My Journal of Weekend Write-Ins

The Message

The candles flickered as his shadow eclipse them. His pace continued to follow the raindrops tapping on the stone walls outside.

As he approached the large wooden door, he stopped to admire the craftsmanship of the golden triangles etched on it. Nil also took this time to breathe in the silence.

The arguing from the previous times continued. It always surprised him how although they could hardly agree, they had managed to subdue the others.

He glided on the wall careful not to draw any attention to himself.

"No, it can't be done," one of the cloaked ones spoke.

"But it has been. If you'd only care to look at our test results," one of the ones dress in brown said.

Nil watched the dark figure sitting at the head of the room. His eyes were closed.

"Wait, what results? You weren't allowed to perform the ritual without approval," the cloaked one hissed.

"We did have permission."

"From whom?"

"From Fionn, of cou-"

Everyone became silent as they watched the dark one. When his eyes didn't open the cloaked one resumed. Nil used this opportunity to get closer.

"Well he is no longer part of us, out of his own choosing," the cloaked one muttered the last part.

And so the debate began again with more shouting. Nil managed to finesse himself to the dark tall figure.

"What is it Nil? Can't you see you're distracting me from this pointless show?"

How could he know, he hadn't even opened his eyes, Nil marveled at the dark one before answering.

"She stole the key," Nil said.

The dark one's eyes opened, "so it seems Risa thinks she can take on The Order. She was always proned to the chaos, an unfortunate trait she passed on to her daughter." Nil could almost swear he heard the regret in the dark figure's voice.

"Tell the Watcher it's time."

Nil nodded before scurrying away, but as he closed the door he heard a nearly silent voice, say "order", when not only the arguing stopped but the candles' light remained frozen still.

"What sort of power must this Risa have that she would oppose the head Alchemist?" Nil asked the rain once he reached the safety of the outside world.