Ocular to the Dying Sun

How Seasons Travel; part 1

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Single drops of rain from drifting round clouds poured without warning or wary over the cultured gardens of the Saturni manor, lit by shard lamps in the middle of midmorning, looking like the perfect scenario of darkest before dawn with additional blurred vision from the collected fog of the cold drizzle. The days passing since Yphemu adopted Mitt were like a fever dream rushing into a sudden river of ice, breaking the heat from her exhausted soul only to find herself dazed, in a confused reverie, on certain days.

These are one of those days when Yphemu could not take in the pressure of the outskirts. Killing all the monsters without remorse. Making sure to spend her days in the presence of Mitt her adopted son to keep him from being lonely, and choosing, in the end, to bask in pain heart, body, and mind.

Ending with her running away from her people and walking under the light rain that starts to pour and the clouds above becoming larger by the minute. Not for the better word of rain clouds naturally sipping in moisture to pout out onto the lands, but the magical propensity of water magic within these clouds that by default would have been lightly dispersed soon by magicians so that it could be controlled.

Clouds filled with rain grazed so near land did not often happen unless the shard dust collecting in the air affected the natural flow far from Slitark, thus making the phenomena that used to happen only around Slitark persist near land.

Yphemu on her own can break the clouds into lesser particles and return water towards the bodies it should stay in, but her mind was dipped in a serenade filled with hesitation at this moment; where even time couldn’t find a way to solve. This was the sudden burst of regret and guilt as she spent days with Mitt smiling and pondering.

The days with her son were a blessing she did not know she would need in this unexpected present life. Her daughter dying the moment she is born even though it took her time to accept her pregnancy with the child was like a mixture of relief and great regret. Yet, when her heart ready to be a mother was robbed of its chance, then given by the gods a new chance through Mitt. She took it without hesitation, at least until it slowly caught up with her.

She had not realized it in the months after the day she adopted Mitt but the funeral for her daughter’s death was simple where close people to the Saturni family attended. The only sorrow they could muster was a quiet eulogy.

As the words of Sacr remind Yphemu that “being a mother is an honor that life bestows, and should not be forgotten even if blood ran thicker.” She could also hear herself speak in front of everyone, an exterior of numb grief plastered on her actions and facial expression.

“There are many ways that the world blesses’ a mother, and it’s to learn guidance and unconditional love,” Yphemu said in front of everyone. “I will never forget my daughter despite never knowing her or getting to hold her in my arms for long, but it’s not without regret knowing if her fate was cruel or not, she will be blessed with Slitark’s fortune back into the arms of the natural order.”

She lied that time, speaking as if she believed her daughter returned to the earth. In truth, she believed her daughter never died. She wanted to say she was out there in the world waiting for her, but the reality says she needed to put a face-up front for everyone.

Every person who acknowledged her strength and position wanted her to show a face of strength and faith and hoping for nothing was not a show of strength, albeit loyalty beyond faith sounds persisting it doesn’t bode well if some would state her daughter being missing or her incompetence to protect her something of good character.

Many have already spoken behind her back about how unreliable she was being a mother who lost her child in the name of protecting the kingdom, much more having all those magical abilities but not knowing how to prevent a loved one from dying. No one cares how she lost her daughter or how her daughter died, they only saw that she did not do her best to protect something precious such as a life of a child.

Holding her position as Prime Magician will remain hers in the order of power and magic, not by the selection of peers, but she is not immune to the hold of capitalism and reputation. The moment people’s belief in her character wavers, it comes as no surprise that she will be held in spite and malice in the eyes of many.

To avoid this, she had no choice but to declare Mitt’s existence. It was not enough her daughter died, she had to save everyone’s expectations of who she is and what she held. The boy was innocent and naïve enough to accept her as his mother even if he is cautious.

The curiosity he held about the world and her words of comfort to his presence as his now mother puts a stopper to his doubt, that’s why she needs to spend time with him. Even if she could not feel the truth of her warmth, the boy believed she was warm to him and him alone.

Trees around the outer layer of the inner garden towards the middle of the estate, Ypehmu entered the gazebo, a favorite spot of Lady Tethea. This is the homeliest construction of a gazebo anyone would think of or criticize, but this place is not something any person can simply find, because this place is surrounded by tall trees to be perfectly hidden.

Right now, it is glum and dark, almost eerie to the point of haunting. Any moment now a spirit could take someone away from this place without anyone within the estate noticing. Blue lights lightly glow from undergrowth’s surrounding the base of the raised flooring of the gazebo, made from a large stone slab that was perfectly polished.

Around the stone are well-wedged, propped-up, old wood pillars that are tastefully preserved to support the thick wooden roof ornamented with silver wiring around the flower-like carvings around the ceiling base. As if the source of light, the silver glinted what little reflection the blue glow and made it seem like an ethereal altar of a heavenly being.

Perhaps the deity of water that taught them how to they were blessed by Slitark with water smelted from its shards blessed the blue glowing phosphorescence into the mushrooms or other plant between the soil and the stone.

She discovered this place when she followed her master’s magical signature after learning how to properly see magical essence once taught. It was the first time she witnessed Lady Tethea and her master, Lord Estring Lutis, together without any frown on their faces.

Only the satisfaction of being together in the silence of the forest, she couldn’t imagine her master, at that time, since she knew him as a man of discipline and magical training immersed in affection. He was unforgiving while Lady Tehtea was distant but strict and respectable. They never did anything to abuse her, but they were not close to her heart.

Yphemu didn’t want the successor to feel distant the same way she would feel compelled for her daughter. But what can the future hold when every corner she lives by is riddled with the possibility of tears? Sitting on the dusty bench that sat in the middle of the gazebo, she closed her eyes and listened to the world.

What does it mean to move on from a loss she is not sure she is right to feel for?

Will she believe in her love for the son she will raise from now on?

It’s only been an entire year since Mitt came into her life and the events of the Dire-eater attack. No prophet has yet to be born nor has any fortune teller been able to predict years in the future.

As they say, time can only tell, so she waits. She contemplates. She silently asks for forgiveness.

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Rustling curtains blew from the winds outside the open window as the balcony from the second-floor dining room welcomed the warm breeze and light of Slitark as it illuminated the world after time passed ten cycles. Each time the wind breezed and swayed the curtain, Mitt on his chair quickly took a bite as he watched his mother, Yphemu, read on her Kaderno.

Her eyes browsed the surface as she swiped on the slate with her one hand and made sure she finished reading before resuming to eat. Though not as busy as his mother, he was sure that if he asked that he read his Kaderno, his mother would say he should focus on eating in the meantime.

“Ma’am, your corn soup will be cold soon,” a grey-haired man said to Yphemu. He wore a three-piece suit and pants, dark grey in contrast to his light grey hair with a suitable one eyes glass fit onto his right eye.

Hyles, the butler of their mansion, has been in service of the Saturni family for decades of the man’s life. Not since childhood, but he served the previous Prime Magician and was loyally passed down to Yphemu’s service once she came into their family and succeed Lord Estring.

His gloved palms are open for Yphemu to place her Kaderno as she resumed eating.

“Sorry,” she sheepishly said then turned to Mitt and see if he was done eating. “Today feels like a day where things might happen, but I guess the coming days will be intense as usual.”

“Mother, are we going to the estate back in the province for this coming vacation?” Mitt asked as he politely ate his piece of bread. “Our teachers are advising us to come back early into the season, so we could start learning the grade point system once our seventh-grade year starts.”

The boy has now grown a few inches taller than his toddler self, with only his eyes never differing from since then. Bright in the presence of curiosity with a tinge of hesitation due to his age, the evident color of his iris depicts the light of the world in a semi-sparkling shimmer. His magic showed in his eyes, something Yphemu also possessed but in a duller light.

One thing has changed the most, and it’s the energy he exudes around them, he now moves with discipline and control like his mother is in the presence of her company. Even in the confines of the Academy where he could have spent his days freely becoming social and a child, he couldn’t, because he’s begun training at an early age.

“Perhaps you should stay here,” Yphemu said as she ate her soup, but made sure to smile at Mitt as she said. “I’ve received great word about your grades for nonmagical subjects in the Academy, I’m proud of you. You lack good praise from your magician teachers, but we will get to practicing other elements in due time. I’m sure they’re unbiased in their judgment of your performance. There will be matters I have to deal with before the coming Ocular, giving me no time to come along with you during your school break.

“The coming Ocular will be important for your debut in the coming years as my apprentice to do my work outside of the Ocular. So, being adept and learned in magic should be your priority.” Yphemu continues to speak between her soup eating. “For most, it’s going to be your awaited event, but you still need a long way to go. Mother isn’t disappointed, so remember to do your best promptly without exhausting yourself, that’s all I’m asking. I love you regardless.”

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