Dark magic?
How could he be a user of dark magic? He didn't even have the slightest idea of how to do dark magic. Even if he did, he wouldn't risk being corrupted. This girl probably didn't know what she was saying.
" I know what you're thinking. But it's possible that you are a user of dark magic. Seeing that you see spirits and the souls of the dead. But are there other abnormal incidents?" The girl asked.
Luc thought hard. Apart from seeing those spirits, there was nothing else abnormal. Oh! Except for that incident.
" Well, there was one time when something different happened. I remember it vividly since it was a unique occurrence. There's this old man, everyone calls him Old Man Waller. I didn't really know him personally but I remember this day, I saw his son, Luwin. The guy was about fifteen years old, quite young. I talked with him and we spent some time together. While we were talking, I remember I touched his shoulder while laughing at a joke he said. While my hand was on his shoulder, I felt a surge of energy....it was kinda dark, filled with nothingness. It pulsed through my veins and I don't know how, but it was transferred to his body. I hate to think it came from me but a shadow... spirit appeared behind him when I felt the energy transfer. That shadow...it was different from the rest".
The girl furrowed her brows. She asked " How was it different?". Luc thought hard as he tried to look for words to describe the shadow spirit that day. He remembered he stayed with Luwin till nightfall.The shadow blended into the night as if it wasn't even there. All you could use to identify it was it's dark floating cloak that showed movement.
He tried his best to describe it in a way that didn't sound crazy, " Well, it had a dark cloak around it. It looked tattered. And extremely old. It's hands were....bones. I couldn't see its eyes. But it always stood close to Luwin. I remember it pointing at him before I left. I didn't think too much about it and left....."
Luc seemed to stop as cold beads of sweat gathered on his forehead. The girl noticed his hesitation and she frowned. She asked, " What happened next?"
Luc didn't answer but his gaze became grave. The girl noticing this asked again, " What happened next? What happened to Luwin?'
Luc gulped hard as he struggled to answer, " he died". Luc's voice was barely a whisper but the girl heard it. She could already guess his thoughts.
" And you think you killed him. You think you sent that spirit. The spirit of death. You think you summoned it.... You think it's your fault ". Luc held his head tight, his eyes dimmed down. Not an ounce of light could be seen in them, only fear.
The guilt. Ever since that incident, he had been hearing voices, voices saying it was his fault. Voices saying he caused Luwin's death. Those voices haunted him for two good years. But after some time, with some advanced Tenorian psychiatric treatment and some meds, he learned to shut those voices out.
Gradually, he didn't hear them anymore. His mind, which was broken, was rebuilt. He was sane again. But now, he began to hear those haunting voices again. Those eerie voices saying it was his fault. It was like they were remolding his brain. It hurts. It hurts a lot.
He was at the brink of shedding tears when he felt warmth on his left shoulder. It gave him comfort. It eased him up. He looked up to see the young witch in front him, her hand on his shoulder, " Calm down. Its alright. You couldn't control it back then. Since it happened, it only means it was meant to happen".
Luc immediately became agitated as he stood up abruptly, " But it did. He died because I summoned that spirit -— I summoned death!! Isn't that all that matters?!"
The girl sighed as she sat down, she gazed deeply at Luc as she said, " I'm Lyra, Lyra Monrae". Luc immediately stopped clutching his head as he noticed the voices had stopped. The haunting voices that echoed in his head suddenly stopped.
" It's a spell. It'll help you keep your sanity, I can see that you definitely need it" Lyra went to the fireplace and shoved some firewood in it. It was really cold in the Glades and the location of the treehouse made the weather much worse. Snow had begun in this area of the Glades, it was especially harsh.
" I've introduced myself, it's your turn". Luc stared at Lyra, clearly fascinated but he quickly regained his composure and nodded slowly.
" I'm...Luc. Luc Wilder. I know a little bit of magic but I'm clearly not half as good as a Mage. I can tell that you are a witch" He said as he had a clear look around. Apart from the witchery materials that gave the treehouse a creepy vibe, everything else seemed homey. It looked very comfortable, not shabby or creepy. He liked it, strangely.
Lyra nodded as she said, " Yes. I suppose you are from Tenoria, definitely the new one, judging from your status" Luc smiled. At least now, he knew she wasn't a Tenorian. He didn't know if that was good or bad.
After adding the firewood, Lyra flicked her finger as a spark of fire lit the bunch of wood in the fireplace. The place was now bright and way more cozier than before.
" You said you needed Lysiums. I need them as well. But I hope you don't mind, I really can't disclose the reason to you" Luc nodded, though a little bit suspicious. But he could understand her reasons, he was after all still a stranger. He would find her foolish if she trusted him so easily.
" Although, you can take the ones you need, it won't make that much of a difference. Plus I can see you'll be needing them soon" She said as she unwrapped a bundle of Lysiums. She placed about a dozen in a bag, before wrapping it up and giving it to Luc. Luc thanked her as he stood up, ready to leave.
He was really grateful that she was reasonable. She was a witch after all, but she was nothing like what the Old Tenorian takes described. She seemed like she was just concerned about survival, just like him.
He looked out the supposed window of the treehouse. There was a blizzard, a harsh one. At the rate if it's movement, it must've gotten to Tenoria by now. There was no way he could go back like this. Plus he still needed to get some more ingredients for his soup. But he couldn't because of the damn blizzard, if he tried to, he'd be a goner. He was stuck.
He looked back at Lyra, who was busy reading a book. He couldn't tell what book it was but he knew it was definitely from and for witches. No matter her character, she was still a witch.
" Aren't you leaving?" Lyra asked, her voice was sweet and enchanting, it was as if he had found a second reason to stay. To hear her speak.
He discarded these thoughts immediately while reminding himself of her being a witch. He must be under the influence of that mind spell. Yes, that must be it.
Clearing his throat, he asked, " Well, the blizzard's quite strong. I ....uh...don't think I'll be able to go in that" Lyra stopped reading her book as she turned to look at him.
" Oh, that's right, the blizzard. Well, take a jacket then" She pointed to a clothes rack just at the other side of the room. On it were cloaks and jackets, and also a witches' hat.
Luc was dumbfounded. Did she really think a thing jacket would protect him from a blizzard? Just how wicked was she? Then again, she was a witch. Plus, even if he were to wear that jacket, it still had a witches' scent all over it. If he went back to Tenoria with that, he'll be dead before the next morning.
He laughed nervously as he said, " Well...uh...I don't really think...that a...uh...jacket will be enough to -—"
" If you're worried about my scent ending up on you when you wear it, it's fine. It has a masking spell on it. It's also quite undetectable, even for mages. You'll be fine". Lyra said and then went back to studying her book. She really didn't care if this human or mage or whatever he was lived or died, all she wanted was for him to leave. She began regretting kidnapping him in the first place.
Luc scratched his head as he explained, " Well, I appreciate it but I really donf think a jacket can protect me from an abnormally harsh blizzard". Lyra realized he was right. What was she thinking?
She then nodded as she said, " ...Then...use a teleportation spell". Luc stared at her, clearly in an awkward zone.
After a minute of awkward staring, Lyra's eyes widened as she realized, " Wait a moment, don't tell me you don't know how to use a teleportation spell?!"
Luc looked away awkwardly . Lyra put down the book and laughed out loud. She stood up and stared at him, hands on her waist, smirkimg. She really looked arrogant right now. " Well, what then? What am I supposed to do with you?"
Luc thought and then said with a smile, " Well, gosh, I don't know. But this place looks really cozy. Perhaps you could let me stay here until the blizzard eases up".
" What?"