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projectdantesmask · 8 years ago

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Lost Time

Lost Time - A Dante’s Mask side story

Knick-knacks shifted on its shelves, each movement echoing the surfaces sliding past one another. Decorative snow globes to intricate wooden carvings of dragons. Off to one side laid a small frame, its borders black and simple and unadorned, unlike all the other figures beside it. Behind its glass shown a family portrait, a small group of a mother and a father, a son and a daughter. Tilting the frame slightly, the man turned it as to hide the faces of the people inside, only to reveal his own reflection on the shiny glass.

The man young in appearance let out a heavy sigh before loosening his grip upon the frame, though it did not fall. He turned away from it in indifference waving his hand slightly, causing the picture to float back up and land neatly back on its shelf where it had originally been.

The wizard’s deep thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door, to which he turned his attention towards. “Come in.” The wizard announced in a low tone, preparing himself for a guest into his office.

Instead of swinging open, the door slid to the side, its surface engraved in ancient writing. The person coming in entered rather slowly, their approach much meeker than the wizard they were visiting. “Good morning, Caronn.” The voice came in, quiet and submissive.

“Good morning to you, too.” Caronn replied, his words conveying no emotions. “Please, take a seat.” The magic user took to his own chair, which like the door, had engravings of ancient scripts upon it. However, the seat did not have so much as legs; it hovered above the floor with ease, seemingly designed for the heights of its owners.

The guest hesitantly entered, and he stood very still and cautious of his surroundings. This man wore robes commonly seen in the far east, its patterns bright in color and its fabrics a fine silk. Though similar, this man’s clothing fell in comparison to that of Caronn’s, whose own robes exhibited his prestige in the council of wizards.

Taking a seat opposite to Caronn, the man took very short breathes, desperately holding back his own racing thoughts. He bowed down his head causing something by his ear to dangle. Three earrings on his right ear, each identical in their long chains, ending with small green beads.

Caronn subtly inhaled before beginning his meeting. “Why have you come, Marcus?” He asked, staring down at his slouching friend.

The man across from him fidgeted in his seat, still not entirely prepared for this confrontation. Marcus opened his mouth to speak, but quickly changed his mind, clearing his throat instead. With careful movement, he raised up his hand placing a small object on the table between the two men. Bringing his hands back to his knees, the item he had brought was revealed. A statue of a flower made entirely of glass, its stem and leaves frosted white in color, with just a hint of magenta emitting from the center of its petals.

Caronn had not uttered a word. With this man coming in to see him with no state of affairs bringing in a little figurine of a flower, there was not much to say.

Marcus made eye contact for a brief moment, hoping that the wizard would simply understand. Caronn’s expression only held mild bewilderment, to which Marcus darted his eyes down to the table once more. “It’s my daughter.” He finally spoke up, his voice rather hoarse. Looking up at his friend, he realized what he had said and swiftly shook his head. “Not the flower, I mean...” Marcus trailed off biting his lip, uncertain of what he should say. “She was angry with me. I didn’t want to argue, but I guess things got out of hand.”

The wizard leaned forward in his seat, expressing in this way that he had a listening ear. Caronn looked down at his friend in concern, hoping to show support for a man he had known for many years.

The man gripped his knees tightly, his knuckles growing pale from his suppressed tension. “She told me that she needed some time alone.” Marcus continued wearily, focusing his eyes on the table’s surface. “She said she wanted just five minutes to herself. She wanted somewhere to sulk before speaking to anyone again.” He concluded, assuming that all was clear now. A moment passed, and still Marcus received no response. Perhaps the wizard was ignorant of his meaning. “Do you know this spell?”

Caronn shook his head hesitantly. “Of what magic are you referring? It does not ring a bell for me, I am afraid.”

“The isolieren spell.” Marcus announced. “Do you yet not know it?” The room fell to silence, and Marcus was given no choice but to expel his knowledge. “It’s a type of magic that allows the user to pass through time quickly. Wizards used it frequently hoping to see the future, but the spell was abandoned generations ago. It’s a lost art, I suppose. Nobody knows about it anymore.” The man looked up at Caronn, who was beginning to come to grips with the issue at hand. Marcus shrugged half-heartedly. “I’ve had a lot of spare time and… motivation for doing my research.”

The wizard rested his hand upon the table, just a few inches shy of the glass flower. “Are you meaning to imply that someone has used this magic?” Caronn asked slowly, putting the pieces together.

“Yes.” Marcus answered matter-of-factly. “When someone casts the isolieren spell, they are held in a pocket of space, concealed within an object.” He glanced over uncomfortably at the glass figure, his eyes squinting in exhaustion. “As you might have guessed… my daughter has used this spell.”

Leaning back in his seat, Caronn blinked to himself several times, analyzing the situation and with which to say. “So you have brought your daughter with you today.” He stated more than questioned.

“Of course.” The tired man replied, every word coming out slower. “I’ve kept her with me this long. I talk to her every day. I tell her how much I love her and miss her. I tell her how sorry I am for that silly argument. It was all my fault and I wish I could just take it all back. I find myself growing more apologetic each and every day.” Marcus was only concentrated on the glass flower, his attention entirely fixed on his shambling words and his mistakes. “I beg her to come back. I know she can’t hear me.”

Caronn leaned in rather quickly, cutting off his client's words. The wizard made direct eye-contact, fully invested in the man’s troubles. “Marcus,” He announced bold and clear. “How long have you been waiting for her return?”

Marcus looked up, pleased to see someone listening. “Three years.” He replied, a large grin spreading across his face. “Just two more to go. That is, if she were being literal about the five minutes...” His smile quickly faded into his suppressed weariness.

The wizard lay quiet for a moment, a hint disturbed by this information. He had to prod further. “Marcus, why did you not bring this up to me sooner? Or anyone, for that matter?”

The weary man chuckled lowly. “I figured you might ask that.” Marcus said, finding humor in little places. He shook his head. “I was trying to prove to my daughter that I can be a patient man. I wanted to show her what sort of lengths I would go, just for her. What would she think of me if I just gave up in the middle of the five years she had allotted?”

“No, Marcus.” Caronn assured his friend. “Your daughter would understand. She would be proud of how far you’ve come.”

“You don’t know that.” The client replied quickly. “To her, she has only been in there for three minutes. She would be furious to see my face again so soon.” Marcus turned away once again, placing his hand rather close to the glass figure longingly.

Caronn reached forward to express comfort, gently placing his hand atop his friends. “You don’t have to go through this alone.” He assured. “You entrusted me with this information. Now please accept my guidance.”

Marcus hesitated with a heavy heart. “But what am I supposed to do?” He pleaded, his eyes never leaving the frosted glass. “I can’t get her out of there… no one can.” The man explained, a tremble coursing through his knuckles.

The wizard saw right through his client. “But there is another way, isn’t there.”

Marcus swallowed before answering. “Yes.” He admitted, rather uncomfortable with the conversation. “I could potentially… follow her spell. I could… find her in there.”

“Does she even know that she is in there?” Caronn asked softly.

“N-no...” Marcus admitted, drained from his worries.

Caronn leaned in as to be sure his friend understood. “Then you need to tell her.”

The man glanced upward, a tad startled that his friend would suggest such a thing. “B-but… what about my home? A-and the figure? A-and…!”

The wizard hushed, and gracefully grabbed the glass statue, gently dragging it to the center of the table. “I will look over your home and your possessions.” Caronn clarified. “And I shall take care of you and your daughter, until you both return.” He concluded, gesturing down at the little flower.

Standing up abruptly, Marcus let out soft, but swift words. “A-are you sure? I could never ask you to do that, Caronn, I--”

Caronn slowly rose from his seat, raising his hand as to imply pause. “Please, there is no need for that. I am not asking.”

The man on the other side of the table, weak from his endeavors, emitted a strong sniff. Marcus was struggling to hold back his overdue tears.

The wizard made his way around the table, allowing his close proximity to ease his friends worn out cries. Marcus gave his friend a tight embrace, thankful for the kindness that he has shared.

After a moment, Caronn spoke up. “You should go.” He said, so quiet it was almost not heard. “Your daughter is waiting for you.”

Marcus finally pulled back. “I… I don’t have any words, I just… I’ve waited so long to see her...”

“Then wait no longer, my friend.” Caronn commanded, pointing downward at the frosted flower.

The man eagerly made his way to the glass figure, inhaling strongly through his nose. Reaching down, he placed both hands at the base of the flower, its petals beginning to glow. The man’s body grew to a blinding white, and with several sparks and a flash, Marcus had vanished.

Caronn wearily approached the little statue at the center of the table, carefully raising it up and cupping its shape with his hands. Walking towards the back of the office, he placed the flower upon his shelf with purpose, the frosted glass now organized beside the wizards globes and wooden carvings. With a subtle turn on the figure, Caronn was satisfied by the aesthetics of the items that decorated his shelf. At the very end was a photo frame, its borders black and plain. Behind its glass, he glanced at the image thoughtfully, the picture containing that of a mother and a father, a son and a daughter. Caronn let out a heavy sigh, basking in the portrait of smiling faces. For the first time that day, the wizard cracked a small smile.

--------------------------------------------------

White and blue. Specs of light flew in the distance, their appearance giving off the impression of stars. Infinite space stretched in every direction, with no hints of walls or ceilings. A void.

Somewhere within the vastness, there stood a figure. A young woman, appearing to be in her mid teens. Her posture was straight and stiff, her arms tightly folded across her chest. Her teeth were clenched and she huffed heavily under her breathe. The young girl's eyes only glared down at her feet, her whole being rugged and quiet.

A flash of white came in from behind her, sparks flying in every direction erratically before quieting down. The young woman turned to see what the commotion had been, her body language never straying from her temperament.

Joining the girl in the abyss was a man, middle-aged and exhausted from his journey. His arms were closed in, his body rather reserved. His face grew long and fearful, as he had delayed this meeting for so long, and he felt troubled to face it head on.

The girl took a sharp step backwards, annoyed that her expression of fury had not been enough to ward off her father.

Marcus advanced towards her, just a step. He looked up with open arms, smiling at the girl. And yet, his face only showed deep sorrow and regret.

The girl’s squared shoulders finally slouched, her inner wrath washing away. His daughter’s tense expression fell down to that of concern, and she was finally willing to have a listening ear. The two figures saw within the other that they had changed their ways. Getting closer, the little family came to a peaked embrace, the pair ready for a long overdue, but short, conversation.

#Merely a one-off piece that fits into the universe #Project Dante's Mask #projectdantesmask #PDM #Lost Time #Side Story #2017

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