Basil and the Slumbering Emerald

The First Attack

Basil spent the next week learning a long list of simple spells such as repair spells, summoning spells, teleportation spells, unlocking spells and so on. Basic spells that make your life easier. It was astounding how quickly Basil was able to pick up these spells despite how hard he struggled with the simplest spell at the beginning. With his soul unbound his magic seems stronger than most unbound which adds to their surprise. By the end of the next week Basil had completely exhausted Kelkian's knowledge of spells. Admittedly it wasn't much considering how new even he was to magic, but it was a solid starting point. They all agreed to take a break and give Basil time to practice the spells on his own, not to mention with all his training Gram was starting to feel left out again.

So Basil decided, with Christmas only a week and a half away he should take Gram out shopping to get everyone Christmas presents. Basil drove over to Grams to pick him up before heading to the mall with him. They started their shopping together, hand in hand, a proud couple. They had a few cashiers mention how cute they were together making Basil Blush. He picked up a silver and emerald locket for Kelkian that he plans to put his picture in, a new set of pots and pans for Petril and Joe to enjoy cooking with, and a full set of brand-new art supplies for Mattias. They split apart to pick up gifts for each other, Basil picks up some sportswear for Gram from his favorite brand and the new shoes he has been gushing about lately since his current tennis shoes are literally falling apart. Basil stops outside of the jewelry store before going in to look at some ruby rings when he runs back into Gram deep in thought starring into one of the cases with engagement rings on display. "Hey baby. Funny we both came in here. Great minds think alike?" Basil smiles pretending not to notice what Gram was looking at.

"Oh! Basil! Uh... Hi... Yeah great minds." Gram laughs nervously and Basil cocks an eyebrow at him as he tries to hide what he was looking at. "Could you give me a couple minutes?" Gram blushes scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Sure babe, I'm gonna go grab a coffee in the food court come meet me there." Basil kisses his cheek and leaves for the food court. He goes into one of the popular chain coffee shops on offer and orders something overly sugary but extremely caffeinated. Just as he sits down Basil's phone rings. He checks the number and it is Petril. Basil hits the accept button and puts the phone to his ear. "Hello?"

"Basil?! Oh thank god you are okay. Has anyone been following you around or anything happened?" Petril's voice attempts to seem calm but fails.

"Yeah I'm fine. I'm at the Mall with Gram getting Christmas presents. What's going on?" Basil can feel the worry rising in his stomach twisting and turning. Something inside him knows that something is off, and he can't quite tell what.

"Basil find a place to sit down and I'll tell you. Just promise not to freak out. Your emotions are tied to your magic, we don't need you exposing the entire unbound community right now." Petril frets.

"I am sitting down, what is going on? You are scaring me." Basil rubbed his engagement ring out of habit, feeling something to remind him to relax. Petril seems to be arguing with Joe for a second before focusing back on Basil.

"Your mother and father were attacked. Your father is missing, and your mother is in the hospital, she likely doesn't have long the wounds are too extensive for our healers and the wounds are infected with darkened poison. Our magic doesn't work against it. You should prepare yourself for the worst Basil. I'm sorry. I have to go. Joe and I are going to find your father. Wish us luck." Before Basil can respond with his own worries and fretting, he hangs up and stares at the table just as Gram comes up beaming with a smile. He notice's Basil's expression and his smile disappears.

"Babe? What's wrong?" Gram asks tilting his head to look at him. Basil's eyes start to water.

"Someone attacked my parents. My mother is dying in the hospital and my father is no where to be found. I really don't want to cut things short but I need to get to my mother before she dies." Basil stands up kissing Gram lightly before starting to fast walk back towards the exit and his car. Gram jogs to catch up.