Chapter 15

For the last forty years, every Wednesday, in accordance with human naming conventions for the days of the week, I venture into the dungeon alone. There, I am met by a gathering of sorcerers and sorceresses assigned to refresh two spells weekly—one to manipulate minds and another to restrain my powers. The price I pay for these spells is steep.

The anticipation of my dungeon visit fills me with dread. The confinement of my powers is met with resistance; the spells begin to falter quickly. The assembled group of sorcerers and sorceresses, successors to the powerful ancestors appointed by the Chief of Heaven, have diminished in their prowess. They were cautioned to guard this secret diligently; should it be exposed, my reputation would suffer a significant blow.

I was left exhausted and depleted after every visit.

This time however, it was the worst.

Exiting the dungeon, I collapsed to the ground, saved from a harsh impact by my two Head Court Ladies who swiftly caught me. The weekly spells had sapped me of both physical and mental strength. They supported me, their concern evident in their voices, while I struggled to find the energy even to rise to my knees.

"We need to summon a spell to allow her to be hidden from view," Althea said, to which Iole nodded firmly. "We cannot allow anyone to see our Crown Princess in this state."

I fell into darkness soon after.

"My dear you look exceptionally exhausted!" a chirpy voice filled my room and my bestfriend for centuries appeared above me. She beamed at me, even though I knew that I looked like absolute shit.

"Katrina, oh how I missed you so."

"Right, let's get you bathed and dressed up," she said firmly and turned to look on her left. "Oh ladies, would you be a dear and get our Crown Princess cleaned up? I think she would need a lot more care and pampering today."

"Of course, Your Highness."

I was carried off my bed like the princess that I was, heading towards the bathroom to get cleaned up. The ladies made sure that the bath water that they had drawn up were warm, smelling of lavender and filled with flower petals. They also took the utmost care as they bathed me.

Exhausted to fight back, I allowed them to do their work. On other days, they were not allowed to bathe me but today was an exception. They washed my hair, massaged my scalp and feet. They lathered me with a layer of sweet moisturizer after they dried me off with a fluffy towel.

Thirty minutes later, I was back in my bedroom feeling slightly better and fresh. Katrina was seated on the armchair waiting for me, sipping on tea and browsing through a book on her lap. My bed was made, and the room smelled of fresh flowers – the ladies must've changed my bedsheet and replaced the flowers while I was in the bathroom.

"Do you feel better now?" she asked without looking up as I sat down opposite her.

"Yes."

She looked up at me, her green eyes were inquisitive. "How long has it been going on?" she asked. "This … whatever it is that is happening to you."

I reached over to the table to pour myself a cup of tea. My hand was shaking as I raised the tea pot even Katrina had to pour for me. My skin looked so pale against the cream robe I was wearing. I need time to collect my thoughts and explain to her in such a way that she would be able to understand. She waited for me to speak, and I took a deep breath to calm myself.

"It might be about four decades or so," I answered. "I can't remember."

Katrina's eyes were sharp on me. "What the hell are they doing to you?" she demands.

"A renewal of spells," I murmured weakly. "It's to appease Father."

She stared at me in disbelief. "What does that even mean?"

"Promise me, you won't breathe a word about this."

She nods.

I took a deep breath.

"After the First Age War, when I returned, Father wanted me to have two spells initiated on me," I explained. "He felt it was important for me to … not remember what happened as I was not myself for decades. I had stopped eating and drinking and I was simply wasting away. Did you remember?"

She nods again. 

"He didn't want to see his daughter waste away so he put a mind blocker spell and another spell that restraints my powers to about five percent."

Katrina's eyes bugged out in shock. I could understand the horror and surprise coming from that sentence but this was the first time I ever told anyone about it. I was nervous, and I was worried that Katrina didn't understand what I was going through. She looked apprehensive and rested against her chair.

"Ultimately, you are allowed five percent of your powers even though you're one of the most powerful sorceresses next to your Father," she reiterated. "Restraining your powers is not right. They're a part of you, that's why you feel and look like shit every Wednesday."

"I know."

She sighed.

"Let's have a change in subject, please?" I asked, feeling desperate.

"Alright."

"How did you know where to find me?"

She gave me a pointed look. "Your monkey told me that you needed me," she said. "He came all the way running, out of breath and demanded that I was to come to you with haste. Mind you, I just came up and he was all 'Athena needs you! She's feeling unwell'. I thought something terrible happened to you and I came here as quickly as I could."

I let out a breathless laugh.

Damn monkey.

…