#rhemi the apprentice

[madllamamomma]

The Visitor~ Part 8!!!!

Chapter 8~

The King of Pentacles~

[WARNING: Major trigger warning! Scenes contain physical and mental abuse. My content is also for more mature audience, 18+ please!]

As the arrogant Sir R. Martin Alarie III strolls towards his daughter’s magic shop, Beatrix his familiar, lazily drapes around his neck. With his eyes unable to resist the glimpse around him, he can’t help but continuously be disguised and repulsed by the streets of Vesuvia, despite them being the best they have ever been and the people being as kind as they ever were.

Continuing his walk, the cogwheels instantly turn and tick in his head. With just a day before he was expecting to return to his ship, time was running out. Now, more than ever he felt now that his plans must be in full swing by this evening.

“... Taking Pigeon home tomorrow, Master?” Beatrix murmurs in her master’s ears as she wakes up from her short nap.

Still continuing his proud wide stride, and his nose straight up, the Archamagister quietly replies under his breath. “... Perhaps. The child has been rather stubborn about staying here with these filthy lowlives… But we will persuade her one way or another.” 

The creature shifts her weight uncomfortably in his shoulders, knowing full well about this man's temper when things didn’t go his way. “... Master won’t hurt her… will he?”

“.... I do not plan to, Bea… perish the thought.” He answers, slightly shaking his head. 

Beatrix relaxes her little head feeling slightly relieved. 

“...But then again, we shall see what she makes me do after tonight…” He continues with a small shrug.

The badger glances her blue eyes up towards her master’s face. Feeling uneasy, her fur raised on end. “But Pigeon is nice now… didn’t try to burn Bea’s tail like before…”

“..Yes… well, ‘Pigeon’ doesn’t realize what she’s throwing away… You know that.”

“...B-... But Pigeon’s grown up now…” 

“She is going to have something I never had at her age…. A father to guide her to the right path…she’s still a valuable asset in Charlès. She’ll see that when she is back home.”

Without a second thought, the beast blurts out, “.... Pigeon seems happy here, and Master shouldn’t–”

The archmagister stops dead in his tracks with a cross look on his face as he beams into his familiar’s blue eyes. Beatrix slowly shrinks into herself, getting as small as she can. She couldn’t believe what she had just said, she never questioned him like that, what had gotten into her??

With a sharp annoyed sigh, he softens his gaze and takes a look at his pocket watch before stuffing it back into his silk pocket. “It’s getting rather late... How about you go off to find dinner for yourself, eh, Beatrix?” 

Poor Beatrix's hungry stomach grumbles as she innocently stares at her master. “.... Don’t make me repeat myself.” He quietly grumbles.

Slowly and reluctantly, she climbs down his arm and hops to the ground whimpering sadly, hoping he’s changed his mind. 

But instead he picks up his cane and starts to walk along down the street again without an ounce of remorse. “...Why don’t you go find some rats to eat instead…” He shouts over his shoulder. 

The poor badger whimpers a little more, having a bad feeling in the pit of her little stomach. 

“...You should know better than anyone I don’t need anyone holding me back…” Martin mutters under his breath as he slicks back his hair.

______________________

The shop never felt more apprehensive before. As closing time came, Rhemi swiftly blew out the lantern and preparations immediately got to work on a grand homemade dinner. 

Asra being the ever supported friend, even though hating every second if it, makes his special seafood curry. He cooked it to a mild spice level just in case the old man wasn’t up for the heat, yet it never lost any of its tangy flavor. 

Muriel made fried bread, a special recipe he learned from his cousins back in the south, simple enough to make, but the results were always extraordinary. He was half terrified it wouldn't come out right, but part of him felt like he had been doing it all his life. 

Of course Rhemi was in charge  of the dessert. Her loving Muriel, despite completely hating the idea of having to be in the same room as her father, brought fresh apples from the forest to make an apple pie. Usually she liked to buy her pastries from the bakery, but something about homemade pie sounded good. Luckily Portia and Argippa taught her an amazing recipe which was perfect for the occasion.

After a few hours, dinner was done and set on a simmer and everything smelt amazing. The pie looked absolutely delicious and was ready to be put into the oven, and the fried bread was crispy yet light and fluffy at the same time, the curry was slightly sweet and very savory, probably one of Asra’s best batches yet. Everything was perfect.

Almost exactly on the dot, a knock was at the door, and dread hit Asra and Muriel instantly.

As she hears the much anticipated knock on the door, Rhemi quickly uses her magic to evaporate from the kitchen to the door in seconds before anyone else could answer. “I got it!” She shouts as the sparkles still loom over her while unlocked the door and she tries to fan them away.

“Père!” She overenthusiastically greets as she sees his almost grim face. “Welcome…. A- again…” 

Martin steps into the shop with a polite grin, happy to see his daughter, but also attempting to hide his disinterest about tonight’s dinner.

Muriel and Asra drag themselves towards the door and try their best to be somewhat polite (or at least Asra is successful–The hermit, not so much). 

“Sir Martin, what a pleasure to see you again.” Asra says lying through his teeth with a fake smile.

The old magician bats his eyelashes in a bit of surprise. “Oh, yes…. More of Rhemiela’s… friends…” 

“....Fiance….” Muriel grumples under his breath. 

“Hmmm… So you two will be joining us as well then?” Martin asks, almost annoyed before looking back at his daughter. 

Despite the obvious tension already before the evening got started, Rhemi continued to smile and giggled sweetly, “Of course they are! Why, they both help make dinner!”

As they all feared. Dinner was awkward and slightly dull conversation wise. Luckily, Asra’s curry was the best batch he ever made, and Muriel’s fried bread went with it so well. Unfortunately, Martin barely touched his food, always looking at it suspiciously. He did however seem to like the wine, nearly finishing off the entire bottle himself. 

Stopping before any of them were too full, they all made their way to the velvet couch area as Muriel placed the pie in the oven and Rhemi made a pot of tea, leaving Asra and Martin alone for a moment.

“So…” Asra says to break the awkward silence. “How was your stay so far in Vesuvia, Sir Martin?” He politely asks. 

The archmagister slowly blinks, “As well as one could have expected… Other than finding Rhemielia here, this trip was dull and tedious as ever… The streets stink of low tide and oysters and the palace reeks of incense.”

 As Asra and Martin lock eyes and stare at each other loathingly. Every time this man speaks, Asra continues to just despise him even more. Just before Asra finally gives him a piece of his mind, Rhemi returns with a pot of tea and cups. 

Happy to see the tea, the old man smirks as he reaches down and takes a cup of tea his daughter poured for him“... Good thing we’re leaving tomorrow…” Martin scoffs as he takes a sip.

Seeing a segue, Rhemi decided now was as good a time as ever to ask her father about walking her down the aisle. “... Actually, Père, there is something I wanted to ask of you–”

BANG! – “Owww!” Shout the poor mountain man from the back. 

The three of them nearly leap out of their seats as they hear the poor hermit cry out from pain. Finally ending the staring contest with the old magician, Asra places his cup down to the coffee table and smiles fakely, “Ummm, sorry… Hold that thought, Rem…” 

He stands to his feet and peers over the corner to see his tall friend clutching his foot. “Muriel? You okay?”

“The hell is this chest doing in the middle of the hallway??” Muriel grumbles, shaking out his stubbed big toe.

“OH! I almost forgot!” Asra suddenly shouts out as he sprints towards the back hallway. He opens the once very enchanted and locked chest. “Hey, Rhemi, remember that chest?”

“The one that was enchanted shut?... And the one that my poor Muri apparently stubbed his toe on?” She shouts back to him.

“Yep!” He replies with a laugh. “—That's the one! I was trying it again today and realized that it finally unlocked!”

“You mean you somehow got it opened?”

“No! I mean, for some reason the lock was just unlatched yesterday afternoon!”

“Huh….” Rhemi’s eyes flutter and she shakes her head curiously. “That's… odd….”

“Anyways…. I was going through it and looking at what happened to stumble upon!” When he returns with Muriel tailing behind him, with a picture frame in his hands. With a large smile, he hands Rhemi a small glass frame about the size of a large book, with a delicate watercolor painted portrait inside. There were two women, both holding each other close and wearing beautifully embroidered clothing. One on the right who looked a lot like Rhemi, the one on the left was taller and had darker skin. Even though their faces were new to her, the apprentice knew exactly who they were.

“Is… is this..?” Rhemi stubbles over her words.

Asra smiles cheerily and points, the tall woman first, “That’s Athena,” he then moves to the other woman, “..and I am pretty sure that's your mother, Rhemi.”

Her mother was so beautiful, her hair was a dirty blonde, her eyes a deep hazel brown. Her frame was a bit skinnier and frailer than Rhemi’s but she did have a nice shape. She looked so kind, so loving, someone you would want to just hold you and sing you to sleep. 

Muriel comes from behind and wraps his arm around Rhemi’s waist with a warm grin. She looks up with her eyes slightly watery and feeling so happy. “My mother….”

“...You were right, you are a lot like her, Rhemi.” He kisses the top of her head and she buries her face into his forearm. “...Even down to her smile.”

Martin just stares blankly at the three of them, feeling somewhat a whirlwind of emotions himself, the only portrait he had of his wife was back in his home in Charlès, and those were nearly two decades old. 

Rhemi untangles herself from Muriel and cheerfully walks over to her father with the portrait, carefully handing it to him. Slowly he takes the portrait in his hands and he carefully studies the painting, nearly holding his breath as he takes in the painted images in front of him.

He seemed to take a long time to say anything, either it was the wine or he was in shock, but either way his disposition seemed to have rather shifted. A sense of vulnerability surrounding the man. Happy to finally have an opportunity to talk about her mother with him, she smiles and points to the woman in the painting and he takes a large hard swallow. “Look, Père! It’s Mum and—“

“—Phara…” Martin mutters under his breath behind his gritting teeth before his daughter could finish what she was saying. 

Rhemi then notices that he’s starting to tremble the longer he looks at the picture, slowly baring more and more of his teeth. His icy teal eyes are now somehow colder and filled with malice and it sends a shiver down Rhemi’s spine.

“P—Phara?...” She scoffs tilting her head in confusion and shakes her head. “What? No! Father, that’s not not her, Phara was an evil witch!”  Rhemi couldn't help but defend her poor deceased teacher, and she points to the tall woman with such confidence, tapping on the glass that protected the portrait. “That woman standing right there is—”

Quickly, her words start to die in her throat as she is suddenly overwhelmed with memories—Seeing Athena’s face for the first time in the hallways of the mansion in her nightmares. But she doesn't look like how she remembered her. Without her iconic long locks and traditional colorful clothes—no, instead she wore a bright scarf over her then short curly hair, and a rather plain looking Charlèsian outfit and large ornate earrings.

“....Rhemielia, my sweet dear.” Her mother’s soft voice rings in her ears, and sprouts pain to her temples. “...I want you to meet an old friend of mine… she will be your tutor from now on.”

Rhemi’s then acquaintance kneels down to her level with her sweet patient smile and tilts her head slightly. The woman’s golden yellow eyes stare into her own and extend her hand out to shake it. “Hello, my dear. My name is Phara. It’s lovely to meet you.” Her voice was deeper than most women, and she had a slight accent that she didn’t recognize. But her voice was the kind you wouldn’t mind listening to it all day. 

Rhemi could feel her lips curling up into a shy smile as she reached her small hand to shake this beautiful woman’s hand. “Hello..”     

“Rhemi??” Asra's voice mutter’s through the static.

By the time Rhemi realizes that she was staring off into nothing, it’s been nearly half a minute. 

“....Athena…..” She quietly mutters her hand slowly drawing back to her body, feeling her breath become shallower by the moment.

Martin takes a few steps forwards clutching the picture in his hands, making the leather gloves squeak from his grip and his eyes glued to the frame. “You said…. You said that you didn’t know anyone else other than your mother….” 

 “I…. I…” A pit hits Rhemi’s stomach as if she was thrown off a steep cliff. Seeing the anger in her father’s face sends her absolute dread. 

Muriel and Asra glance at each other, bewildered by these two's sudden change in emotions.

The trembling in Martin’s hands increased, the angrier he seemed to get. “... After all these years….. I scoured over half the world… Offered most of my fortune for her safe return….. I even prayed to the gods that I don’t even believe in to hope she’d return to me…. And what did I get in return?” Martin’s eyes gazed back to his daughter’s striking fear into her heart. “.... She fucking married the stupid frigid cunt of a captor!—”

——CRASSSSH!! 

Without warning Martin hastily slams the picture frame to the ground, shattering the glass on the wooden floorboard. With a quick snap of his fingers the edges of the small watercolor portrait burst into flames. Asra gasps and Rhemi clasps her hands over her mouth in horror.

“—HEY!!” Muriel quickly lunges at him, but Rhemi throws up her hand and stops him.

“NO!” She waves her arm and closes her hand, extinguishing the flames before it destroys the portrait. “Wha—What the hell are you doing?!” She yells still keeping herself in between her father and her fiancè and Asra swiftfully snaches the painting from the ground. Clutching it to his breast for safety and he keeps his eyes peeled to the man as he slips the unprotected watercolor back into the safety of the large chest, and hasility placing a binding spell back onto the box so her father couldn’t destroy it or anything else in there for that matter. 

Martin's eyes are still cold as he just stands there fuming with wrath and hate, starting into nothingness at the wall with his nostrils flared and breathing shallowly. “....I hope those stupid bitches rots in the hottest depts of hell…” he utter to himself, complete resentment painted across his his face.

Rhemi feels so confused and her heart starts to feel heavy filled with so many emotions and she grabs the sleeve of his long silk shirt. “—What?! That's the only portrait I have of my mother and Athena!! You told me this Phara person was evil…. But… if she was Athena– she… she never–... I.. she always was…. But you– …. And why the hell would you—” 

Finally her father whips his head violently towards his daughter. “—You fucking knew about this, didn’t you?? You lied about forgetting things didn’t you?!” Her father raspily accusations just above a whisper, aggressively pointing his finger at her.

His rage is eerily similar to the man in Rhemi’s dream from before back in the south with Ezavior. For a moment Rhemi also seems to recall hearing that tone in his voice before. It’s so abrupt, and violent, and it feels toxic, dark, and resentful… 

“You knew what that witch was doing behind my back, didn’t you?! What did that bitch tell you about me, HUH?? WHAT LIES DID SHE SAY ABOUT ME?!?” He continues to accuse her.

“Père, I never lied–”

—Smmmmack!!!

Dead silence engulfs all the shop for a few seconds, making the noise ring in everyone’s ears. 

Rhemi’s cheek starts to dreadfully sting.

The archmagister slapped his daughter’s right side of her face so hard with the back of his hand, it nearly knocked her over. The uter smoothness of his actions rather sickening, as if it was almost a reflex. What was worse, he was so quick and unfazed by his terrible action.

Shocked and appalled, she stumbles backwards and lightly brushes her fingers on her stinging cheek, completely shocked and breathless. Why do I know this feeling of my cheek burning like this….. she thought to herself.

“RHEMI!” Asra and Muriel shout simultaneously.

Muriel’s eyes widen then he lunges forward to him again, intent on following through this time, but Rhemi quickly grabs his wrist with both hands, “—MUR, NO!!”

“WHY?!” He barks looking like he wants to rip the man in two. 

“I-I have to know what’s going on!!!!” She desperately shouts back, tugging his arm harder. He stops reluctantly, fist clenched, putting himself in front of her, his arm blocking her body, but allows her to speak with him safely.

“What did Aunt Athena have to do with any of this?” Asra interjects standing tall next to Muriel and in front of Rhemi and just as furious as he. Athena was once his teacher too. She took him in from the streets, clothed him, educated him. He cared about her just as much as Rhemi did and wouldn’t stand for anyone trying to soil her memory. She was such a kind woman. A good woman.

Martin sneers at Asra, and just glares in disbelief. “…Athena?.....Aunt Athena?!?” A bone chilling laugh erupts from his lungs as with a matching crazed expression as he shakes his head. “This entire time… She was actually under my nose. So that’s what the bitch called herself all these years?? Of course she changed her name. But the ancient Augustan goddess of goddamn wisdom?? What a fuckin’ cunt you were, Phara....” 

“No… No Athena was Rhemi’s Aunt! Not this Phara person!”

The confused expressions on all of their faces just infuriates Martin even more and his anger grows. “...Is that really what they told you, Ass-rat? That she was Rhemielia’s Aunt?” He laughs, despicably throwing back his head, strangely entertained by this. “Oh…. My! Is that rich!! I’ll tell you tha’! That is goddman FUCKING rich!!” He slicks back his hair with his hand. Traces of an arrogant, shrewd, high and mighty nobleman melt away. Exposing this angry, yet hurt and vulnerabile and even almost fear mix with his sadistic and toxic ego. It is off putting to see this side to the man, but he now felt more dangerous than ever.

“HEY! Don’t insult him!” Muriel growls, leaning his upper body over Rhemi’s shoulder.

Her father finally stops laughing, but keeps the same malicious grin as he looks at her. “.... My little pigeon... You really don’t remember anything at all. Do you??”

Rhemi squints her eyes and shakes her head slightly, unsure of what he is inferring to. But the way he says that, she’s almost afraid to know. “What—What am I supposed to remember exactly?..” She clutches onto Muriel’s forearm that’s blocking her from him.

Martin’s grin falls as he tilts his head sadistically beaming at her. “... Don’t you remember that your mother was a damn unfaithful slut?!” He mutters in a low vicious tone.

“W-What?!” Her face twists, not believing his disgusting insult. Muriel growls through his gritted teeth holding back the urge to pick him up, and throw him out the door. “How….. —How dare you call my mother th—”

“—Don’t you get it you stupid girl?? That fucking woman you for some reason or another, called your ‘Aunt’ was the witch who stole you and your mother away from me!”   

“B-but….. A…. Athena was never evil…. She was kind…and…. She… She taught me magic–”

“–She’s the one who taught you what women should never learn! I told that bitch to help you control your magic! NOT TEACH YOU MORE! Magic is no place for a noblewoman in Charlès!! It would have absolutely destroyed our standing in the court! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO TO PEOPLE LIKE US?”

“... What?!”

Silence chokes the shop once again, but the air now feels even heavier somehow. 

Rhemi just stares at Martin’s face and an ice cold shiver runs down her spine once again. 

Suddenly, she remembers his expression. “...Wha—?....”, she mutters as another flash of memory creeps in. 

Her father is looking down at her the same exact way he is right now, but he’s much taller and only purple in his hair. She’s looking up, laying on the ground, blood trickling from her nose and forehead. Rhemi’s mother is trying her best to breathe. And Athena….. or was she Phara then…?? She’s fighting Martin with her magic... it’s all coming back so quickly— too quickly—It’s just.. too much! Make it stop!!!

A sharp pain hits Rhemi’s temples and spreads all the way over her forehead. This migraine…. it’s happened before, many times in fact, but not since Asra last told her about coming back to life. He’s always erased her memory to make this pain stop. She holds her head with both hands lightly, staring at the floor feeling more confused and disoriented by the second.

Martin trembles with fury as he continues ranting. “...Why do you think we haven’t seen each other since you were a damn child?! Why do you think you are called by a different name than the one you were given??”

A flood of emotions and memories pour inside her head all at once, the pain is just agonizing. She braces her temples harder, desperately wanting the pain to just stop. Her vision starts to even become hazy; In the corner of her eyes, for a brief moment, she can see her past self before she died, with her sick pale skin and blood red eyes just glaring so angry at her father. Her mouth is moving like she's giving him a piece of her mind, but she can’t hear anything coming out.

As Rhemi drops to her knees with a hard Thud, the old Rhemilia is gone. Muriel and Asra now turn their attention to the sound. “RHEMI !!” Muriel falls to the ground behind her and clutches her shoulders. “Rem!!! What’s wrong?!”

“It…. hurts….” She whimpers gritting through her teeth, eyes tightly closed shut, the light someone making it even worse. “It—it hurts so much!..... Muri-.....  A-Asra!..... Fuck!!” tears overwhelm her eyes. “IT FUCKING HURTS!!!! Pleaaaase!…. Make it stop!!!!”

Muriel cradles her in his warm arms trying the best he can to comfort her. “.....I’m here, Rhemi.” He utters to her, fighting back his own tears. He’s never seen her in this much agonizing pain before in this realm. This is even worse than the dream with Ezavior back in the Steppe before the winter solstice. It's so hard for him to watch her be in misery like this, he just wants to take the pain away, but is left helpless as well. 

But Martin just presses on and on, not even caring about his child’s obvious suffering. “Ugh! You blubber and complain just like your mother did…. I have had enough of this!!! We are leaving this godforsaken shit hole!”

“Stay away from her!!” Muriel growls.

Asra squints his eyes suspiciously towards her father and shakes his head. “Can’t you see she’s in pain?”

“I know my own daughter! She’s fine–” With a quick flick of his wrist his cane is suddenly in his hand. “Get up this instant, Rhemielia! We are going home.” 

Muriel’s brow furrows even more as he stares a hole in his face. “What are you talking about?”

Martin’s nostrils flare as he glances back to his daughter and he presses his lips together angrily. “... Oh, so you mean you didn't tell them, Mielia? Why am I not that surprised.”

“... Tell us what??” Asra asks, staring at Rhemi with his purple eyes with hurt behind them. 

“I….. I…” Rhemi’s bottom lip trembles, unsure what to say, she lied to them. All of them for the past few days hoping that she’d fix it. “I was gonna fix it, I swear–”

“–She’s coming home with me!” Martin finally says, cocking his head to the side. “Back home to Charlès where she belongs.”

“No…..” She whimpers through the pain and grasps her fiance’s arm. She could tell he was furious, she could only hope it wasn’t at her. “Muri… Muri I never…I tried to tell him–”

Feeling her tremble, he glances back towards her and takes her off guard to see his surprisingly understanding face. “Rhemi… It’s ok…” He gently strokes her hair, trying his best to soothe her through this terrible situation. She nearly collapses into his arm, wishing she was just honest with him to begin with. What was she really afraid of before??  

“Oh for fuck sake—This game has gone on long enough, Rhemielia!!” Martin's angry voice interrupts, making her tremble all over again. “...So far, I was willing to play along, but I have now lost all of my goddamn patients!! Now get up, we are leaving!!!”

“.... LIKE FUCKING HELL!” Muriel aggressively grunts as he wraps his arms around Rhemi's, determined to never let her go. He still didn’t understand why she lied, but then again, this man was crazy… Deep down, she must have been terrified of him. 

Asra stands in a wide stance, hand up and ready to do whatever he has to keep Muriel and Rhemi safe. “I believe you’ve overstayed your welcome, Sir Martin. Don’t you see that she doesn't want to go with you?...”

Unable to respond to a single person, she continues to wriggle around in pain clutching her head. It feels like hundreds of hot needles are pricking her eyeballs while simultaneously being hit with cold hammers in her temples as if she were a bell. The pain was absolutely agonizing. 

But her father wasn’t apparently convinced as he started to hiss and spit with each word that came out of his mouth. “What little pigeon? Does the truth hurt? WELL HOW DO YOU THINK IT FELT FOR ME?!!—My family was ripped apart because of some FUCKING WITCH WHORE BRAINWASHED YOU AND YOUR MOTHER! And you and your mother was stupid enough to believe her! Then that STUPID BITCH TURNED YOU BOTH AGAINST ME!!! SHE EVEN ATTACKED ME!!” 

Pulling up his right sleeve, he shows to everyone the terrible old burn marks across his entire forearm. “—THAT WITCH SET OUR HOME ABLAZE!!–EVERYTHING I WORKED FOR!! EVERYTHING I DID, BURNED DOWN ALL AROUND ME!! ALL OF IT WAS FOR YOU AND YOUR UNGRATEFUL MOTHER!!! Do you have any idea what I had done to get in the position I’m in, Pigeon?! HMMM??? What I had to do to secure your future?? And then your mother and that cunt threw it all the fuck away! AND FOR WHAT?! To live in a piece of shit like this??” He shouts guestering to the shop with his left hand. 

“... I GAVE HER DIAMONDS! I GAVE HER SILKS! A MANSION! STATUS! EVERYTHING SHE EVER WANTED!!!!”

Asra eyes widen and he starts to panic as he watches Rhemi slump over in agony on the floor. “R-Rhemi!!” Confronting the Archmagister, he summoned magic into his hands about to strike. “You need to leave! NOW!!! You're no longer welcome here—”

“—STAY OUT OF THIS, YOU QUEER SACK OF SHIT!!” Martin shouted, holding up his cane pointing it at the white haired magician.

 But Asra refuses to back down and starts to make a whip from the water in the air. “I said…. Leave. GET. OUT!” Asra shouts back, threatening him with his weapons. “Don’t make me hurt you in front of your own daughter!”

Martin looks him up and down with a sneer. “Do you really think an Archmagister fears water, you goddamn idiot?”

“She SAID, she doesn’t want to go with you, Martin!!!” 

“... And I was not asking…” Martin hisses as the jewel in his cane starts to illuminate, his dark metallic magic quickly summoning to his fingertips.

In one swiftful move, Martin throws up his walking stick, the strange stone brightly illuminating, green and purple magic pours out of the stone handle, opening a barrier spell around him just as Asra conjures sharp ice sickles a half second too late. This barrier was the kind that would get stronger the harder someone from outside would hit it and the sharp sickles break instantly after impact.

With a smug look on his face, Martin starts to take a few steps closer toward walking past the magician no matter what he did. Now standing over Rhemi and Muriel, the barrier shielding just himself. “.... Get your disgusting monstrous hands off my daughter and give her back to me, you bloody creten.”

“Over my dead body.” Muriel grunted, holding his lover even tighter in his arms, refusing to let her go. “LEAVE HER ALONE!!” Muriel glances up at him hatefully and growls as he protectively tucks Rhemi closer to his chest and covers her body with his arms. “—GET. THE. FUCK. OUT!!” He shouts with his booming voice loudly cracks like thunder. 

“What?... Are you gonna kill me? Indeed you were rather good at killing back in the colosseum, weren’t you, Scourge of the South?” Martin smirks once again. “....Are you going to cut me down with your ax?”

His sharp words make Muriel shudder, shaking him from his core. It’s been over a year since he has heard that name—no one dares to call him that after everything he’s done for this city.

Suddenly, Muriel can feel himself being ripped away from Rhemi like a powerful wave of dense, heavy water. Despite his strength, and tried as he might, he could feel himself being whisked away. “No! RHEMI!” It’s no use as he is overwhelmed with the force and is thrown towards the staircase. 

“Muriel!!” Rhemi weakly cries out as she falls face first to the floor, her hand outstretched for her lover, tears streaming down.

SMASH!!! The poor hermit’s grunts out a heave of pain as he crashes into the staircase, breaking some of the wooden steps underneath him and ripping up the back of his shirt. His forehead is trickling blood slightly from the cuts. It takes a moment to get up, but he recovers himself, realizing that Martin expanded the small barrier, and pushed him out, leaving Rhemi alone with her father unprotected on the inside. 

“R-...RHEMI!!” Muriel cries out, chest filled with dread as he scrambles to his feet, ignoring the pain that he’s in. “NOOO!!!” He yells, ramming his large right shoulder into the barrier as hard as he can, but it just makes a Thoom sound as he makes contact with it.

Now seemingly getting his way, her father seems to have slipped back into his prim and proper self as if he did just lose his temper. He clears his throat as he slicks back his slightly disheveled hair as he strolls over to where poor Muriel is struggling to break down the barrier with his bare hands. Somehow Martin looks down his nose at Muriel, despite him being much taller, sneering. “.... I thought I recognized your ugly botched-up mug, you bloody bastard…” 

Muriel gnashes his teeth, so angry and terrified at the same time. 

Martin glances down to his gloves to adjust them as he continues to speak, almost insanely calm, considering the situation. “.... Back in the day…. His Majesty liked to come here to this shit hole of a city for the tournaments and I would frequently accompany him… He and I won a lot of bets on you when you killed for a living in the colosseum….. I am right about that, aren’t I, Scourge of the South?” 

The hermit could feel his jaw clenching as he slams both fists on the barrier like a gorilla, getting angrier and angrier by the moment and nearly only seeing red. But all his effort was no use as he was constantly being pushed back by the barrier. If he got his hands on this man right at this moment, he'd most certainly tear him to ribbons.

The Archmagister’s viscous smirk curls up wider. “Judging from your reactions, I am….. And to think…..  someone like you believed they were going to marry my daughter…” 

“FUCK. YOU!!!” Shouts Asra as he does his best to try and open the barrier with his own magic.

 Muriel just stands there silent, showing his bare teeth before starting to pound on the barrier harder and harder. 

“M-Muriel… Asra..” Rhemi whimpers as she opens one eye and still clutches her head, unable to think straight from all the pain. She tries to stand, but stumbles right back down again. Out of the corner of her eye she can see her sweet Muriel’s head trickling with blood. Quickly, anger swells in her chest, making her heartbeat ring hard in her ears. No one hurts my Muri. No one calls my Muri the Scourge. “...Get…. out…. of my house...” she mutters furiously. “L-... Leave…. us… alone…” 

Martin turns himself back around to see the sight of his pathetic looking daughter on the floor. In just a few steps is standing over in front of her. “.... I don’t think you understand, child... You and I are leaving this place. You no longer live here. You and I are getting on that ship and we are never coming back here!”

“No… No I am not!” She hisses, trying to get through the pain. But then a sharp tugging sensation on her scalp makes her shrek yet again.

Suddenly, he snatches the hair on the back of her head and jerks her up to her feet. She cries out painfully, trying to hold his wrist as he peers down with such deep loathing into her eyes. “Look at what you are making me do, Rhemielia. I don’t want to hurt you, child, but you leave me no choice! You will get on that ship! Even if I have to drag you all the way there!” 

“—Let me go!” She squeals pitifully.

“GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER!!!——LEAVE HER THE FUCK ALONE!!!” Muriel keeps punching, kicking, and ramming himself into the barrier repeatedly to no avail. His poor arms start to bruise under his shirt and his knuckles and elbows even start to bleed.

Asra cries out, “RHEMI! HANG ON!!!” As he desperately tries various spells to try and break it, but nothing is working. This is no ordinary magic… Asra inner thoughts scream in panic, completely confused at how this barrier was so strong for a simple spell. Soon, his fingers start to bleed him trying to claw the barrier open, but it's still no use.

Completely disinterested in Muriel or Asra, Martin leans his face into hers as she grimaces and bares her teeth in pain as he gruffly mutters. “I will never let you out of my sight ever again... You are my daughter and you will obey me! Now… We. Are. Leaving. Now—HOOOOF!!!!” 

Finally, Rhemi musters up the energy into her right knee and shoves it into him with all her might. Just nearly misses his groin, she knocks all the wind out of his lungs and makes him release her, but the barrier still is holding strong. 

She stands to her feet taking a wide stance, tightening her hands into fist by her side. “I said…. get out… of my shop!” She says through her gritted teeth, somehow now bearing the pain and fluid by pure fury. 

Martin regains himself and starts to lurch forwards towards her angrily, about doing something drastic and violent. But she picks up her head, eyes wide and wild, revealing that irises have brightened to a fiery orangey-red and her body starts to steam with searing heat. Her father hesitates, sensing her power quickly building and Rhemi feels her magic suddenly stick in her throat. 

“Père……. Get… the fuck….. OOOOUUUUUT!!!!!” Her voice amplified, making a god awful loud shriek like a banshee from her lungs as she continued to scream.

Suddenly, the unnatural screech shatters the barrier from the inside, breaking apart along with all the glass in the front of the shop that bursts into thousands of shards across the ground. Forcing Martin backwards slamming him against the front door. He holds his stomach as he tries to get to his feet.

 Muriel and Asra are forced to cover their ears with their hands, and Faust covers her little head with all of her snake body. It’s so loud, feeling their eardrums wanting to rupture as their ears as they continue to ring loudly. The awful sound even disrupts all of their equilibrium, making them feel off balance as they attempt to stand.

Finally, she stops her awful howling, and sharply takes in a breath of air as if she came up for air in the middle of the ocean.

Martin coughs hard and it turns into a cackle, somehow amused by all the pain, or perhaps he’s still a little drunk. “That witch really was a piece of work teaching you that kind of shit magic…” He mutters trying to get himself off the floor.

Rhemi breathes shallowly trembling head to toe as she glares at him. “...You hurt my mum…... ” She mumbles to herself. Asra and Muriel finally regain their balance and they rush over stepping in front of Rhemi once again. “You tried to kill her…”

Martin barks a laugh and a little blood oozes from his head. “Phara made you think that didn’t she?! I never tried to kill her—”

The poor girl’s lip trembles as tears stream down but her forehead narrows so angrily. “—I… I never want to see you again.” 

Martin pauses for a moment, his face stricken with pain. Not from the injuries, but what she had just said. “.... I want you to leave… and never…. EVER come back!!!” 

His eyes seem to water for a moment, but then he shakes his head and pushes aside the sadness with a sadistic smile. “ Nooo…. No, no no.... You really don’t get it do you, Pigeon? I’m here to stay, whether you like it or not!! You are my daughter!!... YOU ARE MY CHILD!! Now that I have found you—I refuse you to end up like those lowlifes that stole you away from me!!!” He sticks his thumb into his chest hard. 

Asra conjures a whip out of water finally getting to his feet with a ferocious wrathful expression. “Rhemi told you—you're no longer welcome here, Martin!!!” Quickly, he cracks it at him, breaking down the front door. He stops the blow by forming a small shield with his walking stick, but he’s still forced outside, shattering the wooden door from its hinges onto the cobble street. “... SO, GET OUT AND STAY OUT!!!!” 

He stumbles to his knees, still laughing in amusement. “Interesting… You really are just like your fucking mother, Pigeon… she always had to run and hide behind people who are stronger too.” 

Muriel and Asra stand their ground as Rhemi becomes breathless and suddenly feels so weak. Realizing that she was just hiding behind them. She’s never done anything by herself, ever. She had help with the courtiers, the battle with the devil, and even now. She’s always had help. So… what can I do?....

Martin slicks back his hair with his head, and wipes away the blood oozing from his head, slowly realizing that he is no match for two magicians and a nearly seven foot tall ex-gladiator. 

He finally stands to his feet and brushes off the dirt from his clothes and straightens his neck tie, and summons his cloak and hat and dramatically bursts the door wide open. “I’ll be back.” He shouts before turning walking away down the street. 

“WE’LL BE READY!” Muriel retaliates hitting the door frame with the side of his tight fist wishing it was the man’s face. He and his best friend watch as the man disappears into the night and onlookers just stare at the drama unfolding. 

As soon as the tension calms down, and his anger subsides, Asra hastily fixes the now bellowed door back straight with his magic and places the locking spell on the door. 

Muriel swiftly turns himself back around his beloved. Rhemi is just standing in the shivering, on the verge of hyperventilating and tightly digging her fingers into her scalp. Muriel rushes over to her and gently places his hand over her’s, letting her know that he is there. “.... Rhemi?”

“.... I—I let...him in my home—I-In our lives!… I let that bastard in here, Muri...” She whimpers through her tears.

She grabs his shirt with her trembling right hand and he pulls her into his chest. He winces slightly, her skin is hot to the touch—Not like a fever, but like a hot kettle under a fire. Despite this, he brings her close, and she goes willingly, immediately her skin cools down to normal. 

“This is my fault...” Feeling something wet, she glances through her tears and sees the blood on his head and arms. “My god, Muriel, honey! Y-you—y- you’re b-b-bleeding!….”

“T-They’re just scratches—I’m fine.” 

Burying herself in his chest, she cries even harder. “T-...t-this is all my f-f-fault… You tried to tell me…”

“Rhemi….it’s alright. He’s gone.. and he won’t ever lay another finger on you again… Not if I have anything to say about it.” Muriel mumbles looking furious and heartbroken at the same time.

“T-this is all my fault… this is all my fucking fault…..” She keeps repeating over and over again. 

“What?? No! Rem—This isn’t your fault!!”

“—I let that—that— monster in here!!..... That’s what—what she’s—trying to tell me!!!—She was warning me!! Everyone tried to tell me—-but I didn’t—I didn’t listen….”

“What?? Who?—”

“That….. other me!! The o-o-ne in my dreams!!—AHHH!” She shuts her eyes tightly as a huge wave of pain hits her temples and travels down her neck and she can feel her heartbeat throbbing with the pain.

“...Y-....you couldn’t remember, that's not your fault, Rem!”

“I-I-I-I can’t handle this. This fucking hurts so fucking much!”

“I—It’ll be ok. You-…. You just need to breathe—”

“—Muri, I— I can’t…do this…...I-I-I—I can’t—I…. I—” Out of nowhere, a high pitch ringing in her ears takes over and her vision starts to fade into a dark gray nothing. 

“.... I-... I...can’t….” She utters one last time. Without warning, her body collapses into Muriel’s chest, complexly boneless. 

“Rh—Rhemi??” Muriel catches her before she sinks down all the way to the floor and his heart sinks sickenly. Gently, he shakes her, but she doesn’t respond in the slightest; She’s like a little ragdoll in his arms, and he soon realizes that she’s no longer conscious, her eyes half shut, and her pupils blown. 

“Rhemi…… Rhemi???—RHEMI!!!!!!” His voice echoes farther and farther away like she’s being aimlessly transported into the darkness. 

Tar-like hands reach out for her and pull her down into the mucky sickness, before she could cry out, her mouth is covered with black oozing hands as she is sucked into the darkness. 

✨To be continued…

[WOW. Just.... fucking wow....

It's been more than a fucking year since I have posted. I am so sorry! I have had an incredibly tough year, between my own medical issues, selling a house, and moving, life has been getting away from me. I also know I'm kinda beating a dead horse here since the fandom has kinda died and I have no idea what even happening in the fandom lately. But whatever! Here this is! I still really for some stupid reason really want to tell this story, no matter how cringe or hyper-fixated it is. I really want to tell this story *shrugs*

Anyways! Thank you for all the lovely trash pandas that are still here <3. As always, enjoy my hot garbage!]

#the arcana #muriel x apprentice #muriel the hermit #Muriel fanfic #fanfic #the arcana fanfic #the visitor~ #part 8~ #the arcana game #madllamamomma #my hot trash #enjoy my hot garbage #rhemi the apprentice #the arcana muriel #arcana #asra x julian #martin #Martin Alarie #my oc's #find also on ao3

[victorscribbles]

"Thank you for keeping me going"

I've been through some shit to get my Batchelor degree but we made it! And now I finally have time to indulge myself back into the first Fandom where I felt comfortable in ! I may not have had time to make "art" but my faves have always be in my heart to comfort me when I needed it and I couldn't wait to talk to al my beans again. From the quick look around I did I'm so proud of everybody's progress and growth. And I'm excited to grow with you all

I missed you beans

Rhemi ( the pretty girl in the left corner ) belongs to @madllamamomma

#the arcana #apprentice agrippa #fan apprentice #muriel the arcana #portia devorak #julian devorak #nadia satrivana #asra alnazar #faust the arcana #if u can't get irl hugs u just draw hugs #rhemi the apprentice #the arcana mc

[0lila0]

I decided to draw a scene from @madllamamomma​  ‘s Story “Journey Back To the South” (with a bit of embelishment),when Rhemi has a dream of her old self infront of a burning manor. The black and white is her trying to make sense of the figure she saw, and the figure is the figure on the left. I’ll try to recolor this digitally when I have my apple pencil back :,).   

(Also I started coloring this before the real design of the old Rem was posted so :,( it’s not the correct outfit, but even despite that I hope you like it!)

{ thanks to my horrible Iphone 8 and tumblr for the absolutely terrible quality of this image <3}

#the arcana game #arcana muriel #arcana mc #rhemi the apprentice

[pupuseriazag]

𝔻𝕒𝕪 𝟙𝟘: 𝔾𝕚𝕗𝕥

As you might have seen, the prompt for today was gift, so I decided to turn todays drawing into a literal gift! :D and to who? To the lovely @madllamamomma of course💜uwu

So here you have your baby Rhemi :'3 and also a huge thank you again for being an inspiration 🥺💜💜 and also thank you for always tagging me in stuff and making me feel welcomed ;W;💜💜

#I know its just a small thing but I wanted to thank you in some way 👉🏻👈🏻 #And also for the other day that you drew my baby Luna ;W; I still love it💜💜 #I hope you enjoy it!!💜💜 #my art #rhemi the apprentice #the arcana game #the arcana mc #the arcana apprentice #not my oc #ZagreusArt

[nontae]

Happy Birthday @madllamamomma​! I had a class cancelled and I had time to draw the beautiful Rhemi, I hope you have a wonderful day! I wish you the best ❤

#the arcana #rhemi the apprentice #happy birthday!!

[glitchedhearts]

Part 1 of 2 complete (Ignore my awful handwritting)

I was going to do this picture for my birthday and as a belated birthday present for @madllamamomma but now its like 2/3 weeks later 😀

I saw you have been having a bad week so I hope this makes you feel a bit better. 💝

#the arcana #the arcana game #thearcana #the arcana apprentice #the arcana mc #rhemi the apprentice

[darladog]

Uh I kinda hate how this turned out but is a thing I guess

Rhemi belongs to the wonderful @madllamamomma

I love rhemi and all the writing you’ve done, I’ve read the journey back south like three times and always get sad when I finish it. 

#idk what i’m doing lol #thus is the first drawing of 2021 #im going to draw her again bc these suck #also idk why I drew her as a mermaid #this whole thing is just such a mess #Rhemi #rhemi the apprentice #the arcana #arcana #Not my fan apprentice #my art

[madllamamomma]

Gonna do this one back at you! Rhemi and Muriel with these-

SFW: 4, 8, 11, & 13

NSFW: 1, 3, 4, 8

Have fun! 😊

SFW:

4) Living space has a leak! Who fixes it?

—Muriel. Hands down. Rhemi can help hold the light for him 😂

8) Who knows how to swim? Who doesn’t?

—Rhemi actually really likes swimming, she loved it since she was a kid, she really loved going to the beach with her Mom and Athena. I think Muriel knows how to swim, he just doesn’t apparently like to.

11) Baths or showers? Together or separate? Any bubbles or bubble fights?

—Rhemi likes all of the above! She loves to share them with her Muri, but who doesn’t like a relaxing time to yourself?

13) Who stays up late? Who sleeps the most? Does the other have to force them to sleep/wake up?

—Rhemi’s sleep schedule is very flexible, she can be a morning person one week, and a night owl the next (like me—which isn’t always a good thing). But Muri is usually up before her no matter what and usually the last one asleep because he’s 100% an insomniac, prove me wrong. I think Muriel genuinely sleeps a lot better since Rhemi came into his life, but he still has issues sleeping like “normal”. Rhemi totally makes him come to bed sometimes. But the tables can be turned if Rhemi is in of her hyper focused moods again.

NSFW:

1) How often do they have sex, if at all?

—Oh—Yeah, they do it. 😏 Hehe… Probably at least from 2-4 times a week. (Depending on the week of course), So, a fair amount 😜

3) Any kinks they clash on?

—Rhemi isn’t all that kinky, she likes bitting and hair pulling and holding, ect, but she’s pretty vanilla other than that. She might have a slight ‘breeding’ kink— But I’d think Muri is fine with that. 😂 I envision sex has a deeper meaning than fucking for them, they genuinely want and need the connection, love, and vulnerability/trust.

4) Oddest place they’d have sex?

—Probably in the middle of a meadow in the forest (Potions & Meadows~).

8) Favourite erogenous zones?

—For Rhemi, she very into clit play/touch, and she loves being neck kissing/biting.

—For Muriel, I can see him enjoying nipple and ball play, even some anal. I can see him just enjoying being touched since he’s nearly repulsed by it in the route until he gets to know MC, then he becomes actually wanting to be touched. I’m not exactly a Demi-sexual, but I really am more attracted to someone when I have feelings for them, and that does amplify the experience.

This was a lot of fun! I missed these so much!

Thanks for the asks! ❤️❤️❤️

#the arcana #madllamamomma #momma answers #the arcana game #muriel #muriel x apprentice #my hot trash #Rhemi x Muriel #Muriel x Rhemi #muriel x mc #rhemi the apprentice #arcana #asks

[madllamamomma]

✨Florence/Flora concept art and info no one asked for~

So if you haven’t read my the latest chapter of my overly long and complicated fanfic, The Visitor~, this lovely creature that I kept hinting at is Rhemi’s mother.

Flora (which is what she changed her name to after leaving Charlés with Athena & Rhemi) is designed around the ideal Disney Princess/damsel in distress and a mourning dove. I especially took inspiration of many angelic types of characters from Rose Quarts from Steven Universe, to Ponyo’s mother in Ponyo, Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty , and even Cinderella.

I wanted her to be a like a beautiful lady awaiting in her castle for her knight in shinning armor to come save her, like you’d find in most western story books. Essentially, a perfect feminine maiden (by some standards that is); pale, beautiful, frail, soft doe like eyes, quiet, and sweet calm demeanor—someone who did things that she was told and never makes a fuss. (Yes this is supposed to be somewhat fucked up). 😐 I hope my design mirrored that, but who knows, I’m also not the best at character deigns. 🤷‍♀️

Her tarot card is Temperance, her birthday is undecided at this moment.

Also, be kind to me, I haven’t drawn in over 8 or so months, 😅 so I’m sorry if I know this isn’t my best work. Lol.

✨Enjoy my hot garbage!!

#the arcana #the arcana game #madllamamomma #muriel x apprentice #Flora #Florence #Rhemi’s mom #muriel #my hot trash #the arcana muriel #muriel x mc #rhemi the apprentice #the visitor~ #my oc #muriel fanfic

[madllamamomma]

I made this side by side with Rhemi and her parents quite awhile ago, but it was obviously kinda forgot.

Not my best pieces anymore, but I still feel like this was worth sharing. 😬

#the arcana #the arcana game #madllamamomma #my hot trash #muriel x mc #muriel x apprentice #fan apprentice #rhemi the apprentice #Flora my oc #Flora/Florence #the arcana muriel #muriel #muriel the arcana #muriel fanfic #martin alarie #Martin #sir Martin alarie

[madllamamomma]

✨(Eventual new OC)—WIPs

… that might never see the light of day.😋

Meet the very beautiful and devious ✨Kalixes! An eventual new OC for the third arch of my ridiculous long fucking Arcana fanfic that has gone off the goddamn rails. 😬😬😬

#havn’t posted in a while #figured i give my trash pandas something #madllamamomma #the arcana game #oc #my OC Kalixes #muriel fanfic #muriel route #after canon #my hot trash #my art #rhemi the apprentice #the arcana #fanfic character #muriel x apprentice #muriel

[madllamamomma]

To all my trash pandas that are still left here;

Sorry for not posting any new work recently. I also haven't written much n the past few month because of a particularly important scene in the next chapter of The Visitor~ .

Battling through some depression and lack of inspiration and whatnot.

Anyways, thanks for all the trash pandas for being supportive and patient.

#the arcana game #the arcana fanfic #fanfic issues #madllamamomma #muriel the arcana #the visitor #life is hard #I constantly feel like shit lately #so there's that #no one's fault but my own #muriel x apprentice #my hot trash #muriel x mc #rhemi the apprentice

[madllamamomma]

How long is too long of a chapter??

In pages??

#and go #the arcana #the arcana game #fanfic #I'm sitting at 22 pages #but I have a bit more to go #madllamamomma #muriel #muriel x apprentice #rhemi the apprentice #the visitor #writing issues #please help #writing problems

[madllamamomma]

Modern AU—Muri be simpin’

So I am usually not into AUs, but ever sense the modern charms, I have had a few scenes in my head and I really liked the modern setting. I gotta thank @victorscribbles for that! ❤️

In the modern au, Muriel and Rhemi end up having a werid class together and have to become partners through out the semester (normally Muri takes online classes, but was required to have an interactive class with a lab to get his degree) and the end up forming a friendship, but with clear romantic tension between then.

After failing her thesis for her grad degree, Rhemi contemplates what shes doing with her life, does she even want to be an anthropologist? Asra’s not home and calls go straight to voicemail. Feeling lonely and anxious and the alcohol isn’t helping and is close to a huge nervous breakdown. She half drunkenly calls Muri, but when he answers, she immediately hangs up and turns off her phone feeling incredibly embarrassed and stupid. Taking Asra’s pot stash (he would totally be a smoker fight me), she tries to smoke her troubles away, but can’t roll a blunt with shit, Asra usually does it for her.

Curling up into a ball on the couch, with music blaring in the background, Rhemi starts to cry her eyes out feeling all alone, but then a knock at the door. Low and behold Muriel and Inanna have stopped by becasue he was in the ‘neighborhood’ and he felt like he needed to check up on her (he could hear her choking back her tears).

Muriel laughs at her poor excuse for a blunt, then proceeds to roll one for her. They both take a seat on the couch, Inanna goes and guards the door becasue shes best girl, and the two smoke, talk and cry the night away until Rhemi falls asleep. Exhausted himself, Muri takes her to her bed and he stays the night on the couch. Rhemi wakes up and get herself some water not realizing he’s still there and well... this happens. 😅

Sorry for the long explanation, but—

✨Enjoy my hot trash! 💕❤️💕

#the mountain man #the arcana #Muri be simpin #the arcana game #muriel x apprentice #my hot trash #the arcana muriel #muriel x mc #arcana modern au #modern au #madllamamomma #for my hungry trash pandas #rhemi is a mess #rhemi the apprentice #muriel #muriel the hermit #cute underwear #muriel x oc #fan apprentice #muriel the arcana

[madllamamomma]

The Visitor~ Part 6

Muriel x Rhemi (OC) fanfic

[WARNING: Some topics can be triggering to some readers including, mention of violence, blood/gore, mental health issues, abuse, etc.]

Part 6~

Ghosts~

In the palace, Sir Martin sits quietly in the green chair next to the fire. His daughter should be here any moment. The cracking of the burning wood alway relaxed him, eventually making his eyes heavy… Soon he drifts to sleep.

As he opens his eyes, he finds himself sitting on an old rickety chair that looks like it's about to break at any moment. With an annoyed scoff, his eyes look around, he is in a terribly drabby house, full of holes in the straw roof where the sunlight shines through and mice hide in the walls. He always hated this place--Despised is more like it. He absolutely hated when his dreams would drift him back here to this often empty house. But then, she walks into the room, her hands full with the heavy laundry basket… His hatred drifted away.

She was a beautiful young woman, no older than eighteen, her hair s burgundy brown and curly, pulled back into a handkerchief and her gorgeous teal blue eyes and wearing commoner’s clothes with a dingy apron around her waist. Just like always, she acted like it was just another ordinary day and as cheery as ever.

“Well! Good morning, my little rabbit.” She says with a smile as she sits and folds the laundry.

“..... Morning.” Martin gently replies, unable to keep his eyes off of her.

“Beautiful day, isn’t it?”

He swallows hard and shakes his head. He knows this is just a dream. “Why… Why does this keep happening?”

For a moment she stops folding, and looks up at him with such gleaming and loving eyes, tilting her head and looking at Martin with such concern.

“Why here?.... Why this moment?” He frustratedly mutters. “And not any other moment. Just…. This. One?”

The young woman sighs and lightly shrugs, shaking her head. “... You tell me, little rabbit.”

Martin tries to stand up from his chair, but like always, he is stuck in one place. Angry, he tries and tries but something is keeping him here in this one spot.

“You know that doesn’t help any.” She says sadly. “It never has…”

A deep sigh expels from his lungs again as he finally accepts his situation and his eyes peer back to the young woman, pain in his cold teal eyes. “..... Why didn’t you just stay home that day?” He asks with gritted teeth and folded hands. “I... I told you not to go.”

Tears start to well in her eyes as she looks at him silently, slowly standing to her feet. The house just evaporates, replaying it with a foggy gray atmosphere. “Why didn’t you come with me?” She whispers as her feet lift off the ground.

An eerie high pitch ringing overwhelming his ears as she keeps staring at him as she stops levitating about three feet from the ground. A terrifying crack emanates from her neck as it snaps quickly to the right.

Martin shutters stifling his tears, shutting his eyes tightly and turning his head away from the horror. But suddenly feels himself waking up from the warm licks from Beatrix’s tongue.

------

Fluttering his eyes open, he finds Beatrix in his lap, looking at him slightly concerned. “Little Piegon’s here, Master.” Her scratchy voice mutters in his head.

Martin rubs his tired eyes, and smoothing back his plum and gray hair. “Thank you, Bea.”

Waiting patiently, Martin stares into the fire, in deep thought, wondering why his dreams keep taking him to that dreadful day. If it wasn’t that dream, it was always about Florence and Rhemielia. The night that she and their child were whisked away. All the while he was trapped underneath a pile of fiery debris, and his skin burning his right arm.

---------- Later that day-----

As Rhemi steadily makes her way back to the shop, taking three times as long. Her lack of oxygen is taking its toll on her. “This….. fucking thing!….” She huffs to herself, gasping for air in between her thoughts as she takes a seat on a nearby barrel. “...*huff*  Fuck….*huff*.... This…*huff*...*huff*..... Corset!”

After getting adequate rest, she stands to her feet and clasps the small part of her waist feeling the corset digging into the tops of her hip bones.

“... Fuck this dress. Fuck that Oliver guy. Fuck this day...” She grumbles to herself under her breath, attempting to ignore all the wide eyed stares from the citizens she passes, hoping that no one would recognize her. “Fuckthisfuckthisfuckthisfuckthisfuckthisfuckthis….” She grumbles to herself, face beat red. “Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.”

Finally, the shop was within her sight as the sun was setting over the city. It took so long to get here! Rhemi thinks to herself, realizing that the lamplighters are hard at work lighting the dark streets. She left the palace around three o’clock, it's probably almost five or so now. If anything came out of this, it’s respect for the poor aristocrats in Charlès who actually wore this stuff on the regular bases! Why would anyone want to wear this stuff everyday? Did Mum really wear this crap? This is awful!

Opening the door to the shop never felt so good. God, I can’t wait to get inside! I am so happy to be home. She rejoiced in her head. Finally home! Three different voices muffled on the other side of the door. Rhemi knew right away who they all belonged to. Then, a horrible thought comes to mind as she turns the key in the lock after taking down the protection spell. ….Oh no….. Oh god!.... What the hell are they gonna say about this abomination??

Then again…. she was so tired at this point, she didn’t really care. The pain of the corset outweighed the pain of her friend's judgement. With as much air as she could fill in her restricted lungs, she bravely opens the door, all three pairs of eyes immediately falling on her.

Asra excitedly starts to greet his friend with a brilliant smile. “Hey! There she is! Welcome…” But then stops as he sees her, his eyes wide, his smile crumples into a shocked snicker.

The lively chattering that filled the room suddenly ceases, the only thing that can be heard is the creaking of the rusty hinges of the shop door as it shuts behind her.

Awkwardly, Rhemi just stands in the doorway as Asra, Faust, Muriel, and Julian just stare at her. None of them could help but stifle their laughs at the overly fluffy dress that she’s wearing.

Julian opens and closes his mouth attempting to formulate a sentence.“That's… errr….. It’s… Ummm-aahhhhh..” He stammers as he rubs his face, searching for a compliment. But of course, Asra stands next to him, covering his smile with his clasped hands and eyes wide, his thoughts very apparent.

Looking silently between them all, realizing that they were trying to be as kind about it as possible. “.... It’s fucking atrocious, isn’t it?” Rhemi finally verbally admits with a half straight face.

“It’s a goddamn travesty is what it is.” Asra spits out as soon as she completes her sentence. All four of them stand there silently all waiting how’d be the first to crack.

Suddenly, all of them sputter into hard laughter at the same time, breaking the terrible silence.

“My god!.... What the hell is this thing anyways??” Julian adds overdramatically gesturing to the hips. “Rhemi-dear, are you wearing ….crinoline??”

“... Crino-What??” Muriel mumbles as he squints his eyes.

“It’s a type of tortuous device placed under dresses that a deranged idiot designed to make your hips look inhumanly large.” She replies nonchalantly as attempts to reach back for the buttons, trying to contort herself to do so. But, try as she might, the poor apprentice couldn’t reach without completely tearing the sleeves. However, as stubborn as she is, she continues to try to reach in hope to get out of this over-tightened corset. All at the same time, Muriel, Asra, and Julian try to figure out the reason why she’s wearing the damn overly extravagant monstrosity.

“....There are… So… many bows….” Muriel mutters as tugs at one to study it, seemingly not liking the texture and his face hilariously cringing hard.

“Oh… I know!….. It’s bad, huh, Muri?”

“Reallllllly bad.”

“Did you lose a bet, Rem?” Asra teases, still laughing his ass off.

“Nooooooo,” A whine emanates from her mouth and her bottom lip pops out. Despite her cute pout, the corner of the lips still twist up into a grin making her slightly look like a duck. Slightly frustrated, but also entertained by her stupid situation, she sighs deeply and slouches as much as she could (given her restrictive outfit).

About having enough of trying, she huffs feeling rather defeated, but still smiles at her friends. “If you three are gonna keep dishing out colorful insults, you might as well help me out of it... I can’t freakin’ breathe!”

“... Yo-... You can’t get out by yourself, Rem??” Muriel snorts, forcefully hiding a very amused smile, trying to politely withhold a bellowing laugh at her situation. “Sorry… It’s not funny.” He mumbles as he presses his lips together even tighter.

“Do you really think I would have come home with this... thing if I could take it off myself?? It took… like…. Five people to get me in this abomination!”

“Are you.... Errr…. Decent underneath all of it?” Julian warily asks, his eye quickly glancing towards Muriel while he wasn’t looking.

“Don’t worry Ilya, you’ve seen more at the beach. I have a shift or… or slip…? -Whatever it’s called under the corset.” Say says lifting up the dreaded skirt showing the many layers of cloth on her body. “Pft! This bitch has so many layers, it puts our wedding cake to shame.”

“Oh god.” Muriel chuckles, his laughter making his broad shoulder shake, not doing a very good job to keep it in.

“Ohhh! Shut your face!” Rhemi playfully smacks her finacè’s stomach. “Now, please! Get me out of this damn thing! I feel like my boobs are suffocating me! Do you guys want me to die from titty asphyxiation?!”

“I’d argue that it wouldn't be a bad demise!” The doctor chuckles with his dubious smile of his.

“Shuddup Ilya!” Rhemi playfully elbows her friend, slightly knocking the wind out of him.

But he continues to laugh and laugh,as he holds his stomach nearly hyperventilating. “..We-.... We’ll write on your tombstone, ...‘Here lies Rhemi… Escaped death once from the plague to die from a common corset.’..”

Asra chortles, nearly crying now as Faust happily hisses, “Rhemi a tent!”

Out of the sea of laughter, Rhemi finds herself feeling more light headed, unable to contain her giggles either. “Hey! Less talkie, more unbutton-ie! I am literally dying over here! I am not joking when I said that I nearly passed out a few times over here. I left around three!”

The mountain man’s face suddenly becomes more serious as she says that, his laughter completely silenced “Wait…. Really?? Are… you ok?”

“I mean… I made it here, didn’t I?” She says with a shrug and a half grin.

A warm grumble rumbles from his lips as he mutters, “That’s not…”

“—Alright, alright, alright! Turn around, ya big baby.” Asra teases her, finally feeling pity for her. “Let’s get you out of this thing… Then we’ll have a bonfire. Haha!”

It took some time, but after some troubleshooting and a bit of magic, the three managed to peel the dress, the extra layers, and the crinoline off, leaving only her tight overbust, and a shift underneath. With surgical hands, Julian and Asra loosened the loops.

Finally, the corset was loosened, Rhemi took in a large breath of fresh air as if she had just made love. “Ahhhhhhhh~ Sooooo much better.”

“Better wait a few minutes before loosening it again.” Julian adds with a serious doctor face. “Don’t want you actually passing out.”

“Tha-that's a thing that can happen??” A very wary Muriels asks.

“Why, yes! If you let it out too quickly, you can pass out… Your blood pressure can drop and leave a person unconscious. Happened a few times to the actors at the theater.”

“That's….. Worrisome.” Muriel says as his eyes fall on his fiancée again, and pointing to the corset. “You never told me these things were hazardous.”

Unable to contain herself, Rhemi takes her lover’s large hand and holds it with both of hers with an empathetic expression. He’s so cute. “Aww! I never wear them this tight, honey! I like the way my corsets look and feel on my body. But this one is garbage!”

“Actually it’s not that bad.” Julian says peeling away the cloth and exposing the boning structure underneath. “.....It’s made out of whale bone! It’s expensive and very strong. It’s just not your size.”

“Oh! Speaking of expensive, that reminds me.” Julian takes out Rhemi’s coin purse and hands it back to her, only a few coins used. “I believe this belongs to you.”

It takes a few moments before she realizes that the doctor never used her money last night, she instantly pouts. “Ilya!! You’re drinks were supposed to be on me you dork!”

“Rhemi-dear, what happened at tea the other day was not your fault!”

You mean ‘what my father said’. She thinks to herself. “But— My father— it wasn’t right what he—”

“—You can’t control what that basta—.. dahhhhhhh errrrrr... I mean…. What he says.”

“... Nice save.” Asra whispers to his lover.

“I never got the chance to tell you how sorry I am. I… I kinda regret inviting him. Tea was just so awkward. It should have been just us, like Nadia planned it.”

Julian wraps his long arms around Rhemi’s shoulders for a friendly hug. “Please don’t apologize. I’ve honestly heard worse.”

“I’m still sorry it happened.”

“Hey, don't worry about it. It’s not worth it.” He then moves his arm and takes a seat in the velvet couch never to Asra, causing them to lazily lean on his shoulder. Slowly, Faust slithers over to Julian and he tries his best not to get chills. “So…. Ahhhh… Ya gonna tell us why you are wearing this….. Errr…. getup?”

“... My father apparently brought his own tailor on board with him… Names Oliver… real piece of freakin’ work!... My father wanted him to give the dress as a present to me. It’s apparently the latest fashion from Charlès… All the noble women wear something like it.”

“..... Sooooo… I assume that he didn’t take it too well that you two aren’t moving to Charlès.” Asra asks, handing her own clothes to her so she could get comfortable.

“Wait, he wanted you both to move??” Julian cluelessly interjects with his left eye wide.

An intense pressure suddenly overtakes Rhemi’s stomach as if gravity doubled on her intestines. How the hell is she supposed to explain what happened today? Not only did her father still want her to leave Vesuvia, but he wants her alone to move and marry someone of nobility in Charlès!

“....Actually, he was very understanding.” She flat out lies before she could stop herself.

Rhemi, what are you doing?? She screams internally. Why are you lying again?!

“... He was of course disappointed, but he was very respectful about it!” She continues as if her mouth had a mind of its own, her body posture scarily calm and believable. “... But it’s best not to mention it to him… He’s still very disappointed. Might spark a nerve with him. Ya know?”

Asra and Julian exchange a surprised look as they hear this. Julian rubs the back of his hand and sighs, “He doesn’t seem to be the understanding type--”

“—Well, he might surprise you.” Rhemi defensively interrupts. “He might be very posh and rigid on the outside…. But I know, deep down he just cares about me.”

Muriel stares down at her with his knowing emerald eyes completely unconvinced as she walks past him to head upstairs to get changed. She dared not look at him for too long. He had a way of making her break. But how could she explain this to him? To…. well, anyone?? Her father didn’t even acknowledge that she was getting married.

No. She just…. Has to fix this before anyone knows. She had to.

———————

After Rhemi got dressed, the four of them all had a nice dinner that Muriel and Asra whipped up. It was chicken souvlaki wrapped in a pita and other greens.

After that, the two couples went their separate ways for the night. Asra and Julian stayed at the shop, while Rhemi and Muriel went back home to the hut.

She feared that he might bring up what she said before dinner, about her father accepting thor decision not to leave. He always knows when she’s bullshitting. That's the problem when you get to know someone so well. It's a sixth sense, knowing something is wrong.

But to her surprise, he stayed quiet. She reads a book on the bed as he whittles next to Inanna by the fire. Eventually, her eye starts to become heavy and she shuts her books and gets into her nightgown. Muriel follows her lead. Soon, all three get comfortable in the bed, taking their normal positions. Rhemi on the left side of the bed, Muriel at the right, and Inanna at the foot. The apprentice always laid on his bare chest snuggling up and getting warm.

“I love you, Muriel.” She whispers.

Muriel yawns, “... I love you too, Rhemi…” Thinking he's drifting off to sleep, she starts to close her eyes as well and feel herself falling asleep. “.... Was he really okay with us not moving?” He finally whispers.

Rhemi's heart drops, but she just stays there silent and still, pretending to be asleep.

The hermit lets out a frustrated sigh, before placing a feather light kiss on her forehead. “.... Please just don’t forget I want you to talk to me.”

….. I know…. She thinks to herself. I want to tell you. But… I’m scared that might make things worse. I’m sorry, Muri. I don’t want to lie to you… But I have to fix this by myself before you know the truth.

Finally, all of them start to drift to sleep, Muriel finds himself in the realm of dreams, his father waiting for him yet again, waiting to show him what he was capable of in the realm of dreams.

All the while Rhemi stays put, in a dreamless state, but finds herself waking up almost every hour from a twinging pain in her temples. She could swear she was hearing distant voices.

———The next morning———

A very groggy Rhemi finally wakes up from the sun peering into the window. Sitting up, in the bed, she realized that Muriel and Inanna were already up and started the day. Glancing over to the table, some fresh flowers and herbs were waiting for her and a note that read, "Get some rest." She couldn’t help but smile despite feeling so terrible. The headaches are getting worse and worse lately. Even when she wakes up, it's like a hammer is knocking on the side of her temples. Luckily, it would dissipate as the day went on, but it was such a nuisance to start off the day like this. At least she didn’t have any dreams last night…

Slowly, she gets up and walks over to the washing washing bowl, trying to get more energized for the day. This was one of her installations when she moved into the hut. It was a little table (taller than most for her sweet Muriel) with a washing bowl, a pitcher and a mirror from the shop. It must have been her mother’s. It was the one thing that didn’t necessarily match the other decor from the shop. Pouring a liberal amount of freshwater, she starts washing her face. The cool water felt nice on her temples. As she glances back up to the mirror to make herself look more alive, she notices someone behind her.

Summoning her magic quickly into her hands, she conjures a defensive spell as she whips around silently. But as soon as she turns around, no one is there. The door is locked, and she can still hear Muriel cutting wood. “.... Must have been my imagination.”

Turning back to the mirror yet again to look at her reflection. But instead of her own face, she sees her eyes bloodshot red and short hair, her expression bleak and sad.

“.... Headache again?” A voice mumbles to her sadistically from the reflection.

“AHHHHH!!!” Shocked, Rhemi yelps a terrified scream, punching the mirror out of instinct. The vision and the pieces of glass shatter into pieces. Immediately, she regretted her reaction. She tucks her hand into her chest in pain, her knuckles bloody, and the mirror is broken. Looking at the shards on the ground, all she can see is her own reflection in the small fragments. What… what the fuck was that?

“RHEMI?!” Muriel cries out from behind the hut.

“.... Shit….” Quickly Rhemi jumps up and carefully takes the mirror off the wall and places it on the floor to make it look like it just fell down. The last thing she wanted was to think that she was losing her mind. Besides, people see things all the time, it doesn’t mean you're crazy… right??

“RHEMI !” Muriel shouts as he bursts in the hut, his large ax still in hand. As soon as he sees the blood, his eyes get even wider and swirling with fear. “Y-... You’re bleeding!”

“Ahhh!” She shouts, waving her hand to keep him away. “Don’t let Nana in here! T-There's glass everywhere!”

Examining the damage, Muriel shakes his head bewildered. “Rem... What happened?”

“... Ohhmygosh!! HaHa! So dumb!... Completely my fault! I was trying to straighten the stupid mirror and I apparently…. It fell off the nail! I… I didn’t catch it in time and it broke, and I screamed.”

He starts to slightly relax, but still looks pretty anxious. “.... You okay?”

“Yeah! I just cut myself a little on the glass is all! Just a little scratch, nothing I can’t fix~!”

Taking a single step inside he sets the ax down outside and reaches his hand for her. “.... Let me at least help—”

“It’s fine, Love!” She says as she conjures her magic to clean the pieces up and place them back into the mirror. “See? No problem!”

Begrudgingly he huffs, and starts to step out of the doorway before pausing. “.... Get dressed. I’ll make breakfast. You just …. sit…. alright?.... Don’t go near anything breakable…. Or sharp.” He grumpily instructs.

She snickers and nods her head. “Okay.”

As soon as the door shuts, her smile falls and she stares at her knuckle so she could heal it. Luckily, it wasn’t very deep, however it was a little long. She sits down at the table, taking a little piece of herb and summoning her magic, she starts mending her skin together. After it was all healed up a very small scar was left. It should dissipate after a while. But she just stares at it for a moment.

“Get it together, Rhemi.” She mumbles to herself as she stands to her feet to get dressed.

There's too much going on today for this bullshit. She had a plan for her father to get on board with her getting married.

--------

After a delicious breakfast, and a few sweet kisses, Muriel and Rhemi part for the day. Making her way to the shop, she concocks the perfect plan.

As expected, the shop was open and ready for business, usually Asra at the counter with a book or a potion, but today the white haired gender bastard was nowhere in sight, and the shop appeared empty.

“Hello??” She calls out. “Asra?? Faust?? You home?”

“Oh! Morning, Rhemi.” He greets from the back next to the stairs.

Realizing his location she strolls to where he was sitting on the ground and she takes off her bag. “.... Good morning. What the heck are you doing back there, ya weirdo?”

“Refusing to accept defeat.” He chuckles, wiping a little bit of sweat on his forehead. In front of him was a large chest oozing with magic and locked up tight. It read, ‘Fragile: Please handle with care’ in a familiar handwriting. In his right hand was the bundle of rusty old keys.

Curious, Rhemi tilts her head and folds her arms. “What is this?”

“Found this…” He grunts as he attempts to force another key into the lock. “... Chest… under the stairs the other day…. And…. I think it belonged to Athena…. *grunt* but no matter what I doooo…” With a heavy sigh, he gives up on that key, pulls it out of the lock and nearly collapses on his elbows. “... The damn thing won’t open. I have tried opening it with magic, I have tried every key in the shop--twice now--Hell! I even tried using a crowbar! But... nothing.”

“Huh….” She mutters. Rhemi kneels down next to her friend and the chest. Both of them stared at it for a moment. “... Well… Obviously it’s got a powerful spell on it. Athena didn’t want anyone in it.”

“Yeah… Even in death, that woman had out magic us.” The two of them giggle together on the floor. Asra draps his arms over his knees and he smiles, his mind wondering into nostalgically territory. “... I miss her.” He mumbles under his breath.

“.... I do too.” The apprentice says with a heavy heart, resting her head on his shoulder. “I…. I wish she could be here… See how much we both grew up…”

"Me too..."

The two stay there for a moment, taking it all in. The sound of the bedroom door closing at the top of the stairs brings them back to reality and Julian’s long legs descend the stairs.

“Oh! Morning, Rhemi-dear!” He says with a chipper tone.

She rolls her eyes at that name, but at this point, she just learned to accept it. “Well good morning to you too…. Someone slept in late…It’s nearly ten o’clock.” She teases.

“HA. Well…. Something kept me up all night..” The doctor glances at Asra with pink staining his cheeks and a cute smirk.

Asra smiles wide, proudly he glances back over to his friend, cheekily placing his finger to his chest. “Tee-hee…. I’m ‘something’.”

Jokingly disgusted, she pushes Asra making him nearly fall over. “EWWW! Grosssssss! You two are terrible!” She laughs.

“Oh… like you and Muriel aren’t disgusting too??”

“I am not responding to that!” She loudly announces as she walks up the stairs, her face turning slightly pink herself. “I’m making some tea, don’t leave just yet Ilya!”

“Ohhhh, well ahhh.. alrighty then! If I… ahh….. If I must.” Julian happily replies as he helps Asra back to his feet. Promptly the white-haired magician presses his lips on his collar bone.

While the teapot starts to heat up, Rhemi realizes that she really didn’t have time to go to the palace or have someone deliver a message for her father. Staring at the spigot and it gives her an idea and is a good reason to flex her magical muscles. Grabbing a large bowl, she fills it with water and closes her eyes. Using all her concentration, she reaches out, searching for her father’s magic. Finally, she feels that strange metallic aura and she opens she can see her reflection being replaced with her father’s.

“Père!” She calls out.

Confused, Martin looks away towards what she could only assume was the door. “..... Miela?” He mutters.

“Good morning, Père~” She sweetly giggles. Something about surprising another magician always made her a little giddy.

Her father turns his head once again, his eyes scanning the room. “I… I hear you Pigeon, but…. Where are you??”

“Down here!” She instructs. “In the water!”

Turning desperately left and right, he shakes his head. “The… water?” Finally he locates her and he stares in astonishment. “Ahhhhh…?”

Beatrix’s hissing and Bartholomew’s voice could be heard in the background. “.... Monsieur, vous allez bien?”

“Oh… yes. Um…. Why don’t you be a good lad and step outside, Bartholmew.”

“....Ahhh…. Oui, Monsieur.” His butler replies soundly utterly confused. "I will leave you alone with your...ah.... tea... then."

Calmly, Martin looks into his tea cup. “... Rhemielia, my child. What are you doing in my tea?”

“Kinda neat isn’t it? Asra taught me this one a while back.”

With a straight face, he slowly blinks, seemingly unimpressed. “.... Hmmmm…. Very… Charming, I suppose… I won’t recommend it in Charlès though. This is how you’d get a bad reputation for being a witch.”

“Oh….” The excitement and glee once again stomped out. But… I kinda am a witch. Awkwardly, she clears her throat, brushing off his words. “Well, ah….anyways, I contacted you this way to ask you something.”

“Oh?”

“I have to do something today next to the palace. Are you busy this afternoon around three o’clock?”

“Hmm… No… I don’t believe I am.” He says while pondering hard and tapping the tea cup.

“Well, how about you meet me there. I think you’d really enjoy it.”

A genuine soft smile takes over the Archimagister’s lips and he takes a seat on a chair. “... I always enjoy being with you, my little pigeon.”

Rhemi grins happily when he says that. He had a habit of making her feel bad sometimes, but he also could make her feel glad that he’s in her life again. Her heart flutters with excitement. She quickly gives him the address, before she could make a little small talk, the tea kettle starts to whistle and the two say their goodbyes for now.

The day went on like it did every Monday. The shop was pretty busy in the late morning and the afternoon. Mostly it was regulars getting their positions, and other things they needed before the rest of the week went on. But for Rhemi the day just dragged on. Today was the last fitting of her wedding dress. Surely, he wouldn’t be so set on her going to Charlès if he saw her in it. The dress was beautiful a-line with a button-up bodice in the back, with illusion sleeves covered in beautiful lace and organza material.

After what felt like an eternity, the time came for her fitting. Before she leaves, she pops her head into the reading room where Asra was looking at his cards by himself. It’s odd, it felt like she could hear the King of Pentacles whispering to him.

As she went for the door, she ran her fingers over the chest feeling Athena’s magic somehow felt so comforting to her. She always had a strong aura. A strange clunk comes from behind her. She glances back to inspect what had made the noise, but the chiming of the clock deters her. Whatever it is, it can wait.

_______________________________

As she reaches the tailor’s shop, she notices her father making his way down the street. His nose was buried into the piece of paper with the address on. Again, no Beatrix. It’s old how empty his shoulders looked without her.

“Père!” Rhemi calls out, waving to him.

Ungluing his eyes from his paper as she calls his name, he grins and waves back.

“How are you today?” His daughter asks sweetly.

“Very good thank you.” He replies looking at his pocket watch. As soon as he picks up his head, he reads the sign, Seamless: Pierre’s Clothing. “Oh…. You do realize I have a tailor already, correct?”

She can't help but chuckle at his unamusement as she opens the door. “I know that. This one is mine... Well, actually it's Nadia's, I'm just borrowing him.”

Martin’s eyes narrow as he enters the shop. The windows are full of outlandish and extravagant dresses and suits, but in the Vesuvian style. The old magician just sneers in revolt. “Ohhh?... Pardon me, my sweet, but I am confused...”

“I’m about to try my wedding dress on.” Martin’s body stiffens like a board and he flutters his eyes in disbelief. Rhemi could feel her cheeks heating up and feeling pressure on her chest. “And….. I uh… I wanted you to be here for my final fitting… Get you more involved… I want you to be apart of my life and--”

“—Sorry." He interrupts placing both of his hands on his cane, sticking his nose up in revolt. "Please don't tell me you were serious when you said you are going to marry that seven foot tall brute—?”

“—Muriel, Père…” Rhemi quickly interjects in disbelief. She could feel her left eyelid twitch from the stress. She just couldn’t believe him. This shit again?? Right here?? RIGHT NOW? Calmly, she folds her hands together trying to keep her patients. “.... My fiance's name is Muriel. It means 'bright' in Rune…. And yes. I am marrying him. He’s kind and genuine and trustworthy and gentle and makes me feel safe and…. And I love him.... He's my soul mate.”

Martin’s icy glare somehow gets colder and she shakes his head and scoffs. “... Hmmmm… love... What good has it ever done...”

“... What do you mean by that?... You said you fell in love with Mum.”

His nostrils flare in frustration. “.... Rhemielia. My child. All I’m trying to say is that you barely know this man. How long have you met him? A year or so ago?”

“Well…. yes… but how long did you know Mum before you married her?”

As soon as he opens his mouth wider about to argue back, Pierre walks in with a cheerful smile. “Ah! Rhemi! So good to see you!! Are you ready to see your lovely gown?”

Martin pats Rhemi’s head and she cringes to herself yet again. “We’ll speak of this later—no need to make a scene, do we now?” He says leaning into her ear and whispering. “In the meantime, go ahead. Go on and play dress up like you used to when you were a child.”

Her eyelid twitches even more as she strains to keep a fake smile on her lips. “I not playing dress—”

“Rhemi!!!!” Suddenly Agrippa and Portia burst through the door with happy smiles, excited for the final fitting. As soon as they both notice Sir Martin, their smiles dwindle slightly, but they still keep their cheery demeanor for the occasion.

For once, Rhemi was happy to change the subject, pretending that her father didn’t say what he did. “Ippa! Pasha!”

“I am sooooo excited!!!”

“Me too! Pierre is ready and— Wait… Where’s Julian?”

“Oh! I’m sorry, Rem. He had an emergency at the clinic…” Portia says finally letting her smile fall.

“That kid from the orphanage….. What's his naaaammmme—?”

“Zachary?”

Agrippa snaps their fingers agreeing with their partner. “Yeah! He broke his arm today.”

“Holy crap!! Not Zack! Is he okay??”

“Oh yeah! He’s getting loads of attention and is making jokes as we speak! Those kids are resilient, he’ll be just fine!”

“As long as he stops climbing tall shit that is.”

“….Well that stinks that Julian can’t be here, but he can help that!... I’m happy you both could make it though!”

Suddenly, Sir Martin clears his throat to interrupt their conversation looking at his pocket watch and tapping it. “Excuse me ladies and….. Sir???”

Agrippa blankly stares at him with a small growing smile. “.... Which one do you think it is?”

Martin stares back trying not look so confused as he really was. But instead of answering, he just clears his throat once more, tucking his pocket watch back into his vest and looking the other way. “... Not all of us have all day to dawdle.”

Taking the hint, the four of them follow Pierre to the back and make their way to the back. Excited, Portia and Rhemi head to the back changing room. Pierre gives them the gown in order for the maid of honor to know how to help with the dress the day of the wedding (bustles and all).

It fits like a glove. Ecstatic and hopelessly excited, Rhemi nearly skips out of the back to show off her beloved dress.

Portia and Agrippa both hold back their tears as she twirls around happily. “Oh, little bean!!” Agrippa mutters sniffling hard.

Rhemi spins around, clapping her face and her eyes start to water up as well and she smiles stupidly. “Ohhhhhh, you two stop!!! You both said you wouldn’t cry!”

“I know, I know! But you are just so….. So—” Portia says, whipping a tear away.

“—Tch. Please…. don’t lie to her.” Martin grumbles his left hand pitching the bridge of his nose.

Portia and Agrippa stare at the Archmagister in utter shock. “Umm... Excuse me?” Portia asks with her brow furrowed. “What exactly do you mean?”

“Well, that dress is all wrong, of course.” He huffs irritatedly, uncrossing his legs and standing to his feet.

Rhemi’s heart starts to sink into her chest. “What’s…. what’s wrong with it?” She asks, looking down and lifting up some of the skirt with her hands, unable to see the defects.

“That dress makes you look like a dirty commoner, Pigeon…. It looks more like a used napkin than a gown, don't you think? And what a dreadful color.”

“But… But I…. I am a commoner. A-and… I don’t like whi-…..” The words die in her throat as her attention diverts to the back of the room.

Somehow a person who came out of nowhere is standing directly behind her father in the back—But it isn’t a customer…. Her sick crimson eyes staring at her with a desperate looking expression. Why is she here?? Am… Am I going insane? As soon as Rhemi closes her eyes again, she vanishes, but it still frightens her.

“...Wh-white..” She finally finishes muttering, still staring in the back where the figure once stood.

It was…. Herself. The ghost of her former self that keeps popping up in her dreams. The same person in her reflection the other day. Her sick bloodshot eyes, yellow tainted skin and the stench of cremated ashes. Clearly, no one else can see her, or smell the terrible scent of death.

Quickly, she’s snapped back to reality as soon as her fathers speaks again and she looks back down at her gown. “....Please…” He scoffs, pitching the bridge of his nose. “...It looks like a rag—and for gods’ sake—Why is it blush?? Virgins are supposed to wear white—“

“——Okaaaaaay! Rhemi let's get you out of your beautiful dress so the poor tailor can finish the hem, okay?” Portia quickly and skillfully interrupts, smacking her hands together with a large fake grin. She nearly pushes Rhemi to the back room to change out of it.

Portia grumbles under head breath, helping her get back into the changing room. “What the fuck is that guy’s—” Words fail her as soon as she notices her friend’s tears in her eyes and the sorrow filled look in her face. “Oh… no, Rem!” Hastily, she hands her a tissue before her makeup runs.

“It just…. So much is happening….. And…. He- ...He thinks it ….lo- looks bad….” Rhemi sniffles, trying to keep the tears from falling, her nose and lips starting to crinkle back. “Is-is it really that bad??”

Portia is quick to embrace her upset friend and hug her tightly. “No, no, no…. He’s wrong, Rem. You look gorgeous! He doesn’t know the hell he’s talking about! I mean, the guy wears an ugly ass cape for god sakes! If anything he’s a walking fashion nightmare! All he’s missing is the stupid puffy pants and a fourteen foot stick up is ass!” Slowly, she pulls away and wipes the tears from her friend's eyes comfortingly. “Please don’t cry, Rhemi. You really do look amazing. Agrippa, Pierre, Nadia, and I would have told you if it didn’t!... Please, don’t let this jerk make you think otherwise.”

“I don’t think he was trying to be a jerk… he was just telling me how he felt… I mean… I asked him what he thought after all…. and….. h-his opinion is v-valid.”

Portia flutters her eyes and shakes her head baffled. Rhemi is usually a pretty good judge of character, yet anytime anyone says anything bad about the Archmagister, she denies it, or makes excuses. “Rhemi….. Why do you keep defending this guy?! All he’s done is been rude and disregards everyone’s feelings.”

Rhemi stifles and quickly wipes her nose with a handkerchief, refusing to look Portia in the eye. “.... H-... He’s my father.”

“Yeah! One that you just mee—” Portia suddenly stops herself, pressing her lips tightly together and slightly shakes her head. Perhaps now isn’t the time. Rhemi isn’t seeing this man for what he is. Thoughtfully she starts to speak again. “...Look… all I’m saying is that no matter who this person is to you, no one should make you cry and make you feel like shit in your wedding dress.”

Rhemi fiddles with her fingers, not very convinced. “B… But what if he’s right?”

The Devorak sister takes a large breath, pushing down the urge to go back and knock the wind out of that plum haired asshole. But as calmly as she could she takes both of her friend’s hands and asks, “Rem. Sweetie. Do you love this dress?”

Sheepishly her friend replies, “... Y-... yes….”

“Does it make you feel all happy and warm inside when you put it on?”

“Uh- huh….”

“Do you feel amazing when you’re in it??”

“Y-... yeah…I do....”

“Then forget what he said! It makes you feel amazing… You cried your beautiful eyes out when you first got into it because you said you felt so amazing. You loved it! You still love it! This is your dress. Please don’t let that man take that away from you.”

Silence takes over the room as Rhemi ponders her friend’s words for a moment and she sniffles. The most concerning thing was seeing her sick past self staring at her from across the room. She’s never seen her outside of the dream realm till now… Perhaps it was her that Rhemi heard the other day in the palace and who she saw in the mirror this morning. Who else could it be??

Portia sighs and loops her arm through Rhemi’s. “Come on. Let’s get ya out so Pierre can finish up, ok?” Rhemi follows her, but doesn’t pick up her eyes, still totally lost in thoughts. In a last attempt, Portia leans her head on her shoulder. “... You really look amazing, Rem.”

Silently Rhemi nods with a fake half grin, finally picking up her gaze to meet her friend. “Thanks, Portia… I’m really glad you are here.” She says placing her head on top of her’s.

“...Haha.. You’re lucky my brother wasn’t here—”

“—Oh gods yeah! He probably would have decked him in the face.”

“Hell! You’re lucky I didn’t!”

“Thank you, Pasha.” Rhemi mutters as stops in her tracks so she could embrace her friend.

“What are maids of honor for?” Portia whispers back, kindly embracing her back.

“Please don’t tell Muri about this….”

“.... I… I promise.”

Eventually, the two get the dress off without disturbing any of the pins on the bottom. The apprentice makes sure her eyes aren’t red in the dressing room before she walks out to meet her father again. The tension in the room was so tangible, so intoxicating.

Portia and Agrippa watched from the tailor door as Rhemi and her father walked towards the palace.

The silence was absolutely dreadful on the way to the palace. Luckily, it was within a short distance and this night would be over with. Rhemi never felt so conflicted before. Everything was so overwhelming lately. All she wanted was for her father to be happy for her. But everything she did seemed to blow up in her face.

As they reach the palace, her father finally realizes that she wasn’t walking towards the shop. “Well…. This is you.” She announces, rather happy to be done with him for the day.

“Oh…” He says a bit bewildered. “.... But I thought I was walking you home.”

“No no no. The palace is right around the corner from Pierre’s. It doesn’t make any sense going all the way across town.”

“Please. I don’t mind.”

“No, Père. It’s fine. I’ll be fine. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay??” Turning away from him never felt better. She hated to admit it, but he was just exhausting to be around. And after today, she had just enough of it all. “Good night.” She says just turning her so he could hear her.

With a knowing sigh, he places his cane hard into the cobblestone with a clank. “...Is it what I said about the dress.. Isn’t it?” She stops in her tracks but doesn’t look behind her… Maybe he’s going to apologize? “... Rhemielia, dear. Believe me when I say that you are making a huge mistake.” Her fists clenched so hard it almost hurts, her hopes crushed once again. Nope. Of course he wasn’t going to apologize. “... I am telling you that there are better men in Charlès that would put you into the finest of wedding gow—”

“—Have a nice night, Père…” Rhemi mutters trying to hold back the tears. “I’ll... I’ll see you later.”

As Rhemi makes her way down the street and disappears into the crowd. Martin can’t help but remember that night when he lost her. All he could do was just sit there and watch as she was swept away by that dreadful witch. Just like his other dream with the young woman whose neck was snapped. He felt so powerless of movement in these moments.

As he stood there, for one of the first times in years, Martin felt a pull on his chest. A feeling like he might have done something wrong tonight. He hadn’t felt like this since… Well… Since Rhemi’s birthday nearly fifteen years ago now.

He never meant to hurt her. She just… needed to learn a lesson…

“She’ll be fine.” He mutters to himself, shaking off this feeling of regret. “... One day she’ll thank me.”

On the way home, Rhemi made sure she got rid of all her tears before she came back home with Muriel for the night. It's a good thing people usually leave you alone when you're crying. If Muriel notices, she’ll just say that they were good tears from the fitting. All happy tears. Nothing bad happened. It’s all good!… But he knows they’re not.

————Rowdy Raven————

SKKKKIIIIIRRRRT!!!!

“—THAT BASTARD SAID WHAT ABOUT HER DRESS??” Julian shouts standing up from the table in dismay.

The tavern is busy like it usually is. Agrippa, Portia, Julian, and Asra decided to have a drink after today. It was only Monday, but it felt like everyday was an eternity since Sir Martin came into port. Portia had just finished telling her brother and his partner about what had happened at the tailors, and of course they were enraged.

Asra just yanks him back down to his chair. “Shhhh!! Ilya! Would you please calm down! Believe me, I’m just as pissed as you are!”

“If I only had my cricket bat….” Agrippa says, fantasizing while staring at the wall, sipping on their ale. “Fucking asshole…” They say as Portia holds their hand with a sweet reassuring smile.

“Did he really make her cry??” Asra asks soberly.

Portia nods sadly. “It was absolutely heartbreaking. I’ve never seen her look so frustrated and hurt before! But don’t tell Muriel! I promised her I wouldn’t.”

“Why did you tell us then?”

“She only said, Muriel.” She shrugs. “...It’ll just make the poor guy more stressed out anyways. He’s under a lot of pressure as well. This is his wedding too.”

Asra's stomach tied in knots at the thought of his best friend crying. “What the hell is this guy’s problem???”

“You should have heard what he said before she tried on the dress.” Agrippa mumbles before taking a large swing of their ale again.

“What did he say??” Julian and Asra ask at the same time, leaning closer into the table.

“It was something along the lines that he ‘couldn’t believe that she was serious about marrying that ‘seven foot tall brute’... I heard them talking before we opened the door.”

Asra's nose crinkles in and his top half of his lip curls into a snarl. “And what did she say??”

“Oh! She was quick to defend him, and she almost looked angry. But at the same time…. afraid? I dunno—but it's like her father doesn’t realize that Rhemi is her own person now…. She’s not that child that was taken from him years ago.”

“.... Do you think he still sees her as a little kid?”

Portia shrugs, staring at a stain on the wooden table. “.... Maybe?... I feel like he sees her more of something that was his property… Not really another person with feelings.”

Julian slams his fists on the table, “THAT’S. IT!” making everything rattle and clank, nearly spilling a few drinks. He snaches his goblet, jumping to a stand and chugging down the last of his Salty bitters, then throws his glass down to the ground, smashing it into a hundred pieces. “—IMMA KILL ‘EM!”

“Ilya! Sit your drunk ass down and shut up!! You’re not killing anyone!” Portia scolds. “WE four, collectively…. however might just—”

“Pasha!” Asra laughs, tugging his drunken partner back down to his chair again. “That’s a bit extreme don’t you think?? How about we just talk to Rhemi about it.”

“That man is completely toxic.” Julian mumbles, taking Asra’s drink from his hands. “... *Hiccup*....Have you…. Have you noticed that Rhemi isn’t as bright as she normally is?” Julian mutters, sipping the last bit of Asra’s salty bitters since he threw down his own cup.

“.... I have…. and something about all of this bothers me.” Asra says leaning into the table with his arms folded. “....I feel like her father is killing her spirit…. I wonder if he’s always been like this….. And if that's true… it makes me wonder…” he pauses for a movement then shakes his head. “N… Nevermind.”

“What?” Agrippa, Portia, and Julian ask in unison.

“.... *Sigh*.... I might be going too far if I say this.”

“Well now you have to tell us.” Agrippa says with a straight face about to knock back the last bit of ale.

“.... I don’t know…… Sometimes I wonder if she and her mother were really….. ‘Kidnapped’.”

The table suddenly became so eerily quiet, as if they all were thinking the same thing.

✨To be continued…

Sorry for the long wait my trash pandas. But I really needed this break from writing. And I'm really glad I took it. I am so happy with myself right now. I know its still not by best work, but I at least don't hate it. This chapter was supposed a bit longer, but I decided not to shoot myself in the foot this time and just split it.

Thank you for the babies who have been support and encouraging to me when I was at a really low point. I was really sad that last chapter didn't do as well as I was hoped. But I realized that a lot of people are still reading and I need to be humble and be grateful for what I have. Anyways--chapter 7, The King of Pentacles~ should be up soonish. That may be another shorter chapter, but it gonna be a big angsty one. *wink wink*. As always, thanks for reading my hot garbage! <3

#the arcana fandom #the arcana #the arcana mc #the visitor~ #madllamamomma #my hot trash #fanfic #the arcana fanfic #muriel #Muriel the ar #muriel x mc #Muriel x Rhemi #chapter 6 #part 6 #for my hungry trash pandas #enjoy my hot trash #my hot garabage #Rhemi the apprentice #rhemi #Muriel the arcana #asra x julian #sir martin #Sir Alarie #the magician and his daughter #plum-haired bastard #thanks for reading #I love you trash pandas

[madllamamomma]

The Visitor~ Part 7

Chapter 7~

Tar & Ashes~

[WARNING: Some scenes despite trauma, violence and abuse, that might be triggered by some views. Reader’s discretion is advised. If you have not read, The Nightmare~ ,and would like to read it, please visit my master list on the front page of my blog or click the link. Enjoy =3 !! ]

Never has a dinner been so silent in the hut since Rhemi moved in with Muriel. She barely ate anything and her eyes were still red and slightly puffy. Today had gone disastrously with the fitting. Thinking she’d make her father sheed tears of joy, instead she shed tears of her own, sad heart wrenching tears. But despite her heart break, she continued to fake a smile and pretend that everything was fine. Muriel was concerned to say the least when she came home with her eyes looking like they did. But said she smiled and lied through her teeth, saying she just cried during the appointment because it was emotional for everyone. Strange enough she’d changed the subject when he asked her if Martin liked her dress.

Of course Muriel never believed her. She was his best friend, he didn’t think he knew anyone better than her. Even Inanna wasn’t convinced by the apprentice's lies, the wolf just stared and slightly whined by the fireplace. If only she could speak for herself.

Lately Muriel felt like a wall was starting to form between him and Rhemi. Normally she was so open and honest, but lately, she felt so wadded up and tightly closed like a piece of scrap metal. With all these lies recently, he was starting to feel like he could never believe her anymore. He never thought he’d feel so alone despite someone being around all the time and that claimed they loved you. He desperately wanted to speak his mind, but was afraid that might just make matters worse. What if that just pushes her away more?

Rhemi could feel the hermit’s glaring eyes as her back was turned, she knew he wanted to say something… And she wanted to tell him the truth about everything today, but something kept holding it back. All she wanted was for things to run smoothly for the wedding. But ever since her father came to Vesuvia, it seems like there has been nothing but friction. So far, everyone said that her father was a bad person, that he was a jerk, nothing really positive other than his own butler, she didn’t believe that at all. But after what happened this afternoon, she felt like no one would understand why she still would want to get to know him. Especially Muriel. “Why would you want to be around someone like that??” He’d say. He just doesn’t understand… Her father wasn’t all bad.

With the two of them unsure what to do, they find themselves crippled by the many intrusive thoughts and horrible feelings. Eventually, they inevitably decide to say nothing. Just stay silent while they each do their own thing in different corners of the hut.

After a long while of silence and avoiding one another, they climbed into bed like they always did. But instead of snuggling up tight like normal, they laid on their sides and faced opposite directions leaving a wide gap in between. Inanna snorts out a heartfelt huff as clambers at the end of the bed as she watches her favorite two people silently suffer alone together.

“Good night… “ Rhemi quietly mumbled.

“... Night…” Muriel replied, almost too irritated to get to rest his head.

Eventually, the three started to fall into a deep sleep, all of them teleporting to very different places for their dreams.

_______________

It’s dark–Almost pitch black, but somehow you could see the foggy clouds that roll in and out ominously.

Not a soul for miles. Just an empty vast wasteland with only the feeling of forboarding to comfort Rhemi. She hated feeling alone. Even though she couldn't remember exactly why. She was always around someone, either it be Asra, a customer, Muriel or her other friends. She couldn't even remember the last time she really felt alone… Until recently that is…

As she glances down to her hands, she notices that her teeth are falling out of her mouth. Her palms are full of white bloody pebble-like things. As she holds them in her hands, observing them, she can hear them clanking around together like small stones. She hated when this happened in her dreams… It seems to happen a lot lately.

“... Why do I feel so alone lately?” She softly mutters to herself.

“.... Since when did we start to believe our own lies, Rhemi?” Her own weak voice whispers to her in her ear and she peers all around to see if her past self was there. But still not a person in sight. As she looks back down to her hands, the teeth have all but disappeared.

--------------------

As Muriel looks around him, he notices he’s in his own hut in the woods. “Am… Am I still awake?” He looks down to his hands, they are the same as they always are. Nothing seems to be out of place, but at the same time was wrong. Finally, he notices that the hut looks like it did before Rhemi came into his life, bleak and empty, only having the essentials.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!!

The door? Who the hell would that be? Muriel wondered. He stood next to the door without opening it, not in the mood to see who it was. “Go away.” He grumbles.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!!

“Go away!” He repeats a bit more grumpily.

The door suddenly swings wide open. Annoyed and a little shocked, Muriel whips himself around ready to throw the intruder out, but he finds himself blinded by the bright light. Even the intruder at the doorstep’s features are obscuring. As his eyes finally adjust, he can see a rather tall, dark haired man standing with his hands on his hips.

“Is that anyway to speak to your Da?” Artturi says cheerily.

Speechless, Muriel stands there mouth gaped open, the last time he saw him was just a memory. He saw him in his bear form, but being in the presence of his physical self was… overwhelming.

Before Muriel could even say a single word, his father grabs his wrist and pulls him out the door. “Well… Come on! She isn’t gonna wait all night, ya know!”

“ –Wh..Who–?” Muriel finally mutters, nearly blinded by the light. Feeling the cold dirt and the tickling of grass against his calves, his eyes finally adjust to brightness.

As he looks around, he notices that he’s back in the south. It wasn’t the field where he and Rhemi were always in, but they were in a different valley, filled with trees and crops and other vegetation. Standing to his left was his father. He couldn’t help but think how he was taller in his memory, but still slightly taller than himself. But he still couldn’t stop staring, he looked so much like himself. He wore a green embroidered parka along with a couple of pelts across his shoulders, his black hair was decorated with small braids and dreadlocks and flowed to his mid back and had a short beard.

Muriel eyes flutter as he stares at his father. “... Dad?”

His father’s smile was so captivating and genuine, yet soft and warm. His large arm pats his son’s left shoulder. “... She wanted to speak to you.” But there wasn’t anyone there except those two, Muriel shrugs his shoulders confused. His father snorts and nods his head towards a large patch of flowers and herbs and his eyes follow then notices a woman sitting on her knees.

Muriel’s eyes widened in astonishment. The woman had shorter hair than he remembered, but she wore that long parka with a green dress underneath. This… This just can not be… he hadn’t seen her since the south. But there she was, just picking flowers as if it was any other day. Silent, he looks to his father, unable to move his feet. But Artturi just lets out a warm chuckle and pushes his son forwards. “Well go on, boy! Uill, siuthadaibh. Gluais do asal!”

The hermit stumbles forwards, he glances back at his father for reassurance and his father waves his hand to encourage him. With a large inhale, he musters up the courage and he starts to walk towards her.

Standing next to her, expecting her to look up at him, or talk to him, or something. But she just continues to graze through the plants and he stands there awkwardly for a moment.

“You’re late, little cub.” She finally utters.

Muriel opens and closes his mouth a few times trying to find the right words, but all he manages is a few stutters and then, “I’m… sorry..”

Finally Glenna's eyes look up at her work and she gives him a small grin. “Well… these herbs aren't going to be harvested all on their own are they?” She says scooting over then patting the ground asking him to sit down next to her.

He hesitates for a moment, but then he obediently sits down on his knees and starts to pick the same flowers and herbs. The two sit like this in silence, quietly enjoying each other’s company.

After a while, his eyes finally fell back to his mother. She was quite beautiful, her hair was slightly lighter, almost an ashy brown, her eyes darker green like Una’s, his cousin in the south. It’s a shame, she's not much younger than he is now. They died so young…

“.... Mum?”

Glenna stops and stares straight into his eyes just as you’d think a mother would look at her child. He could only imagine that Khamgalai looked a lot like her in her younger years.

“... Why did you want to talk to me?”

“Your father tells me that you’ve been troubled lately…” She says before moving her eyes back to her work. “... That lil’ phoenix of yours giving you trouble?”

“Hmpf..” Pink stains his cheeks as he averts his eyes, and unsure how to talk about this to a person he barely knew. “... I… I dunno.”

Knowingly, she just shakes her head as she continues to pick at the vegetation. “Hmm… They never say how hard love really is in the old songs… Do they?.... How hard it can be to love someone.”

Muriel sheepishly scratches the scruff of his face, slightly relaxing. “No… They don’t….” He answers. Even though he barely even knew her, he felt like somehow he could talk to her. She was a lot like Una and Khamgali, but more with more of a quiet demeanor.

“Do you love the little bird?” She asks after a brief pause.

Her son glanced over to the valley in front of them, without another thought words flew out of his mouth. “With all my heart….” He takes in a large sad breath before he continues. “... But she… she’s keeping something from me…”

His mother nods, not in agreement, but in an understanding way. “You don’t like this man? This, Remington Martin, person?... The girl’s father?”

“... No. I don’t.” His nose wrinkles up in a grimace thinking about that man. With an aggressive tug, Muriel uproots an entire plan. A bit embarrassed, he sits there for a moment, then clears his throat. “I… I don’t trust him…. I think he hurts her–Not physically… I think… but in other ways… and she lets him. She never lets people walk all over her like him…”

“... She’s a good one. A fiery one, but a good one… She means well… But now you’re having doubts about getting married?”

The hermit stays silent for a second, it’s as if she read his mind. “I…. I don’t… I do love her.. But I… I feel like we're–” His words die in his throat not sure himself at what he’s saying. “.... She used to talk to me about everything… But lately... I feel like she’s a stranger…. Then I get to thinking… What do I really know about her?... What if we’re making a mistake?... What if… What if I’m better alone?”

Glenna stops as she listens to her son’s words. She lets out a heartfelt sigh then stands to her feet. The dirt magically evaporates from her knees and palms and reaches out her now clean hand to her son.

The hermit stares at her open hand confused, and she gently shakes it, insisting. “Come along...”

Quietly he takes his mother’s hand and she pulls him to his feet, despite her stature. Surprised, he peers down at her with an eyebrow raised, she’s a lot stronger than she looks. But then again, a lot of the Kokhuri were like that.

As he stands back to his feet, he realizes that they have been transported back to the forest, not too far from his hut. His father was leaning up against a large oak tree a few yards away as if he was waiting for something.

“Where–?” Muriel mumbles before his mother places her finger next to his lips with a smile. Her hand then moves towards the directions his father was looking at.

Suddenly two children appear before him; a boy and a girl just playing, screaming and chasing each other around just like any other child would do. The girl was the older one, about seven and she had wavy dark black hair styled in a tight low ponytail, she had almond shaped eyes with a greenish brown and a little red around the outside. The boy was about three or four, his hair was a dark brown, but a reddish cooper-like highlight showed through when the sunlight hit. His eyes were large and round like a doe and were a light blue-ish green that reminded Muriel of the ocean on a calm summer day. They both had a darker complexion, tall and stout in stature, taller than most children in Vesuvia…

Words seem to stick in his throat as he just stares at these children. Never had he seen them in his life, but somehow he felt like he knew them. Eyes still glued, he leans his head over to his mother and whispers, “...Who… who are they?”

Glenna and Arttrui exchange knowing smiles at each other and she stifles a laugh. “... This was the last leap in the future I had before I left your world… I was holding your father’s hand as I was slipping away… As I closed my eyes, I saw them…”

Soon a familiar ashy-black wolf appears and interrupts the kiddo’s playtime, but they don’t seem to mind her wet sloppy kisses and they just giggle and pet the sweet animal. “Inanna’s back!” The girl shouts out happily.

“Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!!” The younger one shouts out happily petting the large creature, pretending to bark and growl.

“Nana, we talk about this!” Muriel’s own grumpy thunderous voice says. “... No licking them in the face!” The hermit whips himself around to see himself, his hair a bit longer and starting to gray and bearded. His reflection walks right back at him as if he didn’t really exist.

As he walks right past him, he throws down the heavy looking bag that was on his shoulders and kneels down. The two children smile wide and shout in unison, “Papa!!” and sprint towards his open arms and nearly knock him down as they hug him tight.

“Papa we missed you!” The young girl says.

“Papa, don't leave again!” The toddler insists while tugging in his shirt attempt to clamber up to his shoulders. Neither the real Muriel, nor his spector couldn't help but smile. The boy was just too cute.

The older Muriel grabs the young boy and places him on his shoulders and the little girl holds his left hand as he stands back to his feet. “... Was only gone for three nights, cub…”

“I get ta come next time! Right, Papa bear??” The girl says, tugging his arm. “I’m the oldest!”

“No fair!!!” The boy whines digging his little feet into Muriel’s collar bone, making him squint a bit.

The older hermit grabs the boy's ankles and wiggles them away from his chest. “Oi! I’m not a horse, little cub!”

“–Alright! Alright! Give your Papa Bear some air to breathe, kids!” Another familiar voice says.

Muriel can feel himself holding his breath. Suddenly Rhemi appears, her hair pulled back into a braid, her belly swollen with another child. She was just as beautiful, as she always was, but had a different kind of warm glowing aura around her. She was just so happy. She looked tired, but happy.

His greyer self smiles sweetly as she reaches up to touch his cheek and he shrugs. “They're fine.”

She lets out that flirty giggle that he always loved before they both leaned in for a kiss and the two kids revolt in disgust and they whisper sweet little nothings. As the couple pulls away, he places his hand on her stomach rubbing it lovingly. She looks like she’d be due soon.

A soft sniffle comes from Muriel’s mother, making him finally look back towards her. Her eyes were filled with tears but a smile overwhelmed her lips. “... After I saw this… I knew that you were going to be alright… Even if it meant not being with us.” His mother whispers, wrapping her arm around his as a bittersweet tone filling her voice.

“... My little cub… Sometimes you will doubt yourself. Sometimes you will wonder what you are doing and if it’s the right thing… You and the bird will argue, and get upset at each other and not always see eye to eye… She will lie again. She will unintentionally hurt your feelings.” Somehow her words didn’t give him any comfort. They look so happy here. But then Glenna places her finger on her son's jawline to make him face her. “... But that's how people grow together. You both share tragedies, you both will have heartache. But you will also laugh together, cry together, grow together. Only the strongest crops survive the worst of storms.”

Muriel glances back at the premonition of his happy family and he nods his head, understanding exactly what his mother was telling him. “... Thank you, Mum.” He says with tears in his eyes.

A shadow creeps out from the forest in the shape of Martin and it looms over his beloved Rhemi behind her back, but she doesn’t seem to even notice the four of them start to walk down the path towards the hut. Seeing the Archmagister shadow lingering over them all fills his chest with a sense of dread, even though he knows he’s here to stay.

“... I’m afraid her father has also brought the past with him.” His mother continues pointing her head towards his shadow. “... The little phoenix is in pain, little cub… She just doesn't realize that yet… Be patient with her, but also keep being honest. Don’t give up on her… Eventually she will see him for what he is...” The shadow then morphs into a vial silhouette with claws, sharp teeth, and a fork-tongue; Suddenly it scurries away back into the darkness with a faint groan as if it had somewhere else to go.

As he looks back towards the premonition, he notices that his future family is gone. The vision had run its course. But something about being there just gave Muriel such a sense of comfort.

Feeling his mother taking him back to the meadow, he shyly pats her fingers and asks, “... Can… Can we stay here awhile?...” Even though his future self and family were gone, it was nice to have his parents standing beside him in his home. Glenna and Arturri exchange a proud smile and they stay there enjoying the breeze through the trees.

_________________

Soon the blank landscape encloses in on itself creating four walls. An eerie blueish light is cast on top of Rhemi like a spot light. As soon as Rhemi’s eyes adjust, she realizes that she’s now surrounded by mirrors, like a funhouse during the masquerade last year. But they don't show any of her own reflection.

But then out of the darkness she hears a voice. “So… my little Pigeon…” The voice asks.

A cold sharp shiver runs down Rhemi’s spine as she whips herself around trying to find the person it belongs to. “H-Hello??” She mutters, in the corner of her eyes she can see something moving in the darkness behind the mirrors.

Finally, she can see who it is, but only the many reflections of him in every other mirror.

“Your choice in friends is … interesting…to say the least.” Her father criticizes as he adjusts his glove on his right hand. “... You're better than these people, pigeon. Leave them here.”

“Père…” Sheepishly, the poor thing twiddles her finger and glances to the ground. “But…. I’m not…. they’re too good for me… so sometimes I wonder why they even like me… I’m nothing special.”

As soon as she looks back up, her father’s images are gone and it’s terrifyingly silent yet again.

“P-...Père?” She softly mutters scanning left and right for her father.

“...The only women who learn magic are vial witches, dear…”

“–EEEK!!!” She yelps, turning back around to see her father’s reflection in the mirror, his eyes becoming darker. “.... But I…”

Yet again, he slowly disappears in one mirror and appears in another, each time reappearing more angry, more wild eyed and frightening than the next.

“... Do you seriously want to be known as a witch and ruin the House of Alarie’s reputation?”

“W-What? –N-No.... I just…. magic makes me happy… And I’m good at it. It’s one of the only things I am actually good at. I feel like myself when I do it.”

His reflection snarls and sneers down at her. Why is his voice starting to sound so much rougher?? Have I seen this before? She thinks to herself.

“.. ‘Feel like yourself?!’ HA! That's exactly what you shouldn’t be showcasing! No one cares who you really are, dear…”

Try as she might, Rhemi fights to stop the tickle in her nose before she starts to uncontrollably cry as her father continues to gaze down at her with his judgmental glare.

“Look at yourself. Your clothes, where you live, whom you associate yourself with! Look at what you’ve become! You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth! Now you settle from scraps?? Why would you want to stay??”

“W—We live comfortably… I… I like my life here–”

“Those eyes of yours… I wish they were like your mother’s… Or mine for that matter… Just not those red eyes.”

“I can’t help what I look like! I didn’t choose them!”

“Gods, look at the rag you call a wedding gown! Pathetic.”

What? As she peers down she realizes that he wasn’t in her normal outfit that she usually wears in her dreams, but now she’s dressed in dirty rags in the same style of her gown. But now it is so despicably ugly. Despite her trying, she bursts into tears, feeling so small and helpless.

Behind her, out of sight, the other Rhemi reflects in the mirrors with a look of growing concern. “Rhemi… I warned you….” Her past self then realises a dark ooze starts to seep from Martin’s lips with a low growl. “Oh no…” She whispers to herself. “Rhemi!!!” She faintly calls out banging on the glass, attempting to get her attention, but appears that she was shut way.

The apprentice hands crumple the raggedy dress as her tears stain the fabrics even more, choking on her words. “I…. I didn’t want anything fancy.”

Suddenly, all but the other ghost of Rhemi’s mirrors reflect her father’s disapproving face as they all say in a loud disapproving unison, “.... Look what you are without me.”

One at a time they all step out of their mirrors still spitting and hacking up their vial from their mouths and surround her. A dozen of Sir Martins at least. “Look at what you’ve become.” They all say matching every movement and every word.

One by one, the ozzy reflections start to morph together, growing taller, more monstrous and intimidating. Soon, they finally form into a single giant Martin, with long sharp fingernails, disheveled grey and plum hair, razor sharp teeth and a fork serpent like tongue, the tar nearly consuming all of him.

All poor Rhemi could do was stand there frozen with fear as she clutched to her manky mess of a dress.

As the black filth oozed out of his ears and mouth, he snarled and shook his head. “You are nothing… just a disgrace.”

“–Rhemi!! He’s lying!” The dying phoenix says, banging as hard as she can on the glass, but try as she might, she’s still trapped in the reflection.

The archmagister slams his gigantic hands to the ground making everything shake as more of the dark tar-like ooze spews from his lips and splatters her. “Ha! Do you even know what you are doing with your life? Why, you’re throwing it away!”

“That’s not true.” The other Rhemi yells trying to break through the Mirrors. “STOP LISTENING TO HIM!”

“Don’t lie to yourself dear. We both know what you are when you’re by yourself. You are incapable of accomplishing anything. Always need a hand to hold. Always hiding behind someone else when things get too tough for you.” The more her father speaks, the higher the ooze starts to fill the room. The tar now at her ankles, if this continues to fill up like this, she’ll drown… The apprentice opens her mouth to scream but after inhaling as much as she could, she finds herself unable to let anything out, her voice muted.

“STOP IT!!” The ghost shouts, she looks at her hand and notices it turning back to ash yet again. She’s still losing her power, but much more rapidly than she thought. Now desperate, she finally comes up with an idea. “... Muriel!” She calls out.

“Blanket-boy! Where are you? Rhemi needs you!... NOOW!”

_________________________

“ –NOOW!” A voice echoes through the trees.

Muriel and his parents jump as they hear the dark phoenix's desperate call.

The once brightly lit sunny day, suddenly gives way to foggy and cold forests with dark creatures lurking in the shadows with beady red eyes and sharp yellow teeth.

As the voice continues to resonate all around, the hermit could recognize that voice from anywhere.  “... Rhemi?” …. She has to be in trouble again… He thinks to himself.

Muriel looks towards his parents with such a somber expression. He hates to leave them both, this was one of the best dreams he had in a long time. His mother holds his hand and squeezes it and she smiles up at him. “It’s alright, little cub.”

“She’ll need you.” His father says knowingly, patting his shoulder. Muriel can’t help but look at the two of them sadly.

“... Don’t worry, my cub. We will see you again…” Glenna says soothingly.

“Remember what I taught you, son.” Arturri reminds his child as he cups his right hand to his son’s cheek.

Finally, the hermit nods reluctantly. The mountain man then turns away, feeling like his body is even lighter as he changes into his bear form, as he looks towards where the voice was coming from, he focuses on her magic to locate her, and a doorway opens up.

Before jumping through it, he glanced back once more for one last look of his parents together in human form. The two embrace one another tightly as they watch their child leave them once again.

____________________

The monstrous version of Martin continues to hound poor Rhemi as she struggles to get any words out.

“Isn’t that why you were such a monster when your mother left?? Getting into fights, stealing from your Aunt, then lying about it all.”

Why is this happening all at once?? I am getting so overwhelmed! I can barely take it anymore. The apprentice so desperately wants to shout out.

Finally, she hears the soft banging of the glass behind her and notices her past self screaming for her. For once, she was happy to see her. Rhemi would take anyone before whatever this… thing was.

“We both know what you really are, child.” Martin scratches with an inhuman growl. “You are a weak little pigeon…”

Even Rhemi’s tears start to turn a to balck tar as they roll down her face. Somehow, the sight of them lights a deep fury from within her chest like a hidden harthe. I've had enough of this… Opening her mouth, she shoves her finger down her throat making herself gag uncontrollably as she doubles over retching and dry heaving. At last, she manages to cough out the tar from her throat and she can feel her voice returning to her.

As soon as she catches her breath, she wipes the grime away from her mouth staring straight up to her father and screams out on the top of her lungs, “LEAVE ME ALONE!!”

TINK, TINK, TINK, CRACK!!!

All around, the glass mirrors shatter into millions of reflective pieces. The sudden explosions force the black tar and shadows to retreat back to their dark corners. At least for now.

Finally, freedom at last for the dying phoenix, she slowly shimmies herself out of the long frame using her magic to form her crumbling hand back to a usable state.

Now after using that burst of energy, Rhemi starts to feel weak and unstable and she falls to her hands and knees on the dark and tar-stained floor. With all her might, she tried to stand back up to her feet, but her movements seemed to have slowed down as if she were underwater but so much denser and heavier. Feeling helpless, she stares at the thousands of beady eyes in the dark corners, watching them sluggishly collecting their strength back to attack again. As she glances down, she sees a sight that she hadn’t seen in a long time–Ezavior’s poor little corpse–Her ferret familiar as a child. Someone killed him long ago… And she was powerless to stop it. Carefully, she pushes the poor little creature aside and tries to stand back to her feet.

Voices then start to chatter and talk amongst themselves, instead of just her father’s voice, it was many familiar voices all around. She could even pick of Ezavior’s little scratchy voice joining in with the others as she starts to cry once again. As if a long and drawn own crescendo, the choir of voices start to become louder and louder, sounding angrier and full of pain, and more intolerable by the second. The shadows and tar start to creep closer and closer, sluggishly surrounding her and trying to enclose all around.

But suddenly from above, a portal rips open and out jumps a large bear that smelled of Myr and wet grass. It was Muriel!! She couldn’t help but feel relieved to see him.

As the bear quickly scans his surroundings, he notices the eerie place looked all too familiar. Feeling something wet and sticky, he picks up his front paw to see the black tar trying to inch its way up his leg. Disgusted and shocked, he shook it off of him with growly gasp. Through the shadows, she can see a few silhouettes, two of which he did not recognize, one woman with very long dirty blonde hair, and a taller woman with dreadlocks holding hands. The others to his dismay he did recognize, Asra, Julian, Portia, Aggripa, Nadia, even himself. Why are they all her?? He ponders to himself. But then he seemed to have forgotten all as he notices a gigantic claw-like hand coming out of the darkness. With a menacing low and rumbling growl, the other clawed hand slams into the ground making everything quake. Slowly, a face starts to creep out from hiding. Muriel stares hard at the creature to see their features, wanting to know who this monstrous creature was that was plaguing his poor Rhemi. A rush of hot wind comes from behind and his eyes divert to the heat.

“–You need to get her out of here!” The other Rhemi shouts at Muriel as she sprints in front of the shadows. Consumed by a large yet weak flame, her limbs and yellowed skin give way to wings, feathers and talons, sprouting into a Phoenix.

Still dazed, the hermit looks down one last time to see a dead ferret corpse with his neck broken and tar oozing out of its eye sockets. Then he remembered being here once before back in the south. “... Where are we!? What is this place??” Muriel grunts, half surprised at his ability to still speak outside his dream.

With a thin layer of ash lingering behind her, he then notices the other Rhemi looking even more tired and closer to death than she already was. Her wings full of holes and feathers missing, it is surprising she could even flutter. Yet still, she used her large wings and smoldering fire to keep the darkness back behind the broken mirrors where it can stay hidden. “—We’re in the darkest part of the mind—a part that I’ve kept sealed away until she was ready!”

“..... W-wait–Ready for what?!” He stubbornly presses on. “Tell me what are we–”

“—Listen you oversize dream squirrel!!—'' Searing heat radiates off the smoldering bird as she peers over her shoulder with beams at him with her red eye, clearly annoyed. “... There’s no time to explain any more—She can’t handle this right now! All of these things here are now trying to surface at the same time! If these memories break free all at once, they are going to overwhelm her!!”

Confused, Muriel opens his mouth to argue back, but stops as soon as he feels Rhemi’s fingers clasping tightly to his fur on his back. “Muriel… I can’t do this… please….” She begs desperately. As he glances back, he can see the black stains on her body and even her jaw. She has had enough for now.

The shadows, tar and voice start to become more aggressive, even swiping at the past Rhemi. “You both need to go before it’s too late!”

“What about you??”

“... I can keep them back for now, but you have to go. RIGHT. NOW, Blanket-boy!”

Reluctantly, Muriel turns around to the small opening he made from the top, and it’s starting to shrink. As he gallops towards the light, stepping on an invisible stepping stone up towards the doorway, he can feel his magic forcing the window open wider so he could fit safely through. Reaching the top, he jumps with all his might, and just barely making it through, he focuses all of his intent on going back to their bodies in the real world. With swirls of magic, odd noises and dark and bright light, the two find themself diving toward their bodies from the ceiling as they leap towards the ground.

______________________________

The two inhale sharply, sitting straight up as soon as they feel conscious. As they sit there in the dark, they can feel Inanna warmth. She’s snuggled up in between the two of them and softly whining and pawing at their arms. The sweet wolf must have known something was wrong, she did always have a good sense when something was bothering Muriel.

“.... It’s ok, Nana.” Muriel reassures, petting her fluffy head and she starts to rest her head on his leg.

With a flick of her wrist, the apprentice wakes up the fire with a slight roar, illuminating the whole hut up.

As Muriel looks towards Rhemi, he notices the trails of tears streaming down her face and the sweat on her brow. Slowly wiping away the tears, she finds them just as shocking as he does, she stares at them in her hand.

Muriel didn’t know how to feel now. Was he angry? Was he annoyed? Was he upset? Was he afraid for her?... Maybe a bit of all of those feelings. It was frightening to see that her dream was so similar to his own recurring nightmare of the colosseum. But never has he seen anything quite like that before. It was like her own dream and self-consciousness was overwhelming her. Gently, he silently wipes some of her tears away, both avoiding their gaze. He knows he must be patient, he also knows all too well that whatever this is, is too much for her to bear alone. He had no idea what all of those things meant either. Keeping in mind what his mother said in his own dream, he does his best to be understanding.

Taking her hand in his own, he slowly strokes the back of it with his thumb. “Look… I…. I know you’re going through something…. And I know it must be hard… Dealing with the wedding and now your father in the mix… This isn’t ideal… But I think you really need to talk to me. I want to make sure you’re ok.”

Rhemi flutters her eyes shrinking into herself and pulls her hand away trying to fake a grin. “I…. Everything is fine, Muriel. Just a bad drea–”

“Don’t—” He pauses for a moment, pressing his lips together in frustration, pointing his finger at her. Realizing himself, he pulled back his finger so he didn’t look so angry trying his best not to grit through his teeth. “….. Don’t… lie… I know those things in the shadows and I know that tar… It will suck you up if you give it the chance. You need to talk to me–” Taking a large breath in to calm himself, he slicks back his messy dark hair gathering the courage to say what's on his mind as pulls down the covers and he sits at the edge of the bed. “... Since Martin came here... I… I feel…. l-like you're just slipping away from me…. And I’m scared of that…”

Rhemi’s heart absolutely breaks at his words. Oh god, what have I done… She throws off the furs and covers, and Innan moves over so she could get herself out. She slides off the bed and stands to her feet and places herself in between his legs and sits her knees on the floor, burying her head into his abdomen. “... I’m so sorry, Muri… I never meant to make you feel like that.”

Gently, he hugs her back, cracking his voice when he replies, “I know…” Try as he might to hide it, but he knows he can’t really stop them now. He quickly wipes away a couple of tears and stifles the rest of them back down. “... Just didn't want to sound possessive… But I'm really worried about you.”

“You’re not being possessive, honey…” Slowly Rhemi unravels herself and holds his face with both hands, their noses touching. “I….. I just… I want us to be a family.”

With a large huff he carefully takes her wrists and gently pulls them down to look in her eyes. “We are a family. You and I. Our friends–”

“I…. *sigh*.. I know— But that's not what I mean.” She says she gazes thoughtfully down on the floor, then takes her hands back and rests them back on his thighs. “... I-...I want my father to be a part of our family. I… I just want us to be happy together. I want our children to know him.”

A foul taste creeps in Muriel’s mouth at the thought of his children, especially the ones in his mother’s vision, being around that man. The harsh judgment and dirty looks he gives everyone is overbearing at times. He could only imagine what he'd do or say to him if he ever gave them that look. But despite himself, the mountain man keeps his mouth closed as his soon-to-be wife chokes on her words.

Her nose wrinkles and a tear falls down her cheek as she looks him in the eye again. “....I want him to accept you like your family accepted me. I want you to know that you belong with me.”

He can feel as shis shoulder slumping down. “Rem, I do know that. I know I belong with you without anyone saying so. Why do you feel like you have to prove it? Do you really need that ass’s approval??”

A bit taken off guard, Rhemi thinks for a moment about that. Why does she need his approval? “I… I dunno…” She whispers as her tears drip down her face. Somehow there was something deeply seeded in the question.

Unable to bear her tears anymore, Muriel softens his face and glances to the floor and lets out a deep sigh and runs his fingers through her hair.

“..... I don’t want you hating my father.” She mutters through her tears.

“..... I don’t hate him….” He grumbles, averting his eyes, trying not to fib. But with a slight glance, Rhemi beams at him blankly with her sharp wet stare. He grumpily rolls his green eyes and shrugs. “... J-…. just don’t like him... He treats you like shit and knows he hurts your feelings… a lot.”

“He—... He doesn’t mean to… I don’t think so at least…. He just speaks his mind. And it can come off as…cold–”

“The guy doesn't acknowledge or respect any of your interests, insults you constantly, doesn't care about anyone else’s feelings but his own, or won’t listen to your thoughts or views…. Has he even talked about magic with you??”

“Well–N… No. Not really…”

“Isn’t that a little odd to you?.... He’s a king’s magician, yet he doesn’t talk about magic much. There is just something about him… I don’t trust him. And I know something happened last night at the fitting.”

“Did…. Did Portia say something to you?” She spurts out panickly.

His eyes narrow, as he stares hard at her. “No…. You did when you came home all puffy eyed…”

Inside her head, she feels her heart start to beat a little harder. Shit. Why didn’t he say something? Does he know more than I think he does?? Does he know that father wants me to go to Charlès by myself?? Feeling like she’d been caught red handed, she stares at him unsure what to say next.

He folds his arms tightly and lets out an annoyed sigh. “Rem, I know when you've been crying. I know they weren’t ‘happy tears’ either…. I’m… I am really trying not to push you. Trying to be patient. But… every time you come home after being with him, you’re more and more miserable…. Then you had that dream– I think… I think there is something seriously wrong with him… I think you know that too…”

A cold shiver creeped over her, sitting on the floor without a fire didn’t help much. Sheepishly she covers her shoulders with the blanket, unable to help herself to defend him. “... He doesn’t make me ‘miserable’... And no… I don’t think there is something wrong with him, just me–”

“Bull-fuckin’-shit! Ever since he’s come here, you’ve had bad dreams, headaches, and you’ve been… just—sad!.. Not your dorky happy self.”

“... We only met him a few days ago. He’s been alone for nearly two decades. You weren’t the nicest person after that long ago…”

That last sentence makes both of them cridge hard and she immediately regrets it. “... Please don’t compare that guy to me…” He murmurs somberly.

“Sorry…” She mumbles as she stands back to her feet and sits back next to him on the bed unable to bear the cold anymore. It's true that Muriel was very grumpy and aloof before, and hated being around other people. But at least when he was saying rude things, he never meant it. With Martin's pretentious self, he seems to say whatever he damn well pleases without a care in the world of what that might do, as long as it suited him.

Sluggishly he takes her hand and holds it gently. “... Sorry, beautiful. But he’s never gonna like me or any of our friends. You might as well accept that…” As he leans over, he places a feather light kiss on top of her head. “... Stop forcing it. You might get better sleep if you do…”

The two sit there at the edge of the bed processing everything. It’s still early, the sun wasn’t even out just yet. But it wasn’t too early to get started with the day. Still emotionally and mentially exhausted, Rhemi lay back down to the bed. “I am so tired… But should I even go back to sleep?”

Muriel lays beside her wrapping his arms around her tightly without any signs of letting go. “Try… ok?... The same nightmare usually doesn't come back the same night.”

“Ok….” She replies, hugging him back. Hearing his heartbeat and feeling his body heat instantly relaxes her as she layed on the bed. She always felt so safe there in his arms. They felt impenetrable and strong like a fortus. Soon, she finally lets herself fall back into a sleep. Just knowing that he was there for her, despite her lies and behavior was comforting. She knew she could be better for him. She wanted to be better. “Muriel?…” She groggily whispers.

“Y-…. Yeah?”

“... Sorry that I am difficult sometimes.”

Keeping his eyes closed he places a hard but sweet kiss on the top of her head and whispers, “I know… but I love you…”

“I love you too…” She mumbles as she feels herself drifting back to sleep.

_____________The next morning________

As Rhemi opens her eyes yet again, she notices Muriel’s side empty and the sounds of steering in the kitchen. As she glances over, she sees the hermit cooking some breakfast over the fire. Rubbing her tired eyes she sits up in the bed, and stretches her arms out above her head.

With a few large steps, Muriel comes over sheepishly with a cup of hot earl grey tea with a splash of fresh milk and a little bit of honey. “... Morning…”, He adorably says with a little pink on his face. He always was awkward after getting angry with her, acting as if he shouldn’t have done something wrong by having emotions of his own. It was still sweet of him to do all of this though.

“Good morning.” She mumbles groggily while taking the tea happily. “... Been up long?” She asks, taking a sip of her tea.

He shrugs his shoulders as he trots back over to the fire. “Kind of. Couldn’t go back to sleep...”

Nearly sputtering her tea, she coughs a little before whining, “Aw! You should have woken me up then.”

He lets out a snort and shakes his head placing a delicious looking omelet on a plate. “Nah. You needed to rest. Besides, I wanted to make you breakfast.”

The apprentice sticks out her bottom lip and pouts for a moment as she makes her way to the table, but as he places the plate down feels grateful for his hard work. “Thanks… I’m sorry about last night…”

“It’s alright.” He timidly replies as he finishes cooking his own omelet. As he peers back over to her, he sees she hasn’t touched her food yet, waiting politely. “Don’t wait for me–Eat.”

She huffs, but obediently grabs her fork and starts to eat slowly. The omelet tasted amazing, Muriel cooked it with chopped red and green peppers, some tomatoes, a little bit of chives, and generously sprinkled with feta cheese. Each fork-full brought more and more life to her, and she wanted to savor each bite.

“Realllly good, sweetheart. Thank you!” She compliments the chef as she takes a sip of her warm tea. His back was turned, but she could feel him smiling proudly. His cooking skills had improved tenfold since passed out in this stranger’s hut.

By the time he was done cooking his own and sat down at the opposite side, she was halfway done. For a moment, they sat in silence, rather comfortable with the comfortable quiet. But something about last night was still stumping her, as thought she’d not ask, but then curiosity got the better of her. “So.... How did you do that thing last night?”

“Hmmm???” Confused, pink stains his face, his mind going somewhere dirtier. “... We… We didn’t do anything last–Ri-right?–Di-did we…?”

“ –No, no, no, you silly! We went right to sleep~” She interjects with a flirty laugh. “... I meant my dream… I never heard your voice before… and it's like you didn’t stumble into my dream… It felt like… You purposely leaped into it… I was strange. I felt you came into it before, but it didn’t feel like your magic. But this time it was.”

Awkwardly, he sits there shifting in his chair slowly cutting into his omelet. “... Actually… My father has been coming into my dreams lately… Teaching me how to leap.”

Rhemi’s last remaining bite sluffs off her fork as she stares blankly with her mouth gaped open and eyes wildly large. “W-.. Wait, really??.” Feeling quite a few different emotions at the same time, she firmly places her fork to the table, stands to her feet and gleefully leans over towards her lover with a large stupid smile. “He was– He was teaching you?! –Ohmygod! T-t-t-... That’s amazing! He–he actually came to your dreams?? Holysfuckingshitthat’scrazy!! I thought he could only do that in the south during the Midnight celebration!”

“So did I…” He mumbles with a toothy grin, entertained by her cute enthusiasm.

But after thinning for a second, her smile sluggishly dwindles to a frown. “W….Wait–So… How long has this been happening??”

His eyes look down towards his food as he cuts off a bite size piece with his fork and brings it to his mouth. “Few days I guess…” He answers mouth half full, trying to avoid looking at her. “... Learned a lot from him.”

“Oh…” Slowly, she pulls back her chair and takes a seat back down and starts to twiddle her thumbs. “Well… Why didn’t you tell me?”

“.... You didn’t ask…” He grumpily murmurs, but as soon as he glances back up to see her sad face, he knew that wasn’t very fair. With a small huff, he takes one other bite before looking back towards her. A shrug rolls from his broad shoulders and rubs the back of his neck feeling a bit embarrassed for the real reason. “...You’ve been busy… I dunno. Couldn’t find the right time to say anything.”

As he continues to eat, Rhemi sits there in her chair with a knot in her stomach. He must have wanted to talk about that… But she’s been so busy with Martin and the wedding… Not to mention her own personal problems… “Muri. I’m really sorry…”

Her apology takes him off guard as he stops mid chew. “... Bout what?” He asks with egg and feta muffled in his mouth.

“... Sorry for being unapproachable lately… I guess you might be right. I am going through a lot more than I realized. But I never meant to make you feel like you couldn’t talk to me. ”

With a heart felt exhale through his nose, he swallows his bite, sits down his fork, reaches over taking her hand, and tenderly squeezes it. “... I think everything will be better after the wedding. Then we can start worrying about more important things other than the right flowers and cake… Maybe your father will be more bearable too.” Optimism must have finally rubbed off on the man, god knows he would have never been so positive about this a year ago.

A small smile returns to her lips as she squeezes her hand back and nods her head. “I think so too… I hope that's the case at least.” They both let go and return to their breakfast, but as soon as they take their last bite, Rhemi goes back to being her excited and nosey self.  “So… What is your dad like? Anything like your family said he was?”

Overcome with joy, Muriel didn’t realize how eagerly he wanted to talk about this either. “... Better than I even could imagine....” He says with a warm smile. It felt good to finally say it outloud. “... They both are.”

“Wow I am so happy for you–..... Wait–BOTH?!?”

After a long conversation about Muriel’s father and mother and the leaping, he really did brighten up when he spoke of his parents. They really did seem like two amazing people. It was a shame they left this world so young. They spoke about how his father told him how to purposely journey through dreams, and how he could hear people calling out for him no matter how far they were. According to Artturi, apparently they could even leap into the deep subconscious.

Strangely, for one reason or another, he didn’t talk about his mother’s vision of them in the forest with their children. He didn’t know why, but it just felt like it was something that should have been kept to himself. Like a secret gift. Suppose you could call it being superstitious– deep inside his heart, he feared that if he told her, it might not come true.

Eventually, the two of them got ready for the day and started walking out of the forest towards the shop holding each other’s hand. The two of course had some last minute wedding things to do in town. Besides, the shop was always busy on Monday so having Muriel there as extra help, it was always appreciated.

As day went out, customer after customer, deliveries after deliveries, potion making after potion making, Rhemi’s every busy mind seemed to always go back to her father no matter what she was doing. What was she going to do about him? The wedding was only a short week or so away. Was he even planning on being here that long? Will he be able to stay? Will Muriel be angry if he shows up to the wedding? Will she be upset if he didn’t?? For all the time she’s spent with the man it feels like she still barely even knows anything about him. He did mention being in town for trading business along with the death warnet that was sent to her… But will he even want to come to his long lost daughter's wedding?

At half past two, with the shop now empty for the afternoon lull, she finds herself pacing back and forwarth as she listens to the clock continuously tick, tick, ticking. She soons stops in her tracks as Rhemi suddenly had a hair-brained idea… But every bit of her felt torn.

As she pops her head toward the back room with the reading table, Rhemi can see Asra just sitting there alone with the deck of tarot cards. He must have done a self reading, but it didn’t seem like a very good read. The first card, The Fool–reversed, King of Pentacles–Reversed, and The Tower–upright… The magician especially had his eyes on the King of Pentacles for some reason, holding the card up to his face as if he was trying to listen to it.

Before barging in, she clears her throat so she doesn't startle her friend. Asra jumps a little bit and hastily places the cards back into the deck and looks back at her with a greeting smile. “Hello there.”

As she enters she sheepishly walks in with a tray of tea. “Heyyy… I, ahhh….. brought some tea…”

With a friendly nod and a smile, he gestures towards the other chair inviting her to sit down with him. Rhemi carefully places the tea down to the table and starts to pour their warm beverages. She usually makes tea around this time, but only bring it to him when she wants to talk about something. And there was something obviously heavy on her mind.

Asra grins and tilts his head leaning lazily into the table. “.... Sooo… What did you want to talk about?”

Rhemi grumbles under her breath. “How did you know?’

“What, you’re not getting cold feet are ya?” He teases.

“Har. Har. Har, Asra. Of course not~ I really can’t wait to marry Muriel.” Rhemi replies with a giggle as she brings her hot cup of tea closer to her lips.

“I'm so happy the two of you found each other, Rhemi.”

“Thank you.... But… I do have something about the wedding I need to talk about.” She mutters before taking a small sip.

“Oh… Ok.”

Nervously, she places the cup dowd, fidgeting with the spoon. “Asra… You’re my best friend. You know that right?”

The magician flutters his white eyelashes at his friend and can’t help but chuckle at her adorable yet somewhat dorky nervousness. “... Yesssssss?”

“... You know I love you, right?”

Now feeling slightly more suspicious and he starts to squint his eyes. “Yyyyyyyyeah…”

“You know you’re important to me–”

“–Rem… What’s this about?”

Realizing that beating around the bush wasn’t going to help any, she places the spoon down next to her tea cup and takes a large deep breath. “... Père is still having a hard time accepting the marriage.”

He pauses for a moment, then nods his head and leans back into the chair. “Oh… really? Why am I not surprised? Portia said he was a real jerk yesterday.”

“Oh… You, ah…. You heard about that?” Her eyes get a little bigger and she feels a lump in her throat.

“Don’t worry I’m not gonna tell him.” He reassures his friend. “But you shouldn’t let him–”

“Well… Anyways…” She shrugs off, not wanting to hear that last part. “... I was thinking… Since he is here, and he isssss my father….”

“Ohhh….” Now realising where she’s getting at, Asra places his cup to the saucer with his lips pressed together. “.... You’re asking me if he’d walk you down instead of me… huh?”

The way he says that turns her stomach into knots as she sits there uncomfortably, her skin starting to become hot underneath her clothes. “.... Want to? No–I wanted you to… But the more I think about it, the more I think if he is directly involved with the wedding, maybe he’ll get on board… He didn’t like my dress, but maybe that was because I did everything without him. He does seem like a control freak… And since it is typically the father’s–” Her words seize as she glimpses at her friend's sad expression, now she regrets even asking such a thing. Who asks someone to walk down the aisle to then a few short months later ask if someone else would? She also knew this was something he was so happy to do.

Quickly, she jumps up from her chair making it skid across the ground and starts to hastily walk out of the room. “You know what–Nevermind! It’s a bad idea anyway! Forget I ever said anything–”

Asra catches her wrist before she can get too far and she stops in her tracks. “Actually…” He mutters, meeting her eyes again and pulling her back towards him. “... I was going to ask you that… But…. You asked first.”

Surprised, she stood back in front of him and rubbed her opposite shoulder. “R.. really?”

“Yeah. I think he outranks me here, he is partly the reason you’re in my life… being your father and all.”

“I guess so…” She slightly shrugs. “You know I really wanted you to walk me down.. But with these… circumstances..”

Despite the pain in his chest, he smiles and holds her hand. “Rhemi, it’s ok… I understand. Besides, I still gonna have the best view in the house, watching you walk down as I stand by Muri. I still get to watch as my best friends get married.”

With tears in her eyes, Rhemi leaps into the air and wraps her arms around Asra’s shoulder tightly, nearly knocking him out of his seat. “Thank you, Asra… You’re the freakin’ best…”

With a tiny grin, he hugs her back and pats her head reassuringly. “Yeah, I know…”

As they both pull away they hold each other's hands once more. How could Rhemi have gotten so lucky to have such friends? “I’ll make this up to you, I promise.”

“I know.” The magician utters. As painful of an idea it was to see a jackass like Sir Martin her down the aisle, he also could bear the thought of her being heartbroken on her own wedding day. He loved Rhemi, even though his feelings were no longer romantic, he still cared for her.

He’d still do anything for her, even to just keep a smile on her face.

_________

“..No..” Muriel firmly grumbles as he sits down at the purple velvet couch with his arm crossed.

“Oh… come on, Muri…” Rhemi whines as she continues to put away the herbs and other things he picked up for her today.

As soon as he got back to the shop from running errands, Rhemi sort of sprung the fact that called her father through the water to invite him for dinner–which he unfortunately agreed to.

…Not one of her best ideas, Muriel didn’t really like surprises like this, especially after what happened early this morning.

Knowing that it would be a difficult and awkward conversation, Asra and Faust had half the mind to go to the market to make his famous seafood curry for dinner. It was honestly a good thing too.

“I know that you’re not going to be thrilled about it… But Asra said he was fine with it.”

“Did it ever occur to you that he might be lying because you’re his friend??”

“Oh come on, give me a break! We all just need an opportunity to start over… Maybe get to know one another!”

“... Because that worked really well the past two other times.” Muriel scoffs as he plops his back flush to the couch.

“Muriellllll.” With a pleading tone, the apprentice gives her fiance the biggest puppy-dog eyes she could, but he just sits there and mopes even more.

With still a few more things to put away, Rhemi trundles over to the couch and stands between his legs. “Mur. Please. Could you just do this one little thing for me? I don’t try to ask a lot from you.”

“This....... This is a lot.” He grochily points out with a sneer.

“.... I know…” She signs feeling so depleted.

Cupping his face and feeling his stubble, she strokes his cheeks affectionately and continues to give him a pleading look. “....Look… After this… I don’t think I have any more ideas…. But–.... But this is really important to me.”

Uncomfortably he shifts his butt on the couch, trying to avoid her pouty yet mesmerizing pleading stare. He even debats the idea of just not showing up; but he can’t help but feel a gut wrenching fear if he didn’t come. If anything bad were to happen and he wasn’t there. He’s never forgiven himself. Finally meeting her gaze, he exhales a grumpy, “........ Fine.”

Relieved, Rhemi relaxes her shoulder and sprouts a smile. “Thank yo–”

“–But this is his last chance.” Muriel firmly states. It was clear to see, he met what he said. He made up his mind.

Rhemi’s smile falls yet and again and she slowly nods her head. “Believe it or not, honey… I agree with you on that.”

✨To be continued…

[Ah, yes. Another chapter that had to be divided into two. This damn fic is getting longer and longer... But whatever. It was better to split it up. I hope all you trash pandas enjoyed reading! Enjoy my hot trash!]

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