Zurala

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To those who didn’t know her well, Zurala rarely offered more than a few words, only speaking when something truly needed to be said. Any who truly knew her knew the typical silence and curt responses were just part of who she was, though they didn’t know the reasons for it. Most simply assumed it came with the position she held. Few knew better.

Most had never seen her at a loss for words, yet it seemed today was a day of firsts.

It was the first day in many years that so much ground was lost to the Entity in one battle. It was the first time her legion lost so many members since she rose to command it. It was the first moment in years that threw her back into her past.

The source of her speechlessness lay before her, muzzled and chained, locked in a dungeon she knew all too well. Kos, a former member of her legion… and the first case of incomplete affliction by the Entity.

Zurala did not dare use the word unsuccessful to describe it. To her, it was merely an unfinished case, an incomplete threat, an undeveloped child of the Entity that could grow to its full potential in an instance.

Part of her mind screamed at her to kill it; to ignore her injuries and plunge a blade into the pitiful thing’s chest. It would be a mercy, at least, to end him before his condition progressed.

Another part of her argued just as the researchers had; he would be an excellent subject to study. After all, throughout the eons of battling the Entity there was never a case like his.

A third, far smaller part of her felt pity; pity for him and pity for his friend. In that moment, Kos and Myrrh awoke a memory long repressed, shaking her to her core.

She left her orders with the prison guards - keep him alive and keep him contained - before leaving to consider the options. Despite the instinct to simply kill him and end the ordeal, she knew better than to be so rash. A long sigh left her as she raised a wing to her head, unable to tell if the ache was a result of exhaustion or blood loss or stress. Perhaps she’d gotten a concussion in the earlier battle. Perhaps it was all four.

She was glad there was no one around to see her slowly lean against the wall, eyes half lidded and half hidden by her mane, a single tear slowly meandering through her fur.

“Commander, you’ve gotta wake up,” a familiar voice said. A tiny paw pushed against her uninjured shoulder in a futile attempt to shake her awake. Slowly, she opened her eyes, flinching at the light.

“Sendran?” she asked, voice rasping.

The little Veilspun soon appeared in her vision, nodding once. His lantern rested on the ground near her head, the source of the bright light, though it was quickly dimmed by his magic.

“Come on. This isn’t a good place to sleep, you know,” the small Goetia whispered. “Wouldn’t want someone else to stumble upon you collapsed like this. Your pride would never recover from that.” A short, empty laugh left his tiny body, a stark contrast from his typical cheerful personality.

“How long was I out?” Zurala asked, slowly getting to her feet. She grimaced as her injured shoulder throbbed, forcing her to brace against the wall with her wing.

“Dunno,” Sendran answered with a shrug. “Got worried when you weren’t in your quarters for dinner, so I went looking and found you here a few minutes ago.”

“I see,” she murmured, frowning. She’d met with the guards and researchers almost immediately after their return around noon, only stopping at a healer for treatment beforehand. “Did anyone notice I was gone?”

“If they did, no one said anything. I think most of us just assumed you were resting… which, pardon my forwardness, you should go and do right now. And on that note, you should eat dinner, too.”

She shook her head. “I will, later. There’s something I need to do first. Where’s Myrrh?”

“Commander, you shouldn’t-”

“Sendran. Take me to Myrrh,” she ordered, cutting off his rebuttal with a glare. The little Goetia sighed, picking up his lantern and gesturing for her to follow. Slowly, he led her out of the building and into another, guiding her to the room Myrrh was in.

She was just about to enter when Sendran slipped in front of her, eyes so full of uncertainty that she immediately heeded his shaky, quiet request for her to wait. He quickly darted away, vanishing into the shadows, leaving her bewildered at the door. He soon reappeared, offering a damp cloth to her.

“What’s this for?”

“I-it’s just…” he began, looking away and biting his lip. “Well… Commander, you were crying earlier. Before I woke you up, I mean. And… it’s kind of obvious and I thought you might want to… to wash up a bit before this and…”

Her eyes widened. She’d been crying? Touching a wing to her face confirmed it; the fur around her eyes was slightly damp, forming small clumps where it had begun to dry. Quietly, she took the cloth and raised it to her face, cutting off the shaky rambling.

“...I must've had a dream, then. Thank you, Sendran,” she said, passing the cloth back to him with a tired smile. “You’re a good friend. Now… you go and get some rest yourself. I promise I’ll do the same after this.”

Without another word, she pushed the door open to face the young Goetia within, her decision made.

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Other Notes:

• The second Goetia summoned by Zarasti.
• Originally very disgruntled about being summoned, she changes her stance upon realizing why.
• Now helps Zarasti and Malinda contain Arluin and seek out Temptress, intent on capturing and keeping both malevolent forces locked up in the Obsidian Firefalls.
• May teach Zarasti/Malinda about archaic magic at some point idk.
• Very stoic, Sendran likes to tease and suggest she loosen up a bit, though she never listens. Tends to keep her emotions and past to herself.