1st adventure: the fallout

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Were you aware that our oracle had one in captivity? The same one, in fact."

"Hmm, really? Can't say that I'm surprised."

Mihai stands at the door to Velstar's house. He can't remember exactly how long he's been standing there. His nerves felt like they'd been cross-wiring ever since the information from Blackcliff turned out to be a bust. Finally, he figured he wasn't gonna know what to say or do, no matter how long he stood there. He takes a breath and raises his hand, fighting off a last sharp pang of hesitation before he knocks twice on the door. Then he realizes he can't wait for someone to open, and tries the knob.

Mihai enters the house and initially finds no one home, only to see Fedler comes out from the room at the end of the hall. Steve is just behind her.

"She's sleeping," explains the young woman in a low voice.

She seems tired, and her burned clothes only adds to her miserable state. Breeze timidly appears, and flies towards Mihai only to sit at a table placed near him. She stays silent.

He looks like he wants to say something, but nothing comes out when he tries to talk. After a moment, he looks at Steve and says in a low voice - "Blackcliff wants to meet you and Breeze. He wanted to come over, but..." - he stops himself, then looks at Breeze, awaiting her reaction.

Breeze slowly hovers in front of Steve, then hides into one of his pockets.

The three head for Velstar's home. While Fedler puts Yen to bed Steve makes himself useful looking for drinks for all three of them. He ends up raiding Velstar's supply of apple juice for Yen and brings water for Fedler and himself. After everyone is situated, Fedler sings a bedtime song for Yen so the little girl can finally get some rest.

Fedler's Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpO5vO33pTM

After Yen is asleep, Fedler, Steve, and Breeze sit in a companionable silence, decompressing after tonight's events. Finally Fedler breaks the silence. "How's life going to be for her? At the Citadel I mean."

Steve looks at the sleeping Yen. "Are you sure?"

"She can sleep through anything. It's actually a pain to wake her up in the morning." A sad smile appears on her face.

The worry is still clear on his face but Steve proceeds anyway. How could he deny this family anything at this point? "She'll be kept in isolation while specialists help her to control the Curse. At first, it will be only one teacher, but more can and probably will be added later. It's about discipline and rigidity. It's made to toughen the mind and the spirit for the trials ahead. You aren't learning just to save yourself, you are learning how to protect others. That's what Velstar told me when we first met."

"We'll be able to write to each other, right?"

"I'm told that is true. I never received anything." He tries to say it mater-of-factly but the bitterness creeps in none the less.

She looks at Steve, a little surprised. "...Sorry." She thinks for a moment. "When Mihai told me you were Silver's student, I realized you were cursed. She told me a little about the students she had under her care. Her children, she said."

He nods. "She's the kindest and best friend I've ever had. I was quite a handful back then, but she never got angry at me. I'm not perfect, but I wouldn't be half the man I am without her."

She looks back at her niece again, and stays silent for a long minute. And then, unexpectedly, she asks, "That man who just came in town... he's really as important as he made it sound?"

"I suppose so. I've never met him, but then I have no idea why he'd want to meet a nobody like me. This was our first mission. He gave us time to see to our wounded before we have to report. I'll let you know when we go."

Fedler calmly states, "I could tell by the way Velstar looked at him; she's going to ask him to escort Yen to Highwind."

"That makes sense. You don't become the leader of an organization like the Coins without being reliable."

"I'll be going with him. And you, probably." She then chokes on the next words. "What am I supposed to do after that?"

Steve shifts in his chair. "After the year passes they will allow limited and controlled visits. You could get work closer to the Citadel. If that's what you want to do. Or...

"Years...?" She considers this new fact, but it appears she doesn't want to think about it since she slowly shakes her head. "Or what?"

"Or you could come with us. Get some payback. I don't know what the bigger picture is yet, but we've stumbled onto something here."

"She's dead. And the thing that was with her. There's no payback."

That's right she was unconscious. "It's not dead. It retreated. Whatever it was it was no ordinary Aspect. It said we'd meet again and I believe it. Mihai said what those people needed to hear."

She looks at Steve with wide eyes. "I... I have to think about it." She caresses Yen's head again.

"I understand." Steve rises to leave. "Is there anything else you need?"

"A way to go back in time?"

"If I could do that we never would have met."

She smiles a little. "Thank you Steve."

"Of course. If you don't mind, I'll speak to Yen later. Maybe I can help make it a little easier."

"Okay."

And that is when Mihai joins us.

"Okay."

To Fedler, "It looks like it's time to report. Did you still want to come?"

"Indeed. She considered her of more importance than the journal, although it sounds like she only kept her locked up. Breeze claims she did nothing further with her." Her usefulness gained through friendship implies she must actively be bestowing her boons through action. Or perhaps the Commander might have been referring to a passive aid achieved by her choosing to remain in their company?

"I should inform you that the oracle's fire aspect did not disappear when she was killed. We had to fight it off well after, and even when we had it subdued, it just disappeared, stating rather ominously that we would cross paths again. I'd rather not have to, Commander, especially if my theory about how it was able to control a cursed animal, and how it didn't simply desummon when its summoner died, is correct."

skill:

OOC:

To Steve's question, Fedler shakes her head.

"Later."

She looks back at the bedroom.

If the way he reacts is to be trusted, the news that Breeze was a captive of the Oracle does not seem to surprise him, although it was unexpected.

When Konrad has shared his suspicions about the Aspect, the commander asks, "And what is this theory of yours?"

Konrad hesitates. For anyone, reasoning and speculation are fun when the unaccepted theory itself isn't being coaxed out of them, when they're not being called on the carpet. I'm about to start talking crazy. But he owned the moment.

"Commander, we were visited by an Elemental."

To Steve - "I'll be here."

"Right. Later." Barring anything further, Steve leaves to report to the Coins' commander.

Just as the commander was going to comment on Konrad's theory, Steve enters the stables.

"Steve Oldturn. Thank you for joining us."

He looks behind the young mage.

"Mihai Sobotka isn't with you?"

Steve and Breeze have now left the house.

Fedler is looking down at the ground to avoid Mihai's gaze. Her burned clothes reveal the leather armor she wears underneath her tunic, and the rag she wears on her shoulders is nothing like the finely woven cloak she had this morning.

She doesn't say anything.

Mihai stands there for a moment before he can think to say anything. When he finally tries to speak, nothing comes out. He looks down, then quietly approaches her until he's only a breath away, and takes hold of her hand. He remains there, quietly holding it.

Fedler's hands start to tremble, and she raises her head to meet his gaze. She puts her arms around him, locking him in a tight embrace, and after taking in a few deep breaths, she breaks down in tears.

Mihai embraces her back. Tight. He stays there, for as long as it takes.

She tries to stay as quiet as possible since Yen is sleeping in the next room, but her sobbing shakes her whole body. The only thing keeping her from falling on the floor is Mihai's hold on her. It continues for a long moment, and the only thing that seems to calm her down is the fatigue she accumulated. At some point, she falls quiet, and her breathing goes steady. She doesn't let go of Mihai.

It takes some effort, but she manages to say a few words, faintly. "When she's gone, I'll... I'll join the Coins."

Steve nods to the commander and Konrad in greeting. "Sorry sir, was he supposed to? He only told me I was needed. I assumed he was free to leave. But then I also assumed we'd be reporting together. Goes to show what I know." Steve clearly isn't happy about being left out. "Sorry I was late."

Mihai holds on to her for a bit longer, then leads her to a nearby couch so she can sit down. He drops to a knee in front of her, so they can be face to face. He keeps holding her hand.

"Are you talking about taking revenge?"

Tom Blackcliff shrugs. "No matter."

He then looks at the pocket in which the fairy is hiding.

"Hello there, Breeze. You can come out now. It's safe."

She sticks only the top of her head out to observe the commander.

"Don't worry; it's not the first time I see one of your kind. I just want to talk to you."

The little fairy tilts her head.

"You really met others like me?"

"A few times."

Fedler thinks for a few seconds on her answer. She then shakes her head with dejection.

"Steve told me about the Aspect, and how it said we would meet again. And..."

Strangely, the expression on her face softens.

"I won't let it hurt other people."

Hearing that, Mihai's expression lightens a bit. - "You know, she will come back to you." - he reassures - "She will. So you have to make sure you'll be there for her. No one else can do that."

"One year," she states. "At least one year before I can see her again."

Fedler contemplates this number, and everything it entails.

"I'm not going to sit down, and let that thing hurt anyone else. I'm going."

She stares at Mihai.

He looks into her eyes - "365 days. I'll just have to make sure you make it."

His answer seems to appease her. She approaches him, and hugs him again. But there are no tears this time, only warmth.

"I need some time alone with her," she whispers.

"Ok." - he whispers back. He waits for her to release the hug, then leaves the house.

Once outside, he'll look for Molly.