fanfiction.lol^{fun, silly, low-stakes fandom}

Chapter Text

Hello there, KayCee/KC here, a delusional dreamer who brings you this story of a girl that I added into  Tangled: The Series and started writing a whole fanfiction about. Before you start reading this silly little story, I would like to tell you dear reader what you might come across.

Together the Soul is about the story of Varian and Lorelei (my aforementioned character that I added into TTS). We can say that this is a coming-of-age romantic fantasy with lots of fantasy elements. The relationship between our sweet Varian and darling Lorelei will be the focus of this story. So, if you enjoy reading about a shy, oblivious and slightly unhinged protagonist trying to understand her feelings that grow day by day, I think you will enjoy what awaits you in future chapters. But you better be ready for some —“some” may be an understatement — sorrow too.

Aside from the romance, this is also some sort of a rewrite of Tangled the Series. In addition to inserting Lorelei, I will be also exploring the possible outcomes that have not been touched on and the ones that I want to add to the lore. This also applies to the relationships that haven’t been touched upon such as Quirin and Varian or other relationships between other characters. There will be my spin added to the events, but overall the ending will stay the same so there is no need to worry, dear dreamers. If changes do occur, it will not affect anything major, just give it a new path that leads to the same place as before. 

These are the changes that you will see in this story, I hope you will love it! Well… If you do want to follow the friends to lovers slow burn romance of Varian and Lorelei as they grow up and face life threatening challenges, I will not keep you any longer. I hope you enjoy reading. 

Chapter Text

Act I  

Prologue  

Chapter One: Alchemy Gone Wrong  

It is a usual winter day in Old Corona. Snow had powdered everywhere in white, laughter of children playing with the freshly fallen snow and adults scolding them to be careful was echoing in the air. 

Lorelei opened her eyes to the sound from outside and hit her head on the pillow in anger and frustration. She did not want to wake up. Sleeping was way better than going downstairs to get an inescapable quest from her dearest mother or be made fun of by her older brother. The annoyed girl sat up and a chill hit her as her blanket fell off her torso. Lorelei’s body shivered as it contacted the cold and quickly wrapped herself with her thick, warm blanket covered in embroidery.  

She looked around her room as her eyes adjusted to waking up. She noticed her walls were covered with soot from her earlier experiment. Which ended up with a small explosion that sent Lorelei flying out of her room. 

Suddenly her door opened to reveal a tall, slightly muscular frame with the most stylish attire in the whole village. He danced towards Lorelei and jumped on her bed. “You were up? Well, that’s just my luck... I was planning to paint your face.” He confessed smugly with a smirk. Lorelei looked at her older brother with annoyance and cleared her throat. “What do you need, Corin?” she asked plainly. 

Corin gasped and acted as if he was hurt. “What do I want? Rory... How can you assume such a thing?! I just wanted to wake up my adorable, little, tiny, baby-” Corin tapped his foot on the ground, making a tapping sound. “Sister.” Lorelei was not buying it. She got up from her bed and put on her boots, her blanket still wrapped around her. 

“Leave if you have no intention of telling the truth, dearest-” She took a small step forward that made a similar tapping sound. “-Brother.” Corin had a big smile on his face when he saw her tap the ground. This was a habit they both developed when Lorelei was only three years old. He followed her and tried to take her blanket off her. Lorelei let out a high-pitched yelp and held onto her blanket for dear life. Corin stopped pulling on the blanket and sighed. 

“Anyways... I was going to share an exciting, breathtaking, spectacular news with you, Rory.” Corin ran towards Lorelei’s desk, got two paintbrushes in his hand, and started to make a drum roll by hitting them on the side of her desk. After his drum roll, Corin turned around and faced his little sister. 

“I’m going to ask Kamille to marry me.” He said, taking out a black square box. Lorelei looked at Corin in disbelief, turned away and scoffed before he took out the box. “No, you’re not.” She walked towards her wardrobe and pulled out a set of winter clothing. 

Corin looked confused and a bit worried. “You... I thought you would be happy about my decision. Lorelei, I’m serious.” Lorelei looked at Corin and noticed that he meant business. “Wait, you are... You’re serious about this. This is not like last time, is it? You got me all excited, saying that you had a friend who needed a little girl for his play. Then I learned from that said friend that it was all wrong and that you just pulled a prank.” Lorelei’s older brother’s eyes widened, and his lips parted in shock. “You still remember that?” 

Lorelei nodded as she readjusted her blanket. “It is not like that time! Don’t you see this?” Corin waved the box in front of Lorelei’s eyes. Lorelei snatched the box and opened it. Inside the box was a beautiful ring that had a chamomile shaped diamond on top. Lorelei chuckled and bit her lower lip. She closed the box gently and looked at Corin. “Corin... This is beautiful. How much did it cost?” 

Corin sucked in his breath and looked away. Lorelei realized that it was quite pricey. “Oh no... How many zeros?” Her poor brother showed four of his fingers and mouthed “Nine...” 

“You paid nine thousand gold for this?!” Corin slammed his hand over to Lorelei’s mouth. “Shhh...! Shut up, shut up, shut up. Mom doesn’t know.” Lorelei licked Corin’s hand, which made him jolt and pull his hand away from her mouth with a voice that showed his disgust. 

“Where did you even find that amount of money?” Lorelei whispered. A smug smile appeared on Corin’s face. He took a step forward.  

“Sister-” Step. “Sister-” Step. “Sister...” he leaned forward to be on a similar height level as Lorelei. He continued, “The King and Queen needed winter dresses, so I made them winter dresses. Nine for each, eighteen in total, six hundred per outfit. My payment was ten thousand and eight hundred golds.” Lorelei looked up at her brother and did the math in her head. “So, we have thousand and eight hundred gold left in total? Cory, what in the heavens?! You should have bargained.” 

Corin sighed and nodded. “I know, I know... But I was his first customer today, and he said that he couldn’t sell anything yesterday. Also, his wife was pregnant! What was I supposed to do?” “Bargain.” Lorelei stated without any emotion in her voice. 

“You monster.” Corin replied as a joke, laughing. Lorelei clicked her tongue and gave him a thumbs up. “Now shoo, I’m going to change.” She waved her hand for her older brother to get out. Corin left her room without closing the door. “Oh, you- Close the door!!!” Lorelei shouted behind him. She sighed and closed the door herself. 

After changing from her pajamas to her slightly warmer winter clothes, Lorelei headed downstairs. “Finally, out of your bed, are you?” Lorelei’s mother kissed the top of her daughter’s head. “Are you going to eat or...” “No. I am not hungry.” Lorelei replied. Lorelei’s mother sighed and filled a glass of water for her.  

“At least have some water, Lorelei.” She handed her daughter the glass and Lorelei gladly accepted it. She took a sip of the water and felt the water go down her system and her throat relaxing. She realized that she needed that water. “The snow sure looks beautiful. Why don’t you go out and play?” 

Oh no. Not this again... Her mother was trying to convince Lorelei to get out again. Lorelei’s mood quickly dampened. She shook her head in refusal. “No thank you, I prefer to stay in my lair and be productive.” Lorelei’s mother sighed and tried to convince her daughter once more. 

“You know, Lorelei. The house in front of ours, our neighbour.” Lorelei raised a brow. “Yeah... The village chief lives there, does he not? What about it?” Her mother laughed and pulled Lorelei to the living room. She and Lorelei sat down.  

Ugh, this was going to be a lecture... Lorelei sighed and rolled her eyes when her mother was not looking. “Yes, The chief, Quirin. He has a son who is also into that... mixing stuff ... that you are into-” “Alchemy.” Lorelei corrected her mother. “Yes, that... Alchemy.” 

“Well, good for him, I suppose. What does it have to do with me?” Lorelei responded with a shrug. Her mother sighed and Corin chimed in from the kitchen. “Go make some friends, ya dingus.”  

Lorelei blew a strand of her hair from her face. Her mother stood up and went behind Lorelei and started to braid her hair. “That is exactly what I mean. Aside from the last part. You are no foolish person. My sweet... You cannot be alone, without friends all your life.” 

Lorelei crossed her arms and legs which made her mother pull her hair gently, signaling her not to move. “What if I want to be alone? Not for my whole life, but for now. Kids here are mean, and they clearly hate me.” Lorelei said. 

“None of them has even seen you, my moon. You just must give them a chance, let them in to your castle made of ice.” She explained. Lorelei was not convinced. Those kids threw rocks at her window and laughed at her two days ago. Let them in... Never! She was not going to do such a naïve thing.  

Lorelei’s mother handed her daughter her hair. Lorelei held the end of it as her mother went to get a ribbon. She quickly came back and tied her daughter’s hair in a navy ribbon. 

“But I will not force you. I’m just asking you to reconsider your life choices.” She was forcing her. Lorelei forced a smile at her mother and got up. She thanked her mother for braiding her hair and headed up the stairs. 

Lorelei went back to her room and looked at her unfinished painting, then at her paint. She took a glance at the unfinished piece again and made a face that clearly showed her disgust over her skills.  

“What was I even thinking while I did this?” She mumbled. Brushing off her disappointment with a sigh, Lorelei decided that her painting needed some pizzazz, some... glow .  

This was enough to get her sidetracked and move onto alchemy. Lorelei theorized for a solid fifteen minutes about how she could do this. She got the red paint and filled half of the vial with the paint. She then went over to her supply shelf and got herself some phosphate minerals and sulfuric acid.  

Lorelei mixed the sulfuric acid and the phosphate minerals together. She then added the mixture into the paint-filled vial. She started to sing as she mixed the compound with paint. 

You will never feel pale again 
If you become someone else, while remaining yourself 
We tend to embarrass ourselves 
Of senseless chains, armor and shields, then 

Lorelei swayed in her place and turned as she sang to the beat in her head. She was being careful to not to spill any paint but was looking effortless as she sang and danced. It started to be suffocating in her room, so Lorelei opened her window. 

A little lover's kiss 
A little lover's kiss 
 
Immensely you just have to believe it 
Jumping into the water, you know, it's not the sea to drink 
It's no more complicated than a simple hello 
No more complicated than a simple kiss, then 

Why not 
Why not, just 
It's hard, it's hard, it's hard 
One day, two days, three days 
May it last forever 

Lorelei put the mixture on her desk and got another empty vial. She filled it with green paint this time. And made the same compound as before.  

A little lover's kiss 
A little lover's kiss 
A little lover's kiss  

She poured the compound into the vial that had green paint and started to mix this one just like before. As she danced and sang loudly. 

Just a little lover's kiss 
A little lover's kiss 
A little kiss of love, a little kiss of love 
A little lover's kiss 

After she finished her song, she heard clapping from outside. The curious girl she is, Lorelei looked outside to see her neighbour's son applauding her way with a small smile on his face.  

Lorelei gasped and the vial on her hand slipped away from her hands. The ground beneath her started to dissolve slowly. Lorelei looked down and shrieked quietly.  

“What? But I used sulfuric acid-” Lorelei looked at her shelf and noticed that sulfuric acid was on the shelf, unused. She turned to look at her desk and saw that she had used hydrochloric acid. 

The boy was watching everything with worry and confusion. “Is everything alright?” the boy shouted from his window. Lorelei realized the boy’s existence and closed her window shut then her curtain. The hydrochloric acid had made a hole in her floor that was getting bigger by the minute. 

“Lorelei Thaelia Karmaniόla-Anagnostis!!!” Lorelei’s mother shouted in fury. Full, full name. She used my full, full name. It’s your funeral, Lorelei. Spider lilies will make a great decoration for the funeral , she thought. 

Lorelei jumped out of fear, got away from the hole, and looked at her door to see her mother, her face red with anger. “M-mother, I can explain-”  

“Explain what Lorelei?! Because I can clearly see that there is a hole in the floor!” Lorelei flinched and looked down. Her mother sighed. “Agh, great... Now I’m the bad guy.” Her mother muttered.  

“Get out of here. Do not let my eyes see you.” She added. Lorelei left her room, filled with shame and regret. Why did this boy applaud her? She sings every day and he found today of all days to applaud?! 

Lorelei dragged her feet to the living room and sat on the couch. Corin looked at her, confused. “How in the Seven Kingdoms did you manage to disintegrate the floor?” 

Lorelei sighed. She tried to hold the tears that threatened to fall. “Hydrochloric acid...” Corin looked at Lorelei, not understanding what that was. “I don’t know what that is and do not want to know.” 

Noticing his sister’s sadness, he got up and left Lorelei alone. 

After a short amount of time, he came back with two formal outfits. “Which one?” Lorelei looked at Corin and raised a brow. Corin wanted Lorelei to choose his outfit for the date with his girlfriend. 

But he never trusted Lorelei’s fashion sense. Lorelei understood that he was doing this to distract her and for her to feel a little bit better. “Umm... I-I really don’t-”  

“Choose one!” Corin cut her off. Lorelei looked at the two outfits. “But the only difference they have is the color.” 

Corin looked at the suits and looked back at Lorelei, slightly pissed, and hurt. “You know, I made these outfits, and they are both unique. You dare-”  

Someone knocked on the door. The siblings looked at the door at the same time, with the same confused expression. Lorelei got up and opened the door. It was that boy! Lorelei’s face lost all emotion in a second as she gave a death glare to the stranger in front of her. 

“Oh, it’s you! Hi. I’m Varian, your neighbour. The one who applauded you...” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I know. I dropped my ‘glowing paint’ thanks to you. Thank you very much for that, I disintegrated my floor.” Lorelei said sarcastically she made quotation marks with her fingers. 

Varian looked at the girl, confused. “That’s scientifically impossible. You need to mix sulfuric acid and phosphate minerals to make a glowing compound. Huh... I never thought of mixing phosphorus with paint to make the said paint glow. That’s genius. Simple, but genius.” Varian claimed. He was clearly amazed. 

“It would have been if I had gotten sulfuric acid instead of hydrochloric acid. And dropped it.” she said harshly. Varian’s eyes grew wide. “You confused sulfuric acid with that ?! Out of all the acids-”  

“I did not do that on purpose! I already have my mother mad at me. I do not need someone else, and definitely, not a stranger, telling me what I should have done.” Lorelei snapped. She was angry at herself. She hated making mistakes. And this was a big mistake. 

“I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to scare you! Sometimes I hear you sing, and today I finally got the courage to show my support. And I thought that you would be happy... I-I don’t know...” Varian explained. Lorelei felt sad for the boy. He clearly had no friends.  

His tone of voice and actions made it clear to Lorelei. She was also like that when it came to talking to strangers. The only difference she had was that normally she was so quiet that people couldn’t hear her. 

“N-no... I took my frustration out on you... I shouldn’t have. Sorry.” Lorelei apologized. Varian smiled and chuckled. A gust of winter wind hit the boy’s back and made him shiver. Lorelei felt the cold that was mostly shielded by Varian. She gestured to him to come inside to which Varian obliged.  

“So... We’re good?” Varian held out a hand to Lorelei. She closed the door and looked at Varian. “Sure. Why not?” She took his hand and shook it. “Varian...” Lorelei whispered. Varian looked at her and hummed in response. 

“Your name... It means variable. Which also means changing, irregular, unpredictable-” “Y-yeah, I know that I’m weird.” Varian cut her off. Lorelei looked at Varian, she got worried. “Oh, no. I didn’t mean to call you weird. That is just what your name means. Besides... I don’t think that I have the right to call you weird after what I did today.”  

Varian laughed at the girl’s point. He found this girl amusing and easy to get along with, unlike the other kids. He then remembered what happened right before last year's harvest.  

“So, you’re also into alchemy... It’s probably a stupid question but, in September... Did you make that serum that caused all the harvest to die?” Lorelei’s eyes widened. The memory that she tried so hard to forget...  

Last year, in mid-September, Lorelei had prepared a serum that would keep pests and animals away from the crops. Late at night, she had sneaked out of her room and sprayed the serum on all the crops. In the morning, all the harvest was dead. 

The whole village was devastated, and Lorelei just got out of that punishment a week ago. Her mother did not talk to her for two weeks and they had suffered a lot. Corin and the others were still working extra to bring home the bacon.  

Lorelei lowered her head and held on tight to the hem of her skirt. “Yes...” She whispered. “So that was you! Everyone thought that I was the one who caused the harvest to die. I was punished for a month; I couldn’t go into my laboratory!” Varian threw his hands into the air.  

“They punished you? Mother told me that they knew that I caused it...” Varian looked at Lorelei and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Did you get punished?” “For four months. Mother confiscated my favorite books and forbade me to eat sweets. Even baking them!”  

When Varian heard the mention of no sweets, he imagined a life without them. Torture! That’s straight up torture! “Not even hot cocoa?” Lorelei shook her head. “Not even hot cocoa...” Varian held Lorelei’s shoulders and shook her violently. “That’s horrible. You are a war veteran-!” The boy realized his dramatic theatrics and stopped shaking the petite girl. 

Varian let go of her and cleared his throat. “I never asked you for your name.” he added sheepishly. Lorelei chuckled and smiled. “Guess.” “What?” Lorelei went to the living room, Varian put his scarf, coat and earmuffs on the coat rack and followed Lorelei. 

“Guess my name. And if you guess correctly... I will make us hot cocoa.” Varian beamed at the mention of hot cocoa. “And if I don’t?” he asked, curious. “I’ll make myself hot cocoa.” Lorelei answered plainly.  

She gestured Varian to sit and started to explain the rules. “Okay, so... You may ask questions like ‘how many letters’ or ‘what is the first letter’ and... since I caused you to be grounded because of something I did... I’ll be generous. It is fine if you guess the meaning of my name.” 

Varian looked at her and tried to guess her name by looking at her. “You look like someone who would be named... Rose. But that’s too simple.” Varian muttered. He thought hard on her name. 

“How many letters does your name have?” Lorelei raised seven of her fingers and sat next to Varian, cross-legged. “Seven... Is it Corinne?” Lorelei giggled and made an “X” with her arms.  

“Wrong. But you must know my brother if you guessed that name.” Lorelei scooted closer to Varian, who made himself more comfortable. “Yeah, I know Big Bro Corin. I see him around with his girlfriend.” Lorelei nodded as she listened to Varian. 

Varian and Lorelei talked for half an hour, and Varian failed to guess her name.  

“Are you going to give up?” Lorelei asked. “Never.” Varian said with confidence. “I’m close, I know it. So far, I learned that your name starts with an L, is seven letters long and that the meaning of your name has something to do with magic.” Varian listed. Lorelei bit the inside of her cheek; she was getting excited. 

Footsteps of someone coming down caught Lorelei’s attention. It was her mother. She was sweating, but calm. When he caught the boy in her living room sitting with Lorelei her mother stopped in her tracks and greeted him. 

“Varian? What a surprise to see you out of your room. And trouble.” She joked. Varian chuckled bashfully and rubbed his neck. “Nice to see you, Ms. Marie.” Marie looked at Lorelei and smirked. “I thought you wanted to be alone. What’s with the change of heart?” 

“He got punished because of me. You know... T-the harvest situation.” Marie looked at Varian and gave the boy an apologetic look. “Well... I’m sorry for that Varian. I tried talking to the crowd that it was not you, but none of them know my daughter so they did not believe me.”  

Marie turned towards her daughter. “Lorelei, you will sleep in the living room until your room is fixed. I don’t want you near that hole, and no experimenting. I am going to Clarise’s, stay out of trouble.” 

Marie left the two kids alone. Lorelei sighed and then her eyes went wide. Her mother just said her name! She hoped that Varian did not catch that, but the wisenheimer smirk on his face said otherwise. He eyed Lorelei and snickered. 

“So... Your name is Lorelei.” Lorelei pouted. Her mouth became a small dot and her cheeks reddened. Varian got close to her face and blinked rapidly. “So, Lorelei, when will you make hot cocoa for us?” Varian laughed. Lorelei looked at Varian and sighed, but there was a smile that never left her face. “Right now, actually.” Lorelei replied and headed for the kitchen. 

After a solid ten minutes, Lorelei came back to the living room with two mugs with steam emanating from them. She handed one to Varian and put the other one on the coffee table.  

“So, neighbour... What do you like to do? Aside from alchemy.” Lorelei asked Varian. He smelled the hot chocolate and for a second Lorelei thought that Varian was about to melt. 

Varian came back to his senses and thought for a solid minute. “I like to draw sometimes. Mechanisms are fun. I know the basics of piano and guitar. I like reading- if I find the right book. What about you?” Lorelei took her hot chocolate and blew it to cool it down. 

“I also like to draw. You already know singing. I like to dance and act, paint too. I know how to play the cello and know the basics of violin. And I love reading. Especially fiction! Hey, do you know Flynn Rider? It’s a book series and I am obsessed with it.” Lorelei beamed. 

Varian shook his head. “No. What is it?” Lorelei gasped and then ran upstairs. She came back down with a bunch of books. “I cannot leave you like this. You are missing out on an awesome series of events!” Lorelei put the books down and got the first volume. 

She sat right next to Varian and opened the first page. “Do you want to read it silently?” Varian looked at the book and then at Lorelei. This book sure had a lot of dialogue. “Normally, yes. But since I’m not alone and this book has a lot of talking... Let’s do voices.” Varian smiled. 

Lorelei laughed and started narrating the book.  

The two spent their afternoon reading and goofing around. Lorelei was on the couch reenacting a breathtaking play’s script she read not too long ago.  

It was about an alchemist who made a potion that made him have two different personas in one body and his tragic ending. Varian watched her with awe and excitement. He needed to know what was going to happen next. 

She was in the middle of the climax when- “RORY!” Corin called for her sister and ran to the living room. “How do I look?” He turned around slowly and then saw Lorelei standing on the couch. “You look great, Cory.” she said sitting on the arm of the couch. “Yeah, you look amazing Big Bro Corin.”  

Corin looked at Varian and smiled. “You’re still here, kid?” Corin sighed and nervously laughed. He got his coat and opened the door to reveal the sunset. Varian and Lorelei couldn’t believe that it had been that long already. Varian looked at Lorelei and got up. “I really want to know what happened next, but I need to go home.”  

Corin looked at the two and thought of lending a helping hand. “I can see you home if you want.” “No, that’s not necessary. We live right across from each other after all.” Varian responded. Corin agreed and left the house after giving a salute to Lorelei and Varian. 

Lorelei looked at Varian and sighed. “So... You’re leaving?” Varian nodded.  

“Hey, meet me outside, right in the middle of our houses tomorrow. I’ll take you to my lab.” Varian suggested. Lorelei never felt happier. Did he just ask her to hang out? She smiled widely and nodded. “You got it!” Varian wore his coat and put on his earmuffs and scarf. 

Lorelei looked at him as he left the house. “Varian?” She called as the boy looked back at her. “So... What are we? Friends?” Lorelei asked awkwardly. Varian thought for a second and smiled at Lorelei. “Sure. Why not?” 

Chapter Text

Act I  

Prologue  

Chapter Two: Through the Pages  

Lorelei closed the door behind Varian and sighed. She had never talked that much before. “My social energy needs a serious recharge...” She muttered under her breath. Wait a minute... Her mother is at Mrs. Clarise’s, and Corin just left to go on a date with Kamille.   

A moment of realization hit Lorelei, and her eyes sparkled with glee. “I am home alone... I am home alone!” Lorelei emitted an abnormally high-pitched voice of happiness, reminiscent of a squeaky toy. She stood there, her back against the door and thought of what to do.  

“Should I draw? I could read— Wait, what am I thinking? My room has a hole in it! Mother told me not to go into my room.” Lorelei sighed and hit her head on the door in frustration. She walked towards the couch, let herself to gravity and laid face-front on it. She turned to lie on her back and looked up at the ceiling.  

Lorelei thought it would be wise for her to make something to eat. She had not eaten anything all day. The only thing she consumed was a cup of hot chocolate. She started to think of options of food to eat in her mental menu.  

As she was going over her options, her eyes started to become heavy as Lorelei told herself that she should get up and make herself at least a sandwich to eat.   

Just five minutes , she thought. Resting her eyes for a little was an innovative idea. It was not going to cost her anything. It is but a mere five minutes. Lorelei let her eyes close and breathed in a slow rhythm. Letting her mind replay the most memorable moments of today...  

•●•●•

Lorelei woke up to the light coming from the window. She slowly opened her eyes as she regained consciousness. She reached above her head as she stretched with a yawn. The sleepy girl rubbed her eyes as she sat up slowly. She saw the light coming from outside and got confused. Did she fall asleep?  

She scratched her head and popped her neck. Her hand slithered down from her hair and came to the nape of her neck. Lorelei felt that something was amiss. Lorelei looked down and saw that her necklace was missing.  

“What?” Lorelei quickly checked under her bodice, hoping that it slipped there while she was apparently ‘asleep.’ But to her luck, it was not there. She got up from the couch and checked where she was sitting. Nothing. It fell on the floor maybe? No, not a thing was down there aside from a few pillows.   

How could this happen? Lorelei was an extremely light sleeper. A creak of a floorboard would wake her up— unless... If this thief was a master at their job. Lorelei’s eyes hovered towards her books. “Could it be? Surely, it is not...”  

“It is not what? Lorelei, are you alright, my crescent?” Marie asked. She checked her daughter and noticed that her necklace was gone. “Lorelei... Where is my- I mean, your necklace?” Lorelei looked at her mother and started to stammer. “I-I do not... I don’t know. Yesterday it was here, but now... I-it is gone...!” Lorelei bit her nail and thought about the situation. There was only one possibility.  

“We got robbed...” Marie muttered under her breath. Lorelei’s eyes grew wide, and she bit her nail harder, causing her to break her nail. Someone entered their home last night. Probably when no one was home except Lorelei. Anything could have happened. She could have been kidnapped, murdered, tied up, or woken up in the middle of nowhere... Endless possible scenarios went through Lorelei’s head like rapid fire.  

“I could have died. Or been kidnapped... Woke up in heaven-knows-where.” Lorelei gasped quietly. “Who knows what that thief did to me when I was asleep...” Marie looked at her daughter and cocked an eyebrow. “Lorelei, there is no need to exaggerate the situation. It is a mere theft, and it is just your necklace... It is not even worth anything. It is made of glass.”  

“It does worth something, Mother! It had blood in it.” Lorelei explained. Marie’s expression soured as she remembered the content of the liquid inside the necklace. “Oh, goodness, Lorelei. I never understood why you would love a necklace that has blood in it.”   

Lorelei got over to her mother and put her hands over her heart. “Grandmother said that the blood was no ordinary blood. She told me that, that necklace holds the blood of a particularly important person.”  

“Important person?” Marie said as she coughed up a laugh. “Oh, my crescent... My mother does not know what she is talking about. That necklace... Was what your father confessed his feelings to. He told me, no matter what happened or where he was, he would be here, and we would be connected via that necklace. That necklace had drops of your father and his ancestors' blood in it.”  

Lorelei’s expression dropped as she listened to her mother. “My father...?” She never knew that the necklace she carried had the blood of the one person she never wished to know about. Marie saw her child’s emotionless face. “I say good riddance!” Marie grinned, putting her hands on her hips.  

Seeing Lorelei’s expression stay the same, Marie walked out of the living room and got to her room. Lorelei stood there, heartbroken. Deep down, she blamed herself for her father leaving them. Though she did not know the reason he left, it happened right before Marie went into labor.  

Lorelei thought that her dearest grandmother had lied to her. But adults are supposed to guide the youth to truth, right? If she cannot trust them, who will she trust? Herself? An inexperienced, naïve girl who willingly has never left her room and hardly stepped outside?  

“ Not very trustworthy if I have to say so myself.” Lorelei muttered under her breath. Not very trustworthy indeed.  

Lorelei started to gather and place the pillows where they were supposed to be, on the couch. Her movements were slow and sloppy, poor girl was not a morning person. Even carrying that scrawny, petite body was a chore in the mornings. With huffs and puffs and forcing herself to take a step forward, Lorelei was done with tidying up the living room. To an extent. There were still her books, spread across the coffee table. She sat on the couch and slapped her cheeks as she groggily yawned.  

With an exhale, she got up and started gathering her books, stacking them in towers of three. Lorelei’s mind wandered off to the thief. It was a good thing that only the necklace was stolen, but by who? Who is the criminal behind the theft?   

“Lorelei, dear.” Marie called for her daughter with a small book in her hand. “You need to get your mind off this theft, darling. These things happen in life... And uhh—” Marie cleared her throat. “Y-you are old enough to know this. Just... focus on something else. W-why not read it with Varian? You are going to see him, yes?”  

Lorelei cocked an eyebrow at her mother and looked down at the book at her mother’s hands. “You mean ‘old enough to read this’?” Marie’s eyes widened and she looked away and quickly looked back at her daughter. “I suppose— I-I meant to say...! Yes.” Lorelei had never seen her mother flustered.  

Not so convinced, Lorelei squinted her eyes and pouted. Her eyes were still on her mother. After a second or two that felt like an eternity to Marie, Lorelei got the book and shrugged. “I’m going to see Varian now.”   

Lorelei turned and headed towards the door. Her mother snapped from the “trance” she was in and crossed her eyebrows. “Not before you put some food in your body, young lady. You thought I did not notice that you have not eaten anything? And really, Lorelei... Hot chocolate before breakfast? I thought I taught you better than that.”  

The curly head groaned and puffed her cheeks. Marie headed towards the kitchen and started to prepare breakfast for the family. Lorelei carried a chair towards one of the cabinets and got three plates. She then got off the chair and started to set the table.  

After setting the table, she sat down at the table and looked at her mother who was gathering the ingredients.   

“Flapjacks? What is the occasion?” Lorelei asked. Her mother never did flapjacks. Marie was more of a crêpe gal herself unlike Lorelei who hated crêpes and Corin who liked them both. “ In fact, I’m making fluffy flapjacks.” Lorelei’s eyes sparkled with glee. What’s better than flapjacks? Fluffy flapjacks of course! At least in Lorelei and Corin’s case.  

“Wait, those are Cory and my favorite. You hate fluffy flapjacks. You hate flapjacks in general.” Marie chuckled at her daughter’s comment. “I do not hate them; I just do not eat them. It is too many carbohydrates.”   

“Morning, family!” Corin entered with a burst of energy. Honestly, how does this man have that much energy each morning? The energetic man took a deep breath, his lungs filling with the smell of sweet flapjack batter. “Aah... Flapjacks.” He said with a smile.  

Corin rushed over and sat at the table right across from Lorelei, leaning back on the chair as he made himself comfortable. “Rory. Yesterday I left home a bachelor... And came at dawn, a fiancé!” Corin balled his fists up in the air and grinned with pride.  

Lorelei blinked. She needed a minute to process what was just announced. Her eyes grew wide as the words rung in her mind. Came at dawn, a fiancé... The proposal. Kamille said yes. “You’re engaged?!” Lorelei slammed her hands on the table and leaned forward with excitement. Her voice moving up and down between high notes. “Lorelei. Off the table. Now.” Marie scolded her daughter, who was currently shaking with excitement.  

Marie side eyed Lorelei and saw her excitement, she couldn’t help but chuckle and roll her eyes at her daughter’s exaggerated antics and went back to flapjack making.  

“I knew you would be excited, sis. And... I have a surprise.” Corin stated. Lorelei looked at her older brother with anticipation. “Go on...” “After I move out, my room is yours. I know how much you wanted the bigger space to put all the stuff that you hoard, you dragon.” Corin replied.  

Lorelei hissed at Corin and stuck out her tongue. “Lorelei, you know how much I hate when you do that!” Marie chimed in, with a vexed tone. “What? You mean this?” Lorelei asked and hissed again. Making her mother sigh and let out a small chuckle.   

They continued to talk about Corin’s proposal and how it happened. Typical Corin he is; he recited the events with extreme details to his family. But in short, it was just your typical go on one knee, pour your heart and soul out and ask the magical question after dinner type of proposal. “You are so basic you know that?” Lorelei crossed her arms across her chest and stared at her brother unapprovingly. Disappointed by the cliché story.  

Corin gave her an unimpressed “yeah, sure” face. “What do you even know about love, oh, Queen of Loneliness ?” Corin asked in a teasing way. “Better than you, that’s for sure.” Lorelei answered plainly. Her older brother squinted his eyes and opened his mouth to utter a comeback, but before he could Marie placed the plate of steaming flapjacks in front of the siblings.   

Lorelei stared at the delicious smelling food in front of her and grabbed a flapjack before anyone could react. Marie looked at her daughter and went behind her. “Slow down, champion. The flapjacks are going nowhere.”   

“But I’m going somewhere.” Lorelei answered her mother, her mouth full. Marie went back to the stove and made more flapjacks with the batter. Corin got himself a couple and looked at his mom. “So, I was thinking... Should we have a big wedding or a small one? Extravagant or simple?”  

“Oh, sweet child of mine... We don’t have that amount of money to have a big wedding. I suppose we don’t have to hire a tailor or buy or rent a suit. You had set your mind to make your own suit. What about Kamille? I bet the thought of her buying or getting her wedding gown designed by someone else is eating you from the inside.” Marie answered with a coy tone.  

Lorelei saw her brother angrily stuff his face with his breakfast. “I’m trying to come to terms with it.” He spoke. Corin looked at his little sister and then down at his plate. Which was filled with flapjacks.  

“You must eat more Lorelei. And faster maybe? Are you still at your first?” Corin judged. He looked at Lorelei who looked at him with big innocent eyes and a cocked-up eyebrow. “Jis ish my third...” Lorelei replied while biting on the third flapjack.  

After finishing all the flapjack batter, Marie joined her kids at the table and started eating. Throughout their breakfast, Marie and Corin talked about the marriage license and the wedding.  

Lorelei tried to get into the conversation, but all her voice was ignored. And so were her manners. She put both her elbows on the table and her back was hunched. Not to mention her sitting on the chair with her legs crossed. And she got no scolding from her mother. She was forgotten.  

After finishing her breakfast, Lorelei stood up from the table, pushing the chair loudly. “The flapjacks were great, Mother.” She waited for her mother to respond or just nod but, sadly she did not get any reaction out of her. She put the dishes on the counter and moved towards the door.  

“I’m going out!” She wore her fuzzy coat, scarf, mittens and beanie as loudly as she could. But looking back at her brother and mother, they were still talking to each other and paying no attention to Lorelei. “Fine...!” Lorelei said under her breath and went outside.  

The wintry weather hit her frowned face. Making her eyes suddenly tear up and her nose and cheeks turn red. Looking up with squinted eyes, Lorelei saw her neighbor carry books to a basement and decided to follow him. “Varian!” she called for him.  

Varian entered the basement and closed the door behind him. Leaving Lorelei dumbfounded in front of the now closed door. Lorelei put her ear against the door and tried to listen to see if Varian was going to open the door. After about a solid minute of standing in the cold, Lorelei decided to knock on the door.  

As she knocked, loud sounds of glasses shattering drowned the sounds of her knocking on the door. Worried, Lorelei opened the door silently and entered inside. There were beakers and vials everywhere, weird gadgets and gears were scattered across the dim-lit room, towers of books, and papers full of writings and formulas were scattered across the room.  

And there in front of a desk to the curly head's right was Varian, who was softly kicking the shattered glass pieces to a corner. Lorelei took a couple steps towards her right and watched Varian “clean up” the mess.  

“Do you need help?” Lorelei said rather quietly. Varian froze and turned around to see Lorelei. Upon seeing her, he jumped from his place with fear and shock. “Ah! When did you come here?” Varian exclaimed.  

Lorelei covered her ears with her hand and closed her eyes, uncomfortable by the sudden loud voice. “Not too long ago.” She uncovered her ears and looked at the mess behind Varian.  

“I heard the glasses shatter and got worried. So, I came to check up on you. Also, if I remember correctly, we were to meet in the middle of our houses. You said you were going to show me your laboratory.” Varian’s eyes went wide, and his mouth became an O shape. He had forgotten about that.  

“Y-yeah... I, pfft. I— of course, of course.” Varian stammered. “Well... where is it?” Lorelei asked. Varian smirked and opened his arms wide. “You are inside it!” He said enthusiastically. Lorelei looked around the laboratory and side eyed Varian.  

“Ever thinking of cleaning up this place?” she asked plainly, leaving Varian with slight emotional damage. The shaggy haired boy rubbed the back of his neck with embarrassment. “No...” he mumbled.  

“Anyways! Yesterday you got me all curious with that glowing paint idea of yours.” Varian added as he kicked all the shards to the side. “So, I tried phosphate minerals and sulfuric acid and mixing with the paint, but that didn’t work.”  

Varian got to his desk and started searching for something. “But this morning I tried mixing a part of phosphorescent powder that was lying around and a small amount of paint I had. At first it didn’t do anything. Then my dad called me downstairs, so I had to leave it there, but when I came back... It glowed!”  

Varian brought out a small beaker that had a glowing substance in it. Lorelei looked at the beaker and her eyes sparkled with glee. “Varian, you are a genius!” She had a big, lopsided smile on her face.  

Her smile was infectious, and upon seeing it, Varian couldn't help but smile as well. “Well, go on. Try it.” He said, holding out the beaker. Lorelei got the beaker and saw Varian get behind her. He gently pushed her in front of a wall and got a brush that was on the desk.  

“Here!” Varian held out the brush to Lorelei. “Am I... Going to paint on the wall?” “Yeah, it’s no big deal. My dad won’t get mad, he doesn’t come here unless he needs me. And he bestowed this basement upon me, so I do as I please!” The boy said the last sentence with a horrible regal accent.  

“Bestowed?” Lorelei teased. “ Bestowed .” Varian repeated with the same accent. Lorelei looked at the paint brush and looked at the desk. “I need to sketch first.”  

She grabbed a graphite she saw and hurried over to the wall. She started to sketch stars that varied in sizes big, small and every size between. “Stars?” Varian asked curiously. “I thought it would be nice. And they are easy to paint. Four curvy lines connecting to each other. Also, they shine at night.”  

Varian raised an eyebrow at Lorelei. Upon an absence of a respond, Lorelei turned her head and looked at Varian. “You said that the paint didn’t glow until you came back, right? That means it needed some time under the sun for it to charge or something. So, these stars will shine at night or when it’s dark. And it won’t be bothersome and distracting when you are in here. Also, they will guide you... Towards the door.”  

Lorelei pointed at the door. Varian let out a chuckle. “Right, the Northern Star. For guidance.” He giggled. Lorelei laughed with him and got the paint brush and glowing paint. She dipped the brush into the glowing paint and started to outline the stars.  

Her hand was fast. With each brush stroke a perfectly straight line was painted right over the sketch. Varian watched Lorelei with fascination as Lorelei finished lining and moved to coloring the stars with the paint.  

“You’re fast.” Varian commented. Lorelei chuckled and shrugged. “I am not this fast usually. Stars are just easy.  

Within a couple minutes Lorelei finished her stars and added a couple dots for “depth and details”. She turned towards Varian and smiled. “So... What do you think?” Varian looked at the stars in awe.  

“These are amazing! Lorelei, you are really talented.” Lorelei’s cheeks grew redder than their original tone. “Pfft... No. I am not. These are just... simple stars.”  

“Well, I think you are really talented.” Varian said. Lorelei put the brush and paint on Varian’s desk and hummed. “Thank you.”  

“Uh... Lorelei?” Varian asked. Lorelei looked at him and gave him a little smile. “Yes?” “Aren’t you feeling warm?” Lorelei looked at herself, she had not taken of anything. But she felt completely normal. “No. I’m not warm.” she said reassuringly.  

Then it hit her. The book! She was planning to go through it with Varian. “Hey... My mother gave me a book today. She was so weird about it. Do you want to check it out with me?” Lorelei asked, taking out the book from her jacket.  

“What do you mean your mom was weird about it?” Varian asked. “She was stuttering and told me that I am old enough to know it .” “You mean old enough to read it ?” Varian asked. “That is what I thought too, but Mother never, and I mean never misuses a word.” Lorelei said, sure of herself.  

“This book must have something that I need to know. Could it be about... him? Please not him. I do not care to learn about him. That man is better off as a mystery. Oooh, what if it is some family secret? Like what if I have ancestral powers?” Lorelei started to talk to herself. Varian watched her talking speed fasten and her volume go lower.  

“Lorelei.” Varian called. Lorelei was off in her own world, thinking aloud and answering her own questions with more questions. “Lorelei!”  

Lorelei snapped out of it and came back to the real world. “Huh?” “Just... Calm down.” Varian smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. “Whatever there is inside that book, I’m sure it’s nothing that will upset you.”  

Lorelei smiled and took a deep breath. She was nervous, what if it was bad? What if Lorelei had some deadly disease that her mother hid from her? She put the book on the desk and opened the first page with a sharp exhale.  

Please return this journal to: 

Helmut Anagnostis-D.

“Are you kidding— Seriously? Seriously?! What is this? Are we in some kind of cliché, coming of age, learn about your past book or something?!” Lorelei shouted to the air in anger. Varian stared at the petite girl, in shock. This girl has pipes , he thought.  

“Lorelei, you might want to calm down.” Varian held his hands in front of him, as if he was trying to calm a feral animal. “I mean really? Can you believe this? His journal? Wait... Did he only put the initial of the second surname? Oh, he is stupid. An imbecile .”  

“Lorelei calm do-” “I AM CALM!” Lorelei slammed her hands on the desk, followed by her head. Varian jolted at the bang of her head hitting the desk. He put a hand on Lorelei’s back and rubbed her back.  

Lorelei looked at Varian and looked away. She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly and repeated the two actions. “This never works...” She muttered under her breath. Varian hugged Lorelei, his arms wrapping around her gently.  

Lorelei immediately hugged her friend back. “You must really hate him.” Varian stated. “I do not hate him I am just... He vexes me.” Lorelei tapped the tip of her foot on the ground gently. “What does vex mean?” Lorelei broke the hug and looked at Varian.  

“It means, he annoys me.” Lorelei explained. “Mm, you are using fancy language, Milady.” Varian teased, fidgeting with his imaginary beard. “Mayhaps you be with noble lineage?” he questioned with his awful regal accent. Lorelei couldn’t help but laugh at Varian’s ridiculous antics.  

Seeing that he uplifted Lorelei’s spirits, Varian felt proud of himself. He playfully hit Lorelei’s shoulder. “Okay, now that you are calm, let’s look at this journal to see what you are ‘old enough’ to know.”  

Varian flipped the page and quickly read through the introduction. “Huh. This is a travel journal. Your dad was and adventurer?” “More or less, yes... I guess? Not that I know, no one told me anything about him. I did not want to hear it.” Lorelei answered nonchalantly.  

Varian flipped through the pages and as he flipped through, it was visibly noticeable that the pages had more scribbles and crossed texts as it came closer towards the end.  

“Look at this...” At a page close to the end, it wrote:  

READ THIS

Who are you?

Helmut A. D.

How old are you?

30

Who is your wife?

Marie Karmaniòla Who is that?

My (half) son’s name: I have a son?

Corin

Lorelei Who?

Will forget. Forget What? Poor girl.

    February 29th 

I don’t know where I am. There is a woman and a child around the age of 10. I don’t know anyone here. I must get out of here. I don’t remember buying this journal, but it has my name on it. These questions... they are weird. I must leave... I have no idea of myself. I must find who I am... 

The pages had different yet similar handwritings. Varian looked at Lorelei. “What?” Lorelei asked. She came close to read the book with a huff and started reading the book. Her eyes widened as she read.  

When she was done reading, she looked at the page for a couple seconds in silence. “This doesn’t justify his actions... But at least this is a solid reason to just disappear.” “Are you okay, Lorelei? This is some heavy stuff...”  

Lorelei looked at Varian, her lips so tight that they looked like a dot. “To be honest... I don’t know how I feel. I feel... The same as I did before. Just calmer.”  

Varian chuckled and looked at Lorelei. “Let’s leave the book here for now. Yeah?” Lorelei nodded. Varian closed the book and opened the door. “Hot cocoa?” Varian asked with a soft smile. Lorelei gave him her lopsided smile.  

“Hot cocoa.” 

Chapter Text

Act I

Prologue

Chapter Three: Weirder & Weirder

Varian led Lorelei to his kitchen and got the ingredients. All they needed now were mugs. Varian got on his tiptoes and tried to open the cupboard, but he could barely reach it. “Do you need help?” Lorelei asked as she saw her friend struggle. 

“What difference will it make—?” This time, Lorelei got on her tiptoes and, to Varian’s surprise, was able to get the mugs. “How?” Varian looked at Lorelei, who just shrugged at him. 

Not accepting that this petite girl is of a superior height than him, the freckled boy roughly measured their height with his hand and concluded Lorelei was slightly shorter than him. “You are shorter!” “Yeah…?” Lorelei raised her eyebrow and stared at Varian, who stared back with crossed eyebrows.  

“So how did you reach?” Varian asked curiously. Lorelei got on her tiptoes, but not in a normal way. She was on her toes. She was getting support from the counter behind her. Varian looked at his friend’s feet and looked back up at her. 

“My boots are quite solid.” Lorelei said plainly as she got down from her toes. Finding Varian’s antics amusing, Lorelei giggled. She set the mugs on the counter and smiled. Varian poured the ingredients by order into a saucepan as Lorelei mixed them together on the stove. 

As they made the hot cocoa, the house filled with the sweet scent of chocolate. Varian looked at Lorelei, who was currently deep in thought. He wondered what was going on inside her brain. 

The red-head’s mind was still on her father’s journal. Why did she react that way? She never cared about him, had no feelings bound to him. So why, so suddenly, she got mad? Maybe it was all the feelings she buried in the past, coming out fast all at once. That is a deep conviction, Lorelei thought. 

Out of nowhere, without any context, Lorelei’s mind went to one of the musical screenplays her grandmother gifted her that she recently read. The musical was set in a fantasy world where humans and magical creatures lived on the same planet but could not coexist. The main character was an elf girl who was found in a forest and was taken in by the founder of an all-boys orphanage.  

“Lorelei?” Varian called out. The girl’s eyes widened, and she turned to look at Varian. “Yes?” she said quietly. “What are you thinking about?” “Nothing. Just a musical.” 

Varian’s curiosity grew.  She was thinking about a musical? He gently got the wooden spoon out of Lorelei’s hand and stirred the going-to-be hot chocolate. “What musical?” He asked. Seeing that Varian was interested, Lorelei’s eyes sparkled with glee. “It’s called ‘Miss Understood’. The main character of the story is a girl who must act as a boy so that the royal family who adopted her will not behead her and the founder of the orphanage she came from!” 

Lorelei said with enthusiasm. The freckled boy looked at the girl with worry. What kind of musical is that?! He thought. “Cool… and?” Varian cocked an eyebrow. Lorelei pushed her hair back with her hand and adjusted it. “Well, Rhiley, the protagonist, must keep her gender hidden while struggling with the hurdles of what comes with puberty. Bodily changes, menstrual cycle and all that. That… sounded like a paragraph out of The Corona Gazette. I… did not mean to sound like that.” Lorelei spoke, getting bashful. 

“What?!” Varian’s face flushed a light red. “Y-yes. This musical is… idiosyc- idiosynci…” Lorelei took a deep breath, irritated by her struggle to say a word. “I-di-o-syn-cra-tic. Idiosyncratic.” The frustrated, petite girl pronounced slowly, spelling out every syllable with utmost care and precision. 

Varian nodded with a muddled, yet amused expression. He was happy to have Lorelei here. Happy to have a friend. He extended the wooden spoon in his hand towards Lorelei. Understanding the task that is nonverbally given to her, she took the spoon out of Varian’s hand and continued to stir the hot chocolate. 

Quiet filled the room. Lorelei ran out of things to talk about, and Varian did not have anything to say. For Varian, it was peaceful. Lorelei on the other hand, was exploding internally. It was extremely uncomfortable.  

She felt a pang in her lungs, not a pang of pain, but discomfort. She bit the inside of her cheek and blinked rapidly while she stirred the hot chocolate. Varian leaned back on the counter and rubbed his hands over his gloves.  

The freckled boy looked at his new friend who seemed focused on the task at hand. So focused that Lorelei did not seem to notice the curl with an unusual color that made its way out of Lorelei’s loose and messy braid, dangling in front of her face.  

Varian cocked an eyebrow and got his miscolored strand between his fingers. After he mentally color-matched the two streaks, he beamed. “You have a teal streak too?!” Lorelei jumped, startled by Varian’s volume. Almost spilling the hot chocolate.

She looked at him with wide eyes and a dot-like mouth. She faced Varian, stopping to stir the hot chocolate. “I-I… oh no.” Lorelei stuttered as she realized that her off-putting strand was visible. She quickly got far away from Varian, took off her beanie and untied her hair.  

Lorelei’s body and surroundings betrayed her, and she tripped on a loose nail on the ground. The panicked girl face-planted the floor and did not get up for a solid minute. Lorelei’s hair snaked over her back to the floor, it was an unnaturally long braid, now that Varian thought about it. “L-Lorelei?” He mumbled, concerned about Lorelei’s safety.  

She held a thumbs up with a groan. “Uh am jusht… going to shtay luhk dihs.” Another groan came from Lorelei, followed by a couple of fake sobs. She finally pushed herself to get up. Fortunately, she was not hurt. 

Lorelei’s navy ribbon fell from her hand to the floor. The satin made a path mid-air as it fell. Varian only had the physical capability to stare at Lorelei in shock. Especially after her hair popped, undoing the braid and revealing its original really long and curly form. 

Lorelei’s hair got up to be way past her knee and quite volumed. Her hair parted from the left, revealing not one, but two teal streaks. She sighed and turned to face Varian. “I give up. There is no use fighting a stray to tame it.” Lorelei commented about her hair.  

Her streaks were now visible to Varian. “Woah…” Varian stared at Lorelei. Her hair was down, and she had the same imperfection as him. “You should keep your hair down.” “Are you serious? Really?” “Really…” Varian replied, his tone soft and amazed. “Well… you are the only one who thinks that way.” Lorelei said. 

The freckled boy looked at Lorelei and couldn’t believe what he just heard. He was the only one? “How? Your hair looks amazing with the teal strands!” “It is not perfect.” Lorelei answered. She reached down to get the navy ribbon, but Varian got it before her. “Nothing is perfect. And I’m not letting you tie your hair.” He snickered. “Also why and how is your hair that long?” He added, curious. 

“I do not know… My hair grows at quite a fast pace. Every night, Mother cuts it way up here,” Lorelei lined her hand to her jawline to mark how short her mother cuts her hair every time. “But when morning comes, my hair is always back to its usual length: mid-back.” She explained. All Varian could do was stare in awe. This was a mystery worth solving! Who knew what science laid under Lorelei’s hair. 

“I fell asleep before mother came home, so she could not cut my hair. That is why it is this long.” “Let’s cut it!” Varian chimed with eyes twinkling with great enthusiasm and a knife in his hand. “I-I, what- excuse you! Cut my hair? For what? Are you going to sell it? And where did you get the knife?!” Lorelei asked rapidly. Her voice carried a tone of worry and shock. 

Varian looked at the paranoid girl and held his hands in front of him, trying to calm Lorelei down. Realizing the knife he was holding, he put it on the counter. “No, not to sell it. I meant that as a sample. So that we can do research.” He explained calmly. Lorelei shook her head to the side. “No. No, I will not let you cut my hair. I would like to have fun with this new length. I will bring you my hair after my mother cuts it tonight.”

“Oh come on, just a little?” “I said no.” “Lorelei…” “No. No, no, no, no, no!” Their friendly bickering went back and forth for quite some time until the saucepan started to shake. The clanking of the metal made the two kids turn to the direction of the sound. Lorelei and Varian gasped in unison. 

“It’s going to overflow!” Varian exclaimed. Lorelei looked at Varian and then at the saucepan. “M-maybe not…? Please not…” She whispered under her breath. The saucepan kept shaking and the hot chocolate inside was boiling, but none of the mixture spilled out nor did it overflow.

Lorelei and Varian got closer to the stove and stared at the hot chocolate, waiting for a potential, delayed overflow.

It never happened. Varian carefully held the saucepan’s handle and brought it over towards the mugs. “Ugh…” Lorelei groaned. "Hopefully, the hot chocolate hasn't burned at the bottom." She added. Varian hummed in response and carefully poured the hot chocolates evenly. He stared at the saucepan, bewildered. 

“It didn’t burn?” He questioned softly. Lorelei raised her eyebrow and got her hot chocolate skeptically. Steam was emanating from the mug, and it smelled amazing. Lorelei took a big sniff and sighed, delighted by the scent. 

Varian too got his mug and smelled the chocolate. Then, with a smile on his face, lead Lorelei towards the living room. Lorelei sat on the couch carefully, and took in her surroundings. “So cozy.” She commented. Seeing her having fun and liking the house, Varian felt happy.

Silence once more wandered around the living room as if it was in its father’s house.

“Lorelei…” The red head with curls looked up at her friend and hummed. “Do you mind me borrowing your dad’s journal? I want to research it carefully. Maybe there is something about your hair and some explanation about the ‘Lorelei will forget’ line.” “I say that we only focus on the hair. He’s mad, so what? It’s not like he’s a prophet. But alright. You may borrow it, I do not mind.” Lorelei got a sip from her hot chocolate, which sent shivers up from her mouth and down to her toes. The last thing she wanted was a burned tongue, but a burned tongue is obviously what she got. 

“You are right. Let’s focus on the hair first…” Varian said, his mind wandering back to the strange occurring in the kitchen. It should’ve overflown and we should be drinking burnt chocolate, he thought. “Varian, are you okay? You seem disorieneted.” Lorelei asked, worried about her neighbor. 

“I-I’m fine, Lorelei. It’s just… In the kitchen, this,” He held the mug further away from himself, towards Lorelei. “This should've been overflown. We should’ve been cleaning hot chocolate off of the stove.” Lorelei nodded and listened to Varian. “Yes, we should’ve been…”

“Also, you mean disoriented?” Varian added. “Yes? That is what I said…” Lorelei said, not realizing the extra “e” she added to “disoriented”.

Now, the silence they shared was a silence of deep thought. It was ominous, heavy. Yet… It carried unity and serene too. Who knows how that works… 

“Eureka! I’ve got it!” Varian got up in a hurry, holding the mug high as if it was a trophy. “Really?” Lorelei beamed. “No… I just always wanted to say that.” Varian rubbed the crook of his neck with a sheepish smile. Lorelei groaned and stared at Varian with an involuntary pout. “What? Can’t a man make his fantasies a reality?” Varian said, mimicking Lorelei’s expression.

“A man?” Lorelei chuckled under her breath. “‘A man’ he says.” She giggled. “Varian, I do not intend to be rude, but your voice is high and it cracks a lot. It is hard to see you as a man while you sound like a mouse caught in a trap, wailing for its dear little life.” She added. Her lopsided smile creeped its way to Lorelei’s face, she continued to giggle as Varian pouted at her. 

“Fine, have it your way. But you will regret those words when you see the true manliness that lies inside of me.” Varian said, deepening his voice and standing tall, his arms positioned in a way that shows his imaginary muscles. Lorelei’s giggles turned into laughter as she watched Varian and his nonexistent muscles.

•●•●•

Lorelei and Varian teased each other and chatted about nonsense for who knew how long. But it wasn’t as long as the kids had thought, the sun was still shining, illuminating the snow. “Do you want to go out?” Varian asked, half awake laying on the couch. “Not really a fan of it but… We could, I suppose. As long as we stay in the shadows.” From the sofa, Lorelei answered, lying with her head lower than her feet.

“Shadows? Why?” “I am allergic.” “To what?” Varian thought for a minute. “THE SUN?!” He yelled, repositioning himself. Now, he was sitting like a normal person. “And pollen.” Lorelei said, like this was some sort of achievement. “How do you live?” Varian questioned his friend.

“By not going out… And closed windows. And curtains. Long sleeves…” Lorelei said, sitting properly. She flipped her hair. “It is as if I was created to be locked up somewhere and never get out. How perfect it is that I do not like the outside.” Lorelei added to her explanation. “Will you be safe if we go out?” Varian asked in worry. “I will be fine as long as we do not stay under the sun for too long.”  Varian looked at Lorelei with worry, she smiled at Varian. “I am just joking. I’ll be fine. The more intense the sun gets, the more I will itch. It is winter. So the sun is not strong.” She said calmly. That made the little boy feel more at ease. He would never want anything to happen to his new friend.

Lorelei got up and looked at her mug, there was a sip worth of hot chocolate left. She pressed her lips against the mug, and swallowed the last drop of hot chocolate. Lorelei headed towards the kitchen, Varian following her. They cleaned their mugs and placed them upside down on the counter so that the mugs would get dry. 

Lorelei got her beanie from where it laid and put it on. She headed towards the front door and waited for Varian to get ready. The shaggy haired boy got up to his room and wore a knitted blue cardigan. He got his beanie from his bedside table and ran downstairs. 

“I’m back!” Varian said as he quickly got his coat from the coat rack. “Welcome back.” Lorelei watched him as Varian put his coat on. Cute cardigan. It looks like something I would wear, she thought to herself.

Varian reached to open the door and got out bowing to Lorelei. “Shall we, M’lady?” He asked, holding out his arm for Lorelei to take. “We shall.” Lorelei said with a giggle, eloping her arm gently through his. Varian closed the door with a small kick. The two walked around the white powder-covered fields. 

As they walked, Lorelei looked around and observed everything. The people, trees, animals… All of the sounds and sights nature makes she was aware of. Varian looked at the girl next to him, her foggy eyes were au courant of everything and anything that surrounded them.

“You are taking everything in, aren’t you?” Varian asked. Lorelei looked at the raven haired boy and answered “Let’s say that I am… being aware of where I am and what might and is happening.” Varian looked away and hummed.

“Are they bullying you too?” “‘Bullying me too?’” Lorelei looked at him, stopping at her tracks. Varian felt a tug on his arm, which made him turn around. “Not much though! And it’s just with words.” “They do not throw rocks at your window?” Varian stared at Lorelei in shock. 

“Wha- Lorelei… That- That’s a crime. Destruction of property. Why don’t you talk to my dad about it?” “It is?! Well, it happened three days ago, and I do not know him and did not know you. I shall ask my mom to talk to him when it happens again.” “Why not just go talk to hi-” “No, thank you.”

The two just stared at each other for a minute. Varian shrugged and continued to walk, so did Lorelei. 

“Oh, look! It’s the prissy little princess who doesn’t leave her tower.” A voice came from behind. Lorelei knew just who that kid was: Vendy.

She probably had her unnecessary friend group with her. Lorelei turned to see the people she suspected to see. “Look at this! The weird ones found each other at last.” Lorelei looked at Vendy and the first thing that caught her attention was Vendy’s bad choice in outfit. A dark yellow skirt and a beige shirt. On top of them, a red vest. And as outerwear, a brown poofy cloak. Not to mention those red boots…

“How are you feeling, Vendy?” Lorelei asked. Vendy scoffed, she looked at Lorelei as if she was a dirt or a stain. “I’ll be feeling better once you leave this world!” “That is impossible. And, not exactly the answer to my question. I mean, how are you mentally?” Vendy looked at her, questioning. 

“Why do you ask?” She replied with a question. “No person in the right state of mind would wear what you are wearing right now. Are you okay? Are you stressed?” Lorelei asked, visibly concerned. Varian looked at Lorelei, shocked. Is she out of her mind?! Why would she say that, Varian thought.  While Lorelei’s intention was to help, it had not been received the way she meant it. Because Vendy, instead of being grateful, lashed out at the girl!

“How dare you… How dare you say I look bad!” “That’s not what I-” “Listen here you little cow-handed blowsabella, just because your brother is a handsome tailor and a soon-to-be designer doesn’t mean that you have the same talent and eye for fashion too!” Vendy exclaimed. The other kids behind her were staring down at the little girl and the freckled boy. 

Lorelei looked confused, while Varian stared at the events that happened in front of him in shock. “L-Lorelei, let’s go.” he whispered. The freckled boy pulled on Lorelei’s arm to snap her away from her thoughts into reality. “Come on. Run!” he added. Lorelei followed Varian, not like she had a choice not to. The boy’s grip on her wrist was very strong.

Where did I go wrong? No where, I asked a reasonable question. So why did she get angry? There really is something going on in her life that is making her all… What is the word? Right! Incandescent, Lorelei pondered. 

Varian looked back to see Vendy and the other kids following them. “They are still following us! What do we do?” Varian said. “You just- Why did you say that anyway?!” he added. “Say what? I did no wrong!” Lorelei yelled, seeing what she did as completely normal. “I- You-! Let’s blame it on your solitude for this!” Varian replied. “Fine! Even though it is no action nor word of mine that caused this, let us call it just that!”

“You can’t get away after all you said, witch!” the bullies exclaimed. “Argh, this world is such an unjust place… Also, I AM NOT A WITCH!” The little girl said. Suddenly she remembered the road she was on right now. Lorelei gasped, an idea coming to her head.

“Follow me, I know a place where we can lose them.”

Chapter Text

Act I

Prologue

Chapter Four: The Forest of the Dead

Lorelei and Varian ran through the village, passing houses and pastures powdered in snow. The light, white surroundings became darker as they passed by the village and headed towards the forest. As they ran the area became darker and darker. 

Then, in front of them stood a tall wall of dark, thorny briars. “What are we going to do now?” Varian asked, worried by the voices of the bullies. Lorelei was focused on finding something. Varian got closer to her and tried to process what the girl was doing. 

“Here. Come, quick!” Lorelei whispered. She entered into the thorny briars, a low rustle could be heard as she entered. Varian looked at her, hesitating to enter. Then he followed. 

As Varian crawled into the briars, he was met with a place that was not covered in snow. It was cold, dark, covered in lifeless trees with brittle and twisted branches that resembled long hands that were covered with red ribbons, mausoleums and graves. And on top of this dead landscape stood hills. On top of the tallest hill was an old, rundown, grey cobblestone mansion that looked down upon them.

“What is this place?” Varian asked as he got up, a shiver running down his spine. “I do not know…” Lorelei responded. Varian looked at the entrance— there was no entrance in sight. “What?” “Oh yeah. That happens.” Lorelei responded nonchalantly.

She gestured to Varian to come with her and they walked through the dead forest. “Uhm… Lorelei… W-what is this place?” “I… I do not know to be exact. But I believe it is known as the Forest of the Dead. I read it in a journal I found in that mansion.” She pointed towards the old ruins. “How do you know this place?” “My mother’s number one punishment is to go outside. One day as I tried to find a place where no one would find me, I stumbled across this place.” 

“How romantic…” Varian teased in a sarcastic tone. “Ha. Ha.”

Silence.

•●•●•

The duo made it up the highest hill and entered the ruined cobblestone mansion. They were greeted by a dusty, desaturated room with old, extravagant decor. Mainly in the colors burgundy, black and gold. “Wow… And I thought this couldn’t get any more scary.” Varian said. Lorelei giggled in response. She shivered and hugged herself. “I wish I knew how to light a fire…” She whispered. Varian replied in a confident tone. “I do!” 

Lorelei showed the raven haired boy the way to the fireplace. It was old but the wood would do. Varian lit the fireplace with a little struggle. Warmth emanated from it. Cozying up the place a tad bit. Once more their old friend: silence made its grand entrance. 

After warming up Varian couldn’t help but ask. “What is this place?” Lorelei looked at him, his eyes filled with wonder. “Well… The journal I read said that this place belonged to a family of witches. Three sisters and a mother, to be exact. But other than that, I do not have any more information. I’m still reading the journal you see.”

Varian nodded understandingly. “But you know… Magic is not real.” he added. Lorelei looked at Varian’s blue eyes in confusion. “That is an out of the blue statement. Even though there is no magic now, there apparently was back then.” “It was probably a mad person’s writings.” Lorelei looked at Varian as if to say something, but she backed away from doing so.

“Let us go back. They are probably not looking for us anymore.” Lorelei stated. Varian agreed and stood up to put out the fire. The fire was out on a whim, desaturated smoke replacing the warm colors of the heat. The two got up and walked out of the cobblestone mansion. 

In front of them was the Forest of the Dead in its entirety. Greys, blacks, desaturated browns and reds surrounded the hills. As they walked down, the wind’s howls could be heard. 

They walked through the cemetery-like forest, crawled out of the hidden opening in the rose briars, and made their way back to Old Corona. None of the kids were seen. They had left. This is good, Lorelei thought. “Crisis averted.” Varian said to Lorelei with a snicker. The girl laughed and nodded. 

Lorelei and Varian called it a day after that and separated, heading to their homes.