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TEIS' LAB - AFTERNOON
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Narrator: With a deep sigh, Teis runs through her mental checklist one last time. Extraneous experiments and work safely stored away. Check. Slightly damaged table for Tarbin. Check. Lab warded, sealed and insulated from all outside magic, including nature. Check. Traditional painkillers this time? Check. She looks to her mana crystals, laid out already on a tray near where the event will occur. Purple crystals, the orange glowing ones and empty crystals arranged. "Well... That's the physical space prepared... Better get these outside... " Teis mutters, feeling her essence drain simply by being inside of her lab. She leaves the lab, all in her proper gear, rolling the crystals just outside the heavily warded doors, closing the door. Guess it's time to wait. While waiting though...
Teis: "...So do the Bibrinn rune first, then Dinoliz... " Teis traces her hands through the air, as if recalling a recital. "... After that, play by ear. Jabhorth... " Another motion of her hands, "... Colgann" Another, "... And Qak, should it come to that... " One last motion, followed by a deep sigh. "Find the weakspot... " She hums to herself. "That's all today is... Simple... "
Tarbin approaches the manor, sliding his tail along the fence as he makes his way. He's coming from the West Gate, outside of which he's tended a rather cozy shelter of roots and live foliage. If he were asked, he'd honestly say the best sleep he's had has been every night after setting up out there, surrounded by the flow as he spends the waking moments in the shelter considering the garden being's plight. He reaches the gatehouse, tuning to wait for permission to enter and a guide to Teis. He nods to Jax after they reach the lab, though rather than waiting for the wolf to knock at the door, the pair come upon the cat muttering incantations. Tarbin slows, nodding to Jax as the guard heads back to his post, leaving the lizard to wait silently for Teis to finish what she's doing.
Teis does indeed focus on continuing her practice incantations when Tarbin arrives. Once finished, she smiles faintly and greets Tarbin. "Hello, Tarbin. Um... Today won't be like the other days, just so you're aware. I... You can't have access to Nature's Flow at all once we begin. Not even Willow Bark, I'm afraid. If the wards aren't strong enough, you need to let me know immediately, or... " Teis hangs.
Tarbin blinks, feeling a bit of a cold wave start in him. The first session of actual curse prodding was only bearable because he was able to lean on Nature, but he grits his teeth and nods. His twitching tail tips might give away his actual feelings, but that's fine. "Alright, I understand... Is there anything you need me to do before we get started? Perhaps drink a little more water?"
Teis: "There's... One and a half things. The half thing is that... Well, I advise you to consider the painkillers this time. I won't force you, but... " Teis takes in a deep breath, sighing it out. That's all she can really say on the matter - She just hopes, for Tarbin's sake, that he agrees.
Nesseth makes his way around the corner of the hall, escorted by a slightly annoyed-looking Jax, who no doubt wanted to just relax a little after escorting Tarbin. Upon seeing Teis and Tarbin, however, he thanks Jax and lets the wolf get back to his post for a well-deserved break. He approaches the two and waves. "Oh, good, I made it on time! Hi, Teis, Tarbin."
Tarbin nods, sighing in slight relief. "Oh, well of course. If I can't chew the bark, I'll take the next option." He turns towards Nesseth's voice, his face showing clear relief at a short delay by a familiar voice. "Hello Nesseth! [I hope the day is finding you well, my friend!]"
Teis ahems. "Ah! Yes. Perfect timing. This is the 'One' thing, Tarbin. Nesseth wanted to talk to you. I don't actually know where you live now, so... I told him that he could find you here, so... Yeah." Teis adds.
Nesseth smiles as he draws close. "[The day's been treating me well, so far. I hope the same for you, friend.]" He looks over at Teis for a moment, "And yeah, I needed to ask you a question if you've got the time."
Tarbin nods, smiling at Nesseth's left arm. "Ah, I've set up a small hovel for myself outside the wall, to the West. Just close enough that it can be watched over from the wall, I think. What do you need from me?"
Nesseth tilts his head curiously, then nods, thinking he can find the spot if need be. "Alright, I'll keep an eye out for your place, so I can find you if need be later on. As for what I needed, uh... I'm not sure if you've noticed it or not, but... it's about Erika's garden."
Teis sits in silence, letting the two discuss. She's happy to simply listen, for now.
Tarbin sighs lightly, glancing aside at the foliage near them. "Mh, I expected you to ask eventually, miss Xochi said you were concerned about Erika." He takes a short breath, looking back to Nesseth. "What specifically do you want to know?"
Nesseth scratches at one of his frills for a moment in thought. "Well... mostly about her garden. Xochi mentioned to me that her garden's been... strange, lately. Like the plants and trees were becoming less welcoming. I'll admit, the last few times I've passed by on patrol, I've felt something similar. Is that possible in nature?"
Tarbin hums, nodding. "The garden... It has a powerful draw on the Flow, the lines of Nature's power. But it is not natural... There is something there that is feeding the growth with intent. And fear. And doubt. Did she tell you we spoke with er... 'Erika'?"
Nesseth blinks and stares at Tarbin for a moment. "Uh... no. I've not spoken with her since we first teamed up to try and figure things out. So you two spoke with the person in Erika's garden?"
Tarbin hesitates, nodding. "Mh, I thought you meant... Well, you would want to know either way. We spoke with her twice. The first time... I was very much shocked by what I was seeing, the talk suffered. Our second talk was better. She wants help, wants our help if we can give it. I... Do not believe the creature is malicious. Just scared and confused." He glances around toward where he thinks Teis last was. "That is why I am here. To be able to help."
Nesseth tilts his head a bit. "...She wants our help with what, exactly? We still don't know where the real Erika is, remember."
Tarbin hesitates. He wouldn't admit he hasn't been thinking much about Erika herself. Not completely forgetting about her, but his mind has been focused on saving the one in the garden. "You're right, of course, but there is not much I can do about that. The one in the garden, she was sure she is Erika. Maybe knows not where Erika is."
Nesseth sighs softly. "Right, so... still no leads on Erika or Cavro, but the being in her garden wants help. With what, exactly?"
Tarbin shrugs slightly. "Living. I wish to free her of Erika's garden. She's bound there somehow... Tangled in the Flow, perhaps? If we can free her, give her somewhere to thrive outside the garden... Her connection to Nature could be a help."
Nesseth takes a moment to look over at Teis, whom he knows wants to study the being, then looks back at Tarbin. "So... obviously, she's not restricted from leaving physically. I first ran into her in the Minnow that one evening a while back, after all... I'm guessing she's stuck there either by magic or something else."
Tarbin nods. "She's compelled to return there. Or was. I don't know if she's left it at all since first meeting her."
Nesseth hums thoughtfully. "Depends... I know I ran into her at least once before I spoke to Xochi about her, and if that wasn't the real Erika, then... maybe something's holding her back?"
Tarbin nods slowly, relaxing a little. "We can go together to speak with the gardener, after Teis and I have finished here..." He considers the state he was in after their very first session. "Or perhaps tomorrow..."
Nesseth hums. "Whenever would be most convenient, sure. If she's actually not a danger, like you say, then we'll just have to try and see if she's able to settle down somewhere nice." He pauses, then adds, "And... hopefully we can do the same for whoever Cavro might be."
Tarbin nods shortly, smiling toward Nesseth's frills. "Of course, I will find you... Who is Cavro?"
Nesseth: "Oh, Cavro's one of the town's blacksmiths, the badger. He took over not that long ago after apprenticing under Erika's father for a while. I can explain in more detail later on."
Tarbin hums, nodding. "Okay, that will be better. Should not have too much to think about while Teis works..." He looks toward where the cat was standing before, and maybe she's standing there still!
Teis is still sitting around, tilting her head briefly. "Wait. So you think there's another one?" Teis questions Nesseth.
Nesseth nods at Teis. "Mmhm, either that, or the Cavro I know knows really subtle magic."
Tarbin chuckles quietly, adjusting his eyeline closer to Teis' voice. "If... There are two... Could there be more?"
Teis: "I'd... Not expect that? Honestly, if there is a second, that's weird enough as it is... Doppelgangers usually act alone. But... That's just what I learned at Kiroth. If there's more, that could indicate that someone or something greater is pulling the strings... Or this is simply just a rare occurrence. Or what I learned was wrong." Teis hums. "All possible, but, well, questions for later."
Nesseth shrugs as well, Teis' guess being as good as his own, if not better. "Far as I'm aware, Cavro and Erika are the only two that have gone missing or are acting strangely compared to normal. If there are more, we'd probably know by now, thanks to Teis' notes."
Tarbin nods, smiling. "Yes, more for later. First we help the gardener. Maybe more will be revealed after that? If we see the er... [core essence] of her, maybe that will be a hint." He shrugs, turning back toward Nesseth. "I will seek you out after we are done here... If I have the energy." He's clearly a bit hesitant to dismiss Nesseth, mostly because he knows that a heap of pain is waiting for him through the lab doors.
Teis: "So... You're ready, then?" Teis questions, looking to Tarbin. "You can, ah. Watch if you want, Nesseth, though you may find the proceedings... Disturbing."
Tarbin shudders visibly.
Nesseth glances between Teis and Tarbin, then shrugs, obviously not really understanding the implications. "Uh... I'll leave it up to you, I guess? Tarbin, want me to stick around or...?"
Tarbin clears his throat slightly, doing a poor job at being nonchalant. "If you would not be taken away from your duties, I would not want to impose."
Teis watches the two, allowing them to work it out themselves.
Nesseth shakes his head a bit. "No imposition, I'm free for the day at this point. Sounds like you're expecting it to be a rough ride, so... guess I can stick around for moral support?"
Tarbin nods, a bit relieved. He turns back to Teis, tails twitching slightly. "If that's okay, miss Teis. Everything is prepared, yes?"
Teis: "Yes, everything other than you. I will need to 'prep' you, as it were... Please, if you would." Teis offers her hand to Tarbin.
Tarbin nods, stepping toward her voice. Not seeing her hand.
Nesseth just stands back a bit and watches. "Do I... need to wear any protective gear or anything while you two do... whatever it is you're doing? I'm not going to get zapped by stray magic or anything of the sort, right?"
Teis: "It'll be alright. I'll just ask you not to be near myself or Tarbin once I begin, though while he's being prepped, it's fine." Teis replies. She intentionally brushes her hand up against Tarbin's side, in case he wants it, then continues to open the doors to the lab and she lead Tarbin to the table, either with vocal instruction or with physical guidance.
Narrator: The inside of the lab is not a pleasant place for Tarbin to be. He has absolutely no connection to any of Nature's flow, or otherwise any magical energy aside from Nesseth, Teis and himself. The wards on the lab are actively removing all magical energy from the area. Nesseth might feel uncomfortable himself, though may not be able to pin down the source of his unease, just a general cold and foreboding feeling. While Tarbin gets comfortable on the table, Teis moves to prepare the painkillers, dropping a teaspoon of powder from one of her reagent jars into a glass of water, using a glass stirring rod to mix it all together.
Tarbin chuckles, shrugging. "I... Don't think so, but miss Teis has equipment as far as I know." He feels her hand at his side, reaching down to have her guide him with a gentle, light grip. Until he gets inside. If his scales could, they would blanch. His step falters slightly as the lizard nearly hesitates on entering. "When you said no Nature you really meant it... This is... Foul."
Nesseth steps in after Tarbin and Teis, only to frown just a touch as he passes over the threshold. The lab looks exceptionally well-kept, no doubt thanks to Teis' own diligence and the manor's hired help pitching in where they can. However, something about the air just feels... off, to him. His guard training asserts itself after a moment, and he doesn't seem all that discomfited aside from a momentary, awkward shifting.
Narrator: Tarbin might be able to tell through his grip with Teis that Teis herself isn't exempt from feeling the lab's effects. Perhaps this is why she and her crystals have been waiting outside. "Yeah... I'm sorry, Tarbin. Elizabeth said to find the weakspot. And... I have... I guess a hunch."
Teis: "I was thinking, this curse... Used almost exclusively on mages in your culture, inhibiting your magic... Could the curse itself be powered from their victims?... No amount of time passing would weaken it if that was the case." Teis finishes dissolving the painkillers, bringing the glass over to Tarbin. "Here. Drink this. It'll take a while to adequately kick in. But that also gives the lab time to drain the three of us completely."
Nesseth holds his hand up. "Woah, hang on. What do you mean by 'drain', exactly? What's that going to do to us?"
Tarbin shudders, turning toward Teis's voice and reaching out to accept the glass. He nods slowly, drinking the mixture. It leaves a bitter taste in his mouth, but the complete disconnection from Nature is leaving a worse feeling through his whole body. He glances around toward Nesseth's voice. "I didn't know this was her plan, you don't have to stay if it's uncomfortable, Nesseth."
Teis takes the empty glass when Tarbin is done, putting it to the side for now. She sighs a little in response to Nesseth's outburst. "Nothing to you, Nesseth. You're not magical. For me and Tarbin... Well, so long as we continue to stay in the room, none of us are going to be able to use any magic." Of course, this leaves an obvious question hanging. How does Teis use magic without magic?
Nesseth raises an eyebrow a bit, then nods. "Alright, if you say so, Teis... I'll just, uh... wait here, then?" He looks over at Tarbin, "Unless you'd prefer me standing closer, Tarbin?"
Tarbin hasn't asked that question out loud yet, not wanting to cast doubt on Teis' plan, though the more he thinks about it, he has to bite his tongue. The lizard walks in the general direction of the table from last time, moving slowly so as to not just ram into anything important. "If you wish to remain, being here for support is enough, Nesseth. I have no usable magic to drain... But it feels like..." He can't help but let
Tarbin out one dry laugh. "I was blind, then I was more blind, and now it's complete. I can not even see the Flow." He casts a very nervous look in Teis' direction. "I am going to beg you that this is not going to last forever."
Teis chuckles hollowly herself. "I know, Tarbin... Once we're done, you can leave the room as fast as you want... And you won't be in here long once we begin. My mana crystals are only good for several minutes under these wards... Which is why they're still outside. You just tell me when you feel those painkillers kicking in, and we'll start." Teis clicks her fingers, a bunsen-burner-esque jet of fire spawning from the claw of her pointer finger. While she has a feel of how much magical energy she has left, it's much better to simply have a visual aid tell her when she's completely bone dry, or, rather, when the fire goes out, she's good.
Tarbin hears the click and flame, only vaguely seeing the intense spark of magic that creates and sustains it. He nods, sitting on the edge of the table as his tails sway in agitation over the opposite edge. "I may have a hard time with that, everything started feeling a bit numb when we walked in." He raps his knuckles on his thigh, wincing slightly. It would only take a few more minutes for them to kick in, the lizard nodding to the others when that happens.
Nesseth stands near Tarbin while the trio waits for the painkillers to kick in, just trying to help his fellow Lizard feel at least... slightly calmer than otherwise. He's not sure how much his just being there is helping, but he'll stick it out with Tarbin. "So once you start, I'll have to step away, right?"
Teis: "I'd strongly advise not being near Tarbin, yes. Though, if you'd like to absorb any of the potential offshoot energies, that is to say, parts of the curse, you're welcome to be as close as you like." Teis states. After a few minutes, Teis' fire goes out. She notices the nod, though doesn't know what it means. "Are you ready, Tarbin?" Teis questions.
Nesseth blinks and gives the cat a bit of a look, then nods as he shifts away and gives the two space. He does, however, give Tarbin's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before stepping back. "I think I'll just heed your warning, Teis. Being able to see is... kind of important for my job."
Tarbin sighs, casting a glance and thankful smile in Nesseth's direction before he lays down on the table. "Right now... And only for a few minutes more." He tries to joke, but it really feels like his body is going to take over and bolt from the room. Even when he was cooped up in the clinic... He thought he was far from Nature then, but this...
Teis tilts her head. She supposes she'll simply take Tarbin's dazed joke as a yes. She quickly leaves the lab, returning with the tray of Mana Crystals. "It's time." Teis takes a deep breath in. She begins by picking up both a purple crystal and a cursed orange crystal, chanting and somatically moving her hands around to the incantation. She takes as little power from the purple crystal as she needs to transfer the cursed energies entirely into her own body, then repeats this process for the remaining eight crystals. Her own eyes begin to glaze over, her vision blurring. "Focus, let the practice guide your movements... " Teis instructs herself with another deep breath. She replaces the now-spent mana crystal in her hand with a fresh one, her other hand physically touching Tarbin. She performs the somatic parts of her spell with the hand holding the crystal, keeping her other firmly planted at all times from here on out, replacing crystals as necessary. "Bibrinn dinoliz renogwea tuukurd ukilwe kukuskirth... " Teis begins to chant what is basically gibberish to the other two. She closes her eyes, using her magical sense, probing at Tarbin's curse for the first two to three minutes. She feels how it reacts to the little jolts of input magic Teis feeds it here and there, it hungrily jumping at the chance to absorb her magic, only for the room to settle the curse again. If she had more time, she'd spend longer confirming her hunch, though for now, she'll have to operate under the knowledge the last two minutes have given her. Her crystals won't have much time inside of this room, and she can't break the process to go get more. Perhaps having a servant ferry them in would've been a good idea... But it's too late for that now. She starts attacking the curse properly this time, though not simply feeding raw magic to rip apart the spell this time, instead applying a more focused approach. She teases the curse into accepting the crystal's mana once more, though lathes the magic with a small trojan horse. Another test. Will it take it? The counter-spell is similar to those used on the wards in the lab. The curse accepts it, though once absorbed, the first real spike of pain that washes over Tarbin. Like a stake through his chest, the curse fights back as the counter-spell does it's damage. So... Then the question is. How much can Teis trick the curse into taking more in the remaining time?
Teis tries again, with a larger payload... But the curse simply refuses. Teis had, if she'd gotten this far, expected this, and has thought of a potential contingency. She starts using the cursed energies inside of herself to disguise her payloads as the curse itself. This is when it truly starts getting painful for Tarbin, as Teis starts using increasingly larger amounts of mana to feed the curse, for two reasons. The first, the larger the payload she can deliver, the more damage she'll do to the curse. The second, she has to use more of the mana in hiding the counter-spell with every effort. Sadly, despite Tarbin's pain, Teis cannot slow down. There is a time limit... With a cold, distant, perhaps merciless stoic expression over her face, Teis continues this method for as long as the remaining four minutes her mana crystals hold out for. As the attempts continue, the size of the payloads diminishes, as each crystal has less energy available inside them by the time Teis is able to get to them. Finally, perhaps mercifully for Tabin, none of the crystals have any energy left. The lab has drained them all. With that, Teis removes herself from Tarbin's side. She's left panting, stressed from her efforts, though at least not potentially dying this time. "It... Is Done... " Teis pants. With that, she leaves the lab - She doesn't like it in here any more than Tarbin does.
Tarbin breathes deeply as he listens to Teis' incantations. The lack of magic in the room seems to amplify his ability to see other magic, the arc of power from the crystal to Teis as she uses it like a lone star in space, hot and blinding. He looked toward her when she made contact with his arm, but he's forced to turn his useless eyes toward the ceiling as she works. For the first bit, he can feel her probes, but no pain. At first he's wary of this, but slips into a false sense of security and calm as the long minutes drag on, his tails slowly swaying as she works... Until the first strike. Claws dig into the edges of the table top as he grips it, his left leg pulling up as if he's about to try and bolt, a short bark of pain escaping clenched teeth. His vision goes from Teis' light sparking of magic to overwhelmingly bright white that clenching his eyes shut does not fade. The wood in his grip creaks when she prods more and more at his curse, tails thrashing about over the edge of the table opposite Teis. Thankfully there's nothing around it for him to knock over, and he does his best to keep still, despite every bit of him screaming to move. The wait felt long, but this is never ending, and yet he knew it would be coming. The scales from where she touches him begin shifting color in a spider-web of lines, not to orange as when he's moving magic, but a pale green. They shimmer lavender with each push of her efforts, as if his body is trying to reject the magic and curse to the surface. his unoccupied arm comes up to his forehead while a low growl turns into a howl of pain, the other hand gripping the table for everything it's worth to remain stable for the cat. All too suddenly it's over, though the adrenaline and painkillers will fade too soon, he lies in numbness when she lets go of him, breathing heavily for a few moments before rolling away from Teis' turned back and retching over the edge of the table.
Nesseth stands a bit of a ways back, his arms crossed over his chest as he watches Teis start her work on Tarbin. The nuances of her magic go well clear over the top of his head, as does just about everything else she's trying to do with the crystals, the incantations in a weird language, the hand motions... it's all lost on him. What isn't lost on him, however, is the clear warning from earlier about staying back despite what might happen, and he can do nothing but clench his fingers, his nails lightly digging under the scales lining his arms as he strives to stand still while Tarbin's pained yelling fills the air. As the process continues, his teeth start to get set on edge, his lip lifting a little in a visceral, uncontrolled response to hearing someone in abject pain. He's already starting to stride forward the moment Teis finishes, sweeping right past the feline to rest his hand on Tarbin's back as his fellow Lizard gives in to the pain. "Tarbin. Tarbin, can you hear me?"
Tarbin coughs through the aftermath, thankfully having limited himself to water and some tea in the morning knowing he wasn't likely to hold on to any breakfast for long. He hears Nesseth approach, nodding when he asks his question. "[Damn the gods for making curses if this were the only way.]" His voice is raspy and quiet from the shouting and retching.
Nesseth sighs and shakes his head as he rubs Tarbin's back with a firm, but gentle touch. "[It's all way beyond what I know, or I'd try to help out however I could... Come on... we should get you back out into the hall. Can you stand?]"
Tarbin turns back over to Nesseth's side of the table, carefully swinging his legs over the edge and taking his time to step down. A twinge of discomfort that he immediately knows should be far worse causes him to draw his left foot back off the floor. He lets out one raspy laugh. "Sprained, I hope." He leans a bit against Nesseth and lets the other lizard lead the way out of the lab, hopefully back tot eh garden.
Nesseth gently grabs hold of Tarbin's arm and wraps it around the back of his neck, letting the Lizard lean against him. At the same time, he wraps an arm around Tarbin's torso, essentially acting as a crutch of sorts as he leads him out of the lab and into the hall outside. "We can let Plume take a look at it. At least that way, we can make sure nothing's broken."
Tarbin nods, carefully stepping along with Nesseth's guidance. There is a moment when they get out of the room where Tarbin hesitates, giving Nesseth a bit of a half-hug with the arm that's over his shoulder. Despite everything, the big grin on Tarbin says everything. After the deprivation, even for only a few minutes, the dazzling light of the Flow is the most beautiful thing he's ever witnessed.
Teis is waiting outside for the pair. Her eyes are still partially glazed over. Probably should've left a mana crystal spare so she could clear the cursed energies from herself... She'll just have to wait for her body to naturally recover it's mana to clear it. Shouldn't be too bad living with it for the day... Teis looks to the pair. "... How are you feeling, Tarbin?" Teis hesitantly questions.
Tarbin turns his grin toward Teis. The way the flow spikes toward her feet shows him exactly where she stands, a bit of clarity that he had taken for granted before. "Bad. Just awful. Thank you very much, miss Teis. And yourself?"
Nesseth can't help but smile just a little at the little half-hug Tarbin gives him. Though once he spots Teis, he tilts his head curiously. "You okay, Teis? You're looking kind of unsteady, yourself..."
Teis: "Yeah... Yeah I'll be alright. Just feeling... Well, drained." Teis lets out a semi-amused huff. "Sore muscles, headache... And I didn't think to leave myself a spare crystal so I could purge the cursed energy from my own body when I was finished. So ... Guess I'm not going to be doing much reading for the rest of the day. Or work. Or really anything that requires 20/20 vision."
Tarbin sighs, feeling more or less the opposite of Teis in terms of magic at the moment, giving her a nod. "I could ask Nature to help you recover a bit, if you want."
Nesseth casts a glance towards Tarbin. "I'd ask if you're sure, but I guess you do just kind of manipulate natural magic rather than casting your own..."
Teis: "I need raw mana more than anything else. Though... I won't say no." Teis replies. "Speaking of... How... Are the results?"
Tarbin nods to Nesseth, gingerly setting his foot down and letting his arm fall from the assisted walk. He takes a breath and a few steps toward Teis. His tails shift color as they drag through the grass, the blades left in their wake thick and healthy. He offers her his hand, nodding. "Let us find out."
Nesseth keeps a close eye on Tarbin as he eases away from his side, ready to move to catch him should he end up falling over. Once it's clear he's decently steady for the moment, he takes a step back and waits.
Teis: Spotting the blurry hand, Teis raises her own to take it, nodding herself. "... And your vision?" Teis questions, squinting as best she can to look into Tarbin's eyes for any signs of changes, though honestly, her newfound blurriness isn't letting her do so.
Tarbin shakes his head slightly, squeezing her hand. "Still physically blind, but I can see Nature. I can see you standing on the Flow." he barely has to concentrate at all, though, as his will directs the ambient magic to move toward Teis faster than it normally would, enough that she would likely feel the power. He still can't sense the cursed energy in her, but he couldn't before he was cursed so that's nothing new.
Teis relaxes, feeling the wave of energy wash over and into her. Certainly a refreshing feeling after being in the magically-cold lab. Her sore muscles are a bit more bearable, and the headache... Well. She suspects that will go away once she's removed the cursed energies from herself. "Ah... Thank you Tarbin." Teis smiles, turning to Nesseth. "... Nesseth? Can you please fetch my tray of crystals from the lab?"
Nesseth hums curiously and looks back towards the door into the lab. "The one you were stacking them onto during the thing? Sure, be right back." He turns and wanders back into the lab to retrieve the tray.
Tarbin senses Teis's physical discomfort turning some of the Flow toward easing her aches, nodding. "I can... Nature is responding so quickly... A wall between us has fallen." He sighs out a breath, eyes misting slightly as he looks down at Teis. "You've gotten so close... I will never be able to repay what I owe you already."
Teis: "I'm glad, Tarbin. I... Hope this enough for you to do what you need for... " Teis briefly glances her blurry gaze around for Nesseth, though chooses not to finish her sentence just in case, "... I just hope it helps."
Tarbin nods, gently squeezing Teis' hand. "Thank you..."
Nesseth comes back out of the lab with a careful step, the tray held steadily in his grasp. "Here's the tray, Teis."
Teis squeezes Tarbin's hand back, though jumps when Nesseth addresses her, letting go. "Ah! Yes. Thank you, Nesseth." Teis smiles. She plucks a crystal from the tray, starting an incantation much like before, except now an orange glow fills the crystal. It takes much longer to remove the energies from herself than it did to absorb them, though eventually, she has a bright orange crystal, and a dull orange one. Teis' eyes begin to look normal once more, and her headache vanishes. She looks at the crystals with clarity, clinking a claw on the duller one. "Hm. Tarbin... I've got some bad news. I won't be able to use this method again to weaken the curse further... Not without extracting replacement curse energy from you, which I... Well, I promised I wouldn't... Do what I did last time again." Teis sighs. "I started with nine of your crystals... Now I have one and... A bit." Teis informs. "So... Either I need to find a less-lethal way of getting more from you... Or... Come up with a new plan for the future."
Tarbin hums, stepping back from Teis as she works, nodding to Nesseth. "Take your time, we've gotten as far as we can for now, and I will simply hope it is enough." He falters a bit in standing, shifting the weight off his left leg as the painkillers wear off. He lets out a tsk, using his tails to balance. The scales shift color along his tails, and up his injured leg. A few seconds later, he sets his foot down again, sighing relief.
Nesseth looks at Tarbin's leg as the colors of his scales shift, only to raise an eyebrow as he looks a bit more directly at the Lizard. "All healed, then? Or do you still want to see Plume to make sure?"
Teis: "Here, let me just... Take that off your hands... " Teis clicks her finger and points at the tray, levitating it out of his grip should Nesseth let it.
Tarbin looks towards Nesseth's voice, letting out a light chuckle. "I will still go see doctor Plume, but it feels better. I will need some medicine for what pain is to come, though."
Nesseth blinks when he feels the tray shift against his hands, then lets go when he realizes what Teis is trying to do. He watches it float up and over to Teis, then nods at Tarbin. "Oh, thanks, Teis. And good idea, Tarbin."
Teis smiles. "Well... I have to go take down and contain the wards in my lab. I might as well do it while I have little mana as it is, and I might as well keep them, given the effort I took to get them up in the first place... Having a non-magic environment could be critical in future work. The two of you are welcome to enjoy the estate... Assuming, of course, you're not going to see the good Doctor immediately."
Tarbin nods to Teis, looking toward Nesseth. "I think I will go to Plume immediately, just in case. The painkillers will not last forever. Thank you again, miss Teis. I hope this has all been helpful to your research." He nods to Teis once more, turning away and heading in the general direction of the gatehouse, though waiting up after a few steps if Nesseth hangs behind.
Nesseth nods at Tarbin's statement and smiles at Teis. "I think I'll go and accompany Tarbin to the clinic, though thanks for the offer, Teis. If anything comes up, just let us know."
Teis nods. "Will do, Nesseth. And it most certainly has, Tarbin. Take care." With that, Teis turns to her lab, taking a deep breath and steeling herself in preparation for the horrible effects that await her within once more.
Tarbin waits for Nesseth to catch up and walks with the other lizard. "[Thank you for your support, brother. That was harrowing.]"
Nesseth strides alongside Tarbin as the two make their way through the manor's gardens and out towards the front gate. "[Happy to have been of some comfort, Tar-- brother. I wish there was more I could do to help, now that I know what you have to go through every time...]"
Tarbin chuckles lightly, hiding the creeping aches in his body as the painkillers continue to fade. Thankfully since every muscle hurts, there's none to favor! "[With hope, there will only be one or two more efforts. One wouldn't think getting rid of unwanted magic would hurt so much. Not that I'm the only one who's hurt. When you were helping me walk in the garden I saw some new bruises... What adventures have you been on recently?]" He gives a cheeky grin in the direction of Nesseth's footsteps, chuckling again.
Nesseth chuckles a bit. "[Well, I went on a hunt with a friend earlier in the week and... let's just say that some of the wild animals decided to try and make a snack of us. We both got knocked around a little, but we came out of it without much more than a couple of scratches and bruises.]"
Tarbin laughs, shaking his head as he walks along with Nesseth, asking him for a full recounting of the unexpected hunt as they make their way to the clinic, the split-tailed lizard feeling more himself than he has in a long time, letting the looming responsibility ahead of him settle for the moment.