Arcane Order's Adopted Son

CHAPTER SIX: EXPLANATION

That day after dinner, Nari and Skrael returned to their room while Bellroc sat on the couch along with Phoenix, reading. I stared at the fireplace thinking about how warm it was and how the fire would change colors. It was too quiet for my liking, so I spoke up.

"Bellroc," I said.

She lowered the book.

"You promised you'd explain why you wanted me around?"

"Oh, yes..." She said. She placed her book on the wooden table by the marble couch that was now black. She gestured to Phoenix. Phoenix nodded. She understood that this was private. Taking her sketchbook along with a pencil, she flew down the hallway to her room leaving a trail of light blue pixie dust.

"About that..." Bellroc said. She sighed.

"You promised," I said. "In my world, you don't ever break promises. It's considered rude."

"I know, I know. I try my hardest not to break promises either. Hisirdoux, this will be very hard to explain, I'm sure. It will also be hard to comprehend. You might not believe me. You might shout at me. Scream that I'm lying."

I lowered my head.

"But I want you to know that everything is true. If you want me to stop talking, all you have to do is tell me when to stop, and I will. I'll understand if this goes well beyond your comfort zone."

"This is talking about how you know me?"

Bellroc nodded. She sighed and the room went quiet. The only sound that could be heard was the crackling of the fire as it shifted from a reddish orange to a medium blue—my magic color.

"920 years ago..."

I scooted upwards in my seat to hear her better. I wonder what she'd say.

"920 years ago...

...when I was young...sort of...and selfish and obsessed with fixing the world and restoring the balance—that had already fallen into chaos—I never thought I'd find anyone or anything to love. I was wrong. I was very, very wrong. As I had been walking through the Wild Woods, hunting one of Arthur's soldiers, I heard crying. Where? I didn't know. But I was determined to find out. I searched all over the forest and stumbled upon it—you."

"Me?!" I exclaimed.

"You."

"It was so surprising. I mean, I didn't think that anyone could be heartless enough to leave a baby in the woods. There had been a note left by the basket:

I cannot care for him on my own...

Please help. Whoever finds this...

I knew you wouldn't be able to survive out here on your own, but at the same time, I couldn't take in a random mortal. Nari and Phoenix would call me a hypocrite, Skrael, worst of all. Out of every member of our Order, Skrael had trusted me the most. To find I had betrayed him would only spark a feeling of murder or mutiny at least. But I had to do what I had to, I picked you up, wrapped you in my feather coat and left, burning the forest to cover up my tracks. I had no place to put you. Returning to the Cave would be too risky. However there was another hideout where a bear had once lived. They'd been slaughtered by Arthur's guards, I wasn't sure.