Departure

The ghostly pale light previously extinguished arose out of the torches adorning the room. Their light graced the room's dark exterior and caused the shadows of the two that remained to shift in shape.

The pair stood in silence. Circe and Machia had stepped outside to prepare for something leaving an awkwardness in their wake. Whatever joy was shared between the two that day had ceased leaving only bitter thoughts.

"Sniff sniff"

The girl appeared to be in a worse state, her face still a teary-eyed mess. A quiet noise would occasionally sound as she choked back her tears.

Perses looked around indifferently, deep in thought. The emotion that permeated inside his head was not guilt, even though he felt a tinge of such. Instead, he was overwhelmed by a feeling of nostalgia. The soft sound of crying resonated within him. He felt inclined to embrace the girl. Yet he did not.

Eventually, the door to the room was opened as Circe returned without the dark-haired youth. Sensitive to the silence, she cast an apologetic glance towards her daughter.

"Hectate, I will be gone for a few months. It will be lonely without anyone. So, Perses, was it? I would be very grateful if you would visit my daughter every so often if that isn't too much to ask."

Perses stared back at her blankly, lost in thought. It was only after Circe's questioning had he realized his true feelings.

He was resentful. This girl had haphazardly dragged him around today and even got him in trouble with Machia. This mild resentment spiralled as he reflected on the mistreatment he had received the last few days.

The sword instructor had attacked him for being weak when he had awoken only recently. If that was all, then maybe he could let it go, but the old man was worse. His rotten personality was the only thing Perses had to go off regarding any feasible motive explaining his violence towards him.

Whilst Perses mulled over these thoughts, his mood darkened.

"Then maybe she can teach you magic."

At this moment, Machia also entered the room through the large metal door.

"Lets not go there, Circe."

Circe couldn't help but notice a sparkle in her daughter's eyes that made her want to pursue the topic. Meeting Machia's gaze made her think twice as she reached towards the desk, grabbing a skull and a few sticks and shoving them into a small, rugged grey bag.

"He's already seen this much I don't see the harm."

"The harm? So you really don't get it. Well whatever we're gonna be spending a lot of time together soon so I'll explain then. Regardless I'm done waiting."

"And Im done preparing."

"Good, then, it's my turn for goodbye. Perses come here."

"Your leaving as well, then?"

Machia grinned at him and scratched his head innocently.

"I'm afraid so. I'll probably return, though. Unlike her, I'm strong, after all."

"Probably. So it's dangerous?"

Machia's quaint speech only further confused Perses, who couldn't help but reveal his puzzlement.

Meeting Machia's gaze, he noticed a nostalgic shadow that flickered in his white pupils once again.

"Sure, it will be dangerous, but I'm more worried about you. You better find your own strength soon. I won't be around to protect you for a while, so figure things out yourself. If you stay ignorant, you'll get hurt."

The shadows that swirled in the depths of his pupils were then extinguished, returning to their eery white radiance. As if losing interest in him entirely, Machia exited out of the large metal door with a air of confident devotion. Circe made her best attempt at consoling Hectate with a final farewell before she soon followed suit.

The two children were once again stood in silence. Perses opted to leave, not wishing to submit himself to any more painstaking silence. Before he could make it, he heard Hectate make some kind of noise. Ignoring the girl, he left through the large metal door and walked through the long wooden halls of the house alone.

Just like that, Machia had left. Not even a trace remained as both he and the short woman had disappeared from sight inconceivably. Walking outside, Perses turned to look at the mysterious wooden house.

Just like that, Machia had left him. Perses would once more be alone in the heart of the capital. As he walked the cathedral path, the confusion that nestled deeply within his thoughts turned to frustration. Machia was leaving to do something dangerous and had not even considered bringing Perses along.

Without him, he was utterly helpless. His heart was heavy, brimming with uncertainty as he made his way back through the dark night.

'If I don't learn quickly about the capital or the world even, I'll be helpless. But how can I learn anything without his help?'

As if answering his thoughts, he noticed small embers of a light descending the path towards him. Approached by the light, he initially felt apprehensive. However, once close enough, the light revealed a familiar face to Perses.

"It's you." A guard shakily raised his lantern, his voice thick with trepidation upon spotting the boy.

Perses stared at him earnestly.

'Maybe this man can help me.'

Before Perses could conjure a response, the man's gaze switched from fearful to defiant.

"You, what did you do too Alexander."

"Alexander, was he the other guard"

"Yes, that's him. So you haven't seen him? No, why would you, even if you knew you wouldn't tell me. You can't be trusted."

The man's voice and state of mind seem to deteriorate right in front of him. Anguish clearly overwhelmed the guard's expression. He had been the more cowardly member of the duo back then, so it wasn't exactly out of character.

'But he's not like Hectate. He didn't do anything to me, maybe I should help him. He is one of the first people I ever met.'

"Did Alexander go missing"

"Missing... missing, yes, that's right, Alexander's missing. But that's not what I think. No I don't think Alexander is going to be coming back, no not missing he's not missing"

"Then where is he?"

"I don't know. Either they know that I know, or they don't know that I know. Hey, isn't that right? I'm right, aren't I?"

"Sure"

"Hey, why don't you come with me."

Perses was taken aback by the man's change in attitude. At first, he appeared to harbour feelings of hate and fear towards Perses, but now the guard spoke with a daunting level of kindness. This overly expressive gesture felt like a warning sign.

"I gotta leave the capital you see. Who knows if I'll get another chance, so whatta you say?"

Perses had hoped the guard would shed some light on his current circumstance, but his hopes appeared fruitless. The guard's attitude could only be described as unhinged. It was as if he was high off of his own adrenaline.

"Sorry, but I learned not to follow strangers the hard way."

"Strangers huh. Yeah, yeah I guess your right. I was just desperate. I prefer not being on my own you know?"

The man began walking again, shoving past Perses without even a farewell as if oblivious to his existence. Perses watched the guard stagger off into the night, his lantern being the only thing proving his existence.

Perses felt drained by fatigue. The more confusing the interactions he had with people the more uncertain he became. That irritation festered in him as he solemnly turned and continued back towards the cathedral, his head caught up in a shallow state of disrepair.

################

Sitting on his bed, Perses fell into deep thought. Although Machia's absence had slowly worn away at his mind, he also felt something else. Excitement.

'I can do whatever I want.'

Without Machia to monitor him, he was free. This world had opened up to him in many ways. Nothing said he couldn't simply leave his room and look around the inner walls alone. This line of thought had established a strong urge for freedom within him.

Eager to learn about the kingdom first-hand with only his own direction, Perses confidently leapt off his bed, opening his door in a hasty but quiet manner. Slowly tip-toeing into the cathedral's darkness, he paused and looked between the left and right hallway.

Choosing the more familiar left hallway, Perses began to walk, but after only a few steps, he felt a strange compulsion to turn around. Cautiously looking back at the opposing right hallway, he noticed a small lantern. Then he saw a man of short stature that peered at him through the tight slits of his eyelids.

That familiar soft smile intimidated Perses, who was met with a frightening silence. The man embracing the black book simply tore his gaze away from Perses effortlessly and back to the empty room he had just left through.

'Oh'

Quickly grasping the man's hint, Perses stopped lingering and cautiously walked back towards his room. Without breaking eye contact for even a moment, Perses re-entered his room, slowly closing the door, not without receiving one last kind smile from the man.