Hidden underneath those bandages were patterns. Dark in color that ran from the tips of her fingers to her elbows as if her arms were dipped in paint.
It was still spreading. It once only came up to the middle of her forearm. But now, it was creeping up her arms even further like molds on a wet surface.
Blood drained from Nithara's face as she watched it happen, while the familiar feeling of electrocution ran through her body.
She felt helpless.
-+-+-+-+-
Nithara came out just as Fatheya finished setting the table. The clothes fit her perfectly. She ruffled her wet hair with a towel, the rich aroma of the cooked food making its way to her nose.
She looked towards where it came from, but other than the food, the other two at the table were already staring at her—or rather at her arms.
Then it hit her, she had forgotten to put the bandages back on. She was quick to return to the bathroom and covered it up, then went out to join the two; Hoping they wouldn't bring it up.
Thankfully, they didn't. Even though it was clear that they wanted to ask. She was able to enjoy the dish in that awkward and nerve racking atmosphere, but she couldn't escape Feywa afterwards.
-+-+-+-+-
"I can feel you staring." Nithara said, leaning forward on the railing of the balcony.
"Oh I-I was just out to get some air, but I see that this spot is already taken—"
"Just ask, one of you would see it sooner or later anyways." Nithara cut her off.
"I didn't— N-No I— Haaaa—" Feywa struggled to find the right words.
"What was that… on your arm?"
Nithara let out a heavy sigh, then faced Feywa and slowly unwrapped the bandages once more, revealing the patterns again.
Feywa hesitated to move closer at first, but her legs eventually moved on their own, till she had a perfect view of every little detail within those patterns.
At a distance, it looked black in color, but at a closer look, it consisted of two shades of dark purple. The slightly lighter shade was the one that covered more surface, while the darker one spread in a noticeable pattern; It looked like roots.
"H-How did you get this?" Feywa asked, brushing her fingertips through those patterns.
"It's something that started spreading when my ability awakened." Nithara replied.
"So it wasn't that big before?"
"No, back then it was just a small patch on the back of my hands, but the more I used my ability, the more it spread, and the darker it got." Nithara furrowed her brows.
"So I eventually decided to cover it up." She added.
"Then, did your fight with the hunters earlier trigger it again?" Feywa asked.
Nithara paused a bit, not really knowing how to answer.
"It.. only gets triggered when I use my ability without a source. That's why I told you to wait for the storm back there.
"Oh.. now it makes sense. I'm glad it didn't do you any harm." Feywa let out a sigh of relief.
Nithara stayed silent.
-+-+-+-+-
Faint music and chimes of the ongoing festival were heard in the morning, while hurried marches of hunters on the lookout echoed in the cold air during the night. They couldn't do much given Eruana's situation, so they decided to stay until she got better.
"Here, have some, you've been glued to that computer screen for a while now." Feywa said, waving a bowl of freshly cooked egg-fried rice in front of Fatheya, blocking her view of the computer screen.
"Thanks dear, I just need to find something. Remember the patterns we saw on Nithara's arm? I faintly remember something that resembled it back in my early days in college." Feywa grew curious, causing her to pull up another chair and sit beside Fatheya, her focus also shifted to the computer screen.
"Is that so? Found anything yet?" Feywa asked.
Fatheya leaned back on her chair. "No, not yet. Something's weird. Every data I find that brings me closer to it seems to be either filtered or inaccessible."
"Huh, that is weird."
After eating, Fatheya prepared to go out.
"Don't wait for me tonight children, you can cook dinner with the ingredients in the kitchen." The figure clad in travelling gear had already made her way out the door, her neatly braided hair bouncing not far behind.
Feywa was met with Nithara's confused look as she walked into the living room, which she answered with a shrug of her shoulders and a copy of Nithara's confused expression.
"Okay, I don't know what that was, but just to let you know, Eruana woke up a few minutes ago. I already gave her something to eat, you can go see her now if you wa—" Feywa was already halfway through the door where Eruana was.
"Well, there she goes." Nithara said, tilting her head with a shrug and going back to reading the book Fatheya lent her.
"Eruana?!"
The girl who was eating almost choked on her food.
"Hey there!" Eruana greeted, her tone as jolly as ever. Feywa ran to hug her.
"Woah, I've only been out for two days, did you miss me that m—"
"I'm sorry."
Eruana felt a wet sensation on her shoulder where Feywa had nuzzled her face. Realising where it came from, she grabbed Feywa by the shoulder and made her face towards her. Tears were running down Feywa's cheeks as she averted her gaze to avoid Eruana's.
"Hey, hey, it wasn't your fault, I was the one who insisted on staying there, I should've listened to you. I'm really sorry, none of this would've happened if I didn't go against you. " Eruana said, cupping Feywa's face.
"You b-better, I'm gonna smack you real hard if you do that again."
"You're crying and you still have the energy to be sarcastic? Hahhahaha!" Eruana teased.
Feywa struggled to control her sobs at first, but as Eruana's words sank into her mind, a wave of realization struck her, chasing all her tears away.
"Y-You remember what happened?" She asked.
Eruana also had a shock expression. "I do.."
"Wait, but that never happened before, how much do you remember?" Feywa asked in a frenzied tone
"Everything, I remember everything."
"That might be my fault." A voice came from the door behind Feywa. Nithara stood there, leaning on the door frame with her arms crossed.
The two looked at her, one with raised eyebrows out of curiosity, while the other with widened eyes of realization.
"Wait, is this because of that thing you did?" Feywa queried.
"I'm not entirely sure myself, that's only the fourth time I used my ability that way, but that was the first time I used it on a citrian." Nithara answered.
Eruana chimed in. "What did she do?"
"Don't stress yourself with that, the important thing now is that you're okay. You'll be a walking ball of sunshine again, thanks to her." Feywa said, still wiping tears off her face.
"Also she played a major role in saving you" Feywa said, trying not to dig too deep into the topic.
"Finish your food, we'll be outside if you need anything." She added. Before she could move far from the bed, Eruana grabbed her arm.
"I'm sorry, again. From now on, I swear I'll always listen to you." Eruana uttered those words like an oath that bid her life.
She shifted her gaze onto Nithara, and said, "Thank you, for everything you did. I'm glad to see you two getting along." A smile lingered on her lips.
Feywa smiled back, then proceeded to go out of the room with Nithara.
Night came, and as Nithara helped Feywa prepare food for dinner, she felt an uneasy feeling out of the earlier events. Recalling the way Fatheya rushed out the door earlier that morning, she grew curious and worried as time went by.
After setting the table, she prepared to go out, leaving the two a little confused.
"You two have dinner without me, I'm heading out for a bit." She said.
Before Fatheya and Eruana could sit down and properly process what Nithara had said, she was already out the door, but as soon as that door closed, it was flung open once more, revealing Fatheya dragging Nithara by the arm back inside.
The scene made the two sitting at the table laugh. "Sheeshh, amazing show!" Feywa teased, clapping her hands in amusement.
Though it didn't last. From the front door, Fatheya dragged Nithara to her study with a serious expression. One hand on Nithara's arm, while the other clasped a book.
The book was extremely old, its cover barely holding the pages, while some of the said pages stuck out like a sore thumb in every direction.
The most intriguing part of it was the design on the cover. Feywa froze when she caught a glimpse of it.
The front cover displayed a series of patterns that looked similar to the ones on Nithara's arm. Feywa immediately interpreted the look on Nithara's face.
Fatheya slammed the book on her table, then looked Nithara dead in the eyes. "Oh dear child—those patterns are going to kill you sooner than you could ever imagine!"
"W-What…?"