An unknown seal

When I still didn't react, he grabbed my arm. Pulling on it. His grip was firm. But the color had drained from his face. I could see nothing but horror. Sickened, he turned away. My friend, who was as gentle as a tender sea breeze, so loving, could not bear the sight? Diarmid retired. ...step by step. Quickly, faster and faster. Fled to the door like a man on the run, only to slam it behind him.

But I had put down roots and knew that even if a storm raged, I would stand here, trapped in this horribly beautiful sight.

I did not want to see it too, but she had positioned herself so clumsily. I saw everything. Saw the stigmas. Saw the seals.

Seals and marks.

Marks and seals dancing down her back, disfiguring it with this dreadful beautiful pattern.

I knew it was not right. I knew it didn't belong on the back of a child like hers. Never should something like that be on the back of a being that had never stopped smiling. Who was not afraid. She seemed too fragile with his skinny body.

No, it didn't suit the girl I'd known since last night. And, yet I had only known her for a few hours. Knew nothing about this child.

Nothing.

And, yet I was sure that no one should carry such a horribly cruel painting on their back. I knew it was wrong. Yet, I was turning a blind eye to it, I didn't want to see any of it. But my eyes kept staring, I wanted to see it.

Thin circles, squares and triangles formed one big seal. Flowed together in strange patterns. And everywhere were those symbols. I didn't know any of them. Every single one was strange to me. It was ridiculous. A blush of shame burned on my cheeks when I realized. All these years, all this time, I claimed to know everything. That I was an excellent Magoi. To be one of the best in my country. But in reality, I knew nothing. Nothing at all. It was bitter to admit all this. To realize that there was so much more in this world that I did not know, that I had closed my eyes and looked away from the unknown.

The seals woven from Heka looked as strange as this girl with her unnatural white skin, pitch-black hair and eyes that resembled two deep blue seas that would eventually swallow me. I was sure of it.

"What's that on your back?"

She winced, trying hastily to put on the toga. But she didn't seem to be able to. Somehow she just couldn't find the right way to put it on.

But my gaze still hung on this broken seal. The beautiful pattern on the delicate back was damaged. Broken. Again and again burnt skin and scars. Parts of the seal were missing, had become unreadable due to the burnt skin. Hiding the secret that was concealed on her back.

I could no longer look away as I realized. This horribly beautiful image was burned into my eyes. I wanted to see. Wanted to see everything. Everything. Explore every inch of it. But turn away? I couldn't do that anymore. No matter how hard I tried, I knew I could never do it. Ever. Until she hid it again. It was so terribly beautiful. Till finally it disappeared under the white cloth. With trembling fingers, she tugged at the white cloth. It was much too big for her, she seemed to sink in it.

Hesitantly, I approached her. I did not know what I was doing myself and grabbed the belt. But her body seemed to freeze under my touch.

"What are you doing?" Even her voice sounded like clinking glass.

"I'm tying your belt." I pulled tighter on her belt, making her tumble before I tied the knot on her torso. Was I in my right mind. My finger slipped across her spine. "What is that?" It felt like a little eternity passed before she turned to me.

"Long story." Her big grin didn't reach her eyes, I wanted to keep drilling. Keep pushing until she would tell me. Finally, I just couldn't shake the feeling of that this was really important. But she had already marched to her little leather pouch that she wanted to keep. Although Lü Zu had demanded to get rid of all her belongings, she had not given it away. With uncertain movements, she untied it and fished out a white mask. It covered half of her face when she put it on Even her eyes were hidden under the white thing, how could she see anything when there were not even holes for her eyes to see. Everything from her nose up disappeared under the bizarre mask. "Why are you doing this?", endless questions formed behind my forehead. "I don't like people to see my face."

"Take it off! It's ridiculous," I hissed as I tried to decipher the writing on her forehead. I had read about it before. The Hidden Eye, or something like that.

She pushed the mask even closer against her face. I couldn't stand it. She came closer.

"Come on!" She was within my grasp. I wanted to rip it off her face, but I didn't know why it bothered me. I just wanted it to disappear. But before I could reach for it, she jumped back in fear and knocked my hand away. "Don't do that."

"Fine," I cursed before I rushed to the door.