Before Long…
Lucian shoulder slammed his door open, he and Asher stepped inside. Without extra movement, he gently laid, Halcyon onto his bed, her skin was clammy with sweat… Still burning, he used his spare sheets, to make her more comfortable, adjusting her head where a pillow should've been.
As he hadn't owned one in years?
"Tech…"
As Asher was about to speak, he couldn't Lucian already moved again, he grabbed a nearby damp cloth, placing it on her forehead. Then he decided to grab another set of wet clothing and wrapping her body into it.
Asher stood back silently, watching the him work. At first, he thought Lucian had everything under control… but then he saw and felt the doubt inside his teacher's eyes.
He alwayed secretly, though Lucian's silence is more painful than any wound.
"Teacher… what's wrong with Halcyon?"
Lucian didn't respond. His attention was solely on her… pacing, preparing, moving like a storm. Asher reached out and gently grabbed his arm to get his attention, Lucian reacted instinctively. In a flash, he twisted Asher's wrist and nearly dropped him to the floor.
"Teacher…"
He felt pain, inside from Lucian strength his expression just didn't show it. Lucian's gaze darted about, his word awoke him. His grip loosened, and he pulled away… visibly shaken.
Asher massaged his wrist. "Teacher, what's wrong with Halcyon? This can't be normal… You're moving usually like this. That's seriously wrong?"
He stared at Halcyon, trying to center himself.
I lost focus... I almost hurt Asher when I should've been protecting Sunny. Instead of helping, I nearly made things worse
Lucian finally spoke, his voice filled of dread. "I don't know… a few days ago. We meet then she said she had some kind of sickness..."
Asher's brow furrowed. "Sickness? Halcyon always took care of herself… I didn't thinks she of all people can get sick."
"She came here looking for a Crown Relic. Said it was the only thing that could cure her."
Asher's eyes narrowed. "Crown Relic…?"
The name stirred something. He'd studied many Relics, but never heard of one here.
A relic tied to a crown… perhaps once belonging to royalty. But this city has no king, no throne. Could the relic have been brought here long ago? Or maybe the city was built atop the bones of a forgotten kingdom.
What is the true nature of the Crown Relic? Was it designed to cure… or to contain something darker?
Lucian stroked Halcyon's sweaty cheek, then looked to Asher. "Why are you here anyway? You were supposed to be at the Sanctum."
Instantly, he saw Asher eyes darted about the room.
Asher scratched the back of his head and reached into his brown satchel. "I tracked you down…"
Lucian frowned. His gaze dropped to the token in Asher's hand… one laced with blood, an old tracking method. Dangerous. Rare.
"Wait… Lazarus has nothing to do with me," Asher explained quickly. "You were gone… so I left."
Lucian's jaw tightened. He knew, Asher injected his blood into the token.
Lucky Lazarus doesn't have one either… and traveling halfway across the Dreadmoor continent was pointless. My past is catching up to me… and maybe this really is where it all ends.
He knew the Vhar'Thalyx Planet, was far and wide he just he a feeling that he shouldn't leave to far, also the dreadmoor continent was the final stop for anyone, because of its reputation.
It's the resting ground of many fallen empires and cursed beings… few dare to venture here and return.
"Master," Asher said, stepping forward, "may I examine her?"
Lucian hesitated, he was confused, suspicious but nodded. He knew Asher was full of surprises. He always had been… the only one Lucian ever rose to train, the only disciple ever trusted.
Asher set his satchel on a nearby old brown table and knelt beside Halcyon. He pressed two fingers to her neck, he went quiet feeling for a pulse.
"Let's see what sickness, has hold on your spirit."
The room went quiet… just the creaking of old wood and a breeze from the cracked window. Then, faint golden threads emerged from his fingertips, curling like smoke.
He frowned. "Something's eating at her core… more than sickness. It's like a curse."
"Deep. Ancient… One I never felt before… What could she have come arocss to inflect her with such a curse." He muttered.
"Noct…"
The moment Lucian was about to speak, for Asher to explain properly, they both turned to Halcyon's voice, he rushed to her side, staring at her, his hand hovered above hers, before grasping it… He wiped her sweat.
"Noct…"
She kept murmuring, his name in her sleep, her tone soft, nostalgic like she in a dream… His heart ache?
Ever since they meet back, she never called him that nickname.
That old nickname… gone. Now it's just my real name, like she's trying to hold on to something real. Whatever she's dreaming of… must be the part of the past where we were still okay
Asher laid a firm hand on his shoulder. He looked to his serious expression. "Teacher. I have something that can buy us time… It allows her to find the crown.:
Lucian stepped aside without question. "Do it. Then we find the Relic."
From his satchel, Asher pulled out a small, curved purple crystal with a faint green glow. It floated above his palm.
"This is a Relic I found during my travels. After you left." His voice carried no accusation, but his eyes said enough.
He moved the crystal above Halcyon forehead and performed a series of intricate hand signs. A locked finger knuckles, his fingers spread apart like a butterfly wings. The crystal, slowly rotating, down casting soft light across the room.
It sunken into her forehead…
"Seal." Asher whispered.
In that moment. A purple mist erupted from Halcyon's body. Lucian stepped forward, afraid it would harm her… but he stopped, he trusted Asher and he felt he learned more thing on his own.
Also the pain wasn't hers, it was his. He was inside her mind now, clashing with the curse
What is this? A cloud… a consciousnes. It's already taken over half her body… how much longer does she have before he whole body is corrupt a Weeks? Months? She doesn't have long…
Asher inside his eyes and mind. He gazed around at a large black and purple mist in her mind. It even charged at him, thought a protective shield formed around his body… Blood trickled from his mouth, it kept trying it made a wall even as he got closer, it had no choice but to attack.
Usually, no one should enter another mind because it's the most powerful, dangerous part of your body… Though he had a couple encounter, before it wasn't enough now still he had push forward.
Before he could, all the mist turned into bodies that approached him.
"Boom!"
It exploded onto to him, his mouth leaked blood, he noticed when it did it was destroyed, it even cleared a little mist out of her body helping her. But its defense was down so he plunged the crystal into the center of the mist.
The mist no longer dare approach it.
He felt hopeful, that she was alright for now, so he left her mind.
Halcyon's breathing calmed. Her body stilled. Asher emerged from her mind, sweat-drenched but satisfied.
He glanced at Lucian, then the Relic embedded into her forehead.
"This Gem of Virelun will block all sickness, disease, and curse-related attacks for three months." he said softly.
Lucian nodded. "Thats good enough…" he said, still his gaze was focused on Halcyon before going to Asher. "… Thank you Asher."
Asher eyes widened, he blinked rapidly. "Master… don't go getting soft on me now," he said with a wide grin. "Unless you're ready to give me what I want."
Lucian raised an eyebrow… His glare sent a wave of killing intent was felt. Instantly, Asher laughed and took a step back, waving his hands."Kidding, kidding!"
When a weak voice interrupted them.
"…What happened?"
Lucian rushed to her side. "Sunny.
Don't move too fast. You need rest."
Halcyon blinked at him, her vision cleared then turned to Asher. "What… are you doing here?"
"Tracking Master," Asher replied, amused. "I have done alot… I wanted to return, to the one person who really home."
Lucian and Asher stared at each other before, he looked away… He really couldn't face Asher after he didn't want him here… It was usual because he nor them had a real home anymore.
She smiled faintly, though her eyes were still heavy. "Hmm. Sorry Lucian. I trusted that you that we could do it. I didn't think this would happen. That never happened before…"
Lucian flinched when Halcyon said she trusted him… he's been running from that word longer than she knows.
"Don't apologize," he stil said, as he help her sit up. "Thanks to Asher, you've got time."
"Halcyon you don't have to thank me."
Halcyon gripped his hand… then Asher's. She smiled weakly "No. No. You're helped me and giving me such a powerful Relic. Thank you... Truly."
But she looked down again. "Even with it… the curse is still inside. I can fight back, but now that the Crown Relic is gone, we don't know where to look."
Asher eyes brighten and pulled out a strange device… a tarnished brass compass with no markings. Its glass was stained red, inside had of a needle, and floated a drop of pulsing faintly blood.
"My Bloodlink Compass," he said. "Better than Seeker Eyes. I just need something tied to the Relic."
Lucian remembered he had something. And, he pulled out a cracked fragment from his cloak. "A piece of the teleporter ring… I took it. Thought it might be useful later."
Asher nodded, preparing to use it… when Lucian spoke again, leaning against his old greg wardrobe.
"Before we go after the Crown Relic… there's something you both need to know." His voice was quiet... Heavy.