Complete Private ✪ Finweald Different People, Different Priorities

[Amy]

Amy was... Surprised by how Magnolia worded her reply. 'I wondered how well I would cut someone if I needed' was not something she would easily imagine coming to anyone's mind.

Or at least, not if you lived in a safe location. Amy herself often wondered if she could try finding ways to use her magic to help her family though, so... Perhaps Magnolia too had those thoughts simply because she wanted to protect herself, or someone else.

So, Amy smiled a bit, "I hope your training doesn't need to be put into practice often. It's always better to use tools like knives for cooking instead of killing." Because it means you're safe. And there is nothing better than peaceful day-to-day life.

"I sure hope they are at peace, lord Trevor. Nothing would make me happier than that." Other than having them back here with her, of course. But that was simply not possible, so she had to settle with the next best option.

Amy frowned heavily at lord Trevor's and Magnolia's following words though... Easy to avoid and prevent?

She understood that they did not have direct contact with Zalrisis, and that there was a limit to how much one could know from research without first hand experience, but... Their lack of tact still annoyed her.

"With all due respect, lord Trevor, Magnolia... It is not easy to prevent an illness that infiltrates your lungs and corrupts you from inside.

"Precautions can be taken, but when you live in Zalra, it is hard to always be at guard. To never let anything enter no matter what you're doing to protect those you love..." Amy's eye sockets quickly got filled with tears again, "I may have lost my eyes due to lack of knowledge on how to prevent Zalrisis, but the family I lost was not out of carelessness or ignorance. It happened because Zalrisis is just that terrifying and infectious..."

It's not like Amy couldn't understand their point about how Zalrisis overtook Zalra and how it's much harder to handle now that it took over the whole biome, but... That didn't change things. Amy lived in Zalra, and so did her family. They were exposed to Zalrisis daily. It wasn't by any means easy to avoid infections through wounds, never mind infections through the air.

"... I truly wish it was easy to stop it from claiming any more victims. I pray daily to lady Rhiannon to find a way to stop it from claiming any other member of my family..." And she came all the way here to Finweald to see if she could find a way to change things... In a mostly fruitless trip.

@Magnolia

 

[Magnolia]

Trevor raised an eyebrow at @Amy's remarks.

"My most sinceres condolences, Ms. Amy. I don't mean it was due to carelessness or ignorance. Dealing with one wasp is very easy, you swat it away or just walk away from it. Dealing with a whole swarm of wasps going for you is much harder, no matter how prepared you are."

He tried to explain himself, but Magnolia tried to interrupt it for going any further. "Regardless, I'm very sorry it came out this way."

Magnolia remained quiet for a brief moment, then finally spoke again— "To stop it from claiming any more victims... Either it would need to be erradicated, and the whole biome would return to its past self. Or those who live in there would need to become immune to Zalrisis. Preferably everyone in the world should." She looked at Trevor.

"Well. Making everyone immune seems like an easier option. Unless it is truly is a spell, and one that needs maintenance from the caster. In that case, destroying the caster should suffice... The problem is if the caster is a deity, or someone so powerful that is almost a demigod."

The maid pondered, then looked at Amy. "I am sure we will figure out a way to handle it. For now, avoiding the infection is our only option."

 

[Amy]

Lord Trevor and Magnolia's words soothed Amy. She was glad that they were reasonable people, "Thank you..." And it was only as she said that, that she finally realized the pain in her hands.

She only now noticed how much strength she was putting in her grip of... Oh, right, tableware... She was supposed to be eating right now. Her emotions got the best of her and she completely forgot.

Amy took another bite of the food as she heard them elaborate on their thoughts. And she also tried thinking a bit on how infections were handled back on Earth, where vaccines were used to take care of them, "Supposedly, if a cure can be found, and everyone in Zalra and in its surroundings is made immune, then Zalrisis would have no way of sustaining itself and would eventually die out... But that would only be possible if the cure could affect not only people." which weren't just Faerin like her, but also humans, elves, magia and beastfolk, "But also the trees, the animals, and everything else that Zalrisis consumes...

"I am unsure if it's possible to make such a perfect cure..." Amy sighed, "Though perhaps multiple similar, but different cures could be made if the method to stop Zalrisis is found..." Amy wasn't sure if there was much point in pondering about it out loud, but she continued anyways, "It certainly would be nice if Zalrisis could be eradicated at its source instead, but... How to eradicated something that supposedly comes directly from a god is beyond me..."

Amy wiped out the tears that came out of her eye sockets and tried to relax... Easier said than done, but she knew she was not making the mood the most pleasant right now... So, she tried to force a smile out and looked in Magnolia's general direction, "I suppose so... At least until a more permanent solution is found." This too was much easier said than done, but it was what she and her family had been doing over the last years.

Amy wondered if she could try switching the topic to something lighter... Something else that came to her mind... "Say.... Do you think the dead like being summoned on a seance?"

... Well, that was terrible.

@Magnolia

 

[Magnolia]

Magnolia allowed the heavy topic about Zalrisis to die along with @Amy's closure to it. Trevor seemed to open his mouth to say something, but Magnolia sharply interrupted his attempt with a heel stomp on his feet, making him flinch and cast a wincing gaze at her.

Her eyes were devoid of emotion as usual, but the lingering gaze on his eyes made things clear.

He cleared his throat.

"Dead being summoned? You mean with Spirit Magic?"

Magnolia looked at Amy, surprised at her question even if her face didn't show. She wondered what the faerin had in her mind.

"The dead are as much individuals as they were in life. Each dead will react differently. Some will enjoy being summoned, some will try to entertain you, some will hate it, some will act in heavy distrust... They are still people, even if dead. It also depends of the person that are summoning them, I doubt the dead would like if their murderer decided to summon them."

The Maid remained quiet for a few seconds, but soon gave up and allowed her curiosity to come out: "Why do you ask such a thing, Amy?"

 

[Amy]

Amy heard a strange sound... Like something hitting something? It was a bit muffled, so she wasn't sure, "Is everything alright?" She decided to ask.

"Yes, I suppose that would be the simplest way to go about it." Amy answered lord Trevor's question. She really thought this was a terrible topic, but she didn't think she could simply say that 'it was nothing, forget about it' at this point... Especially not in front of a noble.

And then, Amy sighed after lord Trevor's elaboration, "I suppose it's not something that would have an easy answer for..." She had already thought about all that before, but... She had hopes. Maybe there was a pattern. Maybe this was something that the dead almost always disliked. Something people shouldn't try messing with unless they were truly desperate and had no other options available to them.

... Amy really wanted to be told to give up. That she absolutely should not try finding a way to perform a seance. That she shouldn't try learning any ways of communing with the spirits.

Yet that was not what she heard. She only heard the same vague and uncertain things that she told herself time and time again.

And then came Magnolia's question... It wasn't unexpected, but Amy still struggled to answer it, "I..." Should she lie? Was there a point in lying here? She didn't think those two would look down on her for her desires... But at the same time, Amy hated herself for being as weak as she was. She didn't want to admit it. She didn't want to voice her feelings out loud, not when she constantly tried to deny her own feelings. Not when she desperately tried and failed to move on with life despite all her losses.

... In the end, after some seconds thinking, Amy just sighed, and figured she might as well just say it. Let them judge her if they wanted to. Lying to herself and pretending she was okay certainly didn't help her in the slightest. Lying to others probably won't help either.

"... I just miss my husband."

@Magnolia

 

[Magnolia]

"Everything is alright." Magnolia reassured, looking at Trevor that simply gave up on retorting.

@Amy's response for the reason of her curiosity caught both Magnolia and Trevor off guard. The Maid's lips parted very slightly, but soon her mouth closed shut and she glanced at Trevor, waiting for a response.

Trevor crossed his arms, conflicted, but eventually nodded.

"If it is what you wish. We would need to find a Spirit Mage, however. There are some in this capital, as far as I know. They do have that... Advent Lost structure. You can only maintain such a thing with Spirit Magic."

Magnolia watched the occasion unfold with a mix of uncertainty and sadness, even if her face didn't show. She quietly approached Amy, and spoke to her calmly, but quiet. "Is it something you truly want, Amy?" She wondered with concern.

 

[Amy]

Hearing that the noise was nothing to worry about did put Amy a bit more at ease.

And then Lord Trevor's reply... Most of it was within Amy's expectations, although, "I am afraid I do not know what this Advent Lost structure is, lord Trevor."

No judging came at all... Not entirely unsurprising, but Amy was hoping to be told to give up on it... It would be easier this way.

Magnolia's question did surprise Amy though... And her voice... Had she gotten closer? Was she... Worried for Amy?

That was a feeling she was very used to, and not one she liked much, but... It was also not a feeling she would reject, "I do not know. At times I just desperately wish to have him by my side again, at others I tell myself I am being foolish and am just making things harder on myself if I keep trying to cling to him and to our memories together."

Amy sighed, "It is scary too..." she meekly moved her hand through the bedsheets in Magnolia's general direction... Trying to find something to hold, "Would he still be the man I knew in life? Or would he be singing praises to Zalrea like he was in his deathbed? Would..." Amy struggled to get her voice out. Tears started flowing freely from her eye sockets as soon as she thought this far... Why was she even telling this to them? She didn't speak about those thoughts even to her mother. She was just troubling them for no reason.

But perhaps... Perhaps she just wanted someone to hear her internal pain... Someone who wouldn't be worried sick for her every single day if they heard it... So, Amy forced herself to continue, "Would our unborn child be there with him? Was he able to give them a name? Was it a boy or a girl? Or... Or was our child too young to have a soul yet...?" Amy started sobbing. It was a mistake. She shouldn't have said it. She shouldn't have let those feelings out, "I'm sorry... F-forget it..." She managed to let out.

This was so stupid... She was so stupid. Why did she have to open her mouth? Why was she troubling others over that...? What was the point...?

Amy really felt like she hated herself right now... But the tears and sobs coming out of her were not out of self-hatred. She knew that all too well.

@Magnolia

 

[Magnolia]

"The Advent Lost is a plaque that shows an spectral projection of Astoreans that lost their lives during tragedies. It is quite intriguing."

Magnolia's expression faltered slightly, but her attention remained on the mourning faerin, and as tears and the heart pouring occurred, Magnolia embraced the newfound friend in an uncommon gesture for the maid. The embrace only tightened upon the mention of a child, and her eyes trailed toward Trevor.

The man took a deep breath, filling a mug with water and gently touching it on @Amy's hand.

"The unknown is scary, but not knowing the fate of those you care for can easily spiral into despair."

Trevor stayed quiet for a brief moment.

"I don't think either of them would wish to watch you this way. This is an opinion of someone that is a mere stranger, but I would back away from those thoughts for now, and I would act on what my heart tells me later. This may be one of the situations you must listen to your emotions rather than logic."

Magnolia looked at Trevor with a slight surprise. "That's unexpected coming from you, master." She admited, but after a thought, she nodded, gently wiping Amy's tears if she allowed. "But I understand. Perhaps you should wait until your heart is ready to give you a firm answer, Amy. Otherwise, you may hurt yourself more than anything, regardless of what you will see."

 

[Amy]

Amy did not reject Magnolia's embrace... She let herself be held. Let herself be comforted... She hated that she needed it, but she knew she needed it.

... I still have a long way to go. Amy thought amidst her sobs.

The touch on her hand did not go unnoticed... She moved her hand around what was touching her, and once she realized what it was, she took the water mug and drank some of it, trying to calm down a bit... It didn't seem to work.

Then... Amy stayed quiet as lord Trevor talked... And did not even flinch when she felt Magnolia's finger on her face...

It was hard to know how to react to all that... She could feel the worry in their voices... Two people she had just met, and yet, one she already called a friend, and another who was her friend's master...

Amy decided to lean a bit against Magnolia, trying to articulate her messy feelings, "I don't know... What my heart desires.

"The unknown is indeed terrifying... But so is clinging to the past. So is..." She sobbed, "So is being unable to move on... To wake up without anyone by my side...

"Leaving it for later is... Is what I have been doing for a long while now.

"I guess I... Guess I should continue doing that..." To continue running from her feelings. To continue praying to lady Rhiannon to have time heal her wounds...

"I just don't get it..." Amy leaned more onto Magnolia, resting her head against her, "How am I supposed to deal with all that...? How is anyone supposed to deal with it...? It doesn't..." Amy took a deep breath, "Doesn't seem like it's possible at all...

"If an year isn't enough to heal, then would any amount ever be enough?"

@Magnolia

 

[Magnolia]

Magnolia allowed @Amy to lean and stay as long as she needed... At the same time she started to think about her own losses. Had she ever moved on? Got over them? It did feel like she herself was always post poning those issues, and rather than moving on, she simply left those problems behind, in the depths of her heart.

"I'm not sure if healing is the right answer. Maybe it will be what will happen, but it isn't necessarily the only positive outcome." She said.

"It is hard to explain, but it is such a strong memory, both the good ones you've spent with your beloved, and the bad ones of losing and missing them." Her voice was quiet as usual, but for once there was a hint in her tone, a gentleness and bitterness alike.

"Sometimes a wound doesn't close, it just becomes a scar."

Magnolia felt guilt crossing her chest as she couldn't find anything else to say, and Trevor remained quiet after his maid's words, only adding anything after a moment of silence—

"I just think you shouldn't force yourself, you must take your time to process it, no matter how many years it takes. But try to not let it consume you."

 

[Amy]

Amy just listened as Magnolia spoke... Trying to wrap her head around the idea... What else could possibly be a positive outcome? Joining her husband in death? It was a tempting idea, but one she kept on refusing.

So she listened. Trying to understand what was it that Magnolia spoke about.

"A scar..." She repeated Magnolia's words, then went quiet again...

How could that be seen as a positive outcome? Amy couldn't understand the logic behind it.

... Perhaps it just meant getting numbed to the pain. Being aware of it always being there, yet having it grow to be a part of you... Amy wondered if Magnolia was speaking from experience when making that suggestion.

Lord Trevor's words took her out of her thoughts though, "I try, lord Trevor. I... Truly do not wish to be consumed by those thoughts.

"... It's just hard to escape them at times..." At basically every night, in fact, "I apologize for making you two uncomfortable though." Amy made no effort to move away from Magnolia's embrace though... Sometimes it was fine to let people comfort you, she figured.

@Magnolia

 

[Magnolia]

"There is nothing to apologize for."

Magnolia reassured, not wishing to let @Amy think she was being a bother to them— And she was sure that Trevor felt the same.

"It will be hard a lot of times. But do it for them, they wouldn't want to see you losing yourself."

He stood, turning for a moment.

"I need to solve a few things with the innkeeper. But perhaps it is better for you to rest, Ms. Amy. It may not be a good idea to leave while you are feeling unwell."

Trevor then nodded to Magnolia, in a quiet gesture to take care of their guest.

She simply looked back at him, certain that it was already in her plans. Glancing back at Amy, she spoke— "Is there anything I can do for you, Amy? I will stay here as long as you need, but if you need anything else, let me know." She said while keeping the faerin in her embrace.

 

[Amy]

Amy doubted she wasn't being a bother, but she didn't see any reason to insist on that, so she stayed quiet.

"I'll try." Was all she managed to reply to lord Trevor. What else even was there to be said at this point?

And then, lord Trevor had left, and Amy was left alone with Magnolia... She heard her words and thought for a bit...

"Just... Stay here for a bit?" Amy just... Wanted to be spoiled a bit. It had been too long since the last time.

And she was feeling tired. The crying tired her. The stress. The conflicting feelings... She didn't want to abuse their kindness, but... She also felt like taking up on their offer.

She didn't notice when she started dozing off.

@Magnolia

 

[Magnolia]

"As you wish." Magnolia responded, staying there for @Amy as long as she needed... Until the faerin seemed to fall asleep. Not wishing to disturb her sleep, Magnolia patiently waited for her sleep to go deeper before finally moving to properly tuck her.

Her gaze lingered on Amy for a moment, confirming that everything was alright. For a moment, she was grateful that her bed wasn't exactly small, otherwise she would need to sleep on the chair.

---

On the following morning, Magnolia woke up in her usual time. As soon as the memories of the previous day rushed back in her mind, her eyes opened widely, and she quickly looked next to her. Amy was still there, asleep— and so was master Trevor on his bed.

Standing and changing from her nightgown to her maid dress, Magnolia went downstairs and ordered the breakfast. When it was ready, she returned to the room with two plates, resting one next to each bed. She woke up Trevor first, as he needed more time to prepare himself. Then, she moved next to Amy, gently shaking her shoulder. "Amy." She said. "Good morning. We must pay a visit to the toymaker before it is time for you to go."

 

[Amy]

Amy noticed something touching her shoulder... A gentle voice calling her out... "Mother...?" She muttered... Before the next words came out.

It was not her mother's voice... Yet she did not feel scared... It was a voice she knew...

Slowly, Amy tried to sit up, trying to grasp her current situation... The bed was way too comfortable, and the voice near her was not mother-in-law's... "Where...?"

She tried processing the words she had just heard... Toymaker?

Right... I was in Astorea... I met Magnolia and... Good morning?

... Amy could not believe it... But it seemed like it was the reality, "I apologize... It seems like I have taken your bed." And freeloaded in the inn room that Magnolia and lord Trevor had rented.

Though she could hardly believe it was already morning... Was she that tired?

She supposed the trip to Astorea was fairly tiring, and the stay there quite stressful too... Perhaps it took more of a toll on her than she had expected.

"It is not too late now, is it?" She did not want to impose too much on her... Yet she had clearly imposed more than enough.

@Magnolia

 

[Magnolia]

'Mother..?'

Magnolia looked at @Amy blankly for half a second, and decided to tug her cheek very lightly. "Wake up, kid." She joked, even if her voice, tone and face didn't show a glimpse of humor— or expression— at all.

She was ready to respond to Amy's confusion, but as soon as it seemed like she got a hang of what was going on, Magnolia negated the necessity of an apology— "There is no need to apologize, Amy, nor worry about the time. In fact, I'm sorry I couldn't spare a clothing for you to sleep." Not only she didn't have enough to spare, but the size difference was too big.

"Your dress is all wrinkled. If you wish, I can borrow a smoothing stone and take care of it." She offered, not giving any indication of hurrying the faerin up.

At the background, it was possible to hear Trevor's voice mumbling magical incantations. It was hard to figure it out, but if Amy decided to peek, the silhouette of a book would show in her magical sight, along with Trevor's fingers tracing the pages.

 

[Amy]

Of all possible things, Amy certainly did not expect to hear 'wake up kid' and to have her cheek pinched... She was utterly confused for a short while, before managing to say, "I... Think I'm past the age where one can be called a kid."

As she got a better grasp of the situation, Amy assumed that this was a joke from Magnolia, but... It was a bit too astonishing to make her laugh.

Either way... She did feel like Magnolia was being way too kind to her, "I'm used to sleeping in clothes where I can easily get up and run at a moment's notice, so please do not mind it either." Amy replied. The last thing she needed was to have Magnolia feel like she wasn't a good enough host for an unprompted guest.

"Wrinkles...? Well... I can't see them, so they can't be too big." A joke... It was strange for Amy to try telling a joke. She wasn't used to it at all. Did this one make sense? She was honestly unsure.

Either way, Amy did not want to impose any further, so she was planning on leaving soon, but... Something unusual happened. She saw something.

Based on the voice... "Oh, and it seems like I am late in my greetings. Good morning lord Trevor, Magnolia."

@Magnolia

 

[Magnolia]

"You truly are." Magnolia agreed, waiting for @Amy to return to her senses, watching her patiently and nodding as the small woman joked about not seeing the wrinkles. "They certainly aren't big enough." She added, casting a glance to Trevor, who was still mumbling incantations and deeply focused despite Amy's greeting.

Magnolia slipped a faint sigh through her nostrils, turning her attention to the faerin. "My apologies, Amy. Trevor is doing his morning spell preparations, he responds to no one when he is like that..."

Her gaze shifted for a moment, pondering about everything they had on the plans for the day.

"If you wish, we can go ahead and get you some breakfast. And get ready to perhaps meet that toymaker, and go check anything else you'd like to." Magnolia suggested, waiting for an answer, leaving her master's mumbling aside, as it filled the background with some quiet, faint noise.

 

[Amy]

"Then those wrinkles are not worth worrying about." Amy concluded with a smile. She appreciated Magnolia easily dropping the suggestion.

"Oh, spell preparations...?" She wondered why those were required, especially in a supposedly safe place... But it was not her place to ask, "I suppose it cannot be helped, then."

Magnolia then suggested moving ahead with their plans for the day... She truly is planning on accompanying me today too, huh? Magnolia had already expressed that wish on the previous day, but it was still strange to Amy that she was actually following through with it, Is this what having friends is like? It's not a bad feeling... Though friends are supposed to help each other instead of one-sidedly rely on the other, aren't they?

... I suppose I can just make a mental note of this. To remember that there is someone other than my family that I'd like to help out one of these days if a situation called for it. Amy decided.

"That would be appreciated. I will be in your care, if you would be so kind." Amy slowly moved her hand around to try finding her cane, and once she found it, with or without help, she'd carefully get down the bed so that they could get moving.

@Magnolia

 

[Magnolia]

Magnolia could only nod at @Amy's response. "He is the type that keeps himself busy even right after waking up. I've protested many times, but it is no use, Amy." She said it with her usual flat tone, but her voice volume was higher than the usual, perhaps to intentionally make Trevor hear it, even if he continued to focus on his spell preparations.

Whenever Amy would be ready, Magnolia would offer an arm to her friend, to guide her outside and downstairs carefully. Being into the tavern part of the inn made it easy for them to ask for a breakfast, which Magnolia told Amy to choose whatever she wished for, since everything was already paid in advance. Perks of nobility and having too much gold to use, one could guess.

"You will be able to go back to Zalra all by yourself?" She asked, looking at the humble breakfast she had asked to herself. A single local fruit, a piece of bread and water.

"If you wish, we could at least try to find you someone to ride you until somewhere as close as possible. I doubt we would be able to find a ride that would delve into Zalra, however."