XIV.

Madoka walked quietly, while holding Audrey's hand. The princess stomped along without a care in the world. As expected of a Royal, she held no fear of making her presence known. Others did not pay attention to the noises they made, so she figured it was just her own habit of watching out for the princess since she has been her servant for so long. Above them, the black night of heaven and its Twin Sisters made the air cold. Yet despite its vain sigh, Madoka remained warm and Audrey's hand was as well.

They could go anywhere the princess wanted, be it longing mountains or aside billowing rivers, and their shared heat would not change. Or so the maid wished to believe with all her heart. For now, they were headed to the inn. Madoka could sense Audrey's rising anticipation of a bed in their near future, but smiled contentedly at her quirk. To her surprise, however, when they arrived the towering Armor stood at its entrance.

"Is he, perhaps, too big to fit through the door?" Audrey whispered to Madoka. Despite wanting to reprimand her for her rude statement, Madoka realized that he was indeed, too tall to simply duck through the inn's shabby doorway. There was no way that was the reason, though, for he appeared to be waiting for them. He pointed a massive finger to Madoka. "Eep! He's locked onto us!"

"It's rude to point," Madoka scolded the living Armor. "Especially at Her— ah, milady."

The helmet tilted ever so slightly, enough for Madoka's sharp ears to hear a small creak in his plating. It was if the giant was about to speak, but then the door swung wide open and uselessly bounced off of him. It was Innkeeper Ichna!

"You two...!" The old woman cried out.

"What is it now?" Madoka let go of Audrey's hand and instinctively moved in front of her.

"F-Forgive this innkeeper!" The old woman blubbered. "But the creat— my maid, she's...!"

Before Lady Ichna could speak further, the two looked at each other and immediately moved inside to investigate the emergency. The place was busy as usual, but Madoka had a small inkling that the maid was in the room near the back. That woman probably tried to force her to work and realized the maid's condition was worsening. Madoka shook out of her preconceived notions of the innkeeper's prejudices, there was no time to worry about that! The other inn maid was working like usual, but worry painted her face.

There was strange murmurings behind the door, Madoka could sense them with help of the quick and leaping Knotting strands. She turned to Audrey before opening it, who nodded. Hope she's not cursed, she prayed. She steeled herself and then pushed the door open. The two gasped at the woman inside.

"T-That don't look healthy at all," Audrey looked disturbed at the sight.

In the darkness and through the twin slivers of moonlight, Georgia lay in a pit of her own blood and vomit while sucking up more air. Madoka immediately rushed to her side, ignoring the mess she caused sloshing on her knees. Her back was torn open from her left shoulder down to her spine.

"Who did this?" Madoka growled. "Heal her, please!"

"O, Velvet Overlord! The Blood-born, t-t-they seek—"

"Hush, hush," Madoka held her, while Audrey moved to use one of her talismans. The maid was incoherent, and with every bizarre word she uttered she gushed out more blood and food chunks.

"M-memories-beast-memories! F-Free of faces!"

"Heal her, dammit!"

"I got it!" Audrey shouted back, and suddenly the room became enveloped in webbed green light. The Substance magic's flowing net became entwined in the misty reflection of hillside dew and falling rain outside. Immediately the magic wrapped the wailing maid in its net but did not heal. Audrey gasped. "Shit!"

The Substance magic's net shattered, and Madoka heard the snapping of wood. She did not have time to question Audrey because Georgia's ravings worsened. Audrey breathed heavily. She noticed that the talisman in her hand broke.

"Audrey?"

"Something's wrong!" Audrey pulled out another Substance talisman and began to concentrate. "Seal the entrance. Don't let anyone get in here. I need to cast again."

Madoka locked the door to keep their business with the maid private. She sensed no one coming to investigate for now. Audrey's own breath was ragged, evidently using a lot more energy than her first try. She wanted to apologize for her hasty decisions, but the look on the girl's face showed an equal amount of curiosity and dedication for Georgia.

Madoka cleaning her mess up with her divine weapon as a broom. Audrey was busy with more of her green mana strands. It did not matter if her uniform and robes were dirty, for she would assist the fallen maid all over again in a heartbeat. She noticed something sticking out of the glistening slop she just swept.

"Are those... Feathers?" Madoka looked at the pile of food and viscera on the ground. Strange down feathers were protruding from the brown goop. She looked around, but the windows were shut so no birds could get in. Audrey gasped, and the maid's back once again became sewn together with fine but mismatching green threads on thin, fleshy fabric. After the bright light faded, only a shivering and rocking possessed woman remained.

"What a disaster," Audrey sighed, but fell into a deep sadness. There were two talismans crushed in her hands, all just to heal the maid.

"It's my fault those are broken," Madoka apologized. "I shouldn't have told you to waste—"

"I failed, Madoka," Audrey threw the defunct talismans in frustration. They splashed in the grody stew on the ground, and the princess fell to her knees. Madoka released her magic and the broom shattered into light, fully comprehending what she meant. "I failed her. I couldn't heal her mind, if only I knew more about that kind of stuff. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!"

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Madoka caught her and felt the Substance magic fading off her breath. Did Audrey destroy her mind in her attempt to heal her completely? Was she feeling guilty of such a grave mistake? Madoka moved to comfort her princess as she has done many times before, for this was all her fault and not Audrey's. A knock on the door distracted her.

"Is everything alright?" The innkeeper called for them. "I called for Faragor."

"W-Wait just a moment, please," Madoka called, releasing Audrey from her embrace. "Is she still alive, Audrey?"

"Y-Yeah," Audrey's hand glowed green as she touched the nape of Georgia's neck before Madoka could protest. "Her body is healed, but I think I broke her mind in the process. What is that on her back?"

Her eyes looked shocked as she scanned where the bloody wound used to be. Georgia was stained in blood, no longer twitching, but Madoka's jaw also dropped when she saw a small, singular wing sprouting from her shoulder. Its feathers were falling to the messy ground like snowflakes.

"S-She's got wings? Like a bird?" Audrey gasped, but corrected herself. "One wing?"

Georgia snapped straight, now aware of her surroundings but she still seemed to be unable to speak. Her one wing was stunted, and faint reddened lines traced themselves at its roots. Her face no longer twitched, but she appeared lifeless like a doll. Even her limbs slackened.

"I-I'm sorry for doing this to you," Audrey begged for the girl's forgiveness. "You would not have survived!"

Another knock was heard, along with the familiar and heavy steps of a large pair of armored boots. All Madoka wanted to do is give both Audrey and Georgia a big hug, but instead she waited to hear who was calling for them.

"You in there, young ones," Faragor called. "You are safe, yes, yes?"

"She's safe. We're coming out soon," Madoka sighed. She looked at Audrey who still was sobbing uncontrollably at the sight of the unresponsive Georgia. "Should we go now?"

"Mm," Audrey's response was glum, but the girl's determination returned, albiet rather slowly and in preparation for speaking with the strangers outside. Madoka helped her princess up and then turned to Georgia, who was looking at them with a blank expression.

"Can you understand me?" Madoka knelt before Georgia, who only stared back at her like she was lost. Silence was all she got in response. Madoka forced the sorrow out of herself and spoke softly. "I'm going to help you stand, now, okay?"

Georgia looked at her with a blank expression, but her body shivered as she helped her up. Madoka turned to Audrey.

"Can you open the portal? She's cold."

Audrey nodded, and looked at the door with hesitation. Madoka took a fresh robe out and dressed the maid, carefully wrapping the clothes around her wing. Touching it did not seem to cause the maid pain, but it was not like she would utter a noise about it anyways. She breathed, and to Madoka that was enough. She placed a hand on the door and looked to Audrey, who nodded.

The door creaked open and the light flooded in the room. To Madoka's embarrassment and surprise, all eyes were looking their way. Ichna wore genuine worry for Georgia on her eyes, but she was surprised at the sight of Armor standing behind the old woman along with a robed man, dressed in all bandages and protective clothing. That must be Faragor, Madoka figured. He is the apothecary they gave medicinal flowers to awhile ago.

"Long time no see, young ones, yes, yes," the Sovos man greeted them. His bandaged face wore glasses, and age showed on his eyes that narrowed upon Audrey. "You have some powerful magic, yes, yes. Let me see the patient."

"P-Patient?" Madoka asked. Audrey simply looked broken over the silent inn maid, rendered mute by her magic.

"If it was powerful," she cursed under her breath. "She would have been fully healed!"

She pointed at Georgia. The crowds were now muttering to themselves, but Madoka noticed that Kanys and Eraziror were also there behind the towering Armor. She shot him a look for some distraction, and to her surprise, Eraziror stood up on the table. He cleared his throat and began telling tall tales to the nearby people. She thanked him silently while Faragor walked up to the silent girl, and touched her neck with a glowing finger. Surprise marked his eyes for a moment, but then he noticed Audrey's sorrow.

"There, there, young one," Faragor pat Audrey on the head. "You did not fail, young one. Failure would mean standing by and letting this one die alone in the darkness. You took aid to a Possessed. No one can take away from magic such as yours. Got it?"

All Audrey could do is pout.

"He's right, Audrey," Madoka held her back from Faragor. "Thank you, for everything."

"What will you do to her?" Audrey asked suddenly. She turned to Armor. "Can she be entrusted to him?"

Armor's helmet nodded, creaking ever so slightly yet with a steady confidence. Madoka realized that the princess sensed something off about Faragor, but she could not. Audrey reluctantly allowed him to get closer to Georgia. Madoka's head swam in the rapid current of events. There were too many things for her simple mind to process, so all she could do is stand by and allow the silent maid to be escorted out with Armor. The crowds were distracted by Eraziror's tales. She thanked the kind gods no one seemed to care, while Audrey looked nervously at Faragor as he exited the Inn.

"Y-You," Innkeeper Ichna stammered in Reverent Noble. "Thank you for saving her, from this unworthy woman! I'll have a fine meal for you as fast as possible!"

"T-That's not necessary," Audrey reassured the lady, but Madoka's stomach growled. "Okay, nevermind."

"D-Don't worry about me!" Madoka felt embarrassed over her loud groan. "I'll be fine!"

"Hush, let this unworthy servant feed you two!" Ichna smiled. She looked relieved that her maid was saved, while Madoka noticed Audrey was distracted. The pain was dulled down on her face, but still remained as shadows under her eyes. She truly felt guilty over not being able to fully heal Georgia. Madoka was about to protest, when Ichna shoved two mugs in her hand containing mysterious liquid. "You two have been through a lot tonight, drink this, drink this!"

"I-I'm good," Audrey mumbled, not hiding the disgust on her face.

The other young inn maid quietly sat them down in the corner. Eraziror was singing, but all Madoka could do is look over the muddy liquid swashing within the mug. Audrey was brooding, but apparently noticed Madoka's stare. Curiosity welled within her stomach and the more she looked at the drink, the more it looked like an unbounded pool of freedom.

"You can drink it, you know. I ain't going to ID you," she sighed. "I'll just be over here, like, beating myself up or whatever."

"A-Are you certain?" Madoka stammered. "You looked like this... drink... might kill you."

"Whatever," Audrey crossed her arms and looked away. The wind soughed outside as Madoka lifted the mug to her lips, but it was not enough to drown out the cheerful reveries in the tavern. If it kills her, she would not to have hear all this ruckus. She was also strangely not in the mood to argue with the princess or even scold her.

She poured the contents of the drink down her gullet and almost immediately felt something rushing inside of her. Her body told her she was fine, but dizziness settled upon her skin like the irritating light from the lantern flames. All she could do was laugh. Audrey suddenly made an odd face or perhaps it was her vision failing her, but Madoka laughed harder.

She drank more from the draught, and laughed at a hundred more of her worries. Madoka passed over water for more of the odd drink and the sensation it gave her, then passed over more of it for water. Her belly, feelings and laughter blended together in a harsh yet soft path, of which she treaded heavily over. Why does it have to be about Audrey's failures? Why could it not be about her own failures for once? Her mind stung, leaving blurry images instead of her memories in motion.

She knew time passed, but only felt herself trampled over and carried upstairs where she was set upon a bed like dinnerware. Madoka protested, or remembered her reckless desire to keep on laughing and forget about Audrey for a moment. She wanted to keep laughing and eating!

"Why!" She felt herself restrained, but her vision was slowly fading to black where she could no longer laugh.