A Cruel Fate of Endless Devotion

Chapter seven: Spell Lessons

"Yes! That's it! Do that one again just like that!" Sebastian instructed.

Melody swished her wand around her body as the magical training dummies approached her. "Incendio!" she shouted. A short burst of fire encircled her body, setting the magic training dummies on fire.

"Levioso! Depulso! Diffindo!" she rambled, finishing off the dummies.

For weeks Sebastian had taken the liberty of teaching Melody more advanced defensive spells that their professors thought were too risky to teach in the classroom. He believed that in order for Melody to truly develop her magical skills and be prepared for any potential threats, like Ranrok and Rookwood, she needed to be exposed to more advanced and dangerous spells. He wanted to push her boundaries, allowing her to become a formidable witch capable of defending herself in any situation. Especially if she got caught in a dangerous situation without him there to help.

Melody dedicated countless hours to studying and practicing everything Sebastian was willing to teach her, pouring her heart and soul into mastering the intricate and complex spells. Sebastian knew firsthand just how challenging those spells were, so seeing Melody's progress and proficiency filled him with an overwhelming sense of pride and admiration.

"I think we can call it good for today," Sebastian said as he conjured up a glass of water, extending it out for her to take.

Instead of drinking the water he conjured, Melody splashed it on her face. As the cool water cascaded over her skin, Melody felt an immediate sense of relief. The contrast between the scorching heat of the fire spells and the refreshing coolness of the water sent waves of relaxation through her body, soothing her tired muscles and washing away the sweat and stickiness.

Sebastian laughed, "If you needed cooled off you could have asked"

As the cold water soaked through her clothes, Melody's initial shock quickly transformed into a sense of alleviation. The refreshing sensation brought instant relief from the sweltering heat, causing a smile to replace her look of surprise. 

"You think you're funny, do you?"

Sebastian chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, I can't deny that I find it amusing," he replied, his grin widening. "But hey, at least now you won't have to worry about overheating, right?"

Melody rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but laugh. "Fine, you got me this time," she admitted. "But just remember, payback is coming, and it's going to be even better."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh, I can't wait to see what you have in store," he said playfully.

As Melody undid Sebastian's prank with the drying charm, she noticed a piano hidden in the corner of the undercroft. After coming to the undercroft for weeks now, she wondered how she was able to look past it. A surge of curiosity washed over Melody as she approached the neglected piano. She couldn't help but feel a sense of enchantment as she ran her fingers along the dusty keys. 

"Do you play?" she asked him.

Sebastian's heart ached as he realized that the piano, once a symbol of joy and togetherness, now served as a painful reminder of his sister's absence. The music and laughter that used to fill the room now echo with a haunting silence, amplifying the void left by Anne's departure.

He sighed, "My sister Anne does. She even taught Ominis how to play a few songs. He hasn't played anything since my sister was cursed"

Melody sat down on the bench, ghosting her fingers over the keys before playing a few notes, reminiscing about her youth. From a few feet away, Sebastian watched. He noticed Melody's relaxed body as her fingers danced across the keys, her voice humming quietly along to a song she obviously knew from memory. As she closed her eyes, her face contorted from happiness to what he recognized as sadness and pain, before she opened her eyes, her fingers lifting from the piano, the room fell silent once more.

Sebastian could feel a heavy stillness fill the room. The echoes of the notes lingered in the air while Melody's eyes held a hint of melancholy. As though the music had stirred up emotions she had long kept buried.

"That sounded like a beautiful song,"

"There was an older woman who worked at the Orphanage where I was raised. She had been there her entire life" Melody quietly said as Sebastian walked over, sitting on the bench beside her. "She had been dropped off on their doorstep when she was a baby. She was never adopted, and when she was old enough to leave, she stayed and became one of the caretakers" she said. "I would hear her at nights, playing the piano. She said that it was her way of taking her pain and sadness and turning it into something beautiful. Something no one could ever corrupt"

Melody looked up into his soft hazel eyes. As she spoke, her voice trembled with emotion as she reflected back on those parts of her childhood. Sebastian listened intently, his freckled face illuminated by the flickering candlelight, as the weight of her words sank deep into his heart. 

"I never knew what she meant by that until I was older. But every night I would sneak out just to listen to her play such exquisite songs" she said, looking back down at the piano keys.

"Can you teach me?" Sebastian softly asked.

As she gazed into his hazel eyes, she couldn't help but feel warm and safe. The flickering candlelight reflected in his eyes seemed to amplify the depth of her emotions, creating an enchanting ambiance that drew her even closer to him.

"Of course," Melody replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Melody's delicate fingers gently intertwined with Sebastian's, guiding his hands across the piano keys with grace. With each press of their fingers, the notes came alive, filling the room with a harmony that sounded so peaceful. Sebastian watched in contentment as she took their sadness and pain, turning it into something he never thought was possible.

Something beautiful.