Discontinuation notice.

It's been far too long since the last chapter was complete and posted, not to mention my activity elsewhere and neglect of this story.

I can only apologize as I post the last complete chapter here. It's been a fun ride and I plan to continue it with a rewrite now that my spark for it has returned.

Thank you all and I hope to see you soon, as the rewrite is under-construction as we speak.

Alright, I'm glad most everyone enjoyed the last chapter.

Siesta: I certainly didn't.

7: Why would you? That was the chapter where actions were judged and punishment given, that wasn't going to be enjoyable for anyone.

Louise: No kidding. Acting like that… not fun

Neb: It certainly shows your acting chops if nothing else. I was getting legitimately upset with you.

Siesta: I thought you only got upset if we ran out of red-velvet cake before you got some.

Neb: I resent that slander.

7: It's not slander if it's true, my sugar-addicted friend.

Neb: It's not my fault I had to steal them from Louise to break her addiction. Besides, I always work it off.

Louise: Or you'd be a pile of lard at this point.

Siesta: I can't begin to imagine a corpulent hydra.

Neb: Some of the eldest hydra have become closer to serpents as they've aged. Legs atrophied to the point they slither. It's where the dark elves stared calling us snakes.

7: Right, let's save stuff like that for the story, yes?

Siesta: I feel I must apologize to Louise first.

Louise: No need, it's all part of the story. We've done plenty of other odd gigs before.

Siesta: Touché.

7: Before this gets any longer, onwards!

Start of Madness

"What in the nine realms was that?"

It was past noon now, the sun beginning its long descent back to the horizon from which it rose. The party had long split into individuals as they tried to make sense of Siesta's confession and subsequent punishment.

The latter part of which had Neb beyond confused, for his little master had taken a turn for the worse.

"It's called solving a problem." Louise growled. "Now leave me."

Neb didn't, his every head observing Louise carefully. "Not when you changed so suddenly. You acted as if Siesta had personally murdered everyone you cared for and spat on their graves."

Louise snarled and impaled the dummy she was beating on. "She betrayed my trust, Neb. That wench is lucky Kirche didn't order her broken."

Neb's eyes narrowed, not liking the venom intermingling with the despair he felt boiling beneath her voice. "Aye, it's worthy of scorn and punishment, but you and I both know where these actions were born. Not to mention she cast herself into the jaws of death to save the betrayed."

Louise turned and glared at him, the sheer heat making Neb blink. "You knew, didn't you? That the wench was hiding something about Kirche. You didn't tell me."

"Wench is no way to call her." Neb hissed back, feeling something on his leg start to itch. "And I had not but suspicions."

Louise's glare intensified in proportion to the itch on Neb's leg. "You knew… you knew of the betrayal, yet kept quiet… you betrayed me too…"

Neb opened his maw to refute such slander, but the itch morphed to searing pain, one of his heads glimpsing the brand glowing an almost malevolent red.

"I can trust no one." Louise stated, as if coming to a realization. "I see… no one will trust me, only turn on me… this is what mother meant. Even my familiar, my teacher, would rather hold secrets. Everyone conspires, so that I may do nothing. They wish me to be useless even now."

Louise's voice had risen throughout her monologue, her glare attempting to burn Neb alive. "Very well then, snake! I can do nothing further to that wench, but your crimes are your own. Feel the pain of betrayal course through you!"

Her words made the brand's color deepen to that of blood, Neb flopping to the ground as pain he'd known only once before invaded his every limb. It felt as if every inch of his body was being shredded by jagged claws, and he couldn't hold his pain in silence.

His jaws ripped open in a hellish screech, the sound echoing off the walls before Louise uttered one command.

"Be quiet."

Neb felt his jaws clamp shut of their own accord, his throats constricting to the point he could make no sound. All he could do was writhe and squirm for who knew how long, old memories flashing through his mind at every new wave.

"Louise, what are you doing?!"

Louise looked away from Neb's pain to stare at Montmorency, who'd come running after hearing the shriek. "Levying my own punishment, Lady Montmorency. This… serpent knew of the betrayal and deigned not to inform his master. He's merely suffering the consequences."

Montmorency blinked rapidly, not expecting such a cold answer. "You're… you're using the brand?! Louise, we warned against doing that! Familiars can't take that level of pain for long!"

"He's no ordinary familiar." Louise reminded coolly. "That serpent will suffer until the crime is paid."

Montmorency desperately wanted to do something, if only because she could see Neb starting to still from exhaustion. If his legendary stamina was already worn away, Louise may very well cripple him in some way!

"There was a message from the capital!"

Louise blinked, Neb almost gasping as the pain lessened dramatically. "A message you say? Was it to confirm Lady Carol's ascension?"

Montmorency cringed as Neb flopped on the ground, panting and groaning in pain. She had wanted to bring this up with everyone present, but now she had to spill. "The… queen and the princess have been bewitched. They've fallen into an enchanted sleep from which none seem capable of waking them, and it appears nightmares most foul plague them every moment."

Louise's eyes widened and she started to gather her things. "Then we must make haste to the capital immediately! If this is a sudden and strange as it sounds, then it could be one of the relics! Quick, call every-!"

She paused in both speech and action before turning to Montmorency with a blank stare.

"Louise?" Montmorency asked, starting to feel fear take hold. "What is it? Do you… want me to gather everyone?"

Louise kept her blank stare in place, the Mask of Steel betraying no emotion. "I can trust no one to help the royals, not even you. I have no doubt you think me useless too, as do the others."

Her staff appeared in hand, something dark in its jaws. "I will save the princess and queen from this sorcery, but I will not be burdened by those who have betrayed me or think me unworthy of information vital to the mission."

The staff started to ooze darkness, Louise still stoic as Montmorency began to run for help. "You will see the error of your ways afterwards, when you all come groveling for forgiveness. I'll need underlings to see this through."

"Slow…Weakness…Confusion…"

"Sleep…"

Four motes of darkness speared forth from the staff, trails of purples smoke billowing behind as they raced for Montmorency's retreating back. The first slammed into her and made her movements turn to jelly, the second dropping Montmorency to the ground as her muscles failed.

The third sent her mind spinning, thoughts and memories thrown into a great jumble that she couldn't hope to order. The last brought darkness over her, a sleep deep enough to be called death taking over.

Louise kept her mask in place as the curses took hold, Neb's raspy breathing all that was left. "Sleep."

Neb fell silent save for the rise and fall of his great chest.

Louise took in her handiwork before stowing the staff and leaving, determined steps taking her to the stables. She ignored the commotion that no doubt had to do with Montmorency's message and saddled her horse.

In the chaos of a city coming to grips with a slain ruler and ensorcelled royalty, no one noticed a head of pink hair with a traveler's dress leave. Not until it was too late to bring her back.

Somewhere in the recesses of Raelag's Staff, a voice laughed in derision.

Trust issues…with someone that had them, all it took was one breach for every bond to seem broken.

Now the search could pick up the pace, for the demons of Sheogh had grown oddly silent.

And that worried Malassa more than anything.

-Tabitha-

Something was wrong.

That shriek she'd heard could've only been Neb, but it had gone silent a moment later. While that was worrying enough, considering he'd gone after Louise shortly after Siesta had left, the maid in question was… not doing well.

Kirche had decided she needed to give her new servant something to do, so she'd sent Siesta to start getting things cleaned up and packed for the next leg of their search. While sheer luck and happenstance had all but gifted them the Mountain Cleaver, there were still four others to find.

One of which Tabitha knew they'd have to fight for.

Problem was, Siesta had taken one look at the gifts she'd changed out of and… tossed them into a lit hearth. Kirche had stared in abject shock at the action, only to rush in and attempt to save what she could. All she got was the hair-clip though, the rest either shattered, burned beyond saving, or scoured in the case of the earrings.

When Kirche demanded to know why Siesta would destroy the gifts, Siesta had remained demure and said that a servant deserved no such finery. Nor did one who'd been spared a terrible fate by the mercy of the one she'd betrayed.

It drove Tabitha mad that all this had happened in so short a time. It had taken all of them months to reach an understanding, and Siesta had been more than helpful getting Louise to open up to the others of their party.

To have it all shattered after but one relic was found did not bode well for the rest of the journey.

"Lady Tabitha, there appears to be a commotion in the Great Hall."

Tabitha broke from her thoughts and looked back to find Siesta bowing in the doorway. She'd chosen this room to be alone in while Kirche tried to sort out Siesta's new position, but it looked like that gut feeling was right once more. "What's happening?"

"I do not know, milady." Siesta answered, still bowed. "Only that Lady Zerbst has asked for your presence. Lord Guiche is already with her, and I have been told to find Lady Montmorency and Lady Valliere after escorting you."

Tabitha almost cringed, knowing that last order would be less than pleasant to carry out. "Very well… lead on, Siesta."

"You are too kind." Siesta answered, finally rising from her bow. Tabitha couldn't help but note the sheer professionalism that now sat on Siesta's face, the warm and slightly awkward maid likely dead. If there was ever a time where Tabitha had to give a reason for shutting herself off from emotions for so long, this would be a prime example.

"Did you learn anything?" Tabitha queried as she left the room, Siesta two paces in front of her as was proper. "I assumed… Kirche would know something."

Siesta kept her gaze forward. "I apologize, but she shared nothing with me, milady. I can only ask for patience."

Tabitha sighed and spoke no more. If she was going to miss one thing now that Siesta was like this, it would be the open conversations they'd had. It'd been a joy to talk so openly with the others, but with Siesta's guilt turning her into a perfect servant, that was gone. Then there was Louise disappearing behind the 'Mask of Steel' as Kirche called it…

Tabitha sighed again as they entered the Great Hall. As Siesta had said, there was even more of a commotion than usual, yet Neb was nowhere to be seen.

Odd, he's almost always at the center of something like this.

A veil of red hair bobbing through the crowd marked Kirche's position, Tabitha almost gulping when she saw the fearful face of her friend. "Kirche… what's wrong?"

"Two things." Kirche sighed, Guiche running up to join them with an equally fearful look. "First, it appears the queen and princess have been put into an enchanted sleep that none can wake them from. Were that the worst of it, we'd be figuring out if it had to do with the relics while talking Louise off the cliff."

Tabitha sensed a but coming. "And the second part?"

"Louise has already gone to the capital." Guiche replied, making Tabitha's jaw drop. "She cursed Monmon into a sleep all her own along with Sir Neb. I had to slap them to break the spell, but they're both exhausted. Neb's not even sure how Louise knew how to use the curses, he never taught them."

Tabitha blinked several times before nodding. "Then I will give chase, Sylphid is the only one capable of catching her. The rest of you should pack and make for the capital as well, this has a relic written all over it."

"But who would want to use it?" Kirche asked, making Tabitha pause. "Who does it benefit to lay the Tristaian royalty out like this? The only ones I can think of are those rebels in Albion after they got stalled in their advances."

Guiche nodded sullenly. "It would, if only because Princess Henrietta being under such a spell would ruin the alliance talks with Germania. I heard betrothal was getting discussed too."

Tabitha grimaced, but had an idea take root in her head. "Kirche… could you lend me Siesta? I have an idea."

Kirche blinked a few times, but frowned. "You shan't take her with you, for I will go instead. Louise… is more likely to listen to us if she's not there."

Tabitha could hear the cringe, but Siesta was unmoved. "If that is your wish, Mistress. What shall I do in your absence?"

"Help the other recover and pack up." Kirche offered, trying to bury her awkwardness. "After that, meet up in the capital. Should I or the others be unavailable… find out what you can."

Siesta bowed and remained silent.

"Guiche, go." Tabitha ordered. "Kirche and I will go after Louise in a moment, just be ready to keep yourselves hidden. I have no doubt… family will be involved."

Guiche paled before hoofing it out of the hall. Siesta made to follow, but Tabitha grabbed her shoulder and whispered to her. "I know this punishment is your own and guilt will never leave you. Do not, however, throw your life away. I know someone whose given up on life when I see them, and you're worth more than that."

Siesta's expression never wavered. "My life is not my own, Lady Tabitha. It will be used as my betters see fit, and should it bring penance, then I will forever embrace it. If you'll excuse me."

Tabitha let her go with a scowl, Siesta disappearing into the mass of humanity around them. With that attempt crashing and burning, Tabitha started for the courtyard. "Grab whatever you need, Sylphid already has my things. If we're in luck, Louise will still be in flight range."

"She'll take the quickest route to the capital!" Kirche called, going the opposite way towards their rooms. "I'll tell Lady Carol what's going on, but I better get a story on this!"

Tabitha only waved and tore across the courtyard the moment she got there. Sylphid was in sight, clearly ready to go, when a dark shape lumbered into view. "Out of my way, Neb."

Neb grunted as he limped towards her, only one head up and running as the rest dragged limply behind. "The curses… and the brand… I fear… Malassa's influence… please… be careful…"

Tabitha frowned at how every word was spaced by a wheeze. "What… happened?"

"She… used the brand…" Neb coughed, a claw pointing to the mark. "I'd… heard the master could… use it to communicate… with the familiar, but… punishment never… occurred to me…"

Tabitha nodded sullenly. "Rare… for the master to do that. Pain is…frowned upon, for most familiars do so much. Only the most… egregious errors would warrant punishment."

Neb spat, phlegm staining the ground. "The… events of the past few days… have brought Louise's trust issues… back to the surface. Siesta… was perhaps closest to her heart. Having such a close trust shattered… she trusts no one now, perhaps save the princess she goes to rescue."

"You've heard then." Tabitha muttered. "Would you care to tell me why she goes forth without telling us? Is her loyalty to the kingdom that strong?"

Neb groaned and fell to the ground, a thud shaking the earth. "Not… the kingdom per-se. Louise… and the princess were playmates, once upon a time. She was… trusted to go to the capital with Siesta and root out… corruption. She… feels trusted in return with the princess… and I'd dare call the princess her first love."

Tabitha growled at the news. "Then she'll make all haste to what her wounded heart believes to be a safe place. Add on the unknown spell causing the enchanted sleep and she's likely buried everything except stubborn determination."

"Her greatest virtue and most virulent vice." Neb agreed. "As I said, be careful and speak warily. From what I can tell, she took Derflinger, so try and work off of him to convince her. If not… keep her safe."

Tabitha took a deep breath and nodded. "Very well, we'll do our best. I knew Louise could be… rash, but this is reckless even for her."

"Emotion never listens to reason." Neb answered with a sigh, his head laying upon the ground. "And she's retreated to the basest emotions one can feel, anger and fear. Add on her desire to pay back the princess for being her friend for so long, and it makes sense why she would grow cold."

Tabitha walked up and patted Neb's snout. "We'll bring her back, Neb. Considering the news though… it wouldn't surprise me if most of the nobility end up in the capital. Should we end up there, things may get hairy."

"We'll… deal with it." Neb yawned, exhaustion calling him away. "Now go. I need to… talk with her about Raelag's Staff."

"She needs to know… what to do when… Malassa comes calling again…"

Tabitha felt a shiver go down her spine, a quick pat all she gave to the now sleeping Neb. With the conversation over, Tabitha ran over to Sylphid and mounted in one smooth motion, the sight of red hair running towards them with a familiar axe in hand making her eyes narrow.

If Malassa can speak through the staff… who's to say the patron of that axe can't speak as well?

She could only hope that wouldn't happen.

-Louise-

"Listen girly, I don't think you realize the gravity of this here decision you're makin'."

Louise rode on, not caring for Derflinger's prattle. She'd made great time already, her horse carrying her many leagues in the hours since she'd left the party of lies and betrayal behind. All the more reason to believe her decision was correct and that she was indeed destined to help Princess Henrietta, no matter what.

It certainly helped bury the ache.

"Girly," Derf sighed, scabbard rattling. "You need to calm down and get outta your own head. Thinkin' everyone a yer friends betrayed you ain't healthy."

Louise snorted in derision. "The only ones who didn't were my former tormentors. The wench left Lady Zerbst to the bandits for hours, despite knowing of her value to our team. Then Neb, and Lady Tabitha at that, merely entertained suspicions without acting on them. Their hesitance is a betrayal all its own, for they refused to make the move and be honest with me."

Derflinger clattered in protest. "Those two just had suspicions, and the blue girly warned ye too! Yer anger's cloudin' yer judgment, so turn back already!"

"I will not!" Louise snapped. "Back there lies a group that would rather lie and leave their fellows to enemies than tell the truth! I will not stay with those whom I cannot put my faith in!"

Derflinger rattled angrily, nearly bouncing out of his scabbard such was his indignation. "They have earned that faith a thousand times over! The hydra trained you, made you his daughter, after you enslaved him! The others came forth in friendship despite the scars you already bore! Even the stubborn blondes came around! If you can forgive those evils, then why is this so bloody different?!"

Louise pulled the sword free and silenced it with a glare. "My trust… is not a plaything. It took all that for me to feel even a little ready to lower the walls, to take off the mask and be me. For three months, I was in paradise, but the minute something goes wrong, I am taken for a fool. It's only proved I should trust no one until they have shown me trust, which not one of them have."

Derflinger could see nothing would dissuade her. "Very well… but I still question this desire to rush in and help when we know precious little about the problem. This is remindin' me of the capital trip you and the maid took at the princess's behest."

Louise sheathed him and spoke no further. Her plan, half-cocked as it was, was to have Derflinger eat whatever spell was causing the sleep and go from there. Honestly, she'd just inform the princess of her quest at this point and make use of her resources. It was a good bit better than wandering aimlessly, and she just knew Henrietta wouldn't abuse the relics.

Derflinger, had he known the second half of this scheme, would've pointed out the numerous others that surrounded Henrietta that would pounce at the first chance of getting said relics. As Neb had said, the power contained in each was tempting beyond anything, and it was only his familiarity with Raelag's Staff that kept Louise safe.

As was proven when Louise could drive her horse no further and she hid herself in the forest. She'd barely entered the shadows of the forest before a miasma of darkness flooded from the staff and enveloped her, not even a scream escaping her throat.

Louise swore this must be the way she died, only for a line of purple light to slice through the all-encompassing darkness. "…Child, we must speak."

Louise blinked before something entered the space around her. She wouldn't dare give it a name besides raw, barely contained power. The light before her widened like curtains parting before a stage, the pressure of the power pressing her into total supplication.

Never before had she bowed so low, her head pressed to an unseen floor while her limbs hung as if dead.

She didn't see what happened next, but the power seemed to surge around her before coalescing into a font before her, four great booms echoing through the air as something came to rest.

"Raise your head, Child." The voice intoned, as if a matron had caught a small offense by a young maid. "Our discussion shall not be should I alone speak."

The pressure around Louise lessened enough for her to recover, lungs heaving a breath. She'd been so hard pressed by the force, she'd been unable to breathe. Once she was sure she could breathe evenly, Louise raised her head just enough to glance what was before her.

Breath fled her again, eyes flying wide and staring in abject terror. "…Malassa…"

Before her stood a dragon of obsidian scale and pulsating lights, each mote of light shortly being engulfed in undulating darkness like dying stars. Wicked claws of pale amethyst lay shrouded in purple miasma, as did the whip-like tail that trailed behind the gargantuan creature.

Then there were the wings, dozens of eyes of every shape glaring down at Louise with unblinking intensity.

"This is merely a construct, Child." Malassa stated, voice shaking the air. "My true splendor would break your mind, were it capable of materializing here. Now then, I see you've left the Collector behind."

Louise gulped back her fear as best she could. "H-he lied to me, all of them did. Well, ok, not Guiche or Montmorency, but those I trusted most broke that trust. Why should I stay with them?"

Malassa chortled, amused by Louise's steady voice. "How naïve. I will not tell you what to believe, but betrayal is a part of life. The sooner you learn that the better. Regardless, you now travel to what you so grandly call a capital. With a great deal of my essence… alone."

Louise kept her gaze forward. "The only one I have left to trust in all the world lies ensorcelled, I dare not turn my back on her! It reeks of an artifact as well, one that you tasked us with finding!"

Malassa's tail whipped around and struck Louise, the blow sending her to the ground. "Do not take such a tone with me, Whelp! I am the patron of both the Collector and you by proxy. Do not make me forsake my assistance, lest you wish to discover what power this staff holds!"

Louise spat, blood staining the floor before it was swiftly absorbed in shadow. "…Forgive me, great one."

Malassa snarled before a gentle tone filled the air. "It matters not, Child. As I was saying, you go to this place you call a capital alone. While I have no doubt many would applaud your decision solely on its own merits, I have a reason to speak with you."

Malassa began to circle Louise, each step shaking the floor and sending bursts of dark miasma into the air. "You suspect the cause of your… special one's condition to be one of the relics that have appeared here. In this, you are correct."

Louise brightened, only for Malassa to crush the joy with a derisive laugh. "Your blade will do nothing though, not against this. The magic is bound to the very minds of its victims, to eat the spell is to render them mindless husks."

Louise wilted in terror, almost shaking at the thought she'd have killed one of, if not her only friend in some misguided belief Derflinger could solve this.

"The magic is familiar to me, for I helped craft it." Malassa continued, her circling of Louise resembling ever more a hunter playing with prey. "It was a work wrought by myself and my sister Shalassa so that our mother may be free of the nightmares our uncle cursed her with. Those nightmares now plague these victims, and you must go into their minds to find the tether that connects them to the Cleansing Staff."

Louise wilted further, a weak protest all she could offer. "But… mind-altering magic is forbidden, and I have no way of knowing I won't cause more harm than good. How would I even know what to look for?"

"That, you must find on your own." Malassa said. "You have chosen to abandon those you once counted upon, so now the survival of the ones you hold dear rest upon your own wits and resolve. The tether is quite different from what a mind of this world would hold, and I shall send you into the minds, but that is the extent of my assistance."

One of the stars on her wings vanished and Malassa seemed to change her mind. "Actually, you'll need something of an anchor in order to make it out of the minds you'll enter. Let's see, one meld usually requires two, so with two occurring…"

Malassa began to mutter, tone and tenor changing as rapidly as the arrival and disappearance of stars in her wings. Louise was mute with fear at this point, finally understanding what the one before her was.

Darkness, in all its fickle and maddening glory.

"You will have two go with you." Malassa finally decided. "But you must make haste. My uncle has placed an agent upon this world, and even now it contacts those who already conspire to destroy the balance you so treasure."

"Thankfully, those who will act as your anchors are already here."

Louise blinked and suddenly Kirche and Tabitha were beside her, their heads whipping around wildly. "What in the world?!"

Malassa cleared her throat, the other girls looking to her and subsequently quailing. "Now that the party is gathered, I shall end this farce of a meeting. You have your task, Louise Le Blanc de la Valliere, see to it. Lest you wish your special one to die before their time."

With that, the girls were swallowed by shadow, the staff sucking in the darkness until it returned to the gem. Then it glowed brightly before vanishing in a puff of purple smoke, its destination unclear to all save its master.

So it was with no small amount of surprise that Louise and the others spilled onto a posh rug after what felt like bare seconds, their grunts and groans as they untangled themselves filling the still air.

Once separated, they took in the luxurious surroundings, silk curtains and golden trinkets dotting the mahogany furniture while marble floors stretched from under the rug they landed on. Were the room not lit by a single candelabra, they'd think it an unused guest room in a palace.

"By the Founder, Princess!"

Louise's shout ended up confirming that this was indeed the palace of Tristain, as the two large beds that took up much of the room held who could only be the royals. No one else had that kind of purple hair as far as the girls knew.

Before Tabitha could react, and give Louise a piece of her mind, the staff that had brought them there started to glow again, bolts of purple magic flying out to hit the doors and windows. Even the walls and ceilings were hit, runes and magic circles so arcane even Tabitha had trouble looking at them popping into existence.

"What are we doing here?!" Kirche hissed, head whipping around in a panic. "If someone finds us in here, we'll be executed for sure!"

Tabitha didn't have an answer, all she could do was march up to Louise and smack her.

"Ow!"

Tabitha glared at her friend with the force of a thousand aggrieved HR workers. "What in the name of the Founder were you thinking?! Running off on your own with nary a word, not even bringing your armor, and taking the staff at that? Are you trying to get killed?!"

Tabitha had switched to her native tongue as she shouted at Louise, but Louise was well versed in Gallian so she responded in kind. "My first friend and liege were ensorcelled, I simply answered the call! Besides, you did nothing to follow-up on your suspicions of that wench, why should I stick around with any of you!"

Tabitha reared her hand back, but restrained herself. "How could I follow up? My suspicions were there for barely three hours before Flame came to us, and there were other things to do at that point! I didn't have confirmation until Siesta confessed!"

Louise opened her mouth to respond, but Kirche got between them. "Enough, both of you! We're currently alone with the ensorcelled royals of Tristain and you two are liable to raise the dead! Figure out why we're here and what those things on the doors are first, then we'll do this!"

Tabitha and Louise continued to glare at each other, but they split up to observe the runes and circle. After trying every latch and handle they could find, the purpose of the runes and circles was clear.

"They're meant to keep everything else out while we stay in." Louise deduced after several minutes of thought. "Based on the encounter we had, it's Malassa herself who cast this. If my familiar is correct about her power, no mortal could hope to pierce these."

That was poor news to the others, but they could do little else except turn their investigation onto the royals. It was very strange to see them like this, as their pallor was healthy. In fact, were it not for the grimaces the queen and princess wore, one would think them simply resting.

Then Louise tripped over a chair leg hidden in a shadow, sending her crashing into a dresser. Several drawers fell out and clattered on the ground, creating another grand racket that could wake even the deepest dreamer.

The royals remaining asleep was all the proof anyone needed of the spell's effect.

"So… what now?" Kirche asked after they exhausted every avenue of investigation. "Are we just supposed to wait her until they wake up?"

Louise shook her head and took a seat besides Henrietta. "No… Malassa told me I'd have to enter their minds and find the spell's tether. Once it's removed, they'll wake up, but… I don't know how to enter one's mind."

"I'd be surprised if you did." Tabitha muttered. "But I don't know such magic either, nor does Kirche. How are we expected to do this?"

The shock of Tabitha using so many words was overshadowed by their situation, but it was bound to catch up to them eventually.

Louise kept her eyes on Henrietta, a tentative hand reaching out to move a strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't know… but I have to save them. I owe them so much…"

Silence fell for several minutes before Kirche noticed Raelag's Staff shining again. "Oh, what now?"

"Apparently, I must do everything." Malassa's voice responded, the weight of it invading their skulls.

Then a fog overtook their minds before the whole world started to swirl, the girls gasping in surprise before their bodies slumped over and their vision went black. A moment later, three motes of light of differing shades ghosted past their lips and flew to Henrietta.

The lights pushed through the princess's eyes and vanished, the room silent once more.

Malassa chuckled before the staff became inert, only the light of the runes and circles illuminating the room as an unnatural gust blew out the candles.

Now, the journey began anew.

-Outside-

"Why won't this damn thing open?!"

A guard kicked the door futilely, his boot doing nothing against the wood. Not a minute ago the healers had left for the night only for the damn door to slam shut of its own accord. Who knew what could be happening in there now!

"What's the problem?"

The guard turned and felt his gut sink. Before him stood three of the most powerful mages to ever walk Tristain, and they were all staring at him with stoic masks.

The Flame Snake, The Sandstorm, and The Heavy Wind, all in one place.

"The d-door is l-locked." The guard stammered, awed and cowed in equal measure. "B-but it did so a-all on its o-own!"

Osmond stroked his beard in thought before striding up to the door and tapping it. "Prodio."

A pulse shook the door before the wood and the wall around it burst to life with purple runes and circles, everyone's eyes popping in surprise at the sight of them.

"Amazing!" Colbert gushed as he rushed to the closest rune. "I've never seen anything like this in all my years! The intricacy, the formulas, the very beauty of it is staggering!"

Karin cared little for that. "Whoever did this has no intention of letting us see our rulers. Guard, was there nothing even remotely suspicious beyond this door?"

The guard gulped under her iron stare. "N-no milady! The healers left for the night bare minutes ago, and I saw not one soul in there besides the royals before the door closed!"

Karin hummed in thought before her wand flew to her hand and a lance of terrible wind slammed into the runes. The runes glowed brightly before the wind was pulled into the runes and the entire web of magic seemed to grow stronger.

"Well then," Karin muttered as she put her wand away. "It appears we'll have to use more conventional means of entering. Have you tried the windows or escapes passages yet?"

The guard shook his head, Osmond speaking for him. "I can feel the runes encompassing all parts of the room, Karin. Spells only make it stronger, but it appears to go both ways if my guess is right."

"Indeed," Colbert muttered, kneeled next to the door and peering between the cracks. "The spell on the candles seems to have been snuffed out too. Whatever's happened, it's as easy to leave as it is to get in."

Karin sighed through her nose. "Which is to say damn near impossible. I'd heard of this sorcery not this morning, now more seems to have piled upon our plates. What a sad state of affairs."

Osmond hummed, his eyes closed as his familiar scampered across the windowsill outside the room. Once it was in position, Osmond transferred his sight to the mouse and peered inside. "I can only see the royals, Karin. They appear unharmed, so that's good."

What he didn't share was the presence of his former students, whose appearance had him worried. Were Karin to find out her wayward daughter was bare feet away… well, it would go poorly.

"I shall call as many of my colleagues together as I can!" Colert gushed as he finished making a sketch of some runes. "This is bound to advance our studies of wards by years, if not decades! We may be able to find the secret to braking the sleep spell amongst these runes!"

Karin remained stoic and turned to leave. "I shall call up Eleanor, she'll be able to assist. Beyond that, I must see to the knights, I've been hearing ill rumors out of Albion and Gallia recently."

Osmond was glad to see her go. This business had brought most all the nobility of Tristain to the capital and the other countries were watching with intense interest to see if the royals would waken. Spies were useful like that, getting information to their lieges before the victims can rally.

Regardless, he had to wonder what Louise and two of her friends were doing here. He'd heard about the blaze in Galton, so he assumed they'd be there instead, Roer at the furthest. News would've only just arrived at the city too and it was a four-day ride.

Osmond sighed and stroked his beard. "Mysteries upon mysteries. I'd prefer we take our time on this, make sure its all safe, but the other countries watch. Wouldn't surprise me if Reconquista used this chance to remove the rest of Albion's royalty."

He turned to leave as well, Colbert having run off to gather his colleagues. A pulse made him pause and he looked back to the door.

Where a crystalline eye stared back at him, its message clear.

Do not interfere.

Osmond felt a chill pass down his spine and the eye disappeared. Whatever that was, it meant one thing.

The runes were a living thing, and it would not respond well to continued attempts to break it. That meant Osmond would have to delay the others if they were to see this through to a happy conclusion.

He sighed and pinched his nose. Now he'd have to deal with Karin and her equally tempestuous daughter all over again.

They were still repairing the damage the last encounter had created.

-Louise-

She didn't know what had happened or why, but when vision returned Louise was somewhere else.

It looked like a fairytale rendition of the capital in the distance, lush grass spreading out along the road while people of all shapes and sizes came and went. Whether they bore the cloak of a noble or the dress of a commoner, laughter and life filled the streets and air.

When Louise looked down, she was dressed in an old gown that had been sized up to fit her, one that she remembered wearing many times when she was younger and would visit Henrietta. Adding up the various idyllic views served to confirm what she suspected.

She was inside Henrietta's mind.

The very idea was blasphemous, but Louise knew she had to run with it if she was going to save her friend. Now then… where were the others. "Tabitha, Kirche, are you there?"

Her call went unanswered for a moment before Tabitha popped into being next to her, dressed in a blue gown with a truly impressive collar. "I'm here… I think."

Louise stared at the gown in surprise. "What is that thing?"

"Something I haven't seen in a long time." Tabitha answered, doing a twirl to see the back. "Haven't worn this grand a gown since I was a child."

Kirche chose then to show up. "There you guys are!"

Louise looked over and started to laugh, mirth stealing her mind for a moment. "Founder Kirche, I knew you had a short temper at times, but isn't this a bit much?"

Kirche scowled. She'd been transformed into a short chimney with sticks for legs and arms, her gold eyes glaring out from the mortar while a pair of watermelons were strapped across the front below the mouth. "I don't know why I look like this, but stop laughing! I'll burn your bum if you don't!"

Louise continued to laugh as an angered puff of soot left Kirche's head. Even Tabitha couldn't hold in her own mirth, giggles doing their best to remain inconspicuous.

"Alright, enough." Kirche groaned, one of her arms pointing to the city. "Best guess is that's the main part of her mind. It'll be the best place to start looking for that tether you were talking about."

Louise chuckled again and they started down the road. "Indeed my short-stack friend. It should be incredibly out of place, so look for that and we should be out of here fast."

"I hope so, this dress is too tight." Tabitha grunted as she moved, the dress following the movement like it'd been starched recently. "Also, be careful of wandering thoughts. I've read that being in one's mind opens yours as well, and with three of us here, this may get more intimate than anyone wishes."

Louise wanted to ask where she'd found such reading material, but the road seemed to fold up and pull the city to them, the gates standing open in invitation.

"That's… spooky." Louise murmured. "Who's ready to do this?"

She got a nod and a puff of soot in agreement before they stepped into the city.

And the madness of the mind began to descend.