192: Scrying Into Her Powers

Scrying Into Her Powers

Inside the drawing room, Cian was sitting on the couch next to his sister. Oriana entered carrying a small case of supplies with her.2

"Orian, how did you know my brother is hurt?" Seren asked. "I didn't notice anything from the way he was holding his spoon."

"During the meal, I was observing His Highness' right wrist barely moving. I noticed his discomfort whenever he grabbed his goblet as well, and then I saw the faint discoloration on his skin of his wrist."

"You sure have sharp eyes," Cian said as he watched the young lad holding his hand. Her finger did quick work to massage around the tender flesh.

"Thank you, Your Highness." She asked him questions, "Does it hurt when I press here?"

"A little."

She pressed another tender spot. "Is the pain worse if I do this?"

"It is, but—ugh! That's painful."

"Apologies." Oriana continued as she examined the fracture, checking the extent of the damage. She then held the joint above the suspected cracked bone and padded around it, wrapping a bandage to secure the hand and wrist, preventing it from moving. "Fortunately, it's not an open fracture but, Your Highness, though the swelling will go down in two or three days, please do not use a sword for or put strain on your hand for at least a month—"

Seren made Cian promise that he would follow Oriana's instructions, before allowing him to leave. After he's gone, Seren grabbed Oriana's hand to thank her. "I am deeply indebted to you for your assistance."

"Your Majesty, it isn't a big deal—"

"Do not put yourself down. My brother is a swordsman, and he often deals with danger. I can't bear to imagine him resisting an attack, only for his sword to slip his hand because he neglected his injury. You might as well have saved the life of his future self."

"I-I'm only doing my job to heal people," Oriana said, happy to have Seren's soft hands holding hers.

Seren gently squeezed her hands before standing up. "Mister Yorian should be waiting for us in our mansion. It is the perfect chance to be scried. Drayce had taken Prince Arlan with him outside the palace. They won't be back anytime soon."

Oriana felt hesitant, only to hear Seren say, "Do not worry. He scried my powers as well, and his discoveries were very helpful. You may feel uncomfortable with the idea of letting others investigate you, but you can trust Mister Yorian."

She had no choice but to stand up as well. "I will trust him as you say, Your Majesty."

"Good. Let's go then."

Inside the guest mansion of Megaris, where Yorian was waiting for them inside one of the empty rooms at the top floor. There was a set of cushions placed on the floor, the sitting arrangements made beside the large glass door leading towards a balcony, where moonlight was in abundance. 

As they were in a foreign kingdom, possibly under the surveillance of hostile parties, Yorian opted to practice scrying in hiding instead of outside, under the direct blessing of the moon. He placed an isolation spell around the room so no one outside the barrier could see or hear what was going on inside.

Only Seren and Martha, who were acting as witnesses, were privy to what was happening within the room.

Under the silvery glow of moonlight streaming from the door of the balcony, the silver-haired elf emanated a sense of enchantment that transcends the boundaries of the mortal realm. His beauty was not merely skin-deep, but resonated with a depth of character and wisdom. He appeared sacred and holy.

Oriana thought that at this moment, Yorian seemed to embody the word 'sage', a living testament to the timeless magic of the elven race.

"Have a seat." 

Yorian gestured to Oriana to sit on the cushion opposite to him. She obeyed without question.

"Shall we begin, Black Witch Oriana?"

Ba-dump!

Yorian had always referred to her as 'child', and hearing him call her by her real name, together with that title, made Oriana's heart skip a beat. It only highlighted the gravity of this ritual.

She watched him put his hands forward, and this time, Oriana didn't need to be told what to do. She put her hands on his and watched him close his eyes. She closed hers as well, and with that, a connection was established between them.

Only Seren and Martha were able to see the silvery glow rippling around the witch and the elf, as if moonlight itself was resonating with them. A hush filled the chamber. 

In the elf's perspective, the world around them faded into the background, and soon, he was able to spy a scene beyond the darkness inside Oriana. 

After a while, Yorian's  eyes fluttered open, his pale blue eyes filled with mixed awe and wonder. 

"This is the first time I have ever seen such a spectacle."

Oriana visibly shivered as she opened her eyes, anxious to hear Yorian's discovery. 

"Child, your core equally possesses the darkness attribute of a witch as well as the divine power of the air element," Yorian continued. "There is no rejection, no domination, both sharing your core equally. Strictly speaking, divine power should be a tier higher than your magic power, and that will cause divine power to dominate your core.

"There are cases of witches bearing offspring of divine beasts. If the beast bloodline is stronger, then their offspring will have the core of a divine beast, and if the witch bloodline is more dominant, then their offspring will possess the essence of a witch. Their core cannot be both and it cannot be mixed. That is why I have never seen such a core before."

"So, uhm, what does that mean?" Oriana asked. "How will that affect me?"

Yorian removed the isolation spell. "When King Drayce returns, we can discuss about this more—" 

As if summoned by those very words, the King of Megaris entered the room through the door. 

Everyone was surprised to see him. 

"Dray, how come you are here?" Seren asked.

"I thought this elf might need my help."

"But the others…"

"I left Arlan to compete with your brother for drinks," Drayce replied and sat on the couch next to his wife. "So what were you talking about when I came?" Drayce's words were directed towards Yorian.

The elf helped the young witch stand up and brought her to sit on the empty chair opposite the royal couple.

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