With her father's memory failing and her mother gone, Soraya Thenayu enrolls in distant Darkwood Academy and immediately becomes enemies with the richest kid at school. Between hiding her father's gift of illegally harvested magic, befriending socia...
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"Brother, before you do anything, I have some questions for you," Yosef began, then put down his silverware and folded his hands together, as if he were about to pray. "I want you to know it's safe to answer them here."
Tishva smirked. "Are you acting like this because you became both a physician and a priest?"
His friend's lips curved into a half smile. "Yes, that's exactly why. And I need to look out for you, my friend."
He bowed his head, closing his eyes for a moment before gazing back up into Mr. Thenayu's grayish blue eyes. "Do you remember when we went to school together at Darkwood Academy?"
"Of course. Those were some of the best years of my life."
Yosef's blue eyes sparkled. "I feel the same way," his expression hardened as he lead with another question. "Do you remember those expeditions we were sent on to search for magic during the first two years after we graduated?"
Tishva stroked his beard. "Yes, I remember them. We were young, reckless, and eager to use magic. I believe the government had sent scouts to observe us in class and had hired us the moment after we graduated."
"Good, good," the doctor reached for his utensils and sliced the halves of his sandwich into smaller pieces. "Do you remember when you disappeared for thirty years after the government separated us and placed us into different job positions?" he paused, watching his friend carefully.
Tishva stared hard at the table. To Soraya, it looked as if he were hoping the answer would be written somewhere in the white and blue checkered cloth.
"No, I don't recall any of that," Mr. Thenayu faltered.
"You don't remember what you were doing for those thirty years?" Dr. Athan skewered the lightly toasted bread of his sandwich with his fork and let it slowly sink in.
"Was I really gone for that long?"
"Yes, brother. I couldn't find any trace of you. It was as if you had never existed," Yosef stared at his friend with unblinking icy blue eyes. "And after all that time, you suddenly reappeared in Rivinsdeep with Adonia, who you say was pregnant with Soraya despite her having red eyes... How did you meet her?"
Tishva looked even more confused. "I really don't remember. It's as if I've always known her. I have a strong desire to protect her and my daughter, but I don't remember how we met. I just know that after we moved to the most remote town that existed at that time, and my daughter was born."
"I only had a short window of time to talk to you again before you disappeared back into your work," Dr. Athan's sharp blue eyes narrowed. "Strangely enough, you gave me the same answer then of not remembering those thirty years of being gone. I thought you had been joking, and I figured you'd tell me someday, but now, I think you're being serious."
Mr. Thenayu sighed. "I remember that Adonia, Soraya and I had been living altogether up until our daughter turned one. I had been given a year off from work, so I helped out around the town to earn food and supplies."
