Both Envy and Isaac had made their way to the main street of Astrea, a stunning divide of niche, rural housing on either side of the road. The town was small, only carrying few necessities on its central street. All of which were easy to access because of the thriving market which laid bare on the street. For Envy and his prisoner, the market was not open. Apart from a lone fruit vendor quickly packing up and running to his home, the street was entirely deserted. The homes, however, were not. The windows were closed, and the doors locked, with eyes looking through the peepholes of their wooden entrances.

"Hmm, that's strange. It's almost as if you're someone evil, and they're all scared of you." Laughed Isaac in mockery.

"You're more of a pain than my hand. I'm sure the lady has warned the people, tsk, she put this stupid spell on me. The dark smoke coming off my back gets me spotted from a mile away." Said Envy with frustration.

"Excuse me, sir, could you help me find my way?" A little girl had stumbled out onto the street, and her eyes were wide awake, but they could not capture a single thing.

"No! You must run, little girl! Can't you see this man is dangerous?" Implored Isaac.

"Quiet. This little one cannot see. It is our duty to help her. Now, I will offer you help, but you must help me too. Do you understand me, miss?" Said Envy with a composure that astounded the general.

"Yes sir! Please take me to my father, he owns a fruit stand." Said the little girl.

"Of course. Would you happen to know where a certain Victoria Magika lives?" Asked Envy.

"I do not, sir. My father may know." The little girl said, slightly guilty at the lack of help she could give.

"Elsa, my dear Elsa! Come here!" The three had arrived at a vendor running out of their home, and Envy had completed his part of the deal.

"Father, would you help this man? He asks me something I cannot offer myself." Said the little girl, Elsa, becoming strikingly cool.

"Certainly, my sweet apple." Said the vendor as he gently patted Elsa's hair. "What may I help you with? Word has spread that you are someone to fear." He said, turning to the strange man ahead of him.

"The lady who has told you that, I would like her location." Said Envy.

"Ms Magika?" The vendor sighed. "Well, I – I suppose she lives just up the hill, a few houses down there. Quite large, you shouldn't miss it." He said, guilt instantly choking his throat.

"Thank you, I look forward to meeting you again someday. And goodbye little Elsa." Said Envy, with a smile to the girl, who could all but accept his words.

"Why?" Asked Isaac as they turned away.

"What?" Muttered Envy.

"You didn't do anything to them." Said Isaac.

"Was I supposed to?" Chuckled Envy briefly.

"No. You just aren't as cruel as I first thought." Thought Isaac.

Taking a brief pause at their destination, the two had stopped to capture a glance at the glorious gardens that garnished the Magician's Manor with a flavour of fruitful flowers. Their colours created a sense of serenity within the area, and the allure of a sensational scent simmered across the finely paved paths. As mystifying as they had been, Envy looked on at the manor itself in thought. The uncontrollable curse that lingered off him had undoubtedly gathered the attention of Victoria, so a simple entrance was unlikely to garner a successful surprise.

"You could knock on the door. I'm sure she'll let you in." Said Isaac.

"No. She knows I'm here and I want her attention immediately." Envy replied seriously, and his eyes indented on a window. "That window. I will smash it." He said, staring down at the general.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Nervously chuckled Isaac.

"A simple toss, you wouldn't get too hurt, would you?" Suggested Envy.

"Hang on a second, you can't throw me through a window! Without me, you can't fulfil your plan!" Exclaimed Isaac.

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"I don't care. You won't die." Was the dull reply as they continued onwards.

Inside the manor, the dark trail of smoke that lingered off Envy had managed to capture the frail eyes of Thomas, who stared on in pain - struggling to realise the threat walking his way. Victoria had taken a moment aside to think about Thomas' issues, but soon the two would have to rejoin to cover a new problem. Though, with his weak body, the heroic Thomas could all but fall onto her for help this time around.

"Ms Magika, I think you should come and see this." He said, his eyes blurring in fatigue.

"Victoria. Call me Victoria, Thomas." She said as she hurried towards him.

"My eyes may be seeing things, but is something burning?" Astounded, Thomas stuttered out.

"No. Your sight is not wrong." Said Victoria with a subtle shriek. "Come. You need to come. Now." She said, clutching his hand and dragging him away from the window.

"Hold on! What is happening? Where are we going?" Trembled out Thomas. "Is that smoke not the spell she mentioned putting on Envy?" He thought with worry.

Within a few seconds, he had been gently pushed aside into a room deep below the myriad of passages in the Magician's Manor, where several old relics stood. Towering above him with a heavy breath and a watery set of eyes, Victoria struck him a smile that shot right into his hurt heart. Confused, Thomas clawed away at the frost cold floor to find footing, but the soothing gloved hands of Victoria clenched his cheeks. Her lips trembled with both a sense of fear and excitement confounding her and with the power of haste she kissed Thomas on his forehead.

"I'm sorry." She said shyly turning red and forcing her eyes away. "He's here. Envy is here. It's my turn to save you." She clasped his hand and gave it a soft kiss.

"Huh? What..." Thomas blushed in bewilderment.

"Goodbye, Thomas." Replied Victoria with a cheerful, layered wink.

Departing the room and her shocked guest, Victoria paused at the other side of the door. A trickle of a tear swiftly slipped down her cheek, and then her mind sparked with a remembrance of something important.

"Thomas." She called out through a gap in the door. "Do not touch anything in there." She said.

"Wait, wait! Victoria, wait! Victoria Magika, I said wait!" Thomas cried out in anguish as he leapt upwards, but the shackles on his mind quickly forced him back down. "I can help you...you can't face Envy alone...you'll die..." He quietly said to himself with the cool airs surrounding him.

Victoria ran away from him with hurting hesitance, in an effort to protect him the most, and in doing so the rest of her house was exposed. She made her way to the room she had nursed Thomas within, where a shattered sea of glass laid across the floor, and a small pool of blood dripped from a body that had been sprawled across the sofa.

"Isaac! Where is he?" She asked immediately, with her aid straight towards him.

"No...move...!" Isaac whimpered out weakly.

"Why - argh!" Victoria cried out as a firm grip pressed her slim neck from behind.

"I've been looking for you, Victoria Magika. Take a seat." Said Envy, as he pushed her away.

"Envy." Stuttered Victoria. "What can I help you with?" She asked with a politeness that was frightening, as she gently sat down.

"You aren't going to fight back, a little?" Envy wondered with slight shock.

"I accept my death with open arms. Not a single person would miss me." Said Victoria.

"What!? Ms Magika..." Isaac tried to speak. "I would miss you, many would so continue fighting. For me. For the people. Please." He wished to say.

"Hmm." Envy paused in satisfaction. "Well spoken. Nobody cares for people like you and me. The respect we deserve, the righteousness we earn. It is all unbalanced, unjust." He said with his eyes surveying his severed hand.

"I can't say I agree. Though, I take it you did not come here to merely talk." Said Victoria, a glance of disappointment towards Isaac.

"Your hand..." Isaac murmured out to her.

"My hand?" Piqued with worry, Victoria fidgeted in her seat.

"Show me." Envy grinned grossly.

Tentative at first, Victoria shared sight with Isaac who had been a ghastly shade of white. Pity pressed upon her heart, but hesitation haunted her nerves until finally, she caressed the gloves which concealed her hands. They yearned for freedom, and finally, they were to be unlocked. Cautiously, she revealed her two hands. One of her hands was soft and elegant, but her other hand was a fine, metal prosthetic. This hand was a spectacular sight as it carried a shiny surface that sparkled like a hidden treasure. Her revelation completely blew Isaac away, as he squinted at such inhuman quality with his astonished eyes.

"A horrible accident happened..." Claimed Victoria, her aura aware of Isaac's inquisitive nature. "You would like one, yes?" She asked Envy.

"Of course. I'm afraid you cannot refuse." Said Envy.

"What would you do to me? Am I not the one who can fix your problems?" Pondered Victoria.

"Nothing will happen to you. I will kill him if you refuse to help." Said Envy.

"Kill who?" Alarmed, Victoria jolted out.

"What do you mean 'who'? The general." Cautiously said Envy as his mind lingered back to the Scribe. "She has close company…the type that could assimilate you." He remembered the Scribe warning him.

"Right...this one here..." Sighed Victoria. "There is no other choice then." She said, rising from her seat.

"How long?" Asked Envy, surveying the room.

"Some time will be necessary." Said Victoria.