Nevendar: The wizard's tale - Sunrise - part 3
In the backyard, Luca was standing in the dirt, holding a long tin stick. He was looking on the ground, a bit puzzled. He was deep in thought, thinking about something on the ground.
“What are you looking at?” Emily appeared behind Luca, startling him.
“Please don’t do that! You scared me.”
“What are you talking about? You were so preoccupied that you wouldn’t have noticed me, even if I was stomping and yelling as loud as I could!”
While Luca was in his own world for some time there and probably filtered out the rest of the world around him, Emily was known to suddenly and unexpectedly sneak up on people. Only recently she started noticing this ability of hers. She was twelve, but not much shorter than Luca. Her hair was shoulder length and she wore plain, unremarkable cloths.
“What are you doing there?”
“Trying to figure out this symbol. It should be working, but for some reason, I’m missing something.”
“Oh, there’s supposed to be a curved line there.”
“Where exactly?
“In the upper middle part of the primary construct.”
Luca was surprised and puzzled after what Emily just said. This was a very complex symbol and she never expressed any interest in magic. Even if he wasn’t as motivated as his sister, he has been studying it for years. He knew that even Cristabell would have problems writing this symbol correctly, even more difficulties with correcting someone, especially if she hadn't seen it being written. Writing magical symbols is very close to being individual, and can differ from person to person.
“Ï had no idea you were familiar with magic, Emily? How did you know what I did wrong?” As Luca was asking the question, he was carefully writing the corrections Emily just told him.
“I’m not really interested in magic, it was just obvious what was wrong with that symbol.”
Her words were harsh and uncaring. She was saying it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. It wasn’t and Luca knew it, even more so, because the symbol worked. Just as he finished with the corrections, the lines started to glow and small bits of dirt and dust started to rise from the ground. Soon the whole area of the symbol started to glow with a calming blue light, that lit the area around it. Two kids looked in wonder, fascinated with the sight. Even Emily who was usually reserved and unemotional, was struck with awe.
It took Cristabella several months to master this one symbol and even then it was difficult to replicate it. Each symbol has several intricate lines and elements that compose it, as well as the proper symmetry that can be disturbed with even a minor error and each one is very unique, just like it’s purpose. The one Luca was writing is a symbol of illumination, one of the most basic magical signs there are, but still complex nonetheless.
At this point Luca was happy he managed to do this, even if he had some help. He brushed it by remembering how strange Emily can be and didn’t think much about it, not as much as he should have.
“Looks pretty.” Emily had a tone of pride and satisfaction in her voice.
“It’s just magical light and don’t you sound like this was your doing! I wrote most of that symbol!”
“It would have just been a strange drawing in dirt if I wasn’t here!”
“I would have figured it out.”
“In a month or two, perhaps!”
“That would still count as me figuring it out! And I would have done it on my own.”
“You don’t like that I helped you?” Her voice became a bit more cheeky.
“I, don’t mind you helping, it’s just, my sister helps me all the time and we’re supposed to go to the academy very soon, I was hoping I could do this one thing on my own, before we leave.”
“You want to prove yourself? You really don’t have to. No one’s pressuring you to be a royal wizard, or a battle wizard. You can live comfortably by just being average.”
Luca was hurt by her last words, being average, is that all he is? His sister was the one who was said to be a genius, someone others looked up to and one of the few who may do something greater after leaving the orphanage. Even in the prosperous kingdom, such as Normania, it was still very difficult to be successful without a family, or some support. Despite their two guardians, kids were on their own. They had to work as much as they could to make their life better, even if so much is against them. No one was expecting them to do much and no one was pushing them to be better.
Luca said nothing, he turned his gaze towards the symbol. It was still shining, the light was gentle, even soothing. Emily was still looking at Luca, but she said nothing, she was curious about his reaction, she expected him to react in a more noticeable way. He may have always been reserved, but Luca never liked to be compared to his sister, or even implied that he was compared to her. Throughout their lives, Cristabella was the only one to recognize Luca’s skills and competence. She would even change her plans if he were to have a complaint to her plans. She never considered herself a genius, despite what everyone said. Even Luca never considered her a genius, but he admired her so much! In a way she was his guiding light, someone he aspired to be like.
Emily on the other hand, never thought of anyone else to be better than her. Even if she was unable to be better than someone else, she would never blame herself. At first glance, it might be thought that she would consider Cristabella as a rival of sorts, but this was never the case. Cristabella was not very fit, not someone very good at physical skills. Something Emily valued above everything else. Her father, when he was alive, was considered one of the best sportsmen in their town and he instilled a training regiment that Emily adopted as her highest form of truth, after she witnessed his accident.
After that day, something hanged in her, she became, distant, even violent at times, a complete opposite of her brother, who was a lot more like their mother. After their tragedy, he turned inwards more and more. Spending time with Luca and when he managed to be brave enough, with Cristabella, was his only times that he would speak more than a few words.
“Luca, so you’re leaving?”
The sentence was brief and even sounded shy. Not something expected from Emily. Even Luca was pulled away from his light.
“You know that I am. Why even ask something like that?”
“You, know, because!”
As she said the last word, she grabbed his hand, surprising him even more.
“Luca, have you ever, kissed someone?”
This was not a question Luca expected. Off course he did, Luca thought to himself.
“If I kissed someone? Well, I did, my sister, Adely when I gave her a present for her birthday. Stephany’s hand during a dance…”
Luca might have continued and listed a few more names and events. He didn’t noticed the look Emily gave him when he first mentioned his sister, or that she gained composure after she realized what he was talking about.
“No, not like that! Why don’t you get it?”
The familiar Emily’s tone returned, she was almost shouting at him, but she managed to tone it down and continued in a more gentle tone.
“I meant, kissed someone, like Cristabella and Sandra kissed each other.”
This surprised Luca even more, he was almost stunned. Before he could process what Emily was talking about she stepped closer and kissed him. She grabbed his head and continued to kiss Luca. It was a very clumsy kiss, obviously her first, she was unsure what she was doing and she only tried to replicate what she saw, others do. Usually something she was a master of, except her feelings got in a way. She felt stressed and very afraid, even angry.
Her anger was sparked even more after Luca gently started to push her away from him. He grabbed her shoulders and slowly separated her face from his.
“What are you doing?”
She was still holding his head, she just looked at him with such malice. Luca was unable to see thru, but this was her way to hide her fear and insecurities. Two feelings that consumed her in this moment.
“Emily, look, I just……”
“You just what? You don’t like me? You want to kiss your sister? Is that what you want?”
“No, what are you talking about?”
“You’re sick! Get away from me!”
At this instant Emily pushed Luca away as hard as she could and ran away. Luca fell on the symbol and disturbed a few of the lines, shutting its effect.
Adely and Emberly were at the orphanage’s warehouse. It was a simple large room with a small window in the upper part of the wall where the door is. It was filled with all kinds of things the kids didn’t used as often. Filled with things that were too big to put anywhere else and that were not essential for the everyday.
“It’s always sad to see them go.”
Emberly was feeling nostalgic, reminiscing about all the good times she spent with the kids.
“Still not used to it?”
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing them go.”
“They do come back for a visit, for most of them, even when they leave, this is the only home they have.”
Adely was a stoic as ever, she did care, but she showed it in a more discreet way.
“It’s going to be a lot more quiet with four of them gone.”
Just as Adely finished the sentence, Emberly remembered something that frightened her.
“That’s right, four of them. I almost forgot about her. I try not to think of her as much.”
“Not difficult to imagine why. The atmosphere will be a lot less tense after she leaves.”
“I, I’m afraid to look at her.”
“Most kids don’t even want to sit next to her during meals, no one talks to her, not even Cristabella!”
“Why was she given to us? What were they thinking!”
Emberly was furious and frightened. This was the first time she thought about the fourth fifteen year old. She tends not to even consider her part of the orphanage. None of the kids want to sleep in the same room. This is why some of the rooms became crowded. No one was seen talking to the girl after first meeting her. Everyone kept avoiding her and she never tried to establish any contact with anyone. She just kept smiling occasionally and stared right thru people.
There was only one time that she actually looked at someone and it was very brief. Followed by one of her creepy smiles. On a very rare occasion, she would chuckle, instantly creeping everyone around her. Little kids would even cry when she pass by, unexpected. Even Emily avoided her, never even trying to tease, or push her around. The only person to ever try to talk to her and the person that made her look at them, was Cristabella. The girl was scaring Luca, she sat next to him during launch, so he was unable to eat, shortly after twins arrived to the orphanage. Cristabella confronted the girl, even managing to make her say a few words. Cristabella never told anyone what the girl said, but she spent next several hours in a corner, crying loudly, or looking in the distance. Cristabella was changed after the event, she became a lot more determined to succeed, at anything she ever did afterwards.
Several minutes passed in the warehouse, but the two women, managed to find everything they were looking for. After sorting it out and agreeing how they’ll transport it to where it needs to go, they heard a loud knock on the door.
“Who could this be?”
Emberly was surprised, but this wasn’t something unexpected, kids often come looking for them if they’re away for a while. After she opened a door, she was in pure shock. She was unable to speak, move, or do much more then stand in one place, her eyes wide opened, unable to close her mouth properly.
In front of her there was a young girl. She was thin, pale, and just a bit taller than usual. Her hair was bright red, almost orange. Her eyes piercing green and she had a few freckles on her face. She wore a long dress, reaching to her knees, it was frilly and well kept. By all accounts, she was very pretty. Still, Emberly was scared beyond she ever was, as even when this happened before, it was different, now the fear lasted, it didn’t stop, she couldn’t shake it off as she learned to do, over this past fourteen years.
The girl looked at Emberly, straight in her eyes, and smiled. A big, genuine smile, her eyes brightened and her hands reaching towards the women at the door.
Images links: image 1 and image 2.
Hope you liked this! If you do, don't forget to upvote and resteem it. Also make sure to follow @thewriterguy to stay updated about future posts.
If you are new, please check my older posts as well, you might like some of them. Remember, older posts need love as well :)
Amazing as always!
Thanks :) You're becoming my #1 fan :)