The Warmth of the Hearth

Luke sits beside Olin, his orange eyes filled with gladness at the sight of his uncle. Olin sits up from the wooden bed, its base creaking as he shifts his weight above it. He takes off the bandage that was covering his left eye, which was also fully healed. Olin looks at Luke, his eyes brimming with tears. A moment of silence passes as Olin wipes the tears away. “I am glad to see you young Luke. I have feared the worst, after everything...” He pauses, running his hands over his face. “I have been led to believe that I was the sole Laisren left.”

Luke looks at his uncle, leaning in as he listens to his words. “The sole Laisren? What do you mean Uncle Olin?” He scans Olin’s face for a clue as to what he may be talking about, finding none in the process.

Olin looks out of the window beside his bed, seeing Tyrone wandering around in the distance. “We have been ousted from existence young Luke. As far as Ezicion is concerned, there never was a House Laisren.” He pauses, taking a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing. “It seems that your death was nothing more than an accident, an unexpected variable. They could not risk facing further complications.” Olin looks at Luke. His eyes look lost, not knowing what to do next. “House Laisren was eradicated, burned to the ground.”

“What about father and the others? Why aren’t they with you?” Luke asks, desperation in his voice. He grabs Olin’s shoulders, now up from his seat. “Uncle! Where are they?!”

Olin doesn’t answer. He looks down, unable to face Luke. It was from this Luke had his answer, they were no longer around. He lets go of Olin and sinks down to the floor. His uncle finally speaks, answering all of Luke’s questions. “When they hit us, we were unprepared. We were all supposed to perish in the flames when your father...” Olin reaches into a pocket of his tunic and pulls out a scroll with a red ribbon wrapped around it. “He sacrificed himself for my sake. He never believed that you had truly perished, and thus clung onto the hope that someday I would be able to meet you again.” He hands Luke the parchment, bits of ash can be seen on it. “This... is from your father. He wishes for you to have this young Luke.”

Luke takes the scroll, unable to say anything. He unwraps the red ribbon and proceeds to roll down the paper, beginning to read the content within. On top, a black mark of a dragonfly can be seen, evidently drawn by his father who was an excellent artist.

To Luke,

Luke, if you are reading this, then it could be because I was too clumsy in keeping this letter hidden, or because my time has finally caught up to me. If it is the latter, I ask of you the forgiveness that I require for being absent as a father to you. There is no amount of apology that I can give you to make up for what I lack and for my shortcomings. Still, I am sorry. I hope that a time will come that you will find it in you to forgive me.

Olin has told me about your uncanny ability for getting into trouble, which is something that we share. Which is why I trust Olin to be a better guide than I ever will be, and a time will come that I will give my life for his if it means that he will remain by your side. House Laisren has never been one to be recognized, and I have no doubt that when I pass away before your time comes, the entirety of our house will pass as well. My time is running out, or in your case, it already has.

Luke, with how temporary life can be, I must admit that I am afraid. A part of me wishes to be the best father there is to you, but a part of me also knows that I have to keep you and House Laisren safe, so that when the time comes, you will take over and do a better job as a leader. I promised your mother that I would not die soon so let us hope I am a hundred years old by the time I meet Anais. I am and always will be proud of you, our Sunlight.

With all the love I have to give,

Laurent Laisren

Luke finishes with tears streaming down his face. He never resented his father, for he knows that everything his father did, he did for the good of all of them. However, his heart wishes that they could have time together, to be father and son.

At the bottom part of the parchment, he sees an Alchemy symbol, drawn in black ink that resembled a pentagon with various runic writings drawn on the border. Luke proceeds to read what was written, his eyes following the various scribbles that were evidently his father’s. “To the warmest of flames, a pendant to wear. I share a name with the mightiest of beasts, and around your beating heart I shall thrive.” As he finishes, a bright orange glow appears from the center of the circle. He puts the scroll down, as a bright silver chain rises from it. on the end, a beautiful white dragonfly pendant can be seen dangling. It flutters for a moment, before becoming completely inanimate. It rests on the top of Luke’s palms, warm against his skin. He flips the pendant, a writing etched on its back. Our Sunlight.