The scent of sandalwood invaded Emily’s nose, its calming effects doing nothing to stop the rising sense of suffocation around her.

  It was as though someone were pressing a pillow over her face and she was unable to stop the clawing sensation in her chest.

  Emily's consciousness slowly came to and as she did she realized there were voices in the room.

  “How is she waking already? I thought you said it could be days. It's nearly been half an hour.”

  The voice came from behind her and it took her a minute to realize she was currently lying face-first on a soft surface.

  Spikes of pain radiated from the base of her neck where her bridges were.

  The suffocating force she had been feeling was a pillow, only she was currently on her stomach.

  Once Emily realized this she tried to put strength in her arms, though they were slow to respond.

  Sitting up on her elbows, Emily took stock of her body. Right now it felt like she had eaten seven holiday dinners, and her body was full to bursting. Every movement released a wave of nausea and pain. By the time Emily began to search the room, it had fallen silent.

  Alex was there along with Genevieve they both looked concerned by their expressions.

  Genevieve was the first to speak as she took a step forward.

  “Emily, how are you feeling.”

  “Like shit” Emily sighed.

  “Yeah, that’ll happen. I managed to balance out the relics intake but your body suffered a great deal during that time. I’ve never seen one person draw in that much source and live to tell the tale.”

  Emily hummed as she left her face to fall back into the pillow muffling her voice.

  “I’ee Hurd uo say uo can’t take it oof” Emily groaned.

  Genevieve grimaced but nodded.

  “Extracting it has become nearly impossible, but it's a combination of problems. One, being that your body has assimilated the relic to an extent”

  This shocked Emily and caused her to sit back up.

  “What do you mean? As in I’ve merged with it?” As Emily said this, she reached back to feel her bridges. The smooth texture of her skin gave way to tender, swollen scabs and then the glossy feel of polished metal.

  “Well, that was always the intended design, but it’s only been applied to your primary bridge. Your body seems to have better than we expected. Choosing to bond with the relic to keep you alive.”

  Emily’s eyes narrowed. She would have never chosen this if she had been healing herself, but if this had happened, there could only have been one culprit.

  The skill, ruby guardian, was the only thing awake during that time, so it had to have done this.

  Glaring at Genevieve, Emily growled.

  “Just pull the damned thing off. I’ll heal whatever comes after that.”

  Genevieve shook her head right away.

  “I’m afraid I can’t do that and I must ask you not to either or you could very well die. Your body has found a balance. You don’t want to mess that up now. If sir Conner were still here he might be able to give us more information, but I can’t say I was sad to see him go.”

  Emily pressed her lips together and glared.

  “So I’m just stuck with this thing buried in my skin?”

  Genevieve glanced at Alex for help and he nodded.

  “Yes, learn to live with it. You’re alive and that’s more than you can say for your other test subjects.” a firm light flickering in his eye.

  Seeing Alex react so heartlessly Genevieve tried to console Emily

  “But don’t worry it's not like there's no benefit. As far as I can tell it's working as intended. With the cortex on you should be able to draw an enormous amount of source.”

  Emily hummed quietly to herself. She had never really had a problem with the amount of source she could gather. But she supposed in some ways this was a good thing. It felt like shit that Ariandel had gotten one over her. And to make it worse, he was still breathing but at least she was alive.

  The nauseous sensation had not left her body since waking up and she glanced at Genevieve.

  “Why does it feel like I’ve spent the night in the tavern.”

  Genevieve’s eyes widened and a smile slowly appeared on her face.

  “Um, this is just a guess but I think it's because your body is currently fighting with your old source”

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  Emily frowned and shook her head. “What do you mean?” she asked

  “Well, do you remember our analogy with the old and new source, the one about salt water and fresh not wanting to mix? That's what's happening. If your old source is the saltwater, your body is now only pulling in freshwater.”

  Emily scowled at Genevieve but didn’t say anything. The woman looked uncomfortably around the workshop and back to Emily

  “The bad news is that your source will be unstable for a while. The good news is once it’s clear of impurities you’ll probably notice a huge difference in your runic sorcery”

  Emily worked her jaw.

  “Okay, and do you know how long that will take?”

  Genevieve shook her head not offering up an answer.

  Emily's shoulders drooped but Alex spoke up again.

  “Emily, I don’t know a lot about what's going on, but I can say I'm glad you’re alive. Whatever comes after this is going to be harsh and as much as I hate to admit it I’m glad to have you on my side.”

  A while ago, that would have sounded like an insult to Emily, but now it didn’t bother her so much. Straightening her spine, her gaze fell on Alex. She wasn’t sure what she was feeling right now. Anger, loss, frustration? She wasn’t sure at all. However, there was one thing she was certain of: She was glad Alex was back, even if his presence was just reassurance. The fact that he was a reliable person and fighter was reason enough to keep him around.

  Slowly a casual grin spread over Emily's face.

  “Yeah, okay, it's good to have you back. But if you act any sappier I’m going to get diabetes, so as long as everything is fine then we should get moving.”

  Alex rolled his eyes at her callousness, but she was fairly certain Emily saw the corner of his mouth twinge up.

  “Right, well you’ll need to come back for check-up so I can see that the relic is working correctly. I made the thing so that it would last a decade or so, but it will have to be sooner if you start to notice irregularities.” Genevieve said

  Emily pursed her lips at this information, but it shouldn’t be a problem. It just meant that she needed to bring this woman along or return here if it was still standing.

  Neither was a good option but that raised a question.

  “If I had your notes and was able to show it to another Forge Master would they be able to fix me in a pinch?”

  Genevieve bit the bottom of her lip and seemed to think it through.

  “Mmm if they had my notes…maybe. But it will be better for me to do it.”

  Emily nodded.

  “Then make me a copy.”

  Alex’s face got significantly more serious at this stage.

  “Emily, I’m glad you’re safe, but I need to go downstairs to make sure the powers that be haven’t torn one another apart.”

  Emily scowled at Alex.

  “You’re still thinking of rescuing Kael aren't you?”

  Alex paused but nodded.

  Emily rolled her eyes but signaled for him to go on. She had not changed her mind at all. In fact, as far as she was concerned this was a waste of time, but Alex seemed determined so Emily climbed from the covers and stood intending to follow. Emily would have to knock him out and escape at some point. Better to remain nearby for that part.

  Alex’s brow twitched when she followed him but he said nothing.

  Genevieve glanced at the two of them heading out but seemed to be gathering documents so Emily assumed she would be with them later.

  Alex led them to the door but when they got to an internal lift Emily worked it having been her before.

  Getting back to the dining hall was a little difficult, but the tower seemed to rearrange itself as though it knew their intentions. They soon arrive in the hall with everyone else. Luckily no one as of yet had made a move yet, but a good many tables and chairs had been pushed together and people sat around talking.

  Ashe was the first to see them coming in and while she looked worried she was currently talking to Juest.

  “As I have said the best time to attack is after our retreat we will make as much chaos as necessary to get their attention, and then it's your turn to hit them while they are distracted.”

  “Understand. Then we agree. But if we are to do this then your window is closing. The city attack will happen regardless of whether you are still in there, and a strike like this has a hard time distinguishing friend and foe.”

  Alex and Emily sat down near the wandering fangs. Across from them, Umbra stood behind him with his men. He suddenly looked far more interested in the conversation now that they had arrived.

  The only person who had not sat was Juest and his presence somehow took up more than enough of the room in the place even though he had one to back him up.

  Whatever they were talking about looked like it was in the later stages but when Juest saw them he seemed to pause.

  “Is my sister alright?” he asked.

  “Emily was not sure why he even asked because she was pretty sure he could sense everything in the tower” but she nodded.

  “She’s fine, she’ll be down soon. She’s just sorting something out for me.”

  Juest nodded and pressed his lips together.

  “We have almost come to a conclusion but Mage Ashe will inform you of all the details.”

  Alex nodded and while Emily never said anything her face was nothing more than a dull glare

  It must have been rather obvious because the last person she expected to speak up did.

  “Hang on now. Emily, how do you feel about this attack? What will your part in this.”

  All eyes turned towards Emily at this point, but she wasn't interested in their questioning gazes.

  “Well, first off I think this is a mistake. For those involved it makes sense to want to fight, i guess. But as for myself, I don’t see a reason to undertake such a pointless mission.”

  Juest’s brow rose.

  “You think stopping these monsters from entering our city is a ‘pointless mission’ They will convert anyone they get their hands on, and those they can’t they will call it a mercy killing. Are you okay with that?”

  Emily squinted at the man.

  “I don’t like moral rocks and hard places. Would I prefer it didn’t happen, of course. But I’m not sticking my neck without a reason.”

  Juest eyes narrowed.

  “The loss of innocent lives is not enough?” he growled.

  Emily's face never changed from it cold mask.

  “They are not…”

  The room became frosty as everyone fell silent.

  Umbra snorted shattering the quiet.

  “You have a good point, Emily. If I spent my time protecting my investments I could probably get a majority of my men out in time. If the beautiful Miss Emily will not throw her hat in the ring, neither will I.”

  Emily's nostrils flared at this joke.

  She could see a look of excitement in his eyes. He wanted to know how she would react and if she was not wrong he would not hesitate to follow up on his threat.

  Juest face fell and he shook his head.

  “Then the deal is off. If the Weerping is not backing this completely, I have no reason to risk anything.”

  Both Ashe's and Alex’s face fell. He scowled at Emily while Ashe shot her a wounded look. Emily could see them out of the corner of her but she didn’t change her expression. This was good for her. Maybe Alex would rethink this now.

  Juest was about to speak again when the last person Emily expected spoke.

  Nox was sitting next to Ashe when he opened his mouth.

  “Emily, you once told me that you always uphold your deals. Is that true?”

  Emily’s face froze and she pouted at the teenager.

  “That right. Why?” she asked a sinking feeling setting in.

  “Well, when I met you we made a deal… I upheld my end but I have not asked anything of you.”

  Emily’s eyes narrowed dangerously on the kid.

  “You can’t be serious you little shit.”

  Nox puffed out his chest and held her gaze

  “Emily, please help us rescue the Wandering fangs”

  Blood points: 308