Strap in folks, this is a long one.

Shortly after brunch ended, Keegan and I made our way back to the shop in silence. There were several times I wanted to speak, but everytime I found the words missing. It was only when we rounded the corner and Keegan's shop came into view that I stopped, digging my heels into the cobbles.

Keegan stilled, glancing over his shoulder at me.

"What's up?"

"I…" I gave my head a shake. "I think I should come with you."

"No," he sighed. "That's not necessary."

"Wouldn't it be safer to stick together at this point?"

He turned, quickening his pace towards the shop. The action caused a spark of annoyance to flare up in my chest. I hurried to catch up to him, reaching him just before he made it through the door.

"This isn't up for discussion," he said, hand resting on the doorknob. "The safest place for you is here, in a secure place, with people like the Sharils…" He trailed off, swallowing forcefully. "Like Driselle who can protect you."

"I'm within pissing distance of that stupid fortress, Keegan. How is that safer?"

He tongued the inside of his cheek, his patience visibly fraying.

"I know how to protect myself on the road. You don't."

He pushed his way into the shop before I could even react. My face burned. I stayed rooted in the doorway, my fingers absently moving to fiddle with my lilium orb. The skin around the scar on my leg twitched. Eventually my legs started moving on their own and soon I found myself directly behind Keegan as he rattled off instructions to Orla.

"How can you even say that to me?" Tears pricked my eyes, my voice an angry warble.

Orla froze, visibly gulping.

Keegan ran a weary hand across his forehead.

"Maggie-"

"Do you even know half the shit I dealt with on that journey? I'd never even touched a sword before coming here but Alvin trained me everyday until I wanted to cry and pass out but I still did it. Did you know I helped him take down a treant without even being linked to him? Did you know I saved our asses at Bermia Gorge?"

"I can go-" Orla began.

"You're right," Keegan said patiently. "That's all very impressive. I'm not belittling any of the things that you did on that journey. It's impressive. It is."

"Stop saying that," I hissed. "If you really thought that then you'd let me come with you."

"You're acting like a child. I have no doubts you can handle yourself against a couple monsters. What's going to happen when a squad of Exodus agents shows up and wants to take you in? Do you think your pathetic amount of sword training is going to be a match for someone who's been swinging a blade or shooting an arrow since they could walk?"

My mouth opened, but nothing came out. It wouldn't have mattered if it had, because Keegan kept going, his tone softening.

"I'm not saying this to be spiteful. I'm saying it because it's true. Maybe I'm being paranoid. You could come along and the journey would be completely uneventful. But on the off chance I'm not, and something terrible was to happen, I would never forgive myself."

"I'll go grab the jerky," Orla said awkwardly, nodding to herself before disappearing further into the shop.

I tried to swallow but the lump in my throat made it impossible. Keegan watched me, folding his arms across his chest. When he spoke again it was in a gentle tone.

"Why do you even want to come?"

"Because." I flung my arms up in exasperation but quickly found that I didn't have a follow up. Any reason I managed to grasp sounded lame when I thought about saying it aloud. "I just...I feel powerless sitting still. I've never been invested in Milla's mission but I can't help but feel that...now that I've met her it's just-"

"You think she's the one to save you."

Shame crept up the back of my neck. Was he right? Did that automatically mean I didn't have faith in him? Keegan was strong, but he was, for the most part, just like me. A lost kid from another world. Milla was basically a superhero. She considered it her duty to help and protect the people of this world. Didn't I, for the time being, count as a person of this world? I bit my lip, sinking my weight against the cabinet beside me.

"I don't know what I think," I admitted. "I keep flipping between needing to do something to help and never wanting to step outside again. I know I would only slow everyone down. I know I'd just be putting myself in danger."

"I get it," said Keegan. "Last time I left you, things didn't go great. But I promise, this time is different. You've said it yourself - you found people you can trust."

"Yeah…" But the people I trusted most were Jude, Milla, and Alvin. Now I wasn't sure I'd ever see them again. Worry seeped from every pore in my body. I couldn't even pinpoint a specific source.

I was just scared.

"This world just sucks," I said. "I never know when saying goodbye to someone is the last time I'll ever see them."

"I get that."

"I really didn't expect to make friends here." Despite the situation, I smiled. It hadn't been that long, all things considered, but… "What if I never see them again? What if something happens? I feel so hopeless."

"Hey," he said seriously. He didn't continue until I finally met his eyes. All I could see was endless calm and determination. "I'll get them there safely, okay? You have my word."

"Promise?" It came out as a squeak. I felt pathetic.

"I promise." He reached out and gripped my shoulders, giving me a gentle shake. "You realize you're worrying about the Lord of Spirits, right? I've never heard of a more powerful person, even if she's a little down and out right now."

"You know that's not what I'm worrying about…"

"You'll see them again," he said. "When all is said and done, and we have a working spyrix back in our hands, I'll make sure you have your chance to say goodbye."

"Thanks, Keegan," I said, forcing myself to smile. "I'm sorry if you think I was doubting you. I'm gonna hold you to that promise."

"Naturally," he said with a smirk. "We're not all as fragile as you. It's a pretty badass group you're worrying about. You know that right?"

The comment didn't sting like before. Instead, it brought a weary smile to my face. He was right - if anyone needed to be worried about, it was probably me. Jude was resilient, able to heal any wound we'd encountered on the journey. Milla had gotten her legs blown off and still had her fighting spirit. And Keegan…

"You're right," I said at last. I sniffed, motioning towards the shelf behind him. "Now let me help you get packed. You've got a horse to catch."

A short while later, we were headed towards the main plaza. Keegan had changed into his "travel gear" - a well-loved leather trench coat covered in pockets and buckles, with a large messenger bag. His great axe was strapped across his back, nearly as tall as he was. Every time I saw it, I couldn't help but think of the sight of him in Elias's lab - terrifying and heroic, all at once.

"You know," I said, "you never did tell me how you managed to fight your way in and out of Fort Gandala. Especially lugging me around as dead weight."

"You're asking me for this story now?" said Keegan, chuckling. "Your timing is certainly strange."

I shrugged. "As if there's been a spare moment for me to ask before now."

"Well, you'll have to stay wondering," he said, clapping me on the back. "It's a long story. All that matters is it's certainly not something I'd be able to pull off a second time."

"Guess that means I'll have to stay safe while you're gone."

He gave me a wry grin. We reached the plaza then to find that Jude and the others had already arrived. Milla certainly stuck out first - her already impressive height had doubled, as she was sitting atop a white horse. The bandages reaching up to the tops of her thighs made her legs look even longer than they already were.

"You made it," said Jude, waving.

"Hopefully you weren't waiting long," said Keegan. "Is everything ready to go?"

"Driselle ensured preparations were made quickly," said Milla. She bowed her head to Driselle. "You have my gratitude."

"And you have my hopes for a full recovery," Driselle said earnestly.

"Please," said Rowen, "take the utmost caution on your journey. I am truly sorry we cannot accompany you."

"No need to apologize," said Milla, shaking her head. "You have much to keep you occupied here. Driselle's life is about to become very busy. She'll need your guidance."

"Best of luck in the coming weeks," said Keegan, moving to stand in front of Driselle. I had to choke back a laugh at how painfully awkward his body language was, like he didn't know what to do with his hands. "I wish I could be here to help, but I know you'll do an excellent job."

"Thank you, Mr. Gamble," she said, her cheeks turning pink. "And thank you for helping to keep our friends safe. I shall pray for your safe return as well."

"You're really leaving?"

It was then that I noticed Elize, who hung at the outer edge of the group like a tiny moon in orbit. She stared at Jude with wide, shining eyes. Jude approached her with a sad smile on his face.

"Yeah. Take care, okay? You don't have to worry about being lonely anymore. Driselle and Rowen will keep you company."

"And me!" I chimed in brightly. I moved to stand next to her, placing a gentle hand on top of her head. My voice was strained despite my best efforts to sound optimistic. "I may not be staying in the manor with you, but we can have sleepovers at my brother's place whenever you want!"

"R-Really?" Her eyes widened in excitement for a brief moment, but her sadness was quick to return. She clutched Teepo tightly to her chest, frowning at the ground. "Still…"

I smoothed out her hair, watching as Jude began casting a searching gaze around the plaza. His lips pulled further and further into a frown the longer he looked. It took me a moment, but I soon realized just what he was trying to find. Or rather, "who".

"He never showed up, huh?" I said quietly.

Jude tore his eyes away from the horizon to focus his attention on me. He sighed dejectedly.

"No. I would have liked to say goodbye to him before we left, but…"

"He said he was starting a new job, right? Maybe he just had to leave...like right away. I'm sure if he could help it, he would have been here."

"Yeah, I'm sure you're right." He didn't look too convinced as he said it. His eyes flickered to the road. My heart twisted in my chest. I stepped forward, wrapping him up in my arms and squeezing as tightly as I could.

"Hey," I mumbled, eyes misting over. "I'm here. And I'm going to miss you a lot."

"H-Hey," he said, sounding embarrassed. "Don't sound so emotional. It's not like we'll never see each other again. I'll come visit when this is all over."

But his words had the opposite effect. I wasn't comforted at all. Instead, a sudden, overwhelming feeling of grief surged through my whole body and it was all I could do not to dissolve into sobs then and there. I squeezed him even tighter, anchoring myself against the shivers that started ripping through me.

"Just stay safe," I whispered. "Okay? No matter what happens, just keep yourself safe. Don't do anything stupid."

He succeeded in pulling himself free, holding me at arm's length to search my face. He reached out to catch a stray tear against his glove, frowning in confusion.

"C'mon, don't cry."

"Thank you for everything," I said. "You're a good kid."

His face was starting to fill with colour. "I...of course, I mean-"

"A-And Milla!" I sniffed back any more tears that threatened to escape, moving to stand beside the horse. She was obviously too high up for me to hug, so I instead held my hand out to her. She accepted, fingers lacing through mine. Her eyebrows lifted curiously. "Same goes for you, okay? Go get your legs back and then use them to kick Nachtigal's ass, okay?"

She almost looked like she was about to laugh at that. She stared at our interlocked hands, lips pulling into a calm smile.

"Thank you. I wish you luck in your search for a way home." Her expression grew hard around the edges, and for not the first time since meeting her, I felt like she was testing me. The words themselves sent a fresh spark of panic through my throat but I swallowed it down, nodding. She removed her hand from mine and cast her gaze on the rest of the group. "We should get moving. Everyone, you've been a great help. I am in your debt."

"Time to hit the road," said Jude, moving to grab the lead that was secured around the horse's neck. "Thanks, all of you."

I gave Keegan a final, clingy hug, and then the three of them were off, Jude leading the horse and Keegan taking up the rear. Teepo wriggled out of Elize's arms and bounced desperately in the air.

"Superpals, don't split up! We stay together forever!"

"I hope we get to see them soon," said Elize quietly.

My hand found its way to her hair again. "Yeah. Me too."

We fell into silence, watching the trio slink further and further away. As they rounded the corner and disappeared from sight, my knees grew weak. I knew I would see Keegan again - hell, I was clinging to that fact to keep from going insane. But part of me knew that I had very likely just said goodbye to Jude and Milla for the last time. That thought was far too tragic for my brain to wrap itself around.

"Maggie?"

Driselle's voice tore me away from my self-pity.

"Yes?"

"How would you like to come back to the manor for some tea?"

"That sounds really nice," I said gratefully. A stray thought nipped at the back of my brain and I found myself speaking again without really knowing what I meant. "But what now?

"What do you mean?" Driselle blinked obliviously at me.

"I just mean…" Shit, what did I mean? I sighed shakily, taking a moment to collect my thoughts. "The wanted posters. That's what I meant. There's literally wanted posters of me at the seahaven. When we first got here, we almost got arrested just standing around town. I just…I don't…"

"Oh." She glanced at Rowen briefly, as if for approval. All he offered was a sage nod, but it did the trick. Her posture immediately relaxed. "Right. Well, I believe it's safe to say that Sharilton has broken free from Rashugal's control, at least until the king's terror has been put to rest. It's what Cline wanted, and I intend on upholding his final wish."

"Wowie, Driselle," Teepo breathed. "That's amazing!"

"Not at all." She shook her head. I had expected more emotion in her tone at the mention of Cline, but she was perfectly calm. "I would still be held prisoner if it weren't for you all. We owe your group a great debt. And besides…" Then that signature, warm smile of hers appeared and it buried any remainder of my anxiety. "We're friends, right?"

"Driselle…" Relieved tears pricked my eyes. "Thank you so much."

"Not to mention," Rowen added, "I can't see that wanted poster of yours causing much of a stir. It does little justice to your lovely features. I'm sure it was the men of the group who drew the attention of the guards."

I giggled, blushing and ducking my head.

"All this is to say do not be afraid," said Driselle with a giggle of her own. "I want you to walk freely within our city. The only guards who have permission to patrol the streets are that of House Sharil. If anything should happen, please don't be afraid to seek their aid. Alright?"

"Yes." I nodded. "Thank you so much."

"Now then!" She clapped her hands together, lips pulling into a gleeful grin. "Time for tea!"

My first full day alone in Sharilton was spent in bed. After returning home from the manor the night before, I collapsed into Keegan's bed and passed out. By the time I awoke the next day, it was well past noon. My body felt heavy and useless, but I relished that feeling. I drifted in and out of sleep for the entirety of the day, choosing to leave the bed only when I was hungry or needed to pee. It was a luxury I hadn't been afforded since leaving Fennmont - not possible with Milla urging us forward or Alvin constantly poking at me for sword practice.

My time awake was spent staring at the ceiling, letting my mind go completely blank. Still, a dull uneasiness throbbed at the back of my skull. My body still hadn't unlearned how to sleep on high alert.

I figured it would be a while before it did.

The next day was much more productive. I rose with the sun - something that would have been impossible without an alarm pre-Rieze Maxia. I took my time brewing coffee and making a small breakfast of eggs, toast, and sliced kirima. Then I sat on the balcony, watching as the sun gradually spilled its light across the town.

After breakfast I got dressed and headed downstairs. As I was heading out the door, my eyes fell on my sword, nestled beside the closet. I debated with myself for a couple minutes but in the end I quickly looped the sheath around my waist and continued on. "Too careful" was not about to become a phrase in my vocabulary.

I found Orla stocking shelves. She lifted her head in greeting when she saw me.

"There you are! I didn't see you at all yesterday - I worried you'd died up there."

"Sorry," I said sheepishly, running a hand through my hair. "I guess I still wasn't caught up on sleep from my journey."

"Well, now that you're awake, you can help me with some errands. I have some deliveries that need doing, if you're up for it."

"I-I can," I said with a gulp. "But I don't really know my way around the city yet."

She waved a dismissive hand. "All the more reason to do it. It'll help you get acquainted with the area. I can give you a travel map of the commercial district to help. It's all rather straightforward."

"Then sure," I said. "I wanted to do some exploring today anyway. I might as well be useful while I do it."

Orla spent some time gathering the supplies for me, securing each delivery in brown paper packaging. After stowing it all in a delivery satchel, I was on my way, heading down the cobbled streets with a determined stride.

Finding my way around proved to be less of a trial than I thought it would be. The stops were all fairly close to the shop - a bakery, a pharmacy, a boutique. I even managed to get some shopping done at the last stop, buying a few dresses and a new pair of boots for myself.

When lunch rolled around I found myself a cute little bistro nestled on the corner of the market square. Afterwards, the best coffee I had ever tasted at a cafe a couple streets over. Sharilton was a big city as far as Rieze Maxia was concerned, but the commercial district was relatively small. By the end of the day, I felt more than comfortable navigating my way around.

That was how I spent my next few days. Each day I went out, doing deliveries for Orla, and each day I returned with a new purchase to liven up the otherwise barren apartment. Clothes, books, makeup - I even started keeping a journal, though nothing of interest ever happened to write down. It ended up being home to a lot of mindless doodles, for the most part, but at least I was doodling everyday.

I woke up one morning to a note that Orla had slid underneath the door. It was written on rose-coloured stationery, a waft of perfume drifting beneath my nostrils as I unfolded it.

Maggie,

Your honoured presence is requested at the Sharil Manor this afternoon for tea and cake. Please feel free to dress in your finest attire, though do not feel obligated.

We look forward to seeing you!

Driselle Sharil (and Elize!)

I smiled softly as I read Elize's name. She had clearly written it herself - the letters were large and crooked on the page, a far cry from Driselle's flowery script. Perhaps Driselle was teaching her to write. I doubted she had much opportunity to learn locked up in that shack in Hamil.

In any case, I spent the rest of the morning getting ready. I'd bought a crisp white dress the day before, and while it was relatively simple in design, I decided white was a deceptively "fancy" colour. I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, examining my reflection for what felt like the first time in weeks.

I'd lost a lot of body fat from all the walking and fighting I'd been doing, but in its place had grown muscle. I marvelled at the sight of it. I'd always straddled the line of thick and thin - not skinny enough to be enviable by society's gross beauty standards, by any means, but not big enough to regale myself in the body positivity movement. Hopelessly average, with soft, squishy skin.

The squish was on its way out. I barely recognized the scarred, almost sculpted arms staring back at me. My skin was lightly tanned everywhere but my face - instead, a spattering of freckles had found their home there. I hadn't been on the road long enough to undergo any irreversible changes, but still, I wondered - if I were to return home now, would my family even recognize me?

I gave my head a shake, hastily applying my makeup. Dabbing blush on my cheeks, I sighed happily - I never knew that an activity I used to loathe could bring me such mundane bliss.

Once I was ready, I made my way to the manor. The day was pleasantly warm, with big, fluffy clouds casting shade when they covered the sun. I took a few extra minutes to reach my destination because I kept finding myself stopping, blissfully letting the warmth roll over me.

My anxiety was still present, but I'd managed to lock it away at the back of my mind. The days wrapped me in a sense of peace that I hadn't felt in a long time - since even before coming here. I had no responsibilities, nobody to answer to, no immediate danger to worry about. I felt aimless, sure.

But I also felt free.

Rowen was waiting for me when I finally reached the manor. It was the first I'd seen of him since leaving the manor the night everyone left. An unexpected, excited stab of energy pushed me forward.

"Hey!" I greeted him happily, beaming from ear to ear. "How are you?"

"I am doing quite well," he said, giving a short bow. When he straightened, he fixed me with a warm smile. "You look quite lovely today. I'm pleased you took time out of your day to pay us a visit?"

My face felt warm, but it wasn't the same as when Alvin paid me a "compliment". I didn't feel embarrassed or belittled. Rowen was simply charming, in every sense of the word. I smiled shyly in response.

"Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss it."

"Well, the ladies are in the side garden. Please, allow me to escort you."

I followed Rowen as he led me to the same garden gazebo we'd sat in when I'd first met him and Driselle. The glass tabletop was already set up with the faux-Efreet tea set Driselle had purchased in the market, though I barely noticed it past the multitude of colourful sweets and sandwiches arranged on the tiered cake stands.

"You came!" Driselle exclaimed happily, jumping up from the chaise and rushing over to pull me into a hug. I realized, for the first time, that she smelled delightfully of strawberries.

"Of course," I said, returning the hug. "I was so happy to get your invitation."

"Wowie kazowie!" said Teepo, bouncing over to me and nuzzling his face into my chest. "You look amazing!"

"Good to see you too, Teepo," I said drily, grabbing onto him so I could hold him at arm's length.

"I...I like your dress," Elize said shyly, still delicately perched on the edge of the chaise. It was then that I really got a good look at her. Her ratty old dress was nowhere to be seen. She was dressed in one that was very similar - the same extravagant crinoline, like flower petals, peeking out from beneath a vibrant purple skirt. Her bangs had been trimmed slightly, and though her poor posture still caused her hair to hang in her face, the small change made her green eyes that much more striking.

"Look at you," I breathed, moving to sit beside her. Some weird, maternal instinct sprung forward and I tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I should say the same! I hardly recognized you."

"Driselle is so nice!" Teepo gushed. He floated over to reclaim his seat on Elize's lap. "She took us shopping and bought us new dresses and hair clips and she lets us eat sweets and gave us a huge comfy bed to sleep in-"

"It's the least I could do," said Driselle, sitting down across from us. "You came to me with nothing, after all. I don't mean to spoil you, but a girl really should have the basics."

My heart felt warm and light in my chest. Among the veritable zoo of worries I'd been juggling on the journey, Elize's wellbeing had been a prominent one. Looking at her now, her cheeks flushed pink with joy, I couldn't imagine those worries at all.

"Y-You should come shopping with us sometime," said Elize, tugging at my sleeve. "It's so much fun!"

"I would love that. How about tomorrow?"

She broke into a broad smile.

"Well, don't be shy," said Rowen, clasping his hands behind his back. "I would hate for the tea to get cold. As usual, please help yourself to the refreshments."

Unsure of etiquette, I waited for Driselle to pour the first cup before I started loading my plate with food. As I scanned the table, I was quickly noticing a trend - strawberry macaroons, strawberry cream cheese sandwiches on rose-tinted bread, whole strawberries, drizzled in white chocolate. Even the sugar cubes were a lovely shade of pink.

"Pink is Elly's favourite colour," said Driselle, watching me examine the table. "As it so happens, strawberries are my personal favourite. I thought this would be a good way to combine the two, wouldn't you say? I hope you don't mind. There are some bergamot and lemon macarons as well, with egg salad sandwiches."

"It all looks amazing," I laughed, carefully using the ornate tongs to pick out my food. "It's like you dug around inside my mind and handcrafted my dream tea party."

"Perhaps great minds think alike, then." She smiled, sipping at her tea.

We passed the time with idle chatter, and I ate and drank until it felt like I would explode. Driselle recommended boutiques and restaurants to me, having nothing but kind words to say about the owners of each and every one. She touched briefly on her new daily responsibilities, but the conversation never lingered on that topic.

As we spoke, I noticed Elize shrink back slightly, a contemplative frown on her face. I bit into a macaron, giving her a slight nudge.

"What's up?"

"Oh!" she said in surprise. "I-It's nothing. I just...I wonder whatever happened to Alvin."

"Oh...right." Truth be told, I'd been so worked up about saying goodbye to Milla and Jude that I'd forgotten Alvin had vanished without a word. Part of me wasn't really surprised - him being flakey wasn't news to me. But still, another part of me felt...bothered. After everything we'd been through together, did I not deserve, at the very least, a proper goodbye?

"Maybe we'll see him around one of these days," I said, sighing into my teacup. "You know, after he finishes that new job of his. And then you can give him a piece of your mind."

"A piece...of my mind?" Elize blinked slowly.

"Yeah! You know…" I set my cup on the table and punched the air a couple times. "Beat him up. For bailing on us. I'll help you."

This was enough to coax a few giggles out of her. The sight of Elize happy was enough to push away any worries in my mind. I forced a smile onto my face, and soon enough, it didn't feel forced at all. Sitting in the sunshine with Elize and Driselle, eating delicious food - I felt normal, for the first time in a long time.

I wanted that feeling to last.

The day was warm, as usual. The air in the apartment clung to my skin in a sticky sheen of sweat. I sat curled up on the couch in a thin cotton blouse and linen shorts, one of Keegan's many travel guides keeping me occupied. Now that the danger of constantly moving forward wasn't looming over me, I felt compelled to learn everything I could about this world.

It had been officially two weeks since the others had left Sharilton. At this point, I was hardly looking over my shoulder. I'd developed a routine by now - breakfast on the balcony, lunch at the bistro down the street, helping Orla in the shop. Sometimes I would accompany Rowen on his trips into town to pick up supplies for the manor. Other times Driselle and I browsed the shops, though I tried to avoid that activity as she usually insisted on buying me things I didn't need.

Keegan's apartment was finally starting to look lived in, the few belongings I'd purchased for myself spread across various surfaces. The barren closet was now being filled with dresses and jackets, some gifts from Driselle, others I'd bought for myself.

Things were starting to feel normal. It was easy to forget the predicament I was in, easy to forget that I wasn't just on vacation. That sense of ease was the only reason I felt comfortable lounging like this. Choosing to educate myself was my one way of making sure I didn't get too comfortable. After all - as long as I was in this world, I would never truly be safe.

And so I read. Fascinated, I flipped through sketches of the snowy mountains of Kanbalar and labyrinthian mines of Leronde. The guide was a newer edition, as it contained many entries about King Gaius's rule. There was even a portrait - a stoic man with long black hair and piercing eyes. He looked just as frightening as Nachtigal, but in completely different ways.

I traced my fingers over the page, pausing to take a sip of my coffee. Frightening, yes. But also strong. I could practically sense his power rolling of the page in waves. Would getting him to help really be so hard? Back home, getting an audience with a king would obviously be something I'd never even dream of trying. But things were different here. As hard as it was to believe, I played a part in all of this. Even if it was just my own bad luck that put me here, I was still here. People like the Lord of Spirits and the Governess of Sharilton could be considered my allies. My friends.

Did that give me any kind of sway at all? If all else failed and Milla couldn't get her legs back, was there any way I could get to him to plead my case? The very thought of being in the same room as him sent the butterflies in my stomach swarming to life. I took another sip of coffee, letting the sweetness wash over my tongue.

It was probably a lost cause. Even if it were possible, I'd never muster up the nerve to do it. What would I even say?

Still, I folded down the corner of the page before flipping to the next.

A rhythmic knock sounded from the front door. I stood, assuming it was Orla or even Rowen, but the voice that followed stopped me in my tracks.

"Rashugal Guard," the voice barked. Deep, authoritative, male. "Open the door immediately or we will use force."

I instantly broke into a sweat. Panicked tears pricked at my eyes as I stared wildly around the room in search of my sword. I found it propped up against the wall in the entryway. I gulped. My legs shook. Keegan's words echoed harshly in my head.

"Do you think your pathetic amount of sword training is going to be a match for someone who's been swinging a blade or shooting an arrow since they could walk?"

No, I thought meekly. But I have to try.

The urge to cry was quickly toppling any sense of bravery I might have summoned. I paused before I reached the door, clammy fingers wrapping around the handle of the sword. I only allowed myself a final inhale before I flung the door open and jumped back, keeping my sword poised shakily towards the enemy.

"Stay back!"

"Whoa! Damn, relax! It's just me!"

"A-Alvin?" Adrenaline had sent all the blood rushing to my head, stars dancing in my vision. I blinked rapidly to clear them. Sure enough, there was Alvin, his hands thrown into the air in a panic. The sight of him sent relief flooding through my body and I deflated. My sword slipped from my fingers and landed on the floor with a loud clang.

"Geez," he said, straightening his scarf and taking a step into the room. "A little jumpy, are we?"

"You asshole!" I smacked him in the arm before he could get any further. I could barely hear myself speak over my pulse thudding in my ears. "Why would you do that? You scared me half to death."

"At least it was only half. Maybe you should get better security down there - that lovely assistant of your brother's let me right up the stairs." He paused, lips pulling into a smirk as his eyes fell on my fallen sword. "You were really planning on cutting down a trained soldier with that, huh? Cute."

"Shut up." My face burned. I stared at his chest, my own chest aching from the force of my anxious heartbeat. The moment stretched on long enough for me to remember myself and I stepped forward, wrapping my arms around his torso. When he grunted in surprise I squeezed tighter.

"Now who's having a moodswing?" he asked, chuckling. But then he rested his chin on my head and wrapped me in a giant bear hug, practically lifting me off my feet.

When it went on long enough to feel embarrassing, I pulled away and punched him in the arm.

"Ow. What's the big idea?"

"What happened with you?" I demanded. "You vanished. You're really just going to show up and act like you didn't bail on everybody? What happened to saying goodbye?"

"Uh, yeah…" He awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "See, I was going to, but…"

"Jude was pretty disappointed…" My throat tightened as I said it. Thinking about Jude made me sad. I still felt like there hadn't been enough time, that no goodbye I could have given would ever have been enough. I sniffed and moved on. "He and Milla left, you know."

"I know."

"And you didn't even want to say goodbye to them?"

"It's not that I didn't want to," he said, exasperation hinting in his voice. "That new employer of mine was pretty strict. I barely had time to throw my crap in a bag before she had me running all over the place. I didn't even know they were leaving until it was too late. Are they headed towards Fennmont now?"

His words caused me to pause, brows knitting together.

"Wait, what? Didn't you hear what happened?"

He raised his hands, shrugging.

"Alvin…" I sighed, any previous annoyance evaporating. He watched me with his eyebrows raised, lids hanging heavy with a touch of boredom. Curious, but unconcerned. Boy, he really was out of the loop, wasn't he? I ran my tongue across my teeth. How could I begin to explain?

"What?" he said finally. "What did I miss?"

"They're not...going to Fennmont. Milla, she...she can't use her legs."

I expected him to look shocked, but his expression barely changed. His lips pulling into a grim line were the only indicator he'd even heard what I said.

"Ah, shit. I was worried that might be the case."

"You were…?" I blinked, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth. "How could you possibly know?"

"She's as good as human now, isn't she?" He strolled further into the apartment, running his gloved fingers along the screen divider by Keegan's bed. I watched him, feeling self-conscious suddenly about my clothes flung haphazardly around the room. A bra hung from the corner of the divider. I prayed that he wouldn't notice. "It's not like she has the Four's power to draw from. An injury like that would kill a normal person. And lest you forget, I was there when it happened. You only saw her legs after the kid had a chance to work his healing artes on her."

I shuddered. I hadn't even imagined that possibility, that her injury had been any worse than when I'd seen it. My stomach fluttered at the thought.

"That makes sense. Is that why you acted so strange when we came to tell you the news?"

"Hm." He rubbed his chin. "I guess. In any case, what are their plans now?"

"Uh, Leronde," I said. While he explored the room I hastily began gathering up any clutter I could and tossing it behind the screen divider. "Jude's family's from there, I'm not sure if you knew that. But I guess his dad like...healed somebody's legs, a long time ago. Or so Jude says. He, Milla, and Keegan all left for Leronde to see if there's any chance he could do it again."

Alvin paused, grabbing the travel guide I'd been reading and turning it over in his hands.

"Big Bro went too?"

"Yeah. He had business so he followed along to help protect Milla." I rolled my eyes, quickly plucking the bra from the divider while his back was still turned. "A merchant never rests, or whatever."

"You sound bitter."

"Nope!" I finished kicking the rest of my belongings into hiding. When I turned I found Alvin watching me, lips twitching in amusement. He tossed the guide onto the table and then lowered himself onto the couch, crossing his legs.

"If you say so."

"What are you doing here anyway?" I crossed the room and sat in the armchair, tucking my legs underneath myself. "I thought you said that job of yours was keeping you busy."

He shrugged. "Eh, it didn't work out. Like I said, she had me running all over the place. That'd be fine if the pay was half decent, but even a mercenary has standards."

"That's surprising."

He furrowed his brow at me. I pretended not to notice.

"What even was this mysterious job of yours?

"Now, now, you should know I can't tell you that."

"I should?"

"Well, yeah." He waved his hand. "It's called mercenary-client confidentiality. Would you like it if I went around telling all of your secrets from our fond times together?"

"But you did," I pointed out drily. "You literally told Cline I was a fugitive the second you got a chance."

"And I've learned from that." He folded his hands across his heart, faking an earnest look. "No more blabbing from this guy. I've seen the damage it can cause."

I eyed him skeptically, and he returned the look with that typical, unbothered smile of his. Why was I even bothering trying to pry information out of him? Unless he wanted otherwise, Alvin was very much a closed book. More than that, he was like a...paranoid middle schooler's diary. The kind with a voice-activated lock. Hidden in a sock drawer - quite literally, impenetrable.

"Whatever," I finally said, shaking my head. Something occurred to me then, and I lifted myself out of the chair. "You're right, it's none of my business. But all this talk of business reminds me - I never paid you."

An odd look crossed his face. "What? No. That can't be right."

"I'm certain." I walked over to the coat stand where my bag hung. After a few moments of digging I retrieved the sack of gald that I'd kept during our journey. Testing its weight in my palm, I turned towards Alvin. "How much do I owe you?"

"Oh, come now," said Alvin. "Don't put me in an awkward situation. How am I supposed to accept money from my best friend?"

Even though I knew it was a joke, the comment still made my face heat up. I loosened the strings on the coin purse and poked a finger inside.

"You didn't have a problem doing it before. Come on, I know this is your job. Hiring you to bring me here was one thing, but you wouldn't have been dragged into this whole mess if I didn't insist on chasing after Jude and Milla. You probably could have finished a lot of jobs during the time you were with us."

"You make it sound like I was miserable!" he said lightly. "It wasn't so bad. You're good company."

I rolled my eyes. After sifting through the coins for a few more seconds I came to a decision. Nodding resolutely, I yanked the purse closed and proceeded to toss it into Alvin's lap. He blinked in surprise at the sheer weight of it.

"What are you doing?"

"Take all of it."

"Kid…" He shook his head, turning the purse over in his hand. "I know you have zero working knowledge of this world's economy, but this is way too much. Normally I'd have no problem taking advantage of someone's naive nature, but-"

"It's nothing," I insisted. "Look, I told you I'd pay extra for following Jude and Milla. Not to mention, you spent so much time teaching me to fight when you didn't have to. Plus, when you agreed to help me, I don't think either of us could have predicted what you'd be signing on for. You could have gotten killed going to Bermia Gorge, you know. Or Fort Gandala."

"It's not like any of that is your fault. I could have left any time I wanted after getting you here safely."

"But you didn't," I protested. "And I can't help but feel like I'm somehow responsible."

"Maggie-"

"Just take it!" I let out an exasperated laugh. "Seriously. It's not like I need it anymore - any food or supplies I need, I can just take them from Keegan's shop. I have zero expenses." I softened my voice, feeling suddenly awkward. "It's...it's the only way I can thank you. For everything. Please, just take it."

He set the coin purse on the table, sighing in defeat.

"Fine. You win! I can only turn down money for so long before it starts to feel unnatural."

I giggled, ducking my head. I wasn't used to having genuine moments with Alvin, so my mind raced to think of some sort of witty rebuttal. The longer I took, the more heat I felt creeping up the back of my neck. Dammit, why did I have to be so awkward? I cleared my throat, wandering over to the kitchen to busy myself with pouring a glass of water.

"So," I said finally, "now you're back in Sharilton. How long do you plan on staying?"

"Oh, that depends," he replied, and I squeaked in surprise because I hadn't heard him sneak up behind me. I whirled just in time to see him lean dramatically against the counter. "Give me a reason to stick around."

"Please," I scoffed, hiding my blush behind my water glass. "As if you've ever needed a reason to torment me."

He watched me for a moment, grabbing a porange from the fruit bowl on the counter and tossing it between his hands.

"True. Either way, how about I take you out for a day on the town and you can catch me up on your fabulous adventures in the big city?" Before I could say anything to refuse he jerked his head towards the purse, still sitting on the coffee table. "My treat, of course. I just came into some gald that's burning a hole in my pocket."

"That could be fun," I said, swallowing loudly. "Why don't we swing by the manor and grab Elize as well? I'm sure she'd be happy to see you."

"Elize?" His expression shifted into this strange, good-natured version of a scowl. "C'mon, kid. I was kind of hoping this could be just the two of us. We can hang out with Elize tomorrow."

"The two of us?" I squinted at him, pulse thudding in my ears. I tried my best to keep my tone even when I spoke again but his implications made it hard to focus. "Alvin, after everything we've been through together, are you hitting on me for real? Are you asking me on a date?"

"Of course not," he said, but his lips were pulling into that idiotic smirk of his. "I was merely suggesting a nice, friendly meal between two adults. It's not my fault your mind went somewhere else." He paused, taking a loud, purposeful bite out of the porange. "Why? Do you want it to be a date?"

"Absolutely not."

"Well?" He swept his arm out towards the door, raising his eyebrows expectantly at me. "Come on, I'd imagine you're getting bored of sitting idly and playing tea party. How about we have some real fun?"

There was something weird in his tone, barely perceptible. I searched his face, hoping to glean some kind of reasoning for his strange behaviour, but that grin of his was opaque as could be. Maybe I was reading too much into it. Maybe the lack of danger in my life had me searching for it in places it didn't belong.

And besides - it had been lonely not having one of the only people I could confide in around. With Keegan gone, it was hard having to keep up appearances in front of Driselle and Rowen. Alvin was basically the next best thing. And truthfully, I missed hanging out with him.

"Fine," I said at last. "I guess that sounds fun. But I get to pick the lunch spot. And I'm going to show you a coffee spot that will literally change your life."

Alvin snorted. "That's high praise. It's going to take more than a cup of coffee, I'm afraid."

"That's just because you haven't tried this coffee yet."

"I'll take that bet."

—-

I forced Alvin to wait downstairs in the shop while I changed into a simple, brown buttoned sundress. I took a moment to examine my reflection in the mirror, debating whether or not to apply the makeup I'd finally gotten my hands on. These days I wore it any chance I had - anything to feel more human - but I didn't want to give Alvin any extra fodder for teasing me about our "date". In the end, I settled for a bit of mascara and lip stain.

I found Alvin chatting with Orla, whose face had grown quite pink. He let out a low whistle when he saw me.

"I wondered what was taking so long! Now I see you've mastered shapeshifting in my absence."

"Shut up."

"Kidding, of course." He straightened his posture, taking a moment to adjust his scarf. He made a big show of gesturing grandly to my appearance. I knew he was just doing it to embarrass me. "You do clean up nice, though. I must be special."

"Okay, enough." I cleared my throat, giving Orla an awkward smile. "Orla, I see you've met Alvin. He's a companion from my journey. I hope he isn't causing you too much trouble."

"Oh, no! N-Not at all." She ducked her head, pretending suddenly to be busy with straightening the quills in front of her. "He was just telling me about all the dangerous battles you fought together. It sounds very impressive."

I rolled my eyes at him.

"I, of course, painted you in a wonderful light."

"Are you done bothering Keegan's employees?" I asked drily. "Or are you ready to head out?"

"Oh!" Orla perked up as I spoke. She fished around in the pocket of her apron before claiming her prize - a slightly crumpled piece of paper. "Are you heading into town? Do you think you'd be able to deliver a few things from the shop? I'd bring them myself, but your brother left me a list of things to do that would easily stretch from here to Kanbalar - "

"It's fine, Orla," I assured her, gently plucking the list from her grasp. "I don't mind."

"Are you sure? I'd hate to disrupt your date."

Alvin snorted, the action quickly dissolving into barely contained snickering. I wanted the floor to swallow me up then and there.

"Um. Not a date, Orla! It's really fine." I strained my voice to drown Alvin's incessant laughter out. Grabbing a satchel from behind the counter, I hurried away from the two of them.

I made quick work of gathering the supplies from the list - grain bundles, dried herbs, panacea bottles, gel bases. I scanned the list, noting that each item had its intended recipient noted beside it. In the end, it was only going to amount to about three or four extra stops.

I eventually made my way back to where Orla and Alvin stood, adjusting the weight of the bag on my shoulder. Orla was giving me a vaguely apologetic look - I didn't even want to see what kind of look Alvin was giving me. I tucked the list into my pocket and smiled at Orla.

"I think I've got everything. I'm sorry my brother took off again." I distinctly remembered meeting Orla for the first time and Keegan promising he would be in town for a while. I could only imagine how annoying that would be as an employee.

"Yes," she sniffed. "Well. It doesn't come as a surprise. It's rare for Mr. Gamble to stay home for too long. He gets rather antsy when he's forced to stay cooped up indoors."

"That sounds like him," I said with a laugh. "Well, in any case, we should get going. I'll probably be home later tonight, Orla."

She nodded. "Thank you, again. I shall leave the porchlight on for you."

With only a brief glance behind me to make sure Alvin was following, I made my way out of the shop. It was even warmer outside, and I was forced to squint as the bright sunlight assaulted my eyes. I toyed with the strap on my bag while I pondered the most efficient course of action.

"Errand duty, huh?" Alvin leaned over and plucked the list from my dress pocket. After scanning the contents for a few seconds he gave me a skeptical look. "Do you even know where any of these places are? Or were you just putting on a show?"

"Please," I said, scowling at him. "I've had two weeks to familiarize myself with this place. Orla's gotten me to make deliveries once or twice before. I'm not as dumb as I look."

"Oh, I would argue you look very intelligent."

"Anyway, Staniv's Medicine is our first stop," I said, grabbing the list back from him. "Are you sure you don't mind running these errands with me? I'm realizing now that I didn't even ask you. I know it's a bit of a leap from the 'exciting day on the town' you had in mind."

He shrugged. "Ah, well. You can show me around town in the process, right? This just gives us even more time to catch up."

"Ok, great! Let's get going."

We set off down the cobbled street. Luckily, Keegan's shop was situated in the heart of Sharilton's commercial district. The pharmacy we were looking for was nestled into a small corner of the main market square. It was a "blink and you'll miss it" sort of place with a skinny, green-painted door and a frosted glass window.

A bell jingled as we stepped inside. The small space was crammed with shelves that were home to countless gels and bottles. Staniv, a short, round man with thick glasses, beamed at me from his spot behind the counter.

"Miss Gamble!" he said jovially, clapping his hands together. "I hope seeing your lovely face means I'm about to get my hands on those gel bases I ordered from your brother."

"Hm?" I approached the counter, digging around in the bag. When I produced the gel bases, his face lit up. "Oh, you mean these?"

"That's my girl," he said warmly, taking the bases carefully into his hands. He reached beneath the counter and produced a handful of glittering coins. "You keep the change as a tip, alright? Our little secret."

"You sure?"

"Of course. Give my regards to your brother when he returns - and tell him to take a break now and then, would you?"

"Yes," I scoffed. "Though I doubt it'll do any good."

Alvin had been watching the whole exchange with a calculating silence. When we stepped back outside, he cleared his throat.

"You were right - you're a real natural at this."

"Why do I feel like that's not a genuine remark?"

He said nothing, simply lifting his hands lazily above his head.

We moved on to the next stop on the list, and as we walked I filled Alvin in on my peaceful little life here. There wasn't really much to divulge - tea parties and shopping trips weren't exactly on par with breaking into government experimental facilities. Still, Alvin was content to politely listen to my rambling, walking with his hands locked behind his head.

It was surprisingly late in the day by the time we reached the bistro. Having skipped lunch, my hunger was threatening to knock me off my feet. Still, I paused at the end of the walkway, allowing Alvin a moment to take in the sight of the ivy-laden walls and sprawling outdoor seating. Then I beckoned for him to follow me as I headed towards my usual seat - one situated right on the corner, overlooking the great tree in the market square.

"Quite the little spot," said Alvin, giving me a strange look.

"It's my favourite," I said obliviously.

The waiter came over with water and coffee and then took our orders - a ramen bowl for me, a Mabo curry for Alvin. As I handed him our menus and happily waved him off, I realized Alvin was still watching me with that puzzled frown on his face.

"What?" I started pouring cream into my coffee. "What's with that look?"

"Nothing," he said finally. He took a long sip of his water. "I'm just...surprised at how quickly you've settled in here. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were born and raised in Sharilton.

For some reason, the comment made me self-conscious. I stirred the sugar into my cup, flushing slightly.

"Well, I can't take all the credit. I spent a lot of time with Driselle and Rowen at first, and they helped me get familiar with everything. After that, I started exploring on my own a lot."

"Huh."

"What?" I said impatiently.

"That's an awful brave mindset for somebody who was about to cut me down with her sword." He smirked at me over the rim of his glass.

"That was entirely your fault. You shouldn't make those kinds of jokes if you're not ready to suffer the potential consequences."

That was enough to coax a laugh out of him, evaporating his...confusion, or whatever it was.

I sighed contentedly, leaning back in my chair and letting the sunshine pour over me. This had grown to become my favourite spot in the city, besides Keegan's balcony. I could sit for hours, watching the people pass by, soaking in a culture I still knew so little about. The space felt like a strange pocket universe, an overlap of this dimension and my own. Despite being able to take in so much of Rieze Maxia from this one little corner, it was also easy to shut off my mind and pretend I was back home, safe and sound.

The milky depths of my coffee stayed constant, no matter which dimension I was in.

"Hey," said Alvin, giving a short jerk of his fingers to catch my attention. "You still with us?"

"Y-Yeah!" I quickly shook my head and let out an awkward laugh. "Sorry. It's just...weird."

"What is?"

"I don't know how to explain it." I leaned forward, propping my chin atop my knuckles. "It's like...when we were on the journey, fighting monsters all the time, seeing Milla accomplish all of these crazy things, I was really scared. I didn't think I would ever get used to seeing Jude use healing artes or...hell, even sleeping outside on the ground."

"So you're saying you're used to that now?"

I snorted. "Obviously not. But when it's not happening right in front of me I feel...normal. Like...okay." I placed my palms flat on the table, straightening my posture. I looked Alvin dead in the face. He returned my serious look with a barely-suppressed smile. "If I just ignore all the weird clothes, and focus on the fact that I'm drinking coffee and spending time with my dear friend-"

"I'm sensing some sarcasm in that last remark."

I scrunched my nose up at him.

"Anyway, if I just focus on all of that, it kind of feels like I'm just...on vacation." I took a gulp of coffee. "A kind of stressful, shitty vacation, but you know. I just feel so...free. My worries feel so far away right now."

At that moment the waiter arrived at the table with our meals. I kept a polite smile on my face as he placed our dishes in front of us. My stomach roared to life at the delicious smell. Any previous conversation topic went out the window as I took a messy bite of braised pork.

Alvin shook his head at the spectacle, watching as I wiped broth from my chin. When I looked up from my napkin and saw him looking, I grinned.

"You know," he said decidedly, "I've gotta say. You've changed."

I blinked. "Have I?"

"You were such a fish out of water when I first met you," he said. "I could tell you were hiding something right away."

"What?" My heartbeat stuttered. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. You're a terrible liar."

"Wow…" I fell into stunned silence, twirling a noodle around my chopsticks. That first meeting in Fennmont felt like so long ago. It seemed like such a fluke - like Alvin was someone I'd never meet again. So much had happened since then. Had he really been suspicious of me for that long? "Did you think I was from Elympios that early on?"

"Oh, not that early," he said, but something flashed in his eyes that told me otherwise. "But you didn't make it hard to jump to conclusions. A regular person from Rieze Maxia probably wouldn't suspect something, but someone in my position…"

"Ugh…"

"But now - you've really come into your own here. Like I said before, I wouldn't be surprised if you really did grow up in Sharilton. It's a far cry from that scared little girl who could barely swing her sword."

"Hey…" I frowned mid-slurp, noodles hanging from my mouth.

"Though I see your table manners haven't changed a bit." He punctuated the final word with a stab of the fork into his curry.

"Ha-ha." I swallowed, wistfully staring into the depths of my ramen. The conversation was letting loose a million different thoughts that I usually tried to keep at bay. Something about Alvin's typical demeanour made bottling things up much more difficult. "I mean, it's been easy for this place to start to feel like home. I wouldn't have been able to do it without Keegan."

"Keegan…" Alvin took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. "Tell me, why didn't you accompany him on his little journey with the 'Lord of Spirits Protection Unit'? Too scared?"

"No." I gave him an offended look. "He...wouldn't let me."

"He wouldn't 'let' you?" He lifted his eyebrows in surprise. "Don't tell me you actually wanted to?"

"Is that so weird?"

"Like I said - you could barely swing a sword when we met. I figured you'd want to stay as far away from the danger as possible."

"I do," I admitted, sinking into my chair. "And even now, I'm happy with being here. The days just roll by so peacefully. It's hard to feel stressed when I feel so safe for the first time in forever."

"But?"

"But…" I pooled some broth onto my spoon, frowning. "Part of me still feels like I'm wasting time. I know that there's nothing I can do on my own. And I know I should be grateful for this break I've been given. It's when I'm falling asleep at night, actually - that's when my brain starts taunting me. Going with Keegan would have been accomplishing something. Helping Milla achieve her mission…" I looked up at him sheepishly. "I almost feel guilty for sitting around doing nothing. Does that make any sense?

Alvin gave a lazy shrug. "Sure. The devil finds work for idle hands, after all."

"R-Right." I sipped at the broth. The warmth in my throat soothed my nerves, if only a little. "But, hey. Good food, warm breeze - I couldn't pick a nicer spot to be stuck in. It's a lot sunnier than Fennmont, that's for sure. That's why I try to keep focusing on the positive, not worrying over things I can't change."

"That's surprisingly optimistic, coming from you," he commented wryly. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're getting a little too comfortable in this prison of yours."

"Don't get me wrong, I still miss my home. And I would do anything to go back there. Not a day goes by where I don't miss my family, or think about my mom, but…" I shrugged, emotion suddenly clogging my throat and making it difficult to speak. "You know."

"Yeah." He didn't say anything else, but the silence was kind of comforting, because yeah, he probably did know. His face hardened, and I imagined he was thinking of his own home. We never had many chances to talk about it after all was said and done, but it was nice to have another person who understood what I was going through.

"Hey, um...thanks."

He blinked himself out of his daze, quirking an eyebrow.

"For what?"

"For keeping my secret." I gave him as genuine of a smile as I could. "I mean, I guess you have your own secret to keep, so you didn't have much of a choice. But I really do appreciate that you were around to help me out."

"Like you said," he said around a mouthful of curry. "I didn't have much of a choice."

"You can say 'you're welcome', you know."

"Fine." He swallowed, and then he fixed me with a smile that would have knocked most girls off their feet. I did my best not to react. "You're welcome. It was my pleasure."

I cleared my throat, shovelling in a mouthful of noodles. Luckily the ramen was delicious enough to distract me from Alvin's snickering from across the table. I was beginning to suspect that neither one of us could be serious for long enough to have a touching moment, but I didn't mind so much. I couldn't imagine it any other way.

As we neared the end of our meal, I glanced up at the sky. The sun was gradually beginning to dip towards the horizon, an orange hue tinting the fluffy clouds. I unceremoniously lifted my bowl and downed the remainder of my broth.

"Oh, shit, it's getting late. We still haven't even had our coffee yet!"

"I thought this was the coffee," said Alvin, motioning towards the empty mugs. I scowled in response.

"I'm not even going to humour that with a response," I said stiffly. "C'mon, let's hurry and pay so we can leave."

Alvin flagged down our waiter so that we could pay, and then we were on our way. I led a brisk pace to the cafe, throwing frequent glances behind me to make sure Alvin was keeping up. Finally he gave me an exasperated look, skidding to a halt.

"Seriously, what's the big hurry? Are they going to sell out or something?"

I gave my head a wild shake.

"No. But there's this hill behind the cafe where you can see the whole town. I haven't done it, but I feel like the sunset will be beautiful from there. We've gotta hurry so we don't miss it!"

I turned and kept moving before I could see his reaction, but I was able to hear his sigh of defeat and the scuff of his boots against the stone as he jogged to catch up.

We shortly reached the cafe and headed inside to place our orders. The girl working the counter gave me a bright smile as we approached, hurrying to write down my usual order. She blinked expectantly at Alvin and he faltered.

"Oh, I, uh...coffee, please," he said. "Black?"

"Boring," I muttered.

"Coming right up," the girl said, smiling gratefully at Alvin as he handed her the money. We moved to the end of the counter to wait for our order.

"I'll wait for the drinks," said Alvin. "Why don't you head up the hill and I'll meet you up there? I've gotta take a leak anyway."

"Ugh, too much information," I said, rolling my eyes. "Fine, I'll see you in a few minutes."

I headed outside and began the trek up the hill. It was a steep climb that, in my old life, would have knocked the wind out of me. Now, I felt nothing more than a slight ache in my calves as I reached the top, and that was mostly just because I'd been running around all day.

I plopped onto the bench as I reached the top, my breath catching in my throat when I noticed how beautiful the scene before me already was. Golden light spilled from the sky and coated every visible surface. From this high up, I could see the sprawling Deepwood, the winding path of the highroad. In the far distance, I could make out the faint glint of the ocean.

I revelled in the silence for a few minutes.

Rieze Maxia. It can't be all bad if it looks this beautiful.

"Here you go, ma'am." A steaming paper cup suddenly appeared in front of my face, breaking me out of my thoughts. I gratefully took it as Alvin settled onto the bench beside me.

"Thanks!" I took a long swig, humming in surprise as the rich taste of chocolate washed over my tongue. "Oh, this tastes amazing. I don't think I ordered this."

"The barista made it special just for you," Alvin said with a shrug. "I thought I saw her making eyes at you. Must have made quite the impression, hm?"

"Oh, shut up," I said, blushing. The barista? I wasn't sure I even remembered her name. Angel, maybe? Either way, I wasn't about to complain. The sweet taste reminded me of cold winter nights back home, bundled up in warm clothes with a Tim Hortons cup in my hand. "I never thought I'd taste something this good in Rieze Maxia."

"You must really miss your home world."

I glanced at him in surprise. His eyes were trained on the gold-washed town before us. I took the opportunity to study his face, hoping I could pluck any one emotion out of his expression, but it was a lost cause. It didn't really matter either way. I may not have been able to name an emotion, but I could understand it perfectly. Twenty years in Rieze Maxia and he still felt exactly the same as I did.

"Of course," I said at last, with a voice as soft as cotton. "I miss...junk food." I immediately started laughing at myself. "That sounds stupid, I'm sorry. I miss my dog, my bed, and...and my mom." My throat tightened.

"So you want to go back." It was more of a statement than a question. His voice sounded strange.

I gave him a confused look. "Well, I mean...yeah, I do. Obviously I want nothing more than to go home to my normal life. Still, despite all the dangers, I actually kind of like Rieze Maxia. I don't mind waiting here until I can find a way home. And obviously I'll miss everyone here when I'm gone."

He didn't say anything right away, just nodded his head thoughtfully. The silence stretched on, but for once it didn't feel awkward. I took a moment to watch the sky. Pink and violet was starting to melt into the orange and blue, and the rainbow of colours was glinting off every reflective surface in the town.

"What about you?" I said after a while, nudging Alvin with my shoulder.

"Hm?" Finally, he glanced over at me.

"Tell me about Elympios," I said, nudging him again. "What's it like there?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "C'mon, now. You don't want to know about Elympios."

"Yeah I do!" I insisted. I pulled my legs up onto the bench and tucked them underneath me. To show he had my full attention, I turned so that I completely faced him. "C'mon, if you tell me about Elympios then I'll tell you about Earth. It's only fair."

"I haven't been there since I was six. I honestly don't remember much."

"You have to remember something."

"I don't-"

"Pleeeeeease?" I gave him the best pout I could manage, which caused him to let out a heavy sigh.

"Fine!" he exclaimed in mock annoyance. "Jeez, you're persistent."

I batted my eyelashes in response.

"Uh, Elympios probably isn't as interesting as Rieze Maxia. It's a lot more...industrialized. Definitely not as lush or easy on the eyes."

"So, kind of like Earth!" I cut in happily. I took a long swig of coffee. "Some parts of it, anyway. A lot of the major cities are polluted and dreary, but there are places in nature that are seriously beautiful…" I trailed off wistfully. "Not that I've ever really seen them."

"You never did much travelling back home?"

I shook my head. "I didn't have one of those rich families that went on fancy vacations. We weren't poor or anything, but...I guess I've lived a pretty sheltered life all the same. All I really did was go to school and play video games."

"Play what?"

"Uh…" I pressed my lips together. "Nevermind. Like I said - Earth is pretty different. There's all sorts of technology that people here would lose their minds about. You don't have to hire mercenaries to protect you from wildlife, for starters. You just hop in a car and...go."

"Sounds convenient," he said. "Elympios is pretty advanced too, as far as I remember. Or at least, it was. The cruise ship I was on when my family got pulled through...I've never seen one like it here."

"Your family…" I trailed off, biting my lip. Did I dare broach that topic? It wasn't as though Alvin had any problem prying into my life. Still…

"That's a complicated topic," said Alvin, as though he'd read my thoughts. "We were one of those rich families that went on fancy vacations. It's how we got stuck here in the first place." His jaw tightened for a moment. He stared quietly into his drink for a couple more seconds before looking back up at me with a mischievous grin. "My, uh, family name is actually pretty prestigious back home…"

The moment felt too fragile for joking, but he'd already effectively steered us down that path. I lightly punched his arm, feigning shock to mask my disappointment.

"Wow, how impressive! And very modestly put, might I add."

"Well, I need someone in the group to start giving me the respect I deserve."

"Oh! Is that right?" I laughed loudly, giving him an incredulous look. "You're such an asshole."

"Why don't you drink up that lovely drink this 'asshole' bought for you?" He feigned like he was going to smack it out of my hand. I pulled it away and took a long drink so that there'd be less to spill if he succeeded.

"Sorry, 'Lord Alvin'." I poured on a haughty tone. "Is such a title respectful enough for someone as noble as yourself?"

"It'll do."

I giggled, but it was cut off by a large yawn. I wiped my watery eyes and looked back out over the town. With all the chaos I'd gone through since arriving here, it still felt strange to do something as mundane as watching the sun go down. It was peaceful, but also oddly unsettling. With nothing else to focus on, my thoughts clanged loudly around in my skull.

"Do you think Milla is going to be okay?" I asked.

Alvin looked taken aback. "Whoa, what brought that on?"

"S-Sorry." I blushed and stared down at my drink. "I'm not sure what made me think of it all of a sudden. I just...I'm worried Jude will have a hard time protecting her all on his own. Well, not on his own, I guess Keegan is there too, I just-"

"So you think you made the wrong choice?" When I didn't answer right away, he pressed on. "You'd rather be out there fighting right now?"

"I don't know. I realize that me going would just make for an extra person that needed protecting. I'd get in the way more than anything else."

"Hey." He reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I don't see how you can still be so hard on yourself after all this time. Nobody becomes an expert at sword-fighting overnight, and I'd say you've made quite a bit of progress under my expert tutelage. Don't sell yourself so short, kid. You're tougher than you think."

I allowed myself to smile a bit. "You think so?"

"Of course!" He gently squeezed my shoulder before letting his hand drop. "And so is Milla. And that honours student - they'll all be fine."

"Yeah…" My throat felt dry, despite the encouragement. I took another drink. "I just hope Jude's plan works. I don't know what we're going to do if it doesn't."

"Have a little faith," he said, leaning back on the bench. "You really do worry too much."

"I guess you're right."

I sipped my coffee as the two of us fell into silence. Like ink soaking a blank page, night was quickly enveloping the sky. Despite the caffeine sloshing around in my cup, I was feeling drowsier by the minute. I yawned again, frowning into my drink.

"I think that barista gave me decaf," I said. "This coffee is not working like it should."

"Probably because there's more sugar than coffee in that cup." Alvin reached out and pinched my cheek. "Time to take the sleepy girl home? Tuck you in? Read you a bedtime story?"

"Funny." I rolled my eyes, just as another yawn plumed from my throat. I unfolded my legs from underneath me and bounced to my feet.

Immediately, I knew something was wrong. The world went sideways as I swayed and my vision swam. I gagged on the vertigo that had very suddenly grabbed ahold of me.

"Whoa, hey!" Alvin jumped to his feet, just in time for me to stumble backwards into his chest. His arms wrapped around me in an effort to keep me on my feet. "You okay?"

"S-Sorry," I mumbled, but even as the words left my mouth my fingers went numb and my coffee slipped to the ground. My knees buckled. I slumped completely against Alvin, his grip on me the only thing keeping me upright.

"It's alright, I got you."

Gears clicked into place as I felt the coffee soak through my boots. The sound of it splashing against the ground, coupled with the feeling of Alvin's arms around me, combined into a swift force that knocked the wind out of me.

All of it felt too familiar.

"A-Alvin?" I croaked. "What's...I…"

"You gonna make it?"

Alvin's voice was loud and harsh in my ears. I tried to shove myself away from him but my limbs had turned to jelly.

"My drink...it…"

"Shh, settle. What are you saying? You think that barista did something to your drink?"

Despite everything, my eyes were able to produce tears - the only thing about my body able to function, it would seem. The realization was creeping up, a looming shadow in my mind, but I wanted to squash it down. There was no way it was true. He wouldn't do it - not Alvin.

All the same, I rasped, "it was you. What did you do?"

I couldn't see his face, but I felt the sudden shift in his hold on me. When he spoke, I hardly recognized his voice. There was a coldness to it I'd never heard before, low and hollow. Was that pain I sensed? Guilt? Maybe I just wanted that to be the case. Everything was swimming.

"Sorry for the dramatics. I get it if you hate me at first, but I promise everything will be fine.

"Alvin…" What was left of my voice cracked and wavered. "Tell me you didn't. Please."

He tightened his grip on me slightly. His fingers brushed softly against my arm. Was he...trying to comfort me? Was this sick bastard actually trying to comfort me?

"I'm going to get you home. You just have to trust me."

A laugh bubbled up and died in my throat. I had trusted him. I put all of my trust in him and where had it gotten me? A dry sob escaped my lips. I fought against my despair and the dark cloud that pulled at my vision, but both threatened to swallow me whole.

"Fuck you," I hissed, the effort of it taking every ounce of strength I had. As soon as the hateful air had whistled through my lips, I lost my grip on consciousness.

GOD I'VE BEEN WAITING TO GET TO THIS CHAPTER SINCE I STARTED WRITING THIS FIC AHHHHH

This first phase of the story has been fun for establishing relationships but this next phase is where I'm REALLY going to have some fun. Hope y'all are enjoying so far!