The light above us flickered very slightly as a heavy silence fell. My eyes were quivering at the sight of the silky blonde-haired girl in front of me, cheeks puffed and arms crossed. Her death glare attempt seemed much more successful compared to her previous tries; perhaps it was the butterflies fluttering in my stomach that helped it penetrate my fragile conscience. It was the glare of antagonism — so scarring that I could burst into tears at any moment.
I held onto the arms of the sofa; cushions desperately wrinkled as it sank under my weight. Our conversation seems to be going off-track. On the other hand, one might not even call this mere back-and-forth an actual conversation. That moment I entered through the front doors, Rona sat expectantly on the very same seat she is in right now, staring fixedly at the door. It took a few moments for her to realize I had entered.
From my first impressions of her at that passing timeframe, I had guessed correctly that she had been crying all day long ever since she slapped my face and ran away this morning. I felt so guilty for tainting those beautiful green eyes of her with unadulterated tears forming and swelling the perimeter of her corneas. Without a doubt, I had to do something to make it up to her. But what, exactly?
That question has led to me here, sitting in silence as I ponder over my options for conversation, all the while with Rona's glinting pupils staring at me, like a predator prepared to ambush its prey. So I've said 'Hi,' and she just nodded. What on Earth is she implying here?
Thoughts sizzled in my head, not unlike the buzz of an annoying mosquito flapping its vulnerable wings by my ears. This is no good. I have no clue what to say.
As if reading my mind, Arianna Heartwood entered the living room from descending the stairs, still flaring magnificently with all her angelic beauty. She looked at the both of us with questionable eyes, but did not meander too far into our hearts. She spoke with a soft tone. "Ah, so you're back, Ernie? How was training camp for you today?"
The thoughts erupting within my mind immediately snapped to the opening created by Arianna. Oh, thank God! Mrs. Heartwood, my queen and savior!
I took the chance and answered almost immediately. "G-Good evening, Mrs. Heartwood. Training camp was really f-fun, I must say. I met quite a few n-nice people."
Arianna was about to open her mouth for a response, but her daughter cut her off by a longshot. She said, "Mommy, I've already told you Ernie has committed a crime towards your services! Please don't talk to him like he's not one!!" Her pleading voice was almost at the volume of a shout, but it shook with fragility at her continuous crying, evident by her swollen eyes.
Arianna did not question her daughter's thinking at all. She merely spoke softly. "My dear Rona, I have no clue as to what you are trying to tell me. All throughout the day, you have been bickering on about Ernie turning his back to me and threw away my aid, but I'm afraid I do not understand. Is there something I'm missing between the two of you?"
Guilt rose from the bottom of my stomach like vomit rising up in waves. That heated brain of mine could only think of kneeling on my knees in front of Mrs. Heartwood and apologize profusely for something she herself is not fully aware of. However, I thought better of myself and chose to remain silent, continuing to keep the confusion at bay. That is the one event I least want to happen, lest this situation calls for it directly.
"I already said it a million times!" Rona growled, evidently frustrated by her mother's unworldly confusion. I was confused as well: does Arianna not know why Rona is so angry at me and sulking all day? Or is she feigning ignorance and choosing to be a neutral party to all this? Either way, I couldn't speculate it, not when Rona is practically shouting at her own mother. "Ernie shouted at someone at camp because they mentioned his sister! Didn't you say he shouldn't be doing that anymore? He even said himself you helped him cope with his problem! And he just went on to throw all your help away in that instant!"
Arianna merely looked at her daughter, bemused. I could also say the same for myself. I've never seen Rona sounding and acting all flustered before. This situation is more serious than I thought...
She went on with her tirade. "Just listen! Mommy, you went out of your way to use your powers and help Ernie. You shared all that advice with him and really helped control his emotions. But the very next day, he just acts as if your advice is nothing but a bunch of useless information! He went and broke down just because of his sister! It's so unfair for you—!"
Arianna sighed. "Ernie," she pushed aside her sister and turned her attention towards me, "is it true? You broke down and shouted at a fellow camper for mentioning your sister?"
My jaws were stuck, opening and closing while unable to say anything in response. Fortunately, I was able to rack up enough brain cells and string about a sentence. "Y-Yes, it's true... I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to do that! I was out of my mind that time! I swear! I apologize — please, and I mean it! I wasn't —" Before I could finish, I was cut off by Rona's louder voice.
"Yadda-yadda. It's all just excuses! I saw it all happen! Mr. Mason was just innocently talking about your sister's achievements, and you just had to get angry and shout at him! Almost everyone near us could hear your stupid screaming! It was so embarrassing!"
"That is indeed very concerning, and I do want to say a few words to Ernie myself," —James piped in after watching the show go on by the sidelines— "but Rona, I'm afraid you're taking this a tad bit too far. I know you very much respect your mother, and all the kindness she gives to everyone here, but I can very much say that your attitude is all but respecting your mother. Please calm down," he said crossly. Rona's mouth snapped shut, then plopping herself back down onto her seat, from which she was slowly rising up just now when she shouted at no particular person.
"And Ernie," James continued, "all of this seems to stem from you. If you've a right mind as I previously thought, then I expect you to fix this ASAP. I can't stand any of you being so distant. For the sake of family, don't lose your grip. I'll be at my room if any of you need me." And then he left, without another word.
Neither Rona nor myself could say anything else. We sat in silence pondering upon our mistakes. Arianna chose to break that silence. "Your father is right, Rona. At least I know you can sometimes be this fierce, but your father rarely, if so ever been that stern before. You're certainly making this situation far worse than it seems."
"But mommy!" Rona retaliated, flailing her arms everywhere. "Ernie broke his promise! He didn't abide by your selfless help!"
"Selfless as I was, I don't remember ever making a promise with Ernie. Unless I'm forgetting things" —Arianna looked at me for confirmation, to which I shook my head implying that no promise was ever mad in the first place— "which I am certain it will happen sooner or later, especially with my pendant stolen, I'm not sold by your words."
"That's the point!" Rona rebuked, "Your pendant was stolen! That is all the more reason to not trust Ernie! He cheated you out with your powers, and then the sole thing that keeps your powers at bay gets stolen! How are you even coping with all these mishaps? Surely Ernie discarding your advice worries you?"
"The thing worrying me more than Ernie shouting at people is your attitude, Rona!" Arianna's voice was now rising. This is definitely not normal, not even in the realm of irregularity. This is irregular even among the abnormal. "If Ernie did not heed to my advice, then so be it. Words may not always touch the hearts of every person. Change comes in many different ways depending on who you are. If I have anything to say about Ernie at all, it is that his act of shouting at people he just met seems very concerning. Aside from that, I see no fault in his ways."
"But how?! How do you not see that Ernie is being irresponsible? Had I not slapped his face, I'm sure Mr. Mason would—"
"You what?!" Arianna's high-pitched screech pierced both my ears and my heart. She sounds genuinely furious now.
"...Mommy? Did I say something wrong?" Rona was cowering in her seat now, shrinking herself by the second. The look of her mother's face was extremely stern. It made me shiver in fear.
"Ernie," she addressed me in a trembling voice, "did she do that? Did my daughter slap you in the face?"
"I— She— Y-Yes, she did s-slap me... but it wasn't that bad! She was just angry for you, that's all—!" I responded almost in a rush to defend Rona, but it seems Arianna was just having none of it. To think, her daughter, of all people, would be the one who would slap a person like that. It was absolutely unforgivable to her.
Shouting at someone is one thing, but physically harming them? That is not how normal people should be communicating. For what does a person deserve to be physically harmed due to a few scornful words? How deeply scarring should the oral abuse be to have the abuser justifiably get punched or slapped or elbowed in the face? Certainly not some kiddy anger.
For that reason, Arianna snapped. She has had enough. "Rona, you have committed a foul act of violence. That is not how I raised you."
"M-Mommy! I—"
"No, you are very obviously in the wrong. Slapping Ernie is in every way uncalled for, not to mention outright rude. You truly have disappointed me." Arianna's voice seeped low with controlled anger. She had just enough of everything to sound absolutely terrifying. The darkness swirling in her sky blue eyes raged like storm clouds gushing out lightning every so often.
"But —"
"Rona, there is no way for you to redeem this act. No matter what you say, slapping someone is violence. And you know full well I do not tolerate violence in this house."
"I—"
"To your room. Now."
"..." Rona sat in her chair unblinkingly, tears welling up in her eyes. Her mouth was wide open with shock. She definitely had not expected this turn of events.
"You're hereby grounded for today and tomorrow. I want you to reflect on your actions. Let this punishment sink into you well. Now return to your room."
With a clatter, Rona ran out of the living room and up the stairwell; moments later a bang echoed across the whole house, indicating that Rona is indeed in her room now. I sat in silence, unable to fully digest the chaotic stream of twists this situation has created. What happened? I thought I was the one in the wrong here? Had Arianna lost her footing?
After a few more moments of wandering stares, Arianna sighed heavily and slumped her way into the dining room and kitchen hybrid, pulling out the nearest chair and heavily sat herself down afterwards. She dug her face under her hands and massaged it.
Figuring that Arianna is more than tired, I quickly went to fill up a glass of water and handed it to her. "Thanks," she said with gratitude, though her voice was weak. "I haven't talked so harshly to Rona ever before. This really knocked me down." She proceeded to take large gulps of water.
I looked at her sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Heartwood. If I didn't go and had a breakdown this morning, you wouldn't have been scolding Rona."
"No, Ernie. You're too modest. I will acknowledge that this whole thing wouldn't have happened if you were a bit more sensible, but it's not entirely your fault. I understand that not all scars can be healed in an instant. I was reckless to think that you would be completely stable after I've gave you a fair bit of lecturing. It seems like I've had a major miscalculation."
"Please, it's alright, Mrs. Heartwood. You've already had a lot of things to shoulder — especially with your pendant stolen — and I can't begin to blame you even if you did snap. The things you're facing definitely is at fault here."
"It's inevitable," she sighed. "Life has its ups and downs. I've had my fair share of mishaps, and I'm sure Rona has her own things to worry about as well. I'm afraid I might just have made the situation worse for the both of you this time around. I'm very sorry."
"No — you shouldn't apologize! Rona and I should be doing it instead. Look, this situation has led to a bit of our bonds weakening, and that may have caused a lot of negative feelings. I'm certain a wave of distress is attacking your heart at the moment."
"That is true. Rona is very angry right now, but confused and depressed at the same time. She just can't seem to believe that she's in the wrong. Ernie, you yourself are being very worrisome about all of us. I have to applaud you for being so caring despite the chaos. Ah, I have to consult James on this. I'm sorry, Ernie, it seems I'm not in the mood for more conversation at the moment."
"It's fine, Mrs. Heartwood. Should I help you get to your room?"
"Yes — that would be very helpful, thank you. Oh, and one more thing — I assume you've made some friends at camp?"
My eyes widen in surprise. "What? How did you know?"
She giggled in spite of her tiredness. "It's quite obvious, actually. Even if you were stressing over Rona's anger at you, I could still sense that happiness from within. Maybe those happy thoughts of your friends are making you able to cope with the situation. After all, they do make us feel less hopeless, don't they?"
"...Very true." I nodded, with nothing else to show my utmost agreement. No words could convey how very much I agreed with that statement.
After helping Arianna up the stairs and into her bedroom, I went back to my own room. I went to sleep early that night, still with numerous thoughts swirling inside my mind. All I wanted was to just get this day done with. Tomorrow will be better, I thought earnestly, as I closed my eyes and dreamt the night away.
***
Early in the morning of the next day, I was getting ready for another day at training camp. Although it is not mandatory for students to go every day (due to its autonomy), I chose to be present nonetheless. It was a nice place — perfect for escapism when I needed one. Safe to say, after the events of last night, I definitely need some comforting from my new friends.
Sitting in the dining room while reading today's newspaper was James, sipping coffee as he did so. I was about to eat my breakfast when James almost spat out his coffee. He coughed in shock and I almost jumped out of my seat to help him. With a gesture, he shooed me back to my food, implying he's okay. I thought otherwise.
"What is it, Mr. Heartwood? Did something bite you?"
"No, Ernie," he replied, voice hoarse from the profuse coughing. "Ahem — Sorry for startling you."
"Ah, it's alright. So what happened?"
"News," he explained. "Bad news."
"Bad news? How bad, exactly?"
"Quite a shocking one. You still remember that day when we all went shopping around town?"
I nod vigorously. "Yeah, I remember. What about it? Is it related to the thieves?"
He nodded in return. "Very much so, unfortunately." The frown was evident on his face. Talk about a great start to today.
James explained as he read the paper. "Those thieves — they aren't normal ones. I've had my suspicions that they were all coordinated, but it's pretty much confirmed here. Those bandits were a team — not just your everyday hit-and-run ones; they're a group of con artists. Incredibly illusive, too."
I snorted. "Illusive? They pretty much revealed themselves that day. No chance they're not getting caught soon." It was — to me, at least — a very stupid move to cause all that ruckus in broad daylight. To think they're a bunch of wanted criminals; wouldn't they rather stay hidden than risk being caught?
"No, it's not that easy," James's frown was even deeper now. "If it were so, Arianna would already have her pendant back."
"So they're not captured yet?"
"Unfortunately not." He took another sip of his coffee. "Luckily though, the council managed to find out who the bandits were."
"Council? What's that?" I asked curiously.
"The council — in its full name, the Grand Council of the Phrycillis — is basically the committee that handles all affairs inside the country. Crimes, accidents, international affairs, real estate, laws — just think of anything in this country and it is most likely owned by them, or a branch under them. If I were to define it from the viewpoint of an other-worlder, I would just say the council is the government of this country. Simple as that."
"So... the council — or one of its branches — has tracked this band of thieves down and revealed their identities?"
"Not quite. The branch that released the identities — the Law and Prejudice Department — only took the knowledge they have gathered from previous sightings of these bandits and released their guesses. This crew of thieves are well-known, Ernie. Almost everyone in this state knows who they are."
"They're that popular? Why aren't they already in prison if the officials know who they are?"
"As I've said, they're incredibly slippery. They've striked again, and we had the unfortunate luck to be in the middle of it this time. Their scope seems to have increased as well."
"Increased? By that you mean causing a ruckus in the middle of the town?"
"You're off the mark, Ernie. That day, the ruckus you mentioned — it was all orchestrated by them."
"Wait... does that mean...?"
"Yes, it means that woman who shouted for help — she was one of the thieves as well. It was all to create a distraction and steal some more merchandise."
"That's... that's so wrong..."
James nodded gravely. "That is only the surface. You see, although this was all orchestrated, it was only a distraction for a bigger heist. A heist on the council's headquarters itself."
"Heist on the headquarters...?" My head grew dizzy.
"They are a big crew, approximately around ten to fifteen people all working together. What we saw that day was only part of the whole thing. While that happened, another piece of chaos started by the southeast of the town. With two set of distractions, they planned to lower the amount of officers guarding the main headquarters. It was their plan to weaken the force at the main heist zone and make their entry into the headquarters easier. And they have succeeded, it seems."
"What did they steal?"
"A rather interesting bunch of things. You see, the council headquarters isn't the bank or a jewel shop — it doesn't have much valuables inside except for the piles of confidential paperwork and documents. I don't know the details myself, but the council apparently guards very precious things inside the deepest parts of its headquarters. Things that may end up causing destruction."
I winced at those words. "Destruction? You mean like a weapon? Or a war?"
"Worse. Most likely similar to a magical catastrophe, similar to the one around fifty years ago."
"What? Something happened fifty years ago involving magic? What was it?"
"You'll know it later on when you learn more about the history of Elhera. It's quite rich in detail, actually."
Pouting, I urged him on with his story.
"Back to the point," he continued, "this item that they've stolen — amongst the bunch of other, less important things — is a legendary artifact known as the Moonshire Pass. It is an encrusted shard of magically polished moonstone nestled inside a holder along the lines of this —" He turned his newspaper to show me the picture of the item. Honestly, for a highly guarded item, it seems like they're taking its confidentiality like it's no more than a toy.
The item in question — no bigger than the palm of an adult's hand — was a hexagonal jewel with two longer sides, typical of how a gem would look. Half of it is ingrained inside a holder which had beautifully carved patterns. The carving was of a woman's face, with hair flowing down and then arcing around the bottom perimeter of the holder. Her eyes had no pupils — they were blank, soulless. Her hands jut out from below her hair and is carved to look like it's holding up the weight of the jewel above her head.
It definitely looked the part of an artifact. I can't imagine anything more 'historical-like' than this. It sparked a few questions in me.
"What does this thing do?"
"Well, to know what it does, you need to know something else. I assume you know where the deep Morhyais Forest is?"
"The one far to the east of Phrycantis?"
"Yes, that one. It is a deep jungle of varying biodiversity, passive and dangerous alike. It holds many mysteries, but perhaps undoubtedly the biggest mystery is of the Lunaris Tower. This cylindrical behemoth of a structure reaches high into the sky — similar to the height of the Empire State Building, I suppose — over the top of the highest mountain in Phrycantis, Mount Gamundis. The five-kilometre boost that the mountain gives, along with another four-hundred meter stretch from the tower itself, could scrape the heavens.
"And this key of sorts — this Moonshire Pass — it is used to open up the doors of the Lunaris Tower. As far as I know, none have been able to open it. Many have speculated that it only opens for a sole chosen hero, while others theorize that it only gives access when a certain criterion is met, be it a set of items to be collected or a certain time of the year. So, if you put two and two together — which I'm sure you've already did — you might realize that these thieves have stolen the pass in order to enter the tower and uncover whatever secrets it holds."
"But will they be able to? Didn't you say no one has ever entered the tower before?"
"That's beside the point," James shut his newspaper close. "Entry granted or not, the fact that they've stolen an important historical artifact, and a potentially dangerous one at that, is the main crime here. It's punishable by death — but judging by the stuff these thieves have pulled off in the past, a death sentence would've already been given to them long before."
"Ah... but what's the point of stealing it when they can't even enter the tower itself? Wouldn't that be an enormous waste of effort?"
"They might've just stolen it for keepsakes — to put on their shelves among the dozens of things they've stolen — as trophies of their work, you might say. That's what the council thinks as well, but I'm not buying that at all. Not one bit. There's a bigger plan at work, definitely."
"So you mean...?" My mouth started to hang open, realizing the only thing James might be implying.
"Most likely, by my speculations, they've found a way to enter the tower. How, I don't know. But this all seems too suspicious for a simple 'trophy.' It simply does not make sense."
"Stealing the Moonshire Pass as a trophy for their schemes sounds more believable to me..."
"Believe what you think, but I like to assume the worse-case scenario. Expect the unexpected, as most people tell you to."
"...You sound like an old man."
"Ah, I may be getting on the years. Heck, I've not even reached my forties yet!"
Mr. Heartwood and I laughed together. Then he returned to his serious look and continued.
"Either way, what this band of legendary thieves have cooked up is certainly unforgivable. To think they've used the distractions to gain extra coin."
"You mean the two distractions they caused in the town had an extra layer to them?"
"Yes, and I daresay they are incredibly smart and resourceful in doing so. Aside from a mere distraction, they managed to use the mayhem to their advantage and stole some more things along the way. It might've even worked more efficiently than they've thought — the extra stolen things actually caused more confusion among the council! It's an entirely win-win situation in their perspective."
"How cruel..." I thought of Arianna's stolen pendant, and how it was just part of an impromptu plan that was at large a big distraction. To those thieves, it may just seem like another piece of bounty that they've conveniently just picked up; but to us — the ones who have fallen victim to their schemes — it truly caused a wave of disruption among us. A lot of problems arose, and many things had to be compensated.
No matter how you sugar-coat things, this is just utterly irredeemable. A death sentence is deserved. Definitely, I thought in the haze of swirling rage.
"There are more cruel things out there, Ernie, but it just seems like we've had an unfortunate stroke of bad luck. Nothing we can really do about it."
"But, what about Mrs. Heartwood's pendant? Is there no other replacement?"
"Soneri are hard to come by, Ernie, and that piece of metal that puts a Soneris' power at bay are even rarer. They don't have these types of things in your common marketplace."
"Oh... how long will Mrs. Heartwood have to avoid going to public areas?"
"Before you start worrying about my affairs, why not worry about yours beforehand?" A soft voice came from behind, sounding slightly amused. It was Arianna herself. She was giggling, for some reason. "How about you take a look at the time?"
I looked at the clock hanging on the free wall opposite of where the kitchen was, only to be met with a large surprise. I was ten minutes late to camp.
I hurriedly ate my now-cold breakfast and took the essentials, before scrambling out of the house with a very hastily put-together farewell. "Goodbye, Mr. and Mrs. Heartwood! Tell Rona I said goodbye as well!" I raced through the door and into the open air of the outside, where I hectically ran with all my might to camp. It's only my second day, and I'm already late!!