Donar listened quietly to trio’s explanations. The deep furrows and tension that had plagued his forehead throughout the day dissipated. However, as one enigma was unraveled, another emerged: how would he relay all of this to their family? No matter, how could he justify it to Grandfather Alasdair? A disgrace to the House in ages past, now the whole kin was deemed unworthy compared to her. The Forgotten was the true anomaly. Haddock on the other hand gulped as he witnessed the branded wound on the girl's hand.
"I believe I have glimpsed that scar before," Haddock muttered, clutching his head. "Though I cannot recall where."
Donar, too, found himself pondering. “You’re right. This is no ordinary blister. Is it really from that orb?
“Orb,” Alicia interjected.
“What?”
"Its name is Orb," she clarified.
“Yes, I just call it an orb.”
“No, no. Its name is literally Orb. You don’t call it as a noun, it doesnae like that.
“How does it even know—Awright, never mind. Orb, yes? Sorry, so this is Orb’s doing?”
“Yes, Orb carved my hand with electric jolts, I think,” Alicia answered, then turned to Haddock. “So you’ve seen this scar? Pardon me, but may I inquire if it would be possible for you to seek what it means again?”
Haddock frowned. “Uhm… yeah, of course. Although I have encountered countless magical symbols, runes, and the like. It could be a mere coincidence or something of that sort."
“I’ve just remembered. The Necromancer. He told me I and Orb were destined to change the face of the world,” stated Alicia again. “I dinnae ken what’s his meaning. But maybe it has a connection to this sign? Or perhaps one of the reasons why he and the previous shinobi attempted to abduct us?"
How Haddock and his father were increasingly perplexed by Alicia's revelations. “I understand. Leave it to me, I shall diligently investigate,” Haddock promised her.
"So, now that you've heard the explanation, are you going to keep Orb or not?" Leith interrupted.
Alicia looked at Haddock with hope in her eyes.
"It would be better if Orb was used by the Magisterium as a pure source of Arcane," Donar spoke up first. "Having a source of holy power separate from Roma would greatly help with controlling the current wave of black magic cases."
"Papa!" Both siblings turned to their father, expressing surprise. Alicia openly voiced her disagreement, while Leith remained reserved yet resolute in his tone. The younger brother had indeed a better understanding of their father's intentions, given his involvement in a secret task related to the Arcane source.
It appeared Donar was not expecting something grand. Behind his impassive face, he opined Orb was better kept in Magisterium’s custody. He knew well his mandate from the House patriarch contradicted such thinking. But the matter had convoluted too far when it involved his daughter. This was a new, distinct problem.
“We can’t keep Orb,” Donar declared. “You will never be safe when Orb is around you. I and Magisterium can’t protect you forever.”
A disheartened tone came from Alicia’s mouth. “So, you also think that I can't hone my magical powers, like the mages at the court?”
“I’m sorry,” Donar was chagrined. “They are not wrong.”
It took time for her to digest the sayings of Donar and the court. Maybe they were right, or it was an utter mistake. But the danger lurking on her skin was the toll she had to accept, along with her acceptance of Orb. To trouble everyone she loved was an ultimate avoidance she had to weigh on—considering she did not have a lot of those.
"I understand," she said, trying to hide her sadness.
Donar offered a faint smile. “Thanks for the understanding, hen.”
Haddock carefully placed Orb inside a specially designed container. “Very well, then,” he remarked. As the container gradually sealed shut, Alicia caught one last glimpse of Orb, without a single word uttered from her lips. Orb let out a melancholy song before the container completely sealed its being.
“Orb is safe with us," Haddock continued. "Alicia, you and the others may leave this place. Rest assured, I still keep my promise to rummage through magic documents to find the meaning of your scar. I’ll let you know when the time comes. ”
“I thank you, Mister Haddock,” answered Alicia, though her voice was plain.
“And since the necromancer is nowhere to be seen,” Haddock added, “I’ll be sending the Magisterium elite wizards to keep a close watch on Lord Donar’s official residence.”
Alicia, accompanied by her family and friends, bid their farewells and made their way back to her father’s official residence.
Since then, Alicia had spoken only the necessary words. She took the liberty to do the cleaning and cooking but nevertheless, the prevailing atmosphere of despondency could not be overlooked by those who dwelled alongside her.
Even during dinner, Alicia consumed her meal in silence, abstaining from engaging in the customary discussions that typically accompanied the evening repast.
“I want to go to my room. I’ll excuse myself first,” she announced after completing her food.
“That was rather fast,” commented Donar. “You sure you don’t want more? Before Gilmore eats all the food.”
“I’m full, Papa.” Alicia approached the washbasin and cleaned her own cutlery. “Good night, everyone.”
Gilmore tried to persuade her. Still no answer. Alicia rushed into her private room. Her best friends felt awkward themselves.
“We worked so hard to help her, and she just ignored us,” Leith grumbled once more, his voice barely audible.
“Leith, not now. Give your sister time,” the father replied.
Alone in her room, Alicia curled up in bed, staring blankly at the white curtains covering the window. Despite the storm of emotions raging within her, her eyes remained dry. And sleep eventually offered her a reprieve in the form of a utopian dream. []
Donar listened quietly to trio’s explanations. The deep furrows and tension that had plagued his forehead throughout the day dissipated. However, as one enigma was unraveled, another emerged: how would he relay all of this to their family? No matter, how could he justify it to Grandfather Alasdair? A disgrace to the House in ages past, now the whole kin was deemed unworthy compared to her. The Forgotten was the true anomaly. Haddock on the other hand gulped as he witnessed the branded wound on the girl's hand.
"I believe I have glimpsed that scar before," Haddock muttered, clutching his head. "Though I cannot recall where."
Donar, too, found himself pondering. “You’re right. This is no ordinary blister. Is it really from that orb?
“Orb,” Alicia interjected.
“What?”
"Its name is Orb," she clarified.
“Yes, I just call it an orb.”
“No, no. Its name is literally Orb. You don’t call it as a noun, it doesnae like that.
“How does it even know—Awright, never mind. Orb, yes? Sorry, so this is Orb’s doing?”
“Yes, Orb carved my hand with electric jolts, I think,” Alicia answered, then turned to Haddock. “So you’ve seen this scar? Pardon me, but may I inquire if it would be possible for you to seek what it means again?”
Haddock frowned. “Uhm… yeah, of course. Although I have encountered countless magical symbols, runes, and the like. It could be a mere coincidence or something of that sort."
“I’ve just remembered. The Necromancer. He told me I and Orb were destined to change the face of the world,” stated Alicia again. “I dinnae ken what’s his meaning. But maybe it has a connection to this sign? Or perhaps one of the reasons why he and the previous shinobi attempted to abduct us?"
How Haddock and his father were increasingly perplexed by Alicia's revelations. “I understand. Leave it to me, I shall diligently investigate,” Haddock promised her.
"So, now that you've heard the explanation, are you going to keep Orb or not?" Leith interrupted.
Alicia looked at Haddock with hope in her eyes.
"It would be better if Orb was used by the Magisterium as a pure source of Arcane," Donar spoke up first. "Having a source of holy power separate from Roma would greatly help with controlling the current wave of black magic cases."
"Papa!" Both siblings turned to their father, expressing surprise. Alicia openly voiced her disagreement, while Leith remained reserved yet resolute in his tone. The younger brother had indeed a better understanding of their father's intentions, given his involvement in a secret task related to the Arcane source.
It appeared Donar was not expecting something grand. Behind his impassive face, he opined Orb was better kept in Magisterium’s custody. He knew well his mandate from the House patriarch contradicted such thinking. But the matter had convoluted too far when it involved his daughter. This was a new, distinct problem.
“We can’t keep Orb,” Donar declared. “You will never be safe when Orb is around you. I and Magisterium can’t protect you forever.”
A disheartened tone came from Alicia’s mouth. “So, you also think that I can't hone my magical powers, like the mages at the court?”
“I’m sorry,” Donar was chagrined. “They are not wrong.”
It took time for her to digest the sayings of Donar and the court. Maybe they were right, or it was an utter mistake. But the danger lurking on her skin was the toll she had to accept, along with her acceptance of Orb. To trouble everyone she loved was an ultimate avoidance she had to weigh on—considering she did not have a lot of those.
"I understand," she said, trying to hide her sadness.
Donar offered a faint smile. “Thanks for the understanding, hen.”
Haddock carefully placed Orb inside a specially designed container. “Very well, then,” he remarked. As the container gradually sealed shut, Alicia caught one last glimpse of Orb, without a single word uttered from her lips. Orb let out a melancholy song before the container completely sealed its being.
“Orb is safe with us," Haddock continued. "Alicia, you and the others may leave this place. Rest assured, I still keep my promise to rummage through magic documents to find the meaning of your scar. I’ll let you know when the time comes. ”
“I thank you, Mister Haddock,” answered Alicia, though her voice was plain.
“And since the necromancer is nowhere to be seen,” Haddock added, “I’ll be sending the Magisterium elite wizards to keep a close watch on Lord Donar’s official residence.”
Alicia, accompanied by her family and friends, bid their farewells and made their way back to her father’s official residence.
Since then, Alicia had spoken only the necessary words. She took the liberty to do the cleaning and cooking but nevertheless, the prevailing atmosphere of despondency could not be overlooked by those who dwelled alongside her.
Even during dinner, Alicia consumed her meal in silence, abstaining from engaging in the customary discussions that typically accompanied the evening repast.
“I want to go to my room. I’ll excuse myself first,” she announced after completing her food.
“That was rather fast,” commented Donar. “You sure you don’t want more? Before Gilmore eats all the food.”
“I’m full, Papa.” Alicia approached the washbasin and cleaned her own cutlery. “Good night, everyone.”
Gilmore tried to persuade her. Still no answer. Alicia rushed into her private room. Her best friends felt awkward themselves.
“We worked so hard to help her, and she just ignored us,” Leith grumbled once more, his voice barely audible.
“Leith, not now. Give your sister time,” the father replied.
Alone in her room, Alicia curled up in bed, staring blankly at the white curtains covering the window. Despite the storm of emotions raging within her, her eyes remained dry. And sleep eventually offered her a reprieve in the form of a utopian dream. []
