The Elixir

~Rumor

"Again! Again!" Little Bria shrieks gleefully, clapping her hands together. She is in a meadow with her sisters, watching as Orsella makes the flower reach for her. The soft petals stretch towards her older sister's waiting fingers, it's thin stem twining itself around one of her fingers. Orsella is a Gaia, like every other person in Lysabel's family.

Orsella smiles tiredly, inhaling deeply.

"That's quite enough for the day, Bri. I feel faint."

Bria pouts and Lysabel laughs. In her biased opinion, Bria is the most adorable toddler in all of the regions.

"Come along, then. Mom would've wanted us home by now." Orsella takes Lysabel and Bria's hands and the three sisters make their way from the small meadow to their house. The sun has begun it's downward descent and people are scurrying to the safety of their homes.

Vendors wave cheerily to the three of them as they pack up their carts.

"Did you hear about what happened to that girl in Fynn's square at registration?" Orsella shakes her head, bewildered. "The poor thing!"

"I heard that she had been possessed."

"Nonsense," scoffs Orsella, keeping an eye on the waddling Bria. "Dark magic doesn't exist in the regions. Honestly, Lysa, you should know better than to talk about such things!"

Lysabel sighs. Her sister has always been a simpleton, with simple wants and simple needs. She's never wanted to be an Arcane, and her largest ambition is to get married and have a family. She's the enigma of a good daughter. But Lysabel can't help but wonder if her sister is truly so naive. As her father always says, there cannot be a light without darkness, and vice versa. Dark magic does exist. One must know where to look, that's all.

Lysabel shivers, wishing she'd brought a coat with her. She'd been so excited to attend Ruxnorth Academy but with the rumor of the Warlord going around... she doesn't know what to think. Hodwerry has always been where she's felt the safest.

"Come along, Bria! Don't wander!" Lysabel catches sight of their small property and her chest warms. Her house may be old and crumbling, but it's weathered many storms, providing everlasting protection. Like all the others in Hodwerry, her home consists of stucco facade, intercrossing dark brown boards, and a thatched roof. She can't think of anywhere else she wants to be. The thought of leaving Hodwerry to go live at Ruxnorth castle frightens her. Living in a dark, large castle surrounded by people she doesn't know? She can't think of living anywhere more terrible. Hodwerry itself is beautiful in simplicity. It's surrounded by woods and rivers and meadows, teeming with life ranging from the smallest of critters to majestic stags. It's a more homely community, compared to that of Vudnarth, or Braulia, but it's home.

Orsella mistakes her expression for fear of dark magic. "Do not worry, little sister. We are safe here, as always."

Lysabel can only muster a wan smile.

The three of them hurry past the gates and into the house, where Mum frets over them.

"Oh, you had me so worried, girls! What did I tell you about being outside when it's dark?" Lysabel opens her mouth but Orsella cuts in.

"We're ever so sorry, Mother. I lost track of time showing my gift to Bria." With a sweet smile, Mum's frenzy stills. She kisses Orsella on the cheek.

"Well, you're all back now. Supper will be on the table in a few minutes. Oh, Lysabel, would you help me bring in the tomatoes? They're getting quite plump." Lysabel wordlessly trails after her mother, knowing better than to interject. It's painstakingly clear that Mum loves Lysabel less than her other two daughters; she's always believed that girls should be prim and tidy, and shouldn't love doing things like running in the stream, or eating all of Mr. Bardwell's extra bakes down the street. In Mum's eyes, Lysabel is nothing but a symbol of a wasted job.