Camp was set up, Egil and Alvis had returned, and dinner had been eaten. Kallian, feeling tired, had decided to retire to bed early… But there was just one problem. That feeling of dread he had discussed with Oka was still looming over him, and it was making it hard to rest his eyes.

He stared up at the sky with a sigh, trying to find a way to distract himself long enough to doze off. What to do, what to do…?

Turning onto his side, he stared out at the campfire. This was horrible! If he was still in Alcamoth, he could get his hands on a sleeping aid, but out here? There was no way he would find something that would work on a High Entia. Maybe he would ask Tyrea to knock him out…

"Kallian, are you alright?" Linada walked over to him, sitting down. "You've been tossing and turning for an hour now."

"Ah, Linada." He sighed, looking up at her, cheek squished against his arm. "I seem to be having trouble sleeping. No matter what I do, I just can't get to sleep."

"I see…" She began shuffling through her pack. "I may have something for that. I'm not sure how well my medicine will work on you, but we can always try it out. I'll keep an eye on you, of course, so don't worry about any ill side-effects."

"If it were any other doctor, I would refuse, but, well… I trust you, and I'm desperate." He sat up with a sigh. "Please, allow me to try some of your medicine."

"These should be the easiest on organic stomachs…" She dropped one, small pill into his hand. "Let's start small, I don't want you hurling up your guts from two or three of these."

It was a shiny black color, and he rolled it between his fingers. It was a bit squishy, and smelled like something bitter, though what exactly he had no clue. He glanced at Linada and noted her gesture meaning to swallow, not chew. Okay, good to know…

He popped it in his mouth and swallowed it down, making just a bit of a face at the taste it left in his mouth. Not very pleasant, but, well… if it ended up helping him sleep, he could deal with a nasty taste, he supposed.

He closed his eyes, but didn't hear signs of Linada moving. He guessed when she said she would keep an eye on him, she really meant it. That was fine, he still needed to thank her for the pill, after all.

"Thank you, Linada…" A sudden drowsiness came over him. Just what was in that pill?! "I think I'll… get some rest now…"

He heard Linada chuckle and felt a hand patting the back of his head. "Good, seems like it works just fine. Sleep well, Kallian."


Alvis had been spending most of his time alone since getting back from camp, and it was starting to bother Oka. What had he and Egil talked about that made him try and hole up by himself? It was so… un-Alvis-like!

She doubted he would tell her what was wrong if she prodded, though, so she went for her back-up plan! She would show him that no matter what the two said to each other, there was room in their group for Alvis!

"Alvis! Oka have great idea!" She ran over to him, smiling. "When all this over, Alvis can visit Oka and Oka's family! Oka will cook huge meal - oh, maybe bird people and machine people can come, too! All friends together!"

"Ah… Oka…" He blinked a few times, as if processing what was being said to him. "Well… I-I would love that."

Usually, Oka couldn't tell when Alvis was lying and when he was telling the truth. He was so sneaky cool when it came to his emotions, after all! But this time? This time it was easy to tell Alvis was lying. His voice so strained, his reply so quick and curt…

Oka wasn't about to just take that and move on with her night, oh no! She was going to prod, just a little.

"If Alvis no want to, that's fine." Oka sighed, shaking her head. "But if Alvis no want to, Oka would like to know why!"

"No, it's not that I don't want to!" He shook his head and Oka was pretty sure he was telling the truth. "I just have a feeling I'll be… busy once this is all over. I've no clue if I'll have the time to come visit."

"If busy, just wait until not-busy anymore to see Oka!" Oka frowned at him. "Oka no see why it such a big deal. Does not have to be right after friends' journey is over!"

"I see, but I'm afraid the things keeping me busy will be… in great number." Alvis sighed. "I can try and visit you, when I can. But… I've not a clue when that will be, and I can't promise you anything."

"That fine, as long as Alvis know he always welcome!" Oka smiled then, nodding. "Alvis is Oka's friend, forever and always!"

He gave her a small, sad smile. "Thank you, Oka… That truly means so much to me."


Egil had been trying to sleep for a while now, trying to get the rest he needed to be able to move on, but it was impossible. He was stuck in an unending loop of nightmares once again, and right now? Right now he wasn't sure how to get rid of them.

Being near Alvis seemed to usually help, but after the very recent rejection he didn't want to give Alvis false hope by asking to sleep next to him. So instead, he would have to stare up, close his eyes maybe, and hope he would feel better.

That was when Vanea moved to lay next to him, head against his shoulder. He blinked a few times, trying to register what was happening in this moment. Why was she…? Hadn't she already been asleep?

"Vanea…?"

"You're having nightmares again." Her voice was quiet as she spoke, and she didn't look at him. "I want to be next to you, maybe help you sleep through them."

"I… I see." He closed his eyes and sighed, resting his head against the top of hers. "You don't have to do that, you know."

"I know, but I want to." She shook her head, just a bit. "So let me sleep next to you, alright? Like we used to sleep when we were still young."

He sighed, but nodded. "Alright. You can stay, Vanea… And… thank you."