Chapter Text
This was going bad. This was going so bad. Madame Odile was trying to gather strength while trying to protect Isabeau collapsed on the ground.
Things were going so so crabbing bad! And you can't even help! Your crabbing ankle won't let you stand, and you can't muster any craft! You can't help!!
The sadness moved like a dance, putting its flat hands in front of its face carefully. Another attack was coming and you couldn't do anything!
You screw your eyes shut so you don't have to see it...and you pray. You grip your rapier and cry out to the Change God, or maybe the Expressions your newest traveling companion would pray to. Just...anyone!
Save us...save us...save us!
You hear the flash of craft ring in your ears...but no cry from Odile. A grunt is instead what rang through you. You force your eyes open and see...light? It looks like a triangle of light standing between Odile and the sadness. Did...did the Change God-
Before you can assume divine intervention, the light moved...it rippled like fabric and you blink to clear your eyes.
It was no saint, just someone with too bright a cloak and too big a hat. He brushed dark hair out of his eyes as he looked at Madame Odile, then at Isabeau and you. His dark eyes narrowed when he met your gaze, his expression unreadable.
Then, his attention snapped as the sadness moved, stepping back. You catch a hint of a grin when he turned back to the monster.
They hunched forward, and over one shoulder you see the glint of a dagger. Over the other, the distinct shape of a scissors sign.
He pushed forward, slamming his attack into the sadness, and finally giving Madame Odile the space she needs to cast her own piercing attack.
The creature dispursed into idle energy, and Madame Odile looked back at you.
"Mirabelle, are you alright?" she asked quickly.
You nod. You hate that she checked on you first when Isabeau is collapsed on the ground but you know why. You're the chosen after all...
"I'm okay, I just need to breath. Check on- oh!"
You turn your gaze to find the stranger kneeling beside Isabeau. Their cloak covered the large man's stomach as they cleaned the scrapes on his face.
Madame Odile wasn't as appreciative as you were. "Get away from him."
The stranger looked up, the dark eyes that had peirced your heart suddenly wide and, almost innocent. They looked back down at Isabeau, then nodded and stood, stepping back to let the researcher give the defender a look over.
You sigh and close your eyes, gathering your strength, to weave some healing craft over the party, enough to move....never useful in a fight. You feel it burn through you, wrap around your ankle and shimmer over Isabeau.
He groaned as he forced his eyes open. "Ah? M'dame! Are you-"
"We're alright Isabeau," you call out, pushing yourself to your feet shakily. The whole group will need to rest before continuing on, you can feel it.
"What...what happened?"
"That sadness was stronger than the others," Madame Odile sighed as she helped Isabeau up.
"We had some help though. Ah, thank you str-" you turn to where the bright stranger once stood to find nothing but empty air. Already gone? Maybe...they were sent by the Change God.
"Uh...guys!"
Your gaze snaps to Isabeau, in his fists he held a leather strap. A leather strap sliced in two places.
A leather strap that held your food bag.
Madame Odile's eyes narrowed. "That little-" You don't know that word...you don't want to know that word.
No...you decide that couldn't have been divine intervention. Divine interventions don't make off with your food!