Julian and Theo are sitting together inside Julian’s hospital room.
"Tell again, Thea. Are you absolutely sure Arthur will wake up?" Julian asks, for what feels like the hundredth ti.
Theo nods, also for what feels like the hundredth ti.
"Yes, Jules. I am absolutely sure."
Silence.
Then Julian’s face breaks into a wide grin. "That is aweso! I an, the fact that you can actually talk to him. How did you do it? Can you do it again? Can you take to talk to him?"
Theo smiles, but it is a sad one. "If only I could do it again. I would bring all of you to him."
Julian’s expression softens. He looks down. "Yeah. You would. If you could, you totally would."
He brightens again almost imdiately. "Maybe Maeve could do it if you explained it to her? She is Light too."
Theo shakes his head. "I literally cannot do it again because... I do not think Arthur is there anymore. Not in the sa way."
"Whoa, hear out first." Theo puts both hands up when he sees Julian’s expression shift toward protest.
"What I an is, when I spoke to him, it was inside my own Soul Palace." He pauses and sighs when he sees Julian’s face go blank. "This is exactly why I said I wanted to talk to all of you properly. Let’s just say it is part of the next stage of your magic knowledge."
Julian nods slowly, then freezes mid-nod. "Magic knowledge? Did Teacher Theo tell you? When did you speak to him? Maybe we could ask him to use his Light to help speed up Arthur’s recovery."
It is Theo’s turn to freeze.
He almost forgot. Almost forgot that to them, he is Thea. Not Teacher Theo, the person Rhaenas looks up to and relies on.
Theo goes completely still and says nothing. There is nothing to say.
"Thea?" Julian calls.
Knock. Knock.
"Co in!" Julian answers.
Saved by the bell. Theo exhales quietly. But he knows this cannot go on much longer.
"Alicia! It’s so good to see you! Are you okay? How have you been?" Julian greets her warmly.
Alicia breaks into a wide grin. "I got discharged before either of you and went straight to the office. Never even went ho. And now I am here, straight from DEU."
She looks between them. "How are you both doing? You look good, Thea. I don’t see any other injuries on you, why are you still here? And you, Julian. Oof, that is a long bandage. How deep is the wound?"
"Thea is fine. The doctors just want to keep her one more night for observation." Julian answers for both of them.
"As for , I’ve got this nasty gash running the full length of my leg. All stitched up, but running is out of the question for now. I can walk, just slowly and carefully, like a very dignified old man. But no worries. I have my Pod. I’ll turn it into a wheelchair and get around just fine."
"That’s good to hear. Sorry about your leg." Alicia’s smile fades slightly and she shifts her weight. "I actually ca because... I wanted to ask about Arthur’s funeral arrangents. I have not heard anything, so I thought I would just... co and ask." She finishes the sentence awkwardly. She did not know how to bring it up, so she just did.
It completely catches her off guard when Julian smiles before he even answers.
"Arthur is not dead." Julian says. He is practically glowing. "You hear , Alicia? He is alive. He is in a coma right now, but he is alive!"
"Huh?" Alicia stares at him.
Julian laughs. "Yeah. That was exactly my reaction too. We only just found out this morning. My parents knew but did not know how to tell us. And honestly, alive but in a coma is not exactly straightforward good news."
"But! If you are wondering why we are not devastated right now, it is because Arthur told Thea that he will co back. He will wake up."
Julian looks at Theo. "Tell her, Sis."
Alicia turns to Theo.
He nods. "Yes. He did. He ca to . Not physically, not to my hospital room. His soul reached , and he told he will wake up. He just needs ti to recover." Theo gives the sa explanation he gave Rhaenas not long ago.
"Huh?" Alicia is still processing.
Julian laughs openly. "Take your ti, Lutherford."
------------------------------
Elder Loujt draws a sharp breath when he sees Linus Monfort walking toward him. He composes himself quickly. He has been watching Linus from a distance long enough to know how sharp the man is.
He looks down to avoid eting Linus’s gaze and notices that Eirbhaen is also looking the other way.
Huh. Interesting. We are both avoiding the Monforts.
Linus and his group continue walking, deep in conversation, without paying attention to Elder Loujt or his companions. When they pass, Elder Loujt quietly exhales.
Then soone calls out.
"Sonia?"
Elder Loujt watches the Princess tense up.
Sonia? Who is Sonia?
"Sonia, it’s you, isn’t it? Are you okay? We haven’t seen you since we were all admitted." Maeve calls out warmly.
Oh no. Sonia’s stomach drops. How did I forget that to them, I am Sonia?
She does not want to think about what Elder Loujt and the other two Vaelins are making of this right now. She turns slowly to find Maeve standing there with her entire group behind her.
Including the Monforts.
"Oh... eh... hi, Maeve. Um, yes. I’m okay. I am. Heh."
Sonia wants the floor to swallow her whole.
What in the na of El Dhaerith was that?!
Maeve smiles warmly. "Thank goodness for that." She leans in and lowers her voice. "I have not had the chance to thank you properly for your help that night. So, thank you."
She steps back, then her eyes drift to the three n standing just behind Sonia. Her expression shifts slightly.
She pulls Sonia closer and leans in again, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you okay? Who are these n? Are they bothering you?"
As Maeve says it, Liam steps up quietly behind her, ready.
------------------------------
Linus and Liam are the last to step out of the elevator. It has always been this way with the Monforts. When it is just the four of them, Linus and Miranda walk together and Liam walks with Claudia. If Miranda wants to talk to Claudia, Linus and Liam fall in behind them.
Always.
As the two Monfort n step out, Linus has already registered the group of four, one woman and three n in winter coats, before they have taken three steps. The woman’s face catches sothing in his brain.
That face. Sonia Hart. Lockley sent her photo in the report.
He also notices that she is deliberately not looking at them, which he files away but does not act on. Not with Miranda present.
As they pass, Linus clocks that Sonia Hart is making no move to greet them, and sothing does not sit right. But he holds back. He takes note.
Then Maeve calls out to her.
The group stops. Linus watches Maeve move toward Sonia Hart and imdiately reads the discomfort radiating off the woman. He is about to step forward when Liam beats him to it.
Linus stills, faintly surprised.
He sensed it too. And faster than . Is it the magus in him, or the Sentinel? Or both?
Either way, Liam can handle it. Linus stays where he is and watches.
------------------------------
Liam stands behind Maeve and stares at the three n with Sonia. Sothing tells him to be alert. He doesn’t know what. But sothing about those three n, makes him alert. Especially the one with the blue hair.
He’s dangerous. He’s strong. He’s a fighter. And there’s sothing familiar about him.
Liam recognizes it. But I can take him.
So, he stands there, ready.
------------------------------
It takes Elder Loujt slightly longer than usual to process everything that has just happened. First the Monforts. Then both he and the Princess instinctively avoiding them. Then his Princess responding to a different na. Then a woman pulling the Princess aside out of concern. Then...
A silent challenge.
From Liam Monfort.
Elder Loujt cannot help but approve. The reaction ti alone is impressive. He finds himself conceding, quietly and privately, that it is zero to one in Liam’s favour.
But he will not stay that far behind for long.
He takes a step closer to his Princess, his eyes steady on Liam. Ready.
------------------------------
Both Sonia and Maeve go still.
Neither of them can miss the tension that has settled over the group like a held breath. And then the two Vaelins who have been quiet this whole ti take a step forward as well, falling in behind Elder Loujt.
Maeve looks between Liam and the three n. Three against one. Liam is outnumbered.
But Maeve knows better than anyone. Outnumbered is not the sa as outgunned.
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