[Potironette]

The sun left its peak and started downwards as the two boys scraped out history books from the bowels of the library.

As Kellan was headed back to the table, a curious book fell down besides him. It was made of black leather, with gold thread weaved in flame-like patterns. Curious, Kellan picked up the book and cracked it open.

"There was a boy," the book began in curvy, old script. Kellan closed the book. He didn't know the library had old books like this.


((I don't really know what to do about lulls and peace times. Do you normally continue it into something, I dunno, just nice and peaceful?))

[Kitarun]

((We can...have them get through some research, before getting interrupted by someone- likely a servant, come to drag them to dinner, or give Kell some order from their mother, or something.))

Jei was already sat at the table, several books spread out, open, before him. He looked up as Kellan approached, smiling softly, before going back to the books, skimming through each. Every once in a while he'd pause, scribbling something or other onto a piece of parchment.

[Potironette]

Kellan approached the table and ruffled Jei's hair. It was nice seeing Jei interested in history, he thought.

Kellan sat down at the table and opened a few books on the McKarthy history. Each started at a different date. Magic-less. How far back did the McKarthy family go?

[Kitarun]

Jei gave a little whine, half-heartedly swatting Kellan's hand away. "Stop that..." He mumbled, not looking up from his books.

There had to be something, anything, to hint at their line having some sort of power... After all, the text did say they were decsended from magic-users, right? Surely their line couldn't be completely powerless...

[Potironette]

Kellan cracked open the curious book.

There was a boy, who went without magic. But not really. It was his ambition that blocked out his magic. For magic didn't mesh with ambition. You see, if you could do so much with magic, what was the point of ambition?

Kellan set the book aside for later and placed the books he opened aside as well. He opened another book, wondering when he'd find a lead specific to his family.

[Kitarun]

Jei scratched down another name and some dates, frowning slightly. Still nothing... Unless... "Kell, do we have a family tree somewhere?" He asked, curious. Their family seemed to have a history of being anti-magic, and there were a number of unexplained deaths or disappearances, more appearing the further back he looked. He wanted to check some of these names out.

[Potironette]

"A family tree?" Kellan thought for a while. He remembered hearing his parents muttering something about that on the night of the fire.

"Chances are," began Kellan hesitatingly, "Some people may have been erased from any official tree." He looked at the books he set aside. "These are family records organized chronologically."

[Kitarun]

Jei frowned a bit, but grabbed the books, looking through for the correct dates. Growling softly, he snapped one book after another shut, not finding anything more han what he already new. "Nothing... These books are useless. None of them give details on any of these 'unexplainable' deaths or disappearances..." He shoved the books aside roughly, his head dropping to the table with a thud. He was quiet for a moment, before looking up at his brother. "You don't think they could've had magic, and been killed off secretly, do you?"

[Potironette]

Kellan watched as Jei flipped through the pages. He seemed rather distressed.

"Unexplainable deaths and disappearances?" He asked, "Where did you find that?" Then he paused and thought for a moment, "I think that's a possibility."
He wondered if father or Theroen were missing from the family register at all.

[Kitarun]

Jeisyn pushed his list towards Kellan. "Names and birthdates, with no other mention of them anywhere, or the person in question dying mysteriously, no cause, at a relatively young age... Most between infancy and their mid twenties..." He said, flipping through another text absently, looking for any reference to a certain name or date, coming up empty-handed once more.

[Potironette]

Kellan clasped his hands and leaned down, confused. It seemed like the family might actually have some secrets.

By now, the sunlight was slowly lessening, falling even lower from the peak of the sky.
Kellan frowned, "Mid twenties? Does the register say anything about Theroen?"

[Kitarun]

Jei frowned, searching a stack of books for the most recent register. Finding it, he flipped to the last updated page, scanning for his brother's name. "Theroen Darius McKarthy... Birthdate... Deathdate... Ah, cause of death, smoke inhalation and severe burns to more than half of his body, including the majority of his face and scalp..." He frowned, pursing his lips slightly. "Nothing we didn't already know..."

[Potironette]

Kellan nodded, relieved of his sneaking suspicion. So the fire that night was most likely unrelated.

"Has any mysterious death occurred recently?" Kellan asked. Maybe someone might know the person who died. It wasn't much, but it was something.

[Kitarun]

He browsed through the tome quickly, going back a few pages, and shook his head. "There was a younger uncle of Father's that went to fight in the war and never returned, alive or dead... And apparently father had a younger sister that died of a mysterious illness as a child... But other than that..." He shook his head. Nothing else in recent generations that could be seen as suspicious. "We still don't know how the fire started, either, though... It could have been foul play, aimed at any one of us..."

[Potironette]

Kellan sighed, "It's odd though. Why are there that many mysterious deaths?" He paused. "If they were because of magic, then there's obviously a lot of traces of magic leftover in the bloodline."

[Kitarun]

Jei shrugged slightly. "Who knows? Most of the older mysteries could have been illness overlooked, or just accidents, or undocumented kidnappings, or someone running off to get married to someone the family would otherwise not allow... Or they could have been sent away, a secret shame to their family... Some coverup of a scandal..." He shrugged. "Or they could have been magical, and killed off out of fear.