AN: Thanks so much notasongfic, SolPhyr3x and TaintedBloodLily for reviewing the previous chapter! Here's another long and fluffy one for you. And there's a little surprise at the end~

Chapter 38:

The sun was just about the rise as the party made their way back to Flaus Inn. A few early risers were up and about, Hamza being one of them. The War Magus was surprised once more to see his guild-members hurried into the lobby. There were no obvious injuries, yet there was some sort of tension in the air.

Shen was dripping wet, his powerful form shuddering erratically. He had one hand on his katana, while the other was clasped on Magnus' shoulder, the blonde-haired Alchemist staring off into space, his eyes unblinking. Lynus circled around the two, well and truly into what was now dubbed as "Mother-Hen Mode". Chi-hung lingered by Magnus' side, nudging him with his head, trying to get a response out of him. And Axel stood a little way from the group, scratching the back of his head in a haggard manner. He also seemed to have Lynus' bag on his person, carrying it so Lynus could fuss over the two unimpeded.

Another eventful night it seemed.

"You two need to get out of those wet clothes," Lynus ordered, ushering both Shen and Magnus toward their room. "And sit in front of the fire place. I'll ask Matron to brew you some tea or something. Don't give me that look, just do as you're told."

As Lynus turned to speak with Matron, he paused and gave the two a rather stern look. "If you're not in the tearoom by the time I get back, so help me…" he warned.

Axel chuckled and waved him off, before he approached Hamza in order to explain the situation. "Long night," he said.

"Another mishap?" Hamza asked, although the answer was quite obvious.

"Shen fell through the ice and nearly froze."

"I'm fine," Shen immediately stated over his shoulder before Hamza had the chance to ask him himself.

Hamza simply nodded his head before motion toward their Alchemist. "And Magnus?" he questioned, concern about that vacant and haunted look in his eyes.

His concern grew when Magnus didn't answer. He appeared to be in some state of shock.

"Headache," Axel answered for him, purposely being vague before adding, "I'll explain everything later."

Once more Hamza simply nodded his head. "This stratum is indeed rather dangerous, isn't it?" he commented with a frown. If it wasn't the monsters that were trying to kill them, it was the labyrinth itself. Danger was literally coming from all sides.

"We managed to find two Snow Blossoms, though," Axel said as he stretched his arms over his head, emitting a few telling cracks and creaks. "Didn't want to risk looking for the other possible two."

"No, that is completely understandable," Hamza said, agreeing completely with their reasoning. After all, the mission didn't state that they had to complete it all in one night. "We can try again tomorrow or the next. Finding two in one night goes beyond expectations. You've done well."

"The blossoms are in Lynus' bag," Axel explained, indicating to the bag he was carrying as he started to make his way up the stairs to his own room, to no doubt remove his armour and unwind a little. "He'll take care of them. Well, after he finishes taking care of everyone else."

Hamza watched as his guild-members move away, going in separate direction. Only Chi-hung lingered behind with him, circling around him a couple of times. Hamza caught his gaze and shared a silent conversation. Chi-hung flicked his right ear back, showing that there was no need to be overly concern. Everything was going to be alright.

With each little mishap, the bonds forged between guild-members only grow stronger.

Anyway, he needed to ensure that the fireplace in the tearoom was burning brightly. After all, there was a surprise waiting for everyone.

… … … … …

After having spoken to Matron to request some tea, only to learn that the motherly inn-keeper was in fact working on a big breakfast, Lynus made his way to the room that Shen and Magnus shared. He knocked on the door first, not wanting to rush in while they were in the middle of changing. It would be rude and highly improper.

Not to mention embarrassing.

"It's me," Lynus said as he turned the handle and slowly pushed open the door. "Can I come in?"

Receiving a short 'yes' in response, Lyner opened the door fully and let himself in. He immediately noted with some relief that Shen had indeed changed out of his wet clothing and into something warmer and dryer. However, he couldn't help but frown when he realised that Shen was the only one in the room.

"Where's Magnus?" Lynus asked, frowning. "I thought I told him-"

"He's not here."

Lynus had to bite his tongue in order to prevent himself from making some sort of sarcastic comment. Yes, that much was obvious. Thank you very much, Shen.

"He has retreated elsewhere," Shen went on to explain as he began to remove his sturdy gloves that he wore under his arm guards.

"Retreated?" Lynus repeated, quirking his head to the side. What the world did he mean by that?

Before he could question him, though, his eyes were drawn to Shen's hands. He noticed that his fingers were tinged pink, which was a good thing. However, there were cakes of blood on his fingertips, his nails broken and chipped, folded back painfully. He then immediately realised that Shen must have gotten those injuries while trying to desperately claw at the ice when he was trapped below.

Lyner couldn't help but shiver at the thought. Being trapped under the ice, the water bitter cold and painful, desperately trying to get out. Shen had to be strong in both mind and body to get out of that situation virtually unharmed.

"Your hands," Lynus said, reaching out to them, only for Shen to immediately pull away.

"I'm fine," he said, turning his back to Lynus, hiding his hands.

Lynus pushed forward. "Just let me see-"

"They can wait," Shen said tersely. "Find Magnus. Go calm him down, first."

"Fine, fine," Lynus relented, knowing that there was no way he could talk the stubborn Ronin into letting him heal him first.

And, well, to be honest, he was also slightly worried about Magnus. Shen had gotten out of his wet clothes and was well on the way of returning to normal body temperature. But Magnus was probably still in his icy clothes. He also appeared to have been more effected by what happened.

"I'll be back," Lynus promised, almost in a threatening manner, before turning on his heel and heading out the door.

Now, he had to find the Alchemist. Where could he have retreated to? Somewhere quiet and isolated, most likely. And he was probably still inside the inn somewhere.

A gentle pawing against his leg pulled Lynus out of his musings. He looked down to his right to see Chi-hung standing behind him, his ears perked forward and his tail flicking behind him.

"Hm, Chi-hung?" Lynus murmured, tilting his head to the side in curiosity. "Oh! You know where Magnus is?"

Chi-hung nodded his regal head before shuffling off, leading Lynus through the many hallways of the inn. They turned down a secluded corridor and the white-tiger stopped in front of a door that was slightly ajar. Wordlessly, Lynus walked over to the door and pushed it open to peer inside. What he saw broke his heart.

The room was dark, the windows of the curtains drawn, but he could see the thin silhouette of someone sitting on a chair in the far corner, his knees pulled up to his chest and his arms wrapped around his legs.

"I see," Lynus murmured as he looked down at Chi-hung, giving the white-tiger a soft pat on the head. "Thank you."

Chi-hung purred, pushing back against Lynus' hand, before taking his leave, prowling off, appearing as if he knew that Lynus would be able to take care of Magnus.

"Magnus?" Lynus called as he gently knocked on the door. "There you are. How are you feeling?"

Magnus snapped his head up and stiffened in his seat. He would have scurried away if he wasn't already backed into the corner. He looked at Lynus, his eyes wide with fear and something else Lynus couldn't quite put his finger on.

"…Are you afraid of me?" Magnus suddenly asked, his voice soft and yet shaky.

"Huh?" Lynus muttered, startled. That question caught him completely off-guard. "Why would I be?"

"These powers…" Magnus whimpered and clutched his head with his hands, curling back into himself. "They're hard to control sometimes. My head…"

"No, I'm not scared of you," Lynus stated as he hurried into the room and approached Magnus without hesitation. He reached out to him, grabbing his hands to hold in his, pulling them away from his head. "Not at all. I…think you're amazing."

Magnus stared at him with his bright blue eyes. "…What?"

"You were able to use your gifts to save Shen, melting the ice enough for him to break through," Lynus explained as he sat down onto a chair next to him, keeping a firm yet tender hold on his hands. "If…if it was Axel who had fallen in, if it was just us…I wouldn't have been able to do anything."

Lynus paused and squeezed his eyes shut. He didn't want his mind to wander, but he couldn't help it. The thought of Axel being the one to fall through the ice instead, clawing underneath the water and Lynus not being able to do anything but watch.

It was terrifying.

"I'm not…strong enough," he whispered.

Magnus sat still in silence for a moment or two. He then unexpectedly removed his hands from Lynus' hold and reached forward, hugging him. Magnus wrapped his arms around Lynus' shoulders and rest his cheek on his shoulder. The embraced startled Lynus for a moment, but he quickly returned the hug, placing his hands on Magnus' back and resting his chin on his shoulder.

A sense of silent understanding was shared between them. No more words were needed to be said.

"Come on," Lynus said after a few silent moments, smiling as he gently tugged at the back of Magnus' jacket. "You need to get out of these damp clothes and into something dryer. After that, let's go sit in the tea room. I'm over the cold weather of the Third Stratum."

Magnus pulled away from him and nodded his head, a look of gratitude in his eyes. "Y-yeah."

They quickly left the room, Lynus leading Magnus back to the room he shared with Shen. As they approached the door, it suddenly swung open and Shen was standing in the threshold, looking as though he had expected them to appear.

"S-Shen?" Magnus stuttered as he shyly approached him, his shoulders slightly hunched and his hands fidgeting in front of him.

"I'm fine," Shen said, not as tersely as before. His eyes almost appeared soft, despite his stoic face as he stepped out of the room and into the hallway. "Go get changed."

"Ok," Magnus said, the tension easing from his shoulders. He turned to look at Lynus, who in turn smiled and nodded his head. Magnus nodded and quickly shuffled his way into his room, closing the door behind him.

Shen watched him until he was out of side before turning to Lynus. "How is he?" he asked.

"He's calmed down," Lynus answered, still smiling. He then reached out to take Shen's hands, finally able to offer the Ronin some healing. "Let me see those hands."

Almost reluctantly, Shen lifted his hands for Lynus to inspect. Shen's hands were much stronger than his, rough and coarse, an obvious symbol of his years of hard training. They still felt slightly cold, not icy cold mind you, but most certainly not warm. They were pink, so blood was circulating. Very good.

He then began inspecting his fingernails, managing to hold back a wince. They were chipped and broken, every single one of them. Nearly all the way back to the quick. Thankfully, though, he won't have to remove the remaining nails. They shouldn't impede him movements. Although, it was going to be uncomfortable for Shen when they start to grow back.

"At least it's not frost-bite," Lynus said as he used a cure spell to heal the broken skin. He won't be able to make the nails grow back, but at least he'll make it easier for when they do. "You have very tough hands."

Shen said nothing, not even wincing when the skin start to etch back together.

"Shen?" Lynus said after he had finished up his healing, allowing Shen to pull back his hands. He folded his arms over his torso and shuffled awkwardly on his feet. There was something on his mind, something that came about when he was speaking with Magnus. "Do you think the reason Magnus gets so many headaches is because he's afraid of his own abilities?"

Shen looked at him, his face unreadable before he seemed to sigh, giving a sharp nod. "Yes," he said, reaching that conclusion some time ago.

Lynus chewed on his bottom lip. "…What can we do?" he asked. He wanted to help Magnus in some way, but how? Magnus needed confidence in himself and his abilities, something that Lynus won't be able to help him with fully. How could he when he was struggling with his own self-worth?

"That, I am uncertain…" Shen admitted. He, too, sounded pained.

"He's very fond of you," Lynus said, rather abruptly. "I'm sure you can help him."

Shen abruptly turned his back to Lynus, his shoulders rigid and tense as he shook his head. "I am a trained warrior. Not…a comforter," he said with a sense of guilt and remorse. "There is nothing I can do for him."

"That's not true," Lynus instantly objected. "You keep him grounded. You're his support. That's not nothing. It's definitely something. And it's something important."

A few seconds of silence seemed to tick by before Shen spoke up again. "…Perhaps," he said, simply.

"I don't think you need to say anything. Your presence is enough," Lynus added, sensing a hint of acceptance from the Ronin in front of him. He then shrugged, deciding to quickly change the subject as he could also sense a form of discomfort from him. "Well, this is all I can do for you. You just need to get warmed up, now."

As soon as he said that, the door opened and Magnus appeared, dressed in far more casual clothing. He seemed startled, yet subtly delighted to see that they were still there. "Oh…Were you waiting?" he asked softly.

"Yes, we were," Lynus smiled. "Let's go."

"Ok."

Moving into the tearoom, Lynus was somewhat surprised to see that the other members of the Guardians were also up and about, as was Rahas and Lirit. Even Becky and Binah were fluttering around happily.

"Oh, good!" Matron's voice was easily heard over the chatter of the room's occupants. "Everyone is here. Time for a special breakfast!"

"A special breakfast?" Lynus questioned as he ventured further into the room, making his way to stand by Axel's side.

"A reward is a reward, don't you know?" Matron winked as Binah and Becky stood in front her, giggling joyously. They looked happy, proud even.

"Reward?" Lynus murmured, momentarily confused. Then realisation dawned upon him quite quickly. Axel did say that Binah and Becky had made a formal request of the Guardians, which Hamza had accepted – them acting as matchmakers for him and Axel!

Blushing lightly, Lynus looked over to Axel who smiled in return. He had figured it out as well. "Oh! I see."

Lynus felt his blush deepen as Axel threaded his fingers through Lynus' hair, to place a kiss to his temple. He laughed warmly, though, when the others seem to pay no mind. They simply smiled in knowingness before shuffling about to serve themselves some breakfast, happily chatting amongst themselves.

Lirit, however, gave Lynus a quick hug and whispered a soft 'I'm happy for you' into his ear before he set about getting some food of his own.

Lynus could only smile, his heart fluttering in his chest. He quickly joined Axel's side at the breakfast table, immersing himself in the loving community and acceptance that was Guild Guardians. As he pressed himself against Axel's side, he was experiencing feelings he never thought he'd experience again.

Happiness. Gratitude. Contentment.

Life was…good.

It really was.

… … … … …

After the bustle of breakfast had died down, Hamza leaned back in his seat to take a moment to cast his eyes over the group of talented explorers before him. A sense of pride swelled in his chest, noting how well several very different individuals from many different backgrounds were able to work together.

They had started out as rookies, curious and naïve. And now, they were taking pride in themselves. They had grown so much. They had made their choices and had achieved things that others could only dream about.

They had forged strong bonds of friendship, companionship and partnership.

Ah…Speaking of partnerships.

"Hmm…I can't help but notice how everyone seems to be pairing off, Chi-Hung," Hamza commented with a light sense of amusement, the white-tiger lifting his head to regard him. "The most obvious is Axel and Lynus, of course."

He rolled his eyes toward the ceiling at the sight of the two together on the couch. Lynus had his legs lying over Axel's lap as he cuddled against his side, his head resting on his shoulder. Axel had his eyes closed as he rested his head up top of Lynus' and had his arm wrapped around his shoulders, a small smile on both their lips. They also appeared to be sleeping.

"But there's Jhon and Tobyn over there."

Jhon's leg was healing nicely, but Tobyn was still cautious of him putting too much strain on his knee. Tobyn had never been one to show much outward affection, but since Jhon had gotten injured, he had been more forthcoming; hovering around Jhon, sticking to his side like glue. He even refused to let him move around the room with some kind of assistance. Even now. Jhon, seemingly have gotten sick of his fussing, had snared Tobyn by the wrist and pulled him down into the seat next to him. And they sat there, shoulder to shoulder, simply talking quietly to themselves.

"Then there's Shen and Magnus."

Shen was sitting in the lotus position on the rug in front of the fire place, with Magnus sitting across of him, his legs also folded in the lotus seating. It appeared as though Shen was offering Magnus some tips on meditation, showing him how to fold his hands and keep himself centred. And Magnus looked enthralled with what Shen was telling him, nodding his head and listening intently.

"And maybe," Hamza chuckled as he brought his cup of coffee to his lips. "A little bit of Macerio and Lirit."

Macerio was sitting on the chair, Lirit's lute in his hands as Lirit hovered over his shoulder, showing him where to position his hands and teaching him a few chords. Macerio had his brow furrowed, concentrating hard on what Lirit was showing him, while Lirit seemed to be laughing, a radiant smile on his lips.

"I guess this old man is getting a little lonely," Hamza added with a false sense of sadness.

Chi-hung suddenly growled lowly before motioning with his head toward something or someone.

"Hm?" Hamza hummed before turning to look in the direction Chi-hung was motioning in. And when he did, he arched an eyebrow in mild disbelief. There, lounging on the cushioned seat under the window was a certain Dark Hunter, his eyes closed, his arms folded behind his head in a casual manner.

Rahas suddenly opened one eye to peer at him in an almost accusatory manner. "…What are you looking at, gramps?" he asked, tersely.

Hamza felt his eye twitch. "…You're the only one for me, Chi-hung."

Chi-hung lowered his head to his folded paws, sniggering.

… … … … …

The weather was quite warm as Lynus made his way through the ever familiar streets of Lagaard. He was heading to the bar once again, with a request in hand. Macerio was accompanying him for something to do. He also looked relieved that he was free of his 'matchmaking' duties. He wilfully admitted as much as they walked, going into great detail how the girls blackmailed him and the others.

Lynus could only laugh.

They chatted easily as they strolled into the bar, Bar-Keep Cass immediately noticing them. There were only a few patrons in the bar, and it wasn't hard for Lynus to recognise some of the familiar faces. Although that panda bear sitting squashed up in the back corner was a sight he hadn't witnessed before. No one else seemed concerned, though, so he simply filed that sight away into the back of his mind.

It certainly wasn't hard to notice that Guild Cosmos were also present, sitting around the table, looking bored and slightly dejected. Well, Tiffany definitely did. Gerald seemed to be already drunk, if him being face down on the table with a beer mug in one hand was any indication. And Simmons seemed to be engrossed in the task of picking his nose.

They didn't seem to notice or mind that they were being accompanied by the female Hexer, Kerri, whom of which seems to be counting her money. Perhaps she had won the money in a bet? Most likely from Guild Cosmos themselves, from the looks of it.

"Another request?" Cass asked as Lynus and Macerio approached the bar, Macerio leaning against it casually.

"From the Inn, this time," Lynus explained as he handed over the request letter.

"That old ox is still renovating?" Cass asked with a teasing grin. He did do a quick surveillance of the area before he said that, though. Even he was a tad frightened of Matron.

"Ah, yeah," Lynus said, before he turned his attention to Macerio while Cass went to post the request. "So, what are you doing today, Macerio?"

"I dunno," Macerio said as he folded his arms behind his head in a casual manner and leaned his back against the bar.

The other members of their guild were either still at the Inn, or were traversing the Labyrinth once again. They had no quests to fulfil and Lady Gradreil was pleased with the two Snow Blossoms that they managed to retrieve. So today was pretty much just a lazy day, doing whatever they wanted.

"Maybe hang out with Lirit or something," Macerio commented with a shrug.

Lynus smiled as he looked around the bar once more. "I'm sure he'd-" he paused suddenly, the words becoming lost as his gaze fell upon a familiar figure strolling just outside the window of the bar. His heart leapt into his throat and he all but stopped breathing. That form was instantly familiar.

It couldn't be…He was seeing things, right?

No, he couldn't be. It was no mistaking it. That lanky but powerful body, those piercing eyes, sharp teeth clenched around a lit cigarette. The way he walked with a confident swagger, his strides purposely and intimidatingly powerful. One hand hung lazily by his side as the other toyed with the handle of his whip. His lips were pulled into a very familiar smirk, his eyes taking in every detail.

It was him. It was…

"Avith…?"

AN: Surprise! Oh my, is this considered a cliff-hanger? :3