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[center][sub]Interacting with: [@PrinceAlexus], [@Echotech71][/sub][/center]

[color=lightgray]Katherine was just about helpless as Daphne fussed over her. The nausea and weakness that had taken her to the ground was starting to wane, but there was no denying that she still felt like shit. The consequences of necromancy were all too familiar to her and yet she never seemed to come prepared for them. With every beat of her heart, she could feel a dull ache just behind her temples. With every movement, she could feel her body still trembling despite the fur coat that Daphne had made sure was tight around her torso.

Before them, Katherine watched Nathaniel collect the body through spotty vision. Even now in her state, she was weary of an Aurelian sage helping transport the deceased. She didn’t inherently dislike the Aurelians, but it went against every bit of what she’d been taught. The clergy would not have allowed it. 

It was not like she had much of a choice however. Whoever was keeping an eye on her from the capital had made sure of that. 

Her mind was filled with rage. For a second time, the Inquisition had forced her to perform forbidden magic. For a second time, she’d almost gone too far and lost her life in the process. 

Katherine threw a weak punch into the snow and ice beneath her, her fist clenched so tightly that it shook. The icy-burn radiated through her knuckles but it paled in comparison to what she had just experienced. She was so tired of being a puppet—a pawn—for the higher-ups to do with as they pleased. A slave to their every command, bound by forbidden blood magic and completely unknown to the king and court—much like most of the Inquisition’s activities. 

Her blood boiled, her eyes staring daggers into the snow before her as Daphne supported her. She slammed her fist into the snow again, and again, repeatedly until her knuckles split. The burning turned to a sharp, stabbing pain, but Katherine’s mind was too clouded to care. Tears welled up in her eyes momentarily before running down her cheeks, a single thought echoing louder than everything in her head.

[color=19CACA][i]I… will not… … be used.[/i][/color] 

Katherine’s legs shook as she began to stand, relying heavily on Daphne’s strength and her own remaining anger in the process. She momentarily stumbled as they began to walk towards the Lunarian temple, nausea threatening to come back with a vengeance. Her eyes wandered as they walked, taking in the woman that she was using as a crutch. Up until now, she hadn’t paid attention to the woman’s appearance—there had been too much else to worry about. Now in the moonlight, Katherine was able to fully take in her features. A surprisingly soft face for a squire with equally surprising long brown hair, outdone only by stunning violet eyes. 

Was that a sliver of attraction she felt? 

She shook the thought away. [color=19CACA][i]Focus. You still need to dispel the rune before you can truly rest. [/i][/color]

Step after shaky step, the group got closer and closer to the temple before it finally came into view. [color=19CACA][i]Thank Goddess… we made it back… I… made it back.[/i][/color] Katherine let out a shaky sigh, the final steps seeming to take the longest to complete. Before them, the doors were adorned with an inky black outline of a crescent moon that almost seemed to shimmer in the moonlight. She let go of Daphne and stepped towards the door, almost collapsing against it in the process. Placing her palm against the door, a weak smile spread across her lips. [color=19CACA]“The seal remains intact, the attacker did not r-reach the temple.”[/color] Then, with a whisper, the rune began to slowly fade away and once again, the door returned to it’s completely mundane appearance.

[color=19CACA]“Come inside… w-warm yourselves. The b-body can remain in the main h-hall until I can attend to it.” [/color]

Katherine pushed open one of the doors with a hand, slowly making her way inside by guiding herself along the wall. Eventually she found herself in her chambers once again, a wave of heat radiating throughout the room and leaking into the hallway beyond.

She was just barely able to get into the room before her legs gave out once more, collapsing to all-fours onto the wooden floor. Groaning internally, Katherine willed herself forward and crawled to the fireplace before finally laying down on her side before it. Her eyes drifted towards her bed where Persephone still laid, the room beginning to spin in her vision. [color=19CACA][i]She’s safe, untouched.[/i][/color] 

With another wave of relief washing over her, she let her head slump onto her own outstretched arm and fully relinquished herself to gravity. The floor had never felt so comfortable. Though her heart still pounded hard against her chest, and her breathing was still heavy, Katherine could finally recover from the nightmare she had just endured.[/color]