Chapter Text
“Give it back!….mm I need it….”
Tetia paused on her way to the atelier’s kitchen for a late night snack. After a couple seconds of silence, the pained pleading started again.
“Please stop…no! No!”
Slowly moving down the stairs, Tetia poked her head around the corner to see Professor Qifrey slumped over on the couch. The fire was roaring and Brushbuddy was curled up next to him, but he seemed anything but peaceful. His left arm was curled underneath his head while his right arm hung down off the couch, fingers grasping for something unseen. Sweat covering his forehead reflected the firelight and his robes were twisted around his legs like a trap.
“What is it, Tetia?” A new voice spoke into her ear.
Tetia whirled around, hands clamped over her mouth.
“Coco! You scared me!”
Coco’s wide eyes gleamed in the soft light.
“Sorry, sorry! I’m sorry, are you okay?”
“I’m okay,” Tetia waved her hand, “But I don’t think Professor Qifrey is.” She beckoned Coco to the railing.
“Oh no! What do you think’s wrong?” Coco grabbed the other girl’s arm. “I’m going to go—“
“What are you two doing?” The girls spun to see Agott standing there, arms crossed in the doorway to her and Coco’s rooms. “Well?” She asked after a beat of silence.
“Well, I was hungry so I came out to get something to eat and then I ran into Tetia and she thinks something’s wrong with Professor Qifrey and I was about to go get him a blanket because he seems really uncomfortable,” Coco gushed. “What are you doing out here?”
“I can’t sleep because you two whisper as softly as owlcats purr.”
“Ah sorry, sorry!”
Agott moved to stand on Tetia’s other side. “What’s wrong with Professor Qifrey?”
“He’s been saying some really weird stuff and he keeps moving around in his sleep. He seems scared.” Tetia continued, “Maybe that blanket would help him, Coco.”
She grinned, “I’m on it!” and rushed down to the living room.
“Do you really think a blanket is going to help that much?” Agott asked.
“A little comfort never hurts anyone and he deserves some.” Tetia replied.
They stood shoulder to shoulder for a little while, watching Qifrey as Coco grabbed a blanket from the living room floor and moved to drape it across Qifrey’s side.
“No…no…don’t do it,” he mumbled suddenly.
“Ah!” Coco jumped back, clutching the blanket. “Professor?”
“Give it back,” he said, moving his arm in a sweeping motion that disturbed Brushbuddy, who promptly scrambled away with an enraged ‘pwee!’. "It’s mine!” he continued, distraught.
Coco quickly threw the blanket on top of him and scurried back to the other apprentices.
“I think we should tell Professor Olly,” Tetia said as Coco reached them.
“He’s busy working on a new contraption right now. I heard him telling Professor Qifrey he’s on a tight deadline,” Agott replied.
“Well what else can we do?” Coco asked. “He’s acting really weird. I think Professor Olly could help.”
“Fine, but don’t blame me if he gets mad at us for still being up.”
***
Standing on the threshold to Olruggio’s atelier, Coco nudged Tetia.
“His door is always so scary.”
“Relax,” Agott said. “The scariest thing in there is all of the half finished contraptions.” Tetia knocked on the door quickly.
“Professor Olruggio! We need your help!”
A small crash, followed by an exclamation, precluded Olruggio throwing the door open.
“What’s wrong?” His eyes scanned them quickly and he visibly relaxed when he saw that none of them were hurt. “What are you girls doing up so late? Don’t be like me and go get some sleep.”
“We’re worried about Professor Qifrey,” Coco said in a rush.
Olruggio’s shoulders tensed. “What’s wrong, girls?”
“He’s muttering a lot in his sleep about someone taking something he wants. He keeps shaking and looking like he’s in pain,” Tetia said. Olruggio sighed.
“Where is he?”
“He’s on the couch.”
“I’ll go check on him, but you girls need to run to bed.”
“What, why? We’re worried about him!”
“I know and you’re very kind and smart to come to me to help him, but I’m sure he’d feel better knowing all of his apprentices are safely tucked away getting the rest they need.”
“But how will we know he’s okay?”
Olruggio grasped Coco and Tetia’s shoulders, lightly pushing them, and Agott who’d been caught between, towards their rooms.
“He’ll be okay, I promise. I’m sure he’s just having a nightmare. He’s safe and I’m here to help if anything’s wrong.”
The girls remained unconvinced.
“But we can help too!”
“Yeah we can!”
“What if it’s not a nightmare?”
“You can help in the morning after sleeping,” Olruggio replied sternly. “Maybe you could even work on some magic to help him. And if it’s not a nightmare I’ll find out soon and take care of it.”
With that, he pushed the girls to the stairs. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Professor Olly.”
“See you in the morning, let us know if we can help!”
“Goodnight.”
He watched them to make sure they went to bed. After seeing them climb the stairs and separate into their rooms, he turned to the living room.
“What are you up to now, Qifrey?” he muttered. Qifrey was curled into a tight ball on the couch, arms across his face like a shield. A blanket lay haphazardly across part of his legs, the rest trailed down to the floor. Walking up to him, Olruggio knelt close to the couch and gently grabbed his shoulders. “Qifrey,” he whispered. “Wake up, it’s okay.”
“Give it back,” Qifrey sobbed, voice muddled with sleep.
“Qifrey, it’s me, Olruggio. You’re in our atelier. You’re safe.”
No closer to waking, Qifrey kept crying. “I’m sorry about this,” Olruggio murmured and shook his shoulders roughly in one push. Qifrey awoke with a start and burst outward with a flurry of limbs hitting Olruggio in the chest.
“No! No!” he yelled, eye unseeing as he frantically tried to push away. “It’s mine!”
Olruggio kept a tight hold on his shoulders. “It’s me, Qifrey. You’re safe.”
Qifrey slowed his attacks as his tear filled eye met Olruggio’s.
“Olly?” His voice cracked on the word.
“It’s me, you’re alright.” Qifrey stiffened underneath Olruggio’s palms and sat up straight.
“What time is it? The girls!” Legs tangled in the blanket and his robes, Qifrey pushed and slipped as he tried to stand.
“They’re all tucked away in bed. Like you should be,” Olruggio murmured, hand moving to brush some hair away from Qifrey’s eye.
“I was—I was trying to make lesson plans….” he trailed off.
“You’re exhausted,” Olruggio said, swiping some tears away from Qifrey’s cheek with his thumb. Qifrey relaxed for a split second before turning his head away.
“They’re so excited to learn, I want…I need to—“.
“You do Qifrey. You’re the best teacher for them, they adore you.”
“It’s not enough.” His hands tightened into fists, grabbing his skirts.
“What’s not enough? What aren’t you telling me?”
Qifrey looked towards the fire and straightened his glasses, fingers lingering on the frame’s edge.
“Olly, I love our life here. I’m terrified it’s going to be snatched away.”
Olruggio stood and moved to sink onto the couch beside Qifrey. He stayed silent, knowing his best friend would add more. Qifrey worked his fingers deeper into the fabric in his lap before continuing softly, like he was hoping the fire would swallow his words. “I thought I was past this. The nightmares. But they keep coming back.” He sighed. “Olly, I can’t lose this. You. The girls.”
“You won’t,” he promised. Qifrey finally turned to face him and meet his eyes.
“You can’t know that. My luck could run out. I don’t know how it’s lasted this long.”
“Qifrey,” Olruggio grabbed his hand, holding it tight. “It’s not luck. Or maybe it was in the beginning, meeting you, meeting the girls one after the other,” he chuckled softly. “But now it’s not. I will choose to stay here with you, forever. Nothing you can do will ever change that.” Qifrey flinched. Olruggio pressed on. “Even the girls actively choose to be here. They’ve chosen you as their professor. All four of them.”
“What if I make a mistake, a really big one?”
“Then I’ll be here to help you fix it.”
Qifrey looked away, turning back to the fire. “I mean it, Qifrey. I want to help you, mistake or no mistake. So please, let me.”
“Olly, I don't want you getting hurt. And pain seems to cling to me more than anything else.” He let go of Olruggio’s hand and reached down to grab his cap, knocked over on the floor. He tucked it into his lap, hiding his hands behind it. “I can’t let you get hurt because of me.”
“That’s not your choice, Qifrey,” Olruggio said. “I don’t want you getting hurt trying to protect me, but I can’t stop you from being who you are. Just like you can’t stop me from helping you. It’s not a chore, I would choose getting hurt if it meant you were okay.”
“Olly….” Qifrey grabbed his cap. “You don’t know what I’ve done. What’s been happening to me.”
“So tell me.”
“It’s too much. You’ll hate me.”
“I won’t. It’s you.”
Qifrey sucked in a breath. After a long moment, he reached up and took off his glasses, slowly pressing them into Olruggio’s hands. Olruggio turned them over, emitting a surprised ‘hm’ when a new seal flashed in the firelight. “When did it start?”
“A while ago. I created that seal so bright lights wouldn’t be as harsh. It’s why I can’t ignore my search any longer.” Olruggio passed his glasses back and let a beat pass before responding.
“The brimhats?”
Qifrey jolted to his feet in front of Olruggio, cap still clutched in his hands.
“They’ve taken everything from me. I’ll have nothing left without my eye. I can’t let them do this!”
Oruggio stayed silent.
“Don’t you understand Olly? I won’t even be able to keep the few good things in my life without my sight. Who ever heard of a blind witch? Let alone a professor?” He started to pace. “I have to find them and stop them from completing their work. I need to fix things.”
Olruggio stood to join him, cutting his wanderings off by the fireplace.
“But you don’t have to do this alone. I helped you before, didn’t I? I will help you again.”
Qifrey muttered something Olruggio couldn’t hear. “What?”
“That’s not all,” Qifrey said slowly, the light from the fire illuminating half his face.
“Okay, what else?”
“This is not—not the first time…” he stopped. “This is not the first time I’ve told you this.”
Olruggio just stood there, understanding dawning slowly over his face like clouds parting across a sunny sky.
“How many times?“
Qifrey lifted his cap slightly.
“How many times Qifrey?”
“Twice,” he whispered.
Olruggio stepped forward to stand close enough to Qifrey that the taller man’s breath ghosted across his face.
“I’m sorry.”
Qifrey took a shuttering breath. Olruggio laid his palm on his face. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you, Qifrey. I’m sorry I didn’t do more to help you.”
“No! It’s not your fault Olly!”
“My job is to watch over you. I should have noticed sooner.” Wet tears hit his hand.
“You did notice, every time. I’m the one who erased your memories. I’m the one who refused to let you help.”
Olruggio sniffed, tears rolling down his face too.
“Still, I should have done better. Been better.”
“No, please Olly. You’re the best one of us. And I can’t destroy that. That’s why I can’t have you helping me. It’s too dangerous.”
Olruggio lifted his other hand to cradle Qifrey’s face.
“Nothing is too dangerous when I’m with you. I can’t let you do this alone. I can’t lose you Qifrey.”
“The girls need someone to watch over them—“
“They need their professor. I won’t stop you from carrying out your search, your mission. It’s your fight and it wouldn’t be fair of me to take that from you. All I’m asking is that you don’t do it alone.”
“I have to. I can’t have you hurt,” Qifrey sobbed.
Olruggio sighed. “Then if this is how I can help you right now then do it. Just promise me you won’t rush into danger and leave me and the girls with no word. They need their teacher. I need you. Please don’t disappear.”
“What?” Qifrey asked.
“What?” voices shouted from above their heads. The two adults jumped and looked up to see all four students by the railing. Riche was rubbing her eyes and yawning, while Tetia and Agott were braced as if they were ready to launch themselves down to the floor. Coco looked terrified, eyes wide and mouth quivering. Qifrey immediately stepped back from Olruggio and dropped his hat, snapping to push his sleeves up and wipe his face.
“Girls,” he started, plastering a fake grin on his face and holding his hands out in surrender. “What are you doing out of bed? It’s very late.”
“What’s going on?” Agott demanded.
“Girls—” Olruggio stepped forward.
“Who’s disappearing? Is Professor Qifrey going away?” Coco whimpered. “You can’t!”
“Riche agrees!”
“No, girls, it’s okay, I’m not disappearing.”
“Then what are you talking about? Why is Professor Olly crying?” Tetia chimed in. “It’s going to make me cry!”
“Tetia, I’m okay, thank you for the concern though.”
“Thank you,” she sniffed, “for your thanks.” Tears were already gathering in her eyes. Qifrey ran to join the girls, kneeling before them as soon as he came to a stop.
“Please don’t cry Tetia. I’m sorry.” He opened his arms wide and Tetia tucked herself into his side, head curled towards his neck. Coco snuggled into his other side while Riche came to stand just behind him and Agott stood just behind Coco. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Except on a few business trips,” Olruggio said, appearing behind Qifrey who looked back in shock before his gaze softened in gratitude.
“Then why were you talking about danger and disappearing?” Agott asked, hands on her hips.
“I’m just worried about him, Agott. I get sad when he goes away.” The girls pondered this and seemed to accept it easily.
“So you were just being dramatic?” Riche asked. “Love-ruggio!!”
Olruggio’s cheeks flamed.
“Ol-sap-io,” Tetia gushed, a bit muffled from her place by Qifrey.
Olruggio wished he could disappear.
Qifrey laughed. Olruggio no longer wished to disappear.
“Haha, all right girls, if he’s ‘Love-ruggio’ then I’m ‘Adore-frey’.” The girls groaned and Olruggio’s cheeks burned even more.
“That one’s not as good, Professor,” Riche said, sticking her tongue out.
“All right,” Qifrey agreed. “Let’s all go to bed so we can be rested enough to think up more.” He squeezed Tetia and Coco once more before standing and shepherding all four apprentices to their respective rooms with the help of Olruggio.
*
“Professor Olly?” Tetia asked, blankets up to her chin the way she liked, as Olruggio went to the door.
“Yes, Tetia?”
“Is Professor Qifrey okay? Was it a nightmare?”
Olruggio smiled softly. “Yes. He’s okay, he was just scared and upset after his nightmare.”
Tetia sniffed and nodded. “I understand, they scare me too.”
“I’ll be here to help you, too, if you have one.”
Tetia grinned. “Thanks Professor Olly! Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” He said as he closed her door softly.
*
Riche was already tucked in, pleased with the promise of pancakes for breakfast, so Olruggio headed to Agott and Coco’s rooms. Slipping through the main door, soft voices met his ear as he approached Agott’s door.
“Are you really going away?”
A pause. “I might be. I don’t know for sure yet.”
“What about our lessons? Can we come with you?”
“No, I’m afraid not.”
“Why not? We’ve passed the second test, we’re ready! I’m ready!”
“I know, Agott. You’re a remarkable student. However, if I do leave, this is a personal journey I need to take alone.”
Olruggio stepped away to go to Coco’s room.
“Professor?”
She was sitting up on her bed, shoes clumsily discarded on the floor, as she worried the hem of her dress.
“Qifrey will be here soon, Coco.”
“Oh, all right.” She looked down at her hands. “Is he really alright?”
“He was just a little scared. He’s the same professor you’ve always known, kind and dependable, and ready to teach.”
“Oh.” She looked back up at him. “Are you alright?
His eyebrows rose. “Ahem, well yes, I was just a little scared too.”
“Because he’s leaving?”
“A little, yes. If he leaves I’ll be worried as long as he’s not within my sight.”
Coco seemed thoughtful about that.
“Well, goodnight Coco.” He walked to the door ready to slip out and leave her to her rest.
“Goodnight, Professor.”
Heading up the steps back to Agott and Coco’s workshop, Qifrey was still nowhere to be seen. His talk with Agott must be running long. So, Olruggio went to the living room. He picked up the fallen blanket, folded it, and put it gently on the couch. Then, he crouched down to scoop up Qifrey’s hat. The little gold pin holding the small triangle of white fabric had come loose, revealing a black line. Brows furrowed, he reached out to remove the pin and flipped the fabric back. He flinched slightly, breath coming faster. Seeing it was a bit more real than just being told. Straightening up, he walked to his atelier to wait for Qifrey.
A short while later a fast rap at the door announced Qifrey’s presence.
“Olly?” He stuck his head in and froze at the sight of Olruggio holding his cap. Pushing the door aside, he fully entered the room holding a small plate of leftover sweets and two cups. He cleared a space in the chaotically cluttered desk and set the tray down. He turned to face Olruggio.
“So this is how you’ve done it, huh?”
Qifrey hesitated. “Yes.”
Olruggio chuckled, but it felt cold, none of the usual warmth Olruggio held was carried in his short laugh. “It’s clever. Good enough to trick me.”
“Olly,” Qifrey reached out.
Olruggio held out the cap. “Do it.”
“I can’t.”
“It’s too tricky now with the girls involved?”
All Qifrey could do was nod.
Olruggio stepped closer and placed Qifrey’s hat in the man’s hands.
“I know it’s killing you. I’m not going to back down, I can’t let you run off on your own to hunt them. But at the very least let me help here since I know now, for good.”
Qifrey smiled sadly, “How do I ever deserve you, dear friend?”
“By being yourself.” Olruggio tugged Qifrey into an embrace. “Let me work on a spell for your sight. You can continue your research. And if anything comes up in the future you have your cap. Just let me and the girls keep this night. It’ll be easier that way.”
Olruggio’s cloak was growing damp where Qifrey’s cheek pressed against it.
“Will it?”