As autumn settled over Braxton, the days grew shorter, and the forest surrounding the village took on a haunting beauty. Golden leaves littered the ground, casting a soft glow in the late afternoon sunlight, while the evenings filled the village with a chill that seemed to seep into one’s bones. The villagers went about their daily lives, but there was a new sense of caution, a quiet reverence for the unseen presence they sensed lingering near.
Lucas continued to thrive, yet his connection to the mysterious world Dr. Verin had opened seemed to grow stronger with each passing day. Clara observed him with a mixture of pride and worry, noticing how he would sometimes pause, tilting his head as if listening to a distant voice only he could hear.
One evening, as they were finishing supper, a visitor arrived—a man Clara had never seen before. He wore a dark, well-tailored coat and carried a polished cane, his presence radiating a quiet authority. When Clara opened the door, he gave her a slight nod, his eyes sharp and calculating.
“Good evening, madam,” he greeted, his voice smooth. “I am Lord Belmore, and I’ve come from the city on urgent business. May I come in?”
Clara hesitated, but something in his gaze told her that denying him entry would not be wise. She stepped aside, allowing him into their humble home. Lucas, sensing the tension in his mother’s posture, sat quietly at the table, watching the stranger with wide, curious eyes.
Lord Belmore’s gaze drifted over Lucas, a faint smile touching his lips. “Ah, the young man himself,” he murmured. “I’ve heard tales of your remarkable recovery, young Lucas.”
Lucas nodded politely, but he remained silent, sensing the man’s presence carried a weight he didn’t fully understand.
Belmore turned back to Clara, his expression growing serious. “I represent a group—a society, you might say—dedicated to studying extraordinary occurrences. It has come to our attention that your son’s recent… recovery involved an individual we’ve been searching for.” He paused, watching her reaction. “The man you know as Dr. Verin.”
Clara’s heart pounded, a wave of protectiveness surging through her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replied carefully, trying to mask her fear. “My son was treated by a doctor, yes, but I don’t know anything else about him.”
Belmore gave a slight, amused smile, clearly unconvinced. “Ah, but you do. Dr. Verin is not a simple physician. He possesses knowledge and abilities that are… shall we say, beyond the scope of ordinary medicine. My society has sought him for years, though he has proven elusive.”
Clara swallowed, her mind racing. She could feel Lucas’s gaze on her, sensing her unease. “Dr. Verin is a healer,” she said finally. “He saved my son’s life. That’s all I know.”
Lord Belmore nodded, his expression thoughtful. “A healer, yes, but also a man bound by secrets. And we have reason to believe he has left… a trace of his magic here. Young Lucas seems to have inherited something unusual, a gift, perhaps, left by the doctor himself.” He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “I would very much like to meet Dr. Verin. Perhaps your son could assist us in finding him?”
At that, Clara’s heart raced. “Lucas is just a boy. Whatever you think he has, it’s… it’s just a child’s imagination.”
But Lucas, sensing something he couldn’t fully understand, looked up at Lord Belmore with a steady gaze. “The doctor doesn’t want to be found,” he said softly. “He helps people who need him, then he leaves. That’s his way.”
Belmore’s eyes darkened, his mouth set in a hard line. “Young man, sometimes, those with gifts have obligations beyond their own wishes. If the doctor is truly a man of his word, he would answer a call from those who seek his wisdom.”
Clara placed a protective hand on Lucas’s shoulder, her voice firm. “Whatever Dr. Verin has given my son is not for anyone else to take.”
Lord Belmore straightened, his eyes cold. “Very well, Mrs. Adley. But know this: my society does not give up its search so easily. Dr. Verin’s gifts are… rare, and there are those who would pay a great price for the knowledge he holds.” He glanced at Lucas, a warning glint in his eye. “You may choose to keep this door closed, but know that others may not be so respectful.”
With that, he tipped his hat and left, his footsteps echoing as he disappeared into the night. Clara and Lucas sat in silence, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air.
Clara hugged Lucas tightly, her heart pounding. She knew they had been left with an invisible mark, a connection to Dr. Verin that was both a blessing and a burden. And as she gazed out at the darkening sky, she silently wished that wherever he was, Dr. Verin would feel their need—and protect them from the dangers lurking just beyond their door.