Nine: Trust 

Like the Demi-God promised, Viessa and Anima allowed him back into their home. He slept on the couch that night, grateful for the hot breakfast that welcomed him in the morning. If it were not for the kind Solmerian souls he met during his travels, he would not have gotten this far.  

Today, Layre planned to return to the cabin and continue talking to Mageus. Though the conversation they had the day before was a step in the right direction, he was still unsure if Mageus was willing to help him.  

“Here, it’s another Guiding Potion.” Viessa hands him a swirling pink mixture. “And take this too. It’s a Calming Potion.”  

She hands him a purple mixture, much like Mageus’ eyes.  

“Why do I need this?” Layre asks, taking them both and putting them gently into his satchel that he was now allowed to carry. He had successfully won their trust over, a thing Layre came to feel proud of. 

“You shall see. Fair travels, Layre.”  

The women wave to him as he ventures out into the steppes again. It does not take as long now, and he drinks the potion on the way. He knows the general location, so he heads that way until the potion kicks in. He’s nearly there now, and it is still early in the morning. He would have plenty of time to talk with Mageus today. 

When Layre reaches the front entrance of the cabin, he notices the door has been left open slightly. He knocks anyways, which is enough to allow for the door to swing open, creaking as it does so.  

The sight before him startles him greatly. So much, in fact, that he flinches backward and nearly falls off the porch. 

Mageus is sprawled out on the floor naked and bleeding profusely from his eyes. He’s making gurling sounds, coughing up dark splatters of black liquid. His hands still resemble those of the creature, his fingers are long, twisted, and sharp. His chest heaves up and down rapidly, as if he cannot breathe properly. Layre lunges forward and falls to his knees at his side, hands spread out, overwhelmed. 

Mageus growls, swinging his hand forward and sinking his claws into Layre’s thigh. Red blood splatters on the floor, and Layre cries out in pain.  

“Stay away!” Mageus warns. 

Layre reaches into his bag and retrieves the calming potion, and then, most ungracefully, he tackles Mageus to the ground. The creature left in him lets out a horrid screech. Tipping Mageus’ mouth open, disregarding the pool of black blood in his mouth and avoiding his dagger-like teeth to the best of his ability, Layre forces him to drink the shimmering potion. Some spills out of the side of his mouth, but most of it mixes with the black blood pooling in his throat. Reluctantly, the creature swallows the mixture. 

Layre holds him down by his shoulders, ignoring his weak attempts to claw him. His leg was crying in pain, but Layre deemed it trivial to the task of keeping Mageus calm.  

It takes a moment, but Mageus finally calms down. 

Feeling it rather inappropriate for Layre to continue holding him down when he is no longer thrashing, he stands, averting his eyes. He grabs the throw blanket from the couch and drapes it over Mageus. His eyes are closed, but he is breathing and otherwise, seems alright. Layre takes to the small kitchen. He locates a rag and runs it under some warm water.  

Kneeling down beside Mageus, he begins to clean the dark blood from his face and neck and around his mouth.  

“What are you doing...?” Mageus groans, opening his eyes to finally focus them on Layre. He startles up, taking the situation in. Hugging the blanket tighter to himself, he moves away from Layre. “Did you give me a calming potion?” 

“Yes, and I was just getting the blood off you. I hope that was alright. I did not mean to barge into a moment like that. I was unaware of the state you would be in.” Layre tells him, backing away. If space was what Mageus needed, he would give it to him. 

“No, no. It is quite alright. I just feel embarrassed that you had to see me in that way. It is not the most flattering state of mine, you know?” He’s glancing away from Layre now, staring at anything else but the man’s eyes. Mageus was so clearly ashamed of himself. 

“I know.” Layre says gently. “I just came to talk to you today, but I will leave so you may get dressed.”  

He hands the rag over to Mageus, who clutches it tightly. Blood is still seeping down from where Mageus impaled him in his leg, and it seems that Mageus has noticed it now.  

“Did I do that?” He asks, knowing the answer but asking anyway. “I am sorry. I am not entirely conscious--” 

Layre stops by the doorway, giving him a stern look.  

“You need not apologize. I knew the risk of helping you. I know it greater now, and I still choose it.” Layre says, feeling a harsh blush creep onto his face. Mageus looks away, apparently flustered by the sincerity of his words. He only nods, and Layre steps out to allow him to make himself presentable.  

⊹₊⋆☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆☁︎⋆₊ ⊹ 

When Layre re-enters, Mageus is quick to lead him to the couch. He sits down, allowing Mageus to tend to his wound.  

“I can do so myself, you know?” He had said. 

“I’m sure of that but consider this me making up for it.” Layre bites down a smile, watching intently as Mageus sews up his wound. This would be the second wound he had inflicted on him since Layre arrived to Vatou. He was sure that in the near future, his body would be littered with small scars like that. Not even this was enough to deter him.  

Once he was done patching up Layre, he took to the kitchen to grab him some tea.  

Layre sipped it gratefully, leaning back on the couch.  

“So, what was it you wanted to discuss with me?” Mageus stays behind the couch, unwilling to draw closer to Layre. Layre could tell it was brought on by a fear of what he might accidentally do were he to lose control again. Layre feared it not, as the moon was not shining. He knew as long as the moon did not shine, Mageus would bring him no fatal harm.  

“I know we spoke of it rather extensively yesterday, but I never got a true confirmation from you. Are you willing to help me break your curse? Are you willing to try and kill the Gods?” The questions hang in the air for a while, and Layre chews at the inside of his mouth with nerves. If Mageus did not want to help, Layre would still try. It would be much harder, but it was still his purpose.  

“I think you’ve given me enough reason to trust you, and it is clear that Viessa and Anima do.” Mageus lets out a long breath. “So, I will join you. What do you need me to do?”