Chapter Text
The atelier was quiet. As quiet as the cold breeze outside. Peaceful and undisturbed as small droplets fell from the gray sky.
The girls were doing their own menial tasks in their rooms. Practicing drawing spells till their fingers were stained with ink. But of course, all while munching on the sliced fruits their master had prepared for them.
Olruggio was in the living room, sipping on his black coffee. Brooding while polishing his contraptions.
Qifrey on the other hand was busy transferring some of the crushed plants he made this morning into small vials. Humming a soft tune as he did. He then heard the soft drizzle outside suddenly pour loudly.
Hmm. "Oh dear, seems like a storm is coming," Qifrey worried, "The girls might have difficulty focusing on their spells with the sounds of thunder," he added.
Olruggio grunted as he set his rings down, "That'd be better for now, at least they'd get some rest."
"Perhaps." Qifrey smiled and nodded.
Suddenly, something that resembled a white animal zoomed past the window, catching Qifrey off guard.
His jaw tightened, now attentive, "What could that be?" He wondered to himself. His voice cold.
Olruggio caught the change in his demeanor and set his cup down, "What is it?" He asked.
Qifrey's eyes narrowed as he opened the window. He grunted as droplets of water came contact on his hand. Quietly, he observed the outside, waiting to see if the white thing would appear once more.
And it did.
It slammed on one of the open window panels, crashing into it, shutting it closed halfway, "Gods!" Qifrey yelped and backed away.
Olruggio's eyebrows furrowed as he stood up, now reaching for a dagger in his robe, "Qifrey, stand back!"
Qifrey ignored his warning and approached the window. It was now covered in blood and.. feathers?
He looked past the panels and saw an owl, flapping about, thrashing at every direction possible. Its odd wings caught Qifrey's attention. It was crooked. And bloody.
The owl fell onto the grass with a loud thud and a small whimper.
Qifrey hastily fetched his hood and a blanket, running out the door, not bothering to stop even when Olruggio called for him.
Hissing as the rain poured down onto him, Qifrey carefully walked towards the injured animal. It was still writhing in pain, rubbing itself onto the grass as if searching for comfort.
It twisted and turned until..
A puff of smoke covered the animal. And with a small and weak flicker of a beam of light.. it transformed into a.. human girl?
Qifrey eyes widened, his breath hitched. He stepped back.
"Self transformation.. how is this possible.." he whispered to himself. Still taken aback. "Unless.."
As the smoke dissipated, he could now see the girl clearly. She was definitely a few years younger than him. Breathing heavily and twisting about, blood still leaking out of the medium sized wound on her back. Her white dress was stained with it and dirt. It was torn to pieces.
Qifrey hesitated. And with all the right to. This girl is definitely connected to forbidden magic. And worse, to the brimmed hats.
Was he ready to get involved with this?
He gripped the blanket tight. But she is nothing more than a human. He thought to himself. And I am too.
Qifrey walked over to the girl, he could hear her whispering but couldn't understand her words. Kneeling down, he wrapped her with the blanket and lifted her into his arms gently.
The girl grunted, her closed eyes brimming with tears, "s-spare me.." her weak, trembling voice whispered.
"I will." Qifrey whispered back, although unsure if the girl heard him. He walked back to the atelier, as calm as ever.
As he entered the front door, Olruggio's eyes widened to the size of a saucepan. "What in the- where the hell did you get that lass?" Confused, he approached Qifrey, staring at the girl with caution.
Qifrey just stared back at him, "She.. was the owl from earlier." He explained calmly.
Olruggio looked at him as if he was loosing his bearing but the thought finally dawned on him.
His eyes darkened as he reached for his dagger once more, stepping back, "She's transformed then, eh?"
Qifrey twisted the girl away from Olruggio's sight, "She's hurt enough, I'll have her in my quarters while I help with her wounds"
"Are ya out of ya mind, Qifrey?! If this lass did transform from an owl, then she's involved with forbidden magic! The Knights Moralis must know about this-"
"I said, she's hurt. If we were to send her there, at least let me patch her up." Qifrey argued back, Olruggio shook his head, his eyebrows furrowed.
"She'll die if I don't." Qifrey's eyes darkened, his voice was calm but heavy.
A loud thunder boomed from outside, shaking the ground beneath them.
"Just because you feel pity doesn't mean you should keep taking in--"
"Master?" A small voice cut through the conversation between the two men, their heads turned to the sound.
Agott was standing near the staircase, it was clear that she was confused. Her eyes said so. Behind her was Coco who was equally confused and scared, fiddling with the hem of her nightgown, using Agott as some sort of shield.
"Girls, did we wake you up? I apologize" Qifrey's voice was now back to his normal pitch, the darkness of his eyes was long gone. It caught the girls off guard.
They blinked as he walked over to them, passing Olruggio by who shot him a glare.
"We have a patient, I know we aren't doctors but would you like to help me patch this poor lady up?" Qifrey smiled weakly at the girls as they nodded, agreeing.
"I'll get the medicine" Was all Agott said before disappearing upstairs in a rush. "Do you need more towels, Master Qifrey? You're both soaked!" Coco offered.
"That'd be wonderful, Coco, thank you" before heading upstairs, Qifrey turned to Olruggio.
"Please lock the door and join us in my quarters, Olruggio. If you wish to talk about this calmly, that is." He turned his back to him and climbed upstairs.
Olruggio groaned and locked the front door. "How bothersome."
⬩✶⬩
"Agott, could you please prepare the apparatuses? Thank you" Qifrey called out as he gently settled the girl on the thick towel Coco laid out on the floor for her. Her eyes widened at the sight of blood.
Coco tilted her head as she saw her Master spreading what seems to be crushed leaves on the girl's back, near the wounds. "What's that, Master Qifrey?" She asked, as she rubbed a wet damp towel on the girl's muddy arm.
"Ah this? It is simply just crushed Coca leaves, it acts as a numbing agent. It may not entirely stop the pain, but it would lessen it. I have to stitch her wounds, after all." Qifrey patiently explained.
"S-stitch?" Something inside Coco twisted and she almost gagged. Agott lets out a quiet chuckle.
Qifrey smiled, "You can look away, Coco, this isn't really something lovely to look at"
Coco caved and closed her eyes but she continued cleaning the girl's arm
"Agott" Qifrey puts his hand out as Agott passes him the needle and thread.
The girl whimpers shakily as Qifrey works on her wounds. She was unconscious, but the pain still goes through.
"I apologize, This will be over soon.." Qifrey whispers to her, hoping that it'd bring a sense of comfort.
⬩✶⬩
After going through the wound skillfully, Qifrey cuts the thread before placing a few more Coca leaves on it to help with the pain even more.
He then leaves the room to give the girls some privacy as they help each other dress the girl in a new clean robe.
Qifrey re-enters and smiles as he sees his apprentices' work, "Thank you, my dears"
"None at all" Agott answers, Coco just smiles brightly, "We're glad to help!"
Qifrey gently lifts the girl up and places her on his bed. She is now breathing more steadily.
The girls stared at her curiously. Coco was worried of her condition while Agott is seemingly cautious. If it were true that this girl was connected to the brimmed hats, she has the right to feel that way.
Although, she was certain their master wouldn't compromise their safety at the Atelier.
The door opens without a knock, "What's your plan about this?" Olruggio is seen, the same glare still apparent.
Agott gave a glance to Coco who immediately nodded. They both slipped out of the room, past Olruggio.
Qifrey sighs and turns to him, he looked ridiculously calm even with an obvious problem at hand, "Whatever do you mean?"
"Why are you so adamant on being involved with forbidden magic, Qifrey? First Coco and now-"
"I am simply helping out a hurt individual. You saw her too, Olly. She was nearly dying. Surely, you'd do the same regardless of who-"
"You're helping out a witch who dabbles with forbidden magic." Olruggio harshly says, pointing at the sleeping girl. "Don't ya see the predicament we're in?"
Qifrey turns and stares back at him, blocking his sight of the girl, "How are you so sure that she's a witch?", he defended.
The other man's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What? How else-"
"Look at her." Qifrey gestures to the girl. "She doesn't have anything on her, let alone a jar of conjuring ink nor a pen. It is not possible that she was the one who put the spell onto herself. Witches carry such things to re-cast it"
Olruggio stares hard at the girl, she doesn't have any belongings with her. Nothing.
"What are ya implying then? That she was.." his eyes widened as his voice trails off. "No.."
Qifrey turns his head away, "That she was casted on.. against her will"
"This is outrageous!" Olruggio breathes harshly, pacing back and forth, stroking his chin.
"We'll talk to her about this to confirm, but for now," Qifrey gently covers the girl's body with a blanket, "let her rest. She's clearly gone through a lot."