Adventures in the circle

She awoke crying again, reminders of terrible nightmares flooding her mind. Matill had only recently began having these nightmares, that now haunted her every night. She contemplated going back to sleep, but as she glanced at her window she noticed that dawn was approaching. She decided the best course of action would be to try to wake up her parents. Holding her stuffed bear the young girl pushed her covers aside as she slowly got out of bed. Moving as softly as she could she moved through the darkness, walking the familiar halls of her home until she reached the door that led to the main bedroom. She gently knocked on the door before standing on the tips of her toes to reach the door handle. As she opened the door a groan could be heard from the other side; her father’s voice.

“Matill, again?” He began to sit up, rubbing his eyes as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Matill had hoped that her mother would be the one to greet her; her calm demeanor always seemed to calm Matill down after her night terrors. Matill hesitantly walked to her father, clutching her stuffed bear closer to her.

“Sorry father, they were bad again.” She weeped softly, her father nodded. “They were calling my name, they said scary things.” Matill felt herself starting to cry loudly now. “They were going to hurt mommy.”

Her father let out a loud sigh as he began to lean forward, roughly placing a hand on her shoulder. “Matill how many times do I have to tell you that these dreams are nothing? They are just night terrors, nothing will happen!”

“It feels too real to be nothing.” Pouting she moved back a little, her father’s hand falling off her shoulder. “It had to be something!”

“Enough Matill.” Her father raised his voice, anger clearly present. A soft murmur could be heard, her mother had woken up as well. Father held his hand to his forehead, as it to try to rub out the headache his daughter was giving him. “Do you see what you’ve done? You have made your mother wake up.”

“It is not my fault.” Her crying got louder and louder, her father’s piercing glare was making her even more distraught. “It’s not fake!” Yelling at her father as she felt her body get pent up. She stomped her feet on the ground as she felt some sort of power flow through her. She shut her eyes tightly as she let out a resonant sob.

Her father watching in pure shock as he saw his own daughter glow a blue, vibrant light. Her fingertips overflowing with the blue glow. His own daughter, a monster. His mind was flooded with thoughts, how could Matill possess magic. Both parents did not hold any and as for as he was concerned none of their family had ever shown such abilities. He stood up as he moved away from his own daughter, his wife doing the same.

“I’m sorry.” Matill spoke regretfully. “I-I do not know what’s happening.” She desperately tried to open her eyes but she couldn’t. “Mommy? Father? Please help me.”

They did not dare to touch the child. Before they could act Matill collapsed, her mana being completely drained. Exhaustion hit the young child hard as she blacked out completely.

As Matill came to she could hear faint voices in the far distance. She could clearly make out the familiar voices of her parents, but there were a few voices she could not recognize. Opening her eyes she could see she was laying on the lap of her mother. She turned around to see they were in the living room.

“I see the child came to?” A male voice asked, ‘who is this?’ Matill thought.

“Yes ser, Matill love?” Her mother spoke, placing a hand under her chin to have them make eye contact. “Are you properly awake?” Matill could only sleepily nod. “These nice men are going to talk to you for a bit.”

“Matill, we are templars from the Circle of Magi in Jainen; do you know of the Circle of Magi?” One of them asked, Matill shook her head. “It is a place where children like you can learn to control their magic. Do you want the nightmares to stop?”

“Y-yes please ser.” Matill felt herself tear up, the man gently smiling.

“We’ll be taking care of you in the Circle, you’ll stay there and you will be able to use your magic to your full ability.”

“I would like that ser.” The girl leaned forward, shedding tears. The man slowly took her small hand into his.

“Then we know what to do, your parents have provided us with a few of your belongings. We will be leaving shortly.”

Her mother grieving placed a hand before her mouth, holding back the sobs as tears streamed down her face.

“We are leaving now? I don’t want to leave yet.” Matill cried, her mother frowned as she carefully stroked her hair moving Matill’s head from her lap as she began to stand up. Matill following shortly after. Her mother joined her husband as they took a look at their child. “It’s for the best Matill.” Father spoke, a hint of fear present. “I do not want to live with a mage, who knows what you could be capable of.”

Her father always was a stern man, unable to show the child affection. Never did she expect her father to cower away from her, to be afraid of her in fact. He placed an arm around his wife, only to have her gently moving away from his arm; distrust.

Matill began walking to her parents but an armored hand stopped her in her path, a templar leaned down and softly picked her up. Matill struggled but a small child did not possess power to be able to overpower a grown man. She still felt exausted, her mana had not completely restored yet. She felt terrified, was she really as dangerous as they made her out to be? She never hurt anyone before, why would that change now. She stared at her parents in fear, only being able to choke out a single phrase.

“Please don’t leave me.” Matill screamed as the templar began walking. Extending her arm hoping that her mother would come held her hand, giving her some sort of comfort. Another templar began walking next to his associate, he gently took the little girl’s hand in his own gauntlet. The cold metal making the girl shudder, her face held a heartbroken expression.

Mother stared at the girl being carried away, her own daughter taken away - to be never seen again. Breaking down sobbing, her mother sank to the floor.