16 Epilogue: Its The Beginning Of Getting Better (2/2)
”Hello, mother. How was your trip?”
”Don't try to change the subject, Sophia! Your faces are all over the news! You two almost got buried alive under a mansion?!”
”Yes, well um, Charlotte, let me explain.”
She immediately shuts her down, ”Master Ipruk. I do not want to hear your explanations.”
//Ouch. Mother only calls her Master Ipruk when she's extremely upset. Just like when she calls me by my full name.//
”I see… I'm sorry then. Do not blame Sophia. You should be angry with me instead.”
She sighs, ”I'm angry with the both of you. I'm livid. But-” She pulls them in for a hug catching them off gaurd, ”I am so relieved you two are okay.”
”Mother, you worry too much. Of course we'd be okay.”
”Hmph. It's not that I don't believe that but I still can't help but worry.” She pulls away from them and looks less angry. Although, she doesn't let go of Sophia completely as she starts absentmindedly petting her head. She wants to complain that her hair will get messed up but now's not the time.
”I'm your mother. I'll always worry.” she let's her go and turns to Ms. Ipruk, ”And you Cecilia, I always worry about you too. You're my friend after all.”
Ms. Ipruk looks slightly embarrassed, ”Aha. Well. Um... I promise that I did have things under control, really! We're fine so don't listen to what they-”
”Cecilia.”
”Yes?”
”We need to have a long discussion, when we arrive at your home.” Not a question but a demand.
”Of course, haha.” she looks nervous.
”Sophia.”
”What is it?”
”I brought you a gift! You can open it later.”
-
It's been almost a month since that case. Things settled down somewhat. Some strange customers still come by. But that's inevitable. At least, no more ghosts and horrible men! Bradley was discharged a long time ago, he sent flowers and a thank you card. But they have no idea where he is now. It's for the best. He needs to be somewhere safe and isolated. For now.
Sophia is sitting at the front desk. To put it bluntly, bored out of her mind. It's almost noon and no one has come by the shop.
She also feels kind of lonely, Ms. Ipruk said she was going to be gone for 3 months! This is the first time she's been gone for so long. She didn't ask her to come along with. Why? Because after receiving a harsh scolding from her mother, Ms. Ipruk decided to actually follow her advice and gave Sophia a break! A break to see her family again. Of course she misses them but she can't just leave!
///”Don't worry the shop can afford to close up for a few months, dear.”///
Don't dear me. This shop will fall apart without me! What if we miss potential important clients! What if something happens-
She's shaken out of her thoughts when she hears screaming coming from outside.
Oh great. It's the pests. It's the beasts. Normally, this is no problem for someone like Sophia but there's an unholy amount of Shadow Beasts roaming the streets! And she's still wary of dealing with them after the incident. Although, she can't just sit here and do nothing!
//I don't want to let others get hurt. It would be bad for our reputation!//
She grabs her staff and rushes out. Like a fool.
-
She's put up a good fight but this last little beast won't give up! Little but persistent indeed. Sophia barely manages to dodge its fangs and put a distance between them. She tries to use her staff but its too broken so she just throws it at its head hoping for a distraction. It does get hit and a little spark goes off!
The beast is temporarily blinded. Sophia dashes off. Her magic has been weakened from over exerting herself that she can't even summon her wings! How embarrassing.
She curses in ancient fae.
The little beast grabbed her ankle! How did it recover so fast?!
In this very moment, Sophia felt more offended than terrified. Her legend can't just end like this. She hasn't even started! She won't give up. She still has one trick up her sleeve. It starts dragging her to the dark alley about to tear her apart. Sophia tries to struggle out of its grip but it's no use. Damn. She's going to have to think of something else! Quickly!
She screams a little bit.
No shame in that.
//Okay. Before it tries to rip me apart I'll-//
Fortunately, she didn't have to do anything, the beast didn't even get a chance to raise it's claws against her when something sharp and powerful flew towards the beasts face! It instantly dissolves into nothing.
Sophia was shocked. She was shaking slightly.
What? Who?
Someone grabs her hand, helps her up and pulls her away from the alley.
”Are you okay?”
She looks up to the stranger. They're a dragon?
What's a dragon doing here?
She quickly composes herself as best as she can, ”I am... Thank you for the help. May I know your name?”
They look confused as if they weren't expecting her to ask that. ”Hm. You may call me Mani.”
To be continued...?