The moment he put one arm through one sleeve and the other arm through the next, Markl instantly felt a surge of magic. No wonder Howl kept it so well hidden, he thought, but that only made it that much more desirable. He felt enchanting - spellbinding.

But more than that, he felt a strangely familiar connection.

A shuffle in the hallway spooked the teenager as he glanced back at his bedroom door with worrisome eyes. Sophie had just started making dinner and Howl was busy mixing potions. Maybe it was just Morgan messing around with his toys again. He hoped, at least. One thing Howl hated more than a bad hair day was someone going through his things.

Especially his clothing.

Markl relaxed his muscles as he stared at his reflection, though something felt wrong. He leaned closer to the mirror, narrowing his eyes and scanning his image up and down. The stubble around his chin was rough and ragged as he rubbed soft fingers over the ginger hairs that prickled his skin. However, that was nothing new to him. Along with his new facial hair, he'd grown a full foot taller in the last year since his sixteenth birthday. Whatever newness still awaited him, he could not fathom quite yet.

It soon occurred to him that he felt a weird uncomfortability wearing this coat through its sleeves. They continued far beyond his fingertips, and as he lifted his arms the golden cuffs curled over. The boy scrunched his face, trying to remember how exactly Howl used to wear it. He hadn't seen him wear this coat in years, yet for some reason it was worth locking away in the deepest part of his closet. Once more, Markl's curiosity heightened.

He removed his arms from the sleeves and wore the jacket over his shoulders instead. A radiant smile crept over his face as he couldn't contain his excitement - this was it.

The vibrant pink and dull blue pattern glistened in his reflection, and he stood tall. He waved his fingers around in a repetitive motion, pretending to conjure up spells or cast curses. The magic coursing through this coat was as enchanting as a shooting star, and as he wore the charmed coat that same intimacy still crept around him.

Having never worn this a day in his life, he wondered why it felt so natural to him.

"Markl, do you think you would be able to-" The door opened and Howl strolled through before Markl could magically transport the coat back to its hiding place. Howl noticed the familiar coat and immediately numbed Markl's vanishing spell. His eyes were a bloody rage as he stormed over to the boy and flung the beautiful fabric off of him.

"What are you doing with this?" Howl asked, holding the coat up toward his face. "You shouldn't be wearing this coat."

Markl shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry. I just thought it looked cool."

"You don't know what kind of magic is in these stitchings." Howl cast a floatation spell and the coat spread out like an invisible man was wearing it. The vibrant pink and dull blue sparkled in his spell, as was with most of Howl's clothing. "This coat was charmed years before I ever possessed it. It's more unpredictable than you can imagine."

Markl crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, if it's so unpredictable, then why do you wear it?"

Howl exhaled a heavy breath. "Because this coat recognizes me. I've had it for so long and it's consistent with my source."

Markl rolled his eyes. "You mean dark magic."

Howl furrowed his eyebrows. Markl had never spoken ill about his source of magic. Most often, he'd ask questions or share concerns about Howl's magic coming from such a wicked source such as the darkness - and Howl was always honest with him.

Never once had Markl even whispered a judgmental thought toward him.

Howl sighed. "Markl, what you have is a gift - mine is a curse. Being a creature of darkness has only been a bane on my existence. You should be proud of all that you're learning from Master Xarx."

Markl looked up to him, his brown eyes darkening in the absent light. "But why can't you teach-"

"Daddy!" Young Morgan hobbled his way inside as Sophie stood in the doorway, careful of each step he took. His silver hair had started sprouting dark roots, and his eyes were wide with wonder and awe. Howl snapped the charmed coat out of the room and bent down low to meet his son.

"Oh, Morgan." Howl grunted as he picked up the child. At five years old, his weight made it much more strenuous for Howl to keep carrying him. "My goodness, you're getting big. I can barely pick you up anymore."

Morgan spread his tiny arms open. "Look what I just did!"

Howl creased his eyebrows, then turned to Sophie for a clue. She covered her mouth with shaky fingers, but even she couldn't contain her enthusiasm. "His first spell."

Howl dropped his jaw. "You're kidding. No, I missed his first spell?"

Sophie smiled and nodded. Morgan turned toward her, and urged him to try again. "Go on, sweetie. Show Dad this time."

Morgan searched the room for something he could use, something small. It was only a basic spell - moreover, he had only accomplished it one other time - so he spotted a thin wooden stick that felt perfect.

Morgan waved a quivering hand toward the stick, and slowly, it slithered out from the back of Markl's pocket. The teenager noticed his wand jolting and sliding out of his pocket until it floated in the air. Sophie's pristine smile and Howl's wondrous amazement masked Markl's frustration.

"Hey, that's my wand." Markl clutched it from thin air, instantly breaking Morgan's spell. The young child huddled close to his father as he stared at Markl's anger. "It's not a toy."

Sophie took a step forward. "He was just practicing, Markl. Why are you so upset?"

"When I was just practicing, that never stopped you from punishing me." Markl rebuked, thinking back on the days when he was Morgan. Not as young, but still as naive and certain that the world was his playground. He didn't want to scold his little brother - it wasn't his fault - yet seeing their joy only fumed his soul.

Howl set Morgan on the ground and patted his shoulder with reassurance. "You did a wonderful job, son."

Markl frowned. It wasn't worth the fight. He tucked his wand back into his pocket, grabbed his bag, and pushed himself past Sophie. "I have a lesson."

As he neared the front door, Howl shouted, "We're not done here, Markl." The boy slammed the door at the sound of his own name. He knew by the time he was at the end of the street and about to turn the corner to Xarx's town that Howl was not coming for him, so the apprenticing wizard disappeared to make his travel faster.

(-)

Calcifer observed Howl with every step he took, every glance of his eyes in every direction trying to locate the hologram of Markl. The wizard's eyes were weary and debilitated, probably after weeks of searching with no answers. If there was anything Calcifer could do to ease his pain, if there was some way he could revert the past, he would do it in a heartbeat.

Calcifer gulped, trying to find the words to say to cut through the awkward silence. It was never this hard to have a conversation with Howl. When it was just the two of them, they shared everything with each other. Howl unloaded all of his problems with his apprenticeship and the difficulty of juggling all of his aliases. Calcifer usually complained about his confinements, and over time they grew accustomed to each other's banters.

Lately, it was challenging just to find a moment to be in the same room. With Sophie and Howl coming up with excuses for not joining family dinners - and now learning the truth behind those excuses - along with Calcifer's own problems, he realized this was the first time he'd seen Howl since his sleep issues began.

They should have had a lot to talk about, and yet they walked in silence.

Calcifer tightened his fists. It was worth a shot to say something. "Um, Morgan and Sophie seem to be doing well."

Howl glanced back, yet kept his regular pace. "When did you see them?"

"Last night. I was actually looking for you. That's when I found out… a-about Markl being gone." They kept walking, Howl's determination taking the lead - yet Calcifer's curiosity urged him to ask further. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"About Markl?"

Calcifer nodded. "We could've helped you from the start. Kenta and I would've traveled the entire countryside and seashore looking for him. Even Gwenda and Lona would have helped; I'm sure of it."

Howl shook his head, his gaze aimed in the direction they had seen holographic Markl walking toward. "I know you all would've offered to help. That's why I didn't tell anyone. I didn't want to burden you all with this."

Calcifer halted, forcing Howl to slow his resolute walk. His fiery hair glistened in the fading sun, like sparks of fire could burst from his scraggly curls. "He's not just yours, you know. He's a part of our entire family. That wasn't only your call to make."

Howl, not knowing exactly what to say, was relieved when another wizard floated down from the height of the buildings, unintentionally causing quite a bit of a scene. He landed with a heavy thud before standing with a stable footing. He pushed his mute, bronze hair back slightly as he hardly even noticed the many bourgeoisie women nearby. They pointed and gawked at the stern magician, whispering sweet nothings to their friends.

None would be familiar with his name - nor did he yearn for their type of adoration. Yet Howl and Calcifer were fairly acquainted with him.

Once he heard the audience of human women giggling and staring, the wizard rolled his eyes and strolled toward his comrades. He pointed back at them, saying, "You'd think they'd never met a magician in their lives."

Howl shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe you actually have a way with the ladies, Xarx."

The master magician crossed his arms, his dark hair just barely covering his light eyes. "At least I didn't pretend to eat their hearts."

Howl laughed. He laughed hard actually, and slapped his knees from the force. Xarx and Calcifer glanced at one another, not quite sure how to respond. All those years of pining after delusive and phony women came rushing back to him, and his only response was to bellow in laughter.

However, it seemed as though they weren't the only ones with remembrance of Master Howl's triumphs with the ladies.

A woman from the crowd gasped. "Is that Howl?"

"It is. Master Howl!"

"You can steal my heart, Howl!"

The three magicians turned to the crowding hoard of females moving in their direction. Even if those rumors had been accurate, it amazed Howl to see their naivety and sheer ignorance of the world around them - especially in their own pristine royal city. Now that the curtain had revealed all the fraudulence of their kingdom, he had hoped that this time people would see things differently. The adoring women so fond of a wizard that years prior they would have cheered his death sentence was a stark reminder of that.

The wizards instinctively knew this was no longer safe for their mission. Howl waved his cloak around them and they vanished from sight, leaving the gawking women in a flagrant disappointment. Years ago, Howl would have embraced such a crowd. Beautiful women with a hypnotic and false adoration for him - his youth prided over such a feat. Now, he was old. And as Markl and Morgan grew older, they were visible reminders of the things he could no longer accomplish.

They appeared on the other side of the city, close to the new and improved Royal Palace. Howl had placed them high above on the rooftops, hoping the higher distance would keep their identities a mystery to the humans below. He sighed as he said, "I think we're safe."

Xarx turned to Calcifer. "I'm surprised to see you here."

"Why's that?"

"Well, Howl was so adamant about having as few people know the truth as possible." Howl glared at the wizard with beady eyes, though it had a minimal effect on Xarx. While many feared the strength and will of Howl Pendragon, Xarx Atwood could not be shaken by him.

Calcifer rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, I don't take secrets lightly. Must be a product of being a demon."

"Former demon." Howl corrected.

Calcifer narrowed his eyes. "I can't pretend I'm not who I really am."

Howl tilted his head and curled a light smile. "Says the one who became human so he wouldn't be a demon anymore."

"But that doesn't-"

Howl ignored him. "We lost Markl's trail a while back, Xarx. Do you think you can start the tracking spell again?"

Xarx glanced between the two, but eventually shrugged in agreement. He sat cross-legged and began whispering a spell, blocking out all background noise.

Calcifer pulled Howl away, so as not to disturb the chanting wizard. " Can you at least explain to me what happened?"

Howl dropped his gaze. He knew that question was coming, and he had avoided facing it at all costs. Knowing his oldest companion all too well, Calcifer was not going to let it go so easily. He would have to face the truth eventually.

"To be honest, I don't know the whole story." Howl said. "I thought Markl had left home for an early training session with Xarx, but then as the day got later I started wondering if that was true. I knew for sure something was wrong when Xarx came by saying Markl hadn't even shown."

"How long ago was that?"

Howl quivered his lips. "It happened the day after Morgan's seventh birthday party."

Calcifer took a step back. He had been there; just over a month ago, he remembered joining the celebrations at the Pendragon house. How dazzling the party had been, thanks to Howl and Kenta's impressive light show. Everyone was magnetized by their display, especially Morgan on his special day.

Calcifer tried envisioning Markl in the scene, but he couldn't. It was as if the apprenticing magician simply vanished from their lives.

Howl continued. "I told Sophie not to worry Morgan or anyone else with this. We thought he just needed some space and would come back in a few days."

"Why would he need space?" Calcifer asked.

Howl faltered, but eventually admitted, "We've been fighting lately. Petty things, really. I have no idea where half of the arguments come from, but for the last few years he's just been so…"

"Moody?"

"Yes, exactly."

Calcifer chuckled. "Welcome to raising a teenager."

"I still didn't think it would be this hard." Howl replied. "It just seems like something snapped in his brain and hasn't switched off yet."

Calcifer stared at the wizard before him with a puzzling eye. "Why does it sound like you only blame Markl for this?"

Howl opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. It wasn't worth the fight, he thought. Instead, he turned around, saying, "I'm going to check on Xarx, see if he's made any progress."

Before Calcifer could force Howl's answer, he had already leapt toward the spell-casting magician. On the chilling and vacant rooftop, Calcifer felt an uneasiness in the air. Markl was missing; Gwenda had left; and he still hadn't figured out the answers to his questions. He still had no idea who sent that mysterious letter to him, and he still had no solution to the sleep deprivation that haunted him even in this moment.

All Calcifer could do was droop his eyes as peaceful lullabies of sleep sang to him. At the worst moment, he felt the sensational urge to rest his eyes and just sleep. His eyelids fluttered close and he gaped his mouth wide for a heavy yawn. Just a minute, he thought, one quick minute...

"Calcifer, did you hear me?" Howl's voice was faint as he bobbed his head up and lurched awake. Howl stood by him, clasping his arms as if Calcifer had been falling.

"Wha-" Calcifer bulged his eyes as he tiptoed on the edge of the roof. Apparently, he had been falling. He screamed from the deepest parts of his lungs. Quickly, he flung himself into Howl's arms and they returned to safety. Calcifer breathed arduous breaths and pressed his hand against his own chest. His heart galloped within his ribcage, hammering against its bone prison.

"You nearly fell asleep while standing up." Howl said with blatant confusion. "Are you all right?"

"It's fine." Calcifer said, waving it off. "I-I'm fine. It's nothing."

"Obviously it's something if you didn't realize you were about to fall fifteen stories to the ground." Xarx replied. He examined the wizard more carefully this time, taking note of the obvious physical distress. "You look like you haven't slept in days."

Howl narrowed his eyes. "Does it have anything to do with you and Gwenda?"

"No." Calcifer retorted. "Well, maybe a little. I'm handling it, though."

Xarx snorted and crossed his arms. "Ah, that's what you call handling marriage issues."

Calcifer darted his eyes to Howl. His friend, someone whom he would have given his life for and almost had on several occasions, simply bowed in a shameful confirmation. He scowled a menacing glare at the man whom he entrusted with his own personal affairs. "You told him about Gwenda?"

Howl raised his hands in defense. "He was there when we were talking through telepathy. I couldn't just pretend like I was talking to no one."

Calcifer seethed as Xarx quirked a smile. "Don't worry. It's not like she'll leave you for another wizard. Didn't she hate magic before she met you?"

Calcifer pressed firm hands on Xarx's shirt, curling the fabric between vicious fingers. "No one asked for your opinion, you hermit. Remind me again how it feels to go home with no one waiting for you. You get up, you teach Markl some spells and how to be a good light source, and then you go home to an empty house. Is that really what you live for?"

Xarx shrugged, his smile never parting. "Sounds perfect to me."

Calcifer gritted his teeth as Howl stepped between them. "I think we all just need to relax. We're here for one reason and one reason only - to find Markl."

Calcifer threw his hands in the air and roared in laughter. "Oh, so now that the kid is gone you care about him. And even when you have to face the fact that this might be partially your fault, you go and put it all on him. He didn't just get up and leave for no reason, so stop pretending this is only because he's some irritable and crabby teenager."

Howl grabbed Calcifer's shirt and held on so stiffly, he lifted the magician a few inches off of the ground. His eyes were dark and cruel with a familiar rage. "Don't you dare speak to me that way. I care about Markl; I have always cared about Markl. You have no idea the pain I'm dealing with right now, and yet you think it's okay to throw that in my face? How dare you, Calcifer."

He struggled in Howl's grip, though after a moment he resisted no longer. His body hung like a puppet on a string, waiting for Howl to control his next move. When he felt comfortable that Calcifer wouldn't fight back, he released his grip and lowered him back onto the rooftop.

"I'm sorry, okay?" Calcifer bit the edge of lip as he contemplated his next thought. It was worth admitting to now, though. "Lately, I've been saying and doing things I wouldn't normally, and it's probably because I haven't slept in over a month."

"A month?"

"Calcifer-"

"You don't need to explain how unhealthy it is or how I needed to talk to someone about it sooner." He replied. "Trust me, I've had that conversation more times in the last twenty-four hours than I wanted."

"When did it start?" Xarx asked.

Calcifer shrugged. "I just said a month ago."

"Yes, but do you remember the exact date?"

Calcifer bobbed his head back. He could barely keep his mind straight on what was happening right now, let alone when this all began. As he closed his eyes, he concentrated on the last time when he felt truly awake - the last moment before sleep remained nonexistent.

There was a vague remembrance of celebrations and jubilance, and it now resided at the forefront of his mind, especially since they had just talked about it not too long ago.

That was the first night.

Calcifer widened his eyes. "Morgan's birthday party. That night, I couldn't sleep at all. It was the first night that started all of this."

Howl sucked in a slow, easy breath. "That was the last time we all saw Markl, too."

The sun vanished beyond the towering buildings as the dark night blackened the sky, leaving the three wizards secluded in their quest for truth. The stars were tiny specks of light in the night, mute in comparison to the darkness as it became the true dominant.