---[ POV: Flynn ]---

Flynn and Herman reappeared in a burst of flames on the exact same spot where they had left, in the middle of the teleportation pentagram.

The old man scratched the rough week-old stubble on his shaven shin. "Well, that went way better than expected. Lord Flynn is a man full of surprise."

"Yeah, I hope it was worth it. I don't know how two hot stones will be able to help a girl already burning with fever but I've just given up on questioning the logic of your magic for now."

"Hehe, draconic magic is really rare indeed. Those are young elemental flame drakes in those gems. If my guess is correct, I believe Valsevor is planning on having them fuse their essence with that of the princess to help regulate it. What could be better than a fire elemental to help control and harmonize fire essence? Well, two of them apparently..."

"I'm not following you at all," said Flynn as he started to walk toward the corvette.

"Are you not versed in magic at least a little bit? I mean, I saw you do things... incredible things. Was that really all this magicless lore of yours?"

"It was. There is no magic where I came from."

"No magic?!" Herman raised his voice a little bit louder than he would have liked to and stopped in his track for a moment, before realizing it and rushing to rejoin Flynn.

"Do you mean that you can't use it? Like the dwarfs? I thought only them were cut off from the Weave."

"We'll discuss later," said Flynn as he was entering the corvette. "I doubt our definition of 'dwarfs' is the same anyway..."

"Mmmh..." Herman remained silent and pensive.

Hearing their footsteps and discussion, Gwenvar rose from her position at the princess side looked at them.

"Were you able to find the help we need?" she asked anxiously but with a hint of hope in her voice.

"We were," said Flynn. Gwenvar perked up. "At least, I believe so."

"I told you I would be able to help if only you'd let me," smiled Herman. "All this violence and screaming were for naught."

The woman's face lost its shine and she darted a despising an annoyed look on the old man. "Don't presume this is over, White. I had all the reason in the world to do so and still plan on kicking your ass straight to the grave as soon as the princess is back on her feet. You're a convenient tool, at best, but don't think for one second I'm letting you go after what you did. In fact, you better run back to your master right now if you don't want to end up dead before sun break!"

"Whoa, whoa! Enough!" said Flynn. "Nobody's killing anybody! First, we save the princess, then we talk. Don't forget that both of you owe me some serious explanations."

Herman offered an innocent smile to the woman."Here, our host has spoken. That wouldn't be very polite to go against his will after inviting yourself over, wouldn't it?."

"Goddammit Herman," said Flynn. "I think I'm starting to understand why nobody likes you. Can't you just lay low for some time and stop aggravating her. I don't want another brawl on my doorstep."

The old man swallowed his smile and took a more serious air. "Sorry about that. Old habits die hard and Gwenvar just jumps at every little poke I send her way."

Gwenvar growled from above. "You bastard! You're talking as if you haven't been trying to kill us for the last couple of weeks!"

"Hey! That's your word! Who said I was trying to kill you?! I just saved your precious Amaryllis! A little 'thank you' would be appreciated..."

"Fuck you, White! I know exactly..."

"Enough, I said!" screamed Flynn as he was going up the ramp toward the second deck. "Both of you just shut it and let's cure the girl! What are you, kids?"

Both Gwenvar and Herman looked at him a bit surprised has he had been calm and composed up until now, but they also seemed to realize he was right. Gwenvar returned to the princess' side and Herman had the good grace to keep some distance and his mouth shut.

Flynn approached the bed and observed the young girl. She somehow looked even worse than when he had left. She was still surrounded by a nimbus of golden light and her inside seemed ablaze with a searing white flame. The lieutenant leaned forward and stretched a hand to grab on the princess' arms. He was a bit reluctant as he remembered Herman catching fire, but nothing unusual happened. The old man had specified that the Fever was fighting him specifically, whatever that meant. Flynn placed the first ember gem in the young girl's hand. There was a sound of sizzling flesh and a burnt odor. The girl's face tensed in her sleep and she moaned in pain.

"What are you doing?!" asked Gwenvar, worried.

"I am doing what I was told to do," said Flynn. "Herman's mentor mentioned she might get burned but that she have to hold on to those until the morning. I am not really thrilled about it but it's the only solution we came back with."

The worried look did not leave the woman's face but she nodded in silence. Flynn materialized some of the medical gauzes from the emergency kit stashed in the armor storage and started to wraps the hand of the young girl. Her pained face was hard to look at, but he had no other option. As he started to do the same for the second hand, he turned to Gwenvar.

"Do you remember where the water bottles are?"

Her ears turned red. "How could I forget..." she mumbled.

"Could you bring me two or three? We have to keep her banded hands wet."

She nodded uncomfortably and left. Flynn wondered just what was bothering her about simple water bottles but then he remembered the people of this world had probably never seen glasstic before. Of course, they would be intrigued. He had seen just how much unknown technology seemed to puzzle and impress them.

Gwenvar was soon back with the water. Flynn opened the first one and poured some on the gauze wraps.

"We need to keep them wet until it's over," he said to the woman. "Wanna take charge of that?"

She nodded and Flynn moved aside to leave her the place. He knew she would religiously take care of the young girl until morning so he felt safe leaving them alone for now. There was nothing more for him to do. There was nothing more for any of them to do other than to wait and hope Valsevor's magic was as effective as he said it would be.

Flynn looked at Herman. The old man was leaning against the railing of the catwalk some distance away and absentmindedly cleaning his nails with a small knife while throwing some occasional look in the direction of the princess to check up on her condition. As soon as he saw Flynn coming his way, he put the knife back in its sheath strapped to his leg and removed his weight from the railing.

"So? How is she?"

"I don't know," admitted Flynn. "I don't understand a thing about your magic. I only feel like I deepened the suffering of this poor girl, putting those hot coals in her hand like that."

"Yeah, magic is rarely fun and game," said Herman. "Especially fire magic. And knowing Valsevor, he probably used the most effective method he knew without a care in the world about collateral damage. The only thing we asked for was for the princess to survive, after all."

Flynn flinched. So it was that kind of negotiation? I should have been more cautious and thoughtful. I'll have learned my lesson if there is ever a next time.

Flynn got down into the cargo bay and Herman followed. The young man pushed a couple of boxes and crates together and motioned for the old man to take place at the improvised table. He could have used the accommodations in the galley but he preferred to keep those new arrivals here for now rather than giving them the required authorizations to access the different rooms in the corvette. Flynn offered the old wizard a water bottle. Herman observed it for a moment, fiddled with it for a second, and was finally able to open it and drink a large sip.

"Fascinating," he said. "Such a mechanism is rather simple but it must require a lot of work to produce. I wonder how your artisans are able to produce such regular and minutes details?"

"With technology and sciences, mostly. We use advanced tools to do it for us."

"Mmmh. Then I think it's even more impressive than I thought. You're telling me this was not created by a human? What do you use? A mold, like at a coins press?"

"Something like that, just more complicated. I don't think I could explain it to you in detail. I do not personally know everything my people have learned and mastered over the years. I don't think anybody could. I only know how to use the tools produced for me. And no offense to you, but I am not about to start revealing all of my secrets to a stranger I just met. You've been a great help, but I can't exactly forget what Gwenvar said earlier either."

Herman laughed. "Fair enough. That is wise. Valsevor was right about you, Lord Flynn. Although I wouldn't worry too much about what Gwenvar said. She can be a bit... impulsive at times, and quick to jump to conclusions. While her devotion to the princess is admirable, it can also cloud her judgment sometimes. Mix that with her savage nature, and you get a bundle of trouble trodling around." Herman laughed a bit, then he became more serious and somber "That, and she's getting old..."

Old? thought Flynn, she doesn't seem much older than me. 27 or 28 maybe. 30 at max. That's considered old around here? Then you must be ancient, old man. And what about Valsevor?

Flynn was about to talk when the owl form of Athena entered the corvette at full speed. The owl disappeared and a young girl replaced it, jumping around until she reached Flynn and launched her arms around his neck from behind. Although he couldn't feel a thing, Flynn leaned forward and looked at her, unimpressed by her antics.

"Flynn! I missed you! Did you miss me? Where were you? Is everything ok? How's the girl?"

"Whoa! One thing at a time. I've only been away for a short while, don't act like I've been gone for months," he said while mimicking pushing her aside. She played along like she usually did and the holographic projection responded to his movement as if he was really interacting with her. She was repelled and pouted over dramatically.

"Oh right," she said as she backed up and sat on a crate behind him, "we need to talk."

"Is it urgent?"

"Not really. Kinda. Nothing dangerous."

"Can it wait a bit?"

"I suppose it can."

"Perfect, then we'll talk later. I was discussing with Herman."

Flynn turned back toward the old man and saw that he was observing the two of them with wonder in his eyes.

"Fascinating," he said. "A spirit that can change form like that. I already knew it was special because it could talk, but this is even more impressing."

"Right," said Flynn. "I forgot to present her. This is Athena. From now on, she will help me to learn your language. Do you mind if I repeat things you say in my own language or outright make you say specific sentences so that she can compare what you said to what I said and compile it?"

"No, not at all. She can do that? Incredible."