Maria was not present when Katarina distributed the photos so what she got were leftovers from their selection. She only got a couple of ones with Katarina in them, one of them is a photo 'selfie' with everyone where her position is quite on the opposite side. Fortunately, the other one is where her idol literally embraces her, wrapping her hands around Maria's back and firmly above her waist. This photo would been perfect if not for the third prince's head popping on the corner with his hands showing a 'V' sign, mimicking one of Katarina's poses. She has half a mind to get a pair of scissors and cut the intruder out of the picture but decides against it. It'll be a waste to damage such an amazing item.
As for the other photos that she got, they are all pictures of herself in different poses and locations. Hell, she even has a picture of her while listening to the lectures during class.
Did Katarina take them without her knowing?
When she thought of it, she noticed that only half of the photos were she aware of and looking at, and the other half was doing random things like serving tea, writing in her journal, and laughing with Sofia. Maria can't help but feel a mix of embarrassment and delight knowing that Katarina took quite numerous photos of her. They may not be together in those pictures but knowing that her idol is secretly looking at her, it makes her treasure every single of them.
She'd still send some to her mother of course. She would include it in her next letter.
That would have to wait, however. She first has to look into something.
Something about an obnoxious cloud of darkness surrounding their student council president.
A giant owl is zooming across the sky of the eastern seas of Sorcier.
Less than an hour ago, Silvers was at the adventurer's guild in the capital of Ethenell when he suddenly received a call from Anne. He delightedly accepted the call though he found it odd since Anne preferred to use written messages but of course, he accepted it.
"Sir Silvers!"
"Yes, this is Silvers speaking" He responded. He also felt the tremble from the caller's voice.
"Lady Katarina, she's asleep, we don't know what to do!" That is indeed weird, it's just a little past 6 pm. It's definitely way too early for a teenage girl with a smartphone to sleep at this hour.
"What happened?"
"We don't know. They found her asleep in the garden. The doctor says she may not wake up at all. She's been asleep for two days!" Two days?! And she is telling him just now?
"I'm heading there now. ."
"Thank you!" The call ended.
Without sparing a moment, Silvers excused himself from the guild and called Hoots. They then fly straight towards Sorcier.
Even with the fastest ship, it will usually take at least 3 days to cross the ocean between Ethenell and Sorcier and that is if the weather were right for sailing. For a great owl like Hoots, and with a little help magic, they were able to fly across it in a little more than a couple of hours.
With the dormitory already in sight on the horizon, Silver broke off from Hoots, descending towards his destination on his own. That way, it'll be easier for him to come to the target place without being spotted. It will also be faster this way since Hoots will need a while to circle up to reduce her speed.
He flew around the dormitory grounds for a short while until he found a room where he felt Anne's presence along with most of Katarina's friends. He flies in front of the room's window where he is then spotted by Gerald to which the third prince barely reacts.
The past couple of days have been a nightmare. They could have never imagined that the skies could just fall on them in one simple afternoon.
Once again, they should have known better than to leave Katarina on her own.
They found her unconscious and unmoving. Lying on the fields of the school grounds.
They rushed Katarina to her room and Gerald summoned every available medical personnel they had in school and sent a runner to get the best one in the whole kingdom of Sorcier, the royal doctor himself.
Mary and Sofia tried to find Maria but she was nowhere to be found. They have notified the guards about this but with Katarina's current state, finding her has been an afterthought.
Much to everyone's horror, the doctors were unable to save Katarina as they could not even make of what was ailing her in the first place. They can only speculate that she may wake up any moment, or never. Upon hearing this bad news, Anne has to stop Keith from assaulting the doctor. Gerald hits the wall angrily, while Sofia and Mary can only cry with the former even collapsing on the floor.
The doctors soon excused themselves. Everyone but Anne remained in the bedroom but they stayed outside in the living room to contemplate.
This cannot be happening.
Katarina has saved them from their dull fate and brought colors and wonders into their lives. She has become their sun that brings them a bright new day to look forward to.
Now here she is, on her probable deathbed, suffering from an unfathomable illness and they are all but powerless to do anything.
Gerald opened the window and stared outside. Everything was covered in darkness as even the moon was absent in the skies as if to mock him. It feels like a reminder of his life before he met Katarina and a premonition of what is to become should his fiance never wake up. He is definitely not in the mood for surprises tonight.
Thus when he saw Silvers flying outside and stopping at the front of the window, he barely reacted at all.
"Silvers," Gerald mutters. This caught everyone's attention as they too looked outside. They were on the second floor and there he was outside the window, floating like a ghost casually like it was nobody's business. Just like a ghost he seems to be, he enters the room by passing through a closed window like it's not even there. Gerald steps to the side to give him away but remains stoic.
"Where is she?" He asked upon landing.
They don't have to wonder who has called for Silvers to come. They didn't see it but it was obvious that it was Anne who had summoned him here. Katarina's situation was being kept tightly under wraps. For better or worse, not even her parents have been informed yet. Only the doctors and everyone in that room were aware of the situation and seeing Silvers here means he does know it as well.
They are skeptical of him being here, but at this point, they can only hope that Miss Anne knows what she is doing.
"They were in bedroom-" Alan answered though he was interrupted by a sound of something breaking coming from the bedroom.
The first ones into the room were Gerald and Keith, hoping that the commotion was caused by Katarina finally waking up. To their dismay, however, it was just Anne who accidentally tipped a porcelain cup.
"Lord Keith, Prince Gerald. My apologies." She said looking at the two. She is currently kneeling on the floor cleaning the broken shards of the teacup.
"It's fine," Gerald responded.
"Excuse me, may I?" Silvers stated, stepping in from between Gerald and Keith and he was pointing at the mess on the ground with his index finger.
The fragments of the cup were then enveloped by silver light as it floated and assembled itself. With the final piece in its place, the crack vanishes and the cup gently lands back on the tray, good as new.
He then walks towards Anne and offers his hand to help her stand. "Are you alright?"
"Yes!" She accepted his hand and stood up. "But Lady Katarina, she's not waking up."
"Uhuh..." He turns towards the lady sleeping on the bed and then back to Anne and everyone. "Mind if I take a closer look?"
Everyone looks at each other but eventually nods at the newcomer.
He puts his arm across his chest and leans forward, lowering his head about less than a foot away from Katarina and he looks at her from head to toe. He turns back to her head and forcibly opens one of her eyes with his fingers.
They all flinch at what he has just done but decide to do nothing but watch.
Silvers stares into Katarina's eye for a couple of seconds before and he does it as well in the other one. He then turns both of her eyes shut afterward.
Once done with his analysis, he snaps his fingers, and a small panel made of light (or 'Horoguramu' as Katarina calls them) appears above Katarina's head. It shows a silhouette of Katarina's figure that is slowly turning around along with some zigzagging lines and numbers that change often.
"She has some minor bruises on her back, those are the yellow spots you can see in that figure." He points out the silhouette on the panel. "Aside from that, her vitals were stable. Weak but it's as expected for someone asleep for a couple of days."
"It is what the doctors say. They cannot figure out what's ailing her." Mary blurted out.
"Because there's nothing to find." He answered, "Physically, there's nothing wrong with her that would cause her to fall into that coma."
"Coma?" Sophia asked. The word seems familiar to her.
"Comatosed. A state of being unconscious for a prolonged or indefinite period of time." He gestures his hand toward Katarina, pointing to her as an example. "Physically, this can be caused by a severe injury or trauma in the head, but as we can see, she has nothing like that. It is as expected that your physician can not do anything."
"Isn't there anything we can do? Anything?!" Gerald stepped in to ask. Desperation is obvious in his voice, and by how everyone looks at him. They all share the sentiment.
"Fortunately, I am not a physician," Silvers answered with confidence, looking at Anne to reassure her.
He places his gloved hand on Katarina's forehead. His hand then glows for a second, enveloped with blinding silver light that fades out and comes in. As he took his hand back, they saw relief from Katarina's face, however, their lady was still asleep. They all stare at Silvers, waiting for an explanation.
"First and foremost, she is safe." He started "From what I see, she was never in any peril in the first place. Though you would have to trust me on this." He stated to reassure everyone.
"What you did do to her? Is that light magic like Maria's?" Mary inquired.
"Similar, but, No." He answered.
"Does that heal her?" Mary added.
"It 'aids' her."
"Why is she still asleep? When would sister wake up?" Keith followed.
"That's the thing. " Silvers took a deep breath and sighed. "That will be up to her."
"What do you mean?" Gerald asked. The vague answers they are getting are starting to agitate him.
"That is as far as I can tell you, your Highness," Silvers answered him coldly.
Nicol can't figure out if Silvers was antagonizing Gerald on purpose but he can see that his friend's patience is starting to break. Not that the third prince has a lot of it in the first place except the ones for Katarina. On the other hand, Silvers's words were not directed at him but even he was intimidated by his sudden shift of tone.
"Dark magic" Sophia muttered and they all looked into her with surprise "There's dark magic involved, isn't it?"
Silvers remained silent. Tilting his head as he looked into her.
"That's why you cannot tell us more, yes?" Sophia pushed her inquiry.
"And how would you know about that..." Silvers looks at her menacingly. She could not see his eyes but his eyeglasses were shining in silver light, it felt like he was looking something way beyond her. "A~scart-chan?"
Sophia flinches upon hearing the name but remains silent. Instead, she digs her heels and returns Silvers's inquisitive gaze. It's her who is asking a question.
The two were locked in a staring contest for a moment until Silver's relents. He steps back to the end of the room and leans against the wall. "Fine." He stated before letting out another deep sigh "What I am about to discuss is something forbidden, or even an extreme taboo, especially in this country. Those who wish to have nothing to do with it, step out of the room now." He warns them.
Unsurprisingly, no one budged from their place.
Silvers snapped his fingers and the room turned grey. Except for everyone, everything inside the room lost its color. "It's just a seal, so no sound nor light would escape from this room." He explained before anyone panicked. They all nod to him and remain silent.
"Katarina's ailment is not physical, hence why the doctors can't do anything. It was a curse, colloquially known as 'dark magic' as Lady Ascart there has surmised. The curse is meant to put the victim to sleep and trap them in the realm of dreams, hence that- "He points out Katarina.
"Fortunately, the curse didn't seem to settle well with Lady Claes here. While it did successfully put her to sleep, it kind of...failed to lock her inside."
"Then why isn't she waking up." Alan pointed out "If she's not trapped in her dreams, why can't we just wake her up?"
"It's not that she 'can't wake up' " Silvers raises a finger to emphasize "but she 'won't', or better to say 'isn't waking up'. She's not trapped in there, she's not locked at all. On the contrary, It is us that is locked here outside. While we cannot interrupt her sleep. She, on the other hand, can get out of there anytime she wishes."
There was a moment of silence as they digested the details that had been laid out for them.
"Wait, does that mean that she doesn't want to wake up? That she doesn't want to go back here?" Mary asked worriedly.
Silvers nodded. Mary's face turned white.
"Or she just doesn't know that she was in a dream." Alan then followed, holding Mary's shoulder to calm her down.
"That's an optimist assumption, yet plausible." Silvers agreed. "All in all, she is safe. I have replenished her vitality, it was the light magic kinda thing that I did. Depending on how long she would remain asleep, I would have to do it from time to time but rest assured that she is not in any mortal danger."
They all let out a sigh of relief, even if it's a little. Katarina is not fully out of the woods yet but it is a blessing to know that it is not as severe as what they have been initially told.
"I honestly hope that what you have told us is correct, and I don't want to doubt but..." Keith started... " How do you know all this? If even the royal doctors can't figure it out and they are looking after Katarina for a day, how come you determined right away by just looking at her?"
"Lord Keith, I would say it again, I am not a doctor," Silvers answered while shaking his head. "And I doubt that your doctors are completely clueless. They just refrained from telling you so."
Gerald, Keith, and even Mary glared at the floor. They all understand why the doctors have done that. The same reason why the Silvers have pointed out from the start.
"Can't we just break the curse?" Sophia asked, "If it is dark magic, would it be possible just to counter it with light magic?" Once again they are surprised by the young Ascart.
"Even if that's possible, Maria is also missing. It will be difficult to find another light mage to do so." Nicol commented.
"It is not as simple as pouring water into a campfire." Silvers answered, "One cannot get rid of a curse by simply flushing it with light magic. It may work in usual cases but not with the too complex ones like Lady Claes here, light magic may even have worsened the situation."
"...Usual cases... have something like this ever happened before?" Mary asked, "And how can light magic can make the situation worse?"
"We've seen Maria heal pretty much anything!" Sophia added.
"I've dealt with curses plenty of times " He answered "They were rare, but not uncommon. Light magic, is indeed wonderful and all but it is still not a miraculous solution for everything. I do not mean any ill against Miss Campbell but we are lucky that she isn't here. Have Lady Claes's situation here has been tampered with light magic, this may have become way troublesome, even for me."
"Sir Silvers...what if..." Anne called him, breaking the silence she keeping herself with for a while now.
'what if Lady Katarina doesn't come back? What if she can't figure out that she was just dreaming...'
She wants to ask those. She doesn't want to believe that her mistress would not want to return to them or that she won't be able to, but she has to ask these extremes if no one will. However, she failed to voice out her concern. She just cannot, as if saying it out loud is accepting the possibility that it may happen.
"She would wake up..." Silvers answered firmly in a consoling tone, way more comforting than how he talked with others. He even comes to her and pats her shoulder. "Let's give her a day or two. If she still isn't up by the weekends, then we'll have to try something else.." He reassured her.
"If there is still something that can be done, why not do it now?" Keith asked.
"It will require drastic measures." He turns to Keith " Something I'd rather not do if it can be avoided, especially to the mistress of the lady I'm courting. Miss Sherry may find it displeasing. "
They glared at him.
Sophia's face turned white as her hair, remembering several fairytales involving a sleeping girl. Despite not saying a word, the idea seems to be spreading around everyone as well. Anne even raises an eyebrow. Silvers notices it and shakes his head and defensively. "Get your heads out of the gutters, it's not like that." He stated.
"Then what exactly do you need to do?" Keith yelled, not caring about how late the night it was. The room is sealed anyway. "Also, didn't you say that were locked out, that we cannot interrupt her sleep? "
"Yes, I did. We cannot wake her up from here, but~, I can 'technically'... " He raised two fingers from both of his hands, gesturing a quotation sign "... get inside her head, join her in that dream of hers and wake her up from there." He explained.
"What's so drastic about it? Is there anything you need or prepare beforehand hence you cannot do now?" Gerald then asked, with his assets and all, if he was willing to give anything if it meant saving his fiance.
"None." Silvers quickly answered with a jovial tone "I can do it in a heartbeat." He admitted, even letting out a small chuckle after seeing that it flipped most of the inhabitants of the room.
""THEN DO IT NOW!"" They all demanded.
"That I won't." He shook his head and sat on the bed beside the sleeping occupant. "For reasons of course, I'm not doing it just to torment you. I have better things to do than that." He then pats Katarina's head and rubs it. "Trespassing into someone's head is an extreme violation of privacy. It's like a worse version of reading one's diary without permission. It's just plain rude and intrusive. Who knows what she's having there now in that dreamland of hers." He withdraws his hands and snaps his fingers. The color on everything returns and the room turns back to normal. "Besides, I'm sure that she would make it. I understand where you are coming from but this... challenge, is for her alone. I consider myself as her friend as well and while I do not know her as far as any of you do, I believe in her." He then looks back at everyone.
"I am not doing it, at least until this weekend. You can try to find someone else who could, I suppose, but good luck with that. On the other hand, if you insist on doing something, I suggest that you instead focus on finding your other missing friend. I'm sure Lady Claes would like to be welcomed by everyone instead of the news of Miss Campbell being missing. By the number of her photos that's been sent to me to print, I'd say she's quite fond of her.
It's already quite late so if you excuse me." He stands up and approaches Anne. "There shouldn't be anything, but if something happens, I'd appreciate it if you would tell me right away, instead of waiting for a couple of days." He wipes the remaining tears from her eyes with his finger and then pats her shoulder. Anne only nods at him.
And with that Silvers left the room.
"I've heard you were at Ethenell."
"And you were just in the capital yet I still got here first."
"Well, if you would teach us how to fly, then perhaps we could have come earlier."
"You're smart, I'm sure you'll figure it out."
"How about lending us that owl?."
"It ain't my fault that you creeps Hoots out."
"Aw"
On his way out of the dormitory grounds, Silvers was stopped by a tall lady with black hair, wearing an equestrian outfit and thick eyeglasses. She steps out of the shadows just as he is about to reach the gates.
"The royal physicians reported that this was an extremely peculiar case. Your being here just confirms it. "
Silvers did not answer.
"Can I assume that Lady Claes would be fine?"
"She is fine."
"I'll take your word for it. Say, did you tell them?"
"Not supposed to, but one of them was surprisingly informed. Actually, I'm more surprised that the young Lady Ascart is more aware of it than the royal twins."
She let out a chuckle "Geoffrey is doing a good job of keeping details wrapped, though it is indeed news about Lady Ascart."
"I'd say he's coddling his brothers too much."
"That, I agree, but it is what he is, and I don't think he'll be changing anytime soon... or ever."
Silvers pinches the bridge of his nose and shakes his head.
"Well, since I caught you here, might as well help us find Miss Campbell!"
"I'll pass." He quickly answered. He then starts to walk away.
"Please?" She pleaded " Light mages are extremely rare, it would be a great loss to this kingdom if something bad happened to her."
"She's alright. A little exhausted but in good shape. Besides, I have a feeling that this will all be sorted out soon." And with that, he steps out of the dormitory grounds and vanishes into the dark.
"Should we trust him?" Keith was the first one to speak a few moments after Silvers left.
Mary snaps at him "He wants us to leave Katarina and do nothing,"
"I think he wants us to have faith in Katarina," Sophia interjected, Nicol agreed but remained silent.
"Can we trust him?" The Claes heir inquires once again, looking at the others.
"Do you think he is lying?" The blonde prince followed the inquiry.
"He told us way more than the doctors did. It's something." His twin replied.
"There's no way for us to confirm if he is telling us the truth. Unless..." Gerald shared his thoughts with the group.
"Unless what?" Alan raised an eyebrow to his brother.
"Someone who is also a magic expertconfirms it."
"Are you saying that we should... bring this to our professor?"
"Or the Ministry of Magic. The physicians may have reported this to the ministry already." Nicol pointed out. Once again using whatSilvers has told as a basis. If the doctors were indeed not completely clueless about Katarina's case then they would have brought it to the ministry.
"If this reaches the ministry, there's no telling what they would do to Katarina, or if we will even get an answer from them. At worse, they may even take Katarina away."
"They can't do that!" Keith tried to argue.
"Unfortunately they could. Especially if what Silvers has told us about dark magic being forbidden in this kingdom. Hell, I didn't even know such magic existed until now." Gerald curses how all of this has been a surprise for him. "Sophia, how do you even know?"
"I... don't know. It's just... I just suddenly know about it, but that is all that I know." She timidly answered. She then sat beside Katarina on the bed and held the sleeping lady's hand with both of hers. She closed her eyes as if muttering a prayer.
They all look at her suspiciously but that is all that she has for that. Nicol comes and comforts his sister.
"Miss Anne, how about you? You are the one that called him. Do you think we can trust him?" Gerald then turns to Katarina's valet.
"I trust my mistress. Honestly, I did not understand most of what he told us. I'm worried about Milady as much as everyone if not more, but I'm also ashamed that I had less faith in my mistress than him. I believe Katarina will wake up, and I'll be here no matter how long it would take." Anne answered with conviction.
"I see... " Gerald took a deep breath "Then I trust in Katarina as well."
"What?" Keith rebuked!
"I...trust Katarina as well." Alan agrees with Gerald.
"Keith..." Mary spoke, "I don't like this as well, but we're pretty much tied up. Besides, it'll be just until the weekends, that's the day after after tomorrow. Unless you have other options to suggest?"
"Tsk,...Fine!" Keith finally relented "But if something happens to sister-"
"What do you mean..." A groggy voice that comes from the bed suddenly interjects "... if something happened to me?"
"Wha-?"
"Milady!"
"Sister!"
""Lady Katarina!""
"Hello everyone..." Katarina greeted them as she sat up from her bed, still rubbing her eyes with her fist. "Did we have a sleepover or something?"
Needless to say, they immediately crowded her.
Katarina was rather surprised upon seeing everyone right as she woke up. A-chan indeed told her in her dreams that everyone was waiting for her but she didn't think that it would be this much that her friends stayed in her room. The moment had gone tearful especially when they told her that she had been asleep for more than two days. She was very sorry for worrying everyone and she promised herself that she would have to get back to them for this.
But not now. They are more important matters to do at the moment!
"We have to save Maria!"
It wasn't even a couple of hours since Katarina had woken yet she was now leading the search for Maria. Claiming that she has a certain premonition from her dream, they are now following her towards a secluded section of the academy dead in the night, as none of them were able to stop, or even have her wait until morning.
There isn't even a single trace of illness on her. Katarina is completely back to normal like there's nothing bad has ever happened to her. She even jumped out of bed in a hurry to save Maria. Seeing that her mistress will not be deterred, Anne is only able to convince her to freshen and wear more appropriate clothes instead of her pajamas.
Just as Katarina had predicted, they found a hidden storehouse. The place looks completely abandoned but it has a hidden passage leading to a room where they found Maria. Her feet were shackled to the bed, but she appeared fine overall. Of course, they freed her right away (Gerald broke the lock of the shackles but Maria barely thanked him before rushing into Katarina's embrace. His eyes twitched a little seeing this but decided to let the light mage have the moment).
Inside the room where they found Maria is another door that leads to another passage. They cannot tell how deep underground they are exactly right now as they continue to descend through the passage halls. After a while, they found a rather ominous door.
"Are you alright Maria?" Katarina asked the light mage seeing the distress on her face.
"I'm fine, but I sense an incredible power behind that door," Maria answered. Katarina nods at her.
Upon hearing their conversation, the twin princess steps forward in front of the door. Keith and Nicol follow behind them with the ladies now standing at the back. Alan and Gerald look at each other before they proceed to crack the door open. As soon as they made the smallest opening, they were then blasted by a violent gust of darkish fog. The twins, which receive the blunt on it were forced to step back with Gerald even using his cape to shield himself. Nicol and Sophia use their magic to shield everyone by creating a dome of wind magic to keep the fog away.
They could see the silhouette of Serius from inside the room. His face expressed extreme anger with one of his hands grasping his head while the other was carrying a sword. Sensing a possible confrontation, the princes readies their weapons as well.
They, however, are stuck in a sort of a deadlock. Gerald and Alan cannot step forward as they would be overwhelmed by the Sirius magic as soon as they step out of the barrier. The Ascarts were unable to move, while it is possible for Nicol, Sophia has to keep all of her focus on maintaining the barrier hence they cannot risk breaking it by moving forward. Keith tried to control the earth around them to make something or anything that could disrupt Sirius but his magic was being nullified as soon as they touched by the dark wind. Mary is keeping watch on their behind and Maria is sustaining the mana of the Ascart siblings.
Sirius on the other hand, is just staying in the middle of the room, watching them.
Either due to her courage, foolishness, concern, or a dangerous mixture of all, Katarina steps forward. She stares at Sirius's eyes with genuine care instead of fear or wary and continues to walk in his direction, leaving little to no regard for herself being harmed. Her friends were only able to gasp in shock as they saw Katarina step between Alan and Gerald and enter the room, leaving the barrier that was keeping them safe from Sirius.
"Why are you here!" Shouted by Sirius. "You...yo-your supposed to be asleep!"
"I wanted to talk to you" Katarina answered. She is now completely out of the barrier, yet she continues her approach to him like there is nothing. Not even a single strand of her hair is being blown away.
In the meantime, her entourage can still feel the assault of Sirius's magic. They stare at her dumbfounded about what's happening. Everyone is seeing it. Sirius's eyes widen even more as he cannot believe that his magic is not working on her.
Unlike everyone else, Maria sees a little more than everyone due to the nature of her magic. What she is seeing instead are violent surges of black magic emerging from Sirius which is what is hammering them right now. She can only compare it to the raging waves of the ocean during a storm.
On the other hand, she sees a swirling violet magic around Katarina like her own personal magic shield. It formed a sphere with Katarina in the center, protecting her firmly, with not even a single speck of Sirius magic reaching her. Maria looks could only look at her idol with awe.
"I saw that you are in pain. I can still see it even now." Katarina continues to walk closer to Sirius.
"Stay away!" He shouts to her again in rage. He swung his sword to warn her not to get closer. At the same time, the intensity of his magic increases. Sophia is starting to groan in stress.
"Why are you doing this?" Katarina asks as she stops just a couple of steps away from Serius. "What made you like this?"