The Other Side: A Second Chance [Dark Isekai Drama]

Rosewall's bushy mustache bounced as he licked his lips and blinked with shock. His eyes shifted between Director Shein and me. "Everyone?" he said for probably the fourth time. Honestly, I kind of stopped keeping track.

"Everyone," Shein confirmed.

I felt a thump on my back, and I yelped and turned to see my father gesturing me forward. "Tell him, Luna." He smiled.

I chuckled nervously. My heart was beginning to race. I turned to face Mr. Rosewall and said, "This is all true, sir. I-I have the ability to heal."

"Lying she isn't!" Oscar exclaimed with a big smile. "Heal Anne. That is what Luna did. Made her good in a snappy!" He snapped his finger.

"I don't think that's the right, phrase, Uncle," Anne mumbled with a blush of her own.

Rosewall looked to Oscar and then back to me. "I-I don't mean to sound skeptical, but are you able to do this?" he asked me directly.

I nodded. "Yes, I can show you a demonstration if you'd like," I offered. "My spell fatigue has already relaxed somewhat; unlike other mages like my mother, I seem to recover faster than most."

Except when it hits me, it hits hard. I thought.

Rosewall's eyes widened. "A demonstration?" He smiled, his bushy mustache rising high as he straightened up. "Most certainly, please, step forward, little one. For weeks, I've been having this chronic pain in my back and knees. Mostly likely brought on by my unhealthy habits." He grunted as he stepped forward, his hands patting his round belly for emphasis. "Many acolytes have told me that using such magics to ease my burdens would be a waste of their god's offerings and have declined such services. No matter how much money, but, if what Shein and yourself described is true, and you need no components. I'd like to see this for myself."

I gave Mr. Rosewall a light nod and smile and stepped forward toward him. "Okay, I suggest you sit down for this. Preferably behind your desk?" I suggested.

Rosewall nodded, moved around his desk, and sat down. I padded over to him around his desk. "Hold out a hand, please, I'll need to make contact, at least, that's how it mostly works."

The older businessman did as I asked and held a wide, surprisingly worn hand out to me. I had expected a man of wealth to have smooth and soft hands, yet his were wrinkled and callous like Father's.

It's a sign of a man who still gets his hands involved directly, I thought as I gripped his hand with both of mine. I then closed my eyes, took a deep breath, cleared my thoughts, and focused on the power within. Even after all this time, it still felt odd to channel ether. Technically, I was still new at this, but despite not feeling like it, I've only been doing magic for a few months in the grand scheme of things.

It wasn't until the past couple of weeks that I started using it continuously. During the few calm times, such as traveling or even the first week of resting in Johanneson, I never really noticed the power. Yet, it's always there and doesn't wake up until you turn your mind's eye onto it. The power nestled inside my chest, beneath my heart, but between my lungs—the center of my being.

The Well felt tangible, as if it were physically inside me, whenever I focused on it. That was when I could draw from it. Perhaps Alexander and Mother can more thoroughly explain how all of this works. Hell, they had mentioned they wanted to send me off to Iona to attend Hogwarts–or whatever that school was called.

Even though I knew that focusing on my well-being was how I could draw the ether from it, how much ether I could draw from it was still an issue. Alexander had briefly explained that it was all about emotions, the state of mind in which the channeler was. Volatile emotions like anger or grief could create volatile reactions, as could being stressed. A combination of unhealthy emotions can cause bombastic events, such as when I had exploded in the sky out in front of Anne.

However, I have a calm state of mind, like I do now. It still seemed difficult. It is hard to describe with words how one draws ether. In a layman's way, I could say it's all about vibes, but that just comes off as lame. Again, those who had studied this for years could probably explain it better than I could. It was like tossing a bucket into the well, and you'd expect to get a bucket full back, but sometimes, that bucket snagged something else, and you end up pulling out far more than you bargained. Or, the well had gone shallow.

In my case, I've yet to experience the latter. Every time I throw the bucket, I hit a dam. That dam then shattered, and now everything is flooding. Thankfully, in this case, I'm healing people rather than blowing up the sky again. You can't like, overheal someone, could you?

That's not something I want to think about.

As I held Rosewall's hand, I felt the well within me beginning to churn as I called upon the power within me. In mere moments, the raging tempest of ether began to bubble and pour. The pleasurable tingling of magic coursing through me began to rise, and once again, small ethereal wisps started to appear. This time, little balls of light began to rise from the floor around me, and peeling off my skin, I could see this glowing, green mist. Or, really, it was like steam drifting up from my body and evaporating into the air.

Oscar's eyes widened, and his smile broadened as Anne began to clap. Director Shein gasped, and my father merely pumped his fist.

"You got this, Luna!" Varis called out to me as if I were performing in a sports game.

I tried to shut them out of my mind; however, I had to focus. One such way to do so was to mutter the incantation of rejuvenation, the spell I was casting. I do so, muttering the words under my breath, and as I began to focus on that, the ether in my core surged once more. The magic flared within me, goosebumps formed on my skin, and my mind began to soar with pleasure as the ether found its purpose. I could feel the power channeling up my arms and rushing from my fingertips into Rosewall's hand.

As I muttered the words to the spell, I began to focus the direction of my magic onto the areas he described to me: his back, his knees, and the rest. I spread the power evenly across the board. "Rejuvenate!" I finished the incantation, and with a final surge, I dumped the power into him, and a brief explosion of green, white, and whisps shot out in all directions around us.

The swirling wisps of light danced around us, twirling, prancing like fairies. I could see Rosewall's eyes widening as our bodies glowed gently with my power, and I swore I noticed that his round face held far fewer wrinkles than before. His eyes appeared softer, brighter, and his hair was more vibrant, like he had de-aged at least five years or so.

I released Rosewall's hand, stepped back, and smiled sheepishly. "Lately, it's been getting a little flashier for no reason," I said, nodding to the little wisps flying around, though they began to wink out from existence one by one. "I don't know why, though. But it's like my powers have been growing."

"That was so cool!" Both Anne and Varis squealed and broke away from the adults. Before I knew it, both crowded around me, Anne hugging me and Varis patting my shoulders.

"Gyah! Wait!" I screeched and pushed them away from me as the adults chuckled.

Once I pushed the kids away, I smiled at them and looked to Rosewall, who was looking himself over. After a moment, he stood up without issue and twisted his back around before doing a few squats. "This is… This is incredible!" He finally said. "I feel as if I'm ten years younger… Did you really do this? For all of my employees?"

I nodded. "All of those who were at least in the hospital," I said with a smile, my heart fluttering at having helped another person.

Rosewall's smile broadened. "Then this is perfect." He stepped towards me and got to one knee. Reaching out, he took my hand in both of his and squeezed it gently. "You, little lady, are a gift from the gods."

I blushed deeply and looked away. "I-I don't know about that… But, I am here to help! Anyway I can."

Rosewall nodded and stood back up. He went over to his desk, where I saw he had one of those old-fashioned telephone things. Mother told me those were "echo-communicators" a few weeks back. I thought.

Rosewall unhooked a brass funnel from the device and cranked a handle on its base a few times. He held the funnel to his ear and spoke into the front of the communicator's base. "Mrs. Hemmil, please call for Mr. Gradni to come to my office, it's quite urgent." He pressed the funnel closer to his ear and nodded a few times. "I understand," he said, "but I've just received important information that may change things. Send him right away. Okay… Okay… Excellent. Also, please send dinner to my office, I'll be having guests, so make sure it's the large." He hung the funnel back into the device and smiled at everyone. "I hope you all haven't eaten yet. Dinner will be brought here shortly as we discuss."

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Oh, God, my stomach was about to burst. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until a group of catering staff rolled in carts full of delicious food. Much of which I didn't recognize, such as meats from creatures I've never heard of, fruits, and veggies of varieties that looked so alien but were, oh, so delicious. Though not all of it was foreign to me, I did recognize some local delicacies, such as a tuber stew and grok steaks.

When the food was brought, Mr. Rosewall also brought extra chairs and an entire table into his room for everyone to sit around and discuss. When everything was set up and we began to eat, a new man, Mr. Gradni, entered the room. He was a human with short, brown hair, wearing a fine white shirt with a brown vest and matching cloth pants. As he walked in, he cleaned his spectacles, and I saw he wasn't alone. Behind him stepped in that mage who had left earlier in quite a huff, Erianna Archon.

When Rosewall saw Erianna, he paused before cutting a large hunk of foreign meat and stood up. "Lady Archon, it's a pleasure to–"

"You will cease speaking at once, Rosewall," The woman snapped, her eyes burning with fury. "It has come to my attention as to why you have so brazenly decided to reject my order's request for departure."

Rosewall's face hardened, and he glanced at the newcomer, Mr. Gradni. The man placed his spectacles on his nose and smiled sheepishly with a shrug. Rosewall sighed and looked to the archon. "And what would that be? I'm pretty sure I made myself clear before."

The woman scowled. "You seemed to have forgotten to mention that you've been harboring an illegal practitioner. News had reached us just before our departure that a powerful channeler had been working in your company's hospital, one that is not marked on any of your records, or ours."

I felt my stomach drop, and my eyes flicked to my father's, who also seemed to have paled slightly. Has everything I've been doing magic-wise been illegal? Am I supposed to have a license or something? I guess it made sense; being able to perform magic is no different, if not more dangerous, than concealing a firearm.

Rosewall sighed. "Ah, yes, I should've known you would've stormed here after that…" He looked at me, and his expression softened when he noticed my admittedly nervous face. "Don't worry, little one, this isn't an issue."

Erianna snorted. "Blood of my Elders, Rosewall–"

"Calm yourself, Archon," Rosewall's voice firmed. "Remember what I said about where you are? Now is not the time for us to squabble over petty legal matters. I'll admit that, yes, an unrecorded channeler is on my premises, and yes, I had acquired their services. Services that you and your people refused to offer me."

Erianna huffed. "That is beside the point, Rosewall. You have violated the Concillium and Heinmarr's laws, and there will be repercussions for this."

Ah, shit, are you for real, woman? I glared at her. Read the fucking room. That is what I wanted to say. Who gives a damn about the law when a mega storm is going to hit us and an army is on our doorstep.

The woman's eyes narrowed on him. "Now, I shall demand that you disclose and hand over any and all information you have on this channeler."

Rosewall hissed and leaned back in his seat, his hands draping over his protruding stomach. "Eeeh, that's the issue… You see, they're unrecorded," He said, unable to hide the smirk on his face. "I don't have much information on them. They've only arrived just today."

The woman's eye twitched. "Just today?" she said. "Director Shein," she turned her attention to Rogal, who jerked in his seat. "You were at the hospital, speak clearly and truthfully. Who is this channeler? Are they here with us still?"

Rogal's eyes flicked toward me for half a second, and my stomach lurched. He looked at Erianna and said, "Like Mr. Rosewall here, I don't have any information. I only arrived at the hospital after the healing had been done."

"Then what of these folk here?" She gestured to my family and Oscar's. "Why did you arrive with them? Is this channeler one of them? Do not lie to me. I am only asking as a formality. You all know that I can figure this out without needing to."

"So you're wasting all of our time, then, " my father said, his face growing increasingly red as the woman spoke. "Time isn't really something we have, Archon Erin, or whatever your name is."

"Excuse me–" She began, and my father sighed loudly and turned to face her.

"Dark lord, shut up. Sit down, have some food. Bah! Aaah-! No!" His voice hardened as he took on his drill sergeant voice when Erianna tried to speak. "Sit! Eat, we will talk. But you must listen."

The woman blinked with surprise. It was as if no one had even spoken to her like that, and honestly, that might've been the case. Yet, she listened. She stepped to a spot across from me between Oscar and Varis, who moved over to give her space. A catering member brought in a chair for her, and she sat down.

Father then looked at me. "Tell her," he said bluntly.

I jerked. "Huh?" I looked at Erianna, then at my father.

"I'm tired of us just going back and forth, Luna, out with it. Tell her what you did."

The archon arched a brow and looked at me quizically. "You cannot be serious…" she muttered, and then I noticed her eyes flash with an ethereal blue as she cast Detection. Immediately, her eyes widened, and she reared back in her chair.

I chuckled nervously and waved at her. "Ha, hi! It's me! I'm the one you're looking for, I guess."

Rosewall resumed cutting into his meat. As he tore off a large chunk and dipped it into the sauce, he looked at Erianna. "Is everything alright, Lady Archon?"

Erianna leaned toward me, her eyes studying me closely. "This is… Not impossible, I guess, but highly unlikely. How, how did you do it? Where could you have gotten all those components?"

Part of me couldn't help but feel a little smug. However, her intense stare prevented me from acting on it. So, instead, I opted for a deadpan look and shrugged. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I… I never needed any extra help when casting. It just sorta happens."

Varis, however, was not intimidated by this woman. He stuck his chest out and crossed his arms, and Anne joined in with him as they looked at her smugly. "My sister is super good," Varis said.

"And she's super strong!" Anne added. "Like the Moonweaver herself."

"Yeah!" Varis said, "Our parents are super cool."

"Enough you two," Father said.

"Luna," Varis said, ignoring Father, "Show her a demonstration like you did with Mr. Rosewall."

Great, now I feel anxious again. I bit my lip.

"Uh, maybe I could do that," I said, looking at Erianna.

The archon, however, had turned her attention to Rosewall. "She performed a demonstration for you?"

Rosewall was in the middle of chewing his hunk of meat and held up a patient finger. He dabbed his lips with a fine cloth and swallowed before sipping water. "Aye, she did," he finally said, "made me feel spry and young again. No components outside of an incantation."

"Which she's done without!" Varis bragged on my behalf.

Okay, now you're getting on my nerves. I grumbled and shot him a look. He met my eyes, smiled sheepishly, and shrugged.

After a few silent, tense moments, the archon rested back in her seat and crossed her arms. "Well, then I guess this explains it… Partially, at least." She eyed me very, very closely. "A young prodigy the likes of which hasn't been seen in almost two thousand years if what you're all saying is true… And what I'm seeing with my own eyes, despite not wanting to do so." She muttered the last bit.

"We planned on eventually sending her off to a proper school to be registered," Father said, "But due to recent events, you can probably guess why we didn't." Erianna nodded, and Father sighed. "So, are we good here? Can we all be friends again and discuss more important matters?"

Erianna's expression twitched. "You better watch your tone with me, Farmer."

Father snorted. "Actually, I'm a Constable of the Kaiser's law, and I don't take kindly to you threatening me, Madam."

"Enough," Rosewall barked. "Please, not in front of my kezzel's ribs." Once again, he wiped his mouth clean. "Lady Archon, if you are finished here, I would ask that you depart. I would not want you missing your flight and being stuck here when the storm arrives."

"I will not be doing so now," Erianna said bluntly. Her eyes shifted back to me, and my heart jolted. "The Concillium's interest has once again shifted back onto your project, Rosewall." She said softly, and a faint smirk appeared on her face.

Uh-oh, I thought, I don't like this, nuh-uh, not one bit.

Rosewall's eyes widened, and he looked at her with genuine surprise. "Is that so?"He asked. "Well then, Lady Archon, I'll appreciate any help you and the Concillium can give. That, and all of Johanneson would I'd assume." He smiled gently and looked at me, his expression much warmer and less menacing. "You truly are an angel's lifeline."

I gulped. "Ah, hahaha…" I laughed nervously and shrank further in my seat. "I-I tend to have that effect, I guess… Two wizards are better than none right?"

Erianna finally tore her eyes off me and reached for the bottle of wine a catering member had set on the table. "A trainee and a wizard, yes… Luna, that was your name?"

Trainee? Oh, crap… She's going to make me her apprentice, isn't she? At that thought, a memory came to me, an old memory that felt like years ago.

Isa had said this when my family told me I would be sent off to school: "Luna, you're a prodigy. The second the magisters lay eyes on you, they'll be fighting like dogs to take you in as a student apprentice, even more so if you pass the spiritest."

Mother, then Alexander, and now this scary butch woman Erianna! My mind panicked; all three wanted to make me their student. Worst of all, this woman was with the Concillium. If she wanted me, then their whole order would want to as well. I wasn't ready for anything like that.

"Well, then." Erianna's smile widened as she sipped her wine. "Shall we discuss strategy?"