Mystic - EN version

Chapter 33 : Painting

Their footsteps echoed all around them. Their group moved cautiously through the corridors of the castle.

The hall was huge and impressive. Clave had to force herself to keep her mouth shut to avoid looking like a golden fish out of water. On either side of the path leading to the wide staircase in front of the young girl stood magnificent stone columns. Dust-covered chandeliers hung from the ceiling, which was decorated with intricate paintings and mosaics.

– It's gorgeous, she murmured.

Noah, at her side, had his face raised to the surrounding scenery, as did she.

– Did you live here, Clave? he exclaimed. It's great! I want to see everything.

Clave smiled and was amused by the look of excitement and amazement on her friend's face.

– We'll come and live here when you've got the Crown back, he continued.

Clave blinked, speechless. She stammered, not knowing what to say or how to react. He had said it as naturally as possible, as if it came naturally. Well, he said everything naturally, anyway.

– I just hope you're not allergic to dust, replied the young girl, averting her gaze from the young man's piercing eyes.

– Guys, shall we start exploring? intervened Beatrice.

Clave wondered if she was included in those whom Naos' sister referred to as 'guys'.

Noah nodded, his face serious again.

– We're going to split into two groups, he explained to the rest of the group. Beatrice, you'll go with Naos and Corentin on the left side, and I'll go with Clave on the right.

– Oh no! protested the brunette. There's no way I'm going with those two. They'll be holding hands the whole time and I'll feel all alone.

Her twin brother smiled sheepishly while Corentin rolled his eyes.

– I'd rather go up the stairs on my own. In any case, if Naos has a problem, I'll feel it, and vice versa, she said.

– As you wish, replied Noah.

– In fact, added Clave quickly, I'd like to go upstairs instead of you, Beatrice. If you don't mind.

The young woman with the pigtails raised her eyebrows, but she didn't object.

So the group of five split into three. Clave was slowly climbing the stairs, step by step, when she heard Noah behind her. She stopped and turned towards him. She was reassured that he was continuing to follow and support her.

– Did you see anything down there? asked the young man, who had reached the same height as his friend.

– No...

– Did you have a dream, then?

– I don't know... But something told me to come here. This staircase is really familiar. My instincts have never been wrong, and they've never fooled me either.

– I like that way of thinking. I trust you, then, concludes Noah.

– Thank you, Noah.

After a few dozen minutes of searching, the two friends entered a room that was slightly different from the others. A room with a more nostalgic atmosphere.

– This is my room, said Clave.

The words had just come out.

She stepped forward slowly, and as the room was plunged into darkness, she moved towards the nearest curtains. She drew them and lit up the room.

– Clave, look! called Noah, a little further away.

The young girl turned towards him and discovered, speechless, a magnificent painting. She approached it slowly.

The painting depicted four people, one of whom Clave recognised immediately. It was her, sitting with her hands on her thighs, posing for the painting. However, she looked younger than fifteen, more like eleven or twelve.

Beside the young Mystic stood a tall woman, straight and serious. Clave recognised her as the woman she regularly saw in her dreams. She had come to realise that the two of them had an important connection. The woman in the painting was wearing a golden crown.

"The Crown of Radiance" Clave immediately guessed.

Behind the woman stood a man of about thirty, his hands resting tenderly on the shoulders of what must have been his wife. In her arms, a baby was calmly sleeping.

"Probably the king and queen, and their child."

Contrary to what the young girl had expected, the old her was not wearing her blue pendant on the painting.

She then read the caption on the painting. "Queen Ruby, her husband, her son and her sister."

"My sister. That's my sister..."

Then suddenly, without Clave understanding why, tears began to flow down her cheeks. Sobs threatened to escape her throat.

– Clave? Clave... Are you all right? asked Noah softly, approaching her, looking worried.

– I don't know... I... I saw those people... in that painting and... Noah, I miss them... They're my family, and I don't even remember them...

The young girl, trembling and moaning, muttered bits of sentences between sobs. Noah didn't know what to do. He spread his arms in a silent proposal. Clave didn't hesitate for a second and snuggled up to him. He held her close and rested his chin on the top of her head.

– I'm here, he reassured her.

"I'll tell you as many times as you need," he added mentally.

The blonde remained calm for a moment, her face buried in her friend's chest. Then she whispered something almost inaudible.

– Is there anything I can do?

Clave raised her head and moved slightly away from the young man. She put her hand to Noah's cheek, which had turned red, and ran her thumb over his parted lips.

– Can I...? she repeated.

Noah knew immediately what she wanted, because he was thinking about it too.

– Always, he smiled.

Then, slowly, in a shared movement, they leaned towards each other and kissed in a comforting embrace.