[Hope's PoV]
"Idiot." I muttered with a laugh. Sitting up on my bed, my fingers ran over my forehead.
I couldn't see it, but I could feel it—pulsing like a heartbeat, wrapping me in a warmth that resembled his embrace.
Thinking was unnecessary to guess who did it. Only one person could cast a spell that made my chest tighten and my heart fluttered.
"Where is he?" Looking around, I couldn't find him anywhere.
I didn't panic not finding him. The spell was a way for him to say everything was alright.
Hm, maybe he left some message.
Getting to my phone, I knew I was right when I saw a text from him.
Just went to take a short sunbath. I will be back before classes. That was his message. And honestly, from his words, I could only imagine John somewhere in the sky right now.
He had said he spent some energy these past days because of the fights. After we came to my room, he seemed better than right after we faced that living forest.
Mentioning it…
I approached my window pointing to the backyard of the school, trying to see how things were out there in the woods.
And immediately, I knew something was different.
No sound from that direction. And the scenery seemed completely frozen in time. Almost like that part was locked out from the world.
"What the hell?" I extended my arm, and from it, my magic reached out.
I tried to understand what was happening, and to do that, I first set out my magic, to investigate things ahead without the necessity of putting me at risk.
But when it was about to reach the forest, my magic hit something, And I could see the ripples of the collision, like ripples in the air, waves in existence.
And as soon as I entered in contact with this barrier, I retreated my magic.
Just from this contact, I already knew that whatever was laying around the forest, John was behind it.
"Maybe something happened?" I questioned. In my head, he wouldn't do something like this for no reason.
My spell already limited the being controlling the forest into a locked coordination of space. So it suddenly attacking couldn't be the reason. Unless someone in the school, or coming from the woods, attempted to approach it despite our warnings.
Hm… if it was serious, he would've warned me. It must be nothing important then.
"Yawn…" Unconsciously, I exhaled a long breath. My body was still waking up. I stretched, feeling tension melt from my thighs as my legs grew lighter. "I should go take a bath."
Grabbing my things, I set out to the bathroom, preparing for the day.
However, before I could take off my clothes, I heard my phone ringing. A specific ring as well.
Walking back to my room and taking it from my table, I saw the name of who was calling me and immediately accepted the call.
"Aunt Freya?"
"Hello, beautiful." I heard her bright voice, and from near her, I heard someone else's voice. Someone ordering something. "What do you think about having breakfast with your aunts?"
"Really?"
"And don't forget to bring your charming boyfriend." Aunt Rebekah chimed in.
For some reason, I feel more tired because of the mere thought of this breakfast than from the fight from yesterday.
[John's PoV]
The sky was so clean.
It was so chilly up here, but I felt so warm.
The curvature of the planet, the sun had just recently crossed the horizon.
It was fully visible from where I am, the light it emitted encompassed the world. And under the ultramarine atmosphere and above the world beneath my feet, I observed it all.
My eyes wandered under me, sightseeing the many states under me. Great cities and wonders of nature had a certain layer of beauty added by where I stood. The atlantic seemed so calm from here, its waves in open sea seemingly small even for me.
I could see the boundary of night and day crossing the country, the light pushing back the darkness so a new day shall arrive. A wonderful visage amidst the collections of clouds.
And all of this… encompassed my world. All of this beauty existed around me. Existed for someone like me to see it.
Ah… it was for moments like these that I always thanked this gift that I had. The gift of freedom.
And, also, I thanked even more my early life as a mortal. Because, if I was born without the ignorance of what I was, a mortal who could only wish to see what I see, I don't know if I could appreciate the living canvas before me as much as I appreciate it right now.
"Exhale… Why didn't I come sooner here?" I muttered, but no sound was produced. There was not enough molecule density here for sound to travel.
Vibration…
Standing my hand into my pocket, I accepted the call without looking at the caller. All the while, my other hand moved, casting spells that would actually help me in talking to someone at this height.
"Hello?"
"I hope you had good reasons to leave me alone in bed." Hope's sweet voice entered my ears.
"I will explain later." I replied carefreely. Hm, I wonder whose that satellite is. "So, having a good morning?"
"About that… My two aunts are in Mystic Falls. They invited us to breakfast at the Grill."
"Hm…" I hummed, thinking over the implications of that information. "Sounds interesting. But, it's almost 8:00. I'm cool skipping classes. But what about you, normal girl?"
"Please, not the first time I do something against the school's rules." She basically 'hmphed'. "So, will it take you a long time to come back?"
Looking down, my eyes crossed the 200 kilometers of distance between me and where the Salvatore School was. From where I was, even I couldn't see many details.
"Hm… 10ish minutes." I said after a few mental calculations.
"Okay. I will be waiting for you."
"Okay, love you."
"Love you too." And she hung up.
Dismissing the spells, I put my phone back into my pocket.
Taking one more look at the scenery, I couldn't help but let out a breath of what I could say to be admiration.
"Okay, let's go." I said, giving myself a slight push towards Earth.
And from there, I let gravity do its job.
[3rd Person PoV]
"So something like this happened during the evening." Alaric muttered in understanding, his eyes losing focus for a brief moment.
But the principal's worry took a little piece of his mind, and his eyes landed on Rafael. On them, there was a certain mix of feelings. Among them, sympathy and melancholy. "Are you fine?"
"Not really." Rafael replied, simply.
His honesty was not met with surprise by Alaric. The man, with his serene expression, just nodded at his words. "I understand…" Alaric said, simply as well. Only him and God knew what was passing through his mind right now.
"So, any orders on what to do about it?" Landon asked, finding himself space to come back to the conversation.
"You are thinking too much about the situation, kid." Alaric chuckled, easing off the mood. "Just-"
Boom!
Through the school, a deafening soundwave spread, alerting everyone.
The building shook slightly, the windows threatened to break and books fell from the shelves.
"What was that?!" Rafael shot out of the chair.
"It's me." A voice came right after. Strangely, it sounded rather close, like a wisp near the ear.
"There is your answer." Alaric said, putting his hand over his chest, trying to low down the sudden peak of uneasiness from the surprise he suffered. "As I was trying to say, you two should go and prepare for class. Today will be your first day of class, after all."
"Hm, Dr. Saltzman." Landon called again. "What about, you know, all those formalities regarding our enrollment here?"
"They are being taken care of by someone from the school. Everything should be dealt with by the weekend, don't worry about it." Alaric replied, measuredly in his deep grave voice.
"Okay, thanks." The pale young man replied, leaving the room after his brother.
After the leave of the two young men, Alaric stayed alone in the room. His eyes were vacant, without focus once again.
"What is in your mind?" A voice came from the door, revealing the figure of the one who spoke earlier.
"Just thinking a little over things." Alaric said to his student. "Things will start to get complicated over the next few days."
"They won't, they already are." John said, and Alaric couldn't deny his words. "Considering I saw the boys leaving your office, I can assume they told you what happened, right?"
"Yes, they did." Alaric nodded. "The Leshy… Slavic Mythology, am I right?"
"Yes."
"I can't understand." Alaric let out a breath, feeling his mind getting heavy by the thoughts he was having. "Where did they come from? How did they know what they were seeking for was in the school? Why are they after it?" He put out the questions in his mind, trying to find some clarity by speaking them outloud.
"Unfortunately, I only have the answer for one question." John said, a dagger now in his hands, with him approaching the table.
"Share it."
"I got some time to study it yesterday before things happened. The dagger, although proved to be unaffected by some means, it seems to not be a weapon per se. There is no edge, the blade is dull, even before being degraded by time. Essentially, it was never meant to be a weapon." John showed to his principal the characteristics he described, his finger going over the blade to point it.
"Then, what is it?" Alaric looked back at his student.
"That's where the good part comes." John said with genuine interest in his eyes. "In its early life, I think it was a ceremonial weapon."
"What does the writing say?" Alaric asked, his eyes back over the blade.
"According to the Armory's Archives, it says: 'Yon weapon, sanctified by those who dwell in the heavens, shall vanquish all evil facing its edge'."
"But there is no edge."
"Which just helps in proving my point that it was not designed as a weapon." John said. "So, if it's not a weapon, then what is it? Why are the beings after it? Its purpose, what it was built for, I think I have that answer."
"Then stop making suspense and tell me." Alaric said, his words solemn, demanding for the answer.
John, however, continued the conversation at his own pace. "Want to tell me or show it to you?" He asked, reaching his hand out.
"What will you do?"
"Just show you how I see things when I am not repressing my sight."
"Any side effects?"
"You will probably feel a slight headache considering you are a normal human."
"Then just tell me what you see in it." Alaric said.
"Okay then." John nodded. "There is a Sealing Spell in the dagger. One with an amount so huge and so much condensed that it even made the dagger apparently indestructible."
"You tested on it?" Alaric questioned.
"Nothing that I knew it couldn't withstand." John said, not bothered by the implications his headmaster had in his eyes. "The spell is impressive, its structure too complicated to understand it fully by just looking at it. Added the amount of magic used on it, you can wonder just what they sealed, right?"
"Something great, correct?"
"Yes." John nodded, his eyes turning to the dagger. And from that moment, the look in his eyes shifted. "What is sealed here is power. A great power. One I have just seen one equally great."
"Hope?"
"Yes, and you should understand how frightening this power is for someone like me to make that comparison, right?"
"Better than you think." Alaric said, inclining himself on his chair and taking his hand to his head. The headache of the thought that what was sealed was something equal to the one with the most magical power in the world was really frightening.
John pulled up a chair and sat down. "Store the headache for later, I still have a few things to tell you." He said.
"What?"
"There are two things I would like to share with you. First one, that's not the only thing I learned about this dagger. Or more exactly, the power."
"Is it good news?" Alaric, still reclined on his chair, asked.
"Potentially so." John said. "When I was inspecting the dagger when I first found it, I let Hope hold it to see it. And when I did it, I noticed something interesting while looking at it. The power within the dagger retreated upon the dagger's hold in Hope's grasp."
Listening to it, Alaric widened his eyes a little, in slight surprise. "It retreated?"
"Yes, in a similar way a vampire's magic seems to malfunction when in contact with wood. Well, not to the same level. It seemed more like it calmed down. It stopped from trying to break through the seal."
"That's… an interesting information. Who knows about that?"
"Hope and I."
"Let's keep it between us then, no one else needs to know." Alaric said.
"Okay." John nodded, finding it the best thing to do.
"Also, we should stay quiet about the fact that the dragon is searching for a dagger. It's best if less information on what's happening spreads."
"That might be quite difficult since a dozen vampires were near to us by the gate." John said.
With these words said to his face, Alaric's expression shifted slightly, the frown on his forehead intensifying. "How couldn't I remember that…?" He said, rubbing his face with his hands in what seemed to be disappointment.
"Not to mention… that I already discussed this with the twins over lunch." John added.
"Do you think someone was listening to your conversation?" Alaric asked behind his hands.
"Probably not, most students are trying to keep a certain respectful distance from me, even in this regard." John said, his expression remaining the same.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, my friends remain the same with me, so I couldn't care less." The young man replied.
Listening to this, Alaric, silently, observed the face of his student, trying to see any potential difference in it brought by his own words.
However, it seemed the young man was telling the truth from how his expression didn't reveal anything.
"Okay…" Alaric nodded, his word coming out slowly. "Even if this information already leaked, let's try to not bring it out to light and make the matter worse somehow. I will talk to the girls for them to do the same."
"Okay." John nodded.
"What is the second thing?" Alaric asked, returning to their previous topic.
"The second is not a discovery, just my thoughts. Think, what are we dealing with? Creatures. Creatures we know are sent by someone, someone who sent them to retrieve this dagger. We know this respective dagger possesses some kind of power sealed in it. Now, think just a little with me. Why send someone in your place to retrieve something for you?"
"Because they are incapable of coming themselves."
"Correct." John nodded. "But, there are many reasons for them becoming incapable of coming. However, among the many that I thought of, one of them grasped my interest the most. You see, this power resembles very much the one I encountered in the dragon's mind." He raised the dagger, looking at it with studying eyes.
Alaric, grasping the meanings behind the words, moved forward, supporting his arms over his table. "Are you saying…"
"What you might think. What better reason for someone to not move themselves to retrieve something than the fact that currently they are deprived of their power?"
These words clashed against Alaric's consciousness, making the man take a severe expression, disquieting thoughts passing through his mind.
Through the quiet room, the disturbing echo of Alaric's fingers tapping over the table seemed to last more than what they should as his thoughts started to affect him physically.
However, this silence was broken by the one responsible for it. "But, as I said, this is just a thought of mine. Pieces of information are missing for me to come to any conclusion."
"What about?"
"If it lacks a part of its power, and is incapable of coming for it themselves, why are they obeying them?" John looked beyond the principal, seeing the forest through the room's glasses. "Although not shown by the Leshy, the dragon didn't seem to be willingly obeying. Obviously, the magic in its head seemed to guarantee its loyalty. But if they were deprived of their power, how did they do this? How could they use such a means to control beings like them?"
"I don't like where this is going." Alaric suddenly said.
"Me neither, fortunately, these are just some random thoughts in my head." John said, getting up from the chair. "Well, I think I've told you everything I wanted to share, Dr. Saltzman."
"No more information?"
"About what we are dealing with? Nothing. Fortunately, I might be able to get some good news in a few hours." John said, a smile appearing on his expression.
"What do you mean?"
"Hope's aunts are in Mystic Falls. They are also curious about the dragon we told them. And I think I might be able to get some information from them." John said.
"Like what?" Alaric asked.
"How they never saw a dragon despite living for almost 11 centuries." John said, and with that, he walked to the room's door.
"Okay…" Alaric nodded, seeing that he wouldn't learn more of the situation, he didn't press. He could work with what he had. "Then I guess from your words you won't be attending morning lessons." He changed the topic of the conversation.
"Not the afternoons either." John said by the door.
"What happened for you to change this behavior so suddenly?" Alaric asked.
"Just doing what I want, nothing else."
"Really?"
"Yes. I just noticed that I have a certain amount of freedom, but I wasn't experiencing it as much as I wanted." John replied.
"If it was any other student saying these words, I would be more worried. But I trust you." Alaric said, rather dismissively, going back to lay his back on his chair.
"Thanks. And relax, although my wish for a bit of normality is not like before, I will still finish school. I just expect you to not make me repeat a year because of some absences."
"I am sure you can compensate for that with your grades." Alaric said, he had a rather simple smile on his face.
"Okay then." John nodded, opening the door. "Until later, Dr. Saltzman."
[Scene Break]
"Don't you think it's strange?" John abruptly asked out.
"What?" Hope asked, looking up at him.
"This town. It seems so peaceful, so tranquil. And at the same time, so ignorant." As these words were muttered, the young man's eyes wandered over the streets and establishments. And in those eyes, there was admiration and pitfulness.
People walking on their path, for work, classes or their home. They welcomed the incoming spring and embraced it. And this sight alone was enough to raise these words in his mind.
"Why do you think that?" Hope asked, slowing down her steps over the sidewalk.
"This town has suffered a lot. In the last two decades, more people died in this town than any other in Virginia. But, we know of that, they don't." John looked at the some individuals passing by them, smiling at them as they wavered in their direction. "They are unaware of the terrors this town experienced. They only know a fraction of what we know. But even then, it's admirable how they go with their lives. They continue to live, trying to free themselves from these unwanted memories of dozens of animal attacks and unfortunate accidents. Despite all of this, they continue to live their lives." Looking forward, John's eyes changed, the sentiments from earlier disappeared. "I think it's just strange for them to act like this. They are not curious, not searching for answers. And because of that, they are ignorant. But it's probably this ignorance that makes them have such tranquil lives."
Hope, quiet through his words, continued walking, trying to comprehend what he was saying. "All of that just came from you seeing a few people walking by?" She asked, raising a brow, a smile tugged on her lips.
"Yes."
"Sometimes I wonder how your mind works." Hope said.
"What? I am just pondering." John said, breaking the slight serious mood his words brought earlier.
"I know, you are all reflective." Hope said, pulling him closed with her arm. "Just don't be like that in front of Aunt Rebekah, she probably will call you boring."
"I can't promise nothing." John said, shrugging his shoulders.
After the brief conversation, the couple continued walking across the small town, enjoying the path at their own pace, talking between them about the briefest thoughts that crossed their minds.
And, just like the town's folk, they tried to enjoy the tranquility hovering over the town, despite the worries that existed in their minds.
Minutes passed, and by the time the couple approached the Mystic Grill, they stood out a little. Not for their physical appearance or stature, but by the fact they were the only teenagers present around.
"It always mesmerizes me." John abruptly said.
"What now?" Hope asked.
"Just how beautiful everyone from your family is." As his eyes locked on the two women forward, these words turned out to be difficult to be held by the young man.
A beauty he had seen personally before, blew small puffs of air to disperse the warmth of her coffee. She sat properly, educated, with her serene green eyes observing over the mug containing her drink, trying to guess when it was appropriate to check the temperature of her drink with her lips.
Freya wore casual, but elegant clothes. Her merino wool sweater was perfect for the lingering morning chill, and light enough for the promise of warmth later.
She was still unaware of the two youngsters that approached, but the same couldn't be said about the beautiful woman sitting alongside her, as those two crystal blue eyes stared at the couple, a small smile blooming on the lips under them.
Different from Freya, she wore black knee-high boots and a tailored gray coat that screamed elegance, all the while her crossed legs were surrounded by the fabric of formal black pants.
The two women shared physical traits obvious from sight. And if more thoroughly observed, they shared behavioural similarities as well.
"Well, look who finally arrived." Rebekah, with a smile that seemed to grow as the two youngsters approached, announced their arrival to her sister.
Freya, looking to the side, smiled at the sight of the couple approaching, putting down her mug of coffee. "Good morning, kids."
"Aunt Freya, Aunt Bekah." Letting go of the young man's arm, Hope approached her two aunts. And, taking her time, hugged each one of them.
When the familial greetings ended, John said his words. "Freya, Rebekah." He politely greeted them, keeping two steps from each.
"Come here, boy. Don't tell me you are okay with such a greeting." Rebekah said, gesturing her hand for him to approach.
Without a second delay, John approached the woman and hugged her.
"That's it." She said, returning the hug. "Don't try to act as a prude boy just to seem polite." She hummed in his ear.
"Okay." John nodded, letting go of her and hugging Freya, who also returned the hug.
After the greetings among the four ended, everyone sat down, with a waitress approaching right after. And after a few orders from the newly arrived couple, they were left alone again, with no one around accompanying the group for a morning meal.
"Then… shall we start the conversation with something more simple or just directly talk about the dragon?" Rebekah asked right after the waitress returned to the grill.
"If we are going to start talking about that directly, then I think it's fair we tell you of our new discovery." John said.
"Discovery?" Freya questioned.
"There was another creature."
"Another?" Rebekah inquired.
Hope nodded. "Have you ever heard of the Leshy?" She asked.
"The Green Man?" Rebekah echoed, while Freya remained quiet. "Just stories and legends… Are you saying that a forest spirit appeared in your school?" She added, but her tone now was slightly different. More curious, and protective as well.
"More like attacked." John said. "It took control of the school's forest and tried to kill me and the dragon."
"Why?" Freya asked, rather calmly by the sudden news, although it was visible the eagerness for answer in her eyes.
Well, considering her life, not surprising. John thought. "The same as the dragon, retrieve the dagger." John said without considering Alaric's earlier words. After all, the Mikaelson Family already knew of it. "And as a bonus, it attempted to kill the dragon."
"You kept it alive, but got rid of what controlled it, right?" Freya asked, getting a nod from the young man. "So, trying to prevent a leak of information apparently."
"What we think as well."
"Are you sure it's the Leshy that attacked your school? I mean, the Leshy?" Rebekah questioned, her tone serene and resolute.
"Mostly sure."
"And are you sure it's being controlled as well?"
"I saw the same magical influence present in the dragon's mind through the Leshy, or at least through its essence, when it invaded the forest's biosphere and took control of it."
"I didn't understand a few words you used, but I will believe in you." Rebekah said, her eyes wandering down, losing some focus. "A dragon. A forest spirit. What is going on in your school, my niece?"
"I would like to know as well." Hope forced a smile.
"Before we try to figure it out, there are more things we need to talk about." John said, attracting everyone's attention.
Rebekah smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Good thing we ordered earlier. I have the feeling we're going to spend some time here, right?"
"Yes." John nodded, returning the smile.