Unital Ring III: Rebellion In the Underworld

Jaymes and Eydis Reunite

Thirty minutes later...

"I have terrible news, Eydis. Whatever poison your attacker used is not something that the light arts can easily manage." Archmage Mer Agi Ina sighs as she places a metal saucer of blood -- Eydis' poisoned blood -- on top of the empress' desk. Eydis sits in her chair on the other side, still weakened by the wound Cordelia healed and the slow but starting effects of the poison. Currently, it does no more than tire her out, but she's sure the worse is yet to come.

"Of course, you know that poison cannot be healed by the arts." She sighs and looks across the table, frowning at the ruler. "You shouldn't have sent Sikhan and Acras away. No, how is it that this intruder escaped alive from you of all people."

"Heh... I'm happy to see you're concerned for me, Merls, but I'll be fine. Nothing a little poison can do to hurt me." Eydis tries laughing it off, but the other three women in the room don't feel so merry. One look at the two girls seated on the couches beyond the desk breaks apart Eydis' desperate attempt at humor, so she switches back to empress mode. "Anyway. have you heard any news from the search party?"

"Nothing since I came here. Acras lead the special forces out with Sikhan, and I had my mages work out the strange miasma. It felt like the dark arts...but it wasn't, and it seems that it was dispelled by its caster. Then that...blast... You have any idea what that was?"

Eydis nods. "I might. No, I'm certain of it."

"Then I guess we'll find out when the Supreme Commander returns. On that note, what's this adventure you two troublemakers are going on about?" Merls faces the young ladies, an intrigued smile on her face. Sylvie and Cordelia look at each other, and if Eydis could read looks like words on a page, Cordelia wishes to spoll the beans, but Sylvie is adamant about keeping their reasons a secret.

Her daughter may not be the type to engage in reckless shenanigans, but Sylvie does have her father's streak for getting in trouble and being stubborn about it. Cordelia, however, lacks her ancestor's inflexibility. Eydis decides to weaponize it. "Cordelia, what is it? "

Split between her best friend and her ancestor's best friend, Cordelia turns her head to mother and daughter like a confused dragon. "Oh, um...you see......Sylvie was actually looking to meet with Dorothy and Notte about love."

"Wha--?"

"Yeah, you see... There's this boy who I know reaaaaally well -- my big brother -- and Sylvie has taken quite an interest in him. But you see, she's a little conflicted because of her feelings about another boy on this side of the End Mountains. So she wanted to talk to me, Notte, and Dorothy about love. I guess Notte would be the best option, since she has Rano."

Red in the face, Sylvie stands up. "What are you saying! I don't even like Mathias, and I don't want to talk about Log! This has nothing to do with love! We're here to help Jaymes on getting to--" Sylvie forcefully covers her mouth. Whether realizing she had been trapped in realizing more than she should about her personal life (though Eydis already knew her daughter possessed feelings for the Auratum heir) or the spill of the name that Sylvie's father shares, the princess clamps up.

Then she faces Eydis, and the empress' face molds into shock. Sylvie didn't mention anyone named Jaymes, but the one Eydis knows specifically -- the former Emperor. If the poison in her body hadn't weakened her to the point she can't make sudden movements, Eydis would have mimicked her daughter. "You mean..."