"What a night... "

• Azuo & Inue

Azuo grabbed the handle of his metal pitcher from the mouth of the house's masonry oven. The last of the embers crackled softly as he felt the cold handle - kept so by a handy frigomantic spell that Inue had cast - and carefully brought the pitcher to rest on the table.

It was a slow journey, as accidentally touching the metal or allowing the water to spill could be rather painful. It wasn't until the bottom of the pitcher was firmly planted on the short table that Azuo relaxed his shoulders and stiff arms.

He took a seat on the sitting pillow in front of his teacup. Inside the cup sat small sewn bag of circular leaves - green and fresh, having been picked earlier in the week.

Azuo carefully grabbed the pitcher and poured hot - but not boiling - water into the cup, causing steam to rise. As the wisps shimmered in the sunlight, he began thinking of the events that had transpired the previous night.

After having brought Zazunue's apprentice, Nisuo, they had found Inue laying in bed and facing away from them.

When they had taken their first steps into the house, she tensed. Slowly, she turned around to look at them, her pupils like little dots as her eyes darted between them and the corner of the room.

Azuo ceased his pouring swiftly, as the steam began to rise from the cup. Within moments, the soft aroma of green tea began to permeate the house, and Azuo breathed it in deeply and exhaled as he placed the pitcher back in its place.

It had taken a moment to get Inue's attention completely, but once they did she didn't seem any calmer. Together, Nisuo and him approached Inue, before they explained politely that they needed to see her hand.

Well, Azuo explained politely. Nisuo was a little more... gregarious.

'Do not worry! I am a master in the arts of vidamancy. I'll get you healed up in no time, little lady!'

Azuo blinked away the slightly annoying memory as he blew on the surface of the tea to cool it faster - sending the little bag of tea leaves adrift in the process.

Contrary to Nisuo's words though, she did not get healed up in no time. To be entirely fair though, they hadn't exactly anticipated the... nature of Inue's injury.

The gaping laceration in the center of her hand oozed a black ink, with the inner viscera seeming to squirm and undulate at strange intervals. Inue herself seemed almost sickened at the sight, and spent the rest of the night looking anywhere but her hand.

Azuo stared at his own reflection in the tea, his hands in his lap. There was nothing to do but wait, really.

Nisuo had given a valiant effort - he had stayed for nearly an hour - but no matter how he forced Inue's tissue to regrow, it just seemed incapable of healing. Wherever progress would be made, the skin just split open and burst. Black ink, copper pigment, skin, and muscle fell to the floor with a wet smack. Then, Nisuo would heal that newly opened section of the laceration, and the cycle would begin anew.

At least Nisuo had the courtesy to stay after to clean up the mess.

Azuo grasped his cup. Once again, he mentally thanked Inue - the outside of the cup was perpetually cool, thanks to yet another frigomantic spell.

Nisuo had many questions - naturally - throughout the entire process. Though she answered them to the best of her abilities, she had an extremely hard time focusing - likely due to the pain of her hand perpetually being regrown and destroying itself.

Azuo sipped his tea. The flavour was subtle and dark, with a slightly sweet finish.

At the same time though, he had noticed that Inue had taken regular glances at the corner opposite her own. Though he himself had looked over, he hadn't seen anything.

When prompted, she declined to reply as to why.

Eventually, after all was said and done, Inue was given a fresh set of cloth to wrap her wound, and orders to rest the next day. Apparently, even with his expertise, Nisuo would have to consult some texts in order to see how to best approach a unique injury such as this.

"What a night... " Azuo sighed, as he placed the cup down on the table.

What a night indeed.

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