<< FON CARLSON >>

On a cold, starless night, Fon is beside a transport that looks like a horse-drawn carriage. But on closer inspection, it is actually a magick-operated device that can float on air.

After the murder of Prim Jaxon within the Academy premises, Madame Rose refuses to linger any longer. She hastens her goodbye and pushes Fon back into the carriage. Thankfully, she already said goodbye to Rissa, Sven and Philomena.

Fon's mind goes to Philomena as she warns her not to show her mark to anyone. Fon touches her arm. It's safe now, the glamour she placed on it is working as she expected it to.

Sven, on the other hand, promises that she will visit her once they are settled in their respective Towers. Lately, they both discover that they can both sense each other. It's mostly because a part of her magick is transferred to Sven.

The hardest part is to say goodbye to Rissa. To hide the distress of their separation, Rissa joked about things. She even teased her that Ayin came looking for her yesterday about matters that involve the heart and her marriage to the Great Wizard of the North–which will happen in a couple of years. But Fon thinks that instead of heart, Ayin should focus on his measly magick instead.

And so, Fon leaves the Academy. Her mind wanders in many different directions as she looks out of the carriage window–at the vastness of the world below them. It is quiet, with not a soul around for miles, except Madame Rose and her twin warriors. The only sound is the whistling of the wind and the constant whirring of the machine.

It's the second day of their travel and probably, out of boredom, Madame Rose starts to talk to her. "In your studies, do you remember the name of the main continent?"

Fon rolls her eyes. "Of course. It's where I came from."

"Good. The main continent where most aberrants live is called Avilon," Madame Rose says as if she didn't notice the way she answers her question.

"And what are the four islands outside Avilon?"

"Freya, Guinevere, Ravens, and Zantoria which comprises the East, West, South, and the North. It is where most witches live."

"Good. At least you listen to your teachers." She opens a huge book and adds, "I will read from this general information book and all you need to do is listen. Then I will quiz you later."

Fon groans. If only Madame Rose is a witch, their journey to the North will not be as strenuous as what she is suffering now. Fon also doesn't need to undergo Madame Rose's torture, especially when she already read the book she is holding–three times.

Fon sighs and looks outside the carriage window. It is serene outside. She is keeping her magick from a bare minimum to non-existent. That way, monsters won't be attracted to her aura. Before, it is hard to control, but now that she gives a part of her magick to Sven, no monsters are relentlessly following them, very unlike the time Philomena found her in the mountain–the first time she really uses her magick.

"Dwellings of witches within Avilon have barriers that repel aberrants from accidentally entering."

She peers at Fon. Thankfully, Fon glances at her at the same time–at least, no drama and apology will happen later. "Did you also come across that information?"

Fon nods while thinking how aberrants like Madame Rose are very delayed with any information regarding witches. It is a wonder how Theofolso became a Great Wizard when, in fact, he is one of the so-called aberrations because of his mixed blood.

"Since time immemorial, the relationship between witches and aberrants had never been good. From time to time, there are witch organizations that attempted to create a connection with the aberrants but none ever succeeded, and most resulted in a bloody conflict. For this reason, the Witch's Council is created to protect the existence of witches from the aberrants forever."

Madame Rose's voice has become a constant irritating companion. Thankfully, every time they need to rest, Lector and Hector are nice enough to teach her about physical combat. They said that it's crucial when the supply of magick is limited.

Not that Fon will need it. There will not come a time when her magick will be insufficient. In fact, even when Utente and Sven have a part of her magick, very few notice the decrease in her magick.

"Madame Rose, the magick level of the carriage will be drained soon," Hector informs as Madame Rose's voice almost lulls Fon into sleep. "We need to stop for a few hours again."

"Okay," Madame Rose agrees as she closes her massive book. "Hector, take care of our things. Lector, teach Fon about martial combat again," she orders.

The carriage descends to the ground, and as Fon peers outside the window, she sees the pall of smoke that hangs in the air. A pungent smell of charred wood and burnt flesh accompanies it.

The village—or what had been a village—stretches out before her. There are broken walls and piles of rubble. Also, what remains of the destroyed houses dot the landscape.

"What happened here?" Fon blurts out as they pass through the fallen trees.

"This is why I don't like passing through aberrant's territory," Madame Rose snorts. "What you see here, Fon, is a war among aberrants."

Like Fon, Madame Rose peers outside. "I just thought that the war won't reach this area. It's already at the edge of the continent."

The carriage floats among the ruins. A number of lifeless bodies are impaled by metals.

"Ugh. Let's go to another town to rest. This place is filthy." Madame Rose complains while she covers her nose. Without waiting for an answer, she asks the twins, "Glamour is up, I presume?"

"Yes, Madame Rose," Hector replies as their carriage picks up speed.

"Be careful," Madame Rose warns again. "There might be someone still alive in that pile of corpses."

After half a day, they finally found a place to rest. It does not look pretty and clean, but Madame Rose decides that it will suffice for now. They need to recharge even for just a little.

"Hurry up, child," Madame Rose orders. "The faster we are out of this place, the better."

And so, they stay just enough to recharge half of their magick and prepare to leave just as fast. Lector did not even bother to train her. They wait until Madame Rose decides that it's time to leave.

Fon is about to ride the carriage when she notices a little boy crawling toward them.

"Help..." he says in an almost inaudible voice. "Please..."

Fon pauses as she looks back at the boy. Like the other corpses, he is impaled by a metal rod on his torso. There are burns on his legs and arms. And strikingly, there are white patches all over his face.

"I need to help him," Fon starts, as she watches the child.

"Hector," Madame Rose mutters.

In an instant, Hector forces her inside the carriage. The carriage quickly leaves and she isn't given the time to breathe. She isn't even able to watch the little boy as his form gradually disappears.

"Why?!" she asks, unintentionally raising her voice.

"That little boy will die in a few minutes," Madame Rose answers. "He already contracted a disease."

"How can you be sure of that? He might still have a fighting chance." This time, she lowers her voice.

"Because, only the dying can see past a witch's glamour, especially those desperate to live," she responds without looking at her. "Also, I have seen the same disease back when I was living in the Avilon."

After the confession, they travel in silence. Madame Rose didn't even bother to read her books. Instead, she looks outside the window as if in deep thought.