With a great and heavy sigh Papa is finished. I look to him, amazed by the remnants of energy still left in the room. I'm stuck between being shocked by the visions the wisps have shown me, and the sheer powers of my grandfather.

"It is… Completely done." He says with a wipe of his brow.

I take his arm, my voice barely audible. "Thank you Papa."

"Missy?"

"Can we go home now?" I plead, more than request.

Noticing my change in demeanor he replies "Yes. Let's go home."

I pour some of my own mana into Papa, not wanting him to strain himself. He glances my way with a mix of a puzzled and thankful expression, then shrugs it off. A couple of dizzying teleports later, and we're back in the backyard of Papa's manor.

"Missy, do you vant to-?"

"I just… Want to be alone for a little while. I really mean it. I can't thank you enough." I say shakily, my back turned to him.

"It's quite late-"

"I know. I just want to sit down for a moment."

As if on cue, Russet comes trotting up to us through the grass. "Is all well?"

I smile weakly and pat em on the head.

"I'll be going now. But you should head to bed soon. You're not a browny, human girl." With that, Russet looks to Papa and raises an eyebrow before scurrying back to the house.

He still stands there, unsure.

Perhaps I've been a little too cold towards someone who has done such a tremendous favor for me. I rush up to him and squeeze his torso with all of my might. "I love you, Papa." I say, wetness gathering in my eyes.

He says nothing at first, just wraps a strong arm around me, then his other, until his large frame completely covers me. In a whisper he says. "And I love you, Lumina."

I don't know how long we were standing there like that. Everything I've ever wanted. He's gives so readily, so easily. I think… This is all I needed… For someone to love me. That's the difference between him and them. With them, I was just surviving. Not living.

We break, and he leaves me to my thoughts.

And so the truth comes out doesn't it?

My younger brother vents his anger out on me because he blames me for his missing father. My very own mother despises me because my birth cost them her husband. Without him, they were poor and defenseless. My older sister... She was... Afraid of me. Because my existence caused problems in the home.

I had no idea how toxic I was.

And the magick...

That's why Naiara thought I was cursed, why Mateo thought I was stupid and why Yoana thought I was crazy!

The whispers, the rumors, the awkward family reunions, why we were never invited to weddings or birthday parties... I knew it! I knew it was me!

I cover my face with my hands and begin to cry.

This never would have worked.

Morning arrives, and I'd like to say I couldn't be feeling any better. School is out, I've visited Lori, I don't have to work this summer, and my old family is gone. I live in a new, big house with people who love me, I don't have to pay rent or utilities, and I can sleep in! No mail delivery, no magick exams that may or may not result in my maiming, and there's no way I can screw up anything over here, which would result in nullifying my marriage over there, which would then result in my untimely demise.

Yay! Right? But no. Not yay.

Last night I was assaulted by nightmares.

I lie there, still feeling groggy and tired. My body wants more sleep, but I for one, want to get up. After picking at my face and running my fingers through my hair, I stretch, yawn and sit up. I sleepily look out the window and to the streams of sunlight desperate to find their way in. With a wave of my hand the curtains part, warmth envelopes the room. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and look to my left, above the bedhead is my wreath, now sprouting tiny little fruits. I cradle the round, orange-yellowish lumps, and decide it is too early to partake.

Smells nice, though.

What am I going to do with this thing? And where am I going to put it? I really want to take it to school with me. Perhaps having the fae's blessing around would give me an easier school year to come. But that could result in accidental tragedy. I cautiously run my fingertips over the sharp thorns, now longer and pointier. It's so beautiful. Then a trickle of power, leaving me giddy and tingly. Hmm. Better safe than sorry, it stays here. I stand up from the bed.

My other bedspread and charms are still left in the old room. According to Potsdam I'll be returning there every year. I even left my book collection behind, and the school supplies, including my crafting kit I practiced with at my desk. I only took with me my clothes, augments, and of course- this wreath. Russet thankfully charmed the magickal items, so they could not be detected by mundane eyes.

I brush my teeth, wash my hair, and give my body an extra thorough scrub-down before emerging to begin my day. I smell coffee already, so those two must be awake. I head downstairs to find Papa and Russet waiting for me.

"Guten morgen."

"Good morning, Lumie!"

"Hi." I approach the counter but stop to notice that they're already eating. Papa is having his morning coffee, and is eating rye toast with cream cheese. Russet is nibbling on a plain bagel. On the table is a bowl of mixed fruit and greens, with a steaming cup of herbal tea that I assume is for me. I point to the food on the table and then to myself in a questioning manner. They both nod. Shrugging my shoulders, I sit down and enjoy the simple meal. So is no one cooking today?

"How are you feelink Missy?"

"I'm alright."

"You certainly must've been tired. You almost missed the morning! It's nearly noon." Russet adds.

Really? Then why isn't e sleepy? A sudden yawn from Russet dashes my thoughts. "Well, it is summer break." I defend, not wanting to admit my insecurities.

With that, we chat lightly, nothing deep or particularly interesting. The weather, our plans for today, what we want to eat and such. Then we excuse ourselves from the table and Russet heads off to sleep. In the living room with Papa, I'm crouched in the armchair I favor, staring at him. He in turn, returns the stare.

"Are you gettink sick Missy?"

"Huh?"

"You look tired. A little pale. Do feel cold?"

"No, I'm sure I'm not sick."

He doesn't look like he believes me. "Perhaps you schould stay in today."

That's not a bad idea, I guess. I don't really know what I want to do anyway.

"Papa."

"Yes?"

"Would you tell me more about yourself?"

"Ah. Vell. Vat velse is sere?"

As much as you are willing to share. I practically handed myself over to you without thinking of how little I actually know about your personal life. I'm supposed to know you better than anyone else, and even with all of those years behind us, I know near-nothing about your past. "Um. Well, to start. You're magick and you're foreign. You told me about where you come from, and how you grew up. But, I want to know how that works."

He scratches his stubble. "I don't follow. You know how a farm vorks, don't you? You herd zee scheep, milk zee cows, collect eggs from zee chickens, vater zee plants and fertilize zee fields-"

I shake my head. "I know that, but… How does a full-blooded magick family run a farm? And, what about your businesses? I'm confused as to what wizards can and cannot do in terms of the working world. I was told we're not allowed to compete with the mundane, and wouldn't farming count as a pretty mundane job?"

Instead of pausing, or answering right away. He tilts his head back in laughter. "Ahahahah! I didn't sink you'd notice zee difference."

"I don't know what difference you're talking about."

"Ah, yes. Vell. Back in zee times of my boyhood, it vasn't so much of a problem to schare certain jobs vith mundane folk. It vas not a very technological time. And even now, zere are still magickal ranches and such. Zee only catch is zat you can't sell on zee mundane market. Zee same rules apply to my businesses. And as for my family. Vell… My mama vas vildseed."

"No way!"

He nods. "Yes. And sche vas as fiery and hard-headed as you Missy. Stole my papa's heart! So sche vas raised zee mundane vay. And it vas her family's land zat my papa took over for his descendants. It vas her inheritance, as an only child. As a newlyved couple, my parents decided to start seir lives togeser on zee ranch. And even sough my Papa vas zee head of zee household, vee all had to abide by her rules. So ven it came time to vork, zere vas absolutely, no magick."

I lean in closer from my chair, eager to listen. "But, why not? It would make the work so much easier."

He smiles and wags his finger. "Ah. But zat's vere zee genius comes in. Mama vas a kind, gentle voman. But sche vas only strict on one sink: Never shirk your vork vith magick." He leans back in his chair and smiles, clearly reminiscent. "Magick vas fine and all for protection and play. Papa taught us all how to fight, and Mama taught us zee importance of healink arts. But vat Mama really vanted to instill in all of us, vas not a hestitance towards magick, but a greater appreciation for it. Sche didn't vant us to be lazy, or incompetent vithout it. Vee fought her on it for years. But even Papa couldn't deny zat sche vas right. Sche didn't vant us to develop a prejudice towards zee mundane, or schould anytink happen... Leave us utterly defenseless vithout our magick. I suppose in zat vay, sche made us all better vizards. Includink Papa. And he admired her for it."

Magick is natural, it isn't something that should be shunned or looked down on. But it does gives us immense advantage over others. And she's right. If you live your life completely dependent on magick, it simultaneously creates a crippling weakness. You don't need to have your magick stolen and your memories wiped to ever realize that weakness. Run out of mana and then what?

He continues. "I understand vat you mean about vorkink zee land. It's grulink vork. And it's dangerous! But at zee end of zee day, vee turned out smarter and stronger for it. Vee developed an up-close and personal relationship vith zee plants and animals- zee land itself. Vee knew zee harvest, how to treat injured or ill animals, vee knew how to gauge ourselves- vat our bodies could and couldn't handle in terms of physical endurance. And it greatly tested our minds. Switching from freely usink magick, to suddenly havink to sink of a vay to get zee tasks done vithout it. And ven I ventured out to make my pilgrimage, as orc tradition- it vas beink raised zat vay zat saved my life on more zan one occassion." Papa closes his eyes.

"That explains it."

"Hrm, come again?"

"It explains why you're so comfortable here on your own, including before I came along. Why you don't think I'm a lost cause for being wildseed, and why you rarely use magick, even at home. I always wondered why you bothered to sweep the floor."

He chuckles. "Vell, yes. My Mama's iron vill is instilled in me. Of course not so much after all of zese years. I only occasionally sveep zee floor." He winks.

Now I know how he could be at home with all of the mundane appliances too. Based on my school experience, wizards probably don't use ovens, toasters, or microwaves. Do they even use phones?

I tuck my legs in and hug them, rocking back and forth. "I want to know more about her. And your Papa and brothers too."

"Oh, do you? Alright. Vere to begin? I schould finisch tellink you about my parents. Ahem! Mama married my papa young, at sixteen. By the age of seventeen sche had started producink children. So as far as her childhood goes, it vas simple and short. Sche came from zee countryside and instead of goink to magick school, sche had a private tutor, a friend of zee family vith teachink rights- voo sche didn't know vas a vizard until her own magick popped up. At zis point in time sche vas fourteen. Papa on zee oser hand, vas older zan sche. Already eightteen. Zey actually met as he vas on his pilgrimage to fufill his family's tradition. He vas passink off as a traveler, if I'm rememberink zee story correctly, Papa saved her tutor's life in a freak accident. Even sough he had glamours put on him to look human, zee tutor saw right srough it. Zee tutor, in turn, offered to teach him rare magicks as gratitude for savink his life. Papa took zee opportunity, eager to return to zee tribe vith stronger magick zan zee rest. Papa lived vith see tutor, and discovered my mama as his young protégé."

He chuckles again. "Mama told me at first sight, sche sought he vas a pretty man, but did not like him in zee slightest. Sche found him 'cocky and stupid'- as sche said so herself."

Ouch, so much for love at first sight.

"And Papa, sought sche vas a 'puny, spoiled brat voo did not belong under such an experienced vizard.' I tell you, zey hated each oser!" He pauses to laugh. "And zey had such a rivalry, I tell you! Papa insisted zat sche must be a veaklink, for not only beink human, but also for beink a vildseed. Mama sought Papa's ego vas too big, and zat sche vas certainly smarter zan he, even sough sche vas younger and physically disadvantaged- sough sche vould not admit zat to him. Zey sabotaged each oser, argued and dueled constantly."

Dueled?! As in magickally dueled?!

"Eventually sose struggles and harsch lessons gave zem a mutual respect for each oser. Vich, over zee years, blossomed into a romance. And I'm sure you know zee rest. Papa became head over heels in love vith zee human girl voo could match up to an orc in combat. Sche vas brave, sche vas strong, and sche vas beautiful. I sink my Papa knew he vas outmatched, so he married her. And accordink to my mama, sche told me on zee day zat he proposed to her, he schowed her his true form. And he vas zee 'handsomest creature sche had ever laid eyes on.'"

That's actually a really romantic story.

"Anyvay, zey vere married and lived happily ever after. And as for my papa. Heheheh. His tribe sure vas schocked ven he returned vith a vheelbarrel full of crops and a human voman!"

I giggle at that.

He goes on vaguely about the differences between him and his brothers. Their likes and dislikes, general appearance, what they're currently doing now. "Don't vorry Missy, you'll meet zem someday. I'll make sure of it."