Chapter Text
Scar followed Auryn, using the pieces of hair that caught on the underbrush as directional markers. He cursed. Why his mother had brought him out here of all places, he could never guess. Seers were notoriously quiet about their intentions, and Auryn had made no offer of commentary on this last minute decision.
Scar decided not to ask. The answers he wanted were rarely the ones given.
The forest clung ever closer to Scar's armor, grasping at the smooth metal. They were heading for the heart of the forest that surrounded their city, apparently. Scar had heard tales. Of magic doors that led to the other world islands, of beasts that would eat the naughty children that ran into the forest out of spite. He had thrown them all away as fairy tales. Auryn, however, knew something he did not. And this intrigued Scar. So it was with this in mind that he continued, ignoring the damp vines now brushing his hair out of his face. He spluttered for a second, nose wrinkling and eyes closing as he wiped them off.
"Not much further." Auryn said, her bell-like voice breaking the silence that had hung over the pair for the past few hours.
Scar nodded. He dared not speak, now suspecting how little he knew about the deepest folds of the once familiar forest. The duo continued on in silence until eventually the vines around them drew up, forming the ceiling of a tunnel more than the curtain that had covered the previous part of their journey. While the area around them did not become any drier, it became safe for Scar to use his magic to form an invisible umbrella over his head now that he had room to do it. Auryn followed suit a few seconds later. Soon enough, even the trees began to clear, a softer, shorter grass peeking through the thinning underbrush. Auryn exhaled softly. They were nearing their destination.
The forest eventually gave way to a clearing. In the middle stood a podium, and on it was a door, hinges rusty and moss growing on both sides. Whatever paint the door ahd once proudly boasted was now cracked, or completely gone in some places. All in all, it was, in Scar's opinion, a thoroughly unimpressive door.
"So this is a world door?" Scar asked pointedly, one eyebrow arched.
"Yes. I have a key too. It should lead you to one of the oldest schools of magic I know. You will be safe to learn your craft there." Auryn answered, ignoring her child's irreverence.
Scar warily agreed, but still eyed the door cautiously. "You are sure it will work?"
"Magic does not just stop because it falls into disrepair. It may transport you a few years forward or backward in time, but you will arrive at Ravenwood. I recommend leaving soon. Leon cannot hide our disappearances forever."
Scar nodded, laying a gloved hand on the key. He hesitated briefly before completely taking it from Auryn's hands. "Take care Mom. I refuse to come back to a dead family."
Auryn shook her head and smiled. "You will not, I guarantee you of that." she said, kissing the top of Scar's head. "May your flight be true."
Scar closed his eyes, a tear briefly lining his lashes. "It will be." With that, he turned to the door and pushed the key into the lock. It took a little bit of fiddling with, as disuse did apparently affect the physical elements of the door, but eventually he was able to pull the door open, albeit slowly and with much effort on his part. The old wood was not taken to moving, and was making the job as difficult for Scar as it could. When it was fully opened the door revealed a void. Scar paused, reaching out to try and touch the nothingness beyond the door. To his amazement, the darkness engulfed his hand, and it went through, rather like water. While he could not see his hand anymore, he could still feel it and move it. Taking a shuddering breath, he stepped through. The void engulfed him, though he thanked the gods that at least it was not cold. It was more like plunging into lukewarm water.
A muffled thump behind him told him that the door had shut of its own accord. And with that he was moving through time and space, through a place where neither had meaning. This journey through the astral plane could have been hours, or mere minutes, but what Scar did know was that it ended suddenly, with the uncomfortable sensation in one's stomach that indicates they are falling.
Great.