Chapter Text
Ferdinand had his grimoire out already when she laid her brother’s unconscious body in front of him. He leaned over Nozel, all too aware of the short range he had to work in. His leg was at his side at a strange angle, bent too many times, and he clenched his teeth tight when moving jarred it. “I will deliver the mercury from his system, dearest.”
She bristled. Whether it was at the pet name, the way he knew exactly what he had done, or the way her spell couldn’t even taste the mana of his, she did not know. Maybe it was all of those things combined that silenced her long enough for him to get going.
“Anything you wish. I just think that this…” his breath hissed as he inhaled through his teeth. “This is an opportunity for you. Nozel has always tried to control you. To limit you.”
“He was trying to protect me,” she snapped.
“He is trying and failing, where you are succeeding. It just shows how much he’s underestimated you,” he hissed.
She shook her head and crossed her arms, heart pounding. Crouching beside Nozel, she watched Ferdinand’s hands work on him. Nothing looked different. His breathing was still shallow. Was it working? Or was he getting worse? “I don’t want to be praised right now.”
“This isn’t praise. It’s evidence. You are a stronger warrior and a better protector.”
How could her heart still flutter when she received compliments from this man? Her brother was severely injured at her feet, and she couldn’t stop listening to his attacker. Was the visceral hatred she felt so easily wiped away? Nebra felt queasy, sickened by her own weakness. She pressed her hand to the marble floor to steady herself.
“Two royals were not enough to make you change your mind. You’re a woman of strength, poise, and resolve.”
Maybe I am, the young, lonely girl in her wanted to cling to his praise, even though everything else in her was berating her foolishness. It was so easy to remember her days bedbound. No one had been there for her but Ferdinand. I’m loyal to those who really love me.
“You deserve more than you’ve received, all this time. You deserve it and you know how to get it.”
“I have everything I need,” she growled.
“You deserve more,” he insisted gently. “And Nozel’s made every effort to keep you from getting it. You deserve someone at your side who makes you feel good. Who let you feel like yourself. You deserve someone who helps you grow stronger… Someone unafraid to say they love you, dearest N.”
Something inside of her objected, but it was silenced. You deserve that! You deserve someone who really loves you! Nebra squeezed her eyes shut. Doesn’t Nozel love me? She asked herself feebly.
“You should be the head of House Silva, not Nozel. Trust me, dearest. I love you.”
Nebra’s gaze shifted to Nozel. She shook her head, wanting desperately to reject the shaky thoughts trying to manifest in her head. Instead, the full weight of what he was implying crashed into her mind. Her stomach rolled at the realization that his words were something she could ever consider. Having House Silva under her control, and Ferdinand at her side… She loved Nozel, but did he love her? Or was she only a burden? If that was all he thought of her, then maybe it would be a relief if he were too hurt to lead, and her life was no longer his responsibility. If she had someone strong and capable to help her grow powerful. She looked up at Ferdinand through her eyelashes and the fog. He was looking down at Nozel, grimoire open and glowing as he directed the poison in her brother's body. Surely he would understand. She would never let him kill Nozel, but to let his mercury cripple him…
Sweat slicked Nebra’s hands. The mist around her was thick and wet. Still, it reverently avoided sticking to her skin. In her arms was her brother’s body.
Nozel was heavy not because of his weight or his unwieldy size. She knew that couldn’t be it; he had carried her before, and they weren’t so different in size. Mana empowered her hold on him. It was the weight of her actions that made it so hard to keep her body moving. She could feel the cold rivulets of his mana moving weakly over his skin, and feel his shallow breathing. She almost couldn’t bear to hold him in this state, but she needed to get away from here. She needed to leave the manor behind and bring Nozel home.
Even though she knew he was coming, her mind was too much a whirlwind to react. She crashed straight into Fuegoleon’s broad frame.
He caught Nozel reflexively. The fire mage’s mana flared, but his alarm only fed Nebra’s own spell. “What’s going on?”
Nebra’s voice caught in her throat. She clutched his arm and struggled to answer, “A-a doctor… We need to get Nozel help!”
His eyes shot down to Nozel like he was processing his presence for the first time. She could hardly make out his features in the fog. “I can’t cast a spell. You need to get rid of-”
“I can’t!” Nebra cried. It was a lie, but her frustration was sincere. “Fuegoleon, please- Nozel, he- if we don’t get help-” Her voice cracked. Her nails dug into his skin. Her pulse pounded under her skin. The fear and stress rose up in her with sickening speed. Did I make a mistake?
Fuegoleon shifted Nozel and dislodged her nails.Clutching her hand, he dragged her away from the manor. Her feet stumbled on the dirt path as they traveled through the endless fog of her spell. Each second, Nozel’s condition festered. Nebra couldn’t help but imagine his clammy skin, and the way his limbs shivered, asynchronous and intermittent. He won’t die , she reminded herself. Ferdinand had promised her that much. It will be better. He’ll thank me. This is what you had to do for all of us! Get it together, Nebra…
“Nebra!” Fuegoleon’s bark snapped her out of her thoughts. Had he been trying to talk to her this whole time?
“What?”
“Tell me what happened. You’re shaking. And Nozel is in this state...” His back was to her, and his pace was still brisk. He sounded composed.
She swallowed. “Nozel… he lost control.”
His magic swirled.
“I had to stop him. He was hurting himself. He would have died if-” Again, her throat trapped what she needed to say.
“If?” Fuegoleon’s eyes slipped back, and he peered at her seriously over his shoulder.
Could she really say this? It was true. It was almost true. “Ferdinand saved him.”
Fuegoleon’s grip on her hand tightened.
“I don’t know,” she said quietly. “But Nozel already did so much damage on himself, all he could do was stop it from getting worse. A healing mage-”
“I understand,” Fuegoleon said. Though his mana couldn’t billow out, his skin still grew hot. They trudged onward. “Time is a factor. Try to figure out how to drop this fog. If it is like before-”
“I’ll try,” she said. And once the manor was far behind them, she did.