Chapter 6

"Is that everything?" Alizon asked, rooting through the saddlebags attached to the horses yet again. 

"I'm pretty sure," Circe nodded, attempting to pull her daughter away from the bags. She eventually did, but not after Alizon rebelling and almost pulling one of the bags off. 

Alix returned from visiting Alys soon after Alizon and Circe stopped messing with the bags. After we left the kitchen to pack, Silvano took him to his room and he began feeling the pains again, so Alix's boyfriend Koa was staying with him to make sure he was alright. Alix would occasionally go up to see if he was awake or in pain, but it seemed to be continuous. 

"Is he alright?" Zath asked as soon as Alix exited the house. 

"No, they haven't died off yet," he shook his head, and I watched Zath's shoulders slump. 

"Can I at least check on him?" He bargained, his voice full of hope. 

"No," Alix shook his head solemnly, walking to pet one of the horses. "He said he doesn't want to worry any of you, so he's staying away from you,"

"If anything that's going to make me worry more," Zath mumbled, crossing his arms and staring at the stones on the floor. 

"I know, but he's stubborn," Alix rolled his eyes, turning to face Zath as he pet the horse. "He always has been,"

"You've known him for a long time?" Elaria walked over to us, curious. 

"Promise not to tell?" He took his hand off the horse, to which the horse walked away to Alizon and Circe for more pats. 

"We promise," she said, and we both nodded in agreement. 

"Well…" he trailed off. "Silvano used to work for her. He knew him ever since he was young, and he's always been like that," he shrugged it off. "Don't tell anyone that he used to work for her,"

"We won't," she shook her head. "Anyway, you've known him for a long time, what was he like before the darkening?"

"Oh, I didn't know him before that," he shook his head. "He was given it at a young age, and I wasn't here before then. You'd have to ask him yourself, though I don't think it's a good idea,"

"Why not?" I asked, curious. 

"He doesn't take kindly to being reminded that he's someone different," Alix replied. "Treat him like he was always like that, it's the best thing to do,"

I nodded, understanding. I didn't want to upset him, and I'm sure the other two didn't either. We stayed silent while we all finished packing and checking. I forgot Alizon has Circe were there since they were so quiet, but they acted like they didn't hear Alix talking. At least I assume they didn't hear him, they didn't act like they did anyway. 

It was silent for a while, an uncomfortable silence. None of us knew what to say at that point, we all ran out of questions and conversation starters. If it wasn't for Circe telling us the horses were ready to go we would've been stuck in silence for eternity. Just before we could climb onto the horses, Alys walked out of the large doors, a man beside him and ready to catch him if he was going to fall. He looked like Silvano; with white owl wings and large eyes, except he didn't have as many wrinkles, was smaller and had short brown hair rather than grey hair. Zath smiled as soon as he saw him walking, and acknowledged the man beside him. 

"Are you alright now?" He asked, walking over. 

"Still a little tired," he replied, sound the opposite of how he was speaking. He still seemed extremely tired.

"Yeah," Zath rolled his eyes, smiling. 

"You young elf should be asleep," Circe walked over, tapping him three times on the head with a random newspaper and tutting. "What have I told you?"

"Don't get up when you're tired," he rolled his eyes. 

"Exactly, and what did you do?" She crossed her arms, staring sternly at uim. 

"Get up," he let out a sigh. "I'm fine now, honest. She's stopped,"

"If she starts again now I'll drag you back to that room if I have to," she put her forehead in her hand, turning slightly to the side. 

"She's fine Puella," Koa placed a hand on his shoulder, his voice childish and not reflecting his mature looks. "Silvano let him out,"

"Stupid," she shook her head. 

"Relax, I'm not going to pass out or anything," he put his palms in front of his body in mock surrender. 

Circe rolled her eyes, walking away and checking the bags for the umpteenth time. Elaria walked over too, standing with us. 

"You feel better?" She smiled, her hands behind her back. 

"Yeah," he nodded. "I have something for you,"

"For me?" She stepped back slightly, surprised. 

"Yeah, you're the only Altium around here," he shrugged, walking slightly closer. "It's a blessing,"

"A blessing?" She asked. "What kind of blessing?"

"A protection blessing," he replied. "Alizon got in contact with one of her friends, told me you would get in the most trouble out of all of you, so until you get there I'm giving you my blessing to make sure you get there safely,"

Her cheeks tinted slightly with pink. "Thank you, really,"

"It's no problem, you need it more than I do," Zath snorted when Alys spoke. He shook his head, placing his hands on her shoulders and muttering something in another language. His palms began to glow white, which was surprising since I assumed he only had dark magic. He moved his hand to her cheek, and it glowed brighter. They both smiled before it died off and Alys moved back. 

"Thank you," she bowed slightly. "Really,"

"It's nothing," he replied, tapping her on the head. "You take care alright? Don't do anything reckless,"

"I don't do reckless," she replied. 

"Alright then," he shrugged, turning to Zath.  "You take care alright? Don't do anything reckless,"

"Really?" He smiled. 

"Really," 

"Alright," he shook his head. "I'll try not to,"

Alys turned to me. "Stop him from being reckless for me?"

"I will," I nodded, knowing it was the best I could do for him. 

"I'll meet you in Silva Terram, alright?" Alys turned to Zath. "And make sure you come in at night, we don't want anyone to see Oliver,"

"Oh yeah, I forgot what happened to humans," Koa looked at Alix. 

"You guys should go anyway, the storm looks like it gonna get bad," Alizon appeared out of nowhere to talk to us, scaring most of us out of our skins. 

"Really?" Zath sighed, his shoulders dropping and his head in his hand. "I hate snowstorms,"

"Me too," Elaria rolled her eyes. "We'd better leave,"

"It might not do, but I don't want to chance it," she shrugged. "Looks like it won't hit you, but you know how the storms here are,"

"See you three in Silva Terram then," Alys waved. "I'm being death stared by Circe,"

"You should go back inside," Alizon replied in between her laughs. "She's ready to tie you to that bed,"

"Please stop her," he begged. 

"I'll try my best," she smiled. "Now shoo,"

Alys rolled his eyes, turning away and waving at us, smiling. Koa followed behind, ready to catch him. Elaria covered her mouth, smiling behind it, her cheeks tinted with pink. Nothing else was said as we set off, and Elaria was still smiling.