The Arcana: Fragments

XVII: Orphaned

*Asra Side Tale*

Things weren't supposed to end up this way. Asra walked around the empty home for what felt like the hundredth time, passing through the threshold of the entrance over to the kitchen. The flame of the stove was naught but embers now, and the stew which Aisha - his mother - had left to simmer in the morning, was nothing but a thick charred mesh of burnt vegetables and evaporated broth. Coming over to their bedroom, Asra searching gloomily for any clue or sign as to where his parents had left. They had no business at the palace today, nor did they have any need to go to the markets or docks. Opening the small dresser adjacent to his parents bed, he opened one of the drawers beneath the rock salt lamp and was greeted by the light of an iridescent, lavender egg shell.

Wrapped snugly in a nest of enchanted fabric, Asra took the egg into his palms and instantly felt the rush of energy come from the life within it. "A snake", he whispered to no one. He didn't know how he could tell it was a snake, but the answer came to his mind just as easily as drawing breath. It's smooth shell comforted him. "Do you know where they've gone?", he cooed against it. The energy pulsing from the egg seemed to dwindle for a brief moment, as if telling him 'no'.

From beyond the ledge of the window, a bright beam of lightning struck the earth, illuminating the furnishings and room around him and the egg. The scent of rain began billowing into his nostrils as the hum of thunder made its way nearer. The egg jerked slightly as the floor vibrated beneath the soles of Asra's feet. "Don't like the thunder, huh?", he giggled and ran into his own room, cocooning him and the egg into a bundle of bed sheets. "Don't worry, it should be quieter now. I'll be here with you until it's over, okay?"

While his new friend brought him comfort, the distraction was brief, and every little creak and noise about the house made him leap up and run to it thinking it was his parents who had finally come home. Home, he thought.

Why haven't they come home? Have I done something wrong? Is this a punishment for not doing well with my magic? Have they decided to leave me? Am I not a good son?

He cried for some time, dwelling on all the negativity their absence has brought.

Time would continue to pass for Asra; soon a few days became a few weeks, and his parents never did return. Unable to keep up with the housework and now out of food, he was forced to venture out into the world on his own. It would never be easy. The home of his parents would be overtaken by other homeless, ransacked of its valuables and stripped of its vibrancy. His new home became an under-hang beneath one of the docks. Fortunately, his magic allowed him to create a portal to mask his new home from the outside world.

He was tucked into his makeshift hammock of fishing net that he called his bed when the egg finally hatched. Out slithered the most exquisite lavender patterned snake he had ever seen. It red eyes happily looked into his violet once's, and the two were instantly more bonded that they ever imagined. "You need a name", he laughed as her slimy scales traversed the length of his arm. "Ffff", it attempted to speak.

"Flora? Francine? Feren?"

The snake shook its head. "Fauuu"

"Faura? Faulta?"

"Faauusss"

"Fausenia? Fausrine?"

"FAUST!"

He laughed brightly and rubbed her chin. "Okay okay, I see now. Faust it is. It's nice to meet you, Faust, my name is-!"

"Asra!", Faust beamed.

"Asra", he agreed.

[07.13.2019]