Red paused in their searching to look up at Faun, just for a moment. They were curious to know what was so important to put such a vicious lock on such an assuming creature. But even more so than their own desire to just know more, they wanted better for the little satyr. She didn't deserve this-- no one deserved to be at the mercy as someone as notoriously awful as Sawbones. This was a prime example of why Red gave themselves over to the Shadows; to help those who could not readily help themselves. They tipped their head, studying her for a few seconds more before smiling.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">"I'll be happy to listen,"</span>they said, but they stopped short of reaching out to touch her again in reassurance. It certainly hadn't gone unnoticed that she had bristled, maybe even bolted, given the opportunity.<br/><br/>A bit more digging and a small book, leather-bound book was produced. Red flipped quietly through the pages, shaking their head now and then before settling on a page completely covered in notes, surrounding a symbol.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000"> "The examination itself isn't going to feel like much, but try not to mind the pomp and circumstance,"</span>they advised as they flipped up their hood and turned more fully to face Faun. With the book balanced on one knee, they held out their hands and began to murmur quietly in a tongue long since forgotten by common mouths. Immediately, the tips of their fingers began to color red, seeping into their skin down to their wrists like the most vibrant of paints. Beneath the shadow of their hood, where the runes that framed their face began to light up, their eyes were glowing the same hue. Every deliberate hand movement left a trail of color that hung in the air, and the symbol in the book began to take shape between them. Once completed, Red pressed it forward until it was placed right over Faun's face-- the energy would have felt like the warmth of someone's hands against her skin.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">"Now..."</span>they murmured, eyes narrowing with concentration.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">"Let's see what's got your tongue."</span><br/><br/>Red drew their hands back very suddenly and the symbol suddenly changed-- the carefully drawn lines scattered across Faun's skin and reformed into a chain that Red was able to grasp. With a yank, a black, squirming, horrible looking substance was dragged past her lips, though it was Red's hope that she hadn't felt it. Their nose wrinkled as the recognized that sort of spell. It was the kind that was bought, not learned. Rancid and disease like, these types of spells were created and sold for those whose souls mirrored its energy-- just putrid.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">"I wish I was surprised..."</span>They scoffed.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">"But, fortunately, this makes it easier to remove. Artificial dark magic is only a fraction of what it's supposed to be. Effective, in it's own rite, but nowhere near as stable. If the person who made this had done anything wrong, you might have lost your voice entirely. Hold tight now, this might feel strange..."</span>They tugged the chain bound darkness closer and plunged their hand into the inky mass. Blackness seeped up their arm like an oil spill, staining through the red in the shape of twisted veins, and their brow furrowed as they sat up a little to delve deeper. Their arm disappeared into the mass nearly up to the shoulder before they suddenly yanked back with a grunt. The energy dissipated and the red chain vanished, as if nothing had happened at all.<br/><br/>Red's hands were still alight with magic, and the darkness still stained their skin, but they turned up their palm to show Faun a seed-- there was a symbol carved into it and dark energy be seeping from where the marks tore into its hull.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">"I suppose you won't be wanting this back, will you?"</span>They asked with a little smile. Without waiting for an answer, they spoke again:<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">"<i>Infir</i>."</span>A flame ignited in the center of their palm, swallowing the hateful seed and reducing it to cinders instantly. They blew the fire out, and the ashes away with it.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">"There... it's gone."</span>They looked back at Faun, pushing the hood away.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff0000">"Your throat might feel a bit raw... I'm sorry for that... But how do you feel?"</span>