Colin's posts

He paused for a moment, before his eyes widened.

"Wait... lock it down?" he asked.

"That's... wait, like YOU did with YOURS?" he then asked her.

"I... I didn't know that was a possibility." he admitted.

"And I have to be comfortable with it, and have control over it, before that can happen?" he asked further.

"...is it like some sort of self-mana lock?" he inquired. "Something that somehow requires I use my own mana to seal down my mana...?" he continued, obviously a bit on the confused side.

"........." there was a long period of silence, before he sighed.

Heavily.

"...yes." he said.

"It's true." he confirmed.

"The Wolfe family CAN spread out a net-like rune, and... drain all those standing on it of their blood." he told her.

"In seconds flat." he went on.

"It's so quick, it's... horrifying."

"She was devastated." Julien responded.

"Just... I mean... that's the best way to put it." he said.

"I was, too." he admitted.

"The thought of anything happening to you... it angered me. Immensely." he told her.

"I... considered falling into the ways of my bloodline." he went on.

"Now... what I would do once I gave in, I have no idea." he then mumbled.

"Which... frightens me."

Again, he sighed.

"There was... uh... well, saying there was little that was salvageable back at the other place would be being charitable." he told her.

"That being said, apparently you still have a lot?" he asked.

"Demitra was telling me she was willing to hand over ALL her savings to find you.' he then informed her.

"Get the best tracker to find you." he went on.

"And... well... he did his job."

"Ah, yes I did." Julien said.

"Come on." he told her, starting to walk further into the house.

"And Demitra is... well, she's out." he then said.

"She told me she was going to hunt out some dinner, and then possibly wash off in the pond." he informed her further.

"Admittedly, I'm not sure which she's doing... at this exact moment."

Julien was silent once again, before sighing.

"You're right." he admitted.

"This is something Demitra and I really should sit down and have a serious discussion about." he agreed.

"...if nothing else, clear the air." he then reasoned.

"Ambiguity and uncertainty can and will lead to nothing but frustration in the future." he said further.

He was silent for a moment, processing that.

"I... really?" he asked.

"She... was really like that?" he asked her.

Racquel just nodded in response.

"..." he was silent again, before smiling softly.

"Truth be told, I'd do the impossible for her." he admitted.

"If her life were in literal danger, and it hinged on my getting blood from a stone, I would exhaust ALL my mana and energy to get that blood from that stone." he told her.

Julien just smiled.

"Of course." he responded.

"I would be honoured as well." he told her.

"..." he was then silent, before sighing quietly.

"I'm so glad you're all right." he said further.

"I'd hate to imagine what Demitra would have become had something unthinkable happened." he admitted.

"...I saw how dark and foreboding she got when your safety was questionable..." he then mumbled. "And I was worried she'd do something to hurt herself or get herself into deeper trouble..."

He was silent for a moment, before sighing.

"I see." he said.

"Well... at least Demitra is safe, and this wasn't anything of my doing." he said further.

"I would feel... such immense guilt if this had been because of myself in any way shape or form." he admitted.

"And... pints, huh?" he asked.

"I... well, if you need a good drink, I... have actually been trying my hand at brewing." he told her.

"I have a mead that you might like." he offered.

A few seconds later, Julien walked into her line of vision.

He looked at her and smiled.

"Welcome back." he greeted her.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"From what I heard, you went through quite a harrowing experience."

It did happen, and it was not pleasant.

But she let it happen, then went to see her mother, and discovered she was, in fact, all right. Emma was truly a miracle worked.

-Some time later-

Racquel was able to return home, and when she did, she discovered that Julien and Demitra had cleaned it up nicely.

No dust anywhere, furnishings relatively new, all the necessities they would have, everything.

It had become a home once more.

"Well, assuming you go to the guild to see your mother, Dani will wrangle you up to her little command centre to jaw you out." Ash told her, stopping and turning around.

"Later." he said.

He then started walking away, and after a few seconds, she heard him talking to Julien.

Meaning that Julien would be with her VERY shortly, with her change of clothes, and the orb.

At least she knew Racquel would be all right.

And she could see that Ashley was happy about that, too.

"Ah, right." Ash responded.

"Well, I'll walk back and see if I run into him." he told her.

"Beyond that, I got no business here." he said.

"And odds are you don't want me here." he went on. "Rather be alone and stuff." he said further.

"Just came to deliver the orb, the news about your mother, and warn you about next time you go to the guild." he continued.

"Because Dani is NOT happy."

"I just picked the backyard because I figured it was the safest and most non-conspicuous place for me to arrive." Ashley told her.

"I WILL admit that the timing of my arriving here as you stepped outside IS fortunately perfect." he then admitted.

"And very well. I'll return this to Emma, then." he shrugged, pocketing it.

"Julien surely won't need it. He's not injured or drained or anything, I assume." he reasoned.

"But whatever." he said.

"Aunt Racquel is safe, and I know you don't give a shit about anything else right now."