Sasha didn’t hear anything else. The episode came on fast and unexpected.
Sara waited next to Sasha for her to wake up. she would only be out for a few minutes. Iselin had moved quickly when Sasha fell. She didn’t even make if half way to the ground before Iselin swept her up with surprising speed and strength. she took her effortlessly to the bed and laid her down. Sara needed to remember that despite looking beautiful and fragile, Elves were far from it, and dragons doubly so.
“Does this happen often?” Iselin asked.
“A few times a week, but they’re better when Legon is around.”
Iselin was sitting on the bed next to Sasha, holding her hand. she saw that the Elf was bothered by this and she wondered why.
“Back home people said that she was possessed with devils. Legon and his friends got in a lot of fights defending her. That’s why she came with him. It wasn’t safe for her in Salmont with him gone.”
“I see,” Iselin said.
“Is everything all right Iselin? I promise Sasha will wake up and she isn’t possessed with anything. She’s the best person I know. Nothing evil could live in her.”
Iselin looked at her. “I know she’s not possessed. I was allowing a healer to look through my eyes to figure out what Sasha has.”
“Do you think you might know what it is?” Sara asked.
“Yes, and the Iumenta would have known as well. Sasha would have had a very different life if people knew what was wrong with her physically and not treated her so horribly.” Iselin gave a deep sigh.
Sasha began to stir. She looked up. “Wha…?”
“You had an episode,” Sara supplied.
“No, you had a seizure,” Iselin said.
“What’s that?” Sara asked for Sasha.
“It’s what you’ve been having your whole life. I have sent your information to the head of our medical staff. he says that you have something called epilepsy. it’s a medical problem. You’re not possessed.”
Sara looked intently at Iselin. “Did Arkin know about it?”
Iselin looked at Sara. “No, he didn’t. He’s been trying to figure it out for years but he has had limited contact with us, and truth be told, his handlers cared a lot more about their schooling than medical problems. We needed more information. She needed to be around a very learned healer or someone that could send the healer information while it was happening.”
Iselin placed her hand on Sasha’s chest right below her neck and Sara saw a pink glow from under the hand. Sasha gasped sharply and her eyes widened. Iselin took her hand away. “Better?”
“Yes, thank you. it should take me a few hours to recover from that. Are you sure it hasn’t…?”
Iselin laughed. “You two need to remember that I’m a dragon. I have more than enough strength. now take your showers, and trust me, you will feel wonderful afterwards. I will bring you clothes to wear. I am leaving Cat here if you need anything else while I’m gone.”
Arkin walked down the hall to the approaching Iselin. she looked concerned. “What is it?” he asked
“Sasha had a seizure. we think its epilepsy. I can explain later. how are Legon and Keither settling in?”
“They’re fine. Both are still shell shocked with this place. I’m getting them something to wear now. the girls?”
“They’re fine. I like them both. You did well.”
“A compliment?”
She was alongside him now. They turned down a corridor. she placed her arm around his shoulder. “Tell anyone and I’ll eat you.”
He laughed. She had been this way since they were young. they continued along until they came to a shop that was inside the dome that sold men’s and women’s apparel. They both got what they needed, Iselin picking up four or five dresses for both girls, as well as shoes and everything else needed.
After that they went back to Iselin’s apartment to get Legon’s ring and Sasha’s necklace. they were important figures now, so certain precautions needed to be taken. For Legon it was a ring with a large amethyst crystal on it. for Sasha, a necklace that was made of platinum and in the center a large tear-shaped crystal that looked like ruby. A smaller ring and necklace for Keither and Sara were there as well. these were for protection. yes, they looked nice, but they were laden with magic. Once on they could only be taken off by the owner. they had wards that protected from many things that an assassin might use, including most poisons. Arkin figured Iselin had made them herself. she was incredibly skilled with magic. She had only been an Ascended for about ten years now, but she had grown in notoriety. her charisma and prodigy-like skills helped her outstrip all of her peers.
After Legon got dressed, Arkin explained what the ring did and how it worked. Legon didn’t seem to mind the ring at all, and all he wanted to know was if Sasha and the others were getting protection as well. Arkin informed him that that they were, but that he and Sasha were to get the most.
“We are going to go to the girls’ rooms now and then to get dinner. I suspect that they will test your magic when we get there,” Arkin said.
“And how do they do that?” Legon asked.
“There is a crystal you hold; it has a spell to tell them what class you are. be thankful-it used to be you had to demonstrate your power. Now you simply hold a rock.”
Keither knew that he was now out of place with the others. they were all Venefica. Even Kovos would have been if he still lived, but Keither wasn’t connected when it happened. So he was still just a regular human.
The clothes they were wearing were comfortable. they felt soft and smooth and they breathed much better than their other clothes. Arkin shooed them out of the door and down the hall. this place was like a maze, and though he knew its size, the lack of windows or other natural light made it seem small to him.
Arkin led them to a room that was presumably the girls.’ when they entered they saw that it was an exact replica of the one they were in. Building with consistency and precision was rare, but apparently the Elves mastered it. The only difference in the room was that the girls had white furniture and the men had red.
Iselin walked into the room from the bedroom to their left, followed by Sara and Sasha. Both looked completely different. their dresses were similar to Iselin’s; Sara’s was silver with a silver necklace that looked like a diamond but that he knew was a crystal. His heart raced a bit as she smiled at him, but Sasha, who had always been the prettiest girl in town, looked amazing. Her dress was red, and he realized that both dresses matched the color of the magic of their owners. there was a giant tear-shaped ruby-like crystal hanging on her neck and she wore shiny red lipstick. Sara’s lips were red too. They seemed a little unsure of their steps.
Sara caught his eye and mouthed “Fancy shoes.” He knew what she meant. women in the large cities would sometimes wear shoes that elevated in the back. it was supposed to look better, but this was his first time seeing anyone wear them. Salmont had dirt streets, so shoes were purely functional, but large cities and apparently dragon domes had hard floors that were even, so fancy shoes it was.
Legon spoke. “Wow, you guys look amazing.”
“Thanks. I feel out of place,” Sasha said, looking down at herself.
“We’re hot, what are you talking about ‘out of place’?” Sara said jovially.
Iselin laughed. “So I did well then?”
“Very,” Keither said. but wait, he didn’t actually say it, did he?
“Thanks, Keither. So does this mean you’re going to ask me on a date?” Sara poked.
“Sara!” Sasha scowled at her friend. “Thank you, Keither. That was a very sweet thing to say.”
Keither felt all of the blood from his body rushing to his face. Legon mercifully saved him.
“Iselin, I hear there is some test I am to take?”
“Yes. All of you, in fact. Even Keither and Arkin.”
“Why me? We know I’m a two,” Arkin protested.
“But we don’t. If Sasha and Sara can now use magic, Legon’s transformation may have affected you as well, and Keither. Even if it hasn’t presented yet.”
“So what do we need to do?” Keither asked.
“Just hold this.” Iselin said.
