Lulu's search for Veigar was fruitless. No one in Bandle City could find the mage, and as hard as they tried to find him, he simply did not want to be found. The search had long since been called off and the people had dwindled to perhaps one or two wary pairs patrolling the perimeter of the city. Lulu, not one to give up, continued to look, first checking every centimeter of Bandle City and now roaming aimlessly outside its protections.

"Let's split up, Pix," Lulu suggested as the duo came upon the vast forest before them. Pix simply fluttered his wings in response, doing loop-de-loops as he flew off to the right. Lulu giggled, lacking her usual enthusiasm. She sighed, her smile fading, and went left.

Today, the forest seemed less marvelous. It had none of the mystical quality that Lulu typically saw; rather, it appeared as if it were mourning. The silence was oppressive instead of soothing, and a jittery sort of nervousness swept over the sorceress. The tops of the trees swayed with the wind, creating an eerie noise that made Lulu's spine involuntarily stiffen. The soft trill of a sparrow did little to placate her.

"Um, Veigar?" She called out weakly, laughing uncertainly. She walked around several trees aimlessly, scouring every square centimeter with her bright eyes. There was no Veigar, no blue hat, no evil speeches, and not even any visible movement.

"Oh, of course he won't hear me like this," Lulu scolded herself. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she tried again much more strongly. "Veigar! Are you there?"

As though answering her, a scream pierced the air, causing the eccentric yordle to nearly jump out of her skin. Despite its muffled sound due to the distance and its uncharacteristically high pitch, Lulu immediately recognized the voice. After all, she'd been looking for the owner for days.

Without another thought, an overwhelming sense of urgency and panic filled the purple haired sorceress, and she took off running. She had no idea where it came from; however, the fear was far stronger than her rationale. She ran until her lungs burned and her legs were weak, tears springing to her eyes as she pushed herself harder.

She finally stopped, bent over and coughing until she was able to bring oxygen back into her lungs. "I really, really wish I didn't have to do this," Lulu whispered breathlessly. She took as deep a breath as she could manage and called out to the silent forest, "Veigar! I'm here, but where are you? Say something, please!"

She waited perhaps 30 seconds before she heard him screaming again. "I was hoping that wouldn't happen." The Fae Sorceress wiped her eyes and steeled herself for a second round of running. "Only for you, Veigar. Only for you…"

She tripped over her feet several times as she scanned the areas she passed quickly. She imagined she had several cuts on her body from thorns and branches she hadn't pushed away in time. The occasional scream, some less pain-filled than others, numbed her to the pain and guided her towards the Tiny Master of Evil.

She nearly missed him, and she would have if it weren't for the flash of white hair she saw as the wind misaligned his hat. She skidded to a stop, sliding on the leaves and almost losing her balance, and for a moment all she could do was stare at him. He was huddled at the base of a tree, face turned towards the lichen-covered bark.

Cautiously, Lulu approached him. He still had not noticed her when she stood behind him, so she gently touched his shoulder with her fingers. Veigar jumped and turned too quickly for her to notice him doing so, and Lulu felt just as surprised as he, if only for a moment.

"Take...take me away," he gasped, as if he were drowning in the very air he breathed in. He latched onto her arm so tightly she feared the metal gauntlets might chop her arm off by accident. His hat was askew; his amber eyes were widened and brimming with undisguised fear. His face seemed uncharacteristically thin, and a moan that was sure to haunt her dreams for nights to come passed through his lips. His clothing was torn, shredded to mere threads among his arms, where she noticed his fur was matted with blood. At first glance she assumed he had been attacked, but the tips of his metal hands were coated in dried blood, and she immediately knew they were self-inflicted.

"What happened?" Lulu floundered about for something to do, some way to help.

"They're coming." The mage's voice was hoarse when he spoke, weak and defeated. "They want my blood...they want my life-" Veigar suddenly stopped. He let go of Lulu's arm and grabbed his head, throwing his ever-present hat off in a rage. He shut his eyes tightly and screamed, his hands curling into fists, the sharp fingertips scraping against his skin. Blood gushed out of his wounds, mixing among his strands of hair until it was dyed a frightening crimson red. It continued down his face, and Lulu panicked.

"Veigar, NO!"

"I want it gone," he screamed, clawing at himself, "get it out of me! Get it out!"

She launched herself at the other yordle, screaming nearly as much as he. She wrestled with him, trying her hardest not to aggravate his injuries, until she finally succeeded. She had him pinned down with her admittedly tiny frame, his no longer thrashing arms held down at the wrists near his head, and Lulu sighed and deflated. She leaned against his convulsing form, sobbing into his bloodied chest.

Veigar himself seemed to be faring no better. She could feel him trembling beneath her, his eyes shut tightly like a child trying to block out the sounds of his parents' fighting.

"What's wrong?" Lulu whimpered, blinking back her tears with a sniffle.

Veigar moaned, turning his head as he tried to ignore her question. "Everything. It's all so wrong. It's happening again; make it stop, make it stop!" The purple-haired yordle tried to calm the agitated mage with soothing sounds as she laid her head in the crook of his neck.

"I'm not sure what's happening, but I was so scared. I- I still am. I thought that we- that I- had lost you." Lulu spoke slowly, her body tense.

"You already have, Lulu." The yordle in question lifted her head and looked at him curiously, not having heard what he said. Veigar shook his head at her, a silent plea to speak no more words. He relaxed in her grip, and she took advantage of the moment to carefully wipe away the blood on his exposed face with gentle hands.

The hysteria had passed as quickly as it had come, although the mage seemed to be suffering a bout of extreme anxiety and a sense of defeat. He suddenly went entirely limp, as if he were half-dead. Lulu blinked at him, hoping he was tired and not being affected by blood loss.

"Veigar?" she asked, shaking him. His eyes flickered open to stare at her, the golden irises bleak and lifeless.

"Save me," he whispered, his voice desperate.

"From what?" Lulu asked, matching his anxious tone. She reached for his face once more, almost afraid to touch him in such a state of fragility. He pushed her hand away, choosing instead to caress it with his own, the only act of comfort he was willing to give and needed to receive.

"From myself…" Lulu's heart ached at the sight of Veigar, now so broken and hopeless. Where was the confidence? The strength?

Where was Veigar?


Author's note- I've known that this story would be a chapter story ever since it came to me. That said, it will be nine chapters, no more, no less. I have everything I want to happen planned out (at least I have general guidelines) so it hopefully won't take long, but I'm busy and I can't guarantee anything. No matter what happens, I hope you like it!