"Can we start now…Iris?"
"O-oh, right. I haven't tried this without my book though…so it may not be as effective…"
"It's okay, just try your best…please."
Iris began to raise her hands and softly place them on the wound, causing Dante to wince at the sudden surge of pain that followed. He settled quickly as she began to chant to herself once more. Trying her best to focus on the cast, yet it seemed something was bothering her in the moment.
"Iris-" Dante said as she shook her head quickly and tried again. Her hands slowly began to glow as she tried to cast once more.
"I got this…it's just I haven't properly practiced with this spell without my book…"
"No wonder you keep it so close…it seems important to you."
"It is…I keep spells there that I must focus on improving…that's all."
"I see."
Dante slowly began to sink his head into his arms, as the pain from the marks began to pulsate as if it was being buried into by the poison. This caused a small groan to leave Dante's mouth as he tried his best to take the pain. Iris watched his reaction and looked to the wound, seeing her magic wasn't fixing the issue at hand.
"It's not working…there's no way I can do this. Not without my book…" she thought erratically, seeming to wander about her mind of ways to help the situation as her partner laid next to her. She felt the sense of guilt wash over her once more.
"Why can't I just do what I'm supposed to…it's always something in the way…I'm in the way…" her hands continued to tremble as the thoughts of what she could do to help him slowly began to dwindle about in her mind. Dante kept his eyes burrowed within his arms as he winced through the pain once more, but began to offer words of encouragement to his partner in need.
"You don't have to be perfect…just try your best. It's just us here, I've seen you do amazing things…"
Iris' eyes quickly darted to Dante, who's head stayed within his arms. She never expected him to give her praise, especially after how badly she'd felt she treated him over the course of the first weeks of school. Her hands continued to tremble as her words started to become mumbled.
"You can't say that…especially after all that I've–"
"I am saying it…you can do things…I could only dream about. From casting insane nature based spells…to even having the ability to learn different elements. You're incredible, you know."
Her eyes lowered at the statement as she scoffed at his words. Thoughts of her brother and his previous words pounded in her head at the moment's notice. Causing small drops of sweat to form on her head.
"Incredible…yeah right. I'm the one that got us into this mess…I don't deserve such praise from someone like you. I've been nothing but a screw up, and a horrible partner to boot."
"Well…that's not all the way false."
"H-hey!"
"But, I think you're a lot better than…you're giving yourself credit for."
"..."
"I know you can fix me up…that's why I'm not worried."
"How could you have so much faith…in a screw-up like me…?"
She looked to see his eyes looking back at hers intensely. She flinched backwards before he spoke once more.
"It's because I have no other choice, than to believe in my partner. That's why."
He then turned back and sank his head into his arms once more. Without another word, he closed his eyes and let Iris take over. She then looked at her hands once more and clenched them tightly.
"He's right…I have to do this. This isn't a time to be down on myself, he needs help and I'm the only one that can do it…!"