Lightholder mages live by many rules. Among these: second-born twins must die for the good of all.
In this sequel to Garden of Light, Domi, a fifteen-year-old apprentice sorcerer, has just learned the terrible secret that he is the younger twin brot...
Thanks for returning to the sorcerous world beneath the Devouring Eyes.
You have reached Book 2 of the series! You have my gratitude for sticking with me this far!
If you need any reminders about terminology, be sure to take a look at the glossary at the end of the book if you run into words you don't recall.
I've also provided character artwork at the end of each chapter, which I created just for this book using the awesome app at artbreeder.com. Try it out for your own stories!
Finally, please be aware that, unlike book 1, this text has not yet been edited (at least, not to the same degree.) You're going to encounter some typos and other errors, plus some older terminology and character names. Most notably, Lightbearers are called Lightholders here, and Callide (Daedalus's mother) is named Verita. This text will be my next big editing project, but in the meantime, I hope you will still enjoy it!
And now, let us begin...
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"And to each and every one among them the Eternal Radiance bequeathed a place and a purpose within the Garden of Light, like a landscaper arranging tree and vine to feed and beautify. Does the fig tree dream of being the grape vine, or the bean sprout seek to become the snow rose? Know your place, O People, and give the Eternal Radiance thanks for it. Make this world a paradise."
-- from the Holy Ovidiana
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Domi wondered when people were going to start treating him like royalty. Judging from the look Valens was directing down at him, it wasn't going to be any time soon. Not with this man, at least.
"There's a trellis in the garden and it's nothing like the Trellis in the sky," Valens said. He placed a sheet of parchment atop Domi's desk.
"What?" the younger sorcerer asked, frowning up at his impassive aedificans, down at the parchment, and back up again. What kind of sorry excuse for a lesson was this?
The amber-eyed man did not answer Domi's question. Instead, Valens just stared down at his student and waited.
Eyes devour, Domi hated it when his aedificans gave him that particular look. That bored look braced for disappointment, like Valens thought the younger worldholder ought to be capable of responding to the remark with a glorious recitation of the marvels of the universe but fully expected his alumna to instead babble like a baboon.
The older sorcerer was so bloody difficult to impress. No, he was impossible to impress. Even Domi's brother, the Princeps Worldholder, failed to meet Valens's exacting standards and Daedalus Adurere was the most powerful sorcerer on Aquarius.
