[Completed] Amaryllis And The Labyrinth Of Magic

Extra Chapter

Although Amy felt comfortable in the presence of Noah, she started to feel depressed again after reaching home. She was sad because she saw her father finally leave for the otherworld. The memories started to return again and she cried before going home. Unfortunately, this time, she was caught by her Aunt who complained to her Uncle about Amaryllis sneaking out. Now, she was going to face the real aftermath of the battle and she knew it.

The room was tense with a heavy silence as Amaryllis, her eyes red and swollen from crying, stood before her stern-faced uncle. She had got over her father's death but seeing him again hit her like a storm. Her uncle, typically unyielding, found himself grappling with a situation that demanded a gentler touch.

"Where were you?" her uncle demanded, his tone sharp with impatience.

Amaryllis remained silent, tears streaming down her face. Her grief seemed to intensify her uncle's frustration, and his stern expression only hardened.

She started talking however, "My father…" but again, she fell silent. She didn't have any strength to revisit her memories about the incident and tell it to her uncle. It was only going to be painful for her.

A few moments later, her uncle started, "You know better than to sneak out of your room. What were you thinking?" he scolded, his voice echoing through the room.

Luka, a witness to the emotional turmoil, attempted to interject with a softer tone. "She's clearly upset. Maybe we should try to understand—"

Her uncle cut him off with a sharp look, his strict demeanour unwavering. "This is not the way to handle grief. Sneaking around and causing trouble won't bring your father back. I know it's not easy, but it's been a year. One can't keep mourning for a lifetime. He needs to move on."

Amaryllis, still sobbing, couldn't muster the strength to defend herself. She simply stood there, absorbing the scolding without uttering a single word.

"Go to your room," her uncle commanded, his voice firm. "We will discuss your punishment in the morning."

As Amaryllis left the room, Luka his father a disapproving look. "She's mourning. Can't you see that?"

"She needs to learn discipline," his mother finally replied, her features unyielding. "Even in grief, there are rules to follow."

The door closed behind Amaryllis, leaving her alone in her room with the weight of her uncle's scolding echoing in her ears. Her grief remained unspoken, a silent storm raging within her, and the strict household rules pressed down on her shoulders, leaving her feeling more isolated than ever.

The next morning, as the sun cast a dim light into Amaryllis's room, her uncle and aunt entered, their expressions stern and unforgiving. Amaryllis, still red-eyed from her tears, sat on the edge of her bed, awaiting her fate.

"Explain yourself," her uncle demanded, his gaze piercing.

Amaryllis, though emotionally exhausted, remained silent. Her aunt, standing beside her husband, echoed his disapproval.

"This behaviour is unacceptable," her aunt added, her voice carrying a tone of agreement with her husband.

However, just as the tension in the room reached its peak, the door creaked open, and Luka, Amaryllis's cousin, walked in. Unlike his parents, Luka's expression held a glimmer of empathy and understanding.

"Mother, Father, maybe we should consider what she's going through. Losing her father is not easy," Luka suggested, his voice calm and reasonable.

Her uncle shot Luka a stern look. "This is a matter of discipline. Rules are rules, no matter the circumstances."

Amaryllis's aunt nodded in agreement, but Luka remained undeterred. "I'm not saying there shouldn't be consequences, but maybe we can approach this with a bit more compassion."

Amaryllis, still silent, appreciated Luka's support. His presence acted as a small beacon of understanding in the sea of strictness that surrounded her.

"Compassion doesn't teach responsibility," her aunt argued.

"True, but excessive harshness doesn't help either," Luka replied, his gaze shifting between his uncle and Amaryllis.

Finally, torn between both her guardians and her cousin, Amaryllis said loudly, "I am sorry!"

The fight stopped. Luka fell silent but was also betrayed by her. Her uncle and aunt softened a bit.

In the end, a compromise was reached. Amaryllis was given a punishment, but Luka's intervention softened the severity of it. As her family left the room, Amaryllis couldn't help but feel a sliver of gratitude toward her cousin, the one person who seemed to understand that grief needed a different kind of support.

In the quiet aftermath, Luka lingered by Amaryllis's side. He could see the pain in her eyes, the weight of sorrow pressing down on her young shoulders.

"I know they can be tough," Luka said gently, choosing his words with care. "But they mean well, in their own way."

Amaryllis nodded, her gaze fixed on the floor. Luka sat down beside her, offering silent companionship. The room, once filled with the echoes of reprimand, now held a fragile peace.

"Sometimes," Luka continued, breaking the silence, "it's okay not to be okay. Losing someone you love is one of the hardest things in the world."

Amaryllis sniffled, wiping away a lingering tear. "I saw him, Luka. Last night. My father."

Luka's eyes widened in surprise. "You... saw him?"

"He was like a ghost. He spoke to me," Amaryllis confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Luka's expression shifted from surprise to concern. "What did he say?"

"He told me he's okay now. That I should let him go," Amaryllis replied, her words choked with emotion.

Luka placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It must have been difficult."

Amaryllis nodded, her gaze distant. "I don't know how to let go. It feels like a betrayal."

Luka sighed, understanding the depth of her pain. "Letting go doesn't mean forgetting or betraying. It means finding a way to carry the love and memories without the weight of grief holding you down."

The room fell into a thoughtful silence as Amaryllis absorbed Luka's words. The bond between cousins, strengthened by shared moments of vulnerability, became a lifeline in the storm of emotions.

"You're not alone in this, Amaryllis," Luka assured her, squeezing her shoulder gently. "We'll figure it out together."

And in that moment, as the morning light gradually filled the room, Amaryllis felt a glimmer of hope amid the shadows of sorrow, knowing that, with Luka by her side, she wouldn't have to navigate the storm alone. She was genuinely grateful to have people like him with her. And that's how, by having Luka's support in the house and Noah’s support outside, she started to accept her father's death in a more mature way and started to move on and becoming a better version of herself.