Chapter 36

> Twin of Robert Eskater and to-be leader of the mage tower.

I will be titled the head mage of the three mage towers of the whole empire right about in twenty minutes. I was nervous but I knew I worked hard enough to deserve it. I just wished Rose was here. After her sudden change after she fell in the lake, she started to take her life more seriously.

She was usually alone and became pretentious but I assumed that a near-death experience changed her. That was the only explanation. I adored her sword skills. Even my fiancée liked her change of attitude.

Once, she asked me to retrieve some jewels from the duchy for an experiment and the final result? She created a magic-infused jewel that protects the wearer at every cost. That's the advantage of the dark attribute. It's constant! Even I was inspired.

A young mage came into my new study and told that everyone was ready for the titling. I trotted out, groggily. The ceremonial hall in the main castle was decorated lavishly and I felt uncomfortable. Only Rose will understand this feeling.

A light music played and I walked along the carpet showered with flowers to the platform where the previous Mage leader stood with a proud smile. I smiled back, remembering how he kept my nose to the grindstone. I let out a silent, non-existent scoff.

Soon enough, a cloud of magic enveloped me. I felt a magic enchantment being cast upon me. A symbol of the mages imprinted on my left wrist. It shined a blue light and the magic bubble around me disappeared.

I heard hoots of joy from the audience. I was now the official mage leader. After a few cries here and there, the crowd dispersed. My family met me and offered their wishes. My Mum hugged me. My gruesome teacher patted my shoulder and requested me to do a good job. As if I'd wreck it! Everyone says that I'm the nerd of the family.

I was itching for this whole social-interaction to finish. Suddenly, I saw Livia across some chairs and she ran toward me. She hugged me and I tightened my grip on her waist.

"Congratulations!" She wished me with that amazing smile of hers. I dipped my head down and kissed her forehead.

A few mages came up to me and escorted me out to visit the other mage towers. I bid farewell and walked along the corridors. All of a sudden, a light flashed in my study that I was passing by. I entered it and heard voices.

"Is this how it works?" A girl's voice came. Somehow familiar!

"I don't know. I didn't try this thing-a-magic in ages." A gruffy voice came out. I opened the study door and stepped in when I recognized the girl's voice.

"Hellooo! Anybody there? Richard?" It was Rose.

"Rose!" I sprinted to my table and searched the area. Where was her voice coming from?

The crystal jewel she made for all of us sparkled.

"Can anybody here me? *sigh * I didn't know I could use this as a communication device. And why the heck are the rest of the jewels locked out?!" She sighed.

"I can hear you! Rose, talk to me." I grabbed the crystal and infused my magic on it.

"Helloooooooooooo!" She shouted.

"Rose, Rose." I tried to talk louder.

"Richard! It's so nice to hear your voice." She exclaimed.

"Where the hell are you? Do you know how hard we are trying to find you? Come back!" I yelled into it like some child.

"Chill! Didn't I ask you not to find me? Anyway, I have to solve this problem on my own. Don't worry, I will be coming back for sure. Do you want me to or maybe I should just stay here?" She teased me.

"No, come back! You must! There is something you should...", I wondered if I should tell her the news just like that.

"I didn't know I could get to talk to you. I tried the others but their stones are good as dead. Thank god that you kept yours nearby. Congratulations! I heard you were titled as the new mage leader. You deserve it!" She wished me with her whole-hearted voice as always.

"Thank you. And you know about Robert and Dad. Tell me where you are?" I said to the crystal, rolling my eyes remembering how Robert had placed his crystal in her drawer with three other napkins wrapped around it.

"No can do, brother. There's no way I'm dragging you guys down here. Like I said, I'll be back soon. Just trust me, I won't be just an adopted child then." She exclaimed with glee.

"No, you don't understand----"

"Trust me, Richard." She told in a threatening voice.

"Wait! I'll get you to Mum." I ran out the study with the crystal in my folded hand.

"No, don't trouble yourself. Hah?! I'm guessing you are already running so..."

"Mum, where's Mum?" I asked my Father who I noticed at the end of the corridor.

"They left early because Lily felt a little sick. What's going on?" Father asked.

"ROSE!" I lifted the crystal up to his face while trying to take a few breaths.

"Hello." She squeaked out. She and I had the same awkwardness.

"Rose! What?!" Now, Father squeaked out.

"Hello, Father! How are you?" She asked in a light tone.

"Rose, oh my child, where are you?" Father asked pulling the stone out of my hands. Ha! Rude!

"I can't say that. But, I will return. That's all I can say." Rose said through the crystal. I imagined her shoulders shrugging.

"Please! There is something really important, Rose. When will you be coming back?" Father questioned.

"Hmm...That, too, I've got no idea! Father, you must have guessed I'm a dark user by now. You see the problem too! But, when I come back, I won't be just a dark user, so, just trust me on this one." Rose begged.

How are we supposed to say that she isn't adopted and is one of our real sisters when she isn't even listening?!

"Alright! I'll trust you. Surprise me." Father accepted defeat. Yep, our sister is stubborn to the core!

"I definitely will! Oh, by they way, do you know anyone called 'Lyra'?" She asked us. Father's eyes lit up.

"Lyra Debota?" He said.

"Exactly!" Rose answered.

"That's my aunt." Father informed. Wow, I didn't know our grandma had a sister!

"Oh I see. And Father?" She spoke, "Don't tell anyone else that I contacted you. I tried telling Richard but that idiot just ran out. I'm glad that it was you, he met."

"Hey, why am I the idiot?! Robert is!" I yelled back.

"Of course!" My father grinned. Maybe, Rose inherited our Father's genetical brain. What are they even planning?

"How about Lily?" She asked in an ominous voice.

"She's a nice girl! You'll like your twi---Ahh, I mean Lily." Father stammered. I formed a questioned face at him and he shook his head.

"Okay, can you pass the crystal to Richard and thank you...for not hating me." She whispered.

"I would never hate you, Rose! I care about you. Like I have always said, I'll be there for you." Father smiled while he talked. I had never seen such a gentle smile from him in ages. He passed me the crystal and said that he would return home.

"Richard! I have a small request?" She told me.

"Yes?"

"Can you...uh...just check Lily's room? I mean...not in a creepy way...I just wanted to make sure about something."

"Why? Are you suspecting her?" I asked genuinely curious.

"No...it's just...I have a bad feeling. You don't have to do it. I know, I might be asking a lot and she is your sister, after all." Just as she stopped, I almost blurted, "So are you!" but quickly composed myself.

"But, if you can, just check on her if she runs out in the night or stays up late." She finished.

"I'll see." I replied and she thanked me. I headed back to my study with a smile.

>

"This is the dumbest thing you've done in your whole life!" Zag yelled at me. He was sitting on top of a candle light in my room at my new castle in his natural form of a fire doll.

I wish I could send a dagger through him.

"I'm serious! This is dumber than when you burnt down a whole warehouse just to practice how to light a lantern." I winced at my dark past. He teleported on to my bed and patted when he almost got my sheets on fire.

"You have no right to boss me around and don't sit on my property." I scowled at him.

"Come on, what's mine is yours and yours is mine!" he shrugged. I snickered at him. He knows just how to improve my mood.

"For fire's sake, don't you think she will see right through you?" He asked.

"Nope, I'll make sure she doesn't. I'm a master of disguises." I retorted.

"No! You are a master only when it comes to others. You become a sick clown in front of her and idiotically challenges her to a duel every single time and then you get your butt kicked." He stated the facts. Sometimes, I hate how blunt he is.

"Let me tell you what's going to happen. You'll trot down the streets searching for her but then she'll recognize through your lame disguise and run off so that, you'll never find her. And didn't Carlisa say that she'll come back. Rose isn't someone who says empty words from what I've seen so far. You just don't have the quality of patience. End of story." He mocked me.

"True! But, you'll never know unless you try it out yourself!" I beamed. It's a line, I copied from my grandfather.

"You and your...nevermind!" Zag exclaimed.

"Let's go!" I cheered on and exited the castle in a covered hood.

Hello everyone,

-What will happen now? Rose contacted the duchy after a long time. And Alvin, what will he do? Will he meet Rose, successfully? Comment and leave a vote. Thank you!