Again and again, time goes by. Candy, Dill, Oshi, Kokona and Ayano are already on their way to the first squad, more precisely to the cherry orchard. Where the funeral will take place.
Candy examined the appearance of the sad acquaintances of the deceased and, pressing her hand to the crystal, teleported to a familiar place. Her crystal had the power to teleport, but only to where she took a photograph of the area, the most suitable ability for a postman, especially Lawley.
She was attracted by the cherry orchard, it's so quiet, calm, the best place for the burial of the reapers. She walked along the trees, and she was attracted by tombstones with two crystals, on one, older, the crystal is white, and on the second, which stood next to it, is green. What would that mean..? Candy stepped closer and was surprised. Those were the graves of Ayano and Kokona...does anyone still put flowers on them? But who...
There was a cracking of a branch, young Candy turned around at the noise, and was amazed to see the young spirit guy. She thought, "Is there another one that's not certain...?" and took a step forward towards the spirit. He did the same, winked and started walking towards Candy. The spirit made a friendly gesture known to mailers and young children. Candy waved to him with her little finger protruding, which meant her invitation to the conversation.
They went to the cemetery and sat down on a bench, Candy nodded, and yet decided to start a conversation.
“Do you come here often?” Candy asked curiously.
“Yes... I am attached to this place..” The spirit reluctantly answered and turned his head away.
– oh... it’s probably not pleasant for you to be only here and not see how the city is changing...
-Yeah, it's pretty boring. I still remember how I was here with the company, even before death
– what happened?
- we walked like ordinary teenagers, collected sweets here, laughed, realizing what we would get from our mothers. They then ran away ... and a maniac caught me, maybe I heard where, Sever Gonin, a terrible person ... or even not a person.
Yes, I heard about the North. I'm the messenger of the Lawley family, we'll be going to a dinner party soon, and he'll be there... now I'm scared—Candy shivered because of the sharp goosebumps.
The little boy raised his hair, which covered his eyes.
He gouged out my eyes and killed for a long time. Hurry it would be gone
“Even the killers, you can’t say that.
-and you know a lot, by the way, my name is Ines
- Candy, nice to meet you.
Candy noticed the approaching family, she got up and ran to lead them along the cherry orchard. Her reputation in the family is so important to her that she even forgot to say goodbye to Ines.
Kokona snorted in displeasure, she walked next to Ayano, because these two must simultaneously cross the threshold of the reaper morgue.
Oshie and Dill stared at the garden in amazement, oblivious to the spirit with whom Candy had been talking sweetly a moment ago. Dill held Oshi's hand, because it was their first funeral reaper, with whom they became good friends, learned new tricks, well-coordinated work not only as a duet.
Two girls who looked like nuns in black veils led the family to a ceremony at which there were many nuns and few reapers ... it seems that few people knew Rodion. Of those present, only Elliot, Kathy, Ronald, and sisters Ellie and Ollie were present. All the rest were nuns, it was they who saw the reaper on his last journey.
There were many long candles around, but why did they burn with a blue flame? Ronald was the last one to say words to Rodion and put flowers.
The man bowed his head in front of the corpse, put his hand on his heart and whispered:
-dear son...forgive me for not being there, you were the only hope of the youth team. Rest in peace among the stars, may Krodin help you find the right path ..
Ronald put down the bouquet and stepped away from the coffin. Kokona and Ayano refrained from speaking, they only put flowers and left a kiss on his cheeks as a mark of choice about rebirth.
It was the turn of the twins, Oshi laid flowers, she bowed her head over Rodion, and whispered in a barely audible voice:
-Rodion, thank you for all the lessons, knowledge, I regret that incident with Archi...but why didn't you just run away, or contact Ms. Pocein and me...we shouldn't have separated...
A tear dripped onto Rodion's hand, Dill took Oshi aside and began to calm him down, saying that he might be given a second chance for courage.
The red-haired man approached Kokone and asked without hesitation that Oshi and Dill were still there.
Have you found the twins' powers yet?
– so far only one, in our family each of them has two. We are waiting for the manifestation of the second ability - Kokona said calmly, she looked up to look into the eyes of the reaper, for he was too tall for her.
Dill looked at Kokona, and how Elliot hands over the ticket to the ball, will the adults really go to the banquet .. and will they leave the children?
Kokona put the tickets in her trouser pockets and nodded to the reaper, who went to Ronald and they began to talk about reaper trifles. Candy and Ayano, on the other hand, went to the city to go to the church to the third detachment of reapers and light candles for Rodion.
Kokona waved her hand, which meant "time to the mansion" for the Lawley children. Who had already approached her, the deputy head of the family took a lamp with purple fireflies and began to move away along the previously trodden path,carefully, looking around to see if there is a tail behind.
They came to the estate, the children dined and went to their room. Kokona went to the basement, with a mug of water and a piece of hard rye bread, she opened the door with a key and entered the exhausted and emaciated Archa, she put the mug and bread on the floor and, throwing a menacing look, left the basement, locked it and began to wait for Ayano, smoking along the way third cigarette in a day.
When Ayano arrived, Kokona threw away her cigarette butt and trampled it down, only a little ash remained on the grass.. which would soon be washed away by the rain.
The girls looked at each other and went to the twins' room, because it's time to find out their second ability ..
So far only a theory. After all, there are still two days before practice.
Ayano went in first, she went up to Dill and put her hand on his neck, Dill, at the request of Ayano, closed his eyes.
Kokona went to the middle of the room and started tapping something with a dark blue staff with a light blue moon on top and many stars.
Abigail looked into the room, she went to Oshie and put her hand on her neck and asked her to close her eyes.
Abigail's hands gently touched Osha's neck, they were wearing white gloves so that the girl would not leave her mark on the future mark.
Kokona raised the staff above her and thumped hard one last time.
Oshi sobbed, did what she saw in her mind upset her? Dill frowned, wondering what the twins saw?
Ayano removed her hand when she saw this, Abigail did the same. Dill wore a carnival mask around his neck. And on Osha's neck ... what is it .. Horns? Yes, she has horns, but they are very small and white!
Emily bowed and left the room.
“That means they will be useful to our family,” Kokona said and straightened her glasses with a serious look.
//5 days later//
People gathered in the city square, everyone was waiting for the execution of the director of the "ailes de rossignol" orphanage.
Kokona and Ayano covered their faces with a mesh veil, there were no children with them, because they would not like this sight. There wasn't even a post office nearby. Only Ayano and Kokona leading Arhu to the main square. The sight of the director of the shelter was terrible, his body and clothes dirty with dust, disheveled hair, thin legs, empty eyes, from which even tears did not flow. Archa just looked helplessly at the guillotine, next to which the young prince stood, he wanted to personally see the execution of the one who ruined the lives of so many children. His blond short hair fluttered in the wind, sometimes covering clear, blue eyes. On the shoulders lay a burgundy mantle, which ended only at the very ground, it still had fur, but only on the shoulders themselves. He was wearing a shirt with a bow tied. On his feet are fashionable trousers that fit his athletic legs. Long boots with gold studs and lacing. The young man of 18 years old was called Louis, Louis Ferdinand.
Expecting a tragic ending, people stood quietly, afraid to say anything. After all, suddenly the director of the shelter will find strength and use his charms against honest people.
Archa lowered her head, the bell rang three times, after the third, Archa's head was already lying on the wooden planks. People enthusiastically rejoiced, shouted, rejoiced at their saviors, because finally, the children will stop disappearing in this town.
Peacetime, people stop being afraid of the forbidden forest, Ayano even headed the orphanage so that a good building would not go to waste.
Emilia often walked in the form of a cat around the city, playing with children. In her free time, Candy helped with her project, a robot cat that gnaws through all the wires, expresses emotions and even meows. This robot is supposed to help Ayano look after the children.
With the full moon rising, Oshie and Dill can finally practice their ability control with Emilia and Cruz. They met in a wasteland, so as not to disturb anyone. Dill came out first, he ran his hands through the air and created a solid shell around himself and began to cast the second ability. But nothing happened. Then, Cruz put a barrel in front of Dill, Dill's hand went through the barrel, he came closer, and was able to completely go through the barrel. He stepped back and withdrew the ability.
Emilia clapped. And Oshi came out to the clapping. She touched the crystal, and was surprised to see a translucent purple herself, exactly the same as Oshi had to say - can she walk? - How the clone took three steps forward, showing that he still knows how.
Oshi recalled the clone, because Cruz whistled, he realized that for a long time the estate did not have such abilities as the twins.
Oshi had not yet had time to activate the second ability, as someone went out into the wasteland. Emilia and Cruz tensed, Dill turned to the figure and changed his face.
The charred body of the twins' father began to approach, emitting a nasty grunt and the phrase "why didn't you pull me out of the fire, you left me to my fate, but you yourself survived, terrible children"
These phrases greatly angered Oshi, because no one can offend either Dillian or Oshiluz. She was on fire with rage, even Dill's words to calm down did not work. The white horns turned red, the girl's whole body began to turn pale and blue, while the white of the eyes turned black and the iris turned yellow.
Dill was surprised, Cruz called off the illusion of Sebastian, which Oshi was already ready to break. When illusion disappeared, everything in the girl began to return to its previous form. Emilia and Cruz exchanged glances and realized Oshi's strength would increase with age, she could only last a minute in this form. Not bad for a 14 year old. Dill patted Oshi on the shoulder, the brother was surprised by his sister's abilities, and quietly whispered in her ear the moment on her birthday. Oshi nodded her head and extended her hand forward, a snow-white vine sprouted from the girl's veins, she made a surprised face, but then smiled and withdrew the vine. The rest of the night was quiet for the family. Only in the depths of the forest, by chance, two met.
Poushen was walking through the forest in a kitsune mask, but suddenly, a girl in a phoenix mask stopped her by touching her shoulder. She was much taller, which startled Poshen at first, but she pulled herself together and pulled out a staff hidden under her robes.
“Don't come closer, whoever you are,” Poshen said with an aggressive attitude, coming closer with the staff aimed.
“Hush, hush, don't you recognize me, Poshen Lil?” said a thin voice, bewitching, which immediately plunged Poshen into memories. She lowered her staff and, dumbfounded, lowered her mask.
Lily, is it...
Yes, yes, it's me, I thought you died then. I'm sorry that I wasn't there
- It's okay, this, Lily, where have you been all this time ..?
– practiced spells, nothing more. And of course, I was preparing to meet you, Long time ago, you led a magician through the forest, and met Lane. Which turned out to be, I—Lilia emphasized the last word and smiled.
Lily Lil turned out to be Poshen's sister, she was in London studying when her family was attacked by people who wanted to burn witches. Among them were Oshi's parents, as well as Miss Goetti, her nieces Ayano and Kokona. Magnolia Leal, Iris Leal, and Buttercup Leal died in this protest. Mama, Poyshen, her father, and her brother. She herself was also thought to be dead. That's why she wore her sister's masks. And only a couple of people she revealed the truth.
Lily looked like Poyshen, both of them. older sisters, and both in the father. Mint hair, passion for potions and magic.
But Dandelion was more like his mother, snow-white hair with blue and pink streaks. The bangs constantly fell in his eyes, because of which the boy squinted a lot, just like his mother did gardening, and just like Magnolia wore glasses. Thin, with a blue frame and always clean glasses. Poushen and Lilia could not possibly forget him, so small, modest and awkward. In particular, his snub-nosed face, which was covered with freckles every summer.
The father, however, always looked stern, he only smiled when he praised his children.
His hair was soft and neatly styled, and there were huge bags under his green eyes, due to his work as an alchemist. Almost no one found his similarities with the characters of his daughters. But they still exist, ingenuity, intelligence and vindictiveness On his hand he had a burn that he received in the laboratory, developing another project. Who could hit anyone. But alas, he did not have time to finish it.
Mom, Magnolia, a kind and vulnerable person. Her timidity is like a hereditary curse, it helps everyone, just like she did in childhood.
She is a gardener, and the backyard of the hut always looked tidy thanks to her and Buttercup.
White-and-white hair with blue and pink streaks was always braided in a thick braid with an artificial rose in it. She wore half glasses. Which, together with bangs, covered her beautiful emerald eyes, which loved the light. There was a mole under the lip. Exactly the same but bigger on the neck and on the little finger.
Magnolia and Iris died under the rubble, their bodies covered with burns, but they did not stop fighting and protecting the house. But then the roof collapsed, the walls began to crumble. Now there are only ruins in place of the house. Poshen and Buttercup managed to get out, but the brother died on the way, due to severe injuries and blood loss. Poushen was presumed dead due to a huge fire that burned everything that was not made of stone.
All that was left for Poyshen was revenge, and hide behind the mask of a sister who was recognized on the streets of the city as worthy of life. She made animal masks out of oak and birch.
Phoenix, kitsune, finches and many others. She found an abandoned hideout, covered in cobwebs and moss. She equipped it for her laboratory. And later she began to look for helpers, in the form of 7 children of midnight.
||Our Time||
Kokona leisurely fastens the crystal buttons on her reaper prom suit.
“Get moving,” came the voice of a young man in his 20s.
Oshi and Dill have already packed up. Remained Kokona. After a couple of minutes, a small part of their family was already ready. They put on their masks, and Dill crossed his arms over his chest and disappeared behind the rest of the family.
Institution "fruits de mer" Opened in 1899 in France. Where tonight, for dinner, the Lawley family is called, finches
At the entrance, you are offered to wear a mask and a raincoat so as not to attract the attention of ordinary guests. In the institution it is customary to speak Korean or Latin.
Let's take a look at the main entrance.
a birch door over which hangs a picture of the sea. A yellow carpet is laid. On the sides of the entrance there are columns of black marble. Samo headThe food is done in dark colors. The stand is made of ebony, smooth, it can be seen that it is varnished. On it stands a cup with chopsticks for coffee and a small piggy bank, it is half filled. Behind the counter there are a couple of cabinets with everything you need for a bartender. Near which you can immediately notice a bustling bartender fulfilling an order for the next guest.
Kokona went to the tables for noble guests. Having passed to their table, the guests of the Lawley family began to discuss the reapers of the second detachment. Oshi and Dill, being here for the first time, only glanced around the tables. Tables are made of maple, each has a knife-shaped napkin holder, pepper shaker and black salt shaker with red stripes. The chairs are also made of maple. Looks like they've been recently replaced.
A nice-looking waitress approached them, in whom they recognized the Polidon family, or rather Zionna. She put the menu on the table and, seeing that Kokona pointed to her clover mark, bowed and left. Soon four people came to the table. Feathers were visible just above their ears, one on each side. Feathers changed from blue to yellow. A man sat first, followed by a woman and two children Dill's and Oshi's age.
Guria straightened the rings on her right hand and introduced everyone.
-I'm, Guria Shiroligton, next to me is my husband Yaver, and our children, Azuli and Alein.
Ayano smiled and glanced at Lawley.
–I'm, Ayano Lawley, next to me is Kokona, and the rest of the pupils. Oshi and Dill.
–Why did such a glorious family of finches like us?—Kokona turned to Yaver and tilted her head to the side.
–It was you who executed Arha Deisley, right? We read about you in the news, it's a pity that the way here is not close ... —Oshi was silent, she was not allowed to get into the conversation of adults. Only Dill, who had reached the age of majority in this family, could carry on a conversation, even without permission.–That still doesn't explain why you called us here.
Guria wanted to say something, but then the same waitress came up. She brought drinks and disappeared, strangely, no one ordered them.
–So, we would like to ask you for help. Can you deal with the demeisli. Yaver asked looking at Ayano.
– demeisli? What kind of creatures are these?—Calmly answered Kokona's question with a question.
Demeisli, ancient beings. Adherents, if they cling to you, they will no longer be able to get rid of them. They poison the human mind and slowly the person dies.
Ayano and Kokona looked at each other, Ayano nodded and took out a map.
-Miss Guria, mark on the map where they can be found.
-thanks for the help. Guria grabbed the first pen that came across on the table and circled the area of the beach and the prairie.
Kokona took the map and put it in her bag.
–Lawley will handle this. Keep calm.
Birds, finches. How strange that they have not yet been burned .... Let's turn over the past of Guria. After all, she met Yaver precisely at her work.
Golden wasteland, 19xx.
The Sever leads Guria to the fire in the camp of the Golden Wasteland
Yes, Guria. This is your responsible day. From here begins your adventure.—Sever put Guria on a stone in front of the fire and sat down beside—
Yes, I will try my best!
- Do not interrupt. One of the most important aspects is to attract the buyer to the fire. You must always carry the card with you. Now remember this phrase, it will be your main line: "to lead to the Library of Heaven, through the wasteland - 500 pieces of silver, to lead to the ark along the way - 200 pieces of silver" - That is, if they want to go to the ark, they will need to pay another 200. - North paused—What are you sitting, let's repeat the phrase.—Sever looked at Guria expectantly.
– Guide to the Library of Heaven through the wasteland-500 Guide to the ark along the path-200. Correctly?
- Wonderful! Let's move on! Don't forget, first you get paid and then you spend
-Good
Sever got up from the stone and dragged Guria by the hand. Approaching the cliff, Sever threw Guria into the Typhoon and jumped after him. Guria landed on her face in the sand, and Sever gracefully sank down beside
- get up Guria, we still have a lot to do! - Guria got up, she shook off the sand and went to the North
– how do you do it?
- An experience)
Sever took Guria by the hand and took off
- there is nothing amazing in this area, just collect everything and fly
- it's clear, but what to do with the drowned? - Sever and Guria flew into the fortress
“Now you will know.” The north has sank in front of the lake, from which a slow drowned man is emerging.
Seeing the drowned man, Guria squealed, she is a pygmy finch, and they were quite large for her— You are a guide, your duty to protect is....Guria! What squeals!? Who did you come to work with? Klaxon or Conductor?
- sorry, this will not happen again! - never let a drowned person see a client, take him away, hide him. If there is nowhere to go, then take off and take the attention of the drowned people to yourself. All guides know how to dodge dragons. Tell me can you?
-I do not know how...
- Okay, Guria, I’ll teach you this too - the North flapped its wings and rose into the sky. He lured stinking slimy fluttering corpses to him. He began to fly away quickly and then completely began to spin like a barrel.ka. The drowned man chased after him, but the movements of the North made him dizzy and he flopped into the dirty water. Sever landed opposite Guria, he shook himself off and kicked the crawling drowned man back into the water with his foot.
- repeat what I did. If I catch you, said Sever, portraying a mentor with high experience.
Guria took off, she lured one of the drowned men and began to clumsily repeat the actions of the North, but still she did not fall and did not get caught by dead creatures.
Sever patted his student and took her hand to fly further. But what caught their eye was a warrior resembling Guria with its colorful feathers and long nose/beak. His bright hands seemed to Guria a sign that her brother was in trouble. She pointed at him and nudged Sever in the side. Who clicked and landed on sharp sand blocks to drag the poor fellow onto them. Finch held out her hand to the one in the swampy area. Who sharply grabbed Guria's hand, Sever helped to pull out the chaffinch and shoved him pills and a flask of water. The rescued poor fellow greedily took a sip of pills and washed down with water from a flask. His appearance returned to pure, as if nothing had happened to the finch. He greedily swallowed the air. His exposed limbs were black, as were Guria's. Their wings were the same color but different in size.
- Who are you and where are you from. What are you doing in the wasteland?!” Sever said aggressively, gently pushing the unfamiliar bird.
“I-I am Yaver, a common finch from the forest. I ended up in the wasteland because I needed a vault. But there were no conductors in the parking lot ...
-It's clear, that means everyone is busy now .. Guria, here is your first task! Get this finch through.
Guria, Sever and Yaver crossed the wasteland. Yaver fell in love with Guria, he sought her for a long time. She fell in love with him from the first time they met. After they moved to the Prairies, and there they already had Alein, and after Azuli. Their lives were filled with bright colors, and yet, creatures from the wasteland entered their world...
For Lawley, this mission was a trifle, it was dealt with by Emilia, Cruz and Dill. Further, we are only waiting for a journey into the details of the characters...
Roots of the Past
volume one
completed.
Sweet Bite of Death and Last Breath coming soon!
