Complications
Back at the hotel, after putting Rose to bed, Scarlet, Sher Aka and Rayla sit down to talk about what just happened.
“So? Explain.”
Rayla lets out a sigh and asks, “Do you remember how back when she first got Hoppy, she didn’t recognize us and started talking in Elvish?”
“Of course I do but this was completely different! Back then she was just happy and cried for a bit before passing out, this time she was scared to death!”
“And more importantly,“ Sher Aka interjects, “She seemed to recognize you. Meaning she knew of you before she got cursed.”
“So what if she recognized me? I’m her sister.”
She shakes her head, “No, that personality does not know about any of us outside of me and perhaps Rayla. She clearly said, ‘It’s you’ before she called you a monster which means she knew you before she got cursed and her memories got sealed.”
“Alright, so she recognizes a royal, so what?”
“Didn’t you say only nobility, academics or people from high society would recognize you, Scarlet?” Rayla asks.
“Or she could be from Blaze.”
“Would she really have a reaction like that if she were from Blaze?”
Scarlet gets a little annoyed now, “What’s your point, Rayla?”
“What if she really is Princess Eithlynn?”
“I’m not entertaining this.”
“Scarlet! Wait. This is important. I need you to give me a real answer.”
“Fine. If it does turn out she’s from that wicked family…I’d be surprised but she’d still be my sister.”
“And what about your family? Can they accept her if she’s the princess of a country that you’re at war with?”
Sher Aka adds, “And more importantly, what will you do if the Flower Kingdom wants their princess back? If you don’t let them have her it might start another war.”
“I…I don’t know. But I do know that no matter what happens I’ll stay by her side. No matter what happens, I won’t let politics get in the way of our happiness… Now excuse me, I need to stay by my sister’s side.”
—---------------------------------------------------------------
Opening my eyes, I’m in bed next to Scarlet and Rayla.
Scarlet brushes through my hair with a smile, “Good morning, Rose. How do you feel?”
“A little exhausted. Sorry for falling asleep again.”
“It’s alright. But are you sure you’re feeling fine otherwise?”
“Yeah…I’m a bit hungry though.”
“Just a bit hungry, or really hungry?”
“Just a bit.”
She gives me a lick on the cheek and gets out of bed, “Alright, I’ll go get you something to eat.”
“Hey, ane?”
“Yeah?”
“Did I scare the kids when I fell asleep?”
“Nope, I’m not even sure if they noticed. They were all distracted with playing music.”
“That’s good... Hey, ane? I know I say this a lot recently but can I ask you something weird?”
“Of course you can.”
“Do you mind if I sniff you? I’m sorry that sounded way more gross than I wanted it t-”
“It’s fine, go ahead.”
“A-are you sure?”
She smiles, “Yep.”
“Rayla…I’m sorry for being such a weirdo.”
“Don’t apologize. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
“Thank you, ane. I’m not sure why but smelling you and manya, makes my head feel all foggy and nice.”
“That’s completely normal for a Dragon.”
Getting close to Rayla I take in her scent and my head gets completely foggy. Things are kind of a blur after that. I do remember Scarlet giving me food and some more talking but I then quickly fall asleep.
—-------------------------------------------------------
The next day at three in the morning, Scarlet and Rayla get woken up by whimpering.
As Rayla turns on the oil lamp, she almost lets out a scream but quickly stops herself. Rose seems to be in a weird disfigured hybrid form right now, stuck between her draconic and cursed form. Her curse mark expanded all over her body wiggling like dark tendrils seemingly trying to fight whatever change is currently happening. Her mouth is wide open with some teeth completely missing and her eyes are closed.
“Scarlet, what the fuck is happening!?”
“I…I don’t know! But I think she’s hungry?”
“I’ll go get the food we prepared then!”
Quickly Rayla runs out of the room and gathers food as well as wakes up John.
Meanwhile Scarlet tries to pet and soothe Rose, who seems like she’s in pain, “Shh…It’s fine, Rose. You’ll be alright. Your sister is here with you. Do you recognize me?”
The whimpering gets a little quieter as the deformed Rose is leaning into Scarlet.
“Yes, it’s me. You’ll be okay. I’m here, I’m here…”
Rayla then comes back with food, John and Sher Aka who lets out a shriek at the sight of Rose and even John needs to compose himself seeing Rose that disfigured.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck. Damn it! Alright, start with getting Thoma Ahad out of his clothes, they’re constraining him!”
“Alright!”
Scarlet takes off Rose's shirt and pants leaving her in her underwear.
“Now put him on his side, he needs to leave his airways open.”
“Okay!”
Rose’s whimpering then gets louder again.
“I know, I know it’s uncomfortable, I'm sorry. John, what do we do now!?”
“I…I don’t know. I guess we wait?”
“We wait? What kind of advice is that!?”
“I can’t give you more than I know either! Whatever is going on is beyond medicine! This is some weird curse, reincarnation clash.”
Sher Aka speaks up, “You’re right. This is beyond what we can do.” She then turns on an oil lamp, gets down on her knees and prays, “Ifrit great Spirit King of Fire please hear the plea of this little one. One of your creations is in trouble, there is nothing we can do by ourselves so please help her.”
At first nothing happens but after a minute or so passes, the fire from the lantern starts to grow and fly outside the lantern. From it a person-like shape comes into view turning into Ifrit.
“Hmm…Looks like I miscalculated a bit.”
“Miscalculated!?” Rayla yells, “You did this to her and all you have to say is you miscalculated a bit!?”
“Oh, it’s the angry fox again. Shut up for a bit while I work, you annoy me.” Ifrit says while flipping her forehead causing her to fall unconscious.
“Sigh Brother!”
“Yes?” a shadow from under the bed answers.
“I’m going to burn a bit of your curse away, my boon is not working like this.”
“Fine, but in exchange-”
“You want something of equal value, yeah yeah I know. Gosh, you’d think at this point you’d trust that I don’t just mess with your work without doing something for you in return.”
“I guess, that’s true…Do as you must, not as you please,” the shadow says before returning to normal and falling silent.
“Gee, what a bore. Sister? Some assistance would be nice.”
A ray of light suddenly enters through the window and from it a blonde woman with golden eyes, shiny jewels and a yellow dress with white stars on it appears, “Oh my, did you break another of your precious toys, Ifrit?”
“No! This is both Nox’s and my toy, we’re sharing it. There were just some complications I didn’t think of so I need your help keeping Nox’s goo away while I do some maintenance.”
“Sigh You never change do you? Alright, I’ll help.”
A strong blinding light begins to emanate from Rose as Lum the Spirit King of Light and Ifrit start their work on Rose.
“Now see, that's the problem right here. You forgot to account for necessary shape changing in times of development.”
“Ah…Yeah, I see. But how do we get rid of that problem without removing all of Nox’s gunk?”
“We just put in a temporary override for cases like this.”
“Excuse me, your Highnesses!” Scarlet yells, “Can’t you just remove the curse entirely? Hasn’t Rose suffered enough!?”
Lum turns around and looks at Scarlet with intrigue as Ifrit answers, “Ten souls, sacrifice ten people to Nox and he’ll remove it. Three soul discount included because I messed up a bit.”
“Is that it? How do I sacrifice them?”
“Just find some powerful Dark Mage and they’ll know. Either way we’re done. There shouldn’t be any more problems like this again so see ya, tell your mom I said hi.”
Ifrit then disappears and Lum adds, “My apologies for my big sis, she’s a little erratic at times. Try feeding your sister, she seems hungry. Goodbye,” before leaving herself, leaving behind Rose in her draconic form.
Almost the second both of them are gone, Rayla wakes up again, “How dare she do that again! How’s Rose!?”
“I think she’s fine now…” Scarlet answers while shaking in fear, “I’ll go and feed her now. She’s hungry.”
As Scarlet starts to chew the food to give to Rose she begins to cry causing Rayla to walk over to her and give her a hug, “It will be alright. Even if this was horrible and terrifying, Rose is still better now and we’re all safe.”
Meanwhile John looks completely pale, “Let’s talk about all of this tomorrow, I feel like I’m about to pass out.”
“Yes, let’s rest now John, come on let’s go to bed.”
“Thanks, Sherry. I love you.”
“I love you too, John.”
Putting John’s arm around her, Sher Aka helps him walk back to their room and the both of them go to sleep.
Meanwhile, Scarlet is feeding Rose until she closes her mouth and starts to curl up, falling asleep. The weird thing though is that even after a few minutes she does not transform into her cursed form despite being asleep. There also seems to be a glowing mark of Ifrit on her back now in the middle of the original curse mark.
Rayla asks, “What’s happening? Why isn’t she returning to her cursed form?”
“I don’t know, but it’s probably a good thing. The longer she stays like this the better it is for her health. Let’s just hope she will wake up again when the imprint is over…”