The Arcana: His Apprentice

Maybe There Is A Way... - Asra's POV

Three days have passed. Three long dreadful days. Three days knowing Y/N is no longer with me and there is no possible way I can ever get her back. It's so painful and unbearable to know that I can never get the chance to hear her again, to feel her again, to see her again.

I'm back at the palace, even if I am going through a loss and grieving heavily Lucio doesn't care as long as I'm working in his favor. I sit the in the palace gardens underneath my favorite tree. The only thing in my mind is Y/N and nothing else. Not Ilya's constant flirting, not Lucio's rude attitude, not the cure, not the upcoming ritual or masquerade. Just Y/N. I pick up a sharp edged rock and turn towards the tree, carving Y/N's name into the trunk as Faust lurks in the grass and watches me. I carve her name with much force like I need to have it carved or it will disappear on me.

"Friend...?" Faust questions, looking sad.

"She's gone..." I say, letting my arm fall to my side and the rock slipping from my fingers as I stare at the fresh carving.

I trace my fingers over the name as I feel tears threatening to blur my vision and roll down my face. Why did she have to go... Why did she have to be taken away from me... Why did I go... Why didn't I stay... Why was I stupid enough to let her slip from my fingertips like sand...

"Asra!" I hear a familiar yet annoying voice call out to me, bringing me out of my grieving trance.

       I quickly wipe my tears and take a deep breath, turning around to see Ilya standing at the library's balcony with that all too familiar smug grin on his face.

"Have you finished with your afternoon nap? We have a kingdom to cure!" Ilya shouts, a proud smile plastered on his face.

"I'll be up there shortly." I state, watching as Ilya goes back inside the library.

       I crouch down and grab my bag, letting Faust slither up my arm in the process. I stand up and look back the tree. I stare at the carving and rest my hand against it. Laying my forehead on it. Y/N I miss you...

       After countless hours of Lucio's constant yelling of demands and Ily's annoying flirting and experiments going wrong, I was finally freed. For a night at least. I walk back fo the shop, passing the marketplace as I contemplate and stay in deep thought.

       There has to be a way to bring back Y/N. I don't survive any longer without her. A life without Y/N is a life not worth living. I have to find anyway possible to bring her back to life. I would give anything to have her back in my arms, even my own life if it's required to bring her back.

       I make it back to the shop and close the door behind me, locking it. I take my bag off and place it down onto the glass counter. Faust slithers herself off of my arm and onto the counter, exiting the shop and going into the kitchen. Probably going to the alleyway to look for fuzzy rats. I walk over to a large bookshelf by the counter, grabbing several books and piling them onto my arms. I walk to the back room, needing the silence to focus. I start pouring over the books, trying to cram everything into my mind. But there's nothing here that I need. Nothing here that will help me bring Y/N back to me.

       I stand up and go back to the bookshelf, pulling out more books and returning to the back room. Reading them over and over again, not skipping a single page, passage or word but getting more and more frustrated by ever page I turn.

       I return to the bookshelf again, grabbing the last few books that were left and going back to my study space. Paying close attention to the pages but to my offense, nothing helpful whatsoever. No matter how many time I pray, my prayers never seem to get answered. I push the books off the table and stand up.

       I stomp over to the bookshelf and look at it, hoping there is at least one book left that will lead me on the right direction. But there isn't...

"It's hopeless..." I whisper to myself, banging my fist against the shelf as I lay my head against it.

"Y/N. I have failed you... I'm sorry please forgive me!" I shout banging my fist against the bookshelf over and over again, not caring about the damage as tears start pouring from my eyes.

       I keep banging my fists until I hear something. I loo down to see an old tattered up book. I bend down and pick it up, inspecting the cover. It's a deep maroon color with a gold five pointed on it and gold scribbles along the middle that are covered in dust. I wipe the dust away and read the odd cursive lettering. Artis Phythibussam. It's written in Latin and it translates to witch craft. Why is this here? In the shop of all places it could be. Witches and witch craft is outlawed in Vesuvia, one could be killed over this.

       I start flipping through the pages, seeing spells and rituals dedicated to controlling one's mind against their will, brainwashing someone and being connected to one through blood. I stop at a leave that has an old marker along the edge, a deep purple marker with familiar handwriting on it. I read the writing and finally remember who's writing this belong to. It's Auntie Aurora's handwriting.

In case of emergency. The marker read.

       I case of emergency? What does that mean? What kind of emergency does one have to be for a marker this urgent to be here. I look at the page and read it carefully.

Summoning The Devil
       To summon the dark one, one must trace the symbol do the star with ashes of roses that are as dark as the night that have deceased with no interferings. One must have five candles at each point of the ashes star. One must place a drop of blood from a misguided one at each point of the star. One must stand in the center of the sacred star and recite the scripture below perfectly in order to summon the fallen one. Only then will one come into contact with the being to have their deepest desires fulfilled. But heave this warning, there is always a price to pay and that price is never small.

      Why would Auntie Aurora leave a marker here, and especially on a page that shows you how to summon the devil? Desperate times calls for desperate measures and I am in desperate need to get Y/N back. Even if it means dying while summoning and making a deal with someone like the devil, I will gladly take it. As long as the end of the barren is payed and Y/N is alive.