"Congratulations, miss deep green core. Everything went according to your plans.“ Dusk said from his mirror, without any trace of sarcasm in his voice. "You can now enroll in any academy of your choosing.“
"Thanks." Kelia said, and after he remained silent for a while, she added: "I meant, thank you for your help, Dusk. I really messed up this time."
It was actually what always happened when she didn't follow his advice, but the Red Sun just accepted her gratitude.
"You are welcome. Before we move out, there's someone I want to introduce you."
"Who?" Kelia asked, wol?ng down her food.
"My mother." He replied.
***
After Kelia was done taking her bath and combing her hair, she uncovered the mirror. It was not really effective since Dusk saw and hear everything through her senses, but she liked to keep at least the impression to have some privacy.
Then, they called together upon the Red Mother.
Baba Yaga had a special connection with her Firstboms, even those like Dusk who had fallen from her grace. She wanted to teach him a lesson, not to kill him so she had left the ability to contact her intact.
This way, the Horseman could ask Baba Yaga's help when in danger and maybe even help her to locate Night. The Red Mother could feel from the strength of the call that her son had ?nally found a host.
With Dusk's powers sealed and Kelia being incapable of using dimensional magic, they couldn't Warp to the tower on their own.
Baba Yaga had to give them a pick—up spot outside Gima where she would wait for them.
Kelia wasn't impressed by the run—down hut, nor by the person that opened the door. She had expected the Red Mother to be an imposing ?gure, like a Queen or an Empress, not a hunched old woman that was even shorter than her.
ln Kelia‘s experience, old people used their harmless appearance to hide their intentions and their age as an excuse for their cruelty.
When the Crone tried to caress her head, Kelia slapped the hand away and green ?ames burst from her ?sts.
"No one touches me, old hag. Not anymore!" She said with a snarl.
"What the heck did you tell her about me, Dusk?" The Red Mother's voice was stone cold as she talked to Kelia‘s chest, where the red crystal resided, ignoring the girl.
"He told me everything I needed to know, you sicko." Kelia conjured a cape to cover herself, having misunderstood the situation.
"You called me here. If this is how you intend to behave, you have just wasted my time." The Crone said. "I'm not going to listen to a word you say until l make sure that you have really changed your ways,
Dusk.
"Either you let me check this rude mnt with Sun and Moon or l‘ll leave.“
Kelia and Dusk whispered to each other for a while before consenting
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