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Gwendoline found herself battling a cervus it protecting it's hatch to its death. It carefully danced around all her casts edging closer and closer to her. Gwendoline took a few steps backwards sending a spell that spiraled up into the air then crashed into a tree beside them.
"God dammit you stupid beast," Gwendoline said to the creature who obviously did not understand, but before she could cast another spell a black pool formed underneath it swallowing it slowly, though the cervus didn't go down easy as it struggled against the inky black tendrils starting to crawl all over its skin as Gwendoline glanced over at the girl walking past the clearing holding a hand out.
Gwendoline watched Vivi start to slowly sink the creature and grinned before letting out a breath. "Y'know Vivi I had that."
At first Vivi didn't respond until Gwen watched the creature slowly sink before yelling out a scream before it was silenced entirely. Gwendoline, not wanting to be useless, watched forward and stuck her wand out allowing the aether around her to flow through her to help stitch the hatch portal together.
"I understand Miss Gwendoline, but I wouldn't want my dear classmate to be harmed especially since your friend Agon has requested your presence for burn cream and the bar."
"Of course Agon needs me," Gwendoline laughed as she closed the hatch and turned towards Vivi. "How often do I have to say it, just call me Gwen, Agon and Zeno already do. Though are you coming with us? I probably owe you one."
"No, I am going to go to the cemetery to study. Please have fun without me Miss Gwendoline." Vivi stated simply before starting the walk back. Gwendoline wished she could somehow get closer to the girl walking away from her.
"Alright. Have fun Vivi. See you tomorrow." Gwendoline said before herself returning slowly to the school giving Vivi space so she didn't accidentally creep the girl out.
Gwen walked into the bar meeting Agon who sat at the bar bandages wrapped all around his arms. Gwen cheerfully waves, "Hey Agon. You alright?"
"Yeah just some small burns from class with Professor Balam. What about you? I heard from Vivienne you fought a cervus."
"Yeah, I was just walking through the woods for a good place to practice and suddenly a cervus was there and charged me, but luckily for me apparently Vivi was close by." Gwen said proudly.
"Y'know I'm honestly amazed that you can even spend some time with that girl. She keeps blowing me off every time I invite her out to the bar. Maybe you could next time since you have a better relationship with her." Agon said while applying some burn cream Gwen brought along his forearms which were littered with burn scars and some charred skin.
"Maybe, but I thin she'd rather spend her time. I should too." But that being said she still waved a bartender all the same for a beer.
"Yeah. I'm just lucky the other nerd at our school wants to come." Agon smiled as the ulfan man walked over to him his gray and white fur covering his body with a monocle perched up on his face.
"Hello Gwen, Agon. Did I hear I was called a nerd?" Zeno said with a joking smile taking a seat next to Agon in the bar. "Also I heard you got attacked by a cervus are you alright Gwen?"
"Yeah of course. Vivi somehow found me and saved me though I needed no saving," That lie was kind of hard to sell to her friends, "that being said how did you guys find that out."
"Vivienne told me," they both said at once which left to a outburst of laughter from all of them as they all were getting a little buzzed.
"Really? When did you guys get a chance to talk with her?"
"I ran into her behind the divination building whilst she was muttering something about missed opportunity or something. When I asked her about it she told me about what had happened she had simply regaled me with a story about saving you in the forest." Zeno said while finishing his beer.
"Yeah she told me a similar story when I found her walking around in the plains. I asked her if she wanted to go to the bar, but she was busy studying I suppose. Though earlier when I had asked her if she could time me while I run she said she had one last bit of studying to do. I wonder why she lied" Agon said leaning against the bar.
"That's interesting. I mean with her Mister 'I burn myself all the time' it isn't hard to determine why she wouldn't want to spend time with you," Gwen joked, but still wondered why Vivi had lied to them. "Maybe I'll go talk with her. See you guys later." Gwen with a smile and a wave, left her friends wondering the school for her friend.
Gwendoline finally found her friend sitting under a tree in the cemetery which honestly should've been the first place she should've checked, but the alcohol had gone to her head.
"Hey Vivi. What's hanging?" Gwen approached settling herself down next to the other girl. Who had quickly closed a book.
"Hello Miss Gwendoline is everything alright?"
"Yeah of course I was just at the bar. Agon and Zeno were telling me about how you told them about the forest incident. Though they were mainly curious about if I was okay, but everything was thanks to you saving me." Gwendoline said, even though she was buzzed she was still good enough with words though her mechanical functions failed her as she closed her eyes and found her head falling onto Vivi's shoulder.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Vivi's tone held a more strained version to it.
"Yup just fin-," Gwendoline yawned as her body felt suddenly very heavy.
"I don't think so Miss Gwendoline. Shall I take you back to the dorms or at least accompany to the bar to make sure you get home safe?"
"I'm fine," Gwendoline said as she half rolled and half threw her body off of Vivi's shoulder. "But maybe both just in case. I'm sure Agon and Zeno would love to see you."
"Fine fine. Now let us go please. The ghosts are getting restless by your presence Miss Gwendoline," Vivi started to stand up and carefully made sure Gwendoline followed her up. "You must pick yourself up Miss Gwendoline. I don't have the strength to carry you."
Gwendoline after a few seconds of convincing had finally pulled herself up with some of Vivi's help and they both started to make their way over to the dorms. "Promise to come to the bar with us next time."
"Yes, yes I promise." Vivi dragged the girl into the residence hall where she brought the girl to the dorm and helped her inside and into her bed.
"Now I am going to inform Mister Agon and Mister Zeno of your sleep. Goodnight Miss Gwendoline." This time Viv did no get a response back as she turned and walked out of the residence hall.
Finally, after half a day Gwen was finally found by Agon. "Fun night last night Gwen?"
"I'm not sure what you mean? I found Vivi, we talked and she took me to my dorm and didn't let me fall asleep in the cemetery. Actually do you know where she is? I haven't seen her all day."
"Not sure. I think I saw her walk into the forest this morning while I was on my run, but I have yet to see her return. If you're going to go find her just be safe."
"Alright. Thanks Agon. See you later." With that Gwen left for the forest which didn't take too long to make it too.
"VIVI? VIVI?!" Gwen started to yell upon entering the forest which wasn't the best idea as after 30 minutes of walking she saw a cervus running at her. Quickly preparing her wand she cast a spell to protect her, but the cervus just ran right past her.
"What?" But with little time to think a forest fury started to float towards her clawing at the different trees around them. Her eyes widened in shock as she took a step backward right as it crashed into her shield sending her flying backwards and into a tree. With pain in her ribs and arms she forced herself up quickly and started to run. Beings as powerful as these were really dangerous to deal with.
Quickly sprinting a zig zag through the forest she could hear the fury scratching at the trees behind her, but she didn't have time to think as she flung herself to the side and launched a spell at it trying to slow it or stop it, but of course it crashed into a tree and destroyed it falling between herself and the fury.
Not taking a second to breath she sprinted around a tree though even then she knew it wasn't enough as she turned to see the fury blast apart the shield she threw up in the last moment before grabbing her and launching again. She luckily didn't hit a tree as she rolled, but didn't have enough time to recover as it bared down on her again with it's claws cutting against her skin and shredding her clothes as she rolled again to avoid being hit twice.
But nothing stopped the fury from grabbing her by the throat and slamming her into a tree where she felt pain shoot up her spine and blood fall from her mouth. The fury raised a claw, but before it could fall she saw dark tendrils grab the claw before it could crush her head. Behind the fury Vivi, with a worried face, held back the fury.
"Agon. NOW!" Agon rushed forward from the side where his bandages unraveled showing a line of runes glowing a bright green as he ran at the fury and point blanket fired a flaming spell that nearly burnt Gwen as well, but to dodge the flames the fury dropped the girl to the ground as Agon and Vivi moved to protect while Zeno ran up from behind panting.
"Agon I can't believe you made that run that fast. Gwen are you alright?" Zeno crouched next to her and sighed. "Well you will be. Luckily the stars led me the right way."
"Zeno, Agon we need to retreat to the school. Please pick her up," Vivi said with no question for any other options as the fury started to move towards them again. Carefully avoiding Agon and Vivi eyes still trained back towards Gwen and Zeno.
"Agon again," Vivi said while running off to the left and throwing up a pool of blackness under the fury to try and slow it for Agon, but it quickly shred her magic and ducked underneath the flames that spewed forward. Agon threw up a protection spell that shattered as the fury knocked it to the side and flew forward past Zeno who attempted to slow it down and grabbed Gwen and threw a claw into her back before backing off letting the blood absorb into its skin before it backed away against as Vivi's eyes went wide.
Vivi ran forward letting the shadow engulf the area around them as it grabbed the fury who struggled against it, but Vivi didn't let up as she pulled and pulled the fury forcing it in half as Agon ran forward leaping forward and blasting green fire burning away the fury.
After the ash settle Vivi quickly turned to the girl gasping for air. Zeno was already on it trying to stitch together the wounds.
"Is everything alright? Zeno start talking," Vivi walked forward crouching down, but before Zeno could speak she continued.
"Agon run to get the nurse. You are fastest. Zeno go consult the stars to try and predict the outcome. Now go," Neither of them said anything as they went to do their given duties. They couldn't argue against a Vivi who had finally lost control of her emotions.
Vivi felt tears moisten her face as she cradled Gwen's head in her lap and worked her magic trying her best to seal the wounds, but in her weakened state there was nothing to do as she suddenly heard a small voice.
"What are you crying about?" Gwen croaked weakly. Though she smiled with a little bit of blood tainting her lips and dribbling down her chin.
"Gwen you're okay. Everything is going to be okay," Gwen couldn't tell if Vivi was trying to convince her or herself.
"Of course I will. I got you to watch over me," Gwen coughed weakly and shut her eyes. "Y'know this isn't the worst way to die. In the arms of a friend."
"You aren't going to die. How am I supposed to share my thoughts with you?" Vivi said as she lowered her forehead to Gwen's.
"Can't you talk to ghosts? I'll always be with you," Gwen returned as she slowly opened her eyes and stared at the girl above her.
"I want to enjoy it while we're alive Gwen. I love you." Vivi said as tears rolled down her face and into Gwen's hair.
"Y-you called me Gwen," Gwen said as she closed her eyes again. "I can't believe this," She said weakly. "You love me? Don't you know who I am?"
"You are a brave woman who trains nonstop despite the failings of magic in your life. What is there not to love?"
"I love you too Vivi. Hopefully I can survive this so we can be together. I don't want to be a ghost with you."
"Just stay alive. Help will be here soon."
"I love you," Gwen said as she slipped into unconciousness.
"I love you too," Vivi said as she cradled the woman she adored more than anything.