---

---

---

Myth could tell the two girls were trouble, but they cared a great deal about their father. Sometimes that was how one showed love. Myth hadn't really experienced that and seeing it in action warmed her a bit. So much so her stomach felt uneasy. She chalked it up to nerves as she followed the girls through the halls.

Myth was fairly smart, she liked to figure. So it didn't take a genius to put two and two together. Especially when the girls confirmed the names of his siblings and mentioned him being old. Hell she was from the land. "Oh my goodness, I slept with a god..." was all she could say to herself. It only just hit her. She had to take a moment to process it. She sat down. "So, what's your family like? From the legend, I guess they would be a lot of fun to be with."

---

---

---

Fleur was having none of this. Not only did this man come in and start shit with her flock, but Antonije was having an episode and Constance was nearly hurt. She knew Constance wouldn't stand for it, but Fleur placed herself between Bruce and the rest. Things had to be calmed down. "All right, I feel I have been more than fair and kind with you, but if you are going to continue to cause me and my family trouble, it is best we get you on your way, yes?"

Fleur used Magyk to summon a document. Once it appeared, she quickly inspected it and put it on the table near Bruce for him to look at. "All right. This document will allow your girls to sever ties with us. Feel free to look it over, if you wish. The sooner, the better. I have a door to fix and other messes to clean up so if you can not blow anything else up, that would be wonderful."

---

---

---

---

---

@FantasyChic: "Technically they are only our adopted family... But they aren't too bad... We've met them a few times," Medea explained softly. Marya nodded in agreement. She considered Bruce to be their father by technicality. Their actual parents had died in a laboratory accident. The twins hadn't been fast enough to get them out, managing to only save their brother, Antonije. "His parents are really old..." Marya added. "But they only look like they're in their thirties, which is weird if you ask me - old people should look old."

"You mean like his grandparents? And they only look young because of Nova, she won't let anyone she cares about age. Oh, his aunt, though she is his mother's cousin not sister, is also the current ruler of Asgard." Marya nodded in agreement. "Too bad he likely won't get to be King of Asgard unless his sister dies." Marya then went over to one of the cupboards, pulling out a jar of marmalade and she jabbed her fingers into it, licking them clean. "And his older cousins. He's fourth in line."

---

---

---

Constance smirked slightly, seeing the document that Fleur had prepared. Her hair would grow back with time - as would her dignity. And she had a feeling that with Fleur's sleight of hand trick, her dignity would be restored quickly. "Now why don't you sign on the dotted line and run along? Give Medea and Marya my best," Constance told Bruce, regaining her sense of calm and control. Her accent was reminiscent of what we would call Virginian nowadays - her own mother had been from the southern region of the Big Wild Land Over the Ocean.

"It's my FUCKING door!" Antonije snapped, hitting his fist against the wall. He stepped to the side, that way no one could be standing in front of them. His silver-blonde hair fell over his eyes and his fists were clenched. "This is my house and I want all of you OUT now!" he added. Legally speaking, he was right - the Observatory belonged to him, his inheritance after his parents died. His temper was flaring up and Constance eyed him warily. She thought she had had a better grip on the boy. He then turned to look at Fleur and Bruce in particular. "And stop acting like my sisters are just pawns in some sick game!" he spat.

---

---

---

---

Bruce wasn't dumb, he knew better than to trust witches. "You really think I'm that stupid? Why the hell do you think, I'd trust a witch like you, and Tate's right, I was going to say that too, but it's his home, not yours... I'm willing to leave if he wants me to, unlike you pushy little girls who think that you can trick everyone into doing what you want. Well you aren't going to trick me that easily," he said, before there was another flash of fire in his eyes, mixed with rage. Unfortunately, due to his anger, he didn't exactly have the best control over the fire this time around.

The flames shot from his hands as he attempted to just simply burn the paper, but his anger caused the fire to be blown way out of proportion. The flames raged and ended up hitting Tate, seeing that, Bruce instantly calmed down, freaking out slightly, "Damn it, I am so sorry Tate... I didn't mean to... That was one of the reasons I had stepped in front of you... I didn't want you to get hurt..." he said softly, looking at him.

Tate gasped a bit, gritting his teeth from the pain as he gripped his burnt arm tightly. The flames had smothered out almost instantly, but it was searing and the wound was open, with the charred bits of clothing threatening to mix with his blood. "Yeah, well, whatever....You're not the first person to claim to be my parent and hurt me," he spat, eyeing Constance.

"...I can see about fixing everything that was destroyed, after I deal with this witch, alright?" Bruce said, before this time he shot flames at Fleur, and slamming them into her. He didn't catch her body on fire, but her clothes were burning, however the table also caught fire, so the document burned up as well.

Tate kept a firm grip on his arm, wheezing a bit in pain. "You can't fix everything that's destroyed," he muttered. His parents had died in the very place they now stood.

"...I know... I know I can't... My power is limited in that regards Tate... But if you are willing, after we deal with these two... I want to see about bringing what's left of your family back together, you, Marya and Medea. If that's alright with you..."

Antonije looked at him, not sure if he was being genuine or not. "Are you bullshitting me?"

"No, I'm not... Read my mind Tate, I'm not lying to you... I'm going to be getting a house, literally right now, you can tell if I'm lying Tate, I know you can."

Antonije stared at Bruce for a moment, his eyes seemingly glazing over. It was difficult for him to read others minds at times, especially in this country. He had to consciously translate their thoughts into Serbian. Yet as he finished reading Bruce's mind, Tate was left in tears, not knowing what to say but he nodded slightly.

Bruce nodded, giving him a smile before, putting an arm around him as he looked over at Fleur. "Look, I did ask you, and then Constance decided to be an idiot. And apparently you all really think I'm dumb enough to agree to any sort of thing you witches write out, you are severely misguided. Now, let Marya and Medea out of the Coven, now."

---

---

---

---

"Yes... I did... I must speak to Rowland about something, she gave a description of the one responsible," Valda said, purposefully leaving out the part about Luna's involvement, maybe she could use her magic to see through Luna's memories if that might help her. "However, there is a more pressing issue right now, to the infirmary, it seems we might have an intruder in the Palace," she added, before she started making her way there.

She was worried about her brother and sister, and if there was an intruder in the Palace, in the area by them, then she needed to make sure they were alright, not really caring about her own safety. Valda didn't stop to see what Emperor Taj would be doing as she rushed to the infirmary. She had been wanting to see how her brother and sister were doing anyway, but she hadn't expected to get called into the area quite like that.

---

---

---

"Oh? I know the place that you speak of... I myself come from the Land of Long Nights. I left there though, mainly because my family did not approve of my desire to be a musician," she said, giving him a slight smile. She had heard about what had happened to that area, but she had been more of yanked away from ever finding out more about it, despite what she might have wanted about the issue. She was glad when the door opened, and she stepped inside, seeing Arya with a bit of a smile.

"It is good to see you Arya," she said, before she noticed at her feet, the message of greeting appeared, and it made her heart practically stop for a moment. The words forming, and everyone around her could see them.



She fell silent, staring at the words. They did speak truth, but she wasn't going to admit it out loud, especially if someone didn't specifically ask about their meaning. Sylvi hoped that no one would ask her, she had forgotten about the greeting that would appear in Wizard's Tower, and now it might just backfire and reveal the secret she has been desperately hiding.

---

---

---

---

Cuyler glanced at the bard. It was not uncommon to find someone from the Land of Lost Nights lurking within the Castle but to be at the Wizards Tower together, that was a strange coincidence. However, the probing questions would have to wait, for the door opened and Arya stood there. Cuyler focused on her, a smile coming to his face as he let out a relieved breath.
”I could say the same thing,” he confessed. When they stepped inside Cuyler noticed the writing on the floor. Crown Princess? The words on the floor began to shift but Cuyler was already looking at Sylvi. Surely the floor was speaking of her but the Crown Princess here was Luna. That left the Crown Princess that went missing in the Land of Lost Nights years ago. Cuyler’s eyes widened, shocked and in disbelief. He looked back at the floor, wanting to confirm what it said but different words looked up at him for all to see.



Cuyler stared at the floor, speechless for once as his muscles seemed to twitch funnily. He looked at Ayra, not even thinking the floor was talking of the bard he just met. A smile slid across his full lips and turned into a grin that was about to give way to comment until he remembered they were not quite alone. He cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably, running a hand over his scrap of a beard.
”Are you aware that someone has broken into Wizard Tower recently?”
Many things had happened today. All of which would have to come before the suggestion of the floor. Make no mistake, Cuyler would revisit its obvious suggestion.

---

---

---

---

Amarantha’s fingers twitched at her side in anticipation. She shifted ever so slightly, feeling the change of tension and watched Lyra jump between them. Senseless violence? Hardly. Violence was always warranted and needed. How else would people assert their dominance and take over? She rose an eyebrow at Lyra, taking her step back and crossed her arms. Perhaps this knight had more fight than she let on. A little naive but if the girl saw much more of Amarantha, she would pop that cherry quickly.
Asha began to speak, ignoring Lyra and answered Amarantha’s question with that very fire the hunter noticed in the beginning. She looked back at the woman with the glowing necklace and began to squeeze her arms where her hands lay. The pain Asha spoke of inflicting made Amarantha’s eyes shift with mild delight. A cold, burning glint shone in her blue eyes as she thought of what Asha may have seen in her time and what pleasure the woman would have taken in administering this torture on the late Gwydon Puck. Amarantha took pleasure in the torture she delivered, the control she possessed over the people she held. And she always got her answers. It was something she would always be good at. Perhaps the Young Army was a bit barbaric but the training she received pushed her to the point where no one would be able to control her. No one would be able to break her.
”Now that would have been a sight. One I’m sure our friend here would not have been able to stomach. Puck’s burning was a mercy,” Amarantha found herself agreeing with Asha. She looked at Lyra as she spoke this. Her compassion was going to be a weakness to her, especially in this place. If she was made to protect Valda, she would have to learn quickly.
”And since the one who took my dear commander is no longer among us, I see no need to cause harm to either of you. Thank you for telling me his fate and his deserved fate. Perhaps in another life I would agree with you,” Amarantha said to Asha. ”But as I do not, I will retain control of what is left of the Young Army. I do hope you stick around to see what I have planned.”

---

---

Luna watched as things quickly started to unfold before her, as two people suddenly appeared in the room and her brother Myrus suddenly springing into action. Seeing her brother use whatever power or Magyk that he had on him, seeing the pillow starting to glow a bright pink and hurled it directly at Rhys. Sending him flying into a nearby medical bed, wincing slightly as she heard the thud, and noticed the gash on his head. Then he simply disappeared, Luna watched Skaoi spring forward to tend to the boy that Rhys had brought in Luna was worried that the man was there to kidnap her again.

She was worried about her brother as she got up and made her way over towards Myrus as he laid on the bed, apologizing for what he had done. "Are you okay brother?" Luna asked looking at him, she didn't want to touch him she wasn't sure how it exactly worked and she didn't want to end up exploding either. Seeing that Myrus wa a little bit more alert now she knelt down next to her brother, he seemed to have some kind of answers. "Remember the Messenger Rat I had told you about yesterday before Valda's coronation? I mentioned the person Golds, and you've been saying it over and over again. Do you know anything?" Luna asked, hoping that Myrus was at least coherent enough now to speak.

---

---

---

---

Lyra's gaze turned sharply back over to Asha, her eyes widening a touch as the woman depicted in graphic detail what she believed Puck had deserved. She let out a shaky breath, before biting her lip as she had to look away. Her gaze eventually did gravitate back towards Asha as she was addressed specifically. She released her lower lip, her lips then thinning at the woman's words. She remained silent for a moment, struggling internally with what was said. There was validity to what Asha said, and yet she couldn't shake the belief that violence wasn't the solve all problem to injustice. She shook her head lightly. "I don't either, Asha, but how are we any better than him if we wish such violence upon another person? And for what, vengeance?" she replied, letting the question linger in the air. She had to believe that violence wasn't the only solution to violence, and that vigilantism was not the means to serve justice. She just had to.

Her attention turned back to the Deputy Hunter as the woman spoke up. Her lips tightened slightly at Amarantha's words, namely the slight against her. Was it so wrong that she did not wish to bare witness to such cruel acts? Perhaps in the case of a war a "weak stomach" as the woman claimed would do her no good, but this wasn't a war. Not yet anyways. She raised her chin, squarely looking the Deputy Hunter in the eyes. Amarantha didn't scare her. If anything, Lyra pitied the woman for having been taken from her family as a child and turned into this. That's not to say that she would make the mistake of underestimating the woman. No, she would watch this one closely. She watched the two women as they now interacted, less as a partaker in the conversation now and more as a mere peacekeeper. Yet, all the while, a feeling of wariness and distrust of the Deputy Hunter stirred up within the newly knighted woman.

---

---

---

---

Atkin followed Arya down the moving staircase. He felt pretty bad for the Ordinary Wizards getting shafted so they could get to the bottom faster (it wasn't like the Manuscriptorium was going anywhere), but he wasn't the one driving the bus. When he stepped off the staircase, he was confronted with the message:


He was already tired of the floor's shenanigans, another message like this didn't help much. Not to say that no duh the Castle appeared to be in grave danger. They got a new queen and in less than a day the other princess was kidnapped, there was a witch war, an attack against the Castle itself and then a massive fucking riot. Even a blind man could see the danger. And he doubted that anyone who ever got a message like that was genuinely relieved to read it.

"Pleased to meet'cha," he greeted Sylvi, waving amicably. Bards combining Magyk with music was kind of a weird concept, but it wasn't really that out there. Most spells were performed with a spoken incantation of some kind, why couldn't those same incantations be encoded in lyric or instrumentations? Seemed to all align with him. He noticed the message on the floor calling her 'Crown Princess,' but that wasn't really anything to bat an eye at. Arya knew who she was, and she'd just be another member of nobility to add to the list. Wasn't going to change a damn thing. The "love will always win thing" was a bit more of a puzzle.

And oh, Cuyler was there too. Of course he'd be. Was he just going to start showing up every day now? Constantly bothering him with his presence? Get a hobby, man. A hobby that didn't involve coming to the Tower and trying to schmooze Arya. Even if that traitorous floor is egging him on.

"Depends on whatcha mean. Somebody's been skulking around everywhere lately it seems. F- Screwing with everything. Wouldn't be surprised if most of the turmoil goin' on over the past couple of days isn't due to them. Is that what you're asking about, or is there some other intruder?" Atkin was going to give the guy the benefit of the doubt here. Yesterday he was going into fairy tales, but that was in response to things that were admittedly out of the ordinary and not explainable by modern knowledge. Maybe today he had some actually valuable information and not just a bunch of redundancy and fantasy.

---

---

---

Myth listened with intense fascination. She hadn't pegged Bruce to be Asgardian or to be the stuff of legends. He looked so...ordinary. Not ugly by any stretch. He was handsome in his own right. She just didn't picture him being the fourth in line to any royalty. Now here she was, in his home with his daughters talking about the legends she heard growing up.

And she slept with one of them!

She had to admit, she was good. How many could claim to sleep with a god? She had enjoyed herself though. Bruce was different than the normal lot she met in her travels. Her stomach moved just thinking about it. "It definitely sounds interesting and not at all boring. Just the life I want. So what do you girls do for fun around here?" She had a feeling it involved mischief and getting on their father's nerves, but she wanted to get to know these girls more.

---

---

---

Fleur had just about enough. Not only was this man putting herself and her coven in danger every minute he stood there, but he now threatened her wardrobe! Quickly putting out the flames, Fleur lurched forward, grasping Bruce's head and bringing hers closer, putting her lips to his. In what would normally be a kiss, it was much more. Fleur surged with energy and power, sucking the life force from Bruce.

She could feel his resistance. He was strong. Very strong. She was strong too and fought back against his attempts to throw her off, but she got what she wanted. Bruce would feel his energy depleted and he would be tired, almost like he gave blood and was afraid of needles. She felt stronger and more energized like she could climb five mountains. She released him and let him go.

"I have been kind and you give me nothing but anger and accusations. As I told you, leaving the coven is not a simple matter. I cannot just let them go without ramification. Instead of listening to this, you attack me and my family and I do not take such action lightly. I suggest you go back home and talk with your daughters about this. As I mentioned, they are free to go about their life if they so choose. They only need to be here when I call them. And know if you dare attack any of my people again, I will bring the force of the coven so swiftly upon you and yours you will wish you never blew open my door. And yes, Antonije I said MY door. This is my home now, whether you like it or not. I consider you part of this coven and you have your own things as we do. I will protect you as I have protected this man's daughters like they were my own and I will be DAMNED if anyone says otherwise. I will NOT lose another, do you hear me?"

Emotion rose in her cheeks and quickly passed. She took a breath and offered to help Bruce to his feet. "I believe you know the exit, my good man. And give your daughters my best."

---

---

---

---

"Damn it, I hate witches... And let me tell you one thing you little bitch, this house isn't yours. This house isn't Constance's, it belongs to Tate, as well as his sisters in a way. I will not take you claiming this is yours," he spat at Fleur, before something appeared in his hand, a tall staff of sorts, and it glowed with a faint orangish aura. "You might want to hold onto something Tate, but I think it's high time we got these witches out of here."

"....What....What do you mean man?" Antonije asked. He had flinched slightly when Fleur implied that he was a member of her Coven. He didn't want to be anything of the sort. "Fleur beat you....right? She did a kiss of death....."

"Oh no, far from it, I've still got power, and you are not staying anywhere here with the witches."

"....Just how strong are you?"

""...Please, that attack was nothing... Reminds me of when Nova was younger and would zap energy from people without even trying."

".....Are you going to burn me again?"

"No Tate, this time I'm more of doing a spatial jump, it has nothing to do with the cosmic flames," Bruce said, before he focused all of his power into the staff. This was something big, it had been a while since he pulled off something like this, and he needed to focus. There was a bright flash, and the observatory seemed to shift around them. He wasn't at his full strength because of Fleur, but it was definitely enough. A moment later, the observatory was empty, save for them and Tate's possessions, even managed to bring his horse along. The witches were no where in sight.

He stumbled slightly, taking a few deep breaths. "Alright... We are still in the Badlands, but I moved the entire observatory... As well as everything you own, including the horse... This is your place Tate... I'm not going to let those witches take it from you... I just need to take a little bit of a breather before we go anywhere else. This was a big jump... But might see if a little later I can move it farther than I did..." he said, slightly pale as he sat down in an empty chair, holding Gandr tightly in his hands.

---

---

---

---

---

@FantasyChic: "Running around, annoying our Tata... Sometimes we race off to go visit our brother..." Medea said with a bit of a shrug. There wasn't really much else they did, unless you counted being apart of the Port Witches, and she wasn't going to tell Myth that right off the bat. "Sometimes we like to pull pranks on other people too for fun."

@mnkee@KazAlkemi: Asha had to resist the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose at Lyra's words. While softness and innocence could be admired in many contexts, it had no place when it came to matters of survival and country. Yes, Lyra was more than a mere lady in waiting - but was she truly a knight? Asha had to wonder. "Of course," Asha told Amarantha, nodding slightly. "As for my whereabouts...The Ancient Ways keep our countries closer connected than you would expect. Yet once my brother and I finish our business here, we will return to Die Baie Ringstad."

@LadyRunic: Badger stared at Rhys, blinking for a moment. It wasn't due to shock of the injury - he had seen far worse in his time in the Young Army - but just another bit of wonder as Rhys appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He was warming up slightly to the idea of learning Magyk - or whatever it was exactly that Rhys wanted to teach him. "Some..." Badger said quietly, looking around Rhys' place before he found a rag and a bottle of ether. Dipping the rag in the bottle, he then more of less smashed the rag against Rhys' wound to clean it.

"Do you have a sewing kit...? I can use mine," Badger then said quickly. He pulled out his needle, not bothering to clean it with the rag or use a flame to sanitize it, and he stitched up Rhys' wound. He managed, but some miracle, to stop the bleeding. "There...Is the girl-boy coming back?" he asked, referring to Tom.

---

---

---

Arya watched as her message faded away, catching a glimpse of the messages the others received. Atkin's was more or less to be expected - yet Cuyler's and Sylvi's took her by surprise. She felt a tinge of jealousy, initially assuming that Cuyler's message indicated Sylvi yet her eyes met his and she realized the floor meant her. Arya's cheeks turned crimson. It wasn't the time for romance - she hardly ever considered it to be the time for such things, due to her busy lifestyle.

"Sylvi," Arya said, clearing her throat. "I will ask you about that later," she stated simply. She knew Sylvi as a bard and hearing that she was a Crown Princess...Well, Arya had a pretty good idea of who she really was now, but it didn't matter. She would always think of her as Sylvi first, lost princess of the Land of Long Nights second. And her mind was more than considerably distracted by the notion that the floor wanted Cuyler to kiss her. She wouldn't have protested too much if he did.

Nodding in agreement with Atkin, Arya couldn't help but wonder exactly how Cuyler knew that someone had trespassed recently. "Yes, but...I must ask how you came to that conclusion?" she inquired, before motioning for them to follow her as she headed off to a side chamber. She pressed her hand against the wall next to it and there was a slight purple shimmer, before the doors swung open and she headed inside. There was what looked to be a giant pot, filled with stones.

"Someone replenished these - Questing stones," she explained softly. "It is nothing less than a threat to the ExtraOrdinary Apprentice - present and future..."

---

---

---

Becky assisted Skaoi as much as she could, but it was clear that Skaoi's skills were vastly superior to Becky's. To the untrained eye, there was approximately a threefold difference between the two of them - yet it mattered very little, as Tom was stabilized and began to rest comfortably. There was a pale sheen on his forehead but with time and rest, his health would ameliorate.

"...I didn't mean t'blow them up..." Myrus mumbled, hiding a bit beneath the covers. He felt a bit bad, having blown up the pillows that some servant in the Palace must have carefully cleaned and placed on the bed. He felt bad whenever they'd change his sheets, having pestered one of them to teach him how to do his own linens that way they didn't have to. It wasn't like being born royal made him better than anyone else. Or gave him a right to be lazy and let others do the work for him.

"Well, at least the rat bastard - I mean, kind gentleman - has left," Becky commented, correcting her language since Myrus and Luna were there. Skaoi was old enough to hear that sort of talk, she figured, despite her youthful looks. "And Princess Luna, enough of that talk!" Becky scolded. She wasn't meek around royals like Skaoi seemed to be.

"N-no, s'okay..." Myrus mumbled. He then looked at Luna, furrowing his eyebrows slightly. It seemed to be physically painful and difficult for him to sort through to those memories. "I-I-I d-don't remember...," he admitted, taking a breath. "But Golds...Golds' name is Esren C-C-Carlan..."

"Esren Carlan?" Emperor Taj asked, coming into the room with Queen Valda. "Is Esren Carlan the one who trespassed into your mind?" he asked. He didn't see any sign of an intruder, assuming it was a false alarm, but you could never be too careful in a country filled with Magyk.

"Y-yes...But she...she calls herself something different...Golds...Nera Hawthorn...Sh-sh-she's g-going to kill you, Valda!" Myrus stammered.

---

---

---

After the dust clears, the Coven finds itself on an empty plot of land. There's an indent in the ground where the observatory had stood for years. Constance takes a breath for a moment, before she gives Fleur a hug. "Sweet child, don't think you have to do this alone..." she reassured her. Yet a moment later, there was a green flash as Fleur tried out the timestone. Everything seemed to move in reverse, as those in the immediate area went backwards as the observatory reappeared.

"...Here's Brucey?!" Antonije mocked, staring at Bruce incredulously. "And here I thought you couldn't get any lamer," Antonije muttered underneath his breath. He then blinked a bit. "What the..." he muttered, looking over at Fleur who had an infinity stone in her hand. His eyes widened a bit with fear. "How the hell did you get one of those things?!" he exclaimed, backing away slightly.

He then glanced at Bruce. He felt like the two of them were pretty evenly matched. And he didn't want to be around for the grudge match. "Look, Bruce man...Just give her a magic knife or something in exchange for my sisters..." he suggested, freaking out. He did NOT want to be in the middle of this. Not at all.

Constance smirked a bit. "And our dear Witch Mother has more talents than you'd think, boy," she added to Bruce, grabbing Antonije by the ear and dragging him back over.

"Or Fleur...They're my sisters so...I'll give you ownership of the Observatory for them," he added. "I-I can even toss in my machines..."

---

---

Luna looked over her shoulder towards Becky for a moment when she scolded her, looking down slightly but still she needed to know so that she could find out what was exactly going on. When Myrus said that it was okay Luna looked back at her brother and gently laid a hand on his shoulder in a comforting way. She wanted to make sure he was alright, Luna listened to him as he tried to remember the name the first name Esren Carlan came up, Luna didn't know the name at all. That's when she heard someone's voice speak up and quickly stood up seeing that it was Emperor Taj who spoke and quickly bowed her head. "Hello Emperor it is good to see you again." Luna said and then saw her sister was close by as well, glad that her sister was doing alright now.

"I don't know who Esren is, yesterday I had recived a messenger rat from a person going by the name of Golds, mentioning something going on with the Castle and asked me to meet at sundown." Luna said softly, before looking down at Myrus when he started to remember a second name, and then paused, Nera Luna did know the name well enough from when the Port Witches had taken her.

"Ah the witch that got her head smashed in like a pumpkin, that was a great show to see and watch." Luna heard that voice and quickly just ignored it once more. She was scared what would have happened if she did go to that meeting. "The name Nera I know, she was one of the Port Witches that tried to take me yesterday. She's dead now killed by Amarantha. And I think she was the one who killed our mother." Luna said and then knelt down next to Myrus once more. "You don't have to worry about her anymore." Luna said towards her brother in a comforting way.

---

---

---

---

Rhys hissed as the ether smeared rag was smashed against his skull. At least the boy meant well and had stayed put. "Careful lad. Gentle, I do not need more wounds. And dip that in the ether and hold it over a flame before you stick it in my head." His words were softly said, but there was a biting sternness to his voice as Badger tended to the damnable wound. Curse the ExtraOrdinary Wizard and Palace folk for this!

As Badger finished the task set before and the blood stopped flowing, Rhys took a large swallow of drink he had fetched from a small cabinet he kept such- edible and non-poisonous potion ingredients. "When Tom is better he should be able to. The Call I placed upon him should work and lead him back here." Giving the boy a firm and friendly clasp on the shoulder, Rhys gave a groan as he stood up and walked to the potion he had been making. With luck it would not be ruin, but luck was a fickle thing and seemed to have fled him of late. "A Call is used to make someone come to the one who Called. It's more complicated and difficult than simply that, but that is the gist of it. If you want a useful spell generally that would be Cause or something you can try, Fetch spell." Gesturing for the boy to stand were he was, Rhys tossed one of his less useful tomes in the middle of the floor. [color=Gold]"Focus, imagine the book coming to your hand, imagine walking over and picking up the book without actually doing it. Repeat 'Fetch book'." Rhys left the words he uttered without meaning, giving it that subtle twist that would not send the book to him. What good would it do when he needed the boy to learn?

---

---

---

---

Skaoi winced when Becky called the man a 'rat bastard'. Not that she was wrong, but Skaoi found such language and insults pointless at best and just rude at worse. A fact she would not hold against the woman, for who was she to judge? Her own crimes were far worse according to her family. Her shoulders slumped dejectedly at that thought as she dismissed it to turn her attention to Myrus adjusting several herbal powders into a small mug of water. It did not need to be heated luckily, a cold tea sometimes would work better than a warm one if merely for the comfort of the flavoring.

As Emperor Taj and Queen Valda entered the infirmary, Skaoi's pale hand jerked slightly in shock before resuming the mixing and straining. Why did she have to be at the Palace with nobility about? It was not that she disliked it, but rather that she feared to draw attention to herself. Keeping her eyes to her work as she gave a deft curtsy to the two leaders, the woman considered what they spoke of. Apparently this Esren had placed a spell upon Myrus and killed the Queen while working in league with the Port Witches. Now this troubling person was supposedly dead, and Skaoi winced at the callus way life was treated. It went against her grain as someone who helped people heal and live. "Drink, Your Highness. It will sooth your nerves."

---

---

---

---

Cuyler caught Ayra’s eye and for a second he was sure he saw jealousy in her eyes until she saw him looking at her. Her cheeks flushed and it only made Cuyler grin more. Perhaps there was something there that wasn’t there before.
Atkin drew his focus back and then Ayra spoke up as well in regards to Cuyler’s statement.
”Well, there is a brand new window in place on the second floor and a couple of stones have shifted and been hastily replaced. The scratches on the stone and around the window are what pushed me into this conclusion.” The concern was very present in Cuyler’s voice as he spoke of the details he saw outside. Something so human, or animal, being able to break into Wizard Tower like that? This place had always seemed an impenetrable fortress to him. Even as a child he was fascinated with the building and the brilliant white colour that seemed to make the Tower glow even at night time.
The group moved into the Tower and he followed Ayra over to a wall that she touched. The wall seemed to shimmer purple before opening up for them. As Cuyler walked across the floor, new words cropped up for everyone to see.



Now it was Cuyler’s turn for his cheeks to burn. He slipped closer to Ayra and leaned down to whisper into her ear for her only.
”Your floor is rather persistent isn’t it?” he commented, letting his arm brush against hers as he leaned in. It also had horrible timing. Cuyler wasn’t about to kiss her in a room full of people. Especially when it would be their first kiss.
Cuyler followed Ayra into the new room and noticed a pot sitting in the middle. Ayra softly explained what the stones in the pot ment. Cuyler looked from the stones to Ayra with sympathy. There was more than just the Palace destruction that was going on. Many things happened behind closed doors that others never cared to take notice of.

---

---

---

---

Lyra’s obvious discomfort was rather satisfying to Amarantha. She enjoyed putting people on edge. It made it easier to get inside their heads and plant things that slowly destroyed them. Amarantha had a feeling she would have more contact with Lyra in the coming months and she was looking forward to the games that would ensue.
”Excellent,” Amarantha said to Asha. She had many plans in her head but she needed to survey who she still had left before she presented her plans to the Queen.
”If you excuse me ladies, the water is calling my name. If you have any further questions my door will be unlocked,” Amarantha said and winked at Lyra before she turned and strode back to her room, which was only a couple steps away.
Once in the confines of her room, Amarantha let out a shaky breath. There was no possible way Amarantha would ever step down this hallway again or into Lyra’s room. When a person died, their ghost remained in that place for a year and a day. Amarantha had no desire to see that man ever again. Letting the image of Puck drift from her mind she walked forward, unbuttoning her jacket as she went and tossed it aside before she walked into the bathing chamber. What modern wonders the Palace had. Enchanted water that never stopped flowing or dropped in temperature. Amarantha was used to bathing in streams or the occasional heated tub Puck provided her but that usually came with a catch.
After removing her pants she stepped under the flowing water and released an audible sigh of pleasure. The water washed more than dirt and blood away. Much had transpired in the last twenty-four hours and there was much more to do in the coming twenty-four hours.

Cleaned and redressed, Amarantha pulled her boots back on, stood and admired her appearance in the mirror before she left her cozy room and the Palace. The cold air hit her face in an odd combination of soothing and alarming. As the woman made her way through the streets, surveying the destruction and smelling the sickly, sweet scent of burning bodies, she heard a boy yelling at her, demanding she leave the Castle. She turned her head in time to see the little thing throw stones at her. Amarantha’s full lips slid into a viper’s grin.
”If you desire to actually hit your target one day, you will come to the Castle and find me,” she told the boy sweetly. She continued on her journey, finding a few familiar faces laying in the streets but they would never greet her as their Deputy again. Or their new commander.
The Young Army Caravan sat just outside the Castle walls and instead of the bustling noise, children's laughter and cries, there was silence. A complete and empty silence. Amarantha walked into the middle of the Caravan and stood there, taking it all in. Her body tensed from the emotion that rocked through her but she didn’t let it cross her face. Instead she hardened her appearance as the medic from earlier came out to greet her, along with their diminished numbers.

---

---

---

---

"I hadn't come here to fight... As you recall everything I've done was in self-defense, since you Constance were the one who instigated the fighting by asking Tate to attack me, now, leave him alone," Bruce said, glaring at Constance. He was choosing to ignore the fact that someone in the room had an infinity stone, at least for the moment. His main concern was getting Tate away from Constance. Walking over, he grabbed Tate's arm, and easily pulled him away from Constance, he didn't look it, but Bruce was super strong.

"You stay the hell away from him, got it Constance? If I catch you anywhere near him, or his sisters, then you'll find yourself wishing you were dead. As for you," he said, turning to look at Fleur. The stone she carried was powerful, he knew that for a fact, but still, he wasn't going to do anything about it right now. "Seems like Tate is willing to let you have the observatory, but, I did say his machines could tag along with us and I want to prove that my word does mean something, so fine. As for that stone you carry, I'm not going to do anything about it yet... However, if you do start causing problems for me, well... Then I might do something about it... However, release my daughters from the coven if you will, and you can keep it with you... Now, time for us to get back home," Bruce said, before he transported himself, Tate, and all of Tate's machinery away from the observatory. They'd appear in the main area of the home, and Bruce instantly walked over and collapsed in a chair. "...I think I might be getting too old for this... So much happening in such a short span of time..." he muttered, putting a hand to his head.

---

---

---

---

Valda gave a smile towards her brother and sister, glad that they were alright. Her brother in particular had worried her a lot. Myrus was a good person, and she cared about him a lot, not to mention the fact that he had definitely seemed to come off the worst the day before. "...So, now we know who killed my mother... I was going to go ask Rowland about it, as the one responsible had wanted to become the ExtraOrdinary Wizard. Now I don't need to... I had originally come here due to the fact that someone triggered the alarm, saying that there was some sort of intruder... But it seems like whoever it was is gone now."

She took a deep breath, knowing perfectly well that Arya needed to be made aware of the situation, and that Nera had been killed the day before. After a moment, she started to use her magic to send a message to Arya, unfortunately, to Arya, it would sound like she was screaming in her ear. "Arya? I don't know how well this worked... But the murderer of my mother has been identified as Esren Carlan, known also as Nera Hawthorn. However, there is no need to go after her, as the woman Amarantha killed her yesterday at the Port Witch house."

---

---

---

"Of course Arya..." Sylvi said, nodding her head, though she was really wanting to take out some built up anger on the floor, which was a bit strange. She never thought in her entire career as a Bard that her life before would be outed by something that you walk on, the ground, the floor, and it bugged her a lot. The ground in her mind was not supposed to talk, give messages, or any sort of thing. She had expected it slightly, it being in Wizard's Tower and all, but still. Then the floor decided to keep playing tricks on her.



The damn floor! It needed to learn how to shut up about her! It really was getting to be annoying. She wasn't even paying attention to the conversations around her, more concerned with what it was that she was walking on! Though she was internally laughing at what the floor was telling Cuyler. Maybe the floor wouldn't be so bad if it would just focus on Arya and Cuyler, and not about who she really was. If the floor stopped shooting off messages about her, she would be happy.

---

---

---

Myth could already tell these two would be a handful, but she imagined that made like interesting here. If only Bruce was back. She had tons of questions for him. Questions that these two should not answer. She was still reeling from the idea that she spent the night with a god. And not just any god, a god of legend from her home.

She definitely needed food. "I'm kind of hungry, actually. I don't suppose there's food around here? I'm a bit unsure if gods need to eat, and whatnot." She waited for the two to help her, but she was definitely in the mood for something hearty. She had a feeling she would need the energy. And a lot of it.

---

---

---

Fleur had managed on her own, but perhaps Constance was correct. She shouldn't handle this on her own. Not all of it, anyway. Still, she did what she intended. Truly, the time stone was powerful. It would be a useful tool, but one to approach cautiously, perhaps. It seemed like it could go sideways, as all Magyk could. Though seeing the surprise on Antonije's face as well as Bruch certainly made it worthwhile.

Fleur looked back at the machines that plagued this place. She had no use for such things. "He may take it all, I have no issue with that. Just know that if you come and attack my coven again. And I mean ALL of my coven, I will use whatever is necessary to take you down. Your power does not scare me. It merely inspires me." She glared at Antonije, "This will not be the last you see of me, dear. Have fun." With that, she watched as Bruce and Antonije disappeared.

She turned back to Constance. "We have our work cut out for us, it seems. We should gather everyone and explain how things will be around here. Get started on adding Magykal protections around the perimeter. Strong ones so we don't get another nasty surprise. Then we begin training. I want all able-bodied witches and warlocks to be trained fully to protect this place. And lastly, we need to bury Nera. I promised her I would."

---

---

---

---

Well, Cuyler's little hypothesis on why the castle had been infiltrated recently certainly would have made sense if it had been anywhere else but the Wizard Tower. Well it made sense for the place as well, but he wasn't convinced that it was strictly due to someone breaking into the second floor. For all he knew somebody cast a spell that horribly backfired and caused an explosion that blew out that window. Or some Magykal creature escaped through that window before flying away. Or, well there were a lot of different explanations he could fabricate for the newly replaced window, so he wasn't going to buy the guy's intrusion story until he'd found more proof for it. But at least it was grounded in the real world this time.

As he followed Arya into the side room, the floor decided to chime in again, but at this point he'd stopped paying attention to it, so he didn't even see it say:



No, he was focused on the insides of the chamber. So this was the pot in question. It didn't seem all that special to him. Just a big dumb pot full of rocks. But Cuyler and Sylvi probably didn't get the whole reason she was making a fuss about them, so he decided to fill in the explanation.

"So there used to be a thing called the Queste. It was originally set up by the first Extraordinary Wizard as a sort of bonus journey some apprentices could take, but it was sabotaged by his friend so that anyone who took it would be killed. How it works is during a big gathering off all the ExtraOrdinary Wizards past and present, the pot appears and the current apprentice has to draw a stone from the pot." Atkin reached into the pot without and picked out a stone at random to illustrate the point. "And if it's marked, you gotta go on a Queste. All the old Questing stones were picked out ages ago, but somehow somebody managed to put in more. How that happened beats me."

---

---

---

---

---

Queen Meliscente Segovia Alys Maerwynn was presented to the subjects of the Castle for once last time. The Throne Room was open for all, as the Queen's coffin was placed where the ornate chairs once sat. Flowers adorned the coffin, charmed by Magyk to keep the vibrant colors of spring despite the dreary and cold December day. At the front were supposed to be the chief mourners - her three children, Valda, Luna, and Myrus. Meliscente's brothers and sisters, as well as their own children, were in attendance as well.

Yet at the back of the room, a young witch dressed in black cried silently, the tears pouring down her face. She knew that it had to be done - that Meliscente was a scourge upon this land and that things would be better off without her. She had a task to complete, one which she knew would outlive herself and that she could only entrust to one other - Fleur, the Port Witch Mother. Creating a Magykal bubble of silence around herself, so that way she could speak freely, Nera stood in the line, waiting to view the fallen Queen and say her goodbyes.

"You were like a mother to me, Meliscente," Nera whispered, placing a black rose upon the coffin. The fallen Queen had been aged beyond her years. "I was lost and confused...so terribly alone...And I thought that you were my mother - how much I wished it would be so, you'd never know. I yearned for the day that you would claim me as yours..." Nera took a shuddering breath. She didn't care that she was holding up the line. No one else had anything they needed to say to the dead but her.

"But you used me, my would be Mother," Nera insisted. "Just as you use everyone around you...Once you had no need of your replacement daughter, you cast me aside! As if I were just a plaything!" she snapped, her fingernails digging into the inside of her palm. "...But I will admit, there were times when things were good. Moments when I could imagine we both could be something beyond our nature. Do you recall when you taught me to braid my hair? Or when you told me not to be ashamed of my fiery locks, but that they were a symbol of the fire that burned within me?"

She was silent for a moment, placing her hand on the coffin as she took back the black rose. "...I suppose you expect me to regret my actions, to wish that I did not send you to the grave."

"But my Queen, the only thing I regret is that your death was painless. And that I could not send your children with you - a mistake that I will rectify, rest assured...Princess Valda, Princess Luna...Even Myrus...They have what is rightfully mine. And I shall see to it that they are destroyed, along with everything you held dear and loved. If you believe that Fendrel met a gruesome end...You have seen nothing yet."

---

---

---

@FantasyChic: Constance nodded, embracing Fleur for a moment. She knew how much Nera had meant to her, how much she had meant to the Coven as a whole. While Malekith's death was no great loss, Nera's was deeply felt. She had been the one to convince the twins to join the Coven, as well as many of the other children. "Bernice'll gather them all up," Constance said, going off to have a quick word with her counterpart before she got to work. A few moments later, Jezebel will approach Fleur again, holding her head in pain from a massive headache before telling her of her latest vision - a good one this time.


@KazAlkemi: Despite the sullen and morose atmosphere of the Young Army caravan, there is a small silver lining. The medic had news beyond their diminished numbers - in fact, it was perhaps the first bit of good news that Amarantha had heard that day. "Ma'am...It's 118, she went into labor," the medic explained, ushering for Amarantha to follow him. In the medical tent, amongst all of the despair and death, a girl of about eighteen years cradled a newborn infant on a bed. As Amarantha approached, the new mother looked up at her, smiling slightly.

"Do you want to meet Dawn?" Girl 118 asked quietly, looking at Amarantha. There was no father. The baby's eyes were a brilliant yet aged blue, with a face that seemed to have already lived through one lifetime and was ready to experience the next.

@LadyRunic: Badger nodded, looking at Rhys for a moment before taking a deep breath. Although Rhys wouldn't know it yet - no one would - Badger managed to actually patch Rhys up without giving him an infection. He then held his hand out, staring at the book with his keen blue and green eyes. "Fetch book!" he repeated firmly. The book flew off the ground to Badger's hand, hitting him with such force that Badger was knocked the ground by his own handiwork, with the book falling flat and covering his face. "...Did I do it right, sir?" Badger squeaked. It would seem Rhys had found himself a prodigy.

---

---

---

Arya bit her lip slightly, positively crimson as Cuyler leaned in. She could feel his breath on her skin and it had a slightly dizzying effect. It took all of her mental effort to focus on Cuyler's revelation of the scratches on the window on the second floor. While it could be nothing, it was possible that it may very well be connected - someone had to have broken into Wizard Tower to mess with the Questing Pot, that much she was certain of.

She then knelt to the floor, her ears feeling like they were bleeding as Valda's voice appeared screaming out of nowhere. Holding her ears, they were ringing as Valda's voice cleared and Arya took a ragged breath. "...This is why I do not care for witches..." she murmured, as one of Atkin's former cat friends ran by and let out a hiss. Yet by the time she rose to her feet, about to share the news with the others, her heart stopped - as Atkin reached into the Questing Pot! "ATKIN!" she screamed, her emerald eyes alive with fury as she dove towards him and smacked the stone out of his hand - it was blank, thankfully - and it clattered back into the pot.

She stared at him, her hands shaking a bit - fear or anger? "Do you have a death wish?!" she scolded, looking at him seriously. "Understand that even if a Draw had not been called and there is no Gathering present, I cannot protect you if you are Picked for the Queste!" she pleaded with him. "What would I tell your family - that I had allowed their son to perish on a barbaric mission?" she added on, before she took a deep and calming breath.

"...At any rate," she said, taking another breath for a moment, "Queen Valda has just contacted me with grave news. The late Queen was indeed murdered - by a witch called Esren Carlan, alias Nera Hawthorn. The Deputy Hunter killed her the previous day...And I must imagine that however she killed Meliscente, it was the same means by which she restored the Questing Pot. It would make sense, after all, for an intruder to Wizard Tower to be one with a Magyk of their own."

She took another calming breath, knowing that Nera Hawthorn's reign of terror on the Castle may have been brief, yet its legacy would be long lasting.

---

---

---

Emperor Taj frowned, troubled by this revelation. Although others took comfort in the fact that Nera, the one behind all of this mess, was dead...it brought to mind certain implications. Someone else must have taken the stone. But who? And he feared that more likely than not, they would not be pure of heart or intent. "I must go inform my sister that the stone has changed ownership," Emperor Taj explained, bowing his head to Valda before he left the room.

Myrus gingerly took a sip of Skaoi's concoction and sensing that it was safe, began to drink more deeply. Her herbs were just what he needed and the color returned to his face, as Myrus gave off a healthy cough. His nerves were soothed and he took a deep breath, looking at his sisters and the healers in the room. "Y-yeah, Mr. Buttface left already..." Myrus stammered. Hearing that Nera was dead did soothe and settle his nerves some. But at the same time, there was just something wrong with him.

He couldn't help but worry that if he wasn't careful, it would one day kill him.

Becky looked grimly down at the floor for a moment. She had had her suspicions that Queen Meliscente had been murdered...yet this confirmed them, then. Her life had been ended at the hand of another. "Our poor queen that was...and the poor queen that is," Becky murmured cryptically. She then looked at Myrus and Luna in particular. "Now, the both of you, rest. We still do not know exactly what that vile woman did to your minds."

---

---

---

Antonije couldn't help but feel slightly sick from all of the space and time travel that had been conducted in the last few moments. He looked at Bruce for a moment, seeing the Asgardian-mutant weakened and exhausted in the chair. Constance never would have expended her energy like that for him. It brought tears to his eyes as he stared at Bruce for a moment. A moment later, Bruce would feel Antonije's arms around him as the boy hugged him and cried.

"Хвала, Бруцеи," he mumbled. He then pulled away from Bruce as his sisters appeared in a flash, dragging Myth along with them. Marya or Medea - Myth wouldn't be able to tell which at this moment - had gotten her a jar of sugar and a sandwich to eat. It seemed to be the twins' idea of a healthy diet.

"Ти си кући, тата! И довели сте Антхони! Да ли ће вам мит увек бити твоја девојка?" Marya exclaimed, as both she and Medea quite literally jumped on top of Bruce. Antonije moved back so that way he was pressed up against the wall, looking at Myth a bit nervously. As excited as he was to see his sisters, he felt terrified. He had no doubt that Fleur meant her words and that one day, she'd come for them. He clenched his fists slightly, looking down. He didn't want to lose his family.

---

---

---

---

Lacing her hands in front of her, Lyra tried to remain as stoic as she could manage given the thoughts and emotions that stirred within her. Her blue-green gaze flitted between the two women, Asha the Magykal and the Deputy Hunter Amarantha. She got a sense that they both disagreed with her sentiments. Being the self-critical person that she was, she began to doubt herself and to question why she felt so strongly on the principle. She bit the inside of her lip as she thought on the matter.

She wasn't fond of killing in general, but she understood the purpose of it in certain contexts. She had no ethical dilemma in killing someone in defense of someone or something. She supposed in taking that train of thought and considering what Asha had said earlier, that Asha viewed murdering Puck as a means of defending the people, namely children, he could or would hurt in the future. Though she respected and admired the woman's desire to protect people, she could see the problems that such vigilante type actions could bring about. For instance, if everyone had a free pass to kill those whom they deemed as a threat, then everyone would end up turning on each other. As such, she felt that certain lines just shouldn't be crossed. In the end, she came to the conclusion that they would have to just agree to disagree. She just hoped it wouldn't sway their, well Asha's, opinion of her.

She blinked as she sort of came to in time to see Amarantha wink at her before excusing herself. Once the deputy hunter was out of hearing range, Lyra turned back to face Asha. "I don't trust that woman," she stated bluntly. She took a deep breath as she ran a hand over her face. The morning was already starting off splendidly. She let out a sigh, shaking her head lightly. "I need to attend to the queen," she stated apologetically to Asha. She quickly gathered her things before leading Asha out of her room and locking the door behind them. "I hope to see you again later?" she said, though it came out a bit more like a question. She gave the woman an almost shy smile, seeming a bit flustered, before she hurriedly excused herself in order to go find Queen Valda.

---

---

Luna looked towards Emperor Taj for a moment mentioning something about a stone, and it being changed to someone else, but she didn't really know what he meant by that. "The stranger dropped him in here, and then left." Luna said gesturing towards Tom who was laying on the medical bed. She left the part of Myrus hurting the guy that came in she didn't even know who he was either, and gave a slight shrug she didn't know who he was at all. Luna watched as Skaoi had handed her brother a cup of tea or something of the sort. She gave Valda a soft smile, she was just happy to see her and that she was alright as well, she listened to Becky and gave her a slight look.

But Becky was right she did need to get a little bit of rest now as well, and gave Becky a slight nod before making her way over towards Valda and hugged her older sister. "Thank you for coming for me." Luna said quietly before letting go of her sister and made her way over towards the bed she had been laying in. She was glad that Nera was dead now, but it still left a lot of questions why she had killed their mother, and what the Port Witches would have done if they were to have successfully made her a part of their coven.

---

---

---

---

As the boy nodded eagerly, Rhys watched on in amusement at the first- to his knowledge- attempt at magyck. So when the book flew across the room to strike Badger's hand with a solid thwack, and the boy was knocked off his feet. Rhys's eyes marginally widened in amazement and a sly smile crossed his features. He had asked for revenge and been graced with a weapon he could mold to his whim. "Very correct." The Rogue Wizard stated with hardly hidden delight and amusement.

Plucking a heavier book from the shelf he set it in the middle of the room. "Again. This time try to limit the force you put behind it. Gently, lest you need to Fetch something fragile and harm it and yourself. Doing the little things is just as important as moving the large. Finite details will give you the advantage over sheer power at times." And it was always good to cover all of one's bases. He would teach this boy with the support and kindness that had been denied to him. Badger would be loyal for that if nothing else. Already he was from the Young Army giving him that hard edged, this would just sharpen him. "Never let the idea that magyck can fix everything become your cornerstone. Magyck is as limited as anything else in what it can do, and it must be handled with care. It is a weapon with two edges and can cut you if you let it." The man lectured carefully instructing his lad of the dangers of the powers they both possessed, and of the benefits.

---

---

---

---

Murder and plots. Skaoi was unnerved by such things for they usually meant trouble. Just as strangely appearing and disappearing men dropping children into beds, she figured. As Valda and Taj spoke, she politely pretended not to hear though she caught the words. So a missing stone was causing such worry? Perhaps a artifact of some sort, but it must be of some degree of importance if the Emperor was so obviously worried about it. All the more reason to remain out of the mess, Skaoi thought to herself quietly.

Nodding with the senior woman's declaration that the children needed rest, SKaoi gave a small whispered agreement. "I shall do what I can to help with that and with your newly emerged powers, if that is agreeable Your Highnesses." Her words more meant for Myrus as she would be more concerned with him and his trait for blowing things up. Not to mention the boy who had been deposited here upon death's door. Running a hand through her pale hair, Skaoi moved back to her little kit pulling off the scarf over her locks as she considered the herbs. Murder, scheme and plots. Missing stones and strangers appearing, it was all so odd.

Then again, she was considered very odd with her quiet and apologetic ways. Not to mention her complexion. Pale as snow, and just as silent. That was what her mother had said once in passing praise, a rare moment when so much was heaped upon her by siblings eager to get into mischief they did not have to pay for. But then let them, Skaoi shook her head and set about mixing a second brew of calming tea. Finishing the mixture she turned to Princess Luna and offered her the brew. "Please drink, Your Highness. The day has been long and harrowing, this will add you some what. If you would." Her form shifting nervously about Valda as she disliked being in the presence of rulers, unnerving was what it was.