Cleonora turned and looked to the Saren she had found. "Is it too much to hope that these scenes are in some form of order?" She asked.
Sulvanii and Krazok walk up at this point in the conversation. Sulvanii suggests, "Shall I go have a look?"
"I believe you're the one for this." She told Sulvanii. "I've no more that could help."
With or without Cleo he begins to fly up and over the scenes. He would wave at those behind to follow. Leading you over to the right.
There you see mostly recent scenes within the last few months.
Sulvanii lands and looks at them and then to Cleo and Krazok. He states, "Dreams are one of the few areas I have no knowledge. I dont sleep."
"Ah, I was unaware that this might be foreign to you." Cleonora began as she crossed her arms. "We don't have a solid reason as to why mortals dream, and every one you ask will tell you differently. But most of the time they will answer that it is our subconscious mind working out problems, fears, or desires of our real lives. You can have a dream about something or someone that scares you greatly and that is a nightmare, or you could have a dream about someone or something you love or desire. You can even have one about a situation you never thought you'd find yourself in. However most people don't remember their dreams for more than a hour. They are lost to the Dreamlands after you awaken." She explained.
"It is likely these events are ones that have stuck to Saren's subconscious mind so strongly and that he tries to repress so much that they pressed into Jorne's dreams" Cleonora pondered. "But that is only a hypothesis."
All of the scenes wink out before you can get too close.
Then a moment later you are all in the room with Jorne.
You see him tossing and being held down by Katrina. You also realize there is no Saren.
Quickly Cleonora came to aid her and try to help Jorne. "Jorne! Jorne, I need you to wake up!" She called out before she looked to Katrina, "Do you know where Saren went?" She asked. "We figured out what is happening, but we didn't have time to find the one causing the problems." She explained.
Jorne stops thrashing but he is also very still.
"If Saren isn't here... then... I am unsure how we can fix this. Saren's mind needs to be calmed before it does further damage to Jorne... Sulvanii can you locate Saren?" She asked
Krazok sits next to Jorne holding his hand not sure what to do.
Katrina does what she can to make sure Jorne's body is healthy.
Another few minutes pass and Saren appears. He stands and you can see all of his damage is gone. He states, "I will speak with my father he will know what to do."
"Did you know when you first entered?" She asked him.
Worrying was not Cleonora's strong suit. Or rather showing it was not. She often simply stood like a statue, a picture frozen in stone, silent and stoic.
"I'll tell the other guards that Jorne will have the rest of today and tomorrow off. He should have time to rest after everything." Cleonora said as she moved some of his hair from his face.
"I sent Sulvanii to find you." Cleonora told Saren. "I should go and inform him that it is no longer needed. Will you remain till your father gets here? To make sure everything goes well?"
The group nods in agreement to Cleo's second statement.
Saren says, "Stay if you will. I will track down Sulvanii first and then my father. Then we will return."
Within a half hour the three of them return. Bearik casts a few divining spells and with a strange pair of cold iron scissors snips the air between Saren and Jorne. Sulanii watches and takes notes, his eyes glowing blue.
Once it is done, Saren thanks his father, then the rest of you. Also pointing out, "Father you might want to look at Elizabeth too." Bearik nods in agreement.
Soon the group disperses leaving Saren and Katrina to tend to Jorne.
"However anything that can ensure she doesn't end up like Jorne would be welcomed... Dreams are fueled by our emotions and mine cannot be in check while I slumber." She explained.
"I need to get back to the academy, please take care of him, I'll come check on him tomorrow."
"Of course Headmistress" Atalie said as she gave a small bow before heading out through the doors of Cleonora's office. The young mage didn't know the dangers hidden in shadow, but fortune spared her. They where not after her this night, it was a butterfly they sought.
She slowly moved through the halls, not saying a word though she wasn't out of place. Even if Atalie saw her it wouldn't raise an alarm. Always seen yet unseen.
The sun was gone and Cleonora had lit a candle to catch up on a few things before seeking her bed. However the door opened and she stood in the frame. "Is something wrong?" Cleonora asked the maid.
"No Headmistress, there was just someone here to see you... I was worried to bring them up because it was so late, however they said it was about something important, something about The Fathers?"
Cleonora set her papers down and stood. "Show them in, then leave us." She told her. A few moments later two cloaked figures came in following the maid. The brought forth a book to Cleonora as the maid closed the doors, remaining in the room.
"This book should prove useful." One said, keep their face low.
"Thank you, now onto pa- What are you still doing here?" Cleonora asked the maid.
"Oh, Danalia has a gift for you." The other figure said as he lowered his hood. "And you have a gift for me, my Pale Butterfly."
Cleonora's eyes grew wide as she saw a ghost from her past. Saiben Ciora, a man she had killed.
Jumping into action Cleonora went for her blade but not before a spell from Danalia's lips froze the Butterfly in her tracks.
"Get her on the desk." Saiden demanded, and the two other threw everything on Cleonora's desk to the ground before moving her body onto it. Danalia and the other man pulled Cleonora's arms out and Saiben, grabbing her butterfly blades drove one into each of her arms, between the bones of Ulna and Radious. The spell holding Cleonora broke and she screamed in pain.
"Do you know how hard you where to find?" He asked with a small smirk. "Spent a pretty fair fortune hunting you down. You see I don't take kindly to women who take my heart then run off my dear, I need something in return." Saiben told her as he reached down and slowly began to unbutton her vest.
"You left a fairly large scar on me dear butterfly. Even after the magic to bring me back." He told her as he gently opened her vest. Danalia and the other figure held Cleonora down, keeping her still enough and quiet enough by shoving a handkerchief into her mouth.
"There is so much I would take in return, however I'm not a liberty to do so, time being what it is. True I could have all night but that would risk too much. Yes I've learned from our last time together, you teach well." Saiben mocked her as he ripped her white blouse open. "This will be a night to remember, not often does a spider get a butterfly in his web."
Saiben leaned closer to Cleonora's face, kissing her forehead as his hand pulled a dagger from his boot. "You took my heart Cleonora Petalouda, one would say it is only fair you give me yours."
With that Saiben dug his dagger into Cleonora's ribs, being careful not to go too deep. No she wasn't going to die from this. He cut around the sternum, freeing it to remove and get at his prize. Cleonora screamed through the pain and tried to struggle, but there was no escape... with two holding her down and Saiben atop her... this was her death.
Tears welled up in Cleonora's eyes as she tried to think of anything other than what was happening, her friends, the academy, her professors, anything. Yet everything brought more tears to her eyes. His hands found her heart, beating rapidly, and with a flick of the blade it was out. Cleonora's face froze in an expression of fear and pain, but it was over now... The light left her eyes and Saiben laughed. "Good bye, Pale Butterfly." He said.
Danalia brought forth a wooden box and Saiben placed Cleonora's heart within it. "Take that to them tomorrow, a thank you is in order after all."
The morning after saw so many to a normal start. The sun brought forth warmth and the day seemed like it would be a good one. The council was settled in to take the conference when a messenger came in. "Baron, I am sorry to interrupt but this was sent for you." He said as he placed an elegantly carved wooden box before Quince. The box was beautiful and had many scenes of a garden and on top a butterfly.
On top was a letter which read.
I cannot express my gratitude enough for you help. Because of you I was able to be reunited with the one who stole my heart. In light of this generous help, I have sent unto you the most prized possession I have.
My eternal thanks,
only signed with red ink in the drawing of a spider
Inside the box likely brought the whole room to silence. Inside was a fresh human heart, and on the inside of the top of the box, written in blood was Her Heart.
"What does it mean?! Is it a threat to us? Who is this Spider? Who's heart is this?" She spouts questions to the Wardens.
He felt great: three days of rest, two full nights of sleep, plenty of books to read, and warm sun naps. It had been wonderful. A great way to recuperate. He was itching to get back to work, see Cleo, see the students, his guards, and to get back to training. He really loved training.
This was the first day without that mother hen taking care of him and he took advantage of it. He was up early, before the sun was up, and took a long run. Then a swim in the lake before walking home enjoying the sights.
He got home and got ready for work. He ate a few boiled eggs. Did some situps and push ups before drying off with a towel. New clothes with a hint of flowers. He secured his equipment and weapons. Looking in the mirror he was impressed and silently nodded to himself.
He walked over to the academy and no one was around. No one... this was wrong. The door opened without a key... then he found them two of his guards, from night duty. Dead or unconcious he couldn't tell but knew they were okay or gone.
He rushed into the school. Seeing no one still bothered him, rushing to the one that for some reason kept a secret spot in his heart. Finding her there... like that broke him for several hours, easily until noon. His wails of grief woke those sleeping in the academy.
"I don't know but we will find out. I am sure the trail will pick up soon!" He stated knowing that no matter the reason this was a bad omen.
He then walked into the room and said, "I am sorry my fellow Wardens, Elizabeth has been so weak and sick. I have never seen her so..." He stops mid sentence seeing the heart and he clutches his own heart. Then he casts a few spells and groans out loud. He turns into a bear and begins to tear at the walls in rage....
He quickly gets up and wrestles with the bear of his father, not caring of the tearing of his flesh or how its teeth took his blood.
After her father had left she did her best in getting up. It took too long just to get to the door. She asked the guards to take her but her father had left strict instructions. They helped her back to her bed... there she quietly mewed in pain.
He sat at the table quietly listening. We was one of action. He waited for the order. Even as Bearik transformed and Saren had moved to wrestle it he knew it was not his time to act. He looked up at Quince and then stated, "My axe is a legendary item. It has always bled along the edge but as you can tell it is dry. I wait for your command, for something is very wrong here."
She looked over at her love and offered her hand as the foreboding news hit the Wardens. She acted quickly after Saren and helped secure the bear.
She was taking notes for the Wardens, or moreso for herself. She knew she had a lot to do but as this box, the message, the heart all came to light she knew like the rest of us something was off.
She sprang to action with Larina and Saren to secure the bear. They made it happen...
She was beside herself with all that had happened and stayed in her seat.
Sulvanii was wracking his memory for what he was forgetting. Seeing Bearik turn feral he noted it with a twitch in his eye and then was back into his mind.
And yet his memory of what he had forgotten was not there. He realized it then. 'Wish magic. His magic... it must have been for a good reason', he thought and he stopped.
Having been subdued by the three heroes and not really wanting to fight them he stops. The bear form leaves him and it looks like all the blood had drained from his face and he spoke one word before collapsing, "Cleonora."
With in moments a middle aged man came in, slightly out of breath. Jorne knew him as Merek Aldori, the professor of marshal training at the academy. "Jorne wh- BY THE GODS!" His eyes went wide and the look of shock wasn't one commonly found on the gruff battle hardened veteran.
An elder woman soon joined them, Margariet Spencer, the professor of history. She covered her mouth with her hands before she motioned to Merek. "Grab him, we have to lock the room till the authorities get here." She told him, letting her reason rise over her emotions.
Merek nodded and moved to grab Jorne. "Come lad, none of us need to see this any more than we have..." He told him, and would drag him out of the room if need be.
After walking her to her room she would give you a quick kiss before responding, "See you later."
"Love, love, Kev, wake up. I need to tell you about what happened. Jorne was not sleeping well to put it lightly. Cleonora had a spell she could take some of us into his dreams to help. I didn't think it was risky as what did happen. Jorne went to sleep and then Cleonora cast the spell. We were all summoned to a ship of sorts and traveled for an hour to get to his dreams. Saren was the first to go soon after we arrived. He screamed and vanished. There were flashes of a bloody pool and bodies all around. I realized that the bodies were all of Saren's. He has died or come to near death many times in the past and it seems those memories held strong to Jorne. They have a connection that strengthens Jorne moreso and this was an unfortunate ramification of the situation."
"I realized the situation and began to vocalize my thoughts and was ripped from the dream. In fact we were in Saren's dream or memories. I am not sure what happened next. Cleonora said nothing more really happened before the rest of them were pulled out too. We are all safe now. Saren is recovered from his draining somehow, perhaps the feedback of the dream made him come back in his prime. Anyways, I just wanted you to know what happened and to tell you I am safe."
Hearing the name from Bearik made her afraid, afraid of what may have happened to her friend. She then got up from her seat and said, "I will be going to the academy then! Any of you are welcome to come with me and then we can finish the meeting after."
Quince studies the curious box. He notes the spider among the flowers.
"Some sort of spider among the flowers."
He read the letter. He then opened the box. A string of angry words flow out in celestial. He turned and started to move from the room.
He stops and turns when Elizabeth's name is mentioned. The set of his shoulders relaxes slightly. If she is sick then she lives and that is not her heart.
"Whose heart is it?"
His attention notes Bearik and he moves to help him. When the old man says Cleo's name. He nods to Bearik and looks to attendants to help him.
"It is very wrong Krazok. Let's check on the academy. Bring the axe." He turns and moves toward the door and heads to the academy.
The academy seemed... wrong. The whole place which was normally full of life from the students was completely silent and no a student could be seen. The bodies of two guards where the first thing that welcomed them. The second being an elderly man. Though he looked half out of breath. "Thank, the, gods." He coughed. "Did our messenger get to you?" He asked once he calmed down.
However soon he learned that was incorrect. "So... so that is what they did with it..." Gao said somberly. "Jorne... found her this morning just before wake up... It took professor Spencer and Professor Aldori to drag him out of her office..."
After a moment he waved for them to follow him to the scene. "After they dragged him out Professor Spencer came and found me, I locked the office with my magic." He told them, and they soon passed Jorne who was still with Professor Spencer, she seemed to be trying to calm the young man... but soon they'd know little good it would do to calm down from such a sight.
Gao brought them to Cleonora's office, and after removing his Arcane lock, he granted them access...
They had left Cleonora upon her desk, pinned to it with her own blades. The wood had swelled with her blood and stained deep. Her head leaned back over the front to show her vacant eyes, the cloth still shoved between her lips, small now dried trails of blood cover her shoulders and cheeks, and had dripped down to stain the rug below her head. Yet everything paled in comparison to the large void between her breasts, the place they had cut her open at to rip her heart from it's place.
Upon further inspection, written in her own blood upon her exposed stomach was 'Leave her dead'
Krazok came with those Wardens that wanted to check on the academy. He probably had the least attachment to Cleo and stood to the side ready to act or hold back anyone that needed to...
Seeing the dead guards he knew it. His emotionless mask that most of you knew he wore was in place and a quick look into Cleo's room he turned back knowing it was her. He went to Gao, "Please speak with the other professors and determine what spells would be best to cast to determine who did this. Also ask them who would want to be on the retribution squad. This will not go without sound response. Thank you Gao for locking the door and keeping a level head! I know it can be hard."
"Professor Spencer is a Spiritualist." Gao answered. "She could summon her soul to speak... though she can't hold it for long. Professor Aldor will wish to be part of the squad however I ask that he remains. Myself, Professor Spencer, and Professor Aldori are the last line of defense for the academy. Though I believe their business done, I cannot take a risk to the students. I shall speak with the others and I am sure they will wish to go..."
Gao paused for a moment, looking back to the steps that took them down to the main hall where Jorne and Spencer where. Then he looked back to Sulvanii "Have you all seen what you need...?" Gao asked somberly. "I... cannot bear leaving her like that any longer... I would like to clean and move her body..."
As Sulvanii's mask grew more stoic her's became more and more worried. Seeing the dead guards bothered her in more ways than most would know. She knew them as guards and of her flock. She saw one was John his wife would be mortified. Though her initial action she held knowing what was inevitable to come.
Walking along the known path to Cleo's office. Her face loss more blood turning it almost the color of ash. She wrung her dress in her hands or her palms were very moist in Kevros' hand. As the door was unlocked her heart sunk into her stomach.
As Gao moved to the side she let the others enter first still hoping the body was someone else. 'It can't be her, it has to be someone else,' she thought to herself. Then seeing her sprawled across her own table, Katrina began to cry. Her legs moved of their own and she charged through the room. Pushing back anyone trying to stop her. Getting to Cleo she cries upon her and her arms reach over her. Bright white and green light comes from her and glows over Cleo as well. Another round and the light becomes blinding.
He had stayed behind. Saying with concern, "I am going to put my father to bed and will return here when we are ready."
Larina, Selena, Stalker, and Svetlana followed the group to the academy they lingered in the back. There for support in any role they may need to act in but waiting for commands.
Quince looked about coldly taking the scene in. He looked to Gao. "This box, it has a spider among the flowers. And a red spider for the signature. Any idea what that might mean?" He made a half hearted reach to stop Katrina. But his mind was racing after other things.
As the light began to glow. Quince shielded his eyes.
Gao looked at the box before he shook his head. "However, this art... It seems familiar...." He muttered mostly to himself. Then it returned to him. "Yes, Cleonora was given a vase full of red roses with this art painted upon it. There was also a red spider hidden in the leaves of the flowers painted upon the vase." Gao explained to him. He was going to retrieve it, however the light from Katrina was too much for him to be able to see and he shaded his eyes from the light.
The light grew brighter and the room slowly increased in heat...
Unless you had endure elements or resistance to fire you would want to leave the room.
Quince calls out, "I think that Erastil is doing something mighty through his servant Katrina. But the heat might not do well for the rest of us." He starts to help usher people out of the room he squints looking toward the light.