White Hair, Part 1
Year 801
Princess Verka was slightly concerned, as Amy had missed her scheduled meeting with her today. It wasn't like Amy to miss appointments, no matter how engrossed she got in her work, so she took a few guards and went down to Amy's laboratory at the edge of the city.
There didn't appear to be any signs of a forced entry, so Verka knocked on the door and waited. After a couple minutes, she knocked again, and waited. When again no reply came, she signaled the guards.
"Guardsmen, we're forcing entry." Verka said, and they nodded.
Two guardsmen picked up their halberds and easily chopped down the wooden door of the building, and stepped in, before shouting out immediately.
"Princess, get in here now!" One yelled.
Verka entered and was horrified. Amy was surrounded by broken glass bottles and convulsing on the floor. The air felt stale, and stank of sulfur and chlorine gas. Wasting no time, Verka picked up Amy's body.
"Get out of here and secure the building! I'm taking her to my mother!" Verka shouted, holding Amy close. "Don't you die on me dammit."
3 guards left with Verka, as the other 4 stood guard outside the now sealed off lab. Verka was running as fast as she could through the streets, passed shocked citizens as they saw 3 royal guards and the Princess carrying an unconscious woman.
Bursting into the Castle, Verka was in a panic and began shouting.
"Where's the Empress?" Verka shouted, the panic in her voice rising. "Where is she?"
"S-she's in her study, Princess. She said she wasn't to be disturbed until dinner." One of the maids said.
Verka immediately ran up the stairs to the second floor of the castle, past curious visitors and servants, until she arrived at the guarded door of her mother's study.
"Hold on Princess, your mother gave us strict orders. Nobody comes in until dinnertime." The guard said, taking note of the extremely panicked looking Verka, and the fact she was carrying Amy in her arms. "But I'm not getting in your way."
The guard opened the door, stepping aside as he did so, leaving Verka free to burst in.
"Mother! Please! You have to help her!" Verka desperately shouted as she ran up to Empress Rebecca Ashe, who had been asleep until a moment ago in her chair.
Rebecca sighed internally before opening her eyes, and very quickly went from annoyed to concerned. "Verka, is that Amy Waters?"
"Yes! Please!" Verka pleaded, placing her gently on the ground. Amy was still twitching slightly, but it was reduced from when Verka found her. More importantly, Rebecca noticed she was no longer breathing.
Rebecca got up as quickly as her age would let her and approached her carefully. "Verka, do you know what happened?"
Verka breathed in and out slowly for a few seconds before answering. "We found her convulsing on her lab floor. The air stank of sulfur and chlorine."
"Verka, I'm going to show you a special spell. I know you're a creation mage just like me, but this isn't something you'll ever be able to cast. This is divine creation magic." Rebecca said softly, placing her wrinkled hands on Amy's face. "Einsam."
Immediately, the entire room began to brightly glow blue, and Verka felt weak, dropping to her knees. Verka glanced over at Rebecca, and she looked far younger than she did even a moment ago.
"We, the wicked mortals, beseech the God of Death for her guidance in this time of need." Rebecca said, her voice full of youth. "If this is her fate, so be it, but if it is not, give me the providence to heal these wounds."
In response, Rebecca's hands glowed a soft golden yellow, and Rebecca smiled. She smoothly moved her hands across Amy's face and chest, and Amy began to breathe again with a small gasp. Rebecca sighed in relief, and slumped down, her youth gone and age returned. Verka got up and helped Rebecca back into her chair.
"What was that spell, mother?" Verka asked.
"A spell called Einsam. It can save anyone from anything, as long as they are not fated to die that day. But the mana requirements are enormous, and even with the mana reserves I used up, I still had to borrow some from you."
Verka looked and noticed her mother was far... slimmer than she was a few minutes ago. Before she could say anything though, she heard Amy groaning and rushed over to her.
"Amy? Can you hear me?" Verka asked gently, cradling her in her arms.
"Verka?" Amy asked groggily. "This doesn't smell like my lab, where am I?"
"Oh Amy you're okay!" Verka sobbed, tears streaking down her face and she hugged Amy, who seemed slightly confused.
"Verka dear, let the poor girl rest. Take her to one of the guest rooms." Rebecca said. "Welcome back from the dead, Amy."