Chapter Text
“Coco, if you keep shifting around like that you’re going to wake up Master Qifrey”
“But the chair is so uncomfortable"
“Well shift around quieter for goodness sake.”
“When Master Qifrey wakes up do you think he would rather the room be decorated with green ribbon crystals or red ones. What do you think Euini?”
“O-oh I don’t know. Tetia would know better than me.”
“I would actually say blue. That’s his favorite color isn’t it? I’ll make little cloud charms to hang off the crystals”
“Hi there Qifrey. I could say I told you so, but you wouldn’t get to remember that. I really hope you’re ok, you hear me? Because Olly has been a nervous wreck and well, he and the girls need you. Wake up soon all right?”
“Hey Qifrey. I know you probably can’t hear me right now but…I’m talking to you anyways. The girls are all ok, and well, I think the more you’re asleep the more I’m turning into you. I started drinking your blasted willowgrape tea. I will say, it's growing on me. Not that I’m drinking it because I miss you or anything. Anyways, I…I hope you wake up soon ok. The girls miss you. I miss you.” A hand wraps around his, soft and tender, and slowly Olly brings it up to his mouth, pressing a tender kiss to Qifrey’s knuckles. Gingerly, he set it down again, wiped the tears forming in the corner of his eyes and rushed out of the room before he burst out into sobs.
***
It took everything in Qifreys power just to open his eye. He felt as though someone had hit him with a bag of bricks and his tongue was dry enough that he wouldn’t be surprised if he opened his mouth and he spit out a mass of sheep's wool. He lay there for a moment, just trying to take his new surroundings in. The first thing that caught his attention was the slight tinkling coming from the corner of the room. Qifrey peeled his eyes open again and located the source of the sound—it was some of Richeh’s crystal ribbons that were hanging from an open window. A faint breeze knocked them together, and Qifrey could smell the sweetness of the flowers that someone had placed in the windowsill. The rest of the room was quite plain in fact—it looked as though Qifrey was in some sort of guest room in fact. The walls were sparse with no decoration and the sheets were a bland cream color. Qifrey racked his brain for how he got here and then-
“Olruggio? Olly, where are you?” Qifrey practically stumbled out of bed, grabbing weakly onto one of the bedposts before hobbling his way over to the door. If he was remembering correctly, Olruggio, he had—
“By the Great Witches Qifrey!” The door in front of Qifrey swung open and Olly rushed inside, dropping whatever he was holding just as Qifrey’s knees gave out beneath him. “Easy there. You’ve been asleep for a week.”
“Come now?”
“You’ve been asleep for a week! Flira did quite the number on you.”
“Wait, who is Flira? And Olly, what about the girls, are they all right, you need to—”
“I’m going to stop you right there. Everyone is all right, well everyone except for you knucklehead. I’m going to set you down all right?” Qifrey was deposited back onto the bed and Olly sat down next to him, the bed dipping with his weight. “What did you think was going to happen, chasing after Flira with yourself beaten and bloodied like that?.”
“I…what? Olruggio, who exactly is Flira?”
“Oh…ah about that. I wasn’t planning on telling you about her until you were more awake but I guess the dragon’s out of the bag now isn’t it? You know the Brimmed Cap we were fighting? Well, ah. She is now under my custody as my ward.”
“WHAT?”
***
“So let me get this straight. You, immediately after I was knocked unconscious by this Brimmed Cap, decided to interrogate her?”
“That is correct.”
“And while you are talking to her you find out she’s just a teenager.”
“Correct again.”
“And after getting her to come around to talk to you more, you find out that she was forced to attack us. Because the Brimmed Caps are holding her older brother captive. And you decide the best way to shield her from the Knights of Morales is to put her under your protection?”
“Qifrey, if you would meet her you would understand. This girl—Flira. She’s terrified. From what I know she’s been with the Brimmed Caps for only a few years, after she lost her parents. They took her and her older brother, manipulated them into doing their dirty work and experimented on them against their will. She’s a child, Qifrey. She’s a child who is in need of protection—I only did what you would have done. Besides, from what she told me, she wasn’t the one who set fire to Dormaru. There was another witch we missed, and Flira was sent out to distract us while they made their escape.”
Qifrey sighed, taking a sip from his tea. He was back in bed, the aching of his limbs somewhat soothed by the soft plush cushions. A part of him was horrified by Olruggio's choice. This girl, this brimmed cap, had attacked his family—of course he was still a little angry. But the other side of him, the slightly louder side, understood completely. This Flira, she was what could have happened to Coco had he not stepped in and taken her under his protection. From what he knows, Flira is a young girl who is desperately in need of help, and Olruggio had made the executive decision to step in, just like how he had with Coco. Just like he had done with all of the other girls. Moreover, she had connections to the Brimmed Caps—she could be the lead that Qifrey was so desperately searching for.
“I understand Olruggio. And I will stand with you against whatever comes our way to protect her as though she were my own apprentice. I would like to meet her.”
“Of course. You’re going to love her. She’s like Agott, but if Agott was a lot grumpier and moodier like a teenager.”
“Terrifying.” Qifrey murmured, taking another sip of his tea.
“Really though. She’s sweet at her core. I’ve spent all week talking to her, so expect it to take some time. She was quite prickly the first time I tried to speak with her.”
All of the sudden the door burst open and a green blur raced across the room. Coco practically leapt onto the bed and wrapped Qifreys midsection, burying her face in the covers. The rest of the girls trailed after her, each filing into the room one by one, followed by Euini and Alaria.
“I’m glad you’re all right Master Qifrey,” Coco said, raising her teary face to look at Qifrey. “All of us are.”
The rest of the girls moved closer, then all at once they crashed into him, all of them trying to join Coco in on the hug.
“Girls, Qifrey just woke up! Careful all right! He’s still healing.” Olruggio yelped as he too was tackled by Tetia, trying hard to hide his growing smile. His hand reached for Qifreys, and he twined their fingers together.
“I’m glad you’re all right.” Olly mouthed. Qifrey squeezed his hand back, a warmth building in his stomach as the bright laughter of the girls filled the room.