Six years had passed since that fateful encounter at the abandoned structure. With the numerous days, seasons and lessons that had passed within the comfort of the stone fortress she called home, Yura’s knowledge of the world around her expanded as she caught up to the end of her studies. Her knowledge was not the only thing to grow - she, herself, had also grown physically. She had grown taller and her body was no longer frail and petite as it had been when she had first arrived in the fortress. Her mauve hair with its dark undertones was no longer unruly and unkempt, with the size of her onyx horns now suiting her stature. Her scarlet eyes had become much brighter as her health had improved significantly, as they gleamed under the sunlight whilst she passed by the windows in the silent corridor. She danced down the hallway in anticipation of the arrival of her teachers, her footsteps alerting them of her presence as they resounded in the corridor. 

Viktor and Varna bursted through the heavy door, with Varna presenting her with a certification of academics for her efforts before Viktor zoomed down the hallway. 

“Yura, my girl! You’ve finally done it, in record timing too. You sweet, wise girl!” Viktor boomed as he lifted her up in the air, spinning her around with him down the hallway as Varna set down the certificate in the living room. 

Yura giggled as they raced their way back to the main living room, Viktor interrupting her victory by diving quickly into a couch to efficiently reach the finish line. His thunderous laughter trembled the entire house, with paintings flailing as they struggled to stay on their hangers.

“If you’re planning to destroy my house, please don’t do it so early in the morning,” Elais groaned as his hands rested on his hips, annoyed at being forcibly summoned by the commotion in the living room. He returned to the kitchen where Varna helped herself to the freshly brewed tea set aside on the counter. 

“Tea?” Varna offered, as she watched her brother and student wearing themselves out from laughter. Elais let out a soft sigh and resumed cutting a variety of fresh fruit whilst the oven hummed lightly as it emitted a sweet aroma. 

“You’ve grown up so much it makes me miss my days of youth,” Viktor smiled warmly at Yura, tearing up slightly. His ears perked up slightly. “Speaking of youth, you should have seen Elais centuries ago. Always jumping off cliffs and the top of high buildings!” His laughter rumbled with each resounding ‘ha’ as his hands grasped his chest in an attempt to stop his laughter from escaping from his large body.

Elais shot purple daggers back into his overly eager gaze and large grin. “Stop or I may throw you off one myself.”

“Oh yeah? Try it, I dare you!”

Varna shook her head in dismay at their childish banter, noticing Yura watching Elais with an innocent look of curiosity from afar as he piped some icing on a pastry. She walked over to sit by Yura, her tail laying on the arm rest. 

“Now that you’re done with your studies, what’s your plan, Yura? Any particular goal you had in mind?”

Yura stopped briefly to think, lightly kicking her legs back and forth in her seat. “Personally, I’d like to help abandoned children who don’t have anywhere to go,” she responded, twiddling her thumbs. “I also wish to help heal the injured and sick. I’d also like to write books to distract others from their pain.” She looked up at the twins, noticing their tails had started to sway more rapidly.

Elais arrived with a freshly baked cake as its sugary fragrance filled the air, carefully adorned with delicately cut fruit pieces that formed a floral pattern and whipped cream lined on its edges. He placed it on the table before the trio whilst they made noises of excitement as they eyed the delectable pastry. He sat at his usual seat, sipping freshly brewed tea as he tuned in on their conversation. 

“Pursuing holy magic would be suitable for you, which I do specialise in,” Varna said as her eyes sparkled in anticipation, cutting herself a piece of the cake. 

Viktor bounced in his seat. “It’s a good goal for you to have. I can have some creative writing classes arranged.” He popped a piece of fruit in his mouth, humming a mellow tune in delight.

The twins turned to Elais for affirmation. 

“Whatever it is you wish, we can have arranged,” he responded, looking up from his tea cup as he awaited Yura’s decision. 

Yura wore a grin as she swallowed a piece of cake. “If it's alright with you, I’d appreciate that a lot.”

Yura left for the library in search of new reading material for her leisure as the twins were left alone with Elais. 

An eerie silence filled the air as the atmosphere grew rather gloomy with the lack of laughter and banter adding to the stillness of the home.

Varna looked up at Elais with a darkened face. “Elais, I’m sure you’ve noticed it as well. Her powers have not grown these six years.”

For magic-users, their powers and magic reserves grew with age even if it was slight. It was absolutely unheard of for one’s magic reserves or powers to remain stagnant, especially over the course of maturity when growth was the most anticipated.  

Elais blinked slowly as his chin rested on his knuckles. “I have. Despite her growing to be physically healthy, it makes no sense.”

Viktor crossed his arms and leaned back into his seat. “I’ve been looking around in the historical archives in my free time, yet I’ve found absolutely nothing about any cults relating to any sort of new dark magic.” He straightened himself up, and his ears twitched. “I’m not suggesting that these events didn’t happen, rather it’s suspicious that I can’t find even a lick of information.”

Elais rubbed his chin. “With the nature of her powers causing harm to those around her without her control, I believe it’s possible that she may have been experimented on by the cult involving the dark magic and that her powers are not her own, but forcibly given to her somehow. As she’s not currently within their grasp, it’s possible that her powers couldn’t grow.” He crossed his legs, and stared off into the distance. “Perhaps she’s been experimented on from afar, and requires surveillance to monitor their results.”

“She’d be like a walking hazard,” Varna said quietly. “It would explain why she can’t control it, and the lack of growth.”

Elais nodded. “I fear that if she is to leave the home, that they’ll be actively searching for her to further said experiments. It’s just a theory for now, but I don’t see how else she’d relate to my immortality.” There weren’t too many avenues left to explore regarding theories, but Adrienne’s constant reminder that Yura’s powers were a link to him continued to bother him over the past few years, alongside a few other things she’d said prior. 

The twins noticed his grim expression. “I don’t think she should leave until the cult has been dealt with. Especially with the uncertainty with her powers and their goals,” Viktor commented as he became dejected. “Poor girl, she won’t be particularly fond of that.”

“Since we don’t have way too much intel to work with right now compared to the savage incident, it’s likely a lot more dangerous than we can anticipate,” Varna added. “Unfortunately it may be the best course of action we have. Hopefully they can be dealt with soon despite our progress.” 

Yura’s footsteps in the distance echoed throughout the corridor as she made her way up the stairs and back into the comfort of her room. She opened the drawer of her vanity table, unfolding the address and phone card that Adrienne had given her.