Oryen's blue eyes fluttered open, settling instantly on the red-haired girl opposite her, whose eyes were tightly shut, with one of her arm up, the candle-flame still hovering over her index finger, and the other arm cupped in the aged woman's palms. Fascination danced in her eyes, as she wondered why that particular memory of the girl had been locked away. Her lips sent in a thin line deep in thought, how powerful is this young witch? She was able to manipulate nature within very few years, and was able to hoist her up without chanting any spells, so how powerful was she? For her to have such power at a young age, it only meant that both her parents where very powerful witches. But then something didn't add up, her parents must be from different clans for her to be an Okitu, and perform magic created by a single elder Inui. So, which parent is an Inui and which is an Okitu, and where were they now?
Oryen snapped out of her thoughts as it dawned on her that the girl was still in the trance. She snapped her fingers, instantly the candle-flame vanished from the young witch's index finger and she was brought out of the trance. Her icy blue eyes fluttered opened and it took her a couple of seconds before she could balance herself. Her gaze shifted to her finger and a relief smile came over here. The candle-flame was gone, and she could finally get out and away from the nightmarish cottage and its weird owner. She yanked her arm from the old witch, jumped on her feet, heading to the door. A frown settled on the old witch's face as she observed this. She too rose to her feet and she questioned. "Where are you headed to?"
Her words made the red-haired girl pause her steps, and she replied without turning to her. "It doesn't concern you." Dydra bit her tongue immediately the words left her mouth, as it sounded ruder than she expected. Darn it, Dydra! She cussed herself within. Oryen was not offended by her reply and she held her tongue from saying any further words.
Meanwhile, Dydra contemplated on what to do as she received no response from the old witch. Does that mean she's free to go? She could finally leave this place? Or does the silence mean the old lady is vexed? She bit her lower lip and stumped her foot lightly on the wooden floor. Something in her heart told her to stay, but her mind says otherwise—it told her to flee. Even if the woman wasn't telling a lie and she was really a witch, what then? What happens? She learns witchcraft and leave happily ever after in the cottage in the middle of nowhere? She let out a tired sigh, and decided to follow her mind, she had to leave this place, figure out what she wants to do with her life, as going back to the Thelmond mansion was not an option to consider. Her lips set into a thin line and she made her way to the door, deeply wishing for the old woman to not play games with her. Her fingers touched the door knob and she twisted it.
"You remember, don't you?" Her ears picked up Oryen's question from behind her and she froze.
Earlier, as her eyes had fluttered opened, an old memory of she and her foster grandmother, that she had shut tightly away, came flooding back. After the passing of her grandmother, who raised her like her own, Dydra was devastated and the memories of the times they spent together kept clouding her thoughts to the extent that, it was the only thing that occupied her mind. The pain was too much for her to bear and one particular night, as she laid on the foam bed in the servants quarters of the Thelmond mansion, she heard whispers that sounded like her grandmother's voice telling her to shut them all. The voice sounded more like echos of the same sentence but by different voices, yet they sounded the same. Little Dydra, being an obedient girl, obeyed the voice, as it belonged to her grandmother, and shutted all the memories they shared. By doing so, all the teachings the elderly woman had taught her, vanished, with only few left that were faint.
The memory she recalled was one of her favourites, that had always been faint in her head, but now she remembered it clearly. The way her fingers controlled the wind, easily hoisting up the little bunny, and the proud and satisfied look on her grandmother's face was priceless. Her nose tickled, with tears starting to form in her eyes, she bit her lower lip, trying to stop herself from letting out a sob. Why did she vivdly recall this all of a sudden? Was this.....was this Oryen's doing? Did she make her remember?
"What did you do?" Her voice shook greatly, with her still backing the raven-haired woman.
Oryen wore a pleased expression and she answered. "Remain you of who you—"
"Why?!" She was cut off by Dydra, whose voice held a rage that seemed to be bounded by chains that are now slipping. Oryen parted her lips to speak, but she didn't get a chance as Dydra voice came again.
"Did I ask you to remaind me? Did I plead for your help? Why? Why do you do things to me without considering how I will feel about it? Who the heck are you, to decide things for me?!" Dydra's fists tighten and breathed heavily. Who was this woman?!
A flash of worry passed through Oryen's eyes, as she felt the aura the girl gave was getting similar to the one she gave at the kitchen the other day. Was restoring her memory a bad idea? Was that too soon? Should she have waited?
"Dydra, dear. It wasn't my intention to upset—" Oryen was cut off again by Dydra.
"Who said I was upset?" The way the words left the red-haired girl's lips sent shivers down the aged woman's spine.
Was the incident of the kitchen going to repeat itself? Will she be able to stop the girl in time like she did the last time? Or now that the girl was aware she could do magic, will she be out of control? Will the darkness that has always been attached to every Okitu show itself? The questions rumbled through the raven-haired woman and her heart pounced loudly against her chest.