Mira Ardent's Arc

Chapter 2 of 3

Mira grabbed the first thing that looked like it would hold liquid — a frosted glass vial wedged between two canvas stretchers. She tipped the color sample toward it. The thing slid off her palm like oil, pooling at the bottom of the vial with a soft hiss. The door opened behind her. Mira spun, shoving the vial behind her back as steam rolled in from the entrance. Through the white mist, she saw Dame Crystalline step inside, her left hand already flexing — open, closed, open — the crescent scar catching the dim light. The woman carried a bundle of herb-stained cloth under her other arm, heading toward the far bench like she did this every morning. She hadn't seen Mira yet. The steam was too thick. Mira slid toward the stone vent in the corner where more steam billowed up from the hot springs below. She could drop the vial into the mist, hide it in the rocks, come back later. But Dame Crystalline's gaze swept the room, landing on the shelf where Mira had been standing — where the canvas stretchers now sat askew. Her mentor's eyes narrowed. "Someone's been in here." The words weren't a question. "Just me," Mira said, stepping out before her mentor could come closer to the shelf. She kept the vial pressed against her spine, praying the steam and shadows would hide it. "I needed somewhere quiet to think. Astral's still mad at me." Dame Crystalline studied her for three long seconds, then nodded and unwrapped the cloth bundle, revealing a wooden box carved with runes. Inside: six more vials, each filled with stolen colors that moved like Mira's sample. Her mentor had brought them here. To the warmth. To keep them liquid. Mira's throat went dry as Dame Crystalline finally spoke: "Good. Then you can help me sort these properly."