"Who is my father?"

Thessara stared at her, face blank for a couple of seconds, then she stood up, stepping away. "What kind of question is that?" She asked.

Adina's brows furrowed. "You had no problem telling me who my mother was, so why won't you tell me—"

"I didn't tell you who your mother was. I was a sage disciple, not a seer. Virelya revealed herself to you as your mother. I only told you who the greatest sage the realm has ever seen. You pieced things up yourself," she said, a little too defensively.

Adina frowned, getting up. "I saw her again," she said.

Thessara looked at Hercules. "Virelya? You saw her again?" she asked, her voice a little shaky.

"Yes. She was in my energy gate," she paused, licking her lips. "I spoke to her too… she revealed some things to me which was why…"

"You're asking who your father is?" she completed.

Adina nodded, brushing the sand off her body. "Do you know who he is? If he's alive? If I can… meet him?" she asked.

Thessara stared at her for some seconds then exhaled. She looked away, shaking her head. "I'm afraid I do not have the answers you seek. Only Virelya can tell you who he is," she replied.

"S-She said he doesn't exist. Is that true? Can that be possible? She can't have impregnated—"

"Adina!" Thessara called her. "That's enough. If Virelya says he doesn't exist, you should believe her."

"But how—"

"Adina!" she called again, this time much firmer than before. "Is there anything else she told you that I should know?" she asked.

Adina paused. She nodded. "She did. She said I had to master how to manipulate energy. She said—before she died, she made one last spell and she passed her powers onto me. Having two energies in me is what is making it hard for me to control my powers."

Thessara's eyes widened as she heard this. She stepped closer, gripping Adina's shoulders. "You possess Virelya's powers?" she asked.

Adina nodded slowly, confused.

Thessara stepped back, laughing. "I should've known. Gods, I should've known," she mumbled to herself, already rushing towards the cabin.

"Thessara," Adina called behind her, and she stopped spiraling, turning to look at Adina.

"Wait here, I'm going to find something to help you dis—"

"02BC. She asked me to tell you to look into 02BC and all you'll need to train me on this will be in it."

Thessara looked lost for a second, then suddenly her eyes brightened, and she gasped out loud, clicking her fingers together. "That's right! 02BC." She rushed into the cabin, leaving Adina to rush after her.

It took exactly five hours for Thessara to find the book, and it took another two hours for her to read through the rather ancient pages and find what she wanted. She froze over the page, finger pointed at the passage.

"Here! Here it is," she declared, glancing at a very worn-out Adina. Adina perked up at this, hope filling her eyes.

"You found it?"

Thessara smiled. "I know now what I must teach you…." Her smile wore off. "But we do not have time. We must begin right away. You have a long journey ahead."

__________

The door creaked open and shut. Carter didn't turn; his gaze was stuck on the glowing altar.

"How much longer?" he asked, his voice filling the quiet room.

"Weeks? Months? I can't say," the woman replied. He turned, arms crossed behind him.

"Weeks? Months? You said you've done your part."

The woman nodded, her gaze shifting to the glow again. "I did… it would've been easier with the sage, but…"

"Sage, sage, sage! I'm finding one already!" he snapped angrily, and the golden glow from the altar flickered.

The woman shot a glare at him. "Come with me," she whispered, turning and walked out of the room.

Carter bowed deeply before the altar then stepped out.

"You could've ruined all of our hard work," she gritted out.

"It's not ruined, is it," he snapped back.

Alma took a step back, looking up to the sky. It was a deep blue tonight, and the stars were out. It was going to rain heavily tonight.

"It is not…." She turned to Carter. "But I must tell you, we need more offerings, Lord Carter. The dark Lord needs souls to replenish his awakening body. We haven't gotten any shipments as of late."

Carter's jaw tightened, thinking back to how every possibility he had tried had crumbled to dust. Thorne's security over the kingdom was tight… nothing was making it past his eyes. It kept Carter on his toes, and he couldn't even act out of line… not when Thorne had his eyes everywhere.

"I need a few more days," he said.

"I'm afraid the dark Lord doesn't have a few more days! We need souls."

"And the ones I brought to you! The resellers? Feed him one of those lowly creatures," he spat out.

"Lord Carter!" Alma snapped, her hands clutched tightly. "Don't speak out of line against our Lord."

"I would never!" Carter declared as if even the thought was preposterous. "Listen, Alma. The king has tightened the security of the realm. The kingdom is practically in a lockdown. I can't afford to make rash decisions… not ones that can affect the dark Lord."

Alma dragged her hand over her face. "That's why we need the sage! Getting the sage would solve it all. A sage is—"

"The key! I know, and I have a plan formed already. I need a few days for this, and you will have to keep Khaos fed until then."

Alma glared at him. "Lord Carter!"

"Feed him the soul of one of those damned dogs you keep around. Do whatever you must, but I need a few days."

She stared at him for some seconds longer, then exhaled, looking away. "What are your plans? To find the sage?"

Carter looked ahead. "Thorne's mating ceremony is in a few days. Until then, I have to lay low. I suspect the sage is in the palace, and if my suspicions are correct, that day will be perfect."

She turned to him. "And if the sage truly resides in the palace?"

Carter's jaw tightened. "I will bring the sage here myself! Whoever it may be, it'll be their last day in the palace." He turned to face her, grinning.

"This will be their new home."