Golden Sun belongs to Nintendo and Camelot, not me. Support them if you like the series! I just write fanstuff. And if you feel like borrowing any of my original ideas, please, go right ahead.

"Tyrell! Uh, hi. What, er, brings you around these parts?" Matthew winced at his own awkwardness as he stumbled over his words.

Tyrell folded his arms. "In case you forgot, I'm staying at this inn, too. I was coming to chew you out for forgetting about me! I was wandering out in that city ALL DAY trying to find this damn inn again, why didn't you send Karis back out?"

Matthew blushed. "...Sorry about that."

Tyrell waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, whatever. She probably wouldn't have been in the mood anyway. She seemed pretty dejected when I walked by her door. What's eating her, do you know?"

"That was, uh, also my bad," Matthew said, cringing. "See, I kept forgetting to lock the door... and, uh... well, Sveta's feeling better now! That's the good news!" He finished with an insincere smile.

"So you've just been here all day looking after her?" Tyrell said, rolling his eyes. "Well, whatever. I actually did a bit of work while you were here all day screwing the pooch."

At that moment, Sveta pushed herself away from Matthew and glared at Tyrell. "I understand that you are resentful about being forgotten today," she said harshly, "but that gives you NO excuse to resort to racial slurs! As queen of the surviving beastmen of Morgal, I will have to demand somewhat more respect than that. You are my friend, Tyrell, and I am willing to forgive you, but that was the most callous thing I have ever heard you say!"

Tyrell stared blankly.

Matthew cleared his throat. "Umm, Sveta? 'Screwing the pooch' is a term that implies laziness or a lack of any useful work. He wasn't trying to accuse us of, uh..."

Sveta's face turned a deep scarlet. She folded her hands and stared at her feet.

"Wait, so... DID you?" Tyrell asked awkwardly. "I mean, you don't have to tell me, but-"

"No!" Matthew said quickly. "Nonono. No. Nothing like that."

Sveta looked at Matthew with some alarm. "We did not?"

Matthew shook his head.

"But... you said... and I... what?" Sveta blushed even more deeply. "Oh dear."

Matthew scratched his head and Tyrell inched backward out of the room.

"Matthew, before we encounter this situation again, what DID really happen today? I do not remember clearly," Sveta said quietly.

"You woke up, thought I was a dream, and went back to sleep. Then you woke up, told me to turn around, and... you know what? Let's save this for later," Matthew responded. "Tyrell, you said you did a bit of work? What turned up?"

Tyrell nodded and cleared his throat, doing his best to help change the subject. "Well, the mood around town is pretty low. People are scared. Some people are still whispering about the Grave Eclipse. No news from Vault, by the way. No one I spoke to has any idea where the refugees are. I actually overheard some people who were worried because they haven't heard from friends over there in weeks. I'm sorry, Matthew."

Matthew nodded solemnly. "We knew the chances weren't great that my grandparents had arrived here safely, especially after we saw the ruins of Vault. Thanks for trying, though. What about the war? Any news about that?"

Tyrell looked away bitterly. "The Bilibin army has already set out through Border Town. From the sound of it, they've got a lot of soldiers."

"How is that possible?" Sveta asked. "Casualties from the Grave Eclipse should have been enormous. Matthew, are there any Adepts of note who live in the area that may have supported the city?"

Matthew thought for a moment, but shook his head. "The only person I can think of is Karis's aunt, Hama. She's a talented and wise Jupiter adept, but... nowhere near as combat-capable as any of us. And anyway, she lives a good distance from the city." He furrowed his brow. "Now that I think about it, you're right, though - the streets have been packed all day. It sounds terrible to say it, but... shouldn't there be a LOT fewer people still standing?"

Sveta hugged herself with worry. "Matthew... I had been wondering how Bilibin could justify war so soon after that disaster. But if they suffered so few casualties..."

Tyrell clenched his fists. "They knew it was coming! They had to!" He smacked the wall. "Those cheating bastards waited until Morgal was down and out, and now they're sending in soldiers to finish them for good!"

Matthew shook his head. "Tyrell, WE didn't know the Eclipse was happening until the tower activated. How could they have seen it coming?"

"It... does seem almost too convenient," Sveta said. "Morgal is weaker than it has ever been. Our soldiers are tired, our citizenry is nearly nonexistent, and... the queen is gone."

"Do you want us to take you back to Belinsk, Sveta?" Tyrell asked. "I know you and Matthew have some catching up to do, but..."

"I do not know, Tyrell. I appreciate the thought, but-"

"But I'd be going with her," Matthew said. "so the catching up is irrelevant."

Sveta smiled softly. The cat was out of the bag, as the saying went; she stepped over to Matthew and took his hand in hers.

Tyrell laughed. "My gosh, you two are so sappy it's almost disgusting."

"I'm, uh, surprised you're taking this so calmly," Matthew said with a raised eyebrow.

"Taking what so calmly?"

"The revelation that Sveta and I are, uh, together now."

"What, it's news?"

"Yes."

"But you've... she's... guys, what? It's taken you THIS long?"

Matthew and Sveta looked at each other with surprise. They simultaneously turned back toward Tyrell.

He continued. "I know for a fact that Sveta's had a thing for you pretty much since she's met you. And YOU, Matthew, seemed to develop a crush of your own almost immediately after. That was fucking weeks ago. When did you two get together?"

The pair looked at each other again. Sveta spoke first. "The, umm, day before yesterday. When Matthew visited my castle." She clutched his hand more tightly. He gave a sympathetic squeeze in response.

"Goddammit, you two. SO clueless." Tyrell put his palm directly onto his face. "Sometimes I wonder how people can miss this stuff. Seriously, it's like you're oblivious to everything."

Sveta and Matthew chuckled, having both caught the unwitting irony.

"Anyway, you two should make a decision by tomorrow, I think. We have to meet up with Kraden and he'll want to know our next move. And Matthew, I think you should have a talk with Karis. I'm not sure what she saw, but we need her functional, don't we? Can't have her wasting the day away crying and sulking," Tyrell said.

"Crying and...? Tyrell, what are you talking about?" asked Matthew.

Tyrell rolled his eyes. "Oblivious. Come on, guys. Karis has had her eye on Matthew since she was like, 11."

Matthew went pale. "What? Why am I always the last person to find out about these things?"

Sveta narrowed her eyes and put her arms around Matthew possessively.

"Whatever, man. Talk to Karis if you want. I'd rather you didn't mention I told you that she... y'know. And, I know this is probably obvious, but the conversation might go better if Sveta isn't around." Tyrell shrugged. "I'm heading to bed, it's been a tiring day. Good luck, whatever happens," he said as he walked away. He waved goodbye and headed toward his room.

Sveta buried her face in Matthew's arm. "Do not forget your promise, Matthew," she said sternly.

"Of course," he responded. "I still need to talk to her, but... it'll be a 'let's just be friends' kind of thing. What do you think about Belinsk? Would you like me to take you back?"

Sveta shook her head without removing it from Matthew's arm. "Not sure. Boon is wearing off again. Too tired to renew it. Will think about Belinsk in the morning. For now, go talk with Karis. Will be here when you return."

Matthew nodded. "Oh, uh... I'm not sure what to do about sleeping arrangements. Should I go see if there's another room availabl-"

Sveta pulled her face off of Matthew's arm. She then planted it directly into his chest. "Too expensive. Share."

Matthew blushed. "You're, uh... certainly straightforward when you get like this..."

"Going to bed now. Hurry back," Sveta said as she hopped back onto the sheets.

"...Will you still be clothed when I get back? Because I-"

"No promises. Hurry back."

By the time Matthew had closed the door, Sveta was already asleep.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Short chapter again tonight. I was planning to land Mia in Tuaparang tonight but I need to start heading to bed earlier anyway. Hopefully that last bit of delusional kittydog is a fair consolation prize. I love writing sick Sveta. Good thing pneumonia typically takes several weeks to recover from (even though a mercury adept would probably speed up the process significantly)!