Chapter 12: A Troubled Evening
For hours, Lucas tried again and again to conjure a light orb. Despite his tedious repetition of the process, he remained unsuccessful. Slumping his arms, he turned to Iris. “I just can’t do it.”
Iris placed her hand on his shoulder. “Don’t say that, Lucas. As I’ve stated previously, you have the potential. Simply because you’ve been unable to conjure today does not mean you will never accomplish your intention. Many have struggled at first, including myself.” She took a small pocket watch out of her coat and observed the time. It was a little past 4pm. “I’m going to require some time in the laboratory, as I still have work to do. Perhaps you should take the remainder of the day to rest your mind and reenergize. We can resume practicing tomorrow.” With that she turned and walked back to the house. Feeling defeated and exhausted, Lucas followed.
Once they were back inside, Lucas placed the book on the coffee table and collapsed on the couch. Proceeding to the kitchen, Iris stopped and said, “I’m quite hungry. Would you be interested in some stew?”
“That sounds great,” Lucas replied. “I’m starving.” Iris walked into the kitchen. As she prepared the meal, Lucas fell asleep on the couch.
He awoke to the sound of the bowl being placed on the coffee table. He sat up. “Thanks.” Iris nodded, and left the room. As Lucas ate, his mind was flooded again with thoughts of his grandpa. There’s no telling how many nights he’ll be trapped there alone. And he still doesn’t even have a clue where I am. He must be worried sick. There has to be some way I can get home faster. He got up. Taking the stew with him, he walked into the kitchen.
Iris was sitting at the table, again with a book open as she slowly ate her stew. She looked up at Lucas and smiled. “Hello. Care to join me?”
“Yeah,” Lucas replied as he placed the bowl in front of an empty chair and sat down.
Iris closed the book. “You seem troubled,” she said. “Is there anything in particular you wish to discuss? Please don’t tell me you’re still upset over your difficulties with conjuring.”
Lucas shook his head. “No, it’s not that.” He ate a spoonful of stew, “I’m just worried about Grandpa. He still has no idea where I am and there’s no telling how long it’s going to take for me to get home.”
“I see,” Iris replied. “Honestly, I’m quite curious to know exactly how you got here.”
Lucas dropped the spoon into the bowl. “I told you already!” Iris was silent. Frustrated, Lucas got out of his chair. “I’m not delusional! I held a piece of Damiano’s Disk! I heard the Knowms kick in the door to the restaurant! I went to another dimension! Everything I told you is the truth!” The room was quiet. He quickly apologized. “Sorry... I know it’s hard to believe... and I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me. But it’s the truth, I swear.” He sat back down. “If you don’t believe me, you can check for yourself. There’s a portal in a cave near the spot Hagan found me that’ll take you to the In Between.”
The two ate in awkward silence for a few moments. Finally, Iris spoke. “I didn’t intend to offend you, Lucas. I suppose it’s not too incredibly far-fetched, especially taking into consideration the mystery surrounding the monster invasion. Your claims are, in theory, a sufficient explanation for the events which have taken place. Regardless, I find it hard to believe. In all of my years attending college, I’d never heard even a mention of inter-dimensional travel. Most theorized the monsters as a product of forbidden magic: possibly the result of a powerful ritual gone awry.”
Lucas looked across the table at her. “Then how do you explain the Knowms? Why are they the only ones who can keep the monsters at bay?”
“I cannot explain their presence or ability based solely on what I know,” Iris responded. “Still, I’m certain there is an alternative explanation for all of this.”
“Look, I had a hard time believing it too. But it’s real.” He ate another spoonful of stew. “What if I take you to the In Between myself?”
Iris hesitated. “Your physical condition is still questionable. I don’t believe it would be wise for you to roam the wilderness.”
“But you’ll be with me,” Lucas argued. “Maybe we could get Hagan to come with us, too. Then we’ll both know for sure and we can put this to rest.”
Iris thought for a moment. “Perhaps... but only after you’ve fully recovered.”
Lucas sighed. “Fine.”
They both ate a little more stew. Deciding it was time to change the subject, Iris inquired, “You and your grandfather live alone?” Lucas nodded. After eating another spoonful, Iris continued, “Where do your parents live?” The room was silent once again.
“They’re dead,” Lucas finally said. Iris was shocked. This was not the answer she was expecting to receive. She was speechless. Following another pause, Lucas elaborated. “One night, we were awoken by imps. It seemed like any other night... my dad grabbed the sword, I got the axe. When we got outside, we found three of them. It didn’t take long for us to finish them off... my dad told me to go back inside and said that he would take care of the bodies.” Lucas’s eyes glistened. “Not long after, I heard his screams. I ran outside and saw a swarm of imps ravaging him. They must’ve caught him off guard... I fought them off of him... but...” Lucas stopped talking. He tried to hold his composure, but the painful memory became too much. Tears poured down his cheeks.
“I’m sorry, Lucas,” Iris said softly. “We don’t have to discuss this any further.”
Lucas took a moment to wipe his tears before continuing. “We buried him under an oak tree. My mom... she was devastated. It hurt even more seeing her so unhappy...” He stopped talking for a moment.
Feeling horrible for even bringing up the subject, Iris got out of her seat and walked over to a drawer. Pulling out a handkerchief, she handed it to Lucas, apologizing again.
After taking a moment to collect himself, Lucas continued. “It was only two weeks later when my mom started getting sick... I did everything I could... the doctors kept telling me they wouldn’t travel outside of town and that I needed to bring her to them...” Lucas paused yet again, attempting to stifle his tears. “I came home from Cymbeline after running some errands one day... and... she was...” Unable to continue, he got out of his seat. “I’m done eating, I’m going to go lie down.” He left the room, a small amount of stew remaining in his bowl.
Lucas slumped down on the couch, feeling completely drained. Shortly after finishing her stew and cleaning the dishes, Iris emerged from the kitchen. “I will be in the laboratory for the next few hours,” she informed him. “You may join me if you are in need of company.”
Lucas sat up. “No, thanks though. I think I just need some sleep. I didn’t get very much last night.”
“Alright,” Iris replied. She walked to the fireplace and added a few logs, causing the flame to grow immensely. “I’ll keep the fire going tonight. Perhaps you will be more comfortable.” She started to exit the room before stopping and turning back to him. “I’m sincerely sorry about your parents, Lucas. It was not my intention to cause you emotional distress...”
“Don’t worry about it,” Lucas answered. “I just wish there were some way I could get home faster. If something were to happen to Grandpa, I don’t know what I’d do. I can’t bear to lose him too.”