Chapter 7 - Chaos Brewing

She talked a bit more with her grimoire, until it claimed it was tired and told her they would continue their conversation another time. However, should had already been able to get so answer.

Why your bedroom was freezing? Well, that’s not really complicated. Magic is emotions, be it raw or channeled. You said you were having a nightmare before waking up to the cold, that’s surely the cause. You see, spells are ways to shape magic, use it to do what we want her to do, to make her safe. Raw emotions can also trigger magic, but it would be way wilder and dangerous. That’s what happenned. Your emotions made you use magic without even thinking of it.

What can I do for it to not happen again?

You have more than one solution. First, you could close yourself to magic. It stopped writting one second, as if it was thinking. Humans can’t normally do magic, they don’t have the source in them. That’s why humans create tools to make them able to do it. There is two kind of tools humans can use. Foci, and Source. A focus is something that collect, purify and store the surrounding Aether. The classical exemple is the magical wand. A source is different in that it produce the Aether by itself at the rate the bearer is using it, and don’t depend on stored or collected Aether. Also, the Aether purity is much higher when it come from a source, which make the spells cast with one that much more dangerous. I am a source, so you could technically close yourself to my Aether.

How do I do it?

With specific training. Which will be the answer to all the solutions I can propose.

Training… I can do it. I want to learn magic.

Good, because if you didn’t, I would have killed you an go back to my previous master. Is tone hadn’t even been aggresive, it had just stated a fact, the simple truth.

I-I’m really motivated to learn magic, I swear!

I know, I know. Back to the point. The second way should be fore your to learn and keep your emotions in check. That’s difficult, in particular in your sleep. The final option would be for you to learn as much spells as possible. We don’t know why, but there is a correlation between learning spells and not wild-casting, one that’s not linked to emotions since even emotionaly instable individuals show improvement.

So basically… I need to learn magic…

Yeah, I know. That’s a lot of talk to go back at the starting point. However, I think information is power, and you’re my bearer so, when I think it’s better, I rather give you too much than too little. Just after writting that, the book’s light started to flicker.

I’m tired, host. I’ll go back to sleep till you can wake me up again. And then nothing, or rather, all the words of the page disappeared, letting it blank.

There it goes… At least I know a bit more now. All in all, she was pretty happy about this session.

***

“I’m home!” Screamed her mother, slamming the door behind her. Fuck, it’s already 5 pm?

“I’m coming!” She rushed to great her mom but stopped dead and went back to her room. Shit, where did I put my cast?

“Glimmer?” “Yes yes I’m coming!” There! She quickly put it back in place on her arm and went down the stairs at full speed. “I’m here I’m here.” Her mother seemed tired. She worked as a nurse at the hospital and since last week they had a lot of work on their plate. Well, more than the usual lot, she meant. Nurses where always overworked and her mother was always tired, but more than usual today.

“You don’t look good. Work’s hard?” Lysandre asked her mother.

“Yes. We’ve a lot of people from last wednesday’s attack in bed. A lot of them are dying, too.” Suddenly her mother realized what she had said. “But that’s none of your consern. So, how was the day?”

***

The soft song of sizzle filled the room. I love cooking. She smilled, looking at the homemade meatballs roasting in right pan and the roasted potatoes in the left one. In particular when the day is not hot enough that I feel like an icecream under the sun.

“It's such a pain in the neck~

We have homework by tomorrow~” Music came from the speaker, pacing her cooking while she moved her head to the beat. Her mom had made the meatballs and peeled the potatoes but Lysandre volunteered to cook them while her mom dealt with the vegetables.

“Is dad going to eat with us?” Not that she had hope the answer would be yes, but without asking she wouldn’t know.

“Surprizingly, yes. He said that he wanted to see you, since you didn’t feel well today, and since I made it home earlier too, he saw it as an opportunity for us to eat together, for once.” She seemed happy at the prospect. Happy because they’ll surely bang tonight... Urgh, I’m discusting. She really didn’t want to imagine her parents having sex.

“Feeling better yet?”

“Ah, yes. I really needed one more day to rest and sleep and all.” Fuck, isn’’t there a test like tomorrow or something? “School is… well, difficult, as always.” Her mom hugged Lysandre from behind. “You’re smart. I’m sure you’ll do it. So, what are your battle plans to succeed in this year finals?” “I-I didn’t plan anything yet, mom.” “You should start, Glimmer, or you’ll be drowned like last year.” I know I know. Could we not talk about it now, please?” “...You never want to talk about studying, Glimmer…” Yes, I know, because I hate that!

The sizzle was the only thing someon could heard for a long time in the nearly silent kitchen. Lysandre’ss good mood took time to come back, school’s anxiety turning her inside into acide.

***

“I’m home!” Screamed her dad. “We’re in the dining room!” Answered both Lysandre and her mom. He’s tired too. She thought when she saw him enter the room. The police don’t know where to give head since the attack. She felt a bit guilty knowing the truth but, soon enough, she would tell herself that even if she told it to her dad, he would not believe her. An angel and A demon fighting? I don’t know what he would do, laugh at me or give me a spanking.

“How was work today?” Asked her mom.

“Crazy, like the last few days really. Well, it’s slowly calming down, but I want to put the emphasis on slowly here. Wow, that smells good! And looks good too!” He exclaimed seeing what they had cooked. “Sorry to not have been here to help you.” “Don’t worry, it was fun cooking together.” Answered Lysandre.” And you’ll be the one clearing the table, to compensate.” The rest of the dinner went great. For once, they could talk all together, laughing and speaking about there day, Lysandre deftly dodging the subject of school once or twice more. But, at the end of the supper… Something is off with Dad. She had felt it all along. Her dad was tenser than usual, not about his work. About her, if the way he looked at her meant anything. Not that he was doing it consciently, it was more of a anxious frown from time to time, or a pensive gaze, or tens of other strange sign.

“You want to take your bath before me?” “No mom, I’ll help father clear the table, go take your bath.” “Okay. Don’t take your bath too late if you want to go to school tomorrow.” She really wants me to go to school, it’s just like when I’m sick. “Yes mom.” Finally alone with dad. She looked at him and her mouth distorded. Well no, not totally alone, but we do with what we have. She gave the flying eye a withering gaze before helping her dad with the table. “Are you alright dad?” She had finally found the courage to ask him. She could talk quite freely with her mother but her father was, most of the time, a cealed vault when it come to his own emotions. “You don’t need to bother with me, Glimmer.” He answered with a smile. “Well, I do. You looked at me worriedly during the whole dinner, dad. What’s happening?” “You stayed at home today, Glimmer. I’m just worried about you. You’ve been a bit down since last yesterday.” “...True. I’m in fact feeling a bit down, but I try and do what I can to stay positive. Don’t worry about me.” He smiled. “If you worry for me, why wouldn’t I worry for you? That would be strange if it was the child taking care of the parent, don’t you think. You can go to your room, I’ll take care of the rest.” He’s don’t tell me everything. “Thanks dad! Maybe, if you’ve a bit of time, you could play with me? Like, a bit of League of Champions maybe?” “Maybe a bit. I tell you if I can.” She nodded and went to her bedroom.

***

She’s way more suspicious and alert than before… No, that’s not true. She was always alert, it’s just that she never had a reason to be with me. A sad smile bloomed on his face. Oh Glimmer, what will I do with you… I’m so worried about you that you could see it. Bad from me. I need to take a hold of myself… He was now putting the food leftovers on box to put on the fridge. Well, if she really can see parasitic demons… I’ll be forced to take her in, right? The thought hurt him. The work he was doing was crucial, protecting the town and his familly from demons but… But if I could keep her awya from that, I would. Really. Taking her in and putting her in danger like that… It had a bad taste in his mouth. My God, why do I have to put her in danger?

***

“What the fuck is this!” She screamed of frustration as the ennemy laner killed her for the third time in a row. Don’t tilt, don’t tilt, don’t tilt! Oh? the midlaner want to switch lane? She looked at its stats. 4/0/2 That could do it. The rest of the game went worked out and they even won at the end. 9pm… Fuck, I need to take a bath… Dumbass! She tought violently. You forgot to study for tomorrow’s test! She still had forgotten, even if Marcus had insisted on it. ...Oh, fuck it, one failed test will not really change anything, right? She took some time to think but, in the end, the lure of videogame made her forget about school. Her dad couldn’t play with her, in the end and, as usual, she went to bed way to late, cursing herself.

***

Heaven - Low Earth Orbit - 2042 km above Addis Ababa

The meeting room add nine chair, but only seven were occupied right now. Four man, three women, each one of them was the most handsome individual that ever existed.

“So, what do you want to do?” Asked Uriel, her long blond hair attached in a ponytail, her ice-blue eyes intensely gazing at the others.

“That’s the biggest Rogue Portal there has been in ages. Last time we dealt with that, we had to totally purge Sodom and Gomorrah from their human population!” Mikael retorted, his unkept black hair and eyes giving him a strange aura. “I’ll never authorize the use of the Twin-Cannon on another human settlement! You hear me? Never!”

“Don’t overstep your bounds, brother. You don’t have the authority to forbid their uses.” The voice of Sealtiel was cold, as always, her judgment devoid of any emotions. Logic and facts, that were her weapons. “The only one that can do that is Aliel, and you know it.” Her snow-like hair swayed as she nodded her head toward their Captain-General.

“And what do you three think?” Asked Aliel.

“I’m more concerned on how we will erase that from the human network.” Anxiety showed on the face of Gabriel, already checking solutions and cover up for this disaster of a mess.

“Not my problem. Just don’t do Vienna all over again, we’re not numerous enough for you to throw angels as cannon-fodder.” Raphael was doing something else, Something else for fuck’s sake! We’re talking about human lives and he just can’t stop fidgeting!, not really paying attention to the discussion.

“If you don’t take destroy it directly, I’ll be more than happy to study it.” Barachiel was always eager to study new things. Just like Ezekiel. The thought was sad, like a festering wound infected by regret, oozing with self-blame.

He looked at them. “The use of the twin-cannon Sodom and Gomorrha is forbidden under my direct command.” Mikael let out a sigh of relief. “The in-site Church Shield-net will be activated and civilian casualties will be reduced to a minimum. I’m sure you will be able to find an excuse to give to the humans, Gabriel. At worst, you could use G.O.D. , if that’s okay with you, Sealtiel?” She nodded her head. “Good. I’ll take Saraqael with me for this operation and, just to be sure, we’ll put her Clarion in stand-by, if the need arise.” No one asked why he didn’t put his own Clarion in stand-by instead. A mere rumor about Apolyon being on Earth could spark a diplomatic incident with Lucifer. And for good reasons. “Perfect, that’s done then. We’ll discuss the finer details with the concerned parties. That’s all for this reunion.” They left one by one, Mikael the last, looking back at Aliel. “Don’t worry, brother. I’ll try to keep as many human alive as possible.” Mikael nodded and finally left too. And I’m sure Luca will help me. After all, humanity is his responsability. His mess, I could say.

This make him thought of their last bet. It has only been six days. I wonder how the human girl is doing? Knowing him, he did something sick and she will survive… Maybe I should put a Holy Spirit on her head, just in case? ...More than one?