The next couple weeks settle into a routine. I get up in the mornings for breakfast, then lessons with Mr. Leverton on magic in the forest. Sarah greets me on our way back and I help her with the garden before I go to my language lessons with the mage. After dinner in the evening, I help Sarah water the plants and try to listen to their song.

At the end of the first week, I start to hear the Heart-Throb’s voice when she’s had enough water.

By the second week, Mr. Leverton gives me the spellbook in Imperial Common and adds the Druik language to his lessons.

It’s the start of the third week, and we still haven’t touched on my death calling, instead focusing on nature.

The first rays of morning light wake me up. I move slowly to not disturb Wolf, and he only lifts his head slightly to watch me move to my desk. Mr. Leverton had assigned me a list of basic Druik words to memorize, and I find myself surprisingly fascinated by the language. It has so many different words for beauty, especially when talking about places or landscapes. The sounds of the language itself are harsh in a heartfelt way, and I enjoy pretending to be angry as I whisper the words over my desk.

Eventually the sun is high enough that I decide it’s time to go downstairs for breakfast. Wolf stretches and yawns as I put my notes away at my desk. He treads softly behind me, his paws barely making a sound as I make my way to the dining room.

Both of the other occupants of the house are there. Sarah hums to herself as she sips a cup full of nectar, while Mr. Leverton frowns as he reads through a letter.

I sit down across from them, and Wolf looks up at me from where his food waits, drool already gathering in his mouth.

“Eat.” I tell the dog.

He digs in happily.

I shake my head, then take a bite of the eggs that Sarah had prepared.

Mr. Leverton lets out a long sigh, “I’m going to have to cancel our lessons for today.” He puts down the letter he’d been reading.

“Another summons?” Sarah asks.

I look over to her and am surprised to see her fingers digging into the wood of the table as she clenches her hands.

Mr. Leverton nods. “It’s for the best, I’ve been putting off seeing the Council for too long.” His eyes flicker to me. “I have many things to discuss with them.”

“How long will you be gone?” I ask.

“Shouldn’t be more than a few days.” Mr. Leverton pauses. “It shouldn’t be. I’ll give you some books to read and Sarah can help you with any words you don’t understand.”

“I’ll take care of him.” Sarah says, her hands digging deeper into the table “Just make sure you take care of yourself.” For the first time, Sarah’s inhuman features come into focus, her too-large eyes, the vines that make up her dress twisting with her movement.

I hunch down in my chair, feeling the shadows gather around me like a blanket.

“I will. And Sarah, you’re scaring Keo.” Mr. Leverton says, motioning towards me.

“I’m not scared.” I say. I push away the shadows I’d gathered.

Sarah lets go of the table and lets out a breath. “I don’t like it. I don’t like them.”

Mr. Leverton places a hand on Sarah’s closed fist, “I know. Yen will be with me.” He says softly.

I perk up at the name of Mr. Leverton’s other spirit.

“Just don’t, I don’t know. Yen!” Sarah calls out.

I watch with awe as a yellow, cat-like eye opens over Mr. Leverton’s shoulder. I can only see the eye, the rest of the spirit a vague blur of magic now that he has revealed himself.

“Keep him out of trouble, and let me know if you need my help.” Sarah tells the eye.

The eye blinks, then disappears.

The table is quiet after that.

I’m grateful when Wolf comes over to me and places his head in my lap. I rub his ears, distracting myself with the large dog.

He’s been getting bigger. I didn’t notice at first, but I’m pretty sure his head is bigger than it used to be, more… wolfish. I play with the collar around his throat, gently scratching his fur underneath it.

Soon after breakfast, we gather near the front door. Mr. Leverton wears his signature vibrant blue cape and a sword at his waist.

It’s the first time he’s left since I arrived here. I wonder what will happen to me if he doesn’t come back?

Mr. Leverton waves goodbye to Sarah and I, then with a snap of his fingers, he disappears.

I rub Wolf’s head, my eyes not leaving the spot where Mr. Leverton had just stood. I hear Sarah sigh and see her look at me out of the corner of my eye.

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“Come on Keo.” I turn to look at her, but she’s already walking out the door.

We spend our morning picking plums from one of the trees in the courtyard while Wolf rests lazily in the sunlight. They’re yellow plums, and I stash a few for myself in a small bag for later.

Sarah hums to herself as she takes the plums into the house, leaving me alone.

Usually I’d be in the middle of a lesson on magic right now and it feels strange to have the free time.

I look out at the forest outside of the courtyard, knowing that it stretches on for miles. I walk up to the fence gate and lean on it.

The trees glow with the beauty of the sunlight, the undergrowth having all kinds of plants, some of which I recognize thanks to my work in the garden.

I remember when I was really young, I would go into the forests near my home, and look for small clearings off of the path. There’s something magical about finding a space never seen by anyone else, a place of nature just for you and the animals that call it home.

I take a plum out of my bag, and take a bite. My eyes catch on the birds flying between the branches of one of the trees.

With a sigh, I push away from the fence gate and head back into the house. Mr. Leverton told me not to go past the gate without him, and I’m going to listen to him.

The rest of the day passes with me working on my Imperial Common and reviewing everything in Druik that Mr. Leverton had already taught me.

Sarah joins me for dinner. She brings plum cobbler that she made from the plums we picked and I stuff myself with the sugary sweetness.

Sarah watches me until I’m done, then walks outside to the garden. I follow her so that I can help water the plants.

I grab the bucket of water and start pouring. I look up at her after I finish with the first plant. She’s silent. She looks off into the distance, the leaves of her dress blowing softly in the wind.

I bite my lip, then turn back to the plants and immerse myself in their song.

***

Wolf whines in my ear, waking me up.

I open my eyes, to see him growling and huffing at nothing, his eyes closed in sleep.

I pet his side, and he slowly calms down.

It’s still dark out, but I feel wide awake.

Slowly, I slip away from Wolf and head to the door. As soon as my hand touches the doorknob, I hear the soft padding of his feet.

I turn my head to see Wolf watching me, his tail wagging softly.

“Sorry Wolf. I couldn’t sleep.”

He nudges my hand with his head and I pet him between the ears.

I open the door, and head towards the first floor. The house is quiet, the usually well-lit halls shine with the moonlight that filters in through the ceiling.

I leave the house with Wolf following close behind me.

The moon and stars are bright, illuminating the entire courtyard and garden. The air smells clean and fresh, the faint smell of the garden’s flowers adding a relaxing feeling to night.

My staff leans against the plum tree, and I grab it before moving over to the garden.

I sit down besides the Heart-Throb that Sarah had introduced me to my first day with her in the garden, and lay my staff down beside me. Wolf lays his head in my lap. As I sit there, the song of the garden becomes clearer to my ears, flowing over me gently. Ever so faintly, I can make out the Heart-Throb’s voice, melodic with heartfelt tenderness.

“If Mr. Leverton dies, what happens to me?” I ask Wolf. “Sarah wouldn’t kick me out, would she?”

Wolf twists his head, and I scratch his neck.

The spirit tattoo on my shoulder warms and I feel a soft hand on my shoulder before it disappears.

I close my eyes, enjoying the calm of the night.

A faint voice stands out from the garden’s song, making me open my eyes. Wolf’s ears perk up. He lift his head, looking beyond the fence into the forest.

“Did you hear it too?” I ask. I grab my staff, then stand up, looking into the dense darkness of the trees.

Again, I hear the voice. Something cries out.

My body freezes.

It’s a cry I recognize, a hopeless one, begging, praying, for anyone to help.

It’s so faint, that I can barely hear it, but it’s a sound I know too well.

My hands clench around the wooden staff, but still I don’t move.

I should get Sarah.

I run to the front door, and throw it open.

“Sarah! Sarah!” I yell out.

A moment after my voice echoes through the large mansion, a form flows out of the woodwork, revealing the spirit. Her dress is made out of white flowers that sparkle softly with their own light. Her eyes are a darker blue than usual, looking almost black in the soft light of the moon and her dress. I take a step back, her large black eyes startling me.

She looks at me sternly before her face softens slightly. “What is it?”

“Someoneintheforestwascallingforhelp.” I say in one breath, my heart beating far too fast.

She looks out into the forest, then closes her eyes, before looking back at me. “Are you sure?”

I nod.

She sighs, “I’ll let Max know.”

I step closer to the spirit. “But- but he won’t be back for days!”

“There’s nothing I can do. I’m a house spirit. Without Max here, I have no power past that fence.” Sarah turns around and moves further into the house. The lanterns on the wall light up as she walks.

I gulp, looking into the dark woods. My breath comes to me quickly, my heart racing as I look into the darkness.

I’ve seen terrible things. But it’s always the things I didn’t see that haunt my dreams. The cries of people being beaten in an ally, the sound of those screaming for help. I’ve heard people beg for medicine as they lie dying from some common disease the least of healers could treat. I’d huddle in the house with Wolf, unable to move or do anything as I heard cries just like this one.

I always told myself that I don’t have the power to help them. That even if I did everything I could, it wouldn’t make a difference. The world is an evil place, and all that waits at the end is pain and death.

But now- now I could do something.

I’m terrified. My legs shake, and I want to tell myself to turn around. To run to the sound I heard.

But I can’t. I can’t do it. I can’t do-

Wolf bites my hand and I jump, pulling my hand back. He growls at me.

I look at my hand, seeing the skin unbroken.

Then I turn, and run to the fence gate, my staff in hand.