"You've had experience dealing with hexes and curses, haven't you?" Emery asked, a dozen empty glass bottles cradled in his arms as he looked over his shoulder over to where Lynus was leaning over Zedimir.
"Yea, a bit. I noticed this when I first met him, the marks and his eye I mean."
"I didn't," Emery mumbled, setting the bottles down before turning back to face Lynus, "So, how is he?"
"Unfortunately, without knowing who the caster is, or at least knowing the exact curse used, I can't cure him, but I can fix something to treat the symptoms and make him more comfortable," he stood straighter and curled his fingers around the strap across his chest holding his bag over his shoulder, looking down at Zed with a solemn expression, "Medics can do a lot, but when it comes to things like hexes and curses, there's only so much we can manage. If we're going to cure him completely, we need an understanding of curses that only a hexer would be able to comprehend."
"I don't know any hexers," Emery sighed in frustration, walking closer to the bed and folding his arms as Lynus smiled softly.
"There's one in my guild, but I don't think asking him about curses will go anywhere. I could borrow a few of his books at least, lend you a few, slowly start whittling our way through them to see if we can't find something to help."
"That's fine," Emery nodded, crouching down beside the bed and reaching out to feel Zed's forehead, "He'll be okay though, right?"
"Don't worry, he'll be fine," Lynus assured, squeezing Emery's shoulder, "I'll fix something quick for tonight that should at least give him his appetite back, because he needs to eat, and tomorrow I'll make something a little stronger to target the more severe symptoms, like the fever and the blood in his lungs."
"Thank you," Emery sighed, dropping his face against the mattress as Lynus sifted through his bag and pulled out a few bottles before walking over to the table and quickly mixing them into one before handing it out to Emery.
"Have him drink this when he wakes up, it should lower his fever and give him a bit of energy and appetite, I'll get back to you tomorrow with a more permanent medicine."
Emery nodded and took the bottle carefully, cradling it against his chest and watching Lynus leave the room before turning and sitting back down in his seat to wait for Zed to wake up.
~
"I like it," Sage decided, one arm hooked with Dyria's, his other hugging a large bag against his chest as the protector held up his newly acquired shield, "The green accents match your eyes."
He blushed a little at his own words but smiled in embarrassment when Dyria looked at him, "Yea? I got it because it matched your hair," he teased, and Sage laughed a little as Dyria slung the shield onto his back and reached out to take the bag from Sage, "Here, that's probably heavy."
"A little," Sage admitted, willingly letting Dyria take the rest of the armor he'd purchased before pressing himself against Dyria's side, beaming when he looked down to his right side where Na'axri was obediently staying at his feet.
It was a little amusing to realize Sage wasn't acting any different than he did before their kiss. He'd always done this, held Dyria's hand because he was afraid of being separated even for a moment, even in public here in Lagaard Sage would stand close enough to the protector that their shoulders were touching. Well, that made the transition a bit easier, made it less embarrassing for Sage to look at Dyria and think "mine".
He somehow remembered when he was in Historia, he never cared much about the idea of relationships or romance. He was always so focused on his work as a survivalist, constantly updating the codex's, making sure he and his brother both had enough arrows, training, and making sure the rest of Historia were properly supplied. Before, all he ever wanted to do was stay with his brother, make him proud, all he cared about was the way Eliath would praise him and ruffle his hair, the very idea of romance sort of just flew over his head.
Being with Halo now made him realize just how many people in the past would come up to Sage and try to talk to him, flirt with him and take his hand, but he'd been so distracted he had no idea what was happening and just politely responded to every question that the men asked him. Which probably wasn't a good thing, because they ended up getting bolder and bolder, leaning closer and closer to Sage, until someone from Historia had to step in and physically get the man away from the stupid survivalist.
Romance had no meaning before Sage met Halo, but... meeting Dyria opened up so many doors Sage never even knew were there. He never realized that being in romantic relationships could make him feel so complete. Even with the aching knowledge that his former family was gone, Sage could still smile, because he had a new family, and even better, he had Dyria.
He never realized he could want someone as much as he wanted Dyria, and couldn't stop himself from smiling as he entwined the fingers of his left hand with Dyria's right, his right hand reaching over to cling to the protector's sleeve, as if for added security that they wouldn't be separated.
"When you first found me in the Labyrinth, I thought I was already dead," Sage found himself saying, looking up at the sky, "I thought maybe you were an angel, and when you were carrying me to the hospital, the way the light was hitting you, it looked like you were wearing a golden halo," he smiled in embarrassment and laughed, "That's why I suggested the name Halo for your guild you know; because when I first met you, I could've sworn you were wearing one."
Dyria looked down at Sage with a soft smile, "That so? And here I thought it was just a clever on the spot idea," Sage laughed again and set his head against Dyria's shoulder while the protector squeezed his hand a little, "I think I must have fallen for you the moment I saw you," he confessed, and Sage looked up at him, "Blood and all. I don't really know why, but seeing you hurt, cradling you and watching your eyes open... when I was carrying you I silently decided I wasn't ever going to let you go."
Sage blushed and looked down, smiling softly and reaching down to scratch the top of Na'axri's head, "So... when you first saw me, you'd already decided you wanted to kiss me?" he asked in a teasing voice, glancing up and feeling extremely proud of himself when he noticed the pink across Dyria's cheeks.
"Not at first I don't think," he admitted, "In the beginning I just wanted to be the one to protect you. Maybe because I'm selfish. I wanted to kiss you after that, after I told you about... what happened to my parents, and what I did to save Iliad... when you didn't turn away from me, when you held me... I decided then that I liked being in your arms, about as much as I liked having you in mine," he smiled at Sage, "I think that's when I decided I wanted to kiss you."
Sage bit his lip and tightened his grip on Dyria's arm, "I don't know when I started to fall for you," he murmured, "It happened all at once, so suddenly I didn't have time to breathe. One day you were someone I didn't know, the next I couldn't imagine living without you," he pressed his lips into a tight line before adding, "Then you nearly died, and... I almost lost you."
Dyria stopped walking, turning to face Sage and frowning, "I'm sorry I scared you like I did. I never meant to."
"I kissed you," Sage admitted, looking up with an innocent look in his eyes, "When you got home and fell asleep. I kissed you."
Dyria blinked, fighting the embarrassment that Sage admitted something like that, and instead plastered a pout onto his lips, "That's so rude. You stole my first kiss and I wasn't even awake to enjoy it?"
Sage laughed and pushed himself onto his toes, brushing his nose against Dyria's, "If you want you can get your revenge now."
Dyria leaned in so their foreheads were touching, "I probably have plenty of time to get revenge, don't I?" he asked, letting his lips hover teasingly above Sage's, smiling when the survivalist closed his eyes and parted his lips a little in anticipation, "All the time in the world."
He was about to shut his eyes and close the small gap separating him from Sage, until he heard a low growl from Na'axri the same instant something caught the corner of his eye, prompting him to look up, frowning. He could've sworn he saw someone standing just beside the tree a few yards behind Sage, someone wearing a dark cloak, and the way Na'axri was pacing with his ears picked up was a pretty clear sign someone had indeed been watching them, but whoever it may have been was gone now.
"Dyria?" he dropped his gaze to see Sage was watching him with an uncertain expression on his face, "What's wrong?
"Ah, it's nothing, I thought I saw someone, but it was just a shadow," Dyria assured, placing a chaste kiss to the survivalist's cheek before turning, "Let's get back home before it gets too dark."
"Okay," Sage agreed before whistling for Na'axri and going back to cuddling against his protector's side.
Dyria smiled at Sage while they walked, but it faded quickly and he looked nervously over his shoulder back towards the tree, noting the way Na'axri was staying a few paces behind them, stopping now and then to look back over at the tree before running to catch up with the couple. Honestly for a moment he figured he could pretend that had been nothing, but the way their beast companion was acting... he couldn't just avoid it.
Someone had been watching them, someone potentially dangerous, otherwise Na'axri wouldn't have growled and wouldn't be acting so anxious. Dyria tugged his arm from Sage and instead wrapped it around the shorter explorer's shoulders, hugging him protectively and glaring over his shoulder before smiling at Sage, hoping he hadn't noticed.
As messed up as it sounded, Dyria wouldn't be surprised if Sage had a stalker. He was a stunning beauty after all, with bright magenta eyes Dyria had never seen before, and unfairly gorgeous long light green hair that was as soft to the touch as it looked, his skin creamy and pale, and just a genuinely kindhearted personality to tie everything together, he was like some exotic prize, and Dyria noticed all the eyes that would linger whenever he was out with Sage.
That just meant he had to be more conscientious about the people around them, especially now. Dyria had to make it clear to everyone that Sage was his, and that messing with his survivalist would result in injury. A stalker was definitely something Dyria would not tolerate, it made him angry just thinking about it, but tried to shake the frustration away so he wouldn't snap.
Wow, he didn't know he was this violently possessive and protective. Then again, he figured he was probably a bit unstable considering what he'd done in the past, but it was unlikely he'd actually attack someone just for following Sage around. If they hurt him, on the other hand, then yea, Dyria was probably going to go crazy.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Sage asked suddenly, and Dyria frowned, looking down at him, "You look a little pale. Are you hurting at all?"
"Oh, no, I'm sorry," Dyria smiled crookedly, "Just thinking about all the admirers you have and how I might beat them senseless if I run into any of them."
Sage snorted a little, "I don't have admirers," he argued, and Dyria sighed, setting his cheek against Sage's head.
"I really hope you're right."
~
"What an interesting turn of events," his voice was like nails clawing a chalkboard, and the two figures hanging from chains on the wall instantly reacted, one tensing up while the other cowered, harsh light casting into the dark room as the door was pushed open and a hexer with dark hair and eyes stepped into the room, "It's got to be eating you both up, to know the pretty boy of your guild is prancing around while you're both suffering here."
Someone laughed harshly, coughing, "Nah," he croaked, "Him safe is all we could hope for at this point. Thanks, by the way, for telling us he was alive," his chuckle sounded like it was being muffled, "Gave us a stronger will to fight against you."
He choked more when the hexer appeared in front of him and grabbed him around the throat, squeezing, "I should cut your tongue out, boy."
"And keep me from talking in my beautiful voice?" he choked out sassily, "Oh shame upon you and your family."
The hexer threw the already weakened explorer back so his head slammed against the brick wall, prompting him to slump forward groaning lowly, "You piss me off. I don't know why I'm keeping you two alive at this point. Neither of you have what I want," he turned away and paced across the room, "I can't find that leader of yours, and he's probably my best bet, but at least I know where that boy is. My easily manipulated pawn will be on his way soon to bring that survivalist to me," he grinned, pulling a chess piece from the sleeve of his long black cloak and rolling it around as he turned to face his prisoners, "It's been almost three months. Aren't you tired of this? Just answer my questions, join me!" he outstretched his arms, and the same man sighed.
"Again with the same sermon, it's boring I tell you," the hexer snarled and turned to the explorer hanging to the left, swinging on the chains in a bored manner like the imprisonment was meant to be a toy, "How about you just let us go and we turn you into the authorities? How haven't they caught you, anyway? You're a creepy unknown hexer taking residence in a Lagaard mansion, is this not suspicious to anyone?"
"I stay out of the limelight," the hexer explained in a dull voice, "That's what you should've done."
"We didn't ask for fame, it kind of just found us," the explorer said in an overly dramatic voice, his companion sighing and shaking his head, "We're strong, buddy. Torture us all you want, it's not going to break us."
"What about your precious leader and his younger brother?" the hexer asked, chuckling, "That boy... he looks soft as silk. When I get my hands on him, I'm going to tie him into knots."
The explorer clenched his jaw but didn't respond as the man laughed deeply and left the room, slamming the door closed and casting the room back into darkness. Alone again, the explorer let himself slump down, hanging by his arms and sighing, his head tilting back against the wall.
"Can we leave now? I know you can bust us out easy, what are you waiting for? A signal?"
"Yes."
"Oh, well then everything's peachy," he slammed his head against the wall, "I'm not built for this, and I can't imagine how you're taking it. We have to get out. Both of them... both of them are in danger. If they're not already dead."
"They're not."
The explorer sighed and bowed his head, "Alright, I'll trust you, but I don't like this," he lifted his head again when the door opened quietly before shutting, and a match was lit before candles came to life, casting just enough light into the room for tired eyes to catch sight of ash gray hair and eyes that matched the yellow flames of the candles, "Oh wow! Look who's graced us with his presence! The mighty conqueror of the Labyrinth beasts! I'd bow to you, but as you can see," he tugged on the chains, making them clang against the stone wall, "I'm a bit tied up."
The man who'd just entered kept his eyes down as he stepped further into the room and set down two platters of food, "You need to eat," he stated, stepping over to the wall and pulling on the chains so they were slack enough to allow the two men to drop to the floor and draw their arms in, "Please."
"Hm, food," the man on the left crossed his legs before folding his arms defiantly, eyes closed, "Nah, I don't think I will."
The man standing rolled his yellow eyes and turned to the third person in the room, but the moment his feet moved in that direction, the other young man scrambled away from him, as far as he could get with his wrists chained.
"Wow, it's almost like he's scared of you," the man to the left said sarcastically, throwing himself onto his back and stretching his legs out as he held his left elbow with his right hand, wincing, "Can't imagine why, it's not like you tried to kill us or anything like that."
"You just don't understand," the man with yellow eyes insisted, turning, "I didn't do this because I wanted to."
"Do us both a favor and fuck off."
He sighed heavily and turned, shuffling his feet as he made his way back over to the door, "I am sorry. I didn't want this to happen."
The door closed again, and the explorer shut his eyes, "Of course not."
~
The morning was greeted by the smell of cooking breakfast and the cheerful voices of explorers getting ready to go out for another day in the Labyrinth. Even though it was early, people were awake, crowding into the dining hall in order to get the best food while it was still warm. When Vien entered the room with Nirim at his heels, he brightened substantially and ran the rest of the way to the table by the window designated as theirs.
"Zed! You're alive and you're even out of bed!" he cheered, and the dark hunter looked up from where he'd been staring into his cup, just as their medic stepped up with two plates, one with the bare minimum, the second filled with food.
"The medicine Lynus fixed up yesterday was a miracle," Emery said with a crooked smile as he sat down beside Zed, "He can finally eat, his fever is gone, he's basically back to normal now."
Zed happily dragged his plate closer before digging into it, and Vien laughed as he dropped himself onto the bench across from him, Nirim staying close by his side, "You're like, never allowed to get sick like that again, Zed. Our medic is hard enough to deal with, he's ten times worse when you're not in tip top shape. You in particular," he held up finger guns and winked, but Zed was so busy enjoying his first full meal in five days he didn't notice, so Vien just slumped forward, his chin on the table and a pout on his lips, "You're no fun."
"Oh thank god, he's alive," Iliad sighed in relief when he walked up to the table holding a plate of food, "I was seriously starting to worry about Lagaard for a few days there, I legitimately thought Emery was going to commit arson."
"Would you shut up?" Emery scoffed, "Let the guy eat in peace."
"He seems so focused on doing just that he didn't even hear what was said," Arcan noted, sitting down beside Iliad with his own plate while Vien lifted off the table.
"Where's our human mascot?"
"Could you stop calling my brother that?" Arcan asked, squinting, "He asked if he could hang out with Becky and Binah so I said okay. He needs friends closer to his age anyway."
"Where are the two lovebirds then?" Vien asked, sitting straighter and grinning, "I haven't seen them since yesterday, they went on a walk to pick up some new supplies for Dyria and then just disappeared."
"No, they didn't," Emery corrected, "Dyria got new armor, but he still needed to adjust everything, and Sage offered to help, so all yesterday they were trying to adjust the belts and size of the armor straps so the stuff wouldn't fall off Dyria during battle," he narrowed his eyes at Vien, "Quit picking on them," he warned before closing his eyes and holding a cup of tea to his lips, "That's my job."
Vien laughed and leaned forward, hands on the edge of the table, "How do you feel about it, Iliad? Now that Sage is all lovey-dovey with your brother, do you think it'll be weird for you?"
"I don't really care," Iliad admitted, staring up with a piece of bacon hanging from his teeth, "Dyria is happy, Sage makes him happy, so I'm cool with it. You've noticed too, right?" he dropped his eyes to Emery, "How much Dyria has changed since we found Sage?"
Emery smiled thoughtfully and hummed, "I think all of us have changed pretty dramatically since meeting Sage."
"Yea, you're healing again!" Vien pointed, and Emery sat straighter.
"That reminds me actually, I'm going to be at the hospital later today, Lynus wanted to show me a few things, and we were going to pick up a few books. Do you guys mind watching Zed, because I can't take him everywhere with me."
Iliad arched an amused eyebrow when Zed reached over to grasp Emery's coat sleeve without looking up, "I don't think he wants you to leave him."
Emery sighed in frustration, "Fine, you can come with me, just finish your breakfast."
"You're like a mom," Vien cooed, and Emery narrowed his eyes, so the troubadour quickly added, "A very scary mom."
This time it was Iliad who laughed, pointing at Emery as if the nickname "scary mom" was the funniest shit in the world, even when the medic turned his glare onto the survivalist. Halo was so lost in their own world they didn't notice the stranger who stepped into the dining hall, his eyes panning over the area before stopping on the table near the window and striding forward, stopping right beside them.
"Excuse me, but are you the guild calling yourselves Halo?"
Their talk and laughter ceased and all eyes moved to the stranger. He was dressed in rather casual clothes, a sleeveless shirt with a high collar that showed black tribal tattoos down the entire length and expanse of his right arm and bandages wrapping from his left shoulder to his hand. There was an axe hanging at his back, and his hair was a dark ash color, while his eyes were a deep yellow shade, a piece of paper in his right hand.
"Yea," Iliad was the one to answer finally, "Can we help you?"
Arcan squinted a little, "Do I know you? You're kind of... familiar."
"I've never seen you before in my life," the landsknecht stated, looking down at the paper he was holding, "I'm just here to find a friend of mine," he held the paper out and Vien leaned forward.
"Oh that's Sage!" he exclaimed, and Emery scoffed, taking the poster from the explorer.
"Great, another one," he grumbled, "Vien, this poster has caused more trouble than it's worth, take the rest of them down before more people prance in here claiming they know Sage."
"It's not my fault," Vien whined, "I was trying to help."
The landsknecht just sighed and rubbed his forehead, "I don't have time for this, his name's not Sage," the table hushed as the explorer held his hand out, "Look, I thought he was dead, then I saw that poster and... is he with you or not?"
"You're that guy!" Arcan gasped, "I remember now, you were with that green haired survivalist! You're the one who walked into me and knocked over all the crates I was carrying!"
The landsknecht didn't look very interested in Arcan's story and just ignored him as he continued, "Where is he?"
"Sorry, but we're not really open to just giving away information about friends," Iliad stated, and the explorer's yellow eyes flashed to him, "If you really know him, then what's his real name?"
The landsknecht narrowed his eyes, but he looked more confused than anything, "What do you mean what's his real name? Don't you people already know it?"
"It's a long story," Vien admitted, and the landsknecht closed his eyes like he was forcing himself to calm down, exhaling and setting a hand on his hip.
"Seara," he said finally, opening his eyes and stunning everyone at the table with how much pain was in them, "That's his name. He's a survivalist from the guild Historia. My guild."
Iliad was the one who pointed at the explorer, "So... you're..."
FOR EVERY “⏳” I RECEIVE, MY MUSE WILL OPENLY TALK ABOUT A BIT OF THEIR BACKSTORY. — not accepting
“You wanted to kill Barry when he was a kid, right? That was your original plan.” From what she understands, anyway. She knows Barry’s version of the story—the man in yellow, lightning inside the house, watching his mother die. His father took the blame and the police never believed his innocence. And when she looks at that story through the jaded gaze of a cop, it makes sense the way it played out. But looking at it as someone who knows the truth? Her perspective is a lot different.
Shayera leans back against the edge of the table, folding her arms across her chest before she narrows her eyes at Eobard. “My mother tried to kill me when I was born.” A shrug. It’s been a hundred years, the fact doesn’t bother her as much as it once did. That’s all it is now. A fact. Something she looks at from a cold distance the way she looks at just about everything else in her life that’s led up to this point. Not much she can do to change things; she’s not a speedster.
“We practice a crude form of eugenics on my planet. The Kryptonians had theirs down to a science, but on Thanagar…” She shakes her head. “If you were small or sickly or weak, they’d leave you in the desert when you were born. If you survived the first three days, your parents had to take you back in and give you a chance to live.” Lips twitch with a grim sense of irony and she tilts her head. “My relationship with my mother was always…complicated. At least now I know that seems to be the status quo for attempted child killers and their victims.”
