WALPURGIA ✔️

Chapter 43 - The end is near

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1846

Strasbourg, France

On Esme's fifth birthday, December 21th, Genevieve seemed uneasy. I brushed it off as Thomas was home again, finished with his duties in England. Genevieve never liked to have him around for too long, as she claimed he had a destructive habit. I saw that as a sign of dark craft, a gift I had noticed develop itself in his body.

"Thomas!", I widened my arms to hug him properly. The fifteen-year-old boy seemed shy at first, but then hugged me tightly. Even Esme. "How has your journey been?", I ruffled his now long blonde hair, my magic fixing it afterwards.
"Good", he smiled broadly, especially as Esme was around him. These two have always understood each other.

I scanned Thomas properly as I was still holding him. "You've grown so much." He was almost taller than me now, had long hair he wore in a ponytail. The signs of early adulthood showed in his body build, wide upper body, lean legs. Arms developing some muscles from his work. A few new scars on him, probably from lousy witches.

Genevieve stepped out to greet him, and he bowed, holding the door for her once she left again. Thomas greeted everybody that passed by and I let go of him to make sure Esme wouldn't run after them.

"You'll grow into a fine adult, Thomas." I kissed his nose.
Thomas rubbed his nose in embarrassment, smiling shyly.

My girl blossomed now that he was at home, taking daily walks with him, learning how to speak even better and reading a lot with him. No wonder she had missed him.

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Thomas had joined me in the working room, stretched out on the couch while Esme napped on his chest. He had been unusually quiet, only staring at the book in his hands.

"Say, how long will you two stay?", he said it quietly, with a hint of sadness behind his façade. Only as I looked at him the tears started to form in his eyes. I got up to hug him, cautious not to wake Esme up.
He tried to hold back his tears. "Don't cry", I whispered. "Do you really want to know?"

"Yes. I deserve to, don't I?"
Along with many other things, he did. "Of course, you do." He had grown to be like a second child of mine. Or my fourth, counting Alex and Andre as well. "I'm trying my hardest to get us out of here. The sooner I manage the better. If I don't succeed-"
"Then the goddess will catapult you back." Thomas wasn't a naïve boy – he had never been. "Seven years. The maximum the goddess lets visitors stay."
I nodded, holding him close.

I prayed he would have a good life once we left. I prayed he would find somebody who loved him as selflessly as I loved Baldwin. I prayed he would be happy without us.

"When will I see you again?", it was the question of a little boy, but the growing adult in him knew the answer.
"In the future, I fear."
"Will you still accept me then?"
"I always will, silly."
"Will you tell me before you two leave?"
"I would never leave without saying goodbye. I swear."

The knots of Aradia's spell started burning in my hands. I couldn't move my fingers as the pain grew.

I had to keep on going. Three more knots left.

I had already needed two years for the other eight colours.

It had felt like goodbye, but both of us tried to elongate it.