"What do you mean by such things Morgan, please do not frighten our lady,"
Alissa who stood a hair's breadth away interceded.
The lady's maid had known the mage for over two years during her stay in Chamlan. She knew well that the slightly older woman often said strange things; sometimes her words left her puzzled, other times she didn't bother to understand them at all.
Yet here the mage was again whispering awe-inspiring nonsense to their soon-to-be duchess, Alissa wouldn't have it.
"Allow me to thank you for your aid, now my lady requires care so we shall leave."
"With you hovering over her like a mother hen, one would think the lady couldn't speak for herself,"
Morgan's words were just as blunt as her's. Alissa who wanted to say something in her own defense decided not to, she did not need the young Madam to witness anymore bickering between them.
"The lady can speak for herself just fine Miss,"
Ophelia said, cutting in between the two.
She cast a meaningful look at Alissa, her signature smile as graceful as always, the woman had said enough.
Alissa, who caught wind of the princess' instructions, bowed her head, pulling on the sides of her dress in a show of greeting, then stepped back, opting to stand beside the handmaid's.
"You can call me Morgan, your highness. Pardon my delayed introduction, my name is Morgana Ashid, sorceress of Chamlan."
With a hand placed over her chest and a polite bow, the mage introduced herself.
Ophelia knew this well already. The princess was curious about the magic wielder right from the day she married, and had learned about her from the castle's resident.
Still, having a real sorceress helping and greeting her in one day felt like a dream; a really good one.
"It is a pleasure to meet the famed mage of the castle, I've heard much of you."
Ophelia said, reining in her excitement.
"I am Princess Ophelia Augustus, thank you for helping me."
"It is my honor Princess."
The woman seemed friendly enough, was she only like that with Alissa? They were at each other's throats moments ago, yet right now not an ounce of that could be seen.
But what did she mean by those words earlier, that the magic was her's?
"Did I mishear what you said before? When you touched my hand?"
Ophelia asked, taking on a more serious expression. The mage took a deep breath as if thinking of what to say next.
"Fortunately, you did not."
***
None died from the knights hunting unit.
But there was a squire who lost his head in the heat of their confrontation with a beast pack.
Not literally, Agatha clarified this after seeing the horrified look on Ophelia's face.
The squire, she was told, simply lost his focus, exposing himself to an attack in the process.
His leg was almost completely ripped off, by that momentary slight, and by the way things were going, he'd be dead soon enough.
Ophelia shuddered again, merely thinking of it made her stomach churn. Despite not wanting to, she failed to get the image out of her head.
The creature...a menacing beast with razor sharp teeth; blood and saliva dripping from its fangs; a scared boy, and finally the beast viciously tearing into his limb.
She shuddered again as the scene played in her mind.
"Madam, your tea has grown cold, shall I pour out a new cup?"
Alissa asked. The young woman stood beside the chaise where the princess reclined. She'd been so quiet Ophelia all but forgot she was there.
"No, I'm satisfied."
Ophelia said, her lips pulled in her usual smile.
"Of course."
The peculiar silence returned, it felt like a veil of fog, slowly settling and encroaching over everything.
The princess didn't notice this, her thoughts were overcome with questions, doubts and speculations as she pondered over the words of the mage who'd left her chambers merely moments before.
Her mind flashing back to their conversation.
"Magic is a natural force that has existed far longer than we can remember,"
The mage waved her hand to the left and it emitted a vibrant ball of light.
"It represents life and is entwined with it,"
The light in her hand steadily brightened, till the princess was forced to scrunch her eyes nearly shut.
Morgan clenched her fist then, snuffing it out in an instant.
"But in just the same way, it can be a source of unspeakable chaos."
Ophelia watched Morgan with interest, at the same time she wondered why the woman told her all this. The information, as enlightening as it be, was akin to nonsense in the ears of a non-wielder.
However, on noticing the mage's face grow pale, she pushed this thought aside and asked.
"Are you alright? You look...tired."
Had she been this haggard looking when they returned earlier? The princess couldn't quite remember.
"It takes a toll, the magic, even the strongest sorcerers have to pay for it in the end."
Her eyes were distant, like she was relieving a memory, but the moment passed just as quickly as it came.
"You didn't seem bothered back in the courtyard,"
"Because I wasn't. This much is nothing really your highness, I'm merely tired from pushing myself too hard these days."
"I see."
The woman took a sip of tea, Ophelia thought the cup looked awkward in her big hands but otherwise ignored it, she was trying to figure something out, to understand the bigger picture of what the mage hoped to accomplish by doing all this.
"If I understand correctly, then you intended to meet with me from the beginning,"
The princess stated a warm cup of tea nestled in her hands.
"Not like this, but yes, I planned to."
"And is that because you believe I have magic?"
Ophelia asked, her deep azule eyes following Morgan's every move. The woman in question leaned forward, dropping her teacup with a soft click.
"No. It is because your husband asked me to,"
"Claude did?"
That was an uncanny response, why would he send a mage to look after her when there were a score of physicians in the castle. Now she had even more questions, but chose not to digress.
"I see."
She paused, gathering her thoughts.
"My lady, what I said in the courtyard, about you possessing magic, would you like to know more of it?"
The woman asked, her hands clasped together and her gaze fixed on the princess.
"I don't have magic."
"I assure you, your highness, you do."
"And you could tell that from touching my hand? Once."
the young madam asked, her voice tinged with rhetoric. There was absolutely no way she possessed such a thing, it was impossible.
"Yes--well no. I've known for days really."
'This woman is lying.'
The thought rang in Ophelia's head.
"Thank you. Again, for what you did earlier. But as you can see, I am in good health ."
The princess smiled meaningfully, it was time for the mage to leave. This meeting turned out to be of no use in the end.
Ophelia lived in the palace all her life and never, not once had a situation like this surfaced. Yes she'd been tagged as a witch, a demon even, in the hushed gossip of court.
But real magic, that was an unfathomable reach for her.
She grew up listening to tales of them, revered mages and powerful sorcerers who once thrived on the continent, now they were rare, talented ones rarer still.
It was of little help that Duslans royal family openly opposed the practice of it.
"Wouldn't you like to know why you collapsed in the carriage?"
This piqued her interest.
The mage didn't look like she intended to leave, at least, not without accomplishing her goal.
But Ophelia didn't wish to change her mind either.
"I do not."
She stated, leaving no room for argument.
There was something uncanny about her; Morgan. To the princess it was merely a feeling, she was like still water, and Ophelia did not wish to know what it hid beneath.
Alissa, Eidel and Sabina quietly listened to the interaction that unraveled, none in a position to intrude.
"Do have a pleasant---"
Morgan unceremoniously cut her off.
"Your nightmares then,"
The princess inhaled sharply.
"Aren't you interested in that either?"
A lighthearted smile played its way to the mages lips, the woman seemed harmless, yet Ophelia could tell she was anything but.
"Ladies, leave us."
Vilda's brows scrunched up with worry at these words, her gaze dashed from Alissa to the princess.
"Your highness!"
Her anxious voice rang out, but was silenced by Allisa' firmer reply.
"Of course Madam."
With this the lady-in-waiting ushered both handmaids away, shutting the door behind them with a soft thud.
"That child cares for you a great deal your highness, I could feel her glare burning into my head all this time."
Morgan playfully commented.
She took a deep breath then leaned back on the seat, taking on a more relaxed posture while massaging her throbbing temple.
"How do you know of my nightmares?"
Ophelia asked, tightening her grip on the teacup.
These past days she tried to put the wicked dreams behind her, it helped a lot more when they stopped on their own.
But here was a mage she'd been hoping to meet, digging through the dirt that had been buried.
"Oh that, don't be alarmed. I heard you talking in your sleep on the nights I tended you. Naturally, it seemed you were having bad dreams."
Morgan's expression was unreadable and Ophelia's thoughts were hectic, 'that couldn't be the truth.'
She pondered. However the mage didn't seem to be lying, if she was, then she was good at it.
That's when it clicked.
"You wanted me to send them away. There's something you want, that's the real reason you sought me out, isn't it?"
The princesses' question was more of a statement, the mage smiled at this.
'Smart girl.'
"There is a boy, a squire who was badly injured two nights ago. I've asked your husband for help but so far we've come short."
"I don't see how that relates to me? There are outstanding physicians in the castle, besides you can cast spells. Why tell me this?"
The woman sighed.
"You're right, there are physicians and I am a powerful mage. However I do not possess strong affinity when it comes to healing,"
Ophelia listened, not interrupting the woman who spoke, the tea in her hand had grown entirely cold, now it tasted bland and its usual soothing scent had faded.
"You on the other hand, you reek of it."
"I--I reek of magic?"
"Indeed, healing magic. You've got so much that it's brimming at the very tip, ready to pour. That is why you fainted in the carriage, the magic you possess opposed the magic aro
und you and-"
"I do not believe a word you're saying lady Morgan."
Ophelia cut her short.
She dropped the cold cup of tea on a silver lined saucer, then placed her hand on her thigh.
"Please leave."
This time, it was not a request.