Liseran couldn't help but give Cassima a small smile. It had been such a long time since she had met someone who help up values so strongly, and those that were not the harsh cynicisms that she heard way too often nowadays. She had been slightly concerned when she found out the book wasn't with Cassima, but it was eventually revealed that Jack had it.
Gingerly, Liseran looked at the page with the image of the girl against a blue background of night and shadows. She once again looked at the Cartic runes.
"'Tis only when I'm gone, can I be found." Despite herself, Liseran read the chapter out loud. It was a short chapter in a series of fairy tales, and rather unremarkable in itself.
The Disappearing Girl
There once was a girl who wished to disappear. Her heart broken too many times, and her whole life filled by being hated, she wished to no longer be.
One night, she decided to fulfill her wish. Going to the highest cliff by a waterfall, the girl jumped into the air and went without a sound.The story seemed rather odd, and even dark, if one studied its implications. It was no wonder it was such an obscure fairy tale no one really knew about. It didn't make sense at all.
Finishing, Liseran's hand would hover over the Cartic runes forming a circle at the bottom part of the page glowing in bright blue. It would be here that Jack and Cassima would see something peculiar.
As Liseran hovered her hand, the circle would begin to flicker faintly before the marks itself disappeared. If they had the ability to sense Lei energy, they would not feel it transfer or fade, but merely just vanish and no longer exist in general. As Liseran did this, a portion of the page would begin to fade and reveal a thin layer peeling off that would have otherwise been damaged if destroyed manually. There, another portion of text.
On the night she decided to jump off a cliff by a waterfall, the night sky took pity on her and gently landed her into the lake below.
The water touched by the night, it took on the colors of darkness and shadows, as did the girl, and she lives unseen by others, and left alone in peace
Seeing the girl, the night sky took pity on her. With its gentle winds, it landed the girl softly into the lake below, unknowingly tainting the water with its colors.
When the girl emerged from the waters, her skin would also take on the color of the night, and her image shimmered as if she were part of the sky itself.
To this day, she lives unseen by others, her form never visible, but her presence eternally there. Seeing the last part, Liseran's eyes widened and her hands trembled unsteadily.
"Mama..." she whispered.
When she lifted her eyes from the page, her glasses would appear to fog, and she would have to clear her throat.
"I-I err...I'm sorry," she said.
"But I think I have to go."Liseran got up from her chair, and as she did, she tossed the book in the air. Cassima and Jack would notice her pull out her bell, and without hesitation, she cast a fireball and torched it until it was nothing but ash on the floor. Liseran would then stomp on it and kick it around.
"It was a pleasure meeting you two, it really was," she said.
"And I'm sorry for not having a proper explanation for you, but please know this is better."She looked at Cassima apologetically.
"I know I said I would help you with your enrollment, but rest assured you're going to be good as in after this," she said.
"And it's not just because they'll want you to keep hush about this entire incident. Your heart's in the right place, young lady, and I think with the right training, you could be a wonderful mage someday. I wouldn't have gotten anywhere today if it weren't for your help. So thank you."She looked at Jack, a little unsure of what to say to him. Flushing at remembering all the teasing he had incurred upon her, she pouted.
"And you...if anyone's a self-sacrificing character, you are!" she said. She then sighed.
"But I suppose you're a decent enough person. Thank you for your help, too--and try not to get stabbed!"With that, Liseran rushed out the door without warning and left them alone. They wouldn't have the chance to chase after her as an officer appeared saying that the Magistress was busy and that they were no longer needed. A letter would be handed to Cassima: a letter of acceptance into the school, it appeared, and an invitation to talk to one of the faculty on a scheduled date. As for Jack, he would simply be discharged and assumed to not be associated with any of the suspicious activity that took place for the day.
It was only then that the officer would notice that the third party member was gone. Eyes widening, he'd curse.
"Dammit, she's not here!" he said. "They're going to kill me!"
And would soon rush out causing panic. It was unsure what had just happened, but it was apparent that whatever Liseran had done was causing concern. That said, the two would not see her around the academy again, and the only remnant of her presence was the ash that now slowly settled on the floor, barely discernible from the rest of the dust. It was as if she had disappeared like the night, herself.