Violet was experiencing a nightmare. She sees Margaret and Vanessa talking, playing and laughing together. The conversation is about the upcoming Rising Sun Ball and the kinds of dresses and accessories to wear like they are true debutantes. It was an exciting time that they all look forward to.
Just when the dream started to get good, wounds began to come appearing on her body out of nowhere and blood started flowing out of it. Yet, she is still talking and laughing like this isn't even happening. Vanessa isn't even noticing, and Violet panicked, not knowing what to do. Then she began to melt until she is an indescribable lump, but she could still hear the laughing and speech. Vanessa is still talking and laughing, not seeing or knowing what just happened and after processing it for a bit, she screamed. She felt a firm hand on her shoulder.
"Viola!"
*
"Wake up!"
Viola woke up surrounded by her entire family, worried sick.
Amy had a firm grip on her shoulder and her wrist and positioned on top of her.
"Are you alright? This is the third time this week." Her mother said in a concerned tone.
"I-I'm sorry." She said weakly then realized she was trying to choke herself and that Amy was on top of her to stop her from harming herself.
*
Viola was given medicine and is now in deep sleep then Amy watched over her, in case her sister tries to harm herself again.
"Damn," she muttered. "I could really use your help, Boris."
"Unfortunately, the research also takes priority."
Amy groaned at the conundrum of her situation then began to think of what to do next.
*
Viola is certainly out of it. The effects of the medicine lasted a long time as Viola woke up in the afternoon. After eating brunch, Amy wasted no time getting her out of bed and taking her at the training ground. She needs her to at least function. Boris is far too busy to provide therapy, so she needs to try to fill the role.
"What the- Amy!" Viola felt herself suddenly running.
"You forgot your morning jog." Amy said cheerfully.
"Didn't I just say that you leave me alone?!" She said irritably.
"I did." Amy said unhurt, "But the moment I do, and you fall asleep then you'll hurt yourself."
"Then I won't." She said firmly like she just solved the problem.
"We can't have that. Because you'll turn out worse. So just do your activities and eat well at least. Mother and Father are worried, you know. You already withdraw from them. Please at least listen to me."
Viola groaned as she kept running, "Fine but I want you to train me and do not hold back!"
"Fine!"
Amy already did her morning exercise of three miles, but Viola always runs at one.
It then led Amy thinking. Boris is still busy with Project Yerenis through trial and error. While he is successful in creating artificial organs, getting the vampire biology to accept it is another problem. It has something to do with genetics. It does not affect all vampires, but it does affect one with genes that obstruct and reject the transplant.
Alabaster is busy with the business as its profits are booming. In fact, she hasn't talked to him since the Ripper is dead.
Through Boris's eyes, she saw the Witch of Endor, she is as mystique as ever. The witch's true appearance is unknown to the characters even to the ones who met her but in a later panel, her appearance is lanky, extremely wrinkly with long black matted hair. She appears to the person as the person with the most attractive traits or the person they see as the most attractive. Boris sees a blonde woman with bright red lipstick and a slim body and overall, she appears regal. Her appearance is familiar. When asked about it, Amy found out that he is slightly attracted to Queen Marguarite and that she looks exactly like her. Of course, she is familiar. She resembles her son.
She notes that she knew that Boris, Amy and Alabaster are all in this together and because she knows and sees everything, she also knew about Amy's plan and future, noting that it is interesting. It is implied that she doesn't know that they are all in a book and are fictional characters but that's another question to think about later.
After running, Viola ran at her with a wooden sword but was easily deflected.
"Don't lose your head. Concentrate and find my weak points." she yelled.
Amy then slid below her and put her in a position where she can neither move nor strike back.
"You're irrational. Did you already forget your training?"
Speaking of training, their trainer was killed by the Ripper so until they find another teacher for them, Amy would have to settle training Viola herself.
"That's no fair. You trained earlier than me, were always better than me, smarter than me, cooler than me in every way. I can't compete with you." she complained.
Amy could tell her the truth but refrained herself and immediately cringed. If she thinks back to her original life, then she is far worse than Viola. She was the definition of a reckless, stupid, irresponsible delinquent at their current age. She came a long way to the person she is now.
"I don't think so. I am actually jealous of you. You have powers that I don't. Your sixth sense is amazing. I wished I had it and your purification power and magic are vast and stronger than mine. You have natural gifts unlike me. Everything I learned was something anyone can learn."
Viola gave her a disbelieving look, "That's a lie. You can use a bunch of weapons and are a good fighter. You're a weapon's specialist."
"I trained in using them. Everyone can learn how to use multiple weapons and be a good fighter. Just look at our cousins. They can use multiple weapons and are great warriors, too. Hortense taught me some of them, remember?" she said.
"But you're good at magic to the point that you don't need to use spells verbally anymore."
"Coincidence," she said contradicting her, "And I had dreams of being a mage. I can be a warrior and still use magic. There's nothing wrong with that."
"You're a scholar too. Mother said so much about you being smart."
"I just like to study. There's much to learn from this world." Okay, admittedly this one is from an outsider's perspective.
"You're really strong."
"So are Leon and Rufus."
"You have better skills at using your powers than me." Viola said.
"So are Nathaniel and Melissa." she contradict her.
"Oh, come on!" Viola groaned again.
Amy approached her. "Is this really about me, stronger than you?"
Viola looked hurt and walk to a bench to sit away from the afternoon sun. "When you took down the Ripper, it was a secret from the world. But if it is known then everyone would know you saved them. You were so brave when you talked to him, when he was about to leave the circle and you killed him."
"Just like you, I was scared but you weren't either. Otherwise, you would have taken your hands off the circles and the ritual would be broken and I would be killed."
Viola spluttered then composed herself, "I was frozen scared," then she looked down, "Just like with Marg."
"Her death isn't your fault. You did something about it. Her death is avenged, and it was thanks to you."
Viola looked touched but looked down. "I am weak."
"I am the weak one." she clarified. "All I did was just put the pieces together. You did the most important part of the job. If you just work hard then I promise that you would have the same results as me if not more. Your magic and power are far more powerful than you'd think."
Viola nodded. Amy then grabbed her hand, "I have something to give you. I know we don't give each other presents on our birthday but I feel like you'll like it. I'll go to your room tonight."
*
At night, Amy snuck in her room with a box in her hand. The label on it says Bowen's gizmos.
"You got me the headphones from that place. I saved up enough pocket money to buy you this since."
Viola grabbed the box and opened it, shocked. It is a scrying ball. It is currently the most expensive item on stock, to the point that only royalty and the richest nobles could own.
"When did you?"
"I never spend any of my money on anything useless. I had to wait for her to receive hers first before giving it to you."
"Her?" Viola touched the ball, and it glowed for a bit revealing Vanessa Aquila's face.
"You got two?!" She yelled.
Amy immediately felt guilty. "It was really expensive." she admits.
"I get to talk to you like this!" Vanessa said excitedly, "You have no idea how excited I was when I got your sister's letter. Also, I got my parents' permission to come here for the last week since your place is closer to the academy."
Viola stared at Amy who just smiled.
"I had to get her to exercise and eat well. She's easier to convince even in long distance."
Viola is out of words. Deciding to give her space, Amy left the room but not before putting her hand to the room and bring a star aesthetic spell, making her room look like a planetarium.