26. It's your life now, too

“It's not gonna work,” the scientist ‘encouraged’ us, and with a sigh he stepped away from the digital panel.

It was chilly in the lab, so I hurried to put on the sweater I'd snatched from Grant.

“Keep searching,” the president ordered emotionlessly. “If that doesn't work, try it with the spell detonator.”

“We need at least another week to develop such a spell, and…”

“Don't worry about the money,” Rizor grinned, looked straight at us and then disconnected.

The image of the visor flashed a few times and then disappeared. I breathed a sigh of relief as the sight of president Circul, even through the holographic display, made me uncomfortable.

“See you next week,” the man in the white coat said goodbye and disappeared into the depths of the research centre.

“Let's go home,” Grant yawned as he stretched and led me to the car.

We waited until the many bodyguards had taken their places in the motorcade, and I took a bottle of water from a cooler box I'd spotted on my way into town. Still, it was good to be the president – or the president's son – I had never travelled in such comfort before.

Circul Jr also decided to quench his thirst and grabbed a can of soda.

“Grant, can I ask you something?”

He looked at me suspiciously, but curiosity got the better of him, “Ask.”

“Why do your grandfather and father have different surnames? Isn't your grandfather your father's biological father?”

“Since when are you interested in the world around you, Siri?” he chuckled.

It's just that before, I was completely indifferent to everything, even if there were questions, they didn't stay in my head for long – I was going to die soon anyway, so why fill my brain with unnecessary knowledge?

But he answered after a few long seconds, “Those who gain Oblivion's magic traditionally form a new clan.”

“Are you saying that your last name Circul was invented by the president?”

Grant nodded. “When I was a kid, my dad came home one day, sat down on the couch and passed out. When he woke up, he accidentally called the ghost hounds. Both his eyes have been black ever since.”

My fingertips went cold, my blood froze in my veins – I had heard of Oblivion magic, but the rumours were worse than the others. As if, once in a generation, a man could be given magic so powerful that he could command the souls of the living and the dead, take their minds with ease, drain an enemy with a single glance, suck their life out and cause them terrible torment in Oblivion.

I was already regretting starting this conversation, but something else was bothering me. “What about you? Do you have a chance to master this magic too?”

“No. My second gift has been opened. You already know about it. I can control other people's emotions.”

“And what's the first one?”

“I don't want to say it. If I mention it, something bad happens. But it's also elemental, like yours. Isn't your gift air?”

“Yeah, but it's pretty weak.”

Magic in our world was not valued above rubies, almost everyone had it, but few developed it. It was like the ability to read, count, draw or sing.

If you liked practicing magic, you could go to a magical institute, but if you didn't, you could find something else to do in life. Although there was a subject in every school called ‘Development of Special Gifts’, it was graded just like any other subject.

“I guess you didn't do so well at school,” Grant smiled.

“Were you the most exemplary student?” I said sarcastically.

“My school is much better, it was a presidential school. Even though I didn't study well, my knowledge is still above average.”

“Braggart,” I muttered, and turned away. The storefronts of the shopping district flashed by outside the window.

I looked at my trainers, which were too big for me. But they were so expensive. Every piece in Circul Jr's wardrobe was from a limited edition collection.

“Maybe we could stop by the shop?” I suggested timidly, wishing for a pair of normal ballet shoes or trainers.

“We can't do it during the day, it's too crowded, we'll attract a lot of attention.”

“What about no bodyguards?”

Grant looked at me like I was really stupid. “Can you imagine my father letting us go anywhere without security?”

I remembered how Rizor Circul had looked at his son in the hospital room, how he had stroked his hair and how interested he had been in our every move.

“Well, life is hard for the president's son,” I pitied him with undisguised irony and schadenfreude.

“Get used to it. It's your life now, too.”