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8 people
8 people poisoned
8 people on death’s door
And Ros was one of the only people who could help them.
The only person actually, since Graecie got poisoned too.
She couldn’t let them down. She couldn’t let them die. What kind of life mage would she be?
She’d already let her family die. She couldn’t save them. She’d left them. The corruption was here, the corruption, oh god the corruption
She couldn’t let anyone else die. She wouldn’t.
She was the only person who could do the protection ritual. The ritual that could save them from death for a day.
She was the only person left who had healing magic. Magic that could keep them comfortable, alive.
These people needed her.
And so she stayed.
————————————————————————————
How many days had it been? Ros had lost count. She hadn’t left the walls of the academy since the infection broke out. She had just been casting that same ritual over and over and had been healing people and healing people and healing people.
Had she eaten today? That didn’t matter, nothing else mattered except making sure no one else died. Juniper helped her a lot. She’d bring food for Ros and supplies for the hospital wing. They kept her company too, spending almost as much time down there as she did, only leaving to get more supplies or go to bed. Ros stayed. She didn’t “need” rest. Sleep could wait, death wouldn’t.
She was so tired.
Another student, another spell. Life mana flowed from her fingertips into the body of the person lying in bed. The healing didn’t come as easily as it did a few days ago (or was it weeks?). Ros felt as if she was physically forcing the magic to her hands. She felt drained. Her mana was always dangerously low, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. No one would die.
Were those figures she saw just shadows? Or were they familiar faces? Why couldn’t they just leave her be? Why did they have to haunt her? Wasn’t the guilt enough to appease them?
“Ros? I brought you some dinner.”
”Hm? Oh, hi Sniff. I’ll have it in a bit, thanks.”
”Ros, you haven’t had anything to eat all day, take a break for a bit, please?”
”I’m fine Sniff, really...”
”Are you sure Ros? I’m worried about you. You haven’t left the infirmary at all. Did you even sleep last night?”
“I- um. It doesn’t matter. These people will die if I don’t take care of them. I can sleep later. I’m fine, don’t worry.”
“Can you at least eat something? You’re not gonna be able to help anyone if you die of starvation.”
”But-“
”Ros, please.”
”…Ok.”
They sat down together in the corner of the room. Juniper had made rice and mushroom soup. It looked delicious. Ros hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she took her first bite, nor how tired she was until she sat down. The soup somehow managed to taste better than it looked, and Ros’s bowl was empty before Juniper was even half way through theirs.
“Feel better?”
”Yeah, much better, thanks Sniff.”
”You know what else would make you feel better? Sleep.”
”I’m not tired. I should get back to work.”
”Woah, Ros, you just sat down. At least let your mana recharge a bit. Isn’t it low?”
”No, not at all. It’s almost full.”
”Ok, if you say so… Still, don’t overwork yourself, please.”
”I’m fine, I’m not overworking myself, don’t worry.”
“Just promise me you’ll take more breaks, alright?”
“I will.”
Ros did another round of healing spells while Juniper finished her food.
“Ros are you sure you’re alright? You look exhausted.”
”I’m ok, really. The soup just made me a bit tired, that’s all.”
”Yeah I get that. Food makes me sleepy too sometimes. I’m gonna clean up these bowls and then I’ll help you out in a bit ok?”
”Ok. See you.”
She was so tired. Maybe she could just close her eyes until Sniff got back, just until then…
No, she wouldn’t. She had to stay awake.
The poisoned people had all been taken care of for today. They wouldn’t need anymore healing spells for a while, and the protection ritual didn’t wear off until the next morning.
There were still healthy people in the academy that needed help. She had apples to turn golden. Ros grabbed her backpack and pulled some out. This was far harder than she remembered. Turning just one into a blessed apple felt like it had vacuumed all of her mana, power, and energy. Her hands ached, her head throbbed, her vision blurred.
She made 10 more before Juniper returned.
————————————————————————————
Ros got up early that morning. She hadn’t slept that night, or the night before, but lying down for a bit felt nice. She looked over at Sniff, curled up on the floor. They had been sleeping in the hospital wing with Ros for the past few days. None of the sick people had been getting any better, and both of them were pushing themselves to their limits. Eventually, Juniper and her decided it would probably be best if she also stayed in the infirmary overnight. It was nice to have someone to keep her warm while resting. It could get quite chilly in the evenings, and Sniff’s hugs were really comforting…
She needed to focus. She was having a hard time doing that lately. There was a lot that had to be done today. The ritual needed recasting, the poisoned students were due for another round of healing, the hospital wing was getting low on some resources…
She was so, so tired.
Ros had given up on trying to make more golden apples in her free time. It had become too draining, and the last time she tried she had almost passed out. It was better to save her mana for the ritual and the spells. Not that she had much mana left to save. She had been using so much. Too much, she knew that, but she could handle it.
Ros walked over to a bed. It was more of a stumble than a walk really. She reached out her hand and pushed life mana into the person lying there. Her vision went black for a moment, and she swayed on her feet. She was used to this by now. It happened whenever she cast a spell, or used even basic magic. It had been getting harder and harder to recover recently however. The darkness was staying for longer, her legs felt weaker and weaker. By the time she had given mana to the last student, she felt like she was about to collapse.
She staggered over to Juniper, who had just begun to stir. The ritual was yet to be casted, and Ros was in no state to do it alone.
”Good morning Sniff.”
“Oh, morning Ros. When did you get up?”
”Just a few minutes ago. I wanted to do some early healing spells. The ritual still needs to be casted though, do you mind helping me a bit?”
”Uh, sure… You good? You seem really tired.”
”Yeah I’m fine! I just wanna do the ritual.”
”Alright, give me a sec, I’m gonna go wash up and get ready and stuff.”
”Yeah…”
”Maybe sleep or rest or something while I’m gone?”
”Mhm.”
“Ok…Bye.”
Ros didn’t dare lie down. Opening her eyes again after blinking was a chore, lying down would send her to sleep immediately. She just stood where Sniff left her, white spots dancing in her vision.
Did that spot look like a face? Did those splotches look like a person? Sam? Mum? Oh god not again, oh god, oh god
“Hey, I’m back. Sorry I took so long, I was bringing some materials for the ritual.”
”That’s ok. Can you put the stuff in the…the…”
“The alter? Yeah, sure, hang on.”
”…Hey Juniper?”
”Yeah Ros?”
”Do you hear that ringing sound?”
”Uh, no? You alright?”
”Yeah, yeah, must’ve imagined it or something…”
”Do you wanna sit down for a bit maybe?”
”No, no I’m good…”
”Your mana’s not low right? I heard that could make your ears ring sometimes.”
”No, it’s fine, I’m fine. Just a bit tired I guess..”
”We can do the ritual later if you want. It might be better to wait if you’re not feeling great.”
”No, I want to do it now. I’m ok.”
”Alright. All of the stuff is in the alter. You have your lighter?”
”Oh, yeah, yeah I got it. Ready?”
”Ready.”
Ros pulled out her flint and steel and started the ritual. As soon as lightning struck the quartz, she felt her mana getting pulled to the center of the circle. So much mana getting pulled. The white spots got bigger, the edges of her vision blackened. She vaguely heard Sniff call her name. She didn’t have the energy to respond. So much mana… There was something cold touching her knees. Was that the floor? When had she fallen over? She heard the ritual complete itself, the chimes that sounded when everyone had been protected. Now that her mana wasn’t being ripped out of her she felt somewhat stronger. Her vision cleared slightly. Juniper was kneeling next to her.
“Ros!? Ros are you ok? Can you hear me?”
”Yeah, I can hear you. Sorry, I just blacked out for a bit I think. I’m fine now. Sorry to worry you Sniff.”
”What? Don’t apologize. It’s ok, you’re clearly exhausted. Here, grab my shoulder and I’ll help you up.”
With Juniper’s help Ros managed to stand up, and they hobbled over to the other side of the room, away from the circle. There, she managed to stay up by half leaning on the wall and half leaning on Juniper. She was so tired. Maybe she could just close her eyes for a bit… Just for a bit… She was so tired…
”Ros? Woah, hey don’t fall over again. Are you alright? Ros? Ros?!”
Ros’s knees buckled, and her vision went dark. Lying down was nice… She could stay like this, just for a while…
Sniff picked Ros up in her arms. She was pretty light and easy to carry. She couldn’t just leave her here. They walked back to their dorm and laid her down in a spare but comfy bed. She looked so peaceful asleep. Not worried, not stressed, not tired. Juniper suddenly had an urge to kiss her forehead. She felt that would be overstepping in some way, so she settled for making Ros as comfortable as she could be. She’d lied about her mana, hadn’t she? They should’ve guessed. Should’ve made her take a break. At least she was asleep now.
Juniper hoped that it was the sweetest sleep she’d ever had.
“Good night my dearest life, may your dreams be sweet as you..”
Blushing, she left Ros to rest.