Work Text:
It had been a few months since Lianna started traveling together with Eliza in an attempt to atone for aiding Mattias in the resurrection of Galdera. They were currently heading towards the town of Duskbarrow in the Woodlands. Eliza had been assigned to go and make sure that none of the books that were housed in the Ruins of Eld were left behind. Lianna had heard of this assignment and did her best to be allowed to join Eliza. The mission was not one of great danger, and thus, Lianna had been allowed to accompany her.
"I know we have been traveling together, but this mission is inconsequential to that, why did you insist in accompanying me?" Eliza asked as they left Flamesgrace.
"I didn't want you to go there alone." Lianna explained, "I'm sure I'll be of help."
"I'm sure you will. And I don't mind the company. It is a few days trip." Eliza explained as they started their travel, "The mission is not one that necessitated the church to send a big group of people, and because I have connections in the Woodlands I was chosen for this mission."
"Ah yes, do you believe we'll bump into them?" Lianna chuckled, she had heard countless stories about Z'aanta's exploits, and his many faults. From her sister, she had also heard a lot about H'aanit, Z'aanta's apprentice.
"Probably not, S'warkii and Duskbarrow are on opposite ends of the woodlands." Eliza let out a sigh of relief and somewhat of exhaustion, "Bumping into Z'aanta means getting roped into a hunt, I'm sure."
Lianna chuckled. "And what's wrong with that? Might be fun."
"Perhaps another time, Lianna. The Ruins of Eld held a vast amount of books, and few of them contain forbidden knowledge." Eliza explained, "It is the Church's priority to make sure all the books have been safely transported to the library of Atlasdam."
"Ah, yes, I believe Phili mentioned that one of her companions discovered such library." Lianna thought back to the stories her sister told her.
"A few days ago a group of sacred knights helped both soldiers and scholars of Wold to collect, catalogue and transport the books." Eliza took out a map and showed it to Lianna, tracing the route the group took, "The place has already been searched top to bottom, but the Pontiff wants to make sure that absolutely nothing was left behind. I feel it's a waste of time but…"
"No… I do understand the Pontiff's worries, if there are any books with dark secrets that may have been left behind, I can't fathom what could happen…" Lianna was overwhelmed with the guilt for participating in Mattias' dark ritual, and if there were any possibility that anyone else could try and replicate it with the knowledge of a tome… She had to make sure that didn't happen.
The two women found themselves in the depths of the forest, no issues had arose so far, but they were heading towards a section that housed powerful monsters.
"Eliza, did you hear that?" The sound of something moving between the leaves could be heard around them. Lianna clutched her staff tight.
"Yes, be ready for anything." Eliza took a fighting stance and look around the vicinity to see from where the attack would come from. And, in a moment, the two were surrounded by a group of Ratkin.
They didn't even need to talk, with a nod, the two women coordinated their attack. Lianna used her light magic to blind the enemies, and Eliza dispatched of them. But, when the coast seemed clear, an arrow flew through the air, hitting Eliza's leg. The origin was a lone Ratkin, probably came as support for the other group. Lianna immediately cast a spell to dispatch of it and went to check on Eliza.
"Are you okay?" Lianna asked with a concern tone in her voice.
"Yes… It's just an arrow." But Eliza wasn't okay, she started to feel somewhat faint, it seems as if the arrow had been poisoned. She tried to stand up but couldn't.
"Are you sure? You don't seem okay. Hold on, let me try something." Lianna sighed and started to mutter something, in mere moments her hands lit up and a warm light engulfed Eliza's wound, healing it. But…
"Thank you Lianna." Eliza said, but even if the wound itself had been healed, she still felt the effects of the poison. She tried to overpower the effects and continue, but it was clear that this seemed to be a strong poison. After taking a step, Eliza felt her body grow heavier.
"Eliza!" Lianna had been able to catch Eliza before she had collapsed to the floor. "I think we need to go to an apothecary. I'm sorry…"
"Don't be." Eliza struggle to say through the effects of the poison, "I think I brought some herb of healing. It should be in the bag." At that moment, Eliza collapsed to the floor. Lianna panicked and rummaged through the bag until she found the herb.
The problem was that Eliza couldn't properly eat the herb in her current state, and thus, Lianna did the only thing she could think of. In quick succession, Lianna chewed the herbs and grabbed Eliza's face.
"Please forgive me…" Lianna then kissed Eliza, feeding her the herb that way. Lianna felt shame, it was the first kiss she and Eliza had shared. She would have preferred for it to be under better circumstances, but Lianna had panicked and hadn't thought of any other method to administer the herb.
A few moments later, Eliza woke up. "Thank you Lianna, I don't know what I would have done without you here."
"It was nothing." Lianna was still blushing from the kiss.
"I mean it. I don't know how those Ratkin got a hold of that strong of a poison…" Eliza sighed, "Might ask Z'aanta and H'aanit to take a look into it later."
"Yes, that might be for the best." Lianna took a deep breath and calmed down, "We should get going."
"I agree, we are an easy target standing here. Duskbarrow shouldn't be too far." Eliza explained. She tried to run but the poison hadn't totally gotten out of her system.
"Please take it easy. I'll help you walk." Lianna grabbed Eliza who was stumbling around.
"Thank you again, Lianna." Eliza said, Lianna responded with a simple smile.
The two of them arrived at the ruins, the once full bookshelves were now empty. Their footsteps echoed through the empty halls.
"Weird, there are no monsters here." Eliza noted as she looked around.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Lianna asked.
"Not necessarily, it can mean something scarier has taken residence here." Eliza said with a weary look on her face.
The two delved deeper into the ruins, silence filled the air. If it weren't for Eliza's comforting presence, Lianna would be scared. Likewise, Eliza felt safer knowing she was with her. They finally arrived at a chamber that seemed to compose of a platform surrounded by a huge amount of bookshelves. But these bookshelves were not only empty, but they had also some signs of visible damage.
That was when they heard it, a roar coming from under them. A dark silhouette emerged from the bottom, standing on the platform. It was what seemed to be a mutated Red Fox. It's fur had grown darker, more akin to the color of coagulated blood. It had blood shot eyes and nine tails. It growled at them, ready to attack at any moment.
"What is that?" Lianna asked, preparing to fight.
"It's probably what drove the monsters away." Eliza explained, "Although it's quite a surprise, it looks like a Red Fox but it's different."
"What could have happened to it?" Lianna asked, showing some concern and compassion.
"I don't know, I was told of no such creature." Eliza sighed, "But I believe we have to battle it."
And so they fought. The beast was strong, but it's focus was solely on Eliza, allowing Lianna to continuously cast healing magic, allowing Eliza to recover from any serious wounds she could have received. Eliza moved with purpose, no swing of her blade seemed to lack reason. After a long battle, they were able to drive away the beast.
"We… Should go back and inform the church." Eliza was exhausted from the fight, she collapsed to the floor and took in some breaths.
"It might be good to tell H'aanit and Z'aanta as well, they could make sure nobody gets hurt." Lianna said as she helped Eliza up.
"Yeah, you're right…", Eliza said, wiping the sweat off her face.
"We should also rest a bit, thanks to my magic you didn't suffer any serious injuries, but you look really tired." Lianna spoke with concern.
"I'll be okay, it should be priority to let both the church and the hunters know." Eliza started to catch her breath back up,.
"I know, but I'm still worried about you." Lianna gave Eliza a soft smile, who returned it.
The two women then headed off to inform others about the beast they had found in the ruins.