Blood Lily

 

In a region far, far to the north, there lies a place whose very nature is unlike anywhere else on Earth, much like how the sun's light dazzles impossibly brilliant in the garden of House O'Sang. Unlike the garden, however, the sun here is shrouded, its loving touch erased from existence. The clouds are heavy and grim, the land frostbitten and near lifeless. As the area is locked in an unending and unrelenting winter, the snow piles high and the wind is harsh. No human with any sense of mind would trek far out enough to find this place, and the chance of a myth stumbling upon it is slim.

The odds of a myth finding it and creating a home suitable for a human of all things? Truly impossible.

At least, not for Magnolia O'Sang.

"My new heir is full of surprises, yes, but I haven't seen you in a year. Is that really the first thing you want to ask?" Magnolia said to the elderly woman as embers drifted upwards from the toasty fireplace.

The woman, as reflective of her age, let out a small, frail laugh as best she could.

"And I haven't seen a new heir in one hundred years. If we're playing the time game, I think I win."

Magnolia sighed in defeat, smiling deep and warm enough to compete against the fireplace.

"Alright, alright..." she conceded, "what would you like to know about my new heir?"

"Well," the woman began, "is he your son or is she your daughter? Or do they prefer something else?"

Ah, yes, of course. If you're going to discuss someone, why not start with their identity? A simple thing to answer most of the time, yet Magnolia knew the answer was anything but.

"My heir is... For today, they are... he-"

"Wow," the gray-haired woman said after taking a sip of her water, "this new heir must truly be something to have you stumble on your words."

"Ah... is it that obvious?" Magnolia sighed. "I suppose I should start from the beginning, then."

The fire crackled and popped as the quaint room became layered in a blanket of tender heat. The old woman sat her cup of water down and crossed her feeble, wrinkled hands upon her lap as she laid comfortably in bed.

"On that fateful night, I was out searching for a new heir, as is O'Sang tradition. I don't know if it was coincidence, magic, or destiny, but once the comet was close, I felt a connection to someone. In an instant, I was awash with the purity of this stranger's soul as their presence tugged me towards them. Never before had I felt empathy and innocence as tangible as theirs was, never before had I felt such a beautiful, all encompassing radiance..." Magnolia recounted with a somewhat nostalgic gleam in her eye. "It was then that I knew this person was to be my heir, yet, when I found them..."

Her pointed fangs dug into her lip and her fists clenched tight.

"I saw a poor, skinny young man gazing off at the starry night sky with the faintest glimmer of hope. His lips were cracked, his hair filthy and poorly chopped. His cheeks were sunken and dark bags sat under his eyes. His breath was so weak that I could scarcely believe he was alive. When I heard his wish, I was astonished. His wish was simple and untainted by greed; he just wanted something to be grateful for. So... I made my offer to him and he accepted, yet... do you know what he did the moment my fangs pierced his neck? The moment I injected my own blood into his?"

The elderly woman slowly shook her head ever so slightly.

"He hugged me. He hugged me and I knew that I would undoubtedly be his mother and he my son, yet... in spite of that... I had a thought. It was a regrettable, selfish thought that I knew was impossible the moment I laid my eyes on him, an inappropriate wish that centered around my own, personal desires."

Magnolia exhaled, her guilt palpable in the air as her heart sunk deep.

"I wished that I could have a daughter instead."

The room went silent, the only sounds being that of the fire's crisply burning wood and the muffled, icy howls of the wind outside. The old woman motioned Magnolia to continue, and she did.

"And so... as those six, anxious months of loneliness and hard work passed, I waited for him to awake, for the moment the royal transference had completed. Once that time was up and I knew the process was complete, I visited him the moment I could, but... I was utterly amazed. Where I left the shriveled husk of a young man, I found the most adorable and breathtakingly sweet girl whose scarlet eyes and silver hair were a reflection of my own. For the briefest time, I was overjoyed and allowed myself to think she was always a girl and that it was meant to be."

"And you are stricken with the guilt and belief that your heir became a woman due to your wish?" the elderly woman wisely pointed out.

Magnolia was slightly wide eyed for a minute, though she was hardly surprised. She always could read Magnolia like a book.

"That sums it up, yes..." the head of House O'Sang replied with yet another deep sigh. "I am terrified that I have accidentally forced this upon him. He even requested to be my daughter for today just to fool that despicable runt of the Louve family, yet... I fail to believe it was just for that reason. It almost seemed as if... I don't know, as if he wanted my approval. It's as if he knows I had always wanted a daughter..."

The senior woman lifted a gray, withered brow. She knew full well Magnolia was deflecting.

"Have you considered your heir may enjoy being your daughter more than your son?" she asked with pinpoint precision.

"I..." Magnolia hesitated. In truth, she had considered it, but what are the odds for such a thing to align with her wish? And, though she was still unsure how her heir became a girl, she was scared of the idea that, if it was due to the wish, it may have affected Lil's mind. This fear was, however, irrational. Magic exists, this much is true, but no such thing as a miraculous wish has ever been recorded. Magnolia knew the cause of Lil's transformation had to be due to something, but, considering that she was short on ideas even with all the knowledge and resources available to a privileged position such as hers, fear of it actually being a wish caused Magnolia to override the possibility that the old woman suggested. "I have, but encouraging it would be selfish."

"Oh, Maggy... to think you're as old as me and you're still as you were all those years ago. Seems like you kept both your beauty and your immaturity," the elder woman teased.

"Well, what would you do then?" Magnolia asked, blushing.

"Ask them what they want, of course. Isn't it obvious?" the woman nonchalantly responded, a bit of a rasp to her voice.

Magnolia's mouth opened as if to immediately refuse, yet she halted, the words not forming because she knew the woman was right. She needed to put her personal fears and guilt aside and ask.

"...You're right. I will... find the right opportunity to ask."

The feeble woman responded with a pleased smile and yet another question.

"And their name?"

"Ah, well... my heir did not have a name, actually. He- they have been going by Lil' as a nickname, but I'm hoping I can help them along with that tomorrow in the garden," Magnolia explained.

"Mmmm, I see..." the old lady said.

"But... I think that's enough talk of my heir, I haven't seen you in a year. I'm so sorry I couldn't visit earlier, I've just been overloaded with so much preparation for the transference, and then the burden of losing father, I just.... Oh, I've missed you so much. Forgive me," Magnolia pleaded, her delicate yet strong hand tenderly placed upon the woman's.

"Oh, don't you worry about me... I enjoy the peace and quiet of this place. I find the contrast of a cozy home in such an unforgiving environment to be oddly settling. It's much like you and I, Maggy," she smiled, her eyes dreaming of those nostalgic days. "Thank you for crafting this splendid home for me."

Magnolia smiled, too. This person's smile always was contagious. But, she used to be so full of energy, and though she remained beautiful even at this age, it was clear that time had taken its toll. Her lush, earthy brown hair was now a thin, faded gray. Magnolia might have enjoyed the fact their hair color was similar now, but the vibrancy of her own, silver hair was nowhere to be found in the elder woman's.

"You could have lived at the manor though, regardless of what others might think I-"

"No," the woman quickly interrupted with more strength than her body should have had, "I would never risk bringing shame to your family name. Even if times have changed, I couldn't bear the thought of any nasty rumors going around after you worked so hard for so many decades to clear them..."

Magnolia went silent. This was the answer the woman always gave, the same response she had received every time she offered a place of living in her own home. Magnolia, in spite of everything she had gone through, had always desired to spend everyday life with this person. To her, the risks were nothing compared to the reward. To the woman, however, the risks far outweighed the reward, regardless of her own desires.

Pushing the issue would be as fruitless as her attempts to persuade the old lady into becoming a vampire, so she changed the subject.

"...You had Meredith teleport over for me. Letters have always sufficed, so why send your caretaker over this time?" Magnolia asked.

"Oh, that poor girl is always so kind to me... I just wanted her to get some fresh air for once. That's all," the elder lady lied.

Magnolia smiled, blissfully unaware of her dear companion's intentions.

"You're so selfless, you know, you always have been. What if the link to the manor fizzled? It could take hours or even days to fix and you'd be alone. What if something happened to you?" she asked, care and worry intertwining into her voice.

"'It didn't," she replied with a feeble giggle.

Magnolia giggled too, though hers resonated with eternal youth. For a moment, the two shared a deep gaze, their eyes lost in the other's. From dawn to dusk, they chatted the hours away as easily as breathing. Magnolia recounted her most dangerous of encounters as a myth hunter in the past year in vivid detail, the ongoing investigation of Lil's horrendous shacklers and how she has a few leads including the troubling news regarding House Ab'Haima, as well as many other sweet moments shared with her new heir.

The old woman listened intently with each tale, offering her opinion and advice on many different facets. To outsiders, it might seem like a simple conversation of two old friends reuniting after a long time, but for the ones involved, it was a special moment they rarely had the chance to enjoy as the years blew away with the wind. They each savored the company of the other, their voices delighted to both speak and be heard.

However... as the night went on, the modicum of enthusiasm the old lady could spare dwindled, her breath becoming ragged.

Magnolia, of course, caught on to this.

"Are you alright?" she asked, a deep concern laced in her words.

"Mmmm... I am... fine," the woman weakly responded.

"But... you're not fine. I might fail to pick up on stuff sometimes, but I can tell there is something wrong," Magnolia affirmed with increased worry, a knot growing in her stomach. "You've... you've been taking your medicine, haven't you?"

The woman was old, almost unnaturally so for a human. This year, she would be 122 years old and, while not impossible for a human to achieve, it certainly would have been unlikely without the medicine Magnolia had supplied her with. As a myth hunter, her job is to hunt and exterminate threats to society, that much is true, however, this also means she often comes across precious materials and exotic myths whose parts are worth a fortune, such as a dragon's scales or sunsilk. For decades, she has invested this wealth into the research and innovation of alchemy, which has produced many wondrous products for the betterment of the world of myths. The elixir capable of permanently altering one's biological sex is one such innovation. Medications capable of extending a human's life beyond its normal limit is another.

The woman's eyes gently rose to meet Magnolia's. Though her smile was weak, Magnolia knew all too well the admission of guilt it carried.

"You... What happened?!" Magnolia began in a panic. "Where are they? I'll find them right away, I'll-"

"Maggy," the woman softly called out, her voice weakening, "I've lived a long enough life."

Magnolia's heart sank. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"W-What...?" she asked, her usually composed voice cracking under one of the few things that she is truly afraid of. "You can't be serious, I-I... we... there's still so much more we can do..."

"Maggy... I sent Meredith out because she won't be coming back. Tell her I said thank you for all she's done," the dying old lady requested.

"But... I..." Magnolia was still in denial. She knew this day would come, just... not so soon. Not today of all days. "It's our anniversary, you can't leave me, I-I... I can't lose you! Not after losing father!"

"I know... I'm sorry, Maggy... but I've had a long time to think about this," she said, the words coming out in-between long, slow breaths. "From what you've told me... it sounds like you have a wonderful child... whoever they want to be... I'm sure you won't be alone..."

For the first time since father passed away, hot tears began streaming down Magnolia's rosy cheeks. Even as a proud woman, even as an individual with power bordering the pinnacle of what a myth can achieve, she is powerless before this impending loss of life. Nobody is truly immortal, not even vampires. They merely live longer than humans, her own father's death a testament to the fact. Vampires are not immune to crying, either. Not even Magnolia.

"I... I understand, but it does not make it hurt any less. There's still so much I want to do with you, still so much I want to say..."

"...You'll make... a wonderful mother. I am... sure of it, I have always been sure of that..." the elder woman whispered dreadfully slowly, making sure she could say the most important of things before it was time.

"I... Thank you, I will make sure my heir gets all the love they deserve. I promise, I will not fail them... I swear..." Magnolia said, her sobs barely contained.

The old lady took in a deep breath, her eyes closing for a moment as she exhaled. She wanted for nothing more than to die knowing Maggy would go on to live the rest of her life together with her heir, her child. The child she always knew Maggy wanted but could never have.

"Do you... remember the day we met...?" the old lady asked, the strength in her arms all but spent as they take their final place over Magnolia's hand.

"Mmmm, of course I do..." she responded. How could she forget that day? "It was about half a year after I become the new heir. I lost control of my hunger after being the stubborn young adult I was... You were the first human I found, and I almost killed you, but instead of fearing me as you should have, all you could say to me on that night was-"

"You look like an angel," the old lady managed to finish, the final drop of spunk she had left in her voice now gone.

Magnolia's lips spread into a wide grin, fresh tears of warm joy replacing the cool, moist ones that had almost managed to dry.

"Yes," she said, choking on the clash of sorrow and happiness," yes, exactly that."

"Ah... I'm so glad that you... remember..." the old lady responded, the light in her eyes dimming as they gazed upon Magnolia for the last time. Never before had she felt such acceptance and such peace from a person before. With this, in her final moments, she felt complete.

"I love you, Maggy."

"I love you too, Grace."

Magnolia O'Sang, head of House O'Sang, reached over and embraced the one and only love of her life for the last time. For 120 years Magnolia has lived, and 100 of those years were happily spent in love with Grace.

As the snow continued to pile high outside, the embers of the fireplace were eventually snuffed out.

Soon enough, Grace took her final breath, and though Magnolia would forever mourn her loss, in this very moment there were only two things she could feel...

Love... and hope.