The knock on her door was soft but urgent, and the moment Blake opened her door Salem swept in.

"Blake. I'm sorry, I just..." Salem was pacing, and Blake gestured towards the bed. Gratefully, the princess sunk down.

"It's fine, Salem. What's going on?"

Salem sighed, slumping down. "I just... There's... We - I'm not certain what to do, Blake."

Blake blinked, before sitting on the bed next to her friend. "Take your time, Salem. Put your thoughts in order. I'm not going anywhere."

For a long moment, Salem's blue eyes were locked on hers. Then, she closed them as she took a deep breath and held it. One second, two seconds, three seconds, and she blew it out in a great heave. "Okay. I... I've been researching what we found. That circle."

"I remember," Blake said, gaze sharpening slightly. "Did you...?"

"I haven't solved it yet. But... we found more. I had Veve searching, whenever she went to check a watchtower. And she found... several more basements, with several more incomplete circles. I still don't know exactly what it does, but it doesn't... I do not like the look of it."

"That's..." Blake trailed off, not willing to say what that made her think. The concerns it brought rise to.

"I know," Salem said, and the look on her face told Blake that she already understood. "... But I... Blake, I need your help."

"Salem? What happened?"

The blonde wrung her hands, chewing her lip, and Blake reached out to lay her good hand on top of Salem's. She stilled, finally making eye contact, and the look in her eyes... she's hurting. Bad. What happened?

"Veve... went to talk to mother. About the circles."

"What happened to her?"

"I don't know!" Salem seemed shocked at her own outburst, curling in on herself and breathing heavily. "She's... she told me that it was nothing to worry about, gave me an excuse about what the circles were for, brushed off my concerns and acted like she hadn't been worried before. I... Blake, it was like - it was like she was a different person. Like her memories, her mind, her soul had changed. And I don't... I don't - I don't know what to do. I don't even know what to think, or where to start, or...!"

"Salem. Salem, you need to breathe." Instinctively, Blake reached out with her gauntleted hand, only to pause as Salem recoiled from it. "Salem, look at me." When she did, Blake held eye contact and spoke slowly and clearly. "I'm here. I'm on your side, and so are my team. We'll figure out what's going on together, okay? You aren't alone, and no matter what's happened to Veve we can figure it out."

"How can we even... I don't know where to start, Blake."

Obsidian? My first thought is - if the circles are meant to affect the soul, then...

Perhaps they were wielded. Detailed information of the soul of Veve has never been acquired - but signs of tampering would likely exist, regardless. Time will be necessary, for an examination to be performed.

"Did you forget? I know... an expert in things like that, Salem."

Salem's eyes had grown wide. "She'd... help? Just like that?"

"Yes, Salem. She would."

The princess took a shuddering breath, gathering herself up as she closed her eyes – and by the time they opened again, they were clear and steely. "What do you need?"

"Time with her, somewhere magic won't be terribly noticeable."

Salem nodded, humming to herself. "I'll see what I can do."

It was a long time before Blake was comfortable sending Salem out on her own again.