"She had a dark personality and he had a dark past, somehow they complimented each other"
"How did you know all of that?"
A incredulous Tedros asked his mentor as the two stood in the front of a seedy tavern. Merlin just chuckled and patted his student on the shoulder. The rain poured onto the streets and many ran into bars or taverns for shelter. Tedros lowered the hood onto his head a little lower, to avoid being noticed.
"Agatha had many, many documentations of her. The Kingdom really wants this girl dead. They may have documented her every move, to any town or country"
"And...you decided she was going to show up here tonight?"
"Of course, it was the only logical move to do. This place is very close to where she was last spotted"
The pair silently watched people walk on the road. Tedros cleared his throat and watched more people pass as the rain grew heavier.
"It's almost impossible to find someone like her here, it's night and we'll probably never find this Agatha, Merlin. Don't you this is getting too far? Why do you think she's special? There's plenty of other Shadows..."
Tedros questioned, a twinge of annoyance in his voice. He looked at the rain drops splattering against the windows before looking back at his mentor, who hadn't spoken at all.
"Merlin?"
Tedros asked again, carefully. Merlin kept staring out into the light darkness before turning to look at Tedros.
"My boy...when will you learn not to speak too soon?"
"What do you-"
Tedros immediately glanced back into the crowd. Merlin gave a slow grin. In the far corner, where there stone walls that wrapped along the town, stood a black cape. The figure was almost like a shadow, facing the sea of people. Tedros watched the figure's movements carefully.
"That's her"
Tedros breathed. Merlin nodded.
The two watched the black cape stick along the walls and vanish behind a corner.
"Follow her"
They chased after the shadow.
Winding along the path, Tedros and Merlin slowly crept after the figure's path as they ducked behind people and carts. The figure walked with light fleeting steps, it reminded Tedros of an alley cat. He never liked those.
Finally, not far off the taverns and bars, the figure stopped in the pouring rain. Merlin and Tedros did too. They had reached the seclusion of the huge forest and trees that towered above them, providing a umbrella against the rain.
"Hello! My name is Merlin and this is Tedros"
Merlin called out with a friendly tone in his voice. Tedros rolled his eyes. The figure froze and stood completely still. The only noise made was the thick rain that splattered against the asphalt. Finally, with slow careful steps, the figure turned around.
"What?"
Agatha said, her voice steady yet vulnerable. She glanced at the pair, one small and another one well built and tall. The small one, who must have been called Merlin, had brown skin and wizened eyes, not dazed and lost like most old people she would see, but bright and curious, much like a child. He wore a dark purple cloak and held a walking cane in one hand. The tall one, Tedros, was probably around her age. Even in the fading light, she could tell that he was definitely handsome, with golden locks of hair and vibrant blue eyes. He reminded her of those boys who were good looking and tall with not a care in the world and only to get a girl pregnant and ditch her. She seen plenty of them. Agatha hated him immediately.
"We would like to talk to you, if you don't mind?"
Merlin asked again, tentatively. Agatha frowned and started to slowly back away, until she felt her back hit the rain slicked wall.
"Actually, I mind a lot, so please don't bother me!'
Agatha spat, her voice sharp.
"Look, we have something extremely important to discuss! You have to cooperate with us"
Tedros said impatiently. The girl, whom he presumed as Agatha, glared up at him.
"I heard they serve a great sausages and potatoes meal around here, who don't we talk about this over at one of the taverns?"
Merlin suggested. The two teenagers gave Merlin a odd look and Agatha raised one eyebrow. Tedros sighed with irritation.
"No! I don't know what you two are talking about, so please, let me be on my way"
Agatha trailed off and turned around to leave.
"I know who you are, you're Agatha. Agatha of the Woods"
Merlin called. Agatha froze and slowly looked at the pair. She remained silent for a moment before lifting the hood of her black cape.
"What do you want?"
Merlin smiled.
"Like I said, let's talk about this over some sausages and potatoes"
The three of them dropped into the chairs, tired and wet, as the waitress came around.
"Good evening? What would you like today?"
The girl asked, her hair crimped and curled like little rolls and her eyes dark with make up. She gave Tedros a coy grin, who only looked the other way.
"Well, two sausages and potato meals and, uh...what would you like?"
Merlin asked Agatha. Agatha gave him a cold look and didn't respond, she only focused on fiddling with the end of her black cape.
"...And one steak meal"
Merlin finished, giving the waitress a few coins from his cloak. The waitress took the money, lingered to take another look at Tedros before leaving. Tedros coughed uncomfortably and scratched the side of his nose.
"So..what's this important thing you wanted to talk to me about?"
Agatha asked across the table.
"This tavern is much better then the others, I'm glad we chose this one"
"Merlin!"
Tedros said with exasperation.
"Ah, don't worry, we'll get down to business"
Merlin looked over at Agatha, who was looked at the both of them with a frown.
"Look, Agatha, we want to offer you a position..into this society.."
Merlin's voice dimmed into a whisper, all the jokes and joy gone from his voice.
"A society?"
Agatha inquired, confused.
"Light Society, it's more like a school. The thing is, Merlin wants to offer you to be a member there..much to my objections"
Tedros interjected and glanced at Merlin, who only shrugged.
"Wait, what? You want me to go to this school? For what exactly?"
"Do you know the purpose of Light Society?"
Merlin asked as the waitress put down the three steaming hot plates of food. And like before, she gave Tedros another flirtatious look and walked off. Tedros glared at her before returning his attention back to his food.
"No.."
Agatha said, overwhelmed with hunger. She gave a grateful look at Merlin, who smiled back kindly, and Agatha grinned back before gulping down a mouthful of potatoes.
"It's a group dedicated to protect the Kingdom from any harm at all. We've got our hands full at the moment, the Ravagers are gaining control of the North. And Merlin thinks you could help us with our cause, for some reason I still don't know.."
Tedros said between mouthfuls of food. Agatha chewed for a moment before pointing her fork at him.
"Why do you want me? I've been a thief for my whole life, what's your deal with me?"
Tedros looked at the fork before glancing at Agatha again. She raised one eyebrow.
"Because you're a Shadow. You born with a ability that could prove useful to us"
His voice lowered dramatically and everyone cast furtive glances around them. No one reacted and Merlin continued.
"Have you tried to use your ability? At all?"
He patiently asked Agatha shook her head and looked away.
"I don't even know how to use it. It happened once and it was accident."
"So, you can't control your abilities"
Merlin said understandably. Agatha nodded and glanced away.
"I don't know about you, but the offer still stands"
"What?"
Agatha and Tedros both replied at the same time.
"I want you to join Light Society because I will help you control your abilities and I believe you deserve to go there"
Merlin calmly replied despite Tedros's complete shock.
"Her? But she doesn't even know how to use her abilities! How is this going to help us?"
Tedros said befuddled. Merlin ignored him and looked at Agatha.
"So, what's your answer?"
Agatha remained silent for a moment, mulling it over. She looked up at Merlin, who gave her a beaming smile while Tedros goggled at her with shock. She gave a small smirk.
"Why not?"
And that concludes this chapter! Remember to like, review and follow! I'll get back to writing when I have the time. Anyways, love you guys all, Happy Thanksgiving! (I just had it! Different time zone)
-princessthornofcassia
