Chapter 7.

CHAPTER 7.

After making sure that Elia, Lea, and Vicente got back to the dorm safe, Hashton immediately went to the forest to meet up with the others.

•*•*•*•*•*

When he arrived, he immediately saw them at the entrance, waiting for him.

“Hey everyone, what’s the first course of action?” Hashton asked them. “We should survey all of the important areas here in the forest first.” Blood answered.

“Like the Spring of Awakening?” Blood nodded. “But, let’s leave that in the hands of Sheign and Houston.” Blood answered.

“Sure. I got that. Hope they stay safe” Hashton said.

“We need to go to the eastern forest. We need to check the black magic protecting there.” Blood suggested.

“Black magic?” Sarah asked. “Yes, the first king created it to protect that area and under the care of the Crossevell Family for generations.” Blood explained.

“If the black magic started to increase in power, there is a problem at present. We should check it out now.” He added.

They all followed Blood to the eastern forest, to ensure that it is safe from harm.

•*•*•*•*•*

When they arrived there, they saw a girl with a moon symbol on her back while facing the entrance of the eastern forest.

“Leirey?” She didn’t response back, still rooted in place and gaze not leaving the entrance.

“This feeling…” Blood stated with growing unease when he saw the eastern part of the forest. “The level of the black magic here is already stronger than before.” Leirey stated.

“It feels like someone casted this kind of black magic here to protect it.” She added. They all looked at each other.

“Rose?” Hudson asked. “Based on the strength, yes. This is the full potential of Ynna’s black magic.” Leirey answered.

“What do you mean by ‘full potential’?” Lenrick asked. “’Full potential’ meaning, she can already control her power now.” Leirey said.

“That means, she’s here?” Hashton asked and Leirey shook her head.

“I can’t say for sure. These past few days, it felt like she’s casting something that I have little knowledge of.” Leirey said.

“She’s using a form of unknown magic. That’s how strong she is right now. My speculation she’s using some type of dimensional magic to travel from one place to another, real quick.” She added.

“Shit. Really?” She nodded at Hudson. They all sighed then scratches their heads in confusion.

“But, I feel something strange here in this black magic. It felt like there are a lot of mythical beasts right now.”

“Mythical beasts? This is really bad. We should remove them here now.” Leirey stops Blood from going inside the forest.

“It’s dangerous. I won’t be able to cross, because of the strong the black magic. Even though I’m using the power of the moon, I still can’t do anything about it.” Leirey informed.

“It’s so powerful that it would be a great hindrance to investigate any further for Ynna.” She added.

“Damn. What are we going to do now?” Hudson asked. “We should wait for Ynna to come back. We should, just to be safe.” Leirey answered.

“We understand that.” Blood answered. Sheign arrived with Houston while breathing so hard.

“So, Rosell is right. Someone is here that isn’t a part of the family.” Houston commented.

“But, we can trust them. They are all mom and dad’s friends. Rosell didn’t know them yet, hence why he said that there are people here who can’t be trusted.” Sheign explained.

“Wow. I didn’t saw dad though.” Houston stated sheepishly.

“Houston, say ‘hi’ to uncle Hudson, and he’s dad’s big brother.” Sheign introduced. Hudson smiled faintly.

“Hello, uncle.” Houston greeted him with a smile.

“Auntie Leirey, Eirey told us a while ago that she needs to talk to you about something. She said that Mikaze can feel something wrong in the Dark World.” Sheign explained.

“Something wrong in the Dark World? So, we are connected again with the academy’s problem.” Leirey commented.

“Is Mikaze still with her?” Sheign nodded. “I have to go now and I’ll tell you if this has any connection or not.” They all nodded.

“I have to go now. We can only wish that Ynna will come back soon.” Leirey said then went back to the Dark World.

“Let’s just tell the head wizard about this. He’ll know what to do here.” Hudson suggested.

“Sure, let’s go back in the academy now.” Hashton stated.

“Dad, Rosell wants to give this to you.” Houston stated then, he gave Hashton a shell that looks like a music box.

“A shell?” Hashton opened it then it started to play. They all listened to it and smiled.

“Rosell got that from his dream by using his magic in his sleep, he took it out from a dream.” Sheign explained.

“He took it out just for me?” They both nodded to Hashton and he smiled.

“Shit. I’m happy. Please tell him my thanks.” They both nodded then they went back to the academy to report everything to the head wizard.

•*•*•*•*•*

Elia woke up at exactly 4 AM then sat up on her bed. She woke up at this time again, and she’s worried if this isn’t normal anymore, usually her normal wake up time is around 6 AM.

‘What’s going on with me? Why do I feel like something is out of place?’ Elia asked in the back her mind.

She got up from her bed, since she can’t go back to sleep again, so she decided to continue routine and took a bath.

After taking a bath, she ate her breakfast, minutes after she felt sleepy and found herself drifted off to sleep.

•*•*•*•*•*

She found herself standing in a dark hallway, wearing a red ball gown and it looks like it is a dress for princesses. She felt a crown perched on top of her head

She silently walks around, trying to know where she is right now, and investigating on how she got here.

She stopped walking when she heard a noise coming from the door beside her. She held and quietly turned the doorknob

Upon opening the door, inside she saw a man and his back turned towards her. She couldn’t identify the man

She cautiously walked towards the guy, as she was about to make contact, everything went black.

•*•*•*•*•*

Elia jolted awake from her slumber, as she felt someone gently tapping her cheeks, and saw that it was Hashton who’s looking at her worriedly.

“What happened?” Elia asked as she slowly sat up on the bed. She looked around her, still inside her dormitory.

“We’re the ones who should be asking you that, Elia. I was worried when I saw you lying unconscious on the floor.” Lea exclaimed

“I tried to wake you up but I can’t, so I called dad and told him on what happened.” She added.

“I’m very sorry if I made you worry.” Elia stated guiltily. Hashton merely shook his head.

“At least, you’re safe. That’s what’s important, dear.” Elia nodded. While she tried to recollect on what happened in her dream.

“But, where is that place?” Elia asked.

“What place?” – Hashton.

“I dreamt about something, I’m in a dark hallway but it’s not familiar for me. It’s a first time seeing that place.” Elia stated.

“I saw a door, when I opened it, and saw a guy but I didn’t see his face because his back was turned. Then when I was about to hold him, everything went dark, then I’m here.” She recollected.

“Don’t think much about it for now, okay? Just take a rest.” Elia nodded. She lay down again on the bed.

“Lea, attend your class now. I’ll be sure to keep an eye on her.” Hashton kissed Lea on her forehead then went out of the room.

Hashton softly patted Elia’s hair, then Elia found herself feeling drowsy, and covered her mouth as she yawned.

“Are you also doing this to mommy always?” Hashton nodded with a smile. “Now I know why it feels so calming.” She stated.

“Don’t go anywhere again, daddy. Let’s wait here for mom together.” Elia held her father’s hand.

“Sure. Let’s wait for her together.” He answered and Elia smiled.

“Please tell me where you went, daddy. What did you do?” She asked again.

“I went to different places, dear, I travelled far and pursuing studies that I’m passionate, like medicines, about Crossevell Family, gathering new spells, and trained day by day in order to get stronger.” Hashton answered.

“I need to know everything so that, when I became a professor here, I can share everything to all of the students.”

“I also went back to our home to visit mom and dad, with my brother. We missed them so much, we visited them every now and then.” Elia nodded.

“I’m happy to know that, dad. I wish that we can meet them soon.” After saying that, Elia drifted herself back to sleep.

•*•*•*•*•*

Lerene and Drago, both stood in some part of the forest, gathering information and investigating everything that has happened recently.

“Mister Drago, are you sure about this? Really? An assassin?” Lerene asked worriedly.

“Yes. Based on the head wizard’s words, that’s why we need to find them soon.” Drago answered.

“But, assassins aren’t going to do anything, unless someone commanded them. Everything they do always has a price.” Lerene commented.

The two of them became alerted when they heard a rustling from the bushes, they stood and waited in trepidation for any sudden attack, but visibly relaxed when they saw Lenrick and the others.

“You… Lenrick, Miho, and Sarah.” Drago called out and went towards them.

“What are you three doing here?” Drago asked in concern. As their gaze scanned around in search for someone.

“Hash is with his daughters in the academy so, you don’t need to look for him.” Drago smiled when he heard Lenrick. Lerene immediately hid behind Drago’s back, feeling apprehensive towards strangers.

“Lerene, don’t be afraid. They are all kind and don’t be scared of your father.” Drago commented.

“Father?” The two ladies look at Lenrick while he’s staring at his daughter in disbelief.

“Why I am not informed about having a daughter? No one even told me about this.” Lenrick exclaimed in surprise. He went towards Lerene, gently held his daughter’s hand and pulled her in warm hug.

“I’m happy to meet you, sweetheart.” Lenrick patted her hair gently.

“Where’s Serenity? She has a lot of explaining to do.” He added.

“She’s with master Rosy. We’re not sure when they would be coming back.” Drago answered.

“For now, the two of us will be together, sweetheart. Is that okay?” Lerene nodded and Lenrick smiled at her fondly.

“You’re investigating as well, right? We’re also doing the same towards other areas.” Sarah commented.

“We need to protect everything while master is still away from here or else, she might get mad at us.” Drago answered.

“Rose really love this place.” Miho commented.

“Someone’s coming.” Lerene said and her ears and tail as a nine-tailed fox appeared.

“We’re are they coming from?” Miho asked worriedly. Lerene pointed at one of the bushes and Vicente shows up to them.

“What are you doing here?” Lenrick asked him immediately and Vicente look at their direction.

“I’m looking for a medicinal herb. Professor Hashton told me to get one for master Elia.” He stated.

He looked around him and when he saw the herb that he was looking for, he immediately grabs it.

“What happened to her?” Lerene asked him worriedly.

“Lea saw her in the dorm lying unconscious on the floor, so she immediately called professor Hashton.”

“Professor Hashton is watching over master Elia.” He explained.

“I need to go now or else, professor Hashton might hurt me.” He stated then went back to the girls’ dorm.

They were all left on their place and look at one another.

•*•*•*•*•*

Elia woke up because of the scent of the medicine. She saw Hashton making a medicine from his place.

Vicente is present and leaning against the door staring at her.

“How are you?” Hashton asked Elia while mixing the medicine.

“I’m fine.” Elia answered softly. Hashton helps her sit up on her bed.

“Drink this for now.” She grabs the glass and started drinking the medicine.

“What is that for?” Vicente asked curiously at Hashton while watching her drink the medicine.

“For her to regain her strength. I remember what Rose told me before…”

“Every time witches are dreaming something, once they wake up, they feel so weak.” Hashton explained to him.

“It looks like you have a beautiful relationship, professor. She’s always telling you everything that you need to know.” Hashton nodded at him.

“I did everything to get her trust me, I love her so much. I really want her to realize that not all people around her will hurt her.” Hashton added.

“I really want to ask for forgiveness, for whatever my father did in the past.” Vicente said softly.

“If you really want that then, don’t hurt other witches. They didn’t do anything wrong.” Vicente nodded.

“I’ll do everything for master Elia, and for me to atone for my father’s sins.” Elia laughs softly.

“Sure. You’re my butler starting now.” Elia agrees with a smile and put the glass down on the bedside table after drinking the medicine.

==== END OF CHAPTER 7. ====