They made camp in the same clearing, which stank of black sap and the holy energy Ari had unleashed. The silence was thick, heavy with fear. Two templars had revived Valerius; he sat by a tree, apart from the others, the red mark of Thalassa's hand on his cheek a visible symbol of his humiliation.
Thalassa stood in the center of the camp. "Captain Valerius is relieved of tactical command until further notice," she announced, her cold voice permitting no argument. "Gideon, you have his duties. Seraphine, double the watch." She turned to the two templars carrying supplies. "The mana potions. Give them all to me. Now."
One of them handed her a leather pouch. Thalassa knelt by the fire, next to Ari and Vespera. "Here," she said, passing the bag to Ari. "There are six."
Ari nodded, his face slick with sweat. Vespera lay by the fire, pale and shivering despite the heat. He began the long, grueling process. He uncorked the first potion, a shimmering blue liquid, and drank it in one go. Then he placed both hands on Vespera's wound and whispered the words of a healing prayer. A warm, golden light emanated from his palms. Vespera hissed in pain as the holy light fought the dark venom.
Hours passed. Ari continued without rest, a grueling cycle of drinking a potion, channeling energy, sweating from exhaustion, and starting again. It was a small island of light in an ocean of tension.
After the second potion, Vespera seemed to stabilize. "Thanks, Ari," she said, her voice weak. "Seems you're always saving my ass."
Ari didn't stop, but a tired smile touched his lips. "Someone has to. Besides, I couldn't let the world lose such a fine pair of thighs. It would be a crime against beauty."
The comment was so brazenly him that Vespera let out a weak laugh, which turned into a wince of pain. "Idiot…"
"Some things never change," he replied. "Like your ability to get into trouble."
"And yours to show up at just the right moment," she added, her laugh opening a door to nostalgia. "I remember the first time I met you, you know."
"Oh, no. Please don't tell that story," Ari groaned. "My reputation as a holy man is damaged enough as it is."
"Too late," she said with a grin. "I arrived in town, a young, idealistic recruit, excited to meet the famous 'Ari,' Thalassa's childhood friend. In my mind, you were a noble knight. I walked into the tavern, and there you were: at the bar, clearly drunk, trying to convince the innkeeper that your blessing on his ale would turn it into wine and that he therefore owed you another free tankard."
"It was a sound theological argument," Ari defended himself, drinking the third potion. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
"I introduced myself, and you said, 'Ah, Thal. Yeah, she's a good girl, but a bit uptight. Want an ale?' You offered me a stolen drink and told me a terrible joke. It was the best introduction of my life."
The conversation grew deeper. "And do you remember when I came to you for confession?" Vespera asked quietly. "About… my 'problem.'"
Ari nodded. "I remember. You walked into the church terrified."
"I was," she admitted. "The priests in the capital are so rigid. If I'd told one of them that… well, that I have a strong libido and masturbate, they'd have reported me to the Inquisition."
"What a bunch of idiots," Ari muttered, drinking the fourth potion. He was visibly exhausted. "Pleasure is a gift, Vespera, not a sin. The only sin is the guilt those repressed old men drill into people's heads."
"That's what you told me," she recalled with a smile. "You didn't judge me. You asked if I was doing it right."
"A practical question," Ari said. "Technique is important."
"And then," Vespera continued, blushing, "you gave me 'tips.' You told me to do it without guilt and to use lavender oil. You gave me masturbation advice in a confessional!"
"I hope it helped," he said with complete seriousness.
"You're the worst priest in history…" she whispered, her voice full of affection, "and the best friend I've ever had."
After consuming the fifth potion, Ari removed his hands. He was pale and exhausted. He fell back, an arm covering his eyes. Vespera carefully sat up and looked at her leg. The wound was closed, replaced by a clean, pale pink scar.
"You did it…" she whispered, amazed.
"Of course I did," Ari replied from the ground, his voice barely a murmur. "But now I think I'm going to sleep for a week."
She looked at him, her exhausted friend, her unexpected hero. "I owe you my life, Ari. And my leg."
He lowered his arm and peeked at her with one eye. "You can pay me back with good wine when we get home. And not the church stuff. The expensive kind."
Vespera smiled, a genuine, radiant smile. "Deal, my perverted priest."