A Taste of Death

Chapter Nine

The party slowly awoke, Nova spotting Vesper coming back with various fruits and greens, blinking sleep out of her eyes and gently shaking her sleeping friend awake. "Mmm, let me sleep!" Rosa bat Nova's hand away lightly, turning over. Nova laughed and stood up. "Alrighty, but don't blame me if there's no food left." She teased, being rewarded with an unimpressed look from her red-headed friend. The group was mostly silent, everyone in their own thoughts as they feasted on the fruits and harvest. Eventually, Rosa joined and sat by Nova, taking the offered fruit and quietly mumbling, quite the opposite of a morning person.

The morning itself wasn't hot nor cold, the air slightly blurred with fog, the morning dew making the ferns sparkle as the gentle sun hit the drops. As the group finished their silent breakfast, Nova gently tapped Neveah's shoulder, the fae looking over at the ravenette. "Are you going to be okay?" She asked gently. Neveah smiled sadly. "Yeah," She answered, slightly hesitant. A pang of sorrow shot through Nova. Neveah's pain was evident but the princess was strong and everyone knew it. Nova nodded lightly and turned away, noticing Elowen watching her. "Even this world bears much suffering in the lives of its people." The seer gently commented, hands folded at her waist, as Nova walked up to her. "Was it always like this?" Nova asked, gazing into the elser woman's eyes. She only saw a flicker of pain before Elowen looked away. "Not always," came the soft reply, "Back when the worlds were one and evil was nowhere in sight."

"You know things we don't." Nova spoke slowly. She trusted Elowen but the Seer had gotten more and more distant, almost sad as of late and Nova wanted to know why. "I know many things, Nova." Elowen looked back at her, guarded, secretive, as if she was afraid but didn't want to show it. "What aren't you telling us? You know what's going to happen, don't you?" Nova pushed a little harder. She knew she may be going overboard but she needed to know. "I...can't tell you that." Elowen responded back. "Why not?" Rosa's arms were crossed as she walked up to Rosa, skeptical. "Because I..." Elowen trailed off, looking behind her and towards the ground then back at the two, her gaze seeming to harden, still holding their kindness, but all signs of vulnerability were gone. "It's better to be ignorant, sometimes and let fate play out." Nova and Rosa didn't respond and Elowen cleared her throat. "Now, if you'll excuse me-" She stepped around the two humans and went to Amarelis, the two engaging in conversation for a few minutes before a whine from Vesper's glowing staff got everyone's attention.

"Is everyone ready to leave?" He inquired, getting a nod from most. "Yeah, but we have no clue where this guy is?" Rosa's arms were still crossed, an eyebrow quirked in her usual sassy, sarcastic tone. Nova nodded, Noema strapped to her back in a sheath that Vesper had provided, however, it was Waylon who turned to Elowen. "Did you see anything in your dreams last night?" Elowen responded to his question with a shake of her head. "I'm afraid not." She replied. Cassiopeia stepped forward. "I can find out." She offered. Neveah gently grasped her friend's shoulder. "Are you sure? I know you don't like using your powers much." She looked concerned but the blonde shook her head. "If it'll help us end this, then I'll do what I can." Cassiopeia responded. Neveah nodded and stepped back as the elven princess closed her eyes, a ball of purple energy soon forming in her hands. She grimaced slightly, but appeared to not care, glowing purple as she focused as much as she could into her objective. After ten long minutes, the ball slowly expanded, showing a familiar forest, Nova's eyes widening as she recognized it. "That's the forest I came from!" She looked at the others, the two fae shuddering. "The Shadowed Woods..." Waylon whispered, fear in his voice.

Cassiopeia's magic exploded and dissipated as she cried out in pain, rubbing her eyes. "Cas! Are you okay?!" Neveah immediately went to the elf's side, the warrior tensing up and shaking her head, hiding her face. "Let me see." Amarelis walked over, gently removing Cassiopeia's hands and tilting her chin up. "Can you open your eyes?" He asked, concerned, but also wary. The female hesitated but did so, earning lots of shouts and cries of horror as Cassiopeia's eyes were now almost completely white, a single black slash across each of them. "I can't see..." She spoke quietly, scared. Neveah turned to Waylon. "Do you think you can heal this?" She asked softly. Waylon looked doubtful but he nodded. "She should sit down first, though." As Neveah helped Cassiopeia sit, Vesper shook his head. "It might not work, in fact, it may blind you as well, Waylon. Dark magic is nothing to play with." He cautioned. Waylon gave the Druid a look. "I'm still going to try." He was determined, gently taking Cassiopeia's face in his now glowing golden hands and focusing. Everytime he felt as if he was going to succeed, the magic cursing Cassiopeia's vision revolted, shocking the healer.