"I'm not impressed."

The five of them stare skeptically at the Warlord's sigil, at the very end of the journal. It's pure black, with a strange symbol in the middle. Founders only know what it represents. It's a weird sort of squiggle, looking like an inky talon. Owain swallows, feeling as though he's swallowing something slimy and thick. He still is trying to decipher why he even goes anywhere with Derald, because lately, where Derald Pellefard goes, it's normally with Xara. And while Owain is fond of Xara now, he can't deny that she lures danger wherever she ventures.

Derald pouts. "I expected more from the most evil person in all of Ruxnorth." Vieva agrees with Derald and Xara, by a nod of her head.

"Don't tempt fate." Owain hisses to his roommate. Sometimes-okay, a lot of times-Owain can't help but wonder whether Derald just ignores his common sense, for the sake of adrenaline.

Lysabel lazily allows the potted plant beside her bed to curl around her wrist gently, snaking like veins up her bony arm. She hasn't once participated in the conversation and Owain can't help but wonder if something's wrong. At the door, when he and Derald had come in, she smiled, but it had been a strange smile; there had been something almost...sinister in Lysabel's normally bright green eyes. The jade of her eyes had somehow turned into a shadowy, viper green. Somehow, Owain seems to be the only one to notice.

"I agree. With the other Founders, you can obviously tell what their sigils represent." Xara says, closing the book with a slight frown. "Like Nessira Ashfall's, whose sigil is a flame."

Other than the Runemore brothers, three other Founders had existed. Nessira Ashfall, the first Arcane, Kaius Whitevale, the first Gaia, and Cynrad Mistwater, the first Tsunami. It's unclear if the three of them had kept journals as well, but they didn't bother to hide themselves. Even 100 years after their death, they are well-loved and adored.

"Remind me why we're looking at this?" Lysabel drawls, holding her hand spread so the plant could buff her nails.

Xara looks up briefly, her forehead creasing. Clearly, he isn't the only one who's noticed Lysabel's out of character behavior.

"We need to gather as much information as we can, Lys," says Xara slowly. "And considering you've done the least amount of work, you can't comment."

Lysabel's lips stretch into a smile, baring her teeth as she does.

"Actually, I can do whatever I want." Lysabel slides off the bed, stretching with a content sigh. "And what I want right now is some food." She salutes them. "Later, losers."

She sashays out of the room without another glance. The four of them are silent, just staring out the door in astonishment.

Owain turns to Xara, eyes widened. "How long has she been like this?"

Xara puckers her lips to the side. "Ever since she checked out the black leaf two days ago."

Derald leans against Vieva's pristine bed, stretching out completely. He rests his hands behind his head.

"Do you think it has something to do with the leaf?" he offers, nestling into the bed.

"That's ridiculous." Vieva snaps her fingers at him indignantly. "And get your disgusting self off my bed."

"Make me, Bestel."

Vieva's eyes glow like smoldering embers. Small bursts of flame appear on her palms, crackling almost in excitement. "I'm more than happy to."

Derald hastily hops off.

Vieva smirks.

Xara sighs again, then slams the book shut. Owain starts lightly, dragging himself out of his thoughts.

"Well, we've gotten nowhere, and I need to get Leonah ready to go."

"Go where?"

Xara looks at him, a slightly baffled expression on her face. "It's a home weekend, remember?"

"Oh, right." Owain doesn't bother to hide the dread in his voice. Derald drums his fingers against the floor.

"Founders, try to contain your excitement."

He glares at his roommate.

"Why are you so reluctant to go home?" Xara asks him, as she shoves the book back under the bed. She jogs over to the window, which is propped open, and sticks her head out, scanning the skies for the shadow of Leonah.

"Obviously, because he has to deal with his sister," scoffs Vieva. "She's a common. It must be embarrassing."

Owain's face flares. Pyke may be incredibly irritating at times, but she's still his sister.

"Shut up, Vieva," counters Derald, winking at Owain. Vieva has become somewhat nicer, but hints of the old Vieva Bestel still peek through.

In truth, Owain had forced himself to forget the home weekend upcoming. If students didn't want to see their family, they are permitted to stay on campus. The timing is perfect, actually; he has two large exams, and if he doesn't score well, then he'll end this semester with an incredibly meager score. After these two exams, the only chances for redemption are the midterms, and Owain despairs merely thinking about it. Thankfully, in Beast Anthology I, they had passed Beledras's project, and he's in a good place in that class.

In his other classes?

He might as well drop out.

But he knows that he has to go home. Dealing with Pyke is a mental workout but he misses his mother, and her homecooked food. He misses his father and the town strolls they had. He had somehow made an excuse for skipping last month's home weekend, but he's going to have to suck it up and go.

"Where's Berwig?" Derald asks him as the two of them prepare to go back to their rooms. Owain shrugs.

"I never really check with him. He just does his thing and comes back when he has to."

"Founders, you got lucky with your familiar. I'm lucky if Slyff even thinks to visit me."

Berwig is Owain's familiar. He's a brown lump of a bear, big and shaggy and warm. Owain doesn't really worry about him, and Berwig listens when Owain commands. It works well for both of them. Owain has seen when students try to wrangle their familiars on campus. With the exception of Xara Roffinnes, who's familiar is perfectly behaved nearly all the time. It never works out for most. Once, Vieva's familiar had singed Professor Gaire's clothes in the quad. Vieva had to serve detention for three days. Diadys's temperament rivals that of her owner's.

"You think Lysabel's going to go home?" Owain wonders aloud.

"Why don't you just ask her?" Derald asks, hiking his backpack higher up his shoulder.

Owain snorts.

"See you Monday, Snagsnout."

"If Pyke doesn't murder me first," mutters Owain.

✡✡✡

It's good to be home.

Owain parks his bags at his feet as the small bus putters off down the road. Mauxnarry, Owain's region, is the homeliest region in all of Ruxnorth. It's home to those with humbler jobs, with a desire for a simple life. Mauxnarry is composed of fields scattered with houses, and it's the kind of place where everybody knows everybody.

Owain knows that many people look down on Mauxnarry, people such as Vieva Bestel, who have known nothing but fortune and gold at their beck and call. But life in Mauxnarry is the most fulfilling, as his father likes to say; one has to work for everything.

The other students who had chosen to come back home to Mauxnarry wave cheerily at him before starting off towards their properties. Owain is a little less than a third of a mile from his home; Mauxnarry doesn't have any bus stops, but he knows this path well. It's ingrained into his memory. He lets his thoughts wander and allows his feet to guide him home.

The sun is beginning to set, and an evening chill is starting to take form. It's too early for snow, but too late for sun, so Ruxnorth is stuck in that in-between weather that everyone despises. He hastens his pace, his excitement mounting as he thinks about his parents.

For the longest time, and even until today, Owain's idols are his parents, Raya and K'len Snagsnout. He realizes now, as his anxiety to see them grows, that he shouldn't have skipped on the last home weekend.

Raya Snagsnout is an intelligent, fiercely compassionate woman with a knack for noticing things ignored by most. She's bubbly and joyful and is an amazing cook, and Owain has spent his childhood dreaming of what delectable concoctions his mother would've cooked up in their tiny kitchen for the next morning.

K'len Snagsnout is a boisterous, all-around happy man, with an affinity for terrible jokes and a green thumb. He's always been the life of every party, and Owain has always been proud to call him his father. Pyke, on the other hands, loathes the attention it brings to her; her reputation spans almost all the regions, so those in Mauxnarry know well of Pyke's... incidents. Mauxnarry having the highest level of commons, the townsfolk understand Pyke's point of view. But her outlandish, petty behavior is childish, and for a woman of her age, unsettling.

But the Snagsnouts are mostly known for Raya and K'len Snagsnout. Raya works as a seamstress for the local boutique, and has an extremely deft hand. Her innate talent is what has made her one of the most talented and requested seamstresses in that store. But the most scandalous thing?

Raya is the sole wage earner. Whenever people hear that K'len isn't the one providing for their family, they withhold their feelings, but Owain can clearly see their contempt. Their thoughts nearly jump from their mouths, so obvious they are. There have been occasions where he had wanted to shout to everyone how his parents are the most wonderful people in Ruxnorth, but even thinking about doing something like that had made his cheeks redden.

Besides, Pyke brings enough publicity to the Snagsnout family.

Owain recognizes the familiar circle of cottages; he has grown up with these people. Currently, everyone's inside for dinner, otherwise they would've waved a greeting. The bus had to stop to do a little bit of maintenance, hence the lateness.

He skids up the cobblestone path, past his father's garden, his pride and joy. It's still bursting with produce as it had been when he'd left, but the winter chill has begun to take its toll. He knocks on the door, tapping his feet on the steps impatiently.

The door swings open, revealing the faces of his parents. His mother lights up, her eyes visibly brightening. Before she can embrace him, K'len sweeps him up in a big bear hug, bellowing with laughter.

"There's my superstar son!" he guffaws, thumping him on the back. It nearly throws him off his balance. Raya catches him with a fond laugh, squeezing him happily. Owain breathes in deeply. She still smells as wonderful as before; like wildflowers. Pyke hangs back, brooding against the wall. Raya prompts her forward with a jab of her head, and Pyke kicks off the wall reluctantly.

"Good to see you, little brother." She says flatly. Owain bobs his head, swallowing.

"You too." He clears his throat awkwardly. "Have you, uh, done something with your hair?"

"No."

"Oh."

Raya claps her hands once, dispelling the silence. "Come on, love. I made your favorite dinner!"

Owain snaps up, almost salivating. "Beet sourdough!"

Pyke gags.

Raya laughs cheerily. "That's the one. This way."

Owain nearly hops into the kitchen, and groans at the smell. It smells warm and toasty with a hint of spice, just how he remembers it.

The table's already been set, with the food and the soup ready for consumption. Owain's brow creases.

"How long have you been waiting?"

Raya swats his shoulder lightly. "Oh, don't you worry about that. You're just in time, actually."

Owain leaves his bags at the threshold, where K'len heaves them up easily. Owain scoots his chair in, having to refrain from gobbling his entire bowl down. Raya notices his impatience and sits beside him.

"Tell me, how's school? I haven't been there in so long!" She sighs.

Owain scrunches his face, glancing briefly at Pyke, who glowers at the table.

"It's fine. I'm doing okay in my classes. Midterms are coming up soon."

Raya cups his cheek. "Oh, you'll pass with flying colors. I know my son." Owain feels a bud of warmth unfurl in him.

K'len comes lumbering from the halls, dusting his hands.

"Say, where's that bear of yours?" K'len takes his seat, the chair creaking suspiciously under his weight.

"I left Berwig back at home. He doesn't do well in new places."

It's true. Owain had tried to move him to a larger stable, but he'd vomited all over his stall in anxiety. Owain was forced to send him back to his old lodgings.

Raya wiggles her fingers, and some oregano creeps in from the window. She plucks some leaves and the plant withers away. His parents are both Gaias. When K'len had caught Owain after his Summoning, he'd spun his son around.

"You make us proud, son," K'len had blustered.

"I scored fifth in the recent exams," Pyke interjects hotly.

"That's wonderful, dear," Raya pats her daughter's hand and smiles, but then turns back to Owain, her blue eyes sparkling in excitement. Pyke deflates, tossing her hands up.

"Do they still do the quarterly balls?" Raya breaks some bread, letting it soak into her soup.

Owain shakes his head, bewildered. She giggles at his expression.

"It's a function they used to do when I was going to school." She stares dreamily at K'len, taking his hand across the table. "It's actually where I met your father."

Pyke fake-retches, sticking her finger down her throat. Owain takes a deep breath.

"What 'bout you, Pyke? Any dances happening at your school?"

Her eyes narrow. "Why do you care?"

Raya stares at Pyke disapprovingly, lips pursed lightly. "Your brother is trying to make conversation, Pyke. Do not be rude."

"Right," she mumbles angrily. "Because the world would stop spinning if someone insults Owain Snagsnout." She looks up glaringly. "For your information, no, there isn't. The only time I've even heard of a dance is the one they're having at the Inventory."

Owain lets his spoon drop. "What's that?"

Pyke waves a hand with disinterest. "It's some banquet for the rich people to raise money for the Inventory."

Owain's mind whirls. The Inventory is the place where all artifacts are stored. It's mandatory that any piece of history, or anything worthful and with value must be stored in the Inventory.

"And where's it located?" Owain presses.

Pyke scoffs, sloshing his soup around. "The Inventory, obviously. What's this interest with the Inventory Gala? There's no way you're going."

"I know," Owain responds distantly.

He isn't truly listening. A plan is forming in his mind, and if it works, it could change everything. 

>>AUTHOR'S NOTES:

hi guys!!! sorry this took so long.. school, amirite??

anyways, we're getting close to finishing the Elixir, as we approach the climax, so i'm really excited for y'all to continue the adventure. i'm so happy to those who have supported my journey in writing the Elixir-you guys are true stars.

peace&love,

raniaditi