The Crow
(Second Arc: The witch from the Eastern lands)
(Part 19)
XxxxxXxxxxX
Things returned to normal the very next day.
Violet took the chance to rest as soon as she arrived in her room, letting Katya know that she was not to be bothered until dinner – a time the witch valued since it was spent with Clow, a daily routine that helped center her, give a sense of stability – The maid acquiesced, leaving the green eyed girl alone to sleep the excitement of her travels away.
A lot more rested and bright eyed, Violet started the Monday with a smart smile – Anxious to have a wand again, and looking forward to the crafting process. Not having a tool with which to channel magic was intimidating, and it wasn't for Clow's lack of trying to find her a suitable tool.
XxxxxXxxxxX
In Beijing, a few days ago.
The tall, arched roof stretched, looming and taunt over the large sparse room. An armory, if the vast quantity of weapons of all kinds were any indication – From swords, axes, spears, hammers to various types of projectile weaponry.
Used to seeing such a collection in display at the hallways of Hogwarts, the witch wasn't as deterred as she thought she'd be – contrary to what most would believe, the Enclaves used to value the power of the sword. Mage-Knights joined crusades, swore fealty to muggle kings and marched into wars alongside their magic-less counterparts.
Godric Gryffindor himself used to be a knight, and the suits of armors scattered around the castle belonged to his unit when they chose to stay in Hogwarts with him. Loyal knights protecting their captain's castle and his students to the end…
'Witch burnings only came with the inquisition… the Catholics weren't happy that the pagan people wouldn't switch religions… but no witch can be hurt by fire, there are multiple ways of preventing dying a fiery death, most common accidental magic suffices. The ones who suffered the most were the muggles, at least the ones not affiliated to a family or clan at the time'
Violet remembered the passages from Hogwarts a History, fondly thinking of Hermione who swore by that book once upon a time. Thinking about Gryffindor and his escapades, made the witch think about another founder.
'Also… funny that almost all pure-bloods would believe Salazar Slytherin's hatred of muggles as gospel truth… at that time, there was no way to actually know with acuity muggleborns from wizards' bastard born children – plus, since not many had the financial power to send their children to a magical school, low as the tuition was, only the richer families could afford formal education unless chosen by a master. Slytherin was against teaching the barbarian invaders, who sieged Hogwarts at least twice before 1015, five years after the castle was built' At least that's what Hermione was able to pierce together – their traipsing through the Isles horcrux hunting was boring enough at low times, and the bushy haired witch needed something to do.
The witch was wrenched from her thoughts by a wandering hand cupping her jaw lovingly, a caress that made her back arch into the touch and her eyes close in bliss as a long dexterous fingers played havoc to the nerves behind her ear.
"What are you thinking about that has you so absorbed?" Clow asked bemusedly, removing his hand once he was done distracting Violet. The witch glared at the amused sorcerer.
"That's not fair. You can't tease a witch and expect her cooperation" She let him know, summoning a mighty frown to hide her glee at being flirted with. It didn't work very well, but Clow didn't comment on it. 'Don't grin Violet…' Her traitorous lips threatened to pull up.
"Oh no? And how does one go about gaining a witch's concurrence?" The sorcerer asked with such tremendous seriousness that half fooled Violet for a moment before she noticed the glint in his eyes.
Heat traveled down her spine, playfulness became dangerous and the witch relished the feeling. Her mouth curled into a positively coy smile, an expression of femininity that she's never tried before 'I hope I don't look silly!'
"I guess the witch would be a lot more favorable if she had a…" The words dried in her mouth, embarrassment winning for a moment as she hesitated. Sweetness spread in a burst in her chest when her sorcerer gathered her in his arms, green meeting dark, silvery blue.
"If she had a…?" He prompted.
Air strangled in her throat, Violet's cheeks couldn't become redder. So she did what she planned beforehand and conquered the gap between them, stealing from him a kiss that could have melted the poles.
"…a Wand" The flustered witch finished, separating their faces and smiling lightly. 'I did it! I flirted and teased! It felt nice' Another insecurity proven useless.
Clow chuckled warmly, the sound never failing to make her knees weak. His devious hand pinched her sides, drawing a startled squeal out of her… and a burst of magic that shook the multitude of weaponry, provoking a cacophony of metallic sounds.
As soon as the sounds stopped echoing and their conspiring chuckles died down, Clow took Violet's hand, pulling her to a section of the Armory obviously dedicated to magical tools.
"These look like the ones in Cambridge" Violet noticed, remembering the collection of items she's scavenged through in the house back in England. "None of them worked" she pointed out dryly, not willing to go through the disappointment of not finding a valid conduit for her magic.
"They wouldn't" Clow agreed with amusement that chaffed slightly at the witch's temper. It was her skills that were being limited by a lack of focus. He had his staff, the insufferable git. "You overload them, my dear" the sorcerer let Violet know, noticing how her mood was becoming unstable.
'What is a witch without a wand?' More of a mentality at this point, since Violet could do some magic without the focus – though limited to brute magic manipulation rather than spells, most of the time she's been exercising control. 'But a good focus amplifies the magic and reduce spells cost…sadly just like back in the old world, a wand choses the wizard most compatible with it'
The witch sighed, picking up a few objects that would have worked as conduits – some staffs, staves, wands, rings, gems, gloves and in a notable case, a grimoire. All rejected her magic, refusing to cooperate.
"The only solution is creating something from scratch" After all that was right.
XxxxxXxxxxX
Slipping out of her memories, Violet got ready for the day.
She's asked Katya for a bath, mainly to start the week back in England fresh and clean. The dress she's picked up unconsciously sported half of Clow's colors – gold and blue – and arranged her hair in a simple ponytail.
The western wing, which housed only the sorcerer and the witch, was predictably empty, so Violet made through the path to the library unmolested by curious students.
Arriving at the tall double doors of the library however, the green eyed young woman had to pause… A sense of dread pooled in her stomach, at the same time a familiar excitement bubbled under her skin. 'There're people in the already' She noticed, cringing as an ugly urge to eavesdrop overcame her good senses.
'Sneaking around and eavesdropping on conversations used to be the only way I could gain useful information…' Not any more though. 'I thought I was above it now!'
Violet tiptoed to the entranceway and peeked through the crack of the doors. 'Oh… now the urge is explained…' Magic swirled around her, as annoyance built at what she was seeing.
…
Clow was sitting on his claimed chair in the library, a book sitting on his lap and glasses almost slipping from his nose from his bent head. Long raven colored hair framed his face nicely, painting a picture Violet was intimate to, having witnessed it a lot these last weeks.
Suddenly, the sorcerer straightened, adjusting his glasses back into place and closing his book, eyes flashing quickly with shallow vexation.
'Someone has entered uninvited'
There were two large rooms used to house book in this house. A large, studious room in the first floor, with a fireplace for the wintry months and an enviable collection of literature, ranging from magical subjects to scientific ones… It was the library he's delegated to his students, since the usefulness of the books did not supersede their rarity.
This was his personal library, where he housed the rarer tomes and scrolls he's acquired over the years, along with his parents' personal collections. Located next to his office, all his students and staff should have known better than to come without his implicit permission.
'It is for their own safety… knowledge is dangerous and some of these books carry the threat quite literally'
"Teacher… Clow" Ah… the voice explains the daring. If there's someone who's immune to his house's defenses it was her. She who shared his blood and origins might be forewarned against some, but not even close to all of his tricks.
Clow smiled congenially, hiding that spark of irritation. "Miss Li" He greeted politely. "What can I do for you?" The young woman stepped out of the shadowy doorway, showing her full appearance.
Full painted lips, red and gleaming like ripe fruit. Her dark eyes framed by beautifully done make-up. Neck, ears and hair illuminated by expensive jewels, and she was wearing one of the Li clan's traditional garbs, something his mother was fond of. 'Oh… now I see' the sorcerer's lips thinned in thought.
"Call me by my name, Clow" Xiao Ling asked, with her voice low and alluring. The sorcerer had to admit, if only for a moment, that Xiao Ling Li was a beautiful woman that would have made his heart warmer – before he met Violet. "We are family after all"
She made her way slowly, the sorcerer rose to greet her as was the gentlemanly thing to do. "You haven't come here to ask me to call you by your name" He pushed, eyeing her shrewdly. He knew where this was going.
"No… you're right. Clow… My grandfather has sent you a contract, have you answered it yet?" Xiao Ling prompted, making herself smaller and lovelier through actions and magic.
He could see the glamours though, covering and hiding scars, calluses and bruises. 'She makes a gorgeous witch warrior, why would she want to hide that?'
"No" Clow let her know "I have not agreed to my nephew's proposition" Which went along the lines of wed Xiao Ling of the Li clan and come back to us with all your power, magic and money.
Not that they aren't rich or powerful on their own, but as an implied rule magical families hoarded magic and strived to be above all competition.
Xiao Ling winced at his choice of words as he knew she would, but then she regained her courage, meeting his eyes with her own. "I have grown up groomed to be your bride. I have been trained by the best of the Li clan, educated in various arts, I am literate and powerful. I am the best the Li clan has to offer, and I am being offered to you and I won't hear that you won't have me"
Echoes of decisions descended on him – paths unfurled before his eyes as those paths branched off and grew, the future melting like snow in spring.
…
"Don't go Clow, please! Don't leave me! I love you!" But he's been far too gone to even listen to her, so he just faded.
Wide terrified eyes watched him as he worked his powers. She detested them, hated that she couldn't control him – he felt grief that she was unhappy, but his powers were part of him and he wouldn't, couldn't give them up for just anyone, and she doesn't exist yet.
…
'The future I have envisioned for so long, within my grasp, and all I have to do is forsake my gift… I don't think my witch will take likely to being replaced' Even now, as his bond with Xiao Ling threatened to expound beyond that of teacher/student and into something else, his bond with Violet, thick and healthy, was lighting up a storm of protests.
'She's close' Clow noticed, following their bond to the library's door and seeing a flash of green from between cracks. 'Crafty woman, I can feel your anticipation from here'
"Perhaps not, but as closed as your ears are, my lips don't share their opinion. Miss Li, family we might share, but family we are not. I have no fault in your upbringing, so take your grievances upon those who do" Clow told her, Xiao Ling's jaw clenched, her magic swirling out of control.
"I can give you everything" The young Chinese woman promised "I can give you children, love, a future. I can make us a family of our own"
"I already have all I want" His voice dropped into a gentler tone. "Forget this senseless conversation, child, and leave this be"
"Why?" Xiao Ling trembled. "Why won't you have me?" She half demanded through closed lips. Anger and desperation clouding her judgment.
"Just go" Clow told her one last time, she listened, and with her head held high, escaped the library after blasting open the doors and starting the little eavesdropper. Xiao Ling shot a venomous glare down at Violet's surprised form, and then was down the corridor stomping her way out. "Violet" The sorcerer called somberly.
"I'm sorry" The witch hurried to say, shame written all over her face. "I didn't mean to listen in or anything, it's just, I was on my way to find you and then I find you here and you were already talking with Xiao Ling, I didn't want to interrupt so I thought to go away and wait but-" Her unfortunate propensity for babbling when nervous caught up, and Clow had to hold up a finger against her lips.
"Something in you was writhing in protest?" the sorcerer finished for her, already understanding what was going on. Violet was protective and jealous of what was hers, so was her magic.
"Yeah… I know you wouldn't… agree with her proposition" the witch agreed. "I'm really sorry for eavesdropping on you though" Clow could feel there was something else, an old scar that was prickling at his other half.
"What is really bothering you?" Clow inquired delicately, extending a hand to her hair as a form of comfort for them both.
"It's not a really good story"
"If it's part of you, it doesn't matter"
XxxxXxxxX
Why, why, why did she think a direct approach was a good idea? It was what Xiao Ling was used to. She's not one to go for an indirect rout, planning and plotting wasn't for her – she knew what she wanted and went for it, bulldozing everything in her path.
'But Clow was not moved, not a single bit, not even when I dressed like this…'
The young woman walked briskly down the corridors, evading other students so they wouldn't see and comment on her suspiciously bright eyes. 'I'm not crying…' She bit her lips, the pain helping alleviate some of the frustration she was feeling… The cherry trees, she thought, would make a lovely job of obscuring her for a while.
"Oi! What bit you?" Xiao Ling heard the annoying voice of that blond little bint. Charlotte Dubois was the third daughter of an influential French magical family that specialized in miracles of all things. As a battle mage, Xiao Ling didn't value much the Dubois family's craft, though Charlotte was a very poor example of what they were capable of.
Anton Dubois, the heir and elder son of the duke of Desdré, was a genius doctor, who was on his way to revolutionizing the area of magical healing – his methods were veritable miracles, thaumaturgy at its best, as Anton came as close to reversing death as one in his area could. Unfortunately, the elder son fell in love with a mundane woman, and fell out the communities around a decade ago after being disinherited.
Amelie, the elder daughter, like her mother, could command fields of crops to rise from ashes, revive whole forests and revitalize animals. Amelie's craft allowed her to transmute materials into food, an alchemic field which many considered useless – when they rather have gold, not flour. She was picked as heir after Anton left, and was engaged to a second cousin who didn't have a tittle of his own.
Then there was Charlotte. The Dubois family's black sheep – aside from her older brother – she could have been of use to her family as a second daughter, but her meager magical talents made her a terrible prospect as bride.
'She will end up being given to another of her cousins, just so the shame can't leave the family' Xiao Ling thought coldly, as she opened her mouth to respond to said blonde.
"Miss Dubois, uncouth as always" Her voice didn't come out tremulous or watery, for that she was thankful. "Now, if you'll excuse me"
"I don't" Charlotte blocked her path. "I know what you just did! Don't you know that Teacher likes Violet?" The thaumaturgy mage taunted prickly. Anger exploded in Xiao Ling's face, her flinty eyes glaring daggers at the other woman.
"It's none of your business, Dubois" The Chinese woman snapped, forcing her way through the blonde who wasn't as sturdy as she was. Charlotte stumbled into a wall, watching Xiao Ling's back.
"I know a way we can both get what we want!" She called after the Li's retreating back.
A dangerous expression took over Xiao Ling Li's face as she turned to glower at Charlotte. "I don't know what you want, nor do I care, but I will not be pulled into any harebrained plan against Miss Potter… If what you say is true and Teacher favors her, it won't be me who will face his wrath should anything happen to her"
With those last words, she stalked out the manor to the gardens, where the beautiful and calming cherry trees did a wonderful job mellowing her mood.
…
TBC~