“Do you not know how to control your magic?” Laryssa inquired with a start.

Jessica cocked her head to the side at the question “Is this not normal?”

“No, most children learn how to separate their emotions and magic from a very young age. It’s the first thing we learn in magic training, it’s to stop temper tantrums such as yours from going out of hand.” Laryssa pointed to the wall and spoke in a dry tone. “Or in your case, growing out of hand.”

Jessica just shrugged as she willed her magic to retreat and disappear back into the wood, as if half a tree did not almost grow from the wall. Sebastian burst through the doors in that moment, he looked rushed, as if he just ran there.

“What happened? What’s going on? Half the ship can hear your shouting.” He huffed out.

“Your sister is insufferable.” Jessica flew her finger in Laryssa’s direction as she spoke. At the exact same moment Laryssa also spoke over her, copying the pointing motion.

“She is going to be the death of this whole crew.”

“One at a time, please ladies.” Sebastian slumped to the wall as he rolled his eyes, he was already regretting this.

“Jessica cannot control her magic, she started growing a bloody tree from the wall because I annoyed her slightly.” Laryssa tsked her tongue and continued. “What if she gets really upset Sebastian? What if she turns our home into a giant freaking log!”

Sebastians brows rose in surprise as he looked at Jessica who was still sat on her bed in an upright position, exactly how he left her two nights ago. “What’s your take on the situation, Jessica?”

“Your sister is suffocating me. I can barely think when she’s not even here as her voice is still ringing in my bleeding ears from her visits. High society this and Oooo pretty men that. Give me an intellectual conversation and I may not give myself an aneurism just to escape the obvious torture tactic.” Jessica growled and crossed her tight to her chest.

“Torture tactic? Also, I was talking about the magic mishap, not the petty squabble.”

Jessica’s cheeks blazed. “It’s not petty, you both may think I am a liar but for the thousandth time, I do not understand what you want from me. The obvious ploy in trying to befriend me in such a fake manner is both underhanded and insulting.” She sucked in a sharp breath as she continued, piercing Sebastian with her gaze. “Also, I’m not sure about the magic mishap. I was surrounded by stone my whole life, and limited to little wood within my home. I did not know our emotions effect our magic so much.”

The twins stared at Jessica in a confused and shocked fashion. They looked at one another before looking back at Jessica, unsure on where to begin. Laryssa cleared her throat before beginning.

“Sneaky tactics, is what it is. I was looking for a way in, you haven’t been exactly open for the past couple days. We need as much information as possible and we can’t be wasting our time on you. Especially if you’re danger-” Sebastians hand clamped down on Laryssa’s shoulder, silencing her from finishing her sentence.

“What did you mean ‘surrounded by stone your whole life?’” Sebastian inquired gently. Jessica looked towards her hands, the black bruising slowly turning back to purple and yellow. Jessica was very much aware her upbringing was not normal, or any form of cultural practice.

“Exactly what I meant... I rarely left the tower.” She vaguely stated.

“When was the last time.” He pushed.

“When I met two infuriating intruders. The only positive part was stabbing one of them.” She drawled.

“Jessica.” Sebastian growled, not fond of the particular memory, or the pain that still ached his shoulder. Jessica was quiet for a moment, pondering on how to respond.

“Never.” She whispered. The room was silent for a moment too long for comfort as the twins digested the information.

“Why?” Was all Laryssa said.

Jessica chewed on her lower lip and glanced to the ocean through the porthole as she spoke, so gently the twins had to strain to hear her. “When you dragged me to the lower floor, that was the lowest I’ve ever been in the tower. I lived on the highest floor. That day was the closest I have even come to the forest. My aunt spoke of horrors and dangers outside the tower walls. Monsters who would kill me. Men who would steal me.” She gave a pointed glare to the two of them as they swallowed audibly. “My aunt did not have any magic, so I would heal her and she kept me close in the tower to make sure we were both safe. This” she gestured around her small cabin “is all I have known outside my tower. My aunt could not teach me much about magic as she had little knowledge herself. However, this has never occurred before. Something happened when you entered the tower, my magic has not been the same since.” She finished with a sharp exhale. She looked up towards the siblings, unsure as to what she’ll find on their faces. Unsurprisingly shocked expressions, pity lingered on Sebastians to Jessica’s irritation. Something akin to coldness in Laryssa’s eyes. Why did she hate her so much?

Suddenly a light lit in Sebastians eyes as he processed her story. He glanced at Laryssa as she whispered “The barrier...”

“What happened to your magic? How did it change?” Sebastian dug for more details as his brain pieced things together.

“It was the oddest sensation, like particles in the air sinking into my skin. But it felt familiar, it felt like it was mine. If that makes sense.” She shook her head as she remembered the buzz of power the suddenly filled her.

Laryssa’s eyes were wide as she glanced to her brother. “The runes on the stones, they were not just for containment and protection. Some I could not read but others I could. Some were to absorb magic. How long were you in that tower for?” She asked as she looked back to Jessica.

“Twenty years, my parents died when I was two and my Aunt took me in.”

Sebastian whistled in a dramatic fashion. “Twenty years of absorbed magic pent up within that barrier, when we took it down, the magic must have searched for its host rather than dispersing. No wonder you couldn’t contain it all within your body. That’s why the earthquakes started soon after we broke in. Doesn’t explain the blinding white light though.”

“There were earth runes among the stones, and another, similar to the crest on the box. I do not know what that means though.” Laryssa’s turn to shake her head as she processed new information.

“And the plot thickens.” Sebastian declared with a smug grin. He appeared to enjoy this detective game.

“You’re serious, you honestly think that power was me.” Jessica’s mouth hung open in disbelief.

The twins couldn’t help but laugh at the expression. Sebastian moved closer to Jessica’s side and he looked at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “We are stopping at a nearby port in a few days, a small fishing village in the Cold Mountains. Would you like to find out what skills you possess?”

Jessica looked up at Sebastian, his beautiful eyes probing her to agree. He stood there, in all his beautiful glory waiting for her answer. Jessica searched with all her might for some form of ulterior motive, and could not figure out what he would gain from this.

“Why?” Was all she said.

He shrugged and spoke in a candid manner. “We came to your tower in search of powerful magic, we found that box, and you. When the white light burst from your body you gave off the same powerful thrum of magic as the box. Something old and ancient. I’m currently at war against a tyrant. I want to save people. My people. We can take you on an adventure, show you the world while also helping you learn more about yourself than you ever could within that tower. I just ask for your aid.”

“I’m not a warrior. I cannot fight. I have never killed before.”

“You do not need to, as an earth user you can affect the battle field in ways the enemy cannot. With your wood magic you can pin down the enemies before they have a chance to strike at my men. All from a distance.”

War was dangerous. Jessica wanted no part in death, but she did want adventure, and she had no clue how to survive in this world. The clogs in her brain started turning as she weighed her options before her. Either go back to her aunt and be beaten to death, or wander Chantia with no clue on how to live, or follow the crazy twins and learn how to use her magic.

“Okay, I’ll help.” Was all she said as she looked up to oceanic eyes that swam with glee at her words.