"You still have my sword and my trust," Ryker confirmed. "Thank you."

"Hm. Most certainly," Suzanne said. "Any other questions?" she asked.

Amelia nodded. "Thank you," she said quietly, bowing slightly out of habit and turning to leave with her arms full of journals.

"Thank you as well." Percival replied, leaving it at that unless Ryker replied any further.

"Just one, and I know it's a bit of a faux pas, but you mentioned being the only witch, and an immortal one at that. Tales of witches have been around for, well, a reaaally long time, so sorry for asking, but how old are you? Have you always been the one witch, or is this something that was passed down to you?" Camus asked.

Emily walked next to Amelia and said "My Lady, I am at liberty to speak freely right now?"

Richard looked at Vxal as Vxal said "Your majesty?"

Richard stated "Before you leave today, tell Eric that he needs to see me...in the throne room."

Vxal nodded and said "Yes sir"

"Are they that strict against even visitors?" Ryker asked.

Suzanne looked down, somber and forlorn. She closed her eyes and shook her head, turning to the side to wipe a tear away as discreetly as possible. "That's not something I can share, right now," she said quietly.

"Depends on what you're going to say, but go ahead," Amelia said.

"I don't know for sure. I just know that it's a place for those with actual magical talent. It's not a vacation home for the rich, or refuge for the poor. They have the lower-land villages outside Arcana for that purpose." Percival explained to the best of his ability.

"I see." Camus noted the body language, especially her speaking more quietly. Seemed she either didn't want to do it at all, or there was a very sad reason for why she chose to do it. "Then we'll leave it there. Anything you wanna talk about, instead? Questions for me, if anything's got you curious or worried?"

Vxal said "Prince Eric, your father wishes to talk to you...and it's not a request."

Emily smiled a bit and said "That's good. Should we head to Lord William to speak to him?" 

"Hopefully so," Ryker agreed. "How far even is Arcana?"

"Master Myrwin knows...some," Suzanne said. "He knows I'm the matron, and he knows I'm the last witch, and that I'm trying to rid myself of this contract, but nothing else, really."

"Why? I'm not supposed to see him today," Amelia said. "Tell him what?"

"It is on the far end of Elodus, 3 days if we cut through elodesian land, maybe upwards of 5 if we have to go around." Percival explained.

"Then it's an honor to be a part of this super secret club." Camus responded with a faux salute.

Emily said "Forgive me, mam, but...may I ask why?"

As Eric was lead into the Throne Room, Richard said "Sit." motioning to Eric's seat as slowly he did so sitting next to his father "I'm not happy with you, Eric. I'm not happy at all"

Eric was silent as Richard asked "Do you know why?" Eric was silent still as Richard said "Answer me boy!"

"I think we'll have to wait until time out is over," Ryker replied, clearly thinking himself funny but managing not to audibly chuckle.

"By pretending they didn't happen?" Suzanne asked.

"How could it? The relationship, it isn't the same, it never will be," Amelia said as they rounded the corner onto the hallway her room was on. She looked up and paused, seeing William there, leaning against the wall as he waited there, a bouquet of flowers held loosely in hand, the tips of the petals brushing forlornly against the floor. He was looking over at them, and Amelia could tell immediately that he'd heard. The despair, and fear in his eyes was vast, and Amelia had to look away, watching instead as he gripped the stalks of the bouquet tighter, several petals falling gently against the floor.

It never will be... The words were ringing in Will's ears, and panic gripped at his throat. His father was going to be livid. How was Will supposed to fix this in a day? Beneath that though, beyond the fear of his father, pain assaulted his heart. Amelia truly was unhappy, she was hurt by him, unhappy with him. He'd done something wrong to her, and the guilt, for just a moment, felt much worse than any pain his father had ever dealt him. She looked away from him, focusing on the floor, and Will grew quickly determined to make this right. Not for his father, but so Amelia didn't look so hurt anymore.

"Yes, I suppose so." Percival replied, lowering his head slightly to prevent Galahad from noticing, should he decide to look back at them. "Based on how lukewarm it is around us at the moment, I do not think it is a good time to talk to him yet."

"Exactly, can't wake up at night in a cold sweat if I didn't actually almost die." Camus nodded. "Any other questions?"

Emily nodded and said "Yes mam" staying outside of her door, secretly happy that they are talking again.

Richard said "Do you know what you did? You forced my hand on something that was going to happen naturally anyways! You hurt your sister's feelings!"

Eric said "I was just trying to help William"

"Oh you helped him all right. Now he's getting married to the woman he loves way before she would be ready for the idea" Richard scolded him "And now she hates him. I was just talking to her, and I saw through her facade. She's miserable right now"

Eric looked away quietly as Richard continued "And worse yet, you hide from her like a coward. Kira has been trying to fight your battle for you!" he growled "Yes, she's only made things worse but Greka above at least she was trying to be helpful. I can't get angry at that."