"So, what's the plan for this morning, oh dearest teacher of mine?" I question the little lady sarcastically, the girl yelping in surprise as her spine jolts straight upright, her hands fumbling with the heavy tome in her hands before slamming it shut, huffing and looking up to me with a glare. Having your nose stuck in a book is definitely one way to be caught off guard.

'Nerds, the both of you.'

Shh, don't be rude.

"Hff, and a hello to you too fuzzy, coulda given me some warning, ya know." She scolds with a huff, a pout on her face as she holds the book up to her chest, her eyes squinting into a glare. I shrug, a small smug smile gracing my lips as I look down to her with a tilted head.

"I could've, but it's less fun that way. I got what you wanted though, Miss Lucy." I ignore her scolding with a lazy wave of my free hand, the other one rolling the blue stone between my fingers. It's cool electricity jolts and tingles at my hand, mother fucking magic.

'Of which will be our downfall, but you don't seem to worry about that too much.'

Magic's cool, Adrian, come oooooooon. It's fucking maaaaagic!

'Pfeh, it's not like you'd listen to me anyways you little bastard.'

"Ahah! Fantastic, now now now, what was I planning on doing…?" She mutters to herself as she trails off, her lips twisting as she hums for a moment before twisting around, dropping to her knees and shoving the book into her bag, her faint mumbling under her breath forcing my ears to twitch at the sound, but I can't actually hear anything she's saying. Is she talking to herself?

'She's fucking weird, I wonder how she plans on using us as a lab rat for today.'

Her quirks are… odd, but I still can't see why you'd be so distrustful of her.

'Wha- she fucking admitted to it you son of a bitch!'

Don't speak of our mother that way, she's probably been a nice lady.

'Which one? Your memories are a muddled fuckfest that I don't have the will power nor desire to rummage through that shit.'

Well, at least one of them is probably nice, right? But that's besides the point, I get that you're paranoid, but come on, can't we give her a chance?

'Do you remember what happened last time you gave someone you didn't truly trust a chance? You nearly lost your life to Zen, and nothing you say can make either of us forget that.'

My skull throbs with a dulled pain, a faint hiss of pain spewing from my mouth as I clutch at it with a hand, shaking my head lightly. I, maybe you have a point? It's kind of naive to be thinking so highly and freely of people I don't really know, right? I can't exactly do that any more, I have someone to take care of now, someone beyond myself.

'Your attachment to that girl isn't something that I care to comment on any more, it's not like you'd care for it anyways, it's honestly a delight to see you actually agreeing with me. Not everyone here's gonna be on your side, nor have your best interests at their heart and it's really fucking naive of you to think otherwise, everyone has somet ulterior motive for themselves. Even you do, you might not realise it is all. Everyone might not be human but they're definitely human at heart, with all of the disgusting thoughts and cruelty that comes with it.'

But, that's not entirely true is it? Edwards at least a nice man, rough around the edges and far from perfect, but he's still a good friend right? I've trusted him with who I am, and he seems okay, that goes for something right? Who's to say that you're just lying to me, to get under my skin?

'Perhaps he might mean well for you specifically, but that doesn't make him a good man in general, keep in mind the people you consider 'friends' either would've killed you at first or did attempt it. And why would I lie to you? I am you, your inner thoughts given form within your mind, I'm just looking out for the both of us cause you sure aint, you reckless waste of skin.'

I feel so cold, a chill wrapping around my shoulders, ice forming and clutching at my throat as my ears twitch again, the world turning a cold blue as a a shuddering breath leaving my chest with chilly wisps trailing after it. My muscles freeze as the cold residue drags past my lips, what feels like a hand clutches at my shoulder as the mist continues to drag itself out of me, swirling and swirling mid air.

My teeth chatters as the mist becomes more structured, as if on the cusp of something being recognisable. What, what's going on? This isn't really reality, is it? What the fuck, what's going on? I can't tear my eyes away from the mist, a cold feeling gripping my jaw and forcing me in place, my eyes steadily widening as the cold haze curls itself upwards, as if into an egotistical and malicious grin.

'You're far from stable, mentally and otherwise, and I'm at least something that you'll always have. Who else would really believe you about this fucking nonsense to begin with?'

"Zeke?" The cold blue that surrounds me shatters in a moment, eyelids twitching open and closed almost uncontrollably as my throat clenches once more, the escalating dull pain evaporating as quickly as the mist did. I force my eyes to stop its twitching, the feeling of a warm arm wrapped around my shoulders doing little to still the beating heart that thunders in my chest, worried eyes and a concerned face staring straight into mine.

"Are you there, Zeke?" Edward speaks in an uncharacteristically soft voice, his pupils darting rapidly as if examining my face. The words feel like they pass through one ear and out the other, but I dully nod in response, my throat still clenched in an uncomfortable fashion, my lips feel cold like ice. The worry on his face dissipates slightly, a thankful sigh creeping from his lips as his hand squeezes at my shoulder with a firm grip, the slight nudging that he does almost feels like he's carrying me around with how I stumble, I can't feel my legs, what's going on?

Edward nudges and drags me to a rock, guiding myself onto it with an awkwardly tender care, my vision still hazy, but I can at least see far enough to notice the waterskin that he holds up to me. I reach up to it with shaky hands, a weak but almost desperate grip at the neck of it, shoving the tip of it against my lips. The water falls past my lips, whetting my dry and needy throat with a strangely refreshing feeling, why was it so parched? Why is this water so cold? Is there a stream nearby? I banish the thoughts as best I can and pull the waterskin away from my lips, pressing them together and swallowing it as best as I can.

"Are you feeling okay? We lost you for a while, I was, you know…" Edward trails off, a concerned look still plaguing his face as he looks down to me. I hate it, I hate how worried he is for me, haven't I done enough to fuck with him? I shake my head, opening and closing my eyelids slowly and carefully, the blurry vision eventually fading. I hold his waterskin up to him in return as I reach up and clutch at my throat, massaging it softly with a hand as he takes it back.

"I, urk, I think I'm okay, sorry, sorry sorry sorry." My throat feels croaky, the last of my sentence turning into a coughing fit that I barely cover with my mouth, eyes squeezing shut as I shake my head, fuck, what the fuck happened? I groan and rub at my head with a hand, a jolt of surprise running up my spine as my eyes flicker open, looking down to see the Edwards back.

"Don't be sorry, are you okay now Zeke? What happened?" He asks slowly as he pulls away from me to properly lean down to my height, looking over me with a frown on his face and an erratic look in his eyes, a troubled look on his face as clear as day. I feel my heart sink as he raises a hand to my forehead, pressing the back of it against me as he softly hums, hes so fucking worried over me again, and I fucking hate it.

'If only you were a little less of a nutcase, I truly wish I had an idea on what exactly happened there, you zoned off pretty hard when we were talking.'

I, is that really what happened? I just zoned out when talking to you? What happened with the whole cold fucking mist thing? That felt so real.

'The only thing that can be truly real to you is the environment that your mind creates to see, if you get what I mean, and you're far from normal. It's not like the first time your fucked up little brains confused you after all, remember that magic incident with Lucy before? The whole fire bullshit? I'm still fucking mad about that by the way, I can still feel the heat scorching at our flesh.'

I wince and clutch at my stomach, pain flaring up in my skull again as I force down the bile in my throat. Please don't remind me of that Adrian, I really don't think that I can stomach that feeling again. That, does kinda make sense I think? I'm not sure, my mind still feels so messy and muddled, you didn't do anything did you?

'Hey, i feel what you feel dumb ass, im not exactly thrilled about this either. I can't control what you see, that goes for the things that your mind makes too.'

I dunno, I'm still not really convinced.

'Cmon dick head, you can trust me with this shit at least, I don't enjoy the pain very much after all, and I'm stuck being dragged along like a corpse. Also, reply to your friend already, I don't like the way he's looking at us.'

"Ah, I uh, I really don't know, my heads all muddled and fucky and…" I trail off with a frustrated groan, burying my face into my hands as my eyes begin to sting, trying to rub away the maddening feeling of it against my face. Fuck, mother fucking fuck, I thought I'd be better than this, I don't want to force Edward to feel more concerned over my dumb ass.

'You know you can't run from yourself, Zeke. Lord knows I wish I could, it's awful in here.'

A warm and cosy feeling wraps itself around my shoulders once again, the top of my head pressing against a warm cloth. Wha? What's going on?

"Fuz- Zeke, you're a fucking idiot, and that's why I'm here. You're gonna be okay, I promise." His voice is low and sounds awkward, though it's in a sincere way, a rough and calloused hand patting against my back. Is, is he trying to fucking confort me like a kid? Despite confused feeling that brews in my chest, I don't push away the man, pulling my twitching hands away from my face and clasping them together tightly as my head continues to nudge into his chest, the fragmented yet frantic breathing that forced itself to spew out of my throat dies down slowly, a confused but soothed feeling replacing the worried one in my skull. As my breathing slows, so does my heart, the stinging in my eyes fading alongside them as I take in deep breaths. Edward, Edward wouldn't lie to me right? Edward's a good friend.

'If you believe it so, then I can't change your mind.'

I don't think I can talk or listen to you at the moment Adrian. Can you just, give me a bit, please?

'Humph, whatever you say.'

"Are you feeling any better Fuzz?" Edward continues to question me as he pulls away, his deep frown still on his face as he eyes me, hands moving up from my back and gripping at my shoulders. I sniffle and palm at my eyes, the stinging feeling still residing as I look up to him, a weak feeling smile forcing itself on my face.

"I, I think so? I'm not really sure, I'm just, god fucking dammit. I'm sorry about all this again, I don't like feeling as if you're forcing yourself to help me when I-" A stinging feeling that thwaps against my forehead interrupts me, a yelp of surprise forcing itself from my throat as I rub at it with a hand, looking up to him with a huff and a glare. There's a shit eating grin on his face, his hand still raised as a finger curls back into his palm, a hand still grips at my shoulder, the amused look in his eyes mixed with a determined one.

"What was that for?" I question the fucker, voice feeling shrill in my throat at the end of it as I continue to rub at the spot, the stinging feeling fading away eventually. Did he just fucking flick my head? What a bastard!

"You were rambling, dumbass. I can't say I know how you feel, but you're a friend, and I tend to stand by friends." He says simply, his hand slipping from my shoulder as he crosses his arms. There's a pang in my heart, an odd feeling in my chest as I continue to look up to the man. It's warm, and odd, and I don't know the word for it, but fuck it feels nice, it's a warm and welcoming feeling. There's a choking feeling in my throat that accompanies it too, not nearly as throttling as the wintry assault before, my lips curling up into a smile.

"I, ah, shit. Thanks Edward, I'd say sorry about being sorry, but that defeats the purpose doesn't it?" I wonder aloud, Edwards roll of his eyes answers the rhetorical question though, a hand reaching down to me. I look at it for a moment before looking back up to him, a hand of my own clasping at it with a firm grip, a soft grunt coming from his chest as he yanks me onto two feet. I stand upright and wince as my back cracks, quickly twisting and stretching. Jesus Christ, it feels as if my spine was borderline frozen solid.

"Now, are you going to be okay Fuzz? You make me worry far too much." He says with an exasperated sigh, a pursed frown on his lips with an unamused look on his face as I wrap my arm around his shoulder, squeezing it lightly with an overly wide grin.

"Awh, it's cute of you to worry bout me Eddy, I'll be fine though. Thank you." I snicker as he forces my arm off of him, the light jab to my shoulder only reinforces the grin on my face.

"Whatever you say Fuzz." He says monotonously, rolling his eyes as I return his display of 'affection' with a friendly jab of my own. I feel infinitely fucking better, Jesus Christ.

'Tsk, of course you two would equate that to 'affection'.'

Shh, it works doesn't it? It's fun, so fuck you.

'Testy testy, no need to be so aggressive to yourself.'

Pfah, I'm not exactly delighted to be talking to you at the moment Adrian.

'Really? I didn't notice, your overwhelming feeling of angst is somewhat overpowering it after all.'

You fuckin-

A clicking noise brings me out of my thoughts, shaking my head as my vision focuses in on the sight of thin dainty fingers snapping, an unamused and pouting face behind the hands. Oh, oh! Right, Lucy is a person that exists, too caught up in my own thoughts again.

"Fuuuuuzzy, you there?" She whines with a huff, her bottom lip pouting further as she balls her hands into fists, resting them on her waist, tapping a foot against the dirt impatiently. I hold back a wince, rubbing at the back of my neck, a solid fucking whoops on my part.

"Yeah, sorry about that, I think I'll be fine though." I try to answer her in a flat tone to mask myself, forcing an uncomfortable feeling shrug. She squints her eyes as she hums, stepping a little bit too close for comfort, her face far too close to mine. Her eyes stare into mine as I look around her, a bead of sweat on my forehead. God fucking dammit Lucy stop being weird. I yelp as a finger connects with my nose, the girl flicking at it before stepping away. She smiles smugly as I grumble underneath my breath, a palm rubbing the afflicted area with another wince, the fuck's that for?

"You seem kiiiiinda distracted, fuzzy, you sure you're gonna be okay to practise this stuff? Magic is a dangerous force after all, and you ought ta pay full attention." She says in a tone of warning, her pout turning into a small frown as she tilts her head. My hand slides off of my face as I sigh, turning my head around and looking over Edward for a brief moment. Despite how long this entire scenario feels, it's still kind of early morning, the sun reflecting off of his armour pieces as he washes them with a cloth, a keen eye inspecting the armour with a thorough look, his lips pursed into a concentrated frown. Edward would be around to help me if something goes wrong, right? I can trust him, I'm fairly sure.

"I'll be okay, you two would be here to help me if something goes wrong anyways, so I'm in perfectly capable hands arent I?" I answer her warning with a rhetorical question of my own, a faux cheery grin on my face as I look down to her. She sighs and rolls her eyes, lips twitching upwards.

"While I'm definitely a fantastic mage, as ya ought to know, it's important that you don't push yaself too much, ya know? We'll take it slow though, just for you~" She replies with a teasing tone, her hand reaching up to my face. I raise a hand and softly hold hers with it, the girl huffing and pouting soon after.

"No more flicking me, I don't get why that's suddenly a thing now."

"Aw phooey, you're no fun! Your ears twitch when ya get flicked, it's funny!" I sigh and let go of her hand, gently shoving it back towards her, ignoring her repeated huffs of displeasure.

"Can we get back to the point, please? What was your plan for today, Miss Lucy?" I ask the miniature mage with a flat tone, the girl jolting slightly with a sharp intake of air, twisting in a blur and moving back towards her bag.

"Oh! I forgot, eheh, sorry." She apologies, I can imagine an awkward smile on her face as she kneels in front of the bag, continuing to rummage through it. I sigh again and cross my arms, shifting from foot to foot to kill time. My fingers wrap around the mana crystal as I clench a hand, the energy from it as coaxing as always.

'Pfeh, disgusting magic.'

I ignore his grumbling, ears twitching upwards as Lucy lets out a triumphant yell, standing upright once again and twisting. A metal orb the size of a fist rests in her hands, her fingers clutching at the ball as she heaves it along with her movements, her face scrunched up awkwardly.

"Here ya go fuzzy!" She yells aloud with a strained voice, arms tensing as she throws the metal ball towards me. I reach up and catch it with cupped hands, stifling a surprised yelp from my throat as it pushes against me, almost stumbling from the weight of the thing. The fuck? The ball feels like it's entirely made of metal.

'Reminds me of those Shot Put balls, doesn't exactly sound like that'd be a sport here.'

The fuck's Shot Put?

'You throw the metal ball as far as you can, it sounds like something you'd enjoy.'

"So, what am I meant to be doing with this?" I question the girl as I hold the metal orb in a hand, a thumb rubbing over the mana crystal in the other one, it doesn't seem affected from the impact. Maybe it's not as fragile as I think? Not sure, it's a fucking crystal after all.

"Well, your control of magic pretty much sucks butt, so we're gonna be workin on that! Just hold that metal ball when it's in the air for as long as ya can, it's basic levitating after all." She instructs as she clasps her hands behind her back, skipping towards me with an oddly serious look on her face. That kinda sounds like telekinesis, how would that work for magic? Just will it to work and shit? She's not exactly telling me how to do what she wants me to do.

'She sounds like a pretty shitty teacher, it'd be fantastic research for her though.'

Yadda yadda lab rat, I get it. I hum to myself and clench a hand, the blue wisps of magic flaring and travelling up my arm, akin to a slithering snake. Well, I'm not gonna learn without pushing myself, am I? I toss the metal ball in the air, squinting and focusing on the target, my hand outstretched as I take in deep and steady breaths, the ball pausing mid air with a hazy blue glow to it. How long does she want me to hold this thing? Until I can't anymore? I guess I can do that, it seems like an easy enough task. It's… actually kinda heavy, as if the magic's just an extension of my arm, is that normal? Is that meant to happen? Or is that just how I'm willing the magic to work? Pfah, fucking magic, confusing pain in the ass.

Time passes as I stew in my thoughts, Adrian thankfully silent for the entirety of it, sweat forming on my brow as the blue mana continues to swirls and curls around my arm, my free hand reaching and holding it up after a while, my fingertips twitching unwillingly every so often, each twitch of it seems to make my skull feel heavier by the moment, a hazy fog pressing onto my senses, shaking my head forces the metal orb to wobble and tremble along with my arm. The gentle and tingling sensation of the magic that swirls around me turns into a tense one that continues to suppress the feelings, unsteady breaths forcing themselves gradually clenching teeth, I struggle to keep my vision straight and eyelids open as they begin to droop, heavy as stone. Fuck, shit, fucking fuck, I haven't held of this thing for that long have I? It's not that heavy, I can manage this for a little bit longer.

'Youre gonna have to let go.'

No no, I got it, it's all perfectly fine here.

'Let it go you fuck nugget, it's hurting my fucking skull, and you're not dense enough to ignore that pain.'

Just a bit mo-

'LET IT GO.'

"Fuck!" The blue mist dissipates into the air, my skull flaring up with a deep throbbing pain,it echoes and reverberates in my brain with a shrill ringing noise, my hands clutching at my head as a shuddering breath forces itself out of my chest. I hiss as the light sears my eyes, covering them with the palm of my hand as the muscles in my legs jerk, falling onto my knees. I feel something wrap around my back, dulled noises bouncing off of my ears as they twitch. The dulled noises turn into soft but worry filled whispers, indecipherable and incomprehensible, though it stills my fiercely beating heart at least a little bit, the ringing that rackets in my skull dulls down slightly alongside it.

My eyelids flicker open into the cover of my palms, though thin rays force the way through the gaps ever so slightly, a mix of a raspy groan and hissing pushing through my lips, mother fucking shit, this again?

'Pfeh, you stubborn fucking bastard, pushing yourself too far hurts the both of us you dumb prick.'

I shake my head as I rub my eyes, ignoring him again, the raw feeling of my eyes against the light raws dissipating eventually as I blink away the blinding light. Okay, my eyes feel better at least, I can see Edwards' concerned visage back in my face again too, a sour feeling boiling in my chest with a pain in my rump from the uncomfortable rock beneath me. Son of a bitch, I made him worry again didn't I? Fuck!

"Er, hey there Eddy, nice to see you again?" I say awkwardly, an embarrassed smile on my face as my face heats up, his concerned look fading to a mix between upset and irritated. He looks down on me with a grimace on his face, twisting and facing Lucy.

"You're both finished for today, we're moving out soon, and I don't want Zeke to be further endangered from this." He announces to the mage, a confused look on her face as she halts her scribbling, resting the paper on a palm sized wooden board. Where'd the quill and paper come from?

"Hey, I'm sure he gunna be fi-"

"No." He interrupts her with an almost aggressive voice, crossing his arms with a heated huff, his body tense and upright. I can imagine the stern look on his face, too, one that attempts to brook no argument on the subject. The airs tense and uncomfortable, shuffling around doing little to soothe myself. My hands twitch, a lack of feeling in them as I push myself upright, clasping a hand on Edwards shoulder and pocketing the gem with the other. Gonna need it for later, probably.

"H-hey, cmon Eddy, I'm fine, see?" He twists his head to face me, the back of my mind flinching at the glowering look on his face, though it softens ever so slightly as he looks at me.

"You can't do that to yourself, Zeke."

"How am I meant to know my limits if I don't attempt anything?"

"Magic is dangerous, and it's especially dangerous to you, I can't let you do that to yourself, not in good faith anyhow. There's a difference between pushing yourself and killing yourself."

:"I wasn't gonna die Edward, felt like shit afterwards and drained, but I'm okay now!" His lips purse shut with a subdued noise of annoyance in his throat, the both of us staring at each other with an unwavering look. Fuck, he's stubborn, but so am I, so fuck you!

'Don't I know it, tsk, my fucking head's killing me.'

"...You have responsibility now, don't you?" He pipes up suddenly, there's a strange look in his eye, and it catches me off guard.

"Eh? What do you mean by that?"

"The sla- the girl, whatever her name is. She's your responsibility, you can't take care of the girl if you die after all." My throat clenches as he glares into me, or through me, I can't tell. I purse my lips together as I rub at my neck. Shit, he's kinda right isn't he? I huff and raise up my hands in surrender.

"Fuck, fine, you got me then. Maybe I was a little, eh, excited I guess? Like, it's magic, it's so cool! But no, you're right, I'm sorry for worrying you Edward, again." I feel like a scolded child as I look away from him, a foot digging into the dirt beneath us. He holds his gaze for a few moments longer before sighing, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You're so much like him, and I fucking hate it. Just, be more careful Fuzz, I'm not always gonna be here to help you, as much as I want to." He says with another sigh, a tired look on his face and in his eyes, he's not entirely all here in his thoughts. I give him a weak smile though, and a one armed hug, despite his irked expression.

"Listen, I'm sorry, I might've just been a bit… zealous about what I wanna do, and a bit stubborn, but I'll go a bit slower for you." I say softly, cheering internally as his lips twitch upwards. Situation fixed, kind of anyways.

"I don't trust that for a second, now get off of me Fuzz." He pushes my arm away with an annoyed groan, an eye of his twitching as I laugh lightly. A cough interrupts the both of us, Lucy standing beside us with an awkward smile on her face, the paper she was with before nowhere to be seen. I didn't notice that either, whoops.

"So uh, about all of that, I've kinda thought of a theory for ya Zekey, if you wanna hear it anyways." She offers with a stiff tone, looking between us two. I shoot a look at Edward, the man shrugging in return. I guess he's neutral on it then, at least for now.

"Okay, what's your theory then, lil miss mage?" I ask the girl as I look down to her, her awkward smile replaced with a more formal one as she coughs into a hand, clasping the both of them behind her back. She looks like she's trying to be an actual teacher, but it's just not really working for her, in part due to her stature, part due to just how she behaves. It's cute though.

"Weeeeeeeeeell, I aint gunna beat around the bush, your control of ya magic is kinda awful, probably the worst I've seen." I purse my lips together as she speaks, ears twitching as Edward snickers beside me, the attempt at a comforting smile from Lucy does little to help me.

"Fantastic." I state with a deadpan tone, ears twitching as Lucy joins in fun with a poorly stifled giggle. Absolutely fantastic, great to note.

"I miiiight need more tests- Not that I'd force it of course! Just more information, and some more time, and I might figure out what's up with ya. Seriously, it's awful how unrefined and wasteful it is!" She continues to prattle on and on, Edward squeezing my shoulder lighty before returning to his business with a chuckle, leaving me alone with the chattering mage. Most of it goes over my head, technical nonsense that I don't quite understand. I don't entirely zone it out, but I dive back into my own thoughts, humming softly.

Hey, Adrian.

'What?'

Do you think that part of why this isn't working properly is due to, you know, you being so against using magic?

'Maybe, I wouldn't give a toss about it either.'

Don't you think that it might be helpful for the both of us if we put our heads together? If you're a part of me, and you're actively being against it, then maybe that'd play a part? Lucy wouldn't know about you after all.

'Zeke, you fucking waste of skin, are you trying to ask me to help you with something that I detest?'

At least once? Come on, it'd be for research!

'Get bent, dickhead.'

I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose, now I'm zoning out Lucy's ramblings, something about… Mana crystals I think, and the fabric of space? I'm just fucking lost now.

'She's a nerd.'

And you're a pain in the ass.

'Love you too."

Pfeh, another problem to throw onto the pile, I'll figure it out myself at least. Just might take a bit.

I kind of hope the rest of the day isn't like this, my head hurts.

Authors note: So I had a pretty big delay with this update, so whoops. Quality might dip a bit in some sections too, I'm working on it. Updates should be as normal from here on though, at worst there might be a day slowdown.