Shadows & Illusions ; Zed x LeBlanc

Chapter Two; Live for Me.

She would run a hand through her now wet hair as she brought him through the gates. Emilia would instruct one of her workers to help him off of the horse, and walk him through the twisting corridors into a bedroom.

The Matron would dismiss her maid, and bring him to the bed.

"I expect a few answers from you, when you're rested." She'd say, as another one of her maids would bring a tray of medical supplies, a few clothes and a bucket of water.

"Our maester is out, so I suppose I'll be the one to care for you." She'd say softly, placing a hand onto his chest plate,

"May I. . . ?"

For a man who neared death, his mind was all too calm to care for his surroundings when it finally came to, caring little for the secluded mansion he managed to see. He wasn't one to talk about being hidden after all.

Zed would not oppose the aid from the foreign hands as he was helped through the mansions interiors and before long having the very person who saved him come before him. Realization sparking in his mind as he sat on the bed.

"I'll humor that depending on the questions." Was his reply, though what he thought was more along the lines of 'Not that I have much choice.'

But when it came to pressing matter about his wounds, however. . .

Skepticism was discarded.

"I don't have much of a choice." He says through his torn mask, giving consent to to the Matron.

She would begin to remove his armour, eyes grazing each almost lethal injuries. "You've many lacerations. Any regular man would've died out there, you're a lucky one, Zed."

Emilia whispered, removing each piece of metal, leaving him in his regular clothing. She move up his shirt gently, taking a cloth and submerging it in cold water. She'd gently run the cloth over his wounds, cleaning them off as gentle as she could.

"Many of these are deep. To boot, there's venom running through your blood stream..." She'd say, settled beside the bed.

Emilia treated each wound, with a healthy amount of alcohol and anti-venom. She remained calm and well mannered, but in all truth she had no idea if he'd survive once the potion wore off.

He has too little blood, and at the rate he's losing it he might be completely drained within a few hours. She now had no choice, she had to use magic.

"All of these wounds are lethal, Zed. You're going to die after the elixir wears off at this rate..." She'd tug on her bottom lip with her teeth in thought. She hadn't used this type of magic in years. But it was his only chance of survival.

"I'm going to perform a spell on you. You'll live if I do so, but this might be a little... /Taxing/."

"I tend to be quite the lucky guy . . . " Zed chuckles out. Her analysis all sounded accurate to the wounded shadow caster; to every word. He could feel it the cuts and spewing blood with each minimal movement, despite the potion he was given.

Each touch upon the wounds incited silent grunts, pain scattering through every nerve in his frail frame being but an understatement.

Dull eyes would close, a deep sigh escaping his lips before he took a look at himself, then at her. Giving a look of silent approval past his mask.

"Figured.

Get it over with. Tell me about the after effects after I can breathe without tasting my own blood."

"Very well. Believe me, this won't hurt a bit." She whispered, pressing a hand right above his heart. There was no time for second guessing. She'd shut her eyes and begin to channel.

Before long, a Violet mist seemed to seep through her body, and surge into his. His heart began to pump again, his lungs becoming stronger, each wound seemed to be stitched together, his body seemed to heal right before his eyes.

It was an ancient spell, used within her culture throughout they centuries, but it came to the point where only she knew how to cast it; because everyone believed the dark arts were dangerous.

Soon she'd hastily bring her arm back, her other hand rubbing against her veins as she caught her breath.

"Perhaps that was a bit too much." She muttered, seeming a little drained. "Are you alright?" She asked, her hand now pressed against his arm in concern.

Eyebrows raised in curiosity once her hand was held over his most vital organ, and yet that curiosity turned into slow disbelief.

Magic was nothing foreign to the shadow master, but as he witnessed the wounds seemingly undo themselves whilst feeling invigorated with each passing millisecond, Zed's eyes gained a look of amazement right before the Matron.

Once the aura wore off, he squeezed his hands hard as if to check if he indeed was alright. That it wasn't an illusion of some type. There were no odd urges, no residual magic in his system that he could sense, and certainly no venom running through his bloodstream.

All he could do was look at LeBlanc with nothing short of amused awe, "Like never before~" He muses, yet with a furrowing eyes.

"But it looks like you need a break yourself, Emilia." He taps the hand she reached out with. The discolor in her skin showing even for her silky hues.

"No, no. I'll be fine, what's important is that you're alive. It's a dangerous cast. An ancient spell no one has completely mastered. A transference一 Black magic, the very magic your people forbid and disgrace." She explained, her body calming as she began to stand.

She would turn her arm to show him her wrist, which was highlighted with purple veins branching to her finger tips.

"To keep it simple, there wasn't a sufficient amount of life within you, your soul; so I gave you a fraction of mine." Truly by casting this spell, she was putting her life at risk for his.

No dangers would come to him, but she paid the debts. In all truth she had no idea why she was so reckless, and didn't think twice about it and went with her instincts. Perhaps she had a bit of humanity within her after all.

Zed blinked.

Then blinked again.

And then for a third time in silence as the explanation settled. He'd figured such a spell took a toll, every spell does from his experience. But to sacrifice her life force for his health; Zed could only laugh softly.

"That's quite . . . poetic of you." He manages to chuckle out, reaching back to the latch that barely kept his mask in place. "Knowing that, it almost makes me think we are one for each other now with part of you keeping me alive." He then unlatches the mask, placing it on the bed side next to him before giving the woman a lasting look through his messy white looks.

"I can't say anything but thank you." There was no growl to his voice, no deepness behind a mask, but rather a stern tone of gratitude that was all too human to appear to be Zed himself.

【 End of Chapter 2 】