The last few days in Winterhold had been fairly pleasant. Unlike Tel Mithryn, the inhabitants of the College were either friendly and helpful or left Kyoko and Nagisa alone. They'd had some light magic lessons, but other than that the two girls had mostly been left to their own devices.
It was rather weird but welcoming having really nothing to do. Freeing, yet slightly tedious. Serene, yet boring.
But then, after the past few weeks, "boring" was just what the doctor ordered. Kyoko had attempted to get answers out of Valtir a few more times, but the altmer had stonewalled each and every time; he would remain silent beyond the bare basics of his mission until the others arrived. And he assured them, they would be arriving soon.
And so despite the welcome respite and relaxation, both girls were finding themselves with a growing sense of trepidation and dread. How would their reunion go? Would Madoka, Sayaka, and Mami hate them? Would they refuse to talk to them? Deep down, Nagisa knew that despite her worries and guilt, there wasn't a mean bone in Madoka's body.
But Mami? And especially Sayaka? They knew how to hold grudges if they felt they'd been wronged. Mami's "I'm disappointed in you" was legendary, and Sayaka could be nothing more than pure unadulterated spite if she felt like it. Kyoko and Nagisa had at times attempted to reassure the other, but at the end of the day there was nothing that could be done to undo the stress growing in the pit of their stomachs.
The clock was counting down, and they had been assured their friends would be here today.
The two girls had initially planned to hide away in various parts of the College, trying to get their mind off things for the time being. They'd loitered in the library (until Urag, the old Orc who served as the librarian had chased them out), hung out in the dorms (Brelyna had cleared out the angry ghosts later that first night), listened in on one of the higher-level courses on the school of Mysticism that one of the teachers was giving in the main hall (interesting, but most if it went right over the girls' heads), and even tried building a snowman out on the College roof before it had devolved into a snowball fight. At one point they'd even headed into town before they remembered that, oh right, Winterhold had absolutely nothing of interest to offer at all.
But now though in mid-late afternoon as the sun began to consider descending, the two girls had run out of things to do and the stress and lack of patience had forced them out into the courtyard, where they sat on the steps leading to the main hall… waiting. Kyoko was fidgeting nervously, while Nagisa kept walking in circles. Neither paid much attention to the other.
Madoka felt like she was about to die. And considering she knew exactly what it was like to die more than possibly anyone except maybe the girl she was currently carrying, she was being entirely accurate.
After reaching the top of the cliffside the girls had collapsed on the ground and taken a few minutes to catch their breath, wondering how normal people could possibly manage to climb that. Who thought that staircase was a good idea!? But the College still beckoned, and with the slim promise of healing Sayaka danging in front of them, the two girls pressed on.
"Sorry, access to the College is restricted to non-members. Did you have an appointment?" the guard at the front of the bridge asked them.
"I—no," Madoka began, "But our friend—"
"Then I'm sorry, but you cannot pass," the guard said, cutting her off, "Enchantment and healing services are offered at 'The Frozen Hearth' during normal business hours."
"… Oh," Madoka said, her hopes being crushed in one fell swoop. They'd come all this way and were being turned away, just like that, "I see."
"Surely you can make an exception," Mami interceded, "Please, our friend has a curse on her, we were told you could help."
The guard sighed in irritation, "I don't know what you heard, but the College is not a charity house. It is a place of research, and we can't just let the masses in to such a delicate environment. I'm sorry, but the rules are rules. If we let you in, we'd have to let everyone in."
Mami looked about ready to make another push, but relented when Madoka grasped her arm. The blonde looked back at her, seeing a girl with a-near broken expression, but was still resolute about not cracking here at this moment, "Let's… let's just go," she said, "We can… we can do what he said and check the Frozen Hearth."
Mami's expression softened, her heart breaking a little.
"I'm sure you can make an exception for them," another voice said. The group turned to see another figure on the bridge—an elf in a robe, "These three are guests on my behalf."
The guard looked at the Psijic Monk, then back at the trio of girls, "Fine, whatever. Who am I to stand in the way of the Psijic Order. Very well, you may enter." He stood aside, allowing Madoka and Mami entry.
"… Thank you so much," Madoka said to the elf, wiping away her barely-formed tears, "Mr…"
The elf chuckled as he led them over the long, narrow bridge, "You can call me Valtir. I've been expecting you."
"Expecting us?" Mami asked quizzically, "How?"
"Did Wulf tell you we were coming?" Madoka asked, equally confused.
"… Wulf?" Valtir muttered in thought, before he seemed to draw a conclusion he kept to himself, "… No, No. Long story short, I work for a monastic order known as the Psijic Order, and we have tasked ourselves with the safety and well-being of this plane of existence we call Nirn. We noticed your arrival and have been working to assist you," he glanced at the blue-haired girl, "… Is she not well?"
"She…" Madoka hesitated, "Another… friend of ours did something to her, we're not sure what. We came here to try and find help, but we don't know if they can."
"Hmm," the monk frowned, "Another complication. No matter, we will do our best to get her back to full health. And after that, I have many, many important things to tell you. But first…" they arrived at the entrance of the College, "… I expect you have important people who have been waiting for you."
"… Important?" Mami asked, "Who are you—" she froze. There, on the other side of the courtyard, stood a very familiar redhead and white-haired girl, equally frozen in place. Madoka likewise stood silent, emotions boiling up within her, each fighting for dominance as she set her eyes on people she was afraid she would never see again.
"… I will give you a few moments" Valtir said, wisely extracting himself from the situation.
An uncomfortable, pregnant silence descended over the courtyard as each girl fought with herself, trying to make sense of things. Nagisa looked away in shame, Kyoko waited for the inevitable lecture even as she fought back her own tears, Mami seemed unsure of what to do at all, and Madoka was doing all she could to keep from breaking down right then and there.
It was Mami who cracked first. She rushed over to Kyoko and Nagisa, the former of whom prepared to assume a combat stance as she prepared for the possibility physical lashing out instead of a verbal one that she'd assumed. But instead of a punch or a slap, Mami wrapped herself around both girls with every inch of her strength, forcibly dragging Kyoko down to the ground so she could grab Nagisa as well.
"… Oh my god," she said with a shuddering breath, just before she broke entirely, "oh my god."
Kyoko let go of the flood dam next, followed shortly by Nagisa as Madoka approached the group, hesitant to join in as much as she desperately wanted to. Mami saw this however, and invited her in. Immediately, Madoka gently set Sayaka down and threw herself into the group hug, breaking down and sobbing just as much as the others. Kyoko noticed Sayaka; still just as comatose and ill-looking as she'd been before the End. A twinge of guilt surfaced, followed by conflicting emotions for Homura, before her thoughts were simply overwhelmed by what was going on in her arms as she pushed herself tighter into the hug.
Right now it didn't matter what any of them had done, it didn't matter what disagreements they had, it didn't matter what they had lost. Nothing mattered except that they were all alive, and they'd found each other again.
They sat there for a few moments, saying nothing as they let catharsis and relief take their course.
Then, after a moment Nagisa sniffed the air after catching a whiff of something.
"… Why do you guys smell like fish?"