Quora was greeted by a crowd of concerned acolytes and priests in white robes, no doubt drawn by the commotion she had caused. Three Papal Soldiers shoved their way through the crowd with swords drawn, their black visors fixed on Quora. She grabbed an acolyte by the robe and threw him into the soldiers' path before sprinting for the cathedral's main doors. As she ran past the pews, she saw the elderly priest from earlier, still sound asleep. She heard the heavy footsteps of the soldiers pursuing her. Her heart pounded as she constantly tried to manifest magic to no avail.

What has she done to me? My magic...How can I get away like this?

Quora shoved her way past the main doors and was never more glad to see the cover of night. She was less glad to see the two Papal Soldiers flanking the doors. They shared her sentiment with halberds levelled at her. She fled, feeling a chill touch of metal as she narrowly evaded a thrust. She sprinted to the city proper, now with several soldiers in pursuit. When she was far enough from the cathedral, she felt a familiar sensation return to her. She gasped and attempted to use her magic. This time, the magicks replied; Quora shifted into a bird of prey and took flight, leaving the soldiers to watch helplessly as she made her escape. Quora set her course for Riverton.

She wondered if Cyrus would know anything about Myratel.

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"You know, Quora...Part of the reason I moved to Riverton in the first place was to get away from all the midnight visits."

Cyrus would be called a mess under normal circumstances; he was wearing nothing but a nightgown, and his wispy white hair was scraggly. He yawned, "All the missed sleep takes its toll at some point."

Quora had already taken her seat at Cyrus' dining room table, the scroll she had taken from the Cathedral of Myratel waiting to be opened, "I can tell."

"But for a find like this," Cyrus sat at the table, "What's a few hours? You do the honours."

Quora reached for the scroll but stopped herself.

"Where's the slave?"

"Excuse me?"

"Your slave." Quora spoke matter-of-factly, "I want tea. With the sugar cubes."

Cyrus was shocked, "...Amelia's my nurse, Quora."

"It makes no difference." Quora insisted, "Wake her up."

Cyrus shook his head until his glasses went awry. He cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses, "I can't do that, Quora. However..."

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An innocent-looking pewter bowl had been set before Quora, its flowery designs belying what terrible substance it carried. Quora plucked a sugar cube from it and shoved it into her mouth, barely waiting for the other seven to dissolve on her tongue.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Why demand tea?" Cyrus was dumbfounded, "You could have just asked for those..."

Quora's cheeks were puffed with sugar. She swallowed all of it at once. Her eyes flashed like embers.

"Because I can."

"Alright." Cyrus crossed his arms, nonplussed, "I imagine you will also keep taunting me with that scroll you woke me up to show me."

Quora smirked but shook her head, "Banish the thought; I've had my fun."

She took the scroll and undid the string holding it closed. Cyrus rubbed his hands in anticipation when she unfurled the scroll and laid its text bare:

Visions of Fafnir: Volume II

The arcane and the divine,

Clash blades in one last dance.

The old king rises with an invincible army

To claim his vengeance due.

The one damned beneath heaven's gaze,

To the peal of lion's roar,

Ushers he the quiet of shadow.

Quora and Cyrus shared a look of intrigue, each forming their theories as to what this text entailed.

"Well, definitely his handwriting, that's for sure." said Cyrus, "I will fetch something to copy this with so you can get this back to Moonfang."

Cyrus went upstairs to his office, leaving Quora alone with the scroll. She picked up the scroll and drew deep of its scent. A wave of longing and nostalgia came over her. Her hands began to shake, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"As if he were here with us again." Quora lamented, "...Muunfareng will be so happy."

Cyrus came back with papers and an ink and quill. He set to work copying the Visions when heavy footsteps on wood flooring stepped into the dining room.

"The hell are you doing up at this-?" Amelia croaked when she saw Quora. "Oh. Hey, Quora."

Quora gave Amelia a sweet smile, "Hello, Amelia."

Amelia hesitantly pointed at the Visions on the table, "You took that from Myrellia? We're not...keeping that here, right?"

"Oh goodness, no." Cyrus assured, "Quora will take the original back to her sister. I'm just copying it."

"Phew." Amelia went to the kitchen to put the water on for tea, "Last thing we need is the Church crawling up our asses. Again."

Quora perked up, "Again? Have you had business with them before?"

Cyrus shrugged, "Scholarly practices - the wrong ones, rather, are frowned upon by Myratel's faith. You can imagine where folks like Fafnir and I were saddled on that spectrum."

Quora nodded, "...What do you know of the goddess Myratel?"

"Why do you ask? Never figured your kind had any interest there, is all."

Quora told Cyrus of her time in the cathedral archives while Amelia brought in the tea set and sat in on the tale. Quora mentioned she had heard a woman's voice in her mind while inside the cathedral. She spoke of the mysterious light that seemed to silence magic where it touched and beyond, and of the guard, this 'chosen,' who had become possessed by the goddess herself. Quora reluctantly left out the part where she had changed herself into a draconic half-beast and nearly ripped the guard's face off.

"She told me where her blessing touches, mana die,." said Quora, "And that it would spread, somehow."

The story visibly perturbed Cyrus and Amelia.

"Hold on..." sputtered Amelia, "I'm no mage, but that sounds like she's trying to...what, get rid of magic?"

Cyrus removed his glasses and ran a hand through his hair. His hands were shaking.

"Fafnir, he..." Cyrus gulped, "This is bad. We must warn King Dreamford at once."

Quora stood up, "I'll go. If I leave now, I can arrive after dawn."

Cyrus nodded vigorously, "Very good. While you're at it, I'll review everything I have from Fafnir for anything of relevance."

Quora drained her cup of tea, took the original Visions from the table, and stowed it on her person, "Then I will see you two soon."

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Quora left Cyrus's home. It was still dark outside, but the light of dawn was starting to become apparent. She recalled the direction Dreamford lay, and she thought of its king. A wave of apprehension came over her.

She was not looking forward to this.