Eight Intertwined

135 - Therese

Cyrus pulled up the desk chair beside Therese's bed as she slowly but surely pulled her eyes open once again. She stared up at the ceiling blankly for a few seconds, trying to figure out just where she was and how much had happened since she lost consciousness. She was still far too pale for Cyrus' liking, and the sight sent a shiver down his spine. "Awake, are you?" he murmured. 

Therese seemed to realize he was there after having not registered that she was not alone, and she nodded slowly, her lips slightly parted in a show of numb shock. Primrose appeared at Cyrus' side a moment later to help ease Therese into a seated position so she could drink some water, and the young student gladly drank down every drop she was offered before letting out a heavy sigh. Her shoulders practically caved in on themselves, leaving her hunched over and staring at the bottom of her empty glass silently.

Cyrus hesitated for a long moment, trying to figure out if he should ask for information from her now or later. He would have to talk to her about what she saw and experienced eventually, and ideally, he would hear about it as soon as possible so she could be sent back to Atlasdam. There were guards there to look after the royal family, and Cyrus didn't want to risk Therese facing further harm by being there with him. He didn't want to have to push her right off the bat either, but he saw little other choice. "Forgive me for asking so much of you so soon, but... Therese, would you tell me everything you saw and heard?" he questioned. 

Therese nodded slowly before she spoke, her voice coming out soft and raspy. "After you left, I... I was still taking classes at the Royal Academy. I noticed that Headmaster Yvon's assistant was gone though, and no one seemed to know where she had gone or what could have happened to her. I thought it had something to do with you leaving, so I kept my eyes open. She came back eventually though, and when she did, she went to see Headmaster Yvon. I overheard them talking about you, and... They said they would see you dead," she murmured. "Lucia said you were coming here to Stonegard and that they had to come here immediately to stop you. They left later that day, and I followed them because I wanted to help you. I couldn't let them kill you without a fight."

"You came all the way here to warn me..." Cyrus murmured, holding back words about how she had been too late. That wasn't Therese's fault at all. He had been too gullible, and he saw that now. He wished he could go back and undo it, but unfortunately, that was out of his reach, so he instead let out a heavy sigh, feeling his own body threaten to give way under the weight of the air. "As your teacher, I must scold you for your recklessness... But as your friend, I must thank you for saving me. If not for your bravery, Therion and I likely would not be here right now. I wish you had not been harmed in the crossfire, but... Thank you, Therese. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."

Therese's cheeks flushed pink at that, and she continued to stare down at the bottom of her glass for the sake of not meeting Cyrus' gaze. "I'm glad I made it in time," she whispered. "I couldn't bear to think I had failed you when you needed help most."

Cyrus shook his head. "Perish the thought... Though now that we are both here and alive, I must request one thing of you," he started, and Therese finally looked up at him, though her entire body was sluggish when she moved. "In the future... Be more careful. Consult others before you travel through the Orsterran wilderness across half the continent for my sake. Do not be quite so reckless, alright?"

Therese let out a hollow, joyless laugh at that. "Sorry, Professor... I learned from the best," she admitted, and Cyrus felt his chest grow tight. Therese had learned from example, and he set a poor one. He had dragged everyone he cared about into a death trap, and they had been lucky to be able to get out of it in one piece. He needed to be more careful from now on. Maybe he was the one who should have been told to be less reckless in the future.