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Thicket’s brow furrowed as Lotta reached into her basket and pulled out a small roll of lilac fabric and a pen. She ripped off a chunk and scrawled something along the back. “Here,” she said, pressing the slip into Thicket’s hand.

“What is it?” Thicket asked.

“That,” Lotta said, setting the fabric back in her basket, “is for you to figure out.”

Thicket clutched the slip to her chest. “Thank you, Lotta.”

A mischievous gleam danced in the corner of her eyes. “Don’t thank me yet.”

Once Lotta departed, Thicket turned over the slip of fabric.

Invizible.

It was an incantation.

I cannot tell anyone where you are going if I can no longer see you.

An incantation for invisibility.

Thicket couldn’t help the excited buzz zipping through her body. This was exactly what she needed in order to get past the guards. That was if she could use it.

When Thicket lost her memories, she also lost all knowledge of how to use her magic and had to relearn everything all over again. She found that parts of it came naturally to her, as though while her mind might not remember, her body did. However there was only so much natural talent could compensate for. The textbook Marcellus had given her was only for the most basic incantations and her understanding of how and when to apply them was fragmented at best.

There were two types of magic: spells and enchantments. Spells manipulated the natural energy that existed within the thirteen natural elements. Enchantments on the other hand needed the caster to provide their energy in order to manipulate objects that didn’t possess their own. When doing magic, it was imperative to know which she needed to perform, or the end result could be… unfavorable.

Thicket turned the application of the invisibility incantation over in her mind as she crossed the barren field separating Bilya from the wall.

She didn’t think an enchantment would be the best course of action, unless she were attempting to make another object invisible. The only option that left her with was a spell.

She could only come up with two ways to go about it. She could manipulate the energy of the guards and trick them into not seeing her. Or, she could manipulate her own energy. The latter sounded far more plausible and less draining.

Honing in on the magical energy running rampant inside her, Thicket said, “Invizible.”

She glanced down at her hands. Only, they had vanished. She spun, checking everything from her legs to the voluminous skirt of her dress but there was nothing to be seen. A burble of laughter escaped as she gave one last twirl. She had done it.

Now, she just needed to maintain it long enough to slip past the guards.

Thicket moved carefully as she approached the opening she had carved into the wall. Four guards were stationed at either side, their figures swallowed by the enormity of the aperture. It was large enough to be a giant’s doorway, stretching at least fifteen feet tall and two wagon widths wide, giving her plenty of space to move without worrying about bumping into one of the guards.

She inched past, doing her best to mute the sound of her footsteps against the dried, deadened grass. The guard’s idle chatter helped cover the smaller movements, the rustle of her dress, the slow exhale of her breath.

She was almost to the exit when one of the guard’s voices morphed into something secretive and hushed. Her curious ears were unable to avoid latching onto his words as he said, “Be honest. What do you think the odds are that Princess Thicket will actually be able to beat the Soumort Princess?”

Electricity snapped through her and she stiffened, feet locked into place as the guard to his left hummed thoughtfully.

“She has blue fire,” he said. “She should have a guaranteed victory.”

“That didn’t stop her from getting cursed.”

“Did you anticipate that the Soumort Princess would break the rules of the duel and use magic?” the guard across from the first countered.

“I am not saying Princess Thicket didn’t give her all, but the Soumort Princess has proven she is always one step ahead. If Her Highness were somehow tricked again…”

The guards fell silent—even the two who had stood up for her.

Thicket’s heart shriveled.

It was the Dream World all over again. They had clung to their faith all those years she spent trapped in the sleeping curse, believing she would one day save them. However, since she woke up, she had done nothing but lead death and terror their way. She was the girl who kept failing, time and time again. The girl who always pleaded from the depths of her lonely, aching soul for others to trust her.