V. Never Forgotten

Meistrof let out a sigh as he entered his room, and he shook his head once as he closed the door behind him. Leaning against the door, he closed his eyes for a moment to think.

Erebus wanted to repay him for all those years ago, and Meistrof knew he wouldn't give up on fulfilling that goal. But, now? No. He didn't want too many people to get involved in this business. He couldn't allow him to get into the situation of a chosen one who would completely seal Snowza away for good-or try to revive her. Speaking of said chosen one...could Spencer be the one? It would make sense-he had both control over the abilities of the light and dark. He was a young person-he could always end up leaning more to one side or another eventually. Could it be-

There was a knock at the door, and Meistrof turned around before opening it. Zaira stood, a concerned look on her face.

"Miss Zaira...I wasn't expecting you, my apologies." He started, but the fay interrupted before he could continue.

"I was wondering if you were alright." The words came out quickly, and Zaira looked almost embarrassed to be stating this.

Meistrof was confused for a moment. "Alright?" He asked quietly.

Zaira nodded. "You seemed a bit...distressed earlier when you were talking with Lady Lailah's servant Erebus." She responded, biting her lip briefly. "I apologize for eavesdropping, but it's just that I felt like there was something a bit off. Is there anything wrong?"

The mage shook his head. "Not anymore. Erebus and I know each other from a certain incident. Ten years ago. I don't really want to talk about it, if I can..."

The fay nodded again, before brushing a lock of hair out of her gold-flecked eyes. "I understand-"

"Hey, Meistrof? Can I ask you about something?" The two turned to see Spencer run over to them. "It's-" He suddenly noticed Zaira. "Hey, it's you from before! Your name is Zaira, right? Nice to meet you! I'm Spencer, Meistrof's apprentice!" He greeted, grinning as he extended a hand towards her.

Zaira looked at Meistrof with a confused look on her face. "Do I know him?" She asked quietly.

"Er, he saw us talking when we first met." Meistrof explained. The fay just let out a sigh, shaking her head a bit. "I know, he's quite the eavesdropper, and he's a bit clumsy, but-"

"Hey, I'm still here!" The apprentice muttered, crossing his arms and glaring a little, and Meistrof and Zaira both let out a few amused chuckles. "Anyway, I came here about something. I wanted to try making a healing potion, but I'm missing an ingredient-dried moonlilies-and I need to go to the village of Ibarakisu to buy some. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind accompanying me there, because I have no idea how to get there on my own.."

Meistrof looked a bit worried as soon as he heard the word 'Ibarakisu.' He paused for a moment, before he spoke. "Well, I can teleport you there with my magic, I suppose, but I don't think it's a good idea for me to enter the village."

"Why not?" Spencer asked, putting on hand on his hip. "You're Meistrof, a seriously powerful mage with light abilities. And you work for Princess Moon. I don't get what would be wrong with visiting a village. I mean, no one hates you as far as I know-right?"

"You have no idea." The three turned to see Erebus approach them. "Forgive me for intruding," The servant of Leilah started, "But I couldn't help but overhear things." He let out a sigh as he pushed a few strands of brown hair behind his left ear. "Of course, though, if you are going, I would like to come along too."

Meistrof's eyes widened in surprise. "You want to come with us?" He repeated. "What about Miss Leilah? How will she respond to a missing servant?"

"As if I actually care," The older man huffed, giving a tone of disgust at hearing Leilah's name. "She treats me like dirt because I'm her half-brother. Even though I'm five years older than her..." He muttered quietly. "I don't care about whether I'm going to get punished for it or not-just as long as you're alright, Meistrof. I'm coming with you."

The mage let out a sigh, shaking his head. "Erebus, I already told you earlier that-"

"I'm coming with you." Erebus repeated, his eyes making direct contact with the mage's own. "At least if anyone still resents you and wishes to repeat news of the past, they won't be able to harm even a hair on your head with me around."

Spencer couldn't help but feel that there was some force of tension here-what was going on? What news of the past? Spencer figured that he shouldn't pry into it-maybe he could wait until later.

"Alright." Meistrof muttered, after a moment of hesitation. "I'll go with you, Spencer."

It didn't take too long for them to arrive-in fact, it took only a moment.

Spencer found himself on the ground, and he heard Erebus let out a groan of pain.

"Sorry," Meistrof apologized as he helped everyone up. "I haven't used the teleportation spell in a while-not for the past year or so, at least..."

"Wait a second..." Zaira paused, before speaking again. "You could have used that spell to get to Snowza's castle-it would have made the journey for Azuzu and the others a bit easier..."

"I can't travel that far with the spell!" Meistrof muttered, shaking his head. "No-this is only for short distances, and Snowza probably would have used her magic to send us to some other place before we could arrive at her castle!"

"Oh, right...I see your point..." The fay murmured as Erebus looked around. He let out a low chuckle, smiling a little as he looked around.

"This place hasn't changed much," He remarked quietly as his maroon eyes gazed about. "The village children, playing with each other...The merchants selling their wares...It's like nothing has changed for the past ten years. Does that mean their feelings towards the great Meistrof are still the same?"

"Huh?" Spencer didn't get it, but he shook his head. Looking around, he saw a nearby vendor. "Excuse me, sir?" He asked. "Do you sell any dried moonlilies, by any chance?"

"Of course!" The vendor beamed, taking out a small pouch. "That'll be three bronze coins, please!" Spencer paid the man quickly, and the vendor gave him what he wanted. "Thank you for your business, and I hope you have a good-" He stopped as soon as his eyes laid themselves at the sight of Meistrof. Meistrof pretended not to take notice, and instead made conversation with Erebus and Zaira. Spencer paused, looking at them, before turning towards the vendor.

"Hope I'll have a good what?" Spencer asked.

"A good day, sir!" The vendor managed to say after a moment of hesitation. Spencer shrugged, before walking back towards the other three.

"Okay, I'm done." The apprentice told them.

Meistrof nodded, glancing at the other villagers that were looking at them. "Good." He murmured quietly. "We should...we should go."

"It's him!" Spencer heard one of the villagers speak aloud. "He's back."

"What's going on?" The apprentice asked. He turned towards Meistrof, who tried to look away. Spencer grabbed him by the wrist, determined not to lose his attention. "I asked you a question. What's going on? What's with the villagers staring at you and stuff!? Can't you tell me!?"

"Spencer..." Meistrof turned towards him, and Spencer saw that the tone in his eye colour had changed to a darker blue. "The 'great Meistrof' you know slaughtered ten children in this village, in his pathetic attempt to stop a demon from destroying the village entirely. Ten years ago." He whispered under his breath.

"That's right!" One of the villagers shouted from the crowds that had now gathered. More of the villagers had gotten their pitchforks, their swords, or anything that they could use as a weapon drawn out, and Erebus grabbed onto Meistrof by the shoulder tightly, pulling him closer to him.

"Stay by my side, and I will speak for you." Spencer heard Erebus whisper. Meistrof nodded once, not saying a word. The older man took a deep breath, before shouting to the villagers.

"You dare to draw your weapons towards the great Meistrof!? How disgraceful." Erebus scoffed, tossing his hair behind him with one hand. "Do you all still have shame in admitting that despite the sacrifices made that day, ten years ago, that this man saved this village from being destroyed!? Isn't that what you wanted-to make sure that this village was still in existence!?"

Some of the villagers backed away as Erebus continued to speak. "Put away your weapons! There is no more that we need to dare meddle with in this issue! Put them away, now!" Erebus' eyes turned towards a dark red, and the next thing Spencer knew, a large, black scythe had appeared in his hands. "Put them away-for if you take a step closer, I will make sure that none of you dares to lay a harmful finger on even a strand of Meistrof's hair!"

All of the villagers dropped their weapons at once. Erebus let out a sigh, before he turned towards the others. "Let's go." He muttered quietly. "They have never forgotten that incident. They will never change, and therefore are not worth our time to convince."

"Time never does heal all wounds, does it?" Zaira murmured quietly. Spencer could only nod with agreement, before the four disappeared from the villagers' sights.