Ronald
**Jeanne de Lysse | The Keep Sempiternal**

"No my lady, only him."

Hearing the words of the seneschal, the lady could not contain her anxiety and stood up from her chair, circling the room like a caged animal.

"There has to be someone else, Renart! He cannot be the only..." She wanted to say _survivor_, but she wouldn't let herself succumb to irrationality. Lordbloods were too pure of a breed to act on mere instinct, she told herself, but her insincts were screaming.

"We cannot know for sure until he wakes up, lady. I'm afraid he is our only witness," The seneshal told her.

Lei Linas? Half-dead.
The Faures? Gone. They had delivered Linas' body dried and patched up, but they had not stayed to face Jeanne's fury.
Malpertuis? Who knew. Just like the Faures, he had vanished into thin air. Unlike the Faures however, he'd had no reason for doing so.

It all hinged on Linas.

"Notice me as soon as he wakes up," Ordered Jeanne.

"As you wish, lady," Replied L' Hivert.
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Sempiternal

Burning up from a fever, Linas rested in bed for the entire night and easily slept through the morning after. His eyes only began to open at around 11am, his body still weak and his mind numb from his illness. He felt so cold but his burning skin spoke otherwise. 

A soft moan of discomfort came from him as he slowly pushed himself to sit up, looking around him to try and find his comrades. 

"Cardin..." His slurred words came out slow and drunk. It was only when he was seated up he realized he was in a different room, one he did not recognize. "Hhnn?... Where?...." 

A spell of nausea hit him, causing him to grumble softly and lie back down in bed. "Iago..." He whispered out softly.
Ronald
Jeaques Renart L' Hivert | The keep sempiternal

Linas awoke in a great canopy bed, surrounded by marbled walls, and a pair of floor to ceiling windows with view over the valley. He was back in the castle.

The seneschal of the Keep Sempiternal had sit before him on a rococo chair, placed theatrically under a lofty painting depicting Lockaster as an angel of death. Though the seneschal might have not realized it, the style and theme bore the traits of an artist that Lei could now recognize by the name of Iago Malpertuis.

"Meister Linas," Said the seneschal. "I'm so glad you are awake."
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Sempiternal

He narrowed his eyes slightly when he heard the familiar voice, slowly pushing himself against the bed frame so he could see him better. He sighed softly as he rested his back against it, seeing the grand painting in full view. 

Lei frowned at the sight of it as the detailed piece reminded him of the man he left behind. 

"Are they all okay? Iago.. Did he make it out?" He spoke in a voice much softer than he intended. He wanted to get up and look for Iago and the others but he knew he would just make things worse for himself in he chose to do so. 

Lowering his head and frowned as flashes of memories returned to him. Images he has seen in the forest. He was so sure he burnt that entire place down. He hoped that Iago made it out safely.
Ronald
Jeaques Renart L' Hivert | The keep sempiternal

"You mean Sir Malpertuis?" Asked the senschal. "I was expecting you could answer that question, we know the Serfbloods that were tasked with helping you made it back, because they left you at the gates of the keep, but we have no news on the knight."

L'Hivert stood from his chair, and headed towards the door.

"Lady de Lysse is expecting you, and she's in a bad mood. Think your excuses through," He said before closing the door.
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Sempiternal - Bathing Cathedral

He lowered his eyes when he learned how he got here. Knowing that Iago was still missing Linas felt helpless. 

He remained silent as he rested in bed for a few minutes longer. 

Once he felt strong enough to try moving he forced himself to sit up and walk, although his body felt thrice as heavy as it usually did. 

He did not care if Jeanse was in a bad mood. He needed to tell her where she could find Iago. If there was any chance of saving him he was going to take it for he knew he could not do it himself. Not in his state. 

Pushing himself to move towards the bath house he found that he could barely see straight. His head was throbbing and his body was chilled to the bone. He pulled his jacket on tigter to try and keep warm as he walked. 

Reaching the doors of their meeting place he pushed them open to see the gloomy interiors of the once inviting cathedral. Walking through the cold echoing room, Linas ignored the fine artistry and stopped a good distance away from the pool. There he saw Jeane positioned under the grand sculpture of Saris, just as she was the first time he met her here. 

Linas' expression was blank and unwell, it was clear that he had no intention of entering the waters. His eyes glanced towards the deepths as he waited for a moment, as if he expected something to come from them. 

"Your grace, you summoned me?" A dead toned voice came from the once Lively man. Tired hazel eyes finally skating away from the waters to settle on her figure.
Ronald
Jeanne de Lysse | the Keep Sempiternal

Jeanne sighted, and the echo carried her whisper across the entire hall. 

"Do not say anything. I've been reflecting on the current events and I've come to realize that I was misguided from the start. Telling you to work with those superstitous Shitbloods wasn't the best course of action, I see that now. The error was mine, and for that, I apologize."

L' Hivert had described her as being on a bad mood, but if that was the case, she wasn't making it evident.

"Perhaps what you need to complete your work is place that is more... Civilized. Instead of a team, I will give you a seal and a budget, and you will continue your work in the city of Sol. Would that be okay with you meister?"
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Sempiternal

He was surprised to hear her speak so calmly but he did not appreciate her speaking ill of those he worked with. Afterall the forest was truly unnatural. He ignored his feelings for now and focused on trying to help the man who was left behind. 

"I wouldn't mind working in the city. I am just concerned about your knight. Iago Malpertuis is likely still in the Oubilette. He was lost in the forest. I trust that you are sending someone to find him?" 

His eyes moved back to the darker waters behind her. Feeling his heart beginning to beat faster the more he stared.
Ronald
Jeanne de Lysse | the Keep Sempiternal

The Lady smirked at the mention of the knight's name. She wan't too worried.

"This is not the first time that Sir Iago Malpertuis loses himself in the depths of the Oubliette. He will be back. There is even a minor legend about him, although that's a story for another time. For now your task is to travel to Sol and begin the construction of the prototypes there. Understood?"
Jarod
Lei Linas | The Keep Sempiternal

Lei nodded at her and sighed softly. A look of worry was seen on his features as he caref for the man's safety. 
He briefly glanced back at the water of the cathedral one last time before looking back at Jeanne. 

"Understood. I wish you well, your grace." 

After they were done talking he would leave to return to his carriage, where ever it might be. He need some time to rest and recover in the comfort of his cozy mobile home.