Sensation

Chapter 1

“Do I have to drink this?” Diane whines, holding a small glass bottle.

“Do you still want me to answer that?” the faint voice of her brother echoes near her ears. Due to her special necessities, her brother needs to use spells in their daily lives.

Since childhood, Diane was born to be blind, slightly deaf and the rest of her senses are blocked. Everyone should’ve been clueless on how to help her grow but she’s somehow grateful that her family are warlocks. She’s even more grateful that she can talk since it’s the easier way on how to convey her feelings.

Diane was told that warlocks and witches are humans that can perform spells because they’re learning it from a book that’s been made by a Demon. And Demons are known because of their dark magic. Dark magic is simply forbidden to humans since their known to be weaker in containing manna. But somehow a group of humans have started to learn this and they call themselves witches and warlocks.

These types of humans can ingest small amount of manna through a spell. This spell needs their blood and a sacrifice of their most favored animal. Once the ritual begins, the human will begin to feel pain for a few minutes as his body transforms from that of an unable to ingest mana to a body that can ingest mana.

For nineteen years, she grew up with her family consisting of two men; her brother and father. They have been harmonious but quite monotonous. Both father and son wake up before dawn then after they wash up, both will don their black robes. The ones that look like one of those that were worn by priests during the early century. Then they will go upstairs in the top floor of the house to do certain rituals in honor of the one’s they worship. Both father and son will stay there until the first light from the sun peeks in through the dark sky.

Her brother will first come down from the top floor to cook their breakfast and wake her up when it’s done. Then the whole family eats together when their father comes down. Her brother would proceed to do all the chores after breakfast while their father will get changed and then goes out for work in the Warlocks Council.

This has been their life for the young Diane, it was peaceful and monotonous but she enjoyed their life back then. It was then that she would have wished that she should’ve not been that satisfied with how their lives were back then.

When Diane turned ten, their father died. He died because of political war in the Council. The one who have him killed was trialed and burned. Devastated, young Diane cried while her brother comforted her. He did not weep nor put any emotion as they buried the father that both of them had.

“Hey... if you won’t drink that then I won’t give you dessert during lunch and dinner.”

“Eh!?” Diane exclaims when she snaps out from memory lane. “Don’t you dare, Theo!”

“Then drink it. Now.”

His firm command makes her pout. Since childhood, she hates the texture of the medicine that their father had formulated for her to drink. Despite her tongue Does nothing to her illnesses. The ‘defects’ that she has.

She’s been drinking it since she can remember yet… it did nothing until now. To her, it’s quite useless drinking it continuously if it’s defective. But her brother was also stubborn. Blackmailing her even just to drink it.

“I’ll drink this stupid medicine… only if you give me two different kinds of desserts at lunch and dinner!”

She can imagine Theo smirking with her childish antic. Diane couldn’t help it. Food is her only haven. When she was a child, she couldn’t even taste food. But when her brother had helped her by searching through their father’s books for various spells to help her with her blocked senses. He had come upon a journal of a famous witch who experiments with various spells to help those people with defects from birth during the 19th century.

And with it, Theo had successfully formulated a certain spell that can help her taste the food that she eats. Despite that she can only taste for a certain amount of time, she was grateful and is always became excited during mealtimes.

Her favorite part during their mealtime is dessert. Eating those delicious sweets is the most pleasurable to her. That’s why whenever Theo blackmails her with taking away her dessert time… she easily gives in.

Whenever she whines about the medicine and always talking about it being useless… he doesn’t budge. Always being stubborn in making her drink it.

“I’ll triple that offer, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Daily… only, and only if you drink your medicine from now on without complaint.” Theo proposes back to her.

Diane bites her lip in frustration… knowing that he always wins these negotiations between them.

“FINE!” she exclaims… pursing her lips even further.

“Now… drink.” He instructs her as he puts the small bottle in her hand then guiding it to her lips. “Remember… no complaints.”

“Uwuwu…” was all Diane could utter before taking a deep breath and gulping the whole medicinal drink.

Satisfied, Theo pats her hair and offers her a cup. “Drink water to help you remove the texture.”

She immediately gulps its contents. Exhaling in relief that her problem is now gone… for now that is. Thinking about it only made her sulk in agony once again.

She can hear her brother snicker at her predicament. Making her lips pout again.

“Stop making that face.” Theo said. “Stop acting like a child Di… you’re already Nineteen. If you pout like that, I might take back two of your desserts that we’ve agreed.”

This only made Diane angrier. In her frustration, she began to hit him with her fists. “No fair! You’re always like that! I’m not even doing it to act cute, I’m doing it because you always make me mad!”

“Alright, alright!” Theo exclaims. Grabbing her fists and gathering her into an embrace, making her stop hitting him. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry.”

Diane knows that tears are forming in her eyes. Making her brother coax her even further to not cry. He rocks his body back and forth while resting her face on the crook of his neck and his hand the holds her head pats it gently.

“I’m sorry, okay? I’m at fault.” Theo said. “Will you forgive me?”

Diane’s lips form a straight line. Not talking back on purpose. A small glint of evilness shines in her grey eyes and her head, she giggles.

“Four… four different kinds of dessert three times a day.” She hears her brother groans in agony, making her giggle as he stops consoling her.

If only she can see… then she would’ve seen Theo’s wide smile and loving gaze. 

***

ARC 1

I was born like this but I am thankful to be alive.

Born and to live to have a wonderful life.

With family and friends on my back, where would I lack?

I'm lucky to have them.

I'm lucky to be with them.

I'm lucky... until I'm not.

-Diane