Ascot's shoulders slumped as he registered the truth of Michael's words; or at least, that's how it looked to the others in the group. He would then whisper back to the Officer: [i]"Yeah, to be honest, I have my own suspicions myself; either Ellard is actually the Magician in disguise and this is just one big test, or he is an agent of some other power, or something else entirely. Or he could be telling the truth; whatever the case, I am not entirely blind."[/i] Then, a scream, and Ascot would turn towards the direction of Stormy, only to be faced with a horrifying sight.

Koda had lost control of the Semblance; and had bit off Stormy's arm. But before Ascot can do so much as rage, Tristan had already killed their former friend, while Zino was moving to where Stormy was, calling for someone who can heal her. Ascot delved inside his own mind, and knew he had the power to do so. Barely.

Flying swiftly to Stormy and Zino's side, eyes wide in fear, his mind switching to 'serious business mode', he would say: "Zino! Give me Stormy's arm; I can reattach it!"

Two orbs of silvery-white liquid had already formed in front of Ascot; one of them went towards the severed arm, the other to Stormy's stump.These two orbs would cover the bloody portions of the limb and main body, and [i]glow[/i], starting the process of healing, of replenishing blood, of stabilizing and pain-killing. Ascot would then turn to Zino if the latter had given him the arm, and say, "You can stop pressing against the wound now; I have a tiny window of opportunity with which to reattach the arm." 

All things not related to the crisis at hand had left Ascot's mind as he put together the arm and the shoulder it was severed from, his 'ambrosia' linking them both together as it glowed even brighter, slowly rebuilding blood and skin and bone cells while Ascot concentrated on his new...[i]Magic?[/i]

As the injuries finally sealed themselves, Ascot heard Ellard saying...something. Something that magnified his suspicions. Frowning sadly, the boy would say, "Much as I'd like to believe it, no; Koda has always acted strangely since gaining his powers. No, my guess is that he just lost control of the magic he had, and the possibility is open that we might lose control ourselves...but that isn't likely, at least in my case. I don't sense anything except a foriegn feeling of pride inside my head."

Ascot made a decision; detach himself mentally from Ellard. Turning towards the other boy, Ascot would smile faintly and say, "Okay, I've healed the woman. Now it is time to go to the Magician and avenge what has happened to you and your family." 

But there was a half-heartedness in Ascot's voice, a half-heartedness that said: 'I no longer believe. It makes me sad, but I no longer believe.' 

[@Redward][@Etranger][@Scarescrow][@Viatos][@jdh97][@Mammon][@TaroAndSelia]