The sun was already setting in the distance, splashes of gold and orange painting the horizon. Walking amid the dusk was a single individual, who was dressed in a well-pressed, bleached trench coat. Their long, salt-and-pepper hair trailed out from behind them as they walked briskly, averting their gaze from any passerby who stared for more than a few seconds. They seemed to know where they were going.
They entered what appeared to be a park, or at the very least, some public gathering place. The stragglers who were still left behind at this time were packing up, ready to head along their ways. This silent figure, however, remained quiet as they wove through the sidewalks and the paths, evading any physical contact.
Eventually, they stopped at a park bench and sat down, waiting. It looked as if they were dozing off or deep in thought, considering their eyes were closed as they rested in a relaxed position. But the reality was that they were merely waiting. He had previously sent out a wave of energy, and the person whom he had been suspecting ought to have picked up on it. And if they came, the suspicions would be confirmed.
The sun was already setting in the distance, splashes of gold and orange painting the horizon. Walking amid the dusk was a single individual, who was dressed in a well-pressed, bleached trench coat. Their long, salt-and-pepper hair trailed out from behind them as they walked briskly, averting their gaze from any passerby who stared for more than a few seconds. They seemed to know where they were going.
They entered what appeared to be a park, or at the very least, some public gathering place. The stragglers who were still left behind at this time were packing up, ready to head along their ways. This silent figure, however, remained quiet as they wove through the sidewalks and the paths, evading any physical contact.
Eventually, they stopped at a park bench and sat down, waiting. It looked as if they were dozing off or deep in thought, considering their eyes were closed as they rested in a relaxed position. But the reality was that they were merely waiting. He had previously sent out a wave of energy, and the person whom he had been suspecting ought to have picked up on it. And if they came, the suspicions would be confirmed.
A mother and teenage son were walking through the parkland. Although their conversation, at least to any onlooker, seemed ordinary, but their cautious, tense expressions made the whole impression of them extremely formal. Words like 'school' and 'new' were thrown around often, before the son turned and said, "Look at the sunset." The two stopped, stood near the man's bench, watching the sun falling. A small, curled smile appeared on both faces.
Although it was clear that they were a family unit, the two looked nothing alike. The mother had deep blue eyes and a wistful glint within them, her long fair hair flowing in waves. The boy, on the other hand, was dark-haired and paper-pale. The only thing they shared was the dark shade of their eyes.
He turned to look at the salt-and-pepper haired man, a mischievous look in his eyes. His mother did not notice.
A mother and teenage son were walking through the parkland. Although their conversation, at least to any onlooker, seemed ordinary, but their cautious, tense expressions made the whole impression of them extremely formal. Words like 'school' and 'new' were thrown around often, before the son turned and said, "Look at the sunset." The two stopped, stood near the man's bench, watching the sun falling. A small, curled smile appeared on both faces.
Although it was clear that they were a family unit, the two looked nothing alike. The mother had deep blue eyes and a wistful glint within them, her long fair hair flowing in waves. The boy, on the other hand, was dark-haired and paper-pale. The only thing they shared was the dark shade of their eyes.
He turned to look at the salt-and-pepper haired man, a mischievous look in his eyes. His mother did not notice.
Alysion's bright, almost unnatural gold eyes looked back at the young boy. He could feel the faint pulse of magic in the air. And it was a feeling unmistakable. It was comparable to a refreshing breeze on a cool day, but no mere words could describe the unfathomable nature of it all. It was just too vast, too arrayed, and too varied, like a kaleidoscope that could never produce the same images twice.
He glanced up at the two, in which he couldn't find any familial resemblance. Reaching up and into his coat, he withdrew a silver cross with a glimmering rosette at the focal point. The object caught the light of the setting sun, flashing once as he moved it just ever-so slightly in his hands. It was an invisible signaling wave.
Hopefully, he would not have to do it more than once. The more magic of any kind used, the higher chance of something eventually slipping.
Alysion's bright, almost unnatural gold eyes looked back at the young boy. He could feel the faint pulse of magic in the air. And it was a feeling unmistakable. It was comparable to a refreshing breeze on a cool day, but no mere words could describe the unfathomable nature of it all. It was just too vast, too arrayed, and too varied, like a kaleidoscope that could never produce the same images twice.
He glanced up at the two, in which he couldn't find any familial resemblance. Reaching up and into his coat, he withdrew a silver cross with a glimmering rosette at the focal point. The object caught the light of the setting sun, flashing once as he moved it just ever-so slightly in his hands. It was an invisible signaling wave.
Hopefully, he would not have to do it more than once. The more magic of any kind used, the higher chance of something eventually slipping.
The boy watched Alysion intently. Any care for the sunset had been lost to him. He was much too interested in this stranger, before he realised every person here was a stranger. His curiosity had caught the attention of his mother. She murmured his name - Aaron - and reminded him it was rude to stare, but he wasn't listening. The appearance of the man seemed so abnormal to him that he couldn't refuse it.
Despite his mother's quiet, hissy attempts to stop him, Aaron turned to walk towards Alysion before sitting next to him on the bench. He wasn't sure why he'd done this, and clearly, neither did his mother. Her expression was harsh, but a mere look in her direction caused that anger to melt away. "Who are you?" asked Aaron, looking at Alysion. Everything about the man seemed positively odd. His hair, his eyes, his clothing, they made him look out-of-place, a sore thumb. Aaron could relate.
The boy watched Alysion intently. Any care for the sunset had been lost to him. He was much too interested in this stranger, before he realised every person here was a stranger. His curiosity had caught the attention of his mother. She murmured his name - Aaron - and reminded him it was rude to stare, but he wasn't listening. The appearance of the man seemed so abnormal to him that he couldn't refuse it.
Despite his mother's quiet, hissy attempts to stop him, Aaron turned to walk towards Alysion before sitting next to him on the bench. He wasn't sure why he'd done this, and clearly, neither did his mother. Her expression was harsh, but a mere look in her direction caused that anger to melt away. "Who are you?" asked Aaron, looking at Alysion. Everything about the man seemed positively odd. His hair, his eyes, his clothing, they made him look out-of-place, a sore thumb. Aaron could relate.
The priest nodded to the boy before releasing his grip on his rosary, revealing that it was actually attached on a necklace's cord. He turned his gaze without shifting his body, but did not make any eye contact with Aaron. "..My name is Alysion." He answered in a quiet, yet coldly serene voice. It seemed that he was not wrong about his suspicions, but the question was, how well would anyone take this?
He made a slight waving gesture to the woman who he presumed was the guardian of the young boy, indicating that he was fine and that it was not a bother for Aaron to be besides him.
The priest nodded to the boy before releasing his grip on his rosary, revealing that it was actually attached on a necklace's cord. He turned his gaze without shifting his body, but did not make any eye contact with Aaron. "..My name is Alysion." He answered in a quiet, yet coldly serene voice. It seemed that he was not wrong about his suspicions, but the question was, how well would anyone take this?
He made a slight waving gesture to the woman who he presumed was the guardian of the young boy, indicating that he was fine and that it was not a bother for Aaron to be besides him.
Aaron nodded, but his mother was unimpressed at the fact her son had gone to talk to a stranger, regardless of how little bother it caused. She watched the pair for a moment, before sighing to herself and following suit. Her face screamed her impatience but she made no attempt to stop her adolescent son from talking to the priest. He looked at the rosary for a second. Great, he thought, It's typical that we'd move to the place full of religious people. His mother sighed again, "I'm sorry, sir." Her voice was quiet but harsh, like small knives. Even though Alysion has said it wasn't a bother to him, it still frustrated her to no end how her son constantly acted on his instincts rather than his rationality.
Aaron nodded, but his mother was unimpressed at the fact her son had gone to talk to a stranger, regardless of how little bother it caused. She watched the pair for a moment, before sighing to herself and following suit. Her face screamed her impatience but she made no attempt to stop her adolescent son from talking to the priest. He looked at the rosary for a second. Great, he thought, It's typical that we'd move to the place full of religious people. His mother sighed again, "I'm sorry, sir." Her voice was quiet but harsh, like small knives. Even though Alysion has said it wasn't a bother to him, it still frustrated her to no end how her son constantly acted on his instincts rather than his rationality.
"It's fine. After all, he's not the first." Alysion responded, still not minding the presence of the young boy. But his tone seemed... Withheld, as if he were hiding something behind his font of serene politeness. He wasn't sure how he would approach the topic he was actually seeking, however, as normal people did not walk up to one another and inquire if they were a magic user. Being labeled as a nutcase would not help his current situation, and it would only make any future endeavors needlessly difficult.
So he took an alternate approach and decided to see if Aaron could help the subject move. "...Do you feel anything.. Odd?" It was rhetorical, and hopefully it wouldn't seem too out-of-place.
"It's fine. After all, he's not the first." Alysion responded, still not minding the presence of the young boy. But his tone seemed... Withheld, as if he were hiding something behind his font of serene politeness. He wasn't sure how he would approach the topic he was actually seeking, however, as normal people did not walk up to one another and inquire if they were a magic user. Being labeled as a nutcase would not help his current situation, and it would only make any future endeavors needlessly difficult.
So he took an alternate approach and decided to see if Aaron could help the subject move. "...Do you feel anything.. Odd?" It was rhetorical, and hopefully it wouldn't seem too out-of-place.
Mother and son exchanged looks at the question. They had both felt the strange pulses of the earlier day. Neither one knew whether to mention it. In the end, Aaron decided to speak; if it was him who said what they were both thinking and it went horribly wrong, his mother could always blame a hyperactive teenager's mind. "Yes... ever since arriving to this place." He waited carefully for a reaction. They hadn't been in the area long, only two days, but they'd both felt presences that they hadn't felt in their previous area and neither was sure whether they should be pleased or afraid. His mother had taken a more tranquil expression regardless. "Do you feel it too?" he asked, just to make sure that this wasn't a trick.
Mother and son exchanged looks at the question. They had both felt the strange pulses of the earlier day. Neither one knew whether to mention it. In the end, Aaron decided to speak; if it was him who said what they were both thinking and it went horribly wrong, his mother could always blame a hyperactive teenager's mind. "Yes... ever since arriving to this place." He waited carefully for a reaction. They hadn't been in the area long, only two days, but they'd both felt presences that they hadn't felt in their previous area and neither was sure whether they should be pleased or afraid. His mother had taken a more tranquil expression regardless. "Do you feel it too?" he asked, just to make sure that this wasn't a trick.
"Yes, I do. In fact, it was I who sent them as a message." Alysion replied, relaxing a bit more since the reaction he had been worried about did not come. "I suppose if you have received it, then that means you must have figured out who I am by this point." So he had been correct, there were magical users in this place. There was at least one upside to his inability to make any eye contact- he had gained an acute sensory ability in its place, and it was useful for pinpointing the location of possible allies and enemies.
"Yes, I do. In fact, it was I who sent them as a message." Alysion replied, relaxing a bit more since the reaction he had been worried about did not come. "I suppose if you have received it, then that means you must have figured out who I am by this point." So he had been correct, there were magical users in this place. There was at least one upside to his inability to make any eye contact- he had gained an acute sensory ability in its place, and it was useful for pinpointing the location of possible allies and enemies.
"Why?" scowled Aaron, not sure why anyone would do that. "We know who you are," his mother corrected, ignoring her son's question. "My name is Ophelia. Ophelia Watson." She offered her hand to the man. She had expected that a small town wouldn't have anyone like them, that they could fall under the radar, but the second she felt the waves, she knew. Her son had led them to a place with people like them. If she didn't know better, Ophelia would've guessed that Aaron knew all along, but given his confusion, she thought this unlikely.
"Why?" scowled Aaron, not sure why anyone would do that. "We know who you are," his mother corrected, ignoring her son's question. "My name is Ophelia. Ophelia Watson." She offered her hand to the man. She had expected that a small town wouldn't have anyone like them, that they could fall under the radar, but the second she felt the waves, she knew. Her son had led them to a place with people like them. If she didn't know better, Ophelia would've guessed that Aaron knew all along, but given his confusion, she thought this unlikely.
