Exile || Sebastian Sallow

Prologue | The Final Repository

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"You didn't even hear me out. 
I gave so many signs."
-Taylor Swift

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Prologue | The Final Repository

Belle Darcy winced as she tried picking herself up off the ground, a high-pitched ringing made her head spin. Her body seemed to weigh a thousand boulders, her joints aching, her nose wrinkling from the swirling dust and ash. She clutched her head as she blinked away her whirling vision, hand coming away with deep crimson.

The memory was hazy, but she remembered bits and pieces...

Sebastian Sallow had accompanied her in the final battle, along with Professor Fig. The other professors stayed behind just before the door to the Repository, battling other goblins. She defeated Ranrok after unleashing a great deal of ancient magic, ultimately destroying the Repository in the aftermath.

Belle had absorbed Isidora's magic before containing and controlling the rest of it which wreaked havoc in the environment. It had been so painful—taken more energy than her ancient magic had been trained for that it must have knocked her unconscious.

But something wasn't right. Sebastian was never supposed to accompany her inside. He wasn't even supposed to know about the battle. She never told him. She'd given him so many chances to mend what was broken between them, but he never did. Yet, part of her hoped she'd be able to mend it too...

She had a fight with him outside the Undercroft after he overheard her conversation with Ominis. But he never even gave her a chance to hear her out. He was mistaken.

No, she thought, sorting through her memories. He did find out about this battle. I told him. He insisted he come with me to battle. And we made a promise. I protect the school. He protects Professor Fig.

But if we fought outside the Undercroft, why did he come with me here?

Still, there was a missing piece in her mind and heart, and no matter how hard she tried to connect the pieces, the void could not be completed.

Were her memories playing a funny trick? Was it simply being knocked to the ground that threw her into a haze? Or perhaps, it was just the trauma of it all?

Whatever it was, she did not know. And she might never know. Not for a long while.

"Ow... wha—what happened?" she murmured, her voice hoarse.

A trickle of blood ran down her temple again. It was no wonder her head was swimming.

Belle felt for her potion pouch, only feeling air. She cursed under her breath, realizing they must have shattered at some point during the battle.