From their respective homes, Crown Prince Constantine and the Young Marquis Liam read the newspaper with disdain.
Much like Alex and Felicia, they too doubted the culprits committed suicide. But the people would believe it because it was what the Holy Pope had declared.
Liam memorized everything written about the incident before throwing the parchment into his fireplace.
Constantine just set it aside with a sigh. What other atrocities would the Pope be able to commit and cover up so easily?
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As the days went by Felicia fell into a funk she couldn't snap out of.
When she wasn't studying, she was training with Sir Rovar.
Still, her mind refused to cooperate.
Each night she had nightmares about the slain knights and assassins. She saw their bodies and limbs strewn about as she rushed to get to her brother who was lying in the grass with an arrow through his stomach.
Her depression got so bad, even the Duke commented on it.
She kept saying she was fine, but Alex was worried. He'd suggested she take sleeping medication so she would not have such dark circles under her eyes.
Sir Rovar hounded her for answers when he noticed how distracted she was, at which point she finally broke down and tearfully told him everything.
He sympathized with her and gave her a very grandfatherly hug. He told her that the life of a knight comes with such risks and those men knew there was a chance they would die that way. He told her that she needs to make peace with what she cannot control and ensure she lives her life to the fullest so as to not to dishonor those men's sacrifice.
His words made an impact and Felicia finally started to feel better.
She was determined to win this battle against her own guilt.
Besides that, once her fight with the Pope fully took off she may have many more deaths to deal with. She had to get stronger, not wallow over her weakness.
Hildegarde and Alex were happy to see that Felicia's mood picked up.
Tyren and Helena, who had been enjoying Felicia's morose expression, felt annoyed.
-------
Felicia was in her room with Hildegarde keeping her company. They were reading to each other from Moniqua's library. Felicia would occasionally draw upon her healing powers, but the ability to channel lightning from her fingertips as she had done in the mists was non existent.
Hildegarde watched with interest as Felicia's hands keep glowing and dimming like fire under wind. Small white tendrils would occasionally rise from her palm, but those were harder to maintain for Felicia and after an hour she felt worn out.
"Don't look so disheartened, my lady. I know you will succeed and become powerful."
Felicia rolled her eyes. "It's taking too bloody long. I need to meet with Father Demetri and ask him to tutor me. He knows a lot about the history and powers of Saintesses."
"Didn't you say you were unwilling to approach him as you do not wish to put him at risk?" Hildegarde rubbed her chest when she felt a slight pain.
"I said I was unwilling, not that I wouldn't do it. And he is already at risk of dying at the Pope's hands regardless as to whether or not I approach him and reveal my identity. He's already had some nasty incidents. So has his family. It will be in his best interest to team up with us. I don't want him to die the way he did last time." Felicia's tone grew sullen as her eyes filled up with images of a man getting crushed by falling stone.
Felicia eyes narrowed when she saw the way Hildegarde kept rubbing her chest. "What wrong with you?"
"Nothing, my lady. My chest is aching a bit."
"Why?" Felicia scowled, standing up and approaching her nanny. Kneeling down she place her hand on Hildegarde chest and seeped her magic through the skin. "Have you been poisoned?"
Hildegarde's eyes widened. "No, I've been careful! Nobody suspicious has approached me."
"That doesn't mean you haven't been poisoned." Felicia's pushed more of her power into Hildegarde's body. Her anger made her magic a bit stronger. "I can sense that your lungs have been affected by some toxin."
Hildegarde took a deep breath as the throbbing pain went away. The magic washing through her was so soothing, she felt her entire body relax. She didn't even realize how much her chest had been bothering her.
Five minutes later, Felicia pulled her hand away and the light dimmed. She may not be at full power but she was able to heal Hildegarde fully. Unlike Alex's injury, Hildegarde's poisoning was not severe.
She had been in the beginning stages of a toxin which would slowly eat away at her.
So...Tyren has opted for a slow poisoning. Clever. As long as Hildegarde's death took place over a few months, who would suspect anything? It could easily be passed off as deterioration caused by old age. I'm guessing this poison can't be detected either. Or tasted.
Felicia clenched her fists.
"My lady, your expression is quite frightening! Are yo--your eyes!"
Felicia snapped out of her thoughts and stood up, catching her reflection on her dressing table mirror.
Her eyes were a solid white! No pupils or irises, just pure white sclera. And they were glowing! The veins on her temple were protruding and also glowing white.
Felicia gasped as her hands flew up to her face.
Glancing back at Hildegarde's shocked face, Felicia walked closer to her mirror and took a proper look at herself.
What's wrong with me? Is this an effect of practicing magic? Is this because I heal--did this also happen when I healed Alex? I only remember my hands glowing, not my eyes and veins!
"Felicia, it's time to head down for dinner." Alex's voice came from outside the locked door.
Hildegarde stood up and went to open the door.
Alex stepped inside, his smile turning into a frown when he saw the panicked expression on Hildegarde's face.
Knowing it would be related to Felicia, he quickly shut the door.
"Felicia?"
Alex saw her standing with her back to him. She turned around with her hands holding her hair against her face. Her expression was completely obscured. Alex thought she was crying again and stepped closer only to halt when she dropped her hands.
His eyes widened and his jaw dropped in shock.
He felt a strange stirring in his blood and the infinity symbol on his wrist burned.
In the next second there was bright flash of light and the Holy Sword materialized out of thin air.
Goddess Katara's blade hovered in mid air and glowed a bright blue!
Hildegarde rushed to close the balcony doors and draw the curtains.
The infinity symbol on the sword came alive and enlarged. For a moment, Alex and Felicia expected the Goddess's eyes to appear from within.
Instead, they heard voices.