"This place is beautiful!" Cross commented while walking through the streets of the town they had come to know had the same name of the academy. Along the streets of Darkmoon's island were beautiful plants and flowers, moving slowly to the wind, dancin'beautifully. Some of the flowers bloomed at the mere presence of a person and was simply charming.
The creatures that moved about looked less normal from the ones they were used to. They posed no threat though, and just followed their tamers wherever they went. The people who moved about all had some magical capabilities to be able to cope in the town.
Cross who walked alongside Jarett couldn't help but smile at the ambience of the place. Jarett said nothing and just kept looking around. They had no destination in mind and just wanted to explore. They walked past a pub, a bookstore, a weapon's store, and even met an open area made for the children of the place to gather and play around as much as they wanted. At the moment, there seemed to be a small showdown of powers and the duo decided to go have a look.
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"I am curious, how did you get the griffin in the necklace?" Damien asked Lecter as they sat in one of the gardens in the town which was filled with daffodils. Goldfield was busy feeding on its prey. Lecter didn't have the money on him to get the griffin feed which was surprisingly being sold in a store. Not only griffins but different beats feed were being sold as well.
"I don't fully understand the magic behind it, but it was the twins' father," Lecter answered. "He was the one who gave it to me. I didn't want to leave him at home and I just couldn't bring a beast into school, so he helped me out for a price of course."
"A price? What exactly did he ask for that you could give?" Damien asked.
"Something very simple," Lecter said.
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"This town is nothing short of magical!" Kiyan said with a usual gleam in his eyes whenever he was in awe. Raten took in a deep breath and looked around with a wide grin.
"This is peaceful," he said. The past two years leading up to this day had made them know the meaning of peace, but with the new appearance of an old nemesis, it was easily short-lived.
"Don't you just love this place?" A voice spoke from behind them. It was a voice they did remember and one they wished they didn't have to hear. He placed his hands on both their shoulders while speaking. The twins pushed it off and turned to look at him.
"What do you want, Torrance?" Raten asked. His eyebrows were furrowed and he had a frown. He and his brother were so agitated at the presence of the young lad.
"Nothing much, I just thought since we've known each other for a very long time and are now here in the same academy, maybe we could bond, you know, become friends even," he answered with a smile that annoyed them even further.
"Okay. Now, what do you really want?" Kiyan asked this time.
"Like I said already nothing much," Lecter replied. "You did say this place is beautiful, right? I want to ask you two, if you know why your existence is a curse?"
"Our existence, a curse?" Raten raised a brow. "I only understand that my existence is a cause of fear and of worry to you people. Isn't that why we are wanted dead? Just so you all can get rid of what you fear."
"Fear? Oh please," Torrance scoffed. He then moved closer to them and whispered, "Your existence is a curse because Teferi is the cause of a massive destruction in the world. You think this is beautiful? Letting you two roam free will do nothing but reduce it ashes."
"Just what are you saying? Is this the stupid tale stuck in the stupid minds of you people?! It is the highest level of stupidity to believe such nonsense." Kiyan said in utter disgust.
"Stupidity? So the empire is now stupid, even the academy is?" Lecter said. "I would suggest you take a trip to the school's library, even the bookstores and see for yourself what the academy thinks of your family. Sir Chadwick has said already the history of magic will be taught next week."
"You will sit and hear the class learn more about the curses you two unfortunate souls really are. Maybe when you understand the gravity of me knowing who you are and possibly telling the wizard elders will lead to something crueler than death, then you won't talk back at me like this," he said with a serious tone this time. He walked passed the boys hitting their shoulders on purpose.
The twins stood in place staring into seemingly nothing. They both turned slowly and stared at Torrance's back as he walked away. "What exactly happened? Why will they just want us gone?" They wondered. No matter how many times they asked themselves those questions, they couldn't find an answer.
They had asked Lecter but he didn't know much, neither did Jarett. Their father would only tell little details that he could remember. He would just ramble words as though they were a problem to say. The more they stayed with him, the more it felt like the memories in his head are a mess and their uncles confirmed it. It then made them question the reason he had last told them. Was it really true or false? Or was it what he could tell from the scattered pieces in his head.
When he could not provide his usual messed up answers that most times didn't correlate with the last ones he would say, he had other words for them.
"Whatever impression the world has of you does not matter. What you become, what you think of yourself, that's what matters. Even if I tell the nonsensical reason they have to hate you, would that change a thing? Will it stop the hate? Will it reverse what they did to you?! What they did to us, will it be reversed?!"
"You only have to keep living, do what you want, follow the path you choose, while watching your backs. It is best you two know you are hated by everyone and move alone than to be surrounded by vipers pretending to be friends. Never you put down that shield around you. I may have failed in the past, I was helpless that day, but I say to the two of now, whenever trouble presents itself, I Agnar Teferi, will be there. No harm will befall the both of you while I'm still alive."
"Looking for answers to your questions are nothing but a waste of time. Although, some of your questions deserves answers. In due time, everything will be revealed to you and it will all make sense. For now, just live."
They had decided to leave it at that and hold on to their father's words. But now, listening to Torrance, a part of them was itching to see what was written about their family and rightfully so. For some reason though, knowing that there were books which had their family name and possibly family name written down made them feel somewhat good inside. It might have been for bad reasons, but people are reading about them and would cower in fear and the mention of a single name. That in itself they viewed as power, the power of Teferi.