"Ahkikti!" Emira pinched her nose to stifle a sneeze as she entered the Healing Homeroom, which had become a makeshift infirmary since the Day of Unity. "So, how's my favorite patient...doing?"

Edric had taken a really nasty fall down a well and had been in a body cast for nearly a month. Healing spells could only do so much for broken bones, and very few students had enough experience to fix him completely. To Emira's surprise, her brother appeared to be back to normal, standing in front of her with his cast off and school uniform on. "Doing just fine, thank you very much! Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"Uh huh," Emira sniffed, looking unconvinced. "Nice try." She drew a spell circle, and a piece of jewelry flew off of Edric's person. He fell back onto a cot, screaming in pain as the concealment stone's illusion poofed away. Emira walked over to him and waved a glowing hand across her brother's body. "I know you're restless, but...Hahshi!" She stifled another sneeze. "You're still on the mend. Try to move around too much...and..." Another one was on the edge of her nose, but she managed to suppress it and sighed with relief as she finished the sentence. "...you'll only make it worse for yourself."

"Great advice," Edric said caustically. "You should take it sometime."

Emira sighed. "This is what I get for letting you take off on your own." As Edric turned his head away, Emira sniffled and took a knee next to him. "Hey, I'm worried about them too. Once you're done healing, I promise we'll go back out and look for them together. And after that, I won't let you or Mittens out of my sight again."

"Ugh," Edric pouted. "Fine."

Standing back up, Emira felt her nose twitching again. "I'll...check on you again later. Plenty of other...patients to attend...to." She turned away and walked speedily out the door, closing it behind her. The hallway was empty and the coast seemed clear. Unable to hold them in any longer, she conjured a handkerchief and covered her nose. "Eh'kshoum! Arashoo! Hae'ttsheeeeeeeewwww!"

"Gesundheit."

Emira wiped her nose, and turned around to see Viney standing next to her. She pocketed her handkerchief and stood up straight. "Oh, um...thanks."

"You're not feeling well at all, are you Em?"

"I'm fine," Emira sniffed. "It's just been getting...really...Ahrchoo!" She sneezed into her sleeve. "...dusty in here since...you know."

"Yes it has, but no you're not." Viney made a spell circle and pulled the same stunt Emira had just done with Edric. Without her concealment stone, it was clear just how wrecked she really was. In addition to her skin blemishes and unkempt hair, her eyes were tired with bags under them while her nose was red and stuffed up. "Your bro's not the only one who needs to rest."

"But I..." Emira didn't actually know what to say in this moment.

"Hey, it's probably just the Common Mold. You're barely sleeping, and you've been healing non-stop since we got into this mess; any witch who needs it in addition to Edric. When you're new to this track, it can take a lot out of you." Viney came in closer and put her hand on Emira's shoulder. "If you don't take care of yourself, you're no good to anyone." With those words, Emira fell to the floor, sniffling and sobbing with her face buried in her knees. "Oh no, I'm sorry. It's gonna be okay."

"It's not okay at all!" Emira cried as Viney knelt down. "You're right! I'm no good to anybody! It's bad enough my Mom sold us out Belos. Now my Dad's probably been collected, my brother's still broken, and...Acheh!...it's been months and I have no idea where my sister is! There's nothing I can do to help any of them!"

Viney pulled Emira into a hug and let the poor witch cry into her cowl for a hot minute. She needed to let this out. "The best thing you can do to help your brother right now is get better. I've still got Bo with me. We can pick up the slack until you're back on your feet."

Emira sniffled, rubbed her eyes, and wiped her sleeve across her nose. "Okay."

"Would you like a sleep spell?"

"I would...Ah'ksheeeeeeeewwww!...I would really appreciate a sleep spell."

Viney drew a spell circle. With a glowing finger, she tapped Emira's nose. "Boop!"

The other girl was out like a light, sighing and barely getting out a "thank you" before falling fast asleep. Viney scooped up Emira into her arms, and took her back to the Healing Homeroom.