Tale of Four

”Sit, girl.” Inside a cosy study, the old man took a seat at a black wooden desk and rubbed his temples with a tired expression. Looking around, Alice nodded in satisfaction. It was much like her teacher’s office, but instead of the mess and clutter that piled up, it was clean; the floors were made of the same dark wood of the forest, and the grey walls were hidden behind as many bookshelves and paintings as possible. Finally, the fireplace in the corner tinted the entire place with an orange light that added just the right amount of colour.

”If I asked you to would you go back to the Mad House?”

”Of course, not. This place is fascinating.” Alice replied instantly, making the old man sigh. Nodding to himself, he pulled open a drawer on his desk and pulled out a circular mirror. Alice’s eyes widened in an instant, seeing the numerous runes carved on the frame.

’Those are not runes that Magi use. They are different. Old runes perhaps.’ Unable to contain her curiosity, Alice activated the translation rune on her glasses and stared at the runes. Her mind was instantly flooded with information looking at the runes, a bearable amount. Although the translation wasn’t perfect, she smiled.

’Connection...something, that’s wrong.....link, travel, communication.... something again....sound, vision.... Oh my, these things have so many runes. All of them are connected so perfectly as well.’ Not bothering to read any further, the runes repeating, she resisted the urge to ask about them and instead decided to watch.

Looking up, the old man could tell Alice was dying to understand the mirror and turned it ever so slightly, so she could see, realising she may continue to interrupt him if he didn’t do that much. Touching the top of the mirror, the old man closed his eyes, and the runes lit up. Alice could feel a change in the air near the mirror, a power shooting out of it and vanishing. It wasn’t random, however; that much she knew. Rather, wherever it was going was too far for her to sense.

Even after ten minutes of silence, Alice wasn’t bored; instead, trying to figure out the path the power inside the mirror took. Only when she saw the reflection change to an image that wasn’t anywhere she recognised did her thoughts break. Leaning forward, she paid no attention to the old man getting off his chair and kneeling towards the mirror.

”Ludwig.” A whispering voice spoke from the other side as the image in the mirror changed again, revealing a red iris. Seeing it, Alice quickly turned her head and let out a deep breath, taking her glasses off. She couldn’t understand why, but an instinct screamed at her not to try to look at the man with the translation rune activated.

”Lord Raven.” The Old man said with deep respect, making his body smaller as he bowed deeper. The red iris blinked and looked at the old man.

”Rise, Ludwig.”

”Thank you, my Lord.” The old man quickly jumped up, betraying his age and took a seat at his desk once more. Staring at the pupil without her glasses, Alice tried to see what caused her to be so cautious of something happening.

’Is this person like the dead Magi? Has he altered himself with runecraft?’ The iris didn’t blink again and stared ahead. Alice looked at every single detail and couldn’t understand what it was. There were no runes that she could see, nor did it seem like the eye had been altered, bar the colour of it that didn’t seem natural.

’Not even when I looked at the quill did my body scream so loud to not look. Strange that he does it.... I must meet him.’

”Ludwig. What is the issue?”

”A magi, my Lord. One has appeared without approval, nor did they arrive via a door within my settlement. She has also claimed another came with her, but they are within the forest. I cannot spare resources until daybreak to look for her.” The room went silent, only the crackling of the fire. The red iris finally moved and looked at Alice, the old man moving the mirror so it could get a better look at her.

”Amazing. Does this connect to another mirror, somewhere else?” Alice blurted the question out, getting no reply.

”A child.” The whispering voice spoke. Alice couldn’t help but lean closer towards the voice, a sense of power in it despite how quiet it was, making her feel like she had to cater for it. ”Magi can only leave when they are sixteen.”

”I am seventeen.” Tapping her chest, the old man looked at her and narrowed his eyes in distrust.

”Ludwig.” The iris called for the old man. Turning the mirror, the old man lowered his head in respect, ”Summon my voice.” The old man bowed and tapped the top of the mirror. Standing up, he left and quickly returned with a woman dressed in pure black, a mask covering her face. The hair on Alice’s body stood up in fear the moment the woman arrived, and instinctively she began to bring forth the arcane power in her body.

Once inside, the woman pulled the mask off her face, revealing a mutilated face. Her eyes were sewn shut, the thread digging past just the eyelids and deep into her eyes, never to be opened again. When she opened her mouth, there was no tongue inside; it had been expertly removed. The air changed, and although she couldn’t see it, Alice could tell a power, one she had never felt before, flooded the person before her. Along with it, although she couldn’t see, she could feel a new gaze looking at her.

The Old man fell to his knees before the woman, and when she opened her mouth, a voice, the same whispering voice from the mirror, spoke, ”Child of the Magi.” Grabbing one shaking hand with the other, Alice took a few deep breaths, unable to tell what she was feeling. It wasn’t fear; rather, it was the instinctual fight-or-flight response failing and shutting down, leaving her still.

’What is this? This power is the arcane, but it is so much different. It makes no sense.’

”I see.” The whispering voice spoke again and carried on, ”Child of the Magi. You have met the Incomprehensible.” Alice’s eyes widened. Much like the fortune teller, she could tell the deeper meaning in his words. The old man next to her sucked in a deep breath and lowered his head deeper, shaking from the words. ”The second.”

”SECOND!” Alice cried out, her fear washed away. ”What do you mean by second? There is another like me. WHO!?”

”Ludwig.” The voice ignored Alice’s question. ”She cannot be sent back. It was unclear behind the Divide, but with another here, I can sense what it was. The Incomprehensible has graced the world once more.”

”WHO IS THE OTHER!? Were they also told to make the world their own? TELL ME!” Alice screamed again, and when she was ignored, slammed her foot on the ground in anger.

”My Lord.” The old man quietly spoke, ”What do you need of me?”

”Ludwig. The era is changing.” The whispering voice said with certainty, making the old man bow deeper. ”Ludwig. The Old Ones grow restless.” The old man shook in fear and sank even deeper into himself. ”Ludwig. Your duty soon comes.” For a third time, the old man sank even deeper into himself, almost curling himself into a ball.

”My Lord.”

”Do not be afraid.” The whispering voice said, ”Send the child to me. I must understand what is to come.”

”What do you mean, a second!? ANSWER ME!?” Alice cried out again, but knew she wouldn’t get an answer, feeling the power surrounding the woman vanish and seeing her lift her mask to cover her face. The old man rose and looked at the woman. Meeting her eyes behind the mask, she lifted her hands and signed a few symbols.

”I understand.” With a nod, the woman walked off. The old man looked at Alice and, before she could barrage him with questions, spoke, ”Your answers will come, but you must wait for them. I have people who will take you to the one you spoke with.”

”Who is he?”

”Lord Raven of Last Hope.” The old man replied. ”Rest; you shall leave at daybreak.” Alice huffed and clicked her tongue. Although she wanted answers now, she knew she had to be patient.

’Knowledge is an abyss. We must carefully climb down or risk being lost.’ Repeating the teaching in her mind, she used it to calm herself down. There was no point in rushing out on her own if she would be taken to where she wanted to go.

”In that case. Give me books on the Old Ones. I want to read.” The Old man debated for a second, and closing his eyes in thought, he nodded and walked over to a bookcase. Scanning through them, he pulled one out with a blank cover and handed it to her.

”Do not seek more. I know your kind craves knowledge endlessly, but be content.” With a clap of the hands, two women appeared dressed in thick furs. ”Please show her to a room. Do not allow her to leave it.” The two servants bowed and turned, leading Alice away.