She shrugged. “I’m afraid it’s not. As much as a witch with an affinity to The Endless Death can in fact boost the dead, it’s usually not to this degree.”
He sighed. “Right…”
Of course, it wasn’t. Why be normal when one can be exceptional in an area no one really wants to be, he thought sarcastically.
“How are you, Ollie?”
Ollie sighed, as someone once again asked how he was; a question that, as of late, had been constantly thrown his way. It was one he didn’t really want to answer. Because he wasn’t fine. He was struggling to come to terms with almost killing someone, with feeling useless, with the possible reality that he didn’t actually care that Mikael was dead, and that his boyfriend had been the one to kill him.
The truth was, instead of worrying that he almost killed someone, he was more concerned about the fact that some part of him enjoyed doing what he had almost done, and that an even smaller part wished Noble hadn’t stopped him… And he was starting to worry that the disgust he felt over it wasn’t real, and was actually just him trying to live up to what he thought he should feel about it.
“Why amI going to tell him alone again? You are his familiar,” Noble pointed out as he stretched and relaxed back in one of Ollie’s kitchen chairs.
“He’ll take the news better from you.”
“That just sounds like an excuse to get out of telling him.”
Red hmphed. “It’s a perfectly valid reason for you to tell him.”
“I don’t really see how me telling him over you will make the news that an entity, likely on a whim, decided to hop a ride in his mind and personally tempt him, any easier to digest. Because based on your sources, and my understanding of how shit works, that is what happened.”
Really it was the only explanation they had. But then, who could really understand the whims of the arcana. They were beings of immense power, and as far as he knew, endless life…
“Yes, and it happening once increases the probability that it will happen again. I was informed that the arcana will sometimes select a few witches that are bound to them and—” Red’s snout scrunched up. “—entertain themselves.”
“Yeah, I am not going to word it that way.”
“Probably best you don’t.”
“I am questioning why you haven’t connected Ollie with whoever your sources are, as I'm guessing they are either witches or other familiars.”
“As the days of covens have long been over, thanks toyourkind, it is better for his development that he doesn’t get used tohaving others ofhiskind to fall back on. That he discovers things at his own pace, rather than it being handed to him.”
“I won’t take any blame for the fall of covens, as by my estimate, they were long gone before I was born, let alone before I became a witch hunter. But I feel I should point out that he was almost stabbed to death by a serial killer because he ran off on his own, based on advice from his grimoire, and that having a little outside help would probably benefit him.”
The familiar winced. “Right…training, it’s time for training. And to find out who his last affinity is to.”
Noble wouldn’t say he was exactly surprised to find out Red was sure Ollie would have three affinities. Most witches had two, but those of stronger lines, like Ollie’s, usually did have three. “I’m guessing three is common for Cross witches?”
Red simply nodded.
“Considering that him healing you is the only reason you are still breathing, shouldn’t we assume his last is to The Merciless Healer?”
“I don’t know. He really isn’t developing normally, so I figured, it’s best we just outright test for it.”
“Can’t fault that logic.”
The cat cocked his head, and one of his ears twitched, before Red announced, “He’s coming, good luck.” He then took off, disappearing further into Ollie’s living quarters.
“Coward,” Noble grumbled under his breath with a sigh. Oh, he was already regretting agreeing to do this alone.
Wait!? Had he agreed?! Or had Red just explained away anytime he pointed out him being there or not probably wouldn’t make a difference.
Fucking familiars…
Winnie ran the chemical sponge over the edge of the book in her hand, narrowing her gaze on Jahla next to her, before hesitating. She had questions, but she assumed that even if she asked, she wouldn’t get an answer that made sense. Because nothing made sense, yet no one seemed to notice that it didn’t except her. Or maybe they did and just hadn’t brought it up while she was around.
Great, now she was wondering if they were possibly saying things to each other and just not to her, because she was…well, herself… ? Either way, this would be the perfect time to ask without possibly causing issues, since the others were off eating.
