Plenty of you folks wanted to see Tabitha play an important role. So, you're getting Tabitha.

Also, a huge thank you to everyone still reading and following along. I know this story is something of a slow burner.

...

Tabitha accidentally botches an advanced spell while she and Michael prepare to practice magic together.


Misfire

Tabitha told me earlier that her room was to the left of Kirche's.

I mean, I'm happy with taking up the girl's offer for a little tutoring. Especially when considering I still don't have a clue how I'm actually using my magic. It's more a matter of feeling the energy coursing through my body and bringing it to life than actually understanding the specifics behind it.

Then again, maybe it's like that for all mages in Halkeginia.

Eh, best I don't overthink it and focus on the one thing I do know. We have to get the Staff of Destruction back from Fouquet.

And, since Louise can't use any magic of her own, it falls on me to keep her safe while helping Colbert, Kirche, and Tabitha.

Nodding, I stop in front of Tabitha's door and knock gently.

"Hey, Tabitha...? Not sure if you're back yet, but I'll take you up on your offer from earlier," I say in a low voice, mindful of Kirche's room being to the right.

The last thing I need when Louise is already mad at me is her most bitter rival getting involved.

"Come in, Michael," the blue-haired girl replies from beyond the door.

Tabitha's voice is gentle and quiet. It's a pleasant sound and, while it lacks the same sort of warmth I've come to associate with Siesta, it still fills me with a sense of ease.

Just as I reach for the handle, the door opens all on its own.

"Appreciate it. I'm coming in," I tell Tabitha, stepping through the doorway and into her room proper.

My eyes widen a touch at what I find inside.

Books. Books. Books. Everywhere. Stacks of them high up on the wooden bookshelves which line the walls. Some on her desk, others on her nightstand, and even some on the chairs that dot the room. It's like a damn library in here!

And, sitting on her bed in the middle of it all, is Tabitha.

Eyes still on a tome, she gives the staff in her right hand a gentle wave and shuts the door behind me.

"Glad you could make it," she says, speaking a little louder this time.

My eyes slowly pass over the room once more.

"This is quite the collection you've got here. I mean, you could build a small library with just the tomes alone," I mutter, pausing as my gaze fixates on her bed.

All four corners have a large pile of books of different sizes. It looks...unsafe. For both the bed and the books. Yet, there the mage sits. Her legs folded underneath her, the blue-haired woman quietly peruses a thick leather-bound tome's pages.

"I enjoy reading, and learning new things," Tabitha tells me. "That's why I'm at the Academy, after all."

The girl has a point there, to be fair.

And, from what I see, the fancy wardrobe across from the girl's four-poster bed is about the only item of furniture that isn't surrounded by, or stacked with books. Its doors open wide, several school uniforms are suspended on wooden hangers.

"One question," I begin, crossing my arms across my chest as I turn to face her. "How the hell do you go through them all? Do you not sleep?"

Tabitha raises her blue eyes from her book to meet mine. Her head gives a slight tilt as she seems to process the question.

"I'm a quick reader," she eventually tells me.

I can't help but smirk at her honestly.

"Yeah, I reckon you are. Anyway, are we still good for a little tutoring?"

I swear I see the smallest of smiles play across the girl's lips as she gives a nod of her head.

A pang of happiness spreads through my chest as I return the gesture.

"Good."

I extend my right arm slightly and gesture toward my gloved hand with my eyes.

"I'm eager to see just how far I can take things, now I have this glove," I confess. "Didn't think it would make such a big difference, being honest with you."

Tabitha places a marker down between the pages she reads, shuts the tome, and stands to her feet. Then, grabbing her staff, she steps nearer to me.

"A catalyst of any kind should help immensely," the girl explains, never once breaking eye contact. "Which means you can expect an exponential increase in how much magic you can wield."

"When you say it like that, it's almost like I don't need the tutoring," I tease the bluenette.

The girl blinks a touch before looking away.

"But it will help, regardless. You still don't know your limits, after all," she contends.

"You're talking about the Exhibition the other day, right?" I ask with something of a nervous laugh.

Tabitha's lack of immediate response answers that question in full.

That bad, huh?

"Pushing as hard as you did was dangerous. Never do it again, unless you are wearing the glove," she tells me as an icy chill drips into her tone.

The words cut deeper than she probably meant. Still, it doesn't stop my shoulders from slouching nor the light-hearted grin I had prior from giving way to a tight smile.

"...My little magic show was really that risky?"

"It was," Tabitha informs me without hesitation.

Her eyes narrow somewhat as she reaches over with her free hand to touch my left.

I stiffen.

"What are you-"

"An incantation, to attune your magic and mine," Tabitha explains, closing her eyes and exhaling gently. "This way, I'll feel how much energy you use while we practice."

I eye her nervously, narrowing my eyes a touch.

"This won't be uncomfortable, will it?"

Tabitha shakes her head.

"Not at all. This way, I'll feel how much energy you commit to spells. Nothing more. Nothing less. It will wear off within hours."

"Alright, that makes sense. So you know I'm not pushing too hard, right?"

The blue-haired girl gives her head a small nod.

"Correct. Once this is done, we'll head outside and cast spells together."

I'm impressed by how smooth her movements are. Tabitha gives the hand I'm holding in hers a soft squeeze.

"Just going to rest my forehead against yours. This will feel strange," she says matter-of-factly. "Not painful, just strange."

"Okay, if you're sure," I say, anxiously fixing my gaze on her. Magic is still magic.

"I am. And please, do not tell anyone about this," Tabitha tells me quietly. "Not Louise, and especially not a member of the faculty," the dainty girl cautions.

Alright then... Tabitha's being pretty ominous with this all of a sudden. It has me raising a mental eyebrow.

"Errr... Do I dare ask why?" I say after a pause, barely louder than a whisper.

In an action that definitely pulls me from my thoughts, Tabitha leans forward and rests her forehead against mine.

"It's an advanced spell, and one that we aren't supposed to learn until a time nearer to our graduation as third-year students," the blue-haired girl explains. "Even then, only the best among us are selected to take the class, I'm told."

"Just how many, exactly...?"

"A handful at best. Four or five, perhaps," Tabitha answers.

Meaning she hasn't learned this spell from an instructor. Which probably also means she found it in one of these hundreds of books-

My ears chime loudly as the runes on the back of my hand begin glowing with golden light. A force grips my very mind, and a white flash consumes my eyes!

Before my mind's eye, a library appears. It's quite similar to the room Tabitha's room. but larger. Two people stand in the middle of it. A much younger Tabitha, and an older woman with a striking resemblance to her who adorns royal-looking robes. Strangely, I see this regal lady through younger Tabitha's eyes, too.

I'm not sure how or why I do. I just... do for some reason.

The older woman holds the little girl tightly, and the child weeps in her arms.

Scariest of all, I feel the child's sadness. Her pain. It grips me. Gnaws at me.

"Whatever they intend for us, my darling girl, I will always keep you safe," the older woman promises the young lady with a glassy smile

I feel a bond stronger than any other between these two. It's the love shared between a parent and their child!

My breath sticks to the back of my throat. Is this... a part of Tabitha's past?

A brief moment passes and the scene vanishes, giving way to another.

There Tabitha is. Still young, she smiles innocently.

A large wine glass filled with oddly glowing purple liquid sits in her place at the wide dinner table.

Eagerness taking over, Little Tabitha reaches toward a glass of wine and brings it to her lips.

"No, Charlotte, don't touch it!" the older woman, the same one from before, yells.

The rest is drowned out as a fog completely enshrouds my senses.

My mind is wrenched from the past. My eyes open and the first thing I see is the look of shock in Tabitha's deep blues.

Then, that shock twisting into grief, tears leak from the girl's eyes and stream down her cheeks.

"I made a mistake," she whispers, voice breaking.

Her quiet admission gives way to another sound. A heartbeat. Hers. Inside her chest. It's panicked and frantic.

"Tabitha, what happened just now?! What is this?!" I demand, wincing as her heartbeat thumps in my ears.

In what feels like an ocean of agony, I push forth my consciousness to gain some semblance of control. Focus. Anything!

An ocean that seems to shrink away entirely as the sound of her beating heart fades. Even with it gone, though, I still feel Tabitha. It's like she's Inside me, somehow.

The blue-haired girl retracts her hand and chokes back a sob, staring intently into my eyes. There is a longing in her own. Longing for something that still eludes me.

"I- It was a stronger connection than I thought, I lost control of the spell," Tabitha explains quickly. "I'm sorry."

A powerful calm descends upon me and I take a deep breath. It isn't mine, though. Like the heartbeat, it belongs to Tabitha.

"...Does that mean you can feel me like I feel you?" I ask anxiously, lowering my eyes to the floor. To my shoes. "It's like we're... connected on some weird level," I explain.

"Yes. Even now, I can sense you," Tabitha replies, sounding strangely sad.

Oh fuck. This is not good. Not good at all.

"Sense me in what way?" I push.

The pause that follows makes it difficult to stand still. It gives her actions an extra sense of ominous meaning.

Especially with the way the girl draws the head of her staff upward and points it right at my chest.

I swallow. Hard.

"Your heart is racing, Michael," the girl finally comments. "Are you angry with me?"

"What?! No, not at all," I reassure her. "I'm just... shocked," I tell her.

"I must fix this. Here, let me try this," the girl whispers.

Dropping her staff, Tabitha pulls me into an unexpected hug. Then, pursing her lips, she stands on her tiptoes and inches her face near mine.

"Woah, woah, okay, let's just relax for a moment, alright?" I encourage, using both my hands to try and push the bluenette away.

Pink rushes into my cheeks and in the end, all I can manage is to lightly place my hands on her shoulders.

Trying to keep them hovering slightly above her back, I gently pull Tabitha away.

The girl's body stiffens as I do so, and tears continue to track down her pale cheeks. Her eyes follow mine unwaveringly. A few moments pass.

It isn't until I drop my hands to my side and take a step backward that she begins to relax.

She blinks in disbelief, turning away from me to sniff and wipe her tears away with the back of her hand.

"Tabitha...?" I murmur gently, taking a step closer to her. "You okay?"

The blue-haired girl closes her eyes and slowly nods.

"I-I'm fine," Tabitha answers in a shaky voice. "Just shaken, I-I suppose."

I quietly wait for the girl to collect herself.

Once she seems satisfied, her eyes find mine. There is a sadness there that words can't express.

I silently raise an eyebrow. She speaks her eyes. They're... lost. Fearful, even.

"You don't know how to fix it, do you?" I ask her point-blank.

Tabitha takes a long, low, deep breath through her nose, holds it for a second, then slowly exhales. The entire time, her stare remains locked with mine.

Once she finishes breathing out, she lets silence enter the space between us and speaks no further.

"...Great, just great," I utter grimly.

No, Mikey, don't be too cruel here. We all make mistakes, and I doubt this one's intentional.

Forcing a thin smile, I fold my arms.

"...Guessing our practice session's off now, right?"

Tabitha's only response is to shake her head.

"No, it isn't. Given the trouble I've caused, practicing with you is the least I can do," she informs me.

I nod in quiet understanding.

Hell, I might as well train with her. Maybe the two of us spending more time together will help Tabitha figure out how to break this weird connection we share.

"Hey, fine by me. We might as well try making something positive out of all this."

The blue-haired girl wipes fresh tears from her eyes.

"Indeed. And, I appreciate you being considerate," Tabitha whispers.

She takes a steadying breath, trying to calm herself, then quickly goes to grab her staff and makes her way over to the doorway.

I waste no time joining her.

The girl pauses at the door, face turned away from me, and rests her staff up against the nearby wall as I watch. She tucks her light blue hair behind her ear and faces me a second later.

"Follow me. We'll practice out in the courtyard," she informs me.

Shooting the girl a reassuring smile, I nod and find myself falling into step just behind her.

...

With the light of two moons overlooking us, the starry sky reflects against the grass of the academy's courtyard as we step out into it.

A cool breeze catches the bottom of my cloak and my bangs, sending them slightly astray.

The image is quickly reflected against Tabitha's soft, blue tresses, but it looks like the girl doesn't seem to notice as the two of us take turns conjuring spells. Her from her staff, and me from my gloved hand.

I can't help but pay close attention to just how differently I feel my energy manifest and flow while wearing the Coordinator Glove. Before, when Tabitha wasn't around and I didn't have a catalyst of my own, I just sparked up magic from the core of my body and spread it outwards. Oftentimes quickly and painfully.

Now, the sensation is smooth and constant, filling every inch of my left arm like a current before flowing out through the glove's tips. From there, my energy molds and shifts, solidifying into roaring flames for my fireballs.

"Good, you are controlling it well," Tabitha compliments, blowing a small gust of wind my way from her staff's tip.

I can't help but raise an eyebrow at her gentle actions. Her every magical movement looks so damn natural that I can't help but wonder if she's doing it subconsciously.

At my response, Tabitha nods and lowers her staff, motioning with her gaze toward the glove on my hand.

"Increase the power you provide slightly," she instructs, shutting her eyes and listening intently to my breathing. "I sense no harm has come to you so far," the blue-haired girl adds.

This is kinda trippy. Sure, okay. I'll crank it up a notch.

Stepping forward, I raise my hand a little higher and do as she asks.

"Holy hell, it's actually working!" I can't help but holler as another, much larger and brighter flame springs to life. Then, willing it to coil across the length of my arm, I turn to face Tabitha. "You seeing this!?"

The blue-haired girl places her free hand over her right ear. I can feel the power continue to flow, a warmness spreading beneath the layer of my skin and through the outline of my arm. It radiates outward, filling me with a quiet joy.

As the flame coils to a stop, I let it dissipate with a contented sigh.

Tabitha seems to blink in surprise at this, no longer covering her ear.

My eyes widen as I reflect on what it is that I just pulled off.

"You're- you're not kidding. It worked! I can't believe it! Louise is going to lose her shi-"

A dull pain kicks in my chest, knocking the air from my lungs.

Falling low onto a hand and knee, I push the palm of my right hand against my forehead and groan in disbelief.

Tabitha's concerned expression is the last thing I see before I'm wracked by a heavy fatigue.

Head held low, I breathe slowly and cautiously.

Thankfully, the pain passes after a good ten seconds or so, leaving me able to stand again on my two shaky legs.

"You applied too much energy, and too quickly." With an extended hand, Tabitha helps to pull me back onto my feet. "But it is an improvement."

Pushing my blonde hair out of my face, I let out a strained chuckle.

"...Thanks. At least it's something, right?"

The girl's only answer is to nod her head.

No questions and no complaints, Tabitha places an arm around my middle and helps me stand fully upright. Her staff goes to its usual place in her right hand, and her fingers grip the fabric of my shirt tightly.

The two of us being this close, her heartbeat echoes as a dull thump in my ears like it did earlier. It's slow and steady. Comfortable, almost.

I let my thoughts drift for a moment, savoring the quiet melody instead of fearing it. My eyes close to enjoy it better.

And, as I do, I feel Tabitha's hold upon me tighten ever so slightly.

"Feeling a little better now, Michael?" the bluenette inquires.

Drawn out of my daydreaming by her voice, I give the mage a faint smile and shake my head clear of her heartbeat.

"Yeah, I'm good, thanks. You can let go now."

Tabitha lets go of me and I offer her a smile of reassurance.

"Listen, about earlier-" I begin.

The girl's deep blue eyes meeting my own silences me. She takes a step back from me and reaches out with her left hand. Her first finger lifts upward, pressing against my lips before I can say anything further.

"It was my mishap, and I accept full responsibility for it," she pledges sombrely.

I blink back at the girl, and Tabitha slowly pulls her hand away from my mouth.

While I appreciate her maturity on this, she's being a little too hard on herself. That, and I'm not about to start casting blame.

"No, don't stress about it, Tabitha," I encourage her kindly, smiling. "Actually, I was wondering something... about this whole link we share."

If Tabitha is surprised, she doesn't show it as she nods her head for me to continue.

Best I approach what I'm about to ask... carefully.

"...Alrighty, I saw what looked like pieces of your past when the spell connected us. It started when you put your forehead against mine. I saw you, as a little girl, you were reaching out toward a wine glass and an older-sounding woman yelled for you to stop..."

"Mother," the girl whispers to herself, appearing to reflect. As she does, pain glints in her eyes. There and gone in a second.

"Right... Anyhow, I guess where I'm going with this is-" I shake my head, my voice trailing off slightly as I point toward my chest. "Did you see anything of my life...?" I ask cautiously.

A few moments pass in silence.

It's Tabitha that eventually breaks that quiet, speaking as though remembering something:

"I did. You held hands with a red-haired girl, and the two of you walked across a large bridge together. The city you were in looked larger than any here in Tristain, or even Galia," the girl recounts with a look of focus on her face. "Off in the distance, I saw people sitting inside strange metal boxes that moved on their own."

Sounds like Tabitha saw glimpses of the time Anna and I took a train into central London and walked across Parliament Bridge together.

I can live with her knowing that much, it doesn't bother me.

Still, I can't help wondering what else she saw.

"...Was there anything else?" I gently push.

Tabitha nods slowly and runs a finger through her light blue locks. Her eyes take on a distant look as she does so.

"Yes, I-I witnessed you visiting a woman in a clean white room. Strange metal boxes were at her bedside. She seemed happy at your presence, but worried, too. I have a feeling it was someone important to you," she recounts. "The woman had wavy long hair, but also looked awfully thin and frail."

My cheeks and eyeballs burn. Eyes fogging, I fight back unwelcome tears.

Oh my god, that was the last time I visited Mum's hospice. Even Dad didn't have the heart to go that day. She was close to dying, and we both knew it.

So, yeah, Tabitha saw me cry over my ill mum. Ugh!

As I struggle to gather myself back together, the girl's eyes pool with concern. Her arms fold against her chest.

My blush fading, I can only respond by slumping my shoulders forward.

"...Guess we both saw things we weren't supposed to, huh?" I murmur.

"Yes, we did," Tabitha agrees.

Her eyes linger on my face, and after a couple of seconds pass, she shuts them in clear fatigue. I try to keep my eyes on hers until she opens them again.

"...I'm sorry, I didn't think the connection bound us so strongly," Tabitha whispers in apology, sounding exhausted.

"Hey, it is what it is. Just like when Louise summoned me here, I'll make do," I say to put her at ease over the whole situation.

Tabitha fixes me with a curious look and nods. Her eyes glint with subtle warmth.

"I understand."

She closes her eyes and seems to pause to collect her thoughts. When the girl opens them again, they lock with my own.

"Your world is... very different to this one," the blue-haired mage tells me.

I can't help but smile at what she just said, either.

"Where I come from?" I laugh, glancing into the distance. "Yeah, it really is. Hell, I'm guessing you didn't grasp half of what you saw."

"Correct, which is why I'd like to spend more time in your company," she informs me, raising an eyebrow. "I can try to sever our bond, and in turn, you can teach me about your world. If you are still willing to after my... mistake, of course."

She wants to know about modern Britain. Alright, I'm game.

"Sure thing. We have a deal, Tabitha," I agree, sticking my hand out.

She blinks, expression thoughtful.

"Handshake. It's what we do where I come from when we agree on something," I explain helpfully. "The days of bowing and kneeling are long gone back home. Well, unless you're one of the few that meets our queen, then you have to bow."

Tabitha blinks in understanding and sticks her hand out.

Grasping the girl's small hand in mine, I shake it, happy to notice a glimmer of a smile from her.

And for once, those brilliant blue eyes of hers seem so much more... alive. Brighter.

Now I think about it, I don't like the idea of keeping this weird link a secret from Louise. Unfortunately, it isn't as though I have a choice. Firstly, I promised Tabitha I'd keep quiet about it. And second, I'm guessing she'll get in trouble if an academy instructor finds out she's practicing advanced magic unsupervised.

"We'll finish training now," Tabitha decides, drawing her hand out of my hold.

"Yeah, that's fair enough. Between Louise snapping at me and now this, I've had enough for today," I reply while rubbing my temple.

Casting me a concerned look, Tabitha blinks.

"The two of you argued again?"

"Yeah, but not over anything important," I explain with a nervous chuckle. "She was suggesting ways I might be recognized as a noble, like say, dating a nobleman's daughter. So, I told her there're hardly any girls around here that'd have a guy like me, and that's when she got all snappy."

"Perhaps she felt her advice was being insulted, which could explain it," Tabitha replies bluntly.

I shrug, trying not to let my tension rise over it.

"Who knows? Louise, she's sweet when she isn't throwing a hissy fit, but I don't get her sometimes," I admit honestly. "Some days, it feels like there are two sides of her fighting for control inside the same body," I say with a chuckle.

Turning slightly, Tabitha closes her eyes again and shakes her head.

"Or, maybe you don't understand what she's telling you," she counters gently.

It's obvious by her voice that she's implying something and not outright-

Oh, who am I kidding? I knew full well what Louise was getting at out in that corridor. She and I are... close.

And, there have been moments where we've both teased each other more than we should have. When she asks me to wash her when we share baths, and when I kissed her so strongly just before the Familiar Exhibition being two standout moments.

Yeah, we sure make a perfect pair of masochistic idiots.

"Your heartbeat is quickening," Tabitha mentions, watching me intently.

I simply look away. I feel myself heat up and a nervy pang grips my chest.

Ah, dammit. How much can Tabitha sense right now, anyway?

"A part of me... sincerely enjoys the bond Louise and I have," I finally confide in the blue-haired girl. "And I don't dare to ruin it by trying to take things further between us."

There, it's out there.

When I feel a sudden flush of pity from my and Tabitha's link, my blood runs cold.

Great, I did it again. Why do I always try and share more than I have to?!

Then, oddly enough, the bond Tabitha and I share warms the smallest amount. As I try and put myself at ease, the bespectacled girl steps nearer and takes my hand into hers.

I open my mouth to question her only to be quietened with another of her fingers laid upon my lips.

"Perhaps... we should keep this exchange between ourselves and no one else for now," the girl suggests to me.

"The spell, you mean? I thought we already agreed to that?"

Tabitha shakes her head gently.

"No, all of it," she clarifies. "Your connection to Louise, the feelings you have for her. Just the two of us," Tabitha informs me, dropping her finger away from my lips and catching my gaze.

I can sense my cheeks heating up again.

"...You're probably right. Especially after all that I told you," I relinquish with a heavy sigh. "Then there's Montmorency, and Siesta, too. They won't understand this, not with how things are now... Especially poor Siesta. Being a commoner, she can't even use magic."

I'm interrupted as Tabitha crosses her arms.

"You've grown quite fond of the maid, haven't you?"

A pang shoots up in my belly. Even thinking of her makes my heart jitter.

Then, shaking off the feeling, I allow myself to exhale and let my body relax.

"Let's just be real with each other if this is how things are going to be between us for the time being, Tabitha," I begin slowly. "Just how much did you see of my life? And how closely are the two of us tied together like this?"

Taking a deep, steady breath, Tabitha turns slightly and shuts her eyes. She stays in this silent, contemplative mode for a good ten seconds.

...This isn't looking good.

Finally, when her eyes open, her eyebrows angle slightly downward and her mouth draws into a firm, solid line.

"Enough, Michael, to know you and I are very similar on the inside, except for..."

"Except for what?"

Her blue eyes avert and she turns her back on me. I see it in her body language, too.

She's afraid.

"...You hide all of your struggles behind a smile, whereas I... prefer to close myself away completely, hiding and believing nobody cares," Tabitha replies distantly, a hint of sadness in her tone.

It makes my eyes begin to burn, and it feels like part of me is drowning in coldness.

Puffing my cheeks, I raise my arm in an attempt to reach out and give her a comforting hug from behind... then think better of it.

I guess one night of emotional weakness doesn't forge instant friendship, does it?

Letting my arm fall, I frown.

"...God, this is all so complicated," I reveal to her dejectedly

Mine and Tabitha's link connects, and a slight surge runs down her spine. She inhales softly, turning back to face me again, a curious hint in her expression.

"Complicated is the correct word for it." With that, the girl lets out a yawn, revealing what sounds more like a tiny squeak rather than a yawn. A smile pulls up at the corner of my mouth as she does so.

After rolling her shoulders and pushing back her blue locks, Tabitha rests her staff against her left shoulder, adjusting the way her cloak hangs around her slender frame.

"I hope you do not take offense," the girl whispers faintly, her cheeks tinting. "But I think it would be best if we called it a night."

Smiling in agreement, I give her a tired nod.

"Yeah, it's fine. We're up early tomorrow, anyway. I've pretty much had it in terms of training," I add with a light-hearted chuckle.

Tabitha remains silent for several moments before speaking.

"As have I," the lady mage agrees with a tiny and tired smile. "Shall we walk back together?"

I shrug.

"Works for me."

The girl merely gestures with her staff toward the dormitory wing and nods.

"Lead on."

As we fall into step beside each other, our footsteps become soft as we make it toward the entrance.

If nothing else tonight, Tabitha has earned my respect.

I think the both of us learned a lot and got to know each other far better, even if a great deal of it wasn't exactly by choice.

That bit about both of us wanting to hide parts of ourselves away from others...

The most terrifying thing is how true Tabitha's words rang. Worse, it isn't as though either of us can lie about it either. Not now, at least.

But, for both of our sakes, I just hope we can help each other with our respective struggles at some point.

Well, since we can't exactly hide them from one another with this bond share, that is.

And at that thought, Tabitha raises a hand and waves.

"Michael? Try to not concern yourself with my feelings, they don't matter."

A blush begins to rise on my cheeks as I turn to face the girl... but the words don't come.

Meanwhile, Tabitha slips ahead, stepping through the dormitory wing's front doors. As I pass through after her, I'm hit by the most tragic feeling through our shared bond.

Pain. Regret. Isolation. A huge mass of negativity. It all radiates from somewhere inside the small young lady a few steps ahead of me.

Tabitha can't conceive herself as being worthy of anyone's time or attention, let alone feel cared for.

She's... all alone. Worse, she's afraid of being that way.

A thick silence between us, we start up the ground-floor staircase. I can tell that the mage is uneasy about something. No, to be more accurate, there is so much weighing on her mind right now that it's hard not to feel it. Beyond even those awful, painful feelings of hers.

While walking, she chews on her lower lip, something about a distant memory setting her senses off. So, in response, she quickens her pace.

I'm still only a step or two behind her when we reach the first floor. Tabitha and I walk across the hall until she reaches her bedroom door.

Stopping beside her, I offer her a subdued but encouraging smile as the girl opens it.

"Well, thanks for a fun evening of magical power testing," I say, smiling on reflex to lighten the burden we both feel.

Tabitha, meanwhile, steps through the doorway. I almost think she's not going to respond when she turns and faces me. And for the briefest of moments, I'm able to see some of her true-blue emotions. Not in her eyes or written across her face, but etched into her heart.

There's fear. There's unrest. And, beneath those two, genuine gratitude.

"...Yes, you're welcome, Michael."

My smile changes when I begin to feel the faintest trace of peace coming from Tabitha. However small.

Good. She's at least feeling a little better after our exchange, that much I'm sure of.

I'm honestly unsure why, but before my rational thoughts can stop me, I step forward and lock the girl in my embrace. And, as close as we are, our hearts beat loudly together. I can even feel her breath coming in soft, gentle huffs of warmth against my shoulder.

From our connection, I can sense she's genuinely taken aback. However, her emotions calm as I give her shoulders a reaffirming squeeze. She, in return, does the same.

The exchange lasts two or three heartbeats before Tabitha finally lets go. As I gaze into her eyes, they're lost in mine. She lets out another short, heavy sigh, the closest to a release of pent-up emotion I've witnessed from the girl since she cried earlier. Then, like a little dove with a broken wing, she hugs my chest once more before giving me a few tiny squeezes and going still.

Closing my eyes, I rest my chin atop her head.

"I'm sure you'll find a way to fix this, Tabitha," I reassure the girl.

After I relax my hold on the bluenette a bit, she gives me a tender, wistful look.

"Yes, I will do my best."

Smiling at her response, I give her a short, certain nod.

"I know you will," I tell her, stepping back and tapping an index to my chest, "I feel it."

Lowering her head, the small girl steps back through her bedroom door and out into the hall. Her sad eyes slowly rise back to my own. I can feel graciousness swelling up inside her. For the hugs. For my patience. For everything.

Even so, she swallows back her feelings, keeping them from leaking outward.

"...I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow," Tabitha confesses in a whisper.

I sense a little glimmer of hope forming in the young girl's fragile heart. She knows now that, despite everything that's happened tonight, she's no longer as alone.

Taking this as her wish to end the discussion, I nod and bow.

"...You, too, Tabitha," I agree, waiting for the girl to step into her room.

I see her dip her head again in turn. Then she takes a couple of backward steps and finally slams the door closed with a soft thud.

Instantly, our heartbeats begin to separate and die down.

Sighing, I turn and make my way toward Louise's door.

Mine and Tabitha's connection dampens the further I get from her room, thankfully. And while it doesn't fizzle out by any means, it becomes weaker. Less present. More distant and easy to ignore, much like the thrum of a motorbike engine in the next street over at night.

I just need to hope that, true to her word, Tabitha does her best to fix this misfire.

Sooner rather than later.

Turning the handle, I step through the door to mine and Louise's shared room. When I see the small, pink-haired girl lying asleep in the bed, the fluttering in my heart begins to grow rapidly, quelling my anxieties.

Yeah, what I confessed to Tabitha tonight is the truth, alright. Ever since coming to this world, I've felt something for Louise and found myself enjoying her company.

It's hard to explain... but around her, I feel completely comfortable. Safe, even.

And not in the same passionate and excited kind of way that Siesta makes me feel, either.

Sighing softly, I take off my cloak and toss it onto the chair beside my mattress bed. Then I get to work taking off my shoes. Once they're off, I kick them aside and start undressing.

Meanwhile, Louise rolls over in her sleep and mumbles quietly. Her hair is a beautiful mess scattered all over the pillow and her blankets.

She looks happy enough as she lies there, the peacefulness on her face calming the flutters of my heart.

Dressed down to my boxers, I get into her bed. And, as I slide between the covers and pull my exhausted body towards her own, I feel at ease. It's a soft, soothing kind of feeling.

Then, almost sensing I'm near, Louise shifts and rolls again until she faces me. Her warm, petite, nightgown-clad body nestles lightly against my chest and she sighs gently in her dream state.

"Sleep well, Princess. And I'm sorry I pissed you off," I whisper.

Purely out of habit, I pull her closer and wrap my arms around her.

Content and comfortable, a pleasant and cozy sensation settles in my heart.

Between Fouquet and Tabitha, I have plenty ahead of me in the coming days.

For now, though, I'll just drift off and let go.

Inhaling and exhaling gently, I close my eyes.

Down I slide. Further. Further. Further still.

And, somewhere deep inside, I sense a flicker of tranquil awareness. As that tiny light explodes into a soft warmth, I hear music growing louder. Passing traffic. Drunk folks staggering home from the pub. Fragments from my other life that my mind makes real.

And, as I plunge further, slipping slowly into unconsciousness, I smile.

"...Home," I whisper, losing myself to its peaceful, soothing beat.

To be continued...


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