[ Mary's Studio ]
In the main work area, Nico's footsteps crinkle the plastic floor sheets. Various stacked paintings, collapsed easles, and holding tables scatter around him, eager for his eyes. He hums flatly, though, sliding a finger across the edge of one canvas. "I see your niece likes to paint in a variety of styles."
Viviane stands a few feet away, sadly bald and breathing out as Marlin would. By now, she hopes the two artists have broken out and joined the others. Her gaze lingers towards the hallway entrance before clearing her throat in front of the giant. "Well, she has always been the type of person to try new things."
"Is that so?" Nico halts in his survey, returning to the false man. "Would that also involve the book you've been studying?"
Viviane stiffens. Her eyes briefly widens before she snaps forward. "No, of course not! I'm well aware to keep these kinds of matters closed in the Order, and that includes my research."
Behind the bald appearance, however, her gelatinous mass shifts uneasily. 'Did they find out about Mary's freeze when she was little? No, that can't be right. It was only yesterday Marlin let it slip about studying a book!'
While Viviane's mind runs through possible scenarios, Nico holds out a hand, chuckling. "Easy, brother. I'm only asking because your niece resisted the flames I set when she opened the door. On top of that, you were able to cut the meeting with Morgan short yesterday from what I heard." His smile falls. "Strange, isn't it?"
"Strange?" Viviane repeats, frowning. 'Could it be related to the clone?'
Regardless, she straightens. "I feel that's my line, um...brother. While I don't know what happened to me at the pub with Morgan, I clearly saw that you were able to subdue my niece. So, what are you saying?"
Sillence fills between the two as Nico studies her. Finally, he snorts, shutting his eyes. "Well, it's better to show you. Besides, it would be a good test to see if you'll resist similarly."
He extends his hand. After a small pause, his palm immediately bursts out with a violet fire. Once more, Viviane transformed brown pupils shimmer as the intense hue highlights her.
"Now, you should still be able to hear me. What do you see?" he asks.
"Ah...well..." Viviane glances around, examining the detail of her surroundings.
Mary's work area remains a colorful mess.
Which is to say, nothing has changed.
"Brother?"
"Y-yes, it's gone dark for me!" Viviane hurriedly lies. It's the best she can assume as while her head races with her apparent resistance..
'So, just like Mary's clone, I'm unaffected as well. Although, what's the difference from this fire to the mental chamber I was pulled into?'
Nico hums before closing his hand, snuffing out the flame. "I see... That was only a smaller version of what happened to you at the pub. As for your niece, she didn't withdraw into her mind as easily when I set out a more serious cast." He narrows his eyes. "I hope that makes my surprise clear. That's not something I'd expect from someone outside our Order."
'He's not questioning my view.' Viviane's unsure whether she should be relieved as she shakes her head. "I still don't know how that could have happened with my niece."
The Italian stares for a moment before tilting away. "Either way, I want to be safer than sorry, so I will be clearing her memories. For something as short as my visit, she won't even know it, I promise."
'Like hell I'll allow that.' Viviane smiles crookedly. "How is that even possible? Is it done with the same type of fire you showed?"
"More or less." Nico hums, glancing away. "Admittedly, erasing isn't be the best term. From what I've seen, it's more like a...masking."
'Masking? ... Wait a minute.'
Could that be similar to the fog in her domain?
"With more advance rituals, we can even create shared mental spaces to connect with others," he continues. "It may sound incredible, but it's not without its toll."
"How so?" Beneath the composure, Viviane's inner goo is swirling to learn all of this so quickly. 'That sort of ritual might explain how I created the chamber! Should I be happy or worried he's telling me all of this?'
"Many within our circle lost their lives, especially in the early days," Nico answers. "How it can kill depends on how it is used, but in many cases, we've had people who go mad, while others who lose any sense of life. Not quite brain-dead, but... it may as well be that."
"But it doesn't burn, does it?"
"It's not a fire that burns in the physical sense. The reason we keep this fire away from public knowledge is that more harm will come than good. Like any normal fire, you have to keep it contained."
"Right... Morgan told me similarly."
Nico claps his hands. "No doubt, you'll learn more with us, but it's my turn to ask some questions."
Viviane thins her lips. "Sure."
"We're aware you've been studying a book for the past three years. Speaking of Morgan, you were able to block her out at the pub, so I find it hard to believe you knew little of the goddess' fire." His pupils reflect sharply. "What have you learned?"
Sliced through by the Italian's steady eyes, the elder slime's lips fall a bit. 'I can't completely lie to someone who might be more familiar with the flames. Let's see...'
"To be honest, I did have some clue," she begins. "It started by a book I found in my attic by the previous homeowner, written with these strange symbols and blank pages. Something drew me to it, but... it's hard to say what. Between your records and history, I eventually discovered there were connections to Egyptian rites where similar colored fires were mentioned."
"Symbols and... blank pages, you say?"
Viviane shuffles while Nico considers her mixed truth. She doesn't dare to reveal the book's name or how Marlin got it, but she can't avoid everything if she wanted to spur enough out of this cultist.
"That is... troubling, Brother," Nico begins after heavy breath.
Viviane forced smile completely cracks. 'Shit. Did I say too much? If they can use the fire, surely that's not surprising.'
"Is... Is there a problem? I know Morgan told me what I was studying could be related to Merlin or his followers."
"Answer me first. What have you learned specifically of these fires by your studies?"
The air hangs as Viviane feels his gaze under his hat. It's too late to pull back her claims, so she tightens her hands behind her back.
"All I've managed to conclude was that blue flames indicated some form of protection or blessing, green could summon people and objects, and violet... well, at first I thought it could shape lands based on the symbols and some history, but now I understand it's more than that."
This is all accurate to Marlin's knowledge. Behind her British mask, she can't help feel some regret for him. The uncle spent three years studying the symbols, partially figuring out their meaning. Then, suddenly, she takes it to be plainly translated within her domain within minutes. Adding more insult, the real value might have been the mental construction he had been completely unaware of.
'Sorry, Marlin.'
Nico draws a long hum after his own thoughts. "So, you figured these types of flames all on your own? I did hear you work in I.T."
"Is there anything you aren't aware of?" Viviane throws out a weak chuckle before swallowing. "Yes, and I did end up creating a computer program to help classify these symbols. Do you know what they are?"
"If we're talking about computers, then the symbols are like a code designed by Merlin, allowing us to 'speak' with our flames. As far as what influenced him, that's anyone's guess. The Order adopted them, using them in various records and experiments."
Viviane slumps. "So, in the end, I've just been lagging blindly behind you all."
Nico footsteps thump against the wooden floor as he steps closer. "Honestly, you shouldn't have stumbled upon a book as you've described in the first place. What's more concerning is that you're seeing blank pages."
'Oh?' Viviane keeps still as her vision is overshadowed. "What do you mean?"
"In our Order, there are no blank pages unless it has a purpose beyond a simple glance, all imbued by the fire we carry. It could be a hidden message that only your fire can unlock. To another, it could be a trigger." He squints his eyes, glancing down for a moment. "That must be how you were able to push Morgan away without knowing it.."
Viviane's eyes shake. 'A...a hidden function? No, wait, that's what Mary and I saw, didn't we?'
She recalls the Book of Isis was originally blank to Marlin before Mary read it. Later, Mary and Viviane received special notes from the wizard within Anne's domain.
'If Victor's book was designed to show me something special, what is it?'
By the same book, what did Lecia see if she was enveloped by blue flames?
"Here's the problem, brother," Nico begins, cutting away at her thoughts. "Our control of information isn't perfect. You may have heard of someone named Layna Moore."
The elder slime flinches. "O-of course."
"There have been plenty of outsiders like her who discovered our records. Some were pieces laid out by Merlin prior to the Order's founding. It turns out, Lecia holds one such piece which we're trying to find."
Viviane's eyes flicker. 'So they haven't found it yet.'
"If you had discovered a leftover by one of our members, that would've been fine," Nico assures. "Unlike Layna, you haven't published a book to the whole world about our beliefs."
Vivianes slimy mass shifts within. "I'm sensing a 'but' here."
A sad smile lines Nico's lips.
Without warning, he plants a hand to her shoulder. "But, it seems Morgan's insight about you is correct."
Viviane shakes. "What?"
"If you are seeing blank pages, it's unlikely you've found a record that we've seen before. The only way that can happen is if you're involved in some way with Merlin's followers, those that still believes the Flood can be stopped. That means, any effect that may have been placed onto you is a...well, risk we can't afford, especially now."
"Ah..." The elder slime holds herself, taking in the disappoint laced on Nico's lips, the regret in his eyes. It's obvious the decision he's come to regarding "Marlin".
'Seriously... Just because I mentioned blank pages?'
She frowns. "Brother, I swear, I've only been loyal to the Order."
"Hmm..."
Inside, Vivivane winces. 'Fuck! Why did I say that? Claiming loyalty is even more suspicious! What can I...'
She pauses, then blinks. 'Wait... There's no weight to his hand?'
Why should there be? Despite the large man's size, Viviane and the other remnants lack the senses to determine what is heavy or not. No matter how big of a human that towers over her, it wouldn't make a difference.
"..."
... Yes, that's right.
Is there a weight that would matter to her, even in the face of fire?
At that moment, Bedivere's face and voice rings through her head, carrying impossibly more weight than the one in front of her.
"Do you feel anything, Viviane?"
"No," she'd answer.
"Haha, I'm not talking physically, my lady. Is there weight on your mind to those we kill? To those that simply follow the wrong path, cultists of Isis or otherwise. What even is wrong? You knew Arthur better than anyone, grew up with him like siblings, followed him. He's better than his father, for sure, but... we'd be blind to call him a completely just king."
"Bedivere, just stop talking. Only weight I'm feeling is your drunk breath."
"I thought your kind couldn't smell."
"Fuck off."
There is a weight that matters.
People.
Specifically, the people that she carries with her.
She is following a path like anyone, but shaped by others, imprinted with many feet that slowly fade away.
Except, her feet don't fade but continues to morph in shape.
Indeed, the path of a remnant is a lonely one, but it always comes with new memories, new lives, new love, new roles..
In her case, perhaps old purpose.
Who is right or wrong matters little when time changes people and remnants alike. What matters now is that this Italian man, a product of an Order that she never intended, threatens her path and the people she connected with.
It's ironic, really.
Various cults for Isis were created as a result of previous remnants. It would seem she's just added to the list indirectly by entrusting the book to Bedivere, leaving it in the hands of time.
Viviane grits her teeth, lowering her gaze. "Okay, fine. If I'm such a risk, does that mean you're going to erase... no, sorry, 'mask' my memories as well?"
A pause comes with no answer, so she lifts her head, her eyes firm. "Or, are you going to whatever what was done to Layna Moore?"
The Italian's brows rise. Slowly, his lips fall with unease. "To be honest, we don't even know what happened to that girl. She disappeared long before the council could acquire her."
Viviane' pupils shrink. "...What?"
"That will be the end of questions. I'm sorry about this, Brother."
FWOO!
His hand on Viviane's shoulder ignites again, emphasizing the violet intent behind Nico's eyes. "While Morgan wanted to observe you longer, I'm afraid that wouldn't be in our best interest to leave you or your niece alone. I mustn't have the councilwoman waste their time."
The flame pulses, licking dangerously close to the elder slime's cheek. Still as a rock, he waits for her eyes to gloss over, loosening just as Mary and others he had to subdue.
"Rest assure, we'll find your book and continue your work. For now, just rest and settle into—"
"Yeah, no."
Viviane's hand shoots up. Shaking off her surprise, her eyes lock to him with a greater focus, lifting his hand off her shoulder.
"W-what?! How are you—"
"Just shut up already."
Crick!
Nico's eyes snap wide. A sharp spike of pain washes over to him from his arm.
"AAGH!?"
He bucks down to one knee, his size and flame utterly ignored by the elder slime's squeezing grip. Tiny bones crunch audibly between her cold fingers as her gelatinous mass increases with density.
He screams, piercing the studio, adrenaline pumping through him. He tries to jerk away half a second later, leaving the fire in his breaking hand extinguished, but the elder slime's hold doesn't sway.
"You think I'll let you do whatever magic you want while you intrude on my family? Just thinking what you could have done if I hadn't woken is... infuriating!"
Nico can barely listen or think, winding his shoulder with a grunt. His hat falls off as he throws a punch from his free hand into her stomach in a desperate cry to push her away.
Thump
Nothing.
Viviane absorbs the impact, and there's even a slight bounce back from her hidden slimy structure. Before he can try another pound in panic, she tightens her hold further, causing him to twist in abject horror.
Crick!
"GAAAAH!"
His other knee slams into the ground. Tears line the Italian's bewildered eyes while his other hand clench against the wood flooring.
"S-stop... H-how are you... How..."
Viviane's eyes narrow. She doesn't know what else Nico and other members of the Order can do, but trying to break him now to get more information out of him would be...
"Risky."
With that decided, she raises her other arm, extending it with a blue, sharpened blade from her mass.
Nico manages to lift his head up before his mouth hangs immediately, catching her transformed arm shadowed by the ceiling lights above. Any pull of resistance he could muster completely falls apart to the inhuman sight.
"Viviane, wait!"
The elder slime halts.
A step from swinging down, she tilts back. Her eyes widen to see Anne stepping out of the hallway, a hand to her chest.
A second passes before Viviane growls. "Anne! Why did you come back? I told you to leave with the others!"
The opposite slime mother tightens. "They're... they're far enough away, but...I couldn't leave you!"
"Yes, you should!" Viviane's voice cracks into her normal range. "As you can see, I have everything under control! Just turn away and make sure everyone is safe!"
Anne's face creases. "Are you really going to..."
"Gh...Slia...duf..."
FWISH!
A hiss breaks through along with Nico's strained words.
Viviane twists back to Nico in a breath. Parts of her transformed body spikes up in alarm as she catches tiny green flames trailing from his hand on the ground. With haste, it spreads around him while he mutters an unfamiliar incantation.
"Fuck!"
Viviane doesn't know what Nico is specifically planning, but the green flames are enough to tell she shouldn't wait any longer. Ignoring her slime sister behind, she swipes her bladed arm across, aiming for his neck.
The green fire ring finishes.
FWOOO!
There's no warm up. In a flaming roar, Viviane ends up slicing through a pillar of green light that emerges from the ground, evaporating the Italian man. As his darkened form dissipates in a snap, the flame continues to rise up, spreading across the ceiling like a fountain.
Viviane jumps back immediately, wary of being swallowed by the energy like she had been when was released. Other than that, she and Anne are forced to watch, waiting for the worst to come.
Shwip!
But, it just dies, just as quick as it sprang.
Silence hangs in the studio.
Anne blinks a few times before snapping out of her shock. Her gaze draws back to her slime sister, who stands motionless.
"Viviane!"
The elder slime, breaks out of her stun as well, only wobbling slightly. Marlin's clothes hang loosely around her as she shapeshifts back into her pale female form, her silver hair growing out from her head and falling like a curtain.
She stares at the ground where she had pinned Nico, but nothing remained of him. If this were a normal fire, at least a burn should've been left on the floor. However, any trace of the goddess' fire remained only in their minds.
"Viviane..."
No, there was something left behind.
Spurred by her sister's weak call, her gaze follows past to where the Nico had been. Slowly, her eyes expand as a streak of red spreads across the floor, adding itself in speckles to Mary's paintings along the walls.
"Viviane, Anne!"
Worried cries follow from the hallway, but the two slime mothers stand still. They take in the additional layer of red that has stained Mary's in-progress works and studio.
It may have been the final touch added.