Forgotten Magic

Chapter 24

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I think it's time to focus on someone else's part of the story. Specifically, the sandstone-haired dork who...well...

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"Hey Taylor! Catch!" A ball flew at me from across the room, thrown by one of my roommates.

Well...Unfortunately for me, I wasn't paying attention, and the ball hit me in the back of my head.

"Ah!" I rubbed the spot that would surely darken into a bruise later. "Tori!"

She laughed. "You should've been paying attention!"

I rolled my eyes and smiled, shaking my head.

"Hey! I saw that!"

"What's going on here?" Quince walked in just then, carrying a basket of laundry and some mail.

Wordlessly, I picked up the ball and tossed it in the direction I thought Tori was.

"I see." Quince sighed, grabbing the ball from Tori's hand and setting it on a shelf.  He then handed me a single envelope. "Letter from your parents," he told me.

"You're really going back, huh?" Tori asked.

"Thanks," I told Quince. "Of course I'm going back. Why wouldn't I?"

"I dunno...I mean...-"

"This isn't from my parents..." I murmured. "This is from...This is from Quirin."

"Who?" Tori looked over my shoulder.

"Quirin...he-he's the village leader." My fingers shook as I tore open the envelope. "He wouldn't...he wouldn't write to me unless something was really wrong..."

Dear Taylor S. Chance,

I am writing to you to tell you some devastating news. Sharp, magical black rocks have been destroying Old Corona and as a result, your mother, Sarah Chance, has passed away. This note will seem very short and extremely insensitive and I am so sorry. I wish I was there to tell you more. I am so sorry.

Quirin Habile

For a long moment, I stood there in shock and grief. I just couldn't believe it. When had he sent this? When had it happened? How was my dad? And Nick? Did Nick even know? I had no idea.

"Taylor? What is i..." Quince caught sight of the note, held numbly in my hands, and fell into complete silence with Tori. And then he hugged me. Soon after, Tori did too. I don't think anyone would understand how much I cried just then. I was so lucky to have great friends like my roommates by my side just then.

After a long while, I finally stopped crying.

And after a few seconds, Quince told me, "We'll help you pack."

"Yeah. We can even pitch in and get you a horse so you can travel back to Corona faster," Tori adds. "Right?"

"Thanks." I whispered, wiping my eyes. "You-you don't have to do that. I can get back in a few days if I hurry."