[color=lightgray][center][h3][color=#CD853F]S[/color][color=#BF8C3E]t[/color][color=#B1923D]r[/color][color=#A3993B]a[/color][color=#959F3A]t[/color][color=#87A639]y[/color][color=#78AC38]a[/color][color=#6AB337],[/color] [color=#4EC034]K[/color][color=#40C633]a[/color][color=#32CD32]z[/color][color=#3DCC42]u[/color][color=#49CB51]m[/color][color=#54CB61]i[/color][color=#60CA71]n[/color][color=#6BC980],[/color] [color=#82C79F]C[/color][color=#8EC6AF]a[/color][color=#99C6BF]s[/color][color=#A5C5CE]s[/color][color=#B0C4DE]i[/color][color=#ADC3D6]u[/color][color=#AAC3CF]s[/color][color=#A7C2C7],[/color] [color=#A1C0B8]O[/color][color=#9EC0B1]l[/color][color=#9BBFA9]i[/color][color=#98BEA2]v[/color][color=#95BD9A]i[/color][color=#92BD93]a[/color] [color=#95BB94]&[/color] [color=#A1BAA5]C[/color][color=#A7B9AE]h[/color][color=#ADB8B7]a[/color][color=#B2B8C0]r[/color][color=#B8B7C9]l[/color][color=#BEB6D2]o[/color][color=#C4B5DA]t[/color][color=#CAB5E3]t[/color][color=#D0B4EC]e[/color][/h3][/center] [color=#A1C0B8][h3][center]Part 2[/center][/h3][/color] [color=limegreen]Time:[/color] Ignis 2 Evening [color=peru]Location:[/color] Vikena’s Sorian Estate [hr] The walk to the Vikena estate only took minutes, especially with Cassius able to assist. One moment they were surrounded by the cool bite of night air, the next they were within the familiar warmth of the Vikena foyer. Charlotte barely registered any of it properly. Her voice came out a little breathless, but determined as she led them through the entry. [color=D0B4EC]“This way—please,”[/color] she murmured, [color=D0B4EC]“Mind your step.”[/color] The living room was surrounded by rich wood walls and bookcases. Under the center coffee table was a thick rug with elaborate designs. Several red-cushioned couches gathered around a wide hearth. The fireplace dominated the far side of the room, its flames throwing a dancing gold across the space. Despite the room looking the same as it always did, it somehow felt unfamiliar after the brutality of the tavern. Charlotte guided Stratya toward the nearest couch. [color=D0B4EC]“Sit—please sit,”[/color] she insisted, [color=D0B4EC]“You’ve done quite enough for one evening.”[/color] When Stratya lowered herself onto the cushions, Charlotte hovered a moment longer. Then her gaze dropped, and her expression broke. It was smeared along the front of her dress. She stared at it as though seeing it for the first time, the reality of it settling. And then her eyes moved, inevitably, to Stratya’s hand. She immediately sank down beside the couch, knees settling on the rug, her skirt pooling around her. Slowly and carefully, she reached for Stratya’s injured hand and cradled it, barely daring to touch as she cupped it between both of her own. [color=D0B4EC]“Oh, look at your hand…”[/color] Her voice turned gentle in the way it did when she was trying very hard not to cry. [color=D0B4EC]“I’m so sorry, dear…”[/color] The endearment slipped out without permission. Her thumbs hovered uselessly, trembling just above Stratya’s skin. [color=D0B4EC]“I will fetch some medical supplies.”[/color] she told her. As she pushed up, the room seemed to lurch—firelight suddenly too bright, the edges of her vision swimming. Charlotte’s fingers caught the edge of the couch as a sharp throb pulsed behind her eyes, and for a second she just stood there blinking like she was trying to remember how to be upright. She still tried anyway: one step, then another. Charlotte’s grip slid along the couch for balance, chin lifting with a stubborn little set of her mouth, as if the next step were obvious. Yet her thoughts couldn’t quite get there: bandages, spirits, linen… [i]but where?[/i] Charlotte swallowed hard, eyes flicking toward the hall and then back again, hand still braced on the couch. [color=D0B4EC]“They’re… in the—”[/color] she started, and the words just… didn’t come. It seemed to the knight that arriving at the Vikena estate had sparked a drive in Charlotte, despite her state. Somewhere, it seemed the young lady had forgotten her own injuries. [color=peru]“Aye, feels tha’ way, doan i’, oooye,”[/color] Stratya let herself settle onto the couch with a groan, holding her left hand out from her body to spare it any shocks. Those eyes came to her hand. Though Charlotte was continuing to prove herself, her calmness was not that born of familiarity, the way Stratya was used to her battle scars being greeted. So very tenderly, the young lady held her wounded hand, a softer response than even her mother. As Lady Vikena studied her hand, Stratya studied the Lady,[color=peru] “aye, go’ a bi’ rreckless, I think.”[/color] It was the injury she earned saving the very lady inspecting it.[color=peru] “I’ve ‘ad worrse and come back jus’ fyne. I jus’ need tae.. rrespec’ t’ injurry.”[/color] How could she possibly tell Charlotte the injury had been for her sake? It wasn’t necessary. As Charlotte pushed herself back up, determined to tend to her guests, Stratya saw it. The young lady had taken a great blow to the head, and now the consequence was showing itself beyond fatigue. The knight leaned carefully to the side and stretched her right arm out to lay her hand over Charlotte’s on the couch,[color=peru] “Lady Charlot’e, y’ took a blow tae th’ head. You shoul’ come an’ si’ wit’ me. Help me wit’ my glove, won’ ye?”[/color] Gently, the captain took the young lady’s hand, though her fingers were clumsy as she did. Stratya’s hand burned still from her spell casting, yet her left was so much worse, even besides the knife wound.[color=peru] “Lord Damien, I’m afrraid it seems,”[/color] she took a moment to look for Vikena staff in the room, [color=peru]“we’ll ‘afe tae ask yersen tae find t’ supplies?”[/color] Though she’d bade Charlotte to help her with her glove in an attempt to coax her to sit, perhaps her hand was worse yet than the hole in it. [color=D0B4EC]“I’m—”[/color] Charlotte started, then stopped, breath catching.[color=D0B4EC]“I’m sorry. I know you’re right.”[/color] And she let herself sink down beside Stratya. Her hands, still trembling, fussed with Stratya’s glove. At least having something to do kept her from drifting. Kazumin came in behind them, holding Olive tight to his chest, moving like he wanted to sprint but forcing himself not to, careful not to jostle her. The cold outside still clung to him, but the room was nice and warm. His eyes immediately darted across the couches, as if he were hunting for the safest place to put her down. Finally, he found an open spot and crossed to it, then slowed right at the last second, his grasp becoming gentle as he lowered Olive onto the cushions. His gaze swept her fast, and he visibly winced at what he found; his breath caught, then steadied as he leaned close. [color=limegreen]“I won’t be long,”[/color] he murmured, voice rough, thumb brushing lightly at her hairline before he pressed his forehead to hers with a featherlight touch. Then, Kazumin forced himself to pull away. It was only then that he truly looked up and saw Charlotte properly, and he wore the shock on his expression. The gash, the dazed way she tried to stand like sheer stubbornness could glue her together… Heat flashed behind his eyes as Winston’s image stabbed through his mind. He swallowed it down with a harsh gulp, jaw working once like he was grinding the anger into dust, and made himself move before it could take him anywhere useless. His attention cut to Stratya’s hand next, and relief flickered that Stratya was coaxing Charlotte to sit. [color=limegreen]“Aye—good,”[/color] he breathed, and then his tone sharpened, aimed at Charlotte with blunt, protective insistence. [color=limegreen]“Aye, you sit there and tend to the lady general's hand. No need for ya to be moving and assisting with that head wound. Let me and Cassius handle fetching the meds and cleaning supplies, got to get those injuries cleaned. Gonna need to fetch plenty of water too… ”[/color] He stepped closer, then stopped himself, wanting so badly to hug Charlotte and not knowing how without hurting her; his hand even lifted before he caught it and let it drop back to his side, fingers curling tight. He looked to Cassius, urgency back in his posture. [color=limegreen]“Lord Damien—if you’re willing, help me find the medical kit and clean linens, aye? We’ll need water too. Plenty of it.”[/color] Cas nodded simply. Then Kazu’s gaze returned to Stratya, worried for the captain as well slipping through despite him. After that, he turned, moving with haste, already scanning for cupboards, doors, staff, for anything that might get him to supplies faster without leaving the room to fall apart behind him. A sigh of relief escaped Olivia once they entered the foyer. She held onto Kazumin weakly, her red hair draped over his arm like a waterfall of red. She shut her eyes briefly and pushed off the desperate need for sleep. She watched Lottie attempt to take care of Stratya and her injured hand, but the knight coaxed her into sitting beside her. Her chest became heavy while she watched the two ladies injured, but especially Lottie. She was going to have to stay awake and need supervision. Cassius’ interaction with Lottie was more intimate than she had expected, though she was glad someone else had Lottie’s back. After Kazumin set her on the couch, Olivia sat up and watched the scene. Her own head throbbed,but she was nowhere near as bad as anyone else. She thought for a moment of a few spells, and then addressed the two ladies. [color=8FBC8B]”I can heal both of you if you'd prefer. Lottie, you definitely need to be healed.”[/color] Her gaze flickered over to Cassius suspiciously. [color=8FBC8B]”Unless you have any issues with magic. Will you rat me out? I think we’d all prefer that she doesn’t have any short or long-term injuries.”[/color] She then added in a quiet voice, [color=8FBC8B]”I will hiss at you again,”[/color] she teased Cassius, although her resolve was not one of joking matter. At Olivia’s offer, Charlotte’s gaze lifted. [color=D0B4EC]“Yes,”[/color] she whispered. [color=D0B4EC]“Please. Heal her first.”[/color] Stratya, with her eyes on the healer in question, shook her head. Cassius smiled at the jest. [color=lightsteelblue]“Oh I have plenty of issues with magic.”[/color] He said boldly, though his concern for Charlotte was still obvious, the statement sounded more like the version of him the others had seen before. Lottie’s gaze had snapped to him immediately upon those words, concern written on her face that she hadn’t the mind to conceal. [color=lightsteelblue]“More than my fair share, to be honest…And I am a lot of things, but a rat? Not a chance.”[/color] Cas continued as he moved around the couch towards Kazumin in preparation for the two to go grab the supplies. [color=lightsteelblue]“Furthermore, love, I’ve been hissed at by [i]far worse things[/i] than a witch. If you can heal them, please…by all means. Do your thing. You will get no complaints from me.” [/color] Cassius then turned his gaze from Olivia back to Charlotte. As he spoke to her, his roguish inflection became softer, gentler, just for her. [color=lightsteelblue]“Kazumin is right, Lottie. I know you wish to help, but right now the best way to do that is to tell us where to find the medicine. We can gather everything and help Olivia get you and our lovely Knight Captain here right as rain.”[/color] [color=D0B4EC]“The… the medical kit,”[/color] Charlotte managed, eyes flicking toward the hall as if picturing it. [color=D0B4EC]“Butler’s pantry—left of the kitchen. Second cabinet. Top shelf. It’s in a blue tin.”[/color] She paused, as if searching for more details, [color=D0B4EC]“And linens… west staircase closet.”[/color] She laid her head without much thought on Stratya’s shoulder wearily. [color=D0B4EC]“If you… if you two get lost, just screech until someone comes to your aid,”[/color] she breathed, the hint of a smile trembling at the corners of her lips. A humored huff escaped Captain Durmand. If only things were so simple. “Lady” Olivia was not what she seemed, and that was very dangerous, especially now. She’d been climbing on rafters and fighting like it was a part of her life. As well, her shouted cooperative tactics with Kazumin spoke to years of working together. Alas, Kazumin was only recently raised to nobility. They only way, she thought, they could know each other so well was if they’d been long-time friends, but that didn’t make sense. [color=peru]“Lady Olivia,”[/color] Stratya began, her tone heavy,[color=peru] “I am afrraid I hesita’e tae le’ ye cast morre spells.”[/color] The captain let her arm hold Charlotte gently, giving her shoulder a soft squeeze. She wished things were simple enough she [i]could[/i] just allow it.[color=peru] “Jus’ momen’s ago, ye were in t’ thrrows o’ darrk magic. [i]Thah’[/i] is also an injurry. If I le’ ye cast morre magic, will it be aggrriva’ed? Will t’ darrkness surrge?”[/color] Stratya looked at the gash on Charlotte’s head, and then her hand. She could heal it herself, but her own injury was already going to take a long time to heal naturally. There weren’t a lot of options. Injuries like theirs might place them at the scene. Healing spells and dark magic seemed to her they would be at odds with each other. Perhaps such well-intentioned magic would be safe? Yet, it could also [I]expend[/I] the energy that would stand opposed to corruption. Too much was unknown. [color=peru]“I [b]should[/b] arrest you.”[/color] Knight-Devout Captain Stratya Durmand gave the short, frustrated sigh of someone who was losing a fight against their own principles and values,[color=peru] “I [i]should[/i]. Thah’ would be my safest move.. prrobably.”[/color] She watched Olivia for a moment, letting it sink in, before she continued, [center][YouTube]https://youtu.be/m2o0CuATeJc?si=xaFHhQG-E_JO-3xb[/YouTube][/center] [color=peru] “but I think thah’ would nae be t’ best ferr t’ Kingdom oa its people. Yerr nae crriminal,”[/color] at least, not because of this, [color=peru]“yerr.. sick, or.. injurred. Somethin’, I’m unsurre if we have a worrd ferr i’. Y’ need [i]help[/i], nae punishmen’.”[/color] Worse yet,[color=peru] “t’ Crown has got’en involved. Werre Qu-... Alibeth still on t’ Queen’s thrrone, I coul’ attempt tae rreason wit’ herr. I doub’ t’ King will hearr anythin’ I ‘ave tae say shorr’ o’ wha’ ‘e wan’s tae hearr. I migh’ jus’ end up marrkin’ m’sen, trryin’. The witchhun’errs will only get morre dangerrous..”[/color] If dark magic sickness is [i]anything[/i] like the Fury.. Hmm. It was worth a shot. Stratya took her right arm from Charlotte and began to dig into her satchel,[color=peru] “Lady Olivia, I will grran’ ye perrmission tae use magic tae heal ourr wounds, bu’ I ‘ave conditions. Firrst, unless dirre-est need confrronts you, only cast with my perrmission. You will seek my council after such emerrgencies confrron’ you. Two, you will answerr my questions, which I will ask you in just a momen’. Thrree, afterr you heal ourr wounds, you will,”[/color] she pulled out what looked like a joint,[color=peru] “smoke this wit’ me. And fourr.. neverr, [i]everr[/i], cast darrk magic again.”[/color] Olivia’s laugh was soft, brief, and almost surprised; it slipped out like steam from a kettle before she could stop it. She tipped her chin toward Cassius in a wordless nod that carried a whole conversation inside it:[i] I understand. I do.[/i] There was amusement, yes, but also a recognition of irony, a respect for the honesty. Then she let the sound die, and whatever warmth had been in her face went with it. When Stratya spoke, Olivia went still. Not frozen. [i]Deciding.[/i] Her gaze held on the knight’s mouth as if every syllable mattered. Her expression became unreadable. Only one eyebrow lifted slowly. She could have snapped. The retort rose hot and instant. It would have been sharp enough to make everyone in the room flinch. She felt it press against her teeth. But instead, Olivia swallowed it. Her pride went down, and her voice came out controlled. [color=#8FBC8B]“No,”[/color] she said, and she didn’t stutter. [color=#8FBC8B]“...It won’t be aggravated. It won’t surge from a healing spell.”[/color] Her gaze flicked once, to Charlotte’s head, to Stratya’s hand. Stratya’s conditions came next, one by one, laid out like rails on a track. Olivia listened to all of it without interrupting. Not because she agreed, but because she was learning the shape of the cage being built around her. [i]Only cast with my permission.[/i] Olivia’s face didn’t change. Inside, something in her curled its lip and mimicked the cadence of Stratya’s voice with a cruel little theater of her own. [i]With my permission, with my council, with my… [/i] Mentally, she rolled her eyes so hard it was a wonder the rest of her didn’t tilt. In actuality, she restrained herself. She gave Stratya a slow nod anyway but when the joint appeared in Stratya’s hand, Olivia’s eyes dropped to it with immediate refusal. [color=#8FBC8B]“I don’t need it.”[/color] [color=#8FBC8B]“I won’t use dark magic again,”[/color] Olivia told her with a nod again, because nodding cost nothing and bought time. Inside, a different Olivia moved like flame along dry paper. Already thinking, with a cold practicality that startled even her: if Stratya tried to own her, Olivia would erase the part of her that thought she could. She lifted her gaze, meeting Stratya’s eyes fully now, and her voice gentled just enough. [color=#8FBC8B]“You’re doing your job,”[/color] Olivia said. [color=#8FBC8B]“I understand that.”[/color] [color=#8FBC8B]“It’s interesting,”[/color] she murmured suddenly after a moment, [color=#8FBC8B]“how many people in that castle use magic, and yet we’re meant to believe the King sees nothing at all.”[/color] Her mouth just barely curved. [color=#8FBC8B]“Either he’s more oblivious than anyone gives him credit for, or he’s choosing what to be blind to.”[/color] Her gaze returned to Stratya. [color=#8FBC8B]“One eye for another,”[/color] Olivia said quietly. [color=#8FBC8B]“You keep mine quiet, and I’ll keep yours quiet.”[/color] [color=#8FBC8B][i]I will not trade one prison for another.[/i][/color] Olivia let the pact settle without adding anything else to it, then moved to Stratya. Her hands were careful as she took the knight’s injured one, supporting it beneath the palm so the weight wouldn’t jolt the wound. [color=#8FBC8B]“Hold still,”[/color] she murmured. She shut her eyes for a moment to focus.[color=#8FBC8B]“Sanitatem.”[/color] Warmth moved through her fingers and into Stratya’s hand, urging torn flesh. The wound tightened, the bleeding slowed, and the worst of it closed into a cleaner line that still needed bandaging, but would no longer split open with every movement. Olivia’s breath caught anyway,a dulled echo of Stratya’s pain going through her own nerves. [color=#8FBC8B]“It’ll ache,”[/color] she warned, opening her eyes. Then she turned to Charlotte, who looked so hurt that it made a pang go through Olivia’s chest, and when she spoke her voice lowered, as if she didn’t want to startle her. [color=#8FBC8B]“Lottie, look at me,”[/color] she said softly. She brushed hair away from the gash and pressed her palm to Charlotte’s scalp. [color=#8FBC8B]“Sanitatem.”[/color] The spell took faster this time, greedier, and Olivia felt it drain her with a sudden heaviness. Charlotte’s wound sealed, the bleeding stopped, but a cold and punishing feeling curled through Olivia’s body. Her vision narrowed, her stomach turned, and she held herself upright on stubbornness alone until the magic finished. The moment she pulled her hand away, a thin stream of blood slipped from her nose. Olivia wiped it quickly. [color=#8FBC8B]“I’m fine,”[/color] she said automatically. The weakness rolled through her again, deeper, leaving her limbs heavy and her head light, and she reached for the couch to keep herself from swaying. Her gaze found Kazumin, and whatever pride she had left was spent on staying standing. [color=#8FBC8B]“Kazumin,”[/color] she said quietly, [color=#8FBC8B]“Please take me to the guest room. I need to lie down.”[/color] She then allowed Kazumin to guide her out after he got done wishing the other girls to feel better, and giving them hugs. Well, that didn’t go as poorly as it could have, at least. Stratya stared after Olivia for a moment before her watched her hand slowly flex. It had been closed, somewhat, before, but now she could actually articulate it at all without it seeping or oozing or outright reopening. She’d read the spell used before, and knew the price. She thought for a time before finally she broke her silence with a sigh, her head flopping back with resignation,[color=peru] “I fearr my intentions arre misunderrstood..”[/color] She let out a dissatisfied growl, lifting her left hand and pressing her wrist to her forehead. She should still be careful with it.[color=peru] “Things ‘ave become too dangerrous. Would thah’ I could give herr [i]sanctions[/i] orr.. [i]something[/i]. Not a Gods damned [i]leash[/i]. Thah’s beyond my authorri’y..”[/color] [/color]