[b]‘’It would be better you tell the truth, kid. She will not be fine under these conditions. We need to move her away from the blood and the bodies, or nausea will take her and she will only get worst. Cover her in a blanket and get her warm and, by the gods, make sure she stays away from your sword Setna. After that, make sure she doesn’t get one of those seizures.’’[/b]

Setna snapped as Vordan commented on the status of his sister. He practically leapt to his feet, stepping closer to the mercenary. "Who the fuck asked you!? THIS IS YOUR FAULT! You fucking hate us right!? Oh boohoo, you fucking hate us and yet you have to rely on a teenage girl to save your sorry fucking ass!! Why don't you say fucking sorry!? SHE'S ALMOST DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU!!"

Setna was stepping dangerously forward, his hand already on the hilt of his blade.

-Tirian watched as Setna visibly snapped with seething hatred. The stance and approach was enough for the red-haired man to step forward and latch his hands onto Setna. Tirian's grip was iron clad as he pulled Setna backwards away from Vordan.

"Relax Setna. If it wasn't for Vordan then Serna would have had an implosion much worse than that. Magic builds, and yearns for a release. Any longer and this magic would've devoured her whole. Take it from someone who knows. I'm not saying like the guy, or even to thank him. But you need to drop this childish squabble. We're in too deep to be acting like enemies."-

Setna seemed to calm down, if only slightly, the rolling anger slowly turning into something else entirely. His shoulders shook with pain and anxiety, as tears filled his eyes again. He wiped them away viciously, sniffling quietly before turning away from Vordan as he returned to his sister. His attention went to the red head. "You...you can use magic. What...what can I do to help her? I don't...I don't want this to happen to her again."

He looked up at the Durandal warrior with all of his hope lost. He ran a shaking hand through his hair, trying to hold his sobs in. "I just wanted to save her...and even that...I'm just a fucking idiot...I don't know what to do. I just wanted to help her..."

His whole body was shaking by this point as his chest filled with panic.

-"Nothing. You can do nothing but wait."

The truth was harsh, but Vordan had a point. Magic was unreliable and deceiving. Not a single person alive could tell you exactly how magic could react to a body. Everyone was different just as every magical reaction was different. Tirian patted the boy's pat with a gentle smile, however.

"We need to keep her warm and have a close eye to her body's reactions as well. If the god's smile upon her life, and she wakes up we can go from there. I can only promise that much."

Tirian gazed down to the girl who had taken refuge underneath his cape. His heart tugged with worry that didn't show on his face.-

Setna clenched his fists. "If the gods cared they wouldn't have given her magic in the first place." His voice was tensed and even had a bitterness resounding in it. 

"It doesn't even matter if she recovers. If what you say is true...it'll just build up again. And either this will happen, or she'll die from the build up." Setna was losing hope in everything. He shouldn't have left. He should have listened to the priests, and to their Father. Perhaps burning at the stake would have been more merciful than this.

Setna gently picked up his sister, with Tirian's cape, and carried her over to a cart where Rudolf had raised the canvas to make a makeshift shelter. He laid her down, extremely careful with her head and then sat beside her.

What could he do? All was lost now.

--"If you think the magic will just kill her, why am I still here then. If the magic just builds up to explode in the end, then why am I still standing here before you as a man of war."
Tirian closed the gap Setna had created. His tone became cold and harsh.

"Listen to the words, take a deeper meaning from it. IF she wakes up I can help. I've went through this very situation. Losing faith in what you have around you will only cause regret and cast you into darkness."

Tirian calmed his voice to a low whisper for the last part.

"Don't walk the path I have. Don't become what I have. You've too much to life for Setna. I can teach Serna how to expel the buildup magic in a safe way."-

“What do I have to live for?" Setna looked up at Tirian. "If she doesn't wake up, I have nothing. No one. I can't go home unless I'm willing to face my execution. If she dies, then I die too and if she doesn't...."

Setna turned quiet, pulling at his hair. "Even if you can help her to expel it...She has no training. They didn't let her do anything with it. If something happens again....if she tries to help someone...it'll have no limit, she'll use it all and eventually the seizures and bleeding will kill her. Girls can't handle magic. I always thought that was bullshit but...What if they were right all along? What if I was wrong to save her?"

His gaze drifted down to the ground as he finally began to confess everything. "In Syndarea...the boys that inherit the magic…they're practically glorified. They become true soldiers and warriors, and even have a chance to become king. They are trained from the very start to use their magic and perfect it. But the girls....the girls are killed. Burned at the stake, in some kind of fucked up celebration of the gods. They're fucking sacrificed like lambs....." He clutched his head.

"They took her away to live in a nunnery. Took her from my mother, from her friends, from everyone. Then they were going to force us to watch her die. Watch how everyone celebrates the fact that my sister is burning at the fucking stake!" Setna looked Tirian dead in the eye. 

"They said it’s to glorify the gods! That it is a fucking honor to die in front of everyone, because surely it is more merciful then having her die by her own magic." The sarcasm spewed from his mouth like bile.

"I couldn't do it. I couldn't let that happen to her. So I took her." Setna shook his head. "I broke more laws then I can count. I didn't think it through. I'm surprised we even made it this far....and now for what? I don't even know if I'm right anymore..."

-Barbaric normally described Tirian's ruthless methods but this was a whole new level. Tirian didn't seem shocked immediately on the surface, and yet within he felt his heart physically break. Setna looked onto Tirian with a gaze of a hardened man. The Syndarean boy may not have known but his will was strong, as was his cause for this world. 

"You just described what you have to live for. You live to protect your sister. Where I am from, those who inherit magic be it male or female are gutted in front of the masses and then those organs are ground up and fed to their enemies as torture. What you did for your sister was honorable and I respect it."

Tirian stepped forward once more with his arms at his side. His eyes shifted from Setna to Serna, and then back to the boy with a sigh.

"Laws are something meant to hold people without freedom. I had no training prior to my first outburst as well. But I had a teacher, and a savior. And if I am half person she was I can certainly help Serna. You just have to trust me. And everyone else as well."-

The surprise was genuine and it lit up the Syndarean boys face as a glimmer of hope filled his core. "Really? You had no training either, before something like this?"

The Syndarean boy had thought it had been a part of his usual barbaric culture. But to learn something like that, that a man like him was still living, and still strong. "You'd be willing to help her?"

Setna stood, and fumbled around awkwardly in his pockets. "I'll...I don't have anything to give you! But...But if you could do that for Serie..." Setna looked much more boyish now, the hope slowly returning to his face. "I'll pay you my share of the reward!"

--"I didn't come on this journey for a reward. Money is an object in this world I don't strive for. Take the training as something I have to do. I made a promise to someone very important and I plan on keeping that promise."

Tirian patted the boys shoulder once more with a genuine smile upon his face. 

"Durandal hates magic more than anywhere else in the world. They are a band of bullies looking to cleanse the world of that 'magic scourge'. I will train Serna, for free. You just promise me to keep her safe."--

Relief filled the boy's core and it shone a bit on his face. "Thank you! I will..."

He sat again beside his sister, feeling somewhat better about the situation. Someone was willing to help her, coming from the same situation that Serna had to face. She'd be ok. She'd be ok.

She just had to wake up. Setna gently touched the flower bracelet tied to his wrist and his gaze drifted back to watching Serna’s face.

-----

[b]‘’Aaerynn… Whatever affliction you have, we’ll deal with it later… We need to get that wound cleaned and healed. I have something that can take care of it right away but you have to trust me.’’[/b]

Aaerynn slowly lifted her head at the voice. She looked up at the tall man, before her gaze shifted to his trembling knees and her hand went to her wound. It was still oozing, but the pain was overpowered by the rotting going on in her chest. 

"I'm fine." Her voice was quiet, before her eyes slowly looked up to meet his. 

She had put two and two together again. It had been him to throw the blue fire. She didn't know how he had done it, but he was expressing exhaustion just like the redhead. There was something more to him, just like the red head and the female twin and maybe more. "You should be resting. You're exhausted aren't you?" 

She was tired, and shaky. But she was an elf, scribbler was pushing himself beyond his human limits.

--Fine? She thinks she is fine? She was afflicted by something stronger than a simple curse or even some unholy rot. She had something else taking away at her body, but she didn’t want to admit. He slowly approached as their gaze crossed… She was in serious pain. He came beside her as she had pointed his exhaustion. Well, it was true, but he had to make sure that everyone else could make it through. He could take more than what people thought.

[b]“I should be resting, but not if I can help the others first. I have cures and items that can help things go away.”[/b]

Vordan reached to his belt, removing a little flask that had what seemed to be clear water. In fact, it was a mixture made to disinfect wounds and also acts as holy water. It was a painful process to clean wounds, but it cleared everything. He uncorked it and looked at her.

[b]“This will probably be a painful few minutes to come, but I can close the wound completely. I got no idea how you know Daedhrogeth, but you are lucky to be alive…”[/b]

And so, he poured half of the flask right onto the wound, keeping a hand on her shoulder to keep her in place.—

Aaerynn blinked and she opened her mouth as he opened the vile, to tell him to stop and get away and leave her alone, but then he poured it straight on the wound. The elf's whole body tensed up and her eyes widened in pain. Her wound made a disgusting sizzling sound, and she lost her breath from the pain. 

The wood elf gasped, and her hand reached out with the intention to shove the man away from her, but instead Aaerynn clutched at his shirt, gripping it so tight that her knuckles turned a sickly white. Her head dropped as she grit her teeth, bearing the pain. "Daedhrogeth...she's the guardian...she protects the north elves...and the forest itself. She has ties with the ancestors... Now my mother..."

She was babbling, words falling out of her mouth like dribble. But it was better than being silent and taking the pain alone. "I'm really...not so...lucky."

--When he heard the sizzling sound, it was much more than the disinfection of the wound. Something had corrupted her blood, probably her body too. What was it? It was hard to tell for now. He would have to research it really. For the time being, he let the elf just suffer from the holy water. It would make her better, but the worst was yet to come. He looked down at her as she mentioned how she knew the Wolf Goddess. Well, he knew the story, but it meant that her mother had died. He sighed.

[b]“I’m sorry for your family, but at least she became one of the ancestors and not just a cadaver from those who fell in battle… Still, if you have an affliction, she should have killed you.”[/b]

When he saw a possible chance of clearing the wound completely, he pulled out, from a little pouch, a cloth and his bandages… there was very little left. He could heal a few wounds but that would be the end of the roll. So, he unrolled part of the bandage and ripped a piece off, then placed himself behind her and had one arm go under both her arms and over her chest… It would seem odd, but he explained himself.

[b]“This pain will be much worse than the holy water… I will hold you down. I know you will try to get away. Hopefully, you’ll forgive me for it. And trust me, maybe your lack of luck will help you one day.”[/b]

With that, he put the bandage on the wound, covering it completely… It took a few seconds, but a green glow emanated from the piece of tissue and the bones and flesh were melding back together.—

What could possibly be worse than whatever was in that vile?

She soon found out. She had wanted to question what he was doing, putting his arm across her chest like that. But then he pressed something against her wound...and the pain was like nothing she had ever felt before. Far worse than the grief in her soul and the rot that was consuming her. 

She screamed and struggled against him, and tried to pry his arm off of her as her body twisted and attempted to break away. But he didn't budge and Aaerynn became motionless, turning completely silent as her eyes clenched shut. She would just have to deal with it. Her teeth were grinding together though, and her fingers were digging into the dirt. The young wolf whined at her side, feeling his new master's pain.

--She was fighting back and Vordan was actually struggling to keep her in place. She would probably hate him for this, but again, he didn’t care. They could all hate him for what he cared. He would do what was right and that was it. He waited, used all his strength to retain her… Then, the green glow went away, leaving a black and blood soaked rag. He removed it, revealing exactly what he would expect; a long, thin line of a scar, barely visible. But it was clean, the wounds and internal injuries would be gone. Vordan released her and stood back up with difficulty.

[b]“Don’t thank me. But you should get that affliction checked… Whatever it is. I would help you… But it seems that maybe my help is not what you need anyway. Good luck.”[/b]

With that, he slowly walked back towards the cart and laid down… Trying to get some rest.—

Aaerynn sat there, unable to speak or move as she closed her eyes. With the fading of the glow and the scribbler finally removing the bandages, the pain was gone and relief overwhelmed her system. It flooded across her body, sweat breaking out across her brow. For a moment she couldn’t feel the rotting going on inside her. It seemed to be swept away from her entirely. But as the relief faded, it was still there, deep in her chest.

Eventually the wood elf found the strength to stand, and she gently ran a hand through the wolf’s fur at her side. “Thank you…” She mumbled to the creature, since the scribbler had left her to rest. 

-----

Rudolf had kept to himself after the encounter. He had smiled lightly as Tirian came over and made mention of the secret coming out. Then he simply returned to his work, picking up the fallen cargo, deciding what could be saved and what had been ruined. 

He could smell rain in the air, and he looked above at the dark sky before raising the canvas on one of the carts. It would be a tight fit, but would provide enough shelter from the rain for the moment. His hands worked diligently but his thoughts were focused on another subject entirely. He looked over at Aaerynn, as Vordan stood, having healed the wood elf’s shoulder. The dwarf watched as the mercenary retreated to the carts to rest. He wondered if the mercenary had seen how bad she was, and if the wolf god’s words rang true. 

The dwarf remained silent though, continually checking on this and that but eventually his gaze would go back to the wood elf. She was up now, and making some rounds to make sure everyone else was all set. She finally approached him and Rudolf couldn’t help the words that left his lips. “When were you going to tell me?”

Aaerynn stilled, pausing as she looked at the dwarf with confusion. “Tell you what?”

The dwarf’s face turned red with anger for a moment, but he turned to her and spoke quietly. “That you’re dying?”

For the majority of the fight within the forest, Aaerynn had stepped out of her frigid walls. But Rudolf could practically see her retreating back into them, her face and eyes turning cold. “It’s none of your business.” Her tone was strict and clear cut.

But it only made the dwarf angrier. “None of my business!? How long have we known each other? I thought you were doing ok the last time…”

Aaerynn tensed, becoming just as angry as the dwarf. She had retreated completely behind the mental walls she had painstakingly raised over the years. “How long have we known each other!? Why don’t you tell me Rudolf. How long has it been since I’ve seen you last? 50 years? 75 years?”

Rudolf turned red. “That doesn’t mean I haven’t cared! I think I have the right to know! How did it get this bad!?”

The wood elf’s anger was breaking her down. She had gone through too many emotions today, and she was at her wit’s end. “How it got so bad?” She was rueful but it was twisted with rage. “Unlike you my memories don’t fade with a pint of ale!”

The insult stung the dwarf who puffed out his chest, his voice becoming louder with his anger. “And unlike me, you have the ability to change it! What the hell are you doing!? Is this what you want!? To die alone!? You push everyone away from you!! You isolate yourself and allow yourself this pain!”

“What in the gods name do you want me to do, Rudolf? You want me to make ‘friends’!? You want me to find love?” She was grinning with her malice, her eyes as cold and dark as black ice. “Is this why you invited me!? You feel sorry for me!? Well look around!”

She waved her hand around at the rest of the party. “You know what’s going to happen, huh? You stupid dwarf! They’re all going to die! Whether today, tomorrow or 50 years from now. I’m not allowed the company of elves and, tell me, what is 50 years to me!?”

Her emotions were honest and raw. Her face and body unable to contain any of it. “You ask me if I want to die alone, when it’s going to happen anyway! No matter what I do…no matter who is in my life or not…I will always…always die alone.”

The dwarf didn’t know what to say. “But surely, this isn’t the way to do it! You’re just wasting away!! If you could just let people in for your sake?”

“For my sake!?” She interrupted him. “For my fucking sake?” 

She shook her head, her body trembling. “I’m dying because of my own stupid mistakes! Because of my stupid fucking decisions and their consequences. I’m dying because I can’t forget! Because I am forced to remember, forced to experience everything day after day…because I was pathetic and childish and naive.”

The dwarf was at a loss for words now, but he was angered. He just wanted to make her understand. “But if you would just try! Stop acting so detached, you never know what could happen! Things can always change, you just have to try it! Let people in again, for once more in your life!”

“Just fuck off Rudolf!” Aaerynn had had enough, she made a motion to Baineth and in one swift movement she was mounted and gone, the young wolf trailing behind.
Rudolf watched her go, and sank a bit in defeat. He looked over to the rest of the party, who had obviously heard the loud conversation. He sighed, stroking his beard as he returned to the cart, and of course that was when the skies opened up and began to pour.

-----
Setna watched as the blonde elf disappeared into the tree line. He frowned a bit and looked at his sister. He felt bad for the wood elf. Sure, she was cold and could be quite nasty but if it wasn’t for her, his sister would have been in a hell of a lot worse shape.

His gaze drifted back to where she had disappeared. Aaerynn had also tried to protect them, and was even the first to get stupid Vordan to safety. She wasn’t as bad as she seemed, and perhaps she was suffering more than anyone. 

Setna watched as Rudolf came into the cart and sat down. As the rain started most of the party cramped into the cart together, especially as it began to down pour.

Rudolf passed around things to eat and finally he cleared his throat. “I understand that today has been emotionally straining for all of us. Things happened tonight that you normally don’t see and secrets were let out that would normally stay hidden.”

The dwarf was solemn as he continued to speak. “But, I want to let it be clear that I do not care whether you have magic or not. I am from a time where magic was constantly flowing through the world. I do not discriminate. Thus, if the fact that we have magic users within the party makes anyone uncomfortable, please speak up now. We can part ways at the next town and I will reimburse you for your trouble.”

“Once we clear everything up, perhaps the two musicians would be willing to lighten our spirits.” The dwarf smiled slightly as he placed a hand on Caelis’ shoulder. “If you do not mind, my dear man.”