Roxas washed upon the shore. He found footing once more. Though his doubts on the Maker and his workings remained, it did not seem to bother him anymore. The more of the old Roxas Lea saw, the more Lea sought for him. As soon as they finished their duties, they got onto the roof of the main house to overlook the vast grassfields and share whichever treat they had found in the pantry. There was comfort in revisiting old habits. The familiarity of Roxas near, of knowing that they shared the same curse and gift, invited a sense of tranquility Lea had not known he had missed.

A dwarf came past one day, selling his wares on the town square. Amongst those wares, Roxas found an Ice Rune and managed to bargain for it. Myde would hardly be impressed, but Lea was and wondered what the rune was for. Roxas declared it a secret until Sunday came and he stood in the kitchen to show Lea what marvel could be done with an Ice Rune. Myde was out of himself with curiosity. Isa participated reluctantly.

Roxas poured cream and mashed berries into a wooden bowl. He enchanted a whisk to keep it stirring while he held the rune over the blend and hummed a short spell. The cream hardened, the mashed berries left streaks across it and colored the white a faint crimson.

"What in the Holiest of Holies…?" Myde stared in awe.

"Ice Cream," Roxas said as he put the rune down. "A regular ice spell would have the cream freeze solid, but the power in the rune is the right amount of ice spell this needs. Does anyone want any?"

"Is it not poisonous?" Isa asked.

"It is cream and berries," Roxas said. "I have no intention of poisoning anybody."

"I would like some," Lea said and rummaged a cupboard for small bowls.

Myde was taken by Roxas skills in magic and alchemy. At their meetings on the porch, Myde lost no time in overwhelming Roxas with questions, so much so, Myde failed to pay attention to his beverage. Isa was restless in his seat. He said little in Roxas' company, claiming still that there was something awry about Roxas, but he could not say what it was. It was not the blood magic for Roxas had not used it since he escaped the templars. Lea was certain Isa's attitude toward Roxas would change over time. Perhaps Roxas' escape unsettled him. There had been casualties which Roxas did not deny and in war casualties were to be expected. Roxas suspected that Isa did not like magic. Lea used his scarcely, Roxas used his openly and plenty. Even amongst the Dalish there existed fear for magic. Each clan allowed three mages at most, others were exiled to other clans.

Lea observed Isa as he glanced at the ice cream in his bowl and poked at it with his spoon. At revealing his magical powers, Isa had had a moment of distrust. The thick smell of the roasted ram accompanied the memory of terror at having his secret revealed. Had Isa not grown fond of him, would he have told his Keeper of what Lea was?

"Was that alchemy or magic?" Myde asked and went for a second serving.

"Alchemy," Roxas said proudly.

"So I could do it?"

"You definitely could." Roxas smiled. "I can show you how."

Myde and Lea nearly licked their bowls clean, Isa had but a taste and left the rest.

Late at night when Lea could barely keep his eyes open, he walked back to his room. Isa should be asleep and it was best. Roxas said to think little of Isa's behavior toward him. A mage that had survived templars had survived it all, he said. But Lea was of a different mind. There was room for Roxas in his life, but Isa shoved him out of it with every disapproving glare his way. Lea would have to speak with Isa to set the matter straight. It was a promise he had made himself, but before he could, he would have to find the right words to say. Anger had never worked in his favor.

Isa sat by the edge of the bed when Lea walked into the room. The candle burned low. Isa looked at him with questions reflected in his eyes as he braided his hair.

"I thought you would be asleep," Lea said and pulled his shirt over his head.

"I couldn't find you today."

"I was sent to the village. Myde needed someone to sell the milk."

"Have you spoken with the other workers at all?"

"What for? They will be off in a week's time." Lea paced the small room to sort his clothes for tomorrow. The chore kept his back to Isa.

"They have interesting things to say about your friend."

"Such as?"

"Does Vanitas sound like a human name to you?"

"This again?" Lea huffed and turned to face Isa. "It does sound like a human name to me. Listen, I appreciate the sentiment, but I know everything there is to know about Roxas, about human names and demons. Just like you know the name of every flower in existence. So, stop."

"I want to keep you safe, Lea."

"You won't succeed by isolating me from my friends. The glares, the creeping suspicion and questioning, it stops now, Isa. Are we clear?"

Isa sighed and gave a slow nod.

"Good. I'm going out for a walk." Lea grabbed a robe. "To calm down."

"No, Lea. Wait." Isa hurried to his side and placed his hand on his arm. "I'm sorry. Stay. Please. I won't bring up the subject again. I haven't seen much of you lately and I don't want us to fight. Please?"

Lea put his robe aside and allowed Isa to lead him to bed. Isa reached for a small glass container of what looked like ink and a thin brush before Lea sat down.

"What's that?" Lea asked when Isa pulled the lid off the container.

"This is a special sort of tattoo ink. It's not lasting like the ink used for my tattoos. It washes off over time, but holds great powers. I was going to use it on myself, but if you don't mind, could I draw something on you?"

"Yeah," Lea nodded and rolled one sleeve up to his elbow. Dalish tattoos had intrigued him since he laid eyes on Isa's faint ones on his upper face. He had later learned that the pattern was part of a larger, intricate tattoo. Rounded patterns of white and black framed Isa's hips. The same patterns climbed Isa's spine, but smaller. Lea had left countless trails of kisses over them.

Isa held Lea's arm against him as he moved the brush across his skin. The tattoos differed from Isa's.

"What do these tattoos mean?"

"Different things. Mine make me ideal for a hunter. I was granted the cunning ways of Fen'Harel, the blessing of Andruil, and the protection of Mythal to allow my safe return."

"I thought Fen'Harel was evil." Lea tilted his head slightly at the arched line Isa drew down his arm.

"He wards against forest spirits and feasts upon them in the Fade."

"Is that what you're drawing on me?" Lea tensed and glared at Isa. "A god that feasts on spirits. And demons, I presume?"

Isa could not lie. He tried, but his lips failed him, and his eyes revealed the truth.

"Damn it, Isa!" Lea pulled his arm back and rose to his feet. "Do you even realize what you're accusing him of? How we've struggled to free ourselves from the shackles of the templars? Every day we were told how we would succumb to the devils from the Fade. That our only purpose as mages was to bring this world to an end. And every day we were shown that we were expendable. Our friends made Tranquils at the slightest hint of resistance. Roxas hasn't made it this far to have to prove himself to you."

Lea slammed the door shut after himself and ran outside.