Chapter Text
“But what if it doesn’t work?! You’ll forget for nothing! I can’t do that to you!” Qifrey choked out between sobs. The branches continued to entrap him, and he was scared that this could be it. The silverwood has never progressed this far before, and it felt like it would reach a point of no return unless somebody acted quickly. That ‘somebody’ was Olruggio.
“It doesn’t matter! You’ll die if it doesn’t work, and then we’ll just have to come up with something else. But what do ya have to lose?”
‘You.’ Is what Qifrey wanted to say, but the words were just as stuck as the rest of him was. He was running out of time, and what felt like running out of air. He was too panicked to think clearly, and it was starting to become obvious that neither he nor Olruggio had any other solutions to offer. The longer he couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, the more the bark curled around and ripped through his skin. Olruggio’s plan was a narrow shot in hell, but it’s the only shot they had left. Another choice, robbed from his soon-to-be second early grave.
Olruggio held a small vial of conjuring ink to Qifrey’s face. His tears steadily gushed out of his eyes and into the vial, and when he pulled back to draw. He was grinning as he penned the spell. Somehow that made it worse. Even in the darkest of times like this, he somehow still managed to be his north star. In his haste, the spell looked a little different from the one he saw in The Tower of Tomes, but he hadn’t caught his mistake.
“Ah, we can’t have a pact without some proof, right?” Oru removed the ribbon from his cap and the tassel adorning Qifrey’s, only to swap them. A long, black ribbon for Qifrey, and a sparkling gold tassel for Olruggio. “Now, every time you see them, you’ll be reminded of your promise to me, even if I won’t remember. So go easy on me, ‘kay?” He ripped the page out of his palm quire and held it to his forehead. He never stopped smiling, which brought back a memory.
“Nothing gets an adult to put their guard down like a kid’s smile!”
‘He’s toughing this out.’ He’s just as scared as Qifrey is, but you’d never know behind that big, dopey grin that sparkled like the stars. He could fool the adults with that grin to get a map, but not Qifrey. Not right now, not ever.
“You told me that I wouldn’t have to lie anymore…” Qifrey was still struggling. Trapped like he always has been. He doesn’t have another plan and knows Olruggio has made up his mind. But he has to at least try.
“I did, didn’t I?” A hint of sadness started to leak into his voice. Oru suddenly looked less brave, like he was going to waver, but it was only for a moment. He steeled his resolve. “…Just think of it as telling lies only a friend would make.” He held the spell back up to his forehead and smiled once again, but that sadness never left.
“Am I just supposed to hurt you every time I get too close? How is this going to be any better?! Why can’t you just let me go!” Qifrey knew it was futile even to ask.
“Just promise me you won’t throw your life away, okay?” Olruggio didn’t have an answer that Qifrey would accept. “Seeya on the other side, my partner in pain!” Qifrey wanted to stop him. He wanted to scream some more. But, before he could even strangle a reaction from his cauterised throat, Olruggio closed the seal, and his north star fell from the sky.
Qifrey’s branches retracted, and he collapsed right there with him. Qifrey started to stir after some time, Olruggio still out cold in the dirt. With the initial shock having passed, he tried to make what felt like a crime scene a little more comfortable. He ripped a pyreball glyph out of his quire, and covered Oru with his own cloak. The remnants of the memory spell sat on the ground next to Oru’s head, and Qifrey pocketed it. He sat perched on the cliff in front of The Tower of Tomes’ protective lake until Oru awoke on his own. He’s not sure if he regrets having ever come here. Olruggio finally stirred. He rubbed his bleary eyes, and shot up with a start.
“Qifrey?! Qifrey, are you—“ He stopped in his tracks. He remembered everything. But somehow, Qifrey was still here, no branches in sight.
‘I flubbed the spell.’
“What’s wrong?” Qifrey answered like if someone asked about the weather, but he could feel his insides twisting at Oru’s sudden panic.
‘Had it not worked?’ Qifrey started to stand, but Olruggio sighed and plopped down next to him. He knew what he had to do.
“Nothing, just a bad dream I suppose.” He had to sell this. If Qifrey found out the spell hadn’t worked they’d be back at square one with no contingency plan. As long as Qifrey thinks he’s erasing Olruggio’s memory, then the plan still works as a placebo. He faked a yawn and stretched. “So, you’re back from the tower? Were you able to find anything? Guess I fell asleep waiting for you.” Qifrey stayed silent for a moment. It looked like there was something he wanted to say, but he shook his head before he gave an oddly formal response.
“Nothing about my past, anyway. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to come back empty-handed after everything you’ve done for me.” He chuckled with a strange sense of self-pity, though it was easy to guess why. Oru put on his usual boisterous air to put him a little at ease, but not too much.
“Eh, it was a long shot, anyway. Nothin’ to be sorry for! You gonna try again sometime?” He prayed the answer would be no.
“No. I think I’m done with The Tower.” There was a level of finality in Qifrey’s voice that made it clear there wasn’t room for discussion on the matter, as if Olruggio would question it.
“If you’re okay with it, I guess I am too.” Olruggio clapped him on the back as per usual. The plan was working! Only one more thing to address. “Care to explain why my ribbon’s on your cap? Wait—“ He feigned ignorance. “When did your tassel get on my cap?! I didn’t agree to a switch!”
“I’m not giving it back,” Qifrey mumbled gravely.
“What are we going to say to our teachers?! Don’t you think they’ll ask questions—“
“I said I’m not giving it back!” The ribbon was clutched so tightly in Qifrey’s fists, that his knuckles started to grow white at the bone. “I…I can’t, it’s—“ He started to tear up. He couldn’t choke the words out. Even Olruggio was faking it for the sake of the plan, he hates causing Qifrey more pain than necessary. Time to wrap up the act. The boy groaned.
“Ugh, fine! It’s just a decoration anyway, it’s not like it matters. You could’ve at least asked me first!” He laughed to try and lighten the mood and clapped him on the back. “Let’s head back so I can turn you in to the Knight’s Moralis, ya thief!” Qifrey cracked a small smile.
Maybe it’s better this way. While it wasn’t what he planned, and even if Qifrey doesn’t know it, now he doesn’t have to be the only one to bear the brunt of the lies. They’ll be in it together, as equal partners in pain.