*incidently, ik First One's wiriting isn't the same as Chinese, but its the only thing that looked mystical enough... so just go with it*
Castaspella returns to Mystacor to retrieve some of the strongest spellcasters. Adora seems to get momentarily better for a few hours, before taking a steep nosedive.
Castaspella returned to Mystacor with Glimmer within the hour. Catra found herself pacing around the room, riddled with anxiety again. Glimmer's friend, Bow, seemed lost in his own thoughts as well, idily playing with an arrow. To be fair though, the deadpan, empty stare he was sending her way added... it could've been a thinly concealed threat. Catra moved to the book Castaspella dropped and began to read the passage.
心靈守護者 (roughly translates to - guardian of the heart)
A mystical beast, older than the First Ones themselves. The beast has 7 tenticals, each equptpped with a sharp knife like edge, dripping with a venemous poison.
Legend says the venom doesn't do long-term damage to normal beings (non First Ones), as it was designed to protect the Heart from those who could withstand the journey there. Most nomral beings would be incinareted by the sheer power, and die long before they could dream to do anything. The venom, if a normal being is infected, will act no more than a stomach bug. The venom seeks out certain qualities within the body, and if non are found, will die and pass through the body. However, if the victim is a First One, such as She-Ra (in the case of the current; Mara and any future ones) they will die within seventeen days if an antidote is not adminstered. The venom finds any First One's presnec within the body, and seeks to destroy it, damageing the organs within the body beyond repair.
The antidote MUST be administered within seventeen days. Even though the person will continue to survive for another four, at that point, the organs will have sustained too much damage to do any form of healing. No spell will deter the venom. The only thing that can be done is a pain relief spell to allow them to pass in peace.
The antidote has never been completed in time, but for any unfortunate soul reading this in an attempt to save an ailing one, the ingredients will not harm the body any further than it is already under.
Below are the following ingredients for the-
The rest of the passge was torn out. Catra threw the book across the room with a scream. Bow matched her scream but higher. Had she not been in complete panic mode Catra would've laughed. She grabbed the table, growling. "Some asshole tore away the antidote!" She growled. Bow walked over to the book and picked it up. "I'm sure Castaspella has some stuff back at Mystacor..." He gently placed the book back on the table. Catra glared. "If she comes back without the cure, then I will kill her," She vowed. Bow tutted.
"Catra, you can't just kill whoever annoys you," Catra turned with a frown. "A) Yes I can, don't underestimate me. B) You should be in bed!" She snapped, rushing over. Adora scoffed, flapping her hand. "I'm not dying, I'm fine. I felt a bit better," She shrugged. "My legs were going prickly, so I needed to move," Catra stayed by her side. "Glad you're feeling better, Adora," Bow smiled. She grinned back. Catra wasn't convinced. "Hey, where's Glimmer?" Adora ssked, hissing softly as she eased onto the lounge seat. Catra narrowed her eyes. "You realise this is a discussion that can totally happen on your bed, right? Where you're safe?" Adora sighed angrily, leveling Catra with a glare.
"She's gone to Mystacor with Castaspella," Bow interupted. Catra sent a warning look. Don't tell her. It said. Bow gave a breif nod. "Mystacor? Why's she there?" Catra felt her worry and anxiety rise along with the steady ratteling in Adora's chest. Bow shrugged. "I'm not sure. She just teleported away," Adora hummed, basking in the glow of the warm fire. Catra finally relaxed enough to sit next to her. Bow hummed softly as he read through the rest of Castaspella's forgotten (and now slightly damaged) book in the corner.
Adora didn't know she was dying... and Catra was probably going to be the one to tell her. Eventually, the steady soft sound of Bow's humming and page turning, the crackling fire, and Adora's soft rise and fall of her chest as she dozed lulled Catra into a warm sleep.
When she woke, the fire was out, Bow was snoring on the floor and Adora was gone. She sat up, rubbing her eyes with a yawn. "Where's Adora?" She mumbled. Bow continued snoring. Catra huffed and stretched as she stood. Her back cracked loudly. Finally. It'd been bothering her for a while. She made her way to Adora's bedroom, assuming that's where she went. The door was cracked open. Catra frowned. Adora never left her door open if she was in there.
In the Horde, the only privacy you had was lavitory time. You didn't even shower in complete privacy; there were small walls starting at your knees, and finishing just above your ass, covering the most important private bit. All the boys and all the girls all saw everyone's chests.
Huh. Maybe that's why Catra was gay. Adora did always have a nice chest... Catra shook her head. Since being here, no doubt Adora had found a love for privacy; Catra sure did. She loved having "her place" where she could go, on her own, and just be. Nobody to pester her, nobody to see her breasts, nobody to moan that she wasn't dressed properly, nothing. Just silence.
She stepped into the room. "Adora?" She called. The room was dark, the sheets rumpled from the night. Huh. Maybe Adora wasn't in here... but there was still something nagging at Catra, that she should check her surroundings. Maybe it was her inner Horde. If you didn't scope a room out thoroughly before leaving, then you did a shit job. There could be somebody hiding in the shadows... if they were training, more often than not, there was somebody hiding in the shadows... and if you missed them, you were punished in the Black Garnet chamber for the night.
"Adora?" She sang. The bathroom door was ajar with a faint light coming from inside. Catra smiled softly. "I'm aware you're a Princess now and all that, but aren't Princesses supposed to be super on top of privacy?" She pushed the door open.
Her heart fell into her chest. "Adora!"