Chapter 49

Nolan shifted, his breath caught in his throat. "Who's there?" he asked the darkness. He wanted to ask what it was, not who, but he didn't dare. The darkness answered with a ripple.

He could feel the darkness get deeper and more draconian until he couldn't even see the silhouette of his hand, even though his fingers were mere inches from his face. The strange darkness had drained the world of all light.

Nolan stepped back but did not find the door, the wall, or anything solid. Only emptiness. "What is this place?" he muttered, shuddering.

"What are you doing here?" a familiar voice asked.

It was Master Lancel, his foster father. He could not see the man, but he knew his voice. He realized that this strange darkness was a manifestation of Lancel's powers.

The unique turn of events had taken a lot out of him, and he could not weave up a lie for his presence here. So, he told him the truth; that he was exploring. Nonetheless, he found himself apologizing.

"...you didn't say I couldn't explore, so I overstepped my boundaries. I'm sorry."

A hand fell on his shoulder, its grip gentle yet firm. "Perhaps my question was too vague. Why are you here?" He did not sound angry, to Nolan's surprise.

"I wanted to know more about the person because of whom I am here," he said.

Nolan heard the Master exhale. The hand left his shoulder and with a sigh, the tenebrosity rippled once more. The blackness was no longer oppressive or all-consuming; he could see the outlines of furniture and, to his delight, his body.

"Next time, ask me…we are family now." Lancel asked. The man had left his side, and he flicked the switch on the wall that was very much there. Bright yellow light flushed out the gloom, allowing the two to see each other.

Nolan turned to look at him. He put on his most apologetic face and replied, "I'm sorry."

The Master raised an eyebrow. "You needn't act sorry if you aren't."

Nolan choked, turning stiff.

Lancel stepped past him. "You need to work on controlling your expressions. Cut some time out of your combat training, I will hire a tutor. Come."

Nolan followed the man into the room. It was simple and elegant. The tiles were handcrafted wood. A soft, cashmere carpet lay at the center. It was as if someone still lived here.

Master Lancel strode to the bedside table and picked up a framed photo. On it were four people; two adults, one teenager, and a child. His foster father looked at it for a moment, longing in his eyes, and then sat down on the edge of the bed. With his free hand, he patted to the space at his side.

Reluctantly, Nolan sat.

"This is Lilian, my sister," Lancel said, pointing at a tall, joyful woman. Her auburn hair was long and lustrous, reaching her waist. "Ean, her husband," he introduced next. Other than the odd gray sclera his son possessed, he was the spitting image of Dane, only older and more dignified. "Dane and Eliana, their children," the Master said. Heart's Bane sat on Ean's shoulders, holding his father's neck, while the man held his legs, ensuring he didn't fall. He did not have those odd eyes back then.

Eliana was older than Dane, while he looked like a child in the photo, less than five, she was a teenager. Heart's Bane looked like their father, but she resembled their mother. Her auburn hair was tied in a bun, and she had a smile that reached her green eyes, which was perhaps the only thing she inherited from their father.

Nolan fumbled for something to say. "What was she like?"

Lancel seemed stumped. Finally, he said, "Willful."

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A/N: Sorry for the long hiatus I took. I will increase my rate of updates now. Thanks for your patience.