( A short story in response to Under the Ice by @snow-and-sea )
Rosa knew that it was bad. Knew that Khargis faced tremendous struggle, endured discomfort of ceaseless loss and regeneration of flesh, fought with the trials of each sun to live as normal a life as possible under his circumstances.
And yet, despite acting as his personal nurse, working to stem the proverbial tide of destruction, she still hadn't realized the full extent of Redmane's devastating necrosis.
Following her and Erimmont's bonding and subsequent honeymoon, the woman had worked tirelessly, researched and exhausted every avenue of contact she had within the lands of Hingashi and Othard as a whole. She was looking for someone– a woman whom she had only spoken to perhaps a handful of times years ago, and yet remembered distinctly as a master of poisons in her line of shadow work. 'Chitose Orin' had been the name in what records she had managed to scavenge up from their former company, and yet it constantly led to dead ends. An assumed name, it seemed..
But a Sekiseigumi regional record of ruling Daimyo lords had been her saving grace; how she had acquired it was a question better left unanswered. Written within its contents, the succession of Kaneuchi no Chitose over her father, Kichirou, had been noted, deep within the mountains of Yanxia. It was little wonder why Rosa couldn't find her.. But then again, hiding had been Chitose's specialty.
By Express Moogle Mail Rosa had reached out - and paid a pretty gil for the expedient service. Miraculously, Chitose had accepted Rosa's request for help– and so the two women reunited, and the full breadth of the situation discussed in swift order.
"I will need samples," Chitose explained in the foyer of Shroudheart Boutique, the Raen's Yanxian accent lacing her words rather thickly; her use of Common had become terribly sparse, in the years she had spent leading her village. "Flesh, and blood. You have brought.. a scar- scalpel, syringes, and b- ah, vials, yes?"
"Yes! Yes, I've everything in my kit," Rosa nodded her confirmation with a bright smile, hefting the strap of her big leather bag. "I mixed far more restoratives than we'll likely need, but I hate to take any chances at this point.." Her expression sobered some, a wilt to her shoulders.
"There is no such thing as prepared too much," Chitose affirmed simply, the dark beauty pausing to consider her grammar. But she shook her head after a beat. "Let's not waste more time."
"Of course, you're right," Rosa agreed softly, and quickly led the way to the chambers Khargis occupied. A chilled draft brushed her fingers through the doorframe as she went to knock and paused, a puzzled knit to her brows. "What's he done now..? Khargis? I'm opening up with a guest, so I do hope you're decent!"
"[ I don't mind if he's not ]," Chitose murmurred in her native tongue behind her, as the door was opened–
But the playful comment fell upon horrible silence, as frigid mist poured forth and the wretched sight of Khargis' withered, frozen form was unveiled. Chitose heard Rosa's heartbroken scream of the man's name, watched the terrified redhead hurry forth, and followed her in.
"Twelve above, what did you do?!" The tears that rolled down Rosa's cheeks practically steamed in the freezing room as she desperately looked over the Xaela's atrophied figure, shaking hands brought to his frostbitten features. "I- I've never seen– How.." Her fiery head dropped to his chest, listening, fearing the worst.. before her eyes widened in shock, and immense fear. "H- He's still alive.."
"We have to work fast," Chitose directed, keeping the door open for the icy air to escape in the hope it would help. Somehow. "S- Thaw him, before his heart stops." Both women dove into Rosa's massive bag– Chitose for the medkit, and Rosa herself for her crystalline lily.
"You must be calm," Chitose chided evenly amidst their flurry. "'When the snow melts, what does it become?'"
"Snow? It- Water?" Rosa evidently struggled to comprehend the inquiry as she readied her focus, a bewildered look cast to the Raen.
"'It becomes Spring'. An old Yanxian proverb. You must become his Spring– bring him warmth, and renewal."
Quiet realization came over Rosa– and with it, restored calm and understanding. She couldn't panic now, of all times..
Once she delved into concentration, from her crystal foci in her hands came a warm glow of energies. Her grasp of the White had grown so much more powerful, bathing the frozen room in radiating waves, and dispelling the magicked ice that imprisoned its lone occupant.
And as the redhead worked her magicks, Chitose slipped behind Khargis with the tools she'd need ready to prep for the eventual anti-toxin and end to his moons-long suffering. Spying the mess of his back, she couldn't help a sickened grimace. "We are going to need all of your elixirs.."
It was to be a very long day ahead.
