Return of the Known

"Your Royal Highness, try holding it like this"

"Like this?" she asked, trying to imitate him. 

Lucius spotted Ayira unable to perform her magic powers. Other pupils in the Magicast of Ariadne Tower are currently performing magic. 

The Tower of Ariadne began recruiting not only armed forces but also persons with the ability to utilize magic. They intend to prepare a stronger defense and attack if they ever clash with Christos. 

"Why...I can't," she answered, feeling defeated. Lucius did not answer and instead observed Ayira, who was having problems using her wand.

"Is my wand Broken?"

"I don't want this anymore," she said, exhibiting disappointment in herself and losing confidence. 

There are two types of magicians. The person who used a Magic Wand and allowed their energy and mana to flow through it. The other was to cast a spell without a tool just like Alaunos and other magicians who mastered the concept of a flowing life force, known as qi.

[qi = vital energy or life force that keeps a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health in balance.]

Damayanti appeared unannounced and stated, "Nothing wrong with the wand, Your Royal Highness." 

"It is about your burning desire to manifest magic. If you lack that, you will struggle to cast one."

Lucius watches him and pays attention while the princess is unable to understand the concept. 

"It's like wanting chocolates but the king won't let you. So you do anything only to get the chocolate." Lucius whispered to Ayira, who began nodding in response, indicating that she was beginning to grasp the concept. 

"It appears that magic is simple to cast. However, without a strong desire, it will be challenging."

Damayanti glanced at Lucius, who decided to sit down before continuing his talk.

" Lucius Father, Alaunos was a very excellent mage. He cast his first magic hex at the age of seven," he stated, remembering Alaunos' greatness.

Ayira, who dislikes listening and learning, began to express interest. She sat down and gazed at Damayanti with anticipation. 

Damayanti, who noticed the princess was enthralled sat down with them and began telling them a story. 

"Is Mother with Lucius Father?" the wondering princess spoke up. Damayanti simply nodded in answer. 

"When will they come here?" she innocently asked. Her question prompted a period of silence among the three. 

"They are dead," The composed Lucius made an unexpected statement, making Damayanti appear unprepared. He was shocked. 

"No, they're not!" Ayira declared, furious and seeming hurt. 

"They are!"

"No!"

"They are dead!" Lucius exclaimed, standing up from his seat in rage.

"Lu-"

Damayanti was cut off after Ayira began crying. Lucius, on the other hand, looks at her in affront and storms outside of the room. 

Lucius, who was ten years old, appeared frail and naive, even though with his appearance, he was aware of what was going on.

He was an extremely sensitive child to his surroundings and other people's emotions. But witnessing Her Royal Highness and the others around giving her false hope of seeing her mother again makes him upset. 

He'd rather eat bitter condiments than unknowingly ingest salt that he believed was sugar. 

After Lucius stormed off, Ayira, who was with Damayanti, walked out wailing, leaving Damayanti quite stupefied. 

He shuts his eyes for a while and lets out a sigh, attempting to remain composed before following Lucius and Ayira. After he left the room, the two were out of his sight. Perhaps the two ran to their parents' arms. 

 "Mothers are not dead," she claims, making an effort to hold back tears.

Ayira, who was saddened by what Lucius said, went off to the Tower's garden and hid in the daisy bushes while plucking a petal. 

"Mother..." she sniffles, not wanting to let out a cry.

"She's not...dead," she added, wiping the tears from her cheeks that had fallen earlier. 

"Of course, she's not," a familiar voice commented from behind her. When she looked back, her eyes expanded, she got up and got emotional, confusing the person in front of her.

She sniffles, attempting to keep her tears from falling. 

"W-Why again?" he stuttered in response to Ayira's bawling her eyes out in front of him.

"Mo...Mothers weren't dead, right?" she inquired, wiping her eyes.

"Yeah, how could she if she died?" he responded jerkily.

Ayira, who glances at him, stops crying. He looks at her, bothered, feeling concerned. 

"Crying takes the beauty out of your face; maybe that's why the princess isn't...pretty!" he mocked, laughing at his joke.

"Zagan!" she stomps her foot, flustered. 

Zagan continues to giggle while holding his stomach. 

"Aw, my stomach hurt hahahahaha!"

"The princess stomping her foot," he paused and leaned closer to Ayira, who was flushed, and embarrassed.

"What are you, a child?" he taunted her more before continuing to laugh.

"I am a child! I am ten!" she exclaimed, upset. Zagan then looked at the enraged princess, still suppressing his giggle.

"Don't tell me you're going to cry again?" he ridiculously asked. 

"I hate you! You and Lucius!" she exclaimed, storming away. 

"Her majesty's child is really... something," he mumbles, following Ayira. 

Ayira began accelerating as she sensed Zagan was following her.

"Ayir-"

"Stop following me!" 

"Nope" he responded, causing Ayira to sprint away. He cracked a smile before going after her. 

"Ayira, Her Royal Highness" he playfully said. Still teasing the princess. 

Meanwhile, Lucius, who had gone away, ran to his mother's arm, who was doing her daily crochet in her chamber in front of the window. 

Lucius, who had a reputation for being composed like his father, barged into her room and hurried towards her with a distressed and upset expression. 

She put away her crochet supplies and let his son sit on her lap. Hug and soothe him. He began telling her mother what had upset him. After discovering what happened, she has a sad expression on her face, showing that even though they tried to hide the truth from Lucius, he discovered it on his own. She knew that his son felt betrayed.

 "Lucius, Priest Damayanti is looking for you," she said when one of the tower servants knocked to ask for Lucius and told her that the Priest was looking for Lucius. 

"I don't want," he mumbles, pressing himself into his mother's arms. Lady Eshe then started stroking his head, attempting to console him.

"The princess must be hurt, Lucius," she explained.

"But I'm only telling the truth," he said, raising his head.

"But Lucius-"

"No, I'm not going to apologize; I'm not wrong!" he exclaimed, teary-eyed.

Lucius, who was seated on Lady Eshe's lap, stood up. Looking like he was holding multiple feelings. He was upset, depressed, and hurt. 

"You all always say that father is alive, that they are safe, and that they only go to town to protect people. How come..." he pauses as his tears begin to fall. 

"How come Father never visited me since I was born, does he not like me?!" 

"Lucius..." Lady Eshe spoke in a gentle and calm tone. She expressed concern for her son. She knew exactly how he felt; after all, she was his mother.

"Father was a great mage, everyone knows him and maybe having me who was opposite to him, embarrassed him... That's why....that's why he never came" he remarked

Lady Eshe, who was observing his child's frustration, rose and went into him, embracing him.

"N-Noo, Lucius, Your father would not feel that way; having you is a great blessing to us," she stated in a trembling voice, trying not to cry. 

Lady Eshe, who always appears strong and unbothered, expresses her emotions for the very first time. 

She longs for her husband's presence dearly,

Wishing to hold him close, sincerely.

To relish laughter and joy once more,

Every moment with him, her heart implores.

Together, they'd roam the town's busy streets,

Hand in hand, where love sweetly beats.

Her soul aches for his comforting embrace,

In every memory, his love finds its place...