"Ha, I'd almost forgotten about that trip to America if you hadn't mentioned it."
Aisling pulled a bottle of non-alcoholic Butterbeer from somewhere, handing the still slightly warm bottle to Roy beside her. Roy took it without hesitation, twisted off the cap, and drained it in one gulp.
"I still prefer it cold."
"You're lucky there's any for you at all."
As Roy tipped back his head and drank, the conversation they had only just begun abruptly came to a halt.
After finishing the drink in his hand, Roy stuffed the empty bottle into his pocket, wiped his mouth, and remained silent for a long while before slowly speaking.
"That time in America..."
Roy trailed off. Though the Butterbeer he had just drunk contained no alcohol, his mind was still a tangled mess, as if he were drunk. He knew he wanted to talk to Aisling about America, but even he did not know what exactly he wanted to say.
"Mhm—"
Aisling calmly placed her hands on her lap and leaned forward slightly, waiting for Roy to finish at his own pace, as though she were in no hurry at all.
"I think you're not the only one who changed. I probably changed too."
Roy pondered for a moment before finally saying that name.
"Lately, I keep dreaming about Elias Thorn."
Roy took a golden square-box locket from his pocket. Opening it, he pulled out an ornate golden Key and placed it in Aisling's small hand.
"I'm worried that I might have been tainted by Dark Magic because I killed too many people, or maybe these battles and experiences scared me. But honestly, I don't think something like this should have scared me badly enough to constantly affect my mental state and the nature of the magic inside me."
Aisling