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Looking down at the pocket watch that she found yesterday near the carnival, Imogen thought back about what happened yesterday. Being sent back in time to around the late 19th, early 20th century, meeting a couple that claimed they were her parents, and now with memories that started coming back to her since she first got to Krat. It was all so much for her to take in. But she had to admit, the memories that she gained does support the claim of what the couple said about being her parents and being from that time.
"Hello, Earth to Immy?" A hand waving right in front of her face snapped Imogen out of thought. Looking over, she saw Quinn giving her a concerned look. "You okay? You've been getting distracted quite a bit lately since we arrived in Krat." She said as Imogen slipped the pocket watch back into her jacket pocket.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Imogen replied, not telling her what happened earlier back at the carnival and hotel. As the two got off along with the rest of the group, the doors to the estate opened and out stepped a man dressed up in dress pants and a polo shirt.
"Ah, welcome all to the Monad Charity House. Let's get this tour started shall we?" The man who Imogen could only assume was the tour guide greeted them before opening the other door so the group could enter. "Now, back in the late 19th century, the Monad Charity House, also known as the Rose Estate, was originally a charity organization and orphanage, but later on was turned into a boarding school with the Monad family's support." The guide explained as he led the group into the entrance hall, but Imogen didn't really pay attention as she looked around.
"This place is cool, don't you think Immy?" Quinn asked as she made her way over to the white haired woman and nudged her shoulder lightly.
"Yeah." She replied with a smile as the two followed the group into the main hall, where a large crest of the Monad Family decorated the floor, on the wall, a golden plaque that said Monad Charity House. Photos of past students lined up on each side.
"Valentinus Monad and his wife, Isabelle, ran the school with one of their daughters, Sophia helping out with the children that grew up here." He explained as he lead the group upstairs to where a decent sized lounge area was with an unlit fireplace. In the right and left corners of the lounge had a few bookshelves and various chairs and a few couches and tables filled the middle area.
As the tour guide began to go on about the different careers that the students of the school did after graduating, Imogen started to zone out again. Looking away from the others, she thought back to the faint memory that she got when she was looking at the pocket watch. One of the names that the tour guide mentioned, Sophia. One of her sisters, she was the one that gave her the pocket watch for her birthday.
'I wonder what she was like.' She thought as she tried thinking back to that memory, but it was still a bit fuzzy.
That's when she saw it. Another butterfly, this one blue, fluttering near the hallway that lead deeper into the boarding school/museum, as if it's trying to lead her somewhere. Looking over at the group she was with to make sure nobody was watching, she then snuck away and as soon as she was out of their sight, she hurried after the glowing blue butterfly.
●●●
"You both take care now. And please, continue to watch over Lea." Sophia said as she waved to Carlo and Romeo as they headed back towards the carriage that they took to get to the charity house.
"We will, promise." Romeo said as he and Carlo waved her bye before getting in the carriage.
As she watched as the carriage started to leave, Sophia couldn't help but think of Imogen. Ever since she was taken from them, it was hard for their family, Romeo and Carlo, but they had the support from one another to keep them going. Even though Lea doesn't speak to them that much anymore, Sophia and their parents still cared about her. She was thankful that Carlo and Romeo were there for her when she couldn't be.
'Immy, if you are still alive out there, I hope you find your way back to us.' She thought as she felt her eyes tear up from thinking about her.
Just then some movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention. Turning her head, her eyes widened when she saw a glowing white butterfly. She could sense the power of ergo with it, but it wasn't from her, and it wasn't her mother since she absolutely hated her listener powers. So then who was it?
As she tried to step towards it, it began to fly away from her, deeper into the school as if it was leading her somewhere. Curious, Sophia hurried after it, wanting to see where it was taking her. Going through the halls of the school and to where her father's study is, she was confused at first as to why it led her there, but when she stepped inside, she instantly noticed someone standing in front of the portrait of her family.
"Excuse me, you shouldn't be in here. My father isn't here if you were looking for him." She said, causing the person to jump a bit before turning around towards her. Sophia's eyes widened seeing the young woman's face. She wasn't imagining this, right?
"Imogen?"
The woman looked at her for a moment, as if she was trying to remember something before pulling out from her jacket pocket the very pocketwatch that she gave her little sister for her birthday, the same night she was taken from them.
"You're Sophia, right?" She asked as she looked at the watch before back at her. "It's all still a bit of a blur to me." She said as she looked back at the portrait. "But I started to remember a few small moments. Like when you gave this to me for my birthda-" Sophia cut her off when she pulled her into a tight embrace.
"You're back, you're really back..." she whispered as tears filled her vision. "Mother and Father should be back soon. And I should inform Lea, Romeo and Carlo. They all will be so happy and relieved to see you alive and well." She pulled away and observed her appearance. She was taken aback by her now shorter white hair, completely opposite from her long brown hair that she saw her last with. And her clothes were completely different from what the normal clothes were, but she didn't care.
"Come, you must see the garden that mother made for you!"
●●●
Imogen couldn't help but smile at the large rose garden. She always loved flowers, especially roses since they always felt comforting to her.
"This is all for me?” She asked as she looked at the many rose bushes lining around the large rectangular garden pond, seeing many small fishes swimming around in the water.
“Yes, ever since you went missing, it has been hard for our parents and sister. Father would overwork on making sure what happened to you wouldn't happen to anyone else. Lea left for a good while to search for you, and mother worked so hard on this garden in memory of you since you always loved roses. You did work on this garden with her for a time, so she wanted to finish what you both worked so hard on.” Sophia explained as the two walked down the pathway.
“Did we ever do stuff together?”
Sophia nodded. “You loved to listen to me play piano when you were little, and even asked for me to teach you. We would spend evenings after dinner playing piano, and Carlo would even join us in learning. You and him were both fond of playing the piano while Romeo enjoyed cello, and Lea with the violin. Although I also recall you also liked to sing. Do you still enjoy singing?” She asked.
Imogen nodded. “Sometimes, it's been a while.” She replied as she slipped her hands into her pockets.
Sophia smiled as she looked back to the charity house. “Father and mother should be back about now. Come, they will be so happy to see you.” Turning to her sister, Sophia's eyes widened as Imogen was now gone. White butterflies and essences of ergo fading away from where she once stood.
“...Immy.”
Looking at the building then back at where Imogen once stood, Sophia turned and hurried back inside. She had to tell her father and mother what happened as soon as possible.