Act One: Materia Prima - Chapter 9

The darkness was forgotten for good. For good? For now. The man content. A little bit. Did he had earned it? Maybe not. Did not matter. This time in a good way. Hlout was talking to Hrain and Scild about the garden. Gward's head rested on her arms. Which had found their place on the table. She looked bored. Falsk kicked the air. Smirking at him.

“So, what do you want to do next? Just dance to Hrain's tune?”

He held onto his newfound resolve. Truth was possible.

“Sure, why not? Or are you jealous? But the question would be, of whom, Hrain or me?”

“Ha, what for? You're old and totally boring, and Hrain has her head in the clouds. I think things are going pretty well for me without you two.”

“Why do not take a leaf out of Hrain's book and be a little nicer to this old man? Maybe then you can come with us next time, if Hlout agrees.”

“Bah, no way! Why don't you recognize my absolutely charming personality and treat me accordingly?”

He laughed. She giggled. Gward groaned.

“Dessert!”

Hlout, Hrain and Scild interrupted their conversation. The oldest and the youngest girl stood up and left through a door. Closed it behind them. One he did not had entered yet. Probably the kitchen.

Gward and Falsk started to clear away the used dishes. Hrain gave him a look.

“Do you still want to see the mountains?”

“Maybe, but not for the same reason than before. Hlout mentioned you have been to the mountains. But you both said it is not possible to go there, if you have not been there before. How was it possible for you?”

“The first thing I remember are the mountains. I came down from there to the house. There is no memory before that. Nothing. But I want to know. I must know! Let us find a way to go there together and search for answers.”

“Sounds like a plan. But we have to ask Hlout for permission first. I do not want her to be mad at me.”

“Don’t worry, she will come around. Especially now that you've brought me back from the gray parts.”

“What did the flame actually want from you? From us? How are we supposed to help it? And why?”

“We should take care of that later. You can't trust fire.”

The door to the unknown opened again. Hlout emerged with a chocolate cake. It reminded him of something. Vaguely. He did not want to know of what. His resolve would not waver yet. Look forward!

Gward and Falsk had finished the table by now. They made room for Hlout. She placed the dark delicacy at the center. Conjured up a large knife. Cut the cake into twelve equal pieces. Meanwhile Scild placed new plates and pastry forks. Hlout placed the first piece on his plate. Cake server in hand instead of a knife. Next was Scild’s plate. Then Falsk’s. Hrain’s. Gward’s. And lastly her own.

This time they started unceremoniously. He did so too. Gward wolfed down her piece quickly. Grabbed a second one. Hlout gave her a meaningful look. She did not notice. Made the second piece disappear just as quickly. Rested her head again on her arms. Gazed into nothingness.

Their feast was drawing to a close. Slowly. Scild was the last to finish. Looked around apologetically. Hrain rubbed her shoulder. Hlout tapped Gward gently on the head. Nodded her head in Scild's direction. Gward sat up straight. She could even smile. Gave it to Scild.

“It’s fine. We have all the time in the world.”

It was done. Everyone was finished and stuffed. The girls started cleaning up. However. Hlout sent everyone away except for Falsk. The four of them walked out. He closed the door behind him. Gward immediately left through the main entrance. Scild darted through the glass door toward the garden.

And Hrain? She pulled him toward the sofa. They both sat down. He did. On the short side. Hrain sprawled out on the long side.

“Let’s wait for Hlout and Falsk to finish. Rest a bit and make plans. How do we convince her to let us go?”

“Hlout? She is just worried about you. I am sure she will agree if you tell her how serious you are about this. Or we just drag her with us.”

“I doubt she would leave this place. She’s always here to make sure no one returns to an empty house.”

“And the others can not fill this role for one little adventure?”

“Wait and see. But we need an ace up our sleeve. Maybe if I give up on the lighter for good. She’s always nagging about how I’m not allowed to search for it. How dangerous the veiled parts are.”

“You mentioned this before. What are the veiled parts? Are they somewhat like the gray parts?”

Hrain smiled softly and shook her head. Stretched all four limbs.

“No, they are vastly different. The worst thing that can happen to you in the gray is to get deceived by the secretive fire. But beyond the veil everything can happen. At least Hlout says so. No light reaches up there. That’s why I took the lighter with me in the first place.”

Something tightened up inside him. Not for long. A sound broke through the heaviness of his thoughts. Luckily. The opening of the dining room door. Only Falsk emerged. Noticed them on the sofa.

“What are you two good-for-nothings up to over there? Taking it easy after all the hard work you didn’t do?”

Hrain jumped up. Chased the smaller girl across the room. Both laughing. Could it be always like that? Hlout entered the room. Watched the girls going wild with some amusement.

“Hey, Falsk, you still have some work to do, and you, Hrain, take a seat on the sofa. You two can continue your little game later.”

Hrain abandoned the chase. Fell back onto the sofa. The smaller girl jumped around a little more. Hlout crossed her arms. Falsk quickly calmed down. Let her shoulders and head droop. Before she disappeared upstairs. Hlout took a seat. To the right of Hrain.

“We need to talk about the mountains.”