Chapter 0.11
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The pages were slightly worn but lined in gold, and Cassandra wasn’t sure she liked gold. Her mother was more enthusiastic about gold than she was, but Cassandra had learned to live with it. She would’ve liked some nice silver tone, or even no lining at all. She had a roll of clear tape to one side on the desk, and was setting letters, pictures, notes, anything of her father she could find in her little owl diary, and taping the edges down to protect from fraying. Her father always kept notes scribbled on sticky pads for his books. Sometimes, Cassandra thought about continuing in her father’s footsteps and becoming a writer, but she couldn’t imagine trying to make sense of anything in her head like that. How he always managed to do it, that one Cassandra may never know. Maybe that wasn’t for her to know.
Quietly, she pulled a picture out of the stack. It was a photo of them all in front of the new bank in Magnolia Promenade. Across the street was the restaurant they went to to celebrate Cassandra’s graduation from grade school into high school. Alexander had been much younger then, barely able to sit up on his own, but he’d been fairly well-behaved through the entire outing. Cassandra had spent most of the time they were there paying a lot of attention to Alexander. Bella and Mortimer had spent all that time gushing about how their little girl was growing up so fast.
She didn’t feel like she’d grown up very fast at all. Every day, it felt like she was a little smaller than the day before, and it wasn’t a very pleasant feeling. As much as she might want to will it all away, that wasn’t how anything worked in this world. Well, maybe sometimes magic worked that way. It wasn’t like Cassandra would know, because no one told her anything about magic so far.
Sometimes, if she went through these little notes and pictures, she found hints and evidence that they were spellcasters, and her parents weren’t working together on a weird joke. (Her parents always did have a wild sense of humour.) Cassandra sighed to herself, standing up from her desk and crossing her room. Her bookbag was on her bed, and she went to rummaging through it, looking for something. Eventually, the girl came up with another stack of papers and pictures. These were from Alexander’s birthday from toddler to child. That seemed like so long ago. It all seemed like so long ago, that they were all together and a proper family.
If Cassandra was being honest with herself, she wasn’t sure if she was ready for this. It’d probably take a lot out of her, to become anything near a spellcasting master, because Cassandra wasn’t someone that tried to stand out. Everyone else was always the hero, not her, but maybe it was okay to be the hero in your own story.
Was this her story? Well, it was her life, maybe it was close enough. And if she never had the courage to jump, she’d never know what it was like to fly.
Cassandra settled back down at her desk, arranging the notes and pictures and taping them down. She had so many pages in her journal filled with memories of their family, but she felt like she’d need them. It seemed to her that she’d need every single one, because she’d need to remember who she was, and what she was fighting for. It’d be easy to forget, when things got tough and she felt like it wasn’t worth anything and she just wanted to give up and go home. Maybe she’d never have a normal life again after this, but there was no turning back, not now.
She may not have said anything, not aloud, but she’d promised her mother she’d bring Mortimer home, in her heart, and that was good enough.
As Cassandra pressed the last bit of tape around the last picture’s edges, she heard the clock downstairs chime the time. She paused what she was doing, listening to the clock and counting the number of chimes. It was almost time for Alexander and Bella to come home. Bella hadn’t been doing too much better, but she’d at least gotten into the habit of making herself eat. Cassandra could be glad for that, because it gave her more time to pursue other things that needed to be done around the house, like cooking and cleaning. She wondered if there was a spell to do that faster. That’d certainly come in handy.
Now was the time. If she’d ever intended to go, now was the time to go, and she knew it but she was afraid. Cassandra had never truly been good at anything, and it was possible she wouldn’t even really be good at this either. That was a chance she’d have to take. And if it turned out she wasn’t good at magic, and couldn’t figure it out, then it was a valiant defeat. No one would be able to say she didn’t try, and give it her best. Her mind started racing with ideas of all the different things she could busy herself with doing, so that later tonight she could say, oh, it’s gotten too late to find Glimmerbrook now, better give up and maybe try again some other time, but no. No, she had no intention of letting herself put it off. It was now or never, and never wasn’t an option.
Cassandra glanced to one side, at the mirror over there, watched her reflection for a moment. And then her jaw set, and Cassandra stood up, grabbing the map that Bella had drawn her off the top of her dresser. Glimmerbrook wasn’t coming to her.
* * *
The mountains were difficult to traverse, but Cassandra had done okay, she thought. The birds were chirping happily in the trees, and the air seemed somehow cooler and cleaner away from the city. It wasn’t as if Willow Creek was a bustling metropolis like Bridgeport or San Myshuno, but there were a lot of cars driving around in it. And she supposed to street cars probably emitted some kind of something unpleasant.
Cassandra paused as she came down the hill enough to see what she figured was the start of Glimmerbrook. She checked the map her mother had drawn, and looking at it, she’d either found Glimmerbrook, or a new town she’d never heard of. She hoped this was the town she was looking for. She saw, to one side, a creek bubbling happily amid the evergreens. The trees were beautiful, mostly tall pines, but it looked like there were a few maple and oak trees scattered around. At this vantage point, the town was breathtaking, and coated in a slight fog that only added to the town’s mystery.
Cassandra smiled to herself, and then headed for what looked like a bar. Sure, she wasn’t of legal drinking age, but she could go in at least. People liked to talk at bars, and it might be a good place to get information. She was looking for the Sages, her mother had said, but something told Cassandra just up and asking someone wasn’t a very good idea. How many people knew about magic, anyway? Cassandra had no idea, and maybe making too many newbie mistakes this early in the game didn’t sound like a great idea.
As she meandered into the pub, she noticed it wasn’t terribly pretty. It could use some adjustment to liven it up a little bit, but what did she know? Of course, she wasn’t going to say anything. Instead, the teen went up to the bar, and ordered a cup of hot cocoa. It wasn’t yet cold, but it was certainly cooler here than in Willow Creek. It probably had something to do with the mountain air. It was a bit easier to breathe it, but also somehow more difficult. Cassandra had to pay attention to her breathing from time to time, making sure she wasn’t breathing too shallowly.
“Here you go love,” the bartender said, handing her a cup of cocoa. “You look like you’re looking for something.”
Cassandra smiled and murmured a thank you, taking a sip of the drink. It was just right; just a hint of creaminess from the milk. “I am,” she answered.
“Well, most people that’re lookin’ for stuff around here are looking for some of that sage plant,” the bartender said.
That got Cassandra’s attention. She hadn’t been sure how to word the question in a way that those that knew what she was talking about recognised the question, but those that had no idea didn’t get more information than necessary. The bartender smirked.
“Yeah, I thought so,” the bartender said. “If you hang around long enough, one of the three that sell it come up here every day. Not sure who’s on the roster today, but they should be here in about an hour or two.”
“Thank you,” Cassandra said, earnestly.
“No problem,” she answered. “Just make sure you’re sure you wanna get mixed up with them. They’ve got some interesting reputations, and you look like a nice girl.”
Well, looks were deceiving sometimes, but Cassandra simply smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.” With that, Cassandra took her mug of cocoa, and headed off to the side to clear up some bar space for people that actually wanted to order from the bar. She settled down in a seat at the window, set her cocoa down on the table, and people watched.
They had interesting reputations, huh? She was sure they did. It was probably difficult to carry out the varying things the Sages had to do without it being awkward. She wondered what they did. Her mother had made it sound like they were magical guides for those interested in magic, or those that were born with the ability to use it and had no training. Like every generation eventually came to Magic Realm to learn more about how to use magic, and who they were, at the same time.
That sounded nice, Cassandra thought. If someone else could help her figure out who it was that she was meant to be, that would be nice, because it wasn’t like Cassandra had any brilliant ideas.
She smiled a little to herself. As she sat, someone else settled down next to her. He had black hair, and dusky skin. It was a very pretty tone.
“I haven’t see you around before,” the man said. “Are you new here?”
“I am,” Cassandra answered. “I’m uh… here for studying.”
“Oooh,” he said. “I am too. My name’s Tomax.” He held his hand out for her to shake.
“Cassandra,” she answered, taking his hand. He seemed like a decent enough guy, and maybe it’d be nice to have a talk with someone while waiting for one of the Sages to make an appearance.
“I like that name,” Tomax said. “Welcome to Glimmerbrook.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“Unfortunately the town’s so small, the pub’s the only interesting thing about it,” he said.
“I don’t mind it too much.”
“The only interesting thing is when one of the sa – one of the herbalists comes by,” Tomax said.
Cassandra smiled a little. “I’m actually here to see one of them,” Cassandra said. “I have a sage plant I need help with.”
“Ooh,” Tomax said, smiling a bit in return. “I see. Well, L. should be by today. You can’t miss her, she’s so pale she probably bursts into flames in the sun, and her hair’s pink.”
“Pink’s an attention-grabbing colour, for sure,” Cassandra said. If her hair was really pink, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find her.
“Yeah,” Tomax agreed. “She’s often in a bad mood, so try not to take her demeanour too personally.”
“I’ll try,” Cassandra replied. “Thanks for the warning.”
“Are you new to it, or born with it?” he asked.
“Both, actually,” she answered. “My parents didn’t tell me until more recently.”
“Oooh,” Tomax replied. “Well, definitely good luck, and if you ever need anything, I live with my friend Grace, first house down the road on the right. Feel free to stop by and say hi.”
“Thank you,” Cassandra answered, sincerely. She felt like making friends that were also magical would probably be helpful. It wasn’t like the girl she sat next to in geometry class would have any idea what she was on about if she started complaining at her about magic.
“Well, I’ll let you alone to look for L.,” Tomax said, standing up. “Maybe we’ll see each other later. And good luck. You might need it with L.”
* * *
Cassandra lost track of how long she was in the pub waiting for this L. person. Tomax had seemed more interested in something else that had a lot to do with the bartender, and that was none of Cassandra’s business for sure. She wished him luck, if it was luck that he needed, and she kept to her hot cocoa and watching the people. It wasn’t very loud here, and she found herself pleased with that. Cassandra never was one for large crowds and too much talking, though people watching, from a decent distance, wasn’t so bad.
Soon enough, though, someone new walked in. She had impossibly pale skin, and an oddly saturated pink hair colour. Around her neck was a silver chain with a purple-tinted gemstone attached to it. It looked familiar, like she’d seen it before… unconsciously, Cassandra reached up and touched her own pendant, the protection talisman her mother had given her. It was the same one, just a different colour combination. Bella did say they were popular in Magic Realm… and her hair colour seemed to indicate this woman was L.
She didn’t know her full name, just the L. Unless her name was Elle, and she’d simply misunderstood. In any case, she watched the woman for a short time. She seemed to sneer at most anyone she spoke to, and had an air of impoliteness. It wasn’t exactly a snobbish attitude, but similarly unpleasant. Cassandra wasn’t sure she wanted to speak to this woman, but on the other hand, it wasn’t like she had any other leads.
Cassandra glanced around for Tomax. He caught her gaze and nodded in L.’s direction, mouthing, ‘That’s her.’ Cassandra sighed to herself, and then nodded and gave Tomax a thumbs up. He went back to flirting with the bartender, or whatever it was he was doing.
She needed this woman’s help to be able to bring her father home, and there was something inherently uncomfortable about that realisation. She needed all of them to help her learn enough about magic to be able to use it effectively, and Cassandra wasn’t certain she was okay with depending on others for something so important and close to the heart. It wasn’t like she had a choice in the matter, though. Once again, her jaw set, and Cassandra stood up and moved over to the bar.
“I did,” L. was saying, talking to the bartender. “He thought he could just have a child with me and ditch it. HA. Nobody escapes L. Faba.”
“It’s about time somebody beat Don at his own game, though,” the bartender said.
Cassandra slipped into the seat next to L., listening to the exchange.
The bartender noticed her, and smiled. “Good luck with Mr. Lothario, L.,” the bartender said, slipping down the bar to go talk to one of the others seated there.
Cassandra cleared her throat, slightly. “Sorry to interrupt you,” she said. “I heard you’re L.? I’m Cassandra.” Maybe leaving her last name out of it would be a better idea. She still didn’t quite trust anyone here.
“Yeah?” L. asked. “I’m L. What about it?”
“Is that L. like the letter or -“
“The letter,” L. answered. “I don’t like my full name.”
“I see. Uhm, well -“
“Come on sweet cheeks,” L. said. “I ain’t got all day and I don’t imagine you do either. Or maybe you do and following people around is something you’re into. Did you hang around here all day waiting for me to show up?”
“So what if I did?” Cassandra asked, sounding only a little offended.
“Listen sweetie, I’ve got way more important things to be doing than babysitting, so if you’ll be on your way now -“
“Do you know of the Goths or Crowleys?” she asked.
L. frowned. “They’re long gone now, princess. If they’re who you’re looking for, you’re out of luck.”
“I’m looking for a sage.” Clearly, L. wasn’t in a good mood today, or maybe she was just always this abrasive. Either way, Cassandra could do with not being in her presence anymore.
“I see,” L. answered. “You’re one of those. I’ll tell you now, you won’t find instant riches or solve all your romance troubles overnight or -“
“Just tell me where I can find one, and we can both be relieved of one another’s presence,” Cassandra interrupted.
L. snorted softly. “Sounds like a great idea,” she agreed. “Follow the road to the creek. Follow the creek’s flow to the waterfall. There’s an archway at the top of the waterfall. Walk into it.” With that, L. turned away from the girl and back to the bartender, who by now was well into flirting with Tomax.
Cassandra considered the answer she’d gotten, and then stood up and headed out of the pub. There was an archway at the end of the creek, huh? Her dark brown gaze searched the area outside the building. The sun was almost directly overhead, and Cassandra paused a moment to enjoy the warmth on her face. Hang in there, daddy, she thought. She just needed a little bit longer, but she was almost there, she was sure of it.
Ah, she heard it. Cassandra turned and followed the sound of the babbling brook, down the road a bit. The water rushed under the road, and Cassandra moved around the bridge and started following the creek. Eventually, she’d get to the archway at the top of the waterfall, right? Well, if L. was to be believed, and unfortunately, Cassandra had no reason not to believe her. If nothing else, this creek couldn’t go on forever.
