Celestia
"You've been asking me to lift my limitation spells more and more lately." She said, looking at Wastkin as she slid a blade through an envelope.
He stiffened and tugged on his waistcoat. "Their teamwork is proving troublesome in recent weeks. Even holding back to match Miss Indigo's level, it's still a rather steep curve to try and overcome."
"Maybe I should join you in Miss Indigo's place." She mused, bitter about Reva's hostility and indifference toward her. "Keep our teens heads from getting too big."
"I'd ask that you not push against Miss Reva too much. She's been off lately and seems to only confide in Master Cohle. It's rather worrying."
Scoffing, she shook the letter open, not wanting to admit she'd noticed the change in the teen's demeanor. "I suppose I'll have to make amends with her down when we get back from the capital." She sighed, tossing the letter onto the desk toward the butler. "A summons from the pope."
"And given your station, you can't afford to ignore it." Wastkin said, glancing over the words. "It's rather vague."
"Yes, it is."
"And this time of arrival-"
"They want me to teleport. Teleporting there will drain me considerably, so they're eliminating a possible threat. This is Derek's play. The man knows me too well." She said bitterly. "I'll tell them tomorrow, then we'll head out immediately. Sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can get back."
"I'll book our return trip and inform the staff." He said, bowing slightly.
Lily
"What's this for?" Reva asked as Lily clung to the teen.
"You looked like you needed it." She smiled, releasing her to walk awkwardly to the car and climb in.
She'd asked Cohle a number of times, but he only told her that she was getting better. It was hard to see and she cornered her brother as he descended the stairs. "Do something." She commanded.
"I am." He replied, kissing the top of her head with a grin.
"What exactly are you doing? She's lost weight, has bags under her eyes, and-"
"I'm letting her work through it at her own pace." He said, smiling at her. "I get you're worried, but she's getting better. I promise."
He slipped around her and headed for the door, telling Forge to behave himself before heading to the car and climbing in. She couldn't say she felt any better about Reva's condition, but seeing that he had the same bags under his eyes she did gave her a small comfort that at least the teen wasn't on her own.
"C'mon, Forge. Let's go see what chores we can help with." She sighed, walking through the den and into the kitchen where the Matron would be issuing the day's work.
Cohle
"Lily's worried." He said as Zeke pulled away from the manor.
Reva sighed tiredly. "I know."
"It's fine."
"No, it isn't." She said, looking over at him. "It's not fair of me to always rely on you."
He slid her across the bench seat and grinned at her. "I don't mind, Rev. I mean it. If I didn't want to help, I wouldn't. So stop worrying about me so much."
She sighed again and leaned against him. "Sorry."
The night terrors started a few days after the incident with her family and they'd given her a fear of sleeping. She'd told him that if she fell asleep, she was afraid she'd finally disappear and all that would be left would be the version of her that Hector had created.
After that, he'd begun spending the nights with her, helping her stay up until her body gave out then casting a spell he'd created that stopped dreaming so she could rest as much as possible in the few hours she got. For weeks, this had been their routine. Sometimes in her room, sometimes in his, sometimes they'd creep into the study and stare at broadcasts as a few maids who worked nights would bring them snacks.
It'd been slow going, but her reliance on the spell had fallen off some and she was letting herself go to sleep naturally instead of pushing her limits. And luckily, Celestia hadn't caught on to the fact that her hormonal teenaged wards were practically sharing a bed each night because she'd been distracted with work and other things. So much so they'd rarely seen her.
Forge also played a role as well, figuring out which of the staff could be trusted and which would report their nighttime activities and warning them. He worried that Lily, who'd been sleeping with the Hellhound every night instead of in his room, might come looking for him. But she never did.
"Two minute warning, kiddos." Zeke announced from the front and Reva slid back to her side.
Zeke had been one of the few of the staff that knew, but had never personally seen them roaming the manor in the night. Instead, he prepared their snacks for them, packing as much flavor and nutrition into them to help Reva not lose so much weight and keep her strength up as he could.
"I won't ask you to stop again." She said, staring out the window. "Just don't feel obligated, okay?"
"I don't feel obligated." He assured her as the car slowed, then stopped.
Climbing out, he felt his stomach drop when he saw Celestia waiting at the gate. Reva tensed as well and looked back, but the car had already pulled away. "She found out."
"Don't make assumptions. We'll hear what she has to say first." He said through gritted teeth, starting toward their guardian and mentor. "Headmaster."
"Not today." She said tensely. "I received a summons from the pope and with my station, I can't just ignore it. I don't know how long I'll be gone, either."
"Just you?" He asked.
"I'll be taking Wastkin with me. The Matron will be in charge."
"Fine." Reva said quickly, walking past her without meeting her gaze.
Celestia watched her go for a few seconds, then looked back at him. "How is she?"
"Slow and steady, Cel." He said, not wanting to divulge anything. "Be safe, please."
"Hopefully I'll be home in time for your birthday." She nodded, smiling weakly then jerking her head. "Go on and catch up."
Reva
Without Wastkin to help, training didn't feel right so they gathered in the den and stared idly at the broadcasts. She felt anxious without her usual distractions and fidgeted almost nonstop until Cohle pulled her tight against him and left his arm around her, continuing his conversation with Mel. After a few minutes, she calmed enough to rest her head against him and the thrum of his heart combined with the husky rumble of his voice lulled her to sleep in spite of herself.
She woke some time later, finding herself practically curled up in his lap using his arm as a pillow. He was sound asleep as was everyone else in the den. Lily's head rested on Forge and the doll of Cohle was in her arms while Melody was curled tightly in the chair Celestia usually sat in.
She turned slightly so she could look up at Cohle and his words about her being with her family bubbled to the surface again and she felt like she finally understood what that meant. Gently taking his other hand and holding onto it, she closed her eyes and let sleep take her under again.
"Up!" The Matron called, giving each person a gentle shake to rouse them.
Melody stretched her stiff body with a large yawn while Lily sat rigidly as the Matron moved around the room, encouraging them to get up and moving. "School kids get ready for school. Lily, Melody, clean yourselves up and get to the kitchen for breakfast. Forge, the door's open, dear."
The Hellhound yipped and shot off the sofa, disappearing to the outside to handle his business. Reva felt a painful pressure in her own bladder and hurried up the stairs to relieve herself and get ready for the day ahead. As she showered, she realized how much lighter she felt. The fears were still there, but they were just background noise now. Something she could learn to ignore given enough time.
Once she was dressed, she exited her room and waited until she saw Cohle's door open, stepping up to him quickly and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I feel better."
He grinned at her and nodded. "Knew you'd figure it out."
~
"Cohle, could you-" She asked.
He stood up and lifted his palm. Mana swirled around it, producing the spellform for Fireball before twisting and turning into the one for Greater Fireball. She'd been trying to explain a theory she'd had about changing spell mid-cast, but without the ability to use magic herself, she had to rely on Cohle. As frustrating as it was for her, she knew it was difficult for him as well and made a note to thank him later.
"I think you're just using his Spellforging ability to make yourself seem smarter." Lynn scoffed.
She was ready for this, however. "Since I can't use mana, I can't personally prove my theory, you're right. But I worked closely with Cohle on this and he can explain how it works from a more mechanical standpoint if you'd like."
"Can't wait to hear this." Rickard sneered. "Go on, halfbreed."
"It's a simple matter of channeling the requisite mana you'd need for a multitude of spells." Cohle began. "Say you're on the backline and you're able to see that fireballs aren't effective, so long as you can change the formula in your head fast enough and have the mana channeled, even if you're mid-cast, you should be able to change the spell on the fly. But it's important to make sure you have clear visuals of the spell, otherwise the resulting spell will either be weaker or fail to cast. Alternatively, if you don't have enough mana and try to cast a spell that requires more than what you've got channeled... Well, you know what happens."
"That would require us to be able to hold multiple trains of thought at once and be able to manage mana well enough to keep it channeled at all times. The strain on the body would be too much." Lynn said.
"Not everybody will be able to do it." Reva said. "At least, not at first. And I'll admit that our own personal circumstances are what inspired this theory to begin with. Cohle's way of utilizing magic is one of kind thanks to his awakening, so he's able to utilize spellforging as well as traditional spells, changing them on the fly to suit his needs. And while I can't make use of it, my body's been storing mana without adverse effect since my partial awakening."
She added that last line specifically as a dig at the students who'd inspired it to happen, sharpening her gaze at Lynn. But a Gale Cutter flew across the classroom, dispersing on the wall and shattering the tension. A student was standing and staring at his hand with a small smile on his face. "It was an Air Bullet first. But I didn't have the spell for Gale Cutter fully envisioned before casting."
"Take half a beat longer to cement it, then try again." Cohle said.
It took him a few seconds, but a proper Gale Cutter slammed into the wall and shook the room. Lynn scoffed, but Reva had proven her theory and sat down triumphant and grinned over at Cohle, who laughed quietly.
~
In their practical class, she was the odd number out, so she settled for watching Cohle exchanged quick casts with Rickard. It took her a while, but she picked up on the idiosyncrasies in Cohle's casting and it raised concern. While his power was enough to compensate, he was thinking too long before casting and when Polle called for a break, she waited for him to join her in the stands.
"What's going on? They're just basic spells." She asked the second he sat down. "You should be able to cast them instantly. I've seen you cast them instantly."
He smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, but Rickard's not as strong as you or Mel or Wastkin. I have to create spells that look like the ones we're supposed to be using while making them as weak as possible. Takes me a few seconds, but I thought I was getting faster."
"Why not just make the actual spells weaker?"
His face reddened slightly and he fidgeted. "I don't know how?"
"All that power and control you've got and you don't know how to make a weak spell weaker?" She asked, a smirk on forming on her face.
He groaned and buried his face in his hands. "I'm never going to hear the end of this, am I?"
~
"Mandatory broadcast tonight from the pope. Madam's supposedly going to be on it." Zeke said as he drove them home.
She laughed coldly. "And she'll hate every second of it. Good."
Zeke chuckled. "You're not wrong. I remember she'd always hide in the back or be absent any time Kingsguard would get interviewed when they were active. The twins weren't much for interviews either. Derek and Than usually handled press relations."
"What about Ophelia?" She asked.
"I never got to see it, but she was only ever spoken to directly one time and it went about as well as trying to turn a Razor Rabbit into a children's pet." Zeke guffawed. "And knowing Ophelia, that's probably putting it lightly."
"She didn't seem that bad. A little rough and awkward, maybe." Reva said.
"She was behaving for Madam. Remember, Miss Reva, Celestia doesn't show off, but those of us who remember when she was active know what kind of power that woman has." He explained. "And Ophelia was in her home. So... best behavior."
"I guess I just don't see it." She muttered.
Cohle leaned over slightly. "Remember what she said when I came back; even retired, Rys was a member of Kingsguard. And she was their tank. I don't think she would've said that if they were just a really good party that happened to be popular. You might be upset with her, but you know as well as I do, Cel doesn't boast."
She didn't respond, but he was right. In fact, she seemed more resentful of her power than anything, preferring not to use it when she could avoid it. But she'd been instrumental in Reva's education to the extent that she would've never even conceived of her Spell Alteration theory if it hadn't been for her mentor.
Melody
The explosion had shaken the house with enough force to knock several books off their shelves. Lily shrieked while Reva was ripped from a dead sleep and confused, but Melody was on Cohle's tail as they raced toward the front doors and ripped them open. Her entire body froze when she saw the church soldiers as well as the familiar faces of several Paladins standing in front of a massive fire.
A sword was pressed into her hand as Reva slipped out beside them. "What the hell is this?"
A Paladin stepped forward that she recognized as a powerful man named Dice. "We're only here for the halfbreed, Cohle Venge. Surrender him peacefully and you have my word that your arrest for housing a blasphemous creature will be without blood. However, if you resist, you will face the wrath of the Almighty."
Reva scoffed and drew her swords. "It's my wrath you should fear, you-"
"Rev-" Cohle said sharply, but the Matron's voice cut off whatever admonishment he'd been about to level at her.
"We have orders from Madam to protect this house and Master Venge! You've trained for this, so do not disappoint!" She bellowed.
Zeke shoved between them, carrying a large hammer. "Like we need to be told that, you old bag!"
Melody felt panic turn to cold dread in her chest, but Cohle's hand on her shoulder pulled her attention from the line of soldiers. "Zeke, you take the left, Alice on the right. Bella, Astrid, go with her. Ray and Bernard, you go with Zeke." He said confidently. "Rev, you back them up. Mel, you go with Alice."
"What about you?" Reva asked.
"I'll take the center and connected the two groups."
Melody still couldn't move, even as the battle started. But Cohle gave her a gentle shake. "What do you want to do, Mel?"
"What?"
"What do you want to do?" He repeated calmly.
"I..." She looked at the battle, then back at Cohle. "I don't know."
"Yes you do. Just answer honestly."
Her eyes found Alice and she remembered the woman's words. "I want to protect them."
His lips brushed her ears. "That's your path, Paladin Indigo."
Her eyes widened as he gave her a shove and walked down the steps. "Stay with Lily, Forge."
The Hellhound barked and disappeared into the house as mana swirled around Cohle, and the outline of the demon appeared once more. He looked back at her. "You're still standing. Means you've gotten stronger. Show them how much."
With that he disappeared and reappeared, delivering a punch that crumpled the armor of the soldier he attacked. Swallowing all but her determination, she drew her sword and darted toward her line.
~
The battle had been going well, they hadn't lost anyone from their side and Cohle's orders were clear and crisp, carefully balancing risk with strategy as they dwindled their disadvantage from ten to one down to three to one. But then the Paladins joined their reduced troops and the tide changed instantly.
Bella's arm was obliterated, but she hadn't been the only one to suffer a crippling attack. But Melody was surrounded by soldiers, bolstering their advantage and pressuring her. Cohle, Reva, Alice, and Zeke were all under similar strategy while the Paladins dealt with the staff, crushing them brutally.
Cohle realized what was happening at the same time she did. They were being pinned in while their heavy hitters reduced their numbers. It was a simple strategy, but painfully effective. The hopelessness started to build, but was stamped out as Cohle unleashed a powerful spell that stalled the battle.
"Get the staff into the house!" He ordered. "All staff into the house, now!"
He caught Zeke's arm. "I'll guard her with my life, son."
"Thank you. FORGE!"
The Hellhound erupted from the house growing to the size of a horse and plowing through the recovering soldiers.
"Mel, Reva, Forge, over here!" He called, then rested his hands on his knees and took several deep breaths as they made their way over. "Alright, time to stop hiding."
He grabbed Reva's shoulder and a series of spells shattered around her. She smirked and hopped lightly. "So this is what it feels like."
He did the same to Forge, whose aura increased instantly and radiated malice. Melody knew she didn't have a hidden power and didn't expect him to have anything for her, but he walked over to her and pointed at her horn. "You can draw unlimited mana in with that, use that to fuel yourself."
She nodded and concentrated, but didn't feel anything. "I'm sorry."
"Because you're still hiding. No more doubts, Mel. No more fear. You were a Paladin, equal to them in every way. But now you're one of us, and stronger than ever." He said, slapping her shoulders firmly and walking back over to Reva.
Inhaling, the ground shook underneath them and the demonic form around him solidified further. Reva looked at him in admiration before turning her attention to the recovered enemy and dropping into her combat stance. "Let's go!"
She gripped her sword, but before she could move, Dice appeared in front of her and attacked her with overwhelming strength. And while he could crush her easily, he batted her around the battlefield for several minutes. Beaten and bloody, she pushed herself back to her feet as he stalked over to her.
"You were a failure as a Paladin, as a human, and now as a demon." He sneered. "The halfbreed is stronger than you. As is the girl without mana."
"I'm... trying." She wheezed, her broken ribs making it almost impossible to draw a full breath.
"Not hard enough." He said, lunging for her, thrusting his sword with blinding speed.
"What do you want to do, Paladin Indigo?" Cohle asked coldly, holding Dice's sword in place mere centimeters from her throat. "Because you're not protecting anyone right now."
He turned his glare from her to Dice, shattering a spell he'd been trying to cast. "Cohle-"
"This is the last time I save you, so figure it out!" He snarled. "So what do you want to do!?"
"I..." She was overwhelmed. Pain, helplessness, fear all dominated her as much as Dice did. "I want to live."
"I don't believe you." He said, shoving the Paladin back. "So prove it."
With that, he disappeared and the sounds of battle escalated as Dice growled in annoyance. "Fucking halfbreed!"
He charged toward the main fight and she considered running, reaching up and grabbing the horn, tugging on it. If it hadn't been for the damned horn-
She shook her head. It wasn't the horn, it wasn't the scars on her body, it was the Church, the pope, her brother. They'd done these things to her because they didn't believe in her. But regardless of his words, Cohle did. So did Alice, Reva, Lily, Celestia, Wastkin, Zeke, Bella, Astrid, Wanda, and everyone inside that house.
She was stronger than she'd ever been and it wasn't just from training, it was from the support everyone had given her. Taking a breath, she felt mana flow into her and forced it to heal her body and enhance it. Gripping her sword, she kicked the ground, feeling it give under the power now flowing through her, she was in front of Dice almost instantly.
"Found some fight, did you?" He sneered.
She raised her sword, glaring at him. "This is my path."
Reva
There had never been a point that she could remember ever feeling so exhausted. Looking out at the bodies scattering the destroyed lawn, she let herself groan at how sore her entire body was as she steadied her breathing. The Paladins had taken a hit, but it was obvious who the winner would've been if they hadn't suddenly called for a retreat.
Forge was limping heavily up to the house, shrinking into a form smaller than he ever had while Melody staggered over to where Cohle was bracing himself against the destroyed car. He'd taken the brunt of the battle himself and was covered with injuries. His mana was nearly completely expended as well and she was worried he'd been tapping into his life force toward the end.
Deciding she was probably still the most able bodied of the three, she jogged over to them and pulled his arm over her shoulder, pulling him more to his feet. He gave her a weak grin, but Lily's voice echoed across the lawn.
"Cohle!" They turned to look, expecting to see her scared, but relieved. However, she looked terrified as she motioned for him. "Please hurry! The broadcast, it-!"
She cut herself off and gestured from frantically. Together, they helped him walk as quickly as they could, carrying him up the stairs to his annoyance. But he pulled away from them as they walked into the den where the broadcast was still playing.
Melody covered her face and sunk onto the couch while Cohle stumbled over to the screen, dropping to his knees and pressing his face against it. Reva couldn't make it out at first, but then she started listening.
"And on this upcoming fifteenth anniversary of Queen's Fall, the Lord will render his final judgement on the heretical demon queen-"
Cohle looked over at her and tapped the screen with the most heartbreaking smile she'd ever seen. "My mother."
He looked back at the screen and appeared to be trying to crawl into it before he collapsed to the floor with a dull thud. Lily shrieked and rushed to his side, but Reva couldn't take her eyes off the blood smeared screen. She was more like a wraith than person at this point, but standing just behind Celestia was the queen of demons.
"Wait..." She murmured.