The White City

Chapter 7

The old hag poured the fluid into a mug. Steam ascended from the boiling tea and played in the calm air. “I do wish you fancy herbs. They are good for your spirit.” The old man rotated to turn towards Laylah. She relaxed at his table. She curled her hands in front of her as she swayed back and forth. She couldn’t find a position to settle her eyes and they kept rolling around in her sockets.

“I’ve never tried it,” she said as he planted the steaming cup in front of her. The heat already soothed her raging nerves.

“Strange.” The old chap skimmed into a seat opposite of her. He declined as far back in it as he could and ruffled his arms over his chest. “Your mother never made you any?” 

Laylah let her hands enroll around the mug. The heat leaked into her skin, delivering a burning sensation to her palms. “I’m not going to speak to you about my parents.” She let the mug brush her lips. It lingered there for a minute as she eyed the greenish liquid. It radiated with a rich aroma. Laylah tipped the cup and let the tea run down her throat.

“That‘s alright, my girl. Do you want to-“

“What happened?” Laylah interfered with a strict voice. She put the tea down, still clinging on to it.

“What do you mean?” The old man hoisted an eyebrow, lunging into a drawer to extract a deep ocean blue book. Like the others, someone had ripped the edges and read it more than once. 

“The closet. He should have caught me. I did not lock it.” Laylah kept his gaze confined in hers. He noticed the same thing as the soldier on the ice. He saw the mighty being lurking behind the young and scared outer. He saw what she would become if she believed. And what he saw frightened him.

He opened the book to a side in the center. “It must have locked itself somehow. We were blessed this time, young lady. We must prepare next time.” The old chap let his eyes stray to the water trickling from the rim of her mouth. His thoughts shortly returned to the instant he had observed the stream of water exit his room.

“Next time?” Laylah let go of the mug and bent as far forward as she could. She drew her lips under her teeth and bit down hard. She had whisked her hair behind her ears, but a few messy strands crafted shadows across her juvenile face.

“They will continue searching for you. You presented magic in front of them. In their eyes, you are the greatest threat to ever have emerged. The royal family must be petrified.” The old chap shook his head and turned a page. A huge stone displayed cross the whole right page. On the picture, water droplets dripped from its edges. If you watched long enough, the ocean would reflect in your eyes. 

“This is a nightmare.” Laylah concealed her face in the depths of her hands. She didn’t even notice the tear tumbling from her eyes. From her hands descended a tiny drop of pure ice and smashed against the floor.

“Drink your tea, young lady. And then we’ll go to the market. We need to locate that familiar of yours.” The old chap whirled the book towards Laylah and pointed at the stone. “Do you know what this is?” Laylah took a sip of her tea.

“No, but it’s beautiful.” She let a finger run across the picture. Emotions welled up in her system as she gazed upon it.

“It’s a water stone. Every city, for their shield to prosper, needs at least two element stones. This city has a water and wind stone. And the stones are thought to be able to help magicians find and connect with their familiar.”

“My familiar? Why do I need it?” Laylah kept her gaze upon the stone.

“A familiar is usually a form of soulmate. They can help you channel your powers by conveying some of the power for you. You will require your familiar if you want to survive and bring this city to acknowledge magic as a sign of peace instead of fear.” The old man took the book and pointed at the stone. “This stone will attract your familiar to you, so we need to seek it.”

Laylah took in all the information she could. Every word he uttered was one word closer to the truth about her and her origins. And maybe even to find peace with her parents’ deaths. “Alright, I trust you.” Laylah took another sip of the tea. “Where can we find this stone?”

The old chap clattered out of his chair and waltzed over to a cabinet. “On the market. The well has one mysterious blue stone. I believe that stone to be that of the water stone.” The old chap pulled up clothing after clothing.

Laylah stood as well. “But it’s the middle of the day,” she said, her hand extending towards the window. “Soldiers are looking for me. And my obscure outer those cause me to stand out.”

The old chap nodded, but he didn’t wipe the slight smile from his lips. He drew out a long winter dress. It was pure white from the bottom to the top. Laylah hurried to shake her head and wave around with her hands. “I can’t wear that. It would indicate that I believe in their customs.” Laylah pulled away and went back to take ahold of her mug.

“It will only be for a moment. We need to make sure the soldiers won’t catch you. This will make you blend right in.” He swayed the dress in the air before he pulled out a white cloak to go with it. He even had a pair of white shoes she could wear as well. “It may not fit. You are quite skinny; however, I am sure it will do the job.”

The old chap spread the fabrics over the table. Laylah hurried to remove the mug and squeezed it into her chest. “What about my hair and eyes?” she asked, taking a step closer towards the clothing.

“I cannot do anything about that.” The old chap found a ribbon in another drawer and put it with the clothing. “However, you can tie your hair and it should be alright. And about your eyes, keep looking at the ground. I will guide you.”

Laylah gulped, putting the mug down on her chair. She collected the clothing in her arms. They were heavy. “And I can trust you?” Laylah found the brown eyes of the old man. She held his gaze with so much emotion it hurt. Her walls had finally dropped down the whole way to the ground.

“You can.” He smiled, his hand folding behind his back. He stood straight.

“Then what’s your name, savior?” she asked, sending him the smallest of a small. “And thank you. You saved me when no one else wanted to.”

He bowed down much to her surprise. “It’s an honor. My family has been praising the element gods for many generations. You have only brought joy to me. I never thought magic would return to Everton City. And you may call me Kain.”

Laylah was at loss for words. She had never heard so positive words about the power she wielded. And she had never met someone who knew as much about them as he. It was almost too much. However, she shared his joy of their meeting. “Still, thank you.”

Laylah bowed out of respect as well. She then disappeared into his bedroom to change her clothing. It didn’t take long for both her and Kain to get ready for their mission. Kain had changed into a white outfit as well. He wore a long shirt and a pair of thick wool pants. Over his shoulder, he spread a weaved cape. He let the hood hang down along his back.

Laylah kept running her hands up and down her frame. She pressed her lips into a thin line. She had tucked the hood over her eyes and hidden her hair on her back. She tied the ribbon tight and a few strands pulled in her scalp.

“We must hurry.” Kian, the old chap, filled his bag with a few of the weird cans and sealed it shut. “We want to be back before night rolls upon us.”

Laylah granted him a nod as her reply. They both moved towards the door and stepped out into the street. Laylah kept close to Kain as he locked up after her. Her eyes wandered across every hiding place the street had. She looked down every alleyway.

Kain stepped up to stand beside her. He put a hand on her shoulder. “You must not worry. No harm will come to you.” He gave her a reassuring smile and stepped in front of her to guide the way.

“My name is Laylah,” she said, stopping him in her tracks. He glanced at her over his shoulder. “I’m not sure if I told you my name. My name is Laylah. You may call me that.”

“Then, Laylah, let’s go. The stone is waiting for you.” Kain held out his arm and Laylah took. She tucked her hood further down and shadowed her eyes.

He led her through the maze of paths and onto the market. They stopped at the edge of it. The old chap let Laylah have a look over the square. The last quest wiggled past each other as tradesmen yelled deals over their heads. Stalls created a perfect square that kept the people of the city trapped inside. In the very back, you could skimp the well were Kain claimed the water stone was. “I see no guards.” The old hag pulled Laylah into the midst of the busy square. “Keep your head down, Laylah.”

Laylah nodded and kept her eyes traced at the pavement, but she so wanted to explore. To watch the business of the market and be one with the people who wandered it. She wished to roam this square with her girlfriends and not an old chap which helped her hide from the law. She wished for things to be different.

Laylah let a sigh escape her lips. Her shoulders slumped. She didn’t register anything as they passed all different kinds of people. She only saw their footwear. They were as white as the thin layer of snow they stepped upon. She also heard parts of friendly conversation, but never enough to get curious.

Kain dragged her past a stall and over to the well. Hear she let her gaze wander up. Kain had let her go and went to inspect the well. “It has to be here.” He ran his hands over the stones as he crunched down into the filthy snow and examined the well.

Laylah stepped forward to help, however, she didn’t need to do much searching. It was as if a voice called to her. It didn’t say anything in particular. It was as if waves splintered into her ears and urged her to come closer. She took one step at the time, following the sound. She crouched into the snow. She swept a bit of snow out of her way and right at the bottom of the well was a beautiful ocean blue stone. It radiated in the last light from the sun. Laylah held out her hand. Her finger wiped over the smooth surface of the stone and she gasped. A handsome face appeared in front of her. It was the face of prince Raziel.