How was she to respond? How was she to react? Vyra remained there upon the ground, looking for some sort of answer, something to convince her that what Alisa was saying was a lie.

But her face did not show it. The solemnness of it. The hurt that the woman seemed to carry with each word as she spoke to Vyra, every second, every wood spoken seeming to reaffirm the seriousness in what she said.

And to be so sure, even if she may have said otherwise, Vyra had come to know Alisa did not speak on such serious matters without conscious thought. For her to suggest something as grave as the idea that Vyra did not control her own body, it terrified the Demi-human to her core.

Vyra’s face seemed to infinitely carry an expression that teetered between absolute panic and disillusioned uncertainty. She couldn’t speak, for what was she to have said? How much of this plight had Alisa known of? For how long? Vyra could not help but feel a level of betrayal coming of this, if what Alisa were saying were true. How long would have she have kept it a secret, why would she have even?

It stung. That even though Alisa undoubtedly had her reasons for keeping it from Vyra, that she would in the first place. But wasn’t she entitled to? Throughout everything that she had done towards and for the Demi-human, she had asked nothing in return, sought nothing from her, wanted nothing from her but happiness.

No, if Alisa did not want Vyra to know of this, it was for Vyra’s sake. Not her own.

The look of concern upon the woman’s face as Vyra lifted up her head for the first time to meet Alisa’s as much proved that. She had been so panicked before, the dark secret that were her blackouts being brought forward so terrifying to her that she had been ignorant towards how much it seemed to affect Alisa too. It made her heart sink. It made her just come to hate herself as a feeling of guilty interjected itself within the existing thoughts of panic and confusion.

“You’re… You’re not serious…” Her speech was stammered, her words as much trying to convince herself that what Alisa was saying, despite how much she may have found herself believing it, wasn’t true. A faint feeling of heat radiated from beneath her, the impact of her having fallen now coming to a realization, but even the delayed pain paled in comparison to the torment she found herself enduring now.

“That, that can’t be…” Less-convincing than before, Vyra looked upon Alisa with desperation. While one might figure that knowing what was afflicting oneself would be welcoming, but what Alisa was saying was simply supplementing the existing problem with another, one that could arguably be that much worse.

She glanced down onto her hands, eyes unable to take their focus off of the light shaking that was going on. Then, as if struck by a bolt of lightning, Vyra came to understand. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she understood exactly what Alisa was saying, the realization of just why it was so difficult for her to convey to Vyra, the implications, everything. Like a wave, her mind raced as every memory, every smallest little fragment within her memory coming forth like a tidal wave. Where she was, what she had been doing, what happened, where she suddenly returned towards, everything.

The smallest little fragments, some as complete as though she were reliving it, with some as brief as though it never happened, all of it flooded forward as nearly a decade’s worth of these fragments overwhelmed her. The room around her seemed distant, her vision cloudy as thoughts upon regrets upon worries laid into her consciousness. How many of the instances that she remembered were because of this other her? Was it the same her that she had met within her mind earlier? Why would she have done that? Why? Why her?

Vyra put her hands to her ears as she cried out, struggling to contain the doubt that crept throughout, her focus so grossly split that all of everything occurring within the room that she was overwhelmed. Not by her own reasoning she found herself shifting towards a corner of her bed and the wall, bringing her knees to her chest in an effort to keep everything contained, muttering aimlessly to herself as her body shook.

After a short time that felt like forever, Vyra seemed to calm down, the shaking ceased, and her breathing steadied more to that an intense, yet consistent deep breathe upon deep breathe. She did not look up, she didn’t say anything, nor give any sort of indication to anyone or anything within the room. Seconds passed, her behavior did not seem to change much, nor her actions. Vyra simply remained there, motionless, her focus perpetually set to the ground, her breathing having calmed now to a normal rate, her limbs no longer showing any apparent shaking.

Movement returned, first the subtle twitching as though a body returning to consciousness, followed by the slow, methodical motions as Vyra began to return to her feet, “You really don’t care for me, do you?”

Her gaze met directly with Alisa’s, Vyra’s body in all of its capacity, but something different. Her eyes, not that of a young girl struck with terror, but that of a predator as much scoping out a contemporary. They remained fixed on Alisa for a moment, the faintest hints of a smirk forming upon the edges of her lips before Vyra broke her focus, shifting it instead towards that of the room, as though appreciating the effects within it for the first time.

“Gotta admit, like what you done with the place. For the most part. Could do with a little less,” Vyra cut herself off, having taken notice of the blue silken robes that she was wearing, a look of credulity upon her face. “All this blue… you’d think there be some variety.” An almost-fiendish smile appeared as she shrugged her shoulders, her eyes darting back up to face Alisa, “But, one probably shouldn’t expect you to have much sense now, should we?”

Closing what distance lay between the two of them, Vyra sauntered over, stretching out as though having woken up, all the while casting a look upon Alisa that likely erased whatever last bit of doubt that there may have been in the woman. “After all, not even a day after you nearly killed Vyra by encouraging her to play with that terrifying Magic, you decide to traumatize the girl enough to cause her to breakdown.”

Having reached the table now, Vyra did not immediately take a seat opposite Alisa. Instead, she looked right into the woman, a cold look in her eyes, full of contempt, one that seemed amplified by the eye level between the two, this being now one of the few times in which – even if by a small degree – that Vyra would be looking down upon Alisa. “Incredible that for someone who claims to care about her how much anguish you’re willing to put her through.”

With that, she proceeded to finally take a seat, wasting no time in helping herself to the banquet laid out before them. A slice or two of bread off one plate, a small helping of meats from several other, even going as far as to take a sip from the heavy milk-infused drink Vyra had earlier, only to shake her head with displeasure after just a single sip.

“Of course, she won’t appreciate that fact,” Vyra said with a hint of disappointment in her voice, “though how could she at this point? These clothes, this food, this nice room you gave her, at this point the girl damn near worships you.” Her eyes surveyed the table, briefly fixating upon a knife, not particularly large but sharpened, before returning their focus on Alisa, “Hell, you probably could ask her to open her legs for you and she’d say yes.” She smirked, “But hard to imagine many saying no to something like that from you.”

Vyra poured herself a mug of coffee, not like that of the mug filled mostly with milk like before, but rather one black, similar to what Alisa had poured earlier. A small sip here and there, her focus remaining on Alisa, only breaking on the occasional bite of food. “Which begs the question, just what about me makes me your blood boil so? Is it that, deep down you know Vyra wouldn’t be here without me?”

“I’m the one who’s kept her alive, who’ll continue to do what’s best for her. You’re the one who’s leading her down the path of inevitable doom. You know it. I know it. And rather than do what’s best for the girl, you pat yourself on the back, you present her with power that we both know she can’t control, and then you try to turn her against me.”

Vyra leaned in close now, hatred fully evident in eyes that so often had conveyed that of excitement and delight, “You wanna keep pretending you care about her, just remember it was YOUR actions that caused her to break down. Not mine! All you’re doing now is causing her pain, Alisa.”

A sickly feeling radiated through the air. Not through Vyra’s Magic, which had now more than a few times shown to have that sort of lingering effect intwined within it, but rather between the two of them. Alisa and the version of Vyra who often kept to the shadows, having only shown its face now for one of these such confrontations.

The Blue Pegasus Guildmaster versus the Plague within Vyra.

They both exchanged cruel glances, Vyra having a hard time not taking some level of delight throughout all of this exchange. On the surface, it seldom seemed that her words had any significant effect towards Alisa, who was all the ready to fire back with her own retort, deflecting her own selfishness towards the vessel whom both had taken such interest towards back onto her. Every so often, Vyra’s eyes would part from the staring contest that seemingly took place between the two, glossing briefly at the table, notably the knife that lay upon it, before returning back towards Alisa.

She sneered, “You don’t get out much do you?” A light sip of coffee before turning her head slightly, as much a conveyance of dismissiveness as much a direct slight towards Alisa, demeaning in the kindness of words. “I don’t create enemies. Them. This world really, it’s all her enemy. You can think otherwise, but go back to anyone who welcomed her earlier and ask yourself, how would they treat Vyra without you there?”

Her eyes darted back at Alisa, a coldness in them that had very seldom, if ever, been upon Vyra’s face while the two were in the company of one another. “I’ve seen that same story play over and over again for her. But since you’re so smart, you tell me. What’s better? Her being beaten, raped, left for dead, hungry and suffering in the cold? Just as before? Or someone using this little gift you unlocked and preventing all of that?”

“After all your world has put her through, what’s wrong with a few dead bodies if it can save her?”

A hasty turn of the head to scan the table, still plenty of food left upon the table that neither she nor the true Vyra had had a chance to try yet. But, given the circumstances at the present, it seemed that food was more that of a secondary thing. That did not stop Vyra from seemingly diverting her attention completely from Alisa, selecting delicious treat upon confectionary, the casualness of it within the looming darkness of the remarks she had made only a moment ago still lingering about.

Perhaps out of glee, perhaps a nod to Alisa, or otherwise just an attempt at taunting, but it was hard for one to not imagine seeing what appeared to be the hints of a fiendish smile upon Vyra’s lips as she reached for one of the slices of bread, still arranged in a manner that nearly resembled a full loaf. “Funny isn’t it, that something as minor as this, could illicit such a hostile response from some, isn’t it?”

She didn’t have to say specifics, she knew fully well that Alisa understood to exactly what she was referring to. That fate circumstance that – while not her initial intentions – ended up resulting in Vyra and Alisa meeting; the catalyst that set all of this forward. “Whatever you think of me, perhaps before you brand me as the monster, perhaps consider the baker.” Vyra’s gaze turned directly to that of Alisa’s, her eyes cold, cruel to some degree, but having a quality that was seldom seen, honesty. “He’s no different than most people in this world. I could be disappear tomorrow, never to exist again, and they would be no different towards her.”

Her hands gently caressed against the evening attire that for as comfortable as it was, the smallest hint of a smile appearing upon her face, appreciating the quality of what Blue Pegasus seemed willing to provide Vyra. That smile disappeared as her gentle caress shifted to a rough grip, pulling open the clothing to reveal the exposed skin of Vyra, the bruises that first came to light the other night exposed to the world again. “I had no hand in this, despite what you no doubt think. Her well-being and her own survival are all that I care about.”

Another sip from the coffee, whatever elegance Vyra carried with the gesture eroding away as she slammed down the mug with enough force to cause the nearby plates to vibrate slightly, the coffee within to splash about outside of it. “Were it not for you those people, the people that you simply let walk about unhindered, she would not need me,” her words trailed, as though conceding a cold truth that she hated to reveal. “But, that’s not how it is. Your world has been nothing but cruel to her. And for every injustice that she was dealt by their hands, every action that justice was never met towards, all the more demands that I exist.”

“So think however you’d like of her, or me for that matter. Unless you plan for her to live under this roof for the rest of her life, you know as soon as she steps outside this room that the world is going to be no different to her than it was before.” Ripping off a small piece of bread, she glared again towards Alisa, the coldness again on her face, mired alongside a boredom. Boredom of Alisa, of this conversation, of knowing the cycle was bound to repeat.

“However strong she may be, it’s only a matter of time before she encounters something far worse than whatever you imagine I may lead her down towards.” Vyra stood, pulling herself from the table and for once, finding herself looking down upon Alisa, a satisfaction of this situation evident on her face. “When that happens, know that the consequences will be on your hands.”

Her eyes narrowed, a look of death towards Alisa, “I only hope that I’ll be able to fix the damage that you’ll inevitably lead her down upon.”

There was a moment of silence in the air, an eerie one that particularly given the conversation between the two seemed to make things all the more awkward and uncomfortable. A weak chuckle escaping from Vyra’s lips seemed to be the closest thing to breaking the silence. “Oh, one last thing,” Vyra snidely remarked. The sound of skin slapping against skin echoed through, truly penetrating through the silence, the sting of it as sharp as glass shattering. A wicked look of satisfaction lasted upon the face of Vyra as her hand settled, whatever pain may have radiated off of her hand paling in comparison to the satisfaction of laying her hand upon Alisa, even for as insignificant as that may have been.

“Bitch.”

The warped smile seemed to immediately disappear, the coldness in Vyra’s eyes seeming to disappear as a frantic look of fear settled upon them. Her pupils darted all throughout, regaining her attention and focus towards the room around her, the image before her causing her to open her mouth in utter disbelief and shock. “Alisa!” Vyra cried out in sheer terror, knowing not what happened, only seeing the reddish mark upon Alisa’s face, the stinging pain within her hand helping her put together a weak, albeit sloppy idea of what may have happened. Her mind raced, her breathing intensified, her legs felt weak.

“Alisa, what, what happened?” She struggled to figure her words, struggled to figure out just what happened even. The last thing she remembered, it was her mind racking with the possibility that something, another her, could have been behind the blackouts she so often suffered from. It seemed ridiculous, she wasn’t sure what to think, but now, to be standing before Alisa, seeing what she could only have imagined that she had done, it broke her.

Her arms threw outwards, the tears almost immediately beginning to form as she held onto Alisa, pleadingly apologizing between cries of guilt. “I’m so sorry,” she begged for understanding, to convey just how awful she felt, “Please, I’m sorry.”

Vyra’s heart ached. Whatever may have happened over the course of her blackouts, that was one thing. They often only affected her. But now they seemed to have affected Alisa, someone whom had come to mean the world to her.

“Why? Why did this happen!?” She sobbed, her mind as much searching for the answer as she hoped for some sort of indicator that Alisa was alright. “I’m so sorry Alisa…”

Nausea maybe.

Guilt perhaps.

The feeling, whatever it be, seemed to sit within her, it swaying uncomfortably as Vyra simply held onto Alisa, as much concerned for the woman as she were afraid of herself. The past, however long it must have been; a few minutes maybe, perhaps longer, it left her afraid, vulnerable, fearful of what happened and what had been said. Her clothes were ajar, an unwelcome taste permeating in her mouth, the stinging sensation seeming to radiate throughout her hand, holding on seemed like the only thing that she could do.

The tears had waned; the damage, whatever damage it may have been, that had been done by whatever existed within her – another her, an evil, cruel version of her – there was nothing to be done. She could not reverse time, nor fully know just what happened save for Alisa’s retelling of the events, but her mind raced wondering if that were something she even wanted to know. Everything still left her uneasy, her body feeling weak, the idea that this other version of her that in their lone interaction had seemingly tried to help her, had been leading her – leading her body – astray all along.

She could not help but flinch ever so slightly at the woman’s touch, as genuine and caring as it had was intended to be. She struggled to trust herself, struggled to believe her body right now, and it all caused her to be further frightened. Only upon the soft words uttered by Alisa did it seem that things seemed to calm. The air warmed, her breathing returned to normal, her grip – for as tightly as she held onto Alisa – seemed to relax, and the tears that fell gave way to a pair of lone streaks that trailed along her cheeks.

Another pat upon her backside seemed to light the fuse within her, a rush of something pouring within her, enough for her to pry free of the paralysis she seemingly found herself within. The vice that her fingers entrenched around Alisa waned, parting as they gently grasped upon the woman’s arms, functioning as an anchor as she pulled away, just enough that the features of the woman came to view.

To look upon Alisa’s face, Vyra could not help but feel conflicted, her heart as much envious as it were broken.

Stripping away the flawless features that she so effortlessly carried, the pained look were upon Alisa’s face, the remnants of her encounter with whatever iteration of Vyra she had just encountered still lingering. It stood as a striking contrast to the other look that the Demi-human witnessed, that of pride. Pride towards Vyra. A pride that she did not feel that she deserved. Rather, guilt lingered within her, guilt that made it all the more difficult for her to muster up much more than a weak smile.

But when Alisa spoke again, giving the quick synopsis to the reality that Vyra dreadfully feared, whatever spark that had been within her burnt away. The smile faded into a pained look, her waning again as her hands barely rested upon Alisa’s arms. She found herself too exhausted to cry, the exertion by whatever possessed her earlier not having taken its toll, but rather the combination of shame and feeling of weakness.

“I’m sorry,” she said dejectedly as her eyes lowered to the ground, too ashamed to look Alisa face to face. Her apology was different than before. There weren’t the pleading that had come before, the wishing to take back everything. There was, as warped as it were, acceptance, a sense of ownership in her failings. It stung, the cacophony of revelations as it all became more and more evident and apparent to her of what was to come.

This.

Sooner or later, it was bound to happen again. And what excuse would she have then?

Though Alisa tried to reassure her, Vyra could not muster even the ability to agree. Even reflecting back in the past, the incidents that had befallen her at the presumed hands, she wondered, could she have done more to try to understand? She could have, no she should have, done more to try to figure out what happened during those gaps of time. She felt something in her chest just drop, thinking that if she had done even just the most basic amount of follow-up, who knows how things could have been different.

She lingered in her self-pity for a moment, looking distantly at nothing in particular, coming only somewhat out of this trance as Alisa spoke, pondering aloud the motivations behind the other Vyra, something the Demi-human found herself wondering too. Her eyes rose slightly, enough to catch Alisa turning her head; for an immediate moment thinking that Alisa were disappointed in her. The motion of her fist clenching, the faintest bits of movement seemed to spring like into Vyra as it dawned on her just what she was seeing.

It wasn’t disappointment in her that she was seeing in Alisa.

It was frustration in herself.

Perhaps it was the light, maybe Vyra’s imagination, but she was certain that even just for a moment, she saw something of a tear forming at Alisa’s eye. A silent cry escaped her lips. The next moment, she had thrown her arms around Alisa, as much seeking refuge within the company of the woman as she were hoping to help her, quite how she weren’t sure of. This was the only thing that she could think of.

She held on, like a child reciprocating the affection shown by a parent. But inside, a level of anger seemed to begin to brew within her. Assuming much of what had befallen her in the past years had been by this other Vyra’s hand, that were one thing. It only affected her, though hardly an excuse or justification. But now, whatever had happened in the past several minutes had affected Alisa, more than perhaps anything she had seen of the Blue Pegasus Guild Leader so far. It was in that, seeing someone that she cared deeply for, to have been affected in this way, somehow it hurt all the more than knowing what she herself had been put through.

Her body moved in alignment with the actions of Alisa, Vyra practically surrendering her grip and weight as Alisa provided her with the same sort of affection, if not something different, something more pure. Vyra could not help but blush slightly as Alisa spoke, feeling the soft kiss upon her forehead, innocent in nature, but still meaning the world to the Demi-human. She simply remained there, basking in the tenderness of this moment, a far cry from the circumstances that had only moments earlier preceded it.

As Alisa’s hands softly brushed against the light blue hair of Vyra’s, the Demi-human reached out and grabbed it, not with any apparent suddenness, but instead with a rather telegraphed exhibit. Holding it, one palm of her’s within Alisa’s, another holding onto her wrist, Vyra looked directly into the older woman’s eyes, “I won’t let her hurt you, I promise…” There was an unease within her eyes, possessing not a lack of conviction, but rather that of confidence. Regardless, whatever reservations she may have had towards her own ability, Vyra was determined that she would do all she could to protect Alisa.

“Oi, whas all this bein’ ‘bout,” a familiar voice echoed through the hallway just beyond the walls, the sound of it getting louder with each passing word. “Nas I swear I be walkin’ in on some bloody crime scene or these youngins be hearin’ bloody shadows.” There was no mistaking the slight disgruntled tone in the woman’s voice as she seemly stood just outside Vyra’s door, but as the door flung open and the elderly woman presented herself, never once did either her tone or face seem to indicate as much.

“Good morn – “ her words were cut ajar at the sight of Alisa, her presence clearly something that she was not made aware of. Standing straight as she represented herself in a more formal manner, “Oh, a thousand pardons Master; seems not a soul be informin’ me that ya be bein’ here. Color me surprised at tha omission, wouldn’cha know.” She seemed slightly flustered, taking Vyra a little by surprise at this contrast to the other night. The woman had given the Demi-human a reason to be fearful, and yet right now, she seemed more cuddly than anything else.

“Oh, seems like you two be havin’ ya selves a nice ol’ little brunch ain’t yas,” the old wrinkled face formed that of a wide smile, admiring the options that had been laid out across the table. It wasn’t that of a look of personal hunger, but one of relief instead, her eyes subtly darting from the arrangement to the plates, connecting the dots to whose plate was whose. “I do be hatin’ to be interruptin’ the pair of ya’s, but seems the ‘less worldly’ members we have can’t seem to allow a girl a chance to settle in, now can’t they?” The mentioning of the other Blue Pegasus members caused Vyra to perk up, a slight look of distress on her face as her focus shifted towards the door.

“Don’cha worry dearie. Them boys be more worryin’ and thinkin’ with the wrong head if ya get my meaning. All fine and good normally, but I don’t be needin’ hormones distracting them from they responsibilities from this Guild,” she said with an adamant look towards Alisa, “Nor I be needin’ them harassing our favorite guest now do we?” There was a kind smile as she looked right at Vyra, who found herself shifting her focus between the healer and Alisa, not quite sure how to interpret her remarks. “So don’tcha be worryin’. They ain’t gone be disturbin’ ya anymore.”

No sooner had the woman said this that a small frown appeared upon her face, “Oh, now what supposin’ be the cause of this,” she asked as a finger pointed towards the torn garb. Before so much as giving either Vyra or Alisa time to respond, it seemed the healer’s attention had shifted, gently tapping against the maid whom had been summoned by Alisa earlier before everything seemed to have spiraled out of control. The maid who seemed to have been lost in all of the confusion. “Oi miss, be a dear now and go ‘head and get your Mistress’s apprentice here something appropriate to wear, wouldn’tcha please?”

Though she had said she had spoken in jest before when she referred to Vyra as Alisa’s apprentice, the Demi-human could not help but find herself blushing at the same suggestion. Was it an intentional misspeak? Was there more to what she was saying that Vyra did not fully understand? A part of her was hoping that there would have been some back and forth, whether it be the maid or Alisa to interject, but it seemed that as quickly as the healer had ushered off the maid that she was staring right at Vyra, a look that seemed to seethe disappointment at Vyra, “Din’t I make a point to say to NOT TRY YA MAGIC?” Vyra glanced at Alisa, only to have the old woman take hold of her lips and turn her face back towards her own, “Don’cha be lookin’ to the Master. You look at me, understand?”

Vyra nodded, admittedly too afraid of what this woman may have done otherwise. What Vyra had seen of her up to this point, she had a level of intimidation to her, that was never in question. But this, she was looking at genuine anger; anger for disobeying her. In an instant, the elderly woman had her grip wrapped right around Vyra’s wrist, “You lucky ya know that? Could’a lost ya arm easy, or worse. Now then, lemme see.” Vyra simply remained there, having effectively surrendered her arm to the woman as she scoped over it like that of a jeweler inspecting a gemstone’s quality.

After a few moments, the Blue Pegasus healer sighed, letting go entirely of Vyra’s arm. “Look at me child,” she said, her words hoarse. Vyra, having lowered her head in shame, could not help but widen her eyes in slight surprise as the woman slung her finger beneath the Demi-human’s chin, pushing it upwards to meet her at eye level. “I understand the want to learn ya Magic. I get it. The worlds open up for ya, but this in’t the thing to be gone at alone. Ya have yaself a Magic with potential man can only imagine, all the more reason ya ain’t afford being reckless.” Her stern face remained as her eyes darted for the briefest of moments towards Alisa, then back to Vyra, “How ya think the Master gone feel if something happens to you?”

“I’m sorry,” Vyra responded in a dejected tone.

The healer nodded her head slightly, “Don’t ya be apologizing me. Apologize t’ her,” she said, pointing to Alisa.

The Demi-human didn’t move for a moment, soaking in what the healer had said. A look began upon her face like she was about to cry, but a deep breath managed to maintain her composure, if only for the moment. Looking up to Alisa, her eyes like two small fountains of pain, she spoke softly, her voice seemingly gone, “I’m sorry.”

Almost immediately, the Blue Pegasus healer’s temperament changed, becoming softer again as she watched the apology. Likewise, her tone also improved, “A place like this, ain’t something everyone getting. Building ain’t big ‘nough to be supporting all of Hargeon, ain’t it.” She placed a soft hand upon Vyra’s shoulder, the faintest of shaking meant to reassure the girl as a weak chuckle escaped her lips.

She glanced up at Alisa, a smile on her face, one as much to convey how earnest she meant, and in the same right, one that was intended to serve as a manner of apology towards Alisa for what just happened. “The Master cares about ya, a great deal. Last thing she be wantin’ is something horrible happenin’ to ya, ain’t that right Master?”

Her heart sank into her chest.

A pain radiated through her; it wasn’t just disappointing Alisa, it was the manner in how she had. Though Alisa had seemed to understand before, the anticipation, the excitement that came with the idea of experimenting with a newly-discovered Magic, Vyra did not appreciate the other aspect of what came with that fascination. The risk, the danger associated with it.

She had ignored her own safety. She had ignored Alisa’s safety. The safety of those within Blue Pegasus, who had taken her in.

Never did she consider why. What risk was she truly putting herself in? She looked down upon her hand, her eyes seemingly never detracting it from it upon pulling her gaze from Alisa, and though everything looked normal, her mind raced as she reconsidered everything she thought she knew. Was it her? Was it her Magic? Was this how it went?

Her mind flashed briefly back to the other night, to her within her own mind. Or wherever that place had been, the font of Magic within her. She thought of the copy of her, how she stood tall within the toxic clouds that surrounded everything in sight. Clouds of her Magic. Disease Magic.

Disease Magic. Was that what it was actually? Was that why they were so fearful? For her, or of her? Both perhaps?

Vyra’s head lifted, breaking her focused gaze upon her hand, instead peering into the look upon the Blue Pegasus’s healer’s face, the apparent concern and worry for her hidden behind the guise of a stern healer. “It’s my Magic…” She turned slightly, glancing towards Alisa, “That’s what you’re concerned about? It's what you’re both worried about, that it’ll kill me?”

An answer didn’t even seem needed. Between what that darker imposter said, the scent of it, the taste that lingered, the shiver that went down her spine every time she gave a thought to trying her Magic further, there was little doubt in her mind. The more time that passed, the more the sinking feeling built that it was true.

“Alone? Probably would,” the elderly woman’s words were cold, matter-of-factly than anything else, but not cruel. “Look at ya company though. Ya in the arms of one of the Wizard Saints. Ain’t no teacher that you could more ask for than that.” Vyra could feel the hand gently patting against her head, the solemnness that she was feeling waning in favor of some comfort. “Probably no one better that understands what your Magic is either. Sure you seen it once or twice in your day, wouldn’cha master?”

A break from the conversation came from the maid whom had otherwise spent the time cleaning, bringing herself before Vyra, a pair of garments folded neatly within her crossed arms. Vyra could not help but smile as she carefully reached out, taking hold of the garment as it unfolded within her grip, revealing itself to be a casual blouse. Running her fingers through it, it may not have been the same silky material like what she had been wearing, but it still felt nice, nicer than whatever Vyra could remember before.

“Thank you!” she said, the sincerity in Vyra’s voice being a welcome change from the mournful setting that had otherwise been conveyed. In a lapse, she seemed to simply strip what remained of ripped garment, allowing the torn silken fragments to fall to the ground as she put on the otherwise more modest, but arguably more appropriate article of clothing. Never during this sequence did the panic that had earlier come with her having shown the bruises of a past time bring it self forward, a level of comfortability or just assurance being the clear distinction now.

Properly dressed again, Vyra could not help but glow a bit, her disposition having completely shifted into the loving young woman whom Alisa had begun to get to know so well. So pronounced was the turn it would be quite imaginable to the unaware party that the events earlier and all of the circumstances and fallout surrounding it never happened. The Demi-human could not help but model the garment slightly, appreciating it for herself as much for the others within the room still. “They look nice! Thank you again,” she said with the kindness radiating through her voice towards the maid who simply nodded and smiled in response.

The Blue Pegasus healer said nothing, though could not entirely hide the faint forming of a smile upon her face. Maintaining composure, the woman turned her attention towards Alisa, “Well, I supposin’ now that I taken up enough of your mornings. I bid you farewell Master, and you,” she said, turning her focus back towards Vyra, “I don’t expect I should be-“ A knock on the door seemed to cut her thought in half completely. It was a tempered knock, no particular urgency behind it, but also one that did not lack the conviction of its intended purpose.

Another pair of knocks came upon the closed door, with the same behavior as before. After a short pause, the door opened with a steady pace, revealing the man whom Vyra had met the night before, the tall man, dressed in a proper suit standing within the door frame; a warm smile on his face as his view cast upon the four women, the roles vastly different amongst them, yet all warranting the same courteous bow. “A pleasant morning to you all,” he spoke, the solid look upon his face making it hard to decipher the tone of his voice beyond what the ear could pick up on. “Have I arrived at a poor time?”

The healer sighed, “Who was it this time? One of those youngin’ fools fall out a window again? Knew we ought to be having the more rowdy bunch on ground level or beneath. I swear, they putting them-“

A cautioned chuckle escaped the man’s mouth as he shook his head, “No Madame, you misunderstand my arrival. I do not bring any poor news as to the health of the residents. Rather, I have arrived for our latest arrival.”

Vyra looked at the man for a moment, it not immediately dawning on her that he was referring to her, “Me?”

“Aye. Your arrival, while certainly becoming a healthy topic of discussion amongst the guild, does come with it some formalities that we must adhere to. The earlier, the better, as they say.”

“Like what? I don’t get it.”

“Just a few things, nothing horrible or otherwise should give pause for concern. If anything, they are matters that more extend to the Blue Pegasus guild itself. Legal tender that we aim to remain on top of, ensures that there are no issues as far as our standing relationship with Hargeon, as well as making sure that we have what records we can on you, lest something awful happen,” a quick glance towards Alisa before he finished his thought, “Though, it’s more a precaution than practice. But, we wish to remain prepared.”

Vyra frowned, the prospect of doing this stuff seeming boring. “Do I have to?”

A weak nod was returned, “Unfortunately. I know it fails to compete against the possibility of enjoying the day with the lovely Master, but it is something that we do need to keep on top of. Under most circumstances, it would be done before being provided a room. The Master is quite convincing though,” the man said, flashing a smile.

“Will Alisa be here when I get back?” Vyra asked, looking up to face Alisa, a desperate look on her face, before turning back towards the man.

“That I cannot say. There is a potential, though I suspect that she also has things that she must tend to, people whom require her attention as well.” He could see the look of disappointment on Vyra’s face as he said this, “But you need not worry. Undoubtedly there will be time for the two of you to catch up again. Fret not. Now come, the sooner we get through this, perhaps the sooner you two can enjoy the day.”

Like a disappointed child, Vyra got up, but not before turning around and giving Alisa a tight hug, one echoing times earlier between them. “Thank you for everything. I promise, on my life, I will make you proud,” Vyra said, her words audible certainly to Alisa, perhaps those in ear shot, but the Demi-human wanted it absolutely clear, that she for all that she had done for her, somehow, she was going to make it up to Alisa.

After a couple of moments, she finally released her grip on the taller, beautiful woman, slowly walking towards the man just before the open doorframe. “Shall we?”, he asked as the young woman took a final glance back towards Alisa, soaking in the sight before shifting her focus towards him, giving a weak, almost defeated nod. “Do not worry, it will be painless. Farewell Fiona, Master. You have my word, I shall make the process as smooth as I am able.”

With that, the door closed, leaving Alisa, the Blue Pegasus healer, and Alisa’s maid still within the room while Vyra and the man stood within the hallway. Already hating this, Vyra followed the man towards wherever it was that they were going, the only thing that was apparent was that with this, this was going to be her home now.

And, despite the disappointment in having to tend to this, to leave Alisa for the time being, the thought of having a place to call home, she couldn’t hide how excited she was towards that.

It was something that made her wonder if she were dreaming. In a matter of a days, her fortunes had changed so much. Once alone, now she was to have a home, and from what it seemed, she had found a family too.