sense?

"Wake up...don't die...only hope...Black Day..."

When Selene heard the woman say the words "Black Day", her eyes flew open and she finally regained consciousness.

She was in a strange room she'd never seen before. It looked far too grand and serene—almost like a palace infirmary.

How did she get here? Where was she? Was she dead?

As her eyes tried to adjust to the light, she realized she was looking up, into a pair of sharp grey eyes that was filled with what almost looked like worry.

"She's awake." An oddly familiar voice said. She knew this person. She just couldn't remember who he was but she knew he was important. He was powerful.

"Oh, thank goodness.  She's probably confused. She needs to see my face so she knows she's safe." A male voice said desperately. She would have recognized that voice anywhere. She wanted him. She needed to see him.

"You may approach. However, I'm not certain who needs to see who more." The owner of the grey eyes sighed.

In a matter of seconds, the grey eyes were replaced by red-rimmed golden eyes which showed the bearer hadn't slept a wink and had probably been crying for hours. No matter how red and swollen the eyes looked, Selene would still have recognized it anywhere.

"Benjamin." Selene managed to croak in a voice that sounded frail even to her own ears. Benjamin's eyes lit up, happy that she had been able to recognize him.

"Ah, she speaks. And she remembers who you are? Such is the power of Synergy. That is good. Benjamin? If I may?" The first voice said.

Benjamin's golden eyes disappeared again. They were replaced by the sharp grey eyes once again.

Selene whimpered weakly, wishing that Benjamin hadn't stepped aside. She was cold and alone when he wasn't there.

"You will see him in due time. What is your name, child?" The bearer of the grey eyes asked. His voice was angelic—almost like it was fused with magic. She could listen to it all day.

"S-selene." Selene's sweet and normally melodic voice was hoarse and sounded worse than the croaking of a toad.

"You remember your name. Good. Do you know who I am?" The voice asked.

Selene struggled to remember. She recognized the voice and the sharp gray eyes. She knew this person. The person had infuriated her in the past. What was his name?

"H-herbert. Leader...Brethren." Selene managed to say.

"Please administer the Rodium. She can barely speak." Benjamin begged.

Selene wanted to turn her head towards the direction of his voice. She felt safe just hearing his voice. She wanted to look into his eyes again but she could barely blink her eyes let alone turn her head.

"In due time, child. We must be sure her mind returned to us the same time her body did, otherwise it will be fatal. Selene, do you know where you are?" Herbert asked.

"Castle...Brethren." Selene said after a few seconds.

"Do you know what you are? What powers do you possess?" Herbert asked.

"Telepathy. I...Telepather."

Herbert proceeded to ask her several questions. After a while, she realized the reason his voice sounded so musical was because it was heavily infused with the magic of Telepathy. When he asked the 10th question and Selene responded appropriately, he nodded and stepped aside.

"Young Magi? Would you like to do the honors?" Herbert said.

"Yes, please."

"Good. This way, I wouldn't have to feel you boring holes into the back of my neck with your eyes. Please do not alarm her. She is still very weak. I shall get the young Necromancer." Herbert said.

Benjamin's face appeared once again in front of her. Selene inhaled the sweet fragrance of his cologne. He gently helped her sit up because she couldn't move her body on her own. When he'd helped her rest her back on the plush pillows, he brushed her fluffy hair back gently. Selene was sure her hair looked positively awful. She was sure she looked worse than she felt.

"Ok, Selene. I know this might be really hard, but I need you to do something for me. Can you do that?" Benjamin asked. He didn't look at her like she was a hideous beast. He looked at her like she was the most important thing in the world.

"Anything...for...you." Selene croaked.

Benjamin blushed, amazed by her brutal honesty. He had to remind himself that she wasn't in complete control of her faculties. She didn't even realize what she was saying or what it meant.

"I...uhm, thank you. You're feeling weak because you tapped into some of your life force. You need to take Rodium so you can get some of it back. I need to feed you some Rodium and I need you to eat them. Blink twice if you understand me." He said slowly.

Selene blinked twice and tried to open her mouth. When it was open wide enough, Benjamin slipped a silver crystal into her mouth. The sudden outburst of flavour almost made Selene gag. She would have probably thrown up if Herbert had been the one who fed her. When she looked into Benjamin's eyes, she saw how hopeful he was. She knew he wanted her to eat the Rodium so she chewed.

The Rodium tasted like everything imaginable. It was sweet and sour, salty and spicy, hot and cold. It felt like a teenager's first sip of beer. The nervousness that comes with being able to finally drink and the bitterness with the first sip that would make anyone want to throw up. However, the more she chewed, the more appealing the Rodium tasted.

"More," Selene begged.

"Only half. Otherwise, you'll burn herself out." Benjamin said.

While Selene was still chewing on her Rodium, the door opened and closed. The Rodium made her feel stronger and more alert. She was able to turn her neck towards the sound. She saw Edith standing in front of her looking every shade of worried. Selene could tell the girl had been crying since her eyeliner looked smudged.

"You're awake," Edith said in a shaky voice. She sounded close to tears.

"How're you? Are your bruises serious?" Selene said looking at the bandages on Edith's thin arms.

"Am I alright? I should be asking you that. How do you feel?" Edith asked.

"Sore. Tired. Dizzy. Thirsty." Selene said.

"I'll go get you some water," Benjamin started moving away.

Selene grabbed his hand without thinking. She panicked when she saw him try to leave.

"Don't leave me." She begged. Her eyes looked so wide and innocent that Herbert smiled.

"I'll get you some water," Herbert said.

Benjamin blushed but held onto her hand. He still wasn't used to her affectionate side. It wasn't like she was a cold, cruel bitch. She just wasn't as clingy as she was acting.

"I'm here," Benjamin reassured her.

Herbert returned almost as quickly as he'd left. He handed Selene the glass. She drank out of it gingerly, enjoying the cool taste of water. As she drank, she observed everyone in the room.

Edith was standing a few feet away from her bed, looking worn out and sad. Benjamin was holding her hands, looking worn out as well but also a bit angry. Herbert's eyes were hooded so she couldn't tell what he was feeling.

"It wasn't your fault," Selene said after finishing her glass of water. Her eyes were glued to Edith.

"It is. I messed up. I should have checked for traps. I almost got us killed." Edith said soberly.

"If anything, it's my fault. I couldn't fight them off because I was afraid and had a full-blown anxiety attack. We would have died if you hadn't fought back." Selene said.

Edith hung her head sadly. Certain that the girl was too upset to speak, Selene turned to Benjamin and squeezed Benjamin's hand to get his attention.

"You're angry." She said.

"Of course I am." He said sighing.

"Why?" Selene asked, furrowing her brow.

Benjamin looked at her sadly.

"I'm your Synergy. My place is by your side. I should never have let you go alone. When you returned...I couldn't...I couldn't do anything. Nothing I tried worked. If Herbert hadn't come when he did..." Benjamin said, covering his face in shame.

"I arrived when I was needed. Hush now. Let's save the sad details for later. I'm very much interested in what happened and how you acquired such a powerful artifact." Herbert said.

"An artifact?" Selene asked

"That thing we escaped through. The Mirror of Transparency. " Edith explained.

"Quite rare. In fact, I believe there are only three in existence and you happen to have one in your command. I'm curious, to say the least." Herbert gave her a warm smile.

"Didn't you tell them what happened?" Selene asked Edith.

"I don't know what happened. I wasn't in the Valley of Remembrance. I only watched over your body while you were gone." Edith said, looking at Benjamin nervously.

Benjamin still looked a little pissed. Like he was mad at Edith or something.

Selene managed to explain what happened. She began with how they'd found the school, what happened when they got to the Eastern tower and met the ghost, how he helped Selene and told her the riddle of Black Day(she neglected to mention the kiss deal) and what she'd seen in the Valley of Remembrance. She also explained how they got attacked and how she had been unable to use her powers.

"Once again, I panicked and I wasn't able to do anything. So much for being an eagle, huh?" Selene looked at Herbert feeling sad.

"No, child. You did well."

"I couldn't even fight off those things attacking us. I let Edith get hurt."

"No one can understand the extent of your trauma. You could fight me off because you had never faced me before. Unlike Her Majesty who has attacked you severally. You might be an eaglet but there is much for you to learn. You did well, considering the circumstances." Herbery shook his head firmly.

Selene sighed.
"I just wish there was a way I could fight back without panicking."

"In due time, you will," Herbert said causing Selene to sigh again.

"In any case, King allowed me to use the mirror and I crossed over. He helped a lot considering. I don't think we would have escaped without him." Selene said.

"Ahh. It looks like we are even." Herbert said under his breath.

Selene looked at him before she opened her mouth to speak again. At first, she wanted to ask what he meant but then she realized she had a much bigger question.

"There's only one thing I don't understand," Selene said.

"What's that?" Benjamin asked.

"Why were you all worried? I mean, I know I must have passed out for a few hours but ya'll are making me feel like I died or something." Selene said.

Herbert, Benjamin, and Edith looked at each other. Edith looked very uncomfortable and Benjamin seemed to be avoiding her eyes.

"Is there something I should know?" Selene asked.

"Hmm, this is where I take my cue and leave. I shall be in my study if you need me." Herbert left the room.

When Selene heard the door shut, she looked at Benjamin and Edith expectantly.

"Well?" She pressed.

"You died," Edith said.

"What?" Selene's eyes widened in shock.

"You died, Selene. You were dead for five days." Benjamin said.

#M.M