[M] Anima Mundi IC (Namingtoohard and Headwrapper)

[Headwrapper]

Not once did Mec dare allow himself to dream of having the privilege that was affirmed by his and Shallan's declarations to each other. Did he ever truly believe that he would be allowed to be loved in such a way, wanted and desired. In spite of his unique powers, his ability to commune with the mysterious G, his own aspirations to help others, a significant part of himself could not, or rather, refused, to believe that Mec Fiska was of significant value in the vast, wide world. That he was anything more than peripheral. Instead, he challenged any praise he had been given. Believed it to be wrong, misguided or ingenuine. Believed that his desires and aspirations were just the products of desperation to escape a bleaker fate. Perhaps he was right in some ways, but as he felt Shallan's embrace, as he pressed his cheek to the top of her head while she leaned against him, he realized that the vast wide world was not the scale he truly cared about. Realized that to the one closest to him, he was adored, admired, enough. Maybe, Mec too, should consider Mec Fiska enough.

The sentiment, while encouraging, was difficult to put into practice right away. Taken aback by Shallan's invitation, Mec felt his face grow warm. He was sure Shallan could feel the heat at her fingertips. A nagging feeling, or rather a pestilent impulse, rattled within him with the threat of escaping. To ask Shallan if this is really what she wanted. Even after the mistakes Mec had made during their journey, even though he was not worthy, even though he could not even keep her safe from common perverts at a sorry old tavern.

Self deprecating thoughts, like the buzz of a mosquito, were only audible in the absence of significant, meaningful sounds and stimulus. As Shallan looked up at Mec, as she drew closer, all of Mec's thoughts of pushing her away, delaying what they both desired, were silenced. They yielded to a much stronger feeling, one that Mec knew he would hang on to forever. One that challenged everything he ever thought of himself, one that felt so sacred that allowing anything else to share its spotlight felt like an act of desecration. He accepted Shallan's invitation, then, gently moving closer.

A rush of sensations, physical and emotional, washed over the young pair the moment their lips touched. A relieved breath, shaky and cold, shuddered through Mec's nostrils. His hand trembled as he reached for Shallan and gently placed his hand on her neck, slowly moving upwards until his fingers paused just underneath of her mandible, below her ear. They continued to hold on to each other even as their lips finally parted. When they opened their eyelids, no force could pull their gazes away from each other as they stared deeply into each others eyes, presenting what was behind the windows of their souls. They held onto each other like this for a long time, so silently that it almost felt holy.

Finally, Mec pulled Shallan towards him again, initiating another kiss, then another, and another, until the line between when each kiss ended and the next began had become almost nonexistent. Intoxicated by the new experience, Mec subconsciously pressed closer towards his partner until his shoulder, which they had been careful to avoid so far, panged with an intense pain. He winced, apologetically pulling himself away from his partner while stifling a grunt. "Owww," he gasped, a lighthearted chuckle in his voice. He gingerly rubbed around the spot where he experienced the sudden pain. The initial throb itself had mostly subsided, but the memory of the sudden jolt continued to linger. "I may have been a little too excited."

Mec smiled towards Shallan, his partner in a new, exciting sense of the word, before giving the area around them a once over. As reluctant as he was to leave their warm spot near the fire, overlooked by the calming glow of the setting sun, their interruption provided an opportunity to complete the rest of the evening's chores before it became dark. The summoned wolves nearby had also began prowling and sniffing around the cabin, as if trying to preoccupy themselves while giving Mec and Shallan a moment of privacy. It was admittedly an impressive showing of intelligence from the beasts, but also a mild source of embarrassment for the pair of sweethearts. "We should get things ready before dark," Mec said, rising to his feet before extending a hand to help Shallan join him.

[Namingtoohard]

Their first kiss was a chaste thing, gentle and sweet, but it was no less intoxicating for it. The soft brush of their lips and the feel of Mec’s hand on her neck filled Shallan with a warmth that was completely unrelated to their campfire. When they finally separated, she held his gaze unabashedly, a small smile turning up the corners of her mouth. And when Mec pulled her in again, Shallan surrendered gladly. She practically threw herself into this new type of embrace, desperate for more. More kisses, more touching. More of him, more of what she’d wanted for so long. More, more, more. She kissed him like a drowning woman, desperate for another breath. The anticipation of earlier gone, replaced by an entirely different type of hunger.

But when Mec cried out in pain, Shallan was quick to withdraw. She was breathing heavily again, for reasons entirely different to those from a few moments earlier, but that no longer ranked among her concerns. Her eyes flickered towards his bandaged shoulder, her lips pressed into a firm line. Only when Mec spoke did she relax, a ghost of a smile flickering across her features, and a hint of satisfaction creeping into her eyes. “I should’ve known better. Sorry” she offered in a gentle tone, though she didn’t quite mean it. Not really. It was hard to regret what they’d just shared, and a little pain seemed worth the price of admission. But perhaps that was easy to believe when she wasn’t the one paying the toll.

When Mec said they should clean up, and reached out his hand, Shallan hesitated for a few seconds. Standing felt like admitting that the moment was over, and she was loathe to see it end so soon. Eventually, though, the common sense of his words won out against her desires. Shallan took his hand, and reluctantly allowed Mec to pull her to her feet. She took a moment to brush the grass off her dress, before finally looking around the clearing. When her gaze settled on one of Cho’s summoned wolves, her cheeks warmed a little. In the intimacy of the moment, she’d forgotten all about their presence. Now, she couldn’t help but wonder if they’d share everything they’d just witnessed with their master. The thought made her a little uncomfortable at first, before she decided that was silly. They were adults, and Cho older than both of them combined. He had no right to judge.

With that decided, Shallan finally turned her attention to their evening chores. She started by dousing their dwindling campfire, smothering the flames with earth until they died out completely. Having to clean the pit and light a new fire every day was tiresome, but it seemed preferable to risking an uncontrolled blaze. Once that was done, she’d collect their used plates and utensils, before taking them inside for cleaning. Closing the shutters came next, isolating their little slice of paradise from the encroaching darkness of the greater world. Shallan tried to attend to each task with the diligence they deserved, but it was hard to stop her mind from wandering back to the moments that had followed dinner. Thankfully, she’d done each of these things enough times to avoid making any major mistakes, even WHILE her attention was elsewhere.

When fatigue inevitably began to drag Shallan downward, she finally admitted defeat and began preparing for bed. After relieving herself and changing into a clean shift, she insisted on inspecting Mec’s wound, despite his protests. After she’d accidentally hurt him earlier, Shallan wasn’t willing to take any chances. Thankfully, it quickly became apparent that her concern was unnecessary, and his bandages didn’t need changing just yet. Feeling much better for having tried, she was quick to crawl beneath the covers, and lay her head down on the pillow.

When her partner inevitably joined her, Shallan was quick to snuggle into his embrace, careful to avoid upsetting his wounded shoulder again. She craned her neck and planted another quick kiss on Mec’s lips, before muttering a goodnight, closing her eyes and settling down for the night. A sizable part of her wanted to give in to the hunger that she’d felt earlier and continue what they’d started around the fire. Wanted to give in to her desires, slip her hands under his shirt, and see where the moment took them. But the incident earlier had made her too aware of his injury, all over again, and the way Clair’s safety rested upon his recovery. They’d have the rest of their lives to enjoy moments like these, so there was no need to rush.

Clinging vehemently to that belief, Shallan closed her eyes, and let sleep take her.

[Headwrapper]

To the best of his ability, Mec helped where he could with the routine evening chores. Of course, he did fall for his usual tendency to spend too much time on his little side project, but for different reasons than usual. As he checked on the meat that had been drying in the secondary fire pit he had made, he could not prevent the corners of his lips from curling into a smile. Although the darkness of nightfall threatened to chase them back into the cottage for the night, Mec's thoughts lingered behind to the events that followed dinner. He inwardly cursed at the archer who left such a vicious wound on his shoulder, but quickly took it back and scolded himself for being foolish.

The time came to turn in for the night, and after each of them had undergone their respective routines, Shallan insisted they check on Mec's wound. "I told you it's fine," Mec said when they finally uncovered the bandages. Truthfully, he had not protested that hard, happy to feel the care and kindness of his partner. Once the dressings were placed back into position, Mec pulled a shirt back over his head and joined Shallan in bed. He reached to put out the nearby lantern, before returning to his comfortable position with Shallan nestled next to him. By now he was rather accustomed to sharing warmth with her as they slept, it was to be expected with how long they had been traveling together, but tonight would be the first of many nights that things would feel different. That there would be a different sort of comfort in feeling each other's presence, one that they openly acknowledged.

Concealed in the dark, Mec half-smiled after they kissed goodnight, a pleasant gesture that would also become a new comfort. He whispered a goodnight back before fully relaxing and closing his eyes with the intent to sleep.

An hour passed, and sleep did not come for Mec. He slowly sat up, peering over towards Shallan. His vision now well-adjusted to the dark, he was able to tell that his partner was sound asleep. Carefully, he planted one foot to the floor, then the other, and shifted off of the bed. He reached for the nearby lantern almost autonomously, the movement familiar and well-rehearsed. With careful, quiet steps, he retreated towards the corner of the cottage where the cabinets and drawers containing Cho's various ingredients and herbs were stored. The layout helped to shield most of the lantern's light from view of the rest of the cabin, sparing Shallan from the disturbance caused by the flickering flame.

Mec sat at a small table, the same one they often used for meals when the weather outside was not agreeable. He set down the lantern at the center of the table as he took his seat and dragged a book over to the table's edge, into his view. If sleep would not come on its own, he was sure a chapter or two of the histories would bring it about. It reliably had on other nights where sleep had not come easy, which had started to become common during the elongated stay in the cottage. It was perhaps an outcome of the lack of physical activity Mec had been performing during his recovery, which left him with excess energy. Another possibility was that the drain of constantly using his ability for Clair's benefit, which had led to an increase in exhaustion before, was no longer a factor because of Mec's condition.

Only the sound of turning pages and the flickering of the lantern disturbed the night's silence. Mec turned through several pages and read through a couple of chapters before his eyelids began to grow heavy. At the realization that sleep was coming, Mec carefully closed the book with his good hand, though he did not rise right away. He idly rubbed at his injured shoulder, deep in contemplation, before eventually closing his eyes. There was still one more thing he wanted to do before turning in.

With his eyes closed, Mec focused on his sense of the Anima Mundi, carefully trying to envision the golden webs again, like he was able to earlier that day. This time, however, his intention was not to directly cast any spell. Same as before, Mec drew long, steady breaths, and he felt his face grow warm as his body temperature rose. Also, as before, the flashes of gold returned. He felt them, sensed them, but did not rush to manipulate them. Instead, he took in their presence, memorizing the odd sensation.

Mec clenched his fist and ground his teeth as he proceeded further, venturing across the paths of the Anima. He sensed Shallan's presence, the familiar distortions of the Anima that he had religiously memorized as markers of her being. He pressed on, pushing hard through the resistance. There were several other abnormalities in the Anima nearby, which may have been Cho's wolves. The amount of disruption they caused was incredible, so incredible that Mec was sure that if it were not for his injury he would have quickly dictated their presence. Just how much magical prowess was required to create such creatures anyway? The weight and pressure each of the beings exerted was even greater than a flash of lightning from Olenna, or anything Mec managed while he practiced on his own.

When Mec finally reached his limit, he released everything. The presence of the Anima around him faded as he opened his eyes, and the mage took a long moment to gather himself and reacclimate to his surroundings. His jaw hurt from straining so hard and there was a sensitive pain in his palm. It was difficult to see in the darkness, but upon raising his hand up to the lantern, Mec could see small, bleeding marks on his palm where his own nails bit into the skin. Fantastic. He now had one hand connected to a nearly unusable arm while the other would hurt to use. Still, it was hard to be too upset considering the progress that was made. Regaining full use of his powers was more important than anything else. Not only for Clair's sake, but for Mec's own visions, what he aspired to become. To achieve the purpose he chose for himself upon being given a second, third, even fourth chance at life.

After a long yawn and a big stretch, Mec rose to his feet. It was time to turn in for the night, fully. He could not help but feel a sense of satisfaction with the events of the day, the highlights being the progress in his recovery and the new development in his relationship with Shallan. He did his best to silently slip back into bed, and fell asleep only moments after putting out the lamp.



Mec awoke to small beams of light creeping through the edges of the wooden shutters that blocked the windows of the cabin. He drew a sharp breath as he stretched and regained his bearings. A smile flickered across his face upon realizing Shallan was still in bed next to him. He wondered how long she might have been awake for. Relaxing a little under the presumption that Shallan's presence meant it was still relatively early in the morning, he propped himself up slightly before reaching for his partner's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Good morning," he said gently, though it came out in a slight grumble, his voice flattened with drowsiness.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cho breathed heavily as he stood over the crumpled body of the harpy. A splatter of blood was splashed across the ground in front of its face, which was also covered in the thick, crimson liquid. Cho grimaced at the recent memory of the monster hitting the ground. He had tried his best to stop it, but there were limits to what even he was capable of. Upon realizing that the harpy was knocked unconscious, Cho commanded the Pegasus to dive after it. They descended at such a breakneck speed that Cho's skin was still numb from the wind battering against him. His nails were broken and his fingertips were bruised from clinging onto his mount. But, it was not enough. The harpy crashed into the ground before he could reach it, raising a cloud of dust all around and leaving the monster in a mangled and broken heap.

A rush of emotion waved over Cho, urged him to flail his arms and kick and scream before dropping onto the ground and flailing some more. Instead, he slowed his breathing and focused on taking long, deep breaths. Let his mind, his true, centuries old mind, take control of his actions. He ignored the hormones his child-body released into his brain and bloodstream. Even when he was finally steady enough to continue, Cho's face still turned bright red and tears began to stream from his eyes, but he could at least focus on what he was doing. The small mage knelt down next to the harpy, paying attention to its talons in case it decided to lash out. Quickly, he realized that would probably not be possible, as the monster's brittle femurs were broken. One of its winged arms was bent at an odd angle behind the creature's back, twisted irregularly and painfully.

Cho sniffed and wiped his face on his sleeve. The creature's breathing had grown irregular and weak and its skin had grown even paler than it was before, its grayness now turning into more of a marbled white. Cho's familiar acquaintance, Death, would be arriving soon, he thought. It was an odd relationship, the one between Cho and Death. They held many mutual acquaintances spanning many lifetimes, and yet they never properly introduced themselves. They would converge at their friends' behest, collect the pieces they wanted, and separate without a word. Sometimes, Death was graciously welcomed by their host and eagerly offered their piece, which Death would always accept. Other times, Death approached as an unwanted aggressor, and their host would fight against them until Death ultimately claimed their prize. No matter which form Death took, however, they never spoke to Cho, never accepted his invitations nor sought any prize from him. Cho had long given up on changing this relationship and embraced the silence.

"I'm so sorry," Cho whispered to the harpy, addressing the person trapped inside. "We wanted to save you, but it was not enough. You must have been special. Your friends loved you, and were desperate to make sure you would survive. Shallan, and Mec, and Godrich, and it sounds like many others, too. They rallied us together to save you in hopes you would be final victim of these curses. I regret not being able to do more..." His voice trailed off. "Allow me to end your pain."

The monster made a strange, sob-like noise, before coughing another mouthful of blood. "N-no..." A voice choked through, awkwardly and painfully through sharpened teeth. It was feminine, unmistakably so. "I want... to live."

Cho stiffened suddenly, his face contorting into a troubled expression. Clair was actually still there... and aware. "But, you are dying already," he insisted. "And you must be in terrible pain now, tormented not just inside, but now outside also. You mustn't be afraid. I will be here with you until it is over."

"It will... never be over..." Clair breathed, laboring heavily between each breath. "Until... you change." Clair could not have seen how her words impacted Cho's expression. How the accusation jolted his heart, how he tightened his tiny fists that lay on his lap. However, she continued. "I've seen... what he's done... what he'll do..." The feminine voice that escaped the monster's lips trailed off as its breaths grew shallower.

"Tell me, what have you seen?" Cho asked, kneeling closer. He no longer minded the sharp fangs the creature bore. Only cared for Clair's voice. As Clair whispered back to him, the mage's youthful face contorted painfully, growing redder as tears welled up in his eyes. This time, there was no controlling the feelings, for they stemmed from a different place, somewhere much more serious than a child’s extreme hormonal reactions. His sorrow and frustration no longer came from what happened. Rather, they came from his understanding of what it was he had to do.

His small frame stood slowly on shaky legs, which burned with the pressure of reluctance. Struggled against the weight of a centuries-long promise that he made, of a trauma so deep in the mage's heart that he only ever spoke of it in vague terms to even his closest living companion, Olenna of the mage's cabal. As the small mage took a few steps away from the monster's body, he wiped away his tears for one last time. Suddenly, he raised his arms in the direction of the dying monster, orbs of blue light forming in his palms. A mist that glowed in a similar, blue hue swirled around his arms and trailed behind him, filling the area in a strange, ozone-like scent. "I'm so sorry, Yveilia," Cho whispered as the lights in his palms pulsed, summoning a thrall before him.

The blue, ethereal figure that appeared before him was that of a woman. Even though many of the details were hidden by the lack of distinguishable color, there was no mistaking the comeliness of her face, the soft lines around her lips, the symmetry, the small and delicate nose. The figure stood gracefully, bowing her head gently towards her short master.

"Can you do it?" Cho asked. "You were created from the final breaths of the greatest healer to ever grace this world. So, can you repair the mangled body behind you, save the spirit trapped inside?"

The ghostly woman turned, looking over the body. "The body can be... repaired... But at a great cost... A shortening of the lifespan... Yveilia had no limit to her lifespan... So the toll was no burden…."

Cho nodded. "I too, can pay the toll, the same as Yveilia." He stopped for a moment, a sob escaping his throat. He sighed heavily, shaking it off. He would repent another time. "Take all that you need." Another flash of light came from his right palm, which extended like a solid tendril and attached itself to the thrall's back, between its shoulder blades.

The thrall nodded. "Let us begin."



When Cho awoke the next morning, he felt like he had been trampled by a herd of wild horses. A great fatigue washed over him, his lips were cracked and dry, and his entire body felt a soreness he had not felt in a long time. He had been laying in the open, on the ground, his pack laying nearby. With great effort, he propped himself up on his hands, and saw the harpy tied to a nearby tree with several strong knots of rope. He crawled towards it, stopping when he was a few paces away to take in the nearby surroundings. He was back at the base of the mountain, an unideal location, but where he had to make do the night before. It would be safer to keep the harpy imprisoned somewhere a little less accessible to the average traveler or magehunter, but that would be something to figure out later.

The monster stirred slightly before raising its head, catching a glimpse of Cho. It snarled, bearing its teeth as it struggled against its restraints. There was no sign of Clair behind its red, glowing eyes, nor the gray flesh. Cho had to trust in the hope she had, her will to live, the belief that his current companions would help him achieve the victory he long sought.

Cho ignored the monster and rose to his feet. He strained his eyes against the morning sun as he scanned the trees above for any signs of Olenna's watchers, in hopes he could relay the message of his success in restraining the harpy. He wondered just how closely Olenna followed the events of the previous evening, facing the possibility that he just might have to trust her enough to explain the details.

[Namingtoohard]

Under normal circumstances, Olenna never tried to keep track of Cho’s movements. The ancient mage wasn’t one of her underlings, to be monitored and ordered about and used for the greater good of their kind. Quite the contrary. He was the closest thing she had to an equal, and Olenna would never deign to insult him by implying anything else. She felt no need to try and maintain constant communication either, because he had an uncanny habit of popping up when it mattered most, and their infrequent meetings were made more enjoyable by their sporadic nature. And even if she’d wanted to track him, Olenna had always assumed that Cho would notice any attempts she made at surveillance, and destroy or mislead her owls to preserve his privacy.

But these were not normal circumstances. While Olenna fully believed that Cho was capable of handling the harpy, sending him into such a dangerous situation without any support would’ve been the height of foolishness. Especially when the outcome of this conflict could have ramifications felt right across the continent. Anything could happen on the battlefield, and she needed to be prepared, just in case the worst came to pass. As such, she had instructed one of her winged spies to follow Cho when he had first set out on his journey. Now, Olenna was incredibly glad that she had.

She had watched the entire battle between Cho, his mythical pegasus, and the monster that had once been Clair with bated breath. She had even considered sacrificing her owl to try and tip the scales in his favor. Olenna’s messengers weren’t designed for combat, but if she swooped in and clawed at the harpy’s eyes during a critical moment…but no. A single retaliatory blow from the creature likely would’ve destroyed her construct, severing their only means of communication. She would’ve been sacrificing a great deal for uncertain gain. Temperance had won out, and Olenna had resigned herself to watching, even as she had cursed her own impotence.

Olenna had witnessed the fall that had followed, and the horrific injuries that the harpy had sustained. She’d thought the matter settled, then. Believed that Clair’s death was inevitable, and that everyone else would be safe. Not the outcome they’d been hoping for, but a palatable resolution nonetheless. But Clair had shocked her by speaking through the bars of her curse, and Cho had shocked her again by healing the monster in an attempt to save the trapped girl’s life. Olenna could tell that this moment was significant, but she simply didn’t know enough about Cho’s personal life to understand why he had made this choice, or how heavily it might weigh on him. She just cursed the ancient boy’s foolishness, his apparent inability to let Clair die, and then resolved to watch over him after he collapsed. Just in case the harpy tried to slip its bindings, or any wild animals came looking for easy prey.

Only when Cho woke, after a blessedly uneventful night, was Olenna finally able to relax. And when the young mage went looking for one of her messengers, the archmage was quick to make her presence known. She ordered her owl to swoop down and greet Cho directly, so that there was no mistaking her presence here. While the absence of a doll meant that she was unable to speak back to him, Olenna was fully prepared to relay whatever message Cho decided to entrust her with, no matter how much or how little he decided to explain.

~~~
First light crept over the horizon and slipped between the shutters, before falling gently upon Shallan’s face. She fought against the sun’s influence for as long as she could, but it was only a matter of time before it inevitably pulled her from the pleasures of her dreams, and forced her back into reality. For once, Shallan found that she didn’t mind too much. Her pillow was soft, and the covers were warm. Mec’s gentle snoring was a reassuring presence, and her memories of the night before were sweeter than any dream could hope of being. A responsible adult would’ve climbed out of bed and gotten started on breakfast, but Shallan quickly decided that it could wait. Just for a little while.

Shallan quickly lost track of time. She had no idea how long she’d spent there, balanced on the cusp of sleep, when Mec finally began to stir of his own accord. When he spoke, the drowsiness in his tone was enough to make her smile, to say nothing of the way he squeezed her hand. Shallan was quick to return the simple gesture, and even leaned across to plant a quick, chaste kiss to his jaw to boot. A small reminder of their discussion yesterday, and a minor indulgence she found herself unwilling to resist. Against her own better judgement, Shallan found herself wondering if she couldn’t implore him to remain in bed with her, just for a little longer.

Before Shallan could make up her mind, the decision was made for her, when the sound of footsteps reached her ears. Not the gentle crunch of someone stepping on dirt or grass, but the heftier thumping of boots on wood. The groaning of old stairs as they performed their sole duty. It took her a couple of moments for her sleep-addled brain to figure out who might be responsible, and what it meant for the two of them. When she did, her good mood vanished almost immediately, replaced by a sense of foreboding. Shallan pushed herself up into a sitting position and turned her attention to the far side of the cabin, then. She was just in time to watch the cellar door swing open, before Olenna’s doll stepped through the gap.

Contrary to Shallan’s expectations, the doll didn’t address either of them at first. Instead, it began to walk around the circumference of the room, one hand pressed against the wall. When Olenna came to the first window, she threw the shutters open wide, allowing the morning sun to flood their home. Shallan flinched away from the sudden brightness on reflex, instinctively bringing a hand up to shield her watering eyes until they could adjust. By the time she was comfortable enough to lower it, one of Olenna’s owls had settled on the windowsill. Her sight restored, the archmage finally turned to address the room’s occupants properly.

“I apologize for the rude awakening, but there’s been a development.” Shallan couldn’t detect any real remorse in Olenna’s tone, directly contradicting her words. The archmage sounded about as controlled and neutral as ever, by her reckoning. “Late last night, Cho was forced into open conflict with the monster controlling Clair’s body. He managed to subdue it, but there’s no promises that it will remain contained for long.”

“It’s too soon” Shallan blurted out before she could stop herself. As the archmage’s attention settled on her, she became pointedly aware that she was currently sitting in bed with her partner, dressed in nothing but her night clothes. Despite knowing full well that they hadn’t done anything wrong, and that Olenna was human herself, and that she had bigger concerns, Shallan couldn’t help but shrink under the weight of her scrutiny. She subconsciously tightened her hands around the blanket, resisting the urge to try and cover herself. Completely oblivious to her awkwardness, Olenna continued uninterrupted.

“Calm yourself, girl. No decisions have been made yet.” Her gaze slipped past Shallan then, settling on Mec once more. “Has your connection to the Anima returned yet?”

[Headwrapper]

The movement of feathers from above was subtle, almost undetectable. For Cho, the gentle ruffling was plenty to make him aware of the approaching owl, prompting him to offer a skinny arm as a resting place. A soft sigh escaped his lips as the bird took its perch, and the tiny mage led them a ways away from the ensnared harpy. They were far enough that the creature's snarls and grunts were barely audible as it struggled, but it could be easily monitored at a glance. "I can only assume the questions you might be wishing to ask, dear friend. In confidence, I will share some of the answers... Perhaps not in the order you wish for them to be answered, but I suppose it can not be helped."

He shot a glance towards the monster. His small chest rose and fell as he observed the gray, feathered creature. "That woman... I hope we get to meet her after all of this," he said. His watchful gaze lingered for a long while, silent and still. Only when the owl perched on his arm fidgeted in response to the trembling of its perch did he finally turn away. Gently, he guided the winged, nocturnal creature onto a low hanging branch nearby, before settling on the ground himself with his back against the trunk of the same tree. He raised his arm in front of him, the same one he used to command the mysterious healing thrall the night before. The slender arm, raised to the light of the sun with the palm facing upward, was completely normal, pale and skinny as ever. The limb's owner, however, observed it with dismay, as if coming to terms with a disfigurement. Cho licked his dry lips between hushed breaths, twitched his fingers as the tiny blonde hairs on his arms stood straight out. "I never wanted to see Yveilia like that..."

With a jolt, Cho clenched his outstretched fist before promptly dropping his arm back into his lap. He cleared his throat, grasping for his confident tone that he preferred to use when speaking of important matters, though hints of his trembling uncertainty remained. "I'm sure you understand the implications of my ability to summon the avatar of my old friend, the legendary healer I spoke of before. Her death was perhaps one of the greatest pains I've ever experienced, and, unbeknown to most, was perhaps one of the greatest losses to mankind. I mean that quite literally. Her contributions to modern medicine, disguised as accidental discoveries by universities around the world, have led to the boom in human populations that we see today." He grew silent, again, and remained that way for a long while. "It will take a long, long time to forgive myself for using her avatar like that. Commanding it like a dog or a horse. How could I debase her image like that?" He rest his head on one hand, glancing up towards the owl.

"I have a fear that if we allow Clair to die, our problems will become much worse," Cho finally said, any hint of tremor in his voice vanishing. "That isn't to say that keeping her alive will solve our current problems, either. I suppose I should not be vague about it. Akuji's curse is currently lying dormant in dozens of victims. Clair's death, according to what she told me, would catalyze these dormant curses all at once, and we will be dealing with more than one monster. I've never known Akuji to possess more than one body before, but it could be within his capabilities. Perhaps the influx of monsters is simply meant to complicate our tampering of his plan, unable to eliminate all potential hosts before he possesses one and gains his strength. All speculation, of course. One more bit of speculation, I suspect that this sudden spread of the curse is due to Clair's inherent magical ability. That is my only explanation for why she has knowledge of Akuji's activity, perhaps having to bear witness to their execution in her struggle for control of herself."

After shooting a glance towards the monster and confirming that it was, in fact, still tied to a tree trunk, Cho shifted in his seat and continued. "Allowing Clair to live until Akuji takes control will lead to a similar outcome, although delayed. I fear once we reach that point, they will have the power needed to trigger any number of curses, among other things."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wrapped up cozily underneath the blankets, nested next to Shallan while sharing each others warmth, Mec could not imagine a reason he would want to abandon their comfortable nook in any immediate amount of time. Nonetheless, a reason presented itself, announcing its arrival with hollow groans as it climbed the wooden stairs outside. Upon Olenna's entry, Mec instinctively sat up, tensing involuntarily while the cabal leader entered. Even after all of this time, he could not place a particular reason for his tenseness when Olenna was around, though there were several reasons to either respect or fear the powerful mage.

Hearing the news of Cho's altercation with the monster invigorated a new liveliness in Mec, washing away the snug feeling of sleepy comfort that had ensnared him earlier. He turned slightly, planting one foot against the wooden floorboards underneath of him as sat himself up straighter.

He placed a hand on Shallan's lap in hopes to silently assuage her concerns. "It's close," he said, subconsciously sliding his thumb against the tiny cuts in his hand from the night before. "It used to require much focus and effort for the tiniest glimpse, but now I have been able to see the Anima for much longer. Actually casting any magic has been out of reach, but I think I'm close."

[Namingtoohard]

The short walk that Cho took her on, away from the restrained harpy, was one of the longest that Olenna had ever experienced. Not because of the distance, but because of the information that was waiting for her at the end of it, dangling just out of reach. Cho’s assessment had been right on the mark, and every second felt like an eternity when her curiosity was devouring her from within. Olenna knew the delay was necessary, of course. They had no idea how far Akuji’s possession had progressed, and an information leak could prove disastrous. There was simply no reason to take the risk. But logic and emotion held little sway over each other, and that knowledge did little to soothe her growing impatience.

When Cho next spoke, Olenna couldn’t help but recall their last private conversation. Specifically, the question she had asked regarding his seemingly infinite empathy. She felt an unfamiliar pang, even as she obeyed his silent request, and transferred to a nearby branch. Then her bird watched, silent as the grave, as Cho made himself comfortable. She was still bursting with questions, but even if her owl had been capable of speech, Olenna would’ve refrained. There was no mistaking the weight of this moment, and only a fool would have dared interrupt Cho, instead of giving him the time he needed.

Just as he had promised, the first words out of Cho’s mouth were not some grand reveal, but they held Olenna’s attention regardless. The way his voice trembled did not escape her notice, and she was struck by a wave of sympathy for her friend, if not this lost healer. This new information was interesting for other reasons, too. To learn that such a key part of human history had been a lie, and she had never known…it was a humbling moment for a spymaster. After a few seconds, she shoved both of those thoughts away for future introspection. That probably hadn’t been Cho’s intention, which meant that the real information was yet to come. Olenna couldn’t get distracted now.

The suspicions that followed saw Olenna’s owl ruffling its feathers in distress, and her real body cursing softly. She’d always assumed that Akuji had some sort of contingencies in place, but the archmage had never imagined anything quite like this. It almost sounded like this outbreak was inevitable, and their efforts to rescue Clair had been doomed from the start. Then there was the church to consider, too. If monsters started popping up all over the place, they’d be compelled to act. This could spell the start of another crusade. An event that would spell disaster for her cabal, and any other mages in hiding, to say nothing of the ordinary people that would be caught in the crossfire.

No. Olenna refused to be outwitted so easily. The perpetrator might’ve been an ancient calamity with centuries of experience, but she was far from helpless, and had Cho on her side. Not for the first time, she found herself cursing the restrictions of her current body. They needed two-way communication now more than ever! Still, there was little point in dwelling on that fact. Like always, she’d have to make do with what she had. And in the light of this newest revelation, she had a great deal to do.

The archmage ordered her owl to take flight, drifting downwards to join Cho by the base of the tree. She’d offer him what limited thanks she could right now, gracing the ancient boy with a soft hoot and a gentle nuzzle. Then Olenna took her leave, turning her mind to other places and other matters. She’d leave her owl close, just in case he had more to say, or needed what little help she could offer. But the bulk of her attention would reside elsewhere for now.

~~~

Mec’s response was met with a simple nod of acknowledgement. For a terrible, brief moment, Olenna considered keeping Cho’s newest revelation to herself. At present, his role in the plan remained unchanged, and the news would only serve to distress and distract Mec at the time when he could least afford it. On the other hand, the possibility of impending disaster might serve to motivate him. The archmage remained silent for a moment as she pondered both sides, before memories of Cho began to tip the scales. He had sacrificed a great deal to gain this information, and had placed his trust in her by sharing it. It seemed…disrespectful, somehow, to ignore this opportunity to do the same. Olenna normally tried to keep emotions out of her calculations, but perhaps she could strive to be a little more like him, just this once.

“Things are worse than we anticipated. Cho has reason to believe that Akuji has trapped the curse, so to speak. If we interrupt his attempts to possess Clair, a great number of people may turn into monsters just like her, all across the continent, as they search for a replacement host.” Olenna tapped her fingers against her arm as she pondered how best to phrase this next part. “That said, I believe we should proceed as planned. It’s possible that Akuji hasn’t foreseen the possibility of someone freeing Clair without killing her, presenting us with a loophole we can exploit. And if not…well, there’s a very real chance that Akuji may trigger these extra transformations after possessing Clair anyway. If an outbreak is inevitable, we have nothing to lose by trying to save her.”

The subtle weight of Mec’s hand on her lap had brought Shallan some comfort, but Olenna’s careful words obliterated any sense of peace, replacing it with dread. If what she said was true, then nobody was safe. Her mother, the Misfits, everyone they had met on their journey…all of them were at risk. Even if they didn’t become monsters themselves, they could still be killed by one. She turned her gaze back towards Mec then, looking for comfort, or guidance. And when their eyes met, she gave him a small, resolute nod.

Olenna had lapsed into silence before, but when Mec and Shallan inevitably indicated that they were still willing to go ahead with the plan, to try and save their friend, she would press onwards. “As I said earlier, Cho has taken Clair captive, but their battle has taken a toll on him. There’s no telling how long he’ll be able to restrain her before she escapes. If we’re going to attempt this, we’ll need to leave as soon as possible, and hope that your abilities have returned in full by the time we catch up with him.”

At these words, Shallan’s grip tightened on the edge of their blanket, enough for her knuckles to turn white. The wrung it between her hands, torn by this news. She and Mec had finally found safety, and now they were being forced back out into the world again before he’d finished recovering. She’d finally confessed her feelings for him, had been so excited to see what the next few days would hold, only to have that opportunity torn away the very next morning. Clair’s life had to come first, of course, to say nothing of the other people they might potentially save, but there was something so incredibly unfair about it all. Still, they were committed now. Shallan forced herself to say they’d start packing immediately, her voice foreign to her own ears.

[Headwrapper]

Even though no one expected the situation to improve on its own, the news that Olenna imparted created unanticipated tension. The possibility that the unprecedented events that unfolded could repeat themselves a dozen, a hundred, or a thousand times over was daunting. Daunting was perhaps an understatement, a poor way to describe the dread such a concept introduced. Mec steadied himself, taking a deep breath as he came to terms with the new information. His lips pressed together firmly in anticipation of where this conversation was leading them. Silent in his response, he turned to lock eyes with Shallan, who responded with a purposeful nod.

Mec lowered his head at Olenna's suggestion that they leave as quickly as possible. He shared the same sentiment, but even so, the prospect was about as difficult to swallow as a bur of an oak tree. To Mec's surprise, Shallan was the first to announce that they would begin packing, prompting him to raise his head. He felt himself press his foot against the floor beneath him and he rose to his feet. It felt like his body was moving on its own, responding to the urgency the situation necessitated even when the desire was lacking.

They tore apart the cottage as they packed what they would need for their journey. There were far too many things that they could take, and they quickly realized they could only pack the things that they needed to take. Lacking the luxury of a pack animal to carry their items, they needed to travel lightly as to not be encumbered with heavy packs full of unnecessary provisions. As they scoured through what they would need, clothing, food, clean water, they packed away the the indulgences they enjoyed. Books were packed away on shelves, the bed was tidied up, and they closed the hearth to prevent any unwanted visitor from crawling inside.

During a moment of privacy, in which Olenna had stepped outside of the cottage, Mec silently pulled Shallan towards him. He pressed his forehead against hers and relaxed his jaw, which had been tensed since receiving Olenna's update. "This changes nothing," he said quietly. "No matter what path we're on, we will walk it together."



A while later, Mec concluded the group's preparations by stamping out the small, smouldering flame that he had been using to dry leftover meat for the last several days. He had packed away the provisions, satisfied with the quality of his work. He cast one final glance towards the cottage. The shutters and doors had been completely secured and locked, sealing away the welcoming warmth Mec and Shallan had enjoyed during their weeks of stay. Cho's wolves stood about the entrance, circling each other for a few moments before finally settling back on their haunches. Their icy-blue eyes watched the travelers without emotion, unmindful of their impending journey.

Soon, Mec felt like he had his fill of the view. With a sudden purposefulness, he turned towards the path ahead and tightened the straps of his pack that had been slung over his shoulders. "Lead the way," he said, addressing Olenna. His expression had become restless, eager to progress, to move forward. There was a sense of duty swelling in chest and coursing through his veins. A sense to accomplish what they set out to do, to ensure the payoff for their sacrifices. To satisfy past promises, to protect, to perform a purpose. Perhaps, Mec dared to think, fulfill a destiny.

As they began their way through the woods surrounding their cottage, a familiar voice called out to Mec. Your resolve has united us once again, dearest mortal.

[Namingtoohard]

The moments that followed Shallan’s bold proclamation were a whirlwind of frenzied activity. As soon as she found some privacy, she changed out of her nightgown as quickly as she could, throwing on the first clean dress she could find. She didn’t spare a thought for her hair – a crime that would’ve been unthinkable, just a few quiet days ago. Afterwards, she tore through their home as quickly as her feet could carry her, filling waterskins and wrapping supplies and stuffing fresh clothes into their packs at record speeds. Whenever Shallan finished one task, she took off before she’d decided on the next, and simply tried to figure out her goal on the way.

Shallan was so focused on her preparations that she completely missed Olenna’s departure. She had no idea they were alone until Mec pulled her close, a honeyed promise upon his lips. Those simple words warmed Shallan’s heart, made her forget whatever she’d been rushing to do just a moment ago, filled her with such fondness that she thought she’d burst from trying to contain it all. She pressed her forehead to Mec’s own, closed her eyes, and forced herself to take a deep breath. Tried to enjoy this brief respite, this little moment of bliss, until the reality of their situation forced them apart again. Then she returned to her work with renewed vigor, more driven than ever by the timely reminder of what they’d be returning to once this was over.

When they finally stepped out of their home and into the forest beyond, Olenna was waiting. The doll stood just a few steps from the door, perfectly motionless, while her owl circled overhead. Shallan said a silent goodbye to the cabin, and the wolves, promising herself that she’d see them both again soon. Then she stepped towards the imposing simulacrum alongside her partner, ready to face what came next. From this point onwards, she told herself, there could be no sentimental distractions. Not when Clair’s life – and the lives of countless other people – could very well depend on how well they managed this journey. Shallan’s role may have been small, but she’d do all she could to see everyone through this mess safely.

Mec spoke, and Olenna nodded once to acknowledge their readiness. “Before we set off, let me remind you both that my doll does not fatigue the way your bodies do. If the pace I set is too punishing, or you require rest, you will have to let me know. Otherwise, I am liable to push you both too far without realizing. Our speed will not mean anything if your powers do not return in full before we arrive, Mec, so it is your judgement we must rely on, yes? Now, let us be off.”

Having said her piece, Olenna turned away from her young companions and began to move. Responding to one of her silent commands, her owl swooped off ahead, acting as both scout and guiding star. Shallan took a deep breath and set off after her, trying to match the doll’s pace. They were well and truly on their way now. For better or worse.

~~~

Travelling by road, during the day, proved a novel experience for Olenna. Under normal circumstances, she never would’ve dared. Her doll might’ve passed as human from a distance, but there was no disguising its strangeness up close. It would only take one mouthy traveler for news of her movements to reach the church, and the last thing she needed was more hunters snapping at her tail. There was simply no reason to risk it when darkness and rough terrain were no hinderance. For this journey, though, she’d made an exception. Travelling by road would be easier for both of her companions, and if Cho’s worst fears were concerned, the church would have much bigger problems to worry about soon enough. So, she led both of her companions along the quickest and easiest path, consequences be damned.

And yet, after several days of forced marching, even she was starting to feel the strain. Everything she’d told Mec and Shallan at the start of the journey still held true, but dirt was starting to accumulate in the joints of her doll, hindering her movement. It wasn’t painful, but it was still a problem that needed to be addressed. Still, as the mountains drew closer, and the landscape grew rockier, Olenna knew that their collective efforts had borne fruit. It wasn’t long before she was leading them away from the road, and towards Cho’s camp. On a whim, she sent her owl ahead, before turning her attention to both of her companions.

“We’re almost there. Cho’s camp should be just a few minutes away. And from the looks of things, he still has Clair in captivity. We made it in time” Olenna offered, without showing down. “How are you feeling, Mec? Will you attempt to free her right away, or would you prefer a chance to rest first?”

For the majority of their journey, Shallan had simply tried to keep up with the pace Olenna set. Traveling with the Misfits had prepared her well for the rigors of the road, and the last thing she wanted was to hinder the group. On any other occasion, she might’ve passed the time by singing, or daydreaming about what wonders might await them in the next town, around the next corner, over the next hill. This time, she could only worry about what waited for them at the end of this trip, and how hard Mec might’ve been pushing himself. Her nerves reached something of a crescendo when Olenna announced that the time had come, and asked how Mec was feeling. Even so, she maintained her silence, allowed him the chance to answer, determined to see this through.

[Headwrapper]

“Huh, sleeping again.”

With a shaky grip, Cho’s small hands gently guided a long branch, reaching towards the creature he had kept incarcerated for several days now. The branch was nearly three times longer than Cho’s full height if he had raised his arms above his head, bowing so much under its own weight that the opposite end nearly touched the ground. Slowly and awkwardly, Cho guided the tip of the stick until it brushed against the leg of the harpy, which had been lying still. The creature kicked its bounded leg, flaring a taloned foot as it did so, but did not stir otherwise. Even if it had, there would have been no issue.

After being given time to rest and relocate his prisoner, Cho was able to establish a more robust system for controlling his ward. Knowing that Olenna would be delivering Mec to try to dismantle the curse, simply stalking the creature from a distance would no longer suffice. It needed to stay contained, but kept alive and allowed to eat and drink as it needed. Cho found a suitable location on the cliffside, where a few meager and barren trees twisted in knots. While the monster was sedated, he bound its wings behind its back, preventing flight. He also bound the legs loosely, so that the creature could wander at a slow pace, but unable to run or attack with its talons. Several bluish-white creatures surrounded their encampment, and if the harpy neared the perimeter that was determined by Cho it would be quickly and aggressively pushed back to the center, perhaps by a large silvery ape or a large dog.

When the monster seemed more behaved, Cho would take to feeding it himself. The monster refused him at first, but it was not ready to starve to death. After a few of Cho’s attempts, it finally accepted a morsel between its fangs, straight from between Cho’s fingers. If the monster felt any human emotion, it likely felt humiliated, being fed by the hands of a child. However, Cho found great joy in the activity. His eyes would widen when the monster chomped down a juicy piece of roasted meat or a mushroom. On occasion, he would toss a bite into the air and exclaim loudly when the harpy caught it in his jaws.

Lately, in the last two days or so, the feedings had become infrequent. The harpy slept for several hours, hardly stirring. Cho had begun to wonder if the host body was beginning to deteriorate, despite being fed and sheltered. Moreso, he worried if this change in behavior marked the beginning of Akuji’s return. Even still, Cho held the course. It was agreed that he would let this host of Akuji’s spirit live. So, he killed time playing with his avatars or poking the creature with his tremendously long stick.

~~~

The terrain grew more rugged, strewn with rocks as Mec followed Olenna’s path through the uneven terrain on the way to Cho’s encampment. He used a long, dried staff he had created during their journey, fashioning it into a walking stick. When his powers had returned, creating such a device seemed so easy again. The enormous struggle to regain his ability seemed so silly and foolish, as if it had been some sort of fluke that he had even lost control of his powers at all. With just a small wave of his hand, he had willed a long root to snake upwards, out of the ground and towards the sky. With another wave and the squeezing of his fist, the root solidified and hardened, drying readily before cracking and falling into Mec’s hand. It had grown to be an invaluable tool ever since.

Mec used the stick to help pull himself up yet another ledge, his other, weakened arm dangling limply beside him. It did not hurt much any more, but it was weak and tired easily. It was hardly a sacrifice with his powers having returned to him, especially when considering there was no reason to believe the condition would be permanent. He looked up at Olenna when she announced they were nearly arriving, and contemplated her inquiry while deciding where he would take his next step, figuratively and literally.

He finally placed his staff in a strategic location and pulled himself through another step onto the rock just behind Olenna. Although he struggled to catch his breath, he shook his head. “I have been given all that I need. No need to delay.”

The truth of it was that Mec had been given more than just his powers, but the world was not ready to learn of his relationship with the harbinger in his mind, the voice he heard intertwined with his own thoughts. During the late night hours, in silent contemplation, Mec learned that this voice belonged to Goriathm, a being that claimed to have bestowed magical abilities to the human race thousands of years before. Mec was sure that it was beings like Akuji that shepherded the coming of the so-called “Dark Days” and the chaos they brought, and squandered such a magnificent gift.

Millenia had passed since Goriathm had left the world, but his gift remained, and required a ward to protect it.

As Olenna promised, they soon arrived at Cho’s camp. Mec wiped the sweat from his brow as they approached, his weakened arm shaking as he struggled to raise it to his forehead. After catching his breath, he took a look around the encampment. A small tent was stationed nearby, just large enough for a small boy to take shelter inside. Not too far away from the tent was a group of barren trees, surrounded by the ghostly pale avatars of different creatures and beasts, dutifully transfixed at a single target. Following their gazes, Mec witnessed the target of their mission that he had heard so much about, but had seen so little of.

He marched onward to get a closer look, stepping around Cho who had excitedly approached the group. When he reached a suitable distance, close enough to get a good look without putting himself in danger, he stopped and leaned on his staff. A crease formed across his forehead as he took a look at the strange, ghastly, and pathetic creature. Its pitch-black wings were bound behind its back tightly, and its limbs were bound such that it could hardly move. Even if it had wanted to, it seemed to be too exhausted. Its lithe, gray body was curled up on the ground, sleeping the same way a human would. He whispered silently, conversing secretly with his respected harbinger.

Cho’s tiny lips curled into a frown as Mec passed by him, but the expression did not last long. He beamed and skipped over to Olenna and Shallan. “You made it! And in one piece, too.” He wrapped his small arms around Shallan in a precious embrace, squeezing her as tight as his little arms could. Although he had been in the rugged wilderness for quite some time, Cho did not smell or look like it. His hair was clean and neat and tidy, and a sweet lavender fragrance wafted from behind his ears and his wrists. His clothes, although faded by the sun and stitched in certain places, were clean and free of dirt and bugs.

He released Shallan, but still held her hand as he addressed both her and Olenna. “And maybe just in time… Her behavior has been changing.” His head turned towards the creature’s prison. “She has not been eating, and has been spending several days only sleeping. I don’t know what that could mean.”

Cho led them closer to the camp, finally releasing Shallan’s hand to fetch a grassy mat from inside his tent. He placed it on the ground and dropped down onto it, offering the space beside him with a gentle pat. “His arm,” he sighed, scowling in the direction of Mec, who still remained posted close to the harpy. “He has not been exercising it. But it looks like it must have healed nicely, otherwise.” His gaze drifted towards Olenna’s doll, and he tilted his head in contemplation. “You look like you need some work, too,” he said after looking her over.

The young woman, the wooden machination and its owl, and the ancient child continued their conversation for a short time, stopping only when Mec approached them. He stopped to lean on his staff. “Shall I begin?”

While the others may have already come to a conclusion about this earlier, Cho was quick to voice his refusion. “Surely you can wait a while to rest? You made it here so fast I have to imagine that neither you or Shallan had much to eat or much sleep. And Olenna’ joints are practically full of clay. If something goes wrong, you’ll need her help as much as you need mine.”

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air. It was so loud, high-pitched, and sudden that even Cho covered his ears, squeezing his head between his tiny hands. Mec did the same, although he fumbled with his staff and his weakened arm as he did so. When the shriek finally subsided, Mec turned back towards the monster’s prison. It had risen to its feet, its eye glowing red with malice. “There’s our answer,” Mec commented as Cho pushed past him.

“That’s not good,” Cho announced, his earlier whimsiness completely absent. “I hope you’re as ready as you say you are, Mec.” As he spoke, red and black clouds began to fill the air around the harpy, practically billowing from between the monster’s foliage. As the smoke spread, it crackled and buzzed with energy like a stormcloud. The creature unfurled its wings, breaking through its bondage as if it had been made of candyfloss. At Cho’s command, his summoned creatures dove at the monster, which miraculously ducked and dived between the claws, fangs, hooves, arms, and tusks with nearly incomprehensible speed.

The harpy leaped into the air, flapping its wings as it ascended out of the reach of its pursuers on the ground. It flapped heavily as it hovered in place, bouncing gently in the air the way someone would in a pool of water. In an instant, Cho’s pegasus descended from above the clouds, so quickly that practically no one had even seen its silvery white mane and feathers. Cho squinted in anticipation of the pegasus colliding with the monster from behind, readying himself to recapture the harpy and hold it in place for Mec.

A loud crack filled the air, and Cho gasped in horror. In an instant, the harpy had spun around and grabbed the flying equestrian’s neck as if it was a child’s toy. Even though the harpy’s hands were small and bony, its grip was strong enough to completely stop the pegasus at full speed, its hooves and wings swaying limply after the beast’s neck broke. The harpy flapped its wings, enveloping the creature with its black and red smoke. The pale white glow of the horse's feathers and coat diminished as it turned completely black. The horse's mane, tail, and eyes turned a bright crimson red, just before the harpy released it.

The crimson and black pegasus flapped its wings, rolling its long neck awkwardly as the bones inside snapped back into place. It remained in the air for a long while, following the harpy’s gaze at the ground below.

“I’ve never seen this before,” Cho said with disbelief. “I can’t command the pegasus any more. I can’t even dismiss it. It’s as if Akuji has taken it for himself.” He huffed in annoyance as the pegasus turned away from them and took off, flying away from the area entirely. His eyes widened with sudden revelation, and he waved his hand, commanding his other creatures to disappear. Most of them did, but there were a few, trapped inside the strange red and black clouds, that did not. They stood still as the smoke flowed into them, and by the time the smoke had fully vanished, they had been turned the same black and red as the pegasus.

Mec silently watched the events around him unfold, squinting as the new threats came into view from the vanishing mist. To his elation, which he did his best to hide, his senses had grown incredibly sensitive to every movement and twitch of the Anima around him. The malice of Akuji's presence in the harpy, the change between Cho's influence and Akuji's in the summoned creatures. Olenna, shifting her doll and readying herself, strategically moving her owl to a proper vantage point. He felt Shallan's fear, and the way the Anima around her reacted to her emotions even if she had no control or awareness of it. He even felt the terrible, magnificent power that emanated from the harpy.

The harpy staying nearby meant that succeeding in their mission was still possible. Perhaps their survival even relied on it.

“Is this part of my purpose?” Mec whispered silently to himself.

It is, o’ warden.

“Then I will not fear.” Mec turned to watch Shallan for a moment. When their gazes met, he nodded reassuringly. This changes nothing, his gaze said.

The mage stepped forward, directing his bid towards Olenna and Cho. “I can destroy the creatures. If you bring Clair down to me, I will finish what we came to do.” Before giving them a chance to doubt him, Mec stepped forward, continuing to lean on his staff. One of Cho’s ex-minions, a massive pachyderm with great, long, crimson tusks and a long trunk that hung in between them, trumpeted loudly. The ground shook as the large creature charged forward, destroying the barren dead trees around it as it headed towards Mec.

Mec raised his staff as the beast approached, pointing the large knob at the head of the staff towards the creature. He did so slowly and deliberately, without panic. Without the need to rush, with full confidence that the right things would happen at the right time. And they did. As the massive elephant’s tusks breached the area just ahead of Mec, they disintegrated, fading into the air without leaving a trace behind. As did the elephant’s trunk, its head, its massive body, all the way to the tip of its tail.

“Bring Clair to me,” Mec repeated.