“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”

- Plato

The Mensa – Academy of the Arts

Bertram looked at the students hurrying by outside. Because of the cancellation of classes today the mensa was much busier even now in the middle of the morning.

He sipped at his tea. He was relieved to see his predictions come true. Alea still carried the blessing of the light. It would be needed in the future, he was very sure. He would have to firmly tie her to the church and the current situation with her family would be just the opportunity he needed. Standing with the last princess against her brother who would be the only reasonable candidate for crown prince would require the Graufurts to gather what allies they could. They could not refuse.

Alea would be a living saint and her magic would be desperately needed to fend off the spreading darkness.

Bertram smiled. It was all just in time.

The Wisteria Dorm, Alyssa, Alea, and Mireille’s room

Lucille sat down and arranged her notes. “I also think it is a good thing to begin to study today. With what is going on outside even the remedial classes are canceled. So let’s begin with our first study group session!” She looked enthusiastic and cleaned her glasses thoroughly with a linen handkerchief. “Even though what happened is simply terrible. I hope Princess Lieseleta will be alright.”

All of them were silent for a moment at that.

“Don’t be gloomy.” Alea smiled softly. “We can only do our part. It’s no use sitting here worrying and accomplishing nothing, might as well study. Before I forget- Vivienne and her brother have excused themselves for today. I don’t know what they are doing really but as today was not planned it was perhaps to be expected that not everyone would have the time.”

Alyssa nodded and smiled at Mireille who seemed distraught. “It’s sooooo long until the next test. Why do we have to start now!”

Alyssa's smile broadened a bit. “Because of a certain someone failing the last one. Come eat some cookies, then let’s get started.”

Alea nodded and put Cecily on her head. “Please excuse the silliness but it is a good position to overlook the table.” The small girl sounded a bit embarrassed.

Lorelle arranged some dishes with cookies, some cake, and candy.

“Where did the angel with the cookies come from!” Mireille's eyes glittered as she snatched a cookie.

Lorelle blushed and retreated to get the tea.

Soon scritching from their respective styli could be heard interspersed with some questions. Mireille studied seriously but had trouble keeping her focus.

“Is there something we can do to increase concentration?” Alyssa saw that there was a problem and asked.

“Yes, actually there is. But it is mind magic and a bit advanced mind magic at that. If you have made it this far as an arcanist you normally don’t need it. Or at least the benefit is no longer as great.” Lucille answered.

“You looked it up?” Alea asked curiously.

“Yes, I thought it quite an obvious means of increasing the effectiveness of my studies. Thankfully I aimed for arcanist from the beginning so it will not detract from my chosen subjects at all.”

A knock sounded on the door.

The girls looked at each other.

“Lorelle- Could you get the door for me?” Alea asked.

The maid opened the door and they saw Lieseleta standing inside the doorway.

“Lieseleta!” Alea stood up hurriedly. “Come in!”

The golden-haired girl smiled and entered swiftly before embracing the smaller girl with the clockwork spider.

“Thank you so much. I was so furious that I could not see you while you were ill. You helped me in such a great way and I could not even be at your bedside. Can you forgive me?”

“Of course. I was not really hurt. There were other problems.” Alea fell silent.

“Let’s talk about that later- if you want to.” The princess smiled again warmly and tightened her hug. “I am only glad that you are better.”

Alea smiled and returned the hug.

Then it was Alyssa and Mireille that greeted the princess while Lucille was very embarrassed and shy.

“You are having a study group?” Lieseleta asked.

“First let me give you my condolences and yes we did not want to go out and classes have been canceled.” Alyssa looked at the princess with a complicated expression.

“You did not know him, how could you mourn him.” Lieseleta sighed heavily. “Even I cannot always be sad. There are times when I remember some good times with him or a small kindness he did me, even a joke he told well and then I grieve for him anew. But I cannot rest and sort it out at the moment. So please don’t take extra care with me, be as you always were.”

Mireille nodded, “I’m sorry for your loss.” She scratched at her cheek looked around and gathered a sleeping Semiramis from inside the blankets of the bed on the upper right and thrust the sleepy feline at the princess. “Here, she always cheers me up. There are few things this amount of soft fluffy fur does not cure!” She looked proud of her idea.

Lieseleta looked confused for a moment then gave a short laugh and accepted the hawk-cat into her arms where the lazy creature turned and found a good sleeping position.”Thank you.” She looked at them. “Can I join you? I was absent for more than a week and even though I tried to study and learn a bit it was not always- or even mostly- successful."

Another chair was soon brought in and Jera stood beside the door while the other two knights stood outside before the windows.

Time passed in relative peace.

Somewhere outside the city

Vanessa sat with her back to the wall condensation soaked into her cloak and the glow of her blue-green eyes shone beneath half-lowered lids.

Iseret stood up and looked at her before she winced as the many wounds covering her body were strained. Hugging herself she calmed her breathing and smiled sadly. “Vanessa, I have to go report. And have my wounds seen to.”

A small nod and an increase in the glow of her eyes was the only response. It was near midday and it was a testament to Vanessa’s power that she was awake at all.

“I will try to hurry back as soon as I am able.” With those words, she walked out of the cellar room. A snake made of water curled in some deep cracks beside the door but did nothing more than coil endlessly.

She ascended a stair made of skillfully cut stone slick with water and algae. Old drapery hung on the walls and as she came to the house proper the devastation was more visible in the pitiless light of day. ‘Gesserach has always been honest to the detriment of everything else.’

It was strangely fitting that Nirileth’s night would be more merciful in concealing the faults. Soon she reached the courtyard. Strange energies which she identified as residual death and void-magic tore at her injuries. Even grass was withered and the trees were dead and bare. Old, dirty snow covered the shadowed corners, and everywhere else was half-frozen mud. The sun seemed feeble inside this cursed mansion as if the warmth was blocked by the miasma of old wrongs. For a moment she was annoyed that Vanessa had to live in such squalid surroundings. Shaking her head to dispel such needless thoughts she began the journey back to the city.

A few hours later inside the cellar of the ‘Sturdy Mast’

Kadira looked at Iseret and her dark eyes seemed to hold countless calculations. “So she saved you?”

“Yes, my master.”

“That is interesting. You have my leave to accompany her and pay back your debt. I am loath to lose your capabilities at this juncture but sometimes there are more opportunities than hands to grasp them.” She smiled exposing her venom fangs. “And this is not to be missed.” A hint of avarice gleamed in her slitted eyes. “Do whatever…” she emphasized the last word, “is necessary. But first, you will have to heal. Matane will see you now.”

They were in a lavishly appointed bedroom with silky curtains enclosing a canopied bed, thick lush carpets, and tapestries with depictions both lewd and innocent covering the walls. The ceiling was a mosaic made of differently colored wood and showed a sprawling woodland orgy with satyrs and nymphs featuring prominently.

The medusa was sitting on a cushion beside a low table and sipped on a hot beverage, probably tea.

“Come here and let me have a look.” Matane raised her shoulders and yawned delicately while holding a fan before her face. “How is she?”

Iseret, who was in the process of removing her dirty and tattered clothes raised an eyebrow. “Can we do something about my injuries first?”

“You, my dear, are boring.”

That brought a pained smile to Iseret’s face. “Don’t I know it.” She acceded good-naturedly.

“It’s even more boring when you don’t even fight.” The medusa looked at her with an annoyed look the snakes covering her head hissed softly. “I could not come with you to help and then it’s all over and I will have to do accounting. Me. Accounting. Can we not simply hire some idiot to do that?”

“We have been through that argument before.” Kadira patiently explained but a soft undertone accompanied the words and the snakes covering Matane’s head became still and docile.

“Yes, my lady. I understand.”

“You have both done well. And if you use this chance to become closer to the vampire girl that much the better. Ask if you need anything. Regard yourself as being on detached duty. Call me for instruction only if you really need to. For everything else, I trust your discretion. We cannot be sure that Orpen is truly vanquished but we know he is no longer in the city. And I think that means he is dead. His underling unleashed the results of his blood cults experiments so we will have to be careful. The guard is out in force so we will lie low until this storm has passed.” Kadira got to her feet with boneless grace and left.

“Yes, my lady.” A soft chorus came from both the medusa and Iseret.

Evening at the Wisteria Dorm.

“Asandria?” Alyssa stood beneath the barren wisteria before the small pool

“Do you need something?” Asandria's ghostly voice contained hints of amusement.

“What should I do about the crystal?”

“Tomorrow is a Sunday, isn’t it? You could seek out a remote location and make it yours.”

“What will happen?”

“The crystal seed will burrow into your flesh and claim the deepstone to forge runes and pathways to better channel the void.” She was quiet for a moment. “I am of two minds about telling you but I think it is better to be truthful- You will suffer as you have never suffered before. The seed will devour your flesh and carve your bones. The deepstone will be inlaid into your deepest self and a part of your life will be used to fuel that transformation. Your life expectancy can be fixed. There are alchemical means of which I am aware so don’t worry.” The smile was like the slash of a knife in this perfect translucent flesh.

“Do I really need to?”

“If you continue as before- Yes. If you are cautious and only use it in a safe and controlled manner- Maybe. I cannot be sure if the advanced spells of the void will still harm you even with all the preparation you can and should do. So considering all that- Do it.”

Alyssa pulled out the crystal with the tendrils roaming inside. “What is that thing?”

“It is an abomination. A conglomerate of a crystalline life-form, golemwork, and the energies of the void. We should wait for Vanessa. Without her, your chances are much diminished.” Asandria looked pensive. “And you still owe me the rest of that song.” She grinned.