Soul magic

The old man looked at her daughter, worried, while he was slowly eating a piece of bread.

Hon, I am worried about ya. How you look at this... stranger. - He said with his eyes set on Rebecca, with a worried and tired stare.

Rebbeca playfully smiled. She grabbed some jam and put it on her father's plate.

Don't worry pa. I ain't stupid. I know how to defend myself. Here, take this jam, I made it specially for ya.

The old man finally raised his eyes and found her daughter's sweet face. A revel tear streamed down his face.

If I'm being honest... I feel guilty. You're so clever and beautiful. You could go to the city and achieve so much stuff. But you're here. Taking care of your ol' man. - Tears fell through his face while his shaking hands spread jam over the bread.

Rebecca stood up and wrapped her arms around her dad, gently resting her head on his shoulder by his neck.

Every single moment that I spend with you is worth it, pa. Every single one of them.

But sooner or later I'll die. Probably sooner. Are you staying alone then? What would your life be after that? - Said the old man, his voice breaking with sadness.

A noise interrupted their conversation. Arkham entered the kitchen. Upright posture and an intense stare.

Good morning. I hope that both of you had a wonderful night of sleep. Because a good sleep is quite necessary if you want to work efficiently. - Said Arkham while he looked at them both, maintaining the stare.

The old man coughed and smiled, a bitter smile.

My lord... man. You give me goosebumps. But my kid here says that you're a good person... I guess I believe her. Your way of... acting, is not from here, is it? I'll keep an eye on ya. If you ever do something to MY daughter I-

The old man started coughing, unable to stop. Rebbeca rushed to him and patted his back softly, with care and sweetness.

Arkham got out and sat by a tall, elder tree. He looked at the sky, lost in his thoughts. His name was so feared long ago. Now... He wasn't more than a man without future or expectations.

A soft, warm hand over his shoulder brought him to reality.

Arkham? You okay?

His soft, gentle touch took him by surprise. His warm and calmed nature was so... unknown to him.

Don't worry Arkham, I don't bite! - Said Rebbeca with a playful smile.

Arkham smiled too. He took a good look at her. It was the first person that paid attention to him without second intentions. In her eyes, he wasn't more than a wizard that fell into disgrace. Just a lost man.

I unintentionally heard part of your conversation with your father. I admire what you do for him but, he has a valid point.

Rebbeca frowned and shook her head.

I ain't leaving him. He took care me all his life, forgetting about himself. My ma died long ago. Pa never married again because he was afraid that a step ma would treat me badly. He sacrificed for me, ya know?

Silence. Only the whisper of the wind softly blew the fallen leaves around them.

And you? Tell me about ya. - Said the young woman, as she played around with a strand of her dark hair.

Arkham looked away for a few seconds.

I was an all powerful wizard once. The most powerful of them all. - Said Arkham with zero humility. - I was so close to achieving eternal immortality. But, the entity that allowed me to achieve that, was defeated. And with that, my destiny died too. - Whispered with melancholy.

Rebbeca laughed softly.

A wizard? Is this some type of classy poetry that I don't know of? I never understand when they speak in metaphors. Seriously though, where is ya wand? - And made a gesture with her finger, as if it was a magical wand. Moved it around in circles before bursting in laughter.

That is not how it works. - Answered Arkham with a soft smile. - There are spells, conjurings, magic objects, potions, and even cursed relics that can alter reality itself. If you work with a powerful entity, everything seems... easy. Actually, that's how I lived more than humanly possible.

She looked at him in disbelief. Then she laughed again, louder this time.

You're kidding, right? Or you lost your marbles because of your suffering. - Said Rebbeca with sweetness. - Let's suppose that I believe ya. Why would you wanna live for so long? Did you lock yourself at a tower making sinister plans or what? For what? - Said Rebbeca with honest curiosity.

Arkham looked at her in silence. He never bothered to think about that. He breathed the clean air from that land and sighed. Rebbeca looked at him expectantly. Her eyes locked on him.

He finally answered.

Long ago, families consisted of many members. All lived together in one big house. When I was just a kid, while I was away, an foreign army slaughtered all my family. Men, women, children, pregnant women and elderly people. Imagine how that impacted the life of a child, a pure child. - Said Arkham with his voice breaking.

I am so sorry about what you've been through. But, what does that have to do with your wish to become immortal? - Pointed out Rebbeca.

I swore that I would stop any and all wars. To achieve that I needed power. Destiny then took my side for once and a powerful alchemist took me as his apprentice. I learned a lot from him but quickly, he taught me all that he knew. So I left, traveled all over the world. I traveled through land and sea, rainy storms, cold winters and harsh summers collecting every piece of knowledge possible. I didn't just start as a powerful being without the hard work. And you young lady? What makes you go on every day?

Wow! Well, my motivations are way simpler. I breathe clean air and take care of Pa. He'll die soon, don't you think that I don't know that. But, that is why I enjoy every moment with him. I am happy like this. I do not wish to conquer the world or anything... yet. - Said Rebbeca with a playful smile.

Happiness? That word was almost unknown to him. He knew pleasure, power, ambition, but not happiness. When was the last time that he felt... complete?

You are really beautiful... your soul I mean. So pure. I have never met someone with one like yours. Not everybody would pick a stranger up from death's doors. Even worse, someone that looked like I looked that time - Said Arkham with a whisper, his eyes lost in hers.

Rebbeca blushed and looked away.

Pa said that you're bad news. Maybe he's right... By the way, Mr wizard, stop saying nonsense or you'll be taken to a mental asylum. - Said Rebbeca while laughing. - If what you say is true, then you're a villain, right? I don't judge you, I like villains. Villians are the ones that make the story continue. In real life, you gotta fight for what you want. Maybe all of us have a little of a villain inside of us, If not, nobody would advance in life. I think that when you are a filly, you imagine yourself as a hero. Only later in life, you understand why villians do what they do.

Rebbeca made a pause, the finally added:

In my case though, I wouldn't hurt a fly. It's just not how I am. Manipulating others is just not my thing.

Arkham looked away, ashamed. In the past, he gifted objects to important people just to take advantage of them. He made a pact with a dark entity to achieve his goals, and, somehow, he made it. He lived more than any human did. The price? Loneliness. Now, he felt weak and exposed. But, he knew better than anyone that he was just following his goal in mind. An idealist, after all.

I did hurt people, many people. - Said Arkham without looking up. - I cheated, betrayed and sacrificed others for my own selfishness. Everything that I touched turned into dust or a painful memory.

Rebbeca frowned and moved closer to Arkham.

But after all... you're here. You are not a villain any more. - Said Rebbeca with a smile. - Maybe your story isn't over yet. Maybe your true purpose is still out there.

Arkham sighed and started playing with a stick that he found on the floor.

The concept of redemption is for the weak. - But his voice lacked conviction. - The world only moves because of power. Is the only concept that it understands.

Suddenly, they heard a noise in the backyard. A teenager entered the property and was stealing fruit because he thought that no one was watching. When the wizard understood what was happening, he stood up, went towards the teen and punched him so hard that he fell on his back. But he continued. One punch after another. Unleashing all his frustration onto him.

Rebbeca tried to intervene but was accidentally hit while trying to stop Arkham.

I am deeply sorry Ms Rebbeca. I didn't mean it. - Said the wizard, full of regret.

These are the consequences of your actions, understand that. Not everything gets solved with violence, look at the poor teen and tell me what you see.

A teenager scared and trembling with fear. - Said Arkham, deeply ashamed of himself.

He 's just hungry. Look at his hair. His natural color is black but he has reddish strands of hair because he doesn't eat as he should. bring him some milk and cheese that we stock in the refrigerator.

The youngster, teary eyed, thanked over and over again and promised not to steal from her ever again. Arkham came back with the food that Rebbeca asked for. The teenager accepted happily and walked off slowly, with a mixture of fear and gratefulness.

Rebbeca screamed to him: " If you're hungry just come by! There's always some for the one who needs it!"

Rebbeca then turned to Arkham and looked at him in detail. She clearly noticed his shame. He just attacked someone way weaker than him.

First listen to the people, who know what they have to say. Life's as this field full of flowers, it can be pretty beautiful too.

I still see this world as a battlefield, not a garden. But, what am I now? Just a man sat in a field listening to a young woman telling me about the meaning of life in the middle of nowhere.

Rebbeca reached for a tangerine and peeled it carefully. Then she gave it to Arkham.

Maybe. But, don't ya think that life would be much easier if we all just share things with others? - She pointed at the tree above them. - There are more than enough tangerines for the three of us and more to share. Here, we learned to share, everybody here makes it somehow. Is just easier if we share.

Arkham accepted the fruit. He thought that, maybe, there could exist another life in which he could live without hurting anyone. And just when he was feeling safe, he felt a bad omen. Something had broken the power balance and the consequences of that could be fatal. With his powers sealed, he couldn't do anything about it. Just wait and pray that he wasn't right this time.

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