Outside, I immediately see the problem. There’s a terrifying opossum rampaging about the Rainstopper Infirmary. My guard dog glances at me with a sheepish expression. Glaring at Janus, I motion at him to leave. Yea...you better look guilty. Or I’ll find a better dog to warn me next time!

“MYRR!” Elina shouts. Her mask’s saw-like snout quivers in the air as she ascends towards the infirmary tent. I’ve been ducking her all week. Having Jarshan send her on bogus “herb gathering” tasks to replenish her stores so that she’s not here. I mean it wasn’t a completely BS mission, okay? It was for the good of the Sect! After all, if someone got injured, then we’d need a well-stocked Healer right? Damn though, from the looks of things, she’s heard about some of the things I’ve done. Crap...how do I explain this?

“H-hey, Auntie Elina!” Looking down at the ground, I do my best to look cute. It works on Romy! Maybe I can...

“Myrr. Arms up!” She barks an order and I wince. Though I look around one last time hoping to see Jarshan or one of my other new lackeys, there’s no one who can save me. Now that the other Elders are dead, Elina can do what she wants. Just how I hoped for...but I wasn’t planning on her interfering with my plans!

“I...oh okay,” I sigh. Giving up, I raise my arms and she swoops in and scoops me up. Before I know it, we’re soaring through the air towards her little plateau. “Say, I don’t suppose you’d be willing to listen to your new Secthead...?”

“Interim Secthead,” She replies dryly without looking down. It isn’t long before we’re outside her hut, after all, Meera’s makeshift infirmary had to be nearby so Elina could check on her. “Last I checked, as current acting Vice Secthead, I outrank you. So, you’re going to come with me and explain yourself. Or...”

“O-Or...?” Gulping, my fear isn’t entirely an act. In the whole Sect, Elina is probably the one person who could and would actually stop me. She used to be my dearest ally, but now, I have to be very careful around her. “Or you’ll do...what?”

“Hmm...” Elina’s eyes flicker down to me for a second and then we land. Opening the door to her hut, she strides inside without waiting for me. “I’ll leave that to your imagination, Myrr. Since you seem to be having some very big ideas lately. Guilty conscience? Take care...Nephew. Children who don’t listen to their Elders have a tendency to get hurt. And I’m afraid I couldn’t find very many of those herbs Jarshan insisted I restock on...out of season. It’d be a shame if someone got poisoned while I’m out of Yuel’s Root.”

“Ha...hah...yea that’d be bad!” I wince as it becomes obvious Elina’s seen through my little trick with the errands. Trying to keep my voice smooth as I enter the new hut, I gather my nerve, “So, what’d you want to talk about?” The replacement for Elina’s home is more or less the same as before. But a little less dingy. There’s a few freshly picked herbs hanging from the ceiling, but for the most part, it’s fairly bare. In the corner, there’s a well fortified cabinet which Elina catches me looking at. She glares at me. Oh...crap that must be where she’s keeping what’s left of Romy’s letters! She doesn’t know that I read them...right?

“Myrr, we need to talk.” Elina doesn’t waste any time going to the little stove in the corner and striking a flint and steel. Flames spark up as she adds kindling. Soon, the black kettle on top is heating up. I notice that even though there’s no need to anymore, she still moves kind of funny. More carefully and awkwardly than a woman of her age should. Not quite as bad as before, but enough that people would think there’s something wrong with her. Huh?

“Elina...why are you still...hiding?” I ask her. She glances at me sharply, and her eyes are indecipherable behind her mask in the dark hut. The shadows flicker as the fire under the stove gets hotter and I see more of Elina’s face. She’s tight, wound up. “Auntie, you know you don’t have to wear your mask any longer, right? It’s different now. I’ve made sure that-“

“You’ve made sure that what? Do tell me, what’s been happening with the people you’ve been sending to the Black Realm?” Elina interrupts me with a shout. I recoil, genuinely shocked even though I saw this coming in the future. She has always been kind and patient with me before, but right now, I see a streak of temper to match Romy’s. Her hands reach up, behind her hair and hook around the straps. They come undone, and the mask falls away. Oh...crap! How much does she know?! Who ratted on me? Jarshan, I swear to God it better not have been you!

“Well I mean certain people have been sent on important missions for the good of-“ I try to explain but she just raises an eyebrow on her furious face. The twin slash-marks on her face start to get dangerously close together as she glares at me. Uh oh!

“For the good of the Sect?” Elina says bitingly. Acridly, she throws her mask onto the table. The kettle on the stove starts to shriek and shake. “Hah! Yup, anyone that’s ever looked at me funny, all of Sein’s old friends, even some of Heilan’s, they’re all gone. And when I ask Jarshan, all he tells me is that they volunteered to go to the Black Realm! As if anyone would want to go there! You think I’m stupid? Really, Myrr? Is this your solution? To kill off everyone that doesn’t like me? What the hell!”

“Well...they did volunteer.” Holding my hands up, I go to the shrieking kettle and quickly cast a quick Chill before it explodes. Looking up at the ceiling and unfamiliar new cabinets, I can’t figure out where Elina keeps the tea. Ah jeez...she really thinks I killed them? Well, I mean, they could die but...it’s not like I had them executed...yet...I mean I thought about it...kind of a waste of manpower though.

“You expect me to believe that everyone just...decided to go to one of the most inhospitable places on the planet...willingly?” My Auntie’s sister growls. Pointing at one of the drying herbs on the ceiling, she instructs, “That one. It’s tea. You better have a good explanation for this, Myrr! If you’re lying to me then...I...I’ll tell Romy!”

H-Hey! Low blow!

That’s not fair!

“J-Just hold on a second, Auntie!” Fumbling in my haste, I grab the herbs. “There’s no need to do anything rash!” As I stutter, Elina’s face turns a bit strange.

“R-a-sh? What kind of noise are you making?” She shouts at me. I look at her in shock. “Myrr, you better not be playing games! Are you mocking me?”

Mocking you?

It doesn’t make any sense. For a second, time freezes. My Foresight rebounds and the world shatters.

Wha-?

I’m flung far and wide. The mind wanders as my body spirals in an infinite loop of nothingness. It feels like a million years pass in a second. I’m lost in time. Falling, falling forever, I can’t understand what’s happening. But I can’t move. Just frozen...locked. My body won’t move, my thoughts are wandering at a snail’s pace. And then it all crumbles into a thousand crystalline pieces. Before I can understand what’s happening, I’m back in the present. Little tendrils of reality, tiny bits of time, they line back up. Space becomes normal again as I return to myself. Elina’s face is still in front of me. She’s confused. My mouth is already open, I think I said something.

“Rash? Is that what you meant?” Elina suddenly lights up in understanding. However, she’s still angry with me. “Why didn’t you say so?”

“Huh?” All I can do is stare blankly back at her. The lid of the kettle slips out of my grasp and Elina blurs from her seat to grab it before it hits the ground. Steam rises from her hand, but she makes no mention of it. “W-What?”

“Myrr? What’s wrong?” A Healer to the core. Even furious with me, Elina can tell something is wrong. She abandons her rage, even though it’s entirely righteous to check on me. Feeling my forehead, she frowns. “You’re burning...what the...is the poison acting up? Let me see-“

“N-No! It’s okay!” I stumble out of her grasp. Shivering, I sway gently before reasserting myself. The room is all hot and yet cold at the same time. Like I have a fever. Gulping, I drop the herbs for the tea into the kettle and go sit at the table. My legs practically fall out from me as I take a seat. “I...what were we talking about? Oh, right...yea. The Black Realm. To be honest, I did send the people who didn’t like us away. But it was to help find Mephis...the man who raised me. You remember, right?”

“The Blood Warlock?” Elina raises an eyebrow. “Yes, I remember him. What does he have to do with any of this?”

“I got a letter. A few days ago...” Closing eyes, I massage my temples. Suddenly, I have the worst headache. “Glacia...err...my teacher, she told me there were rumours of a Blood Warlock in that area. So, I figured it would kill two birds with one stone if I sent certain people on a mission. For the good of the Sect...and me. It might help find Mephis, and this way, they won’t cause trouble here!”

“I see.” Elina sounds worried. Opening my eyes, I see her gazing at me questioningly. Under her scrutiny, I do my best to sit straight. “Well, I’m sorry for misunderstanding. I hope they find him. But there’s still one thing I don’t understand. How did you possibly convince them to go for you? I seriously doubt Sein’s friends of all people would be willing to listen to you, considering how close you are to me. They must hate you!”

“You’d be surprised how persuasive I can be,” I reply. Putting my elbows on the table to stabilize my suddenly tired body, I do my best to focus my vision. It’s all doubled up, and not from seeing the future. Elina is blurring in and out in front of me. “I simply showed them that maybe I’m not so bad after all. Look, Auntie...I don’t tell you everything sometimes. But you know I always have the best intentions for you in mind, right?”

“Tch. Don’t always tell me everything, huh?” Cocking her head, Elina gives me the evil eye, her scars looking grim as they stretch. “Just like how you didn’t tell me you made a deal with Jarshan? You could have at least checked with me! What if he didn’t decide to back us? You don’t know that old wolf! He could have just as easily sided with Heilan!”

“I know Jarshan was a risk!” This time it’s my voice that’s raised. “But I didn’t have a choice, okay? You may have been happy to play make believe but don’t kid yourself! The Elders were just waiting for an excuse to get rid of you! If I hadn’t struck first, we wouldn’t be having this conversation here with a nice hot cup of tea! We’d be sitting in hell! Look, it all worked out, right? Can’t you just learn to trust someone for a change, Elina? You don’t need to hide anymore! You don’t need to wear a mask anymore! I...WE WON!”

...

...

...

“Myrr...” Elina’s face is displaying so many emotions at once right now. Hurt, regret, nothing like the smile I had hoped to see her wear proudly one day. “Somehow, I don’t think I’m the one wearing a mask today. Are you feeling, okay?” She sighs as I angrily stand and grab the kettle. No, I’m not feeling okay, damnit, Elina! My head hurts and I swear I’m seeing two of you and...and...screw it!

“Tea’s ready!” I announce and pour us both a cup at the rickety little table. It looks just like the last one. Don’t tell me this freaking ugly table of all things, actually survived? Ugh, my head...I can’t think. Abruptly, I can’t stand anymore. Setting the kettle down before I drop it, I hurriedly return to my chair. “M-Maybe...you should check on that poison actually. I’m not feeling too great...”

“Telling me to stop hiding, when you’re barely pretending to stay upright!” Elina grumbles but it’s only her concern talking as she rushes over. Pressing a hand to my cheek, right over the cut, she mutters a few words and closes her eyes. Damnit, this is embarrassing. I told her I could take care of myself after the Trials, but already I’m messing up.

“Well?” I ask, gritting my teeth.

“I...don’t think it’s the poison. But just in case, I think we should move up the date of your healing. As soon as possible,” the Healer tells me. Gazing at me with eyes that should be angry, all I can see is her worry. It’s really not what I wanted for her at all. Elina’s supposed to be happy. “You hear me, Myrr?”

“Y-Yea...as a matter of fact, I was going to ask about that anyways. How about we do it tonight?” I tell her. She seems a bit shocked. “Is that not doable? I was thinking it might not be a bad idea to do it now, while everyone thinks we’re doing it next week. No surprises from anyone I failed to send away.”

“You...?” Elina’s face grows incredulous. “Oh, for the love of Yuel, Myrr. Do you have to be so...” She stops talking as she sees my pained grimace. “Fine. FINE! I’ve been practicing the damn spell for months anyways. Like you said, one more week won’t make any difference at this point. I’ll go get Jarshan to keep watch-“

“No!” I growl. My head is pounding. If I don’t get that healing soon, I think it might explode. What the hell is wrong with me? “I don’t trust them. No one else. Not Jarshan or Janus. Just you!”

“You don’t want anyone else to be here?” she asks. When I shake my head, she can only throw up her hands helplessly. “Well, if that’s how you want it, then that’s how you’ll get it!” Standing up, Elina towers over me. Grabbing my shoulders, she lifts me from the chair. “Come on. We’ll do it right now!” However, she quickly realizes that I’m a bit off when I don’t move, just swaying in place. “Myrr? Are you alright?”

“Yea...no one else. I’ll burn them all.”

“Okay, just relax, Myrr. I think you’re a bit feverish. Come on...there you go...walk with me...”

Vaguely, I’m aware of someone leading me to bed. However, I can barely sense anything beyond the heavy weight in my body and the splitting, pounding hammer in my head. When I sink into the soft blankets, it’s like I don’t even know where I am. What’s going on?

“Shhh...it’s okay. I’m going to heal you now, Myrr. Just be quiet. In a second, you’ll fall asleep. And when you wake up, it will be like a whole new world!” Elina is telling me something. I can’t answer her. Not consciously. Maybe I’m saying something. I’m scared. What’s happening? Just have to remember...hold on...hold onto what’s important!

“No matter what it takes, I can’t let them hurt anyone else I care about! Not Mephis...or Romy...or Mark...or Glacia...or Natalia...or...Elina...I’m sorry...I won’t let anyone hurt you again!”

...

...

A bitter voice floats over me, one which is still filled with kindness,

“It’s okay, Myrr. I know you mean well. Sometimes though...I really wish you’d consider the people who care for you. I trusted you, but I’m not sure if I know you anymore. You really scared me you know? I thought Janus was actually going to kill you. My sister would never forgive me. It’d be the end of the Sect, that’s for sure. I think...you’ve changed. All this time here, it hasn’t been good for you. Maybe I need to have someone slap some sense into you,” she speaks to me as I go under her spell, soothing, quieting, a lullaby of words to put me to sleep, “I never thought I’d have a family again. Not after Romy left. Please...be more careful. I don’t want to lose you too.”

Darkness clouds my mind and a warm glow spreads everywhere...

Heat, blinding heat, it eradicates the evil in my veins...

Slowly, I fall asleep, but that pounding headache...it resists the light...

Then...

One more voice...

A familiar one...

[What have you done?

What have you done?!

What have you DONE??

Don’t tell me you believe him!

You don’t even have a reason to hold on to me!

If you touch time...it could all be for nothing!

Just let me go!]

...

...

...

A shadow descends on my dream

Something else and yet still the same voice

Now I am afraid.

I fear...this may not be someone I wish to meet

[Come back to me...

It will be almost easy

No...no it’s not ME!]

#