Lara and The Mansion in the Woods

A shocking turn

We stared at each other. I think he's trying to assess if I really am ready. "Very well", he finally broke the silence. "But you have to promise me that you will keep this between us. You have to stay sane and firm after this because I'm sure, this is very far from the reality you lived your whole life.. And". He took some tea he made and placed a stool in front of where I'm lying. "Show me what's in your pocket" he ordered. I didn't realized that there's something in my pocket until I felt it. Its that ruby ring Adam gave me before he left. I don't remember putting it here. "Give it me", I handed it to him and he abruptly took it from my hand to examine it closely "Why, what's the matter?" He then threw it on the ground and stepped on it, breaking it into dust in the first place.

"What's wrong with you?!"

"That ain't ruby ring young lass. The wearer of that ring will suffer from something only the maker knows. It's best to break it. If they looked for it, just tell them you lost it". He fixed his collar and sipped some tea like an old gentleman.

"Ok, I shall begin. In the past, there were three friends. Lupita, the oldest , Martha the juvenile, and Lucy the youngest"

"They are young protégé witches from three families of witches that are powerful but don't have the same beliefs and don't agree with each other. Martha being mischievous often play tricks on Lucy. Lupita being the oldest, defends Lucy as she is the youngest among them. As they grow up, they awake hidden talents within them. Lupita and Martha turned out to be the most gifted. Lucy turned out to be talented as well yet lead with kindness and control. Despite their family's conflicts, they grew friendship. That is until Culipus came. He has all the qualities, charm, power, and riches a witch will easily fall for him. Martha got caught in his charming face and words, it changed her, turned her to become a good person. They kept their f*******n love a secret to everyone. Lucy and Lupita soon caught air of Martha's unlikely love and soon, everyone found out. The order of the pure witches banished Martha and killed Culipus. Lucy and Lupita never knew it will come to this point. They tried to talk to Martha and beg for forgiveness. But when they all meet again, Martha killed them and banished her self to live in a far away place. She founded the Order of the Dark Witches who practiced f*******n magic. There became 4 branches of people who practice witchcraft. Well, three and the fourth one is different. The Order of the Pure Witches, calls themselves the fore seekers of control and order, The Order of the Kind Witches, The Order of the Dark Witches, and The Order of the Dormant.

"Dormant?"

"Those are the once who are born in a family of witches, without the capability to cast a spell. They still have their group as they can bear children that can perform witchcraft. Most of the time, the people who belong in this order live in hiding to live their lives as humans. The pure witches hunt fugitive dormants and it usually don't end well. Alchemists belong to this group as they are also incapable of casting spells. They are blessed with different gifts. This is where I belong. Although witches can also perform alchemy, like what I've said earlier, The order of the Pure witches kept this under control. They don't want it to fall in the hands of the once who'd use it for evil "

"From then, witches from the opposite sides are not allowed to be married, let alone to be together. It would only create a far more chaotic mess."

"Mardibos and Lucidia knew about all of these.."

"Who?"

"Mardibos and Lucidia. Adam and Cecil. The Fletchers. They go by different names now, but I'm certain that the order is keeping a close eye on them"

"They did the unexpected, they married during the blood moon, which is against the code of all witches"

"As if that was not enough to defy the order, they started killing innocent lives for their blood. They thought they are heroes of freedom, but in the end, the fire they themselves started, burned them. Eilif was one of the servants of that mansion when all of those happened. Not only that, she was also a young witch. She knew everything that they did; from the spells, to the rituals; Their horrendous acts of killing to can keep their youth. Their life."

"Can't they just cast a spell for themselves or something?"

"I'm afraid It's far too complicated than that. They cannot do so because a powerful curse was cast to them by the order of the pure witches."

"Eilif was innocent.."

He said as tears run down his eyes.

"There came a time that she cannot bear witness of the horrendous site no more so she fought and resisted them, even if it costs her life"

"She did the biggest mistake she ever committed. She caught the attention of the pure"

"Lucidia being clever, found a way to shift and bend the truth, she set Eilif to be the orchestrator"

"Eilif was sentenced death in front of her own kind through fire. On the other hand, Mardibos and Lucidia was punished a slow and painful death"

"Bunch of incompetent scums. The order has always been like that"

"They are banished, deprived of the capability to cast a spell witch is the essence of being a witch"

I stared at the candle trying to absorb all of the information I just received.

"Why would Eilif show herself to me and warn me?"

"That I don't know. Eilif never showed herself to me back when I was young and used to sneak inside, but I always knew she was still there. Her perilous soul locked inside that hellhole"

"You must find out yourself. I'll help you as much as I can but, do be careful. They mustn't know you already know about this"

"Why? You mean I can't tell anyone?"

"Of course! They'll go after me and no one will be left to help you. You told anyone?"

"No. Eilif said I should not trust anyone in that house, that's why I came to you. I know you don't work for them" from the information I received, It seems like I went to the right person.

"What should I do now?"

"Hmm let me think.."

"You happen to see peculiar objects in the house? a glowing ring or a golden tooth?"

"I don't roam around much, why?"

"You have to find the objects hidden in that house that Eilif made her self"

He went in the shelves looking for something. While he was searching the shelved, a question popped in my mind.

"Why and how do you know so much about the things that happened before?"

"Because I'm a son of a witch who happen to have no capability to cast spells"

"So technically, you still have witch blood in your veins"

"Precisely. Witches like me often end up being as servants of other witches who bear power. Here it is!"

"what, what is it?"

"The satchel of Eilif"

"Why would I want an old satchel? I have my own bag to put my stuff into"

"This is no ordinary satchel, if you put things in it, only you can see the things in it no one else. No weight will be heavy, not a drop of liquid will spill, not a ray of light will pass through, Plus, its super spacious. Take it, this might come handy"

"I don't know what I'll do if it weren't for you. Thanks for the help Mr. Albert"

"don't mention it, you're always welcome"

"Oh and bring this with you too"

"A bracelet?"

"Yes. Whisper upon that whenever you need my help. I'll be there"

"Thank you"

"Remember not to tell anyone ok?"

"You shall head home now, your servants are waiting for you. Just take the door to the left"

I gave him my final glance and took the door in the left.

As I opened, I noticed a familiar view. I'm in my room.

"Wow this is cool—"

As a turned back, all I see was a bunch of clothes and some of my random belongings. I saw the bracelet that he gave and jokingly whispered in it. "Thank you so much, the door was so cool". the bracelet lit three times in as if to confirm.

I have to write everything in my diary. All of those things can help me. Now I know that all of the things that's happening to me lately are factual and I'm not making things up. And, I have to take my search seriously to find the objects Mr. Albert was talking about.

Tomorrow I'll begin my search.