4.

Vivian twirled in her new dress. The deep blue cloth wrapped around her knees before exploding outward into the air. Her surroundings reeked of fish and salt but something remained all too beautiful about the setting akin to the dress. The docks were littered with individuals from every social class. Fishmongers harking their wares while sailors batted through the throngs attempting to reach their ships. Nobles strutted by, each with guards close at hand, hands on their spears and suspicious eyes analyzing every commoner who passed too close. Earlier in the day, Lord Ivory warned her that tensions still remained high in the court since the assassination.

Dirt covered children scuttled past and she noted that several held slim knives in their palms, knives commonly used for purse slashing. Vivian pressed her palm against her thigh as they passed. Her small coin purse alongside a letter from Lord Ivory were tied to her skin beneath her dress to keep them safe from street children just like those passing. Several peasants stopped and gawked at her as she passed by. Even if her clothing didn’t cause her to stand out, her attendant and two guards certainly attracted attention. Her guards, a pair of hulking men, wore well-made chainmail glistening in the sun and carried her elaborate trunk between them. Her attendant was a thin woman with spectacles who seemed distrustful and disgusted by their current setting. Vivian silently reminded herself that she was now a lady and that people would stare when she passed…but the eyes still left her unnerved. At any moment, she feared someone might rip off her pretty dress and declare her a peasant like themselves. A fake. Lynn certainly saw through her, a part of her wondered if he was part of a majority who saw through her, not the anomaly Lord Ivory assured her of. In truth, she felt no different from the women who now gawked at her in awe at her but the other part assured herself she was a Mystic. A Natural Mystic. The first to appear in almost a hundred years. Vivian Topaz the exceptional noble lady who wielded flames at will with her Mystic abilities.

Lord Ivory had spent much of the last few months reassuring her of her now noble blood but even now her blood didn’t seem any more ‘royal’ than it ever had. Soon after Lord Ivory’s discovery of her, Vivian had slit her thumb open with a letter opener to see what royal blood tasted like. The result had been lackluster. Instead of the sweet or rich taste she had been led to believe royals had flowing in their veins, it had only tasted metallic and dreadfully mundane.

Vivian stared out at the sea in front of her. It was uncommon that the ocean water would reach as far up as the docks, usually one would need to take the rivers across the Silt Sea for a few miles to reach the ocean ships. The occasion where the ocean water’s tide reached as far as the docks only happened once every two years. When it did, a single boat always carried the twelve Silvian candidates out to Silvian Island.

Having an application accepted by the board was supposed to be one of the most academically challenging achievements one could earn. This year Vivian Topaz happened to be one of the twelve permitted entrance on to the island for studies. Not through any academic merit though. She just had to die and come back to life with the abilities of a Mystic. That was the only possible way for a commoner to ascend into the nobility and, by proxy, ever go to Silvian Island. Death and rebirth. A phenomenon which occurred every several decades. According to her tutors, Natural Mystics used to be far more common. The legendary Silvis himself had been a Flame Natural like herself. Vivian knew she should be proud of her abilities but unworthiness seeped into and overpowered any pride she felt. These eleven other candidates dedicated their lives to studying before being allowed entrance to the island. She just died. It seemed unjust that she should take one of the twelve available spots.

She rounded a corner and immediately tripped over a beggar on the ground. Vivian managed to catch herself on one knee, almost ending up sprawled across the mud. She realized with horror that the new dress Lord Ivory had gifted her was now ruined. Vivian felt as if a piece of herself died. A few months ago she would have had to sell herself into slavery twenty times over just to afford the dress.

“I’s sorry milady. I’s just layin’ here not knowing ladies like yous come by.” The beggar, an elderly woman, only had a few teeth remaining which dangled by blackened gums. She groveled, her eyes directed at the ground but as she did so Vivian felt a cold fear rush into her heart. She recognized the woman. Despite being sent away while Vivian had still been young, her features remained implanted in her mind. More teeth were missing now and even more crusted dirt but still, Vivian remembered her. No name jumped to her tongue, but the face remained potently ingrained in her memory. Vivian prayed that between the years and the makeup caked on her face she might be spared of recognition.

“There is no need, it was my mistake.” Vivian almost immediately realized her lack of regality and tacked on, “Filthy peasant.” Vivian’s attendant helped her to her feet and attempted fruitlessly to brush off some of the mud from the hem. With conscious effort, Vivian averted her eyes from the beggar and glared up at the clouded sky. She proceeded to strut away in an attempt to appear a noblewoman. Not the daughter of a prostitute. Never that. That had been someone else. She was Vivian Topaz. A Mystic of immense power. A feared and respected individual who had been accepted to Silvian Island. Vivian Topaz.

“Vivian, my flower, you really need to work on your vernacular.” She tore her eyes away from the sky and realized Lord Ivory stood in her path.

“What do you mean by that?” Vivian felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

“You were attempting to appear a stuffy noblewoman, right? Terms like ‘filthy peasant’ are too cliché to be realistic, Vivian. You need to retain regality while balancing yourself, there’re already enough nobles fulfilling the stuffy troupe. And in a superior manner too, if I might add.” Lord Ivory gestured behind her. “But, it appears to have warranted the effect you intended all the same. But you need to work on your interactions, that literally filthy peasant appeared more gullible than most. You’re lucky, many people you meet from here on will be slightly more mindful and aware.”

It took a moment for her to register the advice and compose herself once again. Finally, she said, “Are you on your way to the ship?”

“Why else would I be here? Are you suggesting I spend my time drinking and gambling with sailors? Or...perhaps that I come here for the red lantern district?”

“N-no.” She stuttered out.

Lord Ivory chuckled. “I’m only jesting Vivian. Yes, I am here to see you off. You have been my dear guest these last few months, I could hardly allow you to sail away without a proper send-off. It would be embarrassing for one who falls within your social class to be escorted to the ship leaving for Silvian Island by only servants.”

“Oh! Thank you my lord!” Vivian grabbed a hold of the elbow Lord Ivory offered and allowed him to escort her down the twisting paths toward the ship. Her two guards, joined with Lord Ivory’s half a dozen and her attendant, followed at the tail end of the party.

“I see you’ve already managed to bespatter the dress I gifted you. Fortunately, I believe it may be recoverable.”

“You think it can be fixed?” Vivian’s eyes widened at the idea and a wave of relief relaxed the tension in her shoulders.

“That is precisely what I said. Although, you will need someone with skill to fix it.” He looked over his shoulder. “Ida, I assume you have the ability to alter the dress?”

The attendant who wore the spectacles stepped forward. “Yes my lord. I do,” she said.

“Is Ida coming with me to Silvian Island?” Vivian asked. “I thought only the accepted applicants were allowed to go.”

“No one explained your current position? I see your tutors continue to disappoint me at every given occasion.” He sighed before continuing. “It’s no matter, I suppose. Every accepted applicant is allowed to bring one servant to take care of their needs. I decided to gift Ida’s services to you and wrote her name on your file as your attendant. I do hope I did not overstep my boundaries. There may still be time to reassign a different attendant if you prefer.”

“No, Ida is fine.” Vivian glanced over at the woman. She had a very thin build and her hair was pulled back into two brown braids. The woman had only just entered into Vivian’s service in the past week so Vivian lacked the knowledge she had on some of Lord Ivory’s other servants. Toward the beginning of her stay at Lord Ivory’s estate, she had memorized the names of every servant who attended her as well as paying close attention to their lives outside of servitude, but she came to the realization that, instead of making the servants more comfortable, it actually had the opposite effect. The idea of a noble knowing who they were made them uncomfortable and skittish so she had dropped the habit a few weeks back. Ida, though, was almost a complete stranger. Despite not knowing her, Vivian figured Ida would probably be fine, she hadn’t caused any issues in the past week.

“I apologize for not alerting you to this fact beforehand Lady Topaz. I was under the impression that you were aware.” Ida was facing Vivian but it felt as if the apology was directed toward Lord Ivory.

“It’s no trouble. I look forward to getting to know you better, Ida,” Vivian said honestly.

They continued weaving their way through the alleys in silence for a minute before Lord Ivory spoke once again. “I have enjoyed your company at my home these last few months Vivian. Lady Ivory and I will miss you greatly, you’ve added a measure of life into our household. The entire property will feel bleak without your presence.”

“Y-you’re too kind Lord Ivory. You have done so much for me, I’m very grateful.” She clutched his arm. “I am in your debt and I hope I can repay you someday.”

“The best way to repay me is to succeed at Silvian Island so the entire world will know the name Vivian Topaz as well as I do. The pride I would feel from that accomplishment will outweigh any silly self imposed debt.”

Vivian blinked tears out of her eyes. “Why couldn’t you come with me? I'm sure you would have been accepted if you had only applied. Everyone knows you as a genius, and other nobles idolize you.”

“You know.” Lord Ivory paused. “There was a time when all I strived for was to study at Silvian Island. It’s known as a paradise for scholars. The library is vast and, though I have my slight doubts on the validity of the claims, I’ve been told that every book ever written has a copy there. There are tales of scholars getting both mentally and physically lost there for weeks. It’s said that no one can enter the library and exit without having gained new knowledge. Oh, I longed to be a part of it.”

“Why didn’t you go?” Vivian’s curiosity peaked.

“I still ask myself that question. Something held me back. Perhaps it was my position among the nobility or maybe my wife and responsibility to her. Bless my wife, a woman of many talents, but she would never be able to get herself accepted. I would have to leave both if I went onto the island. Every other year for the past two decades I have debated applying and every time I let the deadline slip past saying, ‘maybe in two years.’”

“You almost did come with me?

“No, this year was different. I made the conscious decision long before not to apply. You’re going in my place time; however, I’m going to require you to come back and teach me what you’ve learned.”

“Of course! Are there any specific things you wish to know? If you tell me now I will study them more thoroughly.”

“No, nothing comes to mind.” Lord Ivory hesitated. “Accept maybe…could you look into what happened to Silvis? None of the books I’ve found have been quite clear about his outcome. He’s said to have created Silvian Island after his final battle but he seems to disappear from all records after that. I personally am of the belief that he may have travelled out to the other unknown countries across the sea but I don’t have substantial evidence to back up my claim. You’ll be right there though, exactly where he last left off. I imagine there must be something there hinting at his next location.”

“I’ll do my best to find the answer Lord Ivory. I’ll send you word by letter the moment I discover anything on the topic.”

“Thank you, Lady Topaz. That is most gracious of you. Now I am afraid we have reached our destination. It is time for me to leave you. Our time together may have been short but I truly enjoyed every moment of it.”

The ship was docked in front of them. The name Haven Finder was scrawled across the bow in golden letters. It was a magnificently beautiful ship and, using what miniscule knowledge she knew about boats, she believed it to be in excellent condition.

“I’m going to miss you Lord Ivory. You’ve been wonderful to me. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there for me.”

“Oh, I’m certain you would have come out of it all just fine without me. You’re quite resourceful. I do appreciate the sentiment though. Farewell.”

“Farewell.” Vivian embraced him one last time.

The two broke apart and walked in separate directions. Vivian glanced back for one final look as the lord disappeared into the throng.