The Flower of Separation

It is strange though listening to Lucas talk about bloodline and households. After all when they first met he was all alone isolated in a tower in the forest.

It was around a year or so after they met where Lucas finally decided to talk about himself. It turned out he was the one who chose to leave the village. He left because quote \'It seemed like they were planning on using me for something troublesome.\' Lucas disliked the idea of anybody controlling him so he disappeared without a trace.

But if that was the case, then- \'I wonder why he agreed to my offer.\' Why did Lucas who escaped his village to avoid those from controlling him accept an offer that goes against his values?

"Are you listening?"

"Hmm? I am."

"The stuff he stole were actually things I wrote. So the dark magic he learned is of the highest quality. Naturally they had to exile him. There is a symbol somewhere on his body that prevents him from using that magic he learned of me. But because he already corrupted his own magic with dark spells, he can no longer use normal magic. They stripped him away from those spells, but he could still learn new ones." Lucas trailed off. "One of the reasons why I settled near the capital was to find the bastard."

"How come?"

"They should have taken his magic from him. Don\'t those bastards realise how dangerous it is leaving somebody who knows dark magic walk around freely?"

"I didnt think you cared so much about other people."

Just now he looked like a noble person when he is saying those words.

"As if. I came to find him because I wanted to take his magic from him and keep it to myself. Are you stupid? Why would I care what happens to others?"

Her sweat fell when she heard those words. Well he just crumbled that image in a few seconds. Right magicians can steal the magic of another person if they beat them in a dual.

"If that is the case. Why havent you sensed him until now?" Lillian trailed off. "If you were that conscious of his presence then surely-"

Lucas flicked her forehead. "Who is conscious of that bastard? He is weaker than an ant to me. I can finish him off in seconds."

That is not the point she is trying to make, but it seems like he has returned to normal. She doesn\'t know how to handle him when he is in that weird mood.

"I sensed something disturbing about him, but your right. I couldn\'t sense his dark magic. It is rare for that to happen. I thought that maybe it was because I was worn out but that seems silly."

Even with her senses dulled after sustaining life threatening injuries. Lucas trained her well enough so she could detect these things even in her weakened state.

"He must have made some type of contract with someone. But who would make a contract with a guy with a banished mark?"

Even before Lucas finished his sentence three people flashed in her head. The only ones who would take such bold moves is her father, Eric and sister Bridget. It\'s already obvious from the three who it is, but she wonders what he gains from being around such a person.

It would make more sense if Eric couldnt use dark magic but he has one of the highest affinity for it in the entire Empire. Huh? Now that she thought about it they have a rule towards dark magic too. It is mainly the members of the Ageha family who should have them.

How does Eric have dark magic?

When he first came to the household, he already had it?

Eric arrived shortly after her brothers disappearance- Lillian clenched her fist as something came to mind. It cant be can it?

"You said Eric introduced him to you and you cant detect Stuart\'s magic. It seems Eric has some type of magic that conceals a persons magic."

No, it\'s not limited to concealing magic.

"Llillian?"

"There is something we have to do before the ball tonight."

..

A few hours later -

The guests were pouring in like flies. Lillian wore a long red coloured off shoulder dress and black coloured gloves. \'I hate wearing stuff like this but I can\'t wear my general uniform when I am supposedly still suspended.\'

She didnt receive any letters on the way in, so it seems her father or eric took the letter. Moreover this is Natalia\'s birthday and she went through the trouble of picking a dress out for her.

\'Maybe I am soft on her like Lucas said. But the child is harmless.\'

She watched them from the balcony in the waiting room. They haven\'t announced her name yet so she saw no need to go inside the main hall yet. \'I looked through all the records with Lucas but I couldn\'t find anything.\' Still she cant shake of this bad feeling that Etic knows what happened to her brother. He appeared shortly after her brother disappeared.

\'Why didn\'t I think of it until now?\'

"Miss Lillian you have a visitor."

At those words Lillian turned to the door and spotted Ramon wearing formal like clothes. No what stood out to her was his hair. Did he cut it? He almost looks innocent.

"You came."

"I\'m surprised they let me."

"Your still a member of the Blank family."

Even though his current status is weird, people know his identity.

"Where is sir Lucas? It is strange that he isn\'t here."

"If I didn\'t know any better I would think you attended this party to be with Lucas."

At those words Ramon\'s expression turned dark. "That joke isn\'t even funny."

\'I shouldn\'t tease him too much, he takes everything way too seriously.\' Lillian scanned him up and down. But why did he come here? They agreed to meet in the ballroom. Just as she was searching for an answer she felt a rustling sound and realized that Ramon had placed something on her hair.

"This isn\'t\'t much. But I missed your birthday."

There was a mirror nearby so she caught her reflection. Ramon\'s gift for her was a gorgeous butterfly shaped hairpin that went well with the dress she wore.

"How thoughtful of you."

Did he ask Natalia about her dress? It matches far too well.

"Has anybody from your family arrived yet?"

"They went in a carriage before me so they should be around already."

The blank family is good at concealing their presence so it is natural that nobody else has noticed them, otherwise it would have drawn some attention.

It is no secret that they are at odds with the blank family.

*Unedited*