Author's Note : Hey people! (Hmm, yes Imania, what an incredibly intelligent comment. I swear I'm not writing a note just to say 'hey people'. Not that it's bad that I'm greeting all my adoring fans (hee hee) but anyway I'm just digging myself in deeper. Have I mentioned that I'm really tired?)
I'm sorry. For the above 'paragraph' and for taking so long to update! Thanks to everyone who's reviewed. You make me feel loved. Yay.
I've had some comments – Apocalyptic Teapots, you're not the only one – about the Entity. While the 'gang' are sitting (or sulking, if you're Magus) around the campfire or whatever, just before Lucca runs off to save her mother, they have a bit of a chat about something they call the Entity. What they actually say is that they get the idea that something is reliving its life through them (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), and after they fight Lavos, somebody mentions their belief that the Entity is now at rest. I've just taken the concept and stretched it a little…
Dear Dracozombie,
Why do you hate Tarreiz? Was it something I did? Was it something I made her say?! I'm sorry! You weren't meant to hate her! Is it because she's such an arrogant little person with possible delusions of grandeur and she's slightly like a Mary Sue because she's so absolutely perfect? Aaaargh! I have a Mary Sue-like character! Quick! Drown it!! Does anybody else hate Tarreiz? There's nothing wrong with hating her, I would just like to know why and if there are lots of people who don't like her! I know she's mean to Lucca but she's a lovely girl really! Honest!
Um… I don't know what happened to the humour. Teenage angst? Year Twelve? That's probably it, Year Twelve happened! Is it bad that it's not as funny as it was? Probably. I try, I really do! Whinge whinge, whine whine, somebody put Imania back in her box! I'd best let you get to it. Here it is, then, the Entity-free, not quite so amusing next chapter…
Chapter Twelve – A room in Altrisiac
Meanwhile, Kelke had woken in a most unfamiliar place.
"What? Where's this?" he demanded, which is not a good way to announce that one has returned to consciousness. "What's happening? Where did the Otherworld go? Frog?"
"Be calm, Kelke," advised a voice that the Seventh Mage could not have said was melodious. "You are safe in Altrisiac."
"Safe and Altrisiac do not, unfortunately, go in the same sentence for me, Ciaruse," Kelke responded, sitting up. "Why am I here?"
"Because you are ill."
"Am I?"
"That's what Tarkyn told me. He said I was to…" Ciaruse bit her lower lip as she considered the matter. "To fetch him when you woke."
"Tarkyn? Isn't Tarreiz the official healer? No matter," Kelke shrugged. "Go and fetch Tarkyn, then."
"There is no need. His footsteps are coming to this room."
It was an odd way to phrase the statement, but if one knew Ciaruse, then it worked. She could tell who was approaching which room from a distance of some thirty metres by the sound of their footsteps, while people were talking – and once or twice arguing – in her immediate vicinity. Her hearing and attention to detail were amazing.
"Then help me out of this bed, then," Kelke instructed.
"Tarkyn did not say to – "
"Screw Tarkyn. He doesn't know what he's on about, anyway." Kelke threw off the covers and set his feet down on the floor for all of, oh, two seconds before something gave way from under him. Ciaruse moved to support him before he hit the floor.
Tarkyn entered at that moment, preceded by Tarreiz and obviously in the middle of an argument. "I still think you shouldn't be charging around here at the moment. You just need to rest – "
"You have never known what I have needed," Tarreiz snapped back. "Ciaruse, leave him alone." A pause as she considered the situation. "Or should I say, Kelke, you are by no means well enough to attempt to walk."
"Why? What do I have?" Kelke asked a little groggily, allowing them to put him back on the bed. He wasn't at all used to being 'ill'.
Tarreiz began, "You have overused your magic – "
"Like someone else I know," Tarkyn chipped in.
Tarreiz glared at him, continuing to glower at the Forest Mage while directing her words somewhat tightly to Kelke. "And require rest to regenerate a sufficient percentage of your power."
"You're only backing up my argument," Tarkyn pointed out smugly.
"This process is quicker for some than for others," Tarreiz informed the Shadow Mage (although she was still glaring at Tarkyn).
"I also think that you should be resting, Tarreiz," Ciaruse put in.
"And who, exactly, inquired after your opinion?" Tarreiz shot back.
Ciaruse continued as though she had not spoken and probably hadn't heard her anyway. "I think I know a lullaby…"
"This is neither the time nor the place, Ciaruse. Could you just – could anyone possibly send her on an errand…?" Tarreiz queried hopefully, glancing around.
"Is he awake yet?" asked Jhyskar from the doorway. "He is! Kerrelei, get over here!"
"Not you two as well?" Kelke moaned with despair. "Get out of my room! How can I rest with all of you lot in here?"
"We're just concerned about you, is all," Jhyskar told him.
Kerrelei gave the Shadow Mage a hug. "Are you feeling better?"
Kelke began frostily, "Don't you ever presume again to – "
"Hey, you're kind of cuddly." The Mage of Water hugged him again. "Like a teddy bear," she said happily.
"I don't – this isn't – okay, let's all compare the dark and evil Shadow Mage to a teddy bear, shall we?" suggested Kelke wearily. "Kerrelei, I do not hug."
"Sure you do," sighed Kerrelei, seeming totally content as she rested her head on his shoulder, resisting all attempts to be pushed off.
"I assure you, you're wrong. Could you please – Tarkyn!" Kelke whined, giving up. "Make this strange woman stop disturbing your patient!"
"Your patient?" Tarreiz demanded of Tarkyn with evident disbelief.
"Uh oh," muttered Kerrelei and, releasing Kelke, moved to stand near Jhyskar as though to protect her little brother from the argument that was sure to result.
Tarreiz had continued, ignoring everyone but Tarkyn. "Since when have you been any kind of a healer?"
"You thought I had the touch for it once," was Tarkyn's response as he folded his arms.
"I never said anything of the like to you!"
Tarkyn's memory had nothing on hers, so he let it go. "Anyway, you were out of it and I'm the only other one with any skill in healing, so I had to do something," he tried to explain, adding, "You came through well enough under my care."
"Your care?" Tarreiz repeated with clear disbelief. "You have the worst bedside manner I have ever had the misfortune to experience!"
"What happened to you?" Kelke asked Tarreiz curiously.
"Overuse of magic," Tarkyn explained, keeping his arms folded. "She refuses to make use of the medicine that she's prescribed to you. As in, resting."
"How did that happen? The overuse, I mean," the Shadow Mage clarified.
"Jandegar made us try to construct the Barrier without you."
Ciaruse remarked, "I couldn't believe it when he pulled out like that. It was his decision to try it, after all."
"What did you say?" Kerrelei demanded excitedly, sensing that now she would get some 'concrete evidence'.
"Jandegar stopped halfway through, and Tarreiz made up for it," Ciaruse explained, not understanding why it was so important. "Didn't you know that was how it happened?"
"You're sure it was Jandegar?" Kerrelei pressed.
Ciaruse nodded. "I can sense Jandegar's magic, and it was definitely his."
Kerrelei glanced back at Tarreiz triumphantly. "He tried to kill you. I knew it! Jandegar tried to kill you."
"Yes, well, that's all good and well, but could you all get out of my room?" Kelke demanded impatiently. "Shoo! Scatter! And Tarkyn, you're neglecting your patient. I'm hungry!"
Tarkyn refrained from commenting that Kelke was always hungry. "What would you like?" he asked politely.
"Sandwiches. Cheese ones. White bread, but no butter. And ham. In a sandwich or not, it doesn't matter. It has to have lettuce in a sandwich, though. And some grapes, if you have any around the place. And party pies! I've been craving party pies! And maybe an apple? Or – "
"I'll see what we have in the kitchen," sighed Tarkyn and wandered out. Kerrelei and Jhyskar, who were both talking about Jandegar's little attempt at murder, followed him.
"Get some rest," Tarreiz ordered.
"I'm so sick of people telling me to do that!" Kelke complained.
"Then perhaps you ought to begin to listen to them." She hesitated and then gave him a quick hug.
Kelke stared at her, almost horrified. "What was that for?"
"I just wanted to see if you were cuddly," Tarreiz explained, going to the door.
The Shadow Mage's expression changed slightly to one that was definitely fascinated horror. "And your verdict is…?"
"You are." With that, Tarreiz disappeared.
"I want to see if Frog's still alive," Kelke decided and looked around. "Ciaruse! Come here and listen to me carefully."
"Yes?" queried the Siren, going to him.
"I want you to do something for me. I want you to find a person by the name of Frog and direct him here. Do you understand? Bring me someone by the name of Frog. Ciaruse, find a person called Frog, and then send him to me. Ciaruse, what do you have to do?"
"Find someone named Frog and bring him to you," Ciaruse repeated obediently.
"Good girl. Now go!"
Ciaruse wandered away. Kelke looked around the room for a moment, twiddling his thumbs with boredom. There was a piece of paper on a table across the other side of the room, and he decided that he wanted it. Levitation was, in his opinion, a simple act of magic, perhaps warlock level. In his universe there were three usual attainable levels of magic. For men it was warlock, wizard, Sorcerer. The female version was a little different, being witch, enchantress, Sorceress. Only two people in the whole of their history had ever gone through all three levels to eventually become Mages, and those two were Kelke and Tarreiz.
Kelke had always considered himself to be pretty good at levitation. He held a hand out, and the piece of paper did not so much as move. Increasing both concentration and magic used caused the paper to lift about a centimetre from the table. It began to drift slowly across the room and was about halfway when the door opened. His concentration broken, Kelke glanced up and the paper fluttered to the floor.
'A simple spell,' thought Kelke with frustration, glancing at it. 'It should be easy for a Mage.' Too many factors – his dependence on the black pool in the Citadel, his recent battle with Crono's group, the effort of using Oblivion, his most powerful attack but one that was hardest to use, the recent trip through the Otherworld – had seriously depleted his magic. Besides, something had been wrong for a long time. That was why he had given up so quickly in the fight against Magus. Recently, it had become impossible for him to continuously use magic over the course of an hour or two. That was his reason for using the black pool, which regenerated magic and health, so much. The other Mages knew nothing of this. Kelke would never have told them.
"Kelke?" queried Ciaruse from the doorway. "Is there something wrong?"
"No," the Shadow Mage lied easily. "Nothing at all. Ah! Frog!"
"Well?" Frog asked as Ciaruse wandered off. "Have I earned thine tale yet?"
"Yes, but not here. You'll just have to wait for a while," Kelke said almost tauntingly. "For now, pull up a chair and talk to me. I'm bored, and Tarkyn should be bringing me some food soon. I might even share it with you, if you're nice to me. Oh, and Frog…? Do you see that piece of paper on the floor? Yes, that one. …Could you bring it to me?"