CHAPTER 21: SEEKER OF ORIGIN

The evening was everything Morgan Pendragon expected and then some. It was his birthday party, a time when family and friends came to celebrate and a place where all jubilations were unanimous. Though he was eager to open his presents and devour the delicacies prepared for this day, he was more concerned with everyone having as much fun as he was.

Ryo, Griff, and Wynne ran in the backyard playing their Cradle Toss game, but Morgan needed a moment to catch his breath from all the energetic excitement. He was not accustomed to using so much exertion while the light of day still shone. It was quite peculiar for him to expend this much energy for such a long period of time, though he knew the nighttime beauty would return soon to rejuvenate him fully.

As he closed the back door, it relieved the young boy to see so much merriment inside. Uncle Calcifer and Aunt Gwenda talked with Mom, all of them smiling and laughing and having a great time. Aunt Lona snuck off to put Sora to sleep some time ago, and Dad and Uncle Kenta stood with a group of other mastery wizards, sharing spells and secrets above Morgan's own understanding.

He smiled as their happiness fueled his own. Yet suddenly, while the adults were blindly delighted in the festivities, Morgan was the only one to notice a silent figure camouflaged in the grandeur.

All by his lonesome self, Markl sat quietly on the couch. Surrounded by joyous sounds and celebratory cheers, his older brother appeared quite the opposite. Morgan clearly saw his aura contrasted that of everyone else, yet couldn't understand what afflicted him. There was a certain sadness in his dark eyes, how they wandered around the room in search of an invisible answer. Markl's vibrant red hair just barely grazed over his downcast visage, the only burst of light Morgan could see in him.

Something about this sadness prompted the birthday boy to get to the bottom of his troubles.

He silently crept behind the couch, careful not to alarm Markl - though that would have been difficult considering how deep in a trance he was - and just when he figured he had blended into secrecy, he went in for the kill.

"Boo!" Morgan peeked out from behind the couch with raised arms and twirling fingers. His scare tactic had succeeded as Markl nearly toppled off the couch in shock.

"Morgan," Markl pressed a trembling hand to his chest, right over his heart. "You scared me."

"That's what I was trying to do." Morgan's wide smile sported all his teeth and the dark opening where one used to be. "I wanted to make you smile."

"Make me smile?" Markl asked as the little boy joined him in sitting. "Why me? It's your party."

"But how can I be happy when you look so sad?"

Markl opened his mouth in surprise, but had no words. Of all the people who had spoken to him, of all the laughter and smiles he'd witnessed today, no one had paid so much attention to how Markl truly felt. The kid had a keen and highly observant mind. "You noticed that, huh?"

"Of course I did." Morgan replied. He twiddled his fingers on his lap, tapping his short legs against the plush cushions. "You're my older brother. I know when you're sad."

Markl exhaled a heavy breath. For a long time, he'd become adept at hiding secrets and shielding his thoughts from the main focus. Yet for some reason, Morgan was always able to break that barrier and squeeze out whatever troubled him. It was like the kid had a sixth sense for recognizing pessimism.

"So, why are you sad?"

Markl tapped his foot against the patterned rug, the sound muffled and muted but quick like a heightened heartbeat. That question was just as ominous and open-ended as the entire history of magic. It wasn't just one problem that troubled him lately; no, it was far more pressing than that. It was the little things that built up over time that were driving Markl insane.

Although, explaining that to a seven-year-old would be a little overwhelming. "It's just… there's something I need to ask your dad."

"Ask him what?"

Markl didn't wish to share anything further. It was better if Morgan was oblivious to these things, especially as he still had a hero-like view of Howl. A boy of his age wouldn't understand the complexities that existed between Markl and Howl. It was difficult enough for Markl to understand it, so he had no idea how to explain it to the kid.

"It's just really important," Markl finally said. "And I can never find the right time to talk to him without getting interrupted. Your dad always seems to be preoccupied with something."

"He's your dad, too." Markl dropped his gaze to Morgan, watching that innocent smile gleam with optimism. "Whatever it is, I'm sure he'll listen."

Markl looked down at the birthday boy, watching his unwavering smile continue to shine optimism in his direction. Never did anything bring him down and hardly anything brought him to tears - Morgan was not like everyone else, and he certainly put more effort into helping other people. The fact that he spent a portion of his own party to encourage him was proof enough.

For the first time in a while, Markl smiled - and that brightened Morgan spirits to see.

Markl tapped the young boy's shoulder lightly. "I'll be back."

He took confident steps toward the crowd where Howl stood, allowing Morgan's encouragement to fuel his desire. However, once he got closer, those steps became more uneasy and wobbly. Once he was merely a step away, he could see Howl's face entirely - and he looked so happy.

After all the years of hiding behind aliases and running from evil witches, after all the craziness that could've decimated him, Howl still smiled like nothing could shake him - like no one could ever tear him down from his high pedestal.

Why was he worried that this question - or rather, its answers - would wipe that smile away? Ever since he'd gotten home from training with Xarx the day before, that question burned on his tongue like an undying fire. It was still hard to trust Xarx's words, especially after he refused to share whatever it was he knew, but Markl's desperate desire for answers kept him hopeful.

Maybe there was something Howl knew that he had kept hidden from him; maybe all this time Howl had exactly what he had been searching for. Now, all Markl needed was for Howl to say it.

Markl tapped a nervous finger on his shoulder, still debating if he wanted to go through with this. When Howl looked behind him, he figured there was no backing out now.

"Markl," he said, barely turning his body around. "Enjoying the party?"

"Yeah, it's fine," Markl said quickly, "Howl, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure."

"Alone?"

Casually, Howl turned fully to face Markl, his dark hair waving over shoulders like a dark ocean. The young magician's face was serious, determined, and it confused the elder wizard greatly. Howl couldn't understand what was so important to ask today of all days, but that look urged him to at least hear the teenager out.

Howl waved his friends a quick farewell as they walked into his office, to which Markl closed the door behind them. Privacy. Solitude. Suddenly, it was as if his galloping heartbeat stopped altogether. He wasn't sure if it was relief or fear or a mixture of the two if that was even possible. All he knew was that for the first time in a very long while, Howl would have no choice but to listen.

"So, what's on your mind?"

Markl stopped breathing; he stopped moving entirely. There were plethoras of questions drilling inside his brain, all wanting to burst out simultaneously yet his self-control stopped that from happening. He stopped everything from happening.

He just stopped.

"...Markl?"

The teenager inhaled a quick breath, the air pushing through his gritting teeth. Had he always been this anxious around Howl? No, not always. When he was young and careless, he freely said anything and everything that crossed his mind. No filter as a boy, and now a tight-fitting seal on all his thoughts years later.

He had practiced having this conversation dozens of times, but the reality of it was more terrifying than his make-believe version.

"Howl," Markl whispered, "I need to ask you something."

Howl creased his eyebrows. "I know. That's why we're in my office talking."

"I need to ask you about me." He blurted out. "I need to ask what you know about me."

"What I know about you?" He asked, slightly taken aback by his question. It was strange, to say the least, and he wasn't exactly sure what the boy wanted to know. He crossed his arms. "Well, uh… I know that you're a very talented wizard with a lot of skill and potential. I'm very impressed by-"

"Not me now." Markl interrupted, his voice harsh and bitter. "I mean me before all of this."

"I don't think I-"

"Before Morgan, before the Magicians' War, before Sophie, before magic. Before I even met you. I need to know where I came from." Markl paused, his words igniting a muted fire that was always within him that had finally been set ablaze. Markl paused for a long moment, then looked Howl directly into his gaze. "I need to know who I came from."

After the words were released from his soul, Markl felt a giant weight lift from his chest. The question that had haunted him was finally revealed and brought to light. There was no more hiding his true feelings from Howl, and for a brief moment, he actually smiled.

Howl, on the other hand, was not as content.

"What… why would you ask me that?" Howl asked, stumbling over his own words. "I-I thought we already talked about this. I thought-"

"You never said who it was."

"I never saw who left you at my castle."

"Xarx seems to think you know more."

Howl narrowed his eyes, though he didn't seem mad at Markl. The young magician knew Howl and Xarx were not the closest of friends - truthfully, they were barely even acquaintances - yet the mention of his last comment surely enraged Howl.

"Is it true?" Markl pressed him further. "Is Xarx right that you know who my parents are?"

He scratched the back of his neck and sighed. "Look, Markl-"

A loud knock sounded on the door and Howl's attention was completely averted. Both wizards turned to Kenta as he poked his head through. "Howl, everyone's waiting for us to start the firework show."

Markl darted his eyes between the two of them, watching closely as his window of opportunity immediately faded back into illusion. His make-believe version of this conversation had gone on longer than the real one, yet this time he was so close to having actual answers.

However, Howl was more than willing to allow the festivities to trample over the boy's wishes, and he told Kenta he'd be there soon.

He waved Markl a subtle smile. "How about we talk about this later? I can share what I remember about that time maybe tomorrow."

Without warning, without waiting for a reply, Howl directed himself toward the door to resume the party. Before he could take two steps, however, Markl pressed a firm hand over his chest, stunting his pathway.

"Howl," Markl spoke, his voice so low it felt like it had come from the underworld, "I am standing right in front of you asking for a piece of my life that has been practically erased from my memory. I am asking a yes or no question if you know my parents. Can you please forget about Morgan for one minute and listen to me?"

He glanced over his shoulder, just barely catching Markl's irate glare. Howl's glistening jewels dazzled from the fading sunlight as the boy's eyes grew darker and darker by the second. It would have eased Markl a little had the wizard acknowledged his obvious display of anger, but Howl couldn't satisfy even such a simple request.

"It's his party," Howl rebutled, "It's Morgan's big day."

Markl scrunched his nose, closing his eyes to withdraw his emotions. "And you can't give me a moment of your time. Ever."

Howl grabbed Markl's hand and gently pushed it away from him. "We can talk in the morning before you see Xarx. I promise."

Markl hadn't calculated how long he stood there. Seconds to minutes to a lifetime of asking himself the same question, the same damn question over and over and over again. He finally had the courage to bring his concerns to Howl, and he was betrayed by his own trust.

How could he believe any more of Howl's lies and tricks?

The laughter and excitement from the party echoed from the closed door, no one noticing the distraught teenager hidden in the shadows of his own pain. Their cheers were deafening to him, as once again he was tossed aside by those who were meant to love him.

All Markl could do was scoff at the sound. "Some family I found."

The Pendragons, the Maguires, the Itōs - all dazzling in their fame and heroism. Their children were growing up knowing exactly who raised them, exactly where they came from, and never doubting their parents' loyalty. He wasn't anything like them, and it was time he finally started to recognize that truth.

No one saw him storm into his room. No one heard the slam of his door. It was a repeat pattern of yearning for someone to notice his pain and realizing Xarx had been right all along. People were merely constant disappointments; how he hoped Howl wouldn't be one of them, yet that became abundantly clear this very night.

As the party raged on with jubilant wonder, Markl's adventure had only just begun. As he retrieved the mysterious letter from its hiding spot, as he ignored the words he'd already read dozens of times before, he used the edge of the paper to slice his index finger open. It was a quick spurt of pain, but not nearly as agonizing as the pain he felt the last seven years of his life. A paper cut was child's play compared to his experiences.

If Howl refused to answer him, then he'd find them within this stranger.

The blood dripped lightly from the tip of his finger, and he curved his signature on the line provided below. Instantly, the letter glowed a silver light and the original words disintegrated into thin air. He watched with dazzling eyes as the true message was revealed:

I'll see you in Wales to reveal the truth you seek. Before you join, I have one final request...