Triss was very excited when she got her slice of cake. She flopped in it and Crystaline sighed a bit. “You are one messy child,” Crys put her lips to Triss’s dark hair as the young one stuffed her cheeks with cake looking up at her parents. At least she wasn’t a troublesome one all the time.

Mine had the fork in her mouth after taking a bite of the cake. Her silver eyes were staring at Emmanuel. “Not your fault.” It was clear she had a basic understanding of everything. Her mind was wrecked but there were bits and pieces that she could find. They would float to the surface enough for her to understand them.

Kirika looked over at Mina and smiled a bit. “So, you got our magic to stop Mother?”

Since the tea was keeping her calm she nodded. “Stole contraption from Marin and took your powers when you were sleeping. Kept them hidden and safe with me in desert. I smashed contraption and made sure Marin couldn’t make it again. She’s will be mad.”

They could all see that somewhere Mina was still very gifted and it gave them a bit of hope. “Maybe we could let her use the third-floor lab at the academy and give her work to do? From the sounds of it, she remembers how to do it. We can keep tabs on her and make sure the quality is good. That way she isn’t tormenting herself and her mind isn’t idle,” Taimi suggested to her lover and Emmanuel. “She would be close to you as well.”

–

After a few days, Angela came over and looked Mina over. “She seems to be doing a lot better. You are keeping the calming tea in her?” Angela looked at Emmanuel who had insisted to be there when the treatments started. “This won’t be pleasant. I’m going to strip the conditioning my sister had on her. Once that happens she’ll be a wreck but we’ll be able to hopefully reverse her mind. You might have to keep watch over her at all times. I’m worried about her committing suicide.”

Colden’s groan couldn’t be loud enough the moment he saw his precious daughter covered in damn cake. He would let her reign in her chocolate-ness until she was done, then it was immediate bath time for her. “Who made her like this?”

There was plenty of laughter to go around with that, but when it came to the serious talk, Emmanuel looked to Mina and shook his head. “I should have figured it out sooner and hid you and the others or something. The hell you went through goes beyond words, Mina.” They all knew what sort of horrid mother and person Cyprus was, but she had enough power not to be touched until she made the wrong move and killed Raven. Once that happened, all bets were off. His idea of how she was able to siphon both Kirika’s and Colden’s magic was on point. This may have not been a good idea once word passed by to Marin that her cousin was back. Judging from how Mina was about it made him think Marin knew exactly who stole her device. “It will be okay. Marin won’t be coming here any soon.”

“I don’t know about that…”Dante started before Bakura elbowed him. “What he means is that we will make sure she doesn’t pull anything. Trust me, I don’t want her blowing up anything else around here.”

Bakura thought about Taimi’s proposal deeply, “That could work. At least then she could feel more at ease if she busies herself with projects. What you think, Emmanuel?”

“Oh, I’m sure that I can speak to the others and get approval for it. She can be independent and free to do as she needs there.”

—–

In the days before Angela would arrive, they spoke to the committee and after some convincing arguments, they agreed to the terms, and Emmanuel would take on the responsibility for her. He humbly agreed to that term and planned on getting her space ready. But first thing’s first, he came over to the Black Court and waited with Mina before her aunt returned. “Yes, at least twice a day- once in the morning and then in the late afternoon. It helps that everyone’s been patient with her. Even Dante is behaving, all things given that was..” He petted Mina on her shoulder and put on a brave face for her.

“Aye, Bakura and Taimi figured as much. The others are around the house and will come if we need them as quickly as they can.” He wasn’t about to let her end her life prematurely, not when she was still had plenty of life to live. No, it would have been a waste. “If that’s what I have to do to atone, then I will gladly accept that. She was my assistant back then and a hell of a good one. Her talents and mind, I can’t let them all go for naught, much less her own life loss.” His eyes softened and he took her hand and gave it a light squeeze.

“No that will not happen because I will not abandon my friend again, Angela. I only want her to gain the peace she deserves.”

Triss delicately pointed at her father as he asked and let out a giggle. It was one of the only few moments where she wasn’t overly timid.

Mina’s eyes looked Emmanuel over and shook her head lightly. She offered no words as to why but in her head she saw he would have been hurt too. There was no good way for things to go if Cyprus was looking to punish her and Emmanuel would have fallen too had her mother had her way. She called down on the subject of Marin though as it seemed like everyone had it under control.

–

Mina looked up at Emmanuel as he petted her shoulder. He had been incredibly nice to her and had even gotten her a space to work from what she had gathered. They had managed to cut down on her screaming and were rather understanding of the older Rosenite’s plight.

Angela nodded towards Emmanuel, “At least we can trust in those factors. I am glad that she has the support she will need for this.” Mina looked down as Emmanuel took her hand and gave it a light squeeze back if only because he had done it to her.

Large eyes looked up at Angela as the goddess took her hands and led her to have a seat upon a table. “Peace will be what she has but first has to come the storm to undo what was done to her. To reset her mind back to the way it was before my sister twisted it beyond repair. This will be a long and hard journey for everyone…”

“Emmanuel, can you hold down her legs? Eldora take your sister’s arms. This might frighten her more than it hurts.” Once everyone was in position Angela brought out a series of needles and Mina began to scream and start to thrash.

Angela was quick with each one as she put them in specific points. Mina was stronger than Eldora thought she would be and had many times had to reinforce her own strength. Bewildered screams had let go to panicked cries as Mina settled.

Her eyes were rapidly looking about as her chest heaved fully. Her eyes darted to Emmanuel and to Eldora. Finally, the medicine took root as her eyes rolled back and she passed out. “That was rougher than I expected,” Eldora panted a bit. “She’s strong…”

“Yes, more so than I expected her to be in her state,” Angela put her hand to her chin as she thought. “Be careful around her for right now. I don’t know how well this will work or if I need to do it a few more times… but if all goes well you will see something quite amazing once she wakes up.”

There was no telling what was needed to reverse the damage that was done to Mina, but whatever the Goddess could do for her, Emmanuel would try to help any way he could. He felt her hand against his, mirroring the gripping and he smiled at her. She wouldn’t have to suffer through anything alone anymore, not as long as he and her family were around. He released her once Angela took charge and he followed her along with Eldora as the elder Rose sister was sat down.

He stood by and listened to the request and immediately kneeled down in front of Mina and took hold of her legs. It was a strange request, at least it was until he saw what the doctor had in mind with the revealed needles. No sooner than the reveal, he felt Mina losing control over herself and both Eldora and himself kept her in bay the best they could. Even for such a little woman, she mustered up great and terrible strength.

He wasn’t sure how they were able to keep her pinned as Angela placed the needles onto her, but they weathered through that storm as she calmed down. As she looked upon him, Emmanuel frowned deeply. He had hoped that she didn’t think he was there to harm her. That any of them were there to cause her more pain without reason like her mother. “Forgive me, Mina…”, he spoke softly as she soon faded away into unconsciousness. “She had to be if she survived up to this part by herself.”

He finally let go of her and stood back up, still feeling remorse over what they had done. “So how long do we have to wait for? I assume the medicine won’t have her out for too long…” He looked back at his friend and placed a hand onto her shoulder.