Chapter 96 Danger
"Don't scare her, headmaster," Layla deadpanned whilst spinning around. "We don't know for certain. Our potion is not done yet."
Potion? Ophelia's head snapped to Layla who held a scalpel in one hand and blood on her white lab coat. Her throat tightened at the nauseating scent in the air.
"I heard from Layla you were reading books written in the old language," Reagan murmured. "The words on there are language of the gods. Even the most trained magicians struggle to understand it."
Ophelia slowly blinked. She could see how unnatural this situation was. "I-I was never e-educated on the language. I-I was just looking over it, I don't—"
Reagan gave her a pointed look, as if he saw through her excuses.
Ophelia clamped her mouth shut. "I-I didn't mean to read it, I was just mouthing it without realizing it."
"Direct Descendants of the moon do not have to be taught the language of the gods, for it is their native tongue," Reagan told her.
Ophelia tilted her head in confusion. "W-what are you implying?"
"It could be impossible," Reagan began. "But the possibility is high, my lady. I know you might find it hard to believe, but Layla and I are certain that you could be a Direct Descendant of—"
"We can't be too sure," Layla suddenly said. "The ancient books never said purple eyes are direct descendants, but a potential trait. Ever since the massacre and burning of textbooks, all information is lost. I told you, we shouldn't be too sure until we have proof."
Reagan let out a small sigh. Seeing the lady's confused expression, he could only frown. Telling her the wrong information would only endanger her.
"It is alright," Ophelia told him upon his burdened frown. "My appearance is quite strange, but I assure you it is just g-genetic defect."
Reagan narrowed his eyes. Who told her of such a thing?
"M-my father has light blond h-hair too," Ophelia continued. "T-the younger you are in t-the family, the less y-you resemble the head. M-my oldest sister has golden strands, b-but as you can tell, I do not."
So this was what they meant. Suddenly, the Eves family began to intrigue Reagan. He was certain the books had commented something about them before. He had come across many types of research in his lifetime, from the limited books of this castle to the sprawling shelves back in Tower of A Thousand Wizards, and he often remembered many of what he read.
"A-actually, I have come t-today with a request," Ophelia said whilst awkwardly twisting her fingers.
"Yes, what could it be?" Reagan gently asked.
"I-it may be impudent of me," Ophelia stated, her heart skipping when Layla glanced at them again. She wondered what Layla was dissecting.
Reagan patiently waited. Could it be that she'd like him to fix her tongue? It wouldn't be a surprising response. He knew high society must've ridiculed her for something she couldn't control. With his magic, if it was an organ thing, he could definitely give it a try even though healing magic was rarer than snow during spring. Though, he wondered why House Eves didn't hire a powerful healer, for they had the money to buy the services.
Then, Ophelia uttered something so surprising, that even Layla dropped her scalpels.
"C-could you teach me magic?"
A noble lady's duties in life were to oversee and birth. She was to manage the house and its affairs. She was to birth her husband aplenty children, heirs one after the other, in the case that they die young. She was to obey the man that keeps a roof under her head and food on the table. She was to only speak to other married women about their children and seldom of herself. Her entire identity was to her husband, his family, her children, and nothing else. The life she was to live was not for her own, but the people around her.
A stunned silence fell over the apothecary. Layla glanced at the lady almost in disbelief, her mouth stuck in place. Reagan observed the lady for a split second.
Realizing Ophelia said something wrong, she blinked. "O-oh, I-I uhm…"
Ophelia thought they meant their words. "I-I thought, w-well…"
"The Duke would not allow it, my lady. Since Layla's incident, he had forbidden us from teaching you," Reagan regretfully informed her. "I suspect he knew you would've asked us this after Layla's demonstration in the evacuation chambers. He came to me shortly after the goblin invasion."
Ophelia's shoulders dropped. Her eyes trembled to find a place to look at. Killorn did what? Her voice was stuck in her throat. She visibly tensed and tried to force a word out of her mouth.
Ophelia didn't know what to say. Killorn knew Ophelia spoke fondly of magic, yet restricted her to the very thing that made her happy recently.
"Usually I would not mind going against the impudent man, but he was quite serious and you know how stubborn he can be," Reagan said. "Though, I am still honored that you asked. Instead, I'll offer my doors to you—you're free to enter and leave this place as you please."
"I-I understand," Ophelia mournfully said in a tiny voice. "I-if my lord husband wishes for it, w-who am I to go against him?"
Reagan's expression softened. "Should you have any other requests, please do not hesitate to inform me."
Ophelia reluctantly nodded her head and rose to her feet. She saw the sun had long setted and knew Killorn would be looking for her now.
"I-I must go, thank you f-for the tea," Ophelia warmly said.
"Of course," Reagan stated with a warm smile. "Layla, change your coat and guide the lady back to the Mavez mansion."
Layla tossed down her coat and said nothing. She changed into a clean lab gown and grabbed her brown leather bag as if intending to leave for somewhere else.
"Come with me," Layla stated whilst walking through the doors with Ophelia. They journeyed in silence, all the way from the tower to the maze, and then on the path back to the Mavez Dukedom.
Orange hues fell over them as the setting sun pierced through the clouds. Only when they were far from the magic tower did Layla finally approach Ophelia and lower her voice.
"Reagan is protective of all scholars," Layla began. "Anyone under his wing concerns him. I'm sure you can imagine what kind of strain that is for an old man?"
Ophelia bobbed her head, wondering where this conversation was leading to.
"Like most his age, he is always eager to teach what he knows, but his hands are bound when he believes a precious scholar could be put in harm's way—in this case, it is me," Layla said. "I have become a weakness for Reagan."
Ophelia slowly blinked. She realized what Layla was implying. Killorn held Layla like a captive in front of Reagan—whether it was intentional or not.
Layla glanced at Ophelia. "Reagan will be implicated if he teaches you. However, unlike the wolves, we do not serve the Duke. We're not under the Sovereignty of the Wolves."
Ophelia's lips parted in realization. She thought they were. As they walked, she passed through many werewolves that must've worked for Killorn. When they saw her, they immediately bowed their heads and saluted, cheerfully calling her by the proper address of "Luna!"
"Wolves born on Mavez Dukedom's lands are forced to obey their Alpha, but I am a mage. I might be scared of the Duke, but I am not afraid of disobeying him," Layla stated.
Ophelia was surprised. She couldn't fathom anyone ever going against the frigid and large man.
"I'll teach you magic," Layla immediately told her. "You are more special than you credit yourself for."
"Y-you just want an e-excuse to rebel against t-the Duke," Ophelia said out loud.
Layla's lips curled. Finally, she smiled. She even laughed under her breath. "Perhaps."
"W-why?" Ophelia mumbled.
"You'll find out tomorrow," Layla deadpanned. "I must implore you for a favor, my lady."
Ophelia blinked. "L-like?"
Layla stepped closer. "I won't say it, but just now, I am more useful to you than unexpected. You would not want to lose me."
Ophelia didn't know what Layla was implying. She glanced over her shoulders. She was glad that there was no servant or guard present on this path. Should they have heard this, they'd report it to the Duke immediately.
"But because it is a secret that I will teach you magic, you'll have to meet me at night time in the basement of the Mavez mansion," Layla informed her.
"T-the Duke returns at night t-to me f-for his d-duties…" Ophelia's cheeks burned when Layla raised a brow.
"I can leave earlier and before he returns for your services, then," Layla stated. "It'll be when the sun is midway into the setting. Come alone and to the basement where they keep the weapon supplies."
Ophelia tilted her head. "I-isn't that place usually locked up?"
"It is," Layla told her. "But Reagan and I usually have free reign around the Mavez Mansion. The Duke is kind to us, but mainly to Reagan who had watched him grow up."
Ophelia didn't know Reagan was that involved with Killorn's life. In fact, she knew nothing about her husband. She was suddenly saddened by the truth.
"I'll find a way to open the basement doors, you just have to show up, alright?" Layla said.
"Y-yes…"
Layla revealed a slight smile, for the first time since their conversation.
Ophelia was momentarily awestruck by Layla's beauty. With her hazel hair and soft brown eyes, Layla was quite the dazzling gem.
"It will be my pleasure to teach you then, my lady," Layla softly responded.
Ophelia's heart skipped with excitement. She immediately nodded, her eyes glistening with joy.
"T-thank you!" Ophelia chirped, her chest light and airy. She was overcome with delight, completely unaware of the danger that lurked from their secret.
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