After club hours, the streets outside had quieted down from what they had been earlier. The sun still stood high despite the late hour, guiding the two students home before it would decide to set with the coming evening.
Lin walked along with her bike on one side and Morgan on the other. In the blonde’s arms, like a child holding a plush, was Avalon.
Avalon: Artificial Fairy Unit: #003 – that was how the creature had introduced itself for the second time. It and its kin had been sent across the world in response to the reawakening of Ouroboros.
“Artificial?” asked Morgan inquisitively. “Like you were made by someone? By who?”
The ferret responded with a tilt of its head.
“Why my father of course,” it replied.
As Lin had expected, it would not be so simple getting answers from the thing.
“But who is your father?” Morgan pressed. “What’s his name?”
Avalon looked up, confused.
“Do that library thing you did yesterday,” suggested Lin. “Search: Name of father or creator or something like that.”
Its eyes blinked gold with a familiar clicking, and like before the tone of its voice suddenly changed.
“Accessing Central Library Archive…
Searching…
Searching…
Search failed.
The files you are attempting to access are restricted to Level 5 personnel.”
Both girls sighed into the ground at their lack of success.
“Anyway,” Lin spoke, not letting the interrogation end there. “Why are you still here? With the curse inside Morgan all sealed up, shouldn’t you be going to help the others?”
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Avalon shook its head, the glow in its eyes faded and its voice again normal.
“Father hasn’t called me back yet,” it said. For the first time since they had met, Lin could swear that the creature sounded concerned. “Father hasn’t spoken to me since last night.”
“You love your father, don’t you Avalon?” asked Morgan warmly.
“Yeah!” its voice regained its usual cheer. “I love father a whole lot!”
It wasn’t long until Morgan’s house was in view, a quiet suburban building across from an open field. Its red bricks were worn but not poor, and compared to the other houses on the block, it was actually quite large.
“Hey Lin,” said Morgan, stopping at the door. “Would you mind coming in for a second? Talk to Arthur about… you know what?”
“Huh?” Lin stared with an odd brow.
“He’s definitely not going to like the idea of me going away, and I think that if you tell him that you’re coming too… Maybe…”
“Sure,” Lin sighed, running her hand through her hair. “I’m not sure what I can say or do, but… Sure, I’ll give it a shot.”
----------------------------------------
“Absolutely not!”
Inside in the living room, Arthur, Morgan’s older brother and guardian stood before the two girls. His hands were held on his hips and a frown covered his face after hearing their unusual request.
“I don’t care if you are a witch or if there’s some magic influenza going around – My baby little sister is NOT travelling across the world and into danger!”
He groaned, standing straight as he tiredly adjusted the apron around his waist. It seemed it had been another long day for him at the daycare.
“But Arthuuur!” Morgan whined, “My friends could be in trouble! Plus – Lin said she’d help too, and she’s plenty responsible!”
“Lin – is still a kid,” he pointed. “And so are you. Can’t you just leave it to the authorities? I’m sure the magic police or something can do it.”
“There’s no such thing,” Morgan replied with a scowl.
“Then the regular police! Look, it’d be a different matter if I could go with you, but work has been hectic enough as it is.”
“Can’t you take some time off?” Lin spoke at last. It had been difficult pondering some sort of excuse to win Arthur over. “The daycare should be less busy with summer coming around, shouldn’t it? Just a week or two is all we need. If nothing more, we can at least check and see how Tolem is doing. It’s only a day’s drive away after all.”
“Pleeeeease?” Morgan added, throwing her best puppy dog eyes forward.
It was a lethal combination, and finding no quarter, Arthur caved in defeat.
“Fine – fine,” he said, holding out his hands in pause. “I’ll talk to my boss and see what I can do – but that’s it. No promises, alright?”
“Yay!” Morgan jumped up, half tackling him in a hug around his waist. “You’re the best brother ever!”
“I said I’m making no promises, didn’t I?” he smiled, patting her head. “Anyway, I’ve been meaning to ask,” his eyes fell onto the couch, onto the six-legged ferret that had been sitting there this entire time. “What is that?”