Spark of Friendship

When the shadows began to speak
Spouting guilt with every shriek
Your heart will shatter beyond repair,
Lost in the abyss of countless nightmare

»»————-　★　————-««

The raging storm abated, followed by the soothing of the furious gale. With it, the trees and flowers dipped their heads and kissed the barren grass field. Her vibrant dream denatured to a gray-scale nightmare.

Eva curled herself into a ball and burrowed her face over her knees. The silence stretched for miles unending, and in its midst, a million voices muttered.

Alone. Again. Like always. Forever.

They overlapped each other, playing a hair-raising tune of pure static.

You deserve it—Murderer. Arsonist. Failure. Stranger.

The cold breath of an invisible figure caressed her bare skin. It puffed a chilling whiff, letting it brush against the lobe of her ears. Her every vein raced with adrenaline. Her senses magnified every sigh and shiver until it was the only sound she could hear.

A viscous liquid dribbled from the ceiling, becoming heavier by the minute. It was too dense to be water, too light to be snow. The warm fluid cascaded down from Eva's forehead and curved around her cheek till it reached the corner of her lips.

The metallic taste sparked her to life—blood.

* * *

Eva rose as she panted, trembling, and quivering. Lines of branching veins protruded from her skin, and beads of sweat dotted her body.

"A dream," she mumbled and looked down her lap. She rubbed her eyes and allowed them to adjust to the morning light. A heavy sigh fled her withering lips.

Crap, why am I crying?

She pondered, working to piece the fragments of her nightmare. She lay back on the bed, staring at the murky ceiling as if it contained all the answers she needed.

Her fatigue wore off; a boy interrupted her trance. "Good morning!" he exclaimed.

Eva's soul almost left her body, barely able to keep herself from shrieking like a dying siren. She glanced to her left with eyes as widened as an owl's.

An adolescent fellow swallowed awkwardly, nudging his elbow against the youthful lady beside him.

"You're finally awake," the young maiden mocked. She pranced towards Eva, sashaying her dress of vivid fabrics in many tones. She leaned her face close and rolled her eyes, as gold as amber.

The hell—Here I thought Ferdinand is the rudest person I will ever meet.

The young lady's rosy face blocked half of her view. From her features, she was around Eva's age, probably older.

The lady's odd choice of perfume roamed inside her nose, too strong to smell pleasing. She had long lashes and cropped brows as she stood like a firm piece of wood, resembling an exquisite doll of a nobleman's daughter.

But the most eye-catching part of the young lady was the roots of her hair. In her summit, a silver patch deviated from the coffee-color of the rest of the strands. Eva found herself gawking at it.

The maiden sighed as she took a step back. "Too bad. She's not a sorcerer."

The boy behind her released a faint gasp. "Weird. Are you sure? Let me take a look." He strode to Eva with his dull-colored vest, pushing aside the strange young lady. A washed-out bronze scabbard hung on his back, covering the blade of a stainless sword.

A mere inch separated their faces. Two eyes as gray as the crescent moon gazed at Eva through his twilight fringe. His breath was an orchestra of loud grumbles, whispering in her ear.

"Move," Eva hissed and stirred the young boy away. "I believed I locked the door. How did you get in here?"

"Ah. About that. I heard you screaming while I was downstairs, so I decided to check if you're doing fine," the boy said and scratched his scalp.

It must be from my nightmare.

The young lady took a second look at Eva, paying twice the attention to the stains and tears on her clothes.

"If you're wondering, I only came since Cal insisted. I had no intention of invading your privacy," she said while aiming her chin above.

"I don't have an excuse for that. Master Whisper assigned me to watch over you. How about we hold our formal introduction after you're ready." The boy gave a half-smile to conceal his anxiousness.

"Agreed. Also, take a bath. We'll wait for you in the common area after you've finished." The young lady flickered her eyes and turned her back. The boy opened the door for her, and before leaving, she looked at Eva once again. "Don't take too long—No...On second thought, please take all the time you need. Don't hesitate on using the whole bar of soap."

And just like that, the two strolled to the exit. The lock clasped on itself as soon as the door flattened against the wall.

Eva groaned and lay back on the bed.

Ferdinand wasn't lying when he called this place dysfunctional. But at least it's better than being chased by assassins my whole life.

She shrugged, then exhaustingly, she stood. She made her small bed then took a well-deserved, long bath.

Her damp hair dripped on the floorboards, leaving a trail of wet dots on the dusty lumber. After slipping into a drab vanilla dress and a pair of wooden sandals, she opened the heavy wooden door and wandered outside.

An ominous sensation blew her skin hairs to stand up. Despite the place being well-lit by daylight, she could not help but feel anxious with her every step. She knew not if it was from the eerie paintings or the old rugged wallpaper, probably from both.

The crimson curtains were pulled to the side, letting in the cool draft from outdoors. Eva peered on the window where little birds flew, soaring down the forest below. The bright noontide allowed Eva to spy at the vast horizon extending for miles, far beyond the area inside the walls.

As distant as she could see, forests reigned supreme over the land. Though, a pillar of smoke rose deep within the woods, which may signify a possibility of a nearby town.

Eva continued walking, following the trail that she took last night. Fortunately, the landscape paintings acted like markers, making sure she wouldn't get lost.

She stepped down the magnificent marble steps. A stunning chandelier reflected the natural light on its dazzling crystals, gleaming into the shade of the rainbow. It hung above the towering ceiling, held by the intricately carved stone pillars that shouldered the high dome.

Dark red and pearl clashed before her eyes. She trailed her finger against the stone-cold bricks. It would freeze her fingertips if not for the several lamps that provided heat.

She made her way down the stairs and wandered like a dwarf inside a den of giants. With her blind instinct as a compass and a faint memory as her map—she eventually found the small lobby.

Cold ashes and charred timber slept on the fireplace. In front of it stood a small circular table with soft sofas surrounding it. Potted shrubs embellished the room with greenery, complementing the saffron walls and ceiling.

Her loud steps caught both of the stranger's attention. The young lady folded her book and pushed it back against the giant bookcase.

"I haven't introduced myself, have I?" She strolled, her hips waving side to side, and signaled Eva to sit on the cushion. "I'm the caretaker of the Whisper Mansion. My name is Faun Mistra."

The lady stepped forward and raised her flowy blood-red skirt. She stooped down her head, elegantly, with a listless smile settling on her lips. "Forgive my action just then. We're not used to getting visitors, you see."

Eva nodded like a submissive doll. She sat, keeping her legs together, and her actions minimal.

After Faun, the young man stood from his languid posture. He straightened his coffee-colored tunic as he moved towards the ladies with his eyes pinned on Eva.

"I'm Calvin Arc, the disciple of the High Sorcerer." The young man extended his hand and quickly took it back. "Ah. I'm sorry. I forgot you're not fond of handshakes."

Eva gave a soft, high-pitched laugh. "You got that from Darius, so you know me already. I guess there's no need to introduce myself."

He shook his head. "The opposite, actually. Master Whisper told us nothing aside from the fact that you're living here from now on. Well, it's not like he informs us about anything. We're used to it by now."

"Did he at least mention my name?"

"He didn't."

"I guess you can call me Eva. Eva Alaine." She beamed and stood before going back to her seat. She sat across Calvin and Faun with a cup of tea in front of her. She took a sip, drumming her fingers along the sides of the cup.

Hmm. These two didn't recognize me as the princess. I better keep it that way. I don't know how much they know, so I better be careful of my words.

Faun rasped her voice in an attempt to seize her attention. "Speaking of the master. Do you know where they are?"

She gulped. "I don't understand. They're not here?"

"Master Whisper left with the doctor shortly after dropping you off. They only left us a note, so I can't help but feel suspicious."

"I'm sorry. I have no idea. Well, those two can be unpredictable, so it's not a surprise —"

"Stop lying," Faun blurted. She clicked her tongue, took a deep breath, and tipped her head forward. "I'm sorry, but there is no way the master would let a stranger like you inside his manor."

Chills crawled her skin. Eva's palms sweated, her facade almost cracking to pressure. "Y-yes, he did! They left you a letter and —"

"As if those things can't be fabricated." Faun raised her voice.

"The doors were shattered, broken, and charred. Isn't that suspicious?

"Besides, we haven't seen his face since he left a few days ago. And now, here you are, out of the blue. I am getting tired of our dilly-dallying. Who are you working with, and what are you after?"

Eva swiped her tongue over her dried lips. Her fingers clawed on her thighs as she rambled an answer.

Luckily, the boy slid through their conversation. It paved time for Eva to form her answer.

"I thought we agreed to observe before we ask our questions? You're too blunt. There's no way she'd cooperate if you treat her that way," Calvin whispered through his half-opened lips.

"Let me handle this!"

"We're not getting anywhere if you don't let her speak her mind."

"Then are we just supposed to ignore all the signs? The smell of banes, the bloody clothes, the broken carriage. Hell, we don't even know if the note came from the master."

"Fine," Eva snapped. Her pleasant face dissolved into her usual melancholic expression. The lady-like smile she carried extended into a wide grin. "I'll answer all your questions truthfully, and in turn, you'll answer all of mine," she said and slammed the cup on the wooden table.

"So you've decided to let us see your sinister side, I see. I accept your terms, but I need assurance that you'll speak the truth."

"What kind of assurance?"

Faun stood up as her dress gushed down her feet. It hovered above the floor while she strolled to the wooden shelf. There, she grabbed the first one that rubbed against her hand—a candle.

The young lady planted it close to her lips. Whispers, almost like mumbles, seeped out of it and into the candle. From its rusted holder to the tip of the unlit wick, it glowed with a faint light.

"Have you ever seen sorcery?" Calvin asked Eva.

"I'm acquainted with Ferdinand and Darius, so yes."

Faun placed the candle in the middle of the table and sat back on her seat.

"My affinity in sorcery is enchantment. It allows me to imbue objects with Aither. Cal, if you may, please light the candle."

The boy nodded and pulled his sleeves, succumbing to an intense concentration. A small flame began to sprout from his fingers and glided towards the candle.

"If the flame dies, then one of us is lying," Faun said and gazed at the boy. "Keep an eye out for cheaters."

"Sure, but we both know that's not essential." He sighed. "A sorcerer's enchantment is unbreakable. Isn't that right, Eva?"

"Right."

Faun drew a coin from her pocket. She tossed it to Eva, which she caught with her palm.

"Flip it. If it's the symbols, I'll ask the first question. The opposite goes if it's faces."

Eva studied the silver coin in her hand. Three symbols were carved in the metal—a sun, a moon, and a star.

She flipped it over, revealing three faces behind the coin. One was her father, next was an unfamiliar middle-aged woman, and lastly, a strange-looking young boy.

She shook her head and flung the coin back at Faun. "No need. You can ask the first question."

There's no way this will be fair, but playing along might earn me some of their trust. Without sorcery, it's the only effective weapon in my arsenal.

"Alright, if you insist." She pocketed the coin, then gazed at Calvin. They gave each other a slight nod before turning to Eva.

"What are your relations with the Royal Family of Astra?"