Tale of Four

”Stupid girl.” Alice looked up at the fat man towering over her, holding a cane. ”Hands out.” Staring at him for only a moment, she turned around and waddled away, getting dragged back by her red ponytail. ”LITTLE SHIT!”

”GET OFF ME!” Screaming back, her high-pitched childish voice rang out, ”YOU CAN’T TOUCH ME!” Her voice caused the man to flinch as she tried to wrestle the hand free from her hair, but failed multiple times, his grip too strong. ”I AM CHOSEN!”

”You’re a stupid brat who still dreams.” With a fierce tug, Alice fell backwards, landing on her butt. Although tears welled up in her eyes, she refused to cry. ”You don’t help around the house, and you don’t learn anything useful.” There was deep venom in his voice as he looked down at the seven-year-old girl, ”What use was there in you even being born?”

”I am going to rule the world.” Snapping back even as the man towered over her, holding the cane in his right hand, the excitement was real in her words. Looking up and meeting his gaze, she watched as his face morphed in disgust, followed by a step back.

”You’re a freak, a little demon in human skin.” He took another step back, ”I should sell you off to the church. Maybe they could find out what’s wrong with you.”

”I am ALICE!” Screaming back at him, she slammed a foot on the ground, ”Not a freak.”

”You’re a mistake, who tore their mother apart, crawling out of her.” Meeting her gaze, the man’s eyes became hard and hateful. Alice met it and slammed her foot on the floor again.

”You’re an idiot who never listens to me. I am going to be queen of the world.” Her words seemed to be the final straw as she ignored him once more. Stepping forward, Alice watched as a hand shot down and grabbed her arm, yanking her towards the dining room.

”Hand on the table.”

”No.” Defiantly replying, she crossed her arms, hiding her hands under her armpits. Another vein popped on the man’s head as he put the cane down and grabbed both her arms, ripping them apart and forcefully placing them on the table.

”I always held back from hitting you.” His words were cold as he spoke, ”Always took pity when I saw that red hair of yours.” Grabbing the cane with one hand, he tightened his grip on Alice’s arm, feeling her try to pull away, ”You’re not my kid. You’re a disgusting freak who was never grateful for all I did.”

Lifting the cane, Alice watched as it fell down and slammed on the back of her hand. The assault of pain was instant, shooting up her arms. Before she could cry out, it fell again. ”Maybe you will finally learn. Maybe I held back for too long.” Her screams echoed through the dining room as tears poured from her eyes.

Looking down at her hands, he saw the red marks quickly turning to bruises before being attacked once more. ”STOP IT!” Alice cried out between her tears, the words almost getting trapped in her throat. The cane froze just before it landed on her hand.

”You will be good from now on?” There was a slight reluctance underneath the venom. Alice stared up at his eyes, through the tears and shook her head.

”What did I do wrong?” Saying with a strangely powerful tone, she took a few deep breaths and lowered her head, ”I have been doing what I was told this whole time?” Alice looked back and watched the cane rise again, ”I will be queen of the world, I was told to.- AHHH!”

”You really are a demon.” The cane fell once more, ”Spawn of the heretical Gods.” Again, it fell. Inside, Alice felt warmth spreading to her hands as she desperately struggled to break free, one separate from the warmth of the blood on her hands. ”Even with this, you still speak your delusions.” The cane fell again. ”What did I do to get you? What sick joke was it to trade you for her?”

The cane fell again. Alice stared at her hands, the warmth gathering in them and cried out in anguish, seeing the blood on her small knuckles. ”STOP IT! JUST GO AWAY!” The cane that fell shot up as a strong gust of wind, flew from her palms. His hands flew up with it as another strong gust of wind hit his stomach, sending him flying towards the wall, crashing into it.

Looking at him as a small streak of blood fell from behind his skull, Alice smiled through the pain, glad that he finally listened to her. Looking down at her hands, the pain surfaced again. Without a second thought, she ran out of the house, looking around at the villagers who passed by.

Running up to one of them, she smiled. ”My hands hurt.” The woman looked down and saw the bloody hands, her face going white in shock. Picking Alice up, she ran towards the temple and threw the door open.

”Father. The girl. Look what that brute did.” Holding her hands out to the priest, he stared at the wounds and frowned, clicking his tongue in disgust.

”What happened to your father’s child?” Staring deep into Alice’s eyes, she smiled.

”He went away when I asked him to.” Looking into the young man’s eyes, she saw numerous thoughts flash through his eyes before he looked down at her hands again and sighed. ”I’ll take her to see that man.” There was an emotion in his tone that she couldn’t understand, but once again, she was picked up and rushed out towards another part of the small village, to a hut that stank of sour herbs. Covering her nose, she waited as the door opened, and an old man inside stared at the two with an annoyed expression.

”Priest. We made a deal to leave one another alone whilst I stay here.”

”I know, but look at the child, look at her hands.” The young man carefully grabbed her arms and pulled her hands forward to show the old one. ”I can’t heal this without leaving some damage. I’m asking you, not as a Magi but as a person to treat her.”

The old man frowned, seeing her wounds, and carefully took her hands, pausing once he did. After a few seconds, he rested a hand on her forehead and gasped in shock, ”My gosh. This child. Who is she?”

”Why does that matter. Treat her.” The old man clicked his tongue and walked off, grabbing a small vial of brown liquid.

”This will taste terrible, but don’t spit it out.” Forcing the vial into her mouth, he tilted it. The bitter taste nearly made her spit and gag, but remembering what he said, Alice covered her mouth to hold it in and swallowed. ”It will heal over time. Now answer me.”

”Just a child with a terrible father. How she is still such a kind child, I do not know.” The young man said with pity, making the older one fall into deep thought.

”Priest. She has the talent for the arance in her. A strong talent at that.” The old man paused for a second before taking a deep breath, ”Let me take her. Make her my student.”The young man frowned but thought for a moment. Looking up at him, she watched as he turned back to the village, staring at it with a cold gaze. ”Look at how she is being beaten already. If she stays here, I may not be around to heal her next time. If she comes with me, this can be prevented.”

”You’re a heathen.”

”But she will be safe with me. What do you want? A child being beaten until she can’t take it anymore. With her talent, she will find the Mad House herself one day, but if I take her, I can guide her while she is still kind. If we wait and she comes to us, I can’t wait to see what she may become. We may disagree on our views of life, but at least if she comes with me, she can have a future that is worth living.” The young man sighed and ground his teeth.

”She can join the church.” His words caused a dry laugh from the old one.

”She has the talent of the arcane in her. Can you guarantee that she won’t be discarded by your church once they find out?” Silence followed after the old man spoke. With a deep breath, the younger one knelt down and rested a hand atop her head. The warmth spread around, and Alice chuckled, feeling it.

”Alice. Do you want to go with him?” Alice looked between the two and frowned.

”He smells bad.”

”But he can let you go on adventures?” The words caused her ears to twitch. Looking at the old man, she wondered how he could do that. With a growing smile, she chuckled.

”Can you really?”

”When you are ready. But first you must learn. Can you do that?” With a frantic nod, she turned back to the younger man.

”I want to go on adventures.” The young man frowned but sighed.

”Do what you want. Her father lost the right to decide. The church will deal with him now.” Standing up, the young man smiled and patted his head again, ”Stay safe, little one.” Walking off, Alice turned to the old man as he stood to the side and let her in.

”From now on, call me teacher.”

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Opening her eyes, Alice tiredly rubbed them, awoke, seeing two Magi around her, staring at her with worry. ”Are you okay?”