The wheel of fortune takes you places...

The fall was around the corner and I could already feel the sun weaken. Orion had been gone few days ago and the town had already started anticipating the sudden disappearance of Mr. Preston as some important academic research work or maybe he's gone again to his grandfather who lives in a foreign land. Everybody is concerned about the castle on the hill wondering when will there be a lady to look after the splendid abode in absence of its master.

Violet would be leaving tonight for Effloresce, I handed her a letter to thank father and reminded her to look into the matters that we earlier discussed. She worried for me staying alone and invited me to join her, she knew I would refuse but she made sure to try.

The evening I was at the bookstore, I was indulged in reading to the kids the stories of princes and knights. The reading session ended and the store was empty so I and Ivy sat back with coffees, we talked about recent gossips of the town.

"When is Mr. Preston coming back to town?" She asked.

"I don't know." I replied. She did not believe me. She asked me why do I not know something that important. I shrugged.

"Or you practising secrecy, perhaps? You cannot lie to me, Nia. I could see it in your eyes. There is a distinct way your eyes shine when he is around. See, you lost the light."

"That is plain exaggeration, Ivy. I assure you there is nothing of the sort between us. The town is mistaken but I'm too aloof and couldn't care to go correcting everyone." I said and clearly there were traces of irritation in it. It wouldn't be good sitting here any longer, I thought. I apologized and took my leave saying I had to get to home early.

I walked out of the bookstore and was walking down the streets, I looked up to the bakery- he used to wait by here most of the days, I walked on and found myself looking at the side benches. I sat on one of them and looked at the narrow end that closed on Violet's house. I could've gone to her had she been in the town.

Cold wind blew through my hair and I felt chills, I pulled my coat in tightly and got up to walk home. I was looking down to the ground when my eyes fell on the circle we saw the other day. I looked around and there was no one. I sensed no one so I sat down to look at it. I traced the lines, the white dust on my finger indicated that it was redrawn; that sounded like the least possible thing. I initially thought that it had been drawn and used only once as it had not altered since then. One of us made sure of that everyday. But it being afresh was not a good sign. I got up and looked around.

There had to be something, someone must be watching from shadows. But it was concealed perfectly. I had no choice but to walk home. I skittered to the shore, looked at the moon. It was a full moon, beautiful and haunting. But it comes with a bad feeling. A sudden chill down my spine, I know what is it, I remembered it well. I rushed into my house and shut the door. Sudden hammering on the door as I still had my back on it startled me. Loud, constant and hard.

"That perseverance is commendable." I said to myself and switched to my battle gear and got ready to knock out whatever it was. Taking a deep breath I opened the door- no one as usual. I looked directly to the rocks where I had seen it last. Unmistaken as I was, I wasted no time and hurried to follow that shadow, it did not vaporize like the last time, it was leading me somewhere. I thought it best since the town was unprotected and I could entrust this to no one. I followed as it led me to the forest.

Moonlight beaming through the woods, it wasn't exactly dark inside and that made it easier. "Stop now. That is as far as you should go." I shouted.

It stopped. The shadow, I now looked at it from up close. I walked close to it, with every feeble step I took I could make out more its outlines, but only partially because I could almost see through it. It turned around, long veil floating over its face and there was no way one could define any features on him.

It has got to be with it's master, I thought.

"Hah! You catch on to things fast. Nothing less expected from the princess of a Kingdom that stands on the graves on men. You must have excelled in fighting souls by now, have you not, Lady of the Stars?"

I was alarmed at the sudden voice coming out of nowhere. I looked around, tracing the source of the sound, I knew I heard it from the back of my head but it wasn't around anymore.

"Making your pretty speech from shadows, you must be petty yourself." I raised my voice. I waited and looked around.

At once the shadow appeared in front of me and grabbed my throat, it was not intended to choke me but it definitely wasn't with any good intention either.

"Step back, you are not supposed to touch the lady until I order you to."

The shadow walked back and the man appeared in front of me.

"You have a particularly sharp tongue, young lady!" I stepped back. I took a deep breath and looked up to him. I couldn't see a thing. It was like his face has a pall of darkness over it. On it though, I saw a pair of gleaming eyes.

I remember, I had seen them before- at the shore- the same pair of gleaming eyes. It was discernible now, a pair of gleaming eyes, a cane made of maple-wood, the tall persona with the most intimidating stance- it was all clear now.

"What is a mage like yourself doing here in this small town?"