Amelia stood still, staring at the floor.
Her fingers brushed her wrist where she put the glove in hurry — the faint mark there felt warm under her skin, as if reacting to something unseen.
Sophie came closer and whispered, "He's hiding something."
Amelia didn't answer.
She already knew.
As they looked at him he looked too tense.
Amelia's eyes went to the clock on the wall showing 8: 05 am
As she calmed down a bit she took the medical kit from the drawer and took gauze from it .
She sat near him and gently took his hand trying to clean the cut with antiseptic.
"Dad," she said softly, breaking the silence, "you said you'd be gone for two days. Why did you come back so soon did something happen?"
Alaric looked up from his thoughts, blinking as if pulled back from his thoughts. "Hmm?"
I mean," she continued cautiously, "you left just yesterday morning. You said you had something important to do and would be gone for 2 days … but it's barely been a day."
Sophie shifted awkwardly beside her, curious but silent.
For a moment, Alaric didn't respond. His other hand's fingers tightened slightly around the glass as he then put it down on the table.
"There was a change of plan," he said finally. "The work was finished early."
Amelia frowned. "Finished early , I thought it would take longer ."
She said as she finished the dressing of his hand .
He smiled faintly, but his eyes didn't match the expression. "Things change, Amelia. You'll understand when you're older."
It was the kind of answer that sounded calm on the surface but closed the door to answers completely.
Sophie looked between them, sensing the shift in air.
"Are you sure nothing happened?" Amelia pressed quietly. "You look—tired. More tired than usual."
For the brief moment, something flickered in his eyes — something dark, tired, and pain.
Then it was gone.
"I'm fine," he said. "Just didn't get enough sleep."
He rose from his chair, taking the glass to the sink, his movements deliberate and measured, as if every step was calculated.
Amelia followed him with her gaze, noticing the way his left shoulder stiffened — the same side where his coat was torn.
"Dad…" she began again.
He turned slightly, his voice soft but firm. "No more questions, Amelia. Please don't ask me any other questions."
The word please sounded almost fragile.
It wasn't anger — it was as if he was trying to stop her for saying the things he knew she would ask .
A quiet, heavy kind of please that came from fighting something he couldn't explain.
She bit her lip and nodded.
Sophie gave her a small look, half-warning, half-concerned as if trying to stop her from talking .
After a moment, Alaric tried to calm himself and spoke again, his tone calmer.
"I'm just glad you're both safe," he said. "Stay inside for the next few days you two ,Sophie you also stay here your parents had to go to your Aunt . So they won't be there and Don't go near the woods. Not until I say so."
"Okay," Amelia said, though her voice barely came out.
Sophie also nodded.
He gave her a small smile — as if trying to reassure them — then headed from the hall toward his study.
But before he disappeared inside, Amelia called after him, "Dad?"
" I saw my grandmother in my dream and a beautiful magical forest "she asked.
"Did you ever have this type of dream?"
Alaric's hand froze on the doorknob.
The silence fell , the sound of the clock echoing louder in the silence.
"No," he said quietly, without turning around. "I didn't."
Then the study door closed with a soft click. .....
Amelia stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door.
Her heart felt heavy, her mind moving with unease.
Sophie came closer. "That was weird," she whispered. "He came back early, and he's injured, also he's definitely hiding something."
Amelia nodded slowly, her hand brushing the glove on her wrist again. The faint warmth in it felt stronger — as if reacting to something close.
"I know," she murmured. "But he won't tell us anything."
Sophie frowned. "Then maybe… we'll have to find things out ."
Amelia looked toward the study door again. when she was sitting near her father she felt it , she felt the same feeling when she was in the enchanted forest, or when the fairy came to visit . That feel of magic.