Erick couldn't stop his heart from crying at the sight of her. She looked so small and frail. She had seen the worst of him, and he was worried it had broken her. She's stronger than that, give her a chance. His thoughts reasoned. Except it would be her giving him a chance after what she had just witnessed.
As if things hadn't been bad enough, he had done everything he feared and worse. He had taken this farm girl from a life of blissful ignorance into a nightmare of his own making. It wasn't fair to her, and he could only hope that some part of her would still love him after this. If she even loves you at all. A low voice reminded him. I even admitted to her I'm not the slow going type. He thought with some bitterness.
All that began to fade when she took his hand in hers, a small light to the darkness of the night. He gave her the best smile he could muster at that moment, closing his hand around hers as he led her through the upstairs hallway.
When they arrived at the bedroom, he turned to speak to her. "I understand if you want to be alone tonight," he began to speak. He had a whole list of what he planned to say to her, but it was quickly thrown out the window when she shook her head.
"I still want to try to make this work." She told him with a firm voice. He knew how much her inner turmoil was eating her away, he could feel it, and yet she stood firm as she stuck to her word.
Erick could barely contain his surprise and his relief. "Thank you." He said, his voice getting caught on his emotions. "Really, thank you." He smiled broadly, and she returned the gesture. Despite everything, she still gave him a chance.
Flora hugged him then, something soft and sincere as she wrapped her arms around his neck, standing up on her toes to reach him. He bent down with a soft huff, wrapping his arms around her waist and giving her a warm embrace.
"It'll be okay." Erick said in a hushed tone, running a gentle hand over Flora's head and through her hair. A part of him knew she needed this, something to ground her. It was apparent now more than ever that she was not raised in the same world as him, and that she would need time to adjust. "Everything will be okay." He whispered, Flora clinging to him tighter.
After a moment she let go, rubbing her face. Erick saw that she was trying to hide her tears, but said nothing as Flora moved to the bed. Together they quietly got ready for the night, Erick doing his best to be the quiet support that Flora needed.
He was more than willing to give her any space she needed, yet she always returned to his side. He was surprised when she turned over in the bed to lay on him, her small form taking in the heat of his body. He wrapped his arms around her, causing her to curl into him even more as she drifted off into sleep.
Flora's dream was much like the many she had seen before. She stood on an open field that looked over a quaint farm on a quiet night. It reminded her of her family's farm, the way the barn sloped and the house drooped. It clearly had the features of her familial home, and it caused her heart to crack at the sight of it.
A dragon loomed in the distance, its dark form growing larger by the minute. Flora turned to get a better look at it. Orange and red flame spewed from its dark maw as it got closer, and Flora followed it as it rained down fire on the farm.
Except it wasn't the farm anymore. When Flora turned she saw that what had once been her family farm was now the castle in Enhorne. The dragon's fire burned hot, and Flora could feel the waves of heat as it caught and burned nearly every surface of the castle.
The beast wasn't done, as the dragon came back down and slammed its monstrous form into the castle. The building quickly fell under its weight, turning into a burning pile of rubble. The dragon rose from the pile that was once the castle, its scales darker than the night, and turned its horned head towards her. Its eyes were crimson red with streaks of every other shade of red swirling in the depths, creating the appearance of blood. The dragon's gaze bore into her as it opened its mighty jaw, spewing angry flames.
Flora lurched from the bed, her skin feeling as though it were on fire. She whipped the blankets off, realizing too late that Erick was beside her. Her elbow collided with his face as he tried to sit up beside her.
"What- ow!" Erick's question was quickly cut off by a strangled sound as he covered his face.
"Oh no!" Flora exclaimed, her nightmare nearly forgotten. "I'm so sorry!" She said as she moved to help Erick. He held out a hand, a wry smile poking out from under his half covered face.
"I'm afraid this is becoming a regular occurrence." Erick chuckled, and Flora realized he was referring to the time they had spent at the carriage house. She huffed in annoyance.
"That was hardly my fault." She told him, and he laughed again. When he removed his other hand Flora saw the blood that began to drip down from his nose.
"I suppose it could be worse." Erick said, though Flora was unsure if he meant hitting his head or the bloody nose as he inspected the blood between two fingers. "I'm sure it'll be alright." He said with a lopsided smile.
Flora looked away, her stomach churning. She tried to focus on the weather outside as the sun slowly rose over the castle wall. Her dream continued to reply in her mind, the image of the dark dragon staring her down haunting her. Deep down she knew it wasn't Erick, or even some crazed beast form of him. No, this was something far worse. This can't just be a recurring nightmare, it felt too real…
Erick's face grew concerned when Flora continued to remain silent, her eyes going distant. "Flora…?" Erick put a gentle hand on her shoulder. Flora jerked, shocked out of her thoughts. She turned to look at him, and whatever look she gave him startled him. "What's wrong?" He asked quickly, moving to put his arm around her shoulders.
"I had a nightmare." Flora started with a shaky voice. Erick held her close as she described what she had seen, her voice faltering at the end. Erick didn't say anything until she was done, taking a moment to think before he responded.
"What did the dragon look like?" Erick asked quietly. Flora thought about it for a moment, her brow creasing as she recalled the exact details of the beast she had seen in her vision. It better not be a vision. She told herself.
"Its scales were a deep black, blacker than the night sky." Flora started to describe the dragon. "It had long horns that went back in straight points, and so many spikes." She continued, gesturing around her face and body as if it would paint a better picture. "And eyes like blood." She finished with a shiver. Erick stiffened at that statement.
"You're sure?" He asked her, his voice hardly a whisper. She looked at him warily.
"Yes, he was looking right at me." Flora stated with a firm tone. Erick didn't answer right away, the concern on his face mixing with fear.
"It was Erebus." Erick told her, his voice low. Flora felt the color drain from her face, and it was quite possible her soul left her body then and there.
"Are you sure?" She asked with a shaky voice. Erick nodded, his face grave. Flora's heart sank at his response. She was very certain it was more than just a nightmare now.
"I suppose there's something good from this." Erick said with a wry smile. Flora gave him a confused look before he continued. "We can be certain that your magic is Day Magic."
It wasn't until an hour later that Flora and Erick finally went downstairs and had breakfast. She had been exhausted, and had made every attempt to go back to sleep. It wasn't until Erick had given her a comforting rub that she was able to get some rest.
"Unfortunately, Balder was gifted with Day Magic." Erick was saying. "Which means I know a good deal about it." He told her with a flick of his fork, pointing it in her direction as he continued. "It also happens to be very similar to Night Magic, just a few key differences." Erick informed her.
"That's… good?" Flora asked around her mouthful of food. With everything Erick brought over, they were able to have a breakfast that wasn't canned food. It was nice, eggs and toast. Even Spot got some food, albeit leftovers from the night before.
The food was more comforting than Flora thought it should be, but she didn't really care about that, only that it made her feel better. A glance down the hallway still sent a shiver down her spine.
"It means I can be of some help." Erick told her with a comforting smile. The thought that he only did that for her made her feel good, in a different way than good food. She felt warm when he looked at her like that. She couldn't help but smile back, washing away all the fears of last night. Perhaps with enough work today, she could forget it even happened.
"Why don't we get started?" Erick asked. And yes, I heard what you were thinking. His voice spoke into her mind, startling her. He gave her a wicked grin before finishing his food and leaving the table.
Flora watched him go with a little shock before quickly gulping down the last of her meal and rushing over to meet him in one of the drawing rooms downstairs. She caught him in the small library, pulling down a book from the shelf.
While it was not nearly as impressive as the one at the castle - which she had yet to visit - but it was still stocked with more than enough in terms of reading material. There were shelves on both the right and left walls, as well as on the far wall albeit in between the two windows. A couple of tables and chairs were placed on each end of the room, giving plenty of space to read and books to be read.
"There you are." Erick said over his shoulder. He flashed her a toothy grin before placing the book on the table. Flora rolled her eyes with a playful smile.
"You left like there was a fire in the house." She laughed. walking up to the table and inspecting the book on the table. Only after she said it did she realize it might have been a bad choice of words, images of her dreams haunting her once again.
She grimaced, unable to even process the book on the table as she was brought back to the heat of the castle burning, and those eyes staring into her. She was brought back when Erick gripped her shoulder.
"Flora?" He asked quietly. She blinked before looking over at him. She shook away the images of last night's vision, returning to her task at hand. At least it's not last night's events. A voice said in the back of her mind.
"Why don't we start with the basics?" Erick asked her, drawing her towards the present. She was grateful for it, and used it to move forward. She nodded in agreement and he gave her a smile, however worried it might be. She almost felt bad, having someone who worried over her so much.
Erick opened up the book and flipped over to the section on Day Magic. He pulled out a chair for her and motioned for her to sit. "It might be a bit." He explained with an apologetic look before diving into the text.
"Like I already said, Day Magic is very similar to Night Magic, despite being opposites." Erick began. "It's provided by the deity Kumara, though I think you already knew that." He said as he eyes the badge Flora had pinned to her shirt. Despite everything, the small pendant was one thing that brought her constant comfort.
"It includes a number of skills, from Foresight to Mind Reading, it's often considered one of the more powerful magics. That is, so long as it's trained and developed." He said, holding up a hand to pause Flora before she could say anything. "I would ask you to hold your questions for the end." He said with a smirk.
"Day Magic is also sometimes referred to as Sun Magic," Erick continued. "Though the names are interchangeable. It's called Sun Magic on account of one of its sub-magics, the ability to harness and wield light." The idea sent an inexplicable rush through Flora. It wasn't just fear or anxiety, but the two of those tinged with a nervous excitement. The image of being able to light a room may have been dull and boring considering the not-so-new electrical lights, but it still excited her. That was until she realized what Erick probably meant by 'powerful' magic, her mind drifting back to the events of last night.
"Why don't we start working on something simple?" Erick asked, bringing Flora back from her drifting thoughts.
"Like what?" She asked, unsure if magic could ever be considered simple.
"First we need to work on finding your magic." He told her. "To be able to use magic, you first need to find it within yourself." Erick instructed, tapping his chest to indicate what he meant by inside. "It's a feeling more than anything, but with your current condition it might be easier to feel for it." Flora needed no reminder of the ever present weight on her chest, which only felt heavier by the hour.
"I feel it already, but what do I do with it?" Flora asked, unable to completely hide her frustration. Erick sighed through his nose.
"There's a few ways, but emotion is the main thing." Erick told her. "Magic is tied to who we are, and it's our emotions that power it." He said, surprising Flora given how Erick was prone to being very flat in terms of emotions.
"How does that… work, exactly?" She asked him, her mind trying to work it out. She could tell her questions weren't exactly thrilling him, given his expression. He looked somewhere between trying very hard to be patient but also understanding, the emotions warring across his features.
"It's… hard to describe." Erick finally said. Flora thought about it for a moment, trying very hard to dig deep and feel an emotion. If her emotions from yesterday or last night weren't enough, then what was?
"Part of your problem is you bury your emotions." Erick said quietly, and she looked to him in surprise. "You were thinking loudly again." Erick said with a wince. Flora blushed, both in embarrassment and frustration.
"So what, I need therapy first?" Flora asked, more than a little exasperated. Erick sighed before responding.
"Not necessarily, but maybe take some time to figure things out. Feel everything Flora, not just the half parts." Her name from his voice sent a familiar rush through her. She was about to ask him what he meant by everything when he gave her a sly smile.
"Not that one, not now anyway." He told her, disappointment flitting through her stomach. "I'll give you some time to read while I work," Erick started, brushing her hand with his as he walked by. "And maybe I'll see you around?" He asked over his shoulder as he left. She knew the question was rhetorical, but it still sent a shiver of excitement down her spine.
This was what she had wanted, wasn't it? The quiet work, the animals, and a caring husband? Husband would be a bit far considering how long they've actually known each other, but this was what she had wanted since she was a little girl. So why did it feel like something terrible was looming over her? Because there is something terribly coming. Her mind told her, reminding her of her newly confirmed vision.
The image of the dragon god haunted her throughout the day as she tried her best and failed to read what was in the book. Eventually she gave up and left, calling out to Erick that she had work to do. While she didn't have to check on the animals today - it being a rest day and all - she found that she needed the distraction. This is probably what he meant by burying your emotions. Flora gritted the thought out as she rode Condor over to the dog kennel, Spot hot on her heels.
When she got there, she was surprised to find that the Game Master, Henry Darby, was there with the dogs. He turned at the sound of horse hooves, Flora slowing Condor down to a trot as she neared the large kennel and it's fenced in space.
"Well met!" The older man called as Flora dismounted, trying Condor's reins to the hitching post nearby. "How lovely to see the young Beast Master." Master Darby called as he crossed the kennel space. Several dogs followed in his wake, clearly excited to see him. She wasn't surprised, he often used one or even several of the dogs for all kinds of hunting.
"I see you're just as excited as I am." The Game Master told her as Flora entered the kennel space. When she gave him a confused look he only laughed. "For the Summer Hunt of course!" He said it as if it were obvious. She was not, in fact, all that excited for it. While it was one of the main reasons she oversaw the training of so many animals, sport hunting was never really her thing.
"I suppose." Flora told him with a shrug. "Really I just came to check on the dogs." She informed Master Darby before patting one of the dogs on the head. Spot would have easily been lost in the crowd had she not given him a more personal collar.
Whereas most of the dogs had a simple leather collar, Flora had managed to find something nicer for Spot in the back storage. Well, Dante had at the behest of Erick while Flora had been recovering from her injury, but it was still Flora who got to give it to the dog. Spot's collar was wider, the leather studded with small round dots of silver and the leather pressed with a weaving floral pattern. Really, it was perfect, despite its age and wear.
"Ah yes, I too enjoy the company of beasts over men." Master Darby laughed. "Perhaps that is why we fit so well in this court." He told her, giving her a sly wink. Flora couldn't hide her face, which was something of both confusion and disgust. The Game Master laughed. "Come now! Surely you've noticed how few humans actually reside inside the castle?" He asked her. She had noticed, who wouldn't have noticed the place had been teeming with dangerous not quite human magic users? But she had done the polite thing and moved on from it, as best as she could anyway.
"And besides," the Game Master continued. "You've managed to snag quite a sweet deal with the King. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a promotion in the future." Flora gaped, shocked that he would even suggest such a thing let alone discuss it. He laughed, and Flora felt heat sting her face.
"You're unbelievable." Flora said through gritted teeth before calling her dog over. Spot quickly trotted over to her as she whirled around and moved to leave the kennel.
"Does this mean I won't see you tomorrow?" Master Darby called out. Flora paused in her tracks. Slowly she turned her head to face him, and nothing more.
"Tomorrow?" Flora asked over her shoulder.
"Yes, the Summer Hunt has been moved up to tomorrow." He informed her, the grin on his face saying all too much about what he thought of it. A shiver wracked her body, and for a moment the weight on her chest was soul crushing. She did her best to hide her pain through her breathing, giving the Game Master a quick and curt response.
"Yes." She told him before whipping through the kennel gate and leaving. Her mind very much wanted to think about all the things she would say to him should he even look at her wrong tomorrow, but the weight on her body would not leave. Flora pushed through it, she had to, as she hopped on Condor and rode back to the farmhouse.
When Flora returned to the house, it was just past lunch. The weight on her chest had lightened, but only marginally. It probably helped that the pain of hunger had taken up residence, and was making itself known to everybody. She made a quick hello as she entered the house before making a straight course for the kitchen.
She was surprised to find that she was not alone. Of course, she had expected Erick to likely still be in the house somewhere, but he was not who she found in the kitchen. At least, he was not the only one in the kitchen.
Flora walked in to find that not one, not two, but all four of Erick's siblings were in the kitchen with him. He seemed to be just as thrilled as she was that they were now here. There faces beamed at the sight of her, and in a matter of moments Flora was being accosted by three dragons and a unicorn.
"We heard the good news." Balder said with a wolfish grin.
"No, I heard it," Esther started. "You read my letter!" She pointed a finger at him and shook it as if it would scare him. The look on his face proved her thoughts, his face remaining a lazy kind of coy.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Balder replied. Esther rolled her eyes at him.
"Isn't it exciting?" Alice asked, her light blue eyes wide with joy.
"Of course it is," Balder answered for her. "Day Magic is only the best one." He said with a smug yet playful attitude. Esther only shook her head.
"There is no best magic," Esther started. What followed was a quickly heated debate about the different kinds of magic. Flora got the impression this happened a lot, as Alice looked away and pretended it wasn't even happening while Grace made a quiet effort to appease the two.
"Enough!" Erick barked, quickly silencing the younger siblings. He looked them over with a stern eye, Balder nearly shrinking under the gaze. Flora couldn't help but notice Alice flinch, shuffling behind her older sister Grace.
"I strictly recall asking Grace to be here, and no one else." Erick informed them, his voice icy and cold. Flora had a feeling that this was not usual, given the hard stare he received from Balder. That was until Balder smirked.
"You're just upset because you can't get laid with us here." Balder's statement caused Flora to flush red with embarrassment. Twice now man had made crude jokes about her relationship. This couldn't possibly be normal for most other people. Flora thought with some disdain.
Erick flashed his teeth in a snarl at his brother. "I believe you have more important things than discussing my sex life." Erick growled. Balder shrugged with nonchalance.
"I'm just saying," Balder started to say. Flora didn't hear what he had to say as Grace came up to her.
"Why don't we head out to the living room?" Grace suggested, Alice nodding in vigorous agreement. Flora smiled before nodding and following along. She noticed that Esther remained with the two boys, arguing with them. Flora wasn't able to make out much of what they were saying, but heard the word selfrund more than once.
They arrived in the living room, Flora's attempt at confronting Erick over the Summer Hunt all but forgotten as Grace and Alice sat on the couch. Flora sat on the chair opposite them.
"Why did you all come here?" Flora asked tentatively after they were all comfortable. Alice brightened at this but it was Grace who answered.
"Erick sent a letter this morning asking me for some advice. He also sent one to Esther," Grace informed her. "Although by the sounds of it, her letter was a bit different from mine." Worry crossed over her face as she looked out the door, and Flora assumed she was looking down the hallway. She shook her head before continuing. "But anyway, he thought it would be best to have a healer around for tomorrow, just in case." Her smile was in direct contradiction with Flora's emotions. The need for a healer, just in case? That couldn't mean anything good. Flora thought as her stomach sank to the very bottom of her body, hitting the soles of her feet.
"Everything will be fine." Grace said in a gentle tone, her voice almost motherly and caring in its sound. For a moment Flora even believed it, and she held on to that belief. It was probably the one thing keeping her afloat as the sounds of the siblings' argument grew louder before abruptly ending.
Esther stormed out the house, throwing a rude gesture in Balder's direction as he followed more casually behind. He paused in the doorway of the living room, calling out to his sister.
"Love you too!" Balder said in a sing-song voice. The only response he got was a slammed door. Erick walked up behind them, rubbing his face with both hands.
"She's just upset we know her secret." Balder told Flora with a wicked grin. Erick rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated by his brother's antics.
"If you're done antagonizing everyone," Erick started in a tired voice. "I would appreciate it if you left." Erick snapped at his brother, his patience all but lost.
Balder feigned injury. "I'm hurt!" Balder placed a hand over his heart. "If that's how you feel, then I'll go." Balder told him, pushing off the frame of the door and leaving, the tip of his bull-like horns chipping the edge of the frame. Erick practically seethed as his brother left. With a heavy sigh through his nose, he turned to face the three women in the living room.
"We have a lot of work to do," Erick told them. "And we can not afford any accidents tomorrow." His emphasis on accidents brought Flora's worry crashing back down on her, very concerned about her magic deciding to burst. Is this how I die?