The memories that flowed through her mind seemed a lifetime ago, and the Lovejoy family head slowly dismissed them. There were times to distract oneself from their present endeavors, and now was not one of those times.
As she made herself ready to leave, she noticed the magical signature on her shoulder that had previously been showing a particularly strong blue hue was now fading to grey. The Lovejoy family head took this as the Grand Mage no longer tracking her specific movements now that she had fulfilled his request.
Closing the door behind her, the Lovejoy family head attempted to and ultimately failed in properly navigating back to the middle level, getting lost multiple times to dead end hallways. With slight resignation, she held her breath and opened a previously locked door in order to try and understand where she was.
The room she entered was filled with bookshelves holding different types of books, scattered papers and semi-valuable resources. In the middle was a beautifully made desk with two chairs on either side. Curiosity overcame the family head as she closed the door behind her and approached the desk.
On the wonderfully crafted wooden desk sat multiple papers with archaic symbols and patterns that she had no knowledge of, but had appeared to be vaguely familiar to her. They had the same intonations and stress patterns in their markings as the teleportation runic circle within the Private Sanctum's middle layer.
When the family head approached the desk, the candle-holder magically lit itself as if in response to her presence. The family head jolted back in surprise, accidentally knocking into one of the bookcases. Hastily cleaning up after herself, she began to make her way back to the door to leave when a small glint caught her attention. Hesitating for a brief moment, the family head let go of her breath and slowly made her way to the object that she had barely noticed.
On the ground beside the desk, quite inconspicuously, was a small marble sized piece of pure silver. As if it had just fallen off the desk, it perfectly placed itself in a spot to only be noticed from a very specific angle. Unless someone was to specifically be looking for it, it most likely would have been lost in this small nook forever.
The Lovejoy family head picked up the pure silver marble and held it gently in between her thumb and index finger. The grooves of the silver were impossibly smooth, as if they had never seen human error during it's production.
As if responding to the family head's curiosity, the marble began to slowly melt and wrap around her index finger, taking the form of a ring. Try as she might, the ring would not budge from the position it had taken on her finger.
Not knowing if this was a test from the Grand Mage or just pure coincidence, or whether it could be considered a good or bad omen, the family head again resigned to her fate. The family head hastily looked around for something to pry the ring off with. She had found engraving tools on the desk and attempted to remove the ring with them, but to her dismay it would not budge even a little bit.
Not being one to quit, the family head got behind the desk and tried to open the drawer, which she quickly understood as being locked. Using the engraving tools as makeshift lock picks, she recalled the skills she had learned in her youth and pried the lock open gently.
Inside the drawer were more random papers and some inkwells organized perfectly, compared to the disorganized mess on the top of the desk.
Digging through the papers, unsure of what she was looking for, she came across a blood and wine-stained letter.
Though gently used, the letter showed it's age with every tear and slowly dissolving ink blot. Unable to hold back her curious nature, she slowly opened the folded letter and began to read it's content. Despite the aged feeling and barely visible lettering, the paper did not give way to pressure as if it had preserved with magic.
- To my dea*est *on,
Forgive m- my big, beau***ul son, I know you --- --- -- the strong Mother tha* *aised you, disciplined you and protect** you, but truthfully I am weak.
If it were not for the love of Alexander, I would not be where I am today, nor could I have protected you. In truth, you are not born of my blood and sweat, but from another woman.
It seems like such a long time ago that I first held you in my arms as I ran for my life from the Magical Beings that hunted you. I am sorry I could not tell you, but I feared you would never forgive me.
I am going to be with my Husband now, and even though I can never forgive myself for leaving you, I know I have raised a strong, caring boy. Please find it in your heart to forgive me for being such a coward.
Your Mother, Always.
Sarah Saye. -
The smudges at the top of the letter had finally taken it's toll and warped some of the words beyond recognition, but the rest of the letter remained somewhat intact.
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Upon realizing what she was reading, the family head immediately folded the letter and put it back in the drawer exactly as she had remembered retrieving it. She closed the drawer but realized too late that she had no way of locking it again.
"What was I thinking!" She quietly muttered as she ran to the door, closing it behind her and racing off down the hallway as fast as she could.
The family head thought deeply and began to regret the luxurious life she had lived, one that lacked strong consequences. If she had perhaps been more strongly disciplined she might have learned to curb her natural curiosity and would not be in this position.
With everything to lose, she quickly attempted to make it back to the Grand Mage to tell him the truth and hope for leniency in this matter.
As if to mock her own ineptitude, she again got lost attempting to make it down to the middle level. Before she had even realized it, her shoulder began to again take on a strong and piercing blue hue, engulfing everything it reflected with a blue touch.
The markings on her shoulder urged her in a particular direction, and she did not dare resist. The markings guided her around corners, back to the origin of her worries. On her way over, she passed by the Grand Elder of her clan, but he did not seem to notice her as he thumbed through a book filled with names and locations.
In the study room.
Willem beckoned the Lovejoy family head to his location using the connection he had previously established. If she truly wanted to resist she could, but that would most certainly have shown some feelings of guilt.
Waiting patiently, Willem ran his fingers over the wine-stained letter gently, as if it was a precious jewel to be admired. How many times had he sat for hours, holding the same letter in his hands, feeling the same sense of profound loss.
As the door slowly creaked open, the Lovejoy family head entered the room and closed the door behind her. No sooner had the door shut that she was on her hands and knees, kneeling and begging for forgiveness. Her large breasts were clearly visible from the cut of her dress as she looked at the Grand Mage with pleading eyes.
Willem looked into the Lovejoy family head and read her emotions. Fear, anxiety, loss. No sense of greed or malice.
"Stand, Arissa Lovejoy." Willem's tone was even but commanding.
"Yes, Grand Mage." The family head arose but dared not move forward without permission first.
"Come, sit down." Willem again ordered.
With little hesitation, Arissa quietly took a seat opposite the Grand Mage, bewilderment written all over her face.
"Just a moment ago, the elder of your family sat in this very seat. I have given him a task, which he may require your resources to finish in time. I suggest you aid him as best as you can, while fulfilling your duties here." Willem held no air of superiority, and spoke merely from one person to another as equals.
"As you command, Grand Mage." Sighing gently, Arissa bowed her head.
"Arissa, that is a nice ring. How come I have never seen it before?" Willem saw the silver ring on her index finger and pointed to it.
"Grand Mage, please do not tease me. In this Private Sanctum, is there anything you do not see? I actually came back to beg your forgiveness for my transgressions." The Lovejoy family head was no fool, as she had shown with all her previous dealings.
"I jest, of course. The ring has chosen you, which means you have a strong curiosity, a trait I will require in due time. It is only my luck that we already have a working relationship. Though in the future, it would be best to hold a bit more resistance to your tendencies." Willem smirked like he noticed something of interest.
A cold sweat ran down Arissa's back.
"Anything you require, I will oblige." The family head again bowed, this time more in exasperation than usual.
"Very well, you may leave." Willem nodded and picked up the loose papers on his desk to peruse.
Arissa nodded and quickly stepped to the door, bowing slightly and retreating as quick as possible. The blue mark on her shoulder lead her back to the middle level before dissipating.
"Another piece falls into place. Things are progressing rather well. Though it did take multiple people failing before I found someone to pass the test." Willem muttered as he set a piece of paper above the others in his hand.
On the paper was a depiction of a marble sized ball of silver with strange markings and magic writing. The word "Discovery" was written in an archaic language.
"Discovery magic, the only method I could think to find an untrackable pendant." Willem traced his fingers along his clavicle where the pendant once hung. "Even if I leave her to it, her urges will take her where she needs to go."
Within the inner city.
Six cloaked figures approached from multiple different streets, and with no words spoken, entered the same building together. The building had a signboard above the door depicting a lion breaking a greatsword in half between it's jaw. As the six figures entered the building, the noise of many conversations quieted down and the free flowing of alcohol slowed. When the six figures moved upstairs to the second level, whispers and pointed fingers turned back into boisterous laughter and clanks of glasses.
The six individuals sat at the table together and lowered their cowls one by one. Four and a half years had passed since the incident that cemented their own path in this world. From being weak children that had been kidnapped after their friend returned from failing the Knight's Apprenticeship training, each person now sitting at the table could be considered influential in their own field.
"We do this every year, do you know how hard it is to sneak out of the Magic Academy?" The first to speak was Ashley, whom had always faithfully followed her dearest friend.
"Traditions have to be followed. No one here would blame you for not showing up though." The other woman of the group, Eleanor, spoke out.
"This is both an apology and a thank you to our friend. It has been almost five years, and no one has ever seen him." Craig, looking a little more mature and well built, spoke up as well.
"Sorry, I was wrong." Ashley sheepishly recoiled.
The last three people removed their hoods as well.
"Red, Veeta and I had to sneak into the inner city, imagine how hard that was..." Arin cleaned the specks of dried animal blood off his shirt.
Red and Veeta nodded their heads in agreement.
"Enough... Barkeep! Six ales." Craig passed the barkeeper a silver coin and told her to keep the change.
As the six ales were placed on the table, each person grabbed theirs and clanked the glasses together.
"To Willem." They spoke together as they downed their warm ales with force.