At Donar's grand abode on the thirty-fifth floor out of a fifty-story flat, Leith Crimsonmane, Nadine, and Gilmore feasted on lunch in the dining room. Gilmore, the greedy boar, gobbled down his third tomahawk steak as Nadine gazed on in wonder at how much more food the Big Yin could possibly consume. Meanwhile, Leith poked at cherry tomatoes with a fork, growing increasingly irate at the wait.

"How much longer do we have to wait?" Leith asked, frustration creeping into his voice. "Shouldn't we have left earlier?"

Just then, the front door slammed and the sound of footsteps echoed through the open flat.

“Leith, Nadine, Gilmore! Where are you?” Donar's booming voice called out. “Ah, there you are. Have you done your scran? Shall we go now?”

“About time!” Leith replied, tossing the leftovers into the trash. Gilmore was just in time to pull the last bit of meat off the beef rib.

Nadine quickly washed all the dishes while asking, “How’s Alicia? And where are we going, exactly?”

A sigh came out from Donar. “Alicia… I don’t know how to put it, but she should be fine.”

“What do you mean you can’t put it?” Leith interrupted their conversation. “Something happened to her, did it not?”

“It’s a long story. We’d better discuss it while on the trip,” Donar said.

After travelling for almost an hour from Eidyn downtown to the quieter city limits, they finally arrived at an airstrip on a green plain.

“Apart from a few airplanes, I’m not seeing a single building symbolising the Magisterium’s office,” said Nadine, as all of them hopped off the carriage.

“Och! ! think ! ken where the office is. Underground!" Gilmore speculated, his enthusiasm sparking. ‘Tis a pure secret that nae yin kens, especially if it’s disguised as an auld port. Maybe there’s a hidden door to the magic office bunker."

“No, ye dunderheid,” Leith replied, “The office is over there.” His index finger pointed up to the sky. They could glance a glimpse of mages soaring upwards on their magic brooms and mounted griffins.

“Magic headquarters in the sky? That’s awesome!” said Nadine, amazed.

Gilmore, on the other hand, was not particularly impressed. “Hmph, I think underground is better. I mean, above the clouds, isn’t it more exposed than any skyscraper?”

“Aye, right, mate. Just tell that to the Grand Magus,” replied Leith as he walked with Donar to one of the flying ships.

The four of them approached a spherical flying boat covered in grey metal. It had a large round window in front, complete with a pair of small lights, as well as two other round windows on each side.

“Whoa, Sphereship!” Gilmore exclaimed, “We’ll fly a sphereship, Uncle Donar?”

“Have you never been on a sphereship?” asked Leith.

“Aye, ! ken ye're rich. Ye’ve ridden gryphons, zeppelins, sphereships, and dozens more. Apologies I havenae hurled one,” Gilmore retorted in annoyance.

“Hey, hey, enough, both of you. We’re going to the Magisterium’s office with this,” said Donar.

Donar piloted the mini-ball ship. Leith sat next to him as a copilot, while Alicia’s two best friends took the back seat. The metal sphere began to open its two lamps and gradually floated into the sky.

Gilmore and Nadine—especially Gilmore—were very impressed to see the diminutive details of the world when the ship had taken off. They could also see a swarm of magicians going back and forth using whatever flying gear they used. Gilmore waved and knocked on the window, shouting at them.

“Shut up!” Nadine rebuked Gilmore. “You're absolute boorish!”

Leith was at the front, nodding. “Couldn’t agree more.”

“Oh, shut it! Just focus on the road, lad,” Gilmore replied. “If this ship crashes, the blame’s on ye!”

As it got higher, the silhouette of a floating piece of land that blocked the blistering sun came into sight. A large building similar to a castle with a modern artistic touch, like the absurd parliament buildings they encountered before. One could not tell if Europa was entering a period of artistic renaissance, but one could tell their tastes were quite odd these days. The building was supported by earthen rocks with a glimmering magical core right in the centre. In front of the castle was a sign that read "MAGISTERIUM OF THE ARCANE PLANE, THE PATRON OF THE WORLD AND THAUMATURGY".

After getting permission and landing, they rushed into the office. “We want to see Haddock and my daughter, now,” said Donar to a Magisterium staff.

“Donar, My Lord! Of course, the Honourable Grand Magus is awaiting you. Please come this way!” the guard guided the four of them from a vast lobby of wizards into crowded halls.

***

With a glimmer of light piercing her eyes, the Crimsonmane girl tried to steady her gaze. She squeezed her eyes shut for a heartbeat, then cautiously opened them once more. The room she found herself in was hushed and empty, a stark contrast to the chaos of the court she remembered. Gleaming metal and glass equipment, vials and bottles filled with liquids, a world of science and medicine, she thought she must be somewhere between the hospital or the clinic.

“Hello! Are you awake?”

A foreign masculine voice made her gasp straightaway. She woke up and her eyes found the figure of an elegant man, heating a teapot, using his fancy wand as a lighter.

Blurred thoughts and vision still made it hard for her to comprehend the surrounding information. Upon closer inspection, she was actually in an office room, with empty bookshelves lined up while the destined books and documents were scattered on the floor. There’s also an old, worn-out chandelier, and an owl flying here and there. A room with a gurney, and the eyesore empty bookshelves with a wild bird nesting inside. Yup, indeed a normal workspace for a busy wizard.

Alicia scrutinised the man. Reluctantly, she dared to ask, “Um…, h-hello? Are you... a healer?”

“Healer? Ever seen a healer dressed like this? I must be the most wicked healer ever.”

“Oh… so, not a healer? S-sorry….”

He chuckled. “No, no. I’m sorry for making you averse. Let’s start again with introductions. My name is Lachlan Haddock, Grand Magus of the Magisterium of Arcane Plane.”

“My name is Alicia—G-G-Grand Magus?” Alicia put on her glasses to get a better look at the man’s figure. Panicked, she threw away the blanket and immediately got up from the bed. She lifted her skirt slightly and bowed to Haddock. “Your Honourable Grand Magus! I am your humble servant, Alicia Crimsonmane. I apologise for my carelessness that resulted in a tragic event in the court.…” She then groaned in pain. Her hands reached for the gurney to support her trembling body.

Haddock rushed his being towards her. “Miss Alicia, don’t push yourself! Stay in bed, please.” The Grand Magus helped the bespectacled witch sit on her bed. “Your body is still adjusting to the ‘Empathy Curse’ you received back then.”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“E-E-Empathy Curse? I’m cursed?” The sudden moves made her grumble at the pain once more.

“I thought as an Arcane wielder you already know?”

“I don’t, Your Honourable Grand Magus.”

While guiding the girl’s head towards the pillow, Haddock explained, “That’s right, it’s not knowledge for laymen, anyway. To be short, it’s a magic technique developed by mages with the power of Khaos. When the forces of Arcane and Khaos meet, you will feel a harrowing sensation, akin to experiencing Khaos being crushed by your own power. Though, it only applies when the emitted Arcane has not fully detached from you.”

"But I’ve never felt that way against other Protos particle users before!"

“Are those users truly practitioners of mystic arts?”

Alicia fell silent.

“What can I say?” added the Grand Magus. “Everyone whom Arcane believes shall experience it. Especially when they’re about to purge a Khaos mage. In the end, you won’t just be fighting magic, you’ll be fighting to see who can withstand the most pain.”

“I-I see… I guess it was all my fault because I was too weak to endure the pain, wasn’t it? I killed hunners of magicians back then,” the girl whispered.

“Everything that happened before was not your fault, miss.”

“But…,” Alicia retorted, “If it wasn’t for me. All of them would have… oh, no. The scene repeated itself in my mind…” Images of the dead mage being gnawed away caused her panic attacks to flare up again. She pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head, while struggling to breathe. Haddock nuzzled her back to calm the girl.

“Shh… Alicia, look at me.” The Grand Magus’ palms fell on the girl’s cheeks to turn her face to him. “It was horrible. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. But you will be okay. I know you’re a strong girl, I can see it. Now take a deep breath and let it out.”

Alicia followed his instructions. Slowly, her breathing rhythm became regular, and her anxiety tantrums were gone.

“Smart girl,” complimented Haddock. “Now, would you like a cup of tea and cookies?”

***

How glum Alicia still was as she sipped her chamomile tea and then tasted some of the pastries. Her gaze repeatedly flicked to her left hand, where her magic stamp used to be, then to the Grand Magus, then back down. The afternoon sun was well past its zenith, and she realised she had not eaten since her release from prison. The Grand Magus, Haddock, sat across from her, his gaze fixed upon her, unwavering. The intensity of his gaze was palpable, yet the middle-aged man seemed oblivious to the discomfort he was causing.

“Are you sure that’s enough?” Haddock immediately broke the awkward silence. “Perhaps you would like to try our famous chamomile-battered steak?"

Alicia looked at her chamomile tea as the wizard's words registered. A glance at Haddock was an incomprehensible one.

“Chamomile... steak?”

“The finest in all of Europa,” Haddock boasted.

“Because it’s only available here, I suppose.”

Haddock smiled at her slightly indifferent response. “Many people think they only used chamomile as an herbal tea. But did you know that chamomile, especially Stillmajik Chamomile, has an abundance of pollen? We can use both the pollen and the petals as spices in cooking that are no less delicious than Eastern ones. The best part? Stillmajik is efficacious in rapidly recovering mana!”

“You seem very knowledgeable about food ingredients.”

“Oh, of course,” answered Haddock. “I found it. The chamomile steak is my recipe. Everyone loves it. Well, not all of them. Some don’t seem to acknowledge my culinary work, your mother is included on the list.”

At the mention of her mother, Alicia's head shot up, finally capturing the Grand Magus' full attention.

“Yes, your mother. I remember she almost killed me because I often put absurd stuff into her meal. On purpose, to be spoken of. Not to mention her criticism of my chamomile steak, even though she herself hasn’t put a single meat fibre into her mouth. Anyway, every time I share about my new recipe, she always puts on this contempt mien,” Haddock imitated Alicia’s surprised yet strange look, “Exactly what your face looks like. You Crimsonmanes, are difficult to give compliments.”

“I think Mama’s reaction is quite reasonable, Your Honourable Grand Magus,” replied Alicia.

“Oh, don’t let all the commendations go to Crimsonmane,” Haddock brushed back, “They won’t be able to accommodate themselves with all the arrogance.”

One could not blame her if, like her mother, Alicia looked at this fashionable Haddock as a wizard with slightly deranged behaviour.

Even so, his charm was impossible to resist. Alicia finally smiled a bit thanks to the warm interaction with the Grand Magus. She ventured to bring up another topic. “If I may ask, Your Honourable Grand Magus. What was Mama like when she worked as a witch at the Magisterium?”

“Just call me Haddock. Mistress Ailsa, yes? Hmmm…,” Haddock pondered for a moment. “She was absolutely attractive in appearance. But Divine Mercy, she was very uneasy, petulant, nags a lot, and liked to find her own business even though she had tons of spare time! She made all the office workers tense. She was even more imperious than I am!”

“So, Mama was basically the female version of Mister Bartholomew Strongbark?”

“Oh, no, no, Alicia. No one can match Bartholomew. Ailsa was far beyond him. It is said that he was born with a temper. He even cursed when he was born,”—Haddock imitated Bartholomew’s deep voice—“‘Oh damn you, woman! Why did you even throw me out of that dark and comfortable womb, just to drag me into this dry mortal realm? Curses are upon you, all earthly creatures!’”

The room was filled with laughter as Alicia let out a hearty chuckle, not caring if Bartholomew was listening from behind the door.

Haddock continued, “But outside of working hours, your mother loved spending time with friends as well. Our division fraternises at pubs a lot, and Ailsa was a mad drinker, you know?”

“R-really? I ken Mama sips one or two pints at home, but knowing that Mama likes to stick around at the bar...” Alicia paused. "That explains that she once or twice liked to go home gibbering at dawn..." her expression was as sombre as her tones.

“Hey, there’s no need to be embarrassed about that. That’s normal for busy workers,” Haddock seemed to have guessed Alicia’s feelings. “Apart from that, your mother was a kind one. Of course, she’s a great mage. Almost all magic deviation cases wouldn’t have been solved without her.”

Time passed, and the girl’s countenance became gloomy again. In retrospect, it felt odd to be able to let out a laugh now, when she had previously faced her first court of law.

“Bartholomew once accused me that I was part of the reason for Mama’s disappearance. All just because I’m not a witch, possessing a dream to make the world happy with magic. He said something about that dream, a group of people who wanted to make it happen, and implied they were bad people. But I was nae a bad person, Grand Magus!”

Haddock went speechless. Now he felt bad for Ailsa’s daughter. Because of his vice partner, young Alicia would be watched over by other mages, either when she had or lost her Arcane magic. She might lose her privacy and that was unpleasant.

“Bartholomew said silly things, Alicia. Again, my deep apologies to you,” Haddock sighed. “Most of what he said is true. There are some individuals who are united and share a common vision which has caused chaos in many places. Ailsa was one of the personnel assigned to investigate their whereabouts, but... nothing. We don’t know anything about the group, even though their actions are as evident as a clear sky. It’s like we’re looking for the Silent Divine. The necromancer was probably one of them as well. But I know you’re not one of them. I will tell the others.”

“So, you believe me?”

“I believe in Ailsa Crimsonmane, and in her ability to keep her children from distorting ideologies.”

While the two of them were busy talking, a knock came from the door. Bartholomew opened it and reported, “Donar Crimsonmane is here.”

Donar unceremoniously burst through the door, seeing his daughter with a slight wound, but still in one piece. “Alicia!”

“Papa!” Alicia ran and hugged her father right away.

“Thank goodness you’re fine, hen.” Donar’s soft, worried voice reassured Alicia.

“Papa, I know I made a fatal mistake this time. But believe me, I’m about to tell you everything when you come home. I hope Papa will listen to my explanation first—“

“It’s fine, hen. It is fine.” Donar patted her shoulder. “You’ve been through a lot. Dinnae be so hard on yerself.”

“Alicia! Ye awright?” Nadine and Gilmore came in as well. She did not expect them to go all the way to see her at the capital, and then to the office above the clouds.

“Pals!” Alicia hugged her two best friends. “How come did you seek for me here?”

“You were suddenly abducted by a ninja and just disappeared. How can we just hang about, ya idiot?” answered Nadine.

“Scunnered we’re a wee late, eh?” Gilmore feigned pity. “I wanted to see if you’d curl up crying against yon necromancer.”

“Ah, Gilmore, stop it!” Alicia pouted. “Why do you even know about this?”

“Who doesn’t? Uh, hold yer horses. Is this supposed to be a secret? Yer Papa told us, anyway. ! thought it’s already breaking news.”

While hugging them, Alicia happened to see Leith idling in the doorway with an agitating aura, sending chills down her spine. Whether it was due to blood relations or anything else, despite his annoyance towards her actions, there was a glimmer of relief in his heart that only a sibling could feel.

No running and hugging. Hesitant, Alicia approached Leith. “Hey, Leith. I ken this must be your initiative. Um, th-thanks for doing it for me. Sorry to trouble you with my impulsive behaviour back then. I’ll try my best not to be an idiot next time.”

Leith sighed, “You’d better be.”

While Alicia was busy chatting with the others, Donar approached Haddock. “Thank you for keeping my daughter safe,” he said.

“I didn’t know you have two more children, My Lord. Especially there’s a dark-skinned one?” Haddock expressed.

“They’re not my children. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“So it seems. Looks like your daughter isn’t as depressed as others think.”

“She had a great time at Trinketshore, aye.” said the father. “Unfortunately, those great times dinnae seem to last long, especially since she has found it.”

“Oh yes, the magic orb.” Haddock then called out to them. “Alright, children. Once the friendly session is over, it’s time for us to have a serious discussion about this pure Arcane magic orb.” []