The corridors of the estate were hushed, the usual activity subdued as tension simmered beneath the surface. Elias moved toward the arcane wing, his pace reluctant. Seraphina's request for his help had come unexpectedly. She was usually distant, a self-contained storm, only appearing when duty or their father called. Yet, recently, there had been a slight but palpable urgency in her manner.
He arrived at the warded chamber Seraphina had claimed for her work. The air inside felt thick, laden with the scent of burning herbs, and faint whispers of incantations seemed to hover in the shadows. She stood near an obsidian table, surrounded by scattered books and scrolls, her fingers tracing an intricate magical array etched onto a large bronze disc.
Without looking up, she addressed him. "Are you going to stand there gawking, or will you actually help?"
Elias stifled a sigh, moving closer. "I'm here, aren't I?"
She turned, one eyebrow arched in silent judgment, but a glimmer of satisfaction flickered in her eyes as he stepped up. "Good. This array is vital. It channels energy from the estate's foundation, reinforcing the protective barrier. But the array has to be stable, or it could backfire. You need to ensure the runic alignment stays exact while I strengthen the power base."
He glanced over the complex array, its myriad symbols unfamiliar. "And if I don't get it exact…?"
"The barrier fails, leaving the estate vulnerable—or worse, the array explodes in our faces." She let that sink in before turning back to her work.
Elias bit back a sarcastic reply, deciding not to give her the satisfaction. Instead, he studied the runes, their sharp lines and spiraling shapes forming an unfamiliar language. The task was tedious, with little margin for error, but he focused on the work, his fingertips tracing each symbol carefully. Silence fell over them, broken only by the faint hum of magic.
Despite his wariness around her, he couldn't deny the strange sense of focus this work required. Seraphina's gaze was a steady presence, and beneath her aloof exterior, he could sense her intent concentration. This was her element, a realm he barely understood but could now respect.
"You're surprisingly meticulous," she murmured after a few moments, her tone laced with reluctant approval.
"Thank you for the high praise," he replied dryly, casting her a sidelong glance.
Her mouth twitched, a flicker of a smile. "Don't push your luck, Elias."
They shared a brief look, the air between them softening for the first time he could remember. As he continued with the adjustments, he found himself stealing glances at her, noticing the subtle tension in her posture, the tightness around her eyes. She was carrying more than she let on, bearing burdens that came with her skills and Father's expectations. It was no wonder she wore her coldness like armor.
Hours passed, and finally, Seraphina straightened, inspecting the array with a critical eye. "It should hold, for now," she murmured, more to herself than to him.
Elias leaned back, his curiosity mounting. He could no longer ignore the question nagging at him. "Why this sudden push for defenses? Is something coming?"
She met his gaze, her eyes briefly narrowing before softening, a rare sign of vulnerability slipping through. "Let's just say… recent events have shown that our current defenses are insufficient." Her tone grew clipped, as though she regretted saying even that much.
"Does it have to do with Father's recent meetings?" he pressed, though he could see her guard snapping back into place.
She turned back to the array, her voice frosty again. "I've already said more than I should. Just do as you're told."
Elias knew better than to press further. Whatever burden she bore was something he wasn't yet privy to, and Seraphina had a knack for shutting him out as efficiently as their father did. But as she reached for a small charm marked with their family's insignia, she surprised him once more.
"Here," she said, handing it to him. "This will alert the guard in the vicinity and protect you within the estate grounds… if anything happens."
He looked down at the charm, feeling its cool weight in his palm. "Why give me this? You don't usually seem concerned about my well-being."
She exhaled sharply, a hint of irritation and her natural icy demeanor. "You may be a fool, but you're still family, We can't have the family name tarnished just because you died. The charm will help keep you safe, so don't waste my effort."
Elias pocketed it, surprised by the unexpected act of kindness although a bit aggrieved realizing her actions were only looking at the benefit of the family and not his well being
'dont be foolish you are nothing but a ghost in the family' elias thought while grinding his teeth her
' i almost thought she cared about me' but he still felt a bit moved however slight. He had spent so many years watching her from afar, viewing her as just another obstacle in the family, but in this moment, he saw something deeper—a determination to prove them all wrong and carry the von schwarzenwald name to heights that even their father couldn't match.
He looked at her, a rekindled flame of ambition burned brightly in his eyes. "Thank you, Seraphina." thanking her for both the charm and the reminder of why he decided to go into forbidding magic ' I can't believe I almost gave up due to falling every ritual, never again do i want to be looked at with such a condescending gaze
She glanced back, the briefest nod acknowledging his gratitude before her usual cold mask fell into place again. "Don't make a habit of it, Elias."
As he left, the charm pressed against his chest, Elias couldn't shake the feeling that the family was facing threats far beyond anything he'd anticipated. Even with the charm if the threat can make some one as cold as seraphina to show emotios then if it really descended the chances of me surviving would be really slim