Shock in the Air

Anyone looking at the group in the tight embrace could deny that this was very close family. The love that was shared between them was practically flying in the air. Minerva who was standing closely by couldn't help but feel a little awkward at this moment. She could only stand there watching daring not interrupt. In her life she had never once come across such a family that openly showed this kind on emotion towards each other but she could understand a little bit from what John had told her and given what the guard at the gate had said it had been two years since he had disappeared.

Where she was from people disappearing was no strange occurrence. One had either been captured by slavers or run away from home in search of adventure with most falling into the former category. Maybe her family was like this when they were alive, she had no way of knowing since she had no memories of the time before she was rescued by the old man. She felt that John was extremely lucky to be born and to have met this kind of family.

She was brought back to the present when she saw that the embrace had eased up. Tears were streaming visibly down the faces of the two women and the older man. A warm smile lingered on Johns face as he let go of his mother who was the closest him in the embrace. Despite her teary and somewhat calm appearance she just didn't know how to react. She had hoped for this day so many times and in the past two years. She was used to putting on a string front but the hope she was holding on to was but a thread about to snap.

Ursula was the first to notice Minerva's presence and walked over to her. Her action drew the attention of everyone in the room and gazes shifted from Minerva to John who was looking on as if unaware what to do before Ursula made an Ahem and gestured with her head.

"Oh right, introductions, where are my manners. Everyone this is Miner, Miner this is my mom:Carol, my dad: Malik and my sister:Ursula."

"Pleased to meet you."

"Nice to meet you."

"Welcome to our home."

They all said this in the order which John had introduced them.

"Thank you, you have a nice home." Minerva said in a thick accent which took everyone back for a moment. They all looked at John as if to ask is that all you have to say. Ursula was the first to break the silence.

"How do you two know each other?"

"Okay, I know you must all have a lot of questions and I am going to answer all of them but can we sit first. Its quite the long story." Hearing this everyone realized that besides Minerva and Ursula everyone else was standing by the door.

"I'll get us some drinks," Ursula said walking towards the kitchen.

"I will order some food." Malik said, "preferences?"

"Pizza please," John said before anyone else could speak.

'Okay, beef right?" ti which John nodded as he walked towards Minerva and sat on the nearest couch. For the next few minutes it was just John and Minerva in the living room. He was sitting cross kneed next to her silently looking at the muted TV. The news were on and some accident had happened on some road but no one had died.

"Your family is quite nice,"

"Yeah, they're the best, You know I was expecting them to be mad."

"From what I saw that wasn't a possibility. Besides you did nothing wrong. Your'e very lucky." she said tapping his hand which was on his slightly shaking hand which was on his knee.

___

"His girlfriend is pretty, but I can't place her accent." Carol was saying to Ursula who was sneaking a peak at the pair from the kitchen doorway.

"I never would have expected him to come back with a girl, I mean he looks good and healthy bearded and all but where has he been." Ursula said looking back into the kitchen.

"Stop gossiping you two," Malik said putting his phone in his pocket. "Pizza is on the way, all our questions will be answered." Malik was now walking into the living room carrying the drinks that Ursula had poured.

"So, Miner is that short for something, I can't place your accent."

"Sorry, the full name is Minerva and my accent is not from around here." her reply could be heard from the kitchen prompting the two ladies to make their way to join the others.

"So how do you two know each other?" Ursula asked as she sat down. John took a cup of tea and handed it to Minerva before taking a cup of coffee and taking a small sip. These small actions seemed to take forever and the short silence before John answered seemed to drag on forever.

"She is my rescuer." he said after taking a sip of the piping hot coffee.

"..."

"What do you mean rescuer?"

"Guys," Malik said implying patience and his wife and daughter leaned back on the chair temporarily.

"When I disappeared - two years ago I don't remember much about what happened, all I know is that when I woke up I was badly injured and if she hadn't found me I probably wouldn't be here." he said nonchalantly to which audible gasps were heard from his mother and sister.

"Poor boy, are you okay now?"

"Yeah, I'm fine mum. I am better than okay."

"So, Where were you all this time?"

John sucked in a deep breathe and released it in a long sigh. He was weighing his options. Everyone was looking at him expectantly.

"Okay first of all the truth may sound hard to believe but I want you all to bear with me, in fact I'll try my best to make it believable." he said this as he stood up and walked towards the hallway leaving some shocked faces behind. He returned a few minutes later holding a bulb to even more surprised looks

"Ahem, John what are you doing?" Minerva asked.

"I'm gonna show them, I don't want to have to lie."

"What are you talking about? What did you want to show us? What does it have to do with where you were?"

"Will you wait, sis"

"And since when did you start calling me sis?" John was furiously shaking his head.

"Sula."

"Don't be shocked." Saying this he lifted bulb with his right hand tried to manifest his magic. Nothing happened. A bit of awkward silence followed as everyone looked at the bulb.

"Tsk tsk just what are you trying to do?" a voice said in his head.

"I don't want to lie to them."

"I know, I can read your mind remember, are you sure this is the right idea. Introducing the idea of magic to a world without it is not wise, from what i have seen from your head, your people are really bad."

"They're my family, I trust them. Now unblock my magic."

"Whatever you say, Master."

---

"He tends to space out sometimes," Minerva said

"Is he okay, he wasn't hit in the head was he?" Carol asked.

"No, the damage was mostly to his stomach. I was riding home from school when I found him passed out under a tree covered in blood." This solicited even more shocked responses from his family. As they tried to visualize this a bright light shone in front of them as the bulb on John's hand lit up shocking them even more.

"What is going on right now?"

"Magic." Minerva said

"What do you mean magic?"

"I was in a place where things like this are normal. Things you can't even imagine here are possible there. I never left the gallery that night, I fell into the big painting."

There was a long period of silence after he said this. Malik who had been mostly silent made to say something but didn't. He was as confused as the rest of them. John proceeded to narrate the story of that night up to the point where he remembered. It was incredibly hard to believe but looking at the shining bulb on his hand it also didn't seem far fetched.

"Can you also?" Ursula was looking at Minerva.

She opened out her palm and a small flower bloomed on her hand which she handed to Ursula.