11 You Left Me No Choice!

"Wh-who... who are you?" Sylvia's question resonated around, and another thunder startled the earth.

"Shouldn't it be me asking that?" He retorted.

Sylvia's eyes narrowed at the old man.

"No human would react this way after finding... that!" He pointed at the manuscript in her hands.

"So now tell me Sylvia. Who are YOU?"

Sylvia was conflicted. She couldn't decide what she should do.

There stood the man who helped her, saved her life and took care of her. And there was something precious in her hands, something she was looking for all this time.

Not even the leader of the dark magic, Reznor, could find it!

"How can you have this?" She asked, refusing to give him any answers.

Regnar remained silent, pursing his lips. He was yet to be sure who she was and what were her intentions. He couldn't jump to conclusions just yet.

Sylvia thought about it for a while as tense silence brewed between the two of them. And then her eyes widened in realisation.

"You... you are an... alchemist?!"

Regnar sucked a sharp breath. There was no point in hiding the truth anymore if she had figured out that.

"Yes, I am. And that manuscript belongs to me. I am entrusted with its protection so you should return it to me." He said in a firm and authoritative tone.

Sylvia's face crumbled as her eyes darted left and right as reality began to slowly sink in.

Was she ready to give up what would take her to the fulfilment of her goal?

"N-no. I... I can't!" She was quickly on her feet, holding that manuscript tightly to her chest.

"Sylvia! That is no use for you. You can't use it even if you want. You are not that powerful." He warned.

Clearly, he was underestimating the woman standing before him. If only he knew who she was and how capable she was, then he wouldn't have dared to say such a thing.

Sylvia was breathing hard. Her heart was drumming loudly in her chest.

"Regnar, you don't know who I am. But I need this. This is what I was looking for years. Now that I have found it, I cannot give it back to you."

Regnar's eyes narrowed at her. "Who are you, Sylvia? And why were you looking for something so... evil?"

Sylvia contemplated revealing her identity. She had never met an Alchemist before and thus didn't know what kind of powers they held. They were always mystified by the stories she had heard.

"You don't need to know that."

Regnar realised that it was useless to ask her anything. His priority was recovering that manuscript from her.

"I am asking you for the last time Sylvia. Don't force me to take another way."

Regnar's threat made Sylvia gulp in nervousness. NO! She was not afraid of facing him. She knew Alchemist or not she could take him down easily, but she was nervous because she didn't want to do it.

She couldn't forget that this very man had helped her a lot and had saved her life. She couldn't repay his kindness by taking his life. It was wrong!

She may be a dark witch for the world, but she was not immoral!

"Regnar, don't do this. I promise I will not share this secret with anyone. Just let me have it, Regnar. This is what I am living for. I have sacrificed my family, my friends, my love, Larnwick and-"

Sylvia abruptly stopped between her words as she realised her mistake. Regnar noticed it, and it was clear from the way his face paled.

"Larnwick? You... you are from Larnwick?"

Sylvia remained silent.

"You said you sacrificed Larnwick. It means..." It didn't take the old Alchemist long to conclude things.

"You are a dark witch, aren't you? You are from Malvadogar!"

Sylvia's heart broke the way he said it out in disgust.

"Regnar, please!"

But the very next moment, the Alchemist charged at her at such a speed that left Sylvia dumbstruck for a moment.

He managed to push her back, and she crashed into a table behind her. Yet she refused to let go of the manuscript in her hands.

She pulled out her wand in time and blocked his next attack. But Regnar looked furious. He had only one thing on his mind.

Protection of the secret which was meant to be hidden at all costs!

Regnar attacked again, and Sylvia used her magic to push him back. She was consciously being careful with her retaliation. She didn't want to hurt Regnar, but with every retaliation from her, the latter was getting angrier.

After a few more frustrating failed attempts, Regnar took out a dagger from under his socks and charged at Sylvia. Her eyes widened in shock, watching the weapon.

She moved out of his way and tried to talk to him, but he was livid.

"I said give it back, Sylvia!"

"I can't! I don't want to. Please let me go with it."

"I was not protecting it for over centuries for a dark witch like you to take it away! I know what you will do if I let you go away with it.

And that's not happening!"

"I will take it, Regnar. You cannot stop me!"

"Over my dead body!"

Regnar's dagger managed to cut Sylvia's arm. Though the cut was not severe, it was deep enough to tear her skin, and blood oozed from her wound.

Anger filled Sylvia's mind, and all she could see was red. She saw Regnar charging at her again, and this time, she used her magic.

Her eyes shut close for a few seconds, and when they opened, she gasped in horror and anguish. Her magic had retaliated Regnar's attack, but his dagger spun around and stabbed him in the chest.

Regnar's eyes were wide with shock. He pulled that dagger out and roared animalistically. In a fit of shock, Sylvia's hand again moved, and the dagger now aimed for his throat.

Tears streamed down Sylvia's face. Her whole body shook in fright. She slid down on the ground as her guilt burdened her.

She watched Regnar struggling for the last breaths.

"I am sorry! Regnar, I am really very sorry! I didn't mean this. I swear! But you left me no choice. Please! I am sorry!" Sylvia's sobs filled the place, replacing Regnar's last breaths.

Her heart twisted painfully in her chest as she stared at her shaking hand. She had killed the person who saved her life. She repaid his kindness with utmost cruelty.

Before she delve deeper into her guilt, she heard the knocks on the front door.

"Regnar? Regnar, open the door. You forgot one of your bags in the wagon."

Sylvia's heart lurched in her throat, hearing those voices. She looked around the place which was covered in mess, and Regnar... he had stopped breathing already.

Sylvia didn't know what she should do. The panic fogged her ability of thinking. While she tried to pull herself together, the two young men became suspicious.

To check on the old man, one of them walked to the window of the room, where he saw regnar on the floor, drenched in his blood. And not far from him sat a woman dressed in black with dark raven hair.

He couldn't see her face, but when a scream of shock left his mouth, her head snapped in his way. Sylvia's eyes filled with fear, and the man yelled.

"You murderer! You killed him!" He tried to break through the window.

A raven croaked somewhere in the dark outside, and Sylvia snapped back to her senses. The fear of life pushed her up to her feet, and she ran out of that room.

"You! Stop! Who are you?"

The other man managed to break the door and entered the house when he saw the young and beautiful woman rushing out of one of the rooms.

Meanwhile, the other man got through the window and ran to check if Regnar was still breathing.

His friend saw the whole scene and understood what might have happened.

Sylvia dashed into the adjacent room, and the two men followed, cursing at her. She used her wand, and the wall was broken. She kicked it, and a large whole formed. She escaped through it, running with all her might while holding the manuscript tightly in her hands.

"Killer! Killer! Catch her." She heard the men crying loudly.

She couldn't see anything in the dark, and using light would mean drawing more attention to her. So she ran wherever the road took her while chanting apologies, but in vain.