Chapter Seven
Part Eleven
Once they were back in the city of Yor, Hyde, Ali, and Arasha each took a member of the cannibal family to be imprisoned. While Vax’dian took Line and Nicola to see his healer at his tea house.
Line wasn’t with this healer for long, she was actually extremely skilled. Almost enough so to rival the monastery healers. Line had the blood on her arm cleaned, but her shirt was thoroughly stained. She would have to wait to get back to the monastery to get it cleaned. But seeing Line wearing something so bloody, Vax’dian had given her his red long coat to wear over it. She was surprised it had actually fit her, Vax’dian must also have quite large muscles. Line shook her head, that’s a train of thought she probably shouldn’t be thinking about. Not now anyway.
Walking side by side with Vax’dian, she led Nicola through the city of Yor to her family’s shop. Fragrant Fermentation.
“Inspector. You didn’t have to walk me”
Line smiled “I wanted to”
Nicola looked at her for the longest time before suddenly hugging her “...thank you”
Frowning, Line responded with a “you don’t need to thank me, Nicola”
“Of course I do, you all saved me” Nicola broke the hug between them “if there’s anything I can do for you in the future, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I’ll help any way I can”
“Nicola really, you truly don’t need to thank me. Honestly, you can thank me by just living”
She smiled and gave a nod.
“now go”
Nicola didn’t stall any longer, and ran across the calm street to incessantly bang her palms against the locked door.
Vax’dian spoke up “are you really poisoned?"
Line’s gaze turned to him. Ever since Line had been pulled from that operating table, Vax’dian hasn’t left her side. He’d been following her around and sticking to her like glue.
She smiled “don’t worry about it. I’m slowly detoxifying myself. It’s a slow process, but I’m managing it”
She turned her attention across the street to watch as Nicola’ mother had just opened the door. Line could still feel Vax’dian’s eyes on her, even as the mother and daughter broke down in a stream of tears.
“...Line?”
Line was always surprised whenever Vax’dian called her name, so her attention shifted once again “...yes, Vax’dian?”
“Don’t get stabbed by any sharp objects again”
“I won’t”
“and don’t run head first into anymore danger”
“that was Arasha’s fault”
“Then don’t follow anyone into danger”
Line blinked at him “I won’t”
He sighed “or if you do, at least tell me beforehand”
“Inspector!”
Line looked across the street to see Nicola waving at her.
Mrs Pines followed up with a “thank you, Inspector. For getting my daughter back!”
Line returned the wave “I thought I told you not to thank me”
“Well, thank you anyway!”
Once mother and daughter had finished their thanks and waves, they made their way back inside Fragrant Fermentation.
“Line!?” it was Vax’dian.
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“I promise. I promise”
When he didn’t respond, Line once again said “I promise” with a firmer tone.
Only then did Vax’dian ease up “good”
As Vax’dian turned to leave, Line grabbed his arm “wait”
Vax’dian immediately stopped moving “yes?”
“I have a favour to ask”
*
That favour in question was allowing Line to see a palace prisoner under the care of Vax’dian. And of course, Vax’dian agreed.
So they were both walking together, down a spiralling grey stone staircase. The stairs came to a stop, opening up to a grey stone hallway. Lit by warm braziers and flickering lanterns. At the end of this hall we’re two royal guards. They each gave a bow as Vax’dian walked past, and through the large wooden door they were guarding.
Line followed Vax’dian the entire way through this prison, passing by iron barbed cells. Each one with a different person inside. None of them mattered to Line, so she didn’t pay too much attention to them.
Vax’dian came to a stop outside of a cell “here”
Line looked inside, and indeed the one she wanted to talk to was in here “may I?”
Vax’dian gave a nod “guard”
A royal guard came from out of nowhere and unlocked the door in front of them. And without wasting any time Line stepped inside.
“Miss Tilley?”
Tilley immediately stood “Inspector. How’s my father?”
“oh, I-“
“He’s fine. For now” Vax’dian entered after her.
Tilley nodded.
Line sighed “miss Tilley, I need your help with something”
“which is?”
Line placed the large bag she had been carrying on the floor “show me how to make Miracle Elixir”
Tilley’s eyes widened “what?”
“I want to know how to make it, so I can figure out a way to counteract it”
“counteract it?”
“yes. So I brought everything I thought you would need”
Tilley blinked at her before kneeling down to take a look inside the bag. And after a short while she said “you’re missing an ingredient”
Line frowned “what ingredient?”
“Martagon Root”
Line’s frown deepened. Martagon Root is an ingredient in Null Poison, it’s what the green powder is. It’s also why she didn’t bring it. Not only that, but Martagon Lilly can only been grown in Martagon valley. And that land is owned by Duke Martagon. Line already knew this, but she had always kept it to herself. Even though the land is private, she has always doubted that anyone who lived there would sell Martagon Lilies. Especially not the Lord and Lady who lived there.
Line turned to look at Vax’dian “doesn’t that mean that Miracle Elixir is also poisonous?”
Vax’dian tensed “I’m not sure. You would probably know more than me on this matter”
Line turned back to Tilley “can you still tell me how you make Miracle Elixir?”
Tilley smiled “of course”
**
Line was pacing back and forth, playing with the broken lily necklace around her neck “I don’t understand. How can they be so similar?”
Vax’dian was watching her from his chair “I did also look into Null Powder and Null Poison, but I couldn’t find anything of note either”
They were back into the private room of Vax’dian’s tea house, the calming atmosphere not at all helping calm Line’s panic.
“I mean sure, the amount of certain ingredients have changed, but the recipe itself hasn’t. How could it do two completely different things?”
“maybe something else is added after it’s been made. Tilley did say that she just drops off the Elixir, that she doesn’t know who takes it. Maybe the missing factor comes then”
Line stopped pacing to look at Vax’dian “...maybe” she sat in a chair opposite him “but I just have a bad feeling about this. Miracle Elixir is still poison, whether your brother knows it or not. Those who take it will still die”
“How long will the poison take to start killing?”
“It’s a very slow acting poison. But I can’t determine that until I know if anything else is being added to it. Because the whole thing that Null Poison does is weaken the body, the complete opposite of Miracle Elixir”
“didn’t you say that you’re still detoxifying?”
“I’ve gotten used to the poison by this point, I barely notice it anymore”
“...”
Line could recognise the concerned look in Vax’dian eyes and she sighed “I’m alright, honestly. I’m just worried about the people who have taken the poison”
“...maybe there’s a way to find out what’s getting added”
“how?”
“what if we try and find a way to integrate ourselves amongst the people who make ‘Miracle Elixir’? Get a location to drop it off at, wait it out and follow whoever picks it up?”
Line nodded “that’s a good idea”
Vax’dian smiled “of course it’s a good idea, it’s working so far”
“...what do you mean by that?”
“I’ve already sent a few of my people”
Line stared at him.
“We should hear back from them soon”
“...why didn’t you say so? Before we even started to talk about this, even before we went to speak with Tilley. Why didn’t you stop me?”
“I just wanted to spend some more time with you”
Line faltered, completely caught off guard.
“I’m sorry”
“don’t be sorry. If you wanted to spend time with me, then you could have just said so” Line spoke without thinking, but she felt relieved that she had said that.
Vax’dian paused, his eyes seemed to shine a little brighter.
