The Legacy Series, #2
Storm of Secrets and Sorrow
by Melissa K. Roehrich
Contents
26. Tessa
Overview
Rordan provokes Tessa into combat with Dagian, forcing her to harness her light and decisively subdue him, proving both her capacity and volatility. Later, Head Priestess Elowyn reveals Tessa’s nightly tea is an elixir to unlock truths. Rordan seals a Blood Vow granting her agency. Tessa chooses to drink, embracing the coming revelations.
Summary
Tessa trains in Faven under an Achaz instructor when Rordan arrives with Dagian. Rordan lectures on Chaos, Legacy power, and how emotion triggers magic. To teach control through necessity, Rordan orders Dagian to attack. Tessa initially resists surrendering to her magic but, pushed past fear and belittlement, consciously summons her full power.
Tessa’s light erects a barrier, fractures the floor, and forms bindings that drag Dagian to her. She shocks him, denies his appeals for help, and demonstrates precise restraint. Rordan then blankets her power with his own, reminding her he remains stronger and hinting there is more to discover. Tessa yields outwardly while sensing something deeper still waiting within.
Days later, before a new assessment, Dex tries to steady Tessa. Rordan enters with Head Priestess Elowyn. The priestess presents the same tea Tessa has been drinking in Faven; Rordan reveals it contains an elixir preparing her for answers. When Dex presses, Tessa’s anger flares and her power lashes out, but Rordan reframes this as a moment for her to claim agency.
Rordan offers a true choice and seals it with a Blood Vow that whatever truths emerge, the decisions will be Tessa’s. Assured of her autonomy for once, Tessa accepts the tea and drinks, allowing her body and magic to respond and opening herself to the revelations to come.
Who Appears
- TessaProtagonist; forced into combat to access her light, subdues Dagian, then chooses to drink an elixir after earning agency via Blood Vow.
- Rordan (Lord Jove)Achaz Lord; lectures on Chaos, orchestrates Dagian’s attack, asserts superior control, reveals the elixir-tea, Blood Vows that choices are Tessa’s.
- DagianAchaz heir; attacks Tessa to provoke her power, is restrained and shocked by her light, calls to his father for aid.
- DexTessa’s companion and guard; urges her to submit to the process, angers her, stays nearby during the elixir assessment.
- ElowynHead Priestess of Faven; presents the elixir-laced tea and oversees the assessment meant to unlock truths for Tessa.
- DysaniFae protector to Rordan; stands ready with ice daggers during Tessa’s power surge and Rordan’s negotiation.
- InstructorAchaz Legacy trainer; supervises Tessa’s session and defers as Rordan takes control of her lesson.
- SashaBonded to Dagian; anxious but does not intervene as Tessa restrains the heir.