Legend of Ransera

123 Searing 81st

Ivar and Flora sat next to each other with their bodies a hair's breadth apart. They were under a tree with wind rustling through the leaves overhead, Flora turned towards him with a determined expression.

"Ivar, I've been considering something for a while. I want to learn magic," she confessed.

Ivar’s surprise was visible. “I’ve been teaching you magic, haven’t I? I’ve been showing you some pictography and it’s got some great potential.”

“No, not that kind of magic. The kind where you can actually make things happen using nothing but your thoughts. Like the one you have that lets you teleport. I want to be able to do something incredible.”

His eyes bore into hers. Flora’s face was alight with anticipation, an edge of defiance coloring her expression. He had seen that look before, the burning desire to venture into the unknown. It filled him with a dread he couldn’t immediately articulate.

He knew the danger she was courting. Magic was not just dangerous, it was lethal. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her to its unforgiving grasp.

“Honey,” he began, his voice shaking as he gathered his words, “Magic isn’t a path to tread lightly. It's volatile, it's unforgiving, and more often than not, it's deadly."

Flora looked none too happy about this. He hadn’t told her anything she didn’t already know.

Ivar squeezed her hand. “I… I can’t bear the thought of losing you,” he admitted, the admission costing him more than he’d like. "I love you too much to see you hurt, or worse… taken from me. So… I won’t let you risk your life like this,” he declared, his voice heavy with conviction. “You can't learn that kind of magic, Flora. It's too dangerous."

For a moment, there was silence. Flora pulled her hand from his grasp, her face unreadable. She opened her mouth to retort, but he cut her off.

"No," he said, his voice laced with a finality that startled even him. "I won't allow it."

His words were met with more silence. Flora stared at him, her eyes wide, and he could see the hurt in them.

Ivar continued, "you know that when I saw you, I wanted you to have my children. You’ve known what I’ve wanted for months now. I can’t imagine how tough their life would be if they grew up without a mother because you tried to initiate into magic."

Flora blinked against the pricking tears in her eyes. Her sadness clouded her usually vibrant features, and she pulled her gaze away, looking up into the sky. Ivar had final say in everything important. She didn’t see how he could actually love her if he wanted to control her like she belonged to him. At the same time, she had to listen to him because he provided for her and her parents.

She also feared Ivar to some degree. She had no doubt that if she ever went against his word he could exact revenge on her. She thought that it couldn’t be that hard for him to ruin her life if he could teleport.

It was ten minutes before Flora spoke up again. She said, “I always dreamed of using magic. it's sad to give up on a dream, you know?" She gestured vaguely into the air, her eyes distant. "But... but I think I’m happy with you. It's... weird." She glanced at him, the corners of her lips lifting slightly, even as the remnants of tears glistened in her eyes.

"I'm happy because... because it shows how much you care about me, about my safety. I... I didn't know the extent of it," she admitted how looking at the ground. Her expression was unreadable in the dim light, but her words painted a clear picture of her mixed emotions.

Flora’s next question took Ivar by surprise. "What about our future children?" she asked, a certain seriousness underlying her question. "Would you allow them to learn magic?"

The question was difficult to answer. He stared at her, his mind spinning with the implications of her question.

"I... I don't know," he confessed, the truth of his uncertainty spilling from his lips. "They’ll have their own lives to live. It won’t be up to me. I’d be happy to teach them scrivening which would be more than enough to make sure they make enough money to thrive and prosper."

His gaze found hers again. Yes, he had concerns, he had fears, but above all, he felt a duty to Flora and the future they would share together. He cradled her face in his ink-stained hands. “Let’s take a break from this talk, shall we?”

Ivar gave her a small, reassuring smile, his thumb brushing away a tear that had begun to trail down her cheek. “I think we could both use a change of scenery," he suggested, his voice lightening, an attempt to lift the weight that hung between them. "How about we go grab a bite? I heard there’s a bakery nearby that makes pies with sweet berry filling and crumbly crust."

Flora stared at him for a moment, and then a smile bloomed on her lips. Ivar stood, pulling Flora up with him, his hand warm and firm around hers. It was a respite, he knew, a brief diversion from a topic they would have to revisit eventually. But for now, he was content to focus on the woman he loved, even if theirs wasn’t a typical relationship.

They walked along the road and eventually the sweet smell of freshly baked pie wafted through the air with the promise of an amicable evening ahead. Ivar led Flora towards the familiar setting of the bakery. It was a cozy establishment, a warm haven that welcomed all with its delicious aromas and familiar faces.

He took her to his favorite spot, a small table by the window that looked out into the bustling street. Flora was the first to break the silence after savoring the fruity filling and buttery crust. "Oh, this is good. The cook does know how to bake."

Ivar couldn't help but chuckle, watching Flora's face light up with delight. He’d only learned of this place in passing during a conversation with an informant. He rarely went out to eat anywhere that wasn’t recommended to him. "I heard this was a good spot. I’m glad they were right."

Ivar found a certain calm in these moments, a simple happiness in Flora's company. He watched her animated expressions, the way her eyes lit up when she laughed, the way her voice held a gentle warmth when she spoke. It was hard not to love such a charming person.

As their plates grew empty, the conversation veered from the light-hearted back to a serious topic. It was Flora who brought it up. With the last morsel of pie resting on her fork, she glanced across the table at Ivar.

"My parents aren't doing well. It's... they're getting worse. Every time I look at them I just want to cry… I don’t know how much longer I can see them like this."

"I'm sorry," Ivar said, squeezing her hand tightly in his own. He saw her eyes well up and her shoulders tremble. "Everyone has to face death at some point. I've seen plenty of death in school, initiation itself is a killer. At least your parents got to live a long life and they got to see their daughter grow up.”

He thought about her parents. He had no particular attachment to them. In fact, if he was being entirely honest, he’d rather not have to support them financially. But that's a consequence of their union that he’d accepted. His introspection might've seemed harsh, maybe even cold-hearted, but it was the truth.

“I understand that they are your family, Flora, and I am willing to support them for your sake. You're my bride to be, and your problems are mine too."

He sighed. "It's getting late, love. We best be getting you home," he said, his tone softening. Flora nodded in understanding, wiping her mouth delicately with a napkin. He stood, extending a hand to help her up. As they exited the restaurant, the coolness of the night washed over them.

Flora looked sad as they walked home. Her eyes stayed fixated on the ground. Her usual energy and laughter were replaced with a quiet stillness. Her lips, usually stretched in a smile, were set in a thin, straight line. There was a heaviness to her, a weight that hung over her and darkened her mood.

Ivar trudged alongside Flora, his thoughts wandering to the prospect of her parents' health. The sooner they passed after the marriage, the better. The thought came with guilt, the idea of desiring the demise of his future in-laws twisted his stomach. If only he could do it himself without getting caught…

Ivar eventually dropped Flora off and decided that it was probably best not to join her in bed. He’d neglected a lot of school work to spend this day with Flora and he needed to wrap up a project.