Morrigan had to whistle and avert their eyes while Shitakibo spoke of the Red Rogues. It probably would not be the best time while establishing their innocence to admit that they were, technically, a member of such a group. Last year, they’d been held hostage to act as a bodyguard against any other rogues that attacked Darkveil warehouses… but that was an outlier! Why, if people were going to hold so much wealth in their coffers and their glamorous mansions, then they should only expect to be robbed by innocent thieves who merely wanted a taste of the high life-!

Er, but aside from a few goblets and candlesticks they’d filched, they really weren’t here to rob anyone today. Honest! Morrigan’s intentions, as stated before, were entirely noble and selfless, in service of an ally and friend…

But it probably would not help their case to discuss such things, so this particular truth, Morrigan would keep to themselves for the time being.

They straightened when Shitakibo addressed them directly, waning suspicion still evident in her stare, though it was more thoughtful than anything… as if she were ready to listen to Morrigan’s words, and believe them, even over the word of her own employer. Morrigan, a liar. The very person you weren’t supposed to be able to trust when all the chips were down for fear they’d charm your winnings and your wallet.

Not the legend or the lie, because Morrigan had carefully cultivated their persona - the Wizard themselves - to be someone the people of Zeinav could put their faith in. A miracle-maker, someone larger than life. People trusted the Wizard of the Wastes. They didn’t find Morrigan and find them worthy of faith.

Where along the lie had that changed?

Morrigan cleared their throat and spread their arms out wide, ever the showman even when telling, perhaps, the oddest story of their career. The truth.

“I suppose you could say that the two are related. Yes, each year come Winter’s Crown, nobles cower in their homes for fear of the red-clad criminals arriving on their doorstep to make away with their belongings, and distribute them to the more deserving. And any other year, perhaps that would be the simple crux of our host’s inquiéter. But back home in Zeinav, I have heard… whisperings. Nobility, scorned and angry and desperate to have the upper hand this year. They intend to strike back, and take down any threat to their fortune with extreme prejudice.”

They flipped their braid over their shoulder and sighed before gathering themselves and continuing their tale. Even when speaking of personal matters, they never let the air of indifferent grandiosity slip. A last defense mechanism.

“Which brings me to the matter at hand. I was visiting Sol City to attend the series of seminars at the Arcane Academy, when I received word from a private channel belonging to an ally and friend native to the city.” One of Plague’s network of children. She’d been scoping out a warehouse to snag their chemicals - but she’d merely been mulling about the entrance, no fault of her own, when guards bearing the Von Guilliman seal threw a bag over her head and ‘arrested’ her on suspicion of being a Red Rogue. But they didn’t take her to the guard house. But they didn’t take her to the prison.

“Word is that people bearing the Von Guilliman seal brought her to this very manor under suspicion of belonging to the elusive rogues. If they meant to truly bring her to Justice, they would have taken her in for due processing, no? But they didn’t. They kidnapped her, and if she’s here somewhere, I owe it to her to find her and free her from an arrogant, vengeful fool who seeks to hold her hostage.”

There it was. The plain, naked truth… and if not a plea for help, a plea to step aside and let them save her from this madhouse.

She listened intently to the fellblood's explanation, taking each word in carefully. It would indeed be a solid explanation for the room in question, and most assuredly breach the terms of her agreement. There was only one path to the truth, to open the door and reveal that which was hidden. Her expression changed as she pondered the idea presented, from one of cautious attention to one of determination and slowly building fury. Of all the things Taki despised most in the human world, it was their penchant for such foolishness... especially against other beings.

She said nothing, turning to leave the small room and beckoning Morrigan to follow. As she left the room, she searched the hall for others. It seemed everyone was out in the main room scrambling to deal with the mess, which meant that Von Guilliman had made an egregious error. She waved a hand across the ground, creating a solid crystalline pillar that squeezed into the space with only the tiniest gap on either side or above. Now, even if the thought occured to the man, there was no stopping the truth from seeing the light of day.

Floating down the hall, the shaman was contending with the sensation bubbling within. Generally, her internal self was as sturdy as stone, and as gentle as a breeze. If she found that Morrigan's story were true though, she worried that stone would boil to magma, the breeze turn to a raging storm. It wasn't something that she often contended with, but she understood that losing her temper was a much worse prospect now than it was when she was a youngling. Could she trust her spirit to contain that storm enough? Would there be some way to calm her? There was no telling.

Lost in thought, her senses carried her to the peculiar spot. Staring at a blank wall in the nearly dark room, she raised one hand and summoned a Light that floated up to the low ceiling to illuminate the area. Taking a cursory glance around the area, she could see the recent scoring from someone opening the door, though the place was kept too clean for much else. Turning back to the oddness at hand, she leaned in closer to examine the area, bringing the Light closer.

On the wall, there was one odd brick that held a darker, less red tone. She gave it a cursory press, and was greeted with a satisfying click and the clinking sounds of some sort of mechanism as the wall itself slid aside to reveal a small room...

Morrigan was not quite used to the silence.

An odd thing for a piteous child who’d once grown up mute, though Morrigan had long since learned to find their own voice. The silence was oppressive - so they filled it with chatter, making sure their presence was seen, heard, felt. And the longer Shitakibo remained silent, the more they longed to break it with words. Did she doubt them? Did she need more convincing? It would be a fitting fate for a pathological liar to be cast aside in suspicion the moment they learned to be honest.

“I don’t have any proof I can show you, but I assure you, it’s not a trick. Well, the show was, but you understand that even that was rooted in the truth. There is an odious presence here, and his name is Ser Devon Maximillion von Guilliman. I cannot deny that my path to the straight and narrow has been… entirely so straight and narrow.” Or that there was even an ending to this tale where Morrigan became a good person at all. “But all you have to do is look…”

They trailed off as Shitakibo left before stopping, making an unspoken gesture for Morrigan to follow. The charlatan’s tail flicked wildly behind them. There was a chance she was leading them straight to the guards… but just as Shitakibo had seen Morrigan, Morrigan had seen her. They knew the kind of injustices that made her tick, and the Viscount’s crime was much more egregious than Morrigan’s own.

… Unless one counted the candle sticks. But a human life was supposed to be priceless and all that boring crap, blah, blah, blah. Besides, the goodies they’d robbed were for the sake of poor Plague’s emotional and mental health, who would likely be overjoyed that Morrigan had both broken her out of a rich man’s prison and robbed the man blind.

They shoved those thoughts aside and followed Shitakibo down the hall. The woman had taken off at a brisk pace, following a destination only she knew. They picked up their speed, nose held in the air as they retraced her own steps all the way to a nondescript room. They held up their own palm, the tattoo of a sun etched in lavender skin coming to life as the light of the lantern leaves and the warmth of days long past filled the air.^[1] Though the fellblood did not contain the sensitive sight of their brethren, their own source allowed them to see the odd brick just fine as Shitakibo tapped it.

“What are you…”

To their surprise, it sunk into the stone wall.

If they were being honest Morrigan should have expected the possibility of a secret room. A noble who’d gone through all the trouble of pulling this farce wouldn’t be so stupid as to leave his victim where any drunk guest could wander and find her. But Shitakibo had known. Which meant the Viscount had told her, likely under false pretenses, that something was important in here.

And there was.

A small room, with a woefully familiar woman to Morrigan. Her mask had not been ripped off her face; a small mercy. Yet, the chains bound around her limp hands and tied to the wall, and the way her head slumped to the side, indicated that she was unconscious.

The Plague of Sol City.

The sight should have been more surprising to the shaman, but it had become such a commonality in her work it was borderline nauseating. With a motherly smile and the gentleness of a midwife, Taki lifted the young adventurer from the cage. She placed one hand around the iron chains¹ and watched with satisfaction as it turned into a pile of dark dust on the floor. Carefully, she brought the stranger out of the room and lay them across a box after tossing her cloak over it. She took a deep breath before turning to Morrigan.

"I'm aware of what needed doing, and what needs done. Von Guilliman has broken his contract, and worse yet, he's been playing the victim while being the bastard... Something I am going to be petty about this day, ya know... blow off some steam as the saying goes. If you'd like, I can get you both out of here before the fireworks start. We can also see to your companion's safety relatively easily, unless you're hellbent on walking out the front door as a last insult to this sad excuse of a man."

Already Taki's senses were scanning the grounds, plotting how, when and where to cause the most chaos. While she had no clue what the particulars of this stranger's life were, she was mostly glad that Morrigan had some reason beyond larceny to show up. Old habits, and in particular old defense mechanisms, were difficult to change... but change they were and that was all the shaman could possibly hope for. Reaching into her kimono's sleeve, she pulled out an intricately carved key. Walking over to one of the small closet doors, she inserted the key² into the lock and turned it. The door gave off a soft glow, before the smell of coastal air, fresh grass and the scent of cedar filled the room.

As she stepped out of the doorway, beyond was the courtyard of her home, as if one were staring out her front door. While the Crescent Isles was a vast distance away, her House Key allowed her to open any door as if it were a door to her home.

"Slip out through here, and feel free to make yourself at home... just try to put things back where you find them. It shouldn't take more than a day or two to return, with Ceres and Ophelia in tow... and your wagon, etc. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, and don't worry, my companions will make sure you're both taken care of. There's plenty of premade meals they know how to cook, and even a few libations to take the edge off."

Before leaving the doorway, she poked her head through and called to Kamina. When the lightning pixie arrived a moment later, Taki gave her a simple set of instructions before pulling her head back through. She walked over to the stranger, examining their injuries for the first time. It seemed they were unconscious, though there was a mess of bruising and blunt damage across their torso. Being able to examine a patient without having to disturb them was one of the many wonders of her magic, the person's spirit acting as a sort of mirror to their physical self and it's injuries. A warm light shimmered across the surface of her scales as she willed the magic in her body to flow.

That light poured into the stranger³ and washed over their wounds, undoing in moments what might otherwise have taken weeks. She couldn't do much for the soreness that would follow such rapid healing, but taking a day off and soaking in the giant tub for a while usually did wonders for most lumps and bumps. She stood up and stepped towards the hallway, preparing her next set of actions.

"Whatever you decide Morrigan, best of luck."

---

1: Dust in the Wind [Path of the Elementalist: Earth]
2: House Key
3: Massive Healing [Living Aura]

The sight was only slightly more surprising to Morrigan than one might expect. They’d known Plague was somewhere in the confines of this manor, and yet, her condition gave them pause. She looked… worse for wear.

They kept an eye on the hallway while Shitakibo wove her magic in the air, rendering the solid metal of the rat-woman’s cuffs to powder. That was… significantly easier than Morrigan had expected. Not for the first time they were reminded of the ease of magic, and the strength it bestowed to others to perform menial tasks that Morrigan struggled with. Though the task was complete one way or the other, Morrigan could not help the oh-so familiar green streak of envy that simmered underneath the surface.

Oh, the temptation to merely walk out this front door was strong… and yet, for once in their life Morrigan would have to prioritize the mission rather than their own personal vindictive streak. They’d already shown up the Viscount by making his party better than it was before they’d arrived and subsequently ruining it by bringing about bad omens which the audience would not be able to place.

“Worry not about Ceres Celestia and Ophelia Oluwandai.” Morrigan waved a hand and got glitter all over both Shitakibo’s face and Plague’s mask. “In the event we were separated, they have their own exit strategy. Right now, Miss Plague is my priority.”

That didn’t mean they couldn’t do this, though…

As Shitakibo set up the key, Morrigan heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Whatever silent magic had been woven into the secret door, it had evidently triggered some sort of magical alarm that the manor’s security had been compromised. Guards were making a beeline for the duo, already halfway out the door. One of the Viscount’s personal guards pointed straight at Morrigan, anger visible under his half-helmet. “Get them!”

It was at that moment Morrigan pulled out the box from their bag, lighting the fuse and tossing it towards the approaching guards. “Sorry, boys.” They said with a wink. “You probably should have vetted the guest list better.”

They smoothly stepped into Shitakibo’s home and shut the door behind them as the bomb went off, painting the hallway in a burst of shrapnel and powder that painted the room red.^[1]

---

“Did you hear that?”

Ophelia Oluwandai turned to Ceres Celestia as the foundations of the manor shook. The two apprentices had seen the guards suddenly sprint in another direction, no doubt to take care of whatever trouble plagued this party. The guests were convinced it was this presence that the grandmaster Wizard had spoken about, but Ophelia and Ceres knew the truth. Their master had been compromised.

“Oh, I hope Master Moonweaver’s alright…” Ceres muttered, gripping her staff uncertainly.

“They’ll be fine.” Ophelia said, clapping Ceres on the shoulder. “It’s ourselves we need to worry about now.”

“R… Right!” Their master was strong! And they were in the middle of a den of piranhas, one in which they had been identified as allies to the person who’d just thrown a literal bomb into the evening’s events. As the crowd murmured nervously to themselves, a few survivors from the initial blast stumbled out of the hallway, covered in blood and red glitter.

“Get those girls!” One of them shrieked. “They’re the Rogue’s allies!”

“Yep, time to go!” Ophelia leaned over and grabbed the punch bowl, wiggling her fingers over the liquid contents to form a miniature, contained swirling vortex - which she promptly slammed into the face of one of the nearby lunging security guards, drowning him with the turbulent waters.^[2] “The curtains, Cer, the curtains!”

“Right!” Ceres raised her staff and leveled a bolt of pure flame at one of the nearby curtains, which promptly caught on fire, another bout of trouble to contend with.^[3] If unattended, the manor really would catch on fire. At the same time, Ophelia brought her fingers to her lips and let out a screeching whistle. A few beats of silence…

And then, through the sprawling, stained-glass window, an adult-sized, red-scaled drake burst; multicolored shards rained from the air to the sounds of partygoer’s screams. Bubbles let out a roar, spraying flame through the air. The guards pivoted towards the more immediate threat, throwing spears and leveling crossbows at the great and terrible being.

Ophelia raised her hand and stabbed another one of the retreating guards with a spike of frosty ice that jutted from her palm.^[4] “Come on, let’s go!”

Ceres nodded, and the two sprinted off towards their escape. As they ran, Ceres passed the Viscount, whose face was the shade of a ripe tomato at the pandemonium that had befallen this party, turning it into a court of fools. “Someone apprehend that damn dragon! Get that fellblood and their accomplices! Stop this madness-”

Okay. It wasn’t the kindest thing to do, but Ceres couldn’t stand the sound of someone badmouthing her master. She summoned a whip to her hands, snapping it forward to wrap around the Viscount’s ankles, and pulling it back to tug him off his feet.^[5] The Viscount fell flat on his face, knocking out a couple of teeth from the blow.

“Serves you right! Kidnapping people is bad!” Ceres chided, continuing her sprint towards Bubbles.

And just like that, the Red Rogue’s accomplices climbed up onto their mount, waving playfully at the scorned guards as they started their grand, showy escape.

They’d learned from the best, after all.

---

1. Goblin Slag Bomb
2. Swirling Vortex - Ophelia Oluwandai
3. Fire Bolt - Ceres Celestia
4. Ice Spike - Ophelia Oluwandai
5. Thorn Whip - Ceres Celestia

As Morrigan and her companion stepped through the door, Taki closed her eyes and reached deep within the earth. Her usual cerulean color gave way to a brillaint swirling of yellows, reds and oranges as her body took on an elemental form¹ and began to grow in size. Slamming her fists into the floor above, her enhanced form burst through the floor. Partygoers, guards and staff scattered as stone tiles went soaring into the crowd to shatter into others around the room.

Letting out a guttural, hissing roar, the roiling magma expanded in every direction and doubled the shaman's size^2a. It rapidly cooled into deep, dark obsidian that released shimmering waves of heat and steaming clouds. People scrambled over one another to flee the scene, while the shaman scanned the chaos for one particular soul. He wasn't difficult to spot, shoving fleeing guards towards the empowered shaman in some vain effort to stop the destruction.

Taking a step forward, the foundation of the building groaned and cracked beneath the immense bulk of Taki's monolithic form. The shifting foundation was going to make this spectacle all the more satisfying as she approached with another wide, heavy step that carried her bulk across the span of a room in a moment. Von Guilliman dropped as the tremors of the shaman's passing caused the floor to sag and buckle. One more step forward carried her into the same room as the good Viscount turned over and cowered screaming at the sight.

All around the man, his mansion was in shambles from the shaman's passing, it's foundations permanently distorted, the basement room buried and ruined. Taki leaned back and roared again, playing the role of calamitous monster as best she could until she sensed Ceres and Ophelia were well away. With a diabolical smile on her face, she swept her arms wide through the room and battered her way through the rest of the standing structure. Debris pelted across the shaman's form and kicked up massive clouds of dust. In the growing haze, she reared back once more and drew her arms in tight.

As the Viscount was trying to crawl on his back towards open ground, Taki's entire body shot forward. As she landed, she drove all her fists into the ground in a circle^2b just a foot or so from 'Ser' Devon and threw up even more dust and debris in every direction. The man fainted at the sight and sound, wetting his expensive velvet trousers as he collapsed.

Letting out a heavy sigh, she dismissed the pair of abilities before the haze and dust were swept away. She slipped out of the complex in the confusion and headed off in the last direction she'd sensed Ceres. Once she'd made it past the larger crowd and the guards trying to figure out what was happening, she summoned a cloud³ beneath her feet and picked up speed. While she trusted that Morrigan and her companions would be able to meet again of their own accord, she felt awkward about leaving them in Sol City.

When she finally caught up to them, she descended until she matched their pace and was just above them.

"Good evening to you both again, would you care for a lift? Your master and their friend are in the Crescent Isles, at my home to be exact. You're welcome to join me on my cloud, it'll take us straight there."

---

As Morrigan shuts the door, the pair would be greeted with an elegant yet simple home, comprised mostly of bamboo, maple and cedar. The room was moderately sized, with a futon style couch, a kotatsu style table in the center, and a small nook with a chaise and bookshelves. In the corner beside the couch, a snow white owl of about 4 feet in height perched on a sturdy stand wrapped in thick leather.

A moment later, a small pixie that gave off little arcs of lightning appeared from the other end of the room. She gestured towards the futon before speaking.

"Please, lay your friend here to rest. I'll bring some water and food if you're hungry at all. Otherwise, no one will bother you here. Taki should be here within a few hours."

After greeting the pair, she headed back through the same entryway to fetch Shion and a jug of water for the pair.

---

1: Full Elemental Manifestation [Fire]
2a: Taki's Soul of Primordial Earth [Transformation]
2b: Taki's Soul of Primordial Earth [Slam]
3: Cloud Waltzing

Chaos. The toppling of the pillar of ego that the rich had so firmly built for themselves. Fire. And most importantly, red.

Once more the nobility of Charon, despite their best efforts, had made fools of themselves. And the only ones they could blame was the Viscount who’d had the bright idea to lie to one of the strongest forces of Justice and peace in the whole of the realm, and earn the ire of her biggest wild cards. Only fitting that he found his reputation in shambles as his mansion trembled and burst into flames and a drake laid waste to all that had once been fine.

Morrigan was already gone, absconded with Plague so they didn’t get to witness the fruits of their labor. But Ophelia and Ceres had full view of Shitakibo’s fury, and they alone would know its glory.

“Whoa…”

So stupefied that they almost missed Taki approaching the pair. They shared a glance as Miss Taki offered a ride to their master. Ophelia offered a small smile and shook her head. “Thank you, Miss…”

“Taki,” Ceres offered for Ophelia, who’d yet to become acquainted with the shaman.

“Miss Taki!” Ophelia finished with a nod. “But this is a two-pronged plan. In the event Master Moonweaver absconds with their friend, we’ve got to get word to Miss Plague’s acquaintances and wait with them.” And to stay in Sol City to keep an eye on the Viscount. There was no telling what he might claim; someone needed to play damage control. The mage apprentices would serve to play the crying, young guests who’d witnessed all of the pandemonium firsthand.

“But tell Master Moonweaver we say hi! And that they looked totally awesome today!” Ceres added with a wave before the two absconded into the night, off to bring word of Plague’s safety to her underground network of orphans at the designated meeting point.

---

Meanwhile, after that utterly dignified exit, Morrigan Moonweaver was completely out of breath.

Shitakibo had given the masked chemist to them when she stayed behind to finish up her business. Which was all fine and dandy, except…

She’d neglected to take into account Morrigan lacked the strength to carry a box, much less a human being.

So they’d had to improvise. Given they couldn’t Princess carry her, Morrigan had resorted to hooking her legs under their armpits and dragging her on her back into Shitakibo’s home proper. They had absolutely bumped her head against a large piece of furniture on the way in, but given she was already concussed, they figured they could just blame the extra bump on her head on the viscount.

Shitakibo’s pixie zipped up to them then, and Morrigan offered her a pained grin.

“I don’t suppose you could… help me out here…”

Given that she was less than a foot in height Morrigan figured the answer was a resounding no. So they settled for dragging this sack of potatoes to the futon, where they unceremoniously dropped her legs to the ground.

“You’re welcome.” They huffed, pulling out a healing flask… and splashing it on their own face as a pick-me-up.^[1] Her injuries were being a major inconvenience right now!

… But they’d rescued her. And also nearly blown up a manor doing so. Morrigan was not an especially sentimental person but they figured that alone made it worth it. An odd sensation, triumph. Morrigan was exhausted, sweaty, and now had Plague’s gross blood all over their finery; and yet, they’d rarely felt more accomplished.

---

1. Kvasir’s Pride of Solaria Elixir

Nodding, she waved farewell to the pair and turned towards the Crescent Isles and home. She was glad they'd made it out without incident, now she could find out the rest of the story about who this stranger was. Whoever they were was someone important enough for Morrigan to take a very big risk, which of itself said a great deal. There would be plenty of time to find out soon enough.

---

Shion and Kamina returned a few minutes later, Shion balancing a tray with a pitcher of water on her carapace. The pixie buzzed about nervously, while Shion set the water down and crawled up the wall to a nook where she'd spun a web.

"Umm... do you need anything else? Taki should be here soon if your friend needs healing, otherwise we can try to make you both comfortable." It wasn't easy to see, but Kamina fought a bout of embarrassment at the situation and how little she could do to help. There was no helping the situation, being barely the size of a tiny bird herself. All she could do was coordinate with the others, and try not to get too worked up.

Shion and Yukina both sat quietly, Yukina in particular seemed more like a detailed sculpture sitting on her perch. The room was comfortable, quiet and decorated mostly with natural materials crafted into works of art. There were a few indoor plants, several wittled figurines, and assorted stones and crystals of varying degrees of polish. There was a distinctly herbaceous, flowery aroma that lingered around most of the shaman's home.

---

About two hours of travel and Taki could see the first signs of her home in the distance. It would be good to be home, check on Morrigan and their charge, and call this job a thing of the past...

Morrigan had scant caught their own breath before the fae creature returned, looking rather anxious. Morrigan waved her off with a flourish of inexplicable glitter and an easygoing smile.

“I’ve got plenty in my repertoire as far as healing goes - Master Shitakibo need not worry.” They didn’t want to admit that they had admittedly forgotten that Plague might actually need healing considering all her injuries. They reached for another potion from their bag, delicately pulling out another multicolored elixir. They didn’t want to take off Plague’s mask but needs must - so they unhooked the clasp, prayed to the dead gods her face wouldn’t smell like mud and sewage, and fed her the potion.

Well. She did smell like sewage, so Morrigan plugged their nose and rapidly delivered the healing, and slipped the mask back on as soon as possible. “Ew, ew, ew, ew…”

Once the mask was back on her, her injuries stitching themselves up, Morrigan leaned back against the wall and wiped a bead of sweat off their forehead akin to a surgeon who’d just returned from a complicated operation.

“On second thought, Madame Fey, I’d not be opposed to a towel with hot water. And some smelling herbs to cleanse this room of the death stench. Lavender, if you’ve got any to spare.”

Which was precisely how Shitakibo would find them two hours later. Plague’s injuries had been healed, and all that remained was for her to get some natural bed rest and regain her energy; after which Morrigan could safely transport her back to Sol City. But for now she rested, and Morrigan lounged with a warm towel over their eyes - couldn’t get stress bags!

But when they heard her arrive they brought themselves to their feet in an instant, arms spread wide like they’d not seen each other for months now. “Shitakibo, my favorite shaman makes her return!” They pulled her in for a hug and clapped her on the shoulder. Ever the grandiose showman they were. “I must say your home is lovely. I’ve not been hurting for respite in my downtime. My downtime here! Much thanks for your assistance in rescuing my friend here…”

They gestured towards Plague, still asleep on the cot.

Kamina nodded at the request and buzzed off down the hall for a moment. When she returned, there was a large cone of a vibrant, soft purple not unlike the tone of Morrigan's skin. She set it down on a small ceramic plate and placed her hands on either side of the tip, sending little jolts of electricity between them until the incense heated up and began to fill the room with the scents of lavender and honeysuckle. Satisfied, she carefully flittered up to the entrance of Shion's web and asked the Prismatic Spider to fetch the hot towel.

Shion headed into the kitchen and prepared a kettle of water, taking it outside and placing over the smoker's firebox to heat. Afterwards, she went inside and took a trio of hand towels and rolled them up carefully before placing them on a tray. She walked back outside to the kettle and waited for it to begin it's soft hissing whistle when the water inside reached a boil. Once it had, she held the tray carefully at an angle and poured the steaming liquid over the towels to soak them thoroughly. Letting the excess water run off, the spider carefully carried the still steaming tray in to Morrigan and set it on the small table beside the couch.

Taki walked in to see her companions around the room, Morrigan and her friend resting, and the scent of incense trying to mask the aroma of the stranger.

“Shitakibo, my favorite shaman makes her return!” They pulled her in for a hug and clapped her on the shoulder. Ever the grandiose showman they were. “I must say your home is lovely. I’ve not been hurting for respite in my downtime. My downtime here! Much thanks for your assistance in rescuing my friend here…”

Gesturing to their friend, Taki was at least relieved to see some effort had been given to mending the damage. Still, the shaman was not one to rest on a chance, walking over to the stranger as her own magic filled the room like the will of some primordial spirit. She'd grown closer to the elementals, and spirits since the mountain, and it would not be a stretch to mistake her for one of them at moment's like this.

The roiling magic gathered itself to the shaman's hands, condensing into a bright, silvery blue light. She spoke a word in the Orochi tongue and the light poured into Morrigan's friend, seeking out even the tiniest of injuries. All over the stranger's body, points of light brightened, shrank and faded slowly as the physical wounds were unwound¹. It was all the shaman could achieve sadly, there was no good remedy for the experience. No easy way to mend the unseen scars on the mind, the heart and soul of a person, but at least they wouldn't have to fight the physical pain along the way.

"I'm glad your friend is safe, as are your companions, on their way to another destination. What's really going on Morrigan? Who is this stranger you're sticking your neck out for? Why did I just put all those people's lives at risk to cover your hide?" Taki affixed her gaze to the fellblood, almost daring them to spin another tale or avoid the question. While she could understand it was in Morrigan's nature to lie as most creatures breathe, the shaman would not stand for it in her home. She knew trust could be a difficult thing, and truth even more so, but the situation was one that could recklessly put Morrigan, Taki, all their companions and acquaintances in danger if they weren't careful. Had it just been Taki, Morrigan and their friend, it might not have bothered her as much... but getting Ceres and Ophelia involved, along with her companions who were present was a risk too great for the shaman.

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1: Massive Healing

Shitakibo said nothing, her focus drawn to the unconscious Plague on the cot. Despite Morrigan’s efforts to heal the woman, Shitakibo intervened herself, bringing forth divine light, a magic that made the hairs on the back of Morrigan’s neck stand on end from the sheer power of it. Their eye twitched - they crossed their arms and wrenched themselves away from the oh so touching scene. The woman who could bring people from the brink of death with but a single spell.

They were silent until Shitakibo finally spoke.

“Oh, dearest Shitakibo… don’t you know that the time after a successful heist is meant to be one of celebration, not scrutiny?” They waved a dismissive hand, an easy smile on their face to mask their own irritation at being placed under a lens; as if, even after telling Shitakibo the truth of it all, they were dubious enough to merit interrogation.

“And as for who she is, I told you the truth. She is a fellow member of the Golden Consortium, and more importantly, a friend.” Their tail flicked behind them, back and forth like an angry snake; the only hint of betrayal of their true feelings. “Nothing else should be of consequence. She was hurt by the Viscount in some petty kind of feud, and so there was nothing to be done but to rescue her, and make a point in the process.”

They let out a laugh.

“Well. Nobody’s lives were supposed to be risked, considering most of the bombs I packed are of smoke and glitter. I was just going to embarrass him, steal some of his things and his hostages, and escape in the chaos. Meeting you there was an unexpected development, and so I adapted. That is all there is to it.”

"Not this time Morrigan Moonweaver... You dragged me into this mess, whether by design or coincidence makes no difference. There are consequences to every action you take, and a great deal of risk in what you cannot or do not know of a situation. I understand your wish to be elated at the circumstances, but I need to know who this stranger laying on my couch in such a state is, and if they will bring further troubles to my home, to you and to all our companions... I am aware that my magic and it's use is a point of contention, and my ideals clash with yours, but this time Morrigan... this situation... there are a lot of unknowns, and I need to know that I'm not harboring a wanted fugitive or someone whose got unsavory friends with exceptionally violent vendettas. I don't like the results any more than you do, but in this instance you're the only person with the full scope of the problem at hand and you're evading my questions. We can play this song and dance if you like, but we both want to rest and put this situation behind us... why must you put on your act, here and now, when it has no benefit and you know full well it won't work?"

By the end, Taki was all but pleading for her friend to put the act aside. There was no audience, no stage, and no judgement to be had. All she wanted was to know that this was likely the end of things, not the beginning of something worse to come... for both herself and Morrigan, not to mention the stranger who looked to have seen several lifetimes worth of hardship already. It was a practical understanding, as the shaman was all too aware of the seedy underbelly of Charon and it's peoples.

All Taki could do was wonder to herself just how much one must do before Morrigan might consider her a trusted friend, and speak her mind. Yukina and Shion were both on alert, both watching the room for any sign they might be needed. She took a deep breath and sat down on an adjacent chair to think for a moment, and let Morrigan respond. Her emotions were already tumultuous as of late, and this was adding a new glittery disaster to the mix.

“You involved yourself.” Morrigan crossed their arms. “I ran into you, and you asked for the truth, and I gave it to you as a friend. I respect your decisions to act in the name of the greater good, and I do so appreciate your intervention and your provision of a home.” Irritation, an old friend, leaked into their voice at Shitakibo’s not-accusation. It was… difficult, to say the least, for the charlatan to open their mouth and reveal the bare naked truth. She had been the one to ask them at the party, and they’d told her; and now she still stood here, claiming they were withholding information and bringing danger to her doorstep.

“This has nothing to do with my - my affliction.” They hissed.

“And there is no act. Not right now. I told you the whole of the truth. Plague is my friend. I met her on a mission for the Golden Consortium. I was wrongly thrown in jail, and she freed me. So now I am returning the favor. Frankly I don’t know if she’s really a Red Rogue or not, and frankly, I don’t care. You of all people should know that I have only just recently learned the concept of honor amongst thieves. There was a debt, and I repayed it, because that is what friends do.”

They pinched the bridge of their nose. “If you are worried about danger, I will take her back to my wagon. That was the original plan. You will not be implicated in anything, and if you are truly worried about retaliation from the dear Viscount, I will claim I coerced you.”

They fixed her with a hard look, as serious as graves. “That is it. The whole of it. I am a liar and a thief and a crook, Shitakibo. But I am… learning to be loyal, towards those that deserve it. I owe you too, and thus, I have done you the courtesy of being as honest as I possibly can. I know that the truth rings hollow. I know that the person behind the mask is as dishonest as the lie. But I am - I’m trying.” They ran their hand through their hair with a tired sigh.

She was at a loss for words for a moment, though at least she could respect the candor of Morrigan's words. They were right in part, Taki herself anticipated half truths and overt omissions when dealing with Morrigan. That part she would not hide from, but it was nice to hear her friend finally hint at some part of themselves... Despite the many adventures they'd shared, it was difficult to discern what parts were the real Morrigan, and what parts were the stage performance. Compounding this was the fact that her own emotional state was still turbulent from recent events, further diluting her insight.

"My apologies Morrigan... truly, I did not wish to seem accusatory... much has happened since our last encounter, both abroad and within, so my sense of things is not at it's best right now. Thank you, genuinely, for being honest with me. I know that it is no easy feat to take those steps forward, which alone speaks to the effort you're putting forth. I'm not worried in the slightest about the Viscount or his future retaliation, I think he'll be too busy trying to clean his pride off the floor where he made a mess of himself."

Taki chuckled softly, her frustration and tension easing as her emotions processed the situation little by little. She took a step forward, wrapping all six arms around Morrigan and lifting them from their feet in a hug. She wasn't sure it was the right thing to do but nothing about her days seemed to have a rhyme or reason, but rather seemed as ephemeral and fleeting as the wind itself. She set the fellblood down carefully and walked into the kitchen with purpose.

She opened her cold-box and took out a stack of packages to get to the contents beneath. At the very bottom was a pile of things that were kept frozen by the cooling effect of the box's design and she pulled out a large dish with a latched lid. Setting it on the counter, she fetched a pair of bowls, cups and three spoons. With the largest, a sturdy scoop of bamboo, she opened the box and scooped out three large scoops of ice cream into each bowl before returning to Morrigan with them.

"A treat, to celebrate your success, and I can find something to drink if you like. I know it isn't much in a way of apologizing, but a treat shared is always a pleasant way to wrap up the day."

Taki took a spoonful of the creamy frozen treat and scooped it off with her tongue, savoring the sweetness and earthy richness of the added vanilla. She recalled a part of what was said earlier, something that Morrigan had only hinted towards with their reactions towards magic and it's wielders.

"It may be the wrong time to bring it up, but would you be willing to discuss your affliction? Not to sound pompous but such things are often the scope of my work, and if I might ease some pain or give you back even a measure of your own life... I would gladly go dive into another mountain ruin to do so."

Shitakibo, at least, was listening.

As different as the two were, it was not perfect. Both of their own biases colored the way they viewed one another. Yet, it seemed that Morrigan, attempting to bridge the gap with the truth; had finally reached the shaman, who’d promised to listen.

The furrow in their brow lessened as Shitakibo offered apology, and they waved a dismissive hand. Another emphatic gesture to brush away hurts.

“There is no need for apologies, friend. I have a reputation, and none of it savory. Though I suppose it might please you to know that recent events have given me reason to pause my regular criminal activities. Not unless I have good reason to do so, like today.” Then, at the mention of their mutual friend, a wicked smirk grew on Morrigan’s face. “Such humiliation was the plan from the beginning.”

They did not expect, then, to be wrapped in a strong hug. Morrigan was swept off their feet, mouth parted in surprise. A woman, so morally upright, who’d seen the hollowness behind layers and layers of masks, and still saw fit to offer them affection. Oh, they hesitated - for all their casual gestures and the closeness they treated others with, real emotions were a foreign thing - but they eventually reciprocated, a stuff and awkward gesture. Funny, how fake things felt when they were truly real.

And then Shitakibo set them down, leaving Morrigan to readjust themselves until she returned with bowls of an unfamiliar frozen treat. They shook their head at the offer of spirits, accepting the snack as it was. “There will be plenty of time for that later. There is no better way to celebrate such sweet success than with sugar.” They clinked their bowl to hers the way one would a glass before taking a bite.

It was different from the frozen ice snacks one could find in Zeinav, but… they liked it well enough. Their tail flicked behind them as they ate, in comfortable silence until Shitakibo spoke once more.

At the question, Morrigan’s lips twisted into a rather unpleasant grimace. Their old friend anger remained perched on their shoulder; yet, it wasn’t as loud as it often was. It hadn’t been loud since Morrigan’s venture with Astrid to the Black Spire.

“That’s the funny thing.” Spoken with the droll amusement of someone intimately aware of just how unfunny it all was. “There’s never been a life before this.” They waved a hand in the air, a gesture as full of vagary as it was grandiosity.

Then they breathed in and spoke into existence their greatest shame for the second time in their life.

“Are you familiar with the Mana Curse, Shitakibo? It is a curious thing. Magic is something so implicit in the very fabric of reality as we know it. It is life itself.” They gave her a sardonic smile. “Yet what happens when one is born with the connection to that natural font of mana severed? What happens when magic itself rejects their very existence?”

They gestured towards their own person.

“You get me.”

The admission came with a humorless laugh.

“All of this to say that I have always been like this, and I must learn to come to grips with the fact that I always will be. I have tried my entire life to fight the current - as if I could just believe hard enough I could make it happen. Yet denial has only made me weak. I may not enjoy the way I am, but I did not survive as a whelp in the scorching deserts by being too afraid to use the tools at hand. I have always made use of everything in my disposal to get what I want. This is no different.”

They shrugged.

“I would not dissuade you looking out of professional curiosity, though I’m sure you shall find the same information I have.” They turned to her with a grin. “No mountains necessary, this time. Though I’d not be opposed to blowing up another manor.”