✶✶✶

Aster sat down beneath a tree, the wilding echoing around her, she ignored it’s words, still angry that it hadn’t helped her. She stared down at her mark, it was golden, and glaring at Aster with it’s pretty swirls and twists. Before she knew it, her fingers dug into her skin, her nails long and sharp enough, to pierce the flesh, she scratched and gashed undertaking with great effort to rid herself of her mark. Even as the pain grew and blood splattered on her wrist she didn’t stop. She didn’t need anyone, she didn’t want anyone, all she needed was Basil and Clover. No one else. She didn’t want it to change, but everything was changing, first with Clover and her king and now, now everything they knew wasn’t real. It felt suffocating. She couldn’t let things change further. She repeated that in her head, as tears flowed. 

“Rhea?”

No one one was going to take anything more from her. 

“Rhea-Aster,” 

She wanted everything to go back to the way they were, when it was the three of them. Nothing was right anymore. 

“Aster!” 

She snapped her head, the empress stood, her eyes watchful. She knelt down and took Aster's wrist away from her. The palms of her hands glowed and her eyes illuminated with silver. Once she pulled her hands away the cuts were gone from Aster mark. 

The empress gazed sternly at Aster, “I do not know what has happened, but you will never harm yourself like that again.” 

“It’s none of your-” 

“Aster,” she said her name stringently, “never.”  Aster drifted her eyes to her lap, the empress stayed where she knelt, studying her daughter. “I could help, if you tell me,” Aster didn’t speak, only staring down at her legs waiting for the empress to leave. To her dismay the empress instead took a seat next to Aster under the tree. 

“This is my favourite spot. When i was new to court life, i had escaped here often,” 

“Wasn’t noble then?” Aster sneered, 

“No, far from it,” Sila carried on brushing off Aster's standoffish tone. “I was an orphan, my parents weren’t rich, so I was left with little to nothing. I was taken in by my village's baker and her wife, hence my excellent baking skills,” she chuckled, “anyway my magic back then was let's just say a bit chaotic. If my shade of hair wasn’t enough of a give away, my powers caused things to set on fire whenever i was anger sure did.” 

One of the board members of the academy was travelling through and happened to catch sight of me. So I packed my bags and headed for the capital. I was a freal prodigy at the academy, I skipped several years, and even graduated early. Those posh pricks didn’t really like that.” 

“Posh pricks?” 

“Yes, the academy was full of them, wealthy sons and daughters who paid their way in, and had those long, long histories of powerful mages and sorcerers.” Sila rolled her eyes. “They had it in for me the moment I arrived there, thinking they were better than me. Well I showed them when I became next in line for arch mage.” 

The empress began to chuckle loudly, “even worse when during the ceremony to announce it, your father decided everyone should know i was his soulmate and future empress.” 

“So they weren’t a fan,” 

“Not even a little,” she grinned, “but they couldn’t say anything to me about it, didn’t stop them from disculding me from court events and gatherings, as well as starting up a few rumours.” 

“That’s pathetic of them,” Aster scoffed, 

“Yep, but it was worth it, the arch mage was the best teacher and your father-” she grew a fond loving smile, “he was wonderful.” 

“The scary, stoic, unfeeling man?” 

“He cares, in his own way. He just-” she sighed, “it was hard losing you three, he closed himself up alot, he thought he could trust his brother, your uncle but,” she turned to look at Aster, “you know you were named after his sister.” 

“I have an aunt?” 

“You did, she died of a fever when he was young. They were close, the bestest of friends apparently.” 

“Why are you being so nice,” Aster finally asked, “i’ve been nothing but horrible, yet you just keep acting so-” 

“Mothering,” Sila smiled, “I'm just glad to have you home, I would spend hours in you, your brother and sisters rooms. Imagine what it would be like if you were here.”

“Not quite what you imagined?” 

“No,” Sila chuckled, “this is real.” she squeezed Aster's hand, and Aster couldn’t think what to do. “Now tell me what’s bothering you. And don’t lie, I know it has to do with a soulmate.” 

Aster sighed, “i found my soulmate,” 

“That's wonderful.” 

“It’s not,” Aster protested, “it changes everything, i’m not ready for-” 

“Calm down. The goddess doesn't send our soulmates to us for no reason.” 

“I don’t know how to be with other people, I've always been busy keeping Clover out of danger, and looking after us. I don’t even have friends.  A soulmate is no good to me,” 

“I think that's exactly why the goddess has sent them. There's a world besides Basil and Clover,” 

“I’m too temperamental,” Aster shook her head, “Beau doesn't need that,” 

“Beau?” 

“That's her name, she’s tough, with silky smooth purple hair, the perfect shade of-” Aster cut herself off, blushing, “i mean she’s not that special, i’ve hardly noticed anything about-” 

Sila grinned, “you know what you need to do,” 

“What?” 

“Head the problem face on, spend time with her, I'm sure having a soulmate isn’t all that scary.” 

“I don’t know anything about-2 she scrunched up her face, “romance. I can seduce a girl to get in be-” 

“It will happen naturally, it normally does with soulmates. It took a matter of days for me and your father to say we loved each other.” 

Aster snorted, “yeah, Clover was ready to marry the guy after a day.” 

“The king of Spendia?” 

Aster nodded her head, “he crushed Clover, all because of magic. Preaching about loving her beyond anything, but your first obstacle comes your way and you leave Clover alone to deal with it.” 

“We had heard the reports,” Sila said darkly, “he’s lucky to still be alive with the way he acted.” 

“He knew we couldn’t trust him. I’m just glad Clovers is occupied with being a princess now to think about him.” 

“Oh, she’ll have a lot more to occupid her with,” 

Aster tipped her head to the side in question. 

“I’ll show you,” Sila answered giddy, jumping up. The empress led Aster all the way down to the stables, to the very last paddocks. 

Aster could only gawk at what she saw. 

“Are they..?” 

“Unicorns, they sure are.” 

Yes the empress was right that would definitely occupi Clover.