Howl

Chapter Eight

Artemis's POV

    I am honestly shocked that the rune worked so well. Howl remmebers everything that happened, but he can't feel the pain he would have remembered most vividly. The triangle within a sqaure near each of our spines will serve reminder, for hte rest of either of our lives, about the pain he chose not to feel.

    I worry that since Howl isn't greiving like a normal human being, he won't be 'okay.' It isn't normal to be fine immediatley after losing the one you love. Especially after they are brought back from the dead and attack you, in an altered state of mind. Was it even Sophie that had come back? I fear our short dabblings in the necromancy runes may have brought something far worse to this earth, even if it was temporary.

    "Artemis! You're doing it again," Markl bursts, flustered.

    "Sorry, Markl." I suppose that it would have to be quite vexing to others when I completely zone out, lost in my own thoughts while they attempt to carry out a conversation with me.

    "Artemis!" Howl calls, from up the stairs from what I have dubbed the main foyer, where Calcifer mans the castle's movement.

     "What could he possibly want no?!" I complain to Markl, only to receive a shrug. Ever since we carved the memory runes, Howl has been paying more attention to me.

    After I reach Howl, standing in the hall outside of the bathroom, I am greeted with a very wide, very white smile.

    "It is about time that I start teaching you more about magic- different than your runes!" Howl anounces.

     "What else is there, besides runes and potions?"

    "Magic is endless, though it is always paid at a price. Bountiless spells, elemental things. I know of a sorceress who uses telapathic and telekinetic abilities, though they are more of a mental power thing than magic. And of course, there is necromancy. We should do our best to stay away from that though."

    "Are you going to teach me all of these types of magic?"

    "Let's begin with my favorite, potions. Maybe after you have learned about potion making, you could teach me about some of those runes," Howl offers. I nod, and so we go into the bathroom, to the tub, where we would apparently be mixing things. Mythical witches had couldruns. We have an oversized, claw footed, antique bath tub . . .