(I accidentally created a parallel in this chapter. Using one thing from the original as a sort of metaphorical parallel to something I added, I guess?? Pretend like I did that on purpose please, and see if you can find it! (Comment if you think you did) :D)
(Edit: Happy Birthday Rhymiestarfollower!)
(Chapter warnings: refusing to acknowledge other's blame after putting all the fault on yourself for a long time (am I projecting? I think I'm projecting.), "I guess you could call it a breakdown??" AKA me not knowing when a scene is bad enough to warrant a trigger warning, arguing with self, some messed up/stretched out conversation timing because - again - I wrote side conversations with Varian and I'm too lazy to move them (please act like it works good :3))
"It's beautiful..." Varian heard Rapunzel repeat, still gazing around the tree's ecosystem. Swiftly, Adira dropped her hand off his shoulder, and the two shared a smile before they moved closer to the front of the group.
"Yeah, it's great," Cassandra grumped, walking past her. "But we need to keep moving if we want to stay ahead of Hector."
"Cassie!" Varian suddenly exclaimed, sprinting forward and catching her arm. Cassandra scrambled backwards, narrowly avoiding stepping into a hidden gorge. Once she collected herself, she shot him a grateful look.
"Thanks, Var." She smiled as he dropped her arm. Despite himself, Varian's face grew ever-so-slightly red.
"D-don't mention it," he murmured, rubbing the back of his neck embarrassedly. Rapunzel let out a sigh of relief, giving Varian a light whack on the shoulder.
"Nice catch, Varian," she told him, a smile flittering across her face. He returned it. "That was close." Cassandra looked away from the princess, a bit of guilt in her gaze. "Guys, look!" Rapunzel suddenly exclaimed. Varian looked upward to see winding paths, stretching all the way up and down the tree.
"Uh, i-it looks like the only way across is to go all the way up one road..." Eugene piped up.
"...and down the other," Rapunzel finished, a bit of apprehension in her tone.
"Then I guess that's what we gotta do," Cassandra said commandingly. "Come on." With that, she began walking, the rest of the group following behind. "This place gives me the creeps," she murmured.
"Ugh, me too," Hook Foot said. Varian nodded in agreement.
"There's something... off about this whole place," he added with a small shudder.
"That's probably because this tree-" Adira interjected, drawing her sword. "-was once known as the Tree of Zhan Tiri." She hacked away some roots that were covering a mural as a sudden chill ran through Varian. That name felt... oddly familiar. But from where...
"Wait wait wait," Rapunzel blurted, a bit of panic as the roots fell away to reveal... a giant goat-squid. "The ancient sorcerer whose magic caused a deadly snowstorm thar nearly destroyed Corona?" Varian's eyes widened as they darted to the princess.
"That storm," he murmured. "Was magic?" Rapunzel's eyes met his, and immediately softened apologetically.
"Yes," she replied. After a moment's pause, she continued, softly. "I'm so, so sorry, Varian." He broke eye contact, studying the ground instead.
"You-" The words caught in his throat. You have nothing to apologize for. That's what he was going to say. But the words wouldn't leave his mouth, as if they sensed the falseness that the person saying them couldn't accept. Varian instead resorted to a cursory nod, still not meeting her eyes. Rapunzel opened her mouth, as if to say something else.
"And let's not forget his little art teacher buddy who turned you into a zombie," Eugene interrupted, attempting to diffuse some of the tension in the room.
YOU ARE READING
Secrets of an Alchemist
Fanfiction[TEMP HIATUS] Updates: ~Weekly, unless stated otherwise (Or two weeks between the end of one episode and the start of another) In a rewatch of Keeper of the Spire one day, I had an idea. And that idea... that idea grew into a fanfic. 🧪 What if Hect...
