It wasn’t going well.

Anne was relatively calm at first. What does he mean by stop? She knew exactly what he meant. She can’t keep calling him, or badgering him back into a relationship. It’d been over for years at this point, not to mention Skyler had someone new. Sure, it wasn’t much of a relationship beyond partners, maybe even friends... But Skyler loved him all the same.

She didn’t even have a chance anymore. And he was trying to make her understand that. “I’m not getting back together with you. Ever. It was over the first time we broke up, and you know that. It’s time for you to move on.” He watched her carefully, as she went between faking tears and being openly angry. “Find someone new, or... I dunno, focus on your studies?”

“He’ll never love you like I do!” She finally exploded, obviously ignoring the attention the outburst got. “All he wants is to use you! It’s pretty fucking obvious you don’t mean anything to him! You need me!”

“No. I don’t.”

Admittedly, he’d cringed when she had started yelling. His grip on his tea tightening a bit. But Skyler was determined to end this. Right here, right now. And his insistence did seem to make her deflate a bit. “I never actually needed you. I just thought I did. Back when I was a kid.”

There was silence as his words seemed to sink in, her hands clenched into tight, trembling fists. Skyler watched her for a moment before letting out a sigh, taking a small sip from his cup. As soon as this was done, he probably should work with Egril again. Take him to the Pridelands for some special practice...

Skyler jumped as the cup was hit out of his hands, Anne grabbing him by the arm before he could pull away. “Fine.” Something about her seemed...different? It was sudden, sending chills down his spine as she pulled him out of the chair. “If that’s how this is going to go, then fine. I’ll make you realize myself!”

“Anne! Shi--...! Let go!” When did she get this strong? She barely seemed to be making an effort as she tugged him away, down an alley. Out of sight from everyone else. “What the hell are you doing?!”

“What I should’ve done already. You don’t think I’ve been working on my studies?” Anne suddenly pushed him against the wall, her eyes practically glowing in the shadows. “I’ve figured out how to get stronger. All I need now is you.”

Skyler didn’t notice the corridor that had formed behind him. Swirling darkness with a cold chill around it, an inky doorway that she soon shoved him through. He hit the ground on the other side with a yelp, shivering slightly as he pushed himself up. Anne walked through soon after, dissipating the corridor with a wave of her hand.

“A...what?” He glanced over, seeing the small creature. “...No, that’s an actual rabbit. How’d that get in here?” Vahli was already waving his staff at it, trying to gently shoo it away.

“I’d offer my first-born child, if it wasn’t for the fact that I’m never having kids.” It was only half a joke; Jaxson wasn’t exactly thrilled about having to ask anyone for help. Much less a witch.

@leflayaway​ says:   “What sort of Craft do you do?”

“ ♪ Oh foolish huntsman how you lost your way, ♫ ♪ On the trail of glory, you were led astray! ♫ ♪ You fired your weapon, oh how poorly you chose, ♫ ♪ You irked my ire, now you’ll die by crows! ♫ ”

The young male sang his whimsical tune, as a hail of black birds swarmed the hunter. Sharp beaks and curled talons tore at the unfortunate man, as he struggled under the cloud of murder that befell him.

And honestly, it was what he deserved… That weapon really fucking hurt. It penetrated with an unbearable heat that tore through his shoulder like nothing he’s experienced… Fortunately, a short incantation was still enough to close the wound. Just not the emotional distress it caused him.

“Well aren’t you interesting, if not exactly a good minstrel,” Prudence said, stepping from behind a tree, the world blurring slightly around the edges where she and her sisters stepped as they slid past the veil hanging around them.

She’d never seen magic quite like that, and healing so smooth. She stood in front of her two lighter skinned sisters, all three of them with their heads tilted.

He was on edge, to put it lightly. Tired, still riled from the fight, still wanting to hurt someone. But someone was already hurt. Gil was hurt. Hurt, and not waking up, all because of her--

There was a pause, a deep breath. Not again; He was trying to calm down, at least enough to do the dive. If this was anything like the time Owen had hurt him, the injuries ran deeper than Gil’s body. They went right down to his heart, something that Skyler honestly could have already figured; He’d nearly exhausted his own magic trying to heal him. Nothing had worked.

It was a last resort. Invasive, it felt, to the witch’s privacy. Gil had always guarded his heart so closely, but Skyler had no other choice. He could handle rejection better than losing him entirely. Than grief.

Eventually, he settled down next to Gil, sitting for a few moments. The witch almost looked like he was just sleeping... “If anything happens, call Kasey and Riley,” Skyler made sure to tell Egril, before laying down. Staring at Gil’s face for a few moments. He had no idea what waited for him in the other’s heart. Just a vague idea, gleaned from the spirits and his interactions with them.

“It was just Anne. She changed her number again.” And it was the main reason why he was so irritated. Every time she managed to get a call through, it was the same thing. Come back, she’s different, she wanted to be together again...