"It seems like a good campsite. Time to unpack, everyone!"
Lotus could hear the gasp of relief coming out of Mathilde as she sat on the nearest stump. Their gruelling march to the Dimescu ruins was over for the day, ending in a small, partially covered clearing surrounded by trees.
She initially expected these ruins to be close by, but after three days of trek across the wilderness, they were only now appearing in the distance. And so far, she only saw a partly collapsed keep emerging from the surrounding forest, its stone turned dark grey by flora and elements alike.
As she dropped her backpack to the ground, Lotus reflected on her journey outside of the city walls. She thought she would have been able to keep up the pace, not needing sleeping nor feeling fatigue like the others, but found herself lagging behind both of them most of the time. Even Maximilien was faster than her, and his plate armour was heavier than both her new set of work-clothes and her backpack!
She would have blamed it on her lack of experience with travelling, if not for what she saw. Both of her companions moved with a natural ease that she sorely lacked, each of their steps guided by their instinct. Where their paws seemed to anticipate the ground's irregularities, hers simply felt into every hidden cracks and holes, which she then had to get herself out of.
She felt inadequate after each delay she caused, especially when Mathilde gazed back upon her. The wizard barely spoke to her during these long days, and went straight to her tent each time they stopped for the day. She had no more words of encouragement... or acknowledgement.
"Lotus, my bedroll."
She looked up to see Mathilde next to her, hands ready to receive the bedroll. Her face, usually so expressive, was completely closed now. And just like the other days, she withdrew without a word as soon as she got it.
It pained Lotus to see her like this, and she resolved to do something about it, if only to have an answer. She turned her attention to Maximilien, who was busy peeling off his armour to get ready for the night.
"Maximilien, I have to ask you something."
The lion was busy freeing his legs from their steel protections, but motioned for her to continue nonetheless.
"I... have to talk to Mathilde. I think something is wrong with her."
"We are tracking down her old paramour, who happen to dabble in demonic magic and tried to abduct her. You're definitely unto something there!" he answered with a laugh.
"I'm serious! I didn't know her for long, but she's not.... She seems so distant and cold..."
He stopped fiddling with the straps of his armour to look at her. He focused on her face for a long time, his eyes slightly widening before he spoke again.
"You're right, something is bothering her. And I think it's about you."
He seemed surprised at her despondent expression, as he quickly continued:
"Not what you do, but how you look. You never met Justine, didn't you?"
"Never... she said I was made using a crystal she offered her however. Before..."
She suddenly stopped as something inside her stirred. Dread crept in her mind as she rushed back to her backpack. She had packed a mirror there before leaving the city. She was sure of it.
She needed it, right now!
She pulled it off of the bag, not even noticing the scrolls and objects she sent flying off in the process. All that mattered was her reflection, that now stared back at her. Her legs started to shake as she fell on her knees, distress progressively distorting her face as she started to lose the staring battle with herself. Soon, she couldn't bear it anymore, and she let go of the mirror, her vision nothing more than a blur as something pulsed in remembrance inside of her.
Of course she would avoid her now. She whore the face of her would be abductor! She covered her head with her hands as despair consumed her. Even if she didn't saw a traitor in her, she was a moving reminder of who they were after, of someone who made her suffer!
How could she even tolerate a face like that?
"You're not Justine, are you?"
She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, and turned to face its owner. It was Maximilien, purposefully looking at her.
"I... no..." she blubbered.
"You didn't sent a cult after her either, right?"
"How could I? I love her."
The words naturally flew out of her mouth, and only hit her after. Slowly, the blur in her vision disappeared, transforming into a newfound determination. She loved Mathilde, with all of the crystal serving as her heart. Her and Justine had nothing in common... apart from a somewhat similar face. She just had to remind Mathilde of that.
"I'm glad you remember it now!" exulted the lion as he gave her shoulder a squeeze. "I will take care of the camp, and you go tell her all that, so that she remember it, alright?"
"I will. Thanks... I... really needed that."
"You're welcome. I have kids, I can see when people need some guidance!"
He gave her a last tap of encouragement, and she stood back up... only to clumsily crouch back down again as she noticed the mess her search had left. Only then, after both mirror and magical doodads were back in place, did she followed after Mathilde.
She made her way for Mathilde's "tent": a self-assembling tipi weaved in enchanted canvas which allowed it to take various magic disguises, in this case an inconspicuous boulder. She had never been inside before, and after fumbling a bit, she found its entrance, getting on all four to be able to fit in.
"Lotus, what are you..."
The interior was small, cramped even, and yet Lotus felt at home there. The same magical lantern illuminated everything inside with its soothing glow, and the variety of books, parchments and quill lying around reminded her of Mathilde's study, some of its comforting stillness imbuing the air.
