The Rune Smith

Chapter 8- Memories

(There is an important announcement at the end of the chapter. Please read to the end!)

The moment the door to Alia's family apartment opened, the smells were overwhelming. The forced their way up her nose and every single one was welcoming.

Apartment B37 was filled with the thick scent of parchment, a crisp scent that sent Alia reeling back into her memories.

She had few clear memories of the time before she had left for the Imperial Academy, but the few she did have were happy.

A quick blink brought her back to reality. She was here for her sister. That was all.

She hadn't contacted her family in years, yet here she was, wandering around her old home as though she had never left.

It hadn't changed one bit, from the papers that hung from the walls to the large press in the corner.

The irony that Alia's mother was a bookbinder was not lost on her, but standing in her own home made it seem clearer.

She found herself meandering the apartment, distracted by how unfamiliar its familiarity is. How she could remember all of it, yet not know any about it.

Her eyes caught on the door to the old bedroom that she had shared with her sister. That is where Estara would be.
Alia looked back at her mother, who gestured to the door.

Alia made her way to the bedroom, weaving her way through the furniture.
When she reached the door, she opened it gently.

Estara was resting on a pillow on the only bed in the room, watching the window. She distant, distracted, and was focused on something, but Alia didn't know what.

That was the way she had always been, even before she had gotten sick.

Alia's family had gone to doctor after doctor, searching for a cure, though no one knew what Estara's illness was. They knew even less about a cure.

It made Alia uncomfortable to see her sister this way. It made her feel guilty that she didn't even try to see her sister sooner.

Estara turned to face Alia. Her eyes were bright, but Alia could see death seeping into her features. Alia ran over to her older sister, wrapping her arms around the sick girl.

Alia had been giving a lot of hugs over the past week.

There was no hesitation that came from Estara, who hugged Alia right back.

"I was so worried. I thought that I wouldn't make it in time."

Alia was trying to maintain her composure while she spoke, but she was struggling.

"I'm amazed you still remember me."

Alia watched as Estara smiled. It was a sickly smile, but it was a smile nonetheless and Alia welcomed it wholeheartedly.

Alia hadn't heard her sister's voice in years, as the Academy never let her have correspondence through any form of telephone. When Estara finally spoke, her voice was sweet- not to mention surprisingly strong.

Alia could almost fool herself into thinking that Estara was completely healthy.

"I watch over you everyday Alia. You know I can."

Estara had a unique focal known simply as clairvoyance. She didn't possess a particularly large amount of magic ability, but her focal made up for it.

Clairvoyance is the magical ability to see the present and the future to a mild degree. It requires only one rune to use, but it must be tattooed onto the person who possesses the focal.