Who was he speaking to? Arthur had woken up a few hours after Sarah took Robert away. He was still half asleep when he heard Steven leaving the cabin through the window. So he decided to follow his little brother into the forest. But he didn’t expect this. Steven was speaking to someone.

A few minutes after, Steven stood up and there was a gust of wind going away from him. After that, he left. There was someone else here, Arthur couldn’t hear or see that person but he was certain of it. They must have been invisible just like the staircase. Arthur had to know what was happening. He recalled Robert’s note of being unable to see anything until the full moon. It wasn’t a full moon tonight, but it was close enough.

He decided the make his way to the clearing. Perhaps he would observe something, even if they were but gusts of wind he couldn’t see. But a hand stopped him. Arthur turned around slowly (frightfully) to see an unexpected face. It was Mr. Welkins. The man placed a hand over Arthur’s mouth and pulled him away, leading him from the forest.

“Mr. Welkins?” Arthur asked, having removed the hand from his mouth.

The tall man didn’t answer. He simply placed a finger over his mouth and gestured for Arthur to stay silent. After a few minutes of this, Mr. Welkins removed his grip on Arthur’s hand and shoved him forward. He wanted Arthur to leave.

“No.” Arthur said. “I’m not going. Not until someone explains what’s happening.”

“Arthur, you must go now.” Mr. Welkins then placed a hand upon the sword he carried at his side. Why did he have a sword?

In a flash, Mr. Welkins pierced the sword forward. Arthur saw the tip reddened by blood. He also noted the glowing mark written on it. One which reflected the hint of gold that Arthur saw in Mr. Welkin’s eyes. “Go now!” Mr. Welkins shouted as he lunged forward, the sword erupting into fire as he leapt.

Arthur didn’t move. He couldn’t move. What was happening? He saw cuts trace themselves onto Mr. Welkin’s arms as he fought and clashed with nothing. Blood marked the air and hovered around the man slashing and slicing at him. And then there was sudden emergence of wind that fanned away in mighty roars of devastating slices. A giant Eagle flapped its wings, the beast formed of nothing but the raging breeze, picking up leaves and twigs from the ground below as it continued to rampage. A small tornado was born from its anger. Mr. Welkins was saying something. Arthur didn’t know what. Despite being right next to him, he couldn’t make out what the man was saying at all.

And then flame brew, burnt a spiraling ring around them. The blood covered ghosts backed away slowly. But the wind was still howling and the Eagle fanned its wings endlessly. Mr. Welkins stuck his sword into the Earth and wrote something - a symbol. The flames around them grew larger, it encapsulated them into a ball of fire. Mr. Welkins sweated profusely, his glasses fogged from perspiration. Should Arthur do something? What could he do?

A golden light burnt in Mr. Welkin’s eyes and then there was a bang. The flame exploded and burnt the world around him. The Eagle was no more, and the ghosted warriors were now on fire. They leapt away, on to the trees above and vanished from sight. Though Arthur could not hear them, he knew they screamed.

“Come now!” Mr. Welkins got up and continued walking. He had a horrible cut etched across his right arm, bleeding like a gushing river which the man desperately tried to plunge. Still he led the way and Arthur followed. Eventually, they got out of the forest and Mr. Welkins immediately fell to the ground. He had lost a lot of blood. Arthur watched as the man ripped his shirt and wrapped it around his arm. What had just happened? Though he was afraid and panting, Arthur still wanted to know.

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~

Sarah had followed the boys into the forest. She had seen Steven at first and later discovered Arthur following behind. Welsh was taking care of Arthur and she had already disposed of the two Elves hidden above the tree. She had seen Steven talk to an Elf girl. What that girl was doing this far from the village, she didn’t know. But she did know that the warriors were watching her. She must have been important.

But what bothered Sarah even more was Steven. He could see the Elves without a full moon. Only those with magic could do that. But she knew he had none. She could tell. Those with their magic unlocked could sense magical aura – a quantitative measure of how much magic someone possessed. Though there was no way for it to be number specific, one could usually tell how much raw magical energy someone had. Steven had none. And so did Arthur.

Yet, Steven saw and even spoke with the Elven girl. What were they talking about? Sarah couldn’t tell. She had begun wondering if she should just go down and seize the girl. But before she could act, the girl left. And Steven began making his way towards the cabin. What was that boy? Sarah didn’t know. Right now, he was her son and she watched him from a distance as he walked out of the forest. She couldn’t help sighing with relief.

Now she had to make sure that Welsh had gotten Arthur out safely. She trotted along the edge of the forest until she saw them. Arthur knelt over Welsh on the ground, the man had been badly hurt. Arthur saw her as she approached. His eyes grew weary.

“He’s hurt!” Arthur shouted as she approached.

Sarah looked at the man. His arm was deeply wounded. He had already wrapped it as best as he could, using his short as a make shift rope to constrain the flow of blood. But still, he was lying on the floor, unable to move in the slightest. The injury itself wasn’t the problem. Welsh had used too much magic. He was exhausted and tired, that was all. Sarah looked in the direction of the forest, from where Arthur and Welsh had come. Fire, there was a fire brewing. She’d have to go take care of that before anyone from the town noticed.

“Go back to the cabin. Mr. Welkins will be fine.” She told Arthur and then made her way towards the rampaging flames, not giving Arthur any chance to question her.

She knew the spell that was used. Welsh had shown it to her before. It was probably his strongest spell but it wasn’t much to her. She spoke those old, forgotten words as she neared the fire and within moments, all the surrounding fires were bundled up into a ball that dissipated into the air. This was the difference between those born with magic and those who learnt it through perseverance. As skilled as Welsh were, she would best him easily. And there were probably many Elves who could best him as well.

Sarah began to make her way back out of the forest. A voice stopped her. “What are you doing here witch?” Sarah turned around to see a rather harsh looking Elf. It would seem that not all Elves were beautiful.

“I’m just cleaning up a little mess.” Sarah replied.

“A little mess, huh?” the man leapt forward, forged a moonlight blade and struck it into Sarah’s heart. It did nothing. The Elf walked away slowly and watched as the blade sunk into Sarah’s skin. She shrugged as she felt it enter.

“Is that all?” Sarah asked as she turned around to face him.

“Be grateful that midnight has nearly passed. Or I would have done far more.” The brute of an Elf then turned around and vanished into the night. Sarah did the same.

~

Sarah dragged Welsh along the grass. Unsurprisingly, Arthur did not return to the cabin. He was now following her while giving her a fierce eye from behind.

“Arthur, I told you to go back to the cabin.” She said again.

“Not until you explain everything.” He replied. “And while you’re at it. Mind telling me what you did to me? Somehow, I’m still sleepy even after resting for the entire afternoon.”

Sarah sighed. “It’ll wear off by tomorrow, just go to bed.” She said, continuing to drag Welsh around the hill rather than over it to avoid Steven. Arthur was already enough trouble for her.

She stopped and turned around. “Arthur, I know that you want answers. But this is a dangerous matter and you don’t need to involve yourself. So please, just go home.”

Arthur’s eyes changed. He stopped glaring and glanced to the cabin. “Will Mr. Welkins be okay?” he asked.

Sarah replied. “He will.”

“Then I’ll go for now. But I’m not going to stop trying to find out what is happening. So you might as well tell me eventually.” Arthur said as he began his ascent to the cabin.

Sarah smiled to herself. She was glad that he had some understanding in him. But he was right. Eventually, she would have to explain everything to Arthur and Steven. But that could wait for another day. For now, she would take care of Welsh.