Cassandra Pendragon

The only good thing about our midday meeting was that it didn’t drag on for much longer. We all had more than enough to do, especially with our departure looming ever closer. In the end, we had decided to organise another feast or gathering tonight with the explicit purpose of providing everyone with a chance to either make a proposal or at least listen in. Sure, in the end only a very few would have the opportunity to speak and push their opinions, but at least no one would feel left behind. Also, I quite liked the idea of an assembly to make major decisions. I had already seen quite a few different societies and those that worked, albeit far from perfectly, had always included a modicum of self-determination and participation.

In the mean time my brother and Sera were out and about, looking for Richard, after which they would provide my sister with some dearly needed education, Alassara had retreated to her room in the tree with the Madame and her girls, intent on explaining what she could offer, our trio of elves had volunteered to visit Serena, her sister and Captain Nightshade to warn them about our plans and I… I would try to return Morgan’s and Auguros’ magic and, depending on the result, help Will and Vanya along to boot. And maybe the two barmaids who were still lingering close by, looking somewhat lost. Afterwards, I’d visit Arthur and talk to the people I had freed of Amon’s magic and, if I found the time, sit down with Pete, Brianna and their friends. I hadn’t forgotten about the sliver I had pulled from her leg and I was still serious about getting to the bottom of the mess... Also, somehow I had to come up with an idea that would prevent Amon from infiltrating dreams and minds but ever since Greta had appeared, I felt much more confident in that regard. Once her roots had truly taken hold, I didn’t see any malevolent magic invading Free Land without her knowing.

“Alright,” I began hesitantly, my gaze travelling over the surprisingly large group. Ahri hadn’t left me, of course, and neither had Reia. Our soon to be patients were a given but my troupe of five, Archy, Estrella, my mom, Erya, Viyara, Aurelia and Alassara’s former barmaids made for a crowd almost large enough for a banquet. “To be honest, I don’t really know what I’m doing so we might as well make ourselves comfortable beforehand and talk it through.” With a coy smile I turned to the two human girls and added: “that goes for you, too. I didn’t expect you to stick around but I’m glad you did. I’m really sorry, I remember you introduced yourselves last night but with everything my little sister caused,” I shrugged helplessly. “I’d really like to now what your plans are and if, since you’re still here, they somehow involve us… or what’s going to happen here. You’ve heard most of it, you know what we’ll attempt. I won’t beat around the bush. Are you interested?” Their expressions oscillated between a deer caught in the headlights and a child with its hand in the proverbial cookie jar. Surprise and no small amount of guilt mixed with pride in other words.

They shared a look and the older one, I’d have put her around her 28th summer, even got up from her seat near the swirling, azure waters before she replied: “before anything else: thank you, all of you. The others might not have come for us that night, but we’ve heard enough to… just thank you.” She bowed deeply and caught each of our gazes in turn, which I thought to be rather admirable. Not many could meet mine or Ahri’s, after all, and the ancient vampire and half transcendent dragoness were surely intimidating enough in their own right.

“I’m Florentina,” she continued steadily, “this is Cecilia. We’ve worked for Alassara for a few years now. We… we didn’t know, not exactly, what was going on but with time we, of course, realised that something was… different about that place. Anyways, what I’m trying to say is this… we’ve been talking about what we’d do, if we were ever asked to… dive deeper into the rabbit hole for years and it looks like the time has come. I… both of us don’t want to become vampires, no offence but the thought of… never mind. If there’s a different path we can take, though, we’d be more than happy to take it. That is… if you would even extend your offer to us. We haven’t fought with you, we didn’t stand at your side when that monster descended on our town, but, and that’s the truth, we would have done, if we had been able to.” She really believed it herself, but I already knew from experience that resolve and reality were two very different things. Simply put, whether you’re a coward or a hero, you won’t know until you look death straight in the eye and either smile or turn tails and run away. Admittedly, though, considering how well they had coped with the nightmare they had been subjected to, I’d have put my money on a big grin and maybe a hidden dagger at the ready. Probably an advantage of having been raised in a veritable colosseum.

“Ask and you shall receive,” I quoted dryly, the irony of the devil sprouting verses from the bible lost on everyone but Ahri who, at least, granted me a lazy smile. “There’s a condition, though. If… when we’re done, I want you to work for us.” My eyes travelled to Will and Vanya. “All of you.”

“Are we getting paid,” the red bearded mercenary immediately inquired.

“Sure, depending on what you’re willing to do. Consider what’s going to happen a signing bonus.”

“A what?”

“A signing… never mind.” One day I’d have to write a book about modern colloquialisms, idioms and sayings. “Basically it means it’s a present… with a catch.” I could feel, more than see, Vanya puff herself up. I immediately raised my hands placatingly. “I didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers, you’ve done more than enough. Besides, as unlikely as it may seem, I’m just speeding up what would happen anyways.” I frowned and added in my mother tongue: “or would it?”

Greta’s face appeared on the closest root before it became more substantial. Her body followed a moment later as she stepped out of the gleaming wood. “Depends. I can keep the waters from spreading and a good junk I use myself anyways, but, if I don’t intervene, it will. More slowly than it would have if I hadn’t grown but still… I guess the newborns will already become mages within a few weeks, maybe even a few toddlers but for the older ones it’s going to take a while. We can also help out. I’d need some of your strength but if you want to we can make it happen overnight. It’s a bad idea, though, don’t do it. The slower the change the smoother it will be.”

I switched back to the Common Tongue and replied: “makes sense, where was I? Right, what might have seemed like a great boon, after the battle against Amon, isn’t much more than a favour by now. You’d… change in one way or the other, probably according to your desires or maybe your character. Back then you asked me to work a miracle, now I’m just giving you a choice as to what you will become. I think… I’m decently sure I can influence what the magic of the pond will do to you. Or…,” I fanned out my tails, “we could try something truly marvellous.”

“Why are you suddenly so confident,” Viyara asked sceptically and leaned her head on Aurelia’s shoulder. “The last time it sounded like you doubted whether our not you can even succeed.”

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“I’ve learned a new trick since then. Trust me, I can ignite their magic…,” I turned to the fey, “I can even return your wooden body to you or make you younger…”

“Can you return my wings,” Morgan blurted out her mouth open, her eyes wide, while Erya stared at me rather menacingly. Her message was clear: don’t fuck it up. Hesitantly I nodded.

“If you let me… I think I can even turn you back entirely. If that’s what you want. Look,” I moved my tails in a shimmering wave of silver, “I’ve gained more control. With the way I could heal before, you know, my wing, I’m pretty sure I can do whatever the hells I want for as long as you let me.” She cradled her head between her hands and swayed a little. She wasn’t distraught, though, she was thinking. And since I suddenly found myself as the target of quite a few curious, maybe even exasperate, stares, she had all the time in the world to do so.

“Mordred didn’t ask,” I explained, “but… seventh tail,” I flourished the appendage in question, “and the ability to control the forces of life. I might be wrong, but I really don’t think I am. I’ve been able to form a connection with anyone for a while. Now I think I can control exactly what’s going to happen.”

“And if you can’t,” Greta added, “I can still guide you. I probably should, anyways, otherwise you’re going to make them grow a second head. Or fox tails. If memories serves your understanding is still abysmal and I highly doubt it’s going to be as straight forward as you think. When it comes to someone else’s life, feeling your way blindly isn’t good enough.”

“Thank you for your wisdom, senpai,” I snarled, albeit rather quietly. I wasn’t exactly dying to find out if she still had a fetish for throwing burning things. “That being said, maybe you should spend a few minutes to figure out what you actually want. I don’t think I can fundamentally change who and what you are… I probably won’t be able to turn you into a dragon, unless you’ve already been one before, but adding wings or tails… or a second head should be doable. Not that I’d recommend the latter. As well as reigniting or granting you the ability to interact with magic… life and astral energies, at least.”

The reply that came forth wasn’t what or from whom I had expected: “Uh,” Archy began, blushing heavily once everyone turned towards him: “are we, my sister and I, also included?”

“Why,” I shot back. “You’re already talented, probably more so than we even know, and I’m not going to turn you into a girl, if that’s what you’re after.” Maybe I had gone too far, the poor boy looked like he was close to hyperventilating but he didn’t back down.

“That’s not… can you change our skin? Make it more resilient? Like an armour?” Huh…

“Maybe, but I’m not going to try, not on you, at least. You’re too young to,” before I could be interrupted by a wave of juvenile fury I raised my voice and ploughed on mercilessly: “even know what you truly want. I’m not going to change a child who’s still growing. Who knows how badly this might turn out… or would you like to stay a scrawny kid for the next couple of centuries, maybe with a coppery complexion to make you really stand out? Thought not. No… as long as you’re still developing I won’t meddle. Ask me again in a few years… a dozen or so.”

He was quite satisfied with my answer, Reia though… “I can already transform,” she complained, “if anything goes wrong I’ll just change back.”

“No,” Viyara came to my aid. “If it was a normal spell, you would be right, but it’s not. Don’t be fooled into thinking your ability could save you from the repercussions. The magic your sister is going to use won’t be broken by you, nor me, for that matter. I thought you knew what she is.”

“I do, maybe not as well as you,” she replied mulishly, “but…”

“Don’t,” my mom made herself heard, her fur rising ominously. “That’s not up for debate. You, none of you, will play around with this kind of magic before you’re of age. I don’t care whether you take it as an order from your mother or your queen, but you will listen to me. Have I made myself clear?” A spark of defiance ignited in Reia’s eyes but she extinguished it just as quickly, a wry smile tugging on the corners of her mouth.

“Yes, mom,” she said instead, her voice barely trembling but I heard her happiness none the less. And so did my mom, if her purring was any indication. “What about you though,” the little troublemaker added. “Don’t you…” the silvery vixen fanned out her tails.

“Maybe.” She turned to me, her eyes glowing enigmatically. I couldn’t even sense the faintest hint of her thoughts. “What do you think? Can you turn me back into a kitsune?” I shook my head sadly.

“Technically, you’ve never been one… there’s no blueprint I can use, but…”

“It doesn’t matter,” Greta interjected. “It won’t work like you might imagine but it shouldn’t be impossible to… if Reia is willing, I’m sure we’ll be able to… use her own magic to ignite a different part of yours. I don’t think you’ll be able to transformed freely, like Sera or Reia, but a humanoid body shouldn’t be too hard to produce. It won’t change what you are, though. The transcendent energies within you will make that impossible. You’ll still remain a vixen but you’ll be able to take on a humanoid form, whenever you want to.”

“That’s more than enough,” my mother said, revealing her canines through a very toothy grin. “I’ve gotten used to being spoiled and lazying around for most of the day, anyways. It’s about time the youngsters stepped up, don’t you think, old friend?”

“And what have we been doing for the last weeks,” I mumbled exasperatedly. “Before this evolves into another lengthy discussion, have you,” I focused on Morgan, Auguros, Will and Vanya, “made up your minds?” The former treant was the first to speak up:

“I’d like to have my magic returned and I wouldn’t mind losing a few years, but I’m not eager to turn into a tree again, nor another kind of fey, if that’s even an option. I… I don’t mind being human, the world is much more interesting if you can choose your own path, few of the laws and restriction that govern our race.”

“It’s pretty much the same for me,” Morgan added quietly, “but I want my wings back. I miss flying on my own, I think you can imagine how frustrating it is… but like him, I don’t want to return to what I’ve been. I like being able to laugh and cry. It’s a gift I don’t want to lose, ever again… still, you said you can change our age. Can you also slow down aging? I don’t want to become a wrinkled hag within a few decades.” I chuckled, which promptly earned me a smack on the head form Greta.

“That’s not funny,” she grumbled. “In all your years you’ve never experienced an aching back in the morning and the necessity to pee every few hours.” She cleared her throat embarrassedly and continued: “anyways, that shouldn’t be much of a problem. Aging is, in essence, nothing more than your life force running dry. With time the vessel becomes cracked and you can’t stop it from leaking. Either that or you use it up on purpose, like I have. Elves have a very sturdy vessel, which is to say, the magic in their blood makes their bodies more or less immune to deterioration. Same with our people. Strengthening yours to the same degree is something I could even accomplish without Cassy’s help. I think. Luckily, we don’t have to find out.”

“Wait,” Vanya blurted out excitedly, “does that mean you can make us immortal?”

“No, if someone shoves a pointy stick up your arse you’re still going to bleed to death. On the plus side, you’ll do so without any wrinkles, even if it’s going to happen a few hundred years in the future.”

“Should’ve told the Madame and her girls as much beforehand,” I commented quietly. “She’ll be furious if she finds out after she’s been turned.” The dryad shrugged.

“Alassara won’t turn them right away. She’ll give them time to think it over and we can always explain the alternative later. Which… have you actually thought about what you might do to a vampire? Curing them, maybe even suppressing their thirst, should be possible, should it not?”

“No, the curse, or whatever you want to call it, fuses their life force and their astral bodies. However you look at it, that’s an imbalance. Unless I can disentangled the warped mess I don’t think there’s much I can do. They’d probably die, if I tried.”