"PHOENIX AWAKENING!!" Bugie screamed, red lighting erupting from the crystalline sphere, the light turning a bright crimson and growing in intensity as the magical energy erupted from the small gem.
Gniess closed his eyes and turned away.
Julia bared the blinding agony as the energies of the Phoenix washed over her form. The searing heat threatening to burn her cloths and leave blisters across her flesh.
Slowly the energy from the Phoenix gem began to dissipate; until all that remained in the clearing were Julia, Gniess, Bugie, and a ring of scorched earth around the materia user and around Armsmaster.
"Did it work?" Julia asked, in a resigned tone of voice.
Gniess blinked, clearing away the sunspots that invaded his vision from Bugies spell. He cleared his throat, "Let's take a look see." he brought his staff up and over her head. "Streibert." he whispered, the staff emitting a soft pale white glow.
"Well?" she asked, nervous feelings of dread and diminishing hope welling within.
Gniess remained still for a moment, passing the staff over the woman's form slowly as he continued his scan. When the shimmering field of white surrounding his staff faded away, the old Aura Mage sighed tiredly, "No. No effect."
Bugie grumped, floating back a bit wobbly, "That was the most power healing spell available to me."
No effect. None. Nothing. The words had become sickening to her. With each repeat nailing at her spirit, driving her to despair of ever being free of this damnable curse. Each chorus reminding her of the time already lost, time she could never get back. She.. was numb.
"Can we go now?" Julia asked tiredly, her voice distant.
Gniess nodded slowly, "Yes."
***
"Getting on in years, aren't you Julia?"
She couldn't remember who had said that to her, and it didn't matter. It was true. She was getting older each day that passed. So was Theo, and their child Gina. Every terrible year that passed was just one more she couldn't get back. One more she couldn't spend with either of them.
Julia stared at her drink. Entranced by the subtle breaks of its calm surface, her thoughts deep and riveted on her problems. The tavern she found herself was one of the more lively ones in Tessa, attributed to many a bar fight in the past. It was perhaps one of the only reasons she came here anymore. The chance to fight, to purge to agony of her loss in the heated fires of combat.
Karia gave her friend a look, but said nothing. Julia stopped by Tessa often these last few years, and aside from the Mages who came with her, only she knew the true purpose of her visits. Like clockwork, each and every visit of her friend ended here, at the bar, drowning the sorrow of another failed attempt to remove the curse from her.
Life wasn't fair. This was a fundamental quality of the Universe in her eyes. Still, fairness mattered little to the young Dark Elf. Looking at her friend, seeing her once lively green eyes staring lost in the liquid, she felt an extreme sense of uselessness. There was nothing she could do to help her friend, and aside from getting her mind off the issue for a few hours at a time, things didn't look to change anytime in the near future. She mused the reason for her latest fall back was from her decision concerning her marriage. It was hard, even for her, to contemplate the willingness of Julia to give up the one she loved.
Julia sighed tiredly, pushing her drink away, "I've got to go."
"Want to talk about it?" Karia offered as the woman stood up.
"No." she snapped irritably.
***
Theo glared, snapping irritably, "This is for my wife. You'll need to read it for her."
"Eh? Teddy? What’s this?" Mumsey held the vanilla folder with a look of confusion.
Theo grunted, turning around and walking away. Just before he exited the village he stopped and gave the taller woman a scowl, "You got what you wanted, bitch." before turning back around and leaving.
Mumsey blinked in shock. She didn't expect him to talk to her directly like that in a million years. She spared the papers a long glance. Whatever they were must be really important to get a rise out of the Mage.
See other episodes by Matdeception
(Posted Mon, 16 Feb 2004 20:42)
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