Gwendolyn
*The devotee watched the scholar with curiosity squinting eyes, as he began to examine the man more closely. His observation on his clean and unstained clothing, the scholar was right. As she'd remember a table filled with hog, fruits and sticky mead, she certainly didn't clean him. Leaning over, her gaze met with the unconscious man's clothing, jewelry and cloak. Although she did feel bad about treating a patient as a study, these little details could potentially provide a solution or a treatment to his seemly incurable wound. This scholar had sharper eyes and deep knowledge in these things, she thought to herself.*

```"Hmmm, I applaud your keen eyes. I didn't touch his clothing or hair, I was too concerned with keeping alive. The cursed wound had me very concerned, too concerned to tidy his appearance."```

*She answered with a genuine tone as her eyes expressed confusion, her attention turned to Ben as he made a suggestion to physical remove the cursed flesh. Although, there was a chance that the unconscious man may die during the process... He'd certainly die with a cursed gaping wound on his chest. She did have a surgery kit with her, to mend smaller wounds to those that refuse magic.*

```"But do you think you have a steady and keen hand as well? I suggest that you carefully remove the cursed flesh and I will heal it as soon as it's cut. It will not be easy but I fear he will die if we don't do anything. And from what I know with curses, they don't really go away... Just spread."```

*Almonde would stand up as she spoke, her eyes searching for her pack. The woman was alert and focused, very determined to save the life of this mysterious man. Upon finding it, she would take out a bottle of pure alcohol, a small thin blade and fruit bowl.*

```"We should do this with care as you said, we're close to the vitals. But, if I constantly heal as you cut... We could minimize the risks. Although I will be very tired and unable to heal for awhile after that haha."``
Eileen
The wizards eyes popped and he nearly choked on his own spit, having to push away from the sleeping man as he coughed, pounding on his chest. Once his air way was clear his head whipped up towards her as he raised his hands apologetically. "No, no no- I was not suggesting I should do it, ive never even so much as cut into a cadaver much less a person. I assumed that as a healer you could be the one to attempt- *Should* Be the one to attempt it. I can assist with your mana issue however." He said, extending his hand out for the his wand back. 

"One of the magical techniques I practice is called Transference. I can move energy, essentially. I'll transfer my stamina and mana to you, hopefully itll let you heal and cut at the same time." He said, his crystal blue eyes going from her to the sleeping man. "I can help with keeping him alive too, though if I have to resort to that I fear I may end up also being in need of your care." He said sheepishly, his finely polished shoes shuffling on the wooden floor. 

"Are you willing to try it?" 


The one thing Almonde would find is that when she stoof to go to her pack, his fingers would tighten weakly on her own as if unwilling to stop holding her hands, a gentle and desperate squeeze that lost strength almost instantly, his hand limply falling back onto the bed.
Gwendolyn
*Her eyebrows would rise as she'd witness the scholar's reaction and answer to her suggestion. A puzzled look could be seen on her face, as she assumed the man would be eager at the chance to take a closer look at the man. Her smile betrayed her as the devotee found his reaction to be amusing, yet she'd focus on the matter at hand. Digging her fingers into her pockets to return the fine wand back to its owner.*

```"Oh? I assumed your curiosity would jump at the chance to get a closer look into him. But worry not, I will do my best. I do have experience with these tools."```

*Her words left her lips with a firm tone, taking the matter seriously as her smile faded. Magic transference seemed like a good and useful idea, she'd take a moment to gently return her hands with that of the unconscious hand after having laid her tools on the side of the bed.*

```"I'm willing and able, do your best. If you should need any of my care, you'll definitely receive it. Now, let's begin. But, please let me focus and try not to disrupt. A friendly reminder."```

*The devotee said as she'd pull out a pair of white gloves, along with a cloth mask for herself. Putting both on briefly, she'd sharpen her blade to razor-sharp edge. Coating it in water and then alcohol, she'd take a closer look at the wound. Making some adjustments to the unconscious man, before briefly turning to the scholar.*

```I am going to begin, I need you to be ready and focused. Do not panic. Also... If he wakes up during the process... Can I count on you to cast a sleep spell on him or simply hold him down?"```

*She asked him as she'd coat a cloth with alcohol, gently tapping it over the gapping wound. Preparing it for their experimental surgery. The devotee was focused and rather determined.*
.

```"If you can hear me and sence pain. Do not panic please, we are helping you. Endure, I'll make this quick. Take this, it may help with the pain. Just hang in there and don't leave us, please."```

*She spoke directly towards the unconscious man, giving him a sip of numbness liquid, a medication that numbs the sences and helps with extreme pain. After a moment, she'd begin her work. Planning a way to cut and beginning the process to removal, the fruit bowl over the man's side to collect any cursed flesh. She'd whisper a prayer as both her hands carefully sliced its way into the cursed flesh.*

```"O Merciful Mother of Health and Vitality, Hear me and mend this child's wounds. Please, restore his health and body to its former glory. As you may."```
Thomas
"What awaits us after we die, Nylia?" Noctis asked the fellow demigod as they huddled down in the trench. His iron sword was chipped in several places and his armor worn- this attack had been brutal as both sides tried to reclaim a no man's land where precious resources would be found. The type that could ensure the strength of an army. Scipio had needed his best fighters for this one- even the spiders that climbed around in the dark. 

Nylia, a white haired daughter of Mortem, sighed as she checked her quiver and ensured the feathers on her arrows were still secure. Then she checked her pouch to see if there was another coil of wire to restring her bow should it break. 

"Nylia?" 

"I can't tell you, Noct." She snapped, her red eyes hot. "My mother forbids her children from telling others anything of the afterlife, it's a rule for all the gods of death. Death is where mortality ends- it isn't our place to know of it. Only to know it awaits all of us." 

- - - - 

Noctis looked away from the memory as he watched lightning streaks of red flash through the dark ocean he drifted in. He was dimly aware that it was pain- pain *He* Was feeling. Yet he didn't feel it. Perhaps whoever had hurt him was finishing the job, maybe he was being tortured. Maybe some beast was eating what was left of him. He didn't know. It was so hard to care. 

Yet every-time he thought he might just sink to the bottom of that ocean, the voice returned and he felt the ghost of a touch on his hand that was gentle and kind. 

"Don't leave us, please." 

He scoffed, bubbles drifting away from him. Who had ever truly wanted him around? Who hadn't met him and gotten what they wanted, that wasn't eager to send him away later. It was how he treated people, he did it first because that meant they hurt and not him. In this world that was how it worked- you hurt others before they could hurt you and you accepted that it didn't mean that it was right but that you didn't have another choice. 

"What else mus

T I endure to give others what I've never received?" 

- - - - 

The cursed flesh rejected the numbing pain and the unconscious man writhed, his eyelids fluttering and his eyes rolling back. However before he could move too much, Ben chanted a spell in elvish which roughly translated to. 

"Rigid lock and stop the flow of any sensation, keep this vessel tightly bound within their designation." 

His wand flourished and Noctis was paralyzed- still feeling the pain but entirely unable to move, his brain incapable of sending signals. 

"Don't stop, finish the task. Transference!" Ben said, and Almonde would feel her mana replenish as Ben sagged against the wall to keep her magic supply full.
Gwendolyn
*As her numbing liquid seemed to either fail or was too weak for the unconscious man's body, a frustrated sigh escaped her masked lips. Her eyes softened, as she'd pity this poor man. This cursed was created for death and suffering it seemed, too cruel and evil for almost any entity, she thought to herself. Whoever did this had a lot of hatred or sadistic intention towards the nameless young man. As the thought passed her mind, she'd return her focus on removing the cursed skin and flesh.*

```"O Merciful Mother of Health and Vitality, Please heed my words and continue to share your loving embrace. For he suffers and fights for life, he is deserving of your mercy. As you may."```

*She said quietly as her blade began to cut pieces off of the man's chest, removed bits of flesh and healing the open wound. Blood began to leak and spill out, the woman's white gloves turning crimson as she'd continue her work. She had a choice to make, either hurry the removal to lessen the pain or concentrate to remove the flesh slolwy. As the devotee was aware that each choice was heavy, she'd pick the more painful and slow process. Carefully, running her blade arcoss his flesh as if it was the fabric of a dress.*


```"Shhhhh. Stay with me. I know I know, it hurts. But please endure for us, you've come so far. Just a little longer."```

*She'd say as the devotee dropped a strip of cursed flesh onto the fruit bowl, the devotee took her time and made slow cuts into the skin with a keen eye. Avoiding vitals and cutting the most flesh to ensure that cursed flesh was gone from his body entirely. She made sure to endure that the deepest parts of the cursed flesh was removed first before moving on to the exterior.*
.

*It would take an hour of cutting, healing and comfort for the cursed flesh to be fully removed, it filled the fruit bowl and covered the woman's gloves with blood. It was a messy scene but the cut flesh healed, the cursed flesh seemed to be removed. The gapping hole in his chest was closed and bloody, Almonde paused as she'd finally finish the painful surgery. Checking the healed wound intensely, the blood had made a mess of the bed yet that was the last of her concerns. Taking off her gloves, she'd check on the man's breathing and pulse.*