Magical Restrictions

 Adam stayed as silent and unmoving as possible. He held his breath and curled up into a tight ball. The darkness felt oppressive, but he knew it would be worse if he left his hiding spot. Every time one of the muffled voices outside seemed to be coming closer, his heart rate skyrocketed.

‘They can hear my heart thumping! It’s so loud..’ He would irrationally think. But each time, the familiar soft voice of his sister would lead them away.

The mattress on top of him barely allowed him to breath, suffocating him. He was feeling uncomfortably warm, and was sweating. Even then, in his heart, he knew that this was far better than the other option.

It felt like years had passed before the doors to the little closet opened. Perhaps it had been a mere hour. Adam stayed resolutely silent.

The dusty mattress was lifted off him, and warm hands hugged him tight. His nose was buried into his sister’s hair, and he could smell her faint strawberry shampoo.

“Those palace officials are gone.. You don’t have to worry now,” she cried into his shoulder. He could see the tired visages of his parents standing behind her.

Although Liliana was comforting him, Adam felt only guilt. He was burdening his parents, and his dear sister. She was talented enough to go to the capital city and train at the most prestigious academies. Yet here she was, protecting her little brother.

His sister was the most brave person he had ever seen. Wiping away her tears, she stood up resolutely. She held onto his hand with a faint grin, and led him out of the cramped space.

“You must be hungry,” she said in worry, hands wringing. “Come on, let’s get you something to eat.” Adam looked at his parents in askance, and received kind smiles of allowance. Following his sister to the kitchen, he sat down at the table and watched her be in her element.

An unnatural whirlwind filled the room, causing the doors of the cabinets to rattle. Drawers flew open seemingly on their own, utensils and ingredients flying out to land in front of his sister. Her eyes glowed a pale green, and her hands were squeezed shut in concentration.

Sugar emptied itself into a bowl, and a spoon began mixing it. Their customary dish of pudding was made, the one they ate after every official inspection. In just a few minutes, after a quick cooling spell, he had a nice serving in front of him.

His mother entered the room as well, chuckling at the casual display of magic. “My, my, if the other girls saw you doing this, they would get so jealous! Can I have some as well?”

Liliana giggled with a nod, and raised her hands to summon some utensils, but she was beaten to it. A plate and a spoon shot out of a drawer and landed in front of my mother with a bright blue glow. When Adam looked over at her with a quirked eyebrow, she simply laughed it off. “Your mother has some talent too, you know?”

There was silence for a few minutes as they ate. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but the pleasant one that comes when eating with family. The only sound that could be heard was that of the spoon clinking against the plate.

Adam’s tension from earlier began to dissipate. His muscles relaxed and he felt calmer with every bite of the familiar dessert. With his family surrounding him, everything felt far better.

Just then, he heard the bell in front of the house ring. The front door creaked, presumably opened by his father. There was a shout, and a scuffle. Liliana and his mother looked at each other in fear, and he felt a strange pit in his stomach.

The kitchen door was thrown open, and a man wearing the royal insignia strode in. He had the stern look of a palace official.

“Criminals! You are under arrest for harbouring an illegal non-magical!” The man declared. His cold blue eyes stared right at me, striking at my soul. As his eyes glowed a warm red, I heard my father enter the room with a thunderous roar, and my sister screaming in fear. But, I didn’t know what happened, for I blacked out.