Shortly after having her bath, and dressed up for the day, the chaotic symptoms vanished. And Ro was left with a startling clarity. Manipulating her very essence itself seemed far easier. Reducing and enhancing it at will was something she had never thought possible. Much less the things she would be able to do with it.
She sat at the edge of the bed, her bare foot was on the marble floor. A flooring made from stone. Stone that was derived from the Earth.
Her very cells resonated with it.
She could feel the immediate expanse of the rooms, and chambers around her. Every nook and crevice of the wall, every bump, every imperfection, and its strengths. Most especially, she could sense every organism that moved within and across those spaces.
And from the soles of her feet alone, she could tell the castle teemed with people. A lot of Lispans.
She sensed the servants stationed outside her door. The wolves and bears that littered the courtyard, moving objects and beautifying the immediate environment.
Ro did not have to look out the window to be aware of all these things.
She spread out her search, expanding her reach far beyond Iver's courtyard and soon, a buzzing in her ears made Ro flinch and stop.
She hunched over and squeezed her eyes shut, a hand to her forehead.
She should first learn to control it rather than use it carelessly.
The door slightly opened.
"My Lady?" Ester peeked in, and the worry on her face shifted to relief.
Ro let out a small smile. "I feel a lot better. I am fine, thank you."
Ester sighed and stepped in. "You have a—"
"Good day, Ro."
The door opened wider to reveal Geneva. Ro's eyes widened in surprise. She had sensed someone else but hadn't been able to discern who they were.
It seemed, much like Iver, the older woman too, knew how to mask her presence.
Ro stood up, but Geneva quickly shook her head. "No, please. That isn't necessary."
"Oh… Thank you. Good day, Geneva." Ro sat back down. She glanced at Ester. "Please, can you bring over the stool from the vanity?"
Ester opened her mouth to speak but Geneva raised her hand. "No, that won't be necessary."
She nodded at Ester who promptly nodded at both women and excused herself from the chamber. Geneva sighed and walked towards the bed, her yellow dress flowing with her movements. The same scarf Ro had seen in the carriage was wrapped around her neck.
"I have been seated for most of this morning. I am much more comfortable standing," Geneva spoke, facing Ro. "How are you? The servants said you seemed ill earlier…"
"I… I am fine. I am not sure… why it happened." Ro momentarily looked at her hands on her lap.
"Hmm… You were ill on the ship too. You do not seem to have a weak countenance. I hope it was just the jitters and homesickness," she said softly, her smile fading.
"I think so too." She paused. "To be honest. I am… very nervous."
'Would she understand me if I told her the truth?'
"Well… You should be."
Ro frowned. Her heart skipped a bit. She slowly raised her head to find Geneva facing one of the windows, her hands clasped behind her back.
Aside from her words. Something in the tone of her voice felt wrong.
"What do you mean?" Ro asked, incredulous.
'I must have misheard that.'
Geneve let out a short bitter laugh that ended just as quickly as it had begun. "I did not understand Iver at first. And when he also told me you had gotten far stronger, I just had to see for myself."
She slowly turned to look at Ro, her eyes considerably darker.
"You may underestimate the servants and attendants here. You may also underestimate Iver's absence. But that man is aware of 'every single thing' that happens within these grounds."
Geneva fully turned to face Ro. Disappointment flickered past her face and she closed her eyes, raising her hand to cradle the bridge of her nose.
Moments passed by in the dreadful silence.
Ro's heartbeat slowed considerably, and the shock rendered her mute. What was she supposed to say?
But how could he have known?
When Geneva opened her eyes, the darkness was gone. Her face was now impassive. "I won't question you, Ro." She lowered her hand. "Until tomorrow, you will not leave this castle. Do not try it."
Geneva turned on her heel and briskly walked out of the chamber. There was no click of the lock, only retreating footsteps.
The figures Ro had initially sensed in front of her bedchamber were gone. They had gone shortly after Geneva's initial entry.
A ringing sound plagued Ro's ears. It did not stop, and soon, it was accompanied by a heavy feeling in her stomach.
Something within her shattered.
They knew.
He knew!
Ro remained, seated like a frozen statue. Geneva's expressions lingered in her mind.
What made it even worse was that she had no idea what they knew.
About her wanting to escape, about her abilities, or about the deception.
A sudden coldness hit Ro at her core and she gasped for air, collapsing to the floor. Her fingers grabbed onto the bed spread as she knelt on the ground.
At the dinner. How could she have missed it? Iver had seemed different. Had he known at that moment too?
Her chest tightened, making breathing even more difficult.
As the moments stretched on, the last vestiges of hope in Ro, died.