Under Darkened Skies by H.E. Bauman

Author:H.E. Bauman [Bauman, H.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-04-17T05:00:00+00:00

“That’s absolutely not what happened!” Astrea exclaimed, her voice echoing through the empty exhibit room. It was filled with marble statues from the Rebuilding, the time just after the Great Wars.

“I’m fairly certain that’s exactly what happened,” Jin said. “You and Cressida had the brilliant idea to see what would happen if you each drank an entire pot of coffee in the twenty minutes before our Novarian language lessons started.”

“First of all,” Astrea said as they passed a bust of a woman wearing an ornate crown, “it was Ellie’s idea. Second of all, you dared us to.”

“Hm.” Jin hummed the word, lips pursing. “Doesn’t sound like me.”

Giggling, Astrea nudged his arm with her shoulder. “You’re such a skies damned liar.”

He laughed, too, the sound like a hug. “You’re right. I am a liar. I definitely dared you to do that.”

When Astrea had been just fifteen, Eliana had thought it would be hilarious to see what would happen if Astrea and Cressida ingested that much caffeine before a lesson with Saros. After a bit of encouragement from Jin, Astrea and Cressida had both followed through, and the results had been less than pleasant. She’d never felt her heart race so quickly, and her hands had shaken so much she could barely write out answers to whatever assignment Saros had given them.

“At least you’re finally admitting it,” she said as they entered a familiar room. That painting with the volcano, the one Eliana had been captivated by, hung nearby.

They’d spent hours in the museum, scouring the building from top to bottom. They read every plaque and examined every door and hallway they found. They’d found several locked doors, and Astrea had wished more than once that they’d brought Cressida with them. She could break any lock with her Metalli magic as long as it wasn’t platinum.

Though they’d searched all four floors of the museum, there was no indication of where Lord Mattina might have gone, nor was there any indication the book was in the building. Felipe wasn’t even around.

“I suppose we should go,” Jin said as he looked at the watch on his wrist. Astrea’s stomach growled loudly, and she ducked her head. “It’s getting late.”

They retraced their steps all the way to the front of the building, exiting through another turnstile and stopping near the ticketing counter.

“Excuse me,” Jin said as he veered toward the counter. The same woman from before was behind the desk, packing several folders into a large canvas tote.

“May I help you, Your Imperial Highness?” she asked. If she was surprised to see Jin, the woman didn’t reveal it. Astrea’s magic found nothing but cool curiosity.

“Lord Mattina doesn’t happen to be in now, does he?” Jin asked.

“No, Your Imperial Highness. He hasn’t been in at all today.” The woman glanced over her shoulder to a clock hanging on the wall. “I do apologize, but I need to close down the museum for the night. You’re welcome to check back tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” Jin said.

Jin was silent as they stopped under the museum’s portico.

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