It had been three days since they got back, three days of her nursing her wounds and regaining her strength.
In those three days, Mor had gotten better, not enough to be up and about, but enough to at least walk by herself. It puzzled them why she was not healing fast enough. 'It's as if her body is rejecting my magic's attempts at healing her, ' Livie had said.
Three days would not have been enough to heal her completely in normal circumstances, either, but she would have been far better.
In those three days, they had all huddled in the cottage, only discussing briefly about the confessions the man Lucien had interrogated had made.
He didn't know who was making the drugs or how they were made. He was just a middleman.
Rico, who they later found out was the man in white, knew more about how to access the drugs, but the man lay dead, his body probably burned beyond recognition, all thanks to Lucien and Felix.
The man had confirmed, though, that the den involved creatures in fights and their supply of drugs; in fact, they were its biggest suppliers, so if anyone knew who made them, it had to be the higher-ups.
The discussion had led to whether it was safe or wise to look into the den. The answer was simple, no, but they would have to do it.
The sound of swords clashing vibrated through the forest. Lyla dodged the oncoming attack, but wasn't as quick on the next one.
"Keep your guard up," Leo said before advancing on her again.
They had been at this since daybreak when he found her practising on a tree, 'let me give a worthy opponent,' he had said, and now, hours later, they were still at it, only stopping for water or going to the washroom.
Lyla's breaths were heavy and ragged, but she did not stop. Duck, dodge, swing…was all she cared for. Sparring with Leo, though, had turned out to be more insightful and reprieving than she had thought.
'The sword is an extension of your arm, stop holding it so tight,' he would say
'Steady your breath'
'That was good'
The man did not withhold his reprimand or praise.
At some point, Lucien had come out to watch them sitting on the porch silently, although she could feel his eyes focused on her, she had ignored him....ignored them as Felix joined, mostly to tease his friend when Lyla landed a good blow.
It was a good distraction, especially after their events.
Mor and Livie had also joined them at the porch, and it was only until they could barely stand that they decided to rest.
"I need to…tell you something," Mor started her voice small and tired. Lyla turned from where she was sitting on the steps to face her, "I think I know why I haven't been healing well…It's the green stuff."
Livie's turned to her friend, eyes shining with concern and curiosity, "the liquid in the vials."
Mor slowly nodded, "The man had been injecting me with it."
A drug that could prevent healing? Why would they make that? Just for torture?
"I'll look into it," Livie announced, already on her feet. "I'll need to get some things."
"I'll go with you," Felix offered
Silence followed the moments after the two left.
"I'll also have to look into that," Leo finally said before looking at Mor, and there was no doubt in his unwillingness to leave her, especially in her condition.
Lyla gave a rushed excuse as she stood, leaving them and Lucien in understanding, followed behind.
"I'll have to go with Leo," he said to her. "Could you stay with Mor and Livie, and you know, help them in case they need anything?"
"Sure, so where will you guys be heading to?"
"Not sure, but we'll have to look into the den and also go and see if anyone interesting has been curious about the incident at the building."
Leo walked in with Mor in tow, and after they took what they needed, the two also left.
Minutes after, Lyla sat on her lone couch reading from a tome Lucien had handed her the day they returned –a sort of thank you; it contained Umraeth's past and present.
Mor, who lay on the couch beside her, spoke.
"Thank you," she said to her, "for helping me, thanks."
"No problem. Sorry about your clothes," she said, referencing the ones she wore during the rescue.
"It's okay, you can keep them, I'm sure they'd look good on you."
"Ah, yes, a lady would never look better than when covered in blood and guts," besides herself, Mor laughed. The sound was low and choked, but a good sign nonetheless.
*
A week had passed since the rest of the group left, and they had not heard from them, but Livie didn't seem concerned; it was normal, she had said. So Lyla focused more on helping her with her tests on the drugs they had taken.
During that time, they had discovered that Mor's claims were true; the green liquid did indeed slow healing, a suspicion made fact when Livie released a bit of her magic into it, and they watched as it slowly swallowed it before spurting it out; it was the weirdest thing they had ever seen.
The witch had asked her to do the same, and the reaction was similar, except that when the liquid had swallowed her magic, it had bubbled and eventually burst.
It could be because she was from Luminara and the drug wasn't designed for her magic, Livie suggested, but she knew it might be something else entirely. Luckily, the female had taken enough vials to continue her experiments and, in the process, made some formulas that seemed to help a little against its effects.
Mor, on the other hand, had gotten much better; most of her wounds were completely healed without scarring, and the more severe ones now left scabs behind. Physically, she was okay, but Lyla had noticed times when her eyes grew distant, deep in her thoughts.
Earlier, the two had left to tie up loose ends with the owner of the bar they worked in, and although the man had been angry and disappointed, not much was exchanged.
When they got back, she was surprised to find Leo sitting on the steps leading up to the cottage. The minute the male laid his eyes on Mor, so many emotions filled his blue orbs that she didn't know what she would have done if they were directed at her, and neither did Mor because she just stared at him a bit uneasily. Lyla had the good sense to make herself scarce.
After a while, a knock came at their shared room with Livie, but the witch didn't bother to acknowledge it. Actually, she seemed so buried in her tests that Lyla doubted the female had heard it.
"Hey," she said to the male grinning down at her
"And how's our little ghost doing?" she scowled, making his grin wider
"Don't call me that," she reprimanded, leaving the door open and walking to the bed
"Hey, Liv," the witch only grunted an inaudible answer.
Leo turned to her, "We need your help."
"For?"
"Our investigations"
"Where?"
"The city"
"When?"
He smirked, "Now," which made Livie look up.