“It appears the project near the Heartstone kingdom failed. I thought they would have at least gotten the ritual started. Oh well,” the Mistress said, idly looking over a world map.
The map depicted the six continents. Several glowing markings showed their allies, problem areas, and independent units.
“We didn’t truly lose anything. The other project also failed near it as well. But why did you suggest there other? There would have been plenty of gazes on that intersection,” Valgrath wondered.
“I heard from fellow ascendents that the dragons had made some sort of magical contract limiting them. It was they couldn’t attack, but the failure is why we used a host of buffers between us the people who hired the mercenaries to do it,” the Mistress said as a one of the serpent-like ends of her hair hissed moving till the Mistress brushed it.
Valgrath rarely felt fear, but the Mistress’ glowing eyes and appearance were foreign even to him, and he was a created being who had seen plenty of strange existences. He was even created from a mix of dragon, fairy, and pure corrupted energy, so his true appearance would be unnerving.
“Then the ley line test will occur on-” Valgrath was saying, peering at the map when the Mistress spoke.
“Niflheim continent, yes. There are fewer gazes there. Dragons, fairies, and the other intelligent beings have other matters there causing problems. After all, frost giants don’t tend to get along with anyone who isn’t their kin or follow the Firsts teachings. I hope your little ritual works though, that place would be a perfect starting point.”
“I was created in a world that had a similar process done to it. We both know that there is more to mythical catalysts than simply activating one’s soul.”
The Mistress smiled, revealing pointed teeth. “Hmm, yes and no. It depends, really. But we are getting our allies more powerful, which will do as a starting point. What of Esteron’s plans to distract it neighbors?”
“Doing nicely. The Trevel family has lost some rising stars. Along with a few others in Esteron. As for my assassination plans, I sent some people everywhere just to throw things into chaos and hopefully obscure fate further.”
The Mistress laughed. “'I’m glad you're using my allowed abilities in such clever ways. It truly was worth coming back.”
Valgrath smiled, “as our influence grows. We will get away with so much more.”
“Easy, we step too far too quickly and other ascendents will come down and see what is up. We have already caught some attention, but luckily, it’s from allies, not enemies. That’s the case, for now, and we need to get other preparations done before others take notice.”
“Yes Mistress. I will ensure we our steps are careful ones and that we are prepared for anything.”
***
Zerine’s scream was shrill and throat tearing. Her blood kept gushing from the stump coating her clothes, the floor, and…she turned away to her right and heaved. Luckily for her, there wasn’t much to throw up, having eaten less at dinner than she normally did. It certainly didn’t make her feel any better as the pain raged through her and her stomach contents burned her throat as she retched. Tears blurred her sight, then rushed out. Racking sobs shock her body with occasional horse screams escaping her as the pulsing pain spiked.
Cool hands touch her neck, sending soothing warmth through her. A warbling whistle came from Varino trying to calm her down, but it barely cut through the mind shattering pain.
She still had a part of her mind working through the pain, which found what she was feeling odd. There was too much pain, but she hadn’t passed out. Zerine moved her right arm to get a look, which sent even more pain ravaging her nerves. She writhed uncontrollably.
Varino’s energy increased, flowing warmth fighting against the immense pain, while burbling and whistling to her or Willow. Zerine wasn’t sure. All she knew was the pain.
Through a blurry gaze, Zerine saw lines spreading out from the stump. Black and purple veins were marching along her arms.
Poison! she thought. No, not just poison, an affliction that causes even more pain on top of the pain from the wound. It probably doesn’t allow the afflicted to pass out, either. Truly fucked up.
She screamed, shredding her vocal cords and arching her back as the pain spiked.
Willow drifted into her view, blinking rapidly, talking to Varino, who whistled sharply.
“Polson affliction!” Zerine cried, but with all the screaming it came out a crocking rasp. She screamed again as the pain increased and the veins progressed further, steadily marching up her arm.
“Zerine!” came a voice that, through the pain, Zerine couldn’t comprehend it nor recognize it.
“Varino, try to keep the pain back. Before I can heal it, Willow and I will need to get rid of the affliction. Luckily that gold hadn’t increased his conceptual aspects, or she would have been dead already.”
Varino’s response was like shattering glass.
Raith’s blurry, concerned face came into view looking down.
“Help me…please,” Zerine screamed hoarsely. She her body shuttered in place, unable to thrash because something was restricting her movement.
“We are. Hold on!” Raith said off to her side.
Raith had appeared, and it was much worse than she had feared. She had flat out lied about the affliction. Willow and Varino’s quick reaction were holding it back, but for the pain aspect. What she said wasn’t meant for Zerine, but to keep Varino pouring energy into her, who didn’t even realize what she was doing was keeping her friend alive. Willow had purified the worst of it the affliction. Most of her mana, but the concepts at play for the pain and the poison were above Willow’s ability for now.
There was one grain of truth, though. The assassin had been sloppy. If he had put actual effort into his strike, then Zerine would have died.
She crouched next to the Squirming Zerine. Willow had created small barriers that acted like straps holding Zerine in place. Varino was pressing her hands into Zerine’s right shoulder, looking worriedly at Zerine, who had a fevered gaze and was probably not understanding what was going on around her.
Raith’s attention went to the stump.
Alright first have to get rid of the pain and poison aspect, she thought, placing a hand on Zerine’s elbow.
She closed her eyes. Her mana flowed into Zerine, checking the extent to her injury. She had completely ignored the stenches of sick and blood; it being something she had gotten used to with her years of healing. A new stench caught her attention. Raith looked at the limp, which didn’t look like a limb anymore. The flesh had rotted away, leaving the bone behind and stinking pile of congealed rotten flesh.
Well shit, now I have to figure out if someone with no crest can have a limb regenerated. I guess that assassin had done less of a sloppy job than I gave them credit for. Fucker died too easy, she thought.
Most afflictions remained in the body connected to the soul. Severed limbs lost that connection, but clearly that assassin’s concepts were a bit more complex. The complexity that she should have guessed purely based on how tired Willow felt from purifying the others away.
Raith’s mind raced as she cleansed the poison, while putting more power to see if she could even regenerate it with the damage.
Zerine’s screams had turned silent as her throat had given up, but now her breathing was more relaxed but heavy as the pain focused affliction vanished. Raith brushed sweat soak hair out of Zerine’s face. Zerine’s eyes were glazed, barely holding on to consciousness.
Raith couldn’t remember if a spirit could cry, but Varino’s eyes shock looking pleadingly to Ratih as she kept soothing Zerine’s pain. Her throat tightened.
When her scan of the injury was nearly done, she sighed in relief, seeing that she could regenerate the limb. But now she had to figure out if a crestless could even have a limb regenerated, all the while ensuring Zerine didn’t bleed out.
“Raith, Ava will arrive there shortly. The household is secured,” Umbra thought to her.
“Perfect, help me comb through memories about crestless and regenerating limbs,” Raith thought back.
“Varino, you can slow down on the pain relief. We need her to stay conscious,” Raith said aloud.
Varino peeped and started braiding Zerine’s hair, occasionally patting Zerine’s check, looking into her eyes.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Raith’s mind was racing as she and her familiars looked through their collective knowledge, searching for something. During the mercenaries attacked years ago, people had lost limbs, but they all had crests. A majority of injuries were broken bones, cuts, and magic related ones from being attacked. She delved deeper into her memories.
A quiet crack of thunder announced Ava teleporting in. Raith distantly heard the door to the room open. She put a hand up to forestall any questions Ava had so she could keep focused. A memory of a report about a city being attacked with severe civilian injuries was at the forefront of her mind. She hadn’t even realized that the hand she put up had Zerine’s blood on it.
Without a word, Ava went to kneel next to Zerine’s head. Varino ran to her arms outstretched, burbling sobbing sounds resembling little waves crash on a shore. Ava picked the spirit up who hug her shaking.
“It’s alright Varino, Raith is one of the best healers I know,” Ava whispered. The spirit buried her head in Ava’s chest. She held the spirit with one arm. Ava gently brushed Zerine’s hair. Zerine’s mouth was mouthing something.
“It’s going to be alright, sweetie,” Ava said, brushing Zerine’s cheek.
“Ava,” Raith said, her tone making Ava’s heartbeat pick up. Raith’s tone was the one she used when she was going to tell her something bad was about to happen. “This is going to take a little while. And…it’s going to hurt, a lot.”
Ava only nodded, trusting Raith to do what was necessary.
“Alright Zerine, you need to drink this. It’s going to help deal with the pain. There is going to be quite a lot, too.”
Zerine couldn’t make a sound, just moving her lips. Then she opened her mouth.
Taking that as consent, Raith slowly tipped a vial of green liquid down her throat. Next, she pulled out a piece of leather.
“I will need you to bite down on this. And you will need to stay conscious, which is partly what the elixir I gave you will help with. The reason is that your willpower is needed to help me regenerate your arm. You don’t have your own magic yet and your body is in a weird state for this. It’s complicated, but all I need you to do is allow my magic to do what it needs.”
Zerine bit down on the piece of leather. Her gaze had sharpened as the elixir took effect, but her eyes were full of fear and reluctance. She gave Raith a tentative node.
“Alright, here goes,” Raith said, gathering power.
***
Zerine’s mind had been nothing but pain until Raith had done something to ease it. With the pain lessened, she focused on one thought.
I will not die.
She had barely understood what Raith had said. She reacted to seeing a vial and drank the contents. The elixir had helped push the pain away even more, to the relief of her tired mind. When Raith’s words had sunk in saying there would be even more pain, fear and dread filled her. She was just tired, and all she wanted to was rest. But as the elixir’s effects grew, she felt more aware and gods she didn’t want to be.
Raith said something, moving a piece of leather to her mouth. It occurred to her that this meant this pain was going to be worse than anything that came before. She bit down on the leather with reluctance and dread. She gave Raith a nod, just wanting it to be over as soon as possible.
“Alright, I’m going to start,” Raith said.
Energy flowed into her. At first, Zerine thought Raith had been wrong, but a moment later, pain washed over her mind. A muffled scream escaped her. She didn’t even know she could scream anymore, but the tearing sensation in her throat said otherwise. But she managed to accept Raith’s magic, who was guiding the energy.
The pain never stopped. It was all she could do just to keep conscious. It was just too much, all of it. The attack, her room was gone, no crest, and the pain.
Oh, gods the pain.
Darkness was encroaching on the edges of her vision. She would not black out. She..
A sound cut through the pain. Soothing, whistles, and chimes weaved a melody. Zerine moved her head to look. Varino was standing next to her head, singing. Her eyes were closed. Varino moved closer, placing her hands on Zerine’s forehead, stroking it as she sang.
Zerine focused on the song and shoved aside the pain, solely focusing on the spirit, her friend, the one that had been here through everything, always helping her and always happy.
***
Raith’s eye went wide as Varino sang. The melody was simple, but pleasant. It clearly had a calming effect on Zerine, who stayed conscious as Ratih worked. Zerine shuttered and writhed, but Willow’s barriers kept her in place.
The first to regenerate were the bones. Inch by inch, the bones of Zerine’s right arm appeared, taking half an hour. Then came tissues, muscles, and nerves taking an hour. Varino’s song had ended long before this part, but the spirit kept brushing Zerine’s forehead, talking to her. Based on Zerine’s involuntary writhing, it was probably the most excruciating part. The last was skin, which took only minutes.
Raith’s opinion of Zerine had always been high, but now. Now her evaluation and admiration had only grown. Zerine had stayed conscious while helping Raith’s magic heal, never losing concentration. The entire process had taken nearly two hours.
Raith sat back, wiping sweat from her face.
“I’m done,” she said.
Ava had been gently brushing Zerine’s hair during the entire time and gave Raith a questioning look. Raith just smiled. Varino’s bright cheer made her smile grow just like it did to Ava’s.
Zerine’s puffy eyed, exhausted gaze turned to Raith.
“It’s done. You did great,” Raith said, but at those words Zerine’s eyes rolled up and she passed out. Her head rested against Ava’s thigh.
“Well shit,” Raith said.
Varino pointed at Zerine and burbled a question.
“She’s fine. I just wanted to give her an elixir before that happened,” Ratih replied. Her hand rested on Zerine’s regenerated one and check her entire body and grimaced.
“What’s wrong?” Ava asked.
“Welll, she is fine, but from what I can tell, her body's energy is weak. It will take time for her to recover, and I am not sure how much time,” Raith said sheepishly.
“Explain,” Ava said, her gaze narrowing, echoed by a firm chime from Varino, who had her tiny hands on her hips.
“Sooo, we all have magical energy, plus our bodies are enhanced with an internal energy of their own. To regenerate a limb, my spell is helped by both energies, which aids me in controlling the regeneration process. Zerine doesn’t have much of that internal energy and no magical energy. I had to supplement it with my own, hence why I needed her conscious to accept that foreign energy.”
Ava sighed, running a hand through her hair that matched Zerine’s. At that moment, Ava and Zerine looked almost like true mother and daughter, but for the blood covering Zerine.
“So, just tell us your best guess,” Ava said as Varino moved to Zerine’s chest and curled up, soon falling asleep, exhausted by from using her magical energy. “Alright, just me then,” Ava added.
“A month...at the worst is my guess. The best maybe two weeks?” Raith said uncertainly.
“That’s fine. It gives Cal and me time to talk with her and get used to what I suspect will be a new routine.”
Raith raised an eyebrow at that.
Ava smiled, still brushing Zerine’s hair.
“I suspect Priestess Ai will have some things to say about our little book worm. But I assume she will need elixirs of some kind to help with recovery?”
“Yep, because I have no idea how she will feel after all of this and will need to replenish her internal energy.”
“I figured,” Ava said, looking down at Zerine and Varino.
Willow appeared and blinked at Raith.
“Thank you, Willow, for saving my girls and my family,” Ava said, bowing her head. The wisp blinked even faster.
“She says she would do anything for my family and her friends. Also, that we should clean Zerine up and get going.”
“Yeah, got any cleaning stuff with you?” Ava wondered.
Raith pulled out two vials of glowing pink fluid.
“Got you covered. We will have to craft more of this cleaning fluid and another teleport crystal for Zerine,” Raith commented as Ava dumped the contents of the vial over Zerine who soon had no trace of blood on her. The second vial went to cleaning the floor.
“Yeah, Bernard mentioned that after we used quite a lot to clean up Estel’s room.”
“Oh, that’s right. Estel has a crest now. Kinda forgot in all the craziness," Raith said as tendrils of darkness carefully lifted Zerine.
Ava smiled, “she will be delighted you're here for her celebration in a few days.”
“I can’t stay for too long, remember?”
“I know, but it will be nice to have the whole team and you here for that.”
Raith smiled as she created a swirling portal of darkness in front of them.
“Yeah, it’ll be like old times.”
***
Ava stood in what remained of Zerine’s room and sigh sensing Callahan enter the room behind her, which she didn’t even need. Every step made crunching sounds as he stepped on shards of wood, stone, and clay slates from the roof.
It had been a full day sense the attack. Callahan had brought almost a full flotilla of ships only an hour earlier. When he had heard about Zerine’s state, he had rushed home only to find her still out cold.
“Holy shit,” he muttered, eyes wide. He clenched his fists till they complained.
Ava reached a hand to him, finding his hand and holding it.
“Grim fates,” he said, angrily.
They hadn’t spoken about Liliana’s comments about seeing Zerine’s fate as a baby.
“This is the best path, and we probably wouldn’t get a great glimpse if we ask her to check now. Fate, in her words, has gone to shit,” Ava said.
“Yeah, I just am worried what this will have for a long-term effect on Zerine,” he said, letting go of her hand after giving it a squeeze. He walked to the bookshelf, a smile appearing.
“If she is bedridden for a time, she is going to want her books.”
“And want the books in our study’s library like we promised,” Ava said, folding her arms and looking out of the shattered wall towards the sea.
Callahan winced, “do we have to give her full access? She will be in her reading devour mode when she finds out she can’t leave.”
“We keep the books above her advancement rank out of her hands, of course. But I have no doubt she will devour our selection over the year, at least in the subjects and stories that interest her,” Ava replied, walking to stand next to him, looking at the bookshelf.
“Well, better get these cleaned off,” Callahan said, waving his hand.
A light breeze blew, lifting the books, then cleaning them of dust and debris. The books then flew one by one to a spatial storage punch that Callahan held up.
“Hey, her bow and quiver are intact,” Ava said, walking along the side of the bookshelf, and picking up a bow and a full quiver.
Callahan grinned, “Gary and her will be happy to hear that. That bow is good for till she gets her crest. What about her clothes?” Ava gestured to the hole in the wall. “Ah, well, I guess she was in need of new clothes, anyway. It’s a good thing it is summer, or I would be pissed about having to create winter proof barriers.”
“Agreed, and this way we can repair it faster. The others are debating how to change and update the room,” Ava answered.
“I look forward to seeing what they come up with. Oh, that reminds me we should set up a time to go see Priestess Ai.”
“Yeah, I figured. It surprised me when I got your message. I expected it when she was fifteen, but I guess it’s the time when they do more magic work than normal class.”
Callahan sighed, “yeah…I forgot.”
“Don’t be depressed, this way she gets more time to work towards being an adventurer like she wants.”
“If she even wants to after all of this,” Callahan said softly, closing the pouch after the last book flew into it.
“Fair point,” Ava said, shoulder slumping.
Callahan put an arm over her shoulders. She rested her head on his shoulder.
“Cal,” she said in a hoarse whisper, “I’ve been through a lot, but this…” her voice cracked.
Callahan kissed her head.
“I know. I don’t want any of our family to experience it. But this world isn’t easy and…” his throat worked for a moment, “her time to experience that came sooner than most,” he croaked out.
Ava embraced him. They held each other tightly.
“Hey, you two, Zerine is going to wake soon,” Raith said, standing in the hallway. “Also, sorry about the room. I…wasn’t exactly thinking straight.”
Callahan chuckled. “Thank you, Raith. Thank you for everything you did for Zerine and the household.”
“Hey what is family for anyway?” Raith said with a grin.
“Other than healing, killing some assassins, training, and bringing general chaos,” Ava said, returning the grin.
Raith snorted out a laugh, “That chaos is the fun kind and I have many layers,” she said the last part theatrically. “But come on, we should be there when she wakes.”