— Reverend Manton Grady, “A Study on the Pantheon of Ageria,” page 310
“Is she bothering me?” Emily asked back.
“Yeah. The Vael’thaens,” Lux said.
Emily glanced at Violet, then back at Lux. Though Violet’s expression remained stoic, Emily caught a glimpse of something different flickering in her eyes. It was enough for Emily to feel the same aura that was radiating from Mina earlier. “N-No, she’s not. I just came over to say hi.”
Lux rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, you actually want to talk to the Vael’thaens?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Uhh, because she’s Vael’thaens.” Lux took another bite of her apple and slowly approached. “I mean, look at her. She may have the hair and ears of an elf, but she’s got the height and personality of a dwarf.”
Violet stared at Lux, following her with just her eyes.
Emily frowned. “I don’t see the problem.”
“You wouldn’t.” Lux sighed. “But you’ll figure it out. Just wait until you watch her drink tea. It’s like watching a dwarf drink ale. No grace, no poise, just straight to the bottom of the cup like she’s in a drinking contest. See, she’s even spilled some on herself already.”
Violet glanced down at her dress, searching. There was, in fact, a small stain near her hip. Despite the insult, though, her reaction remained impassive. If the comment stung, she certainly wasn’t showing it.
“Maybe she just likes tea,” Emily said.
Lux laughed, shaking her head. “Sure, and maybe dwarves prefer poetry over pickaxes. But hey, who am I to judge? Some habits are just… inherited. Others, on the other hand…” She gestured toward the book Violet had been reading and plucked it from her grasp without asking. She opened it and raised an eyebrow. “Oh. Well, this is different for once.”
“That’s mine,” Emily said quickly. “Violet’s just borrowing it. This one is hers.”
Lux flipped through Violet’s book, glancing at the cover before snorting. “Figures. Another one?”
Violet gave the smallest shrug.
“Another what?” Emily asked.
Lux tossed the book back at Emily carelessly, who nearly dropped it. “Another book about death. Honestly, it’s all she reads. I swear, if anyone’s gonna bring a corpse back to life, it’ll be her. Only way she’d ever find a boyfriend anyway.” She took another bite of her apple. “Anyway, freaky reading material aside, the others and I are going to the forest. You wanna come?”
“Can’t,” Emily said after a long pause. “Mina wants me to study today.”
Lux raised a brow. “Then what are you doing hanging around her?” She nodded toward Violet with a smirk. “Extra credit?”
“Just thought I’d introduce myself.”
“Yeah, well... fraternize all you want.” Lux gave an exaggerated shrug. “Just don’t get too close. You never know what rubs off.” She tossed the half-eaten apple at Violet’s lap. “Here, you should eat something. Might help with the whole ‘growing’ thing.”
Violet wiped her dress with her hand, not looking up.
Lux grinned. “See you around, Em.” She turned and sauntered off.
Violet rose and hurried after her. Lux paused, turning back to face her as she held out the half-eaten apple. ‘You really shouldn’t litter,’ her pen wrote into her notebook, hovering just beside her.
Lux barely glanced at the notebook. “Cute trick. At least there’s a little magic in you. But that’s not saying much.” She continued on, leaving Violet standing there with the half-eaten apple in her hand.
Emily stared for a moment, speechless. By the time she processed what happened, Violet had returned to her spot under the tree, having set the half-eaten apple nearby. “Is she always like that to you?”
Violet’s notebook flipped its pages back before landing on one with only a single sentence. ‘I have gotten used to it.’
“I’m… sorry about her. Lux can be a bit mean at times, but… she’s sweet once you get to know her.”
Violet looked at the half-eaten apple. ‘No, I am sorry. I shouldn’t be distracting you from your studies. It will be easier for you to focus when I am not around.’
She stared at the girl, unsure what to say at first. “It’s… fine. I don’t mind.” Emily gave her a soft smile. “You think you could give me a little lesson right now?”
Violet slowly tilted her head and pointed at the ground.
“Yeah, now. Mina wants me to focus on pyrokinesis before working on something else, but… I mean, why not?”
Violet smiled and nodded excitedly. ‘I would love to!’
Emily smiled. “Great! So, what do I need to do first?”
‘When I practice any form of magic, I find that it helps to be in a quiet, isolated place. I can show you where I practice.’ She gathered her dolls and tea set, having them levitate behind her like a row of baby ducks.
Emily followed her to the forge.
Violet walked with the kind of grace and confidence of a royal. Even her purple dress screamed royalty, with elaborate frills and detailed embroidery on par with the clothes in The Tailor’s shop.
Karaline’s kitchen was a stark contrast to Mina’s. It was more rustic and confined, and there were enough dolls sitting around for it to look like a puppet store. Marionettes hung from the ceiling, woolen dolls sat around the kitchen and the living room, and porcelain figures were displayed on shelves and dressers. They wore a variety of gowns, suits, cloaks, and various attire. Some had mini wooden swords or bows, some carried tiny umbrellas, and others wore fabric hats.
Emily gulped. “You sure do have a lot of dolls,” she said with a nervous chuckle. A cold, shivering wind blew down the back of her neck and ears like the touch of cold fingers. Emily spun around, but there was nothing there. Her eyes settled on one doll near the doorway. It was wooden and dressed like an old squire. Unlike other dolls, it had a set of eyes painted on, eyes that shimmered unnaturally in the sunlight filtering through the kitchen window. Emily stared a moment longer before continuing.
Violet’s room, at the end of the hallway, was exceptionally tidy and well-organized. Yet despite that, the moment Emily stepped into the room, Violet snapped her fingers, and the whole thing flew apart. Books, folded clothes, assorted sewing needles and carving tools, they all rearranged and settled into something that was somehow more tidy than before. The bed had even made itself, tucking the purple woolen sheets between the mattress and the oakwood bedframe. Emily hadn’t thought she’d ever see a room that was messy, and yet still passed for clean. How long had Violet studied to get this good? Would she ever come close to it? Probably not. Even if she was the Conduit, she didn’t have the years of practice under her belt like Violet. There were several novels neatly arranged along her bookshelf: ‘Whispers of the Hollow,’ ‘A Haunting in Blackwater,’ ‘The Ghosts We Leave Behind,’ ‘The Graveyard Book,’ ‘Where the Dead Still Walk,’ ‘The Whispering Tombs.’ Emily couldn’t help but notice they all shared a similar theme. On the desk nearby was an assortment of wood carving tools, paints, threads, needles, and fabrics. She had a jar of sheep wool nearby, and a gas lamp hanging over the desk, just beside a few bottles of purple dye.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“You made all those dolls out there?”
Violet nodded proudly. She handed Emily one she was working on from her desk. It was still being carved out and only vaguely resembled the shape of a person.
“It’s… nice,” Emily said, somewhat nervously. It was a tad off-putting that there were so many of them. Emily followed the shelves of dolls to the door she had just walked through. There, hanging beside the frame, were an assortment of masks. Each one was decorated with painted floral patterns and decorative artwork. Emily had seen Violet wearing them all at least once. All except one. Hanging high above her door, higher than she could ever reach, was a mask fashioned from the upper half of a human skull. The bone was bleached white and perfectly smooth. Emily raised an eyebrow at it. “Hey… Violet. What’s… what's with th—” She turned around and froze.
Violet had waved her hand, and the laces at the back of her dress loosened. Emily’s breath caught as she watched the fabric slide from Violet’s shoulders and pool at her feet. She stepped out of it gracefully, wearing nothing but her thin lavender undergarments.
Emily blushed and jerked her gaze to the ceiling, then the floor, anywhere but the smooth expanse of Violet’s skin. “I—I’m sorry!” she blurted, voice cracking. “I didn’t know you were— I’ll turn around—”
Violet turned to face her fully, and Emily’s traitorous eyes flicked back before she could stop them. Violet’s breasts were bare now, full and soft; they rose and fell with each silent breath. Emily’s mouth went dry. Above Violet’s head, the book flipped open. ‘What is the matter?’
Emily’s heart hammered so loudly she was sure Violet could hear it. “I didn’t— I thought you were just— I didn’t know you were changing! I’m sorry, I’ll wait outside—” Her feet wouldn’t move.
The discarded dress lifted off the floor on its own and settled in a neat square onto the bed. Violet tilted her head. ‘I have no issue with it. It is only us girls. I only needed something clean. I have nothing you haven’t seen.’
Emily’s blush deepened. “D-do you… Do this in front of people often?”
Violet smirked a bit, her eyes narrowing through the holes of her mask. ‘Bodies are just bodies. Karaline and I often wear nothing at all.’
Emily’s eyes betrayed her again.
Violet crossed her arms over her chest. ‘Are you looking at anything in particular, Emily?’
Emily’s gaze snapped up from where it had absolutely not been lingering. “I—I was just… reading what you wrote.”
‘Your eyes were lower than the paper above my head.’
Emily made a high-pitched sound that definitely wasn’t a squeak. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Violet’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. She turned and retrieved a fresh dress from her wardrobe: pale lilac, and sleeveless. She stepped into it and waved her hand, commanding the laces to tie themselves. Violet then gestured to a book on her shelf, a red one with gold trimmings. It flew toward Emily, but she failed to catch it, still staring. The book slammed into her stomach, and she stumbled, quickly grabbing it before it fell.
Telekinesis Spell Tome
‘If you wish, I can lend you this tome to study. It will teach you many techniques and practices for mastering the art of Telekinesis.’
It took Emily a second to snap back to reality. “Oh, um… thanks,” she chuckled awkwardly, glancing away.
‘Perhaps you may find some interest in this as well.’ Another book floated down from Violet’s bookshelf. The Ballads of Chester Finch - Volume 12: Hell Freezes Over At High Noon. ‘I heard you are fond of these books.’
Emily smirked as she plucked it out of the air. “I am, yeah. How’d you know?”
‘A bird told me. I think you’ll find this one particularly interesting.’
“Well, guess I have to read it now.”
Violet nodded, then pointed to the floor. ‘Now sit. I can provide you with a brief lesson while we are here.’
As she sat across from Violet, something caught Emily’s eye. Under the bed were two pinpricks of light. She could barely make out the silhouette of a tiny limp figure. A woman, from the looks of it, one with woolen hair and a flowing green dress. It was staring right at her.
Violet’s pen started scribbling in the notebook, and Emily quickly diverted her attention. ‘When it comes to learning any spell, or form of magic, it takes a sturdy and concentrated mind. However, learning to perform advanced spells can be quite taxing on one’s mind and body. The body heats up and exerts more energy the more advanced the spell is. Telekinesis is nothing if not a complex compilation of confidence, composure, and concentration. The spells, while simple to learn, will require—’ The pen ran out of room. The notebook flipped to a new page, and the pen continued. ‘—you to strengthen your mind. Whilst that is the general advice for spellcasters learning to master any form of magic, with telekinesis, it is particularly important. The ability to keep your concentration on the magic while performing other actions is a uniquely useful skill all spellcasters can benefit from.’
Emily’s eyes darted between Violet and her notebook, nodding along. The telekinesis tome was suddenly ripped from Emily’s hands and floated in front of her. It flipped open to a page discussing the importance of meditation.
‘I have found that meditation has been the key to strengthening your mind. Just as one would study how fire sways in the wind to learn pyrokinesis, or how one would watch waves churn in the sea to learn hydrolysis, telekinesis is learned by observing your mind. It helps to find a place that you find relaxing. For me, it is in here. When the lights go out, I can allow myself to be swallowed by the darkness and focus on only my thoughts. The velvet curtains wooshed shut, plunging the room into shadow. Only a small trickle of light bled through the fabric, just enough for Emily to still see what the pen was writing. ‘I want you to close your eyes and focus only on your breathing. Feel the air as it fills your lungs and slowly exits your body. Imagine something tranquil, be it a forest—’ The pen ran out of room again. The notebook flipped to a new page, and the pen continued. ‘—sun-drenched meadow, anything that would put your mind at ease. When the light returns, I want you to try and lift the tome with your mind. Picture it as your only desire, something you cannot live without.’
Emily nodded and closed her eyes. She focused on her breathing and conjured images of the meadow and forest. She tried to think back to better times when she ran through the forest with Lux or came home to the tantalizing smell of freshly cooked dinner. Her heart slowed, and after several moments of silence, the velvet curtains parted. Emily opened her eyes. The tome and ballad were on the ground in front of her. She hesitated in trying, but pushed through her self-doubt and thought only of the books and her desire to control them.
Nothing.
Emily tried again.
Still nothing.
She sighed.
‘Do not worry, it took me quite some time to understand the art of magic.’
“It should be coming easier to me.”
‘Perhaps all you need is the right motivation.’
“And what would that be?”
‘I could remove my dress again.’
Emily’s cheeks burned as she laughed awkwardly. “N-No, you don’t have to.” She cleared her throat and looked back at the book. She closed her eyes and sank back into her thoughts. After a few deep breaths, her mind focused solely on the books. Emily tried again, and after a moment, she felt it: A connection. The books lifted off the ground. Emily tensed up and tried commanding it to rotate, and as it miraculously did, a smile cracked her face.
“I’m doing it!”
Violet applauded, a small smile on her face. ‘Well done. So long as you continue to practice, I expect you will become capable of great things.’
Emily smiled back, then glanced quickly back at the bed. The doll had vanished.
‘While I am glad you accepted my invitation into my home, I will not keep you any longer. I understand you have studies to return to that Mina has deemed more important, but please, feel free to keep the tome. Once you have recovered from your injuries, we can proceed with other lessons I have prepared.’
Emily rose to her feet, nodding. “Right, I should be getting back. But thank you for showing me how to do this.” She took a step back and crushed something soft beneath her foot. She bumped her head into the door as she stumbled. “Damn it,” she groaned, rubbing the back of her head. It was the doll in the green dress. It was limp at her feet. “Shit, sorry,” she said to Violet.
The doll floated into Violet's hands. She cradled it, gently stroking its hair. ‘It is quite all right. It seems unharmed. What about you? Are you alright?’
Emily’s gaze jumped between the doll and the bed. How did it…? “Y-Yeah, I’m fine.”
Violet nodded and stood. She followed Emily to the door and followed her out. As Emily reached the front door, she noticed the old squire doll had vanished as well. Emily did a quick scan of the kitchen, but it was lost. She had to have imagined it. Emily didn’t bother dwelling on the thought and hurried out. She gave Violet a final goodbye before hurrying back to Mina’s place. She understood now why Lux had said to avoid the place. It was certainly more creepy than she had imagined, but it wasn’t as bad as she had made it seem. Violet was strange, sure, but Emily had been expecting the worst, someone cold and distant. She seemed alright, though, just a girl who was obsessed with dolls. A small part of her was even excited to study with Violet.
What else could she learn from her?
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