Summary: When Diana falls ill, Bernadette tasks Akko, Alcaeus, and Daryl to obtain the last ingredient necessary to create the remedy. They run into some unexpected trouble. Oh, and no one knows whatever the heck love is.
Author's Notes:
Uh, so remember how I said I was going to limit the Silent Hill stuff? I didn't plan for it to happen again, but here's the warning once more.
Rated T for Tomato's adventure/action. This is comparably milder than their first encounter as I tried to keep the descriptions to the bare minimum. Also the fact that technically only select people can see the distortion in the first place…
Anyway, here's Day 5: spoiling Diana.
VIII. Denser than Blood
Akko regrets not asking for a wetsuit when her leg sinks through mud for the fifth time that hour.
"Ack!" Akko waves her arms to steady herself. "Whoa, whoa! Okay, okay I'm good."
Alcaeus raises an eyebrow. Compared to her dirty condition, he is perfectly immaculate with only the bottom quarter of his trousers sullied.
"This is the fifth time you have made that mistake," Alcaeus remarks.
"You were counting?"
"It helps pass the time."
Akko groans. "How much longer do we have to walk through this swamp anyway? This stupid flower can't be that hard to find!"
"Ack!" a certain younger Cavendish shrieks as her leg also sinks into mud.
Akko's only solace is that Daryl seems to be having less of a good time than she is.
"Ugh. Why did I agree to come to this infestation?!"
"It's a swamp," Alcaeus and Akko answer simultaneously.
Daryl pulls her leg out of the mud and flicks her leg to remove some of the mud. "It's dirty and gross and unbecoming for a Cavendish to trudge through this filth!"
"You were never forced to come," Alcaeus points out. "Bernadette suggested you because you are familiar with the ingredient we require. That does not mean either Miss Akko or I wouldn't be able to locate it on our own."
"You know you can just call me Akko, right? Adding on the 'Miss' makes me feel old," Akko says.
"You are a guest of Bernadette's and the House of Cavendish. As her servant, it is my responsibility to treat Honored Guests with respect."
"Yeah, but we're also walking through in knee-deep mud and bleh." Akko points to Daryl. "Plus we've even got the head's little sister with us. I think we're past any of that."
Daryl screams as she trips and lands in a face full of swamp.
Alcaeus sighs. "I concede. In return, you can simply refer to me as Alcaeus. No need to add the 'Mister.' Your friend already does so anyway."
Alcaeus trudges to Daryl to help her up. As he tries to calm the angry Cavendish, Akko lets her mind trail back to the last half day and the entire reason why they are in the Hollow Wetlands.
"Bernadette! BERNADETTE!" Alcaeus flings open the door to Bernadette's study. He skids to a stop and stares at her still seated at her desk. "Why are you still working?!"
"I was just getting to-" Bernadette leaps to her feet when she notices the body in Alcaeus' arms. "What happened?"
"She collapsed in the corridor. I believe she was chasing after something."
Bernadette strides around her desk to examine the unconscious girl in Alcaeus' arms. "What was she chasing?"
Alcaeus looks away. "I do not know."
"I do not have time for your ambiguity!" Bernadette places a hand on Diana's forehead, then immediately pulls back and hisses. "What a fever… This is not good. Bring her to her room. Place her on her bed but do not put her under the covers. I will call for Anna."
The two exit the office in different directions. As Alcaeus runs toward Diana's room, he glances at the door to Akko's for a moment before deciding not to disturb the girl most likely sleeping inside.
Except his frantic movements into the room by slamming the bedroom door closed with his foot wakes up Akko. She would have to be dead to sleep through a shockwave that ripples into her room.
Akko opens the door to Diana's room without knocking, one hand on the doorknob and the other rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Diana, did something-?!"
"Before you ask, I have no idea either," Alcaeus says as he gets Diana situated in bed.
Quick footsteps alert Akko to more people behind her. Both Bernadette and Anna come to a stop behind her, carrying containers and handfuls of medical supplies.
"Wha- What's going on?!"
"Diana is running a fever." Bernadette stops by the bed and sticks the thermometer into Diana's mouth as Anna places everything down. She pulls out the device once it beeps and cringes at the reading. "A very high fever. My word, is she running a case of Nimiumagicae Febricitantem?"
"Nimiumu what?"
"It occurs in witches whose bodies cannot keep up with the magical energies they are naturally producing. Normally our internal magics are dispelled simply by diffusing into the environment. But for these witches, the diffusion process is not fast enough to remove the excess magical energy. Left alone, these witches suffer side effects such as high fever, excruciating pain, nausea, impaired cognition, incapacitation, and eventual death."
"WHAT?!" Akko marches toward the bed. "But-!"
"I will not allow that to happen!" Bernadette swears. "As long as she is under my care, I will make sure that Diana does not die. I myself have never treated a case of Nimiumagicae Febricitantem before. However, I am certain it is within our archives somewhere. Anna, please help Akko tend to Diana as Alcaeus and I research the cure."
Akko clenches her fists. "What do I do?"
"Keep her cool. There is not much we can do. Place cool, wet towels on her skin and change them consistently. Oh, and it may help to change her into more comfortable clothes."
Akko nods resolutely. "Got it!"
Bernadette and Alcaeus take their leave. Anna reaches into the dresser to pull out some light sleepwear.
(Okay, keep Diana cool. I can do that; wringing towels isn't so bad. I just first have to-)
Anna throws Akko a glare, already by Diana's side and preparing to take off her clothes.
"I understand you are both the same gender. However, I will not allow you to stay if you are going to be so lewd."
Akko yeeps, mutters a high pitched 'sorry,' and opts to stand outside Diana's room until Anna is done.
"Mi- Akko, are you alright? Your face is burning. I thought Bernadette gave you some sunscreen before we left?"
Alcaeus' voice snaps Akko from her memories.
"I'm fine!" Akko squeaks. She shakes her head and slaps her cheeks to clear the flush from her face.
Meanwhile, Daryl mutters to herself, "One ingredient. She just had to be short one ingredient. The one piece of the remedy that just had to be located in this accursed, filthy-"
"She's been complaining for four hours," Akko remarks, falling in line beside Alcaeus. "How do you deal with her? Heck, how does Miss Bernadette do it?"
Alcaeus slows his pace to match Akko's. The two remain a few steps behind Daryl, letting the Cavendish stew on her own.
"Bernadette is her elder sister," Alcaeus replies. "She is naturally a patient person who must have handled more troublesome clients than-"
Daryl sinks into another soft spot. Alcaeus cringes at her curses while Akko fails to keep her chuckles to herself.
"-that. Sometimes it is as if Bernadette acts as Daryl's mother instead of her elder sister."
"Aren't they only a few years apart?"
"Yes. But as you can see, Daryl is rather… spoiled."
"Yeah, that's putting it lightly. She's way worse than Diana. Even as a kid."
"I am still rather curious about your connections to the House of Cavendish."
"Too bad I'm not allowed to say anything. You know, with the whole time and its effects sort of thing."
Alcaeus hums. "You say Daryl is worse than your friend. In what way? I can't imagine she's the pampered type."
"HA. You know she and her roommates have the biggest dorm room at Luna Nova? It's even got its own balcony and three queen sized beds. Not twin- queen. Oh, and they have their own personal bathroom. The room's probably four times the size of mine."
"That seems rather… excessive."
"Yeah, I dunno why they need such a big room either. It's got a couch and everything. And then there's her house aaaaannnnnnd," Akko slaps a hand to her mouth, "I'm not supposed to talk about that."
"Well, at least you caught yourself this time."
Akko lowers her hands. "Aren't you curious?"
"Your business is your own. Just as you and your friend have agreed to leave my secrets be, I will also refrain from prying into your life."
"But you wanna know too. Also, why do you keep calling Diana anything but her name?"
Alcaeus blinks. "Have I been doing that? I haven't noticed."
"Yeah, it's a little weird. You called her 'the boy' a lot. And now you just call her 'girl' or my friend. You even call Miss Bernadette by her name without honorifics!"
Alcaeus looks away. "That is different. Bernadette is…"
"Hmmmmm?"
"Gh! Why are you so close?!" Alcaeus refrains from using his hands to physically push Akko away from him.
"What were you going to say? 'Bernadette is…?'"
"That is none of your concern. She is simply my employer and nothing more."
"You don't look like you're telling the truth."
"Oh? Then would you like me to inquire about your own relationship with your friend?"
Akko's mischievous smirk falls. "Huh? You mean Diana? What about her?"
"You are rather close to her."
Akko cocks her head to the side. "I guess? She's my rival; of course I'd worry for her. What am I supposed to do if she's not there with me?"
"Have you considered… finding another?"
"Replace Diana?" Akko blanches. "No way! There's no one else who's better than Diana! I won't settle for anything less!"
"That is beside the point. If the only purpose of your rivalry is to benefit your own abilities, there are others who can fulfill that role besides her. Any other student will suffice. And when you surpass them, you simply turn to another as your goal. That is what you will inevitably reach once you surpass that gi- Diana Reinhardt anyway. What is the difference if you do so earlier?"
Akko shakes her head. "Nope. I'm not going to do that."
"And why not? What does that mean?" Alcaeus presses.
"It's not the same if its not Diana! It has to be Diana! She's important to me; not just as a rival but as my friend! Is that what you want me to say?"
"It just… doesn't seem fitting. Or completely accurate. I don't know." Alcaeus sighs. "She's important enough to you that you would hold her hand for the two hours it took Bernadette to find the cure to her ailment."
"Diana isn't allowed to die or get sick." Akko's shoulders slump. "She'd probably know how to get the cure a lot faster if our positions were switched. So I can't just sit back and not do anything."
"I highly doubt she would obtain what we require any faster than you." Alcaeus eyes the thick foliage of the swamp. "It's less a matter of locating the ingredient and more arriving at its location. If you are so worried, the least you can do is shove the flower into her face and brag that you saved her life."
"Heh. Yeah, saving her will definitely get her to take me seriously. Especially if it's something like looking for a magic flower. That sounds like something we'd get assigned as homework."
"Are you two done gossipping like children?" Daryl quips. "You're both as dense as bricks."
"What is that supposed to mean?" her companions demand.
Daryl huffs, slowing down her pace so she can properly address the two. "Have either of you two even been in a relationship?"
"A… what?" Alcaeus asks.
"Oh, you mean when two people are together and stuff, right?" Akko cocks her head. "No. I thought this guy who's now my friend was handsome, but I think that's it."
"Is physical attraction a necessity for a… relationship?"
"I don't think so? Maybe? I guess not. I mean I think Diana's pretty but that's just because she's Diana."
Alcaeus hums.
(Bernadette… is attractive, I suppose.)
Daryl drops her face into her palms. "By the Nine you two are hopeless. I pity my sister and the girl."
"Hopeless?! At least I didn't fall into mud three times in five minutes!" Akko retorts.
"That has nothing to do with your own obliviousness to love!"
"Who said anything about love?! Where'd that come from?!"
Alcaeus hums. "I have no idea what is this 'love' you speak of. It certainly sounds complicated."
Daryl and Akko stop walking and arguing to stare at Alcaeus. It seems they've come to an agreement for once.
"You don't know what love is?!" they shriek.
"Wait, you know what love is?!" Daryl demands from Akko.
"Well duh. Just because I've never been in love doesn't mean I don't know what it is," Akko retorts. "I watched and read a lot of romance related things as a kid! A girl can dream!"
"And yet you can't even-" Daryl slaps her face, "Lady Beatrix please send this girl some help."
"Is this love such an important thing?" Alcaeus asks.
"Well yeah, you gotta love something in your life at least. It doesn't have to be a person. Love comes in all sorts of ways. You have love for things. Like I love Chariot's magic!"
"'Chariot?'" Daryl and Alcaeus parrot.
"Oh uh, nothing, nothing! But I also love umeboshi - that's pickled plums by the way - and my family and friends! And someday I hope to love someone like my parents love each other!"
"And that would be…?" Alcaeus asks.
"Uh…" Akko places a hand on her chest and closes her eyes. "Like… you get this warm feeling inside of you. You don't want to be apart from that person longer than you need to. They're so important that you can't imagine living without them. I guess that's the extreme version."
"An affection toward the other. Regardless of who they are and their background, you cherish them with all your heart and soul. It is an endearment close to insanity," Daryl states.
"Yeah, that! They're basically your most important person!"
"I… see." Alcaeus places a hand over his heart. "An endearment close to insanity, you say…?"
"By the way, are we close to the flower yet?" Akko asks Daryl.
Daryl resumes walking, turning her back on Akko and Alcaeus. "We should be nearing the tree that blooms the Lusleigheas Drayochta. We're nearing the heart of the swamp where it grows."
"And it really only grows here? Why couldn't it have been in somewhere nice and sunny?" Akko grumbles.
"The Lusleigheas Drayochta is a rare plant that only grows in certain swamplands, this being one of them. As such, there aren't many uses for the Lusleigheas Drayochta," Daryl remarks. "The only other potion it's used for is the Póg Grá Fíor. But that isn't important to what we need."
Akko shrinks away from the looming trees. "Sheesh. This place is almost as bad as the Arcturus Forest. Do all of these important magic places have to be this terrifying?"
"You have been to that forbidden forest?" Daryl scoffs. "I hardly believe that."
"I have! And more than once!" Akko turns her head and grumbles. "Even found the Shiny Rod there too."
Alcaeus' footsteps stop, his legs sinking into the mud up to his thigh. He looks down at the murky waters sullying his clothes with narrowed eyes.
(This aura…)
Hearing a lack of footsteps behind her makes Akko stop and turn around. "What's wrong?"
"Daryl. Do you know of any spirits who may dwell in this swamp?" Alcaeus asks.
Akko wouldn't have been worried about what he means if she didn't notice Alcaeus' hand reaching up to the collar of his jacket.
"Of course there are. There are the spirits who belong in the trees and nature itself. They don't often emerge due to the lack of magical energy in this area, but they are here regardless."
"While I do not question your knowledge, there is only one detail I would like to point out." Alcaeus pulls out the small cylinder that transforms into the Hyrnja. He directs Daryl and Akko's gazes to the front of him with the spear, "There is magic here. Originating in that tree."
At the center of the swamp is a single weeping willow tree looming over the wetlands. It towers over the other foliage - including the other weeping willows - enough so that its arching stems can cover some of the closer plants like a curtain. But unlike the others that are green, this tree's swaying stems are a dark brown growing from a black trunk.
More peculiar are the markings on the trunk. Its black design camouflage perfectly against the dead wood. The only reason Alcaeus and the others notice its existence is when it starts to pulse blood red.
"Wait, that's the Lusleigheas Drayochta tree?! But it's dead!"
"It is…" Daryl gasps. "I don't see any part of it that we can salvage."
"It's not supposed to be dead! How are we supposed to save Diana now?!"
"You two," Alcaeus growls, "should probably focus on the reason why this tree is dead first rather than worry about others!"
A pulse ripples through the swamp, upsetting the waters enough to lick up to their torsos. At the same time, Alcaeus' ears pick up on the familiar air-raid siren that no one else could hear from the hospital.
And that seems to be the case here as well, judging from Akko and Daryl's lack of reaction except for their confused stares at him as he covers one ear.
"What is going on?!" Daryl demands.
Alcaeus clenches his grip on the Hyrnja as he settles into a defensive stance. "The two of you should be able to use magic within close proximity to that tree. I do not know where this energy originates from, but your goal is to destroy that insignia carved in the trunk."
"And what will you be doing?"
Streams of water shoot up into the sky. Alcaeus narrows his eyes to get a clear image of the monsters aiming for them.
"Dealing with some unwanted guests. Though, I am not certain how well I will be able to keep them away. So… I suggest you two rely on yourselves!"
Bernadette wrings another wet towel and replaces it on Diana's burning forehead. She double checks the IV supplying Diana nutrients and water, then replaces the towel with another cool one when she feels that it's heating up again.
She repeats this process. Again, and again, and again. Just as she has done so for the past half day.
"I apologize I can't do much more for you," Bernadette whispers to the unconscious girl, brushing sweaty blonde locks from her head. "I would allow you to rest in your own body, but you seem rather adamant about keeping your disguise. I have no choice but to honor your wishes."
Diana's right hand, the arm uncovered by the blanket, twitches by her side.
"Mo-Mother…"
Bernadette's initial confusion gives way to a small, exasperated smile. Without questioning herself or the unconscious girl, Bernadette slips one hand into Diana's open palm and holds on with a light squeeze. She maintains a light grip even as she continues to administer some relief to the poor girl confined to bed.
Everything remains the same for Daryl and Akko save for the random splashes of water from an unseen source. But to Alcaeus, it is anything but peaceful.
The calm swamp peels away as the world distorts into the Otherworld. Dark grey ashes drench the white fog covering the sky. On the ground, everything turns dark red. The trees disfigure until its bark resembles the faces of cackling or crying humans. When Alcaeus moves his leg back to brace himself for the encroaching monsters, his eyes are drawn to the thick red blood that now serves as the swamp's muddy waters.
Alcaeus parries the first monster, dodges the second, then spears through a third. The faceless, humanoid monsters continue to swarm him until he can barely see the two distinct mounds of flesh away from him.
"Go!" Alcaeus shouts. "Destroy the sigil!"
Daryl clicks her tongue and rushes toward the giant weeping willow. "I have no idea what is going on, but there doesn't seem to be anything else to do!"
Akko grits her teeth, protest dying on her lips. Her legs try to push her in the same direction Daryl is running, but her eyes remained glued on Alcaeus.
(There has to be…) Akko clenches her wand, digging her nails into the wood. (There has to be something I can do!)
Wildly swinging her wand won't work. Not only is she not guaranteed to hit one of… whatever is assaulting Alcaeus, but Diana also specifically told her how direct magic spells don't work on them. They just suck up the energy and grow stronger from it.
Akko watches the water ripple around Alcaeus. But if she examines it closer, she notices that it isn't necessarily moving in tandem to Alcaeus' movements. The water is splashing around too much for it to be only from Alcaeus.
"Murowa!" Akko hears Daryl shout behind her. Again, the spell is cast, followed by another shout of frustration.
"I can't destroy the sigil!" Daryl yells. "There is a barrier protecting it!"
"Well-" Alcaeus grunts as she spears through three monsters at once and uses them as a club to bat away a few others, "-then destroy the barrier!"
"You think I haven't been trying?!"
"Try harder! I am only one person!"
A brief moment of inattention lets one of the monsters slip through his guard. It slices across Alcaeus' back with its claws. Although Akko can't see the monsters themselves, she can see the scarlet that suddenly appears on Alcaeus' back, soaking through his dark coat.
Diana falling back and away from Akko as a man with a giant pyramid tears through her chest with a cleaver.
Alcaeus suffering the same fate a second later, disappearing right before Akko's eyes with the giant weapon torn through his chest.
The two girls in a quiet room. Akko sitting and listening as Diana recounts every drop of blood she had to shed in the Otherworld to stay alive. What started off in fascinated concern ends with the two of them sharing one another's comforting presences to stave off the nightmares of a trauma they should not have experienced.
Her hands clench in her lap. Guilty. Weak. Empty.
Her hands clench by her side. Guilty. But not weak or empty. No, she is filled with rage. The anger erupts inside her as the memories remind her of her powerlessness before.
But not this time.
Akko points her wand at Alcaeus' hunched form. Choosing the right moment when Alcaeus drops his guard, Akko casts the first spell in mind with all her heart and ability in order to save this man's life.
"Foraen Mugrowna!"
Roots and vines from below erupt from the waters. They swing around at random, smacking whatever invisible entities they manage to reach. Akko can't see Alcaeus' assailants, but she can guess based on Alcaeus' own position.
The opening gives Alcaeus an opportunity to regain his bearings and catch his breath. He rubs his blurring eyes and wills his body to function despite the large gash on his back. Through the cyclone of foliage and his own murky vision, Alcaeus realizes that the monsters have changed targets to the person disrupting their kill.
Akko notices the same thing just from the way the waters churn in her direction with every invisible step.
"Oh no."
Alcaeus growls, "Shi- Drop the spell! Drop the spell and protect yourself!"
"Okay but," Akko redirects the spell so that the vines and roots create a barrier for herself, "I don't really know what to do!"
"What are they teaching you at that blasted magic school of yours?!"
"History and numerologYYYYY!"
One of the monsters tear through the makeshift barrier and pounces on Akko. Its invisible weight overwhelms the smaller girl and pushes her under the swamp water. With her concentration interrupted, the spell completely dissipates and allows the monsters to tear through the rest of her barrier like butter.
Akko thrashes against her unseen assailant. Every attempt to gather magic into her wand leaves her breathless and tired, forcing her to take a breath she cannot afford with her body underwater. Her lungs inevitably choke on swamp water due to her efforts. Her consciousness begins to fade as black spots pervade her vision.
(If the Demons are bound by the laws of the distortion and cannot physically harm humans except to drain their magic, then they…)
"They're-!" Alcaeus gasps, and not from his wound. "Daryl! Remove the water around her! Remove the water around Akko! They're drowning her!"
Daryl pulls her wand away from the weeping willow. She can't see where Akko is because she's completely submerged, but Daryl uses the location of the most movement to guess where the monsters are pushing Akko down.
"Shyral Mryuerre!"
The swamp parts into separate waves going in the opposite direction, opening up for Alcaeus to get a clear path to Akko and the monsters pinning her down. The disturbance draws their attention away from the prey beneath them and toward the witch responsible for the manipulated water.
The monsters click their teeth and screech, most of them abandoning Akko and running toward Daryl.
"They're coming after you now!" Alcaeus shouts as he tears through the remaining monsters. He scoops up Akko in his free arm right before the water cascades back down as Daryl retracts her spell to protect herself with a hastily casted dome.
Daryl feels the impact against the shield. Crashes from all sides lock her in. To her horror, she notices that her barrier slowly begins to dissipate despite the magic she continues to pour into it.
"The Demons absorb magic!" Alcaeus answers Daryl's unspoken question. "The longer they make contact with anything containing magic, the more they take!"
"Then what am I supposed to do?!"
Liquid sloshes against his legs as he tears through as many monsters as he can to get to Daryl. It pulls his weight down, making it difficult to run through. The liquid rises up and stains his clothes. At least to Akko and Daryl it only looks like the swamp is staining him and not blood.
Alcaeus frowns while pulling his spear out from an impaled monster.
Liquid. He is standing in liquid. To him it is a vat of blood. To Daryl and Akko, it is simply the swamp water that they tripped in so many times before. However, no matter which world it is - the real world or the Otherworld - it doesn't change the fact that they are all standing in a giant pool of conductible liquid.
"Daryl! On my mark, point directly at the water and cast as much electricity as you can into it!"
Closer, closer. He is almost to Daryl and her waning barrier.
"I thought you said these invisible monsters absorb any form of magic energy!"
"Your spell will only be affecting the water. Like the vine spell Akko used, it is an indirect effect on the Demons. They will absorb it, but not fast enough to counter the shock!"
"How-" Daryl grunts as the barrier starts to cave in, "-how did my sister agree to trust in someone so suspicious?!"
"Do you really have time to prioritize that right now?!"
Alcaeus races past the the last of the monsters and breaks through just as Daryl's barrier disappears. While keeping Akko tucked in his arm, he grabs Daryl and races toward and up one of the closer trees.
"Not now, but later!" Daryl points her wand toward the water as soon as they are out of reach. "Eldingar!"
Lightning erupts from Daryl's wand and strikes into the swamp. The water's conductibility immediately spreads its effects across the water. The monsters drop one by one in a convulsing mess as the electricity travels from the water into their fleshy bodies.
Some of the electricity travels up the trees, including the one they are perched on. They have no choice but to grit their teeth and bear with it. The small tingling is nothing compared to the electricity coursing into the monsters through the swamp.
"Stop the spell and guard the girl!" Alcaeus says when he sees all of the monsters fall into the water.
Daryl flicks her wand to dispel the lightning. Alcaeus jumps down from the tree and drops the two girls before sprinting across the swamp toward the weeping willow. He races past the monsters as they slowly begin to rise from the waters. Each sickening crack of their bones echoes in Alcaeus' ears, urging him to run faster.
Alcaeus skids to a stop in front of the tree trunk with the blood red sigil. A light purple dome encompasses the magic circle, protecting it well enough that Daryl's previous attempts to destroy the tree left no mark.
"A barrier? I do not have time for this!" Alcaeus strikes his spear against the barrier, only for the tip to ricochet off of the surface. He tries again. And again and again and again.
The screeches come closer and farther. The Demons most likely spread into two groups: one aiming for him, and the other for Daryl and Akko.
The barrier begins to chip. It isn't degrading fast enough, but the small crack is enough for Alcaeus.
Alcaeus pulls back his arm and lunges down with one final push.
"Breaaaaaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkk!"
The tip of the Hyrnja tears through the crack and lodges into the trunk of the weeping willow. A blast of wind threatens to push him back. If not for his grip on his spear, he would have been blown back like the other Demons and sent crashing into the waters.
The air-raid siren quiets. The swamp reverts from red and black back to murky green and blue. When Alcaeus moves his leg, he doesn't feel the resistance of blood, just muddy waters.
The danger passes. Alcaeus slowly allows his heart rate to return to normal.
"Why here?" he wonders, pulling the Hyrnja from the tree. He shakes his head and looks over toward Daryl.
The younger Cavendish seems fine. Disheveled and annoyed, but in one piece. She busies herself with some basic first aid for Akko, starting by reviving the girl from her near drowning experience.
Alcaeus turns back to the Lusleigheas Drayochta tree. Despite the end of the nightmare, it remains brown and dead. None of it appears to be useable. He winces as a few pieces of bark crumble once he removes the Hyrnja from the tree.
His foot kicks something as he circles the weeping willow, pulling him face first into the water. He barely has any energy left to fight against the pull of gravity. Besides, both Daryl and Akko are preoccupied. His pride can take a hit just this once in his fatigue.
Alcaeus sits up in the water and uses one hand to reach down to grasp whatever he tripped over. A little resistance prevents him from simply pulling it up. He puts some force behind his arm and tugs the offending object straight up from the water.
"This is…"
"A piece of the Lusleigheas Drayochta tree," Daryl says. She shifts a half-conscious Akko who's draped over her shoulder. "She'll be fine. A bit disoriented due to the lack of oxygen, but she'll live. In any case, I suppose this trip was fruitful after all."
"What makes you say that?"
"The House of Cavendish is known for its healing and regeneration. That does not only apply to humans. I am sure my sister at least knows a spell that can rejuvenate and grow a plant such as this within a short amount of time."
"You mean to say we can basically regrow the Lusleigheas Drayochta tree in time to save Diana Reinhardt?"
Daryl nods. "Essentially."
"We can… use that?" Akko slurs.
Alcaeus stands and takes one of Akko's hands. He places the small root on Akko's palm and closes her fingers around it.
"Protect it, just as you want to protect your friend," Alcaeus says.
Akko responds with a small nod. "Okay…"
Her body falls limp and out of Daryl's control. Alcaeus barely scoops her up before she can fall into the water. As he shifts her into a better position, he focuses on the small root clasped within Akko's hand to ignore his own throbbing back.
Even unconsciousness, Akko will never let go of the last link to save her friend's life. Alcaeus understands that now. The root is in safe hands.
Daryl grimaces at the terrible lacerations across Alcaeus' back. "I would heal that, but you destroyed our only source of magic."
Alcaeus shakes his head. "I'm fine. We should return to the manor. The sooner we have the cure, the sooner we can all rest easy."
"You yourself look like you want to keel over any moment now."
Alcaeus shakes his head even as his body begins to tip and his eyelids flutter closed. "I'm fine. I'm-"
And then promptly drops into the swamp, pulling Akko with him. Though unconscious, Akko somehow keeps her hand clenched around the small root given to her.
Daryl sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Idiots. I chose to accompany idiots."
She can't breathe; not with this heat consuming her body from the inside out. All of her senses flare in agony, enveloping her existence in nothing but fire.
To compensate, her mind pulls up a certain memory to combat the heat and pain. Perhaps revisiting this time of cold and numbness can help abate her current predicament.
However, such a defense mechanism has its own side effects. To trade one type of pain for another…
Rain beats down upon the attendants wearing full black. Indistinguishable chatter filters through her like white noise behind her. She catches portions of their conversations.
Some offer their condolences. Others comment about her state and appearance beneath the rain. There are a few who seem to be speaking to her aunt about family matters.
She tunes them out. None of that is important. Not the other attendants, not the rain, and not her own heart.
All that matters is the closed burgundy casket, her mother inside of it, and Diana herself.
She cannot see her mother anymore. This has nothing to do with the closed casket or the rain mixing with her silent tears to blur her vision. These are all easy problems to fix. Despite her size, Diana can easily lift the casket open to take a peek inside, or ask one of the adults to help her open the lid. In terms of her tears, she can simply wipe them with her hand or take out her handkerchief and use that.
But none of that will allow her to see her mother's eyes again. She will never hear her mother's wonderful laugh, never feel her mother's comforting warmth, never fall asleep after her mother tucks her into bed, never share her mother's warmth and love.
No matter what little Diana does, she will never have her mother by her side ever again.
A hand on her shoulder pulls Diana from her thoughts. Diana's eyes remain glued to the casket lid, hoping her childish wish can somehow revive her mother.
After all, what good is magic if it cannot grant miracles? Except Diana no longer has that ability…
"Milady, it is time," Anna whispers.
Diana hears but she cannot move. She continues to hope this is all a mistake. Why does it have to be her mother? Why does it have to be the kindest, most hard-working person? Why does it have to be her who leaves her life?
"Milady." Anna squeezes Diana's shoulder to grab her attention.
But Diana feels nothing. Not Anna's hand, not the rain drenching her from head to toe, not her heart shattering to pieces as her mother continues to lie as the dead.
Everything is numb. The only sensation that seeps through is the chill of loneliness beginning to wrap around her existence.
"Lower the casket," Daryl orders somewhere behind them. "Let my sister rest."
Diana lifts her head and walks off the stage, shrugging off Anna's hand in the process. The little girl plods past the people responsible for lowering the casket. She doesn't perceive them just as she never realizes Anna was behind her and calling her all this time.
Her eyes lose focus. She doesn't need to see anything in this world. All she wants to see are the happy times long past. If Diana cannot have her mother in life, then she can preserve her through the memories she left behind. All the care, warmth, love-
A flash of white cuts through her reminiscence; white within a sea of black. However, it passes by so quickly that the young girl attributes it to a trick of the light.
After all, she does not know anyone with pure white hair who would attend her mother's funeral.
Diana's eyes flicker open. Her eyes blink excessively to remove a few traces of tears that results from a fleeting dream filtering into reality. But it is still difficult to see even after clearing her eyes.
A sliver of moonlight illuminates into the dark room from the small gap of her window curtains. It barely provides enough lighting, but Diana does not have the energy to move her body and turn on the room lights herself.
Not to mention the strange heavy weight pressing down on her left side, preventing her from reaching out with that arm. Even if she cannot see the girl's face with it snuggled into her side, Diana relaxes herself upon recognizing the head of brown hair tucked into her side.
"Ah, you're finally awake?" Alcaeus asks.
Diana shifts her head toward the voice. A shadow is seated at the corner of the room with his back to her. Despite the darkness, his bleach white hair seems to glow with what little lighting is present in the room.
"How long have you been sitting there?" Diana asks. Or more like rasps considering how dry her throat is.
"Not long. I myself recently escaped from my own bedrest. Ah, there is water on the side table for you. I would help, but I seem to recall you do not want anyone to see you or Akko without your disguises."
Diana twitches her arm. The stiff limbs moves with some difficulty, so Diana gives herself a few more minutes to recover. She can handle a dry throat for another five minutes.
"What happened to me?"
"Nimiumagicae Febricitantem. Have you heard of it?"
"An ailment that affects witches whose bodies cannot maintain their magic circulation."
"You had a high fever basically. Bernadette created the remedy for you. If any fever lingers, it should be gone by dawn."
"And Akko?"
"Tired after a long day. You should thank her when she wakes up. She went through a lot of trouble to bring back the last ingredient of the cure for you."
Diana blinks. "I seem to have missed quite a bit."
"We were missing a piece of the remedy. Bernadette had Daryl and myself accompany Akko to gather it. This and that happened, but everything is fine now."
"Does this have any relation to why you refuse to rest your back against the chair?"
Alcaeus chuckles quickly change into a grimace. Even laughing pulls at at the stitches across his back.
"Among other things."
"I understand why you chose to phrase it as 'escape' your bedrest. I assume Lady Bernadette has no idea you are here?"
"She stepped out to speak to Daryl after reprimanding me for an entire hour." Alcaeus sighs as lightly as possible to prevent stressing his back even more. "I suppose I should tell you this. We were attacked in the swamp. It distorted into the Otherworld."
Diana's left arm underneath Akko tenses.
"Is that why Akko is…?" Diana glances down at the sleeping girl.
"In your bed? Well, her exhaustion is the reason why she is dead asleep. Though I have no idea why she insisted on sleeping by your side. Her excuse was to be there when you awaken. Except it seems she has missed that opportunity. I did not see the point of allowing this, but Bernadette encouraged it. She had Anna tuck her in beside you after they gave her a bath."
"Why would Lady Bernadette…?"
Alcaeus shrugs as much as his back allows him. "That girl by your side cares for you. Bernadette notices that. Even I can see that. The question is: do you?"
"What kind of-? Of course I do."
"But apparently there are different extents to which you can care for a person."
Diana tests her arm by moving it up and down and clenching her fist. Once she's certain she has regained full mobility of it, she reaches to the side table and helps herself to the glass of water to the best of her ability with Akko lying on half of her.
"What is your understanding of love?" Alcaeus asks once he hears Diana put down her glass.
"Where is this coming from?"
"It is a topic that Daryl brought up while we were looking for the ingredient."
"And you are asking me..?"
"For a broader idea. Relationships are a foreign concept to me. Though that doesn't seem to hinder your friend."
Diana hums. "Love… To love someone in the romantic sense you mean?"
"In any sort of way. I was told there are multiple forms of love?"
"Yes. There is the love you share amongst family. For example, the relationship Lady Bernadette and her sister share." Her chest swells as she recalls memories of her mother. But her own experiences aren't the examples she wants to use in this case. "Despite their differences and misgivings, they will always cherish one another as sisters. It is something unique that they share with no one else. It is in a similar way with parents, and perhaps it can translate to friendship as well."
"To love someone is to cherish them despite differences." Alcaeus nods. "Then what of the other?"
"Romance… that is something different from platonic love. You still cherish the other no matter the circumstances. Except…"
"Except?"
"Hm…" Akko nuzzles her face into Diana's side. "Don't die, Diana… Losing to a fever… is stupid…"
Despite her tired exhale, Diana cannot fight back the small smile tugging her lips upward. She uses her free hand to move Akko's bangs from sticking to her forehead.
"You find yourself thinking only about that person. Slowly, you consider doing things you haven't done before just for this person you cannot disregard." Diana continues to run her hands through Akko's hair. "They become your most important person. One you cannot fathom living without. It is an endearment-"
"Close to insanity. Daryl mentioned that as well."
Diana blinks. "She said it?"
(Back then… it was Mother who spoke those words to me. It was as if she was waiting for someone who would never return…)
"If that is true, then I…" Alcaeus shakes his head and rises to his feet. "Impossible. I cannot…" He runs a hand through his hair in frustration. "I need sleep. I will inform Bernadette that you are fine. Good night."
Alcaeus strides to the door. He makes sure to keep his eyes ahead to keep his promise while Diana and Akko are not disguised. He reaches out to open the door-
"I have one more question to ask," Diana says.
Alcaeus' hand hovers above the doorknob for a moment.
"What is it?"
"Who found me after I fell unconscious?"
"That would be me."
"When you found me, did you see anything suspicious? For instance, a small, black spirit?"
Diana does not see Alcaeus' fingers twitch.
"No," he finally replies after a moment, "I did not see anything of the sort."
Alcaeus grabs the doorknob and exits the room, ending their conversation there. Diana's eyes linger on the door for a moment to contemplate Alcaeus' strange behavior. That thought slowly eases to the back of her mind as she remembers there is someone more important by her side.
"It seems I worried everyone over something so trivial." Diana lowers her gaze to regard the girl sleeping by her side. "Including you."
The obvious conclusion is that the spirit somehow caused her to contract the Nimiumagicae Febricitantem. How and why Diana does not know. In any case, the spirit itself was never their top priority. Their main goal should be finding a way to return to their time. Only when they have secured that can they worry about the other invader that apparently followed them into the past.
Except… there may be an existing third priority on Diana's list now. One that she can't ignore no matter how hard she tries. Or rather, has tried.
"An endearment close to insanity…" Diana closes her eyes and inhales, relaxing to the scent of plums. "So is that what this is? Something so simple? Preposterous. And yet…"
Diana leans her head down so her forehead rests on Akko's head. She releases an exhale as she accepts her defeat.
"I suppose I cannot deny the possibility either."
"Hm… deny what?" Akko mumbles.
Diana blinks. "Ah, are you awake now?"
Akko rubs her eyes and yawns. "I feel like I slept the day away…"
"You might have, though I cannot be certain when you all returned to the manor. Apparently you were away to find the final ingredient for a remedy to cure my affliction?"
"Yeah. You were running this really high fever-" Akko's eyes snap open as the events of the last day catch up to her. She whips her head up and yells, "ARE YOU O-"
Except her sudden movement catches Diana off guard. The top of Akko's head strikes against Diana's forehead with a dull smack. Diana flies back into her pillows as Akko drops back down to Diana's lap.
"Owwww…" Akko moans. Her hands fly to the top of her head to massage the sore area.
"That is… my line!" Diana grunts while covering her aching head with her no-longer-numb hand. "I cannot believe this."
Akko sits up in Diana's bed, this time at a slower pace. "Believe what? That you're all better? Or are you going to say something about my impulsiveness."
"No, that I even considered-" Diana stops herself in time and shakes her head. "It's nothing. It seems you are fine as well, considering your high spirits."
"I guess I just needed to sleep off everything that happened. I feel a lot better now compared to before. These beds are sure comfy." Akko bounces up and down to prove her point. "Not that I mind but… why are you in my bed?"
"Akko, this is my bed."
Akko looks down. Diana is the one tucked in while she's the one sitting awkwardly on the side. Looking down, she notices that her clothes aren't stained with mud of sweat. Instead, she's wearing a clean set of her pajamas that lack the distinct smell of exertion that should have covered her from head to toe after an entire day of trekking through a swamp and having her body submerged underwater.
Akko lifts her armpits and takes a tentative whiff. To her relief and her expectations, there's a lack of swamp and only her natural odor.
"Okay, so why am I in your bed? And who gave me a bath?"
"Most likely Anna if I understood what Alcaeus mentioned. He said something about… you wishing to check on me."
"Well yeah. Before we left you were burning so much that it hurt to touch you. But you look okay now." Akko scoots forward and places a hand on Diana's forehead. "You're still a little hot…"
Diana refuses to admit that her current flushed complexion is due to Akko's close proximity. Except Akko somehow takes Diana's silence as permission to lean forward to use her own forehead to gauge Diana's temperature instead.
(Close! Much too close! Is this even necessary?!)
"Huh. Yeah, a little hot. Maybe we should get your mo-"
"That-!" Diana pulls away so she can take a deep breath. "That is not necessary. I am fine. The remedy worked and the Nimiumagicae Febricitantem should no longer be affecting me."
"Are you sure? You look kind of red."
"Only the lighting I assure you."
"Are you… Seriously Diana are you okay? Your speech is getting more formal."
"This is my usual speech pattern."
"Right… Well," Akko crosses her legs to settle into a more comfortable sitting position, "as long as you're okay I guess it's fine."
"It is thanks to your efforts. I… I would most likely not be awake right now if not for the remedy. Thank you… for risking your life to save me."
"I want to say it's nothing but I did almost drown so-"
It takes almost all of Diana's willpower to keep her jaw from dropping. "What?! Alcaeus did not mention that."
"Oh yeah. Those invisible monster things attacked us. Except this time they actually went for me and your aunt instead of just Alcaeus."
"I see you are both on a first name basis now."
Akko shrugs. "I guess fighting for your life brings people together. And you've been calling him by his first name since the beginning. I just convinced him to start calling you by your name."
"Why is it important what he calls me?" Diana shakes her head. "No, that is not the point. Are you alright? Is that why you have been unconscious for so long?"
"I was sleeping. But I guess." Akko shrugs. "I'm okay though! That nap really did help!"
Diana sighs and leans back in her pillows. "If you are sure…"
"It was some experience. Fighting things that I couldn't see was annoying."
"It might be better that way. They are rather… grotesque."
Akko nods. The two fall silent as neither want to talk about the Otherworld at this time. Diana closes her eyes and relishes in the quiet. Meanwhile, Akko busies herself by playing with a loose strand of Diana's blanket.
Akko decides to speak without lifting her head. "Hey Diana."
Diana hums in response.
"I'm really glad you're okay."
Diana shifts her head to regard her companion. Despite the darkness and Akko's tilted head, Diana swears she sees a tinge of red in Akko's complexion.
(My imagination perhaps…)
"And I as well," Diana replies. "Thank you, Akko. Truly."
"I know this is going to sound weird but…" Akko's nitpicking picks up the pace, "do you mind if I stay here tonight? I can grab a chair and everything but I kind of just want to be close to something… familiar. After all of that. You know?"
"I understand perfectly. After all, you did the same for me that day after we returned from the hospital. It is the least I can do."
Akko nods and gets up to get a chair. A light tug on her wrist prevents her from moving more than one leg off the bed.
"You…" Diana turns her head away to hide. "You can stay. There is no need to subject yourself to an uncomfortable night."
"But it's your bed."
"That you have already slept on."
"Geh- I didn't know that until I woke up!"
Diana huffs. "Must you make everything so difficult?"
"I do not!" Akko sits back down and crosses her arms with a pout. "See? No difficulty."
"Are you going to sit in that posture the entire night?"
"What else am I supposed to do?"
To answer, Diana moves toward the right side of the bed and pats the now empty left side.
"So we're… going to share a bed?"
"As I said, we already have. There is no difference. Besides, now that you are awake you can refrain from using my body as a pillow."
"I DID THAT?!" Akko shrieks. "Oh man, I really did do that. That's so bad. But you were just that comfortable…"
"I will take that as a complement."
Akko slaps her hands to her face and groans. "Are you really sure you don't mind me sharing a bed with you? Sometimes I flail around in my sleep. Lotte says I move around so much that she had to charm the bed."
"You behaved while you clung to me," Diana remarks.
"Huh. Maybe I'm okay with you then." Akko shrugs. "Well, if you're sure. Don't say I didn't warn you though. Oh yeah, do you need anything? You're probably still a little weak from the fever."
Diana shakes her head. "I am fine for now. If I require anything, I can always ring for Anna or another maid."
"Oh, I guess that's true. I wouldn't even know where to get any of this stuff. I've been to your place once but it's not like I memorized the entire layout."
"That would be remarkable if you could."
"You know Amanda can? She knows Appleton like the back of her hand even though we were only there once."
Diana creases her brows in surprise. "Really? That… does not surprise me actually. If I recall from Andrew, you two caused a rather eventful scene that time."
Akko chuckles nervously.
"And? Are there any other stories you would like to share?"
"Oh! I have to show you all the scars I got as a kid! I showed Lotte and Sucy already. But anyway, so there's this one I got on my elbow from…"
Diana rests her weight back into the pillows. She feels the fatigue pulling her eyelids, but Diana does her best to fight through it. She's been asleep for most of the day; she can spare an hour or two to listen to Akko recount her life.
Especially if it wipes away any lingering apprehensions from the day's events. For the both of them.
Author's Notes:
So… this ended up more as a 'spoiling Akko' fulfillment rather than spoiling Diana. Sigh. I seriously tried. At least there's fluff?
But hey, there's a smidget of Diakko development! Just a bit! I too do not know what romantic love is hahaha…
Oh man I am really bad at this…
Fun Fact:
Póg Grá Fíor is Gaelic for 'true love's kiss' courtesy of Bandit.
Meanwhile, Lusleigheas Drayochta is supposed to be 'magical flower cure' but Bandit (and somewhat me) sort of edited the spelling to look how we want. So it isn't actually (Irish) Gaelic for that.
