The witch and the map maker

Chapter 4

-It was so weird" Dahlia said sipping on her cup of tea. She sat next to Ezekiel who had rested his head on his hand, his eyebrows furrowed as he concentrated.

"Residual magic? That is strange, and it sparked overnight?"

"Yes, I have my suspicions, but I don't think it's anything serious. It may just be a fluctuation" Ezekiel hummed in response, before pulling out a map. Dahlia's eyes lit up knowing that a new adventure was on the horizon.

Two knocks echoed off the door before it opened revealing Lyra.

"Lyra, you came just in time. Come and see" Dahlia said.

Lyra walked shyly towards the two and watched over Dahlia's shoulder to see, a large map sprawled on the wooden table Ezekiel grabbed a pen that glowed a purple colour, drawing over the lines of the map and engraving words in a different language like runes. The compass on the map became more defined as it shown out a golden glow and the map itself became lively

"What is he doing?" Lyra asked

"This is how we're going to travel. That pen is laced with Ezekiel's magic. When he traces over it, it opens a gateway for us to pass through, with help from my magic as well" Dahlia explained, watching the purple turn to gold as it touched the map. It always amazed her and she never got tired of watching Ezekiel's magic.

"Dahlia you called," a man's voice echoed out startling Lyra. The two sat at the table unfazed.

Lyra looked up a young man walked into the room nonchalantly. He had a striking resemblance to Dahlia, from his curly brown hair to his lively brown eyes.

Her inspection stopped the moment they locked eyes. Lyra smiled anxiously awaiting an introduction.

"This is my little brother Lake. He will be introducing you to the others and showing you the rest of the building" Dahlia said

"I thought you were going to do that," Lyra whispered as Lake came nearer to look at the map.

"I know, I'm sorry, but Ezekiel needs my help, and something strange happened last night, so I need to check that out as well. Besides you'll have fun, and you'll be busy packing" Dahlia responded.

"Packing?, Packing for what-"

"Didn't I tell you? You're going with me into the map we're currently working on" Dahlia interrupted, pushing Lyra towards her brother.

"Wait, what-"

"I'll see you later, You can take her now Lake"

Slam

The door was closed with a loud bang, as Lyra stood dumbfounded at what just happened. Lake however, just stood on the sidelines as if this was normal to him.

"Hi, is she always like this?" Lyra asked as she turned towards him.

"Pretty much, yeah. I'm Lake Atticus" he said, holding his hand out. Lyra took note of the roughness as she held his hand.

"Lyra Ledger. So what now?"

"Now I'll show you around, and then, we'll meet the others. I'll give you a brief description along the way," He responded smiling and leading her down the long hallway.

_____________________

"That was abrupt" Ezekiel said looking over his shoulder at his best friend.

"I don't know what you're talking about" Dahlia shrugged, sitting back next to Ezekiel, who had closed up the map.

Taking a black cauldron out from under the table, Ezekiel raised his eyebrow curiously as she took a small mixing pot. She dropped a few herbs and a strand of hair into it, grinding everything together before whispering something into the pot.

"What are you doing?" he whispered into her ear as she dropped the mixture into the cauldron.

"I'm checking something out," she whispered back.

"Lyra?"

"Yes, Lyra. When she walked in those fluctuations started again. Did you not feel it?" Ezekiel shook his head no, watching the cauldron let out black smoke, indicating no magic presence.

"And it looks like your magic doesn't detect anything either."

"Maybe I'm just imagining it. I mean, strange things happen all the time when humans cross into the workshop."

"Maybe, but I say trust your instincts.You have a really good magic sense. Don't psych yourself out. Now I'm going to eat. Should I bring you something, or..." He trailed off, taking his coat in hand and waiting for a response.

"I'll eat later. You go on ahead" Dahlia responded.

"Whatever you say."