The Whispering Pool was a privilege reserved for the Khaera, where only the superiors were allowed to enjoy bathing in its hot springs. Yet, Aden was there, even though he was no superior, and not even a Plumer with a feather to control of his own—only merely a common newblood who happened to be there for five years and caught the attention of the Preceptress who urged him into the role of a welcomist, initially against his will.

Not many favour the idea of a welcomist in the Stonehold, but very few do. And those few essentially happen to be volunteers for the role—when new young telepaths were brought into this sanctuary, the welcomists would take them on a brief tour around the common compound, captivating them to the mysticism of telepathy, convincing them that here is better than out there, where danger lurks and life is unsafe. Many newbloods who were victims of war were taken in, and found themselves home too easily at the comfort and joys the Stonehold held, and it held quite a number of comforts.

The warmth of the spring was a much needed necessity he realized the very first time he stepped into those waters, after having agreed to be a welcomist in exchange for access to the Whispering Pool. Here, there were no voices or eavesdroppers. Here, he had the pleasure of enjoying the little company he had of himself with himself.

Aden tightened his loincloth and melted onto the surface, feeling the heat prickle on his back as he floated upright, facing the rippled texture of the cavity's walls shaped by the wind and water. The evening sun dipped a column of light through one of the orifices onto the surface. The Stonehold was turning cold for the night.

His chest rose as he inhaled a heavy breath, stretching his limbs at the same time, his breathing echoing inside the cavity. He slowly opened his eyes and brought his palm in front of his face. There was a time where even the sight of a hand would have terrified him, even his own. But that time was long lost and would never come again.

In a cautiously measured movement, he brought his right palm close to his left shoulder. Taking another breath, he touched it. A moment passed before he slowly caressed it. I'm in control. This is my hand, and I'm in control. He did the same with his left palm on his right shoulder. When he familiarized himself with his touch, he rose from the water, his feet touching the floor of the pool. His arms were crossed, caging himself as he gripped both shoulders. He embraced himself. His breath heavied, and he tilted his face upwards, breathing the cool air on top instead of the steam emanating from the water..

I am in control. These are my hands, not anybody else's. These are my hands.

When he was done with his shoulders and arms, he moved his hands to his torso. He ran his palms gently from his chest to his naval. He repeated it. Then he washed his neck, and then his back. When he was done with his body he sunk into the water till he sat on the floor. The level of water reached till his chin. Sitting on his back he ran his hands on both his legs under the water, working his way upwards from his feet. He reached his thighs and his hands slowed down. His eyes were watering. His jaw shivered before he sniffled and tightened his eyes to control the tears forming. Unable to picture anything in the darkness behind his closed eyes, his mind pulled him five years back. He opened his eyes immediately. He took another deep breath and submerged himself under the water entirely, remaining there for a good whole minute before he rose again for air.

This was supposed to be a safe space for him to not concern over people being around, where the weight of the world was absent, and when the voices softened. So it startled him a jump in the water when a girl wearing a teal-blue tunic dress was standing by the edge of the pool, silhouetted against the hollow's soft glow.

"Oh, it's you," Aden exhaled, his shoulders untensing.

"I thought I would find you here," she said, tucking a strand of neatly trimmed black hair behind her ear, her fingers brushing against the delicate sway of her gold oblong earrings.

To what do I owe the pleasure of being graced with the presence of the Preceptress' daughter in the Whispering Pool? he let the thought drift to her, amused.

"I need to speak with you," said Nay, approaching forward, her golden-brown skin becoming more visible in the limited light. She didn't sound unserious, and it usually meant she was tangled in something very serious, which was not usual, and she rarely let her burdens show.

Is everything alright? Aden waded towards the shallows.

Nay glanced at her ringed fingers. "My mother spoke to me today."

Aden's jaw dropped in elation before he could help himself. That is wonderful! he mouthed. But when Nay did not return the same mirth, his excitement recoiled. What did you say?

"You should be asking, what she said," Nay corrected him with a performative smile.

Aden hesitated. Alright... What did she say?

Nay plopped to the smooth ground, pulling her knees to her chest. "What do you think?"

There were many ways a conversation could have gone between them. Nay's long standing estrangement with her mother was news long before he befriended her. If they had spoken, it could have been about anything. Aden had a cautious guess, but he needed her to say it out loud.

Either she apologized, or you did, he treaded carefully.

"What?" Nay snapped. "Why the psychs would I owe her an apology?"

Alright, alright, Aden lifted his hands in surrender. It's apparent my guess is as bad as anyone could have thought. Would you like to tell me instead?

Nay let out a slow, laboured sigh. When her cold gaze lifted off the ground, it pinned him with a strange tired weight. "Do you remember when I told you my father was... Dead?"

Aden's breath stalled. I do? What has that got to do with—

"Everything," Nay cut his thought off. "And do you remember the man who chased a newblood outside and got himself killed by the Sandstalkers a few years ago?"

The words settled heavily in the space between them. A ripple moved across the water's surface, vanishing before it reached the edges.

"That man," she said, quiet but unyielding, "was my father."

Aden's breath caught, not in shock, but realization. He'd suspected. The picture made sense now. He knew. But knowing didn't make hearing it any less of a blade to the ribs. Even still, the surprise on his face was genuine. I'm, sorry... I didn't realize sooner.

"No, I chose not to tell anyone. My mother's Nesheteen already look at me differently. I didn't want anyone more to treat or look at me the same way they did, like a feral thing, like I might pounce on them."

Nay was not one to compliment another person with genuine purpose. If this was her way of saying she liked how Aden was around her, he felt oddly comforted by it.

Well. You do have a fearsome face, he joked.

Nay frowned, lifting a cold burning stare at him.

B-but beautiful, he managed.

The corner of her lips curled. "Sometimes I wonder if your refusal to forevow is a ploy disguising your disastrous sense of flattery."

Well, he shrugged, at least it keeps them away.

"Works to your advantage?"

Never been more happy about it, he chuckled.

Her smile widened. She looked like she was glad the discussion shifted to something else. It was evidently already too heavy on her to talk about.

How are your ears? Aden mused.

"Not worse, and neither better. And yes, before you tell me, I have given up my intense carving hobbies and I have been shifted to new clean chambers," she protested gently. "Does not worsen the weak hearing but it certainly does not reverse it either."

Thank the Triverse for telepathy then.

"Thank the Triverse indeed... Now are you going to get out of the water or not? How long do I have to wait for you?"

Aden's eyebrows disappeared behind his wet forelocks. He dropped his gaze to his knees below the water.

"Oh for the love of an empty head, tell me you are not naked."

I am.

"WHAT?"

Not naked, he clarified.

"I like to imagine you chasing behind one of your adoring devotees on a run with your clothes," she mocked.

Adoring? No. Obsessed! Aden exaggerated bringing his hands to his face.

"But wouldn't that be a spectacle?"

It was Aden's turn to frown at her now. You're an impossible spectacle.

That brought out a laugh.

I most definitely heard a few idiotic musings while I was introducing this newblood to Yetaqar.

"Oh, what were they thinking?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with interest.

Aden sighed, having to recall the potential incident earlier today. The poor girl reached to me with her hand and I flinched back from her when I heard someone think, she better not have touched me, he thought with a voice that matched how he remembered hearing it. Forget about forevows, I'm already claimed and owned by over... I lost count of the Taheeneen.

Nay broke into a silent laughter. "Give it a few more years, and you'll have the girl today amongst them too."

You're not wrong, he admitted painfully. The Tahi I welcomed around three years ago approached me last month during the Hearthfast. I will let you guess who she wanted to embrace first.

"Hmmm, I wonder," Nay expressed with playful mockery.

I'll have you know that I hadn't spoken to this Tahi ever again after the welcoming. And on the day of the Lost Found, she comes to a Tah who she never spoke to again to... profess her love.

"You have told me this before."

Aden sighed, It's another one again this time.

Nay broke into another fit of laughter. "I go into the girls' communal and do you know what they think about you?"

I don't care what they think about me, he shrugged. Except cats. I care what the cats think. I want them to like me.

"And how has that been going for you?"

Brilliantly. I have not only made friends with Hazel, but with Lun, Mona, Sela, Nowa, Rei, Hida, Suf, Emba, Pin, Meen, and Shai.

Nay didn't flinch her eyebrows, unlike Elijah who groaned for the second dozenth time when Aden casually adopted another new sandcat into their nook, though it felt free to leave and come back as it pleased.

"I was about to tell you. I have sensed an alarming surge of resentment towards the sandcats."

Aden's jaw fell. WHO IS—

"No, no!" Nay snickered. "No harm have come for the cats, do not worry. The Khaera would not allow it anyway. I meant I have read their minds when they see a cat. Particularly when they are seated on your hands... or your head."

Oh...

"It's a shame. And they still do not seem to give in to the idea that you would never hug or forevow to anyone of them back, some are convinced you would marry one of those cats eventually."

I would rather that than any of them.

Nay rolled her silver-grey eyes.

Look, it's a beautiful tradition, but I have expressed this most precisely, that I would not partake in the Hearthfast and your mother understands too."

"Yes, yes, I am aware. I was not inculpating you."

I know, dear Emira. And I am grateful... And I could be more grateful if you would allow me to exit the Whispering Pool alone, assuredly fully clothed.

"Assuredely," she said, before gracefully turning around to leave. But she had stopped suddenly. She turned only her head. The gold band on her head glimmered softly. "I want to talk more with you, Aden. I admit I haven't been the most present with you, and I wish to change that."

Aden comforted her with a reassuring smile. How about we take a stroll in the terrace tomorrow like last time, and I'll listen to you? I have a seminar to attend to in an hour.

"I would like that," she said, before completely exiting the hollow, her dress regally trailing behind her.

He watched her leave entirely, mind and body, until he could sense no more thoughts around his radius. He let out an exasperated sigh, as if he had been holding his breath for so long.

Nay still wanted to speak to him. He could bet a thousand lohs that it was about her sudden break of silence between her mother, and whatever the conversation would follow to. Aden was not looking forward to what could follow, especially if she was going to propose his involvement in whatever mad plan she had stirring in her mind. Nay was many things, and she wasn't one to admit defeat.

This is either going to take a turn for the worse, now or sooner than later, Aden feared as he stepped out of the water.

He wiped himself with the off-white fabric he brought with himself and wore his cream-coloured tunic and cross leather sandals. Tightening his maroon cummerbund he walked out of the Whispering Pool, wondering what it takes for a person to live without talking to a loved one for years like this.

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What are your thoughts on this chapter? Did anything surprise you, intrigue you, or leave you wanting more? I'd love to hear your theories, insights, and favorite moment. Drop a comment below-I read every single one!

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