Osmond grunted and placed the broken door back upright to close the doorway temporarily.

“So, how’s she?” he asked.

Astrid pursed her lips and motioned with her head for him to follow her to somewhere more private. She sighed and then plopped onto a chair.

“Not too good… she’s still quite confused over what happened. She was distraught when I asked about her parents. From what I understood, it might be an accident involving a magical device called a computer.”

“Magical device? They’re mages?” Osmond asked in a hushed voice and dragged a chair hurriedly to sit closer to Astrid.

“I’m not too sure…”

“What are mages doing here, in a secluded place so far north and away from major towns?” Osmond crossed his arms and pulled at his beard.

“Right, those are my thoughts as well. I hope that their presence doesn’t signify a bad omen. Also, if the child’s words are true, the magical device is quite frightening.” Astrid said as she shifted nervously in her chair.

“How so?”

“It uses lightning energy.”

“Lightning!?” Osmond stood up abruptly. His chair fell backwards.

“Shh! Keep your voice down! You don’t want the whole village to hear about this, don’t you?” Astrid frowned and waved towards the fallen chair, gesturing at her husband to take a seat.

Osmond picked the chair up and sat back down. “So what does it do?” he asked cautiously, placing his elbow on the table and hunched forwards.

“The girl used it to write.”

“Write? Write what?”

Astrid shrugged. “She didn’t speak after that.”

“Hmm…” Osmond thought and tugged at his beard again. “Anyways, we should let the village elders know about this-- Astrid?”

Astrid gripped her skirt in her hands and asked almost in a whisper. “You don’t suppose that the mages are here for us, right? Or for … Ralf?”

Osmond stopped pulling his beard and frowned.

“No, I don’t think so. It should be a coincidence. They wouldn’t bring a child with them on their missions.”

“But what if that is precisely what they’re doing to get our guard down? Oh, Osmond, you know that they’re ruthless, right?” Astrid sounded helpless. Her voice quivered while her eyes started to glisten.

Osmond exhaled heavily.

“Listen,” he stepped forward and kneeled in front of Astrid.

He held her dainty hands in his and gently brushed a lock of hair from her face. Their gazes locked as he looked up to her and said solemnly, “Whatever happens, I will protect you. And Ralf. If there is any chance that they’re coming for us, we’ll leave this place.”

“Where would we go?” Astrid whispered. Her eyes gazed deeply into Osmond’s eyes, seeking for hope.

“Wherever that is safe. Whatever it takes. So don’t worry too much, okay?”

Astrid bit her lower lip and nodded. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

Osmond embraced his wife in a bear hug. He himself looked up to the ceiling, as if he was searching for an answer from the skies above.