Katrina - Unsullied Or Pure

Katrina - Unsullied or Pure

i know them (they know me)

Chapter Two: you burn me down and call it help

Chapter One

AO3 Link

Gem strolled through the cobbled streets of the Crystal Cliffs, keeping up a quiet conversation with Xornoth as she did. Her residents were long since used to eccentricates from their Grand Wizard and simply waved as she talked, seemingly to herself.

And then things, as things were prone to do, went wrong.

‘My brother is coming.’

That was all the warning Gem had before Scott flew down into her empire, anxiety radiating from his body language and expression. The swinging of the crystal drew her attention to it for a moment, but she forced her gaze away quickly. Scott was obviously worried about something, and she couldn’t get distracted.

“Gem, remember how you came over for the flight pass and there was lots of snow and ice everywhere?”

“Yes,” Gem said cautiously, not fully understanding why this was cause for concern. “It was really cold.”

“Well it’s got worse. I need help.”

Gem started mentally running through every weather control spell she knew before Xornoth chimed in, voice laced with distain.

‘If he can’t handle the cold, maybe he shouldn’t be leading an empire in the mountains.’

She took a deep breath in preparation for a long session of trying to drown their voice out and help Scott at the same time.

“Walk me through the problem. I’ll see what I can do.”

~

“That’s... that’s not frost walker.”

Gem stared at her still-frozen cod sanctuary in shock, poking a fresh pile of snow with her staff.

“This always happens?”

“Every time. This is tame.”

She stayed silent, walking forward and testing the strength of the ice in various spots. And of course, Xornoth took her silence as an invitation to speak up.

‘You should leave him to deal with his own mess. This is above your paygrade, Wizard.’

Gritting her teeth, Gem turned back to Scott and led him away from the lake.

“I’ll enrol you in my academy, I’m sure we can help you learn to control it!”

“Are you sure? I know this isn’t the type of magic you normally use...”

She waved off his hesitancy, forcing herself to take a casual tone.

“I’ll admit I’m not familiar, but we can work on it, and I can study it! Maybe you’ll be able to learn how to thaw stuff!”

‘I doubt he’ll be able to do anything more than make a mess. You’re wasting your time.’

Despite knowing they couldn’t hear it, Gem thought a few choice words in Xornoth’s direction. She didn’t need distractions, she needed to be there for her friend and ally.

“Let’s start with freezing things intentionally and then work on unfreezing them again. Any control is good control!”

~

“Gem, enough!”

A flash of white. Cold sunk into her bones and her energy quickly drained, leaving her leaning against an ice spike for support.

‘That wasn’t there before,’ she noted, trying to regain some sense of her surroundings.

She was in her academy, no, they were in her academy, Scott was there too, and there was ice everywhere. There was so much noise, making her strain to hear any clear words.

‘-em! Wizard! Wizard, get up! Can you walk, can you speak?’

“Oh no, no no no. Gem?”

She pulled herself forward, raising one hand in a calming gesture.

“Oh gosh. It’s ok, it’s ok. I’m fine.”

Her voice came out weak and Scott looked at her in disbelief.

“Gem, you’re not! Your hair-”

‘Wizard, get rid of him now. He’s dangerous, if you don’t get away from him he’ll only hurt you more.’

She ignored Xornoth and looked down at her braid, gasping slightly at the pure white streak.

“Oh. It’s- I’m sure I can fix it. It’s ok.”

Scott shook his head, backing away towards the exit.

“I told you I would hurt people, I always hurt people!”

“No, it’s ok! I promise, I’m ok.”

A disbelieving scoff sounded in her mind and both Xornoth and Scott spoke at the same time.

‘Stop kidding yourself Wizard. If you’re fine then I’m Aeor’s champion.’

“Gem, you’re not! I- I need to go. I need to get far away.”

She reached out a hand after him, but he flew away, leaving her shivering and alone.

‘I told you to leave him to sort out his own problems.’

Almost alone.

“I’m fine,” Gem repeated again, though she wasn’t sure whether it was for her benefit or Xornoth’s. “I just need to get to the apothecary. I’m sure there’s something in there that can help.”

She didn’t admit that she had never felt worse.

~

“Surely I have something in here that can help me! I think? ...Maybe?”

‘Not inspiring much confidence there.’

Gem ignored them as she dug through barrels, eventually pulling out a health potion and uncorking it with shaking hands. She slowly raised it, careful not to spill any, before downing it in one go.

She didn’t know what she was expecting, a cure hopefully, but for the potion to do exactly nothing was not it.

‘Wizard, you’re not going to be able to fix this on your own.’

“I’ll be fine,” she said, putting as much force as she could into the words. “I just need a potion, a spell, something.”

Xornoth made a noise of disbelief but before they could say anything else a crash came from outside and Fwhip stumbled through the door.

“Your students are mean, Gem. They shot at me. A lot.”

She let out a small laugh, offering him a weak smile.

“Hi, Fwhip.”

Instantly his grumbling turned to concern, and his eyes drifted to the white streak in her hair.

“What’s wrong with you?”

‘How tactful.’

Gem resisted rolling her eyes, though she silently agreed.

“I’m ok, me and Scott were, well we were just doing some magic.”

She tried to sound reassuring, but she couldn’t stop her voice from shaking and he gave her a look.

“Uh huh? And?”

“It maybe got a little out of control I think...” she trailed off as he continued to stare at her, unimpressed. “But I’m ok! Just slightly cold, but I’m ok.”

‘You’re a little more than just cold, Wizard.’

“Cold. No, last time I was with Scott he said, ‘don’t come near me, because you could be infected’.” (“Infected?” Gem squeaked, jumping back.) “And now you’re telling me you were doing magic with Scott, and now you have white hair.”

She looked away sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck.

“Yeah, I might be slightly frozen I think. But it’ll be ok, I have potions!” Gem held up the bottle triumphantly before faltering. “They’re not working, but-”

“No. No, you’re doing not ok, you are not, no. Gem, no. Go get help. You need to go get help.”

‘Listen to your brother, Wizard.’

She ignored them as Fwhip started to push her towards the door, rolling his eyes as she batted his hand away.

“Oh yeah? From who?”

“I don’t know, Katherine? She heals stuff doesn’t she, she makes plants better. She can maybe help.”

After a moment of consideration, she nodded. It was sound logic, and more importantly, he wouldn’t leave her alone unless she agreed.

“Yeah! I could go to Katherine, that’s what I’ll do. Thanks Fwhip.”

He squeezed her arm gently before turning to leave, spreading his wings at the door and pausing.

“And I... I’ll go deal with Scott.”

“Wait Fwhip what-”

And then he was gone, off in the sky towards the Grimlands and ignoring her. She let out a fond sigh and shook her head, leaning heavily against the doorframe.

The conversation had exhausted her, even more than she already had been, so after a few deep breaths she began dragging herself back to her tower.

‘Wizard, House Blossom is the other direction.’

“We’re not going to House Blossom. I just said that to get Fwhip off my back. I’ll be fine.”

‘Lie to yourself all you want but don’t lie to me. You’re not fine, no potion or spell will help you, and my brother has cursed you. I can’t believe I’m about to say this but listen to the Count. Go get help. You can’t heal this on your own.’

She paused. Was that... concern in their voice? No, she must have been imagining it. They didn’t care about anyone, except for maybe Joey.

“Because you know all about ice magic as a fire demon,” she snarked, nodding at the guards stationed at the entrance to her tower as she passed. “Look, I just need some rest. Whatever Scott- no, whatever that magic, did to me, I can figure it out in the morning. I’m probably just feeling the effects of those all-nighters, once I catch up on sleep I’ll feel better, I’m sure of it!”

Xornoth scoffed again (seriously, did they not have any other sounds they could make?) but she simply flopped into her bed with a content hum.

‘Fine, but don’t come crying to me when you wake up and feel worse.’

“When have I ever cried to you about anything?”

‘Well there was that time when a student accidently called you mu-”

“Shut up,” she hissed, face flushing red as she paused her cocooning to throw a pillow at a random spot in the room.

While they laughed she frowned at her veritable mountain of blankets. She was still freezing, but she couldn’t go get more without tipping people off to the fact she needed them. It would be fine, she just had to deal with it for one night and then she would be fine again.

“Night Xornoth,” Gem mumbled, allowing herself to finally slip into sleep. “Don’t mess with my dreams or I won’t touch the nether for a week.”

‘I look forward to telling you I told you so in the morning.’

~

The morning came and went, but Gem still didn’t wake.

Xornoth let her sleep. She clearly needed it, and it gave them more to tease her about later.

~

That night they began trying to wake her. No matter what they said or did, she still didn’t stir, slow breathing only broken up by the occasional sob or cry that came from nightmares before evening out again.

~

The next day they began trying to get the attention of someone, anyone. But none could see or hear them. The most they could do was flicker a few candles, and when they went too far they slammed into the Exor cursed barrier.

~

On the third morning parts of Gem had started to turn blue. She shivered constantly and frozen tears stained her face.

Xornoth was done with watching. They hadn’t wanted to do it, but they wouldn’t just let Gem freeze.

They concentrated on the corruption that lay dormant in her body, the power that had been slowly growing ever since that first trip to the nether. Using it they created a gateway into her mind-

-And in an instant Xornoth was possessing Gem’s body.

Taking a few moments to get used to being physical again, let along being someone else, they walked out of the room and made a beeline for the nearest balcony.

They knew where their crystal was at all times, and for once it wasn’t around their brother’s neck.

It was time for Xornoth to be set free.

~

Every Rivendellian guard moved out of their way as they stalked through the halls, not wanting to deal with an irate Grand Wizard. They made it into the meeting room without issue, scowling at the golden antlers sitting on display.

Their hands curled around the red crystal and soaked in the warmth for a moment before turning and shattering it against a wall.

(They would have just crushed it, but they didn’t want shards cutting Gem’s hands.)

As their power returned to them in a rush they left Gem’s body, revelling in the feeling of being solid once again. Carefully they steadied her as she started to slump, leaning her against a wall as she sunk to the ground.

Xornoth focused and placed a hand over her heart, using their corruption to melt the ice around it. Once they were satisfied they sat back.

All they could do was wait.

~

Gem groaned as she woke up, raising a hand to rub her head as the start of a migraine pounded. It was strangely warm, and she-

Wait. Warm?

“Told you it would wear off after some rest!” she cried triumphantly, bolting upright before immediately regretting it. She cracked open one eye to see Xornoth standing there.

Solidly.

Not in her bedroom.

She opened her mouth and closed it again, trying to make sense of everything, Xornoth growing increasingly more uncomfortable the longer the silence stretched, until-

“I told you not to mess with my dreams tonight! This is different to your normal style though, showing up in person? And we’re in... Rivendell’s meeting room? If this is an attempt to get me to kill Scott or break you free-”

They cut off her rambling by gently placing a hand over her mouth, tilting their head towards the doorway.

“Do you hear that?”

She rolled her eyes but strained her ears anyway, and soon could hear the footsteps. The very frantic and rapidly approaching footsteps.

“Gem!”

The door slammed open as Fwhip burst in, eyes narrowing as soon as he saw Xornoth. She opened her mouth to respond but realised it was still covered, so she did the only sensible thing.

“Wizard! Did you just lick my hand?”

“Well that’s what you get! Just ask me to be quiet next time, honestly! Did listening in on my lectures about manners to my students do nothing for you?”

“Maybe if they didn’t put everyone to sleep-”

“Gem? Gem, what’s going on? Why is Xornoth free? And why are you just talking to them?”

Fwhip’s interruption broke their stream of banter and Gem rolled her eyes at Xornoth, still not facing him.

“You’re the one controlling this dream, why make it interrupt you? Unless...” A smirk slid across her face, and she playfully punched them in the arm. “Wow, couldn’t think of a good argument so you had to come up with an excuse to stop? Usually you’re much better at this, you need to step up your game.”

But her smile slowly slipped away as they shook their head, expression solemn.

“This isn’t a dream.”

Gem took a step away, horror flashing in her eyes.

“That means-”

They took a mocking bow, spreading their arms wide.

“I’m free.”

“But how? You weren’t anything more than a ghost, how did you-” she gasped, and tears began to form as she took another step backwards. “Me. You used me!”

They slowly began to walk forward, arms raised, even as she kept backing away.

“Wizard. Gem. We’re friends, remember?”

She scoffed, looking at them with barely concealed hurt.

“Were we ever? Or were you just using me? You can drop the act now, you got what you wanted.”

She turned, ignoring their denials, and walked over to Fwhip’s waiting embrace.

With her back to them Gem didn’t notice how their expression hardened, how their eyes flashed with determination and regret, how they raised a single hand.

She did notice her eyes start to slip shut, suddenly exhausted. Every slow thought was hazy, and she had to lean into Fwhip for support staying upright.

“Gem. Come here, please.”

She nodded lazily, slipping out of Fwhip’s grip and stumbling over to stand in front of them. They gently grabbed her chin and tilted it, glowing eyes meeting unfocused ones.

“We’re friends, right?” Gem nodded again and Xornoth smirked. “Excellent. I know you’re tired, you can sleep just as soon as we get home.”

“What are you doing to her?” Fwhip roared, drawing his sword and alternating between glaring at them and sending concerned glances to a slightly swaying Gem.

“What you couldn’t. Protecting her. Now stand aside so we may leave.”

His scowl deepened and he moved further in front of the door in response. They sighed in annoyance and carefully pulled Gem in front of them, placing a firm hand on her shoulder.

“Your dear sister is so vulnerable right now, wouldn’t you agree? It would be such a shame if something were to... happen.”

Fwhip gasped and while he didn’t move his sword did lower slightly, almost unconsciously.

“No, you’re trying to pretend you’re her friend for whatever reason! You wouldn’t hurt her!”

And he was right, excluding the pretending part, but the waver in his voice betrayed that he wasn’t sure. They could exploit that.

“Our beloved Gemstone can’t process much of anything like this. I could do whatever I wanted just shy of killing her and she wouldn’t comprehend a thing. Injuries can be passed off as accidents. Or from you.”

When it looked like Fwhip still wouldn’t move, Xornoth placed a claw at Gem’s throat.

After a few tense seconds he threw his sword down, backing away from the door.

“Please don’t hurt her,” he whispered as they passed, staring at her with regretful eyes.

They didn’t bother with a response, gathering her in their arms as they walked towards Rivendell’s nether portal.

Gem’s soft snores filled the air before they could even pass the obsidian.

~

“Your brother freed me,” Xornoth explained as they sat on the edge of Gem’s bed. “He somehow learned of the connection between us, you must have not been as careful as you thought you were, and thought destroying the crystal would kill me.”

Gem frowned down at her blankets, pulling them tighter around her for comfort.

“And he didn’t come talk to me first? I could have explained!” A tap on her shoulder made her look up and Xornoth opened their arms in invitation, one she took gladly. She felt almost like a cat, curling up on the warmest heat source. “What if he had killed you? I don’t know how I would have lived with myself if he had.”

She tried to muffle the sob that came out, but they heard anyway and gently dried her tears.

“Don’t worry Gem, he didn’t harm me. He may try to deny what happened though, create a different story that puts him in a better light. Your fellow rulers are likely to believe his version, so you must remember that we are correct, even against all opposition. Can you promise me that?”

A warmth flooded through Gem, and she nodded. Why would she ever doubt Xornoth? They were her friend, they cared for her more than anyone else.

“I need you to say it, little Wizard.”

They tapped her nose and she batted it away, rolling her eyes affectionately.

“Yeah yeah, I promise to always remember that you’re right, even when everyone is against us. Happy now?”

“Exceptionally.”

She let out a small yawn and they laughed, only laughing harder at her pout.

“This is your fault. You’re like a living heater and it makes me sleepy.”

“Well don’t let me stop you. Don’t worry, Gem, there will be plenty of time for our plans when you wake.”

For some reason the words sent a shiver down Gem’s spine, but as she drifted off she pushed the feeling away.

There was no need to be scared.

Xornoth was her friend.

Impulse, behind you!

i'm back and thinking about clarion and milori and the Bridgerton Eyebrow Scrunch (tm)

i know them (they know me)

‘Oh Wizard, you can’t get rid of me that easily.’

When Gem seals Xornoth into the crystal she finds herself stuck with their voice in her head. Determined to deal with it on her own, she doesn’t tell anyone about her incredibly annoying guest.

Chapter One: benefit of the doubt is my weakness

AO3 Link

Chapter Two

“How do you see things right now?” Gem asked suddenly, setting aside the reports she was supposed to be working on. The question startled Xornoth into uncharacteristic silence, so she pressed on. “Can you only see what I see, or can you look around independently of me?”

‘Why do you want to know?’

“I’m curious,” she said, pulling fresh paper forward and inking a quill. “It’s not often something like this happens, think of how future academics will be able to study a first-hand account of someone haunted by a demon!”

In her excitement she flung her arms wide, sending ink flying across the room. She hurried to clean it up, scowling as Xornoth laughed.

‘I doubt they’d be able to study anything with ink splattered across it. Really Wizard, you’d think the ‘Defeater of Xornoth’ would be neater.’

Both scoffed at the title citizens had taken to calling her in hushed whispers. Xornoth didn’t like it for obvious reasons, but Gem disliked the implication it was anything less than a team effort.

“Fine, if you tell me I’ll… actually, what can I offer you? Because you’re incorporeal and all. And don’t say setting you free.”

There was a pause from Xornoth who had been about to say exactly that before they huffed and came up with something else. Gem couldn’t see them, but she had a strong feeling they were rolling their eyes.

‘We will go to the nether for a minimum of an hour. Afterwards I will tell you and allow you to write it down.’

She laughed slightly at the demanding way they spoke their request but began pulling on her cloak to leave anyway.

“If this starts to corrupt me the deal’s off, understand?”

‘I wouldn’t expect anything less.’

~

“Xornoth, are you here?”

‘Always, as you well know.’

Gem rolled her eyes at the snide remark, frowning down at the book on her desk.

“I meant in the room, and not off exploring and desperately trying to scare my students. I need you to look at this.”

After the first trip to the nether Xornoth had revealed they did have their own body, so to speak, but they weren’t visible and couldn’t interact with anything. They could walk through any door or wall like it wasn’t there, but if they got too far from Gem an invisible barrier would stop them from going further. Luckily for them, most of the school was in that range when she was in her office, so they would watch classes and insult her students, much to her annoyance.

(Though if some of the less rude comments made her laugh, that was neither here nor there.)

A pause, then-

‘I have returned. You know the terms of our deal.’

“Yes, I know, time in the nether for any questions you answer. I’m still not fully convinced that’s not part of some plan by the way.” They huffed, but it was more amused than anything. “I’ve been looking through some of the books from the Elven Library and I’ve mostly been able to translate them, but this section is tripping me up. I can tell it’s a spell, but not much else.”

She pointed to a passage and Xornoth sucked in a sharp breath, though they quickly tried to play it off with a chuckle.

‘Dark magic? Wizard, I’m impressed! I’ll make a follower of you yet.’

But the laugh was strained, and there was an undercurrent of fear in their voice, something Gem picked up on instantly.

“Xornoth? What does it say? It can’t be so bad even you won’t touch it.” When they remained silent, she started to think about why they wouldn’t translate it, until she realised. “This is how to banish you, isn’t it?”

‘Wizard, you need to get rid of that page.’

“I’m not going to destroy it. Scott can read it; I’ll show it to him next time we meet. We need a last resort; in case you break out again. I promise, I won’t use it otherwise.”

She tried to keep her tone and body language reassuring, but she couldn’t help the spike of fear that went through her when they sighed regretfully.

‘I truly am sorry I have to do this.’

Before she could ask what they meant the world around her blurred, her mind going foggy and her vision tinting red. Each thought was a struggle, and she felt her eyes start to slip shut.

‘Tear out the page. Then burn it.’

Gem complied without hesitation, carefully ripping it out and setting it alight with a simple spell.

‘Put the book away. On a shelf where you won’t think to look for it again.’

It got placed to the back of one of her many bookshelves, out of sight and in a completely different section to where she would normally put it.

‘Now rest. You won’t remember any of this when you wake.’

She settled back into her chair and lay her head down on her desk, finally giving in to sleep.

~

When Gem woke up, night had long since fallen. Her back ached and a pounding headache was beginning to form.

There was a strange feeling of something missing, but Xornoth began to tease her for being so bored she fell asleep, and the thought soon slipped from her mind.

On the short flight back to her tower she bantered with them the entire way and a genuine smile crossed her face.

Despite all the hurt they had caused she found herself enjoying their comments now they no longer simply insulted everyone and everything in between trying to convince her to free them.

As she settled into her bed she thought maybe, just maybe, this situation was good for them.

She couldn’t see the guilty look that sat upon Xornoth’s face the entire time.

~

Gem sat in a meeting with Scott, Fwhip, Sausage, Pearl, and Katherine. She was finding it very difficult to concentrate for several reasons, not the least of which being Xornoth’s commentary as they poked through Scott’s bedroom.

‘Who needs this many pairs of earrings?’

‘Not a single secret room. Disappointing.’

‘What’s this? A journal?’

‘Oh, this is interesting. It looks like my brother is courting the Cod.’

Gem, who had taken a sip of water in an attempt to not react, choked. Everyone turned to her in concern, but she just stared at Scott.

“You’re dating Jimmy?” she asked in between coughs.

“I’m not!” he said, but his face went a very bright shade of red.

“Courting, then,” Gem challenged, not breaking eye contact. He spluttered for a few more moments before throwing his hands in the air in defeat.

“How do you even know that?”

Gem just raised an eyebrow, giving him the look she called the ‘I’m a wizard, how do you think I know things?’ stare. It was very effective when she didn’t have a good answer for a question, like right now. He fell back down into his chair and said something, but she didn’t hear it. Her attention was fully on the necklace that had just fallen out of his shirt, eyes following the red crystal as it swayed side to side.

A hand on her arm snapped her out of it and she looked over to see Fwhip, worry clear on his face.

“Gem? Are you ok?”

She nodded and gently pulled away, taking a few deep breaths before speaking.

“Scott, can I take a closer look at that crystal? I just need to check there’s no cracks and the magic is still working.”

‘Wizard? I’m coming back to where you are, what are you doing?’

“Xornoth’s not escaping Gem, I’d know if they were. Are you sure you’re alright?”

‘Wait, are you going to-‘

“For the last time, I’m not going to break your stupid crystal!” Gem snapped, the overwhelming amount of noise shortening her temper. She drew back as soon as she said it though, dropping her gaze. “Sorry. Haven’t been sleeping well. I need to do this Scott, just for a few minutes.”

Behind her back, the others were exchanging looks. It was clear something was going on with Gem, far more than just sleep. But after another moment of hesitation Scott nodded and lifted the chain from his neck, carefully passing it to her.

She turned it over in her hands, carefully scanning for any cracks and running a finger over it to double check. She didn’t notice how her vision tinted red, how the sounds around her muffed as if underwater, how her grip on the crystal slowly grew tighter.

She didn’t notice anything until a hand was waved in front of her face, breaking the trance. Expecting to see Fwhip she looked up, only to jump backwards when across the table, staring at her with concern, was Xornoth.

In an instant fire jumped from her staff and shot at them, only for the flames to pass straight through.

‘Rude.’

Both the staff and crystal were wrenched away from her, making the haze lift, though she didn’t move her gaze from the now empty spot, even as she was gently pushed back down into her chair.

“Gem, I need you to look at me, ok? There’s nothing there, just blank wall. I don’t know what you think is there, but you’re safe. I just need to check your eyes, make sure they’re still green.”

And she complied with Fwhip’s request, just not as he expected.

“Do you really think I would shoot at Xornoth if I was corrupted?” Gem spat, venom coating her voice as she turned to glare daggers at him, finally having lost the last of her patience. She looked around incredulously as everyone gasped, though Xornoth’s voice gave her pause.

‘You were the only one who could see me, just as you’re the only one who can hear me now. Though, I am annoyed your first instinct was to attack me.’

“I thought you escaped, it was justified,” she mumbled, dropping her gaze as the fight left her and moving to push past Fwhip towards the door. “I’m going to get some air.”

“Gem, wait,” he caught her arm as she walked towards the exit, smiling softly at her. “Let me fly you home. I know you’re just over the mountains, but it’ll make me feel better to know you’re back safe and resting. You need it.”

She wanted to argue, say she was fine and didn’t need to go home, but she really was tired and she didn’t want to be around the crystal any longer than she had to. After a few more moments of hesitation, she nodded and allowed herself to be lead away.

Throughout the whole flight home Fwhip kept glancing over at her, though what exactly he was looking for Gem couldn’t say. Red eyes? A sudden inclination for murder and chaos? It was starting to get on her already frayed nerves, but she didn’t say anything. She knew he just cared, even if he was slightly overbearing in how he showed it.

When they arrived at her room he pulled her into a tight hug, putting as much comfort in the embrace as he could.

“Get some rest, alright? If you need anything I’m nearby, just let me know.”

“I will, I promise.”

After one last squeeze he let go and she slipped inside, shutting the door with a weary sigh.

“How could I see you? Haven’t you haunted me enough?” she asked the empty air, exhaustion seeping into her voice.

Footsteps sounded outside and she froze before relaxing again. It was probably just a guard walking around the tower, nothing to worry about.

‘Proximity to the crystal must have increased the connection. When you held it, the bond grew strong enough for you to see me. I still can’t believe you tried to attack me instantly, I thought we were friends Wizard.’

They were being sarcastic, but Gem felt a grin spread across her face all the same, raising an eyebrow at the space in front of her and hoping that’s where they were standing.

“So you admit we’re friends now? I never would have guessed, the big bad Xornoth gone soft.”

‘I am not soft!’ they hissed, making Gem laugh. ‘I was mocking you and your hopes of redemption! I will escape and get my revenge!’

“Yeah yeah,” she said, rolling her eyes and starting to get ready to sleep. She hadn’t been lying when she told the others she was tired, when they were feeling particularly annoying Xornoth liked to mess with her dreams and change them into nightmares, though lately it had been more embarrassing ones that horrifying. She’d take forgetting everything she knew about magic while teaching over her friends dying in front of her any day. (She’d prefer none at all, but she took what small wins she could.) “Goodnight, Xornoth.”

Gem drifted off too fast to hear their quiet response.

‘Goodnight, Wizard. Sleep well.’

~

Fwhip felt guilty spying on his sister, but he knew there was more happening than what she was letting on. So, he listened at her door after saying goodbye, hoping to get even the smallest clue about what had happened.

“How could I see you? Haven’t you haunted me enough?”

She sounded close to crying, and his guilt increased tenfold. He slipped away as quietly as possible, scolding himself for even thinking about it. Maybe Katherine had something to help nightmares, though he knew he would have to trick Gem into taking it. Redstone only knew she wouldn’t accept the help otherwise.

He flew off, not realising how he had only just missed a conversation that would have answered all his questions.