Young Writers Society

Author's Note: I've got a few important things I need to touch on before I actually kick this chapter off, so I apologize for taking up your time. The first of these things is a club I have. It's called The Three Lockets, and it should have a whole host of memes, art and fun behind the scenes stuff in the near future! The second thing is the thread I made before lms started up. It's also called The Three Lockets, and has a lot more about the world's lore and magic. If you're curious about that, it's the place you should check out! Last, but certainly not least, I just wanted to say that things will *hopefully* become a little more clear over the next couple of chapters. This one's a bit of a filler, but the next ones should delve in the world's magic, and the ones after that should start to explain what the heck is going on with Cass. 

Words: 1,811

Last Line: So Cass bit her tongue, ducked her head back down, and waited for Lira's father to address them. 

She tried her best to ignore the uncomfortable silence by studying the wooden boards underneath her sneakers. They were reminiscent of something she might have seen back on Earth, the only indicator of that not being the case being the strange blue tint to the wood. She studied each and every aspect of the planks closed to her - she studied their stains, their knots and the nails that secured them together. She could close her eyes and envision what they looked like by the time that the mayor finally spoke.

"Is everything alright?" he asked.

\She hesitantly raised her head up. He was watching her with a well-deserved wariness, though there was also a childish curiosity twinkling in his blue eyes. Another moment passed. She opened her mouth to reply, only to give a nod a second later. His tone was gentle, and everything about his appearance - the wrinkles around his lips and eyes, the warm hues of his clothing and the way he stood before them - made her want to trust him, but the feelings she was desperately trying to push back were screaming out that he wasn't worthy of that trust. 

So she fidgeted with her locket. She opened it and closed it, repeating the process moments later. Her locket was where the mayor's eyes lingered as they returned to yet another uncomfortable silence. He straightened. His features grew harsh – though his eyes were filled with fear – as he opened his mouth to give a command. “Guards-” 

“They're not from Telorum,” Lira hurriedly cut him off. Taking a protective step in front of both Aspen and Cass, Lira looked back Cass took an instinctive step towards Aspen. Lira's eagerness had been replaced by worry, likely because of the accusation that her father was implying with that one word.

The mayor hesitated. “She has the golden locket.” 

“It's not that one, Dad,” Lira said. She and Aspen simultaneously let out sighs – Lira's one of exasperation, and Aspen's one of relief – when the mayor's posture loosened considerably. Cass didn't join in. Despite the change in posture, Lira's father still seemed wary of them. Until he seemed fully accepting, she was going to remain anxious.

Lira looked back at Cass and Aspen and gave them another warm smile. Cass knew it was meant to comfort, but the feeling of unease failed to leave. “I'm going to get some seats for us,” she said before turning back towards her father – no, that was wrong. She wasn't looking at her father; she was looking at the bench on the adjacent side of the pond. The air hummed with an intrusive warmth as she continued to stare at it. Something small and clear began to form at her fingertips, growing with a surprising speed as it shot towards the bench in question. 

The strands that had formed grouped together into four larger ones, and quickly wrapped themselves around its legs. She furrowed her brow in concentration as the strands lifted the bench an inch above the ground. The strands began to tug the bench in their direction. This part of the process, unlike the development of the strands, was slow and apparently quite tedious – if the focused look on her face was anything to go off of. It was a good minute before the bench touched the ground once more, this time only feet away from the bench her father was standing in front of. 

It was only as the strands disappeared that Cass realized what they truly were. They were concentrated bodies of water, condensed into those thin little lines. It was just like with the boy back near the entrance to the city. Lira had created and controlled water with her mind, something that should have been impossible. Which, if everything she knew was ruled out, could only mean one thing: 

She had just witnessed Lira using magic.

“Whoa,” Aspen said. 

Lira out another sigh – this one a tired one – and glanced over her shoulder at Cass and Aspen. She studied their looks of shock for a moment before gesturing for them to follow her to the bench. Aspen immediately began to hobble after her, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. Cass was the last in their small procession; she was too nervous about the situation to be as eager about sitting down so close to Lira's father. When she finally did arrive at the elaborate bench, she found herself with only one place to sit. 

She had to sit right beside Aspen. 

She briefly looked over at her before ducking her head down. Her mind flickered back to the conversation they had out in the street, and the look on Aspen's face when all she had been trying to do was get her to understand. She couldn't handle anymore judgment from the one person in the world who truly supported her. 

She slipped her backpack off of her shoulders and placed it on the ground beside the bench. After a moment of hesitation, she sat down in the seat beside Aspen. They sat there for another minute before Lira finally said something to her father, and during that time Cass did everything she could to avoid looking in Aspen's direction. 

“Rodet and I were out in the tunnel that leads into town,” Lira said. Cass stared down at the wood beneath her feet, nervously rubbing her fingers over the grooves in her locket. “We ran into Aspen and Cass there. They aren't wearing the clothes the people in Telorum wear, right? And their accents aren't from there, either.” 

Cass hesitantly raised her head up. 

Lira's father no longer seemed wary of them. He was leaning forward, resting his elbows on his legs and his head in his hands. He eyed the lockets dangling over each of their chests. In a surprising twist, he only looked at hers for a few seconds before staring at Aspen's. For reasons she couldn't understand, it was the silver locket that caught his eye the most. 

“You found the missing lockets,” he said. Cass couldn't tell if he was talking to them or his daughter. Whoever he was talking to, he was incredibly happy about – he had a smile spreading from one ear to the other. “I remember reading about them in King Kartiel's books, but I never expected that they would end up in Rey.” 

“Surprise?” Aspen said. 

The mayor continued to grin. “To think that I'm lucky enough to meet you first! I've always had so many questions about how they worked and what their abilities were. King Kartiel wasn't the one for sharing secrets-” He paused, then straightened. “I've forgotten my manners. My name's Ikach Ream, and I'm the mayor of Rey – though I'm sure my daughter's already told you that.” 

Lira smiled. “I did.”

“Well,” Aspen started; Cass could see her straightening out of the corner of her eye, “my name's Aspen Lovelace, and Cassie's name is Cassandra Hughes, Mayor Ream-” 

“You can call me Ikach,” the mayor said, “seeing that Lira's already taken a liking to you two. Something tells me you'll quickly become good friends.” 

Cass found herself giving a small smile at the thought. She did want to return home, but the prospect of becoming closer with Lira was one that excited her. Then the eagerness dimmed as she thought of her home – thought of her parents, who would be returning home from work soon; thought of the comfort of Aspen's jeep, which was now abandoned near the camping trail; thought of the movies that she and Aspen had been planning on watching after their ill-fated hike. 

“Mr. Ream?” Cass hesitantly asked. Saying Ikach felt far too personal, and the thought of even uttering the name felt inherently connected to the recognition she had been experiencing ever since she met him. “Lira says that you know a lot about the lockets. Do you know how we can get back to our home?” 

Mr. Ream didn't immediately give an answer. He mulled over her question for a handful of minutes, looking from her locket to Aspen's to back to hers. She knew even before he spoke what the answer would be – after all, if he knew a way back, why not tell them right away? 

He folded his hands and placed them in his lap. 

“I only learned so much about the lockets during my time in Telorum,” he said. “There were two abilities that King Kartiel told me about – the ability to translate unfamiliar languages for the wearer, and the ability to transport the wearer to other worlds. He never went into detail about how either ability worked.” 

“So you don't know,” Aspen slowly concluded. 

He sadly nodded. “I might be able to figure out how they work if I have some time to study them, but, other than that, I'm as clueless as you are.” He turned to his daughter. “You should bring the to some of the rooms near your own. I'm sure Rodet has already informed the king about their arrival, but I'll tell him of this arrangement while you bring them there.” 

Lira nodded. 

Cass could barely make out the exchange through the tears beginning to form in her eyes. She had spent every moment of the tie she had been in Rey enchanted by what she say, confused by their arrival or worried by the strange déjà vu. She had been completely distracted and had forgotten about the one thing that should have been her priority. Now that she had discovered there was no easy way to return to the life she had always taken for granted, she couldn't help but let out a sob. 

Aspen wasn't as audible of a crier, but Cass could feel her shaking beside her as quiet sobs wracked her body. She faintly heard Mr. Ream rise and walk away from them, but she was too caught up in her grief to even watch him go. They sat there for several more minutes before both of their tears finally subsided. Between sniffles and wiping her eyes with her arm, Cass noticed Lira getting to her feet. 

She held out hands to both Cass and Aspen. 

“Let's go to my room,” she said. She gave them her signature warm smile, but this time it was accompanied by pity. “I always feel better if I have a pillow to hug, and my room has some of the best ones in this entire building. Even my dad's aren't as soft.” 

Cass hesitantly grabbed onto her extended hand, Aspen following suit moments later. They both slowly – and unsteadily – got to their feet. Cass slipped her backpack back on. Then the three made their way to Lira's room, Cass desperately trying her best not to start crying again.