THESE HIDDEN WINGS

[138] HER

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"Visit soon, when you're ready to claim her,"

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I walked down the stairs, pausing slightly when I didn't feel his presence behind me.

I looked back up at him, eyebrows drawn, before signing, 'Aren't you coming?" completely forgetting that he was in quarantine until the second after I asked.

I immediately regretted it, but Lucas didn't seem to mind at all, shaking his head as he stood at one of the top stairs.

"It's better for everyone that I'm here, at least for now, " he grinned, one that didn't last long when I spotted his fangs, his jaw tightening for a second before his eyes brightened a little too forcefully.

"I'll see you later, Talanda," he huffed, tucking his large hands back into his hoody.

For a moment I thought back to the boy I first met in the library, the brightness in his eyes, the confidence that he walked with, towering over everyone.

His shiny long hair was a marvel to everyone.

I was concerned about him.

This Crimson Blood Moon business was no joke.

Despite all this running through my mind, I concealed them, knowing the last thing he needed to see was pity, offering him a big smile to which I noticed his eyes seemed to glow.

I brushed this off, finally walking down the winding stairs, wondering if I even knew how to get back without Mr. Ogustus's help, luckily for me, he was downstairs when I got there.

Talks, the owl, was perched on a metal stand a few feet away from him. I spotted large black gloves covering his hands, as he bent over something, before looking up at me from his glasses, amusement in his eyes.

"Going already?" he asked.

I timidly walked into the center of the room with a shallow nod.

"Ah, there is a time for everything," Mr. Ogustus reasoned taking off both his glasses and his large black gloves which seemed to be covered in soot.

He grabbed the cane that was mounted beside him before hobbling towards me, glancing up at the winding stairs, to which I did the same, noticing that Lucas was nowhere to be seen anymore.

"I hope you have observed, youngling," he suddenly stated, causing me to look back at him, studying his ever-attentive gaze.

I figured he meant, he hoped that I had toured his lab, and whilst I had only seen one section, all that I had observed would run rampant through my mind for the rest of the day.

I smiled softly at this, nodding once again.

'You are a great sculptor," I signed.

His eyes brightened, "Indeed," he replied, "these hands have many talents."

I nodded at this, after all, I had to give credit where credit was due.

My eyes traveled up the stairs one more time as if expecting to see Lucas there again, but it was still empty.

Mr. Ogustus followed my gaze for a moment, a knowing look on his face when I asked.

'I-is he going to be alright?'

"This isn't his first BloodMooon," Mr. Ogustus sighed, leaning against his cane, "every year since he became of age. That is seven years," he concluded.

"It may be the first time in a while since he had to go through it alone, but the boy's strength is only second to that of Hercules," he chuckled for a moment before his bushy eyebrows furrowed once more.

"Physically there is little in this world that could hurt a Gigan," he reasoned.

"Physically?" I echoed, my hands moving along.

"There is little one can do against emotions," Mr. Ogustus chuckled, before gesturing to me to move alongside him.

I did, and we walked back towards the elevator as he talked, grabbing my school bag while on the way there.

"The most powerful beings were defeated because of emotions. The ages changed and turned because of them. Creations continue to live per the will of the Designer because of his emotions, his love towards us," he stated, "gods fell, gods changed because of emotions, because of betrayal, and injustice," he added with a soft sigh, coming to a stop by the elevator doors.

He pushed a button and as we waited for them to ding open I ventured to ask a question, having observed.

"Why are you so interested in the old gods?' I asked, "When they are with us no more?"

Mr. Ogutstsu's eyes shined, "I Know every page of every legitimate book of true history youngling," he spoke as the doors dinged open.

He gestured me to get in, standing outside the doors leaning against his cane on one side as he stared right at me.

This gave me a deja vu moment on the first day of Kingsland when I stood in the presence of Gravis.

"And I am yet to find a single grave," he huffed, "Visit soon, when you're ready to claim her," He smiled as my eyebrows furrowed, the doors closing in front of me.

I blinked blankly at the white before me, feeling out of it.

I was confused and yet, I felt close to something.

When I'm ready for her? What her? I shut my eyes in frustration, leaning against the railing in the elevator, counting down to ease my anticipation, only looking back up when the doors dinged open.

I walked into the familiar hallways of the King's Crown, taking a corner and spotting the students coming right out of classes just in the nick of time.

I easily blended amongst them, moving down along the corridors, and then down a few stairs to get to my floor, spotting my classmates coming out of their classes.

Keeping my head low, I blended with them, my breathing low and stable as I walked amongst them.

My eyes brightened when I spotted David at the end of the hall at our usual meeting place, hands in his pocket, glancing at his watch for a moment with a sigh, before looking back out in my direction.

He seemed relieved to have spotted me and I walked to him with a grin.

He raised an eyebrow, "ready for lunch?" he asked.

"Very ready," I signed back, feeling the hunger consume me from within and we both chuckled walking down the hallways.

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Way to be Mysterious, Mr. Ogustus
🫠

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