Interlude - The Last Princess
Two Months Ago
"Princess Salem?" A soft voice drew her attention away from the papers and tomes spread out in front of her, and she turned to gaze at the unfamiliar man in the doorway. "I was just..." He took a step closer, pausing as he glanced down at the table.
"Yes? Did mother or Veve send for me?" She crossed her arms, trying not to show frustration at her lack of results.
"Well, no. The other way around, actually. I was seeking information, and your mother suggested you would be better equipped to answer them." He took a step closer, smiling bashfully. He was dressed nicely enough to be one of her mother's attendants, simple blacks and greens but woven out of very fine fabrics.
"It must be related to magic, then. What are you seeking?" She eyed him carefully, trying to place him among the researchers that worked with her family. None of the researchers have hair that dark... has a new family emerged while I've been distracted?
"Ah... well, actually, now I'm more interested in what you're working on. Aren't those Gallien's mantras?" He gestured at one of the open tomes. "What does a meditative text have to do with the rest of these?"
She blinked, not expecting that question, then realized she had no good explanation handy for this research. Most people avoided her when she was in one of the libraries, so she hadn't expected... I certainly can't tell him about the circle. Perhaps...?
"Ah... a friend of mine mentioned a spell she knew of in passing. Its purpose was to form a barrier; a... gulf, of sorts, between the world and your self, to interfere with magic targeting you. It made me curious, and I was looking into methods for replicating it."
The man blinked at her. "Interesting... separating yourself magically, while retaining enough connections to be able to wield magic in the first place...? Is that even possible?" He leaned over her work, considering. "Perhaps Gallien's isn't the correct text to use here. His mantras are excellent for new students precisely because they're so standard, but... if you mean to shroud yourself, I think something more personal would be more effective. How familiar are you with Arcan's work?"
Salem frowned at the question. "I've read it. You think...? I suppose I see where that idea comes from. His methods are unreliable, though."
The man's eyes lit up at that. "Ah! You have read them! Most people disregard it for precisely the reason you mentioned, but... when his methods succeed, they're extremely effective. To me, that tells me that his concept is sound and it is only the execution that's lacking."
Salem brushed a hand through her hair as she considered that. He has a point. Arcan's theories... perhaps I should look into it more. "So you're familiar with them?" Then she blinked, shaking her head. "Actually... who are you? I don't believe we've met."
The man chuckled, bowing his head. "Ah. Of course. My apologies, princess. Theories of the soul are something of a passion of mine." He placed a hand over his chest in a salute.
"Your mother recently appointed me to head a personal research project. My name is Ozma. Would you... like to compare notes? I think our work might have a degree of cross-reference."
She hummed noncommittally. Well. My lie is close enough to the truth that this might prove useful. "Very well, Ozma. Tell me more about your thoughts on Arcan's theories; I hadn't considered that angle yet."
He smiled.
Two Weeks Ago
"So...?" Salem tapped her fingers against the closed book, eyes taking in the droop of her sister's shoulders.
Veve shook her head. "They'd all gone already. The whole watchtower was empty." She moved deeper into the room, and Salem followed her. To one of the only places they could be certain was concealed.
Veve slowly disrobed to wash the dirt of the road from her as Salem closed the door behind them. Once the door was sealed and they could be confident in their privacy, Veve slid a parchment from a hidden pocket and handed it over. "You were right. There was another basement."
Salem pursed her lips as she sat down next to the washbasin, allowing her sister to climb in as she took in the diagram on this parchment. Another incomplete circle... but I don't remember seeing this section of it before.
"Can you get anything from it?" Veve's voice was tired, but there was an edge to it. "I don't like this. Too many secrets..."
"Kept from us, or by us, my sister?"
"Both."
"Hmm." She compared the circle to her memories of the other incomplete diagrams she had, trying to piece together the whole of whatever spell it was. "... I don't like this. This part of the circle is about change. I'd almost think this was a smith's craft."
"Except..." Veve paused in combing her hair, lips turned down. "That first circle."
She nodded. "Self," she said as she remembered. "I don't have the full picture, Veve, but this circle is meant to work with souls. Yet, if that's the case, why hide them in the watchtowers? The guards aren't researchers..."
"I think I need to speak to mother. I'm worried about what the guards are up to, so far from the city."
The idea bothered her, but she couldn't put a fine point on why. So, with a grimace, she nodded. "Just... be careful, Veve? Don't mention Blake, please. I know mother has... mixed feelings about her."
Her sister smiled at her. "Don't worry, Salem. I won't get her hurt."
One Week Ago
"Salem? Good, I'm glad you're here." Veve closed the door behind her, settling at Salem's desk while she set her book aside.
"Veve? Did... you speak to mother?"
"I did!" Her sister smiled. "She explained what was going on. It makes much more sense, now."
Salem narrowed her eyes. "More sense... how? What is going on?"
"Mother has been conducting experiments on Awakening. She has a new researcher with a great deal of insight into the soul, and they've been making progress on ritualizing the process."
She considered the circle – what she knew of it – and tried to fit it into that puzzle. In theory, that couldbe related, but... that doesn't seem right. She shook her head. "Veve... if that's the case, I'm not sure they're going about it correctly. And, why perform experiments in the watchtowers?"
"Different environmental factors, little sister." Veve shook her head, an indulgent smile on her face. "After all, our souls are connected to everything around us. And we've never considered that location might play a role in Awakening? It seems obvious in hindsight."
"Veve..." Salem chewed on her lower lip. "I don't like this. That circle... I certainly wouldn't use it to Awaken someone. It would be like... painting over their souls with a new one."
Veve sighed. "You haven't even seen the full circle, Salem."
She bristled. "And have you? Did mother show it to you?"
Her sister made a confused face. "No? Why would she need to? Once she explained what it was for, that was all I needed."
Salem's brows furrowed. "I thought you wanted to know what was going on. That you were concerned about this."
"I did," Veve sighed as she laid a hand on Salem's shoulder gently. "Because you were worried about it. You seemed... so unnerved by what you saw. But now we know there's nothing to be concerned about. You don't have to work so hard on this, anymore." She smiled.
Salem leaned back slightly. This... that isn't right, is it? She wasn't doing all this for me. I was sure of that. "I..." She peered into her sister's eyes. "Of course. You're right, Veve. I'm glad."
"Good!" Her sister squeezed her shoulder. "I'll let mother know."
As Veve left the room, Salem sat there, hands clasped in her lap to keep them from shaking.
Blake... what do I do?
A/N: Having recovered from my sickness, I bring you a chapter!
After much pondering, I've decided to... restructure things a bit. There was some plot-bloat going on, and I'm not sure things would have worked out the way I'd planned. So... some things have been trimmed and rearranged. On the plus side, I think the Ciel arc should flow better now than it would have otherwise.
Feel free to point out any awkwardness in the chapter, it went through a couple of rewrites.