The Magic of Three

3.

Caleb was standing near the window of the room reading a parchment of paper. The room was immense and Erena always felt minuscule whenever she was summoned in to his chambers. The window Caleb was standing near took up the entire eastern wall and gave a magnificent view of the forest they'd just been in. The green leaves of the pointed pine trees were covered in an even layer of white snow and it stretched back until it disappeared on the horizon, Caleb had probably watched them return. The iron gates that circled around the mansion were like black pointed spikes and a group of blade-seers were practicing their fencing in the courtyards below.

In the room there were thee chaise-lounges around a large golden fireplace at one end, glass cabinets and shelves brimming with enchanted pieces decorated every part of the left wall and a portrait of a woman dressed in armour hung proudly on the wall opposite; Lady Freya. Erena dropped her gaze as she walked past the painting of the founder of the Circle of Blade-Seers and she felt a shiver pass through her. The idea that they were all trying to live up to the sorceress's legends seemed almost laughable since nearly all of them had lost their magic and the few that did possess magical energy could hardly use it in battle because it was so weak. All they were good at now was their skill with their weaponry. Erena almost frowned; Caleb should have changed their name to the Circle of blades-men instead. It seemed more fitting.

Erena's eyes focussed on the parchment that Caleb was holding as they walked towards his desk; the paper looked to be completely empty of words but one look at Caleb's face showed him to be deeply entranced by the invisible lettering of whatever he was reading. He was so glued to the page that he didn't notice their presence until after Mira had cleared her throat. At that point the bald man instantly pushed the paper beneath a pile of folders on his desk and smiled up at them.

"Mira- Erena-", he said by way of greeting as he took a seat at the huge wooden desk.

Erena had always been fascinated with Caleb's quarters and couldn't help herself as her eyes moved from the numerous items on the desk; that particular day aside from all the papers, the desk had a globe sitting in the centre. Every once in a while the globe would change colour and shadowy figures formed on the glass as if trying to escape. She glanced up to find Caleb's watery grey eyes on her but he merely smiled and turned to Mira.

"How was your hunt", he asked in a voice that was both gentle yet vibrated with a deep power that swam just below the surface. Erena had been scared of the man for most of her life and even now she dreaded to ever get on his bad side.

Mira gave a small grumble, "I killed a felinx and she killed another boarx".

Caleb's smile stayed fixed on his face but the corners of his eyes crinkled as if he were deep in thought, "a felinx", he muttered before looking up at them, "the stronger undead are coming on to our lands".

Mira made a sound of agreement and turned to Erena as if to order her to tell him about the vision. Her eyes narrowed when Erena stayed silent.

"Who's turn is it to patrol the grounds tonight", Caleb asked absentmindedly as he stared deep in to the glass globe in front of him. Purple wisps reached across the surface of the glass and formed shapes that deluded the eye but Caleb was entranced as he traced the shapes carefully as if they held the key to all their problems.

"Ellen and Tyrone", Mira's eyes were still narrowed at Erena as she spoke and when she turned to face Caleb Erena knew what she would say, "Erena had another vision".

Caleb's eyes shot up at them and Erena could feel his gaze boring in to her. She shifted uncomfortably on her feet when he finally spoke, "Mira you may leave".

Mira gave a final glance at Erena before turning and heading out of the room.

Caleb watched Erena as she shifted again, "Do you want to show me what you saw", his voice was slow but not unkind as he spoke. Even though she knew the last two times she'd showed him her visions they had been completely wrong and two blade-seers had disappeared as a result.

"I don't- uh- think this was anything helpful", Erena swallowed as she watched Caleb walk towards her.

He came to a stop in front of her and was quiet for a time as he cocked her head at her. His features softened as he spoke, "Erena- it isn't your fault that Pythos and Clara have disappeared", he'd guessed her thoughts straight away and she couldn't help but look away as he continued, "it's my fault for sending them off without checking other sources about your visions".

"I - I-", she didn't know what to say to him and allowed him to usher her towards one of the chaise lounges, "I'm sorry", she said as she sat down.

He merely shook his head, "don't be- it's not your fault".

His eyes looked clouded for a second and she couldn't help but watch him; the man had the palest skin she'd ever seen and it looked more like the snow on the trees outside than it did a normal skin colour. His eyes were a light grey but had a sharpness in them like he could notice even the smallest of things. He was tall and even as he took a seat beside her he had to look down to speak to her. The baldness of his head only made his skin seem more translucent and a small tattoo marred the section of his scalp just above his ear; it was an eye with a long line cutting it in half; the sign of the blade-seers.

"Shall we", he smiled softly as he held out his hand.