Boiling Isles: The Next Generation - Act I.

Chapter XVI. - Powers Unleashed

William and Domovoy listened to Lucia in surprise. While Lucia was talking, Hope rested her head on the brown girl's lap and found pleasure in the way her new owner was constantly petting her. When the story was over, William and Domovoy looked at each other without saying a word, and then William said:

"That explains a lot."

Lucia stared at the orange haired man in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you remember when you were seven, and I took you out for an ice cream?"

Lucia remembered that day very well. At that time, the brunette girl wanted nothing more than to finally be able to taste the new ice cream specialty, the seed ice cream. So when she and William finally arrived at Ribfield, they bought sweets from one of the stalls, sat down on one of the nearby benches and started eating the ice cream. Suddenly, a huge flock of parakeets attacked them to get the seeds in the ice cream. Of course, William tried to protect little Lucia, but he couldn't really compete against an army of magical creatures. Lucia was horrified to see William fall to the ground from his injuries. The brown haired girl laid on top of William's bleeding body and tried to protect the orange haired man with her own body while wishing to herself that the parakeets would go away. Miraculously, the birds suddenly stopped attacking and flew away from the scene.

"Yes, I remember." Lucia finally answered quietly.

"I guessed even then that you had something to do with our escape." said William. "It is impossible for the parakeets to leave that much food there from their own will."

"I just didn't want them to hurt you anymore." Lucia answered with a gloomy face. "I was really worried for you."

"I know." sighed William. "However, when I found out that you had tamed Snowball, I was almost sure that you had some kind abilities."

"I didn't really have to tame Snowball." Lucia remarked. "He didn't want to hurt me."

"But not many people can say that their pet is a slitherbeast." William pointed out.

"I rather consider Snowball as a member of my family, just like Achoo and now Hope." answered Lucia and delicately scratched the base of the grimhyena's ear.

The beast grunted happily in response.

"I would rather have a question, what do you want to do now?" Domovoy looked at Lucia scrutinizingly. "This kind of magic can be used for quite a lot of things."

"I don't know." Lucia answered honestly. "But please don't tell anyone what you saw. For now, I don't want anyone else to find out what kind of power I have."

It was really strange for Lucia to hear this sentence from herself. She finally had abilities, but still wants to hide it from everyone. She never dreamed that something like this would ever happen to her.

"I can assure you that no one will find out from me." Domovoy reassured the brunette girl.

"From me neither." William nodded. "But it's time to go home. Your parents must be worried about where you are. I'll take you."

"Okay." Lucia nodded and slowly stood up, then knelt in front of Hope and looked into the grimhyena's maroon eyes.

"Hope, I have to go now, but I promise that we will see each other again soon. Until then, be a good girl and obey Domovoy, okay?"

A new, somewhat raspy voice then sounded in Lucia's head.

I will miss you...

"Me too." Lucia whispered and put her arms around Hope's neck.