The Third Power: TTS AU

Chapter Five

Varian sat in darkness as he stared blankly at the Demanitus Scroll. He reread it for the he didn't even know what time anymore on his hunt for clues about the fourth incantation.

He still hadn't found anything.

"Ughhh!" he groaned as he let himself fall back until he was lying on shadow. "How is there nothing? There- there has to be something!"

The alchemist pulled himself back up and pulled his knees to his chest as he finished reading the small passage about the fourth incantation. There were no hints as to where it might be, just that it existed.

Ready to give up, Varian grabbed his backpack to put the scroll away again.

Or, at least, went to.

Looking down to his side, Varian realised that his bag wasn't next to him or anywhere in the general vicinity. Weird. He was certain he'd left it resting next to him.

"Looking for something?"

Varian looked around and saw the ghost girl stood a few feet away. In her hands she held his backpack. She approached him with a playful grin tugging at her lips.

"Sorry. Just playing with you," she told him.

Varian chuckled softly and accepted his bag. He rolled up the Demanitus Scroll and went to put it away but not before the girl stopped him by gently placing a hand on his.

"Why are you giving up?" she asked.

Varian looked at her for a moment.

"Well," he said slowly. "I've read the scroll... more times than I care to admit and I still don't understand it."

"What don't you understand?"

Varian hesitated. Could he trust this girl with the knowledge of the incantations? He barely knew her and who was to say she wasn't secretly some great evil looking to get the power of the scroll for herself.

He then looked up into her large, questioning eyes. She seemed genuinely curious and interested.

"I... What do you know about magic?" he asked.

The girl smiled and sat down next to him.

"I know all about the Demanitus Scroll if that's what you're wondering," she told him.

"Oh uh-" Varian felt his cheeks burn a little. She was connected to the Moonstone. Of course she would know about the Demanitus Scroll.

"I've been wondering about the fourth incantation," he told her. "I've been trying for weeks to find it but it doesn't appear to be on the scroll."

"Let me see," the girl requested.

Varian handed her the scroll and she unrolled it. She read through it, sat in thought for a minute, then giggled quietly.

"What?" Varian asked.

She continued to giggle as she handed back the scroll.

"I think you'll find that the fourth incantation is there - and in plain sight might I add."

The alchemist stared at her, dumbfounded.

"W-What? Where? How?" He had too many questions.

Zhan Tiri stood up and straightened out her dress.

"I won't tell you," she said. "That'll just render all of your hard work trying to find it a waste of time. However, I will give you a clue."

Varian gave her a questioning stare.