[h3][color=crimson]M[/color] A [color=palevioletred]R[/color] [color=#bd71e8]V[/color] E [color=mediumseagreen]L[/color] O U S   [color=9966CC]M[/color] A G I[/h3]

As Maura watched her sisters fight, she almost didn't notice Viridian stepping beside her. Her then worried expression changed as she listened to the other girl, and watched her leave as quick as she arrived. She flinched as the newfound magic made it's way within her. Getting a new feel for the power, she connected the rest of her girls' minds with the magicoms.

Then there was Veronica's request to speak with the witches. [i][color=crimson]"They should be unaware of who you guys are, so it should be okay to talk with them."[/color][/i] Maura told her, watching as the rest of the back-up met up with Penny and Shane.

[i][color=#bd71e8]”Understood.”[/color][/i] Veronica tucked her arms behind her back and walked towards the witches. Val was free to do as she wished, and she saw no reason to involve the other cradle agents in this. It was probably best if it was just herself and the coven speaking anyway. 

[color=#bd71e8]”New faces. It’s odd how many show up around Penrose, given it’s dire situation. Regardless, it looks like you’re on our side.”[/color] She looked at each of the witches individually before placing a hand on her chest. [color=#bd71e8]”They call me Carnelian Cinders in the north.”[/color] Veronica wasn’t lying. Carnelian Cinders was her alias in the north. She couldn’t risk telling a complete lie to these witches, as one or more of them might have the ability to detect it. Fortunately many years of black ops taught her to lie as easily as she could breath. Even her mannerisms could change on command to fit her new persona. But that was hardly needed here. [color=#bd71e8]”I’d like to know who you are, if you don’t mind. You don’t seem like the sort who came to sanctuary for protection.”[/color]

The three turned to face Veronica with mixed expressions. [color=mediumseagreen]"Cinders, huh? I feel like I heard of you before."[/color] 

[color=#bd71e8]”It’s not my true name of course. Carnelian gemstones can be red and black in color. Same with cinders, which can be red or yellow when heated, but are gray or black when burnt up. I just named myself after my colors, so I’m afraid any relation to someone you've heard of is purely coincidental.”[/color]

Lauren noted, not detecting any lies so far. [color=mediumseagreen]"Regardless, it'd take too long to introduce ourselves to everyone so I'll only say this once. My name is Lauren Corvus, the Witch of Order."[/color]

Maribel then walked up next to Lauren, holding a hand out for Veronica to shake. [color=9966CC]"Maribel Whitley, Witch of Nightmares. A pleasure to make your acquaintance~[/color] Veronica shook her hand lightly before stepping back again.

 [color=Palevioletred]"..."[/color] Rowena lightly waved with a polite smile.

[color=mediumseagreen]"And that's Rowena Beck, the Witch of Life. She doesn't talk much."[/color] With introductions out of the way, Lauren was able to explain why they arrived. [color=mediumseagreen]"We felt a surge of nightmare magic from this area and came to investigate. At first I though it was Maribel's work, but the fact that we haven't heard of any others with nightmare magic for years..."[/color] Her brows furrowed for a second. [color=mediumseagreen]"We originally planned to grab the monster and go, but it got defeated too easily. A killswitch, I suspect. Same people who set it off tried to turn; Penny, was it? Against us."[/color] She appeared unamused. [Color=mediumseagreen]"We did manage to calm her down though, so things should be fine now."[/color]

Veronica nodded. [color=#bd71e8]”Well, it is a pleasure to meet with you all. You must be truly powerful if you could contend with Penny. Stronger still if you could tell the monster had a built in kill switch.”[/color] 

Lauren shrugged. [color=mediumseagreen]"It's the only assumption I have. Seemed fishy for something like that to die so easily, but my third eye doesn't lie."[/color]

[i][color=#bd71e8]”You getting all this, Maura? Should I tell them what I know about the nightmares affecting the businessmen in the area?”[/color][/i] 

 [i][color=crimson]"Loud and clear, V. Maribel might be interested in that kind of info."[/color][/i] Maura replied.

[color=#bd71e8]”…But it is interesting that you should bring up nightmares, because there have been reports of wealthy businessmen falling ill after having horrible dreams.”[/color] Veronica looked at the witch of nightmares. [color=#bd71e8]”I have not looked into the matter myself. Is there a reason why you want to investigate?”[/color] 

Maribel's eyes lit up. [Color=9966CC]"Really now?"[/color] For once, she genuinely smiled. [color=9966CC]"Well, it's as Lauren says! We haven't heard of any other nightmare magic users in years! Although, I may have to help cease the businessmen's nightmares. But this just shows I'm not the only one!"[/color] She actually seemed excited.

[color=#bd71e8]”You did, I was more inquiring if you just wanted to meet who was causing the nightmares, join them, slay them… well you get it. Specifics.”[/color] 

[color=9966CC]"Oh heavens no! I'd never kill a possible apprentice. I only want to get to know them~"[/color] Maribel chuckled. 

[color=#bd71e8]”Understood.”[/color] The cradle agent placed a hand on her hip. [color=#bd71e8]”Speaking of nightmares, there was a girl using dream magic. She was right behind us. I think she was eating ice cream?”[/color] 

At the mention of a dream magic user, she suddenly froze. [color=9966CC]"Dream magic, you say...?"[/color] the nightmare witch looked to the hole leading to the first floor, almost hesitant. [color=9966CC]"...Could it really be?"[/color]

[color=mediumseagreen]"Maribel's partner, the past Witch of Dreams, got killed a long time ago."[/color] Lauren explained once more. [color=mediumseagreen]"By one of our own, no less! We've been trying to look for both her and the next incarnation with no luck. Eventually, our coven broke off from each other, for one reason or another. Us three just happened to stick together despite that.[/color]

Maura frowned from her shadow as she listened, regretful.

It was possible Veronica had said too much. But her main goal was to ensure they left so that they couldn’t bother Maura anymore. They didn’t seem like bad people. Powerful perhaps, to a disturbing degree even. But surely there was nothing wrong with leading them to what they wanted. At least, so long as it wasn’t Maura. 

[color=#bd71e8]”Yes, they were right behind me. I don’t see why they should have moved.”[/color] Veronica looked back at the slain blob. [color=#bd71e8]”Well, you’d better get going. She’s a whimsical sort, so who knows what she’s going to do next?”[/color] Veronica forced a smile.

[Color=9966CC]"Right- Right then. Might as well say hello~"[/color] Maribel gave Veronica a crooked smile, before going back to the first floor.

Lauren stretched in place. [color=mediumseagreen]"Well, I'm gonna go clean up the rest of that sludge we ran into, then make myself scarce. Nice meeting you, Carnelian."[/color] She followed the former. That left Rowena.

[Color=palevioletred]"....Hey."[/color] Rowena spoke up. [color=palevioletred]"If you know what happened to my sister, to Maura, let me know. Please."[/color] She frowned. [color=palevioletred]"...I can't let them hurt her, I just want to know if she's okay."[/color]
 
Veronica blinked, just once. Someone as skilled at lying as herself never slipped up, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be caught off guard. It hadn’t dawned on her, but Rowena did look a bit like Maura. They wore dark clothes, had dark hair, but her brown eyes were far less jarring than Maura’s crimson orbs. But that simple blink was as much of her composure as she would lose. 

[color=#bd71e8]”A sister, you say?”[/color] Veronica tightened her arms behind her back. [color=#bd71e8]”Yes, that name is familiar to me. She was safe, unlike so many others. Should I encounter her in the future though, I will be sure to let her know you are looking for her.”[/color] She bowed her head.

Rowena sighed in relief. [color=palevioletred]"Th-Thank you. I won't bother you further then."[/color] She bowed back with a smile, and walked away to join the other two.

Veronica continued to walk forward towards Penny and the others, only to turn around and make sure all the witches had vacated the area. Once she was content there was no one watching, she lifted her fingers to the side of her head.

[i][color=#bd71e8]”Is there something you’d like to tell me, Maura?”[/color][/i] 

Maura was silent for a moment.

[i][color=Crimson]"Do you remember what I told you, how I managed to break my oath three different ways?"[/color][/i] 

[i][color=#bd71e8]”I do, and I wanted to know more.”[/color][/i]

She hesitantly started to explain. [i][color=crimson]"After they caught wind that I kept a soul from dying, I was forced to argue against them."[/color][/i] She took a moment to breathe. [i][color=crimson]"...It all went wrong. I didn't mean to kill her...I didn't..."[/color][/i]
 
[i][color=#bd71e8]”I anticipated it was something like that. You were vague on the details, but I didn't want to press.”[/color][/i] She closed her eyes and sighed. [i][color=#bd71e8]”As you likely know, Rowena seemed like she was genuinely concerned about you. But I didn’t tell her anything because I wasn’t sure if she was trying to get me to let down my guard.”[/color][/i] When veronica opened her eyes, she looked all around herself. Too many places to hide. [i][color=#bd71e8]”There is still danger present, If you still feel like talking about this later, I would be willing to listen.”[/color][/i]

 Maura chuckled. [i][color=crimson]"You don't have to worry about her. Rowena's the most harmless one out of the three. But yeah, we can continue this when things die down."[/color][/i]

[i][color=#bd71e8]”Affirmative.”[/color][/i]