Becoming Legend

Chapter 59: Maria Antoniette von Hexeis

"Maria, follow me, left foot, right foot, Turn," a lady in her twenties said, looking amused. Her green kirtle dress swayed with the beat of his command. "Again, left foot, right foot. Turn. Good, good."

"Mama, am I doing good? Look at me, Mama," said a child. Her adorable, azure tunic danced together with her dark and golden streak hair. Although the waltz seems perfect. Yet, from time to time, the child went off her balance. "Left foot, right f... ops!"

The fragrance of burnt wood traced the room with the help of an old and praline furnace. The light coming out from the burned bricks reflected the archaic armaments hanging along the cold wooden wall. Ornaments of various and odd varieties helped the room become vibrant.

In the middle was the family of Hexeis's. Two ladies stepped out near the furnace to practice their dance, while a man appeared to be in his thirties, with long, brown hair cuddled a kid - with an open book.

"Mama, don't you think that's enough?" said the man contentedly. At his lap was a kid, not over five of age, forcing himself to learn the writings on the book. "Krause, that's an Illusion Rune. Look at the sides, it's different from the other Runes you've learned so far."

Moments of glee were broke by a knock on the door. "Master Kuhn," echoed the man past the wall. Although old, his voice was an esteemed one. Living up to his title. The only Butler of the Hexeis's family.

"Charles, come in," Kuhn said. He and the lady looked at each other thoughtfully.

Mast Kuhn noticed the butler's silver hair rather than his monocle. Master Kuhn remembered how the butler used to have black hairs, superb physique, and a stature of a refined man.

"Master Kuhn," Charles said. Slightly bowed. He gestured his hand to move outside and to talk. Not the usual Charles, who would just spout news for the entire family. "If you may."

"Mama, where's papa going?" asked Maria. Tilting her head with curiosity.

"Work dear, work," answered the lady. Closing toward Maria, her golden hair streaked down.

"Work! Work! Kill all Witches!" said Krause, holding a knife, commanding his arm to use the knife with precision.

"Krause!" cried Maria. "Not all Witches are evil! Right mama?"

"Yes, dear," said the lady. Patting Maria's head. "Listen to your sister Krause, okay?"

The five-year-old Krause nodded in disagreement.

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A slam echoed the room, Master Kuhn with Charles hurried to the family. Making the rest jerked in surprise.

"What happened, dear?" asked the lady worriedly.

"It's time," replied Master Kuhn. An obvious sweat formed on his forehead. He breathes rapidly and commanded Charles. "Charles, remember what I told you, Lady Zoreena of Ancalen. O'rriadt Island."

Master Kuhn braced Maria and Krause, holding the hand of his wife. "Maria, take care of your brother, okay? No matter what, take care of him. Someday, you'll feel different. But never forget what we have taught you. It is yours, and yours alone. You're our daughter, daughter of Kuhn and Sofia." He added, now tears formed at the end of his eyes. For Maria, this was the first time that he saw his father shred a tear. "Follow Charles. And protect your brother. Now go! We love y-"

The door erupted in surprise, and the rest went black for Maria.

"Toni! Toni! Wake up!"

"Otto?" said Toni. To her surprise, tears fell off her cheeks when she got a hold of herself from her dreams. Rubbing the tears, Toni grabbed Otto and hugged him as tight as she could. "Krause, I'm sorry, I missed you!"

"Those dreams again?" replied Otto. Hugging his sister along, although younger, Otto tried his best to calm Toni. "Don't worry Toni, I, Otto Krause Von Hexeis will protect you no matter what. I'm already eleven, so please rely on me."

Toni arched her lips with a genuine smile and replied. "Otto. Thank you."

"I'm here not to comfort you, actually," said Otto with a childish smile. Lifting his hands from Toni's back, he forced a finger on Toni's side and tickled her. "I'm here, cause I met a guy, I want you to marry him!"

"No! Otto! Stop that!" cried Toni. "It tickles me! Stop that!"

She and Otto always tried to be as happy as possible. Otto always makes fun of Toni, cause he knew that Toni was already at the right age to have a man. Yet, none would love to have her. "A man, you said? Well, whose that? A man from the book you read? What are you doing here, really?"

"Mama asked me to gather herbs at the woods, and look for some mushrooms," Otto replied. "But, you know Toni, me and the other kids were still busy with some other things, maybe you could help me gather them."

"You silly," Toni replied with a smile. "Also, it's already dusk, it's better that I gather them."

With a basket and a rugged linen dress, Toni went into the forest to gather edible plants, mushrooms, and herbs.

Toni collected enough plants and went back to the orphanage when, close to her, she heard a commotion. Toni realized that she ventured deep in the woods, she was almost near the town of O'rriadt. Then, Toni heard a group of men clamoring.

"Kid, your Picas, now!"

"But."

Toni softened his foot as to not let her presence be discovered. As she moved closer to the tree, she heard the voice of the group. Along with a soft voice.

"How much, how much?"

"Tell me, is it enough for a booze?"

Toni slid behind the tree and exposed a part of her eyes to let herself examine what the others are doing.

I should leave now, this is not my problem. Just go Maria, just go. Toni tried to talk herself out of the situation. But there's a kid, I can sense it. The kid's a Hollow. A dead kid, unlucky for y- Toni let out a gasped when she saw that the kid, whom she was sure that a Hollow, effortlessly attacking the group of thugs.

Seeing that, the kid kicked the first guy between his legs, rolled and punched the second right into his gut, and flexibly kicked the third thug's foot. Toni was amazed by how the kid moved and accurately attacked with precision.

Not even three seconds had passed. And the kid was now going towards Toni. Toni hid her presence, but she almost steps a foot back when she sensed that the kid discovered her. He's fast, faster than me. He's coming, what should I do! Maria move! It startled the dark and silent forest when Toni heard the kid, cried. And seems to talk to himself.

"Wait!"

"Stop!"

"Stop!"

"She's not one of them!"

Toni prepared to defend herself when the kid fell on the ground, face first. She let out a breath. Although Toni wasn't good with other people, she always tried to help them without asking for something in return. Toni razed the forest back to the orphanage and asked for help to carry the unconscious kid back to the orphanage.

Thudding, running, shouting, and fighting are a common occurrence inside the orphanage almost every morning. But these routines were broke to half when the kids of the orphanage were busy inspecting the kid, Toni brought in.

"Toni! Toni! He's awake!"

Toni spiked her curiosity when she felt that something was amiss about the kid she brought. But, also happy, when she learned the kid's name was Ned. To add, Lady Zoreena was also an excellent friend of his Master.

Toni forced herself to talk without stammering in-front of Ned. The two became close when Ned asked her to show her magic in front of him.

"You`re a Hollow... but you never give up on becoming... strong," Toni replied while looking at the ground. Her black hair hung on her forehead, hiding some parts of her eyes. "I... rarely go outside... because... I'm afraid that my magic would go out of control... and I really don't like... people staring at me."

She never knew that this was the last time she stammered in front of Ned.

Back at her place, they fear people with magic. These people with magic are called Witches. And people without magic, which was known as Hollow in the Cassan Continent, formed a society to hunt these witches. Proficient in killing Witches, her family became the best and respected family. But Toni speculated that because of her Gift, her family abandoned their name and let them live. Together with Charles and his younger brother. They traveled across the continent to settle on O'rriadt Island. Which changed her life. Now with a Gift, afraid to use, Toni could not use her Gift properly. The only way for her to use her Gift was if she tried to calm herself. And reciting the waltz her mother taught her helped.

"Left foot, right foot, turn. Again, left foot, right foot, turn."

Pillar of ice then formed around her body and on the ground, snapping a tree in half. She opened her eyes, and she saw Ned into amazement.

She knew that if she wants to protect her brother. She needed to control her Magic. Persuaded by people around her, especially Ned. Toni joined the Selection. As long as she's with Ned. Whenever she's with Ned, she felt that she's always calm, for no other reason. Curiosity struck her. She formed a mysterious feeling toward Ned. Making her heartbeat when she's with Ned.

When Toni joined the Selection, she also decided to trusts Ned. Even with the Hybrid they fought, that turned to Lord. Ned never gave up and Toni felt this.

Now making friends, Toni met Xi. Although not close, she knew Xi was different, cause even Ned trusted him.

Toni saw Xi bleeding and exhausted, she used half of her Mana to cast a barrier of ice that protected her and Xi.

The forest was deep, making the terrain difficult to use at their advantage. Couples with the swamps muddy ground. It forced Toni into the corner and receives all the Lord's enraged attacks.

With the Lord attacking her ice barrier, that was almost half broken. Toni heard a whistle, then an arrow struck the Goblin-orc Lord's shoulder. But of course, Toni cared for Ned.

"Please run, Ned!" Tears dripped off Tony's eyes. "He's different, he's not the Hybrid anymore, he's.... a Lord!" Toni cried out of fear.

With the Lord defeated, and Ned collapsed. Toni stayed with him the entire time until Ned woke up. Feeling exhausted and showing all the symptoms of Mana Burn. Toni was again surprised. Yet, curious.

With the two leaving the infirmary, Ned and Toni were halted by Allaina, one of the Academy's top students.

"Not her," tilting her head toward Toni and back to Ned, she said. "Only you."

Her usual monotonous voice was gone, and all that was left was a voice of discerning, which made Toni jerked a head. "Since you're going to the academy, well be seeing each other often, so how about you help me with something?"

"What could that be?" Toni's usual timid voice was also gone and what remained was her voice of confrontation. It was too late for Toni to think her act was not the usual of her. Since she's with Ned, she acted differently.

"I said not you," Allaina shrugged her shoulder. Without looking at Toni, she let out an aura. The surrounding air turned blazingly hot.

Saying nothing, Toni stood unmoving. With the air turning hot, she released a chilling aura. Coco jumped off Toni's arms, trying to get away from the two ladies as far as possible.

A pillar of ice formed out of the ground. Not just pillars, but unique shapes of ice formed and were floating midair. But with only a matter of seconds, the chunks of ice melted instantly. Instead of worry, Toni showed a faint smile.

For the first time, Toni precisely controlled her Magic. She knew cause she could form unique shapes of her magic at her will. Not just some random pillars, but specific shapes. Making her arched her lips and smiled.

So this is it, if only I'm with you, I can control my Magic. This emotion. This mysterious yet profound emotion toward you made me control my magic. Ned, thank you.