ㅤㅤA weekend's time had passed before Neo's headache caused by the jewellery store had dissipated, but the memories had still been discarded. Quilliene didn't know what to do with the connection of the two siblings from the files, and had no idea if the mysterious woman was actually dead or if that's just what the experiment said. She couldn't send her demons out to search, either - that would look delirious.
ㅤㅤSo, their only choice was to wait. Besides, they had other matters to attend to. With Christopher concerned with his newfound memories, Quilliene jumped on the train to handle royal business again, and damn was it a bustling train indeed. Even with her quick and slightly bumpy recovery thanks to the pixies, she pushed herself to sign papers and meet deadlines. She had almost forgotten how busy being a queen was.
ㅤㅤHowever, amidst all this, she didn't find the time or the person to train her further in the mystic arts, and the Nameless could only do so much. It wasn't until Kyrana had mentioned a strange covenless witch with strong magickal energy that Quilliene felt she just needed to meet them. So, she had a small and vacant library room prepared for them. It had a gentle atmosphere and warm lights, nice little couches on either side of a neat coffee table.
ㅤㅤQuilliene was sitting there in wait before there was a soft knock at the door and it opened, revealing Kyrana who smiled and nodded politely. She held open the door for a cloaked woman, who didn't quite reveal her face just yet. Kyrana closed the door behind them, leading the female to a couch before letting her sit. Kyrana then stood at Quilliene's shoulder valiantly behind the couch with her hands clasped behind her back.
ㅤㅤ"I assume this is the young woman you spoke of, Kyrana?" Quilliene asked. She was sitting on the opposite couch. "I'll also assume Kyrana has explained to you the details of your arrival. However, before we go on, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to take off the hood. I can't quite see if you're paying me much attention if you look as though you are having a conversation with the floor."
ㅤㅤThe woman fidgeted for a moment, then nodded in understanding. Hesitantly, she lifted her hands and brought the hood down to show her features. It revealed a young woman indeed, with warm brown eyes but natural red curly hair and the cutest of freckles. The almond skinned girl didn't quite have the darker tone of shade like Quilliene, so it was light enough to notice she was slightly flushed.
ㅤㅤShe didn't match her majesty's eyes, only periodically glancing at her before away as her hands continued to fidget together endlessly. For a long while, she didn't speak - but when she did, she sounded frail and quiet, like an injured child. It made Quilliene question if this woman was really as powerful and great as Kyrana said.
ㅤㅤ"Um," She hummed. "Yes, Kyrana told me a bit, your majesty. She said you... needed help with emotional control. Which is," She slightly chuckled, but it quickly faded. "Surprising, I'll be honest. I didn't think the queen would require any help of mine to give..."
ㅤㅤ"Well," Quilliene began, her demeanour more sophisticated and almost intimidating. "My emotions have indeed been tampering with my magick. Th-" She stopped herself quickly from saying the Nameless. "My council sees it to be detrimental to my health, and to my courtly duties. So, I had Kyrana fetch someone more controlled in that field who could also share my talent for magick."
ㅤㅤThe woman opened her mouth quickly to protest, dawning an expression of confusion before Quilliene interrupted her again. "Don't withdraw the truth from your queen. It is not in your best interest. Kyrana is a demon, and this I know that you know."
ㅤㅤ"Oh," The woman mumbled, then nodded slowly, her curls bouncing slightly as she did so. "Yes, I... I used to summon Kyrana specifically for some, ah... duties. Nothing too, well, frivolous, but I did it so often she even suggest that I bound her to me as a, uh... servant."
ㅤㅤShe smiled a little at the guard captain before continuing. "But I wasn't one to corrupt my soul. W-Well, not to say that you are, I'm just saying... ah... well..." She coiled a piece of her hair around one finger nervously, averting her gaze.
ㅤㅤQuilliene smiled, deciding to relax herself a bit. "Worry not, I don't mind if you speak freely. I understand, and soon you may as well. Our magick is rather similar but drastically different - including our souls. Mine cannot be corrupted by the hells, but for a witch like you, well..."
ㅤㅤShe took a breath. "I'm sure it wasn't you who declined, but rather Kyrana who went back on her suggestion. I'm sure she sensed immense power within you, but did not want to accidentally sway you to do the most awful of things. Is that correct?"
ㅤㅤWhen she looked over at Kyrana, she pursed her lips. "In fact," The demon began. "We had a long talk about it over the course of a few days. See, she and I... we were never just... friends."
ㅤㅤ"Ah," The woman spoke up a little, appearing nervous. "Kyra, are you sure?"
ㅤㅤThe captain nodded slightly, then turned back to the queen. "She and I were a bit more than friends for a time. Lovers, if you will. But... starting a pact would have meant I could not be with her in that way, even if it meant we were more connected. Then, when my pact was opened with the Ravenheart family, I had to part ways with her."
ㅤㅤ"Hm... Interesting." Quilliene couldn't help but find it all amusing. "Interesting that you were able to do such a summoning on numerous occasions, that is. Kyrana is a very powerful demon, afterall. I'm almost relieved you hadn't employed Kyrana - she's a very helpful and insightful friend, you could say. But tell me about yourself. This... power, this essence you control, it must descend from somewhere."
ㅤㅤ"Y-Yes," The woman cleared her throat. "My name is Circe Illuminare. My mother was, um... previously a coven witch, but when I was born she left the cover and fled to New Zealand. See, covens don't allow their witches to fall in love, so when she had me, she..."
ㅤㅤShe shook her head, getting back on point. "I grew up a mostly normal life, then... well, then my mother opened up a-and taught me my ancestry when I became an adult." She took a breath. "And, um, that's when I met Kyrana."
ㅤㅤQuilliene listened intently, but she cast side glances to Kyrana - was this girl really as experienced as she said? "What exactly do you know of magick and the dark arts?" She asked.
ㅤㅤ"Well," The now acquainted Circe spoke meek-ishly. "As you likely already know, most witches, covenless or not, are only specific to one element. They can only use magick based off of that ability. However, for me... that is not the case. I have always leaned towards my earthly elements, but... it is not all that I can control."
ㅤㅤShe took a deep breath, as if about to unleash a dark secret. "Not many know, even less can do the same, but I can also control the fire aspects of the elemental wheel. My father was a rare exception of a male coven of witches, making it so that when he was with my mother i-it made me... different."
ㅤㅤQuillene hummed curiously. This girl was rather meek and timid, but it seemed her ancestry led her to be... "Extraordinary," She said. "I've only heard rumours of a man being allowed within coven groups, but it was always rare, but one of males completely? Do go on; tell me more. I'm assuming that a clashing of the elements doesn't exactly... work in your favour, the same way that it does in mine."
ㅤㅤCirce bit her lower lip, wringing her freckled hands nervously as she glanced at the floor. "You're right. I-I can't... use them at the same time, and I don't have the immunity to flames as most fire elemental witches do."
ㅤㅤShe showed her hands and wrists from under the cloak, revealed the multiple but light burn scars. "And the elements I control are very opposing of each other, causing my own emotional conflict within. However, I've learned to control that."
ㅤㅤQuilliene smiled, sending a glance over to Kyrana to show she now understood, before she sat up. "This may rather sound silly coming from your queen of all people, but that is exactly what I am seeking. Emotional control and counselling when it comes to magick.
ㅤㅤ"My brother has taken a bit of departure, so he is currently unable to do what it is that I'm hiring you to do - but if you prove yourself worthy, it will keep my brother stress free and I will allow you to stay a bit longer to aid me.
ㅤㅤ"I trust you won't disappoint me." Quilliene gave a warm but firm smile. "Circe Illuminare."
ㅤㅤHowever, as she was about to stand, Circe held out a hand. "Wait," She said, her voice becoming sharp, and she almost seemed to regret it immediately. "I... There is another matter."
ㅤㅤQuilliene looked up at Kyrana for answers, but she seemed just as confused. "Very well," The queen said, relaxing again.
ㅤㅤ"I feel you should know, your majesty," She said softly, looking down before back up, lowering her hand. "I have been here before. And I have talked to... to your parents."
ㅤㅤQuilliene felt a cold shiver along her spine, like her brother just ran his freezing cold fingers along her back. Her jaw set, her eyes hardened, and she had to force herself not to show any emotion. Despite that, the vase next to her cracked ever so slightly, a hairline fracture traversing along the side and down to the bottom.
ㅤㅤCirce glanced at it. "Forgive me," She said quickly. "Maybe I shouldn't-"
ㅤㅤ"No," Quilliene said. "Please, continue."
ㅤㅤThe witch bit her lower lip before nodding. "Very well. Your mother and father... they called me here, five months ago. They asked me... questions, and I had to tap into another one of my abilities to answer them."
ㅤㅤShe took a deep breath. "I am also known as a potent oracle. I can tell the future, and do it well. But... they didn't like my answers."
ㅤㅤQuilliene grit her teeth. "What were these questions? And what were your answers?"
ㅤㅤ"They asked if you would be safe, coming home," She said, quicker now. "I told them... I told them they should be more concerned with themselves. I told them that they were in danger, but so were you. They could only save themselves, or you."
ㅤㅤQuilliene felt anger boiling in her chest, but she let Circe continue. "They wanted to know how to save you. I told them, they could only do one thing. They had to bring you a very dangerous man, but he would keep you safe. Only you. He would be your saviour."
ㅤㅤQuilliene found her words, her body relaxing. "Who was he?" She asked, though... she already knew the answer.
ㅤㅤ"I could only glean one thing," Circe said, looking up, her expression growing grim. "His name... Nathan Orient."
ㅤㅤ"Well," The queen took a breath. "You were right. He did save my life."
ㅤㅤCirce looked down, her face showing sadness and melancholy. "Then the worst is not over."
ㅤㅤQuilliene felt taken aback. "What do you mean? What did you read as an oracle?"
ㅤㅤThe witch looked back up, appearing to bite back tears. "He is... The message was clear, your majesty. Nathan Orient would save your life," She recited the words by heart, but her voice grew dark. "But it will take his own in time." She took a breath. "He saved your life... but that means he took his own to do so."
ㅤㅤThe vase shattered.