That night Aerwyna couldn't stop thinking about how she didn't believe Eldric. The thing that irked her most was how things took place today and there was something she was missing in all that. She couldn't take anymore of her mother's staffing for explanations and decided to confront her.

Agnes was rocking in a rocking chair lost in her satisfaction of victory and she saw from the corner of her eye, Aerwyna striding in with long steps with a grim and confused look on her face. Agnes smirked and asked "why are you still up Rwyna? Can't sleep?" "Mother I am going to ask you a few things and hope you answer truthfully." Her smirk got even more prominent and said "Ask me anything dear, I am in a good mood today, am feeling generous enough to give you my time." Aerwyna was getting repulsed by her act still asked in a calm but hard voice "Why do you think Eldric did this?

Agnes smug look started fading and she questioned in an offended manner "Didn't you see all the evidence? Everything was in front of us." "But mom, I don't think Eldric can do this, i mean. Agnes cut her off in between with an infuriated tone "Aerwyna, do not judge a book by its cover, Take what happened today as a lesson and stay away from him, not that you will see him again but never disrespect me. He is pure evil."

Aerwyna was slowly getting even more distressed by her mother's atrocious explanations and exclaimed "Yes yes I shouldn't judge a book by its cover, and the same way you shouldn't jump into conclusions without a single proper thought!" "What do mean by that Aerwyna?" said Agnes in a grim voice. Aerwyna was exhausted both physically and emotionally from her hypocrisy. Her patience was going out more and more with the passing moment "Do you really expect me to stay away from him just because you said so? I know I promised to be your perfect show piece of a daughter but this is too much"

At this point Aerwyna was full of screaming and shrieking "What did I ever do to you? You are always dissatisfied at everything I do, even when I do everything to make YOU happy. You are only concerned about yourself; you make decisions without ever considering my feelings and emotions"

Agnes was almost scared from her outburst for some other reason and tried to calm her down "Aerwyna dear." "Besides how am I even sure you're truly my mother."Agnes almost raised her hand at her insolence "Don't you dare speak to me that way you filthy child; I am still your mother! How can you even bring yourself to these thoughts?"

Aerwyna was heartbroken and on the verge of tears and said in a raspy voice "Prove it....can you...numerous times you've misused me as an experimental subject whenever I asked you to teach me something. You had promised to me that once I turn 15; you would teach me more about my powers, our family, but look at me now. You're like the Pandora box that doesn't want to be opened."

Agnes didn't know anymore how to control her, she was slowly slipping out of her hands and she didn't want to lose after getting a victory after so long "And and...Speaking of family, why haven't you disclosed anything in relation to my father? Aerwyna was almost mocking her at that moment but was half serious. "According to you he loved you like no one could ever love anyone surely he must've left you something as a significance of his love. Show it to me; prove whatever you had said is true Agnes and i swear on my life I will serve you forever without any second thought."

Even though Aerwyna didn't realize it, Agnes was well aware and alarmed from the dark energy forming in the room. It was way out of her control and catastrophic for anyone nearby. To say the least she was petrified of the result of that entire energy. Her scheme could burn into ashes if Aerwyna gets more agitated "Who has been feeding you with such vile thoughts Rwyna? Whatever you think you know is not at all true."

The urge to get some reaction out of her mother was so strong she was purposefully saying those entire vile things "You know what, maybe Eldric was always right about you. I just didn't want to accept it. Just so you know, I would find out the truth with or without your help. So just watch ou.."

A harsh slap cut the conversation short. There was no going back for Agnes; she didn't care anymore for the swarm of power as her wrath was now at par with her daughter. "YOU WASTE OF SPACE, UNRULY CHILD!!!" "I BAN YOU FROM LEAVING THIS HOUSE. You won't see the daylight or the night stars until I say so."

Aerwyna cupped her cheek and looked at her mother is despair and moved towards her room. Stopping at her door; turning her face enough to see her mother and said in a slow and unsteady voice "Like you'll ever care" and slammed the door shut. That part of Agnes that didn't seam to completely belong to Aerwyna wondered exactly how bold and out of control her child had become. She knew she needed to act fast at all cost and with that she uttered with tension "play times are over and I'm about to get started"

Aerwyna walked into her room lifelessly. It seemed as if her existence was a lie. Eldric was gone and she had a quarrel with her mum. "It's all my fault. I never do anything right." She felt a wave of despair and regret wash over her. Tears welled up in her eyes. A single tear rolled down her cheek. She felt her throat closing up. Tears streamed down her face. If only tears could heal emotional wounds, then she would cry a river. She picked herself up and staggered to her bed. All she needed right now was a good night sleep.

She got to her bed and saw a blurry silvery figure sitting on her bed. She was just too tired and emotionally drained to deal with anybody. Now was not the time for this. "Who the hell are you and what are you doing on my bed?" The figure turned around and looked at her. From her dress, Aerwyna knew that she was a female. Aerwyna tried to look into the silvery pair of eyes that were looking at her but she couldn't fathom anything. It was as though those pairs of eyes had seen a lot and it helped so many secrets. She was speechless.
"Aerwyna." The figure finally spoke. Her voice was calm and soothing. Aerwyna couldn't help but fall in love with it.
"Who are you? and how do you know my name? How did you even get inside my room?"
"Oh my dear Aerwyna come close to me. How I long to feel your closeness."

Aerwyna was about to run away but she couldn't bring herself to do so. It was as if she was spellbound
"What have you done to me? Why can't I walk away" "That is because you long for someone that will understand you, someone that won't make you feel like a piece of object. You crave for true love and affection" "That's not true! My mother loves me and I'm pretty sure you're just another demon trying to tear us apart!" "Your dreams Aerwyna....your dreams"
"What about my dreams? Wait, how you you know about my dreams?" "They are true. There is so much for you to discover. You have to start now."
Aerwyna was confused. She didn't know what to do or say. "You're more stronger than you could ever imagine. There are lots of things I would want you to know but it's too early and you're too young." "But I'm not a child anymore. You can let me know." "I will as time goes on but first of all, let our meeting be a secret. Do not tell your mother or anyone." "Now you're acting really suspicious. Like, I don't even know why I'm talking to you right now instead of raising an alarm." "You want to find Eldric right Aerwyna's eyes were wide open at the mention of Eldric's name. "How....how do you know that?"
The woman got up from the bed and walked closer to Aerwyna. She performed a spell and soon Aerwyna was in an illusion.

She saw Eldric being beaten mercilessly. He couldn't do anything to save himself. She felt her chest getting tighter and tighter. She wanted to run up to him and save him but the scenery vanished into thin air, as though nothing was there in the first place.
"No...no...Eldric.." Aerwyna turns abruptly to face the blurry lady. "What have you done to him?" "That's not my doing, it was just an illusion. This is what will befall him if you don't save him quick. You have to act fast if you want him alive " "But it felt so real, I could feel it.... the pain and agony and...and the sorrow...grief was written all over his face." "Like I said earlier, you have to act fast."

Aerwyna fell on her knees and bowed down before the lady. "Please, help me save him. Please show me the way. Give me enough powers and wisdom to set him free." "That is not possible for me to do, for all you'll ever need is at your disposal. Like I said earlier, you're more stronger than you could ever imagine. All you have to to is to unlock that power and utilise it."
"But how? I don't know how to perform great spells. Right now I'm grounded and it's practically impossible for my mum to change her mind....I mean I was rude to her few minutes ago and gosh...that woman doesn't understand me at all. Although she is a powerful witch, she doesn't teach me anything...like what kind of mother would do that to her child? Most times I feel that I'm not her child but just a lab rat for her...."

Aerwyna stopped talking as she heard the lady chuckle silently. She looked up at the lady and had a feeling of camaraderie. She felt as if she could tell the lady in silver anything at all. She felt the peace and love she had been longing for. "Why are you laughing?" She finally asked "Who said you needed your mother for this? You don't have to bother as long as you have me here." "Okay...I trust you. So how do I go about it?" "First of all, you need to go somewhere..."
"I just made it clear that I am grounded..."
"Calm down young lady, let me do my thing. So, you have to go to the room of magical instruments"
"No... I can't do that, my mum forbade me from going there. Besides it's locked by one of her most powerful spells"
"Of which I'm going to counter-enchant and unlock. So run down young damsel. Once you get there you'd see a very old and dusty box. It has a lock. Take it with you. On the left hand side of the room, you'd see a necklace; take it and wear it immediately. That way you can easily contact me anytime and anywhere. When you take the two materials, you'd search for a hidden staircase which is directly under where the box was originally. That staircase is going to lead you directly outside this forest to wherever you want to go. Go now I don't have much time with you."

The figure was already flickering as though it wanted to go out.
"Oh okay. I'd do just that. I'm trusting you on this. I hope you're not tricking me"
"Before I forget when you get to the door, just mention Alohomora thrice and the door will open. You have approximately three minutes before the door will be locked again and the hidden staircase won't surface anymore"
"I'm not sure why you're doing this, but thanks anyways" With that Aerwyna ran down the hallway leading to the room. Aerwyna suddenly remembered that she didn't ask the blurry lady for her name. She turned around but didn't find her.
"Well, let's just hope that what she says is true, if not, mum is going to kill me."