“How much longer till we arrive, Bailey?”

“not long.”

“you said that an hour ago.”

So, impatient. “yes, I did,” I sigh, “you can survive an hour or two of walking. You have done it before, darling.”

Dawn scoffs and pushes an elbow into my side. I glare down at her. She sneers right back. That cannot fool me, I can see her aura, it’s… blue! That’s good…right? “I told you not to call me that,” she says sternly.

“I only do it to annoy you, my dear,” I purr in reply.

She groans before grabbing my arm. “can we at least walk faster? At this pace, we’ll get there by next year.”

“oh, next year, next week, tomorrow, an hour, does it really matter? Time is irrelevant,” I start searching around in my satchel.

“to you maybe,” the blonde mumbles under her breath. “Wait! You’re looking for your amulet! We ARE close.”

“that is what I said, dear, “ I roll my eyes as I slip my amber pendant around my neck, “you need to listen once and a while~.” I quicken my pace to keep up with my now taller traveling companion. “Anyhow, what should we perform this time?”

She hums thoughtfully, her aura turning a silvery green color, she is happy, good. “hmmm, maybe ‘Koniville’?”

“’Koniville’? Are you sure the patrons of Lion’s Gate will appreciate such beauty?”

“well, I’m going to be there aren’t it?”

“Oh do not get a big head, we do not want to scare away the patrons with your pompous attitude~.”

She scoffs… again. She sure does that a lot… “Rude.”

“Only when I want to be,” I smile at her. Little wisps of orange appear in her green aura. Oh, how I love to annoy her.

---

Slowly over time, tamed magick can be tainted by unruly and vicious users.

The least know artifacts of this nature are the obsidian heart owned by Great Witch Donovan, The Hymn of Hollin owned by Queen Jonice of Mortia, and The Mask of Thon-

 “Bailey? Are you ok?” Dawn’s scratchy voice takes me back to reality. I now register the sounds of the crowded tavern and some… bad music.

“Oh?” I blink at her a couple times. “Ah, I’m fine! I asked the barkeep if I could look at her book collection and I found one I have not read before! It’s an old one too. Queen Jonice died over 200 years ago. I cannot believe how well the barkeep’s family kept this book! It’s-“

“You’re rambling, Bailey,” She sneers, red, oh gods, what did I do this time?! “you’ll get us caught with that kind of talk, now return the book back,” she hisses at me.

“but I’m not d-“

“Did I studder, Bailey? Or… do you want to be caught,” She taps my amulet with a sharp nail. I can hear it cry out in pain, it hurts my ears.

I cringe back. “NO… no… I will… give it back.”

“Good, hurry up, it’s almost our turn on stage,” She smiles at me, her aura green… oh, good.

“Yeah…”