Back to Atlantis

of queens adorned the walls, and flowers filled the air with their perfume. It was weird, but it helped Yasmin find her way.
Eventually she came to a red and gold door with a stay out sign on it. She supposed it was Princess Amanda’s room, since she could hear music playing inside.
Gathering her courage, Yasmin knocked three times. The piano music stopped and then Princess Amanda opened the door and looked at Yasmin strangely.
“What do you want?” Princess Amanda asked on guard. “Are you here to criticize me again?”
Yasmin swallowed hard and looked at the ground. “I wanted to apologize for the other day. I realized that I can’t blame you for what David did, how he deceived me. You were very welcoming, and I was rude. Sorry.”
Warm fingers lifted her chin, Yasmin looked up, startled. “I understand you were under a lot of pressure. But please think before you act next time. This kingdom doesn’t revolve around you.”
Yasmin nodded, looking at the ground. She hated disappointing people.
“Have you spoken to David at all?” Princess Amanda asked.
“No, I haven’t. I don’t want to see him and it seems the feeling is mutual,” Yasmin said, remembering the look on his face the night of the ball.
“I don’t think so.” Princess Amanda leaned against the doorway. “He was very hurt by what you said, but he doesn’t seem angry. Even though you provoked him very much, he really cares about you.”
“He hurt me,” Yasmin said simply. “I thought I could trust him, and now I’m in a whole new continent and he has been lying to me the whole time. It would hurt too much to see him.”
“Don’t let your fear stop you,” Princess Amanda said, looking at Yasmin with wisdom. “If you really love him, fight. Otherwise you will regret it.”
Yasmin didn’t acknowledge that part. “I gotta go back to Gloriana before she kills me,” she declared jokingly, trying to change the subject.
“Gloriana, huh? She scares me!” Princess Amanda smiled. “But she’s a good teacher, and together perhaps you could save the kingdom. We need hope. The people are losing hope.”
Looking at the shadows under Princess Amanda’s eyes, Yasmin thought of all the sacrifices the people were making. Someone else should have been the mage, she thought. Someone who was braver, smarter, and really cares. Me? I just started this to spend time with the boy who broke my heart.
Suddenly feeling ashamed, Yasmin looked down. “Goodbye, Princess Amanda.”
“Call me Amanda.” Amanda looked at Yasmin, her eyes filling with mirth. “I have a feeling you will have quite an impact on this kingdom!”

Chapter 5
Training & forest fires
For the next week Yasmin trained herself physically and mentally, enduring obstacle courses and putting on a happy face.
What Amanda had said really hit home. She never wanted to hurt David, just make him regret hurting her. Maybe she should talk to him, sort this out and break up with him properly.
‘Are you nuts?!’ The voice in her head said. ‘That boy is despicable! He broke my heart and yours! Why should you even give him a passing thought?’
‘I hurt him.’ Yasmin thought back. ‘I was unfair, and didn’t even give him a chance to explain himself. And no matter what, I still care about him, and that’s why it hurts so much. If I talk to him, maybe I can sort myself out.’
‘You speak to him, your heart will break again!’ Her voice said. ‘And I thought I was broken. Putting yourself back together takes time, and you can’t do it in pieces.’
Yasmin couldn’t think of anything to think-again, so she just kept walking to training. A servant ran past her, skidded to a stop and turned around.
“Are you the mage?” he asked, breathing hard.
Yasmin nodded, surprised he knew who she was. Conveniently forgetting the scene she had made at the ball.
“Gloriana Stargazer want me to show you the way to the castle village. Come with me.”
He set off to a run, not waiting for her answer.
Couldn’t she have a quiet morning? With a silent groan, Yasmin ran after the boy, wondering what was so important that Gloriana couldn’t tell her herself.
Running into the woods, Yasmin began to smell the distinct smell of smoke. Feeling bad, not because she hated smoke—Yasmin loved fire—but because it seemed like this was the way to the castle village, Yasmin stopped.
The boy stopped too, looking back at her with the disgruntled expression of a cat. “Are you coming? This isn’t a fun time, you know!”
Eyes wide, Yasmin ran after him again.
The trees parted, giving way to a clearing. A village was there, or the remnants of one. Burning houses were everywhere, and the fire was jumping to the nearby trees. Yasmin looked around wondering what could have done this and hoping that nobody had died.
“There you are!” Gloriana said, her normally pristine perfect clothes singed. “I’ve been waiting!”
“What happened here, Gloriana?!” Yasmin asked, lifting her shirt to her nose so as to not breathe in smoke.
“What do you think? The rebellion, with some strong spellcaster who knows how to start a fire. Some of the villagers got out in time, but some didn’t, and some stayed to fight. You can guess what happened to them.” Gloriana waved her hand around the rubble that was around them.
Yasmin suddenly felt nauseous, and hoped that not too many people had died. “Can we stop the fire, at least?” she asked, hoping for a yes.
“I need your strength. But, yes, I should be able to.” Gloriana took Yasmin’s hand and silently asked for permission.
Yasmin nodded, letting Gloriana into the supply of power that she had.
“Hmm,” Gloriana said. Lifting her arms, she drew a symbol in the air. Buckets of water—without the buckets—fell from the sky, landing on everything in sight. Including Yasmin and Gloriana, but because it got rid of the smoke, neither complained.
“Echh!” Yasmin spit out a mouthful of water. “What was—” Her knees suddenly felt weak, and the ground came closer. With an ever-growing feeling of disgust—she hated fainting—Yasmin collapsed