“Do you know how to cure this person's disease?”

“I could, but it's whether or not your people would be willing to witness it. If you can clear me some space, I can save their life.”

The king waives everyone out of the room and then nods at Veronica.

Veronica removes one of the black candles floating around her head, blowing on the wick to ignite it with a light blue flame. She places it over the person's chest, letting some of the wax drip as she whispers a spell under her breath. A black mist flows from the patient's mouth and appears to be sucked into the candle

“It's done, they'll be fine. She replaces the candle, now put out once again.”

“Thank you.”

“I caused the problem, I should be the solution. It's rare that I get to save a life, but I should make my exit while I can.” Before the king can say anything, she disappears.

Bellator sits on the undressed bed in the ship, contemplating the conversation.

Veronica reappears on Bellator's ship, landing in his lap. “Hey.”

“What did I just say, Veronica. Also get the fuck out of my lap. That's weird.”

“Aww, party pooper.” She bops Bellator's cheeks with her hands. “Put a smile on that face, I just saved your bird friend for you.”

“Thank you. I'd still appreciate it if you got out of my lap though.”

“Oh well, I guess I can do that.” Veronica returns to sitting in the magic circle.

“What is it about that circle you like so much?”

“It's something familiar in a world that seems so foreign to me.”

“What happened, exactly? To your village.”

“Toriaku happened.

He killed almost everyone. There were a few survivors, we did what we could, but then he came to finish what he started. I only survived because I was willing to give up everything to avenge my people.”

“What was everything? If that happened to me, I'd already have lost everything.”

“My body, my blood, my soul, my peace, and my will. Everything I do, I do for my goddess until my goal is achieved. She gestures to her candles floating around her head, specifically to the one still burning a dark black flame. I can't die until that happens.”

Bellator is speechless, and so only nods.

“Yeah, I get it, such a downer story. Nothing really happy when you're about 2000 years old and you're the last surviving member of your race.”

“I--I'm sorry for asking.”

“I've told that story so many times, it doesn't bother me anymore. Veronica looks around the ship, smiling. His name was Magnus. He used to smuggle me into town so I could steal things for the village. He...he was a good man. Incredible with his hands, crafted this ship himself.”

“I guess that's the wizard they were talking about. How did those people get this ship?”

Veronica returns to tracing the sigils, keeping her eyes away from Bellator.

“They found out what he was doing. One night he told me that they were asking for his aid in the castle, and I thought it was a sign that maybe this world was changing for the better. The next day his body was hanging from the castle walls.”

“How could they do something so vile?”

“This was hundreds of years ago, morals were different then. The same fear of magic has remained though. She looks down, dejected. I carved most of these symbols when I was stuck down here with him. Magnus was enchanted by Wiccan practices, and I would teach him things in exchange for rides to the kingdom. When I saw what happened, I...”

“You what?”

“I snapped.”

“H-how... so?”

Veronica shakes her head “Honestly, you don't want to know, but let's just say it was a quick succession for the next generation of cranes for that time. It took 10 of my sisters to finally restrain me, but the damage was done. I'm sorry, I'll leave you alone. You probably think this is annoying.”

Veronica disappears in black mist, returning to her forest home before breaking down into tears

Bellator stands up from his bed and goes and sits in the circle of sigils, where Veronica was, only moments ago.

He mutters “What have I been doing...”