Donar listened quietly to Alicia, Nadine, and Gilmore’s explanations. The furrows and tension that showed up all day on his forehead were no more. However, one thing was explained, another arose: How to tell all of this to the family? No matter, how to account this to Grandfather Alasdair? A disgrace to the House, now making them the ones. The Forgotten was the true anomaly. Unlike Haddock, he gulped, seeing the brand wound on the girl’s hand.

“I appear to have seen that scar,” Haddock said while holding his head. “But I don’t remember where.”

Donar wondered, too. The scar had a particular pattern, akin to being stamped by branding iron. “You’re right. This is no ordinary blister. Is it really from that orb?

“Orb,” replied Alicia.

“What?”

“It is called Orb.”

“Yes, I just call it an orb.”

“Naw. Its name is literally Orb. You don’t call it as a noun, it doesnae like that.

“How does it even know—Awright, never mind. Orb, yes? Sorry, so this is Orb’s doing?”

“Yes, they carved it with electric jolts, I think,” the girl answered. “So you’ve seen this scar?” Alicia turned to Haddock. “Pardon me, but is it fine to ask you to seek what it means again?”

Haddock frowned. “Uhm… yeah, of course. Only, I’ve seen myself bare magical signs, runes, and more. Perhaps they happen to be similar or something.”

“I’ve just remembered. The necromancer. He told me that I and Orb were destined to change the face of the world,” stated Alicia again. “Ah dinnae ken what’s his meaning. But maybe it has a connection to this sign? Or one of the reasons why he and the shinobi from before tried to kidnap us?

How Haddock and his father were increasingly unable to understand what happened to Alicia. “I understand. Leave it to me, I’ll look up with my best,” Haddock promised her.

Leith interrupted their conversation. “So, after you’ve listened to the explanation well, are you going to keep Orb or what?”

An abundance of hope was obvious in the girl’s stare towards the Grand Magus.

“It would be better if Orb serves the Magisterium as a pure Arcane source,” Donar opened his voice first. “Having a source of holy power separated from Roma would be very helpful in quelling the black magic cases that are rampant these times.”

Both siblings turned to their father while saying “Papa!”—the difference was that Alicia exclaimed in disapproval, unlike Leith, who was more subtle but did not lose his firm intonation. The younger brother seemed to understand better the meaning behind his father’s words, considering he and his father had a secret task related to Orb.

Looked like Donar was not expecting something grand. Behind his flat face, he opined Orb is better kept in Magisterium’s custody. He knew well his mandate from the house patriarch militated such thinking. But the matter had convoluted too far when it involved his daughter. This is a new, distinct problem for him.

“We can’t keep Orb,” said Donar. “You will never be safe when Orb is around you. I and Magisterium can’t protect you forever.”

A disappointed tone came from Alicia’s mouth. “So you also consider me unable to develop my magical ability? Like the mages in the court?”

“I’m sorry,” Donar was chagrined. “They are not wrong about it.”

It took time for her to digest the sayings of Donar and the court. Maybe they were right, or it was an utter mistake. But she fully understood, that the danger lurking on her skin was the toll she had to accept along with her acceptance to Orb. To trouble everyone she loved was an ultimate avoidance she had to consider—considering she didn’t have those a lot.

“I understand.” Alicia couched her depressed face.

Donar gave a small smile. “Thanks for the understanding, hen.”

Haddock put Orb inside a special container. “Very well, then,” he said. As the container slowly closing in, Alicia saw the Orb for the last time, without a single word uttered from her lips. Orb let out a melancholy song before the container completely sealed its being.

“Orb is safe with us. Alicia, you and the others may leave this place.” Haddock continued again, “Rest assured, I still keep my promise to rummage through magic documents to find the meaning of your scar. I’ll let you know when the time comes. ”

“I thank you, Mister Haddock,” answered Alicia.

“And since the necromancer is nowhere to be seen,” Haddock added, “I’ll be sending the Magisterium elite wizards to keep a close watch on Lord Donar’s official residence.”

Alicia, along with her family and friends, farewelled and returned to her father’s official residence.

Since then, Alicia became more taciturn than usual. She spoke only the necessary words. She cooked and took care of the house. However, the despondent air in the dwelling could not be neglected by those who were with her.

Even at dinner, Alicia just ate without talking or doing the customary routine of looking for dinner topics.

“I want to go to my room. I’ll excuse myself first,” she said after finishing her food.

“That was fast,” commented Donar. “You sure you don’t want more? Before Gilmore eats all the food.”

“I’m full, Papa.” Alicia approached the washbasin and cleaned her own cutlery. “Guid nicht, everyone.”

Gilmore tried to persuade her. Still no answer. Alicia rushed into her private room. Nadine and Gilmore felt awkward themselves.

“We worked so hard to help her, and she just ignored us,” the less sympathetic Leith grumbled again in a mumble.

“Leith, not now. Give your sister time,” replied the father.

The wistful Alicia curled up on her bed. Strangely, her eyes did not let out tears, albeit her feeling was clouded by The Thunderkeeper’s storm. Those tired eyes only caught the white curtain that covered the window, preventing the girl from seeing the outside world in the dark night. That was, until time invited her into a utopian dream. []