Chapter Text
What Olruggio had told him sounded phantasmal. It was surreal when he heard it, but the moment he saw his girls standing in the hospital room, he believed him.
It really has been six years.
For Qifrey, literally no time has passed. It was as if he closed his eyes after the fight with the Brimmed Caps and opened them only a second later. They all were older than he remembered.
His beautiful Olruggio looked so haggard, still the most gorgeous man in the world, but very unkept.
But his girls were suddenly completely different people. They have grown into their skins and became such pretty young ladies.
That's when it hit him. Due to his own horrendous mistake, he missed watching them growing up. Back then, when they all lived happily together and he had the joy of teaching them, Qifrey loved to imagine how he would guide them to become their best selves. How he would prepare them for their next tests, but also teach them basic everyday tasks.
He loved to see even their smallest victories over mundane problems. Their cute little faces scrunching up while thinking about solutions and lightening up, when they come up with answers to their questions on their own with little guidance.
But he also loved their closeness. How they would seek comfort in him, when they felt scared or insecure. Qifrey truly enjoyed being needed and loved.
Of course, he couldn't truly indulge in these joyous feelings, for there was always a looming threat hanging over his shoulders, but he really was treasuring these moments.
And he had missed out on so many blissfull years and he can never get them back. There might be a spell to reverse a lasting condition, but not one to completely turn back time.
Oh how he longed to be part of their future, but his own thirst for revenge made him lose everything.
The worst part was not his own pain, that he felt, while thinking of possibilities, but how much suffering he brought onto everyone around him.
For him, it was but a blink of an eye, but his loved ones had to live through years of misery. It was visible what damage it did to them. And how they all looked at him with a pain so deep, they all seem to fear that he would vanish at any moment.
He wanted to ease their nerves, even though his ones felt like they were burning up, so he tried to put on his most heartwarming smile and said, "thank you, my darling girls".
All four of them used this as a cue to jump him in his bed, nevermind that they are no longer twelve but adult women. In that moment, they were once again young little girls. And he embraced them the best he could, now that he didn't have to worry about shooting out branches and leaves.
Olruggio told him before their first real kiss, that they burned the silverwood out of him and he had to know how they did it.
Qifrey moved back a few inches, now looking genuinely at each one of them.
He could now make out their faces more clearly and he could still recognize them all. They actually haven't changed as much as he thought.
He noticed just how much affection he felt for them and instead of pushing it down like he always did, he allowed himself the grace to stay in this warm and homely moment.
His heart felt like it was overflowing with love, so it came pouring out of his eye like a fountain in the middle of a town square.
For the first time in his known life, Qifrey experienced carefree and unmuted joy.
He had to squeeze them to his body yet again, needing to let out this love.
They squealed, laughing and giggling while he embraced them with all his might, but still careful enough to now squish them.
Qifrey caught himself both laughing and crying at the same time. It truly felt bizarre, being here and both seeing his little apprentices and women he barely knew.
In the corner of his eye, he saw Olruggio wiping his tears in secret, probably hoping that nobody would see him weep as well.
Oh, how he adored this man. He was always the kindest and most radiant star in the sky with the biggest heart and the most love to share. He gestured to him to join their hug fest. Olruggio first hesitated, but once the girls urged him to come over too, he eventually joined them. All six of them enjoying the moment.
After waking up in the hospital bed, Qifrey felt an eerie feeling of emptiness in his body. Like something that was there since forever suddenly missing. It was not an unpleasant feeling, but he was not used to feeling this light.
But in this very moment, being in the arms of every person he cared for deeply, he felt whole, like he belonged there and nowhere else.
While having this cozy moment, his curiosity got the better of him and he just had to ask, "just how did you manage to save me? I need every detail of that".
They all looked at each other and Coco excitedly started to explain it to him, not leaving out a single step from it.
She showed him all their spells, telling him about every component and the meaning behind it.
It was truly fascinating. She really became such an outstanding talent, probably surpassing any witch he has ever met, including his former teacher Beldaruit.
He couldn't believe that the young girl who was once an outsider, who accidentally turned her mother into crystal without having any prior knowledge of magic, turned into the biggest talent the witch world has ever seen. It was astonishing how much work went into their project. They really thought of any possible outcome and how to combat it.
He was so drawn into the story, that he didn't notice just how fast the time has flown by.
The door suddenly was pushed open and Sinocia came in with a tray full of food.
Qifrey looked at the clock hanging on the wall. It was far past noon.
Sinocia ushered everyone from the bed and gave it to him. Apparently it was dinner time for all the occupants in the hospital.
Tetia's stomach decided to make itself known, the moment she saw the tray on Qifrey's lap. They all seemed to ogle his food.
"Maybe you all should head out to the cafeteria and get yourself something to eat too. You must be starving," he said, noticing their mouths practically starting to drip with saliva.
They hesitated, not really wanting to leave, so he encouraged them, "go on! Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. Whenever you are finished, I will still be here waiting for you".
They agreed and went to get themselves a meal.
Only Olruggio stayed behind, standing as close to the bed as Sinocia would allow.
She apparently wanted to make sure that he eats, so he took his first bite of the provided dinner. Satisfied with that, she asked him how he was feeling and if he was in any pain.
He shook his head and told her, that he was actually feeling quite fine, a bit sluggish and exhausted, but had no bodily pain. That exhaustion probably was more emotional than physical anyways.
Sinocia nodded and turned to Olruggio.
"You mister, will also go down to the cafeteria and get yourself something between your teeth and afterwards I want to take a look at you. You look so much worse than my patient here. And there is no ifs or buts this time," she told him with a stern voice.
Olruggio immediately started to protest, not wanting to leave Qifrey at any cost. While appreciating his devotion to stay by his side, Qifrey knew that Sinocia was absolutely right. This man needed food in his stomach as soon as possible. He looked awfully thin, cheeks and eyes sunken in and his skin color was closer to gray than pink.
Knowing that his Olly would be stubborn, he reached for his hand and caressed the back of it. That stole Olruggio's attention and he turned his face to him, aggression transforming into love.
"She is right, you know. My dear, you need really need to eat and probably get a good night's sleep," Qifrey whispered, pulling him a bit towards him. He saw how he wanted to open his mouth in protest, which he instantly nipped in the bud. "Please, do it for me," he begged, knowing that this would definitely work to get him out of his stubbornness.
Olruggio seemed to want to insist at first, but he just couldn't when he looked at him like that. So he took Qifrey's hand to his lips and kissed his knuckles.
"Anything for you," was all he said to him before also leaving. Before he exited, Olruggio stopped for a moment and looked back at him, possibly wanting to burn Qifrey's image into his head. It was only a brief moment, before they all left him behind. Sinocia also needed to move on to the next patient, so he was completely alone.
His appetite left him the moment everyone went away.
His mind was running far to quick for him to actually taste any of the food. He put the tray on the nightstand and cocooned himself in his blanket.
He thought about every single mistake he made and regret pushed all the love and joy from his heart.
If the siverwood tree was still in him, it would have shriveled down to a mere seed from the sheer anxiety and sorrow Qifrey felt while trying to hide from the world.
How could all these wonderful people do much for him, when he was the most appalling creature in the universe.
He started to wish that they never have found him in his coffin when he was a little boy. He was supposed to die there, instead of ruining everyone's life with his presence.
Qifrey started to silently weep under his blanket, intensely feeling his shame and remorse.