Chapter 9: You have a choice now
They kept looking at each other for some moments more and now it was Luz who broke the silence.
"So what's going to happen to me?" Her voice cracked on the last word and then disappeared entirely.
"Depends on your answer."
Luz blinked. The confusion etched clearly on her face. What did he mean by 'it depends on your answer'? The answer to what?
Noticing Luz's confusion following his answer, Dion added "Let me explain. You are a human and you've just seen behind a curtain that you weren't supposed to know existed. As a member of the Order of Keepers, my duty is to take care of this problem. And that is why-"
"I promise I won't tell anyone!" Luz interrupted. The tone of her voice was definitely panicky. "And even if I do, I've earned a solid reputation as a huge airheaded. Some people in the neighborhood even think I has hyperphantasia. But I'm perfectly sane. I just enjoy editing anime clips to music and reading fantasy books with convoluted backstories. And this world is like one of those magic world from my book. So, even if someone hears that I speak of Boiling Isles they wouldn't believe me. There really is no need to take..."
She was getting hysterical. Dion tried talking to her, but she wasn't hearing a word he said.
So he shut her up the only way he could think of…
He clamped a hand over her mouth, muffling the babbling that he had just learned that she was pretty prone to.
"Let me be clear. I don't want to, and I'm not going to hurt you. I'm good guy, do you understand?" Dion asked her, and Luz nodded.
"If I move my hands off your mouth, will you be quiet? And you just hear me out?"
Again she nodded.
"Good." Dion said as he lifted his hand from her mouth. "So, as I was saying, as a member of the Order, I got to take care of this kind of situation. Which I have to say is something new, and very special."
"Because I'm a teenager?" It came out as more of a question than an answer as Luz tried to understand what he meant.
"No. Because you are a human teenager who can use magic." The shaman explained.
Luz blinked. 'What else do you know about me?'
"So theoretically, you're entitled to know all the truth."
"I promise, this secret is safe with me."
"Not to doubt your word, but it's more complicated than that." Dion took sip of tea, allowing the time for Luz to absorb this information. "To begin, I have to see for myself that what you can and cannot do."
And when he put down the teacup, Luz found that the shaman was looking at her expectantly.
"May I?" She pointed at quill and parchment on desk. The shaman just nodded.
Luz slowly drew the symbol double checking all the lines were right as she went. Soon, on the page was a perfect light symbol.
The human girl looked at Dion before she activated it creating the ball of light.
Dion's eyes trained on orb of light the flight path. His expression was completely unreadable to Luz.
"Have you tried draw a larger symbol or draw on something other than paper too?"
"I had to draw a massive version of my light spell on the wall to weaken the shadow monster." Luz answered slowly, noticing the flicker of surprise flash across Dion's eyes before it was gone.
"Is that all you can do?"
"I also know a few iconic magicians tricks." Luz attempted to laugh, but found it difficult.
Dion was quiet for a second then said, "The light spell is baby magic. A child could do this."
Luz's expression fell due to his words.
"But, I've never seen it cast that way before." Dion said as he turned to the teen. "In addition, you are the first human who cast a spell in centuries. You are a rare human being, Luz Noceda."
He looked her right in the eye, blueish eyes flashing white momentarily before returning to their original color.
"In fact, you have the potential to be a truly remarkable magic-user."
"Is that enough to let me be the "Secret Keeper"?" Luz asked, completely unaware of her choice of words.
The shaman smiled mysteriously and so answered the girl: "Even something more than that."
"Am I supposed to know what you mean by that?"
That enigmatic smile widening, Dion took a last sip of his tea, so slowly it was almost performative. Levitated the teacup back into its saucer with care.
"I have an offer for you."
Luz could swear she could hear the sound of her heart pounding in the all too silent room.
"You're not an ordinary human in more ways than one..." Dion said slowly, grey-blue eyes searching her expression. "So in your case, I'd be willing to let you know the secret of magic realm and develop the talent of magic. I would even help you become a part of our community."
Luz pinched herself just to see if she would wake up, but no this seemed to be real life.
In her mind, she was positively ecstatic. Were it not for the seriousness of their conversation, she would be jumping for joy. In fact, she would probably do that later when she was alone. But for now, she wisely suppressed her excitement.
"There is a catch though; you got to tell me, who send you back to your world." The finality of the statement meant he wasn't really see any other options here.
Luz's face fell, no longer feeling excitement and happiness. Her shoulders sunk and her body immediately stiffened.
"Why do you need to know who did it?"
"As I mentioned earlier - the existence of magic and the Boiling Isles needs to stay a secret. Humans are not ready to for this information or accept magic again. And that is why people from the Demon Realm are obliged to remove memories of people who crossed the border of the Veil." was his reply.
"What's the penalty for breaking this rule?"
"Ultimately, it's up to the judgment but the Order could still charge this people with attempted weakening of the Veil, which is 5 to 25 years in Tartarus."
Luz have no idea what a Tartarus is. But she get the feeling she doesn't want to find out.
"Of course, you can always refuse, but then I'll be forced to wiped your memory."
Dion stated, reaching for the teapot to refill his teacup.
A long pause settled between them.
"You have a choice now, Luz."
The shaman planted both hands on the table and leaned down almost to Luz's eye level.
"Tell me truth and I will help you to develop your potential. Or you can just forget about everything."
He allowed the silence to stretch between them. Luz remained perfectly still, her gaze locked with his.
"So what do you choose?"
Luz was certainly feeling very conflicted. Because on the one hand she have the chance to become a true witch. Like Azura!
She could learn magic.
She could travel the world of demons and mythical creatures.
She could be something more than... freak.
It's a chance of a lifetime, but from the other side she'd have to betray her first and only true friends.
Which is probably why she said what she did next. But the moment the words left her mouth, she knew that she meant them.
"I'm sorry, I can't tell you who sent me back to my realm."
Dion raised an eyebrow. "Is this your final decision, Luz?"
Her face grew grave, steadfast. "Yes."
In Luz's eyes, Dion could see determination and courage, mixed with an emotion he was pretty sure was directed solely at two-tone friendship bracelet. Luz wasn't quite sure what to make of the emotions crossing across Dion's face, but by the stoic calm of his eyes, she was pretty sure one was respect and admiration for her decision, the other was a mystery.
"If that is your decision, So be it, Luz Noceda." Dion produced a glass vial from the drawer.
"What is it?" Luz asked slowly, eying the small vial with curiosity.
"Kraken Ink," Dion said as he handed her the stoppered vial. "It causes people to have their memories of supernatural and magical encounters, to be permanently wiped."
Luz held the glass vial up for better inspection. The dark liquid seemed to have a slight illumination from within it, barely visible but it was there nonetheless. Strangely, it appeared as if the mysterious liquid was slowly flowing in a circular pattern even though the vial was being held still.
"When you drink contents of the vial, you will lose consciousnes." Dion started to explain. "You'll wake up in an hour in your cabin on the camp, safe and sound. I give you my word."
"Can I keep the friendship bracelet?" Luz asked suddenly.
The shaman looked a little surprised by her question, but he was smiling, so that seemed good.
"You won't remember who gave it to you." This time his voice was tinged with something Luz thought sounded like pity.
"I know. But I got it from a friends." Luz took the stop out of the vial. "And even if I doesn't remember them, they'll remember me. So I want to keep this friendship bracelet."
Dion fidgeted with his hands for a moment, looking deep in thought. Finally, he spoke up.
"Well, then, keep it. Wear it."
"Thank you." Luz said, full of gratitude.
Her vision shifted from Dion to a vial in her hand that was reflect light nicely.
"I will ask you this one more time.
Is this your final decision, Luz Noceda?" Dion's voice was steady, calm and emotionless.
Luz gave that one just a little thought that showed on her face, then she nodded and drank the Kraken Ink.
'Adiós, amigos míos.' She thought and closed her eyes.
Her mind focused on the memory of her adventure with Jett and Katrina while she still can.
Luz could feel the seconds ticking away different emotions building up inside of her.
Her eyes were still closed but nothing was happening.
After a few minutes of nothing happening, Luz cracking open her eyes just a little. She was able to confirm that she was still in Dion's office and the shaman looking at her with a mixture of enjoyment and satisfaction.
"Congratulations you've passed."
Author's note:
Master Dion's voice is Stoick from "How to Train Your Dragon"/Gerard Butler
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