A Tale Forgotten

The moon light glistened across the stained window panes, casting an array of luminous coloured light upon the wooden-slated floor. The air was stifling and the wind continued its monotonous howl.

"Alright children, one story and then off to bed." The children hurriedly sat down in a half circle, surrounding the cracked pine rocking chair in the centre of the room.

"And so a deep, cold, endless darkness covered the world. It was on the brink of being destroyed by a ruthless demon. But then one brave mage stepped forward. Hoping to disperse darkness and bring dawn to the world, he battled the demon. Finally he defeated the foul creature, and when he was finished the world was a brighter place than it had ever been before.The long night ended at last because the mage had brought dawn to the world."

"Alright well that brings and end to the story."

Out of the corner of his eye, Yuno spotted a glimmering purple ribbon protruding from the spine of the book.

"Wait, Sister Lilly there's a ribbon held in place near the end of the book?!"

"Oh..I don't think you children would like to hear that story."

"Tell us sister Lilly!" The children shouted.

Asta growing ever the more impatient began shuffing his feet, pounding his fists and screaming at the top of his lungs. "C'mon sister Lilly!"

"I don't know if I should." Whispered Sister hesitantly.

The children continued their incessant chant, their voices gradually becoming louder and more high pitched.

"Well okay, but only on the condition that you all promise to not tell Father Orsi, you know how concerned he gets."

"We promise" answered the children with michieveous grins spread wide across their minute faces.

"Asta are you listening? Climb down from the dresser."

"Right let's begi..oh these words are written in the old tongue, no matter Yuno please fetch me my reading glasses there on the cabinet to your left."

"Hurry Yuno!" Shouted Asta, his spiked-ash hair swaying wildly from either side of his head.

"Here sister" sofly piped Yuno handing the dust-covered spectacles into the palms of her hands.

"Thank you Yuno, if only a certain 'someone' were more like you" With that being said Sister Lilly gently opened the book at the position held in place by the ribbon. Suddenly a chill crept along her spine, she stutterd and her face turned pale.

"What's wrong Sister?" Cried Yuno, his hands gripping tensely around the wooden frame of the chair.

"Nothing Yuno, I just felt an ominous feeling for a moment. Don't worry I'm sure that everything is fine." She inhaled deeply and began to steady her hand above the page.

''In the midst of war with an ancient race

Abandoned, cast out from the lands of the North

Merely a babe who in purple flames encased

Suffering and pain his fellowships be

Youth a curse that binds all that he sees

Revenge obtained for the seeds that have been laid

In him a hellish power forever engraved

Sleep his enemy forever enslaved"

From beneath the book she noticed tears forming in the children's eyes, their nerves were shot and their pupils contracted in the haze of the moonlight.

Suddenly the front door swung open with a hiss. A figure approached, half bent and tall. He took a few steps forward and dropped two heavy bags onto the stone tiled step. The candle light flickered and revealing the stranger to be no more than Father Orsi.

"My! What sombre expressions, you all look as if you've seen a devil. Anyway I've just arrived back from the village with two heaping sacks of pot potatoes! The children's faces began to regain colour. "Lilly light the boiler and stoke the fire. Tonight we dine as nobles!"

Yuno shakenly climbed to his feet, his cheeks soaked with tears. "I'll help Sister". The other children chimed in aswell "Me too", "I'll lend a hand", "I'll help too". The children stormed into the kitchen, in desperate hopes to clear their minds and forget about the tale. Yuno and Asta remained in the room.

Asta: "What a silly story, as if I would be frightened by that belony!"

Yuno: "But didn't you hear Sister Lilly, she said that he..."

Asta: "Quiet Yuno, I am starving, were better get to the kitchen or else we'll be late."

The two boys bolted down the narrow passageway, stirring up a heap of dust behind them as they ran. Outside, the wind rustled against the leaf carpeted ground and grey clouds began to depart. In the blink of an eye, a bright green beam flashed across the sky and a looming figure crept away from the window.