Sur Nam Khaar’s history was my obsession when I was a teenager. My dad, Alejandro, needed to intervene and asked Jacob to limit the number of volumes I could take with me when I turned sixteen. Still, I managed to take a fair amount with me.

“If you need a guide to show you where Alessio is hiding, call me.” My father, Brandon, joked when Dinesh and Mayowa went to our hut to rescue me from beyond the piles of books. They begged my friends to drag me out to enjoy the sunny days instead of reading at home. 

Later that day, we found ourselves at the lake with the others. After a couple of hours of swimming and playing, I came out of the water and stretched on a warm rock, gazing at the sky. Lazy, white clouds slid above us. Most resembled cotton chunks, but one of them was hourglass-shaped.

“Time is a remarkable thing, isn’t it? An invisible force, bound by no man, affecting the course of all that exists.”

Neither my monologue nor my peace lasted long—the sun was covered by messy, watery hair.

“Are you daydreaming again?” Mayowa’s mane dripped in my face.

“I would if you weren’t trying to drown me.” I scoffed and sat up straight.

“You two lazy turtles, are you tired already?” Dinesh walked toward us, his biceps faintly defined, glistening with droplets. 

“Not at all! But it seems our friend is a little bored.” He shook his head, drying his locks like a dog. 

“Lying is an ugly sin, you know.” I pouted.

Both tilted their heads. They stared and waited for me to continue.

“Well, it’s this book I’ve been reading. Elder Pachacútec wrote that every choice humankind has made leads to this moment. It makes me wonder what kind of future we’re carving for the next generation of Khaarians. Aren’t you curious how today’s actions might reshape reality ten years from now?”

My red-headed friend sighed.

“The present is much more important than what is gone, my dear.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Think about how abundant our crops have been. Remember how your dad’s roast smells—pure joy and fine herbs. Or even the fresh scent carried on the wind. Our predecessors went through many hardships so we could enjoy this era of peace. That means we should leave the past where it lies.” He shrugged.

“Listen to you, Dinesh; almost wise.” Mayowa chuckled. “But I agree. Being alive is a treasure in itself; that’s why we call it the present! I hope the younglings to come will be grateful for the fun we had today.” He wrapped an arm around me. “Enough of this gloomy reminiscing. Your skin is pale; you’re more attractive when you’re sun-kissed. Let’s take another swim.”

“Move, or you won’t grow muscles, and you’ll seem weak when our Solstice comes!” Dinesh grabbed my wrist and pulled me up.

“Aren’t you ahead of yourselves? We have a lot of time to prepare!”

We strolled side by side, jumped into the lake, and played until nightfall. I kept that passion to myself and put my efforts into activities with my friends.

When Anahí asked me how I felt, those memories rushed in, intensifying the typhoon of emotions that spun in my chest after everything I had witnessed. I devoured every drop of information she offered me and sought more by the minute. 

Her fulfilling my wishes brought another blessing. I fell for the woman, but witnessing her ways as the Sovereign pulled me deeper. Her facade ensnared me, and I gladly remained captive. 

We entered the rift; its entrails resembled a snake’s nest on a hot summer day. As we returned to the lake, I walked away from the opening and stayed closer to the trees. The moon was still high, as if it waited for us, silent and curious. The night creatures sang their tunes, glad that their ruler and protector had joined them once more. 

“Coming back wasn’t as bad as heading to Lostany, was it?” Anahí closed the landscape behind us, the sand grinding under our feet.

“Will you be mad if I confess I couldn’t tell the difference?” I chuckled.

“Not at all. Thank you for the honesty.” The wind blew. It caressed her mane, and she laughed. “Are you satisfied with what you learned?”

Is it time to meet the other Virtuous Ones in death? I looked away, my mind stalled long enough to gather an answer.

“Enchanted One, the knowledge you shared with me tonight fulfilled my soul. But if I’m allowed, I have a final question.”

“Of course.” A foxlike grin on her lips. “Before I complete my part, you have to honor your share in this alliance yet.”

A warm smell of jasmine, ylang-ylang, and roses filled the air and invaded my lungs, and dissipated all the curiosity I had left. Her night-sky eyes wandered over me, slow and deliberate, as she prowled in my direction, and the desire ignited a campfire in my core.

She was within arm’s reach when her palm pressed against my chest, a silent command only a servant bound by her spell would understand.

I lowered myself onto the grass, leaving a space between my legs for her to kneel. Anahí stood slightly taller than me, but the truth lingered between our bodies. She was the hunter, and I was already hers.

“You promised there were other gifts you could offer to please me when we were in the tent.”

Her left hand slid to my neck, her fingers brushing my hairline before untying and loosening my braid. The skin on my arms prickled, my breath uneven; my manhood betrayed my intentions. She leaned toward my right ear and whispered.

“I demand it. Now.” Her voice was a rush of air. The embers of lust burned in me as they did when I first saw her generous body.

“As you wish, my Queen,” I exhaled, my words came out as a plea.

She pulled my face closer, her lips pressed against mine. My hands slid along her back as she pushed my gown away, and we gave in to the fire within us. Hours slipped by as what had been unspoken found its voice at last.

When dawn closed in, my precious jewel rested her head on my chest. I curled a strand of her long, black hair around my index finger as I watched the stars fade. For the first time, I felt whole. It was a dream I didn’t want to wake up from. She reached for my cheek and caressed it. I laid a kiss on her forehead before she got up and stretched, letting out a soft groan.

“The way you manage to be stunning, powerful, and still adorable all at once is dangerously alluring.” I sighed and mimicked her.

“There’s your talent, shining again.” She giggled, her face bright with a lingering smile. “It’s my turn now, right?”

“What do you mean?” I tilted my head, and my brows drew together.

“Since you fulfilled your promise, tell me—what is your question?”

Those words sank in my stomach like a rock. That was not fair. I wanted to beg her to allow me to live and remain by her side forever, but I knew that would dishonor my family and fill Lossar’s heart with shame. A lump formed in my throat, making it hard to swallow.

“Kenta. The virtuous man from the last Solstice. What happened to him? How was his end?”

Anahí bit her lower lip for a moment.

“The Great Mother designed humans to develop into better versions of themselves. That’s why she believed Earth deserved a second chance. Not even the rivers are the same if we bathe in them twice.”

“I don’t understand.” My voice wavered.

“The rules that guide this world are not carved in stone. Maybe it’s time to retell some stories.” She gave me a look of a trickster. “I won’t answer you this time; you’ll have to see for yourself.”

My Rainbow Mage grabbed my kilt and threw it in my direction. I almost failed to grab it, my hands trembled.

“You belong to me, remember? Get dressed, silly. We’re going home.”

I let out a cry as the tears pooled in my eyes spilled. My rumpled clothes fell into place all wrong, as if my body refused to settle. When I finished tying my boots, she grabbed my wrist and rushed into the woods laughing, the first rays of light closing in. My heart became lighter as our feet stomped on the ground.

We reached a trail and slowed down. The forest was quiet; the only noise heard was our heavy breathing. We started strolling, caught our breath, and she let out a whistle. One by one, the Mages joined us, clothes in disarray, voices slurred.

The older ones teased their daughters and listened to their stories about the adventures they had lived through. Despite being their ruler, Anahí wasn’t spared—her sisters traded knowing, teasing remarks about my looks, my stamina, and how satisfied she was after the Solstice. 

Zhihan and Léna ran and welcomed me, and carried Anahi on their shoulders as she showed her sisters the amethyst necklace dangling from her neck as a trophy. I got lost in thought, admiring her shimmering smile, when something touched my shoulder. I turned, and Ji-Ah approached me.

“So you found our sneaky fox after all.” She glanced at me, a smirk on her face.

I squinted, and the truth dawned on me. She had sent the owl my way, in the woods. I parted my lips to thank her, but she stopped me.

“We mothers are relieved you chose her, as she chose you. Lossar’s envoy carries a heavy burden, but your devotion has eased it. We are the ones who owe you our thanks.” 

She pulled me into a hug, and soon a dozen elder Mages gathered around. My throat tightened as it brought back the comfort of my father’s embrace. A deep warmth settled in my chest.

With the sunrise, they spoke sacred words I recognized, stretched out their arms, and a gap appeared, large enough for us all to enter. I scrunched up my nose at the strong, metallic odor and frowned.

“Can you get used to that, Alessio?” My precious jewel brushed her head against my arm.

“No rift will bother me if I am beside you, my love.” 

I placed a kiss on her lips as I abandoned the life I once knew. The future I had pictured before was not even close to the one unfolding before me. And as I had foretold, the New Queen’s name would become the most revered, as she would write a bold, fresh chapter in humankind’s history.

Editor: Lucy Cafiero