The atmosphere in the town grew tense as agitation spread among the residents. Angry mobs began to converge upon us, encircling us with an escalating sense of hostility. Their stony expressions mirrored their growing aggression. Some among them hurled objects in our direction, the clatter of gravel beneath their feet echoing as they closed in.
Unable to bear the escalating tension any longer, I intervened. Betty appeared on the verge of a panic attack, her breaths ragged and uneven, while Finn seemed lost in thought, the weight of his actions sinking in. The looming presence of the Beasts behind us only added to the chaos, their control slipping as the crowd drew nearer.
"That's ENOUGH," I declared, straightening my posture and lowering my voice to command attention. "Everyone, take a STEP BACK." With resolve, I produced a device of my own design—an ingenious portable field capable of repelling unwanted intruders. As I activated it, a faint, wind-like sound emanated from the device, and a protective barrier began to extend around us.
The crowd appeared bewildered, their attempts to approach us thwarted by the nearly invisible force field. Despite their confusion, they could see us standing there, protected by the barrier, while they remained held at bay.
"He did this to us!" exclaimed the cobbler, accusingly pointing at a young girl nearby, her arms encased in rock-like formations, rendering her skin impenetrable. The little girl, singled out in front of the entire town, began to cry, tears streaming down her face like a river flowing through the mountains.
"I... We... We can help you," I offered, meeting their gaze with a mixture of determination and uncertainty. With my knowledge of Quemestry and Science and Betty's magical abilities, I believed we could rectify the mistakes of the past. Gesturing towards Betty, I continued, "Betty is a skilled magician from my court, and I possess considerable scientific expertise. Together, we can mend what has been broken."
Whispers rippled through the townsfolk, some nodding in approval while others remained skeptical. Drawing closer to Betty, I noticed straws from the hay in her hat scattered amidst her cherry-red hair. Leaning down, I whispered in her ear, urgency evident in my voice, "Bee, I need you to do something, anything. Prove to these people you have skills beyond their imagination, even if they are limited."
Bee nodded in silent agreement. "I think I've got just the thing," she responded confidently.
With determination, Betty seized a nearby rock and began manipulating it with her magic, her hands moving with purpose as the rock began to take shape. She pulled the corners of the rock as if it was made of clay, and then she threw it up into the air; with a small light emanating from it the rock had transformed into a beautiful butterfly, a monarch to be precise. The Butterfly flew around until it landed at the field and stood there. The crowd began approaching it ,and one by one, they looked at each other in admiration. A woman approached that had been at the furthest end of the crowd began approaching the field.
"We accept." Her long legs and her dark pink hair made her stand out from everyone else. She was dressed in fancier clothing than most of the townies, a green long skirt, that touched the flooring, and her head was covered, with a well-crafted teal headpiece.
"I want to help – tell me how to help," said Finn. I gazed upon his eyes; he was still very much deep in thought, but now he was back with us. Consequences are a bitch, I wasn't someone that could judge. Mistakes were made, and now we can only fix them together.
"I will now lower the shield. I will ask of you for patience as we figure out the best way to streamline the process and make sure that all of you are taken care of." I approached the metal ball in the middle of the field, a low humming emanating from it, the corners of my lips went up, another great invention, shame i didn't get to use them more often, but also in a way grateful for it. I pressed the big red button in the middle, and the field around us disappeared.
The cobbler approached us with more caution than before. "What do you need from us?" the determination in his voice moved me.
"Where is the nearest hospital?" Betty asked, "I would like to run some trials before we start bringing people in. You know, make sure that we can fix you permanently."
The cobbler seemed to understand her request. "I'll get you to it."
Finn stepped closer to the cobbler next to him. The cobbler looked like a child. Finn's big stature made him a tree next to a flower. "I'm sorry this happened." his eyes began tearing up, but he wouldn't let a single drop drip. He didn't want to look weak in front of these people he had sworn to protect. "I just wanted to make sure that you… them. Where always safe. Even if I wasn't around. I used too many potions that is on me — I'm sorry."
The cobbler looked at him. "You shouldn't have used any at all," his voice sharp like the edge of a knife cutting through Finn's apology.
Finn gulped, "You are right."