A Darker Shade of Magic
Chapter 32: Festival & Fire III
by Schwab, V. E.Kell and Lila navigate the bustling streets of Red London during Prince Rhy’s celebrations, with Kell acutely aware of the dangerous black stone in Lila’s pocket. The talisman’s pull unsettles him, but he suppresses the urge to take it, knowing its existence threatens everything. As they move toward the Ruby Fields, Kell grapples with guilt for abandoning Rhy’s procession, though he consoles himself with the belief that his brother will eventually understand his absence. Despite keeping a low profile, Kell senses scrutiny—both from Lila and unseen observers—heightening the tension of their clandestine journey.
Lila confronts Kell about his evasiveness, pressing him to explain why he hides from royal guards despite being treated like nobility. Their exchange reveals Kell’s complicated relationship with the royal family: he is not a prince but a possession, valued yet not truly belonging. His bitter admission exposes his inner conflict—though raised with privilege, he feels like a tool rather than family. Lila, unimpressed, dismisses his self-pity, arguing that his security and care far outweigh the struggles of her own harsh life. This confrontation forces Kell to see her as a survivor, hardened by desperation.
The argument culminates in Kell acknowledging Lila’s perspective, admitting his ingratitude. He yearns for the comfort of the palace and Rhy’s camaraderie but accepts his duty to rectify a mistake that endangers them all. Lila, however, rejects his sympathy, reclaiming her tough demeanor with a drawn knife. Their dynamic shifts subtly as Kell, resigned to her defiance, refocuses on their mission. The approaching storm mirrors the brewing turmoil, both external and internal, as they near their destination.
As they approach the Ruby Fields, Kell reveals their goal: a token to access White London. He withholds the truth that this marks the end of Lila’s journey, hinting at the innkeeper Fauna’s abrasive personality. The chapter ends abruptly as they round a corner, leaving their discovery—and the fate of their alliance—unresolved. The tension between duty, survival, and unspoken bonds lingers, setting the stage for the next confrontation.
FAQs
1. What internal conflict does Kell experience regarding the stone in Lila’s pocket, and how does this reveal his complex relationship with magical objects?
Answer:
Kell feels a powerful pull toward the stone in Lila’s pocket, believing that holding it would make “everything all right,” even as he rationally knows its existence is dangerous. This contradiction highlights his vulnerability to magical influence and his struggle between desire and duty. The talisman represents both comfort and peril, mirroring his own role as a magical “possession” of the crown—valued yet constrained. His shivering and attempts to ignore the stone’s allure demonstrate his self-awareness but also his inability to fully resist its power, foreshadowing deeper conflicts about agency and control.2. Analyze how Lila’s perspective on privilege and survival challenges Kell’s self-pity about his royal ties. What does this reveal about their contrasting worldviews?
Answer:
Lila harshly rejects Kell’s lament about being a “possession” of the royals, pointing out his material security and relationships (“you have everything you could ever need”). Her tirade—citing freezing, starvation, and violence as realities she’s faced—exposes her survivalist mentality shaped by hardship. This confrontation forces Kell to recognize his relative privilege, as seen when he admits she’s right and reflects on the warmth of his royal connections. Their exchange underscores Lila’s pragmatic view of survival versus Kell’s emotional need for belonging, revealing how trauma shapes their values: she prioritizes safety, while he yearns for authentic love.3. How does the chapter use physical spaces (Red London, the Ruby Fields) to reflect Kell’s psychological state and the story’s tension?
Answer:
The bustling festival streets of Red London, which Kell avoids, symbolize his isolation from the life he desires (evident in his guilt over missing Rhy’s celebration). His movement toward the Ruby Fields—a liminal space on the city’s edge—mirrors his transition from denial to action regarding the stone’s threat. The recurring “eyes on him” and hiding in doorways amplify his paranoia, while the approaching storm mirrors impending crisis. The Ruby Fields’ introduction as a gateway to White London also marks a point of no return, spatially reinforcing Kell’s shift from self-pity to duty as he prepares to leave his home.4. Why does Kell’s description of his royal ties as ownership (“they own me”) conflict with his later realization about love and duty? Discuss this character paradox.
Answer:
Kell initially frames his bond to the royals as transactional (“a weapon, a shield”), emphasizing his lack of blood ties to suppress his attachment. Yet his admission that he loves them—and that protecting them is both duty and personal choice—reveals a deeper connection. This paradox reflects his internalized shame about his status (calling himself a “trinket”) warring with genuine familial bonds, particularly with Rhy. His visceral longing for home (“to swing his arm around Rhy’s neck”) proves his earlier detachment was a defense mechanism. The chapter thus explores how societal roles (“possession”) complicate authentic relationships.5. Predict how Lila’s reaction to Kell’s royal affiliation might influence their dynamic moving forward, using textual evidence to support your analysis.
Answer:
Lila’s mocking disbelief (“You poor thing”) and immediate pushback suggest she’ll continue challenging Kell’s privilege, but her brief vulnerability (“frightened, albeit clever, girl”) hints at mutual growth. Her quick return to aggression (“knife in her hand”) shows she uses hostility to mask fear, implying future conflicts where Kell’s loyalty to the crown clashes with her distrust of power systems. However, her follow-up questions about the Ruby Fields indicate curiosity, not retreat, foreshadowing uneasy collaboration. Their dynamic may balance antagonism with reluctant respect, as both recognize parallels in their guarded natures (Kell hiding from guards, Lila “guarding her life like a candle”).
Quotes
1. “Nothing would be all right so long as the stone existed. Still, it pulled at his senses, and he shivered and tried not to think about it as he led Lila through Red London, away from the noise and toward the Ruby Fields.”
This quote captures the central conflict of the chapter—the dangerous allure of the black stone and Kell’s internal struggle to resist its pull while navigating the city. It sets up the tension that drives their journey.
2. “I belong to them. They own me. I’m a possession. A trinket… I have worth to them and so they keep me, but that is not the same as belonging.”
This pivotal moment reveals Kell’s complex relationship with the royal family and his painful sense of being valued but not truly loved. It’s a key character insight that explains much of his conflicted emotions throughout the story.
3. “Love doesn’t keep us from freezing to death, Kell… Love doesn’t buy us anything, so be glad for what you have and who you have because you may want for things but you need for nothing.”
Lila’s harsh but truthful speech represents a turning point where she challenges Kell’s perspective on privilege and survival. This quote powerfully contrasts their worldviews and forces Kell to reconsider his self-pity.
4. “And for the first time, Kell saw Lila. Not as she wanted to be, but as she was. A frightened, albeit clever, girl trying desperately to stay alive…”
This moment of realization shows Kell’s growing understanding of Lila’s true nature beneath her tough exterior. It marks an important development in their relationship dynamic.
5. “Because it was his duty to protect them. And because he loved them.”
These simple yet powerful concluding lines reveal Kell’s true motivations—his sense of responsibility and deep (if complicated) love for the royal family, despite his earlier protests. They represent his emotional resolution in this chapter.