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Chapter 3 -
Feeling Lost With No Direction
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It looked slightly bare. Even for a really big room.

“I know there's hardly anything in here, but don't worry it'll have more once I start building!” Varian said with pride and walks over to some tables with you.

Varian pulls a chair out at a clear wooden table, “Here you go, Milady.”

You thank him and sit down while glancing around the room, or lab. You've seen this before, but more stuff in it, then again, you never been here. Your gaze went to a door in the floor. Before you could think more, some things are placed in front of you. Paper, ink bottle and a quill.

“Hopefully you can keep yourself entertained with this. I get caught up in my work, so I don't know when I'll be done.” Varian says and goes over to a table that has glass bottles, vials, tubes, and many things to do with chemical works.

Varian pulls a book off a shelf with a leather journal and he began to write after slipping on his gloves.

The numbers and words used on some notes near him were very mind blowing. He was extremely smart for a kid. You were now relieved that no random images appeared or basically confusing thoughts. Picking up the quill, you fluffed the feather and boredom had caught up to you.

You decided to try the quill and dipped it in the ink. Soon you're just making swirls, scribbles, just random things on the paper. Suddenly your hand is in a writing position and the ink formed words. The same word was written over and over again, only in different fonts you found fun.

Paper after paper, you dipped ink, wrote or began drawing. You didn't even look it over your work as you flipped another paper.

Varian had been consumed and in deep concentration with his own work, that he forgot you were there. So he didn't notice the visible drawings that you had done or you holding your head as your writing hand continued the work.

Suddenly your papers are pulled from under you and only one was left. The sudden action startled you and you caught a glimpse of Varian's dad before he walked toward Varian. He seemed mad especially how quickly he rolled up your papers so you couldn't see it.

“Varian!”

Varian yelled and squeezed more than one drop of a purple chemical into a vial of orange chemical. “Uh oh.” He ducked when the vial exploded. “Dad!? What's-”

Quirin rubbed the bridge of his nose, “Varian, I told you to keep an eye on her.” Varian looks over to see you're holding your head in pain and he felt guilty. “Dad, I'm sorry.”

You teared up because you got Varian in trouble and you didn't like the way Varian's voice sounded like he was going to cry too. Quirin sighs and waves Varian to come close which Varian obliges.

“Varian, I love you son, but I want you to at least try to help me here. I have our whole village to take care of along with you. At least take care of her.” Quirin says softly and places his hands on Varian's shoulders with a fatherly smile.

Varian wipes a tear and nods, smiling, “I'll try.” Quirin hugs him tightly, “Alright. Now like all the times I've said before, be extremely careful with these hazardous substances.” He ruffles his son’s head which caused Varian's goggles to slip off.

You smiles slightly and wipe your eyes, glancing down at the paper. “(_____).” All the fonts said the same thing and that was something familiar again. Your name was (_____). On the back of this paper, you notice a drawing of crescent moon in the middle of a sun. Quickly, you fold it up and tuck it away.

Quirin is now in front of you, smiling softly, “Little Lady-” You smile hesitantly, “My name's (____).” He smiles a bit more, “That's good progress. Tomorrow we'll take you around the village to see if anyone recognizes you. If not you're coming with me to the castle.”

“Castle?” You question and Quirin chuckles, “Don't think it over too much. Maybe someone there will know you if no one knows here.”

You nod and reach up to the wrappings because it was starting to bug you.

“Varian, I need your chores done before I get back from the field.” Quirin says, walking out yet again.

The young boy groans in annoyance and starts to clean up the exploding mess. “So, I have to do my chores now and keep an eye on you. I'm sorry if we keep having to move.” Varian says, smiling apologetically at you.

You shrug and smile softly, “I'm fine as long as you don't get in trouble again.” You frown, “I'm sorry, I got you in trouble.”

Varian looks confused before grinning and waving a hand, “That? It wasn't your fault, I mean I was suppose to keep an eye on you. It's over now.” He takes off his gloves and helps you up.

Back down the stairs, you two are now outside a few yards away from Varian’s home. At first, you couldn't believe how big Quirin’s and Varian's home is. To you, that seemed like a small castle. Water slurped everytime Varian ran a shirt over the washboard and it started to annoy you slightly. Reason being is that Varian had barely begun to wash only one shirt compared to a basket full of clothes.

Not only that, but you felt useless when watching, so you got up and went to the small shack where Varian got the first washing board. Inside, there many things you didn't really care to look at and you grabbed the lone washboard. Though your eyes went to a trapdoor on the there and everything shook almost like tremor went off.

You closed your eyes and took in a shaky breath, before you see everything was okay. This, whatever is going on with you was getting very annoying.

Varian jumped slightly when another washboard was placed in the water. He blinked at you in surprise as you began to wash a vest. “You know, you don't have to-”

“I want to help. Besides, I didn't want to start thinking much when I'm just sitting there.” You smile at him, “Maybe you can show me more Alchemy of the chores get done faster.” You continued washing, leaving Varian to silently examine you.

Soon he grins happily, “Okay. Thank you, (____). I appreciate it. ”

This time, you were the one who stopped to stare at Varian. The way he said your name was sense of nostalgia. Moving onto another piece of clothing, you couldn't known, but Varian had that same sense of nostalgia only with heavy guilt mixed in.

He had no clue why.