Leaving Home

Leaving Home

Twisting and turning, Alice couldn't make heads or tails of what was happening, her vision blurred, images of lights and textures disoriented her completely, she didn't have time to yell or speak at all as she found herself on the ground. Her hand covered her mouth, feeling as if she was going to throw up, it took her a few seconds before she realized she was laying on top of grass, the sound of crickets and the light of the stars above were immediately interrupted as Isaac snapped his metallic gauntlets and created an orb of white light to illuminate the area, he lets out a sigh and begins walking away, over a small hill, the light follows him leaving Alice in the dark.

Isaac: "I can't believe this shit..." He murmurs to himself as he leaves line of sight completely ignoring Alice, the sounds of the rustling of burlap sacs, the creaks of wood and the sound of a strange animal catches Alice's curiosity as she pulls her still nauseous self off of the ground and trudges up the hill to find out where she even is at this point..

Isaac: "I'm back after a two week long mission and this happens immediately? Gods i just wanted some time off and now i have to deal with this dramatic bullshi-..." He looks back and sees Alice coming over the hill and shoots her an annoyed look as he drops her bag into the back of a covered wagon, Alice approaches looking puzzled at first, but she soon begins stomping over and pointing an accusing finger at him

Alice: "Where are we... what happened, why did you drag me away from home? Why was uncle Lucius scared Isaac??" The girl demanded with a defiant look in her eyes.

Isaac looks down at her with a raised eyebrow and points at her right back, the cold metal of his gauntlets prodding at Alice's nose.

Isaac: "Look kid you don't get to ask me questions like that, you better start showing me some respect because if you want a shot at a life of freedom you better start listening to me here" Isaac raised an eyebrow, this kid is already being a pain in the ass, Isaac was already regretting owing a friend a favor.

Alice slaps the gauntlet away and crosses her arms glaring up at him, trying to look as angry as a young nauseous girl who just hurt her hand slapping actual metal and pretending it doesn't hurt can.

Alice: "What in the nine hells are you even talking about, I was dragged away from home without as much as an explanation! all i did was defend Isabella from those creeps and now I'm in the middle of nowhere! i demand you tell me what's going on!"

Isaac: "Kid, we are miles away from the town, this chariot my personal ride, and i'm not answering any more questions until you get in the carriage because those Inquisitors are hunting for you, and i'm doing you a solid by busting my ass and saving you, now... there's only one question i care about for an answer right now, and that is..." He bares down on her, leaning in staring at her from only inches away with suspicion in his eyes.

Isaac: "Tell me, where did you learn how to use magic..."

______________________

Lucius: "Good evening commissar...."

Lucius opens the door for the man and lets him in, although his actions were polite the large barkeep never takes his eyes off the heavily armed man, his eyes glaring spots the decorated half-plate beneath his coat, tracing the runes decorating it, watching as the man walks inside his overcoat sways just enough to reveal a strange device, an amalgam of crystal and metal, Lucius gestures over to an empty table.

Lucius: "Please have a seat, would you like to have a drink? the mutton is fresh from the oven"

The commissar walks in with his arms behind his back smiling as he looks around.

Commissar: "So this is the place?" he says looking back at the dirty thug who still holds the melted sword.

"Yeah yeah! the brat was here ah swear 'et, th'lil shite melted me fookin' cutlass!"

The commissar sits down at the table, turns his chair to face Lucius and casually waves to his guards standing behind the dirty man, one of the more decorated guards pulls a small sack of coins and hands it to the man who greedily takes it, Lucius looks to everyone else at the bar, there's an awkward silence for a few seconds before the patrons begin to get up and leave, leaving their mugs and food where they were, Isabelle sensing the tension in the room walks out to the backrooms of the bar, and soon the entire bar was empty, Lucius takes a seat opposite the man and sits in silence. The commissar reaches into his jacket and pulls a snow globe like object from it, putting it on the center of the table, a wispy white smoke flows inside of it, the commissar puts his hands together and leans in.

Commissar: "Ah Lucius... I have been informed that a child here was reported to have been able to use magic... I don't think I need to tell you that harboring a non-guilded mage or practicing magic while not belonging to the guild is punishable by death" The commissar taps the wispy globe a few times, "So i must ask you, are you harboring a person or persons who is capable of using magic?"

Lucius looks stoic for a while, not speaking for several seconds or even looking up at the man as he answers him.

"Aside from my daughter i was not aware that any persons living under my roof were capable of manifesting magic or even know of it's existence"

The commissar glances at the globe, the wispy smoke still flowing naturally and calmly.

Commissar: "Interesting... and the girl here, Alice, did she manifest a magical ability earlier today?"

Lucius: ".... she did..." He seems to stall for a moment, even seeming surprised himself, how could he have missed a detail like that? who even taught her that magic even existed?

The commissar glances at the globe again for a few seconds before he nods and looks back to Lucius.

Commissar: "And the girl, you know where she is correct?"

Lucius pauses for a seconds before answering, trying to carefully think his next words before he answers again without looking up.

Lucius: "I do not" The globe's light wispy smoke turns black as a stretched sundered face presses itself against the glass as if it were trying to get to Lucius who chuckles to himself a bit. "You won't find her, I've sent her away"

The commissar sighs a bit "You know not where she is, but with whom, lying is still lying if by omission Lucius, don't worry, we'll find her" The commissar gets up and pockets the globe again as he dusts himself off "Do not worry, your family is safe, your daughter is your one legal apprentice and the specter showed it was not a deliberate crime" He starts walking a way towards the the door as he opens it again, looking back one last time, "However if you do aid them in any way from now on you will be found guilty, and then not even the guild will be able to save you from the empire, oh and tell the missus Commissar Reynauld says hello..." As he walks out and shuts the door.

He lets out a sigh of relief as he lays back in his chair, looking around at the empty bar, his eyes catch his daughter just peeking around the corner, he can't quite help but pinch the bridge of his nose in frustration.

Lucius: "This isn't exactly how i wanted to cash in the favor he owed me, but i just hope Alice will be alright"

Isabella: "So then, Alice is with uncle Isaac now huh... " She walks over to a stressed out Lucius and hands him a frothy mug of ale and sits next to him. "He's not exactly social or good with kids, and Alice is just as stubborn, you think she'll be okay?"

Lucius takes the mug and just starts chugging it, the large mug looking like a teacup in comparison to the giant's rough hands is finished in just a few seconds and is quickly slammed down onto the table

Lucius: "Oh fer-... she doesn't have a choice now, Alice wasn't an official apprentice like you Isabella," Lucius looks to his daughter and lets out a sigh "Her only choice now is to take the official guild exam, otherwise she will be hunted down for the rest of her life."