"Mr. Mage. What gives me the pleasure this time? Does your back hurt? Or is it your knee again?"
Christopher Belnades grinned. He was checking the animal shelter. Some hens were circling him.
Simon the Mage smiled dryly. "Would you believe that I'm actually quite healthy?"
"Really? So, what's up? Is your sister sick?"
"Why are you always so suspicious? No. We're both fine." He climbed up and sat on the top of the fence. "Now, I came to talk to you about something."
"Right. What is it then?"
"Celia says... Sypha is very intelligent girl. I have noticed, too. And I mean it. You should send her to a school."
Christopher gave him a inquiring look. He shook his head gently.
"You got to be kidding. A girl into a school? Do you know how much those cost? I don't have money. And... I would never send my only child away from me!"
The mage's smile faded. He jumped off the fence, walked to him and looked him straight in the eyes.
"I knew it. I knew what your answer would be... I knew exactly. So speaks the healer of Warakiya. Right, he is famous for his skill in the field of healing people. But, all the time he has for his daughter is teaching her to be his follower." He shook his head. "You have done nothing but worked since Catherine died."
"Who are you to tell me what I've been doing since she died?! Do you think it's easy, with my father handicapped and all?" He looked at the older man angrily. "And Sypha... she's been doing her mother's duties ever since she died. She was so young then... she still is. I need her. I need her to find herbs for me. To take care of father... to take care of everything when I am not able to do it. And I should send her away?"
"I didn't say that."
"Don't you realize she's all I have?" Christopher turned away.
Few minutes passed. Christopher tried to continue his work, while the mage sat on the ground and watched his every move.
Finally, the mage got up and walked to him.
"Well. Now that you have had your fanatic talk about how much you need your daughter and all that, will you listen to me for a minute?"
"What more is there to say?"
"Did you know I have a student?"
"Whatever." Christopher shrugged. After a while, he said, "Alright, I give up. Really? I haven't heard... and if it's true, half the town should be talking about it already. Okay... Are you teaching him to be a mage or something?"
"Actually, yes. I've had him for a week now, just haven't told anyone. He doesn't like people, and mostly stays inside, reading."
"Oh, just what we needed - another Mr. I-don't-like-being-around-people mage."
"Something like that. Anyway. His name is... let's say, Mevalar. That's his name in the wizard's language. He's son of an old friend. Well, I do teach him magic, among other things. He'll protect the town when I'm gone..."
Christopher looked at him. "Ah, so you're planning on dying soon?"
"No, but I'm old. Do you even realize how old? Almost sixty. Most people don't live long enough to see their fiftieth birthday... I should be dead already. Anyway. I'll be gone one day and there's nothing you will be able to do about it."
"Stop that."
"Yes, yes. Now, I could teach Sypha as well, since she's intelligent and all. It might be good for her to know some languages and mathematics and history... You want your daughter to be educated when she is old enough to get married, don't you? She's going to be a healer, after all."
"Well... yes. I was going to... But why are you offering me this?"
"Because I like Sypha? Because I like you? Maybe because I feel like doing it."
"Strange, as always. One can never say what's going on inside your head. You're so... unpredictable."
"So?"
"I'll think about it. You know, she would be working less... someone needs to look after father, he's... Well you know how he is. And someone must take care of the animals. If I decide you can teach her, I'll send her over tomorrow."
"As you wish."
Christopher sat by the table, thinking. Should he... or should he not? He wanted Sypha to be a healer. But some education might
be good for her. One day, she would be an adult, and... he didn't want to think about it. His little daughter growing up... Well, that
was inevitable. So why not? It would be good for her. And less hard work, she was still a kid. He would wash the clothes and
make the meals himself if that would be necessary.
"Listen, Sypha..."
Sypha, who was raised her head. "Yes, father?"
"Have you ever thought of studying something?"
"Study...? You mean... healing?"
"No. Reading, writing, languages, that kind of things."
"I can read. And write."
"Something more advanced. I was offered a chance to... Well. It might be good for you. And you didn't have to work all the time."
"Father...?" Sypha looked scared. "You're not sending me anywhere, are you?"
Christopher smiled. "No! I just... You see, Mr. Mage has a student. Some mage-in-training... His name is Mevalar or something. He offered to teach you as well, while he's on it."
"He has...? Wait... you mean... Could I?"
"Yes."
Jonathan turned and looked at his son.
"Are you out of your mind? Who's going to take care of the house then?"
"I'll find a way. I'll stay home more or something."
"Oh, right..." Jonathan shook his head.
"I knew you would say that. But, I've made up my mind. Come on, father... it'll be fine. She'll learn some languages and mathematics..."
Jonathan looked at him angrily. "Well, I don't see what difference it makes when she gets married. She needs to know how to take care of a house, not some fancy things like languages and all that."
"I told you I've made up my mind. I want my daughter to be capable of more than caring for her husband. Someday, she will be a healer, too, and... I want her to know more than a normal housewife. Sypha, you go see Mr. Mage tomorrow. I'll talk with Bruce and Robin about the animals."
It was almost midnight, but Sypha couldn't sleep. Mr. Mage would teach her? Languages, mathematics and all?
But why? Why not one or two of the boys in the town... Why her?
And who was this... Mevalar? Another mage? First, there was Mr. Mage, who she liked very much, then there was Celia the great story-teller... There really were some wizards left in the world. Well, who ever it was, it didn't matter - she would surely find out soon enough. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
When she opened her eyes, the mist has gathered around her...
"No!!" she screamed. This was... a bad dream. Where was her father? Not here, in the forest... and she surely didn't want to be here. She wanted to be at home. When would this dream end?
She saw a bright light farther away. It was... tempting. It draw her closer. She couldn't help herself, she would follow it...
The Moor of Silence. There was fog, as always. But she could see through. There were men... or women, she couldn't say. They all wore robes. They were gathered around a huge stone pillar. She went closer...
Next to the pillar, stood someone, wearing bright white robes. He was holding a staff. As she went closer, he turned around. With a soft, echoing voice, he said:
"So shall my spirit be free..."
Last thing she remembered was darkness.
Simon Blackwood walked through the forest. He was in thoughts, as he had just heard some bad news from his informant. There
was something going on inside Castlevania. His informant, a half-vampire, was keeping an eye on Eclipse's every move. Right now,
old Eclipse was up to something.
He continued walking. Just a little more to the town, then...
Suddenly, he could feel something. Something... Sypha? Yes, it was her spirit. Where? Was it here in the forest? No, further away, on the moor of Silence... But why? Out here, in the middle of the night?
He jogged along the path to the edge of the forest and glanced around. Light mist, nothing else. But he could feel it.
"Hmm. Wouldn't surprise me..." he thought. His informant had once told him that he had found Sypha in the forest. It had to be because of that spirit... the spirit of Meranalar.
He walked into the mist, looking around. She was near... somewhere. He walked for some time, then stopped.
"Where... where are you?! Great spirit... where?"
He closed his eyes. He could still feel it. Not far away. He continued walking, then turned to the left and looked once again.
There. She was lying on the ground. He picked her up. She was cold, but otherwise alright. He wrapped his cloak around her, and
started carrying her towards Warakiya.
The lights were on in the Belnades house. He knocked on the door.
"Christopher?!"
Christopher opened the door. "You. What! What do you want?! I have to... Sypha is missing. She..."
He stepped in. "Not exactly. Here she is."
Christopher lowered his sight and saw his daughter in Mr. Mage's arms.
"Thank God..."
He took Sypha from him and carried her to the bed. Mr. Mage followed.
Christopher covered Sypha. She was shivering, and she mumbled something. Christopher lay down beside his daughter and put his arms around her.
"What is this...?" He shook his head.
"Nothing serious. I think she walks in her sleep... Well, bad thing is, she seems to like wandering into the forest. You'd better lock the door properly. Good night."
Mr. Mage left, leaving confused Christopher behind.