Scars that tell a Story, Alice and Leona Pt 1

-Flashback-

"Oreon. Oreon, wake up." A gentle voice slipped into his dreams, and a pair of light-brown eyes slowly blinked open, still heavy with sleep. "Come on," the feminine voice urged, growing a little firmer. "If you don't get up, we won't stop by that honey cake spot you love so much." At those words, his bright eyes flew open. Young Oreon shot upright, his face glowing with excitement.

"Honey cakes!" Little Oreon cheered, flinging off his covers and hopping out of bed as the mattress springs squeaked beneath him. When he landed, he found a tall girl standing nearby, her bright smile making her seem no older than eighteen. Long black hair fell down her back, and her lively brown eyes shone warmly. Dressed in a brown tunic, white shorts, brown boots, and a white jacket that stood out against the earthy colors, she looked both comfortable and effortlessly stylish.

"Come on, Oreon. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can come back for those honey cakes." He nodded at once, his eyes shining with anticipation.

- "It started like every other day," Oreon spoke grimly. "My sister was getting me out of bed to take me to the Elven village."-

"Alice, wait up!" Oreon's childlike voice burst out in an excited rush, his words spilling over the soft rustle of his white shirt and the tiny clicks of buttons slipping through his fumbling fingers. He hurried into his brown shorts and black-brown shoes, then called after her, "Don't leave without me!"

"Then you'd better hurry." She laughed softly, mischief bright in her eyes. "I might walk out that door any second."

"Alice!" Oreon's childish whine rang from upstairs, followed by the soft sound of her laughter.

A few moments later, young Oreon joined his older sister at the front door, his small feet padding softly across the floor. Alice leaned against the cool, smooth wood with her arms crossed. "Ready to go, kiddo?" she asked. Oreon answered with a confident nod and a reassured smile, giving her all the confirmation she needed.

"All right, then. First, the Elven Village—then honey cakes!" Alice declared, drawing a bright, joyful cheer from Oreon.

"Are you two heading out again?" a voice called from the kitchen. A middle-aged woman stepped through the doorway, her youthful radiance softened by a gentle smile. One hand rested casually on her hip as she watched her children prepare to leave.

"Yeah, Mom. We're stopping by the Eastern village, then getting honey cakes," Alice said, slinging her worn straw-woven bag over her shoulder as the old leather creaked softly.

"The Eastern village, huh?" her mother said, raising an eyebrow. "You two have been going there an awful lot lately." A teasing smile curved her lips. "Are you hiding something from me, Alice? Or maybe someone you've taken a liking to?"

"Mommm!" Alice whined. "It's not like that," she insisted, adjusting her bag with a proud little lift of her chin. "Elder Lyraith says I have a natural talent for healing magic, and Aura's been teaching me how to control it."

"Well, she taught me too. So, I'd say you have one of the best teachers anyone could ask for." Pride softened her mother's expression as she reached out and gently touched Alice's cheek. "And since I passed my gift down to you, maybe I should be a little worried." Her voice grew tender. "Just remember what I've always taught you—"

"Power without wisdom is dangerous," Alice finished with a smile. "I know, Mom. You don't have to keep reminding me."

Their mother's eyes softened with amusement at Alice's teenage exasperation, though quiet wisdom lingered in her gaze—shaped by experiences neither child could fully understand.

"Indulge your mother," she said with a soft laugh. "One day you'll be repeating the same lessons to your children." With that, she turned her attention to Oreon as she knelt to his level, her golden eyes twinkling as she gently adjusted his collar.

"And you, my little adventurer? Are you learning anything exciting at the village?" She asked him, and little Oreon quickly nodded his head in excitement.

"Elder Lyraith says I have potential! With some training from Aura, he said I could tap into my power and grow strong like you and Alice!" Oreon exclaimed. "Aura even gave me these cool daggers to practice with. She said they used to belong to you, back when you two fought side by side." He looked up at her, bright eyes filled with excitement.

Their mother's expression went still for a heartbeat as something ancient and guarded flickered behind her golden eyes. Her fingers paused on Oreon's collar while memories washed over her—battles long past, flashing blades, and conflicts the world had nearly forgotten.

"Did she now?" Her voice stayed carefully even, its forced lightness barely hiding the emotions beneath. "Those daggers are... very special. They've seen many battles."

She glanced at Alice, and a silent understanding passed between them—one Oreon was still too young to grasp. When she looked back at her son, her smile had returned, though it no longer reached her eyes.

"When you're older, perhaps I'll tell you the stories behind those blades. For now, my little knight, stay close to your sister, listen to Aura and Elder Lyraith, and don't cause them any trouble."

"I won't, Mom." Little Oreon nodded his head happily as his mother turned her attention back towards Alice.

"Alice, keep your little brother close and be careful on the eastern ridge path. Patrols have been more active lately. And remember, if you see any Order soldiers...

"I know. We come straight home, no exceptions. We make sure we take the back road and get back safely." Alice finished.

Her mother's shoulders relaxed slightly, though a tension never fully left her posture. She stood, brushing invisible dust from her apron. A nervous habit developed over the years.

"Good girl. And, if anyone asks--"

"We're just village children gathering herbs for our sick grandmother," Alice winked as she recited with practiced ease, the lie familiar on her tongue.

"And if that doesn't work?" Their mother crossed her arms gently, slightly leaning on her back leg as she quizzed her children.

"We scream real loud and yell that they're picking on children." Little Oreon responded, causing a slight smirk to appear on his mother's face.

"Mom, we know the drill. We've been doing this for years." Alice spoke up again as her mother nodded, but her eyes remained serious as she reached into her pocket and pressed something small into Alice's palm-a polished stone with faint runes etched into its surface.

"Take this. If there's trouble...crush it. I'll know."

She drew both children into a tight embrace and held them a little longer than usual. When she finally let go, her smile returned, carrying the quiet weight of fears left unspoken.

"Now go on, don't keep your teachers waiting, and don't forget to visit their bakery before they sell out of those honey cakes. And Alice? Remember what I taught you about the shadows between the trees."

"Bye, Mom! We'll bring you back a cake too!" Alice called, pulling Oreon out the door before their mother could worry any longer. From the doorway, she watched them head down the path, Alice's protective hand resting on Oreon's shoulder. Her smile stayed in place until they vanished around the bend. Only then did it fade, motherly calm giving way to deep concern. With a swift, practiced motion, she shut the door and crossed to an ordinary-looking cabinet in the corner. Her fingers traced a pattern across its surface, revealing a hidden compartment and the wrapped bundle within. When she pulled the cloth away, twin curved blades lay beneath it—black steel edged with gold, their metal gleaming with an unnatural golden sheen despite years of disuse.

Down the road, Alice and little Oreon walked side by side as the dirt path wound through the quiet countryside. Morning sunlight slipped through the canopy of ancient oaks, scattering dappled shadows across their way. Alice moved with steady purpose, her stride confident and measured, while Oreon skipped beside her, sometimes darting off to inspect a bright flower or curious stone before hurrying back to her side.

-And just like every other day, we would set out for the Elven Village. But little did we know, this was the day when everything would change. -

"Alice?" Oreon asked, looking up at his sister with wide, curious eyes. "Why does Mom always get that funny look when we talk about the Elves? The one where she looks happy and sad at the same time?

Alice slowed a little, her expression turning thoughtful as she searched for the right words. She tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear—a habit she had picked up from their mother. "It's complicated, little brother," she said at last, her voice gentle.

"Mom has a history with the elves. Good memories and...some not so good ones." Oreon's brow furrowed as he processed this, kicking at a pebble in their path.

"Is that why she doesn't come with us anymore?" Oreon asked, looking up at Alice. "She used to get excited when we went to see Aura and the rest of the Elves....Does she not want to see them anymore?" He asked her, his innocence showing.

"No, that's not the case; but the memories are part of it," Alice admitted, adjusting the strap of her bag. "But it's really because she needs to be careful. The Order doesn't like people like us--people with gifts-and they especially don't like the elves."

Oreon frowned, his small face suddenly serious beyond his years. "Because we're different?"

Alice nodded, her voice dropping to a near whisper despite the empty road. "Yes," She sighed. "And because they fear what they don't understand."

"But why? Aren't we all the same?" Oreon asked.

"The elves are different, Oreon, and so are we, in our way," Alice answered as Oreon's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Listen, Oreon, the Holy Order is a group of people--powerful people--who are afraid of magic they don't control. They believe that only their magic is righteous, and anyone else who has abilities is..." She hesitated, searching for words a child could understand. "Dangerous."

As the path narrowed beneath the forest canopy, sunlight streamed through the leaves in thin, shifting beams. Alice instinctively led Oreon into the deeper shade, following the lesson their mother had taught them.

"That's stupid," Oreon declared with the simple certainty of childhood. "We're not dangerous."

"Mom and Aura had their share of run-ins with them a few times, kiddo. That's why we have to be careful, because Mom doesn't want anything to happen to us." She smiled down at him, gently placing her hand on his head as they walked.

For a moment, silence settled between them, broken only by birdsong and gravel crunching underfoot. Ahead, the path began to climb toward the hills where the Eastern village lay hidden from human settlements.

"Will I ever be as strong as you and Mom?" Oreon asked suddenly, his voice carrying a hint of sadness.

Alice smiled down at him, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Maybe even stronger, kiddo. But remember what Mom always says--"

"Power without wisdom is dangerous," they both recited together, breaking into giggles afterward.

"Come on," Alice said, pointing to where the path forked ahead. "Let's take the hidden trail. Race you to the big oak tree!"

Without hesitation, Oreon's face lit up with competitive joy. He bolted forward with the boundless energy only children possess, his small legs pumping furiously as he darted between patches of sunlight and shadow.

"This time, I'm going to win, Alice!" Oreon called over his shoulder, his voice ringing with determination. Alice laughed and gave him a short head start before sprinting after him. The hidden trail was almost invisible to untrained eyes, a narrow path slipping between thick bushes and low-hanging branches. Only those trusted by the elves knew how to follow it, guided by faint carvings in the bark and stone patterns that looked natural at a glance.

As they ran, the forest seemed to stir around them. Birds cried out at their passing, and now and then Alice glimpsed small creatures watching from the underbrush—ordinary enough, yet touched by something unseen. Here, where human lands gave way to elven territory, the familiar world began to blur into magic.

Oreon laughed as he ran, light and carefree. "Oreon, slow down! Wait up!" Alice called after him, her own breathless laughter trailing through the trees—until she looked up. Her smile vanished. Smoke curled into the sky ahead. She snapped her gaze forward and saw Oreon frozen at the edge of the clearing, his small body trembling as the flames beyond reflected in his wide, terrified eyes.