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k1nky-fool · 1 year ago

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The Ace of Swords

Book I: The Devil in the Details

Chapter IV: Blessings and Curses

Nadia Satrinava x OC, Callisto

Warnings: The Red Plague, angst, Lucio is still weird.

Masterlist

Chapter IV:

Lyra had asked for her presence the next morning. Which Callisto figures is good news, since she was conscious enough to ask for someone to talk to. When she arrived in her room, Lyra was sitting up. Valerius was absent from the room, which she noted as odd, but Julian was there writing down everything he could, even as illegible as his handwriting was.

“Callisto, thank you for coming.” Lyra relaxes. “I need your help.”

“Lyra, there’s not much I can do for you that Julian can’t.” Callisto said, noting that both her eyes had the red scaleria and she looked like she didn’t get a minute of sleep.

“I know.” She said. “You can’t cure the plague, but you can make me look like I don’t have it.”

She knew exactly what she was talking about. If Callisto could create light from any description, then making Lyra an illusion of health wouldn’t be impossible. “I would have to make you something that wouldn’t decay.” Callisto said. “A charm like that would take a little while to make.”

“Valerius will pay you to get the materials and for the rush.” Lyra said quickly. “I need to be able to fool Lucio.”

Julian stopped writing, and it caught Callisto off guard too. She however, recovered fast. “Hey, I don’t need a reason to make a fool of Lucio.” Thankfully, Lyra found it funny. Callisto took a notebook out of her bag and started writing down ingredients she’d need, and her regular rate for a spell like this. “Should I give this to you or the Consul?”

“He’s meeting with the Countess for tea right now. Since you’re friends with the countess, you could catch him there.” Lyra said.

“Gotcha.” She nodded. “Stay alive.”

Lyra laughed. “I would rather give him the plague than die with a portrait unfinished.”

“You know he’ll ask me to summon your ghost so you can finish it, right?”

“Good, I’ll haunt him while I’m at it.” She huffed, turning over in bed.

Nothing like an inevitable death to change an attitude. “Take care of her, Julian.”

“I’ll do everything I can.” He said, but his voice was shaky, and unconvinced. Julian was never good at focusing on the present. The inevitable drop that every patient experienced was hanging over his head. There wasn’t much Callisto could do to help him out.

When she found Valerius and Nadia on the veranda, sipping tea, Valerius was the first one to notice her. “Welcome Callisto. I take it Lyra got the chance to speak to you.”

“Yes, she told me to give this to you.” He took the folded up piece of paper, and studied it.

“That’s all?” He asked, perplexed. “I expected you to take advantage of the proposition.”

“My prices are enough to sustain my lifestyle. Most of the high prices are for specific ingredients that are difficult for me to obtain.” She explained, as Nadia gestured to invite her to sit down. “Besides, I think it would be plain evil to take advantage of a client that needs my services.”

“I appreciate the gesture.” Valerius said blankly, as if it pained him to say so.

If Callisto had gotten to know Nadia at all in the last few days, then she definitely knew that Nadia had already figured out what was going on with Lyra whether or not Valerius had told her.

“I hope you understand, Countess, Lyra’s privacy is very important to me.” He said, tucking the note into his jacket.

“You needn’t worry Consul.” She promised. “The palace will keep her safe.”

“I appreciate it.” He nodded. “If you would excuse me, I have some matters I must attend to quickly.”

Nadia didn’t immediately jump onto asking about what he learned from Lucio. Lyra’s prognosis was a shroud that hung over the entire palace. It seemed that she’d found a place in the hearts of everyone that stumbled upon her. Even someone as haughty as Valerius couldn’t help but fall in love with her.

“She wants to finish the portrait, then?” Nadia asked.

“Can you blame her? I’d haunt my shop if I left a spell undone.” Callisto attempted to lighten the mood, but the small smile on Nadia’s face disappeared as fast as it had appeared.

“I often wish I could have answers to my questions, even as selfish as some are. It’s a horrible kind of longing, when you want for something that you know was never yours to reach for.” Nadia mused, looking up at clouds swirling above Vesuvia.

“Why not try to reach for answers?” Callisto asked.

“Because when I ask why, I am terrified to hear what I will be told.” Nadia said, honestly.

“I get terrifying answers every day.” She said. “I’m more scared of finding questions that don’t get answers.”

“Have you ever had a question that never got an answer?” Nadia asked.

“I got four yesterday.” Callisto reported, and Nadia immediately looked at her in shock. “Valdemar, Vulgora, Volta and Vlastomil. I read them in front of Lucio and it is clear to me that they are not human. On top of that, whatever they are, they’re powerful enough to silence one Arcana each.”

“I expected that the news would get worse before it gets better. Not this much worse.” She sighed.

“Did you learn anything from Valerius?”

“He suspects that the court’s incompetence is related to Lucio’s influence. However, he did note that Valdemar is far more malicious than the others.” She explained. “I think if anyone knows the most, it’s the Quaestor, yet I suspect getting any answers from them will be impossible unless we have something to offer them.”

“Hate to be crass-”

“No you don’t.”

“Fair enough, but we don’t have shit for Valdemar.” Callisto said. “There is nothing we have that they want.”

Nadia agreed. “We may need to ask the Arcana for a new approach, then.”

She didn’t need to be asked twice. The deck all but lept into her hand, and with a small shuffle, a card fell out of the deck and landed face up on the table.

The Moon was making his appearance once again, but the feeling she got was not any kind of answer or even question. Callisto closed her eyes and concentrated, but the vision that she received was a memory. Nadia’s open balcony door from a few nights ago. Clio’s voice rang in her head.

“Invitation.”

“I have another approach.” Callisto said, “Do you have somewhere I can perform a ritual without being found?”

Nadia caught her eye with a mischievous smile. “I do.”

Callisto followed her through luxurious halls until they got to a gilded door that she quickly realized was Nadia’s bedroom, but they didn’t stop there. Nadia brought her to a wall in the corner of the room where a hidden lever revealed a stone staircase. They ascended stairs in silence for a long while, but Callisto couldn’t help but focus on Nadia pulling her by the hand as they continued. Once at the top, a beautiful studio was the reward. The ceiling was vaulted and there was an unmistakable owl roost near the top. The walls were marble, and the windows were stained glass. There was a crescent pool that was filled by a sparkling, waterfall, fountain. The other side of the room was home to a desk filled with small clockwork pieces.

“Welcome to my contemplation tower.” Nadia smiled. “I admit I would often use this place to hide from the palace as a whole, but if you do not wish to be disturbed, then this is the place for you.”

“I’m your only guest?” Callisto asked.

“You and Chandra.” Nadia teased. “But to be completely honest, we are her guests.”

She couldn’t deny that she felt special. Like maybe Nadia was more open to Callisto than she initially thought. Up until three days ago, Nadia was an elusive figure among Vesuvia’s most elite. Now she’s letting Callisto in on where she was hiding all this time. It’s a gesture of trust that leaves her blushing.

“This will work perfectly.” She smiles, and sits beside the water.

“What sort of ritual are you performing?”

“I’m going to speak to an Arcana.” Callisto answered. “They exist in worlds far beyond ours, and magicians can reach them through a personalized gate. I’ve had a gate since I was fifteen, but it has been a while since I’ve tried to contact any of them.”

“When was the last time you attempted this?” Nadia asked.

“When Aunt Mosyne died. I spoke to The Empress to meet with her one last time.” Callisto said. “Now I’m trying to reach The Moon, but I need to stash my body here while I’m traversing the Arcana’s world.”

“Is this dangerous?” Nadia asked, through a strained voice. “I admit I’m not an expert in this craft, but I understand that metaphysical travel is not always safe.”

“I won’t lie to you. It’s fairly dangerous, but the good news is that magic is considerably amplified in metaphysical worlds.” Callisto said. “I’m not unprepared, Nadia.”

Nadia let her lay down, and as she drifted off, she found herself being dropped into water.

Callisto remembered this, knowing that if she could just convince herself that she didn’t need to breathe, she wouldn’t drown.

When Callisto broke the water’s surface, she found a bench beside the fountain she’d crawled out of. Her clothes weren’t wet, and the world before her was something she knew she’d missed. Her gate was a beautiful pavilion in a garden, the night sky sparkled with moving stars that drifted around like ocean currents. Fluffy insects and glowing cotton puffs from the rainbow trees floated through the air and made their home in the gate.

From the far side of the garden, Callisto spotted someone walking down the cobblestone path. Once the figure was within sight, she was left a little confused. “Morrigan?”

“Oh, this is your gate.” She stated blankly, like she had only just realized where she was. Morrigan was always priestly, with long, dark robes and ornamented, black, locks. It was rare that her face held any expression, but Callisto’s skills always made it easy to read her. Though, while her senses were sharper here, Morrigan’s mask was stronger too, and Callisto was no longer more skilled than her old coven sister.

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

“Finding you, I suppose.” She replied, but Callisto knew she wasn’t being difficult. In these realms, there was often no telling where anybody would show up. The only thing Magicians like them knew was that they end up exactly where they’re meant to be.

“Do you have a message or a question for me?” Callisto asked.

“A little of both.” Morrigan said. “I gave Julian a tonic. It has the potential to delay the plague for some time, even in the second and third phases, but eventually the plague gains a resistance to it within the patient.”

“That buys time, something we desperately need.”

“But my question is a little more grim.” Morrigan warned. “The Runes have told me that you’re in dangerous waters.”

“What do you want to know?”

“What are you prepared to do to put an end to this?” Morrigan asked.

Was this really Morrigan? It wasn’t uncommon to find figures that were illusions of those she knew. But the mask she put up was recognizable as hers. Obscurity was where Morrigan had always resided. It seemed that Callisto needed to find her more than Morrigan needed to find her.

“I’m prepared to give anything.” Callisto said. “Vesuvia is sick, and I have an opportunity to eradicate the disease. I’d be selfish to give anything less.”

Morrigan leaned against the pillar as she watched the sparkling garden. “I was scared you might say that. I can’t deny that what happens next isn’t what you would have wanted.”

There was something bugging Callisto about Morrigan being here. It wasn’t an imposter, but it wasn’t Morrigan as she knew her. She was more powerful, more stoic, more concealed, and more surreal.

All at once the truth was revealed to her like the light hitting her face just right to catch a glimpse of her true face. “You’re older than me.” Callisto noted. “But you’re six months younger than me.”

“I should have known you’d figure that out.” Morrigan sighed, but wasn’t too upset by it. Callisto had a million questions, but knew Morrigan wouldn’t answer them. It was dangerous to know too much about the future, especially here in the metaphysical world. “Go, as I recall, you’re on your way to communicate with The Moon.”

So she finds out about this one way or another. “Do I make it?” Callisto asks.

“You will find what you need.” Morrigan wisely dodges, but Callisto knows how to read a magician's words. Even if this journey goes poorly, she will find something she needs.

“Thank you.” Callisto nods, and finds her own way down the path, until she’s passed through her gate into a road among the stars. Beneath the invisible road was a churning void of something horrifyingly alive.

“Ruff!”

The bark startled Callisto away from looking into the abyss. The being that stood in front of her was almost like an Arcana. She was a dog, but she stood like a person, and wore a dress with many layers for traveling, with a wooden walking stick in her paw.

“Hello.” Callisto greeted awkwardly. “You’re new.”

She wasn’t immediately scared of the traveler like the abyss below. There were many things that could put on a friendly face to lure someone into a trap, but Callisto’s intuition hadn’t led her astray yet.

“Can you take me to The Moon’s realm?” She asked.

The dog nodded. “Hmph.”

Callisto followed her along the road, moving in rushed steps to avoid being out here for too long. Being able to walk for so long without feeling tired was always an interesting feeling. Though, Callisto found herself looking down at just the wrong moment. Something, reaching out of the void, wrapped itself around her leg, and pulled her to the floor, but as soon as she hit, and her guide noticed she’d fallen, the floor disappeared out from under her, and she plummeted into the abyss.

When she could finally tie herself back to her senses, she was falling through branches until she hit a slimy, watery surface. Once she had surfaced again, she could stand on the marshy ground and take a look at where she’d ended up.

It was nearly impossible to see farther than a meter in front of her with the mist hanging low in the air. Trees that extended far into the mist, rooted in the swampy water, and an ominous red light came from every direction and illuminated the mist, but Callisto found herself deciding that this mess wasn’t for her to navigate on her own.

So long as she knew a tool to be in her bag, she could use it here. Asra’s compass pointed directly in front of her, and she followed it carefully. The needle would point her around certain puddles of water that looked suspiciously dark, and away from roots that she swore she’d seen move. The compass spun in a circle as soon as she found an island in the swamp with a red lamp post.

“I hope you’ll forgive me.” A disembodied voice said to her. “Mortals hardly ever reach here if they are looking for me.”

“Then I take it the invitation was from you, Hanged Man.” Callisto identified him easily. “I’ve heard your voice before.”

“You’re sharp, magician.” The Hanged Man said. A raven headed being came from the mist and stood in the lamplight with her.

“You likely know why I’m here.”

“You’ve exhausted your answers, and you need more questions.” He summarized. “I can’t imagine a better reason to come to The Arcana realms.”

“Well, you have a history of being elusive with answers. If I’m going to leave confused anyway, I might as well be confused about new things.” Callisto figured.

“So what compelled you to traverse here?” He asked as Callisto sat on the ground under the lamp, but she was quickly met with a chair made out of woven roots that appeared beneath her.

She pulled her feet onto the chair, making herself comfortable. “As you said, I’ve exhausted my answers and need better questions.” She repeated. “It’s clear that the Plague is tied to the Court, but I can’t narrow down exactly how, or even what started it. I know that questioning them can only get us so much, and we need a new plan.”

“We?” He clicked.

“Nadia and I.” She clarified. “She and I are helping each other root this out.”

“Why Nadia?” He asked.

Her heart dropped at his question. “Why not Nadia?”

“Why not Asra?” The Hanged Man parroted her. “Why not Julian, Valerius, Lyra, or Morrigan? Nadia is not your only option, so you have clearly chosen her. So why Nadia?”

Callisto felt empty, not having an answer for something she really should have considered before now. “Because she was the only one that cared to ask me for my help.”

“Then why didn’t you ask for Asra or Julian’s help? You had just as much agency to ask for their help as Nadia did to ask for yours.” He pointed out, but the mist closed around her, and she appeared in her shop.

The shelves are stocked well enough for when she opens again, and the lamp outside the shop was dark to alert the street that she’s closed. Callisto was packing supplies for her bunk in the plague dungeons with the rest of the doctors. She would have to be there full time for the first few weeks, and she wanted to make sure she’d have everything she needed.

The door unlocked, and she froze, as Asra caught her red handed. The Salamander sat atop the stove illuminating Callisto as she packed her bag. “I didn’t think you’d be in town until morning.” She pointed out.

“Callisto, what are you doing?” He asked.

“Packing.” She stated bluntly. “I’m going to the palace to study the Plague. I’m apprenticing under Julian.”

Asra tried to rest his hand atop hers to slow her down. “Callisto, we talked about this-”

“It’s not your choice.” She picked up the bag to leave Asra, but he grabbed the bag.

“Callisto, you know how dangerous Lucio is!” He begged.

“You keep saying that, but you haven’t explained yourself once!” Callisto shouted back. “No shit he’s dangerous, he’s the fucking Count. I’m not stupid, Asra, I can defend myself!” She yanked the bag away from him and began walking away.

“You don’t know what he’s capable of!” He yelled.

“You don’t know what I’m capable of!” The shockwave that split the air of the shop made Asra’s ears hurt, as he fell to his knees. She was so angry and hurt that after nearly a decade of being his friend, the only time he wouldn’t trust her was when she really needed him to. “I wanted you to come with me! But if you won’t help me, then I’ll do it myself.” She began to leave, while Asra got back to his feet. “Now get out of my shop. I don’t want to see you again.”

As she left the shop, she came back to the Hanged Man’s realm. She knew she’d never left, but the experience was jarring. He stood in front of her now. “Why didn’t you ask Julian?”

She fell through the muddy ground and appeared in another memory.

The dungeons were always most daunting at night. Especially as she aided Julian in an autopsy.

“Forceps.” Julian ordered, and she did as he said. The masks they wore were a little difficult to see through as they fogged up in the damp dungeon, but while that made it easier to look at the violence in front of them, even with the herbs and flowers in the beak of the mask, the smell was always rancid.

She knew he was investigating the neurocentric damage of the plague, so she looked away while she handed him tools to dissect the cadaver’s brain.

“Scalpel.” was his next command that she obeyed. But as he continued, he slowed down. “I hate when I’m right.”

“What?”

“This state of cerebral necrosis is concurrent with nearly a week’s worth of decay.” He explained. “This patient passed last night.”

The delusion symptom now had an explanation, but finding a way to combat it would be a long way away.

“Why don’t you go get some rest, Callisto. You’ve been awake for forty-eight hours.” He suggested.

“You’ve been awake for almost seventy-two.” She jabbed back.

“We should both get some sleep.” He concedes. “Quaestor? Would you like to pack him up?”

“Would I ever.” They appear, nearly out of nowhere, but their presence is always lurking beneath the palace.

Julian helped her out of her coat as she took the whole thing off with her gloves. She helped him do the same, even as their masks bumped with how bulky they were. She hesitated to help him take off his mask, and instead reached for her own.

He was nice enough to walk her up to her own bunk. “Are you alright, Callisto?”

“I knew what I was signing up for. If I couldn’t stomach it, I’d have quit weeks ago.” She said plainly.

“I think you’re ready to do your own independent studies.” He blurted.

“You can’t be serious.” She laughed.

“I am.” He says. “I’m no magician, but you definitely are. Now that you know the basics, you can apply your own skills to your studies. I think it would do you a lot of good.”

“You sure this isn’t you pushing me away?” She asked, unfortunately remembering how Asra had reacted the first time she brought up studying under Julian at the Palace.

“Can you honestly say that your best work is elbows deep in corpses?” He asked, and he had a point. “With your own studies, you would also be able to split your time between your shop and the palace. You’d have a lot more luck using skills and tools you’re familiar with.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right.” She agreed.

When she came back, she was sitting in the chair again, but the Hanged Man was no longer standing with her. “I felt like I didn’t know Asra at all, but I knew Julian too much.”

“So why choose Nadia?” His voice came from everywhere once again. The chair’s roots wrapped around her arms and legs and began pulling her into the water behind the lamp. She knew she wouldn’t have to breathe, but this also felt much more real than the other two illusions.

Callisto couldn’t fight it at all and was pulled under the water. She had no idea how long she was under water, but eventually the roots released her as she relaxed. When she found the surface of the water, she wasn’t in the Hanged Man’s realm anymore.

Knee deep water surrounded her as she stood on an obsidian floor. Off in the distance, she saw a pavilion, but instead of a roof, the pillars were so tall that she couldn’t see where they ended. But as she got closer to it, the crescent moon was framed by the pillars along with a wolf-headed figure.

The Moon said nothing, but he stepped aside to show Callisto the water behind him that reflected the light from the moon above.

The light swirled in a way that hypnotized her. “What is this?”

“Watch.” Was all he said.

The light changed to an image of Nadia and Callisto dancing together, but they both looked different. Callisto looked like an entirely different person. Different clothes, different hair, and her expression was one of whimsy and excitement. Nadia looked happier, wearing a suit instead of her regular dresses, and she held Callisto close, like they were free to be happy together.

“Is this real?” She asked. Callisto hadn’t seen herself so happy since she was a child.

“What are you prepared to do to achieve this?” He asked, and Callisto felt her heart begin hurting.

She fell to sit down on the steps and tried to put pressure on her chest to stop the pain. “I’m not here for something so selfish.”

“Are you?”

“It’s not for me to have, while everyone else is still suffering.” Callisto argued through the stabbing in her heart.

“You are suffering.”

“So is everyone else!” She screamed out, but the pain wasn’t subsiding. “What do I have to do!?”

The pain stopped all at once. She looked back at the water and saw her reflection staring back at her with plague infected eyes.

Before she could even jump back in horror, Callisto awoke back in Nadia’s tower. Her heart was beating faster than a field mouse, and she jumped up to immediately run to test herself for the plague, but Nadia stopped her. “It’s alright! You’re safe.” She quickly assured.

“I need to test myself for the plague.” Callisto ordered, and continued back down the tower’s steps. The cards would likely just confirm her fear if she were to read them, but Julian had many more ways to test for the sickness.

“Callisto wait!” Nadia followed after her. She didn’t catch up to her until she was already half-way to Lyra’s room. “Stop for just a moment.” She finally caught her wrist and stopped her. “What is going on?”

“I got another question I don’t have an answer for.” She said, pulling away from her, but Nadia didn’t stop her this time, letting her head off to get to Julian.

She knocked before entering, but she didn’t wait for Lyra to finish saying it was alright to enter before she opened the door.

“Did Valerius play nice?” Lyra teased, but Callisto immediately went for Julian’s bag.

“What are you doing, Callisto?” Julian asked, seeing her shaky hands find a guarded scalpel, and cut her finger with it. She took the bottled leech out and popped the cork off, letting a drop of blood fall into the leech’s water. She closed the cork again and waited to see the leech’s reaction. Every muscle in her body relaxed as the leech curled around the blood, instead of pushing itself against the glass away from the drop.

“Oh, thank the stars.” She whispered to herself. Now she had much more to consider. “I’m ok. I thought I might have been exposed.”

“I’m glad everything is ok.” Julian said.

“Sorry.” Callisto said. “I need to get started on that charm.”

Upon returning to the guest room that Nadia had given her, Valerius was not kidding about getting the materials fast. He also got her much more than she wrote down. She’d be set on rare herbs for months.

He also managed to get her a selection of peridot stones. She was pulled toward the tastefully cut peridot ring, knowing that if Lyra had to wear this, it might as well be something nobody would look twice at.

Callisto let her intuition guide her as she made the charm, figuring out the appearance that needed to be presented. She thought of what needed to be concealed and what she needed to include with every ingredient she added. When her work was done, she went to bed, but her mind was still racing. It’s no wonder that she ended up back at her gate.

She walked in this time, thankfully without the sound of running water, she didn’t wake up in the fountain. But now that she was here, she couldn’t help but wonder why she was here. Such a long time away from here, but being called here twice in one day was quite a peculiar event.

When she walked down the path, she immediately found herself in a brilliantly colored oasis, but she couldn’t stop and appreciate the beauty as she got the sinking feeling of recognition in the magic. This was Asra’s gate.

Looking back, the doorway had closed. So the only way out was forward.

As the edge of the water came closer, she spotted a figure sitting against a palm tree, but he saw her too. Asra waved to her, but didn’t say anything, as if he already knew she was just passing through. But she figured she was here for a reason, so she approached him.

“Hey, Callisto.” He wouldn’t meet her eyeline.

Callisto knelt down in front of him and held out his compass to return it to him. “I got your message, but you need this more than I do.”

“I got yours too.” He accepted the compass, turning it over in his hand, using it as a distraction to not have to look at her. “Are we really ready to be friends again?”

The question pulled at her heart. “Asra, I needed you to trust me, and you didn’t.”

“And I needed to keep you safe.” He said. “Callisto, I would do anything to keep you safe.”

“Anything except trust me to keep myself safe.” She argued, getting back up to leave.

“Wait, Callisto. I wasn’t lying in my message.” She stopped, letting him speak. “Even if I don’t want you there, I want you to be successful. If there’s anyone that can save the city, it’s you.”

“I didn’t lie either, Asra.” She said, “You’ve been my best friend for six years. I know you wouldn’t be warning me if it wasn’t important to you. But you’ve known me as long as I’ve known you. Whatever you’re doing, I know it’s dangerous, but just as important, and I trust you to handle it. Let me handle the plague.”

“I’m trying to take down the Coliseum.” Asra said. “Muriel is trapped there, and I need to get him out.”

Callisto felt sick. Lucio and Vulgora were in charge of the Coliseum, and both of them had Muriel fighting in the arena. Muriel was the gentlest spirit she’d ever met. The horror of him being tormented at Lucio’s command made rage spread through her body, but when the sand beneath her feet began turning to glass, she calmed herself.

“I can bring it to the attention of Nadia. At the very least, she can get him some place to rest away from the Coliseum and it might give you a better chance to help him.” Callisto offered.

“Thank you, Callisto.” He smiled. “Anything you need from me?”

She thought for a long moment. “I could use some advice.” She sat down once again. “I’ve exhausted all my answers, and I need better questions. When I spoke to The Hanged Man and The Moon-”

“You managed to visit both The Hanged Man and The Moon?”

“On the same day, but really I fell into both.” She explained. “Anyway, both of them were more concerned about my relationship with Nadia.”

“You’re in a relationship with Countess Nadia!?” Asra exclaimed.

“A friendship, Asra.” She clarified. “They wanted to know why I chose to help her instead of asking you or Julian.”

“Well, why did you?” He asked.

“Because she asked.” Callisto answered again.

“Well, you could have asked too.” Asra said.

“You sound just like The Hanged Man.”

“When the Arcana give you a question, you usually can’t get another one until you have your answer.” Asra explained. “If that was the right answer, then you would have more questions by now.”

“I don’t know what kind of answer they’re looking for.”

“Well, deconstruct it. A little shadow work never hurt anybody.” He said. “What attracted you to Nadia?”

“Intuition?”

“And water is wet.” Asra commented.

“Not here!”

“Do you want my help or not?”

“Fine.” Callisto groaned, thinking about the day she met Nadia. She closed her eyes and let the memory resonate within her. “She was curious, and mysterious.” She recalled her entering the Library and sitting down with her. She asked about her shop, and her craft with interest. “She was honest and intelligent. And the Arcana had a lot to say to her.”

“What did the Arcana say?”

“The Ace of Swords said she was powerful, and that she hadn’t yet decided to wield it, but when she did, she would lose almost everything, as the Five of Cups said. But the High Priestess promised her that her intuition would guide her.” Callisto recalled.

“It’s good that there’s at least one level-headed leader in Vesuvia.” Asra said. “What about after the reading? What stood out about her to you?”

“It was still the Arcana at that point.” Callisto admitted. “The cards had been difficult to read until Nadia came and asked her question. I was curious as to why they responded so well to her.”

“So what was it that made them respond to her?” He probed.

She thought back to her aura after the reading. “I was worried about her. I could see that her endeavor would lead her to danger, and I knew that if she did it alone, she would be hunted by her obsessions.”

“Were you worried enough to go with her then?” He asked.

“No, it wasn’t until we spoke at the Consul’s estate that I was fully committed to helping her.” She found.

“Then what was it there that convinced you?”

That was the question she was looking for to be able to figure this out. Nadia’s invitation was set in her mind, but the open door was not the choice. So what made her close the door behind her? “She asked me to call her by her first name.”

“And why was that so important to you?” Asra asks, knowing it’s the last question.

“Because she trusted me.” Callisto opened her eyes, feeling lighter now that she’d gotten to the bottom of it. Asra also realized what that meant for him and Julian. She didn’t ask them because they didn’t trust her. Julian didn’t trust her to handle the dungeons, and Asra didn’t trust her to make her own choice, while Nadia did. Her first gestures were ones of faith in Callisto, and she had given her faith to Nadia.

“There’s a door in the Oasis.” Asra informed. “Keep going in the direction you were going before. If the door feels dark, leave it, but you’ll know when you find the right one. You’ll find someone that can give you more questions.”

Callisto thanked him and got up to leave. “And Asra.” He looked up to her. “When this is all over, come back to the shop. It feels a little empty without you there, and Mosyne would haunt my ass if I ever locked you out of there permanently.”

Asra smiled. “I’ll see you when this is all over.” He promised.

Callisto did as Asra said, walking down the desert, ignoring the doors that pulled her in with intrusive and unsettling thoughts, but when she found the door near the end, she could feel something else pulling her in. It was something more mysterious, and mischievous.

As soon as her hand landed on the doorknob, she was on a beach and the door was gone. The waves were illuminated as they crashed, and the sand was soft and pleasant beneath her, and the gentle breeze that tossed the palm leaves whispered in languages she couldn’t recognize.

“Another curious student. How extraordinary.” A voice she knew spoke kindly.

“Magician.” Callisto spotted them further down the beach and walked up to them. “I’ve come looking for questions.”

“Then you have come prepared.” The Magician mused. Their fox-like expression made her certain that they had what she was looking for, but she knew no Arcana gave such questions out freely.

“Am I really prepared?” she asked.

“Are you willing to accept what you do not know?” They asked.

“Yes.”

“Then you are prepared.” They brought them away from the shore, and together, they entered an illusion of her shop. They sat down in her booth, and her tarot cards sat in the middle of the table. “First, what do you know?”

Callisto explained everything to The Magician. How the court weren’t humans, Lucio was planning something, and the plague was connected somehow.

“You have a lot of knowledge, but no perspective.” The Magician noted. “What perspective might give you a better image of your predicament?”

“I have the perspective of a Magician.” Callisto said.

“There are even things which are unknown to me.” The Magician said. “It is clear that this perspective will not be helpful until you see through a different one.”

“Then what do I look through?”

“Perhaps you haven’t even answered your most important question.” They proposed. “After all, do you even know what The Red Plague is?”

Callisto reached for the cards and asked the question. The Devil stared back at her, but while she did not receive any words, she heard the same chilling laughter that she heard the day Nadia came to her. “An obsession?”

“Close.” The Magician smiled.

Callisto focused harder, but when she closed her eyes, she saw nothing but red, and as burning chains slithered around her neck and limbs, she opened her eyes to expel them. “It’s a curse.” She realized. “Whose curse is it?”

“You have your questions, magician.” They smiled, and the world fell away as Callisto woke up in bed.

Asra’s compass was no longer in her bag.

#arcana fanfic #arcana visual novel #asra alnazar #nadia x callisto #nadia satrinava x oc #nadia x mc #nadia satrinava #julian devorak #consul valerius #procurator volta #pontifex vulgora #quaestor valdemar #praetor vlastomil #count lucio #the red plague #oc: callisto #oc: morrigan

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the-razzdazzler · 2 months ago

Note

I'm having too much fun...

HELP

JWJDJJWJDHWHX

#ask #atlas 🦋🌕#consul valerius #the arcana #valerius x mc #btw if it's not too much trouble could i have a blank version for reasons... 👉👈 /nf

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greyspirehollow · 2 months ago

Text

Vesuvia Weekly - Hear me out !!

Pairing : Julian Devorak x Liam (my mc) - very implicit

Fandom : The Arcana visual novel

Warnings : very stupid. May be inaccurate regarding the characters’ dynamics. some swearing.

Summary : the group, bored of their usual conversation topics, decides to spice things up with a little game ; little did they know, they were about to be faced with others' peculiar tastes...

The main six had agreed to meet at the Rowdy Raven, for a little bit of friendly banter. It was important to take time to unwind and let go of daily matters, even for a short time. They’d struggled to make Muriel come along, the mountain man looking around warily and sitting close to Asra, if not on him. It took time for him to relax, but as the conversation went on and laughter echoed around their table, his shoulders slumped back to a normal stance, and his expression became more neutral as well. Julian had brought Liam as well, and despite the initial slight unease some felt around him, they quickly relaxed as he joined in with the banter.

After a few drinks and the usual chat about family life, daily life, palace life, love life... The group found themselves a little awkardly silent. No one knew what to talk about ; since everything had been talked about already... But then Julian grinned, throwing a mischievous glance in Asra's direction before speaking up :

"Asra... The Magician, smash or pass?"

The whole table fell silent, confused. A little 'what' slipped past Asra's lips before they answered, grinning at Julian :

"Smash."

"What? Pass for me-" Liam chimed in, shaking his head in slight disbelief "too much fur."

"Pass as well. I've always been more of a bird guy." Julian said, still with one of his signature grins.

"Pass." Lucio said, shaking his head.

Muriel didn’t answer.

"Mmh... Smash, actually." Portia replied.

"Smash." Nadia agreed.

Then began the first round of the game, covering the major Arcana. The only character to make everyone unanimous was The Hanged Man, despite Lucio's passionate efforts to convince everyone The Devil was a smash.

Nadia frowned as she heard a few of her sisters' names, and so the table mutually agreed to shift the topic for the second round of the game. Not without a little tease from Asra :

"Morga, smash or pass?"

Liam and Julian had a hard time conraining in their laughter, while Lucio pouted and frowned. Surprisingly enough, Muriel blushed and answered, very quietly : "...smash."

When everyone looked at him, baffled, making him redden even more, he was quick to justify himself :"S-She's a ... Strong warrior and... Looks like a good leader f-for... Her tribe and... I'm sure she could protect me."

Some let out a few 'aw's, and overall the reaction from everyone was pretty positive - even Lucio conceded he was somewhat right -, making Muriel relax a little.

Then came the question of who to debate next... The table fell silent as they tried to think. Portia slightly cringed as she hesitantly proposed : "the courtiers...?"

Everyone seemed to think about it.

"I mean I think it's going to be pretty quick, so..." Julian said, shrugging. "I'm pretty sure we have the same opinion about them so... Alright, Vlastomil"

The group agreed and shook their head. A hard pass for everyone. Except Portia : "Pass, but if he knew how to garden I mean why not. I wouldn't marry him, just be friends"

The rest nodded as they moved onto the next courtier : Procurator Volta. Everyone smiled and chuckled, commenting on how sweet she was, and how she'd be a good partner despite her insatiable hunger and the sheer quantity of food each would need to make to be able to keep up. Overall, the group agreed it was a "marry" rather than a "smash". Liam grinned mischievously as he brought up the next courtier :

"Valerius, smash or pass?" he said, eyeing Lucio mischievously. The ex-Count shifted in his seat, red in the face. Before he spoke up, Liam commented : "Well we already know the answer for you, Lucio."

The blond man scowled : "Shut up !! I do what I want !", causing the table to erupt in laughter.

"I mean why not." Nadia said, "He's a little easier to deal with than you ever were."

Lucio huffed. "That's not true ! He's just like me !" Nadia rolled her eyes as the others answered :

Liam : "Pass - To be honest I couldn't deal with him"

Julian : "Smash. He should be some fun...."

Asra : "Pass. I couldn't deal with a rebranded Lucio either..." Portia burst out laughing before giving her answer : "Smash. If only to braid his hair-" Muriel stayed silent, like he had for most of the game ; which was fine. Nadia spoke up again :

"I'll be announcing the next few, because I have a feeling you guys wouldn't : Vulgora, smash or pass?"

Everyone shook their heads and denied with slight awkwardness, giving reasons such as "too intense" ; "they scare me" ; "I'm just not into that"... Except one.

Liam was nervously nibbling on his lower lip.

"... Hear me out."

Everyone looked at him, shock and confusion on their faces.

"Hear what out...?" Julian said, blinking in confusion. Liam was quick to justify himself :

"I mean... I don't know, I guess it's the way they're shaped? They look soft and... and plush and-... cuddle friendly...? And I mean- don't you want to... I don't know, see what they're like when they're softer or... Or more... I just want to hug the shit out of them ok? I just wanna lay in bed all warm and soft and domestic and cuddle." Only Portia and Asra seemed to understand, the Devorak sibling giving a small acknowledgment nod and thoughtful pout. "I mean I get where you're coming from..." Asra added : "But uhm.... It's Vulgora we're talking about." Meanwhile the others looked dumbfounded, although less than before the explanation.

"I knew you had weird tastes-" Lucio teased.

"Says the guy who tried to convince us to fuck an evil goat-" The necromancer replied. Before Lucio could reply, Nadia spoke up again :

"And last but not -maybe a little- least : Valdemar."

The whole table fell silent. They looked at each other and shook their heads, letting out awkward chuckles and "no thank you"s, "they scare the shit out of me", "I'd rather be executed" for Julian, "No, just no" for Asra... Nadia's gaze silently fell on Liam who looked tense and solid as a rock, almost sweating nervously. She couldn't help but smile knowingly before she spoke up :

"On a purely factual basis, they are attractive." The statement seemed to garner mixed opinions.

"I mean you're not wrong..." Portia said, "But that's the only thing about them, really. And I don't think that's enough to try and get involved with them in any way." Asra agreed "I wouldn't even want to be in the same room. Hells, on the same continent." Julian shuddered "Pass, pass - I don't care if they're pretty I'd rather die than have them smile at me again !" Lucio shrugged "I mean... I can't say I am scared to the point I want to evaporate but they sure make me uneasy." Muriel didn't even bother answering, but it was quite obvious what his answer would be. Nadia nodded and spoke up again : "They have a little something. I can't say I'd willingly approach them romantically or any other way, but they are pleasing to look at still." she shot a glance towards Liam, who was still trying his best to stay still as a statue. She gave him a knowing smile as the others looked at him again, awaiting his answer. He could feel himself decompose as he spoke up :

"Guys, hear... Hear me out -"

He couldn't even finish as a bunch of shocked and confused noises escaped his friends while Nadia smiled and sipped her drink.

"No- shh- come on !" Liam continued, trying to calm the noise down. "Listen- first of, I don't... Like thinking about them romantically or even sexually because they did say this didn't interest them in the slightest. And well, if I were in their place, I wouldn't... Want people to think of me that way - so that's not about that !!"

"What is it about then ???" Lucio asked, baffled and confused.

"I mean I-" Liam sighed, chuckling awkwardly "I just- you know, we're friends, kinda, an-" Asra's eyes nearly popped out of his sockets. He shot a confused and worried glance at Julian, who only wearily nodded in confirmation. Liam went on : "What Nadia said is true- they are factually attractive - I can't deny I love looking into their eyes - (that statement earned a few other noises around the table and a "come on, Liam !" from Julian) but like-!! Who here took their time to even try and get a little closer to them ?"

Lucio threw his hands up : "NO ONE in their right mind WOULD ?!" to which Asra replied : "I don't think we can say you're in your right mind, Lucio." Before the ex-count could answer, Liam crossed his arms and continued : "WELL, at least I can talk necromancy with them without being berated for it !! I just... I mean I guess I just need a friend with... I just need a friend who's a little different !"

"Just say you're into demons, Liam" Portia said, looking at him deadpan. Liam looked back at her with the same expression. "... Ok fine, I guess I have weird penchants." he replied.

And on that really weird note, the group tried to come back to a normal conversation. Which they succeeded in doing, surprisingly enough, despite the slight feeling of unease and disbelief still hanging in the air.

Later that night, Julian lay beside Liam in bed, looking at the ceiling. The silence was both uncomfortable and at the same time none really wanted to speak. But Julian did nonetheless :

"... so do I have to grow horns to turn you on or...?"

Liam's cheeks flushed red and he playfully threw a pillow at him, drawing a genuine laugh out of the doctor.

#the arcana #the arcana game #the arcana courtiers #the arcana visual novel #short fic #asra alnazar #nadia satrinava #apprentice liam #julian devorak #portia devorak #muriel of the kokhuri #lucio morgasson #vesuvia weekly #hear me out #you can ignore this exists if you wanna no obligation to put it on the masterlist

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taduki · 7 months ago

Text

CW: SUGGESTED NUDITY

Probably makes more sense when you learn my apprenticesona is disabled and likely to slip. 😭😭 From my unpublished Valerius x mc fanfic, lmk if I should publish on Ao3?

#the arcana game #the arcana hc #the arcana art #the arcana shitpost #the arcana courtiers #the arcana valerius #consul valerius #the arcana mc #the arcana headcanons #the arcana fanart

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snobgoblin · 2 months ago

Note

❤️ - What is one of your OC’s best memories? ✂️ - What is one of your OC’s worst memories? 🍩 -Who is your OC’s arch-nemesis or rival?

All of em for Danny !!

x thank you!!

❤️ - What is one of your OC's best memories? ooh see the memory questions are interesting because the MC doesn't have any memories before [redacted] so anyway any of his past memories would involve Asra. hmmmm... I'm gonna say when Asra took him to the market for the first time and he discovered he Really Likes Pumpkin Bread <- that's a good one for Asra, too

✂️ - What is one of your OC's worst memories? hmmmmmmm... as far as At The Beginning Of The Story, probably when Asra left him alone at the shop for the first time. he wanted to come on the trip and he was still really nervous with customers, not to mention his abandonment issues he didn't remember he had flared up for the first time then

🍩 - Who is your OC's arch-nemesis or rival? ooooh ok he has bad blood with a lot of characters. but. gotta go Valerius on this one. Valerius spilled wine on his favorite shirt! and called him a derogatory term! and continues to belittle him! Valerius was practically made in a lab to piss Danny off in every conceivable way and it's a good thing he cares so much about appearances or he might have turned his wine into baked beans or something by now

#asks #selkiestars #apprentice danny

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fluffs-palace · 4 months ago

Note

Mc questions;

All Mc's, if allowed, if not the same as Tai; #9 is the greatest fear.

(Since its all 7 of them, im just gonna do lil blurbs minus Samuels instead of the longer short stories like his)

CW: Mentions of eating disorders, PTSD like behavior

Question 9

Greatest Fear

Lyari

White hair. Honeyed complexion. Half lidded eyes. Bright colors. Barely an inch under his partner. The same partner she was constantly being mistaken for. Always a "Oh, Asra! It's been so long. Did you grow out your hair?" or "Have your eyes always been that color, Asra? I could swear they were different." It wasn't until she spoke, most times, that they finally realize she was a completely different person. She is, isn't she? They aren't going to just live the rest of his life in his better half's shadow, right? Yeah. Yeah. Eventually they'll find his familiar. She'll figure out what magicks she specializes in. Make his own gate one day. Things wont always just stay the same forever.... right?

Marsom

The city in general makes him uneasy after everything that happened but the palace is a whole other level of freaked out. He's afraid to ever step foot back in its halls, but he sucks it up since he still has to sometimes— even if he still wakes up in a cold sweat after the nightmares it's given him or still has to go hide in a closet to avoid a meltdown. If you asked him, though, he'd say his biggest fear was possums.

Osanna

This little lady doesn't exactly have the best relationship with food. Being the Court Magician isn't always what its cracked up to be; she's got a lot of stress resting upon her shoulders. Not to mention the burdens she tries to carry for Nadia too. Meals or snacks could easily be summoned at any point, where ever and whenever she wanted them. She knows she shouldn't, but for some reason she cant bring herself to stop... so she eats and eats to the point of making herself sick. She worries one day she might not be able to stop from eating herself into an early grave. Of course Nadia would never let that happen but its a slow process.

Samuel

Seli

She'd always felt uneasy for some reason she could never put her finger on. Asra would never tell her anything, obviously. It stayed in the back of her mind, though. A constant nagging feeling. Then she'd start to get bits and pieces from outside sources, or things Asra would let slip absentmindedly. Something was catching up to her, and, from what she could tell, it wasn't good. The last thing Seli would ever let happen is her own fuck-ups cause pain to those around her. She had to make sure whatever it was either never finished their leg of the race or that it was dealt with before they could.

Tai

They've always had a simple life. Asra even corroborates that from their life before. With memories. One set of clothes for as long as they could remember until Valerius. A little garden all to themselves until starting to share with Portia. They were content with that, too, until him. Until being swept away by sass and hidden feelings. Until they started doubting. They weren't fancy. It was obvious Tai didnt exactly belong at the palace. How did they end up with the biggest snob in the joint? Honestly. They can't meet up to his standards at all. He puts them in pretty clothes now, but they're still that same little country bumpkin underneath. Are they even good enough for him? Does he actually care about them or is it just some stunt? It cant be. Nah. They're fine. Everything's fine.

Vaura

They love Lucio with all their heart, but they also know he wasn't the greatest man before they met. In fact, he still isn't. Everyone has their flaws, right? Regardless of that, they would fight tooth and nail to make damn sure his past never caught up with him. Whether that be deals unpaid or a corrupt return to past actions, they couldn't care less. Maybe that made them a little morally grey, sure. Should he get his comeuppance? Probably— but not while they have a say in it. They would keep what they had taken.

#text post #the arcana #the arcana mc #arcana mc #original character #text #the arcana oc #send me asks #asks #send asks #answered asks #ask #seli vega #samuel harrell #vaura sarraze #osanna bristowson #marsom montathasson #tai #lyari tornan

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silkmoon777 · 1 year ago

Text

The Arcana: Julian's Route | Chapter 7

!! THIS STORY IS A DETAILED RETELLING OF THE ARCANA, INCLUDING PAID SCENES IN BOTH PROLOGUE AND JULIAN ROUTE. ALL CHARACTERS EXCEPT THE MC ARE PROPERTY OF THE ARCANA FRANCHISE !!

A/N: This is a reupload from my AO3 cause I want to branch out. Enjoy!!

Summary: In a small shop in Vesuvia lives Vivian Caelum, a student of the magical arts who works as a shopkeeper for her tutor, Asra Alnazar. Her name is not known in the streets as her master's is, nor does she have full control over her magic yet. But one night, there's a knock at her door; Vivian is needed at the palace to help Countess Nadia upon her personal wishes. Soon, what she thinks is a small task is something she would never have expected her magic to be used for: Vivian must find Count Lucio's murderer. Will she be able to track down the infamous murderer and finally put the Countess's years of restlessness to ease? Or will the killer captivate her in ways she can't explain? Is she even running after the right man? Something deeper than she thought is happening within her beloved city, and she's about to understand the vastness of the magical realms.

Pairing: Julian Devorak x Fem!Magician Reader

This Chapter Contains: N/A

Word Count: 3,371

find the rest of the chapters in my masterlist here :)

⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ ◯ ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆

"I would apologise for his cruelty," Nadia murmurs, eyes twinkling a little as they leave. "But I say you handled him splendidly."

I make a face. "I can't believe you have the patience for him."

Only Portia, Countess Nadia, and I are left in the lounge. Portia remains by the door where she saw the council out, Nadia standing behind me. I stay seated on the couch, shoulders relaxed and composed posture gone as I sink inelegantly into the plush velvet. While I drew the wine from the couch and my dress to give back to Consul Valerius in spite, a crimson stain still remains.

Lines crease Nadia's forehead as she frowns. "Sometimes I can't believe it, either. But I will admit that I have never seen him put on such a show."

Portia shakes her head. "And that dress was so lovely. A shame there's still a stain."

“It was lovely," I sigh, giving Nadia an apologetic smile.

"Sorry I couldn't save it. It was a lovely gift."

"I'm glad you liked it while it lasted." Her own apologetic smile widens into something brighter. "If you like, I will happily rid you of that dress. Tell me what you would like in place of it, and please, do not be afraid to spare any expense."

Portia stands at the ready as the Countess folds her hands elegantly, waiting for a response. It seems as if Nadia wants me to ask for riches, despite how unnecessary it may be.

"You mean, silk, fur, gold and jewels? Finer than what you have been gracious enough to gift me?" I ask in wonder, enticing from her the joy of giving.

"Of course. I hope you expect no less from me," she teases.

I grin. "Then expenses it will be, my lady."

"Oh, how delightful!" She clasps her hands together with newfound excitement. "It seems you have begun to realise your worth to me. It pleases me, but you must tell me in detail. Silks in what colours? Furs, do you prefer them course or fine? Gold would certainly flatter you, but we both know silver was made for you. I’m envisioning diamonds, some opal, alexandrite, emeralds to match those pretty eyes…”

I listen to her in wonder. I have no idea what the difference in the look and feel course or fine fur could be. Silks, jewellery, the more she must want to discuss. It dizzies me with overwhelming excitement. I've never been spoilt before.

"Portia?" Nadia asks. "Send for an alexandrite from my personal jeweller. It must be set in white gold with a chain to match. Preferably something dainty. If our guest has taken an interest in luxuries, I imagine she will want to choose."

Portia bows her head. "Right away, milady."

"My bathing chambers are near," Nadia continues, extending an arm to mine in offering. "Come. I'm sure you would like a bath."

Golden rays of light dance within the blinding walls of Countess Nadia’s bathing chambers. Women bumble around the deep circular bath set in the middle of the tiled floor, carrying in their hands robes towels, soaps, and trays fruit. Two of the servants fix up a platter of fruits and wine at the waters edge. Another turns the giant gold faucet to let out steaming water. At the head of the bath stands a towering statue set in an alcove in the wall. The woman is depicted mid stride, reaching into a handful of marble flowers in preparation to scatter tham. A few servants mimic her stance, sprinkling real petals across the water.

To the far left, the towering wall has been reduced to grand pillars. A small veranda welcomes the evening air, and beyond that, the skyline of Vesuvia nestles into a haze of purple and orange light. Even from here, the faint buzz of citizens and the awakening of night life is audible. Thick canopies of ivy descend from the overhang.

Nadia bids me to undress behind a white screen, waiting patiently as I fumble with the corset.

"Would you like any help?" When she senses my pause, she gives a peel of sweet, musical laughter. She's only teasing me. "You would enjoy silks, would you not?"

"Oh, yes please."

"And furs? Oh, and what colours schemes? Any preferences?”

As I undo the corset, Nadia asks me question after question, building an idea of my taste for fashion. She's very thorough in her quizzing, making sure not to leave out the smallest details. Some things of her questions I would never have considered when buying clothes, some I have no experience to answer.

One piece of clothing alone would mean the world to me; what she’s already given me is baffling enough. But from the line of questions I know not to expect just one gift. Her ecstatic approach reminds me of a sisterly sort of love, where one dresses the other in her nicest garments. My sister and I used to do such, playing games of pretend where we were entering the world as young woman in search of our other half. This, however, isn’t a game of pretend. It is the Countess who dresses me up, her generosity exceeding any limits, disguising me as another noblewoman.

Her generosity is foreign to me. I’m not used to nice gift, let alone any gifts.

Finally, the corset gives way and I take the dressing robe Nadia slings over the screen. Embroidery of small purple flowers and dark green leaves follow the shape of the collar and sleeves. I slip it on the soft white robe, tying it at my waist and stepping around the screen.

Footsteps echo down the bathroom hall. I've stepped out just in time; Portia appears, emerging through the huge double doors.

"I brought three—" She stops short when she sees me. "Oh, pardon me, I didn't realise we were in dressing robes."

Sharing an amused look with the Countess, Portia presents me with three glittering alexandrites in a small wooden box. I take it gingerly from her hands, inspecting the contents. The polished stones are unlike the last, absorbing and returning the light in different ways. The first one is a square, simple and unassuming. The second has more of a a tear-drop shape with blue undertone, accompanied by a small diamond. Each one is beautiful, and none can compare to the third. Shaped in an oval with a balanced mealy of purple, green and blue, the stone is set in a flowering white-gold pendent encrusted in diamonds.

"This one is beautiful," I breathe, taking it from the velvet lining of the box.

Nadia beams. "Ah, excellent choice. I have a particular fondness for that one. If you shall just turn around, we can see how it suits you."

I comply, pulling my braids and any flyaway hairs to the side as I face away from her. The Countess's delicate fingertips draw waves of shivers as she fastens the chain around my neck. She gently takes my shoulders and spins me around to play with the settlement of the pendant. The dainty chain is comfortably cool against my neck, the pendent nestling just below my collarbone. Nadia stands back, a pleased look in her reddish eyes.

"Lovely!" she quips. "It suits your complexion perfectly.”

Though I know its improper, I can’t help but lean forward and envelop Nadia in a tight embrace. She doesn’t hesitate to return the squeeze I give her.

"Thank you, Nadia," I whisper. "You have been very kind to give me these things."

"Any time, especially for a friend." She leans back, squeezing my forearms. “I will leave you to your bath. Take as long as you wish. Portia?"

Portia snaps to attention. "Yes, milady!"

They move to the hallway, the rest of the servant retreating to offer me some privacy without being a call away. Alone, I drop the robe and undress from my undergarments. Nadia’s presence seems to remain, smelling strongly of jasmine with a penetrating and deeply contemplating gaze. As I slip into the hot waters, I mull over the fact that the Countess of Vesuvia wishes to be my friend.

I must talk to Asra, I think as I sink slowly into the water. The heat is pleasant against my skin. Somehow, even with him however far away, I must find a way. And I've never done it before, but...I have the perfect idea in mind.

⋆˚｡⁺⋆

The halls within the Palace have a chilling atmosphere beneath the dead of night. The chill rises gooseflesh across my bare arms and legs as I creep silently across the polished marble in only a black satin slip and the dressing robe Nadia gifted me. The veranda is easy enough to find without the help of servants. Tonight it is vacant, I notice with relief as I descend down the stairs. Not even the faintest whisper of life can be heard within the soft song of swaying trees and crickets.

I take a seat on the edge of the stone fountain beneath the old willow tree. Gazing into the shimmering pool and the reflected image of the moon, I purse my lips hesitantly. Asra taught me this spell many moons ago, but the magic is hard to keep a hold of, and I never got around to actually trying the spell. Like any other, I know the spell off by heart. I just hope that's enough.

Something moving within the drooping willow branches catches my eye. The sight of pale lavender glistening beneath the silvery moon has my head tilted back to get a closer look. When I realise what it is, my eyes widen a fraction, a bewildered smile twitching at the corners of my mouth. There, hanging from a branch with her head turned curiously to the side...

"Faust!"

Faust, Asra's little lavender snake, slithers onto the closest branch and extends her sleek body out to me. She flickers her tongue affectionately against my cheek. I stare at her in wonder. Did Asra not take her? He can't have got back already, can he? I reach my arm out and she coils around it, her scaly skinn amiliar against mine.

She perches up on my shoulder, nuzzling my face with hers. Was she waiting for me? She flickers her tongue at the alexandrite resting against my chest in curiosity, taking an immediate interest in the stone in disregard to the rest of my adorned gifts. Strange.

Watching the water, I lean forward to hover my hand a hair's breadth from the surface. When still and untouched, water seems to solidify into an earthy mirror. Shimmering across the faint ripples is a crystal clear image of my face, the willow tree swaying gently, the stretching expanse of nothingness above, the moon and stars high and proud within. But a magician can use it as more. With a strong enough will, it can act as a window, a looking glass through space and time.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. In the darkness beyond my eyelids, I imagine Asra. I imagine his glittering eyes, his smokey scent, the way he laughs, how his voice sounds when he teases and then when he scolds me. I paint a picture as detailed as I can before he crumbles into an essence that lays over the pool's surface like fine grains of sand. The etched lines of ink imprinted on my skin start to feel hot and fresh. Opening my eyes, I plunge my hand into the water.

Ripples upset the image of the willow tree and the moon that shimmers on the surface. The faint colours mirrored in the image fade like an ageing painting, warping and blending into something new. Images blur and shift, shapes unfolding from what was there a moment ago. My reflection fades away and...

Disbelief fills me.

Asra's face takes my place. Hands covered in gold rings draw water from wherever I look from. He pours the water over his face and runs fingers through his stark white hair. Can he see me? My heart sinks a fraction. It can't have been that easy, could it? I must have made a mistake. But then his lavender eyes travel to mine, the wariness and deep frown chased away by bewilderment. Droplets fall from his fingertips, sending ripples through his image as it strikes the surface of the body of water he sits before. He blinks, dumbfound at the sight of me.

"...Vivian?" His voice is full of wonder, eyes wide. "Can you hear me?"

I nod, barely able to believe it myself as his voice sounds clearly from the fountain. I've never done this spell before, never seen it done before. And yet I've done it perfectly. He leans towards the water, close enough that I can see minuscule beads of water clinging to his light lashes and hair.

"Incredible. I've only mentioned this spell before, but never taught you. How on earth..." He shakes his head, laughing in delight. A surge of pride swells inside me.

Asra sits cross-legged on a grassy bank beside a pond or lake. At the top of the short hill, the grass grows tall and golden, shimmering beneath the moon. It's nice to know that, however many days worth of travel he is away, we always sit beneath the same sky, watching the same stars shimmer and dance around the silver centrepiece. I see no trees, no buildings, no signs of life, no nothing beyond the horizon of grass. What I do see is his large, furry white mount, the exact creature from those strange dreams, whose beady black eyes peek from behind a curtain of fur like fresh snowfall. It rests its large head on his knee, breathing softly.

"Ah. Looks like Faust found you after all," he notes.

I tilt my head to the side. "You sent her to find me?"

He nods. "I wasn't all that sure about coming here. But after that reading you gave me...I thought I'd trust my intuition."

"I'm glad that she's here," I say with a sigh. Faust looks very proud of herself. Now that I'm over the shock of finding her, I'm beyond relieved to have her near. Asra looks pretty pleased himself. "And I'm glad I could find you, Asra. I need to tell you everything."

He frowns, concerned and confused as he searches my face and the view beyond. "Is that a willow tree above you? There are no trees around the wells and canals in Centre City. ...Where are you? Is everything okay?"

"...Yes, sort of. I'm at the Palace."

And I let it all spill from me like a bursting damn.

I tell him everything, aware of how his frown deepens and something unreadable flickers in his face. I tell him how Nadia found me, how there is to be another Masquerade, how I met with the courtiers and made friends with Portia. ...And then I tell him why I was ever here in the first place. That is what really settles his frown.

Asra is the one person I trust most. He knows every last detail of my origins, my life, my regrets and my dreams. Yet I am careful of the information I let go as I tell my story. One day soon I will let Asra know I have made a mistake. But when I nearly let slip that my tracking spell worked, the words felt suddenly wrong, like my tongue had turned to honey and my mouth had gone numb.

"It didn't work. I've done successful tracking spells before," I say as I come to a close, "but there wasn't a strong enough tie to the Doctor."

The words come forth easily and sound like the truth. I don't think I've ever successfully lied to Asra before. I pray that this will be the first. When he speaks, he does not question my words, which sends a wave of relief that eases the upturned feeling in my stomach. Either he knows and decides against asking or he's too overwhelmed by my story to notice.

"Unbelievable," he murmurs, face falling slightly. "The day that I leave was the day you needed me most. And even then, you didn't really need me at all. I'm glad Faust is with you, at least."

"You look tired," I say softly. Indeed, Asra's expression is sleepy, but content. His secret escapades must have been fulfilling today.

Asra shrugs, gently petting the beasts head, "I don't feel tired. I was just about to get in the water, but you bet me to it."

I roll my eyes at the joke, failing to fight the smile that arises. Faust slides across my lap and licks at Asra's image as he chuckles. He watches with interest as she turns back, sliding up my torso and winding herself loosely around my neck. Her face nuzzles beneath my chin. Playfully, she flicks her tongue against my skin like a ghostly kiss.

"Faust seems to be opening up to you," he observes. Then, he sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "It may be time for me to do the same."

I fold my arms. "It's taken you a few years. I have a feeling you want something in return."

"Ask me anything you want. All that I ask is that you are honest with me, too."

Maybe he did see through the lie.

His gaze is gentle as he looks me over, bringing a sense of calm. But I have a few burning questions. Nadia told me that Asra worked at the palace during the plague cure research, alongside Julian. I wouldn't have thought much if, when I asked how Julian got the key, a wave of unexplainable emotion didn't sing in his eyes.

"Who is Julian to you?"

"Julian?" Asra echoes. Loathing and hatred burn in his narrowed eyes. "Ah, yes, he goes by that name, too. I knew him by another. He was a friend once. Then more. And then something else... Something I had to get away from." He stops for a moment and sighs. "Who is Julian to me...who is he to anyone? Whoever he needs to be, to get what he wants. All I will leave it at is that he's a hack physician with a lot to learn. Until he does, nothing good will come of him. ...Is there something else on your mind?"

I purse my lips for a moment, thinking better of the questions that nearly come forth. Too many about Julian may bring on suspicion, and the only questions I have are about him. Maybe it's best to leave it at that anyway. I'm grateful just to get the smallest look into Asra's past and afraid I won't get a lot all in one go.

"No, not really," I say eventually. "I find it may be better to talk face to face without the spell. Maybe then I'll think of more. Besides, it's getting late."

"It is? Time is strange here." Asra smiles again, his heavy mood gone. "Go rest, Viv. I'll see you again soon. I know you'll find me if you need me."

I see Asra reaching towards me, towards the water. His touch scatters the image and suddenly he's gone.

My mind is a dizzying flurry of thought as Asra's words repeat in my head. Who is Julian to anyone? Whoever he needs to be to get what he wants. He seemed so easygoing and willing to talk when I tracked him down and sat with him in that tavern, when I found him inside my shop. He even seemed empathetic. Caring. But Asra paints him so differently from how I have. Has his playfulness and flirty nature blindsided me without my notice?

If he has, I hate him for doing so. Hate how he's managed to manipulate his way out of eventual arrest just with a lazy smile and empty words. I think I hate Asra a little for not telling me about Julian in the first place, too. I hate how hard this job has proven to be... And worst of all, I hate that I've let it come to this.

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#The Arcana #Julian Devorak #Asra Alnazar #Nadia Satrinava #lucio morgasson #portia devorak #julian devorak x mc #julian devorak x apprentice #The Arcana Julian Route

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