The Flower of Separation

A long time ago, there was a magician who people feared. As the strongest mage, people feared him, but they also respected him. They would go to him for all kinds of troubles.

His influence kept growing until the civilians started to rely on him over the current rulers. Because of that, he went into hiding, into a deep sleep for many years.

When he woke up again, the first person he saw was Ageha Lilian.

'Come to my side.'

She didn't address him by his title or bother with empty flattery, and she just told him to come to her. It was so brave and careless, and yet for some reason, he accepted.

Lucas thought he already knew her very well, but when she suddenly leaned forward, it startled him.

"Then, my dear magician, you have to make sure I don't get consumed." Her fingers trailed against his cheek. Despite how close she was, he couldn't feel her warmth at all.

Her skin felt as cold as ice, and yet there was something about it that made him want her to-- Lucas shook his head. He almost thought something crazy.

"You are giving me even more work to do."

Lilian laughed. "I like men who do their job well." She pulled away from him.

She seems to be in a cheerful mood, but it's probably because she saw blood yesterday.

The next few minutes, nobody spoke, and he finished treating her wounds. "Say, Lucas?"

"Yes?"

"I made Natalia some food."

"I'll give it to her."

"Also, the therapist is supposedly coming today."

"I'll come back in time." Lucas kept answering her questions, and he kept his gaze on her. She seemed to be staring absent-mindedly at the window.

..

The reason Lilian kept him by her side was simple.

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'The day I achieve all my goals, can you kill me, Lucas?'

A deep sigh escaped his lips as those words flash through his head. He had a lantern in one hand and a box in another as he headed down the steps to the underground chamber.

When he first met her years ago, she said such words to him. The following years to this very day, she never mentioned it again. But earlier, she almost said it.

Does she want to die that badly?

Then again, he understood to a certain extent why she said such words. It is better to die than live with such terrible nightmares every day. No matter how brave she is, no normal human can handle such violent nightmares.

It did not take long before he arrived at the chamber at the end of the hallway; sure enough, there was the young girl. From the looks of things, she broke free of her chains but made no other attempts to escape.

Lucas placed the basket through the gap alerting the girl.

"From your sister."

"I don't deserve to eat."

Lucas sighed when he hears her reply. Typical ageha family response. Even though this girl slightly differs from the other ageha family members, she still shares some traits.

"Your sister made that stuff by hand."

At that comment, he watched as she opened the basket up.

'What a simple child.'

But his gaze fell on the whiplash marks on her arms. She is a strong kid. The Ageha family is a weird, no a brutal bunch. The only reason he decided to stay on as their mage is because of Lilian. Even then, he has his limits; how could they torture their own flesh and blood?

"How long are you supposed to be down here?"

"Ten days."

Lucas looked at her, dumbfounded. Ten days in a dark underground chamber like this?

"It was a month last time, so this is better. My birthday is next month; that must be why he is cutting the punishment short."

'That explains why Lilian made that watch.'

"By the way, sir Lucas, I've wanted to ask you something."

"Yeah?"

"Do you like my sister?"

Huh?

Natalia looked at him seriously. "Listen up, even if you like her, you can't tell her! My sister won't accept you."

"Uh.."

Lucas didn't know what to do seeing the child suddenly get worked up. Like huh? He knew what she was referring to. Suppose he has any romantic feelings for Lillian. Truthfully he never thought about it too deeply.

Initially, even after he swore his loyalty, he didn't intend to stick around for far too long. He is a magician, a strong one. Remaining in one place for too long is far too dangerous. Some will take advantage of his powers and use them for their own gain.

Lucas knew it was dangerous to remain with a family mainly consisting of psychopaths. If he made the wrong move and they took advantage of him, it would spell the end of the world.

But at some point, he got used to it, used to staying here and being with Lillian.

'He is becoming way too soft.' What happened to the ruthless and cold-hearted magician from before?

"Well?" Natalia looked at him intently.

"Listen, a kid like you shouldn't be asking about such things. Your only like three years old."

"I'm seven!"

'She is?' All the children these days look the same to him. Then again, she is a bit shorter.

"Seven or whatever, don't tease grownups."

"I don't mind if you date my sister, sir Lucas. I mean, you're the only one loyal to her."

"Loyalty huh, there are plenty of others."

Lilian is strangely popular, and she is the only one in the Ageha family with more than seven knights.

"But you're the only one who doesn't want to kill her."

Lucas blinked when he hears those words. How on earth did she figure that out? Indeed he doesn't want to kill her. Even when they first met, he thought she was an interesting individual.

"Your sister asked me to kill her."

Natalia seemed startled, but she quickly regained her composure. "I can see why she would. Isn't it better to die in the hands of the person she loves rather than all her enemies?"

Where on earth is this girl getting this crazy story from? Still, he ought to fix this crazy misunderstanding before Lilian hears about it.

"Listen, Miss Natalia, your sister and me--"

"Are secretly in love, right? I already know everything, so there is no need to lie."

This is the second time somebody has rendered him speechless. These sisters are the same, after all. Lucas rubbed the back of his neck with his hand.

"Where did you get this from?"

"I heard from the servants. You recently returned from a long mission. The first person you went to was my sister. You visited her first even though it was very late, and she let you in her room..."

Lucas could tell how embarrassed the girl got, so he stopped her. "Alright, that's enough."

So there are rumors again? It doesn't surprise him, and they do spend a lot of time together. Besides, he only went to see her first because he didn't want to see the Lord of this manor when the full moon is up.

Then again, Lillian is weird too, and she drinks the blood of her enemies like it is wine.

"Do you want your sister to have a lover?" Lucas asked.

"I want my sister to do something normal. She works too much."

"She is an imperial general."

"I don't like it. My sister should have become the Empress."

'So even this one thinks that?' Indeed, Lilian is more suited to be the Empress than the current one. But, he recalled the words he said to her earlier. It is far too dangerous for her to resume that role in her current state.

He visited her first when he returned because he wanted to check on her condition. The hallucinations have gotten worse, and he saw the marks on her wrists. She is hurting herself again, and this is too dangerous.

"Should I let you free from here?" Lucas asked.

"Eh?"

"I mean, I think your sister could hide you."

Maybe if she has this child who she is strangely attached to around then, she might get better.

"I don't want to bother her."

"But didn't you run off and cause that fuss the other day because you wanted to see her?"

"I did!"

"Then let's go."

"But I can't leave."

Lucas eyes twitched, annoyed. So which one is it? This is annoying. His gaze fell on the small window, and he caught a glimpse of the grey skies.

Rain.. he probably ought to get going. On rainy days Lilian gets the worse nightmares, and she lets her guard down. Whether her enemies figured that out or not, they tend to strike during these days.

"I will come back tomorrow; think about what I said."

"Wait," Natalia called out, and he halted in his tracks. "Could you give this letter to my sister?" She pulled out a battered-looking envelope.

"What is this?"

"That young Prince dropped it."

Lucas eyes widened as he stared at the envelope. He sensed something was inside it, a living creature? But what living creature would have this much malice?