tushanshu | Ω video

[Annabeth is on the screen - she's cut up in a few places, like something shattered too close to her face, but it's healed over a few days; her expression is steely and hard. More bad news, and that's just brushing the surface.]

I know the location of Evastelei. I'm not telling you where. [She pauses. She hates potentially using the network like this - she knows Malicant must be watching, so part of that you is definitely at him. But she needs help here. There might be someone who can figure out what's up with Eva, or maybe even a way to help. It doesn't make it any less nerve-wracking.]

But she's unconscious. She has been, since our city-wide collective blackout. [Her mouth draws into a line. It's risky, admitting her state (again, because of Malicant; she never did figure out their exact connection). But nothing is going to change if she keeps it to herself. Maybe he already knows.] We need to wake her up. If anyone thinks they might - know something about magical comas, please tell me.

[She's also aware that her tone, her words, all of it implies some sort of relationship with Eva. For the first time she's somewhat admitting to it publicly, she's not quite so nervous. Maybe it's because she feels like she's been laying low lately, and there are more new faces around than familiar ones.]

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Very well. At a location of your choice. I can be there within half-an-hour, regardless of its position within the city.

[The safer she feels, the more likely Anton can convince her to see Evalestei directly, though even that might be unnecessary if Anton is satisfied the girl herself is trustworthy.]

[She raises an eyebrow curiously, wondering how that might be possible - it's not disbelieving at all though. Annabeth has her own quick travel methods.]

How about one of the parks in Water? Or Wood? I can send you a ping. [And preemptively, she sends the location for two parks.]

Either will suffice. Which is your preference?

Water. [She says it almost instantly.] There's a fountain, just inside. I'll meet you there.

Half an hour, then.

[And in half an hour, as promised, he's there waiting, seated straight-backed on the fountain.]

[Annabeth staked out the area beforehand - but she swings back around after, to find the man sitting near the fountain.]

[She doesn't lift her hand up to wave, but she does come close enough to speak quietly that their voices won't carry. There's a knife attached to her hip, but she doesn't look concerned about carrying it so openly.] Probably I should have asked who you are first. But information seems a little more pertinent.

Anton Shudder.

[He inclines his head toward her.]

How much do you know about the methods and results of Lady Evastelei's magic?

Annabeth.

[She remains standing, an entirely conscious choice.] I know she was more powerful than Eshai. I know she was able to go between all three Planes. [She knows Eva was part of holding Malicant back, once before. Pause.] But I'm guessing there's something in particular you've discovered?

[Because for however protective and close she feels towards the woman, there's still a berth in how much she knows about details of Eva's magic.]

She told me some time ago that her magic has been less effective in drawing souls into Keeliai. She had been losing some souls while attempting to do so. That fact may have contributed to her condition now.

[Annabeth frowns.] So something could have been effecting her for a while now. How long ago did she tell you this, exactly?

Two months ago, more or less. She implied it had already been an issue; she was ill at the time, at least partially because of it. She requested I not tell others of this fact, but as it may help you determine why she is ill now I felt it was necessary to say so.

[He had warned her he would tell others if he had to, but only if he did. This counted.]

I would request you do the same. If many of the other Foreigners knew, their attention would be focused in places where they can do no good, rather than on defeating our common foe.

[She's quiet for a bit, mulling it over.]

I'll keep it to myself, for now. [Annabeth looks hesitant for a second, then presses on.] But we will need to focus on her, too. Eva's magic could be crucial in stopping Mally. She's been part of it before.

I know very little about magical comas.

[His brow furrows.]

Is her soul present?

You and me both. [At least, she's never been around one so much as suffered the consequences. Thanks Hera.]

I don't know. She's still alive, but I have no methods of my own to check. [She knows people who might be able to, though, especially after making this announcement.]

[Anton doesn't like making this recommendation, but at least he knows the man is capable.]

There's a Necromancer in the city. Solomon Wreath. He may be able to help you determine where she is still present.

[It makes her think just how useful Nico would be right about now, and she tries to ignore the pinch in her chest of loneliness.]

I'll keep him in mind. I've gotten a couple of people who sound like they might be able to do... something.

Did Eva say anything else about her issue? [It stings, that Eva hadn't shared it with her - but she supposes that's consequences of pulling back from Keeliai politics for a while.]

Only that it had to do with shifting planal boundaries.

[That catches her attention.]

That could be important. We know Mally's at his strongest in the Death plane. What if's been encroaching on the other Planes, eating away at those boundaries?

It is possible--even likely. Given his recent departure from the palace, the combination could have had significant impact on Lady Evastelei.

[She frowns.] Her magic is connected to the planes. She can - or could - travel between them, without need for a portal as we would.

Can she? I wasn't aware. Then the planal shift would almost certainly have had its influence. It could be that she's lost in another plane. If that's the case, using her body as an anchor, it should be possible to draw her back.

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