Table for three

Marella almost dropped her jaw to the floor. Her face showed genuine surprise, but she quickly wiped it away just as fast as it came. It was hard to keep her composure, but she tried her best anyway.

"You're the Apostate? How did you know I was looking for you? What do you want from me?"

She was confused. She surely thought it would be much harder to find this old woman, and even harder to convince her to help her. But this woman instead went out looking for her as well. And not only that, she saved her for the poison mist.

What was she playing at by doing such a thing? What could she possibly gain from freely helping her? There was no way she didn't have a secret agenda. She definitely wanted something form her in return.

The old lady's face lit up slightly from looking at her. She truly looked like a kind Grandma, but there was something off about her that Marella couldn't place her finger on.

She chose to happily answer her questions without restraint.

"Apostate is a rather ugly term to use. That's the equivalent of calling an elf a 'Knife ear'. Such a vulgar term. Instead, a rogue mage would be more appropriate. As for how I knew you would come, the wind told me. After all it's not every day such an 'unique' child like yourself would trespass into my territory." Her words contradicted the kindness showing on her face. Instead it gave her the impression of cold wisdom.

Marella scoffed. and a sarcastic smile spread across her beautiful face.

"The wind told you? How convenient for you. Still, you avoided my question. What do you want from me?"

The old woman looked at her in silence for a second before answering.

"You are quite a fiery soul I can see. No worries, child. I wouldn't ask of you of anything you can't easily do. Besides, I know what you seek. Did you truly expect I would give it too you for free?"

She was right. Marella didn't expect to receive a hand out from her from the very start. She thought on her words, and quickly came to terms with her predicament. Since she said she would ask for something that would hurt her, then she would give it to her. She wasn't unreasonable.

"I understand then. As long as what you ask for in return doesn't harm me, or anyone dear to me, then I will give it to you."

Marella gave a sidelong glance toward the golden haired boy who had been silently watching from the sidelines.

"Here." She held out the candle stick, almost embarrassed, with the intention for him to take it from her.

At first he looked back at her with surprise filled eyes, then a joyful smile over took his face showing a set of white straight teeth.

He had a youthful charm to about him that was pleasant to the eyes.

It didn't take but a second to pick up on what she wanted him to do, so he quickly took the candle stick and let out an awkward laugh at the same time.

Marella noticed his face increasingly turning a brighter shade of red, but brushed it off as possible brain damage. She shouldn't of hit him so hard. She honestly felt guilty.

She avoided his eyes and stared down toward the ground, and awkwardly kicked at the grass.

"Sorry I hit you. I hope you're okay."

The boy began to shake is hands back and forth in denial then gently knocked his head with his fist.

"It's really okay! Don't worry about it, Miss! My head is super hard. Grandma tells me so all the time!" He laughed out loud but was interpreted soon by his grandmother.

"Come, children, we might as well talk over dinner" She turned her back to the two and started to head back to the hut.

There, they found themselves sitting at the same small table she stole the candle stick from. She noticed that there were just enough plates set out for the three of them.

[So she knew I'd stay for dinner.. This grandma acts like she allready knows everything there is to know. How particular.]

After making her self comfortable, a sudden thought crossed her mind. She looked across the table at the old woman who was now placing an assortment of food infront of them.

"Have you by chance seen a white rabbit with abandonment issues running around here?"

The old woman smiled back at her. and meaningfully handed her a slice of freshly baked bread.

"Your Spirit Beast is safe. Though I do not completely understand why you would forage a contact with such a useless thing. I suppose it's good at mana manipulation, but for protection it's useless."

Marella tilted her head. These were things she's never heard of before. Mana manipulation? What contract?

"I don't quite understand. What's mana manipulation? And what do you mean by there being a contract with that rabbit and myself?"

After setting out the food, the old woman sat back in her chair and answered her leisurely.

"The rabbit that follows you is what we call a spirit animal. A spirt from within your soul that you made a contact with. Each has it's own special ability. Your spirit animal appears to be able manipulate mana, meaning that it can gather mana from its surroundings and give it to you. All human's have a spirt animal, but only mages have spirt animals with abilities."

Marella tilted her head to the side in thought.

"You're saying I'm a mage?" She said it half jokingly. If she could use magic, don't you think she would of discovered it by now?

"It must be hard to not remember who you are. Don't fret Child, that's something I can help with. I can't return them completely, but I can recover one or two of the the memories most meaningful to you."

"You.. can make me remember?" Her eyes turned as big and wide as the dinner plate she was eating from. Her heart was torn form such words. She wanted to remember, but at the same time she believed she gave up her memory for a reason.

What if remembering the past breaks her mind, body, and soul again? Was she strong enough now to bear it? After all, the rabbit said she slept for over fifty years. Was that enough time to be okay?

She shut her eyes tight, and furrowed her brows. Her fingers knitted together nervously and her voice felt strange in her tight throat. Somthing deep within her made the choice clear to her. She had to know why she was the way she was.

"Do it. Make me remember."