Calytrix's Journey

Chapter XX: Reyaeth Kingdom IV

In the darkness, under the bed, I lay hoping Rheya wouldn't discover me. Footsteps echoed past the room, yet no one came inside. That was encouraging, however, it might just be the quiet before the chaos.

"Abdo mihi!" 

Magical energy surrounded me while I chanted. My concealment spell worked. The dungeon's magic-blocking mechanism was ineffective here. 

I was so happy that I forgot all about my troubles and pain. Escaping right now would be easy for me. Perhaps the intense dungeon stress was the reason I couldn't cast spells, but now that I'm out, I'm fine.

"Curatio!" 

I healed my wounds.

Though exhausted from the healing spell, I couldn't sleep there. I'll try to find the fire spirit and take a rest before I press on with my journey. 

My next destinations should be... nothing came to my mind. Rheya's ruling bothered me, but the townsfolk seemed pleased with Rheya, and if they wish for her to be their queen, I won't meddle. Maybe I'll check the situation once more before I go.

Having crawled out from under the bed, a flung-open door forced me to retreat. That flowery scent and the clicking of high heels—they're hers. I didn't dare to look in her direction and continued to stare at the dark bottom of the bed.

"Calytrix!" Rheya yelled. "Calytrix! Where are you?"

I didn't dare to make a single move. Magic was protecting me, but she was also a witch, so I shouldn't act overpowered. Once I'm certain she's left the room and the immediate area, I'll go.

"Calytrix! If you come out now, I won't punish you!" she continued yelling.

That was obviously a big lie.

"Calytrix!" Rheya yelled and started sobbing.

I felt bad to hear her cry, but I know we couldn't reach an agreement.

"Stupid Caytrix! We could have been friends!" Rheya cried out.

Friends? I would love to be friends with a witch my age, but one which wasn't crazy. Rheya and my life viewpoints were completely different. 

She sat on the bed, overcome with terrible sobs. Hearing the crying was upsetting, yet I was unable to provide comfort. We'd only get into a fight.

"Teacher! I finally got magic, just like you did. It took me a while, but it was the fastest I could," Rheya started a monologue.

Her teacher was a witch? Why would a witch tutor a normal human princess?

"I wanted to walk down the same path as you but you left me," Rheya said some words, but I couldn't make them out because of her uncontrollable sobbing.

I could only sense Rheya's dark magic and my own. I was unable to sense anyone else's magic. There were no leftover traces, either. The witch Rheya mentioned must have left a long time ago.

Rheya removed her legs from the side of the bed and jumped on the bed completely. Through her sobs, I heard her calling out to her teacher as she clutched her blankets. Curiously, she never mentioned a name. It didn't seem like Rheya would calm herself quickly, and that meant I was stuck in the dark for a while. There was nothing to do, so I just waited for her to leave.

"I'll become a great witch like you were, teacher!" Rheya suddenly jumped out of bed.

Like you were? Past tense? Is her witch teacher dead?

"Teacher, please continue watching over me," Rheya said without sobbing as she left the room.

I wanted to leave the room at once, too, but I decided it would be better to wait some more.