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[hr][hr][sub][b]Location:[/b] Eye of the Beholder[/sub]
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A faint smile ghosted across Eris’s lips as she listened to Sya — ever warm and welcoming. Her eyes continued to scan the wall of unfamiliar books for a few minutes, lingering briefly on a title labelled “The Space Between: When Light Shared the Sky”

Hearing her name, she turned, blue eyes settling onto Valthyr. Instinctively, her posture straightened at the request for a healer. She reached for her magic, the delicate threads she incessantly pulled at until they frayed or snapped. 

It was there, a slow drip returning back to her system with each passing moment. She could feel its warmth — only a small ember, begging not to be smothered. She needed to rest, to leave it alone. She was nearing the limit, and yet… 

As Valthyr peeled away a strange leaf-woven bandage, something sharpened in her expression. Fatigue overwritten by focus. 

[i]You’re capable of more. [b]Push yourself[/b]. A Hightower knows no ceilings.[/i]
Was it her brother's voice she recalled? Her fathers? Perhaps the voice had become her own.

As Sya slithered out of the room, Eris stepped closer to Valthyr. Gently, she took his arm in her hands, examining the wound. It no longer appeared to be bleeding, but the skin was still broken and alarmingly inflamed. No visible signs of decaying flesh that she might’ve expected from the blight. The giant before her didn’t appear to be in any feverish or serious state. Lucky for him.

[color=B1E4FC]“I can try,”[/color] She said quietly, meeting his gaze. [color=B1E4FC]“I… I should warn you, I’m not at full strength.”[/color]

An understatement. 

Before she could say more, Sya returned. Eris stepped back from Valthyr, blinking as a small purse was pressed into his hand, then her attention shifted to the liquid being poured. 

The smell hit her first. Sharp. Strong.  
It turned her stomach slightly. 

Out of courtesy, Eris accepted the glass anyway. 

[color=B1E4FC]“You made this yourself, Sya?”[/color] she asked curiously, trying to keep her facial expression warm as she eyed the small glass of what might as well have been acid. [color=B1E4FC]“You’re too kind.”[/color]

As Sya made her toast, Eris hesitated only a fraction before lifting the glass. 

[color=B1E4FC]“To… good company.”[/color] She added before taking the smallest possible sip. 

Instant regret. 

Her face tightened — just slightly, but enough — a faint wince she couldn’t fully hide as the liquid burned its way down her throat. It was… [i]aggressively[/i] potent. How in the world was Sya making this?

Eris lowered the glass almost immediately, setting it aside with quiet finality. That was more than enough. There were important things to do and she couldn’t afford to be drinking herself blind. 

Her attention returned to Valthyr, hoping to evade any request Sya might have for her to drink more. [color=B1E4FC]“Let me see,”[/color] she said, stepping closer and reaching for his arm once more.

She paused just before touching him. A deep breath. A moment to center herself, to feel every ounce of what was left of her magic. Then, carefully, she placed her fingers near the wound and reached inward.

Normally, it came easily. A current. An overflowing well. A responsive, familiar flow of magic waiting just beneath her skin.

Now… only something faint and muffled remained. Distant. Like trying to stoke a fire in the middle of a rainstorm, she tried to coax it.

Eris’s brows knit slightly as a sharp burst of pain spread deep in the veins of her arms. She tried again, slower this time. More deliberate. Pulling not with force, but with patience.

A thread answered. Thin. Flickering. But there. 

Relief flickered across her face as warmth spread slowly from her core. Soft light gathered at her fingertips, weaker than she would have liked, but steady. It sank carefully into the wound, guided with precision. 

She worked slowly. Methodically. Every motion measured. Every ounce of energy accounted for.

A pounding headache began to form along her temples, but she weaved what little magic she had into Valthyr. Slowly, the wound began to close. 

Her breathing grew shallow. Then heavier. The light flickered once. Twice.

Eris swallowed, forcing focus, pushing just a little further. Just enough to ensure the worst of it was handled. Then she pulled back. The light vanished. Her hand lingered on his arm for a moment longer as she examined where a red scar remained — something that would not have happened were she at her full strength.

Feeling dizzy, Eris found herself a seat among the many pillows littered across the room. She exhaled slowly, her shoulders dipping just slightly as the effort caught up to her.

[color=B1E4FC]“That should…”[/color] she began, voice softer now, a touch strained, [color=B1E4FC]“be good, for now.”[/color] She paused, closing her eyes to steady herself. [color=B1E4FC]“Please let me know if you have any other complications.”[/color]

She reopened her eyes, looking up at Valthyr. Every bone in her hands felt worn. Brittle.

[color=B1E4FC]“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”[/color] She meant it. [color=B1E4FC]“Another healer could try to remove the scar, if you like. Or I can, once I’ve recovered.”[/color]

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[sub][b]Interactions:[/b] Sya [@PrinceAlexus], Valthyr [@Fetzen][/sub]