It took a lot longer for Aella to find her way back home than it had been to sneak on out. With tears blinding her and her mind just a mess, she eventually found herself on the street to her home, but before she even had a chance to sneak around back, a few of the city guards rounded the bend- a torch light upon her form. Flinching back from the light,t he lead guard called back towards the open front door.
"Duchess Melora! Here she is! We found your daughter!"
And before Aella had a chance to protest or even react, her mother was rushing down the pathway and out into the streets. Seeing her daughter in a soiled, velvet cloak, she frowned and took her into a rough embrace before turning her head back towards the guards.
"Thank Angsar she is safe."
And the men nodded towards her as Melora guided her daughter back into the home. Turns out, Melora knew of Aella's escape just moments afterwards, and was in a fit when the city guards took song long to come and question her- especially when the mordecai bells were ringing!
"So what you're telling me is that, that... mage is on the loose?"
The lead guard raked a hand through his hair and gave a shake of his head.
"Yes. It turns out his powers are immune to the mordecai. The men at the jail exclaim he turned into a ghost."
Melora's eyes went wide as she took in the news.
"Ghost!?"
The man hesitated, but nodded. "I can only report what they say, my Duchess."
Melora growled. "Insolent guards! What sort of time are we living in that a magical ghost can run amok in the streets?A re we are barbaric as the Adelans? As uncivilized as the Essyrni!?"
And the night went on like this, the guards swearing they'd bring the man in and long after they had left, Melora forced Aella into her room, keepng her under lock and key, and even adding a few enchanted charms around the door in hopes to ward the salacious ghost out.
Now stuck in her tower bed room, Aella threw herself back onto her bed. She had cried so much on her way home, she had no idea how to feel now rather than numb, and clung onto a tiger stuffed toy upon her bed- that was, until she realized what memories that brought up as she upsettedly threw the toy acrosst ehr oom, then buried her face into her pillow- hoping sleep would find her in this exhausted mess. Perhaps when she'd wake up.. it would all be just a dream....
And as Laighean was making his way after the girl- Draven stepped out from around the bend and stared down at his younger brother.
"Hello, Laighean. I assume those bells are for you?"