- Kassandra -

"Casimir!" screamed Kassandra. She was struggling to get to her brother, but Dai was holding her back. "Let me go! Dai! He's hurt!"

"I know," Dai said, his arms wrapped around her, back to Casimir. "Master Renaud is already here; Cas is in good hands."

"But he's my brother!" Kassandra cried. She did not understand why Dai would not let her see him! She needed to see what happened! "I'm just as good a Healer as Master Renaud, I should be the one to help him!"

"You're no help at all in such a state," said Mage Second Sébire. "When your staff cracked, the prisms you were maintaining shattered."
Her voice was cool and calm. She had come to under Kassandra's healing prism, and now she was being supported by her husband. There were burns all along the side of her face and hand where her robes did not cover. Kassandra had mostly healed her, before her prism was shattered when the daemon knocked her unconscious. Kassandra felt a small lump of guilt at not being able to complete the healing; had she been able to, Sébire would have no scarring at all. Tears streamed down Kassandra's face and she collapsed. Dai lowered her to the ground.

"Did either of you see exactly what happened?" Yvain asked.

Kassandra tried to remember. The daemon grabbed her and pulled her away from Casimir. She remembered his touch was white-hot, and as that memory filtered back, the pain in her arm returned. Kassandra held up her arm where the daemon's touch had scorched her.

You could erase the wound, Ala reminded her. Your staff is not so badly damaged as that.

'Can I erase Casimir's too?' she retorted bitterly.

It does not seem likely, her anima sighed.

Kassandra gripped her carnelian staff tightly. What good was this supposedly great healing ability if she could not use it now, on Casimir?

"The daemon did not appear until Kassandra started healing Batel," Dai said. "It seemed to be targeting you specifically."

"It didn't actually harm her, though," Thérèse spoke up. "It had more than enough opportunity to kill or injure Kassandra, so why did it go after Casimir?"

Kassandra's mind raced. Why would it have gone after him? She knew of no reason for that. He was rarissime, but so were Dai and Sébire, who were both here fighting the two creatures. She lifted her green eyes, trying to see Casimir, but Renaud and several others were cloistered around him. She thought she saw his quartz staff shimmering, then the light went out. To Kassandra, it was as if all the light in the world had just disappeared.

"Quickly! Get him through now! Take him straight to the Hôtel-Ange!" Renaud's voice became more frantic all of a sudden, and Kassandra went cold.

She rushed forward, knocking Dai off balance. She pushed against Renaud, not caring about rank or decorum. Kassandra's eyes widened and she froze, seeing Casimir. His chest was covered in blood and he was convulsing, and his body was too pale.

"Get her out of here!" Renaud shouted, but every sound was dull and muffled.

Kassandra was vaguely aware of two sets of hands pulling her away from Casimir.

"Casimir," she sobbed. "You're not allowed to die."

She broke down, screaming and crying until someone slapped her across the face. Shocked, Kassandra looked up to see a tear-stricken Thérèse glaring at her.

"You're not the only one who's losing him," she growled.

Dai put a hand on her arm, his face stern. "Tere, he's her brother," he chided.

"Like he isn't mine, either?" demanded Thérèse, her voice cracking.

Kassandra stared at her. In all the years she had known Thérèse, as long as Thérèse and Dai had been Casimir's best friends, Kassandra had never seen Thérèse cry. Or even, if she thought about it, shown any emotion other than rage or excitement. Dai murmured something to Thérèse, and the Battlemage crossed her arms.

"Sorry, Kassandra," she said, and walked off.

Dai crouched down. "He'll pull through. Trust that."

Kassandra felt numb. She nodded, mute.

"The Bridge Gate is open," Sébire said, placing her hand on Kassandra's shoulder. "Once they've taken Casimir through, we shall follow."

Kassandra stood, supporting herself on her staff. She took a deep breath.

"I should check on that woman," she said aloud. She turned to Sébire. "The Déchu, is there any way for me to go see her?"

Sébire stared at her, but she seemed to actually consider the request. Then she shook her head. "Not right now. We should return to Lutèce, and once you and the rest of us have been cleared, you can make a formal request with Grand Master Emyr to return. Though, I would not get my hopes up of returning."

Kassandra took a breath, but she did not protest as Sébire and the others led her to the Bridge Gate. She stared at the ground where Casimir had been laying just moments ago, still wet with blood.

- Casimir -

Casimir lay on the bed in the Hôtel-Ange, hands cradling the back of his head. Slowly he pulled one hand out and stared at it, then closed his eyes and pressed his hand to his chest. He grimaced at the pain. There was a dull red mark there he knew would never go away. The mark had even expanded across his chest, like a poison working its way through his blood, before Renaud had managed to stop it.

It advances still, sighed Eta, whose voice had become all but a whisper since Casimir had regained consciousness. We cannot stop it.

'What is it, Eta?'

The anima was silent for half a dozen heartbeats. We do not know. We cannot know. Such a thing, we have never known such a thing... Eta's voice became frantic even as it faded in and out.

           Pain erupted in his head. 'Eta! Eta what's happening?'

           It hurts. We are burning. It is too hot.

Healers ran into the room, led by Master Renaud. "Guérison: Maîtriser," he commanded, and his iolite staff slithered out of his hand, coiling around Casimir's chest. "Quickly, cool him down!"

           Two of the Healers went to either side of Casimir; one pressed his hands to Casimir's head, the other pushed gently against his shoulders. Casimir fought against the snake wrapping itself around him, but then the cooling sensation of healing pushed out the pain from his head. With a sigh, he leaned back.

           "Casimir, can you hear me?" Renaud's voice cut through the sudden silence. Casimir opened his eyes and nodded. "Can you tell me about this recent attack? Where did the pain start, and what happened to bring it about?"

           Casimir sighed again, but more from aggravation than anything. Every time it happened, Renaud burst into the room and asked the same questions.

           "I was speaking with Eta," Casimir recited dully, "and I got a headache."

           Renaud looked at him. "What was your anima telling you?"

           Casimir, still bound to the bed by Renaud's giant purple snake, glared at the Master Healer. Renaud stared back, unperturbed by Casimir's expression. Most people did not like to look in Casimir's eyes, bright as they naturally were, but Renaud was undaunted. Finally, Casimir closed his eyes.

           "It said it was burning, that it was too hot," Casimir relented.

           Renaud held up Casimir's medical codex. "You don't have a fever," he said, "not right now.
But your skin was hot to the touch, significantly so, until you regained consciousness. Your anima can feel temperature, or is it just reacting to your body?"

           "How should I know?" snapped Casimir. "I never stopped to think about whether Eta preferred the cold or not."

           "Your sarcasm is not helping," Renaud said flatly.

           "Neither are your Healers!"

           It was Renaud's turn to sigh. "Casimir, we have no idea what's wrong. And until we do, all my Healers are capable of is reactionary medicine."

           "Is there anything you do know?" Casimir grumbled.

           "Yes. The connection to your anima is under intense strain," Renaud began. He looked around the room, and his eyes rested on a small Lutetian limestone object. "Can you light that?"

           It should have been easy for someone of Casimir's skills. He looked at the object. "Illusion: Illuminer," he said. Nothing happened. Casimir repeated the command.

Hot, cried Eta.

'Come on, Eta, something like this a walk through a field of flowers.'

The third time he spoke the spell, the object began to fill with Casimir's signature white light. It did not glow very brightly, and after a few moments, it went out.

           "I want to keep you for observation until you go one full day without an attack. And after that, I expect you to check in every day so I can measure your connection to Eta."

           "What?" Casimir demanded.

           "You heard me," Renaud said. "Do you want to know the truth?"

           "That'd be quite nice, thank you," Casimir spat.

           Renaud's expression remained unchanged, except for the slightest downturn of his mouth. Renaud motioned for his pair of Healers to leave the room. He stepped closer to Casimir.

           "Your symptoms match, almost exactly, what we know of the beginning stages of the illness that swept through Lutèce." The look on Casimir's face must have mirrored his thoughts, because Renaud nodded. "Then you understand my precaution in letting you go. And I can't understand what is happening to you if you won't cooperate."

           Casimir clamped his mouth shut and looked away.

           "I'll be frank," continued Renaud. "Because we were never able to fully comprehend the illness, I don't know how to cure you. So, will you help me?"

           Casimir felt so cold, and the fear flowing through him was more than he could bear.

           "Am I going to die?" he asked quietly.
"I don't know," Renaud responded in an equally soft tone. "But the fact that you are alive now, and conscious, is more than anyone else ever had. So I'd wager we're close to something, at the very least. But I'm worried about the strain on your anima, and what will happen if it is severed."

           A knock came at the door, and Renaud straightened and turned around. He held out his hand, and the snake slithered onto his arm, crystallizing into the Master Healer's iolite staff.

           "It's me," called the muffled voice of Casimir's sister.

           Casimir sat up. He did not want to see Kassie, not now. Not like this. He remembered so little of the attack in the Old World, except her screams and cries. They permeated his mind constantly, resonating in his dreams, echoing even when he was awake. Casimir did not want to hear his sister cry like that, ever again.

           The door opened and Kassie walked in, her green eyes flickering to Renaud, to whom she bowed slightly, then back to Casimir. By Elam, every time he looked at her, it was like looking into a mirror, except for her eyes. Kassie looked him over warily, as if searching for signs of the spreading infection. Casimir tried to give her a smile. Renaud strode across the room, ready to leave through the door Kassandra had left open.

           As he passed Kassandra, he placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it. To Casimir he said, "Thank your sister for noticing the pattern. She's the one who recognized the signs. She's a brilliant Healer. If anyone can find a cure for you, it's her."

           Kassandra flushed under the praise, and Renaud left. Outside, the bells at the Archange de Lutèce chimed, signaling the start of morning classes. Casimir looked out the window.

           "I'm going to the Old World again," Kassie announced suddenly.

           Casimir looked at her, incredulous. "What? Why in the three realms would you do that?"
Kassandra held her carnelian agate staff, an identical copy of her brother's quartz prism. Casimir followed the cracks along the tip of it, frowning.

           "That Déchu woman, Batel. Dai said she and Eremiel were the ones who gave you sanctuary the first time you were attacked by that white daemon. She had severe injuries, and with some minor differences, they followed the same pattern as the sickness here in Lutèce." Kassandra paused and glanced at Casimir.

           "And?" Casimir demanded, fighting to keep his anger in check. "What does that have to do with anything? Kassie, you can't go, I won't allow it! Look at the state of your staff!"

           "I know!" Kassie interjected. "But my duty as a Healer demands I make sure she has healed properly, and besides, I feel I owe her a debt. She protected you. And maybe if I can study her, I can learn more about the condition. She had it much worse, and if she survives, I know there will be a chance for you, too."

           Casimir clenched his fist and unclenched them again. "You're never so determined," he commented. When had his little sister grown up so much?

           "I am now," she said. She walked towards him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Casimir winced, but returned the embrace. "I was so afraid, Casimir. I was so afraid I'd be going home without you. Thank you for coming to my rescue."

           "Hey," Casimir said, pushing her gently away. "I'm your big brother. I'll always come for you, no matter what."

           Kassandra nodded and smiled. She hugged him again, then left him alone. Casimir watched her go, the leaned back in the bed. He would not give into his fear.

It is your rage which worries us, Eta said softly. Do not give into it. It feeds on it.

'What does, Eta?' Casimir asked.

It is too hot, cried the anima. Its voice faded into silence.

- Günay -

Günay was waiting for Inanis the moment he entered the castle, Ansgar and Kato standing nearby. Inanis appeared, a large wound in his stomach stitching itself together as the daemon fully immersed himself in the air of Crystallos.

           "You took more damage than I expected, Inanis," Günay observed as Inanis stalked through the great hall. Inanis' right claw was still missing, the stump at the end of his arm cleanly cut. It was not growing back, despite being surrounded by chaotic magic. Günay smiled.

           "Our presence was detected more quickly than we anticipated," Inanis explained. "And we underestimated their strength."

           "I warned you," Günay responded, more amused than anything, "not to underestimate Lutetian magic. Did the girl do that?" he asked, nodding towards Inanis' missing claw.

           "Yes, Grand Master Günay." Inanis held up the stump so Günay could better see it.

           "Let me inspect it," Günay commanded.

           Inanis stood and approached Günay, who stepped down the dais to meet him. Inanis obediently held out his stump.

           "Guérison: Restaurer," said Günay, shedding the blue-green light of his aquamarine staff over the missing hand.

           Water dripped from the staff and onto Inanis' arm, where it sizzled and evaporated. Gradually, more water flowed from Günay's staff, encasing the stump in a swirling ball of glowing liquid. Nothing happened. Günay dismissed the water, but instead of frowning at his inability to heal the daemon's hand, his smile widened.

           "What sort of magic is this?" Kato asked, peering at Inanis. "Kassandra is a healer, how can she do something like that?"

           "Healing is, at its most basic form, a defensive type of magic. Healers who use wards know this the best, and can learn to use their wards offensively."

           "But your own healing should have restored Inanis' hand," pressed Kato.

           "If it were any normal Healer, then yes," Günay said, his smile widening.

           "You're being awfully cryptic," Ansgar remarked.

           "All in good time," Günay told him dismissively. "I began researching theories of Healing, as well as the bloodline Gifts that certain members of Lutetian nobility carry. As I'm sure you're aware, blood does not always determine an Élu Gift, as it usually does for the Déchu. But the noble families do carry a bit of inherited Gifts. The Élysées, known Healers, are one of the oldest families to inherit Elam's Gift."

           "So Kassandra is not just any Healer," commented Ansgar, folding his arms in his sleeves.

           Günay gave in to Ansgar's curiosity. "I began researching types of Healing magic, particularly inherited Healing, while I was Mage Second under Kason Élysées. His Healing was also a bit...different." Kato and Ansgar exchanged glances, but Günay ignored them both this time, and addressed Inanis again. "Did her brother appear?"

           Inanis blinked. "Yes, Grand Master Günay. The one who used white, blinding magic was there, just as you said he would be."

           "From that point, did everything go as planned?"

           "Yes. We fought him briefly. And we caused the girl's staff to crack unintentionally."

           Günay smiled again. Ansgar and Kato stood off to the side, their customary smile and glower each on their face, respectively. That was an unexpected turn of events, but one which might work to his favor. Élu crystal staves were difficult to craft, but even more so to fix one that had been damaged.

           "You have done well, Inanis."

           "Now what?" Ansgar asked.

           "Now we wait until the right moment. Inanis, I want you to be my eyes in the human world."

           Inanis bowed. "And what of the Lost Ones?"

           "With Lacerta gone," Günay sighed, "I will have to start from scratch. I'll see if Pardus can be of any use there, but for now..."

           It was not ideal, but it was an unfortunate side effect of Lacerta's demise. Günay had truly not anticipated any of his daemonis breaking free from his will, certainly not by anyone as weak as Siena Charis. He would have to be careful with Kassandra now. He doubted Casimir would have the will or knowledge to corrupt the daemonis, but in the short amount of time Günay had watched over Kassandra's early training, she had proven to be much cleverer and more resourceful than her brother could ever hope to be.

           "The Lost Ones can wait," Günay decided. "I'd rather not entrust that to a being like Pardus. His memories are more fractured than Lacerta's were."

           "With Orexis gone," Ansgar interjected, "that leaves us with only two Equites."
Günay glanced sideways at his Battlemaster. "Yes, that detail is not lost on me. At least my remaining Equites are loyal. Inanis, make sure you replenish your strength, then go to the human realm and wait."

           "Yes, Grand Master."

           Inanis left the hall, his body shining as it absorbed the chaotic magic of Crystallos.

           Ansgar commented, "It's not like you to have so many different schemes playing out at once. You've always been very meticulous, letting one play out to its end before beginning something new."

           "I am also concerned with the sudden speed of your experiments," Kato added, agreeing with Ansgar for possibly only the second time in their lives.

           Günay looked at them. "I will admit I am growing impatient. But I am by no means giving up on the Lost Ones. I am simply eager to see some outcome to everything I have been working on, and for the moment that means switching my tactic."

           Kato spoke up again, "What are you going to do about the other two? Lang and Shimano? They're rarissime, and intelligent. They'll see what's happening to Casimir and try to stop it."

           "I would agree they are perceptive, but I am not worried. The only one capable of reversing what's happened is Kassandra, and it will be a long time before she understands how. If they try to interfere with my plans, I will make sure they are taken out of the equation."

           "Shimano is shrewd and suspicious," Kato continued to argue. "She could be a problem."

           "No more of a problem than any other rarissime," Günay laughed. "As long as I get what I need from Casimir, then I am not worried about the others. What's done is done, and neither of them can reverse it now. It is only a matter of time until Casimir shows us what he is worth."

***

END OF VERSE I

Verse II will begin release on Friday, August 9th at 9PM EST