"How do I know I can trust your word?" The voice oozed disgust.
"You can't, but know this. I'm preparing to leave the Kingdom since the outbreak, my only problem is that with Deirus breathing down my neck it's taking too much time. I can't move too many assets or funds at once, or he will notice.
If you do this last favour for me, I'll get out of your hair forever and leave you everything you need to reach your goal."
"You are a lucky man, Lukart." The voice seemed to calm down.
"Yurial Deirus has just left the academy. I know where he will be for the next hours."
"If he is outside the academy, I can take care of him myself. Just give me his coordinates."
"Your gift for failure has long stopped amusing me, Lukart. You can't be trusted with picking your own nose. I'll send my own men. You focus on packing your stuff. You are likely to screw that up too, but at least there shouldn't be casualties."
***
The group's home visits went smoothly. They were still students after all, Marth would never burden them with a task above their skills. The challenge wasn't curing diseases, rather to learn how to find the way in an unknown environment and to deal with the patients.
Their first destination was Vinea, a beautiful city built around a small lagoon. The uptown district was crescent shaped, so that every mansion would be overlooking the sea.
Water separated the city blocks, forming canals that could be crossed either by boat or using one of the many stone bridges. The group had almost reached the address, yet Quylla was walking behind the others, fiddling with her hair and rehearsing all the introduction lines she could think of over and over.
- "If she doesn't snap out of it, we'll never finish our round in time. Sorry, little sis, but it's for your own good."– Friya hated herself for what she was about to do, but she couldn't stand her best friend always being so passive.
"You know Lith, this city is quite a sight to behold." She waved her hand, encompassing the clear blue sky and the lagoon's crystal clear water.
"Only if you like humidity and scavenging birds raining death from above." He grumpily replied while dodging the bird po*p that paved most of the way.
- "If it wasn't for the lack of gondolas, this city would remind me of Venice." Lith thought. "Not to mention that on Earth pigeon's droppings aren't as big as an omelet."–
The birds plaguing the lagoon closely resembled seagulls, but their size was akin to a pelican.
"It's a pity that Phloria can't enjoy this view." Friya ignored his remark, keeping her eyes on Quylla's reaction.
"Even for me, it's the first time seeing the sea. I find Vinea truly romantic. Why don't you take her here during the weekend? I'm sure she would love it."
"I'll think about it." He said.
- "Maybe too romantic. Not to mention that I don't have time for this cr*p." He actually thought. "If I manage to learn Blink before the weekend, to keep my training schedule and if I don't make any more breakthroughs with the boxes, then I'll consider the possibility."
"You are impossible!" Solus was outraged. "Just this morning you were whining about the lack of romance between you two and now you already consider her a second, no a fourth best option?
You are supposed to make time for her, not to just use her to fill the blank spaces!"–
After hearing them talk, Quylla's eyes steeled with rage. She marched double time, taking the list from Yurial's hand to check the address before banging the knocker with enough strength to make the door tremble.
A butler in a black and white livery, that reminded Lith of a smoking, abruptly opened the door with an annoyed expression.
"Yes?" He didn't even care to hide his disgust at the sight of the group, dilating his nostrils and curling his upper lip like someone had delivered garbage.
"Good morning, good sir." Quylla's voice sounded sweet like an unripe lemon.
"We are the White Griffon's healers. Lead us to our patient, please."
"The front door is only for the guests. Go around back to the service entrance." The butler attempted to close the door, but Quylla stopped him
"Your name." She hissed.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I want your name, so that when I report to Headmaster Linjos why we couldn't treat your master, he can explain why and who deserves credit for house Korya losing its privileges with the academy. I'm sure your master will reward you well."
Her eyes were reduced to slits brimming with mana. The butler turned pale as a ghost. Angering a mage was already bad enough, but if his actions damaged the household, he would consider himself lucky by being just skinned alive.
"I'm very sorry, Lady Mage." He stuttered. "Please, have mercy of this old fool. You and your mighty colleagues are the most welcome." He opened the door, half kneeling in front of her as soon as she entered.
"Lead the way." Quylla snarled.
That day, more than one butler who dared to disrespect them, become unable to even meet her gaze or speak to Quylla without bowing first.