Eight in the morning, Alicia opened her still heavy eyelids. She looked around and found herself once again in her lovely bedroom. While catching the scattered energy that seemed to float on the ceiling, the young girl tried to recall what happened last night.

The triumvirate was at the town square that night, caught up in the fight against a black mage. Alicia remembered when her two companions had collapsed and she almost swallowed the dense dark essence that was about to melt and rot her body. Then she relived the moment when her vision was glaring and dim. Her half-conscious self somehow surrender herself to concentrating on Orb, which corroded the black magic energy from the mage’s body, causing the mage to run away.

The cradle of a beautiful, melodious sound floated in her ears. ‘Morning Alicia! You’re finally awake!’ That was what the melody meant to her ears. It turned out that Orb was resting on the table, same as the night before.

“Oh, there you are. Good morning to you too, Orb,” said Alicia in a polite tone. Alicia stared at her torso. An oversized, short sleeve, wide-neck t-shirt with her favourite singing band from Matterdam called ‘The Grimalkins’ printed on it. A pair of black satin shorts were attached to her bottom. Now, at least she did not have to worry about who changed her clothes anymore.

Alicia then remembered something. “Och, how did they get me this far after last night’s fight?”

Orb just gave a chant, ‘Your friends are in pain to death, but they’re fine.’

She soon got up, but injuries and aches straight struck her very being. Alicia couldn’t help but groan in anguish. Her whole muscle and joints felt like body sores a night after a series of heavy lifting exercises. Alicia took Orb and reached the other side of the room while limping.

While walking down the hall, Alicia heard snoring in Leith’s room. She slowly pushed the already half-opened door and saw Gilmore sleeping haphazardly on his brother’s bed. It felt rude for a guest to doze in specified rooms. But considering what had happened last night, Alicia didn’t want to disturb him further. Let him luxuriate the exquisite room facility as her gratitude.

Not having Nadine in Leith’s room, Alicia tried to check the guest room directly opposite her. And sure enough, Nadine was falling asleep with her back to the door. At least Nadine was more civilised. But well, if all her pals were exemplary citizens, Alicia’s life might have been idle and boring.

“Looks like I have to make some breakfast,” said Alicia. Orb responded, ‘Protein! Proteins! Serve protein! Protein is good for the body’s recovery!’

“Protein, eh? Now ye just sound like Gilmore, do you not?” Alicia gave a tiny smile. “But aye, protein helps with muscle repair that was damaged from last night. Let’s see what’s in the kitchen.”

Alicia checked the ingredients in the icebox. She thought about making bacon rolls stuffed with cheese and scrambled eggs—her signature breakfast dish that the boys in her family loved so much. Finnan Haddie (Smoked haddock) seems like a great accompaniment too. She took out all the ingredients, and just as she was about to cook, the doorbell rang from the living room. Alicia reached for the front door with staggered steps and pain in her body.

When the door opened, she saw an elderly woman in a purple-violet sweater and a long, gray-patterned skirt. Her hair was curly, white, and fluffy. Alicia saw a familiar figure who used to take care of her when she was little. Even now, she still took the time to look after Alicia and Leith sometimes.

“Auntie Mandy?” Alicia put on a warm expression to her lovely neighbour.

“Alicia! morning, hen… Wait, haud on,” auntie Mandy, initially returned her warm welcome, looked closely at the young girl’s face and body. “Alicia, ye awright? Whit happened tae ye?” auntie Mandy pointed to the wound on her head that had medical tape plastered on it, along with several other scars and bruises all over her body. The way she talked, her accent was way thicker than Gilmore’s. “How come dae ye hae hunners o’ wounds a’ ower yer body? Who did this? We’re gaun tae report the civil guards noo!” Aunt Mandy held Alicia’s hand, “Ye dinnae be feart, just tell everything to the civil guard! Wee bampots today have nae respect fur wummin! Esmer Philo’s case micht happen again!”

Alicia was shocked to see Aunt Mandy’s overreaction, trying to release her grip. “Auntie! No need! I wasn’t mistreated by a’body!” Well, she indeed was abused—by a black mage—but not being harassed or anything alike. “I… tripped and fell down while learning to hunt wild boars and seeking for wild berries in the woods with Nadine and Gilmore.” Alicia tried to lie even though the reason seemed absurd.

“Ye? Hunting wild boar?”

“A-aye.”

“How come dae yi’ll waant tae hunt a wild boar, hen? Yer a lassie—a noble lassie! Yer nae lik’ they two who have army parents and are raised lik’ yin. Ye shouldnae gaun hunting!” said Aunt Mandy, with her still old-fashioned parent mindset.

“Ah… ye ken, auntie Mandy. Just to fill the summer break.” Alicia let out a small, forced chuckle.

Aunt Mandy just sighed, “Divine mercy, hen. Yer supposed tae seek a university fur neist semester.”

She just went straight into Alicia’s house. It was the old woman’s habit to just enter her house that way, and the whole family didn’t mind at all.

“Yer hoose is pure hoose o’ the deid. Where are ur papa and Leith? Leith is hame, is he not?” asked auntie Mandy.

“They’ve gone to Eidyn. ‘Family’ meeting.”

“Och,” Aunt Mandy was stunned, implying she understood what was the meaning. “Na wonder. A’m ‘ere tae check oan ye. Ye ken aboot yon tragic incident lest nicht?”

“Yes, I do. What a... terrible event.”

“Tis pure tairible! Och, brassic Nancy! How come wid a’body have the hert tae dae that tae an elf lik’ her? Kin the Silent Divine grant her Eternal Peace upon her soul! Ye shuid immediately tell papa and Leith aboot it! And ye an’ aw have tae be mae canny, especially fur ye dinnae have magic tae defend yerself! Rumors say that black mages are appearing oan Trinketshore. This wheesht auld wee town is becoming even mair uncomfortable. Fae the murder o’ Esmer Philo, noo Trinketshore is a battlefield o’ magic....”

Blah blah blah. That was how Aunt Mandy kept on babbling and advising Alicia all the time. All Alicia could say were ‘Aye’, ‘Of course, dear aunt Mandy’, and so on. For someone who had few people caring for her, Alicia actually gets the warmth of a chatty figure that she considered an adoptive grandmother. And auntie Mandy had a point. Trinketshore was now in chaos, just like other regions.

“That’s a lot o’ ingredients! Ye want tae mak’ breakfast?”

“I want to make bacon rolls and haddie. Gilmore and Nadine are staying and sleeping upstairs.”

“Och, okay. Ye sit doon. Let me dae the cooking.”

“Auntie, ye dinnae have to!”

“Nonsense! ye’r jist limping lik’ that! jist watch something oan telemedia and git some rest.”

Auntie Mandy could not be compromised on such matters. The young girl relented and walked towards the sofa.

“Oh, and that. yon odd magic baw,” auntie Mandy glanced at Orb tucked away on the kitchen table. “Dinnae keep yer da’s magic tools a’ ower the steid. Yer nae a wizard. Whit if something wrong happens tae thaim?”

Alicia’s eyes widened. Her throat almost choked in panic. ‘Ouch, stupid me! How come did I even keep Orb there?’ Fortunately, aunt Mandy did not have the slightest idea about Orb’s brilliant nature. She quickly took it and kept it in her room.

Not long after, with the elderly woman’s tenacious and nimble hands, all dishes were ready to be served. At almost the same time Alicia’s two friends found their souls retired to the mortal world and descended the stairs, inhaling the heavenly meals, otherworldly tempting.

Yawned Gilmore was the first to come down. “Mornin’, Alicia, did ye make breakfast? Oh wait, that’s Auntie Mandy! Awright, auntie Mandy!”

“All o’ ye! Did ye really catch wild boars or have a brawl?”

“Boar? What do you mean...,” Gilmore then saw Alicia’s odd mime, pleading him to take part in the role play.

“Och, aye, boar! Yesterday’s wild boar wis pure mental! Ah even thought it wis a magical creature!”

“Either we’re catching wild boars or we’re wrestling with bears,” Nadine followed down the stairs. Both Nadine and Gilmore hobbled like lame people. “Morning, Alicia. Morning, Aunt Mandy. Shift aside, Gilmore.”

Aunt Mandy just shook her head at the behavior of the three teenagers. She then served the food and orange juice in a glass jug on the table, then said, “Whatever, weans. ‘ere, sloch.” A gleaming Gilmore flew over to have the bacon and smoked fish actions.

“Whoa! Auntie, yer the best! Thank ye so much!”

“Alicia, is there anythin’ else yi’ll need?” asked aunt Mandy.

“Ahh no, no, no. You don’t have to worry about it. I’ll take care of the rest! You’ve helped a lot,” replied Alicia, blushing.

“Helped a lot? But I’ve only cooked,” she said. “As ye wish, then, ah will be back hame. If thir’s anythin’, tell me, awright, hen? As for Nadine and Gilmore! Nae mair hunting in the woods today, let alone taking Alicia! Out thir’s pure chaos. Black magic has entirt the town again since the stoatin war!”

“Aye aye, captain!” Gilmore retorted with mouth full of food for stealing his first turn. After the trio thanked aunt Mandy, they advanced to enjoy the smokiness delicacy called breakfast. The mood in the room suddenly came quiet and awkward. Couldn’t stand the situation, Gilmore tried to start a chat.

“Yesterday wis gey stressful,” he said.

“Yeah, really stressful,” replied Nadine.

looks like Alicia is still shy to join the discussion.

“The Silent Divine still blessed us to make the black mage escape,” continued Nadine.

“Yeah, aboot that! Ah cannae hawp whit Ah clocked lest night. Orb’s power completely consumed that mage like it was enveloped in a thousand leccie eels, pure epic! weel dain, Alicia!”

“N-no. It’s nothing. There’s no need to flatter me,” replied Alicia, still feeling bad about herself.

Nadine seemed to be concerned, and tried to persuade her little pal, she said, “What’s with yer dreich coupon, hen?”

“I…” Alicia sighed. “I owe ye mates an apology. For some reason, ever since I had Orb, I felt like I was acting recklessly without second thought. I should have listened to you more, but instead, I pulled you into the fankle I made. Noo keek at us. Ye could have been killed that night. I… could have been killed as well.”

There was silence again for a moment.

“Hmm. Alicia doing things without thinking is nae her style, though.” Gilmore devoured his smoked fish again.

Nadine also sighed. “Well, you could say we survived because of you, too. There’s no need to feel bad.” She then hugged Alicia’s shoulder. “After all, we chose to get involved, too. Just like back in school, when you threw a rock at one of the top-class students while they were ganging up on Gilmore. Ye gave one of them pure dead concussion, and ye got suspended for it! Naughty lass!”

“Och, och! Or dae ye mind when Alicia threw a balloon filled with shite at the school athlete lassie, who humiliated Nadine during a match? She then elbowed Alicia’s tummy and poor lass wis lying in the clinic a’ day!”

“Ye crazy bampot! That was your idea, Gilmore, which resulted in Alicia being hospitalised!”

“A shared idea. Alicia and I both took part in the revenge,” Gilmore countered smugly.

Alicia’s face blushed. “Pals, we’re eating.”

“Alicia, maybe ye were not yerself yesterday, making such a stupid decision. But it can’t be helped. If we didnae face it, no one would have come anyway,” said Nadine. “Besides, that night was the first time I saw you stupidly wanting to do something, even though you were scared to death and your life was at stake.”

Gilmore continued, “Well, at least yer more excited than when we first met, nae keekin half as hee haw as ever. Found a purpose in life indeed, cheers to Orb.”

Alicia gave a shocked reaction when she heard that statement. “What? That’s how ye see me all this time?”

“Well, dinnae yer feelin that way?”

Alicia sighed again while looking down. “Well, aye.” But the girl returned a small, sincere smile. Despite being friends from a young age, Alicia still could not believe she still had two very caring best friends. It feels like the presence of two people like them was enough to survive the bitter storms of life.

“But of course, such an incident must not happen again,” Nadine’s firm disposition made Alicia’s imagination shatter. “Your aim was poor, your stance was terrible, your movements were predictable and your attacks even weakened like being hit by a light breeze.” Alicia just made a sheepish grin when Nadine mentioned her shortcomings one by one.

“AYE! That’s it! Yer completely inexperienced in fightin’! Well, tis decided, after this,”—Gilmore gulped down the glass of cold orange juice and then continued his speech—"After this prepare yerself, we will train ye to improve yer fightin’!" []