Chapter 27: 1-26: A Chapter That Is Just Flashbacks

(I arrived back early the next morning, my face clearly showing my mixed emotions. Thankfully for me, only Vern was home. The rest of the family was out helping fix up Mrs. Jonah's farm after it was ravaged by a fire a few days before.

"You okay?" Asked Vern, in the middle of eating a bowl of oatmeal."

"Huh? Yeah, sure." I replied quickly. Quietly.

"Where were you?" 

"I was- was, um- meeting a friend." 

I sat down next to him, grabbing the bottle of milk and pouring it into a cup and taking a sip. I could feel the bags under my eyes. I watched as Vern looked me over, a concerned look on his face. I truly must have looked like I hadn't slept.

"Are you okay, Earth?" He leaned in closer to me, as trying read my mind.

I looked at him and gave him the most unconvincing "I'm okay" smile I could have ever mustered at that moment.

He sighed, "Don't lie."

"I'm not." I lied.

"Where were you? Answer me properly or I'll get the Hero to include you in our training."

"Meeting a friend."

"Quaza?"

I didn't answer, but my face clearly answered for me.

"What did she want?"

"She- she was acting weird."

"Weird? For you and her that could mean anything."

"She was acting nervous and scared. She asked me to come with her, said I'd die if I didn't. Asked me to be her blood servant."

"Sounds like she's just worried about what her mom may do. But attacking us or you would be insane for a royal to do, I mean besides it being an attack on human territory we have Ulther who is already a Guard Captain, not to mention Avery and her trusty Shield me." He grinned, trying to reinsure me in his own special way. 

"Huh? Yeah, sure. I guess." I continued to drink my milk. Vern nodded and left me to it, even he knew when to not press something any longer.)

("Heh. Look what I've learned." Vern said a happy grin on his face. He stood on a large rock, forcing me to look up at him. His face contorted and his body started shaking slightly. In front of him a square object about half an inch in area appeared and then instantly vanished as Vern relaxed and started panting.

"Is that supposed to be Avery's magic?" I ask.

"It's mirror magic Earth. And yes. Cool, right?" He was sweating heavily.

"Hmmm. No."

"Okay, Earth. If you hadn't seen Avery use mirror magic as well as she does, then that would be impressive- right?" He tried again.

"No." I replied again, bluntly.

"W-Why?" He sounded genuinely hurt.

"It sucks."

"It does not."

You are reading story Not Chosen at novel35.com

"What would that even do?"

"Um, reflect a sniper using magic."

"You could barely keep it going with no one attacking you."

"Hey, I just learned how to even access Mirror Magic, cut me some slack. Besides at least I can use magic."

"I'd rather not use magic than be that bad at it."

Vern was ready to reply when a voice came from down the hill. "Vern, Earth! Ulther wants us to eat at Callie's for lunch."

"Okay Ave!" Vern yelled down. "I need to shower first; you go on ahead."

I nodded and made my way down to lunch without Vern behind me.)

(The investigator from the capital sat the three of us, Vern and me and Ulther at a long table, his bright red hair slicked back with copious amounts of grease and his tight three-piece suit was tightly pressed.

"Mister Ulther Thornell. You were recently minted as Guard Captain but were still technically a Guard in the territory where the incident occurred, correct?"

"Yes, sir. That is correct."

The investigator scribbled something into a notebook. "And is it true that your town had open borders with the demons?"

"Yes, sir. We are a border town and as such trade with demon villages nearby is a way of life. The demons who attacked us weren't local however."

"Such a fact is unimportant to my inquiry here, Captain Thornell. Now you, Vern Thornell. Shield of the assumed deceased Hero Avery. It is said you were friends with one of the demons who helped bribe the guards to let the demons over the border. A demon known as Olli. Is this information accurate?"

"Yes sir." Vern stated eyes straight ahead. As the reply leaves his mouth he turned to me, staring at my hands, left eye still not back to normal- the mark still slightly burning two weeks after. Of course, the incident with Fredericka hadn't helped, but still. A week was normal, but two was worrying. Vern's never lasted this long, and he got his to burn way more often.

"Then is it true that you displayed use of a magic called Mirror Magic in the fight against the demons?"

"Yes sir."

"Very well, now Earth Thornell. You have been found not guilty of the cause of treason and murder. The reason for the attack were announced by Honi- and speaking as myself, the charges were wrong to be brought in the first place. Saying that this is for clarification, were you involved with Honi's heir, Quaza."

"I was."

"Is it true that you killed her grandfather Quaza?"

"I was the blade upon which he fell."

"Very well. That eye of yours, I take that's from that event?"

I nodded.

"Now, in your true honesty- could you or anyone have done anything to prevent this event from occurring."

The face of Quaza as she asked me to come with her flashed before my eyes. Could that have saved people? Was I the reason why everyone had been killed? Was the jury wrong for clearing me of murder? I reply, "I... do not know. I feel as if it was more than just killing me for Honi. Like she wanted to punish me by killing my family as well- as I killed her father."

"Interesting. That would make sense. Well, that's all they wanted to hear. Some more investigators might be by later to get some clarifications about the massacre. Thank you for your time." He got up and left. 

My brothers embraced me as I wallowed in my own guilt until the sun sank below the horizon.)

 

You can find story with these keywords: Not Chosen, Read Not Chosen, Not Chosen novel, Not Chosen book, Not Chosen story, Not Chosen full, Not Chosen Latest Chapter