Dispersing the Darkness

Chapter 3

The week passed in its usual rhythm. Sophie immersed herself in preparing for exams, tending to her garden, and attending the Goddess's temple. During the combat magic lesson, Stephanie was absent this time, leaving all the practice solely to Sophie and Taya, the only graduates with the gift.

Sophie was working in her garden, carefully nurturing the rare blue flowers her grandmother had loved so much, when there was a knock on her gate. Opening the door, she saw Christopher standing there. Glancing quickly around, she practically pulled him inside.

"What are you doing here, Christopher! You're engaged now. What will people think? You could have at least brought Taya with you!"

"Sorry, I just... I'm feeling so lost, Sophie."

She wiped her berry-stained hands on her apron, moved a wicker chair, and gestured for him to sit. Her face was likely smeared with something, her hair pulled back in a simple braid, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead. But she didn't care much about her appearance. After all, they had known each other almost their entire lives; what was there to hide or be embarrassed about? He knew how she lived and how hard she sometimes had to work, almost like a peasant.

Sophie quickly kindled a fire in the stove and set water to boil for tea. She brought berries from the garden, some jam, and a bit of the cookies she had baked earlier in the week. When the kettle boiled, she poured the hot water over fresh herbs she had gathered from the forest and brought the tea to the table. Christopher watched her busying herself in silence. When everything was finally ready, Sophie sat down on the other side of the table on a wooden bench and poured tea into cups. Christopher didn't touch the jam or berries, taking only a cup of tea and a cookie.

"What are you planning to do now?" he asked, as if seeking answers for his own predicament. His reddish hair fell boyishly in all directions, and Sophie sometimes enjoyed watching how the sunlight played like fire in his hair. His green eyes, usually full of light, now seemed completely dimmed.

"I haven't thought about it yet," Sophie lied, adding some jam to her tea. "I'm only eighteen; there's still plenty of time. Of course, it's not good to stay on my parents' support for too long, but they've never protested against it. I don't think I'm too much of a burden to my father. I could marry some industrialist, maybe from another city. Perhaps I should ask Mikael to introduce me to someone; he has many connections."

"Sophie..." Christopher groaned, and she almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

"Chris, it's already decided. Did you talk to your parents?"

"I tried. But they say that becoming related to the Castle family is a great fortune, and that I shouldn't even think about mentioning this again."

"No offense, Chris, but Steph will grind you down in this marriage."

"I know."

"Then it's time to grow up, muster some courage, and not let her control you."

"She doesn't even want to talk to me. We need to unite to solve this problem together, but she won't hear a word. It seems the talk with her parents was much harsher."

He could try to bring Stephanie down himself. Exposing her affair with William would be a significant stain on her reputation, especially for a girl like Stephanie. But Sophie would never suggest such a thing to him, and she would certainly never reveal it. Firstly, it would be too vile, like getting oneself covered in swamp water. Secondly, what would she gain from it? A scandal, the engagement broken, Christopher insisting on marrying her, and... a choking feeling gripped her throat. A future that was clear and understandable, but so unbearably oppressive. It was as if Sophie herself hadn't realized until that moment how much she didn't want this marriage for herself.