The library of Sunspear was silent. Only the soft rustle of ancient pages and the distant chirping of cicadas disturbed the stillness. Mars and Ashara sat on a thick carpet, surrounded by parchment scrolls and heavy leather-bound books.
"There's something here about Nymeria's march along the Greenblood… and here — a fragment about wind curses." Ashara leaned over a brittle page, her dark hair falling into her face.
Mars grinned, tucking a stray strand behind her ear. "You're worse than a maester, you know that?"
"Prettier than a maester though," she shot back with a smirk.
In his mind, the familiar voice stirred.
"How adorable you two are. Like an old married couple."
Mars grimaced in amusement and muttered to himself. Then a thought struck him. He spoke in his mind:
"You know… I can't call you 'Sage' forever. You need a name."
"Oh? Finally realizing that, darling?" The voice was smooth and teasing.
He ran through the names he'd considered. "Nyra… Serenya… Aenyra… Velyra…"
"Velyra… not bad at all."
"Hm…" Mars murmured aloud. Ashara looked up at him.
"What?"
"I'm trying to think… if there were a wise, mysterious woman in some old legend, what would you call her? Any ideas?"
Ashara frowned in thought, then her face lit up. "Velyra. There was a Valyrian queen by that name. She was said to be cleverer than any man in her court. My father told me stories."
Mars grinned wide. "Perfect."
"You do realize I heard all that, don't you?" The voice sounded mock-offended, but he could sense the smile behind it.
"From now on, you're Velyra."
"Accepted, dear Mars."
Ashara studied him for a moment but said nothing.
A little later, they came across a parchment scroll detailing an old wind incantation. Ashara read the words softly, while Mars instinctively formed an ancient water rite — and a tiny whirl of air stirred the scattered leaves on the floor. Both of them froze.
"Did you feel that?" Ashara whispered.
"Yeah," Mars replied, eyes shining.
"Well done, children. Well done," Velyra murmured smugly.