Forgotten Magic

Chapter 3

Back to me now.

~ ~ ~

"I don't understand how you're...dangerous," I added. "I mean...no...offense."

He looked at me for a moment, almost disbelievingly. Then, he shook his head. "No, no, you don't understand. I...I...do...I do alchemy. I...make my own inventions to help the village. And-...well, they don't turn out so well..." He held himself and averted his eyes. "I...didn't tell you, because...I-I just...I thought I had a friend, you know? I saw you, and thought, 'hey, here's a chance to make a real friend'. But..." He sighed. "I guess that wasn't the case."

I crossed my arms. "How would that make you dangerous? You're doing it because you care for your home. You don/t do it because you want to hurt people. If anything, they don't make sense."

Varian looked at me, for the second or third time today, with disbelief.

"You keep looking at me like that and your eyes ae going to pop right out of your head," I laughed. And then...I stopped. "And...I have a confession to make too."

"What's your name?" he asked.

"I-what?" My grin dropped.

He chuckled. "I don't know about you...but Jane doesn't seem quite right to me. So what is it?"

I smiled. "It's Savannah." And I can tell you, with absolute confidence, I wasn't lying. "I...don't have a home. I was chased out of it when I was about six. I don't remember a lot from back then."

The alchemist seemed to be deep in thought. After a moment, he suggested, "Well, if you have nowhere to go, why don't you stay with me and my dad."

I stopped. "U-Um...I..." I shook my head. "No. No, I can't. I don't want to inconvenience-"

"You're not inconveniencing us. And I'm sure my dad would say yes. C'mon, I can go ask him right now." The grin had returned to his face.

I fidgeted with the pin of my cloak. "...Alright."

"Great! C'mon!" He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the alley and down the street.

I laughed, running to keep up with him. "Slow down! We have plenty of time."

...

"Dad!" Varian ran up to a man working in the fields. I stayed at the edge, hood covering my eyes. If it wasn't obvious enough, I don't talk to people enough to know what to do...

I watched the conversation from afar, barely listening to the words being exchanged. Varian gestured at me, looked back at his dad, his dad glanced at me, and I could've sworn I saw the man's eyes widen from shock. And then, he nodded.

I started to wonder if I had actually seen that flash of surprise in the man's eyes. And if so, what did it mean? I had never seen this man in my life. Though, I supposed I could have simply forgotten. But no, Varian had mentioned how he'd lived in this village all his life. And I was 12, Varian's age. So it couldn't be. But then...what did that mean? Could Varian's father possibly have known my parents?

Varian ran back to me, saying something that I couldn't all together comprehend. The phrase "let you stay" and "our place" stuck out at me through my other train of thought.

"Ann? Are you okay?"

I shook my head. "Huh? Oh, um, yeah. I'm fine. What were you saying again?' A nervous smile accompanied my words.

Concern was in his expression as he answered. "My dad said you could stay at our place."

"Oh, that's...great," I answered, though a thought nagged at the back of my mind. I pushed it away for now.

Varian's smile faltered for a moment upon hearing my answer, but he seemed to shake it off. "C'mon. I can show you where you'll be staying."

I quietly followed the alchemist through the village to the largest of the houses. It was right next to the wall surrounding Corona's borders, and across a bridge over a creak. We climbed a flight of stairs and entered his house.

The first room was lit by a single candle and altogether quite empty. Varian led me down a hall and up another flight of stairs. Here, I could see a row of three or four doors lined the hall. The walls were bare, but in a way which made me feel like something was missing.

Varian opened the third door down the hall to show a simple room with a bed, a desk, and an shelf with a single unlit candle on it. Based on its appearance, it was a guest bedroom.

"You can stay here for as long as you want," the alchemist informed me with a smile. "My room's the first down that way."-he pointed back towards the stairs-"I'll be there if you wanna hang out before dinner."

"U-Um," I swallowed. "Thanks."

"No problem," he answered, starting back down the hall. I waited until I saw his bedroom door close. And then I stepped into the guest room.

Easing the door shut behind me, I started examining the room. I lit the candle on the shelf, sending a dancing, yellow light across the floor and walls. I ran my hand along the surface of the desk. I stared out the window at the village, full of bustling life.

I just stood there for a moment. I was staring straight ahead, but for the second time today, I couldn't process anything.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Tears splashed onto the floor. I dropped onto the bed, hugging my knees to my chest. I had always cried quietly. I didn't think anyone would hear.

I think I cried because...well...it's difficult to explain. But everyone was showing me so much kindness, and, well, it was so strange, so unfamiliar to me. I had never thought much of myself, and here they were-Varian and his father-offering me a roof over my head and food in my stomach for nothing. It didn't make sense to me. I didn't believe it.

I don't remember exactly how long I cried for. I just know it was a long time. The sun set, leaving my room even darker than it was before, and I heard some commotion downstairs.

I think someone worried, eventually, because I heard a knock at the door.