#rmra

Corva sat in quiet meditation as the last of the sun fled past the horizon. Once the sun had fully set and the sky only held twilight memories, she opened her eyes.

Aloka was sitting by the fire. Corva carefully moved to join her, mindful of her still-healing wounds.

"I owe Mom an apology." She laughed as she moved a little closer to the fire; probably closer than she should for a devil with heat sensitive horns but she liked the way it toasted her face.

Corva wanted to look at absolutely everything. This shop was brimming with potential; multiple types of magic emanated from the items, strong enough to feel like a flutter of wings against her skin.

She forced herself to pay attention to Aloka and the shopkeeper instead. The stain of 'dead' magic on their face made her itch to see if she could affect it, if she could make any impact on something that well-worn and deeply embedded.

But again, that was not the point of this. She needed to pay attention to the conversation, not get lost in magical conjecture!

Corva didn't know what the shopkeeper said via sign, but Aloka's answer gave her enough context to understand. She gave a nod to the unknown person, content to let Aloka do the talking.

"Do I want to know why you need dead magic?" He signed raising an eyebrow.

"You say that I'm some sort of dangerous trouble maker."

"Well you are one if those thing...are you going to introduce me?"

The next morning Aloka was up early triple checking the small backpack she had packed up for the trip over.

"The closer it gets to you two making your trip the more nervous I get...you say this is perfectly safe and you need...everything you're packing."

"The shop is perfectly legal and safe but the west edge is still a more dangerous part to town so I'm keeping prepared." Plus stuff to sent up an emergency camp side in an ally if we cant find a not dangerous looking hotel.. "Please try to relax Mom."

Corva had put her bracers on under a long-sleeved shirt she borrowed from Aloka. With how low she still was on magic, she was hoping they didn't run into any trouble.

Corva smiled, soft and genuine. It felt easier to breathe, knowing that Atlas was accepting her offer to help.

"We can get started right away," she said. "Specifically, you can get started by continuing to rest. I will start reconstructing your horn as soon as we can get the supplies. I should be able to finish it within the next few days, and then we can reattach it."

'Without creating a public outcry'.

There was a serial killer.

And the police wanted to keep that to themselves.

Corva wished she could say she was surprised. Honestly, that was about what she expected. Why bother trying to keep people safe, when you can just keep them quiet?

She did her best to keep her expression neutral. Aloka and Amaya had no such compunctions. Aloka clenched her fists, taking a step towards the officers. Amaya crossed her arms and raised her brows. The two women began speaking nearly in unison.

"Are you seriously telling me-"

"Do the people not deserve-"

"Especially when this is her second-"

"You know where she is!"

Corva put her hands in her lap, hoping to hide the way they were still shaking.

"Some fresh air sounds nice," she said, voice as even as she could manage. "Would you accompany me?"

Please say yes; I know it's selfish, your children are all here and I'm asking you to leave them, but I don't know if I can make myself walk around a hospital without someone with me.

"Nothing's gonna happen. And if it does we're right behind you. You aren't alone Corva." Andre assured

With one last deep breath, Corva opened the door. She gave the Leers her best reassuring smile.

Corva was hanging on to her composure by her fingertips. Everything was overwhelming—the sounds, the scents, the pain—and was coalescing into a pulsing pressure behind her eyes.

Aloka let go of her, but the pain stayed, prickling through her arm like aftershocks.

"Corva? Sweetheart? Can you hear me?"

Amaya was speaking to her, but if Corva opened her mouth now, she wasn't sure what would come out. It might be a scream, or a whine, or the inevitable end result of her growing nausea. It certainly wouldn't be intelligible words.

"No one is going to touch you. You're safe; you're okay."

Aloka and Andre took a few steps back, Andre specifically taking over the breakfast so it didnt burn while their mom was helping Corva.