***
Wait here.
“Wait here,” Sevra commanded. Kubathu continually battered Antok’s will, ensuring the old man’s obedience. He sat near one of the stones, placing his hands on his lap and staring ahead blankly. There was much to be done today, and He wanted to be certain Sevra had no unnecessary distractions.
“I'll rest here,” Antok said in a flat voice, “go on without me.”
She hiked through the woods, smells and sights rushing back, reminding her strongly of when she and Uncle Yuley walked this way on their first trip to the portal stone all the years ago. He was gone now; there was nothing she could do to fix it. So much time passed, and she didn’t need to wonder if what she learned with the Magicus Celesti was worth the time away from Yuley. It was not.
Butterflies filled her stomach as she approached the village; she had not seen Momma Lorna in so long, or her little brother for that matter. Despite knowing Momma Lorna cared for her, they were never really close. At least not the way she and Yuley had been; even the adoring way Momma Lorna looked at her own baby was foreign to Sevra. The fact was she had no one anymore. Master Bernard was the nearest thing she had to a father now, and he could hardly remember who he himself was most days.
Your father. You should find him.
Her father. Many times she wondered who her real parents were, what her mother was like. As far as she knew her father was still alive; Momma Lorna could tell her who he was. She heard the story from her a hundred times of how she was delivered and almost died at birth, did in fact die, and somehow breathed back to life hours later. Lorna never made house calls very far from home; her real parents must not be too far away.
A renewed sense of hope filled her, she wasn’t alone in the world. She would find her father, and he would be there for her. Wondering what he might be like occupied her thoughts for the remainder of the walk; she pictured he was a kind man, and he’d be filled with joy to see her. Her mother would still be alive too, swearing she thought her baby died at birth, and it was all a terrible misunderstanding. Eventually they would laugh about how close they had lived, but never knew of each other’s existence.
Tufts of smoke rose from chimneys, the first visible sign she was almost home. She paused when the meandering trails of Shady Vale came into view, her legs feeling weak. Doubts crept into her thoughts, and her nerves made her want to turn around and run. Seemingly of their own accord however, her feet continued forward and before she knew it was at the door of her old home. Feeling awkward she put her hand up to knock, then changed her mind and opened the door.
“Hello?” she called out.
A small blonde boy stood in the center of the living room, looking at her expectantly with large eyes.
“Is this the wrong house?” she muttered, somewhat confused. She looked at those eyes again, green and round, just like Yulan’s. He must’ve been about five; tears began to well in Sevra’s eyes and she felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. It was her younger brother, who was no more than an infant when she left. The blatant view of how much time had passed since she was home doused her like a bucket of cold water.
“My baby.”
Momma Lorna came around the corner from the dining room, looking very much the same to Sevra, perhaps a few extra gray hairs, a slight shuffle to her walk, and there were more wrinkles when she smiled. She hugged her tightly, Sevra returning it somewhat.
“Oh I wanted to visit you so many times, the hike though,” Momma Lorna said, rubbing at her hip.
“I’m sorry,” Sevra answered, “I should have…”
“No, no dear, you were busy, doing important things that can’t be interrupted. One day you’ll be someone who makes a difference in the world. I’m so proud of you, Sevra. You’re here now, that’s all that matters.”
Momma Lorna pushed her back gently for a second to get a good look at her. “Your hair! Oh my what happened to it?”
“It’s fine,” Sevra answered, pulling away while trying not to be agitated by the fussing she received. “Just a little accident, it grows in white there now.”
“Oh dear I’ve never heard of such a thing. Are you sure you’re okay?” Momma Lorna began to reach towards it again.
“Yes, I’m fine,” Sevra said more firmly. Momma Lorna, stopped reaching and pulled her arm back.
“Okay, just come in and sit down then,” she said, brushing aside her hurt feelings at the tone. “We have a lot to catch up on.”
Sevra went through the remainder of the visit, only half listening while Lorna prattled on about the village ongoings. Her brother had gotten so big. Yuley continued to get sicker until he finally passed away. Jory from two houses over left the village to go to Creekview Crossing to study medicine, Lorna always knew he’d make something of himself. Nora makes dresses now two villages east, she married a nice young farmer. Yuley’s friend Edward was overseeing the town, now that Yuley was gone. Next year they hoped to build a new water collection system. It was all just noise to Sevra.
The service for Yuley felt like it went by in an instant. Many people stood to speak, and had nice remembrances to share. They brought her no solace; she only felt numb. Nothing would bring Yuley back, the only person who ever understood her. He always called her Sparklebug, no one would ever do that again. She was surprised at how little she felt, why did she have no tears to shed?
Afterwards they had a feast in his honor, Sevra continuing to only go through the motions. She felt preoccupied with what really brought her here today, and battled against feelings of guilt that it wasn’t purely to give a last farewell to her uncle.
“Do you want to visit any of your old friends?” Momma Lorna asked, pulling herself away from catering to everyone else. “I’m sure they’d love to see you.”
She pursed her lips together and smoothed her skirts. They never liked you. Jealous, every one of them.
“No,” she answered curtly, “I don’t care to see anyone.”
Memories of the other children kicking mud at her and laughing flashed in front of her. It couldn’t have been all bad, there had to be some moment worth remembering. A strong surge of emotion came over her, reiterating how terrible the other kids were. They don’t deserve your friendship. You are better than these people.
“I’m sure there’s someone you’d like to visit,” Momma Lorna asked again sweetly.
“I only want to see my father.” Sevra stated abruptly.
Momma Lorna sat back in her seat slightly and sighed. “Yuley’s gone dear, you have to accept it.”
“No, my real father. Is he still alive, can you tell me where I can find him?” she pushed. “You have to know more of him than what you’ve ever told me.”
“Oh, baby girl…” Momma Lorna began, “I know you’re upset right now. Trust me it’s not a path you want to go down, at least not today.”
“So you know something then,” Sevra insisted, desperate. “Tell me, please. I need to know who he is, where I came from.”
“You came from here,” she answered, “we are your family and this is your home. Can’t you let that be enough?”
You need to find him. The thought came through cold and venomous. The Gods wish it, you will not disobey.
A sense of aggravation began to well within Sevra. It made her feel odd; she fought rarely with Momma Lorna. Even when she did, never in her life had she felt this level of hostility towards her. It felt like someone else’s anger.
“It’s very important you tell me, do you understand? Please, for your own good tell me where I can find him,” she said. Her own voice rang in her ears. There was power in it, and the hint of a threat.
Momma Lorna frowned, and looked at Sevra in a way she never quite had before. There was worry and concern, but something deeper and more primitive as well. Was it fear? She opened her mouth to speak but changed her mind, as if she couldn’t find the right words.
; Finally, she relented, “He’s the second farm to the south of the woods, just inside the Golden Terraces.” It seemed as though the words were dragged from her, and she regretted uttering them once they came out.
“Thank you,” Sevra said, standing up.
“Wait, where are you going?” Momma Lorna questioned, taken aback that it looked like Sevra was ready to leave. “You’ve only just gotten here, surely you’ll stay a couple of days?”
“I have to see to this now.”
“He’s not a well man, Sevra!” Momma Lorna blurted out, hurriedly chasing after her. “At least wait a couple of days, I’ll go with you.”
It made logical sense to wait for a few days, she was certain her emotions were getting the best of her right now. But she felt a compulsion to go see her father this instant, a driving need outweighing anything else. She had never felt such a single-minded fixation; nothing could stand in her way. It was time to leave.
She quietly left the reception, immune to the stares and whispers of those she was leaving behind. There were many there who wondered where she had been, or why she hadn’t spoken to anyone.
Let them wonder, one day it will enhance your reputation. You have a greater destiny than these worms.
Sevra liked that thought; one day she would find greatness, and they would all know then what she was capable of. The Gods continued to sing her praises. She was invincible, and she was on a mission to find her father. After that, well, after that she did not know. The compulsion to see to this task first was of utmost importance.
The sun began to set, casting the heavily wooded trail leading away from Shady Vale into a premature darkness. By twilight she gave up trying to see and cast out a slow-glowing orb of light hovering ten paces in front of her. As she reached the tree line, stepping out into the rich farmlands of the Golden Terraces her nerves began to get the better of her. Would her father still be there? What did she think she was going to say to him?
As she walked she allowed her mind to wander, lost in a daydream about how meeting him would go. She could feel the sweat on her palms, the nerves beginning to show through her calm exterior. Instead of pushing them down she allowed herself to experience it; there wasn't much that made her nervous of late and she thought it appropriate she should feel something during this moment. She pictured him being wary at first, but after she explained they were family, she was his daughter, he would be as overjoyed as she was. They would laugh when they realized how close they had lived to each other but never met.
Why hadn't he sought her out? Their homes were within a few hours walk of each other, wasn't he the least bit curious about who she was? The whole ordeal of going to see him began to seem ridiculous to her. He was a man who had lived close by her entire life, yet he never tried to find her. Feeling dejected, she stopped and looked back. She might as well turn around and head back to the portal stones where Antok waited.
Antok! He had come with her, the entire memory of him seemed foggy; why would he have come along at all, to wait nearly half a day for her nonetheless?
See this through! You will never know what might have been if you back out now. There is no one left, you are alone in the world without your father. You need him.
She felt a rapid succession of strong emotions, from despair and loneliness to hope, strength, and power. Images flashed before her; the adulation of thousands, armies under her command, and absolute mastery of the spirits. It was a small taste of what she could be, a true leader, an Empress, feared and worshipped by all. When the feelings subsided, she felt a sudden emptiness, a realization of how alone she was in this moment. She needed to have what the Gods offered.
With renewed resolve she continued eastward, beyond the first farmstead. The dim light of a fire appeared in the distance, marking what must have been the next property. As she approached she could see the silhouette of a lone figure nearby kneeling. She stopped to watch him, wondering what he might be doing outside at this time of night. His home was only a stone’s throw away. If she was correct, this should be the right place.
Cast him in more light and announce yourself.
She obeyed, simultaneously delivering six spheres of light around him in a wide circle. He stood abruptly, his back stiff. The unease emanating from him was palpable. Before proceeding forward she took a better survey of her surroundings. There were two gravestones alongside his small fire. He had been praying.
“What.. What is this?” he stammered, terrified of the balls of fire enclosing him. He put his hand above his eyes, trying to peer out beyond the light. It was useless, he would be completely blind to her and anything else in the darkness beyond the ring.
Don’t apologize - You are a powerful sorceress, and will bow to no one!
Sevra stopped herself before speaking. She was going to say she was sorry for intruding. Doubt fled from her mind, and she was suddenly flooded with confidence that bordered on grandeur. And why should she not have pride in herself? At thirteen years of age she was already more powerful than most of the aged wizards at the keep, what did she have to fear? Certainly not a simple farmer.
Her voice came forth clear and unnaturally loud, “I am Sevra. I’m looking for my father.”
The man stood there, shuffling nervously before answering. “You have the wrong house. Be gone witch!”
Sevra frowned, feeling the sting of rejection once again before burying it where it turned to rage. She swallowed that down too, allowing it to fester. Perhaps he just didn’t understand yet and needed more explanation.
“Thirteen years ago a girl was born here, with a midwife named Lorna Vitano, from Shady Vale,” she elaborated, “I am that girl and I’m here to see my parents.”
His face became grim, and anger distorted his features. He began to wail, sobbing uncontrollably and yelling for his wife. Sevra realized in that moment she had made a mistake in coming here. If his hair wasn’t so dirty and greasy it would look remarkably like hers, and those eyes so full of hatred could have been a mirror to her own. She was looking at her father, a pathetic, ruined man, full of malice and no longer in possession of his faculties.
“My daughter is dead,” he moaned, clutching at his head. He rocked back and forth mumbling unintelligibly, repeating the words every so often.
Ellie,” he sobbed, growling in a sudden frenzy. “You want your mother, there she is, in the ground!”
He fell upon the gravestone, a destroyed man once again. He held onto it until he finally found the strength to push himself to his feet. He continued shouting at her, but Sevra couldn’t hear him. Her mother was truly dead.
“You demon witch!” he screamed, “You did this to her, and that other hag from the woods! You killed your mother, my wife, get out of here and never come back!” Again he fell to the ground, clutching the grave. Sevra took an involuntary step backwards, dejected, her heart feeling like it was in her feet.
But he didn't stop there, continuing to yell and blame her for the death of her mother, and all of the sorrows he experienced since. “I have nothing! It should have been you!” he wailed, pounding on the grave marker. “It should have been you,” he repeated again as he looked at her, this time disturbingly calm and cold.
So her mother truly was dead; she always knew it to be true, but wished Miss Lorna was wrong somehow. And it was her fault. She knew instantly the thought was irrational, many women died in childbirth, it was beyond anyone's control. Rational or not, she couldn't help but think it. Her father blamed her, and any hopes she held of them being a family died in that moment. Miss Lorna was right – she shouldn't have come here tonight, should never have come here. This man before her was tormented and broken. He would never accept her in his life.
There is one way you can be together, the voice of the Gods offered. It is the only way. It was the only way; she could think of no better solution. Not knowing her parents always left a hole in her life she was never
able to fill, and having confirmation her father never cared for her was all she could take.
Sevra no longer saw her father in front of her, the gravestone or the fire. She could only see red, and could feel herself moving towards him. Her rage was fully in control now, and she was merely a passenger. She knew what she was about to do was wrong, but had no power to stop herself, didn’t want to stop.
A terrible wind burst forth in front of her, driving her father to the ground. Leaves, dirt, and branches whipped around in a frenzy, tearing gashes deep into his flesh. The tombstones uprooted from the ground, flying unseen into the darkness. The sound of the gale drowned out his pained screams, only audible when she allowed the spell to dissipate. Howling winds slowed to an occasional breeze, the only evidence the focused storm even happened was the disarray of earth and branches it left behind.
Covered in hundreds of small cuts, her father no longer had the strength to cry out. He tried to lift himself up to his hands and knees, but could barely manage to get his arm underneath himself. Sevra began to stalk forward, panting to catch her breath.
Take his life onto yours, as I have shown you. It is the only way the two of you will be together, forever.
She paused at the thought that was not her own. The Gods had shown her previously unknown magic, in order to heal her Uncle Yuley. What they asked of her now was a different matter; there was no restoration of life, only a taking. What would Yuley think of her if she did this? She frowned, now he was gone, and she was alone. Her real father would not acknowledge her. She needed him to be with her, and this was the only way.
Yes, now! Kubathu thought silently, he had finally won the girl over. There would be no turning back.
A green fog poured forth from Sevra’s outstretched arm, enveloping her father. It settled onto his skin, condensing almost to a mist. He arched his back and gasped, a scream with no sound. Wrinkle lines formed near his wrists, creeping around his arms and branching all the way to his eyes. His exposed skin sagged and slackened. Weakly he reached a hand out towards Sevra, mouthing a plea for help that went unanswered.
She smiled in return, overjoyed. They were reunited.
A white hue began to transverse the mist, flowing out of his body towards Sevra. He finally went limp as it left him, while Sevra gasped as it entered through her fingertips. She had done this before, practicing on animals outside of the keep while the Gods instructed her, but it was drab in comparison to what she felt in this moment. A human life was far more exhilarating.
This is only the beginning, Sevra. You cannot yet understand what I mean when I say that we will be together a long time. So very soon we will be joined and you will know power; there is one more task I ask of you tonight.
“Tell me what you wish,” she breathed heavily. The Gods hadn’t steered her wrong so far. When she received her next set of instructions she absently stepped over the shriveled husk of a corpse that was once her father. She would go to any lengths required of her, as long as it continued to make her feel alive, and not alone.
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