Secrets of an Alchemist

Varian and the Great Tree: Part 5

(For legal reasons, I need to clarify that the author's note at the end of the last chapter was a joke. I love and appreciate you all! That being said, this chapter starts from Cass' POV (🗡️). I kid you not, this was one of the first scenes I ever visualized for this fic, waaaay back when I started it in 2023. I've been SO EXCITED to get to this point, and I hope you all are having as much fun reading it as I did writing it (and if you're mad at me for what I'm doing to the characters, what else did you really sign up for?).)

(Chapter warnings: Near death via incantation times, like, 5. Minimum. Small mention of the underworld instead of... *cough* another way I could've described it, references to alcohol, and - of course - two boys and a raccoon high as a kite on flower dust - and arguing, arguing, arguing)

Cassandra gasped, the action taking the rest of the air left in her lungs.

Varian's eyes had fully glazed over. A dark, pure black, same as Rapunzel.

Her heart sank just like her body as she was continually weighed down towards the floor. They were trapped. Both of them were in some kind of trance, and if it continued for much longer it would kill them all. Cassandra strained forward, trying to force her body to move, stand, anything! But it was to no avail. Even for a swordsman like her, the decay in the air was too strong, pressing her down and stripping the air from her lungs.

"Wither and decay." The princess' voice had fallen back to speaking, but it was still just as eerie and powerful. Oddly enough, Varian's voice didn't join hers. "End this destiny. Break these earthly chains, and set the spirit free." A tear slipped down the Princess' face as Varian continued to face her, mouth still slightly open.

Cassandra struggled to stand once more, and made a bit more progress, crawling a few feet before her arms gave out under the pressure. She gave a weak cough, followed by a trio that wracked her body.

"Wither and decay. End this destiny."

"Rapunzel," Cassandra gasped weakly, now nearly flat on her stomach. She couldn't take it much longer. Her insides felt like they were rotting, like soon she wouldn't be able to take even a shallow breath. Desperately, she reached a weak hand out. "Stop!"

"Break these earthly chains," the princess continued. "And set the spirit free."

"Please!" Cassandra begged, tears springing to her eyes despite herself. She finally collapsed completely to the ground, her body having nothing left to give. She heard Adira cry out beside her, heard her sword clatter to the floor. Using every bit of strength she had left to give, Cassandra raised her head from the floor.

Her eyes widened as Adira gave a yell, somehow mustering the strength to get on her feet. She charged at Rapunzel, sprinting at her head on before turning her shoulder at the last second. At full speed, she slammed into Rapunzel, sending her sprawling into the pool in the center of the room, leaving Varian standing as he was.

All of a sudden, Cassandra could breathe again.

🧪

Coming back to awareness was like crawling out of the deepest pits of the underworld. Varian gasped, air entering his lungs for the first time in what felt like days, though he figured it had only been a few minutes. He didn't have much more time to think, however, as gravity chose that time to kick in.

Varian toppled over backwards, his legs giving out and sending him to a hard landing in a vaguely sitting position.

"Rapunzel!" Varian heard Cassandra exclaim. He attempted to quickly turn his head in her direction, but immediately was forced to clutch it instead, an intense headache hitting.