Before heading out, Ralli will ask a friend for help.

Going into town and searching at random definitely wasn't the smart way to solve a problem. As her trainees dispersed to pack their bags, Ralli headed back to the teacher quarters, but she'd wait to pack her own things. First, she needed to rely on the help of her friend. She knocked on Bella's door next to her own, then crossed her arms. Part of her wanted to find some way to hide the choker until she absolutely had to reveal it... Then again, getting Bella's help with that was the whole point. "There is no sense in being cowardly now."

Finally, Bella arrived at the door, her pink curls bouncing in delight to see her friend. As Ralli thought about it, she'd been lucky to find her: it wasn't even dark outside, so there'd be no guarantee she'd be in her room. As it was, she was still dressed in the same provocative red robe she taught in. "Well, hi there, dearie! What brings you... Oh." Almost immediately, Bella recognized something strange was going on. She'd given Ralli hard, hungry stares often enough to notice such an obvious difference in her appearance. "You, um, changed your fashion? That looks..." she tapered off, wearing a wide, polite smile.

"Tacky. Ridiculous. I understand," Ralli replied, trying to remain patient. "This choker was not my decision. It is a magic spell I need your help to break."

Bella's already low-lidded eyes lowered further in suspicion as she leaned in close to it, putting a hand to her chin. "Magic, huh? A magic choker... Well, that could be anything, but since you're a demon, I'll ask you the obvious question first: there wasn't a cross on this thing when you put it on, was there?"

"... I distinctly recall there was. Is that bad?"

Bella looked into her face seriously. "It was upside down?"

"Yes... I refused to put it on until he at least did that."

The braineater sighed, then leaned back from Ralli with a look of concern. "Well, that's good news. Oh, sweetie... You really have to be more careful. You can't just put on whatever silly thing some deviant hands you, especially if it has a cross on it! You're lucky you followed your instincts: if it had been on right-side-up, this whole mess would be even worse. As it is now... the magic of this garment would ordinarily allow an inquisitor of the church to subjugate a demon and make her pliable to suggestion, a technique used to interrogate spies. But, since you put it on wrong, it's instead just subjugated you to whoever put it on you, and a bit weaker than it might normally. I hope that person is **** right now... If they aren't, were they to know what they were doing, they could control you remotely. It's... kind of a big deal, honey. Have you got a plan?"

"Yes." Ralli grabbed it, then began tugging it. "Now that I understand... I will simply rip it off!"

"N-no, no, love, that's a bad idea," Bella told her, placing a hand over hers. "You need to dispel the magic first. If you break it without doing that, there's no telling what could happen: at worst, that suggestion could be stuck on you forever. You need to go into town and have it dispelled, but you're in a real pickle there, hon. The only person who could do it is someone knows the prayers of the church, but do you see the hiccup? Anyone who sees you've been subjugated by a cross is going to understand you're a demon right away! You're going to need some very special help..." The teacher sighed, then gazed at the ceiling. "... There's only one person I can think of, and I'd really prefer not to send you to her. Or, if I could, I'd love to go with you... I'm preparing for a lesson right now. I'd thought it'd be an all-nighter, but-"

"No, Bella. I can't ask you to. I am taking my entire class, and this may not be a matter of a single day. Simply tell me who I need to visit."

Bella frowned, wringing her hands nervously before acquiescing. "All right, honey... do be careful. The person you need to speak to is an excommunicated church enchantress named Chloe Aitell. Well, they don't call them enchantresses... I'm pretty sure they were known as 'Holy Trinketers' or some rubbish. Regardless, she isn't one any more, so now she's a plain ol' enchantress, hmhm. She runs an enchantment shop in the business district in town. I want you to understand that she is not a person to be trusted. It is absolutely, critically imperative that you tell her I sent you and that I'll know if you don't come back, or if you come back funny. Okay? She owes me a favor, so she ought to help you."

"Very well. Thank you Bella. While I believe it is unlikely, Liam could wake up and try to exert that control at any time. I will take my leave immediately."

"So, it was Liam... I always knew that kid had a creepy look to him. I bet his brain is as slimy as his sister's in my class. Do be careful around him!"

Ralli nodded, then returned to her room to pack a small rucksack of her things. She didn't intend to stay in town any later than she had to. She didn't bother putting back on any of the armor she'd removed before; after all, there wasn't a lot of point, now that she'd shown her face to the entire class.

Once she was ready, she headed for the carriage and found all of her students already gathered there, having reined the horses. "Good work. I'll drive. The rest of you will keep an eye on Liam."

Harley raised her hand. "Respectually, ma'am, is that a good idea? If something's wrong with you..."

"That is what I'm counting on all of you for. It is my responsibility to act as a teacher, even in this situation. If Liam remains ****, there should be nothing to worry about. Harley Dustaine, manage your spell. Harvey, hold this." She handed him his over-sized practice sword. "As much as I would love to simply slay this whoreson, that is not an option for an educator. We must handle this with the honor, responsibility, and justice of the knights."

While Harvey and Harley saluted in response, she noted the rest of the class was standing around idly. She noticed most of them had packed much heavier than she had... "Right. When we are in town, Harvey and Harley will likely prove sufficient to aid me. Therefore, the rest of you will be free to act as you like in town in the meantime-"

While the other students cheered, Harvey and Harley responsibly held their salutes. Ralli appreciated that they weren't complaining about that raw deal.

"Silence!" she barked over the applause. "You are free to act as you like, so long as you uphold the values and responsibility of the knights. Understood?!"

The students quieted down, then piled into the back of the cart. Ralli got to the front and took the reins, preparing to drive...

It occurred to her she hadn't driven a carriage in quite some time, but Bella had shown her once, and deathspeakers didn't tend to forget things.