My World of 1x1s discussion
Fantasy
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Pyry (Ji Mei and DD)
Ivy wondered if the prince was joking or not; the lightened mood seemed to have dissipated at his answer to her question. It was absolutely ridiculous to her that someone is punished for having an opinion and even more that the ruler would decide to ignore what a person is saying. Sometimes it could be all lies, but listening to one's people should be something a ruler does, right? A frown had begun to fall on her face, her thoughts becoming muddled and she missed whatever else the prince said. She might have continued brooding thoughtfully if they weren't interrupted by the arrival of Una.
Rising to her feet, Ivy gave Una a small smile in thanks and took the supplies Una gave her. She started to gather a few more ingredients from her chest of belongings when she asked curiously over her shoulder, "You were looking for 'he' as in this demon Dixon you mentioned earlier?"
Niel nodded. Shell had gone to check on the demon. If he hadn't left town... would they still be able to convince him to reverse the damage to Niel? At the very least, the prince would have appreciated some sort of explanation behind the demon's actions.Ivy, of course, did not take long to catch onto the meaning of Shell's cryptic message. Perhaps she really was clever? He threw on a grin, "Very good, Ivy. You're quite observant. Tell us, Shell. Did you find him missing?"
Una nodded, "A couple things were left in his room, meaning he was in a hurry, but I couldn't say just yet where he'd be going. Especially given his method of traveling."
Niel cursed under his breath. Of course, he was again out of luck. He leaned back trying to think of his next move. He couldn't send Una away for long to hunt down Dixon or return to Errebist, but he couldn't go with her quite yet.
"Ivy, will you be finished with the medicine soon?" He grumbled. If he could at least get better faster, then perhaps they could chase the demon sooner. Or, better yet, leave for Errebist.
Ivy quirked a brow at Niel's praise. While she was sure he meant to compliment her, for some reason she felt a little insulted as if he sounded like he was praising a good dog. Must be her imagination. For some reason her thoughts liked to turn the man's words into something that will anger her. Looking to Una, Ivy frowned at the woman's news. It was probably too much to ask for the demon to still be in town. Biting her lip in thought, she glanced over at Niel when he addressed her. Shaking her head, she folded her arms across her chest. "Unfortunately, not all of the ingredients can be found in a common apothecary or in the marketplace. I can make something to stall symptoms, but if this is a work of a demon, it's hard to completely cure you."
Niel was quiet for a moment, trying to go over their options in his head. Of course, their options were extremely limited in his condition and given their situation. "You're going to have to do the best with what is available. I just need to be well enough to travel alongside my bodyguard and you. You're not leaving until I'm able to catch the demon and force him to remove this sickness at once." He nodded decidedly. They needed Dixon if he was ever going to be rid of his illness. And even if she could only alleviate the symptoms enough for him to travel, then that would mean she had to stay by his side, alive for now. Until he no longer needed her, he supposed she would have to die soon after that. She was too close and too clever to not hear a telling clue or two as to their actual scheme.
Cocking her head to the side, Ivy asked calmly, "And so you just assume I'll pack up my bags and abandon my life here just to help you chase this Dixon who causes illness just like the one that ruined my life? Why not I just give you all the medicine you need and you go on your merry way? Surely you'll come across someone on your way that is more experienced than I am and may have a proper solution for demon illnesses?"And while she said all this, there was a slight glint of interest in her eyes at the prospect of traveling again and leaving the stagnant life of being a fortune teller in hopes of gathering enough money for schooling. The rest of her expression was calm, but it was undeniable if you looked closely enough at her grey eyes. But then her rational side wanted to remind her that she can't just go running off with a couple of strangers who had somehow crossed paths with a demon.
Niel grinned back without missing a beat. If he knew anything about the woman is that he could make her do just about anything if he offered enough pay. It had been the driving force of their relationship after all. It wasn't as though she was helping him for free, he knew."So you expect me to believe you wouldn't stay long enough to save enough money for those college courses? I thought you wanted to become a proper healer. Though, if you want to be a fortune teller making meager tips for the rest of your days, who am I to stop you?" He bluffed. He knew if she disagreed, they would have to cease the teasing and legitimately threaten her life. He would have Shell kill her for knowing too much, though some part deep, deep inside him didn't want to have to destroy that ethereal image emblazoned into his memory. Of course, it had only been because he had been bored earlier, but that didn't mean that image was any less pleasant! Pushing the thoughts away, he continued.
"What do you say, Miss Ivy? Do you want to go to college this decade?" His gaze held hers, waiting with anticipation for her decision.
Perhaps if Ivy was a more selfless person she would have insisted that his treatment would be free or if she was more altruistic, she would have volunteered her services to help him find the demon long before this conversation arose. But as much as Ivy would have liked to think she was like that, deep down, she knew, as soon as he mentioned college, that she was driven really only by money. More accurately, money to use to obtain knowledge. Maybe, in another life, Ivy would have felt ashamed that someone needed to bribe her first before she acted. Maybe she was a disappointment in her grandmother's eyes. No. You can't help that now. Just keep going forward. Ivy didn't want to focus on negative thoughts like those any longer.
Letting out a small huff, Ivy smiled. "You certainly know how to use your eavesdropping to good use, don't you, my prince? If I go with you, what are you proposing exactly? Funding for all of my schooling?"
Niel chuckled, hearing her refer to him as such sounded foreign to her tongue and he found this pleasing. "I'm 'my prince' now? I suppose I could get used to that. And of course! You think college tuition is considered expensive to someone of my status? Now that you mention it, though, perhaps I should have more reserved in my offer. Do most commoners assume royalty considers college to be expensive?" His brow furrowed slightly in genuine curiosity. He'd become accustomed to what average citizens found to be reasonable expenses for one another, but he'd understood very little on what people assumed of royal pockets aside from the idea that they could afford just about anything (which, for the most part, they could). And certainly, the war would only serve to exponentially increase their country's wealth since Errebist's major export was weaponry."You keep me alive and your schooling is as good as taken care of. What do you say, Miss Ivy? If the answer is no, we would best be off to find someone else's purse to fill."
She chose not to comment on her word choice, deciding if she thought too hard about it, she'd either start to feel embarrassed or angry or both. It somehow just slipped out of her. Giving a shrug, Ivy then shook her head. "No, it's not that I don't think you can pay for it all. I just want to make sure you're not holding out on me by paying for only a year." Ivy paused, more to take time on accepting his offer than to think further. A little niggling feeling in her gut remained from her doubtful thoughts, but she also wanted to have some pride and not accept his offer right away. Her gaze drifted from Una then back to Niel before she nodded slowly. "Fine. I'll help you until you are rid of the demon's illness."
"And you think royal households are the type to 'hold out' on those who serve them?" He raised a brow. Thinking better of starting another argument over small details, he waved off the question. Perhaps she really was simply looking out for herself in her own way. "Either way, I won't bother you with questions. I would much prefer you get started on the medicine. The sooner I get well enough to travel, the sooner we get our respective pay days after all. We appreciate your compliance." He offered a professional smile, wondering just what traveling with Miss Ivy would be like.
Ivy bit back a retort, something about how he held back his name and status, but then she was glad he changed directions. In the little flare of anger, she figured she'd only look foolish. Taking a deep breath, her shoulders straightened as a business-like manner fell up on her. "Sounds like a great plan to me. I'm going to go borrow the inn kitchens to help make some better medicine. Since your stomach will probably still be upset from before, I'll grab something light for you. Una, do you want me to get anything for you?"
Una hadn't expected to be addressed so suddenly, but she recovered quickly. "No." She stated bluntly. She'd eaten what she needed after making her purchases was already in the habit of being cautious of who handled her food.
Niel didn't quite understand why Ivy had such an interest in his shield. Perhaps it was a status situation? Either way, Shell made her own decisions well enough to keep both him and herself safe, so he had no reason to direct her otherwise.
"Just about anything sounds good to me. Except eggs. The idea of them makes me want to empty my already empty stomach again." He sighed dramatically before Ivy took her leave once again.
Ivy rolled her eyes, suddenly feeling like a maid. She grabbed a basket and hooked it over her arm. Bending down to get a few ingredients from within the chest and taking the few that Una bought, Ivy mentally went over recipes in her head. Her eyes looked concentrated and then her eyes lightened as she remembered to grab some empty bottles as well. As she headed towards the door, she paused and looked between Una and Niel and instructed firmly, "Make sure he doesn't get up. He still needs bed rest." Then she shut the door behind her. Heading down the stairs, her eyes zeroed in on the innkeeper. She asked for permission to use the kitchen, assuring the woman that she would make sure to clean up after herself and if any disasters were to happen, it'd be added to the rent. Once things were arranged, Ivy made her way into the kitchen and began to mix her medicines. Taking her time, she hummed a tune softly as she went about boiling ingredients and mashing up others to mix a large enough batch to last for a week. Her movements became smooth, the years of experience helping her grandmother rising to the surface.
When a chef came by, the man's elbow brushing against Ivy's back, did she break from her automatic movements and finished off the recipes. Mostly what she made were tonics to help strengthen the body's systems and also soothing potions to help with sleep and in case Niel's stomach acted up. She filled the empty bottles, a couple that were the size of the dosage needed and a few to hold the excess amount. Once that was done, she turned to the chef and asked politely, "Can you bring some soup upstairs to room 8 and bread? Oh, and up some light, warm mead too, please."
After that business taken care of, she headed back upstairs and soon the food arrived as well. As she began to eat herself, Ivy wondered what did she really get herself into. Accompanying a prince of Errebist to chase a demon. Some part of her wanted to shrink at the idea of leaving what was familiar, but the rest of her couldn't help but feel thrilled at the prospect of traveling again.
Niel was able to walk after a few days following their agreement. His health seemed to get better with each passing day and once they were able to start traveling, his mood improved significantly as well. Una once caught him laughing openly at something Ivy said when she was preparing his medicine. At some point or other, the bodyguard began to recognize that the prince had taken a sort of liking to the healer. It wasn't that he had said or done anything in particular that lead her to that conclusion, but she couldn't help but understand that he did not look at her the way he did those she had been ordered to kill before. Not only this, but the fortuneteller did not cease her efforts in insisting to befriend Una. Ivy's bright nature reminded Una of her sister and she couldn't help but grow softer to the woman's efforts.
For Ivy, at first it was difficult to hold her temper and still there were times while she was helping Niel regain strength that she got snappy. But one thing she could say about the prince and Una is that they are quite interesting. It made Ivy wonder what Errebist was like and how their culture might differ. One thing she knew is that they didn't believe in the First Angel or that Mother Nature existed. She still wasn't able to completely heal Niel as she still couldn't find the recipe's ingredients despite visiting many medicine shops. First she looked all over the capital and then when Niel insisted he was of good enough health to travel, Ivy looked into every medicine shop along their way. Still no one has heard or have seen those ingredients. It frustrated her to no end. Not only she couldn't do her job, but as she had come to know more and more about Niel and Una, Ivy couldn't help but want to do more for them. As....friends? Nothing so familiar. Perhaps Ivy would consider Una a friend, but Niel? The Prince of Errebist, a friend? The thought alone made Ivy want to laugh and say how delusional she was being.
Whatever the case, Ivy was glad to do something completely new and be out of the capital. An adventure might be exactly what she needs to just move on from her old self.
It was fortunate that Niel was feeling better because Ivy was having no luck in retrieving the necessary ingredients. Although he'd tease the healer about their wild goose chase, he understood that there was a good chance they may never find the ingredients. He was still happy that he was well enough to get back to his objective. They were on their way back to Errebist and briefly stopping between towns to replenish supplies, rest, and check the markets. Currently they were on their way to an acclaimed "Town of Thieves" or at least a town of questionable individuals with highly rare items, possibly a hint as to where they could search. They stopped a few towns away and would go there in the upcoming week.
Niel decided to go out with Ivy to the market tho day to stretch his legs and get some fresh air.
For a few moments, Ivy walked in silence, just enjoying the soft, warm morning sun as she went down the street with Niel. Glancing over at him occasionally, more to check on his condition than anything else, at least that is what she told herself, she eventually spoke up. "So, Niel, what do you think of your exploration of Pyry so far?"
Niel had been enjoying their casual silence paired with the fair weather of the day and the excitement of the typical marketplace when Ivy's voice cut through his thoughts. "It's different than home. The climate is much less challenging. Not exactly conditions I would train soldiers in but good for most civilians I'm sure. What about you? I suppose the average fortune teller doesn't get out much with your pay." His last comment wasn't intended to be judgemental, but more as an observation.
"No, one usually doesn't unless they have been part of a circus troop like I have in the past," she admitted, giving a shrug. She drifted towards one stall for a moment to look at the various produce before moving on, deeming the fruit on display not in the best shape. Of course, Pyry was going through a drought at the time, so harvests haven't been the best, but she knew she could find something better. "Do you usually just think of military purposes to places that you visit? Doesn't that make things a little boring to you?"
Niel raised a questioning brow, "The circus? You haven't mentioned that before. You may be more well traveled than me." He grinned easily, watching her sort through the fruit. The prince didn't have the best eye when it came to produce, but he knew all the juiciest and prettiest ones tended to go straight to the castles. They paid the best after all. "Boring? Not in the slightest. If not incredibly practical, it's still entertaining. Here." Niel looked around until he found a small hill they could climb to get a better view of the area. The climb only winded him slightly, a little odd considering his conditions had only been improving, but he paid it no mind.
"Right. So, Errebist is out that direction and Myyloria is farther north. Say, for whatever reason, Myyloria decides to invade this town. They'll probably come head on to fight, maybe even try to surround the area if they have enough soldiers. So what's a civilian town like this to do? They're unequipped to fight, untrained, and the landscape does not suit their favor. Before you judge me too critically, hear me out. They're a bunch of civilians. How would you try and save the most lives that you can? Underground tunnels might be an option. Or if there's a close enough town ahead, perhaps they sent someone ahead to warn them. Designated survivors have saved many people in the past. If there was a small amount of troops stationed here already, then that could spare the civilians more time to escape as well." Niel realized he was rambling and bit his lip. "In short, when you grow up learning about all the intricacies and styles of combat, then it's not a topic that easily bores. There's never one right answer." He summarized, nodding for them to head back down to their business.
Ivy smiled back, amused at the possibility that what he said could hold some truth. It was odd for her to think that perhaps she was more well-traveled than a prince and it filled her with a little bit of pride. If she thought about it, she might never have left her small village if it weren't for the fire. Her fingers paused, and absently she grabbed a rather bruised-looking apple as her mind wandered. Perhaps if she never left, she might even be married with a few kids already. That would be surreal. At the moment, Ivy couldn't even think of what that might have been like. Would she just be content sitting away, knitting and mending clothes? Would she have continued her mother's business with the help of her husband? And during this reverie of hers, it seemed Niel was droning on about potential attacks on the town they were in and some dilemmas that came with the question. It was a surprise that she managed to get that much as he seemed to come to an end of his rather passionate view. Tilting her head, Ivy scanned him up and down and then shrugged. "I suppose you're right. I guess in a peaceful country like Pyry, we still should be prepared in case an enemy attacks. One could be right beside them and not know it."
"That's very true." He nodded, smirking at the irony of her words. He was Pyry's enemy after all. She didn't have to know that, though. Not yet at least. Not that he cared if she hated him or not, but she surely wasn't as likely to help him if she did know. And as long as he was still sick, he'd need to keep er on his side. There was only so much money could bend morals.As he looked over the town, he knew it, too, would likely fall to Errebist's forces once the war started. It was a pity, but necessary for the good of his own people in Errebist. When it came to his subjects, it was the Prince's duty to be biased.
"So, Ivy, where did you travel with the circus? As a prince, I've rarely seen places outside of the capitols. That's where all the diplomatic business is dealt with, at least. I've seen more of Errebist, of course, but Pyry is still very much a mystery to me." He offered a change of subject more suitable to his companion's experiences since it was obvious she did not share his love of combat and strategy.
Giving a shrug, Ivy looked around at the town and the buildings as they walked around. "Mostly the big cities since that is where you get the biggest crowds, but we came to smaller towns like these too. I don't know. It's all a blur really, and I wasn't really in a good state to keep track of where I was for a long time."It was really a wonder how Ivy managed to stay with the circus since she was recovering from the burn on her face and the loss of her grandmother. If it weren't for Helen and some of the others in the troop that took her under their wing, Ivy probably would have wasted away on the side of a road a long time ago. Even be dead in a ditch like rat.
He nodded, "That sounds very nice. Do you have a favorite place?" He paused to look at some clothes a merchant was selling, "In case I ever get the chance to visit." He added. He probably wouldn't, but after the war it would all me ruins anyways. Might as well hear about the good places in their prime now before they would be inevitably torn down. It wasn't often that he got such an opportunity.
Ivy scoffed under her breath, not believing he'd ever try to visit such places in Pyry. He was a prince after, even foreign ones probably didn't go traipsing across the land, especially to such poor and small establishments. Giving a shrug to herself, Ivy tilted her head to the side in thought, a finger absently tapping at her chin. "There was this town--I don't recall its name-- that had a beautiful lake nearby and when the circus was there, the town was having a festival at the time. I think that was the first time some young man asked me to go around with him to look at things. He bought me a flower crown, as silly as that is."
Niel gave her a funny look when she scoffed. He had thought he told a pretty convincing lie. And surely, if he had been given the opportunity he would have loved to travel more. What had put her in such an ill-humored mood today? Whatever it was, he didn't want to put up with it.To answer his question, she gave a vague description of a town having a festival next to a lake. The image wasn't hard to put together, needless to say. He sighed, a bit disappointed. "A flower crown does sound silly. Though what's sillier to me is this is supposed to be such a memorable moment for you, but your recall is lacking. How am I supposed to trust your memory for my care when you can't even remember the name of the town or the man who took you on your first outing? Or is this your way of saying that you've been on so many dates, that he hardly seemed significant at all?" He shook his head, hearing the irritation in his voice.
"Forgive me, but I'm feeling a bit short of breath. I'm going to go find some fresher air. I'll see you back at the inn." He bit out, softer than before. He turned and headed towards the outskirts of the small town there there was less people bustling about and more room to breath. His symptoms had been improving, so there wasn't any reason for the healer to be around him anyways. So why had he insisted they go together? He shook off the thought and just kept walking.
A look of surprise and wounded pride crossed Ivy's face at Niel's reaction, not expecting him to be so irritated and throwing an insult in as well. What did he expect? She'd been to so many towns and like she said earlier, it was a time for her when she didn't really pay attention to where she was. To be honest, she cherished the memory of that town not because of its place, but it was the first time that she felt human again. And to say that she was with many men just made her want to slap him, despite his sickened state. Just as her hand clenched into a fist, Niel let out an apology and she watched him start leaving. He said he wanted fresh air from the inn and so he joined her, right? So what did his need for "fresh air" mean this time? Fresh air away from her? Her anger rose, but she pushed it down as she thought about his words more. Frowning, she stepped after him and called out his name. "Niel, do you need another dose when I get back? Are you all right?" she asked loudly, deciding to put patient needs first over her insulted pride.
The more Niel walked, the more frustrated he became. His response made no sense. And today wasn't the first time he couldn't explain himself to himself, which contributed to his further frustration. Ever since he had accidentally lived, his world had been turned upside down and he could hardly recognize himself. At first, he'd blamed it on the illness, but as he recovered, he still found himself irritated at Ivy for no reason, occasionally he would stare at her when she wasn't looking, protective when he'd noticed the wandering eyes of others, confused when she would get mad at him, and even more confused when he didn't understand his own actions. Meanwhile, his own bodyguard seemed to get along better with the healer than she did with the man she'd known for about a year.Hardly hearing Ivy's words call after him, he waved it off. "I'm fine." He grumbled, heading back up the hill. Maybe he just needed to get his mind off of it all and go back to what he knew: military strategy. He'd just go up, look at the town a little while he caught his breath, clear his head, forget about whatever it was about Ivy that could do nothing but irritate him, and then go back to the inn the same man he had always been. That had been the plan until he'd finally realized that Ivy had followed him.
"What?" He gasped, finding himself slightly winded for the second time that day.
((I think grade school would work perfectly fine. I think it would be too much if there was anything more than that, especially it's really only just the beginning with them. As for symptoms, yeah, I think that it would be a good time to hint that things are getting worse again. The windedness he's feeling could be either symptoms of love (ha, that sounded cheesy) or actually symptoms of maybe getting worse.
And yeah, I think it makes sense if Una looks for Dixon. First, Ivy would be too angry and things might not go well, and well, Niel is too weak. Plus, Una has already tracked him down before so she could probably do that again.))
When he didn't respond to her, Ivy followed after him, thinking maybe it was his princely pride preventing him from admitting that he was feeling ill. Heading up the hill, lifting her skirts as she did so, she repeated in a more stern voice, "Niel, do you need another dose? You keep on complaining that I might be neglectful in my care, but if you run off, it makes my job difficult. And don't tell me you're just being stubborn. If you are feeling unwell, you need to let me know so I can be ready to prepare medicine at a moment's notice." She didn't realize she said that all in one breath until she had to breath in again. Her mouth was in a frown and her body was beginning to ooze the irritation that Niel so commonly arose in her that it was almost second nature with her. How he frustrated her so much was a mystery to her, but all she knew was that when the prince healed and was on his merry way, her chest wouldn't feel as constricted anymore.
"I said I'm fine. The market was feeling too crowded. I need space to think..." he panted, trying to focus on her. The prince wavered. "Actually, I think I might have climbed that hill too fast." He took a moment to collect himself against the scowling Ivy. He couldn't argue against her logic but oh, how he wanted to. "I need a moment..." he wavered again, grabbing Ivy's shoulders for support. At that moment, her footing gave way and Niel's eyes widened in panic, realizing they were about to fall. His body reacted automatically, pulling Ivy to his chest and wrapping his arms around her protectively. He closed his eyes tightly and waited for the spinning and bumping to stop. When it did, it took another moment for his head to stop as well and the small breaths on his chest reminded him that he was still holding onto his healer. Right. Ivy. He'd landed on top of her rather inelegantly, unfortunately, so he moved to prop himself up on his hands and knees to give her some space without causing himself dizziness. She hadn't said anything yet. Had she hit her head? Twisted something? Scraped herself on a rock? "Ivy? Are you alright?" He combed the hair out of her face to make sure she was still conscious.
One minute, Ivy was standing there, frowning and ready to drag Niel back to the inn by any means necessary. And then the next minute, she felt gravity pulling her down, the warmth of Niel's body as his arms wrapped around her, the jarring impact of meeting ground, and suddenly the man was on top of her. Her head hurt slightly from the fall, but mostly it was her shock that left her speechless at suddenly finding herself in this odd position. As Niel brushed away the hair from her face, she blinked a couple times before suddenly a laugh burst from her. Her whole face lit up as her clear voice came out in a variety of small giggles mixed with real laughter. And after it took a few moments to gather her breath, she nodded. "Yeah, I-I'm fine. That was, um, quite an adventure." Then she looked up and down the length of her body and perhaps there was a tinge of redness coming to her face as she added, "Perhaps you can, um, get off of me?"
Niel let out the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding up to the point Ivy responded, confirming she was alright. In fact, she started laughing and he couldn't help but start to laugh at the situation as well. He whole body was committed to the act, and her cheeks colored flatteringly and he decided he liked the sound."Perhaps you can, um, get off of me?"
Hm?
Immediately and awkwardly, Niel scrambled to a stand, offering his hand to help the healer up as well.
"I think you were right. I need another dose. Should we-oh, hold still for a moment..." He'd attempted to quickly move on through the situation, but was continually distracted by the leaves and grass that were scattered and entangled in her golden locks. He paused his sputtering to quickly comb her hair with his fingers. The action only served to fluster him more, causing his heart to beat faster by the second. How did he make it stop? He didn't like feeling so taken off guard and vulnerable. He stopped immediately and started walking back fervently.
"Right-well-we should hurry back."
His laughter reminded Ivy of their conversation back in the inn when he first fell ill from the demon illness. Compared to now, though, his laughter was even more infectious and a few times when her laughter began to die down, it started back up again at hearing his deep laughs. Ivy watched his rather clumsy flurry of movement, a little voice in the back of her mind thought he was rather... cute. And that thought made her want to scold herself, because since when was a grown man, let alone a foreign prince, cute? For moment, her stubbornness almost made her refuse his offered hand, but then she accepted it and got on her feet.
"Of course I'm right. I'm the one with--" Ivy's words died out slowly as he fussed over her hair.
Her face fell into a confused frown mixed with some shock again. One of Niel's fingers brushed against her cheek as he removed the leaves from her hair and that one touch made warmth bloom across her skin. When he stepped back, though, Ivy's expression returned all business-like as she said firmly, "You should have told me sooner that you weren't feeling well. No more falling down unless you need me to hold your hand to keep you upright."
"Yes, well, I wouldn't want that." He responded, keeping his gaze focused on the road ahead of him, most definitely not thinking about how smooth her skin was or how silky her hair felt in his hands or the pleasant herbal aroma she seemed to carry with her. No, as a prince he would not be distracted by things like rosy cheeks or grey eyes being far too close to his face or the feverish feeling he got when he heard her laugh or got a close up view of her smiling pink lips.Nope.
There were a couple moments on the walk home that he did feel woozy, but he didn't dare stop for fear of meeting the woman's eyes again or feeling her hand on his forehead.
Una was slightly taken off guard when the prince suddenly stormed into the room with a faraway look and decidedly went straight to the bed and grabbed a spare book to read without so much as a word. His appearance was unusually haphazard and there were leaves and grass in his hair. Ivy returned only a moment later with similarly mussed hair and dirtied clothing. The bodyguard didn't say a word, but gave the healer a questioning brow as if asking for an explanation.
Ivy simply nodded in agreement as they then began to head back to the inn. It seemed Niel wasn't in a talkative mood and she had to admit, neither was she at the moment. What exactly was that back there? Was he really all right or was he lying about being in better health than he was? And why couldn't she stop thinking about his fingers running through her hair and his rather intent looking expression. Shaking her head, Ivy didn't realize they were at the inn until the loud noises came bursting out the door when a customer had left. When they made it up to their room, Ivy cast Una a small smile, a little sheepish, and gave a shrug. "Kind of had a Jack and Jill moment, but it's fine."
Una furrowed her brow slightly. Jack and Jill moment? What did she mean by that? Either way, the two had obviously been through some kind of awkward debacle, given that they weren't speaking and Ivy's expression was slightly embarrassed. She didn't press the subject further aside from a small comment about Niel's hair, to which he responded by vigorously combing his fingers through his hair to remove the grass and leaves before returning to his book."But, why did you come back so soon. Is he not feeling well?" She asked, suddenly unsure of her lord's condition.
"That is unclear to me, but I think Niel should stay and relax for the rest of the day. I wanted to do a few more errands but was interrupted by his sudden urge to leave. I can make a quick dose to help him rest, even, if he's being too stubborn to take my advice." Mostly Ivy spoke to Una, but at the end of her words, she looked pointedly at Niel as if challenging him to speak otherwise and prove her point. She tried running her hand through the tangles in her hair to smooth it out, but after a moment of frustration, she gave up and went looking for a ribbon. She dug through the things she brought with her before she managed to find one, though it looked quite worn and the color faded from years of use. Briefly, she contemplated about buying a new one, then decided against it as she wrapped her hair up in a knot, using the ribbon to secure her hair in place.
For their travels, Ivy had begun using her scarves around her face less and less, the cloth having become stifling and a little cumbersome. And she decided she didn't care if strangers saw her scar since she was there only in passing. Any judgement or curiosity was only brief and she didn't have to go into any sob stories to satisfy those people.
Niel huffed at her complaint, looking over the book he had not actually been reading to bark, "I came back, didn't I?" When his eyes found hers, his stomach fluttered, needlessly remembering the things he most definitely did not want to be thinking about. Who was this woman to make such a fool of him and be so unmoved herself? It was infuriating and intriguing and even more infuriating because it was intriguing and even more intriguing because it was infuriating. Her laughing image was so burned into his mind, he wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to look at her again without thinking of it. He had to endure it and continue to face her. She could not continue to better him like this.
"I can return to the market to finish your errands." The bodyguard offered and the prince immediately felt the urge to protest.
"You will not. Ivy knows what she needs, so she should go after finishing the medicine." He insisted, fearful of the discomfort that would ensue if the pair would once again be left alone together.
Una nodded obediently, though wondered if Ivy would make it back to the market in time before the shops closed if she waited to finish the medicine. Surely, the bodyguard would be faster, but she didn't dare argue too much with the man who held the lives of her and her parents in his hands. At least not when he disagreed so fervently. Did it have anything to do with what happened earlier? Did he not wish to be alone with Ivy again?
Frowning at Niel's orders towards Una, she then turned to the woman, smiling reassuringly. "It's all right. Thanks for offering anyway. Make sure he doesn't get into trouble."Ivy went to a small case that she had brought with her, containing ingredients and bottles, some already filled with doses she prepared earlier in their trip. Pulling one out, she set it firmly on a side table. "Make sure to take it while I'm gone. It will help," she instructed as she again picked up her basket, having emptied out the contents earlier. The trip this time to the market should go a lot faster since Ivy found Niel too distracting when he came earlier and she was strolling and enjoying herself too much instead of doing her job. Giving a wave out the door, Ivy called out a brief farewell and then she was gone.
Niel noted Ivy's disproval, but disregarded it. If she had something to say, then she should say it rather than keep her thoughts to herself. His relationship with his bodyguard was what it was for a reason and he couldn't be bothered by the opinions of others. Especially that healer. What did he care for her good favor? If he'd wanted it, he would have paid for it.When her prince didn't respond to the healer, Una offered a short, "I'll make sure he takes it." To assure her before she left.
The room was silent for a moment before Niel cut the silence. "She's a handful, that one. I couldn't get her to leave me alone earlier and now she acts so irritated." He shook his head, "Must be slacking on the job if I'm getting worse."
"You did hire her to be attentive."
"Her bedside manner is still terrible and she has a ridiculous laugh."
"And you made her laugh..."
"From earlier with the jack and-jill-nevermind." He waved it off, downing the medicine quick so he could get over the disgusting taste soon.
"You brought up her laugh."
"Yes, as a criticism. Why?"
"You're not good at making people laugh."
"I disagree. I'm a riot. A natural, if you will."
"You're not going to have me kill her."
Niel huffed, "I haven't decided yet."
"You have."
"Hey! No, I have not and for both of our sakes, you better not push the subject too much."
"Very well." Una nodded, resuming her silence.
After a moment the prince sat up further.
"You like her. Don't you?" He accused, watching his shield's face for a reaction.
Una gave a short nod, "Something like that."
Niel raised a brow, curiously, "Care to expand upon that?"
"She reminds me of my sister."
"Back in Errebist?"
"No, I'm unaware of her status and location." Her eyes glanced to the empty medicine bottle and she moved to clean it.
Niel nodded, "Was she a desert runner?" His words came out a touch softer.
Una responded with another quick nod.
It didn't surprise him. There were many in Errebist that had attempted the journey, but few survived. He couldn't blame them when Errebist was in such a state of crisis and they'd received little to no aid from outside.
"I fell down a hill-earlier-with Ivy that is. So don't get any odd ideas." Neil changed the uncomfortable subject, "We laughed because of the situation. That's why I know how distasteful it is."
"That's not the face you make when you think of something as 'distasteful.' You shouldn't worry so much about my opinion. I am glad you like. I won't have to kill someone I am fond of."
"That's not-I-it's not-don't make such assumptions!"
"I'm not assuming. You're not one to be so easily flustered by someone you dislike."
"My, Shell, how bold, you've grown." Niel chuckled, shaking his head. "There's a possibility I do... but even so, these feelings do no one any good. And they would never change my objective. What I did, I did for my country and this plan will succeed if it kills me."
"It might if you regress further. You may not make it back to the capitol."
"Nonsense! I was just a bit winded today, so I needed an extra dose and some rest. With the progress that I made, I should be better sooner than I'd imagine."
~~~
He did not get better. In fact, the prince's condition worsened exponentially as they approached the town of thieves. They stopped in the town just before because Niel was no longer fit to travel and faded in and out of consciousness. The women were unsure why the illness had started up again so suddenly.
Ivy was at her wits' end. As they steadily made their way to Hollowbury, a city of thieves, which was rumored to have a black market of rare ingredients, Niel's symptoms were getting worse. It was like when he first came to the inn. And not only was Ivy at a loss at how to alleviate his symptoms, but there was something about the pattern that was itching at the back of her mind. There were dark bags underneath her eyes and her tone grew more terse as she searched her mind for any solutions. Sometimes she fell into a silence where she practically ignored Una and Niel except when it was to make sure he was all right.
It was a couple days into their stay when it finally dawned on her. She was preparing a soothing potion when a memory rose to the surface and her hands stilled, a small gasp escaping her unknowingly before she looked to her traveling companions. "I think the demon is near here," Ivy said, her voice starting out small but ending in a confident tone.
"Hm?" Una looked up from the prince's bedside at the healer's sudden words. It had been a while since Ivy talked, as if she was thinking about something really hard when she was preparing the medicine.Niel was feverish and half asleep at the moment. His bodyguard was tending to him by administering the medicine.
"If the demon is near here, we will have to work fast. Either he lifts this illness or we have to make that medicine to dispel it." She noted.
"How do you know?" Niel croaked. He didn't want Shell to go on a wild goose chase for the demon if Ivy wasn't positive. They didn't have the time for it.
Looking between the two, it was hard to dispel her look of uncertainty, but she drew in a breath and squared her shoulders. She clasped her hands together to still them, as if that would help center her thoughts, the panic that has been lingering over her fading slightly. "These symptoms have been bothering me and it reminded me of what happened back at my village. One man, the farthest outside the village to be infected, he recovered once, just like Niel had. He was well enough to be sent to ask for help at a nearby village and when he returned to give his news, he fell ill again. Back then we didn't know why, but if it was the demon's fault, perhaps it is an illness that is aggravated by this demon's presence." Ivy waved her hand around as she went to sit down, her frown deepening as she looked at the ingredients she had gathered so far. They haven't really had a chance to get to the black market yet, and Ivy didn't want to leave Niel with Una since she was the one with medical expertise. Maybe Una could perhaps find the demon and the ingredients at the same time?
Her eyes became tinged with concern. She didn't want to send Una into danger. She bit her lip. "Well, it's just a theory that the demon might be affecting Niel. If anything, we can't delay any longer. Una, you have to get the ingredients for me in Hollowbury. Either find them, or maybe get the demon to stop the illness."
Una clenched her jaw nervously. There was little to no guarantee that neither the ingredients nor the demon would be found in Hollowsbury. She didn't like the idea of leaving Niel and Ivy there undefended, but the trio was running out of options. If they did nothing, Niel really would die this time around."Go." The prince's voice commanded and she had to obey. Nodding, she grabbed her weapons and necessities quickly and moved out. She grabbed a horse and rode for Hollowsbury. If she kept up her pace, she could reach the town in half a day.
~~~
By the time Una arrived, sunset was arriving soon and she beelined for the market, having tied up her horse a little ways outside of town with come coverage. Town of Thieves was not a name she could afford to ignore when time was of the essence.
"Tell me if you sell anything on this list." She commanded, showing the parchment to a merchant that appeared to sell herbs and plants.
"Hmm... you know figweather root is more rare to come by than-urk!"
"I don't have time to waste. Do you have any of these or not?" Una had grabbed the shopkeeper by his throat and squeezed. When she could tell he was going to comply, she release him.
"I-I don't. Five stalls to your right might." The merchant panted, fearful of the woman's wrath.
"I also need to know if you've seen a man. Brown, wavy hair, ragged appearance, a storyteller that goes by the name 'Dixon'."
"N-no. I'm sorry-" But before he could finish his apology, the bodyguard had moved on.
Although the first shop had not been successful, the second one was. She'd found what they claimed to be basilisk scales and after some of her intimidation, she confirmed that at least the shopkeeper believed them to be legitimate. She had also said that a storyteller had appeared in the town a little while ago within the last few weeks. He apparently frequented a pub on the north side of town called Tartaros. Una left immediately upon receiving the information. Finding all the ingredients might be impossible, but she didn't need to if she could find that demon and convince him.
She made it to the bar and looked around, but didn't see him. She instead went to the bartender to confirm the information.
"I'm looking for a storyteller named Dixon."
"That's nice sweetheart, but bar services apply to customers only."
She placed some money on the counter. "Give me a mug of ale and all the information you have."
Ever since that night in the palace, Dixon had to keep a low profile. His escape was quick enough, it seemed, that the angel couldn't find him in all the commotion and he fled the capital as fast as he could. He wandered for a while, making loops and retracing his steps at certain points if someone were to be on his trail. Not that Dixon was sure how angels worked when hunting for demons, but he thought he'd try anyways. It was somewhat ironic that of all places, an angel would be at that banquet. It was as if the heavens had special favor towards the royal family of Pyry or something similar. And it had to be, of course, the one time that Dixon meddled with royals that he'd be spotted. Irritation and anger had burned through him like never before when Dixon felt the eyes of the angel on him. What good were angels, anyways? It wasn't as if he asked to be a demon and who's to say killing a bunch of people was wrong? They preach about it in their damn churches, praising angels and labeling demons as evil. But humans were the ones that made them. Aren't they evil?
Dixon was contemplating these thoughts, his anger festering so much that he didn't pay attention to those around him. He had stopped by a tavern to eat and drink and think of his next step when he overheard someone mention the city of Hollowbury. The name rang a bell with Dixon. Lots of ladies, fun drinking games, poker and other gambling games into the night. A few fist fights. Dixon hadn't been to the City of Thieves, as it was also known as, in a long time and he had fond memories.
So, after downing his drink, Dixon headed off.
It was a few weeks after the royal banquet incident and Dixon found himself lounging in a pub, a girl on his left and a full mug of beer in his right. He had just spent the earlier part of the day telling stories so now he thought he'd treat himself.
The bartender didn't tell her much except a storyteller had started to frequent the bar recently. His usual spot was around back and he apparently had a way with women, or so he thought as she wasn't the First Lady to come looking for the mysterious silver tongued rogue. He believed Dixon might have come in sometime tonight, though he wasn't positive. With that, Una found her way around among the dodgy characters. She was almost certain all of the customers and staff were armed. There was a certain type of crowd that this town attracted and it wasn't the honest, hardworking farmers that worked day in and out to put food on the table. Hollowsbury was perfectly located close enough between the kingdoms that there was a variety of goods they would have access to, but far away enough from the capitols that they weren't at much risk to get trouble from the government.Una found Dixon as the bartender had expected, nestled into a booth with some women and some ale. Placing the mug of ale before him as a sort of offering, she was direct in addressing him.
"I need to speak with you."
Dixon was just whispering sweet nothings to the girl beside him when the clunking sound of a mug caught his attention. Turning his gaze upwards, his eyebrows rose in surprise, his hazel eyes lighting up with curiosity and suspicion but he kept his roguish smile. Interesting to see Niel's little messenger. He wondered if perhaps after her employer's death she was taking time for herself. Did Niel die, though? He left before he completed the spell, but he figured the symptoms were bad enough that the guy keeled over right then and there. Perhaps she'll tell him, but after feeling the angel's presence, he didn't want to be so easily persuaded. "Speak with me? You'll have to wait in line, sweetheart. I've got of line of ladies that want that and more." He ran a hand up and down the woman's side next to him, giving her curvy waist a squeeze that made her give a little squeal in delight. "Come back later."
Speaking of which, where had his shield gone? Surely she must have retrieved what she could by now... His eyes glanced over to the door, searching for any signs of movement. "I'm in no condition to make threats either..." He noted more softly.
As if on cue, the door opened to reveal his bodyguard. Nothing appeared to be wrong, but Niel wondered what had been keeping her.
"Did you accidentally get bricks attached to your feet? You're late." Shell moved to hand the supplies to Ivy.
"I checked to see if he had left town or not after grabbing what supplies I could. I wasn't able to find everything." She briefly explained.