Michail walked back to his home. The evening sun was setting in the horizon. By the time he reached home it was already dark. His mother was in the kitchen and his grandmother sleeping in her chair. He walked to the kitchen and looked at his mothers back, the back that supported the Druun family for so long. She was strong but looked frail. The long years of hard work catching up to her.
"Mom, so the caretakers came to the school today and this happened." He showed her the ring.
Yena did not show any expression. She just looked at the ring and turned back to her chores.
"Mom, I am sorry I disobeyed you. But this is my dream. I promise I will be safe and don't do anything stupid."
"Your father said the same thing child. But what ever that happened has happened. You can practice magic but not with the caretakers. There are a lot of people with talent who joins some other schools besides the academy of the council."
Michail did not reply. He knew that the caretakers will come to their house very soon. "Somethings as Tom said should be left alone and solve it as it unfolds." Michail thought.
Dinner was porridge with sides of eggs, spinach and fried beef. As the family of three sat around the table and ate in silence Mariam said "Yena, I know it is hard for you to let Michail go anywhere near the Council. Better than anyone I know your pain. But if you do not let him find a path on his own, sooner or later he would be empty. Devoid of cheer. My husband knew the dangers of fighting the Boeficians, he knew he would not come back, yet he still went only because he did not want the war to come close to me or Joseph. Joseph did the same, I am sure of it. He would not volunteer for a mission with impossible outcome unless it may bring the danger to you or Michail. He is too smart to throw that away. The world is at peace now because of the sacrifice of men that came before."
"Mama Mariam, do you mean that I should watch from the sidelines when my baby goes out to fight monsters and dark magic?" Yena's eyes were tearing up.
"No my child. I want him to attain the strength to protect himself in case something bad happens. We are all sitting on top of a magic bomb that can go off anytime. I hope it does not ever. But if it does, then no one in this world is safe. The Megalith creates enough trouble even with all the precautions taken by the council. All you can hope for is run if everything goes south. Burp."
Yena kept quiet. She cleared the table and went to do the dishes.
.....................................................................
Michail laid on his bed stroking the ring. The appearance change was impeccable. He wondered what happened to the lady in green. Did the black vines punish her? Why was she tied up? And what the hell was that tree? What kind of tree grows that big? Thinking of all the weird things that happened he slowly fell asleep.
Michail woke up feeling drenched in water. He looked around and saw nothing but darkness.
"Hello" said a quaint weak voice by his side. It was the woman in green. Michail faltered while getting up. He quickly stabilised himself and asked "Who are you and where is this place you have taken me to?"
"Child of fate, do not worry. I am afraid I do not have time to answer your questions. Listen carefully about what I am about to say." she took a deep breath and said in a grave tone "Do not trust Mimameidr. The fate of the world depends on it." She tapped on Michail's chest. A searing pain assaulted him and brought him back to his bed, which he never left. His back was drenched. He looked at his chest and found a circle green in colour, the size of a finger on it. Michail felt tiredness assaulting him. Very soon he passed out.
..................................................................
The next morning he woke up to the ramblings of his mother. "Michail, wake up or I promise I will drench you and your bed in water."
It seemed like his mother is not angry with him. A faint smile crept upon his face as he got up to brush.
Breakfast was served as usual. Warm chicken soup and bread. "I'll be going to the shop. A new batch of materials has arrived and we need to process it." said Yena as she got ready to leave.
Just as she was about to cross the road, she saw a group of people coming towards her. They were not inconspicuous. One look and you can tell they were caretakers and their initiates. Yena placed her feet back and closed the gates to her house. Not that it will be of any use against a caretaker. But laws the council made prohibited caretakers from using force against civilians.
"Hello Mrs Yena. I am Helena an initiate under the Caretakers of Talent. These are Master Ritchie and Madam Muriel. May we come in for a chat." Helena asked politely, yet anyone with a brain could see that it was not a request.