I'm woken up by a soft knock on my door. I take in my surroundings remembering that I'm on my way to see a relative. I open the door to a man in black whose face I can't see because it's still a bit dark.
"My lady you mustn't be so quick to let a stranger into your quarters what if I had been someone else"
Upon hearing the voice I realize that it's Javis.
"I knew it was you" I say letting out a small yawn as I let him into the room closing the door behind him.
"I wish you'd show a little more concerned about your own safety my lady"
"Anyway what are you doing here so late at night. Shouldn't you be sleeping?
"I just wanted to check up on you. I was worried. It's 6:30 in the morning. Your safety is the utmost importance to me"
I slip back into the bed and wrap the blankets around me. Six is too early to get up.
"I don't feel like doing much today so I'll just stay in my bed all day"
"I'll have Hermione bring breakfast to you. Do you need anything my lady"
I shake my head and lay my head back on the pillow.
"Take care not to open your door to anyone who comes knocking you are a young lady"
"Sure"
The door closes shut and I'm left alone it in the room. I push apart the curtains and let a little light into the room. I'm confronted with the sight of the ocean. Taking a long look at the room I realize that there's nothing for me to do to pass time. I lay my head back down on the pillow and drift off to sleep.
***
I'm once again woken up by knocking at my door. I get up and I'm about to open when I remember Javis's words.
"Who is it" I ask cautiously.
"It's me Hermione my lady. I received instructions to bring your food to you.
I open the door and let Hermione in.
I can hear some noise outside in the hallway. Someone is wailing and I can hear plates breaking.
"What's happening out there" I asked Hermione.
"It appears as though someone has gone missing"
Looking out into the hallway I can see a group of people gathered at a corner. I leave my room and join the crowd pushing until I can get to the center and see what's going on.
On the floor rolling and in hysterics is the man from who I had bought a book from yesterday but the child he was with is nowhere to be seen. Rolling from side to side he moans in a deep and eerie voice "They took my Elliott" Some servants were trying to get him on his feet but he kept falling back down to the ground. They eventually bind him by his feet and hands. As they carry him out our eyes meet. With strength that was unreal for a man so small and frail he broke his restraints and fell to the floor. Once again making eye contact with me he runs towards me causing the people around me to back away in a panic.
He grabs at my nightgown and gave me a look that made my skin crawl.
"You! You saw my Elliott. My boy"
A man beside me kicks him viciously in his side.
"You old fool no one has seen this child now get off her" The man said loudly in a gruffly voice. Kicking him even harder in his side.
I'm dazed. Trying to take in everything that is happening.
With tears in his eyes the old man looks at me and in a hoarse whisper says to me.
"Please. Please help me find my Elliott"
The servants are ready to drag him away when I stop them.
"By Elliott do you mean the child that was with you"
The crowd breaks out whispering and chatting amongst themselves.
The old man nods his head vigorously and smiles.
"She actually saw the boy"
"I just assumed the fool was mad"
"I guess the old man wasn't lying"
"It's true" Hermione pushes through the crowd and stands besides me.
"My lady speaks the truth.I saw a small boy who was accompanying him"
I help the old man back to his feet and brush off the dirt on his clothes.
"I'll help you find your Elliott"
*******At the Mattel Manor*******
She sat alone in her room. Her head throbbing and aching. The worst part of her headaches were the voices.
They forced themselves into her mind. They were full of anger, hate, joy and sorrow. Sometimes they were quiet and tranquil. Other days they were loud and harsh.
At times like these she wished she was faraway from the manor. Far away from this awful place where the people here treated her like dirt.
She was a noble just like her brother but what did it matter.
To the servants of this house she was just a free loader, a mongrel and someone beneath them. She was just the bastard child of Earl Mattel.
Try as she might but she'll never be anything more.
When the door of the room suddenly opened. She wiped the rest of the tears off and buried her face in her pillow.
"My lady"
Asa called out to her as she walked into the room.
"Asa" she rose from the bed.
"How are you feeling my lady"
She placed her hand on her head to check for a fever.
"My head feels a bit lighter now. But I'm a bit tired"
The pain had subsided and she felt a little bit better but she wanted to rest before she did anything else.
"Do you need anything else my lady"
She shook her head. Though the mansion was beautiful and she had a roof over head and food to eat. She hated it here.
"Asa have you ever travelled out of the kingdom?" She asked.
"No I haven't but I would like too one day"
"Where would you go"
She thought about it for a few minutes.
"I'd love to go to Leahcim or Aendesia"
"Why"
"Leahcim is beautiful all year round and I'd love to see the Magic Festival in Aendesia" the enthusiasm in her voice rising.
"Magic Festival?"
"Yes! A festival that happens on the first day of the first month to celebrate a new year. The fireworks and festivities are a sight to behold from what I've heard. They have different types of delicious snacks and games. And a huge bonfire that lights up the sky"
"It sounds like a lot of fun" she said lazily as she wrapped her arms around her.
"My lady?"
"Tell me Asa. What should I do? Or more importantly what can I do?"
"You should inform the young master of your situation. I'm sure he'd be able to do something about it"
"I know but if I do tell him it'll cause more problems. And the second he leaves there'll be no one to protect me"
Smack! She hit her lady on her forehead.
"Ow!"
"My lady if there's one thing I've learned about the young master throughout my stay with you is that he is a reliable person. And that he'll go above and beyond to make sure that you're happy. So what if the Countess or other maids hit us or try to make life difficult for us. Our main goal right now should be to make sure that she doesn't succeed in sending you away. And no better time than now to act than now while she's out of the Kingdom. Neither you nor I have the means to change this situation but your brother does. So please go to him this evening and ask for his help"
Isabella rubbed her forehead. She knew that she was right. But she was still afraid. Her brother was more than capable of dealing with her problems. She just didn't want to be in the manor to deal with the aftermath when he inevitably left to continue his studies.
She could deal with that later. Right now she had to avoid being sold off at all costs.
"Thank you Asa''
*****Aboard the Maria Dolla*****
Two hours into our search and I'm beginning to wonder if it's really possible for an entire person to missing without a trace. It's almost like he had never existed.
Not a single person claims to have seen the boy. We've gone door to door asking questions. Searching every single possible cargo space below the decks.
The more we look the more it seems as though he was never on the ship.
At the back of my head worry begins to settle in.
What if we never found the boy?
What if something horrible has happened to him.
"Let's take a short rest before we continue"
The old man a bit reluctant at first refused but agreed in the end.
"I'll prepare a private room for you my lady"
"Sir please follow Hermione I'll be with you in a short moment"
I head back to my room and shut the door behind me. No one apart from the three of us have actually seen the boy. Could he have wandered over to the ship's deck and fallen into the sea?
It's a scary thought but it is certainly possible.
What can I do in this situation?
After pacing about in my room I can't think of a good way for this to end.
My eyes land on the book laying on my bed.
Feeling down and sad I pick it up and flip it open my eyes scanning its content.
Till my eyes falls on a particular page titled "Easy spells for beginners"
I flip through it scanning the rows of spells and instructions on how to correctly perform them.
*** Inside the First Class Lounge***
The smell of the food in front of me is appetizing. But I have no hunger for it. Its aroma causes me to retch and jerk. Every part of my body feels heavy.
My Elliott is gone.
He was with me I swear he was. I turned my back and like the wind he was gone. Emilee my dear what should I do?
What can I do?
Without him I have no reason to move on.
Why has life always been so unfair to me? Forever toying with me and mocking me.
First was Liza then Emilee and now Elliott.
Why must life mock and taunt me in such a manner?
In the darkest days of my life I met the love of my life Liza. She brought color into my black and white world. For the first time in a long time I felt as if I had something to look forward too, something to be happy about and something to live for. All the bad days vanished and there were only good days. We were both happy. Those were the good days where everyday seemed like a dream. We had just saved enough money to move out of our shabby place.
And have a fresh start for our daughter Emilee. A new life with new beginnings awaited us.
Then tragedy struck. And my world was turned upside down. Liza had suddenly gone missing and not a single trace left behind.
She just woke up and left. And she never came back. No matter how hard I looked I never found her.
Those were the darkest days on my life. I wasn't sure of how to continue from their on.
I was mired in pain and hurt. I had fallen into a pit of despair and resigned myself to it. Nothing could motivate me. I felt hatred and anger at her betrayal.
When I thought all was lost Emilee saved me.
The child that my beloved had left behind. My reason for living became this child. My only joy and pride, With her I was able to carry on and escape the clutches of despair. Life became warm and joyful again. It felt as if no time had passed at all.
But before I knew it my little Emilee had fallen in love and gotten married. I was proud to walk her down the aisle. She had grown up and had to live her own life. I moved back to the country side. An old man like me isn't suited to the busyness and stress of town life.
But just like Liza disaster struck once again. When Emilee and her husband died. Attacked by a vicious beast near the Piean Docks and torn to pieces. Grief and sorrow washed over me like a tidal wave. Life seemed to be playing a cruel joke on me. Almost as if it were taunting me.
And like a blessing buried in the broken pieces. I found Elliott. The child that had managed to survive inside of Emilee. And as before I had a reason to move on. No matter how tired I get, no matter how my bones may ache or how hard I have to work I swore to myself that I would protect this child.
My grandson.
But if he's gone then there's no point in living. I can't take this anymore.
****"
I've found it. With this we might be able to find the boy. With the worn out book close to my chest. I headed back into the lounge to meet Hermione and the old man.
The old man barely takes notice of me. A look of defeat and hopelessness on his face. I don't blame him anyone who'd lost a child would feel that way.
I approach him and ask in a soft voice.
"Do you perhaps have anything of his here or anything he's been in contact with"
The old man slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small red scarf that had seen better days from his trouser pocket and hands it to me.
I took the scarf and closed my eyes and just like the book had instructed began to perform the spell.
Taking a deep breath I began to slowly disassociate myself from what was happening around me.
To perform the location spell I have to isolate his mana trace and sense his current location. By familiarizing myself with his mana I can inadvertently sense places he's been to or where he is if he's close enough.
I open my eyes and the scarf in my hands has parts of it that give off a faint green glow.
'Not enough'.
I close my eyes and focus once again. Isolating his mana and mine. I check the scarf again and this time the glow had disappeared.
Once more I shut my eyes and concentrate. Doing my best to sense his mana.
'Pathetic but a good try nonetheless. So I suppose I'll lend you a hand'
My eyelids are stung by a bright light. When I opened my eyes the scarf was bright green. I'm happy that the spell had worked but then what was that voice I heard.
I turn to the old man and Hermione "With this we will be able to locate your child sir. Please follow me"
The three of us left the lounge and began our search with the scarf acting as a beacon. It glowed brightly indicating that we were going in the right direction and dimmed if we went astray.
Our little journey lead us to a room that belonged to a noble. By then the scarf was so bright it was almost blinding.
Our little party had gathered a bunch of onlookers who watched us from afar.
I knocked on the door and called out to whoever was inside to open the door. But I got no response.
I was about to knock again but the door opened, and standing in the room was a woman and a man.
"What do you want?" The woman asked harshly.
"Apologies for the disturbance but I'd like to have a look inside if you don't mind?"
The woman looked back to the man. It was for a brief moment but in that moment I watched the color drain from their faces. That look that they shared combined with their mild panicked expression tells me one thing.
They're hiding something.
"Excuse me But we're a bit busy at the moment please don't disturb us"
And with that she tried to shut the door. But I'd already placed my foot as a wedge to stop her from completely closing the door.
"Come now there's no need for hostility"
I push open the door sending her falling to the ground. I don't think I used that much force.
I stepped into the room and the scarf shone even brighter. I walked around looking for anything out of the ordinary. And that's when I noticed it.
A large black suitcase sitting in a corner. When I held up the scarf to it. It glowed and pulsated.
"You! How dare you barge in like this"
The man in the room yelled at me.
By now we had quite the gathering at the entrance poking their heads through the door hoping to catch a glimpse of what was going on inside.
I ignored the man and walked towards the suitcase. The ever increasing glow of the scarf tells me that I'm on point.
"Hey I'm talking to you!" He screamed as he grabbed my arm.
"Don't touch me" I shout pushing my hand back to free myself.
The man almost as if pushed by an unseen force is sent flying into a wall.
He groans and tries to get up but remains still on the floor.
Yikes! I didn't push with that much force did I?
Moving on I continue towards the suitcase and open it.
Inside it tied up, unconscious and gagged is a child. The one that had been following the old man. I lifted him out of the suitcase and began to remove his restraints.
The room became noisy as onlookers had gathered to see the mystery child.
"I don't believe it"
"I thought the old sob was lying"
I undid all of his restraints and checked his pulse.
"He's still alive" I announced
The old man hugged me and thanked me profusely. I hand the child to him before turning to face the two owners of the room.
"I believe the both of you have a lot of explaining to do"