Dusky Biscuit and the Book of Wonders

Chapter 3

Fate

That morning, Eldrin M. Stormweaver, a wizard, and his granddaughter Aria S. Windrider, a young girl from Emberbrook, were taking a walk along Silver Leaf Road, forty-five minutes away from the prestigious Runestone Academy in the Isdonia kingdom.

"Aria, my dear, are you excited for school?" Eldrin asked as he breathed in the fresh air.

"Yes! Grandfather, I can't wait to make new friends! And it's been my dream to go there!" Aria replied, her eyes glistening as she clenched her fists.

"Hoho! You sure are!" he chuckled and exclaimed as he pointed his staff upwards toward the clear skies.

She then frowned and asked, "But Grandpa, will I be okay?"

Eldrin glanced at her, his eyes steady and calm. He rested his hand on her head, brushing her hair as they walked, and said, "You will be fine. You are my granddaughter after all, and the daughter of the proud Stormweaver and Windrider houses. Just like your parents faced their challenges, you will face yours head-on. And you are more than capable of doing so! So cheer up, dear child."

"Really?" asked Aria.

"Yes, really," replied Eldrin. He then brushed his long gray beard and arched his lips, teasing, "Hmm… how old are you again?"

Aria scowled, her brows furrowed and cheeks puffed, as she snapped, "Hmph! I'm twelve years old!" She stomped her foot before marching ahead. "Grandpa! We just celebrated my birthday three days ago! How could you forget?"

Eldrin puffed on his pipe and coughed as he replied, "Right... right... I must be getting old these days. hoho," and chuckled.

He stared at the skies, then stopped in his tracks for a moment, his lips quivering as he mumbled to himself, "Hmm? What's the meaning of this? Well, this is very unusual..."

Aria continued to walk, brushing the dandelions alongside the road, and said, "Really, Grandpa, you should stop smoking that pipe weed of yours. It's not good for your hea... hmm...? Grandpa?" She looked back, then stopped and asked, "Grandpa, what's wrong?"

Eldrin noticed a flock of Aetherwings migrating to the east, pondering its unusual behavior, then shrugged, "It's nothing, my dear, there's nothing to worry about. Let's carry on now, chop-chop! You don't want to be late for school, do you?" He placed his hand on her back, pushing her to hurry as they walked.

"Hmph! Grandpa, why are you acting so weird? We don't have to rush, you know," she said, pouting as she added, "School is not starting today yet. They are just going to introduce us to our dorms. Classes will formally start the day after as we settle in."

"Is that so?" he said, furrowing his brows.

She ran ahead, then walked backward and replied, "Yes, I hope I get picked to Moonshade club like Mother did."

"Moonshade, huh?" he scoffed and muttered to himself, "Seraphina Moonshade."

"Hmm...? Did you say something, Grandpa?" she asked, raising a brow.

Eldrin coughed again, fixing his pipe as he shrugged, "No... no..."

She paused and said, "Really, Grandpa, as I was saying, you...OaAh...!" gasped Aria.

As they walked along the quiet path, a low rumble emerged from the ground beneath them. It started as a distant murmur but grew into a violent shake. The earth beneath their feet quivered, then bucked, forcing them to stagger. Loose stones tumbled from the path, and the trees on either side shuddered as though caught in a strong wind.

Aria stumbled and yelped, "Ouch!" as the ground beneath her shuddered, her balance thrown off by the relentless shaking. Her eyes widened in fear, glancing around as the familiar landscape became a blur of shifting earth and swaying trees. She gasped, "Grandpa!" her hands flying to her head to steady herself, fingers gripping her hair as if trying to hold onto reality itself.

"Aria!" shouted Eldrin as he ran toward her and grabbed hold of her, then added, "My child, hold on to me!"

Aria grabbed his arm for balance as the ground heaved again, throwing them off their stride. The air filled with the sound of rocks scraping and splitting. The once steady path now felt like it was trying to throw them off with each jolt, leaving them struggling to stay upright as the world tilted and shifted around them.

Aria's breath came in shallow, quick bursts, each tremor sending her heart racing faster. She clutched Eldrin's waist as the ground vibrated under her feet. Her voice trembled as she screamed, "What is happening!?" but her words were swallowed by the roar of the quake. Her face, pale with shock, reflected the chaotic dance of the ground beneath her. Each jolt seemed to pull her further into a state of panic.

Eldrin stood firm amid the chaos, feet planted wide as the ground quaked beneath him. His hands, steady despite the violent tremors, rose to chest level, fingers splayed and trembling with energy. With each breath, he chanted words of ancient power, "Terrae motus siste," his voice cutting through the roar of the earth like a blade through mist. The words rolled off his tongue in a rhythm, deep and resonant, as if pulling from the very core of the planet itself. His eyes, half-closed in focus, flickered with a faint glow, reflecting the magic he summoned.

As the incantation intensified, a force gathered around them, swirling in invisible waves, pushing back against the ground's relentless shaking. His voice grew louder, commanding, "Terrae motus siste!" The spell wove itself tighter, as if binding the earth's fury. Beneath his feet, the cracks in the ground stopped spreading, the violent tremors slowing, then pausing—held in check by the power of his words.

Aria's legs weakened, eyes widening as she looked around, clinging to him as the ground calmed down.

Then Eldrin whistled and said, "It's not safe here."

A while later, a griffin arrived. He settled Aria on its back and whispered in its ear, "Duc Ariam ad mansionem Biscuit!" He then added, "Aria, go ahead without me. Felix will carry you to a safe place, the Biscuit residence, they're good friends of mine, wait for me there."

"Wait! Where are you going?" asked Aria, still shaken.

"I need to check something. You carry on, my child," replied Eldrin, then added, "You don't need to worry about me, I'll be back in no time," placing his hand on her cheek, and commanded, "Now go!"

"GrandpaAaAaA!" shouted Aria, reaching her hand out as Felix flew away.

As Aria headed to the Biscuit estate, Eldrin Stormweaver ran through the woods and called forth another griffin, riding it west, where Mount Inferno lies dormant, three hundred leagues away. Cold sweat ran down his forehead as he muttered to himself, "Please let this foreboding come to pass..."

Back at the Biscuit estate, fifty leagues away from where Eldrin and Aria were, Dusky, after eating breakfast, was preparing for school inside his room with Violetta.

"Ugh..." grumbled Dusky as he struggled to wear a tie around his neck in front of a mirror.

Violetta, observing Dusky by the door, walked toward him and said, "Here, let me take care of that for you." As she fixed his tie, she asked, "So, how do you feel?"

"Feel about what?" replied Dusky.

"You know, going to Runestone Academy. I mean, this is your first time, after all," said Violetta.

"I don't feel excited at all," he said, frowning.

"And why is that?" she asked.

"It's just... I don't belong there," he replied with hesitation, as bad memories flashed through his mind: 'You'll never be one of us!' 'Magicless scum!' 'Evil incarnate!' 'You better stay away from us; we don't want to be infected by filth.' 'Your father abandoned you!' 'I thought you were different; why did you do it? You are such a disappointment.' 'I thought we were friends?' 'I'm sorry, Dusky, but our friendship ends here, goodbye.'

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Dusky?" said Violetta.

"Ah!" gasped Dusky, pulled away from his thoughts by Violetta's gentle voice.

"Whatever it is that is troubling you, Dusky, I'll be here with you," assured Violetta, placing her hands on his shoulders and giving them a tight squeeze.

Dusky looked up and locked eyes with her for a moment, then stared back at the mirror and noticed the chandelier's reflection swaying ever so slightly and said, "Violetta, is it just me or is the chandelier moving?"

Violetta looked back and stared at the ornament hanging from the ceiling, then said, "Now that you mention it, I feel a slight tremor, let's goOoaAaAH!" and gasped.

As Dusky and Violetta stood inside the room, the earthquake struck without warning. The wooden floor trembled beneath the carpets, causing the ornate furniture to rattle. The grand chandelier hanging from the high ceiling lurched and heaved, its crystal pendants clinking and jingling as if protesting against the chaos. The drapes billowed in the quaking air, and the gilded mirror on the wall shuddered, threatening to topple. Books and decorative objects spilled from shelves and tables, their clattering adding to the cacophony. The once serene room, filled with the refined tranquility of noble life, was now a tumultuous scene of disarray and fear.

Dusky’s eyes widened in terror as the room rocked and jarred. He stumbled and yelped, "Ow!" struggling to keep his balance, and grabbed the edge of a nearby table for support. His face paled, and his breath came in shallow, rapid bursts. Panic gripped him as he looked around, the trembling chandelier and crashing objects amplifying his fear. He tried to shout, "Violetta!" but his voice was lost in the cacophony of the quake. His hands clutched at his clothes, his knuckles whitening, and he desperately searched for a safe spot, his entire body trembling with each jolt of the shaking room as he tumbled and rolled right under the chandelier.

Violetta, standing by, saw that the heavy ornament was about to fall on Dusky. She ran toward him. Her usual steady hands, as she helped him prepare for school, trembled as she grabbed his legs just in time as the ornament fell, shattering to pieces. Her face was set in a determined expression, though her eyes reflected the same fear that gripped Dusky. Violetta tried to steady herself against the shaking furniture, her voice firm yet comforting. "Hold on tight, we need to go to safety!" she said, guiding him toward the door. As the tremors continued, she shielded him with her body, her maternal instincts driving her to protect him even as the room around them whirled and spun in chaotic motion.

The earthquake shook the mansion with a violent jolt. The maids and butlers, accustomed to the calm routine of their daily tasks, were abruptly thrown into a frenzy.

The maids, their faces pale with fear, dropped their cleaning supplies as the floor beneath them shuddered. Some clung to nearby furniture or the walls for stability, their voices rising in panicked shouts as they called for each other. Their neatly pinned hair came loose, and their crisp uniforms wrinkled with the sudden upheaval.

The butlers, typically composed and dignified, struggled to maintain their usual poise. They staggered as they attempted to move through the quaking hallways, their usual grace replaced by urgent, disordered haste. They rushed to secure valuable items and help the frightened staff, their stern faces showing rare cracks of concern. The sound of their polished shoes skidding across the stone floor added to the chaotic symphony of the earthquake.

In the dining rooms, silverware clattered to the floor, and fine china rattled ominously on shelves. The staff worked together, trying to prevent further damage while ensuring the safety of their fellow workers. The once orderly and calm mansion now echoed with the sounds of panic, urgency, and the relentless tremor of the earth beneath.

In the midst of the chaos, Veronica, Dusky's mother, stood resolute at the mansion's heart. Her robes, a cascade of deep indigo and silver threads, billowed around her like a living storm. She raised her arms, fingers splayed, as a surge of energy crackled from her fingertips. The air shimmered with an electric hum, casting ethereal patterns across the walls.

Her face, set in a mask of fierce concentration, was framed by a cascade of red hair that seemed to writhe with the intensity of her magic. As she chanted, "Incantatio Vinculi!" her voice was a low, rhythmic pulse, resonating with an ancient cadence. Each word she uttered wove a complex tapestry of arcane symbols that spiraled into the air, merging into a brilliant, swirling shield of light.

The mansion trembled, its very foundations groaning under the strain of the quake, but the shield around her pulsed with a protective aura. The light from the spell reached out like a barrier, meeting the tremors head-on and holding them at bay. Cracks in the walls began to close, the once-threatening rubble halted mid-fall, suspended by the sheer force of her magic.

Despite the monumental effort, Veronica remained unyielding, a beacon of hope amid the crumbling world. Her spell, a testament to her will and skill, held the mansion's fate in its delicate balance, pushing back against the relentless forces of nature.

As Veronica stood in the center of the ruined mansion, her figure silhouetted against the crumbling walls and shattered windows, her hands moved once again in a series of precise, deliberate motions, each gesture radiating an unseen power. A faint glow began to gather at her fingertips, swirling gently as her magic took form.

The air around her shimmered as she whispered an incantation, "Magia Inversa," her voice barely audible over the distant sounds of settling debris. Slowly, the destruction began to reverse. Splintered wood lifted from the floor and fused back into beams and doorways. Shards of glass floated up from the ground, reassembling into the empty window frames. The cracked stone walls groaned as the fractures sealed themselves, bricks and mortar returning to their rightful places.

She remained calm, her expression unwavering, as the mansion rebuilt itself around her. Smoke from recent fires evaporated, leaving the air clear, while charred furniture rose from the ashes, returning to its pristine condition. In a matter of moments, the once-ruined mansion stood whole again, every trace of destruction erased by her magic.

Veronica then commanded with a loud voice resonating in every corner, "Everyone, step outside! Gather at the garden and stay there," then added, "Melena, go to them and count everyone and tend to their wounds."

Melena, standing in the corner, nodded and said, "Right away, madam," sprinting outside.

The tremor had rattled the entire mansion, and in those moments, every possible disaster had flashed through Veronica's mind. When the earth finally stilled, she rushed through the halls, looking for her son, Dusky, her heart racing with each step.

As her eyes fell upon Dusky, standing in the hallway with Violetta beside him, a wave of relief washed over her. Her shoulders slumped, and for the first time since the quake, she exhaled. She approached slowly, as if confirming they were real, untouched by the chaos.

"Mom!" called Dusky as he ran toward her.

Veronica didn't say anything at first, just pulled Dusky into a tight embrace, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest. "You’re both safe," she whispered, her voice catching as she looked at Violetta, offering a grateful nod.

"Ah, mom, yes we're okay, Violetta saved me."

Her grip loosened, but her heart remained full, knowing the worst had passed.

Veronica then pulled Violetta into her embrace. As she hugged them both, she whispered into Violetta's ear, "Thank you."

"Thank goodness you're both safe," she said, as tears flowed down her rosy cheeks, regaining their color.

Violetta's face blushed as Veronica continued to hug them tightly, speechless. "Uhmm..."

"Ugh, mom, I think it's time to let go now."

"Oh! I'm so sorry!"

As they got up and went outside toward the garden, Violetta, Melena, and the others chatted in the background. After a while, a dove came bearing news from Runestone Academy and headed straight toward Veronica. The bird landed on her arm, and she took the letter from its leg and read:

'Dear Students and Parents,

We hope this message finds you well and in good health. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances stemming from the earthquake earlier today, we must cancel today’s orientation at Runestone Academy.

The safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and while there is no immediate danger, we believe it is best to postpone the event to allow for thorough inspections of the academy grounds.

Orientation will now take place next week at the same scheduled time. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding as we ensure the environment remains safe and welcoming for all.

We look forward to seeing you then.

Warm regards,

Selene Mooncrest, Headmaster

Runestone Academy.'

"What does it say, mother?" asked Dusky.

Veronica furrowed her brows and replied, "The academy postponed their orientation for today, so..."

After saying that, Aria arrived at the Biscuit mansion, riding Felix the griffin. She landed in the compound and got off.

"Who might this be?" said Veronica, looking at Aria from a distance.

As Felix flew away, Aria ran toward the crowd gathered outside, where she was met by Veronica, and said, "Dear child, what's the matter?"

"My grandfather sent me here," Aria replied.

"You don't happen to be Greybeard's granddaughter, do you?"

"Yes. My name is Aria Windrider," bowed Aria.

"I am the master of this house, Veronica Biscuit. Tell me, child, what happened?"

Aria then told Veronica everything that had happened, leading to their meeting in the mansion.

"Greybeard went west, you say?" said Veronica, furrowing her brows.

"What's in the west, mother?" asked Dusky.

Veronica glanced at Dusky, then Aria, and said, "We should not talk about this here; let us head inside." She turned and added, "By the way, welcome to the Biscuit estate, young Aria Windrider." She then called, "Melena, please tend to our young guest; she'll be staying for a while."

"Yes, milady," replied Melena, then turned toward Aria, extending her hand toward the entrance and said, "This way, young miss."

Aria stood frozen at the entrance, her eyes widening as she took in the towering mansion before her. Massive stone pillars stretched skyward, framing an arched doorway that could have belonged to a castle. Her mouth parted in silent awe, the gleam in her eyes reflecting the light from the enormous windows. Each step she took toward the entrance was slow, almost hesitant, as though she couldn't quite believe she was allowed to approach such grandeur. Her fingers brushed against the polished banister as she entered, and her breath caught at the sight of a spiraling staircase, its marble steps gleaming like a dream.

As they walked inside the mansion, Dusky greeted, "Hello."

"Hi," greeted back Aria.

"My name is Dusky."

"Nice to meet you, Dusky. I'm Aria."

"So are you going to Runestone Academy too?" he asked.

"Yes, in fact, we were on our way there before the earthquake happened," she replied.

"Oh, is that so? So what year are you?"

"I'm a first year."

"Oh, me too. I guess we're the same age then?"

"I guess so."

"By the way, school's been canceled for a week due to the commotion."

"Really?"

"Yes, so you'll be staying here for a while until your grandfather comes to pick you up."

Aria pondered for a while and said, "Okay, thanks for having me. I'll be in your care then."

As their words faded into the background, inside Dusky's room, Zephyr's voice came out from under the pillow as he cried, "Did you already forget about me? I wanna be saved too... Sniff... Sniff..." He couldn't go anywhere because he was bound by the book.