《Mountains and Magic》


 The Cabin in the Woods

    Oliver wasn¡¯t always alone. Not like he exactly enjoyed it but it was better than the alternative. Before his cabin in the roaring mountains became as quiet as life on the outside, he had friends of course. But those friends moved on, not holding onto the life in the cabin, which was much better. Oliver, however, stayed in the woods and the cabin and lived day by day. He enjoyed his simple life, and the musty books around him provided comfort. The smell of pages that had not been open in years are one of the best smells known on this green earth. The warm fireplace was the only warmth he felt, its embers always fluttering about. Oliver was content and calm with his existence, willing to live the rest of his days alone, surrounded by his collection of books. His gentle face had no one to stare at it, but that was no issue, merely a byproduct of the self-imposed isolation. His ruffled clothes were hand-me-downs and had seen better days, but it was better than nothing in the mountains. The cold could kill up there.


    His days were simple. Fine at best. His walls were covered with books of all styles and lengths, and he spent his time with his nose in a book. He could, and often did, read until the sun came down. When Oliver could pull himself away from a book, he wandered around the woods he called home, foraging for any game and greens he could gather.


    Although he called the woods his home, he wasn¡¯t precisely knowledgeable about the local flora, often confusing poisons with the palatable. He¡¯s managed, although it is rough. As such, he frequently sets traps for various small game and fish in the nearby river. Fall primarily provided quite a feast on the regular. He was too scrawny to hunt actively, so this primary method was perfect for him. Although he himself wasn¡¯t a survivalist, he always found a way through knowledge of those long gone. His books on how to set traps and such kept him alive. The books he had were his only real lifeline to the outside world. Getting the extra rabbit or a few extra fish was a treat to be sure and brighten his otherwise mundane life. With this extra game, he went all the way down the mountain, the leaves of fall crunching as they made contact with his feet adding another little smile as he made his way to the local village at the base.


    He didn¡¯t like the village; too many people were saying too much. Too many heels are clicking against the cobblestone pathways, and too many are always watching him. Some were leering with fascination, others with fear. Oliver didn¡¯t like to be alone, but he hated the company of the local townsfolk more. Oliver kept his head down, acting friendly as he went about. He never stayed long, no matter how many drinks someone offered to buy. One person in particular called him, ¡°Buddy,¡± no matter how much Oliver protested. Bartering was done quickly so he would refrain from trying any funny business, the last thing Oliver needed was to have a chat with him. He quickly traded what he could without so much as a word to the shopkeep and hurried home, desperate to get away from prying eyes,


    The days ran through as he continued his life. Books and his cabin remained his only honest company. The cabin surrounding him was unkempt, but its years were clearly showing, with the cobwebs in the forgotten corners growing by the day and the dust of unswept nooks building up. But it was of no matter, no visitors would be coming to inspect the neglected corners of his cabin anytime soon.


    In quiet moments, Oliver could ponder on himself. He looks back in his life, the chapters he has lived turning in his head. The people who he onced called friends. His heart felt warm as he recalled their laughs and smiles. The way he felt so complete with everyone around, but alas, nothing ever lasts forever.


    His average days continued as the first snowfall arrived. His way of life remained simple. Keep your nose in a book, tidy up occasionally, and reset the traps around the woods.


    One such typical day arose again. Winter was in full swing, the frost creeping on his windows. Oliver, deciding to get some fresh air, put his book down and shuffled through his house, the floorboards creaking under his weight. On the usual rounds of his forest for any wild game in the frigid winter, so he could have something more significant than he was expecting for dinner, but something bigger than he was expecting was caught in his trap.


    ¡°Stay away!¡± The voice barked, their tone battle-hardened and laden with threat. A quite rude introduction for someone he just met.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°Whoa there, easy now! I mean no harm; this trap is meant for game¡±. Oliver raises his hands in front of himself in mock surrender. It was never good to get into too much conflict, it would increase the fear other people already felt.


    ¡°As if! You¡¯re another hunter, well you won¡¯t get near.¡± With surprising efficiency, the rope holding the voice in place was snapped, its threads starting to unravel and lay bare in the crystalline snow. Now standing fully, the voice revealed itself to be stout, with ruffled short hair full of twigs and other debris. Their clothes were of modest leather, stained with blood and mud. The eyes were anything but amiable, full of immediate hatred, narrow and sneering. The standout features, however, were their ears and tail, which were fluffy and the same color as their hair, and a bark brown. They seemed to stand alert. The tail perks up along with the ears for full sensory awareness.


    ¡°An Oak Tree!¡± Oliver blurted out without much care. The figure scowled back, bearing their claws, again a VERY rude thing to do.


    ¡°Like I said, I don¡¯t plan to hurt you.¡± Oliver continues to surrender to the threat, trying to correct his earlier mistake. His kind eyes attempted to calm down the foe. The assailant has ceased talking and lunges forward, their claws made fully bare as they lunge at the opponent.


    Oliver¡¯s hands wave as he sidesteps the strike, the wind beneath him kicking up snow in its wake. The assailant, although shocked at the speed of the dodge, doesn¡¯t stop and dives forward once more, claws at the ready. Oliver sidestepped yet again, acting as if the wind were aiding him.


    ¡°Just stay still!¡± The Lycan ordered.


    ¡°You¡¯re trying to claw me like I''m some common prey, why would I ever stay still? I promise I won¡¯t hurt you, ok? Just put the claws away¡± The Lycan, feeling outmatched, retracts their claws but still guards something with their entire body, their teeth on full display. Oliver steps closer, only to be met with louder growling. He steps back to his original position, his hands not leaving his front, still in mock surrender. Hidden by the assailant, a small pair of ears can be seen. As golden as the moon in the sky, the ears flicker in fear.


    ¡°Look, I can help you, ok?¡± Oliver continues to plead. Out of strength and the will to fight, the Lycan lowers its guard as Oliver steps forward. ¡°I¡¯m Oliver, and you are?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Charianne Moonwalker.¡± Her voice was still as frigid as the snow they stepped in as she guarded the mysterious second pair of ears.


    Oliver continues, ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen better days, what¡¯s your story Charianne?¡±


    ¡°No business of yours, hunter.¡± The emphasis on ¡®hunter¡¯ made Oliver flinch. Despite not being one, he can¡¯t help but be offended on their behalf. Quite a rude oak tree.


    ¡°Ok?¡± Oliver tries to think of a way to pivot the dead conversation then notices the Lycan putting more weight on one foot and constantly shifting; on the verge of full collapse. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Oliver walks forward.


    ¡°STAY BACK!¡± The Lycan barks, yet Oliver continues on.


    ¡°No can do, you¡¯re hurt.¡± A hurt stranger is never good to just leave around, the cold could kill. He inches closer as the Lycan keeps their guard up, almost entirely blocking the pair of golden ears behind them. Oliver still goes further, lifting and assessing the weakened foot before pulling out his book. ¡°Stay still,¡± He lifts the book and chants words in a language Charianne cannot begin to understand, words filled with the essence of the world condensing in an instant. Magic. All at once, energy flows out from Oliver to the Lycan, caressing her broken foot, almost like a mothers touch, through her shoes. Then, the pain the Lycan was feeling subsided.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Charianne shifts, now putting equal weight on both legs. This shift fully reveals who she was protecting¡ªa small Lycan child with glowing golden hair and eyes full of innocence and wonder. Chariane is ready to fully stand but is pushed down. The child climbs over Charianne, who is still trying to hold her back and runs up to Oliver.


    ¡°Magic!¡± The child shouts excitedly. ¡°You can use magic!¡±


    ¡°Why yes I can,¡± Oliver warmly smiles back.


    ¡°Teach me!¡± The child is trying to be polite, but it¡¯s clear that their whimsy is getting in the way. ¡°Teach me magic sir!¡±


    Charianne pulls their daughter back forcefully and starts to scold her. ¡°Luna Shine Moonwalker, you will do no such thing!¡±


    ¡°But mooooooom¡­ you can only teach me so much and there¡¯s a magician right there!¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± Oliver pipes up, ¡°Wizard is the word I would use.¡± Luna squirms from their mother¡¯s grasp and goes right next to Oliver.


    ¡°Magic Man, show me magic!¡± Rude, just like the oak tree.


    ¡°Magic Man is a new one,¡± Oliver flips through his book, the simple leather cover deceiving what it holds, ¡°Ah, here¡¯s a good one.¡± He sets the book down, still open, and starts to form something out of snow. The shape slowly takes shape as he molds it; Oliver forms a head, beak, body, and wings. He sets the bird-shaped snow down and starts to chant, the words of power making magic flow forward from his lips and his hands down into the bird-shaped snow. After finishing, the snow falls off to reveal a small finch, its feathers as white as the snow it came from. It nuzzles close to Oliver.


    ¡°If it¡¯s magic you want little witchlet, it¡¯s magic you¡¯ll get.¡±

 Two: Sharing a meal makes the heart grow fonder

    ¡°Thank you for letting us stay¡­ ¡°Charianne¡¯s voice still holds a twinge of doubt, but she is willing to take the chance for her daughter.


    ¡°Well, learning magic is no one-day endeavor, and I see in her eyes a hunger for knowledge, and I intend to give all I know to her.¡± Oliver had no idea why he had offered to teach young Luna magic. Such a decision was so unlike him, it unsettled him. He started to wonder if all the years alone were finally getting to him. He could only start to grasp why he made such a decision but one thing he did know is that Luna¡¯s eyes shining next to the morning snow made him want to do whatever he could to make her happy. Odd isn¡¯t it? Such a strong attachment to a stranger.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t much, but make yourself at home.¡± As Oliver opened the door, the musty smell of books wafted. Strewn about were spellbook after spellbook brimming with power and magic. The virtual cornucopia of spellbooks strewn about the floor and the dust that seemed to settle about, spreading its children throughout the cabin.


    ¡°Why are you so willing to help us?¡± Charianne¡¯s voice was filled with interrogation, and her guard and earthy-colored ears were standing tall.


    ¡°Just needed the company is all. The walls start to speak when you¡¯re alone for this long.¡± Oliver knew deep down he was lying. Being on his own was never of concern to him. Not to mention, plenty of opportunities have presented themselves for roommates, but none held the twinkle in their eyes that he saw in Luna.


    ¡°And how long would that be¡­ hunt-,¡± she stops herself,¡±...Oliver.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. I think it¡¯s been 7¡­ maybe 9 years since I¡¯ve been on my own. You start to lose track after so long.¡± The air fell silent and still. The inability to continue the conversation hung over the two. Years alone did not make for a good conversation starter.


    ¡°Mr. Oliver!¡± Luna chimed in, breaking the crushing silence of running out of small talk. ¡°When are you gonna teach me magic?¡±


    ¡°As impatient as ever. Luna, you can start tomorrow. For now, we need to eat dinner.¡±


    Charianne pulls a rucksack behind her. She opens it and pulls out meager samples of jerky, dried fruit, and stale bread.


    ¡°I can cook something else. A warm meal is always nice.¡± Oliver motioned to his cabinets. He couldn¡¯t very well have his first guest over in what years, without so much as a home cooked meal.


    ¡°No thanks, we have our own food.¡± Charianne dismisses it without a glance.


    ¡°Okay then. I¡¯ll just make enough for myself.¡± Oliver grabbed some simple ingredients from his cabinet. While he was no chef, he could make good enough food to satisfy himself, and that was enough. He grabbed the local snow carrots, horseradishes, some local mushrooms, and rabbit meat. Intentionally, he grabs more than he needs, just in case they change their minds. Grabbing the worn-out knife on the wall, he minced the vegetables and chopped the rabbit into reasonable chunks. Going back to the cabinet, he grabbed some seasonings, which are rare in these parts, but he has his ways. He grabbed an old pot and opened his palm. The energy gathered around him as he spoke a language no mortal could begin to understand. Then the water flows forth, filling the pot. Finally, he added the ingredients to the water and made sure to season it well. Conjuring some flame below the fireplace, he hung the pot above the blaze. Silence stayed constant, only being broken by nibbles from the Lycans and the sounds of boiling water.


    Ever the bookworm, Oliver grabbed a story off the ground and sat down. His rocker was reliable and the only chair to be used, as evidenced by the dust surrounding the other various benches and furniture. His eyes were inquisitive and thoughtful, and he swayed back and forth in his chair. He put on some glasses, completely black like charcoal except for the lenses of course which were almost crystalline in their shine. Not used to the company, Oliver was quite surprised when little Luna crawled up his leg.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Luna asked inquisitively, not paying mind to Oliver¡¯s personal space. ¡°Are you reading books on magic?¡±


    ¡°Is that all you think about?¡± Oliver inquired, never looking up from his book.


    ¡°Well, I just think it¡¯s so cool. It¡¯s fantastical!¡± Luna crawled further, her face next to Oliver¡¯s as he read. Luna¡¯s mouth moved along as Oliver read, a surprising feat for someone so young.


    ¡°You can read little witchlet? And fantastical, that''s a big word for someone so young.¡± Oliver was surprised at Luna¡¯s ability to sound out words.


    ¡°Momma taught me a few things.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite impressive,¡± Oliver spoke, amused at her intelligence. ¡°Anything else you know? For instance, Arithmetic.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m no good with that¡­ momma tried to teach me but I just don¡¯t get it! The only thing I can do is count¡­¡± Luna pouts, tracing circles on her palm in frustration.


    ¡°That¡¯s still very impressive. Basic counting is a feat to itself.¡±


    Luna¡¯s face lights up at the praise, ¡°Really? Mom, did you hear that? He said he was impressed.¡±


    ¡°Yes I did, dear.¡± While trying to hide it, it is abundantly clear that Charianne is also enjoying her daughter¡¯s antics. Although she still kept a certain distance and a certain readiness in her stance.


    ¡°I think the soup is done by now¡­ The offer is still on the table if you want some.¡± Oliver glided across the hard surface floor to Chairianne¡¯s utter confusion. She wanted to press about his movement further but ultimately decided not to, she didn¡¯t want to share her secrets. Why should he have to share his?


    ¡°No thank you¡­¡± Charianee stated in stark contrast to her daughter¡¯s pleading eyes. Oliver strolled over to the boiling pot and extinguished the fire below. He grabbed three wooden bowls from his cabinet and poured the soup with a ladle into each of them. The gentle smell of a warm meal wafted in the air.


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    ¡°Please, have some.¡± Oliver presented a bowl to Charianne. No person should go without a warm meal, especially if they¡¯re guests.


    Charianne looks at her daughter, Luna¡¯s eyes filled with hunger and her stomach rumbling. ¡°Fine, but only if you eat some first.¡±


    ¡°Okay then, odd request.¡± Oliver grabs a spoon and drinks some of the soup from the pot. It¡¯s no tavern specialty, but it gets the job done and tastes better than it looks.


    ¡°Please, eat some.¡± Oliver pleads after tasting the soup for himself.


    ¡°Okay, fine then¡­¡± Chairanne growled, keeping her foot angled towards the door. She carefully scooped a small amount of soup into her spoon and raised that spoon to her lips. Her hand shaking, she tasted the soup. As the liquid hit her lips, she expected to find a potent poison and was ready to spit it out at a moment''s notice, but instead, she was met with a melody of flavors she hadn¡¯t tasted in years. She quickly started to scarf it down along with Luna.


    ¡°Easy there, no one is going to take your food,¡± Oliver reassured. Chairanne and Luna quickly ate all that they were given and felt an undeniable comfortability right now. A sense of belonging. Odd isn¡¯t it? Such a strong attachment to a stranger.


    ¡°More please!¡± The Lycans begged in unison. Such rude people, they hardly know any table manners. Oliver chuckled slightly.


    ¡°Coming right up!¡± Olver was happy to know someone enjoyed his cooking. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a little pride watching people scarf down his food. ¡°Is it that good?¡± Oliver was met with frantic nods, the two Lycans continuing to move their spoon. After only a few minutes, the soup in a pot that could feed a family of 6 was completely empty.


    ¡°That hit the spot¡­¡± Charianne put the bowl down with a satisfied sigh, along with her daughter. ¡°You really are a good cook, you know that?¡± Her voice lightened up, warmed up by the soup.


    ¡°Oh please, anyone could make that soup, just some of the forest ingredients and some spices.¡±


    ¡°Spices? You have spices?¡± Charianne¡¯s ears perked up with curiosity, and their tailstarted to wag slightly.


    ¡°Yeah. An old friend taught me how to conjure them with magic. They are surprisingly complex to make.¡± Charianne¡¯s eyes lit up. Her tail was now wagging more frantically, and her guard was dropping further. She slams her hands on the table in excitement.


    ¡°Please make more food in the future!¡± Oliver, noticing her change in demeanor, nods his head to both the Lycan¡¯s delight. Charianne became quite a bit more talkative; her eyes were not so narrow, and her ears were not at full attention. ¡°How much magic do you know? You seem to do so much with ease. I can barely do basic magic, let alone conjure a bird out of the snow.¡±


    ¡°Enough to become a local legend.¡± Oliver states that it is an average amount of power to wield. But to him it was.


    ¡°A local legend? Is that an example or are you infamous around here?¡±


    ¡°Actually, you may have heard about me, but I hate the legends. They¡¯re so glorifying. It places too much on me. I prefer to ignore them.¡±


    ¡°But Mr. Oliver!¡± Luna pipes up. ¡°If you have power, you should use it right. That¡¯s why I wanna use magic myself. It seems so cool to blast away enemies or solve your problems in a blink.¡±


    ¡°Now little wichlet, magic is incredible but you mustn¡¯t wield that power irresponsibly, if I¡¯m gonna start teaching you tomorrow you need to understand that.¡± Oliver¡¯s eyes are filled with a twinge of mischief.


    ¡°Tomorrow!¡± Luna¡¯s eyes light up at the confirmation. ¡°Momma, can I really learn magic tomorrow?¡± Charianne looks Oliver up and down, sizing him up before sighing and resigning to her daughter¡¯s pleas.


    ¡°Yes, honey, you can learn magic from Oliver. But remember,¡± Charianne glances up at Oliver, ¡°stay safe. That should always be your top priority.¡± Luna is only half listening, too enthralled by the idea of becoming a magic user herself.


    Oliver and Charianne start to clean up the mess from dinner together. They babble about their lives, seemingly now having no problem with more small talk, while Luna runs about with boundless energy. Her golden locks drifted along, acting as a trail of how she bolted like lightning all around the lodge chanting, ¡°I¡¯m gonna learn MAGIC¡±. Oliver couldn¡¯t help but feel a tad content with his new house guests, their company bringing more energy into the admittedly dingy place. The way they looked at him was nice and it eased him from a pain he didn¡¯t know he was feeling.


    ¡°This is nice¡­¡± he thought, ¡°I could get used to this.¡± The energy continued to be lively, and he entertained the thought that this could become a more permanent arrangement but ultimately dismissed it. While magic was no easy endeavor, after that, it is likely they will move on. They must have someone else to get back to; I shouldn¡¯t keep them for too long.¡± His mind brushed aside the idea of living like this forever, although he really shouldn¡¯t have.


    Deciding the night¡¯s energy had to halt one day, Oliver brought his guest to a spare room. Unkempt as it was, it was still infinitely more comfortable than sleeping outside. After handing them some spare blankets and a pillow, Oliver went off to bed, but not before grabbing a book for nightly reading.


    Charianne was still in shock at this living arrangement. She was not used to people¡¯s kindness, which resulted in nothing but misery. She kept her ears peeled for suspicious noises, her guard still not lowering or faltering. Her daughter and all her naivety immediately lay on the bed and drifted off to sleep. Charianne followed suit, her eyelids getting heavier and heavier as she succumbed to exhaustion. Her sleeping position still allows for easy escape in case the need arises.


    Charianne awoke, not in the bed she slept in, but in an all too familiar hut on the outskirts of society. Charianne arose, her stance tense, and her heartbeat quickened. As she got up, a voice nearly sent her into a panic


    ¡°You okay darling?¡± The voice is kind and gentle.


    ¡°Amorius!¡± Charianne flies to hug him, her arms embracing him and squeezing like she never wants to let go. Tears gently streaming down her face. The tall figure hugged back and warmth filled the room. Because of this, Charianne felt the nostalgic roundness of her stomach.


    ¡°Hey easy now, I¡¯m not going anywhere now.¡± Amorius reassures. ¡°Now, we¡¯re about to leave soon.¡± He plants a gentle kiss on Charianne¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°For what, darling?¡± ¡®Darling¡¯ came so quickly it was almost like a reaction.


    ¡°Our honeymoon, silly. Had too much mead last night, eh honey?¡± Charianne feels a pang of grief at the mention of the honeymoon but looks up to Amorius with a warm smile, just wanting to stay as close as possible.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± Charianne wanders through her village, clutching her newlywed husband¡¯s arm the whole way through.


    ¡°We should get something to eat first. I wish I could cook you something like I normally do but we should get going before duty calls once more.¡±


    ¡°Being a chief is never easy, where do you want to go?¡±


    ¡°Wherever you are, love.¡± His smile lit up Charianne¡¯s heart, a warmth long forgotten. ¡°Why don¡¯t you pick?¡±


    ¡°Hmmm, I don¡¯t know,¡± Charianne pretended to think long and hard. ¡°Let¡¯s just try the banquet hall. Simple and no hassle.¡±


    ¡°Sounds perfect, my dear.¡± Their tails swished as they walked, Charianne¡¯s oaky brown fur contrasting with Amorius¡¯ golden yellow; they headed to the banquet hall. Along the way, they met with friendly face after friendly face, which Amorius could recall with scarily good accuracy.


    ¡°Hello, Kendra. Hey, Silver and Gold. Good to see you both.¡± The names of the clan came to him as quickly as the letters of the alphabet. It was almost terrifying in its consistency. People were never as grand as Amorius made them out to be, they provided some good times yes, but the only one always worth everything she put in was Amorius. Chariane clutches his arm further as they enter the banquet hall.


    Strewn about on some tables were regularly restocked food, fitted with fruit, bread, meat, cheeses, and spices, a rare and delicious commodity. Charianne, never letting go of Amorous, drags him around and piles food on her plate adding pepper and other such spices to her food. As they sit down, Charianne begins to scarf food down with unsurprising vigor, relishing the taste of her local cuisine. Absolutely exquisite.


    As she and Amorius get done eating, with Amorius commenting on how much she ate, they leave the banquet hall only for Charianne to be pushed.


    ¡°Amorius! What¡¯s up with tha-¡± Amorius, standing before her, had an arrow lodged straight through his heart. His face pale as the blood rushed out of him. His body grew weak as he lost more and more strength. And the arrow was only the first. As Amorius collapsed, more arrows flew. The arrows are replaced by fireballs, which are replaced by magical nets as invaders take villagers into their carts, bounding them with iron chains and magic metal shock collars.


    ¡°HUNTERS! RUN!¡± Someone in the crowd screamed. CHarianne didn¡¯t know who¡­ Amorius would have. Amourius¡­. OH AMORUIS! Charianne tried to pick up Amorius in the chaos.


    ¡°Please my love, get up, you can still go on!¡± Charianne¡¯s face scrunched with tears.


    ¡°This is where my story ends, but you still can be the one to go on. Take care of her okay?¡± Amorius presses a hand against her stomach before going limp.


    ¡°Amorius? Amorius!!!¡±


    Charianne has no time left to grieve as weapons and spells continue to fly. Her instincts kicking into high gear, Charianne takes off into the forest. Charianne¡¯s legs are on fire as she continues to sprint, her entire body being put forth in order to get as far as possible. Her natural instinct taking over she runs on all fours, her natural physique allowing her to bound greater and greater distances. There¡¯s only one goal in mind, flee. She is running and running¡­ and then she awakes¡­ in the lodge on the mountain with her daughter laying right beside her and her stomach empty. She needed a meal.

 Three: Wind Riders

    Oliver left early in the morning. The new guest meant he needed more resources for dinner so he set off to get some extra food and rope for more traps. He slid down the mountain, his boots seeming sliding down hovering in the air, perfectly bypassing any obstacles. He makes it down to the village and keeps his head down. His boots made it easy to stroll down, carrying himself on the wind. ¡°Wind Riders¡±, the man who gave it to them called it. Such a cliche name. Oliver couldn¡¯t help but chuckle to himself.


    Faint whispers are heard as he strolls through. His feet glided on the cobble path like the stone was ice. His eyes down towards the ground and his stanced closed off. He hated the stares he got, like he was a person to be feared.


    ¡°Is that who I think it is?¡± The whisperings around him started.


    ¡°I think it is right?¡±


    ¡°Why is he here?¡±


    ¡°Did one of us upset him? He came just recently, no?¡±


    ¡°Who invited him?¡±


    ¡°He could have stayed in the mountains.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that he could turn us into frogs or something.¡± Impossible, no. But is it worth his time? Also no.


    ¡°Or burn this whole village down in an instant.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, The Wizard of the Mountains is all powerful.¡± Oliver hated that name. He hated the way that people looked at him. He hated that there was no way out from this madness. He hated that he seemed to be the only wizard¡­ no, the only person who attracted glares wherever he walked. He did nothing wrong to any of them. He kept to himself wherever he turned so why were they so fixated on his life. He wished he could just disappear, fade away into obscurity until his name and title that he rebuked wholeheartedly were erased and cast out of every possible history document and legend ever told.


    Yet the village held necessities he could not make. Making ropes with magic still required materials so he may as well just buy the ropes themselves and save the hassle. Not to mention conjuring books was out of the question. He relinquished the idea of keeping out of the village a long time ago. Not to mention, if he didn¡¯t make his presence known, kids come to his house on dares. Him occasionally stepping out of the house created an aura of fear around him that did more good than harm. Although the stares he attracted were unbearable, the need for resources and the need to establish his presence always overshadowed the troubles. He walked with purpose, his Wind Riders aiding him, to the common shop. As he walked in, he heard an all too familiar voice.


    ¡°Hey buddy!¡± The voice enthusiastically called out, to Oliver¡¯s chagrin.


    ¡°What is it, Terithus?¡± Oliver asks, hoping he could just walk away and flee his grasp.


    ¡°Nothing, just wanna say hi to an old buddy!¡± Terithus belted, clearly unaware of how loud he truly was.


    ¡°You were never my buddy¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh don¡¯t say that, I know we¡¯ve had our differences but it¡¯s not like you have anyone else to keep you company.¡± Therithus wrapped his arms around Oliver and pulled him into a bear hug. His movements knocking over some equipment onto the floor.


    ¡°What is it you need?¡± Oliver inquired more firmly, not wanting to stay around for another second. As Terithus talked he grabbed what he came for so he could bolt as quickly as possible.


    ¡°Ouch, cold man. And I thought we were friends.¡± Terithus pulled Olicer in closer, his round stature pressing uncomfortably against Oliver.


    ¡°If it¡¯s nothing, leave me alone.¡±


    ¡°There is¡­ something. See I''m strapped for cash, can you help a brother out here?¡± What an utter joke. Usually it was worth it to just give him the money, but he had some people to take care of now.


    ¡°No way.¡± His response was short and curt. Without a word to the cashier, he paid the correct amount of change into their hands and was ready to leave.


    ¡°Wow, cruel. So cold and brooding, Wizard of the Mountains.¡± Oliver¡¯s teeth grit at that name, it¡¯s the one thing that could get his blood to boil. If Charianne was rude, he was a bully, no a monster.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that.¡± Oliver slid out of his grasp and started walking away. He hated conflict with the locals, especially with him. It always turned to stares. Therithus continued to poke the sleeping Oliver. Oliver could feel his anger reaching a boiling point.


    Terithus called out something as Oliver left the bounds of the village, something he knew would get Oliver¡¯s attention, ¡°Whoever made the boots did a terrible job, they look awful.¡± As quick as the flash Oliver was in front of Terithus, his spellbook opened fully.


    ¡°Take that back.¡± Oliver had one thing that angered him more than anything.


    ¡°And why would I do that? Getting you angry means you may attack me, and we both know where that leads.¡± His words were taunting. But Oliver, knowing better, turned away. He gritted his teeth as Terithus continued to hurl insults and taunts.


    Oliver made it back to his cabin, his mind still reeling from the village which he hated so much. He went into his abode, his eyes tired and his mind foggy with a potent concoction of fury and helplessness. He wanted one thing more than anything to be understood. Not as the guy who was a feared local legend. Not the tourist attraction that was forced on occasion to put on a spectacle for visitors. But as the person he knew he was. But no one understood him. No one knew him. And no one ever would.


    Oliver was always weird, at least to Luna he was. Always just an odd man. He did seem to enjoy magic so that was great for her. But he was still odd. His house was so big yet he never had any visitors or so he claimed. He held ornate silverware but barely seemed to get by on selling what he could. He seemed so tired yet so powerful. It was an odd contrast. But if he could teach Luna magic, they felt it didn¡¯t matter how weird they were. Magic was wonderful, a fantastical art that Luna longed to learn more of. The entire morning Luna was practically bouncing off the wall, waiting for Oliver to come home. As soon as he did, without hesitation, she lept on his back forcing a piggyback ride upon him. She continued to stay on his back, despite his protest. Luna thought Oliver needed a small pick-me up, he always looked so dejected. Like the spark that once drove him to live was snuffed out. Luna got off his back and scrambled to his front. For a brief moment, she inspected him. Luna looked at all of the wrinkles in his face that showed age Luna didn¡¯t think he had, the slight dent from his reading glasses from his constant bookworming, and his face which was so thoughtful and yet always looked defeated. Luna, ever the thinker, came up with an excellent idea to get Oliver¡¯s mind off of whatever made him so sad.


    ¡°Mr. Oliver! You¡¯re back! Can we learn magic now?¡±


    ¡°Are you really that eager?¡± Oliver couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    ¡°I''m so smart,¡± Luna thought, pleased at doing her part to increase Oliver¡¯s mood. ¡°So, can we? Can we? Can we? Can we?¡± Her tail wagged furiously.


    ¡°Only if your mother is ok with it¡± Luna didn¡¯t understand why she had to ask her mother again. She wanted to learn magic right away, the anticipation was killing her. But reluctantly, she followed Oliver to where her mother was standing, inspecting all around the house and taking notes of all exits.


    ¡°Good morning Charianne, did you sleep well?¡± Oliver inquired.


    ¡°I slept fine¡­¡± Luna looked at her mom and could tell that was a lie¡­ although always messy, her hair was particularly frazzled. Her eyes were shifting more than usual. Her ears were on high alert. She was gonna be more difficult than usual today, Luna could tell.


    ¡°Glad to hear that.¡± Oliver seemed to be unaware of her internal struggle. Annoying. ¡°Me and Luna were planning on starting our lessons today, are you still ok with that?¡±


    Charianne attempted to straighten her hair, a fruitless attempt, and calmed down some. ¡°Right, I did agree to that. Ok¡­ but I have some ground rules.¡±


    ¡°I''m all ears, Charianne.¡±


    ¡°Ok, first rule. No fire or anything overly dangerous!¡±


    Luna protested, ¡°But fire is the coolest!¡±


    ¡°No arguing little missy. Next rule, don¡¯t push her too hard. She is only a child. Another thing Luna, no casting in the house. And finally Oliver¡­¡± Charinanne¡¯s face turns deathly serious. ¡°...Luna¡¯s safety is my and, by extension, your top priority, do you understand me?¡±


    Oliver could only respond with, ¡°Yes Ma¡¯am!¡± And with the confirmation, they left the house. Oliver led Luna to a small training ground, blanketed by snow and leaves. ¡°Oh¡­ the grounds seem worse than I originally assumed. Well nothing a good wind gust can¡¯t fix. Alright Luna listen closely, I¡¯m gonna cast a spell and you tell me what you notice afterwards.¡± Oliver holds out his hands and begins to chant.


    Thyella


    Meg¨¢los


    Xesp¨®


    The words of power seem to almost surround him in golden lettering. His breath in perfect tempo with the words spoken as power seems to be drawn from the surroundings. The language he spoke was foreign and not of this world. The chanting continues without missing a beat.


    Avlav¨ªs


    Ak¨®mi


    P¨¢fsi


    A burst of wind gust forth at the last word creating a large burst of wind that seemed to almost explode in power. It rushed past Oliver and Luna, the wind almost making Luna stumble over. The wind expanded so fast that it was almost visible with a faint hue. Oliver seemed to easily stay steady. Luna couldn¡¯t help but look down at his boots. They were a standard brown leather pair but Luna could tell there was more than meets the eye. She has always had a sense for the mystical, just never how to use it.  The leaves kicked up in the wind and were pushed away. Various debris were cleared in an instant. As the leaves settled to the sides, what was revealed was a small platform made of cobblestone. The individual rocks laid into place haphazardly. What stood on the cobblestone was intriguing. A variety of targets and test dummies stuffed with old hay lay on the ground, seemingly not in use for years. Oliver cleared his throat and drank some water from a flask he kept on his waist.


    ¡°I have not casted as such in ages. It would be good to rework this voice of mine.¡± Oliver mutters to himself, his hands rubbing his throat in an attempt to soothe it.


    ¡°Is your voice important Mr Oliver? It seemed like your words were powerful. Like they were ready to explode at any moment.¡± Luna asks inquisitively, feeling the same sense of power she got from the boots.


    ¡°Good observation. And yes, the voice is how you cast after all. It is the very nature in which Leximage¨ªa is communicated with.¡±


    ¡°Lexiwhata?¡±


    ¡°Leximage¨ªa, the energy that surrounds the world that can be communicated with.¡±


    ¡°Is that what you did with those odd words? That''s so cool! So is saying those words how you cast magic?¡±


    ¡°I mean yes, but there is much more that goes into it. See first of a-¡± Before Oliver could fully finish his sentence, Luna already started attempting to copy Oliver¡¯s words. She was far too excited. There was no reason to wait, it was just saying some words. How hard could it be?


    Thyella


    There was a pause that Oliver didn¡¯t have as Luna struggled to remember what he said.


    Meg¨¢los


    The second word came out strained, as if Luna was struggling to breath. Luna tried to continue but she couldn¡¯t. Her voice was simply gone. She coughed as if she suddenly caught a cold. She coughed as her lungs seemed to have run out of air entirely.


    ¡°Easy little witchlet!¡± Oliver rushes to her side. ¡°Deep breaths¡­ deep breaths.

 Four: Cutting your heart from your sleeve

    Luna was still coughing with it only getting worse with time. Every cough was met with her ears flinching. Eventually, the spit turned red with blood, staining the snow below. Oliver watched in horror.


    ¡°Here, drink this!¡± Oliver handed Luna a different flask he kept around his waist. Luna quickly drank it without any questions. The liquid caresses their throat, soothing the ache. The gentle sweetness of honey and the mellowness of green tea filled their mouths. Her coughing subsided somewhat and her breathing steadied. It was minutes before Luna spoke up.


    ¡°Does all magic hurt you?¡± Luna asks while periodically drinking from the flask. Her voice is quiet and slightly raspy.


    ¡°If you do it wrong, yes. You should refrain from casting for the time being. You are still inexperienced.¡± Oliver''s words stung like a dagger.


    ¡°Awww. What? No! I can handle it¡­just¡­let me have another go.¡± Luna''s face turns to a frown, crossing her arms, her ears drooping down. She noticeably clenched. Her look lives up to the name of puppy-dog eyes. Oliver paced back and forth, the only thing keeping him grounded being the sting of the cold winter air in his nostrils. Of course he wanted to keep Luna safe but how was she going to learn magic if she couldn¡¯t cast anything. Luna noticed Oliver¡¯s internal conflict and capitalized on it. ¡°You promised to teach me.I promise I¡¯ll do good. I¡¯ll listen. I promise.¡± Oliver couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away as Luna continued to put the pressure up.


    ¡°Oh fine.¡± Oliver finally gave into the machinations of the 10 year old.


    ¡°YAY¡± Luna jumped up and down in the snow, a flurry kicking up around her as she giggled.


    Oliver couldn¡¯t help but crack a small smile. He sighed, attributing his softness towards the years alone finally getting to him. He readjusted himself and crouched down to Luna¡¯s level. ¡°Little witchlet, please follow me closely.¡± Luna nods, her eyes still bright even after her accident. ¡°Good. Now, breathe in and out. Magic is no easy feat. To even cast one spell is impressive. What you need is practice and time. Magic is based on the words of your cast. These words we use to communicate to the world around us. And through diligent study, scholars have found the meaning of some words.¡± Oliver puts his full magic knowledge on display. He couldn¡¯t remember the last time he could talk about magic with someone and Luna¡¯s excited face made it all the more fulfilling. ¡°Now casting has three parts, the initializer, the modifiers, and the closer.¡±


    ¡°The initializer, the modifiers, and the closer, I got it.¡±


    ¡°Good. Now the initializers are how you define the element you want. Earth is p¨¦tra, Water is ner¨® ,Wind is thyella, and so on and so forth. These allow you to call on that specific element. Like a postal code. The closer is simple. It is one word, p¨¢fsi, and acts like the period to your spell. But the modifiers are interesting, they add onto the spell, shaping and morphing it into virtually anything. Now while the number of initializers is finite, the number of modifiers is ever growing.¡±


    ¡°What if you cast a spell without any modifiers?¡±


    Oliver looks at his bright eyed pupil and grinned. ¡°Well, it simply will appear with how it would in the world and it will only obey the laws of nature. For example Now, you can¡¯t just go adding as many modifiers as you want. You cannot go past your word count.¡±


    ¡°Word count?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that is your upper limit of words your spell can have. And those words include the beginning and closer.¡±


    ¡°Whoa really? Is that why my throat seemed to close up?¡±


    ¡°Yes and you casted it incorrectly.¡± Oliver goes to take back his words but it¡¯s all too late. He waits with faded breath for Luna¡¯s reaction.


    ¡°So what IS correct?¡± Luna continued to look up, her smile not quite as wide but her eyes still locked onto Oliver as he continued to speak.


    Oliver had to continue but mentally noted to be more careful. ¡°See, the tempo at which you say your words should be even. Each word should take up the same amount of space and should be evenly spaced apart. And when you paused, your communication with the world got fuzzy and your throat closed as a result. It is the body¡¯s natural reaction to uncontrolled Leximage¨ªa.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­I see. Sorry Mr. Oliver, I should have waited for your instruction. I didn¡¯t know how much went into magic.¡±  Luna¡¯s tail went in between her legs as she gripped onto it slightly. She looked up at Oliver, her face slightly downturned as she apologized and her eyes faced towards the pure white snow below. Oliver once again turned to consolation again, he waved his hands in front of himself franticallyYou might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡®


    Oliver looked and what looked back was himself. He always got so mad when he couldn¡¯t quite get a spell right or his throat closed up prematurely. Luna is even younger than he was when he started learning, but he figured that he could use a line that his mentor once said to him. ¡°Raise your head, it is quite alright. All I ask is that you follow my instructions next time.¡±


    ¡°Who taught you magic Oliver?¡± Luna attempted to perk up again.


    ¡°Oh, nobody¡± Oliver could have said he was self taught but no, he had to say ¡°nobody.¡± His mind was still racing with the nostalgia triggered only a few seconds prior. He facepalmed grimacing at the inevitable follow up question.


    ¡°Nobody? Were you born knowing magic?¡± Oliver very much knew the answer was no. No one is born knowing magic, it¡¯s a skill and not a talent. And to add further fuel to the fire, if he said magic was a talent, how would that affect young Luna. He already hurt her confidence enough. Too many thoughts were swirling in his mind. He was too exposed. There were too many options to consider and he didn¡¯t want ANYONE to pry deeper. So he did what he always did.


    ¡°It¡¯s complicated.¡± A deflection that signaled to everyone to back off.


    ¡°But you could explain it!¡± Luna rebuked. Her tail stuck straight up and she approached Oliver. Her every step closer gave Oliver more and more of a fright. Oliver was caught off guard. Everyone always takes that sign and leaves him alone. But he wasn¡¯t going to give up. His secrets were his.


    ¡°You would find it boring.¡± By hitting at the sense of fun, he could direct Luna away from talking about him and back towards magic. Magic was comfortable. Magic didn¡¯t make him feel like this.


    ¡°But finding more about you is fun.¡± Luna pressed on. Such surprising persistence from someone so young. ¡°Would finding out about me help? I used to have friends but mama separated me from them because she was scared. She¡¯s always scared of something. I can¡¯t understand why.¡± Oliver paused at the sudden display of vulnerability. He was at a loss at what to do next. ¡°Well, mama always said not to tell anybody anything, but I think that¡¯s how friends are made.¡± This child was incredible. Her eyes shone so bright. Oliver crouched down and took a deep breath.


    ¡°I think your mom was right. Luna, in the world, people are always looking for something. Whether it be money, fame, power, it¡¯s good not to share too much too early. Trust is not a light thing to be given about. It is something you should only share with those you really connect with and cherish.¡±


    ¡°But, I can cherish everyone.¡±


    ¡°Luna, you really shouldn¡¯t, I mean wi-¡±


    ¡°But I can and I will.¡±Luna cut him off, her feet planted firmly in the ground.


    ¡°Another time.¡± Oliver attempted to quell her curiosity


    ¡°WHy can¡¯t you say it now?¡± Luna¡¯s voice dragged at the last syllable, stressing it for a bit. Her face turned into a pout as she grappled his leg.


    ¡°Hey! Let go of me!¡± Oliver gently shook his leg but Luna held firm.


    ¡°Not until you tell me something about yourself!¡± Luna''s eyes were filled with a fire as her claws dug into the fabric of Oliver¡¯s pants. Oliver tried to get them off and yet Luna would not let go. Oliver¡¯s eyes looked a tad more sunken in. Instead of pleas for Luna to listen he just let out a large sigh.


    ¡°You need to worry more. You need to have more scrutiny behind those eyes. You need to not hold your head so high. Sometimes keeping your head down is how you survive.¡± Oliver didn¡¯t mince his words. He used the same voice he used when he told the villagers to leave him alone. Luna looked up, still gripping tightly on his leg, and just restated her opinion.


    ¡°I CAN cherish everyone.¡±


    ¡°I hope you can, for your sake. We should go home.¡±


    ¡°Aw, WHAT? I didn¡¯t even get to do anything!¡±


    ¡°I gave you the basics. Remember them well.¡± Luna¡¯s face was still downturned as her cheeks puffed out. She gave a sour expression. Oliver sighed, he looked around as if the forest could give him the solution. He put his hands into his pocket. He muttered to himself, low enough so the only one who could hear him was himself, ¡°They¡¯re bound to leave now.¡± Oliver walked home in silence no matter how much Luna attempted to get him to talk. He looked towards the ground, examining the snow below. He and Luna walked in the cabin. When Oliver walked in, he saw his house slightly off. He had been living in it for most of his life and everything was slightly out of place. A table slightly shifted, a book not opened to the correct page on the floor, and patches of floor lighter than the others all made the place feel off. Charianne walked in from another room, her face pleasant but her smile didn¡¯t crack as wide as when she ate. Her eyes didn¡¯t smile with her. Oliver could tell that she was snooping.


    Oliver knew that was rational, they only just met after all. Oliver knew that it was for protecting her daughter. Oliver knew that he shouldn¡¯t be offended. And yet, he still felt a tad hurt. Oliver knew that was stupid. Oliver knew that one meal can only do so much. And yet all the same he still felt a solid sting in his heart. Undoubtedly, this is how Luna felt. This is what he does with his words. It¡¯s a sting he often gave out but didn¡¯t take. And it hurts. Oliver looked again at Charianne¡¯s face. Was it always like that? Was it always forced? Oliver exhaled shakily.


    Oliver spoke up, ¡°What have you been up to?¡± He was more confirming than asking.


    ¡°Oh, just lounging around.¡± Charianne straightened her posture and yet was unable to look Oliver directly in the eye. Luna ran up to her mom and hygge her without a second thought.


    ¡°Momma!¡± Luna¡¯s arms wrapped tightly around her mom. ¡°Momma momma! Oliver is a great teacher. He said all of the things about magic, and modifiers, and starters, and-¡± Luna abruptly cut herself off. ¡±Did you know there was so much going into magic momma? There¡¯s so much you need to know and keep track of. Like your breathing!¡± Luna then does exaggerated breathing in and out. Oliver¡¯s eyes were still locked onto Charianne. By now, her half hearted smile transformed into a full smile at the sight of her daughter. Charianne gently scratched the top of her daughter¡¯s head as she engaged with Luna¡¯s tomfoolery. Charianne idly nodded along as Luna continued. ¡°We didn¡¯t do a whole lot today, but Oliver did cast magic for me. It was amazing! All of the wind went like whoosh and the area was all cleared in an instant.¡± Chariane nodded along. ¡°Oliver was a little harsh, but I did mess up today. But it¡¯s ok! He wasn¡¯t mad!¡± Charianne twitched slightly at the mention of harsh words but let her daughter continue. ¡°Magic is powerful. I tried to cast it myself and I coughed blood.¡± CHarianne looked up from her daughter towards Oliver as her face turned stoic. Her eyes narrowed and her ears stood up Oliver cowered under the gaze of Charianne. Maybe he was the rude one. Perhaps the oak tree had their reasons for being so rude. Oliver physically backed off and put his hands up in mock surrender.


    ¡°Sorry about that.¡± Oliver¡¯s apology was short and curt. His neck craned down as his hands stayed beside him. He sighed and continued to keep his distance. He decided a nap would be best. To leave them alone and give them an opportunity to leave without issue. He liked having them around. He would miss the company. ¡°I¡¯ll take a quick nap. Goodbye.¡± Oliver knew they would leave, he could just feel it. No one wanted to stay for long. He never gave them any reason to. Oliver went to his bedroom and closed his eyes, expecting to be greeted with an empty house in the morning.

 Five: Removing Blood From the Water

    ¡°Yes Ma¡¯am,¡± Oliver responded to Charianne. Charianne looked satisfied enough with the answer so she let them go and was alone in the house. After Oliver and her daughter left, she decided to get to business. Leaving Oliver alone with her daughter was a risk, but a calculated one. Her ears were perfectly primed to react lest Luna scream. And, if Oliver did hurt her daughter, she could just threaten him and his house until he gave her back. In the meanwhile, she started her search. For what? She was unsure, but there had to be something. First she searched the living room, her eyes searching over the dusty wooden floor which barely peaked through the piles upon piles of books strewn about. She looked at the cover of each book, checking for any signs of suspicion. An odd cover, a foreboding title, or worse, the hunter¡¯s insignia. The symbol that brought nothing but terror in its wake. If she found any sign of that darned crest she would not hesitate to kill Oliver in his sleep, for hunters are nothing but evil.


    Her search continued. She scampered over to the kitchen and turned everything inside out. She sniffed around and tested some food to make sure of its safety. She grabbed every spice on the shelf and paused. She looked into the vibrant colors of the jars and for a moment, she got a tad sentimental. The smell of the spices permeated the air when she opened the vial. Her ears twitched and her tail wagged slightly. She could name them all. Rosemary, Oregano, Lavender oil, and an almost empty container of Bay leaves. She wondered how Amorius would use these spices. She wondered how much she could stack onto her plate at the dining hall. She wondered if he would learn magic just so he could cook. If he cooked that day, none of that would have happened. They could have both been warned and fled. ¡°Maybe.¡± Charianne caught herself gripping the glass as tears rolled off of the vial. Her claws left visible scratch marks on the vial.


    Charianne brushed off her tears. She chastised herself for being so weak. Her tail dropped back down as she closed the vials and the smells ceased. She picked herself back up and moved along to her and her daughter¡¯s room. She dare not let Luna sleep in a separate room. She pokes and prods in the wardrobe to the side, which doesn¡¯t have much except for basic clothes. She honestly should have done a thorough check sooner but the allure of a warm bed was too much. She risked her daughter¡¯s safety, even in a small way like that. The only reason she¡¯s not watching her daughter now is because she needed to do a check while Oliver and Luna were out the house. Upon further inspection, they were women''s clothes, but for a woman much taller than Charianne or even Oliver. The clothes were quite plain. A few fur coats for winter and beige pants. The fabric had slight tears, abrasions, and even burnt fabric crept through the patchwork. Charianne inspected further. She moved the clothes off the rack and looked in and saw a small shoebox. She opened it without much hesitation. She needed to know if her daughter was safe here.


    The box was wooden. It was no more than a foot in length. She opened the lid and found memorabilia of someone, although she wasn¡¯t sure who. Small keychains and hair ornaments were strewn in the box. Old tea leaves laid in a paper bag that was pushed to the edge. There was also a book. It was on the older side, the leather cover dark and cracked. Inside were words Charianne couldn¡¯t begin to understand. Odd confusing words that jumbled her tongue as she tried to pronounce them. The words seemed to catch in her throat and she began to cough. She stopped trying to read it and put the book down. The most eye-catching item in the box were the heels. They were matte black and unlike the rest of the stuff in the box, it was in stunning condition. Good enough to sell at a market in the capital. She picked up the shoes and inspected them. They didn''t smell the same as Oliver did. All Lycans held an innate talent for identifying based on smell and Charianne was no different. It was faded, but this was another person entirely. Charianne put them off to the side, noting them for later if she ever needed some quick cash. She then continues to rummage around both the box and the rest of her room but finds nothing else of note. She puts everything away and starts to inspect the cabin.


    The cabin was quite big for one person, and it sported multiple rooms as well as a common room, completely separate from the living room. Charianne could deduce at least one other person lived here, but even for two people it was quite large. The dust caked the walls and floors and the furniture looked almost degraded. She wandered the decrepit rooms, peeking inside each bedroom and hallway to find them almost empty. Nothing was left except for the cobwebs and bugs and the occasional furniture that was nailed to the floor. It was like no one ever touched the rooms. She wandered further into the cabin and came to one doorway labeled ¡®Storage.¡¯ Naturally, Chariane was intrigued. She traced her hand and claws over the doorknob before attempting to turn it¡­and realizing it was locked. This was no matter, she opened her pack and grabbed a lockpick. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a tad guilty, first the box and now this, but she had to be sure there was nothing that could hurt her daughter. She had to make sure not to let another loved one die in front of her.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    She inserted her turning tool and then her pick. As her pick maneuvers back and forth, she stresses her ears for any feedback. She finally finds a pin after minutes of accidentally losing her grip. Her claws constantly get in the way. She finally sets it and¡­


    A flood of boiling water almost scorched Charianne¡¯s face right off. The water splashed on the floor a few feet away. The door remained locked. ¡°Makes sense, probably some magic lock.¡± She scoffs and stands on her feet. The puddle remained on the floor, still giving off some steam. Charianne breathed in and out and then decided to come back to this when she had a key. It would be too much of a hassle to continue without one. She looked outside and the sun had moved a tad, but she figured she would still have time. Her daughter was obsessed with magic after all. She hoped that would buy her enough time.


    She headed over to Oliver¡¯s room. There had to be something incriminating in there. A key to that storage room or explanation on the empty rooms. She started rummaging through his bedsheets and looking under furniture. She found not much. A few clothes. A few more books. Books, it¡¯s always books. How many books does one person need? She continued her search. There has to be something. This entire escapade was untimely pointless if something wasn¡¯t found. She had discovered that someone else had lived in the house, but that meant nothing. At most, Oliver once had friends which was new information but it didn¡¯t help. At this rate, she would have searched through all of his things for nothing. Something had to be here. Charianne started to pull up sheets and moved furniture to find anything suspicious. Charianne became more frazzled. She started searching over and over again. She needed to find something. If not, she¡¯d just be the odd woman searching through a person¡¯s house, much like a bandit. She ran her hand through her hair, the feeling of her fingernails on her scalp doing little to calm her. She moved the mattress, tore off the sheets, and looked behind the headboard. Then she found a key, hidden away on the underside of a drawer, it seemed inconspicuous. It was rusty, flakes of iron chipping off at the handle. She grabbed the key


    So off she went, Charianne was getting into dangerous territory now, her sense of time slightly skewed by her earlier frenzy. Even though getting caught was a very real possibility, she couldn¡¯t help but cackle quietly. Finally, there would be something incriminating. She¡¯s not crazy, she¡¯s just protective is all. It will all be justified. She bolted to the storage room door and inserted the key and on the other side was something she couldn¡¯t believe.


    It was just boxes. She searched frantically inside of them¡­ but found nothing special. It was all normal items. Clothes. Broken furniture. Old knives. She continued to search desperately. There had to be something. There had to be at least a crest of some kind. Or else. Or else she would just be the person digging through the stuff of a kind man. A man who has done nothing but give them housing for a night and feed them the first real meal Charianne or her daughter had in years. The man who had amused her daughter and entertained her intellect. A man who is offering his services, which also would cost a fortune normally, and he offers them for free. What was she doing?


    Charianne cleaned up her mess. She put back all of the furniture she moved and all of the sheets she tore up. She heard the door to the front open and then walked out of a room.


    Oliver spoke up, ¡°What have you been up to?¡± He was more confirming than asking.


    ¡°Oh, just lounging around.¡± Charianne straightened her posture and yet was unable to look Oliver directly in the eye. She looked off to the side. The shame she felt overwhelmed her. She saw the way Oliver¡¯s eyes traced the slightly off skew books and the like. He knew and that just made it worse.


    ¡°Momma!¡± Luna¡¯s arms wrapped tightly around her mom. ¡°Momma momma! Oliver is a great teacher. He said all of the things about magic, and modifiers, and starters, and-¡± Luna abruptly cut herself off. ¡±Did you know there was so much going into magic momma? There¡¯s so much you need to know and keep track of. Like your breathing!¡± She smiled down at her daughter. So bright eyed. She must have had fun. She pondered if Oliver would even let them stay at this point. She hadn¡¯t been the most kind guest. She would apologize, only if the need arises however. To keep that smile on Luna¡¯s face, she would do anything. She continued to wonder as her daughter regaled her with tales of Oliver¡¯s powerful display of magic and then Luna spoke, ¡°Oliver was a little harsh, but I did mess up today. But it¡¯s ok! He wasn¡¯t mad!¡± Charianne twitched slightly at the mention of harsh words but let her daughter continue. ¡°Magic is powerful. I tried to cast it myself and I coughed blood.¡± Charianne glared towards Oliver. Oliver winced and shrank under her gaze. She had one main rule. One rule. But she couldn¡¯t bring herself to be truly mad. Luna was still smiling as always, in fact, her eyes were even more radiant. Oliver apologized and rushed off. That is to be expected. She had not been the best and Oliver likely wanted to be alone. She gently caressed her daughter¡¯s face. ¡°Come on Luna, let¡¯s quickly eat and go to bed.¡±


    ¡°Will Mr. Oliver be cooking for us again?¡±


    ¡°No, not tonight, he seems too tired.¡± Charianne sighed as she looked at her daughter¡¯s slightly disappointed expression. Charianne opened her satchel and pulled out some dried meat and stale bread. She figured she could indulge Luna a tad and also pulled out the dried fruits. Charianne ate silently while Luna kept chatting away.


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to learn how to cast my own spell!¡± Luna¡¯s tail wagged wildly at the notion. Charianne put her hand on her daughter¡¯s head and looked down. Her smile wasn¡¯t quite wide and her eyes began forming beads of tears. Had she erased the one chance Luna had at learning magic? She wipes her tears before they can fall.


    ¡°Twice in one day. A new record.¡±

 Six: Heavy Conscious Buried Under Stagnant Tides

    Oliver awoke the next day incredibly hungry. He had forgotten to eat, a bad habit he had picked up. Oliver picked himself out of bed and walked out into what he thought was going to be an empty house. He opened the creaking door, his entire body slumped and his eyes holding dark circles. The house was not empty, Luna jumped up and wrapped her arms around Oliver. In Luna¡¯s sudden attack, Oliver was left bewildered. All that was running though his mind was confusion and a strange sense of comfort. Luna lets go as Oliver walks further into the living room. Charianne catches his eye but dare not look long. The oak tree had their reasons to be rude and he dare not give them another one. He turns to Luna, his back facing Charianne. ¡°Want to learn more today?¡± Luna¡¯s eyes lit up as she hopped up and down, her tail waving quickly.


    She squealed out, ¡°YES!¡±. Oliver put on his reading glasses, grabbed a blank book, and picked up a quill and ink.


    ¡°This is a notebook, use it to work out problems or to remember information.¡± He placed the notebook and the writing supplies besides Luna and sat little Luna down. ¡°A notebook is important you know¡±


    ¡°How important is it?¡± Luna asked back.


    ¡°It is vital to your learning. Recalling information is important. One cannot be expected to memorize everything alone, so the book can act as an aid. Now let¡¯s get started.¡± Oliver started going over what she already knew about math. ¡°Let¡¯s start simple. Basic addition.¡± Oliver pulled out a pouch of pebbles. ¡°If I have 3 pebbles over here and 2 over here-¡±


    Oliver was merely enjoying Luna¡¯s company and her bright mind when all of a sudden¡­ CRAAAAAACK. Oliver immediately rose to attention. Was it the villagers? Not again. Or maybe it was something worse. He wouldn¡¯t let Luna be hurt again, so He grabbed his spellbook and kept it close to him. And then Oliver saw Charianne on the floor next to a broken chair. He wasn¡¯t sure what exactly happened but he would hazard a guess. It was retribution. He had hurt Charianne¡¯s daughter, of course she would make a show of strength like that. Oliver deserved the broken chair, a reminder of what he almost did to Luna¡¯s confidence with his harsh words. Why couldn¡¯t he just be normal, Why did he have to be the weird guy in the woods that everyone seemed to hate. For too long the silence persisted. His face and heart dropped and he said nothing, knowing that even trying would most likely be pointless. Maybe the oak tree wasn¡¯t the rude one at all. She has undoubtedly gone through so much and yet here he is, unable to reassure her. The words were right there and yet they didn¡¯t come forth. How pitiful, he can say spells and yet words as simple as, ¡°I am sorry,¡± or ¡°It¡¯ll be alright,¡± didn¡¯t come to him. In his spiral, he didn¡¯t even notice Luna chucking a book in his face.


    ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó


    Charianne peeked over, not wanting to see Oliver directly, but still curious at the way he was teaching. His teaching style seemed to grasp Luna more than she ever could. No matter how many times she explained it, she never could teach properly. Maybe she¡¯d learn something or two. She kept peering over, she must have looked so suspicious but it wasn¡¯t that much of a problem. Probably. It might not even be possible to look more suspicious than she already was. She leaned further and further back in her chair. Almost. Just another peak. CRAAAAAACK. Charianne tumbled from the chair as her back fell against the wooden floor, the books about doing nothing to cushion the blow. She fell straight onto her tail and let out a loud yelp in response. As she rolled her shoulders to fight off some of the pain, she noticed the chair she was sitting in was no longer a chair. It shattered into two pieces, splinters all about the floor. Charianne¡¯s face and heart dropped. She already wasn¡¯t the most pleasant guest, and now she just destroyed a chair. Her ears and tail drooped and she stayed silent. She looked up, expecting to find a look of anger on Oliver¡¯s face, but she didn¡¯t. She wanted to inspect further, but then his face was suddenly covered by a book with a loud, ¡°GAUGH!¡±


    ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó


    Luna was only kind of struggling with math. Although dreaded, Oliver¡¯s instruction made it surprisingly simple. She counted out the pebbles laid out before her, drew counters in her notebook, almost getting an answer, but her racing thoughts were interrupted by a large CRAAAAAACK. She whipped her head and saw her mom on the floor. She rushed over, but it was like her mom didn¡¯t even see her. Too wrapped up in the events that just transpired. She looked over at Oliver who was also staring blankly. Both of them were just¡­staring. She inspected them both, plenty of time to do so because they just kept staring like a rabbit who watched an arrow fly towards them. They¡¯re eyes found any reason to look at anything but each other Luna¡¯s mom snuffed and sneered at every opportunity, but sometimes Luna could catch her smile downturned as her ears and tail drooped. Luna knows that her mom wasn¡¯t exactly the most social, always leaving before any real connection could be made, romantic or otherwise. She figured she could at least make a friend and yet they seemed to skitter at each other''s presence and always kept their distance.. Luna wasn¡¯t stupid, she¡¯s seen the way her mom always kept an eye out or the way her tail would stand on end. Luna knows the way Oliver went to bed a little too quickly yesterday. And she thought she¡¯d done all she could even as they seemed to drift further apart, pestering Oliver was the only way he seemed to smile in the short time she¡¯s known him. Maybe doing it again would cause them to laugh and get along again. So she picked up a book and threw it square in Oliver¡¯s face, with pinpoint accuracy and surprising speed and power for someone so young. It landed and Oliver let out a loud, ¡°GAUGH!¡±If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Yes, bingo. Everytime Luna does something, everyone can sit back and laugh. And yet, Luna was the only one giggling, her laughs slowly dying down as her eyes fell on both of their faces. She looked at both of them, who were now looking away from each other. ¡°Ha! Mr. Oliver, you looked so funny!¡± A line sure to get a scolding from her mother or a chuckle from Oliver but there was still nothing. The silence was deafening, causing Luna¡¯s ears to stand on end. Oliver''s eyes and feet shifted away. Charianne¡¯s hands massaged themselves as she held them close to her chest. Oliver pulled Luna back and they continued their lesson. Luna, despite where her mind was, tried to pay attention. Luna attempted to bring up magic, specifically when her next lesson was, but got a resounding ¡°Eventually,¡± from Oliver.


    As it wrapped up, Oliver just left the room and retreated into his bedroom. Luna began to pace back and forth as her hands began to trace circles on her head as if to summon a plan forth. The sun began to rise to its apex as Luna still idly wandered around the cabin and still no sign of Oliver. Her fingers tapped against themselves on a rhythmic pattern. With a smirk that stretched to the corners of her face, she walked over to her mother. ¡°MOMMA!¡±


    ¡°GAH!¡± Charianne stumbled backwards as her ears stood straight on end. ¡°What is it, dear?¡± Her hand clutched her heart as she cracked a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes.


    ¡°Can you talk to Mr. Oliver? He said he would teach me more, but he won¡¯t say when¡­¡±


    ¡°He may just be busy.¡±


    ¡°Busy with what? He just reads all day!¡±


    ¡°Dealing with certain issues.¡± Charianne¡¯s voice turned high as her shoulders raised. Her eyes wandered away from Luna¡¯s.


    ¡°Please Mama!¡± Luna widened her eyes and suppressed a smirk as she moved to be in front of her mother.


    ¡°Well, I-¡± Oliver¡¯s door opened.  In the corner of her eye, Luna saw Oliver¡¯s hand covering his face. His chest raised and fell but seemed to stutter at irregular intervals.  His hand fell from his face as the stuttering of his chest came to a halt. His brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed, his steps clicked as he walked. He landed towering over Charianne, the light glinting off of his reading glasses.


    ¡°Key.¡± He glared down, his palm open towards Charianne. Without saying a word, Charianne put an old rusty key into his hand, her ears drooped and she looked towards the floor with oh so many books. Luna looked between them, but before she could even say a word, Oliver grabbed the key and went into his room again, his glasses hiding his narrow eyes with beads of tears forming. Luna looked at the key as Oliver¡¯s hand clenched around it as his arms moved parallel to his body, almost mechanical. As he closed the door, Luna looked once more at Oliver. Oliver''s hand clenched in front of his heart as he looked down to the floorboards below and sighed under his breath. He grabbed the doorknob and the door swung close, the slight eek of the hinges being the only sound that punctuated the air. Luna looked back at her mom and¡­ nothing. No smile, no frown, her ears don''t stand on end nor did they droop. It was nothing. Or almost nothing. Although hard to decipher, Charianne¡¯s head did hang lower along with her tail. Her eye drifted ever so slightly down, shifting left and right.


    Luna could do nothing but stand by. Except, Luna was never the type to stand by. She parked herself on a nearby chair and grabbed a random book off the ground. She parsed through, looking for any sign of magic and if she didn¡¯t find one, she put the book down. If Oliver wasn¡¯t going to teach her magic, she would do it herself. Maybe impressing him would get him to crawl out of his room. She picked and put down more books than she could count. Literally. She finally found a book on magic, but the words on the page made her head spin. She kept reading all the same. She would learn magic. She trailed her finger across the page and sounded out words she didn¡¯t know. She drew pictures in her notebook in place of words, rudimentary diagrams of how magic in the body would work. Luna laid across the couch as the sun set in the sky. She kicked her legs in the air idly as she continued to utilize her notebook. She silently pronounced the words to herself, her tongue tumbling in on itself. She goes up to a nearby window and starts to try to cast, aiming her hand out the window.


    She starts to speak, her finger tracing over her diagrams.


    Thyella


    P¨¢f-


    She suddenly stopped as her breath briefly ceased before resuming. Small coughs were punctuated by frantic scribbling in her notebook.


    Thyel-


    More coughs and more scribbling.


    Thyelo


    ¡°Not even the right word.¡± She grabs her flask of water and starts drinking, her throat slightly expanding as the water slid down her throat. She sat down in the chair by the window, her hand laying on her heart as she felt her own racing heartbeat. She adjusted her diagrams, scribbling out certain words with the ink. She stood up and shook out her limbs and put her palm facing the window. ¡°Alright, again.¡±


    Thyell..la


    P-


    Thyella


    P¨¢f-


    Thyella


    P¨¢fs-


    Thyella


    P¨¢fsi!


    A gust of wind flew from her palm out into the evening air, the snow kicking up the air in a flurry. Luna hopped as her hair tousled and tangled on her ears, her smile shining as bright as a crescent moon, and whipped her head around to see her mom¡¯s face, only to find she wasn¡¯t looking up. She ran over to her mom and shook her, Charianne''s entire body jostling back and forth. ¡°Momma! Momma! I did it! I casted my first spell!¡±


    Only Charianne didn¡¯t respond. Luna looked under her mom¡¯s hair and saw her closed eyes. Luna chuckled to herself. ¡°Silly Momma¡­¡± Luna pushed the chair Charianne was sleeping in over to the bed in their room. With each small push forward, Luna¡¯s sweat beaded on their forehead. They gently grabbed at and massaged their throat.


    Oliver suddenly came out of his room silently and started cooking. ¡°Great!¡± Luna¡¯s smile turned wide. She was sure this was her moment. She could finally tell all about her first cast. Oliver was sure to teach her again then. Luna smirked to herself and tapped her fingers against themselves. Oliver finished making a soup, different from the type they had prior. Luna walked up to the table, bouncing up and down. Just as Luna sat at the table, he just took a bowl in his room without saying a word.

 Seven: Ripple Effects

    Luna tried to tug Oliver back for a moment of chatting but Oliver didn¡¯t budge, he just scratched the top of Luna¡¯s head and then walked off. Luna¡¯s cheeks puffed up as she stamped her tiny feet into the ground, her tail standing at full attention in time with her stomps. The next day, once again, Oliver walked out of his room and as he did he saw Charianne splayed across the couch. He clenched slightly and pulled up a chair a good distance away from the couch, but one that also still has access to the coffee table. He moved down to Luna, his eyes flicking up to meet Charianne¡¯s sleeping form before they moved back down to Luna. ¡°Are you ready, Luna?¡±


    ¡°To learn magic?¡± Luna¡¯s tail waved frantically as Oliver chuckled quietly. Oliver did teach her in the morning, but it wasn¡¯t magic. Arithmetic, English, and basic botany, which Luna partially excelled at compared to the others. She even corrected Oliver a couple of times. Oliver periodically looked over Luna to check if Charianne was still sleeping, and when he confirmed it, he continued his lesson. His cornucopia of books helped greatly, Luna had the tools, she just needed to know where to look. As Oliver continued to lecture, he pulled out a workbook and led Luna along, allowing her to write simple sentences on her own. Luna flipped passed the diagrams and Oliver raised an eyebrow as his mouth opened slightly, but then it closed. The lesson finished and Oliver began to gather some books and walk back to his room. Luna spoke up, ¡°Can¡¯t you stay in the living room?¡± Luna tugged on Oliver¡¯s leg.


    ¡°I think I should give your mother some space.¡±


    ¡°Space from what? Why?¡±


    ¡°Adult things.¡± That certainly didn''t answer any of Luna¡¯s questions, but she didn¡¯t need to. She just continued tugging on his pant¡¯s leg, her claws digging into the fabric. Oliver gently removed her claws and removed Luna from his leg. ¡°See you later, Luna.¡± His head turned to face Charianne one more time, he sighed, and walked away.


    As soon as Oliver went into his room, Charianne''s eyes popped open as the rise and fall of her chest slowed. Her ears flickered and she picked herself up, fruitlessly trying to straighten out her hair. She looked around, her eyes scanning the room. She rolled her shoulders and started to stroll around the cabin, her tail gently swishing behind her. Charianne started walking around in circles as her mouth moved but barely and sound escaped. Luna¡¯s eyes flickered and she decided to follow her mother. A left turn here. A right turn there. Down a hall Luna didn¡¯t even know existed¡­.and then Charianne bumped into a wall. Luna abruptly stopped, trying not to bump into something herself. ¡°Momma?¡±


    Charianne recoiled with a sharp hiss as she regained her footing, "I don¡¯t think I am. ¡± Charianne''s face gently lifted, her eyes glossy and her head slightly tilted. ¡°You really are an incredible child¡±


    Luna''s eyes widened. She gently stands on her tippy toes to reach the top of her mom¡¯s head. She reaches under Carianne¡¯s chestnut hair, amongst all of the bugs and dirt, and behind her ears. She lets her hand gently scratch. ¡°You¡¯re an incredible momma.¡±


    ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó


    Oliver looked at the walls that now became his prison. He sighed, strolling about his room. Every time he picked up a book, it would quickly be set down followed by Oliver ruffling up his own hair. He wandered about in his self made isolation before finally settling on the bed, flopping down with a large Huff. ¡°What am I doing? What am I doing with myself?¡±


    Oliver placed an arm over his face, unable to even look at the slight reflection in the metal reinforcements. He just laid there, his head slightly swaying. ¡°Come on Oliver. Move. Move. Move.¡± He repeated it like a prayer. And yet his body did not obey. The sunlight was beaming, slowly inching towards his eyes. Oliver laid there, eyes covered. ¡°Have you not changed at all? It¡¯s been 10 years and here you are.¡±


    Oliver reached over into his drawer and pulled out a book. ¡°The Trials of the Sun and Moon.¡± He held up the book, looking all over, his eyes glazing over the cover and the spine. He opened it and pulled out a small portrait. He held the portrait close to his heart, his hands shaking. ¡°I miss you. You all would know what to do. You all would be so more well equipped for this. Florence¡­you would be so much better at talking¡­ Fetti¡­you would be the one to pull me out of this rut¡­and¡­ and Lady R¡­.* His voice choked on tears. Oliver touched his face with the base of his hand and felt the sharp sting of cold and wet. Oliver held his face as his bed and the portrait caught some of the tears. Oliver let his hands fall as his bedsheets grew darker. ¡°Oh, how much you three have changed me.¡± The sun continued to shift in the sky, taunting Oliver with her radiant energy. It poked and prodded, its warmth a solemn reminder of what he didn¡¯t have. Oliver still didn¡¯t rise. He rolled. Rolled until he was positioned at the center of his bed and he just laid there. As he did, his mind began to wander to what was beyond the door to his room. Staring at the ceiling, Oliver asked himself, ¡°Why haven¡¯t they left me yet?¡± Oliver¡¯s mind began to swirl in on itself, a whirlpool of thoughts that only made him clutch his head more. His mind swirled and twirled in on itself. ¡°Why? They could have left without a trace by now. So why did they stay? Did Luna want to learn magic that much?¡± Oliver took a deep breath as he remembered Luna. ¡°Her face is so bright and yet I may just snuff it out. I¡¯m no teacher.¡± Oliver exhaled deeply.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡ó ¡ó ¡ó


    Charianne felt a tiny hand reach behind her ear¡­and she sighed as her ears slightly fluttered at the sensation. How long has it been since she felt something like this? She shut her eyes, her mouth stretching into a smile. A gentle hum escaped as the scratching continued. She wanted to stay like this forever.


    As Charianne let her daughter continue her petting, she had an opportunity to think with a clear head for a moment. She looked down to the books, the ones that she had rifled through, trampling the privacy of her host. She sighed as her eyes scanned across each book, remembering what she felt when she was flipping though, so desperate to find something. She wrapped her arms around her daughter and gripped her slightly. ¡°Thank you, Luna.¡± Charianne stood up straight, her eyes sparkling and a soft smile across her face. ¡°I think I know what I should do now.¡± And Charianne¡¯s chest rises and falls, starting fast but slowing as it happens more and more. Chariane takes a single step towards Oliver¡¯s door, her hands opening and closing erratically. Then another step. And another. And then she turned away. Not today.


    Charianne peered over to her daughter and saw she was facing out the window, and outstretched. Was she talking to herself? Charianne walked over to her daughter, and her daughter wasn¡¯t speaking Common, but a whole new language entirely. When did she have the time for this? ¡°I knew his teachings were good, but not ¡®learn new language¡¯ good¡± She walked up to Luna and tapped on her shoulder. As soon as Luna stopped, she started coughing. Charianne quickly tried to fetch her daughter some water, but before she could, she pulled out her own flask. After a couple sips, Luna spoke up.


    ¡°Yes mama?¡±


    ¡°What exactly are you doing?¡±


    Luna¡¯s eyes shifted left and right, her head swaying in the opposite direction along with her tail. ¡°Luna.¡± Charianne''s voice dropped and her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.


    ¡°I¡¯m just practicing¡±


    ¡°Practicing what?¡±


    ¡°...mghmc¡± Luna¡¯s lips barely moved as her eyes went down.


    ¡°Speak up, dear.¡±


    ¡°Mgmc.¡± Luna mumbles again.


    ¡°Luna¡­¡±


    ¡°Magic! I¡­I did magic.¡±


    Charianne shrugged, a placated smirk crossing her face. ¡°Playing pretend again huh?¡± She crouches to Luna¡¯s level. ¡°Just make sure to close the window when you''re done, ok? I can feel a chill rolling in.¡±


    ¡°Ok Mama.¡±


    ¡°Did Oliver teach you those words, the ones you were chanting?¡±


    ¡°No, I found them in a book.¡± Luna holds up the book that her studies have been based around.


    ¡°I see. In the future, ask your momma before reading any books.¡± God forbid Luna read something inappropriate for her age. ¡°Go have your fun, sweetheart.¡±


    The day went by with no issue or a peep from Oliver¡¯s door. Charianne kept passing by the door the entire day, walking by it at every opportunity but eventually having her resolve shaken as she turned away. She always quaked as she neared the door, her tail stood up straight, just as when she first arrived. Charianne continued to walk back and forth. Near the door before turning away once more. Tomorrow yielded much the same result as the first. Oliver came out, taught Luna for about an hour and then went back into his room for the rest of the day. Charianne couldn¡¯t bring herself to talk to Oliver no matter what she did, her daughter silently urging her on. An eek would come out every once in a while, but it would just as quickly be brushed off as nothing. One day melted into another and another¡­until a week had passed. Finally, she couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Charianne needed to just go. So she stood back and started stepping. The steps turn to strides as Charianne starts to sprint towards the door. She continues her race down the house and before she knows it she is faced to face with his door. Charianne¡¯s ears flutter upwards as she picks up something. ¡°Sobbing¡­¡± She utters quietly to herself.


    She raises a hand and gently taps against the wood. ¡°Oliver? Are you in there?¡± She works to raise her voice slightly as she taps again. ¡°Hello? We need to talk.¡± She says, her voice a bit more firm. Her heart rate increasing, she gripped the door handle and pushed. It didn¡¯t give, so she pushed again. And again. And slammed her entire body against the door before it finally swung open. She saw Oliver, his entire body curled in on itself, his hair illuminating the hair on the top of his head which made his face cast completely in shadow. Occasionally, water shone in the midday sun tumbling and free falling before being swallowed by the bedsheets below. Oliver gripped the bedsheets. Charianne stepped slightly forward, ¡°Hey.¡±


    ¡°Hey.¡± Oliver responded, his voice barely carrying to Charianne¡¯s ear. Oliver straightened up, his body uncurling as the sun licked his hair all the way down to his face, leaving streaks in their wake. For a while, Oliver and Charianne just stared at each other, one would move their mouth but another would at the same time, thus causing them both to back off. After a few repetitions of this, Charianne couldn¡¯t help but chortle. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Oliver asked, his brows raising and his head tilting to the side.


    ¡°Just, we¡¯re so bad at this, aren¡¯t we.¡± Charianne continues to snicker. ¡°Here we are, trying to talk, and we can¡¯t even get a word out. I had to run to get here.¡± Charianne¡¯s laugh only grows. A hand is placed, vibrating along with her stomach as she snorts along with her chortles. Oliver, in response, starts to lightly laugh as well.


    ¡°It is funny isn¡¯t it? I guess we aren¡¯t cut out for this.¡±


    ¡°How long has this little charade gone on? What? 3 days?¡±


    ¡°A week to my recollection¡­¡±


    ¡°A week?¡± Charianne grabbed her forehead and laughed more. ¡°Absurd¡±