The Bear House

Act 3. Chapter 5: The case of the excellent student

Act 3. Chapter 5: The case of the excellent student

"Is he special? Was he born different?" Madame Archiver asked while holding one of Arthur's special tea set. The lady, despite being old, has kept her skin and hair prim. Her hair is purely white, but they are healthy and full. She wears a Victorian dress shirt with corset, and her brown slacks are neatly tucked in leather boots. She could be as classy as Arthur, but her posture is less refined, more relaxed and open.

"No. He was just a really unlucky boy. So unlucky that he had to develop a grounding activity that disassociates him from his mind. He understood the mind before he could even know what it was called." Arthur replied.

In front of them was Colin in the middle of the Sitting Room, a room reserved for family bonding time when televisions were not yet a thing. The room is full of floor to ceiling book shelves, filled with books, of course, but just normal tragedy and romance novels and Victorian academics. The room's only furniture aside from the shelves are two chairs and one tea table standing beside a curtained window. In the middle of the room is a pastel coloured rag that hosts a boy in white blouse, slacks, and leather gloves.

Colin was just concentrating his mind to do range mind-reading again, but under Arthur's supervision, in case this attempt become as traumatic as the last. The last time he did range mind-reading, he almost empathized with a child molester. He was so shaken that a person like that exists, and to calm his nights, he asked Arthur to lure him in the forest for a killing.

It turns out, the leather gloves help limit his magic stream. He can only touch the surface of people's thoughts now, but the information they provide are hardly important. He cannot tap into their memories and emotions, which would usually contain the juicy information he needs. Usually, people in the streets of Sussex are thinking about a good beer, past events, day dreamings of future, and book clubs. Oh, but a portion of them still thinks of the Bear house: the outdated news of it, at least.

Colin decided he would learn more of this mind reading. He preferred studying the inner workings of the mind than offensive and manipulative spells. He hates them. Learning Welsh will expose one to a lot of disturbing things.

With this decision, Arthur called the Witch Library Archiver of the Goldie Family named Madame Archiver. That's not her real name of course, but Colin knows no answer will be given if he asks. And so the Archiver decided to pay a visit herself to drop of the intimidating-looking leather-bound books. He immediately browsed them, and put some eye-catching spells in his own journal.

Colin finished his current reading and found nothing of importance. Aside from the fact that one stoner who lives in an abandoned shack thought about the blurry and sleepy memory of a bloody guy coming in at night. The guy's mind was so high he could not see any face or reach any more information about it. He left it alone.

"Well?" Arthur asked upon sensing that Colin is done. The boy faced him, disappointed.

"I couldn't read you two."

"Well, of course." The Archiver said. "We are witches, poppet. We have years of barrier."

"Can I train to have a mind barrier?" the boy asked, suddenly hopeful.

Arthur only smirked before bringing tea to his lips. "You can try."

Colin rolled his eyes, knowing full well he's trying to best a powerful witch. He had not seen Arthur in huge magical action, but when Colin learned to control his magic stream, he automatically learned how to read someone else'. His difference with Arthur is immense, and now that he saw the Archiver who is said to be powerful as well, he could tell that Arthur is on a different league among them.

Arthur's control of his own magic stream is... perfect.

But why would he give up? Like Arthur said, he could try.

Colin decided he must have a little shower before joining the two for tea. He might be Arthur's unwilling companion, but that does not mean he's not giving out his irritating attitude.

The boy gave Arthur a nod when he said he was going to shower, and so Arthur stood up, knowing what that meant. He excused himself from the Archiver and begun preparing the young master's bath.

When Colin had soaked himself unto the tub, Arthur walked back to the Sitting room and apologized to the old lady for leaving her.

"I have to ask." The Archiver started. "Why go all through this effort to have a companion."

"Please madame, like you do not know. Our long lives are boring without a playmate." Arthur said, putting down his empty tea cup to relax himself unto the soft chair. He let his neck rest onto the backrest, his hands together on top of his stomach, and his eyes closed. "I recently realized my preference for romantic companionship."

"Is it not love, Master Goldie?" she raised her brow, not really in the mood to gush. "You even play butler with him. I'm afraid his head might go bigger with your spoiling. Not only that, it is alarming that you let him study magic."

"It has been lonely serving tea only to myself, Milady."

"Then how is he different from the others? I'm sorry for prying."

"Oh, it's alright. It is your job to write down everything that happens in our Coven. I gave you that job" He paused to sigh. "And to answer you, well, let's say among the other play-masters I've had, he's the most interesting one."

"How interesting?"

Arthur smiled, still retaining that relaxed, eyes-closed position. "I tried putting him in a mold to shape him into something I want. But the process of putting him there was an interesting experience. Let me say... it seems he already has a shape... a shape more interesting from what I have in mind."

The Archiver nodded, taking in the information well enough. Her commentaries would come later when she updates her journal, so she finished her tea quickly and thanked the Master for a perfect hospitality. She left with a purpose, and with a thought that it might not be the last time she has to meet both men.

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