Alph's eyes flutter for a moment, and then he shoots up, gasping for air. He looks around wildly, and then begins to calm as he see Swyn sitting at his bedside. Swyn sits still for a moment and then pulls Alph into a tight hug. Alph goes rigid for a moment, not knowing what to do.
"Swyn...?"
"Give me a moment." Swyn says, her voice shaking.
After a few moments, Swyn finally lets Alph go, giving a light kiss on the forehead.
"You gave me and Fey quite the fright." Swyn says, her tone back to normal.
"Sorry..." Alph says, his head still pressed against Swyn's chest.
Swyn studies Alph for a moment, and then sees that Alph's hands are trembling. She wraps her arms around him, and begins running her long, slender fingers though his hair.
"It must've been scary, losing control of your magic so suddenly." Swyn says.
Alph pulls his knees against his chest and tries to get his hands to still. Slow, measured footsteps walk up the staircase, and Fey appears in the door. Her eyes widen as she sees that Alph is awake, and rushes over. She sits down opposite of Swyn and runs her hand up and down Alph's back.
"You're okay, Raven. It was a simple mishap." Fey says, offering a smile.
Alph hangs his head and stares down at the sheets.
I still don't know what's going on... What happened...? Why am I in this world? Why are powers like this manifesting...? Why is this happening?
"What if I hurt someone...?" Alph asks, his voice trembling.
"We'll be there to make sure no one gets hurt, Raven. We just need to find a way to reel in your powers, and then we can make sure that you'll be able to safely use them." Fey says.
Later in the day, Fey takes Alph back out to the clearing from the day before, Alph once again stands in the center, but no storms swirl around him today.
Alph puts his hand up and mana begins to build he breathes deeply, and the mana buildup begins to slow, and then eventually comes to a stop. Alph holds the mana there, his arm slightly trembling.
"Now, let it go." Fey says.
Alph lets the mana fire out and it forms into ice, stabbing into the nearby tree. Fey watches in wonder, staring at the tree in shock.
"So, it's true... You really are..." Fey trails off, staring at the frozen spike.
She shakes her head and looks at Alph, who is now awfully pale, he doubles over and begins coughing violently, blood splattering onto the ground.
"Alph!" Fey exclaims, trying to help the boy.
Alph keeps coughing and collapses to the ground, his eyes widened and bloodshot, the gems at the corners of his mouth pulsate and a storm rages within them. Alph begins to wail in pain, tears pouring down his cheeks as his body begins to convulse violently/
"Alph! Hold on!"
Fey puts her hands on Alph and closes her eyes, she shudders as she feels the massive amount of overflowing mana surrounding the boy's body. She begins to absorb the mana, but then turns and coughs violently, her own crimson blood dropping to the ground. She stares at Alph in fear, not knowing what to do.
"Swyn!" Fey yells as loud as she can, her fear rising.
Swyn rushes out of the forest, her eyes wide in shock.
"What happened?!"
"Alph's mana! It's overflowing! I can't take it all!"
Swyn bites her lip and looks at the flute on her belt. She looks at Alph and then the flute and frowns deeply.
"I'm calling her."
Fey's eyes widen and she looks at the flute.
"You're going to call her?!"
"We don't have a choice! We can't let Alph die!"
Swyn pulls the flute off her belt and raises it to her lips, she begins playing a beautifully tragic melody, one that sounds as if it's the depths of malice itself, one that rings out bloodlust that writhes and hungers. A few moments later, a thunderous crash lands about ten meters away. A deep, dark purple shade walks towards Fey and Alph, and stops a few paces away.
"Hm? It seems you have quite the problem..."
"Please, Lady Ancient, strengthen his body so that he can contain his mana!" Fey pleads.
"Oh? And what do I get in return?"
The shade looks at Alph and watches him for a moment.
"I see... Well then, I have my price." The shade says.
Swyn looks at her suspiciously, her eyes sharp as daggers. The shade extends a long, tendril-like finger towards Alph.
"The boy will come to me when he comes of age, he will live with me, in the snowy peaks of Stormbreath, for a time. Agree to these terms, and I will see to it that the boy lives." The shade says.
Swyn stares at the shadowy figure, furious.
"You're insane! We won't-"
"I accept your terms."
The shade and Swyn turn to Fey, who's eyes are filled with determination.
"As Alph's guardian, in four years' time, I will deliver him to you." Fey says.
The shade's eyes fill with amusement and her mouth twists into a wicked grin. She crouches down beside Fey placing a hand on Alph's forehead, the boy immediately goes rigid under the magic power of the Lady Ancient. The shade lays a finger on Alph's eye and begins to speak in a booming, guttural language that's mere words shake Swyn and Fey with their power.
"Si ahfven wux sia carnation, kagh carrier di sia regipre. Jaka Ileisgar, sia katima."
A burning singe rises from Alph's eye, and he begins screaming, and writhing, but all of his attempts are for naught under The Lady Ancient's strength.
After a few moments, the boy goes still, unconscious. The shade rises to her feet, satisfied.
"Remember, four years, if he is not delivered, I will come to get him myself."
The shade crouches and leaps up into the sky, leaving Swyn and Fey alone in silence. Swyn hangs her head, her frustration growing.
"We've made a decision we're going to regret." Swyn says, her hands trembling as she watches Alph.
"Indeed..." Fey agrees.
Fey lifts Alph's head off the ground and kisses him on the forehead. She scoops him up and gets to her feet.
"We should head back, he needs rest."
Swyn nods and approaches her sister. She wraps her arm around Fey's shoulders, and they begin to trek back to the village in solemn silence.