Wendy sighed as she patted Lissa's head. "I seem to be worrying you a lot lately."
Lissa looked up teary eyed. "It was MUCH worse this time.. there wasn't a certain future but many possibilities," "Oh Wendy, I've seen terrible things!" she mournfully wailed.
*********
The previous evening, Lissa looked in amazement at Wendy drifting off to sleep. Lissa quietly walked over to Wendy's pile of clothing. Taking Wendy's shawl she returned to her own bed, ready this time for the massive drain of energy that seemed to be a side effect. Isabella had ordered them to no longer call her 'Holiness' in private as they were now her 'Sisters' as the witches called each other in Neverwinter. Wendy was what was called a battle witch, powerful enough to defeat great enemies. While Isabella and Lissa could be considered support witches. Lissa resolved to do everything she could to support Wendy. And if that meant looking in the future to help with problems she would do her best to do so.
Laying down she held the shawl tightly prepared now for the images that would flash in her mind.
When they did she bit her wrist to keep from screaming. NO!! NO!!! That CAN"T be right! She shouted in her head, such a horrible future! can I change it? she concentrated again trying to see how she could stop her friend from becoming a pancake. With the thought of her help the scene was different with Wendy barely avoiding the rock. she almost sighed in relief till she saw the next scene as the demon landed behind her. NO!!! Again her body was wracked with horror.
"I CAN FIX THIS!" I MUST fix this! but already her body was drenched with exhaustion. Her head hurt and her mind dulled as she slipped into unconsciousness.
She woke the next morning at the sound of the door softly closing. Leaping from the bed she raced to the door. she opened it in time to see Wendy all the way down the hall.
Lissa waited a few moments desperately thinking, and then quickly went to Isabella's office.
The guard upon seeing her knocked on the door opened it, and announced her. Isabella quickly called her in, adding to the guard to let her in instantly next time.
Lissa came in her eyes watery and looked at Isabella her face filled with indecision.
"What is it? did you see something?" Isabella urged.
"Y..Yes Its horrible but we can change it.. I need your help. I don't know what to do!" Lissa said her voice nearly cracking.
"Change?" Isabella said wonder filling her eyes, this girl is even MORE valuable her skill isn't a passive one she can actually effect the future! "What do you mean?" Isabella asked.
"In about half an hour, Wendy must fight a demon... If we prepare I think we can keep anyone else from getting killed." Wendy said.
"Should I call the garrison?" Isabella said.
Wendy tilted her head for a moment her gaze becoming distant. Shock and horror suddenly filled her face and she swayed on her feet. "NO! NO! THATS NO GOOD!" Coming back to the present tears began to fall. "Isabella they would win eventually, but many will die. ONLY Wendy can kill it without anyone else dying."
Isabella sighed, "Then what do we need to do, what is the problem?"
"We need to clear the courtyard, don't let anyone go in or they will die." Lissa said.
Isabella nodded for her to continue.
"Tell the nuns in the kitchen that Wendy will fight a demon... perhaps say it's a test of faith."
"Then the only problem is the aftermath... I don't know what to do..." Lissa bemoaned through her tears. "As things stand Wendy will kill it... then immediately die!"
Isabella was impressed how far Lissa had planned things. "Why would she die?" she urged.
"Wendy will tear the demon apart, then this horrible red smoke comes out and fills the courtyard."
Lissa struggled to speak through her sobs, "It MELTS her.. it will MELT Wendy!!!"
Isabella gained a calm look, Zero had told her about the red mist.
"That's the red mist... the demons breathe it, its fatal to witches." Isabella calmly stated.
Lissa who had bowed her head looked up in surprise, "Red mist... does it... hurt normal people?"
"No," Isabella said, "As far as I know it doesn't effect them at all."
"Could... Could they save her by putting her in a sack?" Lissa wondered aloud then tilted her head her eyes becoming distant. She collapsed onto the ground sobbing harder.
"NOOOO!?!" IT ALMOST WORKED!! WHYYYYY????
Isabella rushed to her side again grabbing her shoulders, "What happened?"
"The smoke ... it got in the bag.." she said between sobs.
Isabella called out "Guards!" The door opened and two city guard peeked in at Isabella next to the sobbing girl on the ground.
"Quickly tell me, Is there anyway to avoid smoke?" Isabella interrogated.
The guards looked at each other then one spoke up. "It's well known in the city guard that you can put wet cloth on your face when you go into a house on fire and you wont get smoke in your chest..." "Does that help any?" He asked nervously. Lissa on the ground suddenly straightened up hope on her face. "THATS IT!! THAT WILL WORK!!" Her despair seemed to switch to joy and she leaped to her feet. "These two! They can do it!" her tear streaked face ,filled with adoring brown eyes glistened at the two guards who looked at her like they'd found a crazy person.
"Alright you two," Isabella said in a commanding tone "Go find a sack you could cover a person with immediately!"
"Yes your Holiness!" they said in unison and closed the door.
Not wasting any time Lissa turned to Isabella, "We must hurry and prepare! I'll be the one to instruct Wendy. You tell the guards to wait inside the door till the demon lands. Then I'll run inside and they can run to her and save her from the red mist!" she turned and looked at the clock "We have 20 minutes." Isabella jumped up and left her office finding the other two guards on duty. Isabella instructing them to make sure no one goes into the courtyard for the next hour.
Isabella then told the first two guards holding a canvas sack to wet it, and prepare to rescue the witch the moment The demon was torn in half. Then hurried to the kitchen. Leaving the kitchen after speaking to the nuns, she saw Lissa spreading her shawl on the ground and then rushing back to the door of the bedroom halls. As she crossed the courtyard she looked to the south in the sky and saw a faint shadow in the clouds. Isabella shook her head and quickly returned to her office to wait.
*********
In the aftermath looking at the two young girls in front of her, on the floor of her office. She realized these two held the fate of Hermes in their young hands.