Pasts Best Forgotten

"It is more similar than I thought." Sofia pondered aloud.

"What is?"

"The sorcerers and royals are fighting. Just reading what both sides were doing to each other back then and how now they're doing the same thing…." The princess trailed off before adding, "It feels more personal when it's coming from someone's private journal, I guess."

Cedric nodded, flipping through the pages of the worn journal. "But the large difference is that Grimtrix started the whole conflict for whatever he's planning. Everyone's just a pawn."

"But the cult still chose to riot," Sofia replied. "King Magnus is choosing to harm innocent people because he's afraid of one evil cult. Grimtrix may have given a nudge in the right direction, but no one has done anything to stop it. No one can see that they're being used because they're choosing to be blind to it."

Anxiety tumbled around Cedric's stomach as Sofia made her point. He still struggled with who to blame and how to resolve issues from the past and present. However, he didn't care if it was selfish; his greatest concern was saving Sofia. If sorcerers and royals continued to bicker with or without Grimtrix pushing them to, there was not much he could do about that if fate deemed it to be so between the two opposing sides.

Sofia noticed a dark shadow cross over Cedric's silent face. He grew quiet last time I brought this up too. The princess habitually chewed her lip in concern.

The sorcerer flipped through more pages, pointing to the dog-eared pages in the latter half of the journal. "It looks like Grimtrix may have placed these here to show what's important." He remarked, and they began reading...

August 20th,

Merlin has secured the Triune in his workshop. It was an exhausting few weeks. We have appeased the royals for now, but I know Merlin put a target on his back bringing such an item here. It is an impressive piece that I had to draw a replica of below. It reminded me of a Tangu spider I once came across. Although I am wary of Merlin keeping it here at Dragonhold, I trust he knows what he's doing. Having an item this potent and deadly under watch may prove dangerous. I am leery of the royals right now, then some dark wizard. They seem to think they can tell Merlin what to do. I hope he can find the key to destroying it, but Maruvian magic can be rather tricky. I hope to get better at consistently writing this journal. Leveilia loves to read what I write. Until next time…

September 15th,

My mind feels weary as of late. Merlin promises me he is feverishly searching for a way to destroy it, but he is growing fatigued as well. There is said to be another amulet rivaled to the Triune that has the power to defeat it, but we have found no trace of it. It was Maruvian and could be lost in the ancient ruins for all we know. If it does exist, it is fabled to grant so many blessings to its bearer!

September 16th

Tensions are high again. The royals are being a pain and telling him he should give the Triune to them for safekeeping. What idiots they are. With the Triune even under lock and key, I can hear it whispering. I feel like it's calling out to me, it feels almost quite soothing, and I feel guilty for saying it. I wonder if Merlin hears it too? I'm too tired to write anymore, but maybe I'll go clean up the workshop again. I haven't seen my family in weeks.

September 19th,

I confess that I did something unthinkable. I held IT in my hand. Just briefly, but the power pulsed through my fingertips, and it truly is a power to behold! I must write down what it said to me before I forget. "With each deed performed for good to be ended, three powers are granted for evil intended. The Triune has chosen to be sovereign o'er all and wills that division and darkness befall. By my hand will all living things decay: birds, beasts, and flowers. For death is the fate of all who devour my power!" Then it revealed the forbidden spells. Morte Exodi, the destruction curse, Remiti Novum Exodis, the memory removal curse, and Controllix. The controlling curse. I have the knowledge of its counterspells too. I don't know if I could control that much power, it felt crushing, and I had to remove it. Merlin would never understand, but I meant no harm by it. Besides, there may come a time when I might have to use it.

October 1st,

The spells only work with the Triune worn, but I wonder if I could make a copy of these spells? They don't exist outside the Triune, but they could be handy if wielded correctly. Unfortunately, the Triune is not mine yet. I haven't spoken the incantation which would make me the wearer, for I am afraid. I may not be strong enough.

October 3rd,

I fear every day that Merlin will hand over the Triune to some worthless worm of a king. I have approached some strong wizards, and they are interested in my strain spell. I am going to see if they can handle it. Even if it's weaker, those who are strong and magically gifted can wield it, and then they may be able to use the Triune itself! No royal should ever possess this gift. I can only entrust a sorcerer who will use it properly to fight the evil out there. Merlin is weak. I now see what a coward he is. He won't destroy it for fear of getting on the wrong side of the royals, but he won't give it to those who can wield it properly. Many kingdoms are on our backs now. I thought this would be over.

October 4th,

My strain spell has been working quite well. Blood from the victim will persuade them to bend to your will. Drop a droplet onto your wielding token, say the cursed word Controllix and what you will, will pass. Now, if I could make a strain of the other ones. Is blood from the victim key?

November 19th,

Curse Merlin; I fear he's suspecting me. Good thing I keep this on my person at all times. He begged me to see Leveilia and the kids, but I told him I was too busy. I spied him working on a new teleportation spell, but he hid it from me. I managed to catch a glimpse of some of the symbols that I'll write below. I wish he would have taught me what all his symbols mean. Why is he working on a new one?

Some of the symbols I'll write here. I wish he would teach me all of it, for I am his apprentice. Why another teleportation spell? What is that coward planning? He's not making any decisions but hiding, and he would have the gall to call me evil if he found out what I'm doing. But I am at least doing something! Sorcerers need a bit of extra help right now, and the Triune will offer us protection. If it comes down to it, I will stop him from interfering.

November 20th,

I am so drained. I can hear the wind from all the way up here today; a storm must be approaching.

"That's it," Cedric murmured pensively.

A dull silence drowned the room as they stared at the grimy page with the final words of the journal, both dreading to state the obvious yet dreadful truth.

"So... Grimtrix's been after the Triune this whole time." Sofia trembled. "And he needs you because you're the only one who can decipher Merlin's code."

"I'm afraid s-"

"Congratulations," Wriggley interjected smarmily. "You dummies finally figured it out."

"We would have figured it out quickly if you just told us what he's planning." Cedric raked his fingers through his hair, using all of his strength to keep himself from wringing the aggravating weasel's scrawny neck.

"No can do!" Wriggley chirped. "Greylock has ordered me not to tell you anything. I'm just here to make sure both of you stay in line, or else your stupid girlfriend gets it."

"She's not my- ugh, I don't know why I am bothering with you." The sorcerer sighed, the weasel's threat echoing in his head and keeping him from saying anything he would regret and would hurt Sofia even more. "Grimtrix wasn't lying when he said that the curse is not what everyone expects." He continued to Sofia. "Most people think the Triune is long gone, destroyed, or just a myth. Yet, if he gets his hands on it, Grimtrix will have the power to control the Triune curses and do whatever he wills with them."

"My amulet tried to warn me of this all along. I don't know how it knew, but it showed the Triune and what it can do." Sofia inhaled sharply, "If Grimtrix finds it... what I saw…there will be nothing beautiful or alive left on this earth." Scanning the journal over, she bit the insides of her mouth. "The amulet that Erasmus mentioned must have been the Amulet of Avalor, plus the chant of the Triune Nihil sounded so similar to my amulet's warning. That's probably why Grimtrix took it. I had the one thing that could destroy the Triune, but he has it now and-"

"I'm sorry," Was all Cedric could say as he saw his friend growing more upset. "But I do agree. It does seem that Erasmus was talking about the amulet. They were both forged in Maru probably around the same time. Even so, perhaps one copied the other in a way to rival it. I know there are other enchanted objects like that, and it gives great power to both when they are destined against one another."

"There's still a lot I don't know about my amulet," Sofia muttered. "There's so much history, and I won't let Grimtrix harm it or my family and friends in any way." Then, sighing with determination, she continued, "How are we going to stop him and get my amulet back?"

A glimmer of hope lay within her still dim eyes, and Cedric peeled himself away from looking into them not to feel ashamed.

He was still reeling over the shock from his former headmaster's betrayal, and he feared just how evil intentioned Grimtrix's plans were. The way he treated Sofia and Greylock... he would be a formidable foe, and Cedric didn't know if he could defeat him. He barely even escaped the cult, which infuriated Cedric to think that Grimtrix was there in Greylock's mind all along, and he probably let him win that fight. It was all a distraction to cover up the search for the Triune, and he played right into it.

You shouldn't say things like that," Cedric answered finally, jerking his head at Wriggley, who watched them with mildly amused interest.

There must be a way out of this. If in the slightest chance I can find the Triune for Grimtrix, it does not guarantee Sofia will be healed or that both of us will walk away alive, The sorcerer contemplated. Unless...His eyes widened. Merlin could still be alive. He and the Triune disappeared, and the journal mentioned that he had been working on a new teleportation spell. The legends always claimed Merlin was killed by his enemies, yet he could have teleported himself somewhere with the Triune to keep out of reach. Grimtrix wanted Cedric to translate the code and find it, and they would no doubt find Merlin. He could be dead, though, Cedric told himself. But he could have used a preservation spell somehow. If Merlin was alive, then Grimtrix would be no match to overpower him. Merlin was the most feared and magnificent wizard of all time. His cunning and power were unmatched, and while Cedric knew his plan was ill-formed and relied entirely on faith, it was all he could think of that wouldn't get Sofia killed. He would do what Grimtrix asked, and If Merlin were alive, he would rescue them and clear Cedric's name.

A shiver crawled up the sorcerer's spine at the thought. Not only would he be the one to find his beloved idol, but now he found the motivation amid Grimtrix's threats to willingly find the Triune for the sake of being the one to finally find Merlin and free Sofia. Sofia, The sorcerer turned to her, noting confusion unmistakably etched on her face. I can't tell her.

Stretching up to his feet, the sorcerer began rummaging for a quill, ink, and parchment, trying his best to ignore the glare from Sofia. "I had better get started with translating this." He raked his bangs back with his fingers, "The code Erasmus wrote down is not much to work with, but Grimtrix must think it matters. Without my notes back home may be tricky, for I'm still-"

"Cedric...You can't help him find it," Sofia pleaded. "Look, th...there are wands everywhere, let's take one and get as far away as we-"

Clamping his hand swiftly over her mouth, Cedric exclaimed, "That weasel is watching and listening to everything we do, and she no doubt has a way to contact Grimtrix! And he could be listening as well through you. We can't talk about leaving; I have no other choice."

Removing his hand, Sofia frowned, "Yes, you do. There must be another way!"

"Everything you or I may say that shows a hint of us betraying Grimtrix will reflect badly on you." Cedric's voice rose, "I'm not going to let that happen." The sorcerer cringed at sounding harsh, especially when she was so vulnerable at the moment, but if he were to do this, he would have to make sure that Grimtrix would be fooled entirely that he wasn't going to try anything.

"But we have to stop him!" She cried. "I'm not going to stand by and let him hurt my family and innocent people!"

"And I will not watch you die!" Cedric shouted, sending Sofia into a silenced stupor.

I'm sorry...The sorcerer thought as he sneaked a glance at Wriggley, who seemed to take pleasure in their spat. I hope you trust me enough, though I am not deserving of it, that I do have a plan to save you and...I will try to help the others for your sake. But...Recalling the night of the ball, Cedric remembered the shock he experienced when he saw Sofia's almost lifeless face. And then again when Grimtrix struck her and she bled in front of him. That tearing of his heart would never fade at seeing the one person he cared so much for in danger. Never again would he see Sofia like that. But you will always come first.

Abruptly rising up from the bench, Sofia moved towards one of the bookshelves, her shoulders quivering, betraying her quiet tears as she faced away from him.

Heaving a sigh, Cedric followed her. Then, gripping his hands onto the shelves above her head, he exclaimed, "Sofia."

Jumping slightly from his presence, Sofia slowly turned. His face inches was away from hers, and his hands confined her against the bookshelf, making the princess redden. Stuttering to speak, she paused when Cedric mouthed two words:

"Trust me."

Sofia's eyes glistened as Cedric wrapped her in a tight hug, reclining his head on top of hers. Then, proclaiming loudly, he said, "Don't be upset with me, but I must do what he says to protect you."

However, Sofia paid no mind to those words he uttered aloud, for what he mouthed calmed her fearful and guilty heart. When Clover mentioned before that it may take him a while to find his path, a deep worry lay dormant in Sofia's heart that she would always struggle with trusting him. Nasty habits no doubt would be hard to break, but he still was going to fight somehow, and although she desperately wanted to know his plan and help him, the best thing she could do to help was to know little and have faith he would do what is right. It was the safest way.

"I don't like it," Sofia played along after she considered everything. "But I am here with you, and we promised to get through this together."

Gratefully smiling, Cedric could tell she understood his deeper meaning and led her back to the table. Then, hopefully, Wriggley would believe Cedric was so concerned with Sofia's safety that she and Grimtrix would lessen their suspicion that he would dare betray them.

Sitting down once more, Cedric started writing down the portion of the spell from Erasmus's journal. "What does it feel like?"

Sofia tilted her head, "What does what feel like?"

The sorcerer paused to tap the quill to his brain. "Does it hurt whenever he enters your head?" He was genuinely curious, but he had the ulterior motive of hoping that there was a sign showing whenever Grimtrix was actually controlling her. Perhaps if the weasel was ever occupied, he could tell Sofia some small part of his plan.

"Yeah, a little. And I guess it feels like all the blood in your body is tightening." She said with a faraway look in her eye as if trying to ward off a bad memory. "Though not as bad as when I had that vision or when the amulet protected me, I do get a sharp pain in my head."

"Your eyes change color." Upon seeing Sofia's dubious face, Cedric affirmed with a nod. "I think it's just when he enacts it. I noticed it with Greylock but didn't think much of it because it's quite subtle."

"Are they still different?"

"Kind of. They usually glisten a murky black, but right now, they're only cloudy." Resting one hand under his chin, Cedric continued softly, "I hope it goes away soon; I miss your blue eyes."

Sofia's fists tightened around the skirt of her dress. "Hopefully, it'll disappear soon...I wonder what my dad and James are doing right now." She murmured wistfully.

"They're searching for you, have no doubt about that."

"Yeah, but something's happening in Freezenburg, remember?"

"True. Perhaps Grimtrix is hoping to distract them from searching right away. It doesn't matter, though, for they will search the ends of the realm for you." Cedric paused his work to stare listlessly at the wall. "They think I am a part of the cult now, so they'll probably track them down first."

"Cedric," Sofia reached out to squeeze his shoulder. "Once Grimtrix lets us go, we will make sure father knows how innocent you were."

"Grimtrix-" Cedric paused. He knew that if Merlin wasn't alive, he very much doubted Grimtrix would let them live. Sofia probably knew it too but wanted to be hopeful, and it did encourage him. "I'll no doubt have to resign as the royal sorcerer. Your father learned that I wanted the throne in the worst way possible, and I doubt he will forgive me anytime soon."

"No, you can't give up that easily!" The young woman insisted. "I'll explain everything, and I know my dad will forgive you in time!" A loud grumble broke the intense moment, and Cedric could not help himself but burst out laughing amidst their miserable situation.

Cringing with embarrassment, Sofia placed a hand over her stomach. "Was that you?" she asked nonchalantly before her stomach growled again.

Cedric smirked, "Well, at least you still have your appetite. I wonder if we can find food somewhere." Glancing up at Wriggley, the sorcerer barked, "You, weasel. Get us some food."

Wriggley stretched out her paws, yawning, "Why would I do that when you asked so demandingly, unlike the pathetic prisoners that you are? If you want food, I may be willing to give it to your girlfriend if you bow to the ground and beg!" Her teeth bared mischievously at the scowling sorcerer beneath her.

"I will not." Cedric gritted his teeth, raising his fist at her.

"Then she'll starve, I guess." The weasel shrugged her shoulders, sighing dramatically.

"Tch," Cedric bit the inside of his cheek. He was about to rise from the bench when Sofia snatched his sleeve, pulling him back down.

"Don't. It's not worth it, especially for someone like her."

"But…"

Shaking her head adamantly, Sofia pressed down on Cedric's arms to make him sit.

After a moment's pause, Cedric uttered, "I feel that though I should apologize."

"Why? I already told you none of this is your fault."

"It is my fault that you're here and suffering like this." Cedric interlocked his fingers together, resting his mouth against them.

"Grimtrix overheard everything you and I talked about and used it against us. He also impulsively decided at the ball that killing my father or a random sorcerer wouldn't be enough to ignite the feud between sorcerers and royals, nor would it be a way to get to me."

Sofia's eyes squinted, "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that he is dangerously brilliant. He knew how to manipulate Greylock. Even the cult and King Magnus without directly controlling them. And he used my greatest weakness against me."

"Your... greatest weakness?"

Although he was clueless as to why Cedric's throat tightened. "I thought it was obvious from what I said." His neck burned red and golden under the chandelier's flickering glow as it shined brightly against the evening light that streamed through the window high above them. "You are my greatest weakness."

Sofia balked at him, and Cedric immediately waved his hands, "At least that's what Grimtrix seems to think!"

"Oh." Pondering his words, Sofia hesitantly added, "Is.. he wrong?"

"Well...erm…" For Merlin's sake, why is it so hard to say it? Intensely studying the quill in his hand, the sorcerer slowly answered, "No."

A sharp pang swelled through Sofia's heart. "Well, I guess we are each other's then." She quietly laughed before failing to stifle a yawn.

"You should get some sleep." Cedric urged, thankful to change the topic. "It'll help not to think about being hungry."

"No, I don't think I'll be able to sleep. I'd rather stay up with you." The young woman commented, her body shuddering slightly.

The night deepened, and they sat in silence as Cedric proceeded to mull over the translation. The worst part was that Erasmus only wrote what he managed to catch a glimpse of, and it wasn't much. Besides that, although Cedric tried his best to remember what he knew, it was more complex than the Foresight teleportation spell. The code was a complex system that he could only translate with notes from his endless studies about Merlin. It was no secret that the great wizard wrote his most powerful spells in code for safety, consisting of a mixture of ancient Maruvian and Merlin's own made-up symbols. Unfortunately, the remnant of the spell that Cedric had was almost entirely out of the made-up characters.

A pressing weight slumped against Cedric's shoulder, making him freeze from his thoughts. Glancing down, he found a sleeping Sofia's head there; her shoulders rising up and down in a peaceful rhythm.

"She'll hurt her head like that," Cedric muttered. He carefully nudged the side of her head, but she made a slight noise and snuggled closer to him.

Flustered, Cedric tried shaking her off but noting her relaxed expression, he decided it wouldn't hurt for one night. Besides, having her like this helped calm him too. Removing his robe with as little movement as possible, he wrapped it around Sofia and continued studying the text late into the night.

A/N: I own nothing STF

Hi lovely people! Thank you so much for reading this latest chapter, and I would love to hear your thoughts!

I just started classes again, am still sick, and just life, in general, keeps me busy, but I am happy I was able to produce another chapter. Thank you all who continue to read, and I hope to get my next chapter out soon.

Review responses:

Leonel Pea: I like to keep things intense, thank you, lol! I absolutely hate Wriggley in the series and while I can't spoil anything, I promise you will be satisfied with her fate :)

Nerdsinatree: Ahhhhh I don't know if I should be happy or sad that the last chapter was heartbreaking! I feel awful for doing it but also when I'm writing I'm like how can I make my readers suffer lol! I am glad you are enjoying the story! :D

Allyrwhitney: Thank you for the encouragement! I am glad you are enjoying it too! And now you see what Grimtrix wants Cedric to do, let me know your thoughts! I am happy that everyone is giving feedback on Sofia and Cedric caring for each other! I think a big part of romance is of course the sweet moments but also the fact that a couple should draw strength from each other and support one another. I hope that is being reflected in their relationship.

Guest: Thank you for your feedback on Chapter 22! I really appreciate it! I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.

Stay happy and healthy everyone!