As the two frightened, young elves sprinted through the forest, they risked fleeting glances at the broken path logger as it led them north. It's shattered glass glinting ominously in the fading light. Nao trips on a root. He was flung forward and the air knocked from his lungs as he landed hard on his chest, a strangled cry escaping his lips. For a moment, he lay there, stunned and vulnerable as the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves filled his nostrils. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, sounded like the approach of some unseen predator. His imagination painted vivid images of the horrors that might be lurking just beyond the veil of trees and smoke. But the desperate need to stay with his sister coursed through him. Ignoring the pain that shot through his ribs, the burning ash in his lungs, and the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm him, Nao pushed himself up. Ignoring the pain in his chest, he bolted alongside Aurelia. His small hand reached for hers, as every nerve jolted with pain. The forest was now a deadly labyrinth. In the distance, a low growl rumbled through the trees, a sound that was not of any forest creature they knew. It was… a person? It can't be…
Nao's biggest fear had come into fruition. Aurelia glanced back at the sound of leaves and twigs snapping behind them, and her blood ran cold as she let out a loud cry for help that echoed through the trees. A massive black, lanky dog (but somehow still fluffy around its long neck) was giving chase. It's form shifting and contorting at unnatural speeds, but it was its face that twisted their hearts with dread. It was a grotesque imitation of a human face. It was stretched and elongated, with small eyes that burned with malevolent intelligence. Its voice, an almost feminine and eerie broken cry, carried through the trees.
"Heelllpp...!! I'm burninnggg… burning…hehehe…" The dark creature slurred its words and seemed to tease them as it charged towards the horrified elves. It laughed and giggled as it drew closer. Aurelia took Nao's hand, and she tried her hardest to run even faster than before. The devilish hound gained on them with every stride of its long legs. The sound of bones cracking and ligaments shifting was enough to make Aurelia and Nao feel sick... Just as the creature's shadow fell upon them, and its hot breath reached their backs, a figure flickered in the distance, then suddenly jumped up at an incredible height in front of them. Still unseen by the duo, the figure raised a hand, and a surge of raw magical power erupted from a glowing runic circle. The neon green wave of mana surged towards the creature in a piercing beam of light. The black dog screamed in pain before being instantly swallowed by the light and vanishing. It left its echoing howl and the fading scent of meat, blood, and mold behind.
Aurelia and Nao froze as the adrenaline of their escape was abruptly replaced by a chilling dread. They stood still with the lingering energy of the mysterious beam's wisps in the air around them. Their eyes darted frantically, desperately searching the shadows for the source of this sudden intervention. Then, as if conjured from the very fabric of the twilight, a mysterious figure calmly stepped their way. He was tall and imposing, dressed in a pristine white coat that flowed around him like a waterfall. The fabric itself is woven with threads of what looked like ancient text, glowing faintly with an inner light. At the robe's center was an emblem, an azure cross reminiscent of a plus sign, that pulsed with reflecting moonrays. His face was framed by a pair of strange glasses. From the sides of the frames hung delicate strings of deep blue crystals, each one faceted and gleaming. His hands were encased in large gloves of a deep blue that matched the crystals. The material was smooth and unblemished, and his boots appeared to be crafted from some kind of polished, silver alloy, large and ornate. Aurelia, her senses overwhelmed by the sudden appearance and otherworldly presence of the figure, could only stare. Her mind reeled, and her shock slowly morphed into profound confusion. Nao gave a quick nudge to her back and broke her daze-like state.
"O-Oh! Thank you, sir! Thank you so much…!" Aurelia stammered. Nao, his face streaked with dirt and tears, vigorously wiped at the stains with a trembling hand, his small body shaking with the aftermath of their harrowing escape, as well as the sights they had run from. The mysterious man, his expression softening with a profound empathy, reached out and placed his hand on Aurelia's shoulder. The touch, though firm, radiated an unexpected warmth that seemed to remove the lingering fear.
"It's okay... I heard..." He spoke in a low, soothing tone. He then turned his gaze towards Nao, his eyes filled with a reassuring kindness.
"Come with me. I know where it's safe for you two."
With a tender motion, he enveloped each of the young elves' hands in his large gloves. His touch is surprisingly gentle and secure. He then guided them towards a path that branched off into an unfamiliar direction. Aurelia looks at the broken logger and notices it still points north. Aurelia, still trembling slightly, cast nervous glances at the man, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and apprehension. Nao, however, seemed to sense something different. Despite the man's otherworldly appearance and the mystery surrounding his sudden arrival, the young elf felt an inexplicable pull of trust, a sense of familiarity. As they walked towards a new location, the dim, flickering lights emanating from the houses beyond the gate in front of them gradually intensified, growing stronger and more numerous as the town's residents stirred. Their forms silhouetted against the lights from the windows.. As Aurelia, Nao, and their mysterious guide passed through the entrance, they couldn't help but notice the curious eyes peering at them from the windows of the surrounding buildings. At first, the gazes were mere fleeting glimpses, but as more and more windows were lit with the golden hues of candlelight and electric light, the more intense and focused the stares became. It was clear that the news of the tragedy that had occurred at Sai Machi had spread quickly, carried on the wings of the taeta birds. The swift messengers that the nearby cities used to rapidly spread information with each other. The winged creatures soared between houses as their words carried both warnings and condolences.
After traversing the watchful town, the trio finally arrived at a rather unique building. The structure bore the same distinctive symbol that was pictured on the man's white coat, the azure cross that pulsed with a soft light. Aurelia and Nao exchanged puzzled glances, silently wondering if this was a house of some sort. However, as they stepped inside, their initial assumptions were quickly dispelled. The interior was far from anything they could have imagined. As the man turned on the lights, the room was bathed in a soft, calming glow, revealing a space that was both awe-inspiring and bewildering. The two elves were stunned and silent. The adrenaline in their bodies slowly began to dispel as they took in the extraordinary surroundings. Instead of the usual living space, they found themselves in a place filled with strange and interesting artifacts. Sleek, futuristic shelving units lined the walls, displaying a collection of items that ranged from the familiar to things that seemed like they came from another world. Mysterious charts depicting the intricacies of the body hung beside what appeared to be human skulls. There were jars filled with exotic herbs and ancient-looking books sat alongside vials containing a shimmering, viscous substance that the elves could only guess was dragon's blood. The air hummed with an odd energy as it carried strange aromas that both soothed and intrigued. Aurelia, her mind racing, turned to Nao, seeking a clue, but Nao simply gave a tired look. A silent admission that he was just as lost as she was. The man allowed them a few more moments to absorb the bizarre splendor of their surroundings before he finally turned to them, his voice a low, resonant hum that commanded attention.
"My name… is Ferris."
Aurelia and Nao's eyes widened, twin pools of shock and dawning hope, at the simple, yet profoundly significant statement. This was the very man their dying mother had urged them to seek. A thousand questions raced through their minds, but before a single one could escape their lips, their thoughts were interrupted.
"Follow me to your temporary rooms," said Ferris. He ran his hand on the wall until a sudden beep could be heard. In that moment, a hidden cubicle nestled discreetly behind a towering shelf began to seamlessly open as if it had been woven into the very fabric of the wall.
"You two will be sleeping here tonight," he continued.
"I will take care of you from now on. Alaiza and I were close friends back in the day, you know. But for now, I'll answer any questions you two have in the morning. The two of you should rest up. You've had quite the day today." As he muttered something under his breath, he gently nudged the exhausted elves into the cubicle. A warm, reassuring smile touched his lips before he quietly closed the door, leaving a soft, ambient light glowing from somewhere in the cubicle, offering just enough visibility.
"Goodnight. And thank you," Aurelia whispered, her voice a fragile blend of sorrow and gratitude. She looked over to Nao, who stood as still and silent as a sculpted rock, his small form radiating a profound shock.
"We have to sleep in these clothes…?" Aurelia asked Nao, her voice a soft, hopeful ripple in the quiet space. It was a tender attempt to lighten the suffocating weight of the day's horrors. Her heart ached for him, for the innocent eyes that had witnessed such unspeakable devastation at such an age. Nao let out a small giggle in response. It was a whisper that maybe, just maybe, things would turn out alright. Aurelia and Nao began to converse in hushed tones as their voices talked about miscellaneous topics in a desperate attempt to reclaim normalcy. They slowly removed the formerly flashy robes and cloaks they had worn before leaving their home. Garments now stained with the grime and sorrow of their journey, leaving them in the simplest, most basic of outfits.
"Here, Nao. You can sleep on the left side of the bed. I'll sleep on the right, by the corner," Aurelia offered, her voice a soft lullaby, knowing Nao's strange, but endearing preference for the edge of the bed.
"I wish there were two beds," Nao murmured, his voice thick with weariness as he glanced at the single sleeping surface, then back at his sister.
"Are you sure you're going to have enough room?"
"Yeah…" Aurelia sighed, a sound like a tired breeze, as she slowly pulled off her boots, the soft leather sliding against her skin.
"I'll be fine." That seemed to mark the unspoken end of their small debate as Aurelia, her body heavy with the day's burdens, collapsed into the corner of the bed. Nao, with a final, lingering glance at his sister, carefully removed his blue paw boots and, with a soft sigh, followed her into bed.
"Night, Relia..."
"Goodnight."
In the morning, the recovering duo was gently reeled from the depths of slumber by a scent of pure delight. An aroma, rich and savory, which unfurled itself upon the air, weaving through the cool, serene calm of the cubicle. It was the unmistakable, comforting scent of Yona soup! Aurelia's super all-time favorite food! Her senses, still hazy with sleep, recognized the familiar scent almost immediately, and with a joyful gasp, she sprang from the bed, leaping over a still-sleeping Nao. She raced towards the cubicle's hidden entrance, her excitement felt like you could physically see it radiating from her. She couldn't even wait for the wall to fully open before squeezing herself through a mere sliver of space between the slowly turning panel and the frame in which her body was momentarily caught. Nao, still fumbling with his paw-shaped boots, let out a muffled plea for her to wait, his voice thick with sleep and exasperation, but it was lost to the wind of Aurelia's joyous anticipation.
When she finally burst through the panel, her eyes sparkled like freshly polished emeralds, and a wide grin stretched across her face. Her gaze swept around the vast space, and there, amidst the calming blue lights and strange aromas of last night, she noticed Ferris as he stood by a workbench. His pristine white coat was still impeccable, but his hands were bare. His large blue gloves were absent. He was engrossed in a thick, leather-bound book, its cover secured with an ornate, silver lock, he looked at the pages in concentration as he penned something within it. He looked up, his gaze meeting hers, and a gentle, knowing smile softened the lines around his eyes. He shut the mysterious book, the soft click echoing faintly in the spacious room. Then, with a fluid motion, he removed his peculiar glasses. The shiny gems embedded in their frames caught the ambient blue light. As he took off his glasses, Aurelia's eyes caught the faint sight of strange burn marks on the skin of his forearms. Yet, the tantalizing scent of the Yona soup, a promise of warmth and comfort, immediately pulled her attention back. The fleeting glimpse of the marks vanished from her mind as quickly as they had appeared.
"I heard these were your favorite," Ferris remarked, his voice a calm, yet playful tone. A tease that brought a faint blush to Aurelia's cheeks.
"I made them with the Yona Shrooms you had on you when I found you."
"Yes! They are!" Aurelia exclaimed, her heart swelling with a simple, pure joy. In that moment, she seemed to simply appear into one of the empty chairs beside Ferris. Her movements were a blur of eager anticipation. She inhaled a mushroom, its warmth filling her as if it were the most precious nectar.
"Hahaha! Slow down, Aurelia! You'll choke!" Ferris laughed, a rich, resonant sound that filled the spacious lab. His eyes filled with amusement at the sight of her unbridled enthusiasm, He slipped his large blue gloves back onto his hands. Just then, Nao emerged from the cubicle, rubbing the last remnants of sleep from his eyes. He turned to Aurelia, who was already almost done with her soup.
"What the heck, Aurelia! Why did you jump over me like that!?" he demanded, his voice a comical blend of indignation and confusion. his lower lip stuck out in a pouty manner directed at both Aurelia and Ferris.
"I don't get how someone so small could be so big!" Nao jested, his eyes sparkling with mischief, hoping to provoke a reaction from his sister.
"Mmgghhg! Oouh…" Aurelia attempted to reply, but her cheeks, delightfully plump with broth and mushroom, prevented any coherent speech. Her efforts simply dissolved into an adorable, muffled sound. Ferris chuckled, a soft, indulgent laugh, at the endearing antics of the two elves as he gracefully rose from his chair.
"Hahaha… Alright, you two. That's enough," Ferris said, a gentle authority in his tone. He gestured for Nao to sit down, and as he did, a subtle shift occurred in his demeanor. His face, moments ago alight with the playful warmth of some sort of father figure, now hardened. Ferris quickly gathered his thoughts.
"So… as the two of you know, this is where you will be living from now on," Ferris began, his voice now devoid of any lightness.
"A long time ago, your mother gave me very specific orders that if anything were to happen to you two, I would be the one to take care of you." His voice was soft and full of commitment.
"I swore to protect both of you…" Ferris's eyes, usually so clear, began to well up. A shimmering veil of unshed tears began to form, but he held his serious expression firm, pushing past the sudden wave of emotion.
"I don't want to get into what happened between your mother and I. But I'm willing to answer any questions you may have."
As Aurelia stared at her now-empty bowl, its surface reflecting the calming blue lights of the room, she tried to recall some of the many questions that had passed her mind last night. Sadly, most of them had fled, dissolving like stars in the morning sun. Eventually, she was able to recall something.
"What ki–" Aurelia began, her voice a hesitant thread, but she was cut off by Nao, who, with wide, innocent green eyes, was staring intently at Ferris.
"Heeeeeyy!!! Why do we have the same eyes!!" he asked, his tone brimming with a playful wonder, seemingly oblivious to the gravity of the situation. Aurelia's lips formed a small, upward curve, a gentle and sweet expression. Even though she had been interrupted, a small sense of relief came over her as she was just glad that Nao was seemingly feeling better. Nao pointed to his right eye, then to Ferris's, and gave a big grin, proudly showing off his small fang.
"Oh, haha. I guess green is a common color?" Ferris replied, a forced, slightly awkward laugh escaping his lips. He averted his gaze as if the question held some sort of embarrassment for him, a secret he wasn't ready to share.
"Ok, well, what about our h–" Again, another interruption. But this time, it was Ferris who was the interrupter, and Nao who was the interruptee. A funny shift in the dynamic of their conversation.
"Aurelia! You had a question?" Ferris interjected, his hands clapping together as he offered Aurelia an awkward and strained smile. His entire demeanor had shifted once again. From the playful father to an abrupt, no-nonsense boss, then to a shy bug.
"Oh. I was just going to ask… who did that… who was the one that… to the village," Aurelia said as she felt her throat tightening and constricting around the words. Memories, or rather, nightmares of yesterday's horrors, flashed through her mind. The mental image of her mother's ashes still burns vividly in her brain... Ferris looked down, his expression hardening into grief.
"In this world exists a faction whose beliefs twist the very concept of righteousness into a chilling, distorted beauty. These are The Saints."
"The Saints…?"
"Yes. These humans genuinely believe that the atrocities they commit, the suffering they inflict, are not merely justified, but are, in fact, acts of ultimate good. necessary sacrifices for the greater good of the world. They see themselves as divine beings wielding a cruel mercy. They believe that through their brutal purifications, they are meticulously sculpting a perfect reality. A world cleansed of what they perceive as impurities. But it is important to note that they aren't actually appointed by the gods, and are rarely recognized."
"But why? Why our village? What did we do!?" Aurelia's voice was a raw, aching cry. It tore through the quiet tension of the room as sharply as shattered glass. Her hand slammed down on the surface of the table. The sharp crack echoed like a gunshot in the sudden silence. She sprang from her chair, her slender body shook with the force of her unleashed emotions.
"It's nothing you did, Aurelia… they relentlessly pursue elves, viewing your ancient magic as an affront to human purity and a dangerous deviation from the natural order. As well as this, demi-humans, with their 'unnatural' forms and diverse origins, are seen as abominations. Their very existence is seen as a stain on the world that must be scrubbed clean. The attacks they launch are often swift, brutal, and thoroughly planned. Leaving behind a trail of ruin... Yet in their twisted perception, each act of violence is a brushstroke of divine will…" Ferris continues to pull up another chair to the table and sit down. As Aurelia sinks back into her chair, Ferris sits down with her. Nao looked at the two of them with a melancholic look in his eyes.
"These people sound scary…" Nao murmured, his small voice barely a whisper, as he slumped into his chair. His tiny fingers twiddled nervously in his lap.
"They are, indeed," Ferris affirmed. He removed his glasses as the deep blue crystals caught the morning sun streaming through a nearby window, shimmering with an almost mournful brilliance.
"That…" Ferris continued, his gaze unwavering as he extended a hand holding a mysterious black book and glasses…
"...is precisely why I want you to take this. And these." The book, an artifact of an older period, was bound in dark leather, its surface adorned with various deep-hued fabrics woven into intricate, almost arcane designs. Its cover bore a strange, mesmerizing circular pattern, studded with gleaming silver and verdant green gems that refracted light. Aurelia, trembling slightly with a mixture of awe and a strange unease, reached out for the ancient tome, leaving the peculiar glasses resting upon its dark surface.
"Thank you, Ferris," Aurelia murmured. Her fingers brushed the cool leather of the book. "But… what is this book? And why… are you giving me your glasses!?" Her eyes searched his face for answers.
"But you won't be able to see without them!" Aurelia exclaimed as she gently picked up the delicate spectacles. Her fingers traced the cool, smooth metal as a secret thrill rippled through her.
"Oh, I can see just fine without them," Ferris chuckled.
"I just won't be able to see into the future anymore," Ferris says as he watches Aurelia slowly put the glasses closer to her face.
"What…?" Aurelia asked, her hand freezing mid-air, the glasses hovering just inches from her eyes. A cold knot of apprehension tightened in her stomach.
"What do you mean… see into the future?"
"These particular lenses…" Ferris began…
"...allow me to perceive the immediate plans of time, about twenty to thirty minutes into the future. I find that it varies depending on how much you've eaten that day, strangely enough. Anyways, their sight is limited to what is physically near me. It was only by chance that I was able to intervene and save you both from the carnis, as our paths converged in that very moment." He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle
"Ah," Aurelia breathed, a soft sound of understanding.
"Well, thank you, Ferris…" A sudden wave of curiosity washed over her.
"But what were you even doing in the forest, anyway?" Ferris sighed, a deep, weary sound that seemed to carry the weight of countless unspoken burdens.
"After the taeta birds spread the news, I rushed towards Sai Machi with all the speed I could muster. But… I was too late." He trailed off, a shadow passing over his face. Then he forced a small, brittle laugh.
"But enough of this sad stuff. If you want, I have a vast collection of books for you to read while I step out for a moment. I have some important meetings." He gestured towards a towering shelf near the entrance, filled with an astonishing array of books. Some were inviting, vibrant hues, promising tales of fun adventures, while others seemed to exude quiet, scholarly knowledge.
"And for Nao," he added, his voice regaining a touch of its earlier warmth,
"You don't have to feel compelled to read if that's not what you want. Both of you are welcome to venture out to meet new faces in this town. You'll be living here for a while, so it would be good to make friends here." With these words, Ferris turned and exited the building, leaving Aurelia and Nao alone in the vast, echoing space. They turned to each other, their eyes filled with a shared mixture of apprehension and wonder, then slowly, almost reverently, their gaze fell upon the ancient book and the peculiar glasses resting upon the workbench.
"Ah! Shit…" Aurelia exhaled, a sharp, frustrated sigh. Nao's head snapped towards her, his small body shooting upright from his chair as if propelled by a spring. He pointed a small accusing finger at Aurelia, his face a comical blend of profound disappointment and mock anger.
"Heyyy!!!! You cannot say words like that, Relia!" Nao declared, his voice a high-pitched scold. He then dramatically folded his tiny arms across his chest, turning his face away from Aurelia in a clear, theatrical display of disapproval.
"Sorry," Aurelia mumbled, her shoulders slumping.
"It's just… I completely forgot to ask him about the book." She reached for the mysterious tome. Its dark cover feels cool on fingertips. As she gently opened it, she began to skim through its brittle, yellowed pages.
"Uhm… Nao…" Aurelia began with her soft, persuasive melody.
"I think it would be best if you explored outside for a bit. I wanna see what's with the book. I'm assuming it's important since Ferris decided to give it to me." She offered a gentle, reassuring smile.
"But I'll get hurt alone!" Nao protested as his small face crumpled into an adorable, exaggerated pout.
"I want you to come with me, Relia…"
"You'll be perfectly fine, Nao," Aurelia insisted, her voice brimming with a tender confidence. She removed Tomorrow's glasses from her face, turning them gently in her hand. The deep blue crystals shimmered in the light as they jingled as she extended them towards Nao.
"These will make sure you're okay! They'll warn you about anyone or anything that tries to sneak up on you. You heard what the glasses can do, so you'll be A-okay!" Aurelia punctuated her words with a cute thumbs-up as her playful grin flashed her small fang. Nao paused for a long, thoughtful moment, his gaze fixed on the shimmering glasses, before a soft sigh escaped his lips. He turned and, with a reluctant shuffle, began to walk towards the door.
Tap-tap-tap
His paw boots echoed faintly on the polished floor. He turned a hopeful glance over his shoulder, secretly hoping that Aurelia was just messing with him and would get up to go along. But the mysterious black book had already enveloped her. As Nao stepped outside, he pushed his new glasses on the bridge of his nose. He took a few steps before he had to push them up again. The glasses were too big for him, and so he got frustrated... He tucked them away in his little bag and continued outside.
As Nao ventured out into the bustling, sun-soaked streets, his small form was a tiny ball of curiosity. As he rounded a corner, a flash of vibrant yellow caught his eye, peeking mischievously from a narrow alleyway. It was a tail, sleek and patterned, and for a delightful moment, Nao's heart swelled with joy at his fun new discovery – a lizard? No, a snake! He bounded forward, his eyes wide with playful intent, eager to investigate and perhaps even make a new friend. But as his gaze trailed the elegant curve of the yellow tail, his playful curiosity morphed into wide-eyed wonder. The tail, to his utter astonishment, was not merely a snake, but was seamlessly connected to the slender, graceful body of a remarkably pretty young lady! huh!? Or rather, the snake and the lady were the same being? A captivating fusion of human and serpent. Her scales shimmered like polished gold. The demi-human, with hair the color of sunflowers, noticed his innocent, tail-poking fascination and turned from her friend, a second snake-girl with pretty blue hair that flowed like shining sapphires. The two girls giggled as they took in the sight of the cute elf boy.
"Oh! So cute!! Look at those adorable ears, Sylvie!" Liana, the yellow-haired snake-girl, exclaimed, her voice a high-pitched, preppy squeal of pure delight as her yellow tail seemed to wag gently. Sylvie, her orange eyes sparkled, then asked him where he came from and where his parents were.
"Hey there, little elf boyyy! Are you lost? Can we help you find your parents?" Sylvie opens her hand and puts it in front of her mouth while her other hand balls up into a fist at her hip as she gives a worried expression. Nao, with a surprising calm, explained that he didn't have parents and that his sister was "too busy doing something else," keeping his explanation vague. It was a small shield against the painful truth. The two snake-girls, their hearts touched by his vulnerability, exchanged a glance. Then, with a shared inviting smile, they offered to take him for ice cream while they waited for his sister to appear! While he went off with two strangers for ice cream, Aurelia was deep in the pages of her new book.
"These spells… are so strong…!" Aurelia talks to herself as she looks through the ancient pages.
"So… what I know right now is that this seems to be uhm… a grimoir of some sort… Defensive magic, offensive magic, task magic, there are so many different things in here! Damn, this is crazy… And to think someone could learn all this…" She continues to ramble to herself as she continues to study the magic instructions.
"I'd love to actually practice some of these higher spells, but I don't have a staff yet… It says here that uhh… that "Druid" class magic… I need a staff for. I wish I could do the cool ones with my hands… whatever. At least without magic, my hands are still useful for something, I guess." Aurelia giggled at herself for a moment, then sighed as she put her elbow on the table and her palm on her chin. Eventually, concluding that there isn't much for her to learn without a staff, she decided to look at the other books. Maybe she can learn more task magic? She read different books from the shelves behind her and eventually got bored with those, too, but at least she read about many interesting things. Notably, some sort of mechanical life was used by the ancients during wartime. As she walked over to the other strange-looking shelves, the blue lights gracing her soft features, she ran her finger along the interesting books until her finger hit a lock.
"What? A book with a lock… hmm."
She skimmed through the grimoire's task magic section in search of a spell that could help her open the lock. As she finds and begins to read the section on lock picking, she suddenly remembers the book Farris seemed to always keep with him.
"Is… this the book? Ooughhhh.... Now I have to see what's in here…!"
After reading the grimoire's instructions and multiple failed attempts to open the small silver lock on the book, she finally opens it. Aurelia, eyes wide and full of shock, stared at the pages intently as her heart raced upon reading the first words. This was Ferris's diary…! She snickered and began to read the forbidden text while skimming through, of course. As she read through the Book of Ferris, she laughed and giggled at some of the things she saw. "Today, I tripped and fell over some demi-human's tail. Sooner or later, that snake is going to kill me." Then she would find embarrassing things, as well as some sad things. She had been looking through Ferris's very full diary for about 30 minutes until she had found an entry about Nao.
"Nao…? What's he doing in here…" Then, she read the entry.
"That woman is just so beautiful. I thank the heavens every day for having met her. Thank you for my beautiful wife and son. And thank you for helping Alaiza give me Nao. That boy will grow up to be a good man as long as I can be with him. While what happened that day still lingers in my mind from time to time, I'm still happy about what came of it..."
There was a lot more to read, but she refused to carry on. It was a mistake. Aurelia's heart sank, and it was a frantic drum against her ribs. What did this text mean…? Who… what? Her mind was a mess at this point, and she didn't know what to think about what she had just read. The undeniable truth had made her blood run cold. Her heart filled with a momentary rage as she read the pages. In an uncharacteristic fit of anger, she picks up a vial of glowing dragon's blood from the shelf in front of her and hurls it at the wall. As it shattered and slowly started to wither on the wall, leaving a dark stain on the cold, white, glossy wall. The magical liquid flowed down the wall onto the shattered glass as a sudden, desperate urgency drove her. She began to violently search for vissils, as some dark glint in her eyes began to show. Her hands were tearing open cabinets and jerking out drawers with a desperate, almost reckless force. She accumulated 83 vissils. As she gathered the coins, a new wave of emotions washed over her, an aching sadness that threatened to drown her. With trembling fingers, she placed the vissils into her mother's coin sack. It's worn leather, a painful reminder of what she had lost. Then, with a fierce, almost immediate resolve, she equipped her belongings and stumbled out of the lab, leaving the no-longer-comforting blue light behind. A single tear streamed down her cheek. The words she had just read painted a new, uncomfortable picture: her mother, Alaiza, and Ferris in a secret affair… and Nao, her sweet, innocent brother, the living embodiment of their clandestine love. The realization was a cruel twist of the knife in her already wounded heart. She couldn't help but view Nao a bit differently now, but still, her love for him burned fiercely, a protective flame in the darkness. She contemplated telling him the unbearable burden of truth. Not now, at least. Not yet.
"Fuck… fuck… fuckk…" Sharp exhales and swears escaped Aurelia's lips as she sped walked out into the immensely huge town before her. She asked around for her brother with no luck until a man with a furry green hat claimed to see him go off with two demi-human girls.
"What the hell? Oh my godd... I should have known not to just let him go on his own.. What the hell was I thinking…!" Aurelia's voice was laced with self-loathing and frantic worry. Her emerald eyes, usually so luminous, darted around in a quick, almost angered frenzy, as if searching for an escape from her suffocating thoughts.
"I should have known better, should have never let him wander off on his own… What the fuck was I thinking?!" The words were a desperate, silent scream in her mind. Her mind spun towards Ferris, somehow blaming him for this to make herself feel better.
"If he never gave me that damn book, I wouldn't have left Nao to go out on his own… I would have gone with him!" she thought. After going around, asking random townsfolk, Aurelia learned the truth: Nao had simply gone to get ice cream. With a frantic urgency, she fastened her small leather bag, then ran. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her..
"NAO!" She burst through the ice cream shop's doors with slight perspiration sparkling through her bangs, huffing and puffing. The door's bell and her shouting made Nao jump as he looked in her direction. At first, he was startled, but once he noticed it was her, he smiled and waved, not picking up that something was wrong. The two snake girls did the same, but they seemed to notice the glint in Aurelia's eye. They could see something wasn't right…
"Is this your sister~?" The yellow one asks as she takes a bite of ice cream, attempting to lighten the mood.
"Mhm!!!" Nao nods and smiles, mouth filled with chocolate ice cream. He stands up on his chair and hugs Sylvie as he giggles and thanks them both for watching him. A small drop of chocolate ice cream is left behind on her stomach. Liana laughs and waves him off, but before she could say bye, Liana calls out for Aurelia.
"Nao's sister? Hey, wait!" She wears a curious, almost worried expression on her face. The small group of golden scales near her temple slightly shifts as she looks in Aurelia's direction.
"Yes…?" Aurelia tried to maintain a polite tone, but the last thing she wanted was for these two girls to hold her up. Her assumptions led her to act as if she had been put on a timer, although she figured Ferris wouldn't be home for a while, seeing as he left about an hour ago. As she pinches the tip of her ear, Nao holds her other hand to try and calm her down. Liana and Sylvie both slid out of their chairs, grabbing Nao's ice cream, leaving theirs behind.
"Are you two okay? What happened?" Liana asked, her voice a soft, comforting song, as she gently handed Nao his small cup of rich chocolate ice cream, its cool sweetness a distraction to his troubled spirit. Her golden eyes, filled with a tender concern, searched her face for answers.
"Nothing… I just need to leave this town as soon as possible. Well… okay, something did happen. But I won't worry you about it. Thank you for taking care of my little brother, and I'm sorry if he caused you two any trouble…" She handed Liana 10 vissils for Nao's ice cream, bowed, then they went on their way.
"Wait! Hehe sorry…" Sylvie now calls out to Aurelia.
"We never got your name, silly!"
"Oh. My name is Aurelia. And I'm sure you both already know that this is Nao." Aurelia looks to Nao with a tired smile.
"Well then, Aurelia… I want you to have these. You seem to be in some sort of situation." She opens some sort of purse, which looked way too extravagant for a seemingly normal girl like her. She gave Aurelia 100 vissils as if it were nothing to her. Aurelia's emerald eyes opened wide at the lovely sight in her hands. Her worried and tired expression quickly turned into astonishment at the generous gift.
"Th- Thank you! You don't understand how much this will help my brother and I." She stumbled over her words as the two snake girls giggled. Nao's small hands weasled the vissils from her hand and put them in the coin sack that he also pickpocketed. The elves bowed in grace as they walked out of the ice cream shop, and Nao handed Aurelia the coin sack.
"We hope to see you again soon!" The two kind snake girls shouted as Aurelia and Nao walked away.
"...and in better condition…" one of them uttered under their breath.
"Relia...? Where are we going? What happened?" Nao's voice was with concern as he gently tugged on Aurelia's cloak.. His ear twitched against the flowing wind.
"First," Aurelia began, her voice a flat, weary sigh. "I'm buying a staff." She tapped her shorts, a silent check for the reassuring weight of her vissils. "Ferris's lab offered a wealth of knowledge, but the grimoire made one thing clear… most spells are useless without a staff... And also, we can't go back to Ferris. I read something I wasn't supposed to, and I don't think we can trust him."
"Okayyy... Well, what about after you buy your staff...?" Nao seemed worried, but he didn't press about Ferris much since he always knew his sister had valid reasons for things. He took his mind off it with a bite of his half-melted chocolate ice cream. It melted away his worries as he slowly regained his usual spark. A new sense of adventure now flickered in his eyes.
"After that," Aurelia mused, a hopeful glint in her tired eyes, "we'll simply follow where the wind takes us. And with our shiny new vissils, we'll be alright for a while. I have a funny feeling the world has an adventure waiting..." She tipped her head back, a soft, secret smile blooming as the darkening sky and the dancing shadows of the trees seemed to paint her with a gentle, glowing light. Nao giggled at her whimsical pronouncements, skipping with joyful abandon by her side.
"Yeah Yeah!! I want a staff too! Hehehe, I want my spells to go BAM!!!" He punctuated his demand with an enthusiastic leap and a loud, imaginary explosion, waving his arms wildly in front of Aurelia.
"Cheery as always…"