Chapter 19

“Hah, I didn’t know that you had it in you boy, well done.”

A cheshire grin spread over Walburga’s aged features. Her wrinkled face distorted to reveal an array of sharp fangs.

“Let’s go back to the hut, we need to disappear before anyone else traces the discharged LIch Essence to you.”

Walburga slithered back toward the archway and walked through it. I gazed around the majesty of the Twilight Tower and took a deep breath. Fatigue was gradually creeping up on me and my body felt heavy.

The slow melodious sound of a beating heart vibrated in my ears, The image of Vasilisa sitting in the fetal position flashed in my mind. She was in an empty world and her movement seemed inhibited. Was this what it meant to bind a Bane to you?

The image disappeared and I could hear Walburga growling from the other side, so decided to make my way back to her hut.

“Get some rest boy, the hard part starts tomorrow, I have some business to attend to, so I will be gone till the morning.”

Without warning, Walburga waddled to the wooden front door and vanished. (A/N: try saying that over and over without getting tongue tied LOL)

She asked me to get some rest, but there was no bed in sight...The armchair next to the crackling fireplace was my best bet. The allure of it’s upholstery was inviting. After sinking into the surprisingly comfortable chair, I began to doze off. It had been a long few hours and sleep was irrefutable salvation.

Vasilisa’s image flashed in my minds eye for a second time.

“Leave me alone will you, I’m tired.”

“...”

“What do you want?”

“...”

There was no response from the lifeless Bane. Every time I closed my eyes, her pitiable image materialised on the underside of my eyelids. Why isn’t she saying anything? Better yet, why hasn’t she made an appearance?

“Vasilisa, if you’re not gonna let me sleep, then can you at least explain why?”

“...”

“Vasilisa?”

“...”

“*sigh Come on, at least show yourself.”

As if awaiting this response, she came out. Her hair fluttered as her figure manifested in the dimly lit backdrop of Walburga’s cottage.

“Took you long enough! I am unable to materialise in this realm unless you call for me, idiot!”

“R-right, sorry, I didn’t know...”

“Urrrgh, how green are you? I can’t believe that you managed to forcibly bind me to you. What would my Grandfather say if he heard about this?”

“zzzZZZZzzz”

“D-don’t fall asleep! Wake up you idiot! *smack"

“Ouch, come on, there’s no need for behaviour like that, we’re gonna be together from now on right? Let’s get along, OK?”

Vasilisa’s showed a look of disbelief, it was as if the current state of events finally dawned on her. A few moments passed and I felt a sharp pain in my chest, Vasilisa gritted her teeth and seemed to be struggling with an invisible rope. The pain in my chest heightened, just when it was about to become unbearable, Vasilisa exhaled and fell to her knees.

“*pant, *pant, *pant...I’ve never had trouble separating myself from a Witch or Warlock before, is my affinity with you so high that I am unable to sever our link?”

“M-my heart, my heart was gonna burst...It’s only been a few minutes and you’ve already surpassed Astoria in terms of the amount of pain you’ve caused me…”

“S-shut up! Stop talking, I’m trying to think of a way to escape, I need to return to my search for the Legendary Witch Cassandra. Only she is powerful enough to help me succeed in my mission. Damn it! I should never have rescued you from the Realm of Quadry.”

“Eh? I admit that you rescued me, but you didn’t have much choice, I summoned you remember…”

“Grrr, be quiet!”

Vasilisa turned away from me and began to mumble to herself, I took a deep breathe and cleared my head.

“*Sigh, look, if you really wanna leave, then I will release you, tell me how, but…”

“Really!? All you have to do is say it! Just say my name and that you release me”

“At least let me finish...I’ll release you, but first tell me what business you have with my Mother?”

“Brilliant! W-wait, what was that!?”

“Cassandra, my Mother, what business do you have with her?”

“Y-you’re the son of Cassandra?”

“Well, I’m the son of a Cassandra, I don’t know if its the one that you are…”

“There is only one Cassandra!”

“I-I see…”

Vasilisa turned toward me and showed an appraising look with her dark eyes. She held my gaze for a few moments and I felt droplets of sweat appear on my brow.

“Hmmm, hmmmm, hmmmmmmm.”

“Q-quit it!”

“Well, you do sort of look like her, if I squint a little, I see some similarities in your eyes.”

“Y-you think so? I’d say I look more like my Father than my Mother. Well, what business do you have with her?”

“...”

Vasilisa hesitated for a moment, her untrusting eyes studied me closely, she seemed reluctant to tell me.

“Look, I’ll release you first. Vasilisa! I hereby relea…”

“W-WAIT! I need to find Cassandra...So I can rescue my Grandfather.”

“...”

Vasilisa showed a defeated expression and clenched her delicate hands in frustration.

“Caliban, Caliban forced my Grandfather to become his servant and is now using his power to make soldiers for his army. He threatened my Grandfather by holding the citizens of our Kingdom hostage. My Grandfather is a benevolent man, he would never hurt a anyone, but he is now being forced to create soldiers for Caliban’s campaign against the Order of the White Mage and Verdantian Monarchy.”

Vasilisa gritted her teeth. I could tell that just talking about the plight of her people and her beloved Grandfather was difficult for her.

“If I find Cassandra, then I will be able to help her stop Caliban. There are many Sorcerers and Bane that support his proposed conquest of the Verdant Continent, but there are a few that oppose him. Cassandra has gathered the latter and I need to find her so I can also help.”

Caliban huh... How many times have I heard that name now? The man that turned my world upside down and has ruined the lives of many others. It felt as if fate was continually nudging me toward this man with every new encounter. Part of me even felt that Walburga’s current appearance had something to do with Caliban as well.

Vasilisa sank to her knees and showed a pained expression. Her melancholic pose in the faint radiance of Walburga’s fireplace was beautiful, yet lonesome...

I stood in place and thought things over. Astoria, Gladus, Mother and now Vasilisa, all of them are suffering as a result of the machinations of a power obsessed mad man. My peaceful nomadic lifestyle of a simple farm lad had also become a distant memory due the materialisation of this mastermind.

So far my heart had not been in it, but it was time to awaken from the dreamlike daze of a traveler. This was my world now. Hemlock Farm drifted through my minds eyes for what would be the last time for a long time and I steadied my resolve.

“On your feet Lisa! We have work to do.”

“L-Lisa!?”

Vasilisa raised her head to reveal a look of disbelief and confusion. I returned her look with a confident smile and outstretched my hand to help her up. She stared at my hand for a few moments and hesitantly reached out and took hold of it.

I helped her to her feet and returned to Walburga’s armchair. I sat down and flashed Vasilisa a determined look. She said nothing and we both awaited the return of Walburga, so I could start my sorcery training.