A/N: And now here we see the wild Absent Professor being absentminded. I went and did a breakdown of a song and its context in the previous chapter, only to make up a song for the next one. Sigh.

Aaaaannd the chapter's name is too long. Even better! It was originally Headdesks with Martial Intent.

Now isn't that insane

We've went and found our magic,

But no one seems to take those parables

That well

Last Words - The Bard-Barians

It was about an hour before we were let out. While the guards had recognized at that point that Titus was lying, they still needed info from us. I gave them what I knew, down to the direction Tavel was last going in. It wasn't all that much, to be honest, so I didn't feel too bad about the whole thing even if this was a case where the resistance was a force for good, which I am certainly leaning towards.

After that was over, Leanna was called up to help hunt the construct. I don't know if she'll find anything, but…

At any rate, I was now left to my own devices again. Delightful.

Maybe Amelia is doing something interesting?

It takes me a little while, but I eventually find her muttering to herself in an alley. I stand awkwardly in silence as she fails to notice me and I fail to see a good place to break her focus on… whatever she might be doing.

"Hmm… male, adolescent, of the cerulean variant…"

She holds out her bracelet. Forest blinks at it, then looks back at her. Amelia cocks her head to the side as she observes him. With Amelia's attention still on him, Forest scoots closer to the manipulator, and looks at her again. He seems apprehensive, perhaps at her clinical atmosphere. The practical Bio students I've met tend to put out a more welcoming aura than Amelia's, at least.

"Go on."

He cautiously sniffs at the bracelet, then sticks a tongue out to lick the air. Afterwards, he grins at Amelia widely.

"Poi?"

Amelia's pauses, perhaps jotting down notes mentally.

"Interesting… normally a cerulean pango like yourself would leap at even the slightest trace of energy-"

Amelia doesn't have a chance to finish as the azure (or cerulean, I'm not much of a colours person) blob springs into her arms.

"Poi poi!"

"Eep!"

She fumbles the catch, only refraining from toppling over by pulling Forest closer to her chest.

"What do you think you're…"

Her voice trails off as she looks at the smiling form in her arms. Forest looks up at her, slightly concerned at her expression.

"Poi…?"

Amelia blinks at him. Slowly, but surely, her caution melts away, the corners of her mouth turning upwards as she squeezes Forest. The little guy squirms a bit at the increased pressure, but finally settles in, his spheroidal body deforming naturally.

"Poi poi."

I can't help but smile at the sight, letting loose a small sound that would best be read as 'squee!' In response, Amelia gasps and drops her arms, letting the pango tumble to the ground.

"Poi! P-poi?"

I sigh.

"But that was so cute! You two were bonding!"

She straightens herself.

"Ahem! I was merely conducting an analysis."

Forest frowns.

"Poi!"

He hops back into her arms and snuggles against her. Amelia's cheeks tinge pink. She clears her throat again.

"Regardless, I am going to the apothecary."

"Apothe- you mean a pharmacy? There isn't magic we could be using?"

She scoffs.

"Contrary to your apparent belief, a specialization in healing would be beyond my current abilities if I had dedicated my academic studies towards it from the beginning of my time at the Mage Academy. It requires mastery of at least three elements; wind, water, and fire, in very specific aspects, and a practical knowledge of anatomy and many other subjects. Unlike steel beams or stones, the body is hardly uniform, and is therefore difficult to shape without breaking everything."

Then, Amelia raises an eyebrow.

"Additionally, the complexities of thaumic medicine are well known to most people. Did you not learn of this when you were young?"

Oh, marshals.

"I'm going to go with 'no' to your rhetorical question. Seems similar to medical practitioners back home, to be honest."

"Interesting."

She looks at me with the same expression she pointed at Forest a minute ago, like she's jotting down mental notes on the thing in front of her.

"Thinking of something?"

"I am."

"If something about me is confusing, just tell me. I'm sure that, as the foremost expert on the Alasdairan Condition, I'll be able to help somewhat."

She raises her eyebrows a bit, but then resumes a look of skepticism.

"A good mage doesn't share a bad hypothesis with the research subject. I will inform you when I am more certain."

I'll tell you what I'm certain about: Amelia suspects something about me. How close she is to the truth, I can't tell, but her eye has been on me since the train. Either she likes me, or she thinks something is wrong with me, therefore she thinks something is wrong with me.

"Well, even if that's so, do you want someone to tag along to the apothecary?"

"No, it would be faster if I go alone."

Before I have a chance to react, she turns on a dime and walks away. As she goes, Forest pops his face over her shoulder and gazes longingly at me.

"poi poi…"

A single tear rolls down his cheek, only for him to, in an amazing display of object permanence-

I thought I had the sarcasm.

-,smile and bury his face in Amelia's neck.

"No! Cease this at once you amorphous invertebrate!"

I wave back at the little guy, silently wishing that him and Amelia get over their differences and have fun. I then turn my attention inwards.

You did, so I needed a new one.

I am still for a few minutes before deciding that standing alone in an alley is really boring. Let's see… Leanna's hunting for that guy I saved, Amelia currently doesn't want me around… Zack vanished without telling us where he was going, but an inn would be a safe bet.

I hope he doesn't mind my joining… whatever he's doing. I also hope my visitations don't amount to procedurally annoying everyone around me.

I move into the streets, looking for any sign of an inn. Following these signs, the directions of others, and my recollection of the inn Zack saw earlier, I make my way to an inn that is near the rail station.

He is standing in front of a large notice board, filled with pinned papers of varying sizes. Upon closer inspection, I discover that many of these flyers consist of a scowling face and a large number, likely in monetary value. A bounty board.

Is Zack checking out wanted posters?

As I am about to ask him about it, a blinding ray of light sears the corner of my eye, and I turn around to see… oh, marshals. Okay, you ever see those ads? The ones for games at the corner of a webpage, that don't advertise gameplay so much as the fact that the character models are… incredibly detailed in certain places?

Oh, you don't? Well, I suppose you've lucked out so far. If I didn't know better, I'd've said she was a SOL, and one designed by an erection no less.

Anchor and Luna above, how did she get her hair to do that? It hurts my eyes just to be in proximity. It's like she went all out on the ethereal angel look while not realizing that people still needed to see what she looked like, and then there's her 'armour'. Seriously, when did she look at herself without sunglasses and think 'yeah, this will get me guys.'

I know you aren't supposed to judge a non-SOL from their appearance, but this ditzy blonde flounces up to Zack, who winces even though he hasn't directly looked at her yet. Myself, I'm already tired of having a second sun to not look at.

"Marshals, is there any way for you to turn down the brightness? If your goal is to cause physical pain, congratulations."

The 'lady' sneers. I'm certain of it, even though I can't actually see her face. Then, the field of BURN IN HOLY FIRE drops, and I blink the spots out of my eyes. Talents, I decide, aren't all fun. Her hair is still shiny, and she still looks the same, but her appearance no longer causes physical pain.

Recomposing herself after my outburst, she twirls a lock of hair between her fingers, seeming to study the board.

Every so often she shoots pointed glances over to Zack, hoping to catch his eyes, but his attention never wavers from the board.

Finally, she speaks.

"Do you have a bounty on your heart?"

For the first time since her arrival, Zack looks at her. She grins devilishly.

"Because I'm looking to collect."

I retch, and she whirls on me.

"Do you have some sort of problem? Is it because I'm not paying attention to you?"

"No, no. Carry on. I think it'd be even worse if I wasn't shielded by proxy embarrassment."

She turns back around, only to notice that Zack has refocused on the board. Frowning in a manner that seems close to a pout, she bumps up her (probably) ample chest and touches his arm as she speaks in a sickly sweet voice.

"So, are you a bounty hunter?"

Zack shrugs her arm off of him.

"No."

"Then you must be a mercenary."

He doesn't answer. She seems to take that as a sign of encouragement and her sultry smile returns. She leans in close to him and runs her fingers up his arm.

Hoooo boy, she's lucky Zack probably isn't the kind to press charges. She's getting awfully close to a punishable offense back home.

"I've got a mission I could use some help with. Are you for hire?"

Again, Zack brushes her hands off of him and steps away from her.

"No."

She seems a little taken aback but quickly recovers and slides closer to him.

"Are you sure there isn't… something I could offer to change your mind?"

Zack takes a moment of mock thought.

"No."

She sighs before plastering on that same smile and lets out a small laugh.

"Geez, you're kind of dense."

No, I think he got it.

"I was hoping to spend some intimate time with you. So, what do you say?"

Zack frowns finally, impatient.

"No thanks, but if I'm ever in need of your services then I'll go find you at the brothel."

Ooooh, that's one way to do it. The woman's eyes grow wide like saucers, and with a sharp huff, she tries to slap Zack. He easily sidesteps the blow.

"Ugh!"

She lets out another huff before storming off, and I exhale, grateful for the restored peace.

As she leaves, she elbows her way past me. I can feel her anger for a few minutes afterwards… though that might just be the light from her hair.

How odd.

"What was that about?"

Zack shrugs.

"Who cares?"

I take a look at the wanted posters on the board. Most of these faces look like the generic weathered and scarred bandits I imagined.

"Huh. Is this what you had to take care of in Illumia?"

Zack fixes his expressionless eyes on me. I elaborate.

"When we first reached Illumia, the first thing you did was find the inn. And then we got here, and you did the exact same thing."

He relaxes slightly and nods.

"Just staying up to date on the news."

"So, is the life of a mercenary interesting? I figure it would be similar to that of a normal soldier, at least in regards to 'your time is divided into someone trying to blow your face off and waiting impatiently for someone to start trying'."

He smirks, a literal pixel of upturned mouth.

"Something like that."

Suddenly, another female voice breaks through our conversation.

"Excuse me, are you a mercenary?"

As one, Zack and I turn to face the source. Fortunately for my vision, this one does not shine like the sun, and overall doesn't seem to be trying as hard to look raunchy, which is a definite plus. Only a few adjustments would take her gear out of the 'armour' territory and into something you wouldn't bat an eye at. However, the mischievous glint in her eyes makes me dread what will come from her mouth.

For his part, Zack narrows his eyes.

"Yes…"

"Do you know where I left it? I swear it's around here somewhere…"

She searches around the alley, and I'm almost convinced that she's genuinely looking for something. Maybe if she didn't bend over as often…

Zack seems somewhat skeptical.

"Do you need help with something?"

The red-haired woman looks up at him.

"It isn't around here… did you take it?"

He crosses his arms.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"My heart!"

Zack sighs and facepalms, with myself following suit.

She sighs herself, leaving.

I'll be honest, that was about the most successful pickup line I've ever seen. And Dilyp has dragged me into a few bars, I know what I'm talking about.

I'm not sure whether Zack ever finished looking at the bounty board, but after the second one left he goes inside for a drink. After debating on whether I wish to try the local alcohol, I end up wandering off.

A person needs his me time, doesn't he? Mine has been sparse of late, I need to recharge. While Bazada isn't exactly the best place for this, I find a time and place to sit down and think. Interspersed with standing up and thinking. The importance of pacing really cannot be overstated.

After that, I get up from my table at the small, disused tavern and go find the rest of the group.

Tensions are high as we eat in silence. I think everyone is filled with a mixture of weariness and anxiety for the next leg of our journey. Even Forest is strangely silent and obedient.

Once we finish eating, we head upstairs to find our rooms. Upon finding her room, Leanna perks up.

"Oh! Amelia, you and I will be sharing a room tonight."

Amelia speaks dismissively.

"Naturally. That would be more appropriate than the alternative."

She pauses… then looks at Leanna with interest. I'm not quite sure why.

"Are you insinuating that you would rather share a bedroom with them?"

She points to Zack and I. Leanna seems taken aback.

"What? No, that would be weird, of course not!"

"Oh, my mistake. Of course you could not have meant both of them. There aren't nearly enough beds."

Her arm flourishes slightly before pointing towards me.

"You must have meant him."

Leanna blinks, baffled. While her cheeks tinge a slight pink at the thought of sharing a room with me of all people, she shakes her head.

"Amelia, that doesn't make any sense. I was excited about a girls night, you don't get to spin that however you like because I'm slightly friendly with someone who happens to be male."

"I would argue that you are more than, as you put it, 'slightly friendly', especially given your reddening face. I postulate that-"

"Drop it. Don't make me seriously consider using your idea to escape you."

Then, Leanna seems curious.

"Do you not know that embarrassment can be caused by other things?"

"I will admit to a lack of personal experience."

"There we go."

"Still, why even bring it up?"

"I don't know… I was excited! I finally have someone I can share a room with after weeks of stakeout! Do I need a better reason?"

Amelia ponders this for a moment.

"Perhaps not. Sharing a room has proven to strengthen bonds amidst peers and foster camaraderie."

"You mean make friends?"

"Precisely."

The two grin at each other.

"Poi?"

We all glance down at the Forest by our feet. Is it my imagination, or is he trying to ask us which room he'll be sleeping in?

In a flash of motion, Amelia snatches him up in her arms.

"Forest needs to spend tonight with us. We need him for… how did Alasdair say it… 'science'."

I hear her mumbling about how the word sounds nice. As she slips into their bedroom, Leanna nods rapidly.

"Yes, for science!"

She then follows suit, closing and locking the door behind them.

There's a moment of silence as Zack and I stare at the closed door.

"What in the marshals' names was that?"

"So it wasn't just me. That was very suspicious."

"Smart and socially awkward. Classic pairing. I knew I recognized my own speech patterns from high school. Though, I just can't shake the feeling that we missed out by not securing a personal blue magic sponge."

Zack shakes his head.

"More like we dodged a blast."

"Point taken."

Still baffled by what happened, Zack and I enter our room and get ready for bed. In the middle of preparation, he looks over at me from across the room.

"If Amelia doesn't wake up to her bracelets getting drained, I'll give you three circlets."

I sigh.

"No bet."

Despite the train being more comfortable than I first guessed, it cannot compare to a genuine bed. As I snuggle into the blankets, I soon slide into a dark slumber.