Fuegoleon waited outside of Owen's clinic, as patiently as he could while Owen healed what Talia could not. Owen would not let anyone into the clinic while he worked after seeing the severity of her condition, even after Talia had tried to heal herself.

It had been nearly two hours before Owen finally came out of the clinic and he sighed with relief as he stepped out into the hall.

"How is she?"

"She will be alright, but she must rest for a few days to cover the mana she spent." Owen looked at Fuegoleon. "Her father did that to her?"

Fuegoleon nodded somberly. "I don't understand how a parent could do that to his own child."

Owen sank into one of the chairs in the hallway, rubbing his neck wearily. "She's always been wary of and around her father, but I never knew why."

"How long do you think this has been happening?"

"Honestly, I don't know, but if I had to guess I'd say for longer than I've known her."

"Can she have visitors?"

"She's sleeping now, but as long as she remains in bed that should be fine."

"Owen, how is she?"

Fuegoleon and Owen looked up to find Julius coming down the hall.

"She's physically exhausted and it will take a few days for her mana to replenish, but she's going to be fine. I can't speak for any mental or emotional damage that may have been caused, though." Owen replied.

"What will happen to her father?" Fuegoleon asked.

"Jaren is being interrogated still, but it would seem that his abuse has been going on for years- ever since an incident involving Lady Talia as a child."

Something clicked in Fuegoleon's mind and he finally understood. "The day she fell out of the tree."

Julius nodded. "His pride and ego got the better of him and he blamed you for her injuries and the state that she had returned home in. As punishment, he beat the maid that had accompanied her to death then blamed her death on Lady Talia."

"So what will happen to him?" Owen asked, his heart sinking.

"Once the interrogation is over, a trial will be held. Most likely, given the severity of what we have learned so far, he will be stripped of his title and executed," Julius explained. "As for Lady Talia's mother, she too has been arrested and will be tried as an accomplice to Jaren's crimes."

"Why? She did nothing."

"That is precisely why," Julius said. "She knew full well what her husband was doing and chose to take no action. Her punishment will not be as severe as Jaren's, but she too will likely be stripped of title."

Fuegoleon's brow furrowed further. "What of Lady Talia?"

"She may need to come before the court and provide testimony, but given that we've gleaned the information we'll need from the interrogation the likelihood of that is slim to none."

Owen sighed again, his head hanging low. "All this time, she was suffering..."

"We shouldn't be blaming ourselves," Julius said. "All we can do now is see to it that Jaren is punished and his victims get the justice they deserve."

Fuegoleon looked into the clinic, seeing Talia still unconscious. 'Talia...'

Talia was unconscious for hours, but when she finally woke, she found that she was in Owen's clinic. She felt incredibly exhausted but otherwise OK.

"You're awake."

Talia looked over and saw Owen sitting by her bedside. "Owen..?" She tried to sit herself up but was having difficulties.

"Easy now, don't push yourself."

"What happened?"

"Captain Fuegoleon brought you to my clinic after your father was arrested. You've been unconscious for nearly sixteen hours."

Talia pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes for a moment, the events from earlier coming back to her. "Leon, is he...?"

"He's fine, just worried about you."

"I never meant for any of this..." Talia sighed, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm so sorry...!"

Owen's heart sank as she began weeping. "Hey, hey, Talia dear, it's alright..." He reached up and rubbed her back, wrapping his arms around her when she turned into him. "None of this is your fault..."

Talia cried for a while longer, eventually crying herself to sleep. Owen gently laid her back down on the bed and pulled the covers over her shoulder, sighing as he sank back into his chair.

'This poor girl... how long has she been holding this in..?'

Fuegoleon walked down the stone halls to the dungeon and stopped just outside of the cell in which Jaren was being kept.

"If it isn't the Vermillion brat..."

Fuegoleon's eyes narrowed at Jaren as he glared at him.

"What do you want?"

"All I want is to know why," Fuegoleon started. "why would you do this to your own daughter?"

"As a noble, you should understand the importance of power and obedience."

"That is no excuse for abuse, torture, or murder."

Jaren looked away and went silent, refusing to answer any other questions that Fuegoleon had. Fuegoleon turned away from the monster in the cell and began leaving the dungeon until he spotted a familiar face in another cell.

"You are Talia's mother."

Talia's mother, Alice, barely glanced at him. "What do you want, boy?"

"I want to know why you would not protect your daughter?"

Alice sighed and turned away. "I have nothing to say to you."

"Then you best say it before the court. Talia deserves an answer." With that, Fuegoleon left her behind as well, and made his way through the stone halls.

'I hope Talia is doing alright.'