The Arcana: Fragments

II: Science and Magic

Julian x Asra x Reader

I woke to the sound of a screaming teakettle, my mind pulsed in pain at the sound. I knew in reality it was far away, downstairs to be exact, yet it sounded right next to my ears. I rolled over thinking I was in my own bed and would find comfort in the smooth stone walls to my right, instead I found myself falling for a split second, my head scraping against the corner of a nightstand before hitting the wooden floorboards. My crash was loud and went unnoticed, and as I groaned in pain and embarrassment I heard bare feet running two steps at a time in my direction. "Y/n?! Are you alright?"

I felt heat flush up to my scalp where my head hit both the nightstand and floor and soon felt my hair getting wet. Upon opening my eyes I caught sight of the red liquid pooling around my head, staining my cheeks and getting into my mouth. Ugh, I spit softly, coppery. Suddenly, though, my mind brought flashes of memory from last night to me, and the blood that now seeped from my head now sparked memory of the man with fiery red hair I had met last night. For the life of me though, I could not place his name. His hair was the color of blood, as was the inside of his coat, and his aura.

I groaned again, straining to think, who was he?

"Oh God", I heard Asras voice upon entering the room. Rushing to my side he swept my body up and sat my upright against the foot of the bed. "Your room", I said softly, feeling weak. "Yes, my room. I should've known, I didn't suspect. Oh dear, this is bad", he pushed my blood soaked hair from my face and wiped my cheeks as best he could with his fingers. "We need to get you to a doctor, this wound goes beyond the abilities of magic, you're losing too much blood."

I struggled to speak," No...doctor...here?"

He sighed in frustration, "No, this part of town lost most of its doctors to the plague. We need to get you to the palace, Nadia will help. For now I can give you a spell for the pain, come, we don't have time".

"Luckily for you", another voice chimed in from the doorway, Asra shot to attention at the sound and faced that direction, "The doctor is already here". A tall, smirk plastered man with....fiery red hair now stood before us, one arm leaning against the doorway.

"Julian..", Asra greeted through a huff of disapproval.

"That's it!", I shouted, unaware that neither of the two knew what I meant. That was his name. Julian. No, yes. That was one of his names. I wanted, no, liked the other. Ugh! What was his other name?

Asra held my hand as I tried to get up, falling back miserably. "Help her", Asra said,"...please".

Julian smirked," My my my how the tables have turned. Suddenly it is magic who asks for the aid of science. Come, my sweet, let us get that wound fixed".

"She can do without your nicknames, Julian", Asra growled. Julian laughed, lifting me up effortlessly into his arms, he smelled like cloves and lemon, it was heavenly. "She can't? More like you can't".

Asra stood up and walked up to Julian and I, cheeks red with anger. Julian, significantly taller than Asra, only smirked and made his way downstairs, gingerly holding a handkerchief to my wound and he made his way down. Defeated, Asra followed close behind. "I need silk, cloth for absorbing the blood, needle and thread, surely you have something for pain...", my hearing muffled as Julian began going down materials he needed as he placed me on the counter, propping me to my side. "Don't put her to sleep though", Julian continued," Numb her as much as possible, but she can't lose consciousness. With this deep of a head wound..," he began parting my wet hair to the sides, I grimaced as I felt the flesh to my scalp open further," ..letting her sleep could be fatal."

Asra only nodded and began making his way to various shelves and cabinets, aligning Julian's requests in front of him as he peeled off his gloves. "Shh, you're alright", Julian cooed as he began prepping a solvent and threading the needle. "Asra, ready?" , both leaning in closer to loom above me Asra places his hands against my head. "You won't feel a thing", Asra promised, kissing my cheek.

I felt energy begin pulsing through my skull and the pain begin to dwindle, feeling tingly all over, in the corners of my eyes I could see orange wisps shoot from Asras hands. Nodding towards both of them, Julian now leaned over me and began working. It was dead silent in the shop, aside from all of our breathing and the sounds of my flesh being tied closed. Incoherent, I began making odd conversation, "Sounds like turning stew", I announced as my scalp was being sewn,"...sloppy", I finished. Asra looked away and by the tremor felt in his hands I could tell I made him gag, Julian only shushed me gently and continued working.

After a few more minutes, Julian finally stepped away," Well I must say, this is probably my finest work. But of course, you only deserve the finest".

I sat up slowly and let my feet dangle off the counter. "Now, about this mess", Julian came close to me and lightly brushed the shoulder of my night blouse, now stained red with blood. I shivered with mild arousal. "Stop", Asra came into view again, a warm bowl of water and torn bits of cloth under his arm," I will help her clean up. You've done enough. Leave".

"Asra '', I encouraged," Give him a chance", he only met my eyes with a discernible disappointment before wetting the cloth and wiping my face softly. "Thank you, darling. Besides, I still have questions that need answers, and I'm afraid you, Asra, are the only one I know with the answers I seek."

Julian pulled out a chair from the dining table and sat down, clearly intent on staying. Asra stayed quiet for a moment, thinking, still softly wiping away my drying blood. Slowly, I felt my wits begin coming about myself once more. Finally, Asra sat down as well," Fine, we can talk", I looked and met the gaze of both the men before me.

Folding the now red cloth within his hands he turned to Julian, and smiled," So, the tables have turned back to normal, and science seeks the aid of magic. Come, y/n", Asra patted the chair next to him," We all have much to discuss".

[05.04.2019]