The Entangled Two

Once, Salome had been an apprentice-in-name, much like Albatross. And as with everyone else that had been taken in by the workhouse, she too had her birth name taken away. 'Salome' was the name the quartermaster gave her.

It was roughly six years ago when Gesborne came to the workhouse looking for a suitable subject for his experiments. Originally, he had his eyes on Albatross, who exhibited unusually active Aether within her body. However, in an attempt to protect Albatross from whatever experiments the mage had planned, Salome volunteered in her stead. It was unknown what Gesborne was thinking at the time, perhaps it had only been a whim, but he eventually took Salome with him instead of Albatross.

After enduring several experiments by Gesborne, the once black, lustrous hair of Salome turned dull grey. Additionally, a crystalline horn was grafted into her skull with which she could use to manipulate Aether to some extent, using the loose Aether in the air to send and receive information with greater clarity than an average mage.

As if a reward for surviving the myriads of experiments, Gesborne made her his apprentice, allowing her to leave the life of servitude behind. Naturally, Gesborne had the workhouses undo her curse, an easy task as Salome had only come out of 'basic training' when Gesborne picked her for his experiments and therefore had not yet worked with other mages close enough to learn any of their secrets.

With the curse undone, Salome was officially a mage in the city and had to learn to fend for herself. The irony was that the apprentices-in-name had more protection than your average mage in Lancea, for they were considered little more than beasts of burden, property in a sense, and thereby enjoyed some amount of protection by the workhouses.

On the other hand, mages, apprentice or otherwise, were deemed responsible for themselves. Free of any curses the likes of with imposed upon the apprentices-in-name, mages were free to act within the rules of the city, free to bend it so long as they could avoid getting caught, free to whisper secrets, and free to betray. Mages enjoy power, they enjoy control, and they most certainly do not appreciate things that were outside of their control nor do they have any trust in them. As such, due to being free, the life of uncursed mages had been made cheap.

Salome, as the apprentice to an elder, enjoyed some privileges, but those same privileges had made her a target for those that covet her position, of which there were many. In a sense, she might have been far safer as an apprentice-in-name than a mage.

Albatross, however, thought differently. From her point of view, Salome had stolen her chance of becoming an apprentice proper, to leave a life that was akin to slavery behind. Despite the dangers she would have faced, despite the possibility of having to live her life with her guard up at all times, Albatross found it more preferable than living a life of a slave.

Because of her views, Albatross couldn't help but hold a grudge against Salome. From how Albatross saw it, if it weren't for Salome, she would have been the one chosen. Perhaps Albatross wouldn't have survived the experiments, but for Albatross, she would have gladly put her life on the line.

***

With Salome arriving on the scene, the injured helper was quickly given medicine to alleviate his pain, tranquilizers to be exact. And though the helper's hands were melted, he suffered little bleeding. When the other healers arrived, they placed him on a wagon and carried him off to the nearest clinic, where the helper would have a pair of new hands grafted onto him and put back to work in a couple of days' time.

Now, only Salome and Albatross were left on the site. Though Albatross had some odd looks cast her way, since Salome hadn't said anything regarding the courier, the other mages assumed that Salome must have some business with her.

"Salome... Do you have time?" Albatross called out, for once putting her pride aside. "I want a word with you."

"A word with me?"

Salome was surprised. When Albatross remained on the scene even after she arrived, Salome assumed that Albatross might have business with someone here, but to think, said *someone* was herself. Salome did not see that coming.

"It's the first time you asked something of me, it must be important. Let's talk somewhere else, somewhere more discreet."

The two promptly moved into a shadowy alleyway, seemingly devoid of the presence of mages. Even so, Salome proceeded to release the rats hiding within her robes and have them scatter while sending the falcon perched on her shoulder into the sky.

"The coast appears to be clear," said Salome after a moment had passed. "What do you need?"

Salome didn't bother to ask for the details. Knowing the kinds of work the apprentices-in-name performed on the daily basis, there were too many things they couldn't talk about.

"Well..."

Albatross began to list the conditions of what she needed, and as she spoke, Salome's expression began to increasingly darken. Though Albatross only spoke of her situation in the vaguest term, Salome could tell that Albatross was involved in something dangerous. To begin with, the fact that Albatross even came to her for help in the first place only showed how cornered she was.

"Understood..." said Salome with hints of hesitation. "I know just the thing that might help you. But... are you sure there isn't more I can do?"

"Just this is enough."

"Very well, I'll prepare it for you in a few days."

"Can you make it in three days?"

"That's doable."

"Thank you, Salome. I own you one." Albatross cast her eyes downwards as she spoke those words of gratitude. Within her, there were still many feelings in regards to Salome, messy, entangled feelings that couldn't be so easily undone. But for now, just for this moment, she placed them aside.

"You owe me nothing," Salome replied. "I'm the one who-"

"I should go," said Albatross, not willing to stay and hear the rest of it.

Upon being so abruptly cut off, a visible gloom fell upon Salome's expression, something Albatross has noted but chose to ignore.

"Alright then. Stay safe," said Salome, her voice so quiet it could barely be heard.

In response, Albatross merely nodded before turning and walking away.

***

End of Chapter 80

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