Crimson and Gold

An owl’s hoot reverberated through the quiet night, waking the Princess up from troublesome dreams.

Fixing herself in the sofa she dozed off in, Lysandra rubbed her tired eyes groggily.

She promised Saria she wouldn’t be waiting for her, but even if she actually attempted to sleep, it wouldn’t be possible.

The Princess glanced at a candle alight on the cupboard. The stick was nearing its end, which meant that Saria had been gone for close to five hours.

Lysandra looked around the room, but there were no signs that her lover ever visited.

She knew she shouldn’t be disappointed, they agreed to meet in the morning of the next day to not disturb anyone’s rest, but there was still a pinch of regret in her heart.

“What kind of scoundrel has caused you so much displeasure, my Princess?” A familiar voice rang next to Lysandra’s ear, startling her.

Jolting her head up, she was immediately met with the loving crimson gaze.

She calmed her racing heart and forced her face to stop grinning so widely. “Well, you see, there is this Shahrezi beauty that likes to play with my poor maiden’s heart,” the Princess said, moving closer.

Saria’s brows furrowed. “She sounds unruly. Should I discipline her?”

“There is no need,” Lysandra laughed, “She already corrected her mistake.” The Princess wrapped her arms around Saria’s neck and pulled her into a welcoming kiss.

“I thought you wouldn’t come until morning,” she said. “When did you come back?”

“Well, it’s already morning… technically,” Saria gestured at the bright yellow glow marking the horizon. “I just came back, really. Went to my quarters to quickly change and then came to see you. Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“How can I sleep when you are doing something dangerous?”

Saria narrowed her eyes. “We agreed that you would sleep.”

“We agreed that you wouldn’t come until morning so you can rest.”

The room fell silent as the women met one another’s gaze in a challenge, neither of them wanted to step down from.

After a moment, the corner of Saria’s lips twitched. “I guess this means that both of us need disciplining.”

Lysandra’s eyebrow arched as the mischief danced in her golden irises. “You’re offering?”

“How about a mutual exchange?”

“Deal.”

As both laughed, the tension immediately melted away.

“Was Mormo telling the truth? Did you find out anything?” Lysandra asked, resting her head on her lover’s shoulder.

“He was. It might be even worse than we thought. There is really no way of talking this out with the ones affected. Even killing them takes a great amount of effort. But Eris and I have found something that could help.”

Saria placed the pouch on the table. “One of them was carrying this. It looks like the drug Mormo mentioned. Do you think you can find out what it is?”

Lysandra examined the contents of the bag under the faint light of the candle. The silvery powder looked awfully similar. “I think I know what it is, but I’ll need to do a few tests. Come with me.”

Lysandra guided Saria downstairs, then to the entrance to the underground tunnels located in the pavilion’s kitchen.

Right by the entrance was a lone room secured with a gilded lock. Lysandra took out a matching gilded key from a hidden pocket of her belt and opened the door.

Inside was full of advanced alchemical equipment. Tubes, cauldrons, vials, and jars containing the rarest ingredients were arranged neatly on heavy wooden cabinets. In the corner by the door was even a small library filled with books, parchments, and scripts. All containing priceless alchemical knowledge, no doubt.

Seeing Saria’s awe, Lysandra smiled proudly. “Weren’t expecting the princess to have a fully realized alchemical laboratory in her basement, were you?”

“I’m just surprised by the lack of death traps,” Saria smirked.

“They were all disabled when I used the key. Any attempt to break in would set off the protection spells that would annihilate anyone and anything that steps through the door.”

As her gaze filled with admiration and love, Saria beamed her lover a brilliant smile. “You say the sweetest things.”

Lysandra pulled her hair in a loose, messy bun and quickly got to work.

Saria sat on the chair in the library corner and picked up a book, trying to pass the time. Her gaze kept drifting away from the pages, attracted by the sight of Lysandra bustling by the alchemy tables, absorbed in the process.

Eventually, she put the book away and nestled herself comfortably in her seat while following her lover with curious eyes.

It was hard to tell how much time had passed since they entered the underground, or when exactly the fatigue took the better of Saria.

Her peaceful rest was at some point interrupted by a gentle kiss that fell on her head.

“You should go back and rest,” Lysandra said softly. Her finders lovingly caressing her lover’s face.

Saria squeezed her eyes a few times to dispel the sleepiness, then took the Princess’ hand and kissed her. “I’m fine. I don’t need that much sleep,” she said. “Did you find anything?”

Lysandra sighed, and her expression immediately darkened.

“It’s a drug used by our soldiers during the war with Faolán. A regular army, even consisting of magic users of all kinds, is hardly a challenge for shapeshifters. That’s why my father ordered research for something that could give the troops enough strength to match them in a fight. This drug is a result.”

Saria sat up, feeling a bit more clearer-headed after the short nap. “So how do we counter it?”

“It’s not that simple.” Lysandra pondered her words for a moment. “The regular drug could increase both physical and magical abilities, as well as increase healing speed and temporarily disable pain receptors. Its effects were strong, but also didn’t last long, and it was extremely easy to overdose.”

Feeling that there was something amiss with what she heard, Saria frowned. “Then how come only now people started turning into the Husks because of it?”

“That’s the tricky part. They shouldn’t. At worst, people should be dying from overdose, at best, we should get a few more bloody brawls.” Lysandra hanged her voice, reluctant to say her conclusion, as if hoping she was wrong. “Which means that someone tampered with it. My tests also confirm it.”

A dangerous drug modified to be even more dangerous. Sounded like someone’s deliberate action, but the cause and goal were unclear.

“Do you know what exactly was changed?” Saria asked, pushing away the uncomfortable, nagging feeling that this was only the beginning of much bigger problems.

Lysandra shook her head. “I was only able to establish that whatever was modified, it was done through magic, not alchemy. Since I have no magical aptitude, I can’t analyze the influence.”

Living without even an ounce of magic, the Princess was mostly used to it. But at rare times like this, she really hated this helplessness of hers.

Before she could dwell on her unlucky condition too long, she was distracted by her lover’s voice.

“What are we going to do now?” Saria asked.

“I don’t know,” Lysandra sighed. “For now, I’ll keep running tests and see if there’s anything I missed. I’ll try to figure something out.”

Nodding, Saria patted her lover’s hand to give her some comfort. “I’ll keep searching. From the looks of it, this warehouse wasn’t the only place where the Husks were hiding, so maybe I can learn something more if I keep going after them.”

The Princess’ delicate hand cupped Saria’s cheek tenderly.

Once again, the woman she loved had to risk her health and her life, all the while she was forced to stay behind.

“Be careful,” she said in a hushed voice. Her heart trembling with anxiety. “The normal drug was already dangerous, this modification makes it even more so.”

“I know.” Saria leaned into the touch and closed her eyes, enjoying the soft touch of Lysandra’s palm.

She couldn’t wait for the day they could just run away, leaving all the worries behind.

Before that, however, she had to assure her worried lover, give her confidence, and a peace of mind, so they could both focus on the pressing matters.

“I’ll have Eris join me, so I won’t be alone. You don’t have to worry. She’s actually quite skilled and reliable,” Saria declared, somehow missing the moment when Lysandra tensed at the sound of Eris’ name.

The Princess smiled wryly, but didn’t say anything. She stood up and pulled Saria up from the chair, then led her out of the laboratory.

“For now, go back and get some rest. Everyone will be in danger if you collapse from exhaustion.”