by Elise Kova
“Then you wish to know?”
“I did not help you come all this way to stop now.”
Vi closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened them with purpose, looked him right in the eye, and said, “Thrumsana.”
Glyphs appeared from the watch in his hands—layers and layers of them. They swirled around him, filling the room with symbols that Vi could still understand even though Yargen was long gone from her body and mind. In every shining symbol, she saw an entire turn of the vortex written in the language of the gods. She saw joy and sorrow, victory and defeat—she saw herself and Taavin in every one.
Taavin dropped the watch and clutched his head. He trembled, groaning. Vi reached for him.
“It’ll be all right.” She wrapped her arms tightly around his shoulders. “It’ll be over soon.”
His shakes became violent but Vi only held him tighter. The magic began to shine brighter. Taavin’s ragged gasps grew longer and longer. The watch had fallen to the floor and it now glowed white-hot from the endless release of magic. Vi clutched the man in her arms, watching as the watch cracked, released an exhale of fire like a dying breath, and then disintegrated to dark ash.
The magic faded and the room returned to normal. Taavin pushed her away roughly, staggering to the windows. He placed both hands on the panes and continued to inhale and exhale loudly.
Vi stood, waiting for his verdict. Would he truly remember her? Would he still be the Taavin she knew?
Would he hate her for the pain she’d forced him to endure one final time?
She dared to approach him. He still didn’t turn. “Taavin?” she whispered, hoping and pleading at the same time.
He spun in place, looking at her with shining emerald eyes. Vi saw recognition. He knew her.
A surprised, strangled noise escaped her as something like a laugh of relief. Taavin moved for her and Vi stood in joyful shock. This should be impossible.
And yet, those were his arms wrapped around her. His hand on her face, in her hair. His lips pressed to hers—him kissing her as though they were still saying goodbye. Vi’s fingers knotted in his clothes, tugging him closer still. She deepened the kiss, as if to remind him that this was hello.
The world wasn’t ending any longer, though it still contained its share of problems. Light and darkness, chaos and order—everything was precariously balanced. Vi knew better than most that every action was what kept them—all of them—from slipping into despair.
A kiss couldn’t change any of that. A kiss wouldn’t ensure the happiness of Meru and the Solaris Empire, and all the people within for years to come. A kiss wouldn’t be the end of the brutal dance of light and darkness.
But if one kiss could, this kiss would be it.
WANT MORE VI AND TAAVIN?
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Thank you for reading Air Awakens: Vortex Chronicles. If you enjoyed it and have time to leave a review, I would immensely appreciate it.
A review is worth more to an author than a crystal weapon is to Vi.
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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Vi and Taavin’s story is over and the world has been saved from Raspian. Her grand plans of uniting Solaris and Meru have exceeded all expectations with the signing of the Treaty of Five Kingdoms. A tournament has been set to celebrate the unification and surely nothing will go wrong now…
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Turn the page to learn more about A TRIAL OF SORCERERS.
Next in the Air Awakens world…
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Ice is in her blood.
Eira Landan was the most forgettable Waterrunner in the Tower of Sorcerers until the day she decided to compete for a spot in the Tournament of Five Kingdoms. She knew going against the best sorcerers in the Empire wouldn't be easy. Eira expected a fight. She didn’t expect that not everyone would make it out alive.
A new young adult, epic fantasy series filled with magic, action, rivalry, and love.
Return to Solaris in A TRIAL OF SORCERERS to see beloved characters again and meet new favorites.
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Get a sneak peek at Vi’s work on the Tournament of Five Kingdoms and Eira with this special bonus scene: http://elisekova.com/vortex-bonus-scene
Also by Elise Kova
Want to know Vhalla and Aldrik’s story?
If you haven’t already, read the story that started it all with the original Air Awakens series. Described as, “Avatar the Last Airbender meets Harry Potter meets Throne of Glass.” A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond in this bestselling YA fantasy. Romance and magic fill this epic fantasy world.
(You may have to turn the page to see the cover.)
Binge readers rejoice, the original Air Awakens series is complete!
Get book one here: http://getbook.at/AAGG
Or, if you like getting great deals on your books… Save over 50% by buying the digital boxed set: http://mybook.to/AirAwakensBoxedSet
Curious about “Uncle Jax” and his tortured past?
Book one of the Golden Guard Trilogy starts with the story of a young Jax, a Golden Prince, and a Western Lord on a summer quest for pirate treasure that quickly takes a turn for the worst.
Start with The Crown’s Dog: http://viewbook.at/TheCrownsDog
(You may have to flip the page to see the cover)
Or, get the complete trilogy at a discount by grabbing the boxed set: http://viewbook.at/GoldenGuardBox
Not in the Air Awakens Universe
LOOM SAGA
(A dark, epic fantasy)
Recently listed by Bustle as one of 15 new fantasy for Game of Thrones fans! Dark fantasy, grit, enemies to lovers, in an epic new world.
Series complete!
READ NOW: http://mybook.to/TAOL
WISH QUARTET
(Paranormal romance, urban fantasy)
A hacker who can’t handle her magic. A demigod who can’t handle her. Perfect for readers who enjoy time travel, alternate histories, romance, and twisty slow-burn stories.
Series complete!
READ NOW: http://getbook.at/sow
About the Author: Elise Kova
Click Here to view a full list of Elise Kova’s novels on Amazon.
In her past lives, she has graduated from an MBA program, lived in Japan for a bit, and worked for a Fortune 500 technology company. However, she finds herself much happier in her current reincarnation as full-time author. When not writing, she can usually be found playing video games, drawing, watching anime, or talking with readers on social media. She’s happy to call Saint Petersburg, Florida, her home, but is always looking forward to her next trip.
She invites readers to get first looks, giveaways, and more by subscribing to her newsletter at: http://elisekova.com/subscribe
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Appendix
Want even more about the world of Air Awakens than what’s in this book?
Visit Elise’s website at:
http://elisekova.com/the-world-of-air-awakens/
Pronounciation
There is no “wrong way” to pronounce any words in this book. However, if you would like to know how Elise Kova pronounces some of the trickier words and names…
Taavin: T-ah-v-in
Vi: V-eye
Jax: Jacks
Ellene: Uh-lil-een
Meru: Muh-rew
Durroe: Duh-row
Halleth: Hall-eh-th
/>
Ruta: Roota
Toff: Tough
Maph: Maff
Curo: Cure-oh
Radia: Rah-de-ah
Ivin: eh-V-in
Tempre: Te-m-pray
Larrk: Lark
Xieh: Zay
Common Terms
Definitions to common terms found in the Air Awakens world. Presented alphabetically.
Affinity - term used to describe the type of magic a sorcerer has
Affinities of the Self - secondary powers attuned with each elemental affinity
Aires - term for the world, used outside of the Solaris Empire
Awoken - when a sorcerer’s magic is opened in full, giving them access to their channel
Broken Moon - the symbol of the Tower of Sorcerers, stylized as a dragon curled in on itself and split in two, each side off-set
Channel - the source of a sorcerer’s magic that can be “opened” to give them better/easier access to their magic
Commons - a person without magic
Firebearer - a sorcerer with fire magic
Groundbreaker - a sorcerer with earth magic
Manifest - when a sorcerer’s magic first shows itself, usually in a small way
Sorcerer - a person with magic
Tower of Sorcerers, aka, “The Tower” - a school of magic in Solarin, capital of the Solaris Empire, attached to the Imperial Castle
Waterrunner - a sorcerer with water magic
White Death - a plague that causes the diseased’s skin to turn hard, pale, white eyes, madness, and ultimately death
Windwalker - a sorcerer with wind magic
Elemental Affinities
In the Solaris Empire, there are four elemental affinities among sorcerers. Every sorcerer can only perform magic within their affinity.
While magic is not in the blood, many families share the same affinity and the magic between family members of the same affinity is usually similar. However, two sorcerers can give birth to a commons and the reverse is also true.
Affinity: Firebearer
Element: Fire
Most Common Region: The West/Mhashan
Affinity of the Self: Future Sight
Affinity: Groundbreaker
Element: Earth
Most Common Region: The North/Shaldan
Affinity of the Self: Healing
Affinity: Waterrunner
Element: Water
Most Common Region: The South/Lyndum
Affinity of the Self: Listening to the Whispers of the Past
Affinity: Windwalker
Element: Wind
Most Common Region: The East/Cyven
Affinity of the Self: Out of Body Projection
Lightspinning
Lightspinning is a form of magic found beyond the Solaris Empire/Dark Isle. This magic can be utilized in any number of ways based on intent and the words its caster uses. The words are said to have been given from the Goddess Yargen.
The chants Lightspinners use have a structure of: [High level Discipline] [Secondary to the Discipline] [Clarification] [Any Personal Words of Power from the Goddess]
Words of Power Mentioned in the Story so Far:
General Words
High Level Discipline: Halleth (Heal)
Secondary Word(s): Ruta (Mending of Flesh), Maph (Stint Pain)
Clarification Word(s): Sot (Inner), Toff (Outer)
High Level Discipline: Juth (Destruction)
Secondary Word(s): Calt (Shatter), Starys (Incinerate), Mariy (Destroy Magic)
Clarification Word(s): —
High Level Discipline: Durroe (Deceive)
Secondary Word(s): Sallvas (Sound), Watt (Eyes)
Clarification Word(s): Curo (Create a New Sound), Tempre (Mask a Sound), Radia (Hide/Conceal - Eyes), Ivin (Create an Illusion)
High Level Discipline: Mysst (Craft)
Secondary Word(s): Xieh (Shield), Soto (Weapons)
Clarification Word(s): Larrk (Sword), Gotha (Bow), Tonc (Spear), Sut (Axe)
High Level Discipline: Narro (Acts of the Mind)
Secondary Word(s): Hath (Activate Communication Mark),
Samasha (Awaken the Words)
Clarification Word(s): Loreth (Imprint a Communication Mark)
Raspian’s Words
High Level Discipline: Narro (Acts of the Mind)
Secondary Word(s): Vah’deh (Control)
Personal Words
Taavin
Chronot (Slow Progression)
Dupot (Enhance)
Uncose (Expose Truth)
Vi
Hoolo (Stabilize and Strengthen)
Map of Solaris
Sehra’s Map of the World
Detailed Map of Meru
The Story of Dia
The Forest Star
Dia was born when a falling star was caught in the boughs of the tallest tree in Soricum. As she fell, the branches swayed and shook, bestowing life and a mortal form on her. Her skin was made of the bark of the tree, and her hair shone with the godly stardust still captured within it.
She healed the sick and taught the first clerics in Soricium how to use the earth to make salves, potions, and poisons with the knowledge the gods blessed her with. She showed how to craft the first sky cities, cutting through the branches with a magic axe bestowed on her by the Goddess Yargen and rebuilding them effortlessly. She carved Lake Io, the reservoir for all of the North’s fresh water.
However, as time went on, Dia began to feel distanced from the changing people.
Their magic was far less potent than hers, and some were born without it at all. Dia vowed to find a way to ensure the magic of her people remained. Before she wandered into the jungles of Shaldan in search of the wisdom of the gods, she left behind two things to her people.
The first was her daughter, the first Chieftain, born from a seed of what was now known as the Mother Tree.
The second was her axe. When Dia departed, her daughter sealed the axe away, vowing that none were of pure enough body and mind to use it other than Dia herself.
Some say that Dia truly found the wisdom of the gods in the jungles and she continues to wander them to this day. That her power was so great she found the antidote to life’s greatest poison: death.
The last time someone claimed to see the woman, Dia looked no older than any prior time. The stars still shone in her hair, her skin remained firm and weathered like the bark of the tree she came from.
Acknowledgements
Vortex Visions
THE MAN—In you, lives everything. You are my muse, my support, my inspiration, and the font of my worlds. Never-mind the tangible things you do, such as keeping me alive when I spend too long in the writing cave. Thank you for giving me the love and support that I thought was relegated only to magical princesses in fantasy worlds.
REBECCA—My work wife, my literary other half, without you and the countless hours you invested, this book would not have existed in the most literal sense. I would’ve never seen the exact point this story needed to begin and would have never written the contents within. Your mark is on these pages alongside mine and I couldn’t have asked for a better editorial partner. I can’t wait to continue to grow alongside you.
MOM & DAD—Thank you for reading my manuscripts time and again, for buying my books, for your endless support, and for being the best “cruise team” an author and a daughter could ever dream of.
MEREDITH—For all the times I talked to you about this story over a glass of wine… it’s finally here! I love you immeasurably, sister.
NICK, AMANDA, & SABRINA—I couldn’t have asked for more supportive first readers. Thank you three so very much for all the help you’ve given me and being so patient through countless rounds of revisions and me talking your ears off about productive things (like story) and the not so productive things (like my paranoia).
HETAL, JERRICA, & EMMALEE—You three were my pinch hitters, the ones who came in when I was worried it was impossible for me to get a fr
esh opinion. Thank you so much for your initial reads and feedback. I hope you can see, here, how the manuscript was better because of your eyes and thoughts.
KAT, LIZ, & AMBER—Thank you so much for being my final sets of eyes, the last group of guards standing between me and publishing errors.
LUX—Weeks of writing sprints together made this book happen. Every word written, you were there for. You are the writing partner an author dreams about. Supportive, constructive, and always there when I need to sprint. Thank you for your feedback and cheerleading when I needed it most.