Cursed

But What Makes Them Work

Will

Leaf spends the next few days getting settled into the tower. She doesn't really have time for me anymore, but that is alright. Micha is showing her all the improvements, but it seems strange to think of her as an Original. I have always known her as Leaf. Also, that the Original Leader is her sister? It's baffling.

Today they are going to show her how all of my inventions work. Leaf has never before been interested in anything of the sort, but now they are requiring her to understand what powers my inventions. In the past she has questioned me about some of them, like the device that broke the storm at the cursed lake. I've never given her a straight answer. I don't think I could ever look at Leaf the same way that I have before.

I pause to listen to the others around me. They're all hard at work making improvements on defences or new weapons. For once I am too occupied with my thoughts to do anything with my inventions. The room is large, and inside are many large desks with chairs. Nothing in the Rebellion is over extravagant, most of it is very basic. Just wooden chairs, tables, and houses. If something can't be made out of wood then it's a weapon, and even sometimes that's a stretch. Everyone is bent over looking at their inventions, even Lila. With paper next to the scrap metal that they we allowed to use.

Of all the departments this is the most well funded. The military is nice, but we are what give them their edge.

As if on cue, Leaf and Eli walk through the door. They're deep in conversation when Eli leads her over to my desk. "And this is where Will spends most of his time. It's strange how so many people can be in one room and never move from their desk. It's a little scary if you ask me, but then this isn't my profession." At this point he turns to me and continues. "And I'll leave you with Will. He'll be able to tell you what you need to know."

Without another word he walks off. The door shuts firmly behind him, and then the only sound once again is the tinkering of metal on metal as people go back to screwing in the last screw to piecing together the bodies of their latest idea.

A strange quiet settles over Leaf and I. Never before have we been like this. Conversation with us is always easy and flows naturally, but now there is some kind of rift to our relationship. I know I have a totally different view of her now. Her golden hair is now tied in a long ponytail that reaches down to her mid back. Curls are poking out here and there all around her figure. Her deep blue eyes are always watching for the slightest threat. It is strange to think she has gotten her whole persona from fighting countless battles and killing an uncountable amount of people.

She is now dressed in dark fitted leather, like Micha, with the Rebellion insignia stitched on the shoulder. The stitching for the insignia is silvery, so it stands out on the dark leather. The clothing tells everyone who is a leader, and she doesn't even know of half of the powers that the leather possess. I have never thought of her as ignorant, but now the thought won't leave.

"So, there's this thing out there called magic. It's what I use to power my inventions. Back at the Cursed Lake there is an immense amount just swirling around in the air, so my inventions, if built right, were able to harness that energy and transform it so it could be used," I launch into my explanation, avoiding her gaze. She gives me a baffled look. Nothing I have said just sank in. I sigh. "The story goes like this: when the Gods and Goddess roamed the lands in their pure forms they gave off a special type of energy. We call it magic, and I found a way to harness the energy," I amend. Leaf nods, seeming to understand some of what I said. "Even if you can harness the energy from the air most of the time it's not enough. It's dissipated over the years and become impure. There are certain objects that the magic attaches itself too. We use that," I say, gesturing to the whole lab, "here to embed the magic inside items, like your armor," I finish.

Leaf looks down at her clothing with an expression of newfound interest. She is strangely quiet. Usually she is bursting with questions, but not right now. As if she is reading my mind she asks, "How do you get the magic to do what you intend?"

I smile. I hadn't expected her to take an interest in what I do. Looking around quickly I see that Lila is smiling at me. Lately, Lila has been the one there for me always. She understood what I was saying, and it makes me happy. Despite what I have done in the past the others still look at me like I am a child, but Lila doesn't. She is always encouraging, and she doesn't keep secrets.

"In order to make the magic do what you want you have to create an object that will allow it to change from one form of energy to another. This is a lot like actual energy. In order to create the device...." We talk for the whole day about magic. Leaf learns that her armor is enchanted to boost her energy, make her more flexible, endure more damage, and has as much protection as the heaviest armor, but weighed no more than leather. Also, that her sword is enchanted to last forever without dulling and is sharper than most. I also told her to be careful. At this point many others have found out how to harness magic, and if their enchantments have more power than yours, your enchantments will fail, and they will be nothing more than they had been before they were enchanted.

When I try to explain to her about how to make a harnesser she is baffled, but still wants to know as much as she could about it. In the end all she has comprehended is what would happen if she were to meet someone with a stronger enhancement than her, and what her armor and weapons have. In the end we are the last ones to leave the lab.

Leaf still has many questions she wants to ask, but I tell her that we'll talk more tomorrow. I am happy that by the end of the day we are close to how we were before. Before we leave the lab, though, I get to ask some of my own questions.

"Tell me why you didn't want me to know who you are?" I ask, really curious. Depending on her answer I might feel better, or just bitter about the whole thing.

Leaf sighs, "You would have looked at me differently than you did. Already I can tell that there is some terror in your eyes. I'm not the same person I once was."

I laugh at that, and she gives me a questioning look. "Eli said the same thing about you when I asked. He said that you had changed for the better. Now that I think about it, I'm glad you did change, even if it was for a sad reason."

Leaf smiles, but it isn't a happy one. "She would have loved to meet you, my sister. It was always her dream to rebell against the Empire. She started this whole thing, and I just sat behind her and went along with what she wanted. She was very kind and wise beyond her years. I miss her, but I know there is nothing I could do to help her. Micha's brother was a spy within the Rebellion, and it was too late when we found out what he intended to do. He planned the whole battle from the start. He told my sister that on that day the defenses around the town would be unusually low due to a meeting the Emperor had called because of our many victories. We believed it. We were naive in our hopes to take the town. Now it's laid to ruin over the battle. It used to be one of the most prosperous towns the Empire had under its rule. After I my watched my sister get killed I took up her position. I didn't do many things, but destroy that town in search for Micha's brother. That, and my sister's body. They had taken it with them for some reason or another. After I destroyed the town I knew that I was not the right person to rule over the Rebellion because of my hatred for the world after she was gone. I was too ruthless and unkind to my enemies and my people alike," She reminisced.

I know it has taken a lot out of her to say anything about her past. Everything that she has been holding in for the past seven years is finally being let out. It must feel good.

When I look up at her, about to say something again, she is crying, but she is also smiling. "What's wrong?" I ask. I'd never seen her like this before. She shakes her head softly.

"There's nothing wrong. I think she would be happy to know how I've done. She never liked how I killed without remorse. I think she would be proud to see me this way," She explains, and I am happy for her. Somehow she has found peace with herself. All the sadness and anger that she has held in is now out.