Jon was reading her book.
She was spending almost every spare time she had doing so. Everything she read brought a new understanding of previous owners of the stone. She was also quite surprised to see that the last couple of pages were blank. Even so, there didn't seem to be an 'end' to the blank pages... every time she turned the page, a new piece of paper would present itself.
This book had an infinite number of pages...
It was then she realised, those pages were for her to write on. To explain herself to anyone in the future, that might come across the book just as previous owners of the earth stone did. Jon felt a heavy pang in her heart, as she wondered what she could write? She just wanted something interesting to happen, and the world had been changed. The stone was not a reset button... and even if it was, people were starting to adapt to new lives. Some of them were even better though a fair number seemed worse at least on initial reaction.
"I wish you were here, Grandfather," the slug girl said almost shedding a tear.
She read a few more entries. The first pages were quite random, as if someone who was writing didn't really understand what they were trying to convey. They appeared to be star crossed lines and pictures. For some reason Jon was able to 'interpret' some of it... though it was incredibly primitive.
Were these the words of the first Merlin?
She tried to read more, turning the pictures into words in her mind as the story was told. Something about a journey, coldness becoming warmth, and a universe that had become brighter. There was a profound moment when symbols started to become ordered. Then she saw another symbol, and she had no idea how she knew it... but it stared at her, in a single large page.
War.
The first merlin, was involved in some kind of 'war'. The Earth stone brought ideas that his people felt they were not ready for. Some of them were afraid, and wanted to go back to the 'simple' life of hunting, gathering, and nurturing. Many wishes were made... though not specified. Jon wondered how many wishes were still in effect from then?
Still it didn't give any hint on the origin of the stone. Where did it come from? Out of curiosity she looked inside the spine of the book... and saw something hidden in there. She slowly drew out the paper, finding it to be... a map?
Her heart leapt slightly. She didn't recognise quite where the map was depicting... she would have to ask Brittany.
Jon heard a knock. She glanced at her door, and quickly put the book and map away. In came her slime girl sister.
"Hello Zoe," said the slug girl. She felt a little concerned they had not spoken much lately. They were both just getting on with different things in their lives now. Much as they always had before their change. "How are you?"
"Oh just peachy," said Zoe. "Just waiting for when I have to go through my fruiting stage again." Planning out another trip was just annoying. She guessed they could create some kind of artificial structure eventually, but... she was reluctant to. It just didn't feel quite as satisfying as actually being on a really old piece of wood.
Jon watched her sister a little with a guilty look. She seemed to be okay with her change, but she knew she wasn't that happy with it before.
"Hey, don't make me hit you to cheer you up," said Zoe. "You've been really mopy lately."
"I have?" Asked Jon surprised. Wasn't she the one supposed to be cheering Zoe up?
"Yeah. I mean come on. Loosen up a bit. You've been acting like everything here is your fault."
Jon gulped, her body straightening upward slightly. "I-"
"It's not your fault... something weird just happened and we got to deal with it. Mikey's doing well with it, and so is Becca." Actually those two have been getting on really well lately. she wondered what happened?
Jon slumped a bit feeling even worse now. The guilt just exuded from her features. This was a secret of epic proportions. She was responsible! This all was her fault. She was hiding it from her family... her sister... her parents! She couldn't tell anyone. "Y-yeah you're right," she said in the end.
"You miss him don't you," Said Zoe showing a little of her tender side.
Jon blinked. "You mean Granddad?"
"Yeah..."
Jon nodded. She did miss him more then Zoe could understand. There was also the belief that maybe... he was still alive. The fact that this book got to her must indicate that! But.. she couldn't say that possibility to her sister either. She would think her crazy.
"We all miss him," Zoe glanced about her room a little and decided to 'slush' her way out. Death was just a part of life, the ending of all things.
Jon sighed. This was a hard secret to keep indeed.
Becca and Mikey talked quietly in the guest room.
"I.. I'm a magic girl," said the blue haired child a bit ashamed to even say it.
"Magic?" Mikey couldn't believe what Becca had been telling her.
"Uh huh..." she showed the strange pendant she wore as a necklace. "It- It's what activates it." Becca felt relief. She was telling Mikey everything. Finally she had someone else to confide in. She wasn't really sure if she trusted Trident. But- this family took her in. She trusted Mickey. There was also the fact that Miss Crawford knew too...
"Have you been fighting monsters then?" Mickey asked a little concerned. The girl seemed more delicate then the Gynoid given she was also younger.
"N-No... Miss Crawford..." She wasn't sure how to explain it. Things just got complicated with her.
"Your teacher knows too?" Mickey wasn't sure. "We should probably tell Mom and Dad."
"No! I- I need to keep it a secret," said Becca quickly.
"But they can help you!"
Trident watched the exchange from the window with a lot of grave concern. She hoped there would not be severe consequences for this... she cared a great deal for her charge but an uncomfortable number of people were starting to learn the secret. There was also the fact that another magic girl out there, had taken up the mantle while Becca had not honed her skills.
This could go really bad.
Brittany sighed as once again, she was alone in the school. Another day had gone by and soon it will be filled with ever diminishing number of unchanged students. Odd... there was a presence.
She could hear something down the corridors, making her feel a little tense.
"Greetings priestess," someone spoke in the old tongue.
Brittany blinked. It.. couldn't be...
A little witch girl wondered towards her, with a pointed hat.
Brittany's jaw dropped. "You are..."
"Well, you did summon me all those centuries ago," the girl chuckled. "How else do you think you got the stone so far out?"
The priestess couldn't believe it. "You are the spirit of luck I summoned... aren't you." She recalled the ritual. A being to bring fortune to a priestess was part of her indoctrination.
"In the flesh!" She giggled again. "Especially flesh."
Brittany sat down on the ground. This was.. impossible. "You can't actually be here."
"Neither can you. But I guess that's how luck is sometimes." She smiled again. "However, I think I've done more then enough now. Given my contract with you was supposed to expire several ages ago. I was hoping you could find it in your heart now to... send me back?"
The priestess blinked. This couldn't be happening. This spirit could aid them! She didn't think her continued existence would also mean she would exist too! Especially not as flesh and blood. This had to be the result from the wish of Merlin.
"Spirit... I... I can't let you go right now. We have dire need of you, more then ever."
The little witch-girl looked down sadly. "I had a feeling you would say that. But as flesh my abilities are limited. I don't know how much I can aid you any more."
Brittany considered that. "Even so... I still need you. Please, won't you stay a little longer?" She felt a little bad having to ask but... there was no way to summon a spirit like this again.
"As you wish M'lady," The witch-girl said with a sigh. Though truth be told, this place had certainly become more interesting.
"Are you still...." Brittany started
"Forgettable? Yes. That is one thing about us, that can never change." She said again with a smile.
Brittany immediately pulled a strand of her hair, and tied it in between her first two fingers, all the time staring at the witch girl.
The witch continued to smile.
