Glass Magic

Chapter 51

       "What an interesting idea," I mumbled looking at the magic crystal carved into a small dagger pretending I didn't just imply I knew something about the older man that has had him silently running through many thoughts with a clenched jaw. Telling me he did have a secret. One interesting enough to figure out. "Do you know where I can find a craftsman that specializes or simply does similar work?" 

       "Sorry, dearie, no one really works with magic crystals, too brittle you see," She smiled picking up the crystal blade, "I only do it because they make the most beautiful knives, if you're ever looking to propose, I suggest using one of these, they get the best reaction," She beamed while I hummed. It wouldn't be surprising.

     They were lovely, breathtakingly so, but I was hoping to find one that was functional. These were too brittle, as she said, but more so because they were made to be fancy decorative blades and not made for use. Which was quite the waste if you ask me.

       "I'll be sure to keep that in mind," I smiled as I turned to a different stall, stepping around the thinking man who seemed to be teetering into violent thoughts. "Oh, and just so you know, the angels... I just cast a spell on my puppets, nothing more," I said as I passed him, finding a distraction was best until I could safely say I wasn't going to have to run.

        "Witchcraft?" He asked, successfully distracted while I skimming a stall.

        "Sorcery," I laughed lightly, he clearly didn't know much about witchcraft to mistake it for sorcery, "I thought the chanting would have given it away but you clearly don't know much about the magic arts," He didn't comment, just staring at me. "... Seems it was worse than I thought, can you tell me the magic arts?" I asked with my brows furrowed not knowing a noble house would get away with knowing so little.

      "True magic's the only one that matters Windsor," he said sharply while I paused to look at him.

      "If that was true you wouldn't have offered to take me to the festival, nor would you be debating rather unpleasant things about obtaining me," 

     "So you know about that as well?" How could I not? He had conveniently disappeared leaving me with his son who then attempted to befriend me. "The Windsor is a strong family, it would be beneficial to both sides if we joined hands,"

     "I haven't the slightest of clue as to what you're implying Lord Reaper, I'm only that of a child, not even sixteen winters, you should discuss such things with the head of my family, or better yet, try my mother," I smiled naively, both of us knowing my family didn't do arranged marriages. We married who we wanted, it just happened to be nobility more times than not because of how often we are around those of our social standing.

       "Fifteen, you should be gaining suitors soon, either way, one of a powerful house would be beneficial,"

        "I wonder, how does your son feel about the idea of attempting to court me?" I asked looking to him with a smile. His face as dead as his fathers.

       "You're knowledgable and don't let your lack of true magic stop you, you're strong," Lack of magic? I don't lack true magic.

       "Compelling argument, however, I have magic, more than you, so don't imply I'm only strong because I use any and everything else. I'm strong because I can do anything with what I'm given, anything without being given a thing, and anything when things are taken, I'm strong because I know peoples weaknesses and how to work around them,"

        "Like when you fight, you pivot your foot in different ways for different hits, leaning more on the ball of your foot the harder the hit, your knee bending different ways for different kicks, you're good at fight Reaper, but you're easy to read. You don't have proper control of your magic and have to actively use your hands when using it, you're afraid of it and avoid using it, likely because you lost someone or thing important to it,"

       "You wanna talk strong, don't look down on others, and you," Turning to glare at his father who had stilled at my mention of his son's fear I let out a cruel laugh, "Oh you, your warped sense of self has rubbed off on your son, that 'being a lead means being the best' bullshit gave him an inferiority complex and now he'd much rather play at being something he's not than be what he is,"

       "Don't drag your kid into your job, experience is what it is and that can mean life or death but I know how you Reaper's got your title and you're going to strip him of emotions so much so that one day he'll discard you for the simple fact that you're no longer useful, not a hint of familiarity, no bound, not even blood, the moment you lose your worth, I promise with the path you're leading him down, he'll put a knife in your back," 

       "I'm going places or I'm dying, there's no in between and I'm not dying so I don't need the help of a noble house that'll fall as fast as it came, you want to talk deals, you get your shit together and we'll talk deals, until then, don't even look at me like I'm not better than you because I can easily say, I'd rather marry a rat than roach,"