Soul of a Human

While her friends were coming closer day by day and Mor was trying to talk to her as often as possible, Clare slowly gathered courage and had hope. But Clare grew concerned when Mor didn't try to contact her on the third day. Of course, her father chose to have another "talk" that day.

"Good, at least you are on time today." He greeted her, and Clare could feel her anger rise.

"What do you want now, father?" She asked defiantly.

"I don't like your tone, little lady. I called you to tell you that your engagement is almost finalized. Tomorrow, you will leave our estate and go over to the main family's home," Chorne ordered her.

"No!" Clare stated.

"No?" Her father asked, incredulous.

"I won't." She confirmed again.

"You won't?" Chorne asked again, his face slowly growing red from anger.

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!" He shouted. "You will do as I say! As your FATHER, I know what's best for you!"

Clare flinched back like she was struck, tears filling her eyes, but she kept up her defiance.

"You don't!" She fought back, hating her shaky voice.

"I won't allow any backtalk, girl." Her father growled.

"And I won't bond with someone I don't know and don't love!" She countered.

There was a moment of tense silence, and then Chorne's anger erupted. With an outburst of magic energy, he shot a minor magic projectile against his daughter, the Soul-kin equivalent of a slap to the face. Clare didn't expect this and, therefore, had no chance to defend against it. The magic "slap" hit her face, and she looked in shock at her father.

"You hit me." She stammered.

"And if you defy me any further, the consequences will be worse!" Chorne growled.

"How could you? Mother will hear of this." Clare said in stunned disbelief.

"Your mother agrees with my assessment. You had it easy, long enough, and time to learn how the real world works." Chorne huffed.

Clare looked incredulous, but her anger, fueled by this injustice, took over. She launched an angry attack of her own, which got blocked. Chorne closed the distance to his daughter in two angry steps, put his hand on her shoulder, and, using his knowledge of healing magics, scrambled her energy and instantly put her into unconsciousness. As his daughter dropped to the ground, he looked down on her for a second and then called a servant.

"Bring her to her room and prepare her travel case. From today onwards, she will start to live with the main family." Chorne ordered, and the servant bowed.

The servant tried to pick up Clare and carry her away, but to Chorne's disgust, he struggled to get the prone girl away. In the end, the servant needed to use some body-strengthening magic to fulfill his order.

Chorne let out a deep sigh. "I need to reevaluate the quality of my staff. This display was shameful."

Mor's merry band started later on the fourth day, but Sophie had enough time to completely recover, so they made good time for the rest of their journey. Mor had tried to contact Clare again but somehow couldn't reach her.

°What´s wrong now?° Mor asked.

°How would I know?° The human retorted.

°I'm asking if you have any ideas.° Mor sighed.

°Maybe she's sleeping, or something is blocking your attempts. We don't know how this spell works in depth. It could be any reason, honestly.° The human said.

"I can't contact Clare anymore. I'll try again later." Mor said to his companions.

"Why?" Orth asked.

"I don't know. It's a new spell, and it might just have failed because today is a bad day," Mor said.

"I hope it isn't something more sinister," Orth mumbled.

°WHY!!!! Why did you have to say that!° The human complained.

°Better get ready for the worst now...° Mor agreed with a deep sigh.

°But what can we prepare if we are stuck on this thing?° The human continued.

°We can plan and prepare on the breaks. We still have three days to go,° Mor explained.

°You're right. So what are our options? What do we know? What do we have?° The human asked.

°That's the big question. We know that Clare is in some kind of trouble with her father. And we have two influential nobles, my mother, our glider, and, of course, us.° Mor mused, and the human got thoughtful.

°Meaning, if we need to get her out, we could either spring her or let our nobles diplomacy their way around,° the human said thoughtfully.

°Yes, but that would depend on the situation. Maybe we're overreacting, and Clare only needs some emotional support. But better save than sorry.° Mor said.

°Orth ruined that possibility. Murphy will come for us now.° The human grumbled.

°Still only your superstition.° Mor mumbled.

°SUPERSTITION?! Don't you remember the first time? Orth said there's probably nothing wrong with Ranbor, and remember how that turned out! Don't make it worse with your thoughtless comments!° The human shouted in alarm.

°That was one time. It's not like a malicious being is having fun torturing us, ° Mor argued back.

°Shut up you idiot!° The human shouted.

°I'm the idiot now!? Only because you are paranoid?° Mor shouted right back.

°Yes! You are tempting fate and don't even see it!° The human grumbled.

°And you are just paranoid.° Mor stated simply.

°Don't come crying to me if shit goes south. I will get my chance to say, "I told you so."° The human answered.

°Good for you then.° Mor ended the discussion.

Mor tried the rest of the journey to reconnect with Clare but became increasingly restless, constantly failing. Orth and Saphine also got nervous, while the human only ever commented, "Told you so." Because of that, they reached Celestite Isle, wound up like springs. They stored the glider and found a place to stay. This time, to Saphine's dismay, again with some Agaton family members.

"Do you want to go right now?" Mor asked his friends, and both nodded.

"Then let's go!" Orth led the "charge".

The exhausted Sophie wished them well as the three friends departed to ask their way to the Celestine house. After an hour of wandering around, they reached the entrance gate, and Orth pulled on the magic entrance bell without hesitation and waited impatiently.

°What´s with him now?° The human asked.

°What do you mean? He wants to see Clare as much as we do, and it's clever of him to take the lead. He's a noble,° Mor said.

Saphine crossed her arms before her chest, tapping impatiently with her foot. She almost started to say something in annoyance when a servant finally opened the gate, but not completely.

"How can I help you?" The servant asked.

"I want to speak with Lady Clare," Orth demanded while the servant looked the boy up and down.

"I'm sorry, but that is not possible. The lady will not speak to people as shabby as you," the servant said, closing the gate again.

Orth was ready to destroy the gate for this disrespect, and Mor had already started to gather power for an enhanced kick when Saphine stopped them both.

"Wait! That lesser being is right. We need to keep our manners. We do indeed look like some beggars!" she said, and the boys stopped their attacks barely, looking at her incredulously.

"Are you serious?" Mor started.

"You can't mean that!" Orth added.

"I do! Let's leave, clean up, and come back tomorrow at a more respectful time of day. Manners must be upheld." She said. "Then we can get that idiot thrown out of his cushy job for disrespecting me!"

Saphine turned around with a huff, leading the sad retreat. They rested for the night as well as possible, cleaned off the dirt and sweat of their travels, and told Sophie about their failed attempt.

"Miss Sapphire is right. You need to be cordial." She supported Saphines' notion, to the girl's surprise.

"Thank you," Saphine mumbled, and Sophie gave her a cordial nod.

"It's reasonable. I'm not as impulsive as the boys," Sophie said, and Mor looked at her skeptically.

"Yes, mother, you are never impulsive," he said, and the human laughed at the sarcasm in Mors' voice.

The next day, Saphine led them back to the estate, and this time, she would lead the talk. When the servant opened the gate again, he looked annoyed at them.

"You again. It seems you cleaned up, but the master will not bear random supplicants. If you need medical help, go to the hospital," he said.

"How dare you! I'm the first daughter of the Sapphire family!" Saphine shouted, and the servant flinched at the intensity.

"Of course you are." He said, and with a mumble of "Next time, think of a better lie," he closed the gate again.

Mor took a sideway glance at Saphnie while Orth giggled. Saphine was fuming.

"So much for "manners"." Orth said.

"Mor," Saphine growled. "Please open this gate for me."

Mor smiled and took a few steps back.

°Whelp here we go!° The human sighed.

°If the lady wants me to open the way for her, who am I to deny it? We need to show good manners.° Mor giggled.

°Shut it!° The human complained.

Mor sprinted forward, channeling more power into his legs. After a final step that cracked the stone bricks of the road, he kicked against the massive gate with a full-power kick. The gate shook with the impact, the magic enhancements failing one after another instantly, until finally, with a crunch, the wood splintered around his foot, the final lock not holding. With a slow creak, the door opened a bit, and Mor pushed it open more.

"You're wish is my command, my lady." He said with a smile and bow.

Much to Orth's amusement, Saphine blushed slightly at this display, but then she strode on gracefully. The servant was sitting on the ground, shocked at the destruction of the gate.

"How..." He stammered. "No magic can break that gate..."

"I'm very displeased," Saphine said haughtily. "I'm no simple beggar, and this will have consequences!"

She walked past the stunned servant, and Mor and Orth followed quickly.