Raven's stone

I never did ask Alastor why he kissed me. And I never got to visit Alicia's shop either, nor will I ever. For now all of it is nothing more than a smouldering pile of cinders. Perhaps she is too.

Drawing my legs up to myself, I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping to dispel such parasitic thoughts from my mind as quickly as possible- but that's the thing about parasites, they have a tendency to... stick.

"We will find your friend- Alicia. If she is half as smart as you, she would have fled the kingdom as soon as the warning signs had made themselves apparent. When we go to search for the Upper Realm's stone, we shall search for her then. Perhaps she may even be able to help us," Valerian suggests, continuing to comb through my hair between his fingers before he yanks out a strip of crimson cloth from his belt with another. To this, I simply hum, doubtful, deciding it better to stay silent as Valerian winds the ruby cloth into my hair to form a neat plait.