The Trio Heads to Town

Drifting in an unending maze,
Lost in a circle of hallways,
Each turn leaves her curious and blind;
Nowhere to go, nothing to find

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Eva was roaming around the mansion, unsure of where she would go. That was all one could do when insomnia struck again.

She was on her way to the lobby with no purpose other than to kill time. The corridors were quiet, dead. A crow would screech from time to time, briefly killing the silence.

Eventually, she reached the last room of the vast halls. A golden light escaped from the gap between the doors. She was pulled towards it, so she peeked through the parting.

Inside the room was a man was sitting in front of the hearth, clenching a book in his hand. Eva paused her blind travels and strolled to him instead. The lamps cast a dim light over the room. Through the silhouette formed from the fire, she recognized him—Ferdinand.

He's still awake. What's he doing?

She walked behind him, unnoticed. A light cotton robe draped on his back as he idled, his body leaning forward, oblivious to his surroundings.

"Ehem."

Ferdinand was stunned. He turned around; his sharp look diminished upon seeing Eva's face.

"It's impolite to creep up on people." His voice cracked with the burning wood.

Eva gently sat on the crimson sofa next to him. She could see why the doctor chose to spend his time there out of all places. The warmth brought tranquility, and the swaying of the fire was somehow entertaining.

"What are you doing here this late at night?" Eva asked as if she was talking to the flame.

"I could ask you the same, and your answer will be similar to mine. Your question doesn't bear much logic," Ferdinand said, listless.

"With all the crap going on in our lives, you'd think we'd be more tired. Yet here we are, fleeing from sleep at 2 am."

He gave a dry chuckle. "Darius already told you about our conference in the Citadel, hasn't he?"

Eva nodded.

"That man. He didn't even consult me." He sighed. "So when are you going back to the King's castle?"

"About that." Eva shifted her eyes away from the flame. "Darius and I decided that I'm going to stay here until the last possible day. I believe that's exactly two weeks from now."

For a moment, the room went silent, then their gazes met. Despite Ferdinand's efforts, a disorienting mix of frustration and confusion stirred in his face.

"What?" He blew a caustic sigh. "But he and I agreed to send you back as soon as possible."

"I hope it doesn't bother you."

"The fact that he didn't bother to discuss this with me—it's troubling." He puffed. "Why do you even want to stay here for that long?"

"I—I want to know as much as I can about the princess's life."

"That's not necessary. I'll diagnose you with fake amnesia to justify your lack of memories."

"I'd also like to learn sorcery."

"In two weeks? You're out of your mind!" Ferdinand bellowed.

"I can do it. If it means staying alive longer, then I will do it."

The doctor didn't seem convinced. He combed his hair with his fingers as his thoughts visibly went out of his body. "Let me guess. Darius wants me to teach you, doesn't he?"

"Yes. I could study the royal families on my own, but I will need your help to learn sorcery."

He shrugged. "Legally, we need to submit a ton of paperwork before you begin to know the smallest thing about it." Ferdinand paused, then he shook his head. "Remember when I gave you the lecture book while we're on our way here?"

"What of it?"

"That's considered a high-degree felony. I only did it to test your knowledge. Anyone who would dare to learn sorcery without going through the process is defamed, exiled, and labeled as strays."

"I see." Eva nodded. "That way, the upper-classes have a monopoly over sorcery. It's a smart system you have here in Xamere." She crossed her arms and laid back.

"Its design prevented countless uprisings and insurgencies, but with the rise of more sorcerers, the number of strays is also inflating," he said.

Before she realized it, Eva was chuckling. The man gave him a scornful look before putting his eyes back to the book he's reading.

"You don't look like one, but you're a lawbreaker like me. I guess we have more things in common than we thought," Eva said.

Ferdinand rolled his eyes. "I lied to the king about your condition, buried a body you killed, and made sure that all of the remaining assassins are either braindead or silenced. I've already committed treason, so training a stray would be the least of my worries."

"Now, look who's softening up," she jeered. "So I take that you have no objections with taking me as your student?"

"I wouldn't want to miss out on the opportunity of teaching someone like you. So starting tomorrow, you better start calling me master. It's only fitting because I'm taking you as my disciple."

Eva stood with her right brow raised. "You don't actually believe that I would do that." She chuckled.

"Whatever. I'll head back to bed." The man raised his palm and waved it. "Be sure to wake up early and help out with the chores."

Eva snubbed him, only listening to his steps as it faded. She pulled out a rod from the ashcan and poked the charred wood. Its embers flew to her skin.

He sounds just like my father. I might miss this dysfunctional family after I'm back at that castle.

It didn't take long for the flames to dissipate and for the darkness to take over once again. Eva soon left the room and began wandering through the halls.

She scuttled; her quick but light steps shattered the silence. As she reached the entrance hall, the two front doors snapped shut.

Did someone just go out? This late at night?

Eva sprinted toward the entrance; her skin hairs spiked up. Goosebumps wrote themselves on her flesh as the freezing door shafts rubbed against her palms. She pulled them open, but it didn't move, then she remembered. Faun was the only person who could open the front doors.

Curiosity compelled Eva to rush up the stairs. Once there, she peeked through the stained window. Calvin was standing in front of the marble porch. He had a hood over his head, yet his defined physique made him recognizable to Eva's eyes.

No. Don't tell me. Calvin is planning to go back there.

She pulled the window open, welcoming the cold breeze inside the manor. She stuck her leg out and leaped to the nearest branch. Her experience in hunting had given her an edge in climbing trees.

Shaking the wooden splinters from her hands, she began to sprint toward the front door.

What was she even trying to do? It was unclear, but her curiosity kept her legs moving.

She panted. Calvin was a few steps away from the doorstep, waving his silver sword. Someone was behind him, wearing the same dark cloak as his.

The boy turned around, stunned. After realizing she was spotted, Eva revealed herself and stepped into the warm light.

"What are you doing here?" Calvin's asked, startled.

"What are you doing here?" she echoed back.

The person behind the boy stepped forward. It was Faun. She pulled down her cloak, unveiling her bi-colored hair.

"Faun? Are you part of this too?"

She ignored her question. "Why are you following us?"

Eva glanced at Calvin. "Please, don't tell me this is about the little girl that I told you about."

The young lady slipped between Eva and Calvin. "You're the one who met the child?" Before Eva could say yes, Faun turned around to face Calvin. "We should take her with us."

"No," Calvin growled. "It's too dangerous."

"If you want to find that child before morning, then we should hurry. Or else, we'll end up roaming in circles without a definite lead!"

"Can both of you calm down for a minute?" Eva spread both of her palms. "What's the big deal with a child noticing my curse?"

Faun shrugged. "We don't have much time 'till dawn. We should hurry. Calvin will explain on the way."

"Why me?" He shrugged.

"Because I'm still annoyed that you plan to investigate without me!"

Eva couldn't slip a word out. She followed the two inside the same wagon, but this time, it was empty.

Calvin and Eva sat on the creaky floorboard while Faun strolled to the middle. Her head hung low as she folded her hands.

"Move on my will," Faun murmured with her eyes closed. A wave of power, a gentle orange tide of light, ebbed out of her body and seeped through the wagon's every corner and crevice.

"What is she doing?" Eva asked Calvin, sitting beside him.

Putting a finger over his dried lips, he whispered. "Shh. You're going to break her concentration."

The wagon started rumbling, its quakes waving out of Faun. After that, it stopped, and the vehicle moved.

Faun sat down with the two, chasing her breath. "Anyway, do the masters know that we've left the mansion?"

"I don't think so." She shook her head. "So why are you chasing after the little girl in the village. I know she's weird and all, but it's the middle of the damn night."

Calvin sighed. "First of all, I didn't ask both of you to come with me. I planned to look for her to confirm if she is a sorcerer."

"So what if she was a sorcerer? You're going to condemn her because she's a stray?"

"We don't have the slightest concern if she is learning sorcery off the record." The fabrics of Faun's shawl crunched in her fist. "If she was indeed studying sorcery, it means she's in danger. And worst-case scenario, she could be like me."

"Faun, stop it. That's why I didn't want to bring you here!" Calvin thundered through his barely parted lips. "I know your past still bothers you up to this day. So whether our assumption is right or wrong, promise me that you won't act without thinking."

"You act as if I'm weak. I'm not weak!"

"Your sorcery relies on items you've enchanted. You're not as powerful if you're outside your domain. You know that."

"Instead of fussing over me, maybe you should focus more on her?"

Eva shook her head. "Oh. You don't need to worry about me. I can protect myself."

"Really? You look as if you've never even touched sunlight in your whole life."

Calvin interjected. "I don't think that's the case." He leaned towards Eva. "You can use bladed weapons, right?"

"Yes. Bolos and hatchets are my picks. I used to be a hunter, so you don't have to worry about me."

"Fighting against beasts is different from fighting people. There is also a slight chance that we'll encounter a stray. You need to know how to fight against sorcery," Faun said.

"Then how?"

"I'll teach you," she said. "Touch my hand."

Eva trailed her nails against her palms. Tingles went up to her fingertips.

"Can you feel the Aither?" Faun asked.

"Y-yes."

"That's the fundamental source of sorcery. I need you to block it."

"W-what?"

Her fingers quivered. The warmth of Faun's hands clashed against hers. The vibrations she gave off traveled up her arm and to her whole body.

"Use your Aither to block mine." Her voice was louder than the wheels of the wagon. "Everyone has it. It's just that sorcerers are trained to use it beyond its purpose. This is a common practice that most people know, so if you can't learn this, then there's no hope for you to be a sorcerer."

She focused, directing her senses to the buzzing in Faun's hands.

First, she tried to feel her own. Then, she channeled her Aither against Faun.

Abruptly, the wagon stopped moving. The glowing faded and the tiny quakes in Faun's hands steadied into an equilibrium.

"Well done." The lady took back her hand. "That's basically it."

Neither Calvin nor Faun was surprised. It was not like they were amazed either, as if what she did was the most trivial thing one could do.

Calvin cleared his voice. "Most sorcerers wear long clothing to expose as little skin as possible. Your goal is to get near them and block their power source. As long as you're touching them, they won't be able to use sorcery."

"So that's why you're wearing those drab clothes."

Faun spoke, "That's right. But do not forget, you're always at a disadvantage against a sorcerer. Running is your priority when you are against one."

Eva nodded. I don't plan to risk my life, thank you very much. I'll run as soon as I smell trouble.

"Ladies, we're here. Let's hurry," Calvin said. They didn't linger any longer and rushed out. The gates of the town stood in front of them.

I already smell trouble.