Author's Note March 18, 2025: Welcome back! It has been nearly a year since my last story posting, for which I apologize. I spent most of the past year writing an entirely new 12th Grade English curriculum for my work (which I am quite proud of, but would make poor fan fiction) as well as dealing with a lot of 'life' stuff, much of which was difficult, especially emotionally, but has finally passed. Your patience is much appreciated and I hope you will continue to enjoy our story as we pick up just a couple of months after the end of the previous story "Hard Truths" with an interlude of lighter, varied character arcs. Please enjoy!

As always, Arakawa's characters and world remain hers. Only my OCs are mine, and I am grateful for her creative genius.

June 15th, 1997

Cal Fischer had never been a huge fan of air travel. Perhaps, he had to admit, because all of his initial flights had involved warfare, and more than one had been undertaken under threat of being shot out of the sky, hungover, or on the verge of dying while in critical condition. Not that he remembered that last one, as he had been in a coma at the time.

Still, he had to admit that of all the planes he had been in so far, the one that had been designed for the Xingese Imperial Family that had met them at the border of Xing on the new airport at the edge of the desert at the border checkpoint was far nicer than any of those.

For one thing, it was big enough to seat up to twenty passengers. For another, the seats were cushioned and comfortable. The in-flight accommodations providing beverages, food, and even a fascinating little bathroom facility, were also vast improvements.

By virtue of some very excellent planning, the flights from Creta and moving Eastward had been timed to collect visitors as they went, so by the time they were near to landing in the Imperial City, the plane Cal and Alyse were on included Will and Ren; Gloria, Alexei, and Viola; Alphonse, Elicia, Edward, and Winry; and Minxia, Thrakos, Damien, and Irisa.

Cal had to admit it was also much less of a hassle than getting himself and all of his mobility aids and luggage on and off multiple trains. Flying itself was a little easier in a luxury plane. It was quieter for one thing, and the larger plane flew more smoothly than the smaller ones he had been in before.

Preferring to avoid the views out the windows as much as possible, Cal spent most of his time in an aisle seat or in the very small area in the back where there was a table, and no views outside. Which was where he found himself now, over a game of Xingese Go that had been one of the few forms of entertainment stocked on the flight. His competitor was Fullmetal, which meant that he was pretty sure he was going to lose, but so far it seemed to be a fairly even game. It was the first time he'd been alone with the other alchemist on the flight. Everyone else was up front, mostly excited about the fact that the Imperial City should be visible before too long from the air. Once it was, they would all need to sit back down and buckle up for landing, but the flight was smooth enough right now it was safe to move around.

"I'm a little surprised you wanted to make this trip," Cal admitted across the board.

"After everything that's happened?" Edward grinned without taking his eyes from the board, a white stone in his hand. "Honestly, it's because Mei wanted us to come. At our age, we only have so many friends left. If she wants to see us, it's still easier for us to pick up and go to her than for her to come to us. Besides, it's nice to be able to take a trip like this that isn't some kind of world saving mission."

Given how much Cal had felt his own mortality, he could only imagine what it would feel like to be in his late nineties. Should he be fortunate enough to live that long, he hoped it was with the same fervor for life he saw in the elders of their extended family. Almost dead less than a year ago, and here they were going a large way across the continent, even if it was in relative luxury. "I'm sure she'll appreciate it."

"What about you?" Fullmetal placed his piece and sat back, waiting for Cal to consider his own next stone placement. "You've made it pretty clear you'd be happy with less excitement."

A valid point. Cal had surprised even himself a little when he had readily agreed to come on this trip. "Alyse wanted to come," he answered. "So, partially, it's for her. We'd always planned to travel more when I retired from the military; visit friends, see places we'd never been. As much as I've gotten around as a State Alchemist, Alyse hasn't been to most of those places with me, not even the ones worth going back to." Their last big vacation together, smaller visits around Amestris notwithstanding, had been right before her cancer diagnosis years ago, when they had gone to Aerugo. "I want to make good on the promises I made, and to live the life I'd planned as much as possible since I'm still here." The past few months he had learned a lot about himself, and about his past that he'd never expected. "I don't want to be the cause of any more frustration, not for her, and maybe a little less for myself."

Fullmetal didn't tease him. He just nodded as if he understood. He almost certainly did. "As long as you both have a good time, then it's a good reason to come."

Cal set his stone and grinned back. "Seeing as I plan on showing the most beautiful women in my life a romantic time and exotic locale, I think it'll work out."

The Imperial City of Xing shimmered like a jewel from the air. Alyse had never seen the city—she and Cal had not made the trek here for Michio's wedding a couple of years ago—but to view it from the air before landing had probably been the most spectacular introduction she could imagine. It was hard to believe that it had been heavily destroyed in the civil war, as pristine as it looked as they came in to land.

The new airport was on the south side of the city, making it convenient for a drive to the palace, which was not quite centered in the city as the highest hill was a bit to the south. Still, it was an impressively beautiful as they drove up the street towards the restored palace in cars that had been sent to pick them up. Security had awaited them on disembarking, also helping get all of their luggage into the cars as well. Alyse didn't have to touch a thing.

I could get used to this.

They would be in the city for two days before they, and the Imperial family members who hadn't left yet, would be on two planes of the size they had just flown in on, and whisked away on a flight that would last most of a day but would put them at their destination in time for dinner that evening.

Flying was an absolutely fascinating way to travel. Alyse felt a little guilty that Cal was as uncomfortable with it as he was, but she had found the views from the sky breathtaking and delightful. She appreciated that he had agreed to the trip, considering that was the primary mode of travel.

Their arrival at the palace was a similar flurry of activity, as they were met by a small army of extended family. Tao and Peina were the first to start in on the family hugs, starting with Ren.

:Aunt Renxiang! My brother's beloved sister. Welcome home," he said formally, though the grin spoiled the effect.

Ren smiled back as she returned the embrace. :My dear nephew, it is good to be here.:

Tao and Peina's three children were also in attendance. Alyse had never met them either, though Ren had filled her in for years on family news. Their daughter Taia was the nineteen-year-old young woman standing elegantly beside her mother. The second child, the son born just after the Xingese Civil War, was thirteen-year-old Bao. There was also a ten-year-old daughter, Menne.

Tao's brother Shan and his wife Xenia also greeted them. Their children, Bano and Jinue, were seventeen and twelve respectively. All of the younger children looked comfortable in their formal wear, which she supposed was to be expected for them since they had been raised here, in the Imperial Palace, just as Ren had been.

Tao's sister Meifen and her husband Chizan, and their two daughters, along with Michio and his wife and their infant son, and Kamika, had apparently already gone East, and Mao, Jiu, and Mei had been there for months now, enjoying the mild weather of spring.

Alyse would have given anything to have time to wander the palace at her own pace, poking her nose into every corner and admiring every priceless work of art they passed. Oh, the events they must throw here. What she wouldn't give to organize an event in any of the various rooms they passed on the way to the Imperial suites and guest wing.

"You could be here, and you choose to live in a townhouse in Central?" Alyse commented quietly to Ren, mildly teasing. "If this was a choice, I don't think I'd ever leave."

"Well, it is under consideration after Will's retirement," Ren admitted, chuckling. "It would give us the freedom to travel again, especially for any alchemical research projects Will gets a hare to jump into."

"Does Ethan know?"

"We've discussed it. There's no way I would actually stop studying new applications of alkahestry, even if I did retire from regular practice. Being here I would be much closer and able to be more involved with the newest breakthroughs."

Which she could always share back to Amestris. "I can see where he wouldn't be opposed to that. What would Will do when you're not traveling?"

"Live the indolent, overindulgent life of a consort of a member of the imperial family," Will quipped, stepping up beside them in the hallway. "Wait until you taste what comes out of the palace kitchens."

Ren looked only vaguely amused. "What he means is he will read his way through the entire Imperial library and appear beside me at formal events."

"That is also certainly true," Will agreed amicably.

Alyse shook her head. Whatever they chose to do, Will and Ren would enjoy it.

A few minutes later Alyse was left breathless yet again as she saw the guest room she and Cal would be staying in for the next couple of days. Their bags had not been unpacked for them, since they weren't staying that long. She took a few minutes to admire everything from the tapestries and the bedding, to the woven floor mats and lacquered wood work. "I've stepped into a dream…"

"Finally, a room worthy of your beauty." Cal reached out and squeezed her hand. "Though Will's been telling me the Eastern Palace is just as beautiful."

"As this palace, or me?" Alyse asked with a sly smile.

Cal brought her hand to his lips, and kissed it. "The palace, of course. Neither of them holds a candle to you."

Flattery, but fully sincere flattery. As much of a flirt as her husband was, it was only with her, and he only said what he meant. "Nice to know I'm more attractive to you than architecture."

Cal pulled her in closer, and down so he could kiss her properly from his chair. He was grinning when their lips parted. "The only thing about this room that attracts me is the idea of how much fun you and I can have on a bed this spacious and well-padded."

"You'll have to behave yourself until this evening to find out." Not that Alyse was at all opposed. Cal's playfulness was a good sign. It was only when he wasn't flirting or eager for intimacy that she had reason to worry about him. There was no desperation in his actions.

"You might want to remember to close the door then," a voice came from the entrance.

Straightening up, Alyse could see Ren standing in the doorway. "I think we'll manage. Did you need something? Are we expected somewhere?"

"Not yet," Ren entered, closing the door behind her. Alyse noticed that she had already changed into more traditional Xingese attire like the rest of her family. "Dinner will be an hour, but there was actually something I wanted to discuss with you first."

That sounded serious. "What is it?"

Ren looked from Alyse to Cal. "Actually, this question is for you."

For him? What question could Ren possibly have that she couldn't have asked anytime in the past several days, or weeks? "What's it about?"

Ren paused a moment, though he didn't think she was hesitating, merely gathering her thoughts. "Over the past several years, quite a few really, there has been a lot of experimental research in alkahestry here in Xing, related to issues that can only be healed in the brain. As you know, this has always been tricky because it is the most dangerous area to manipulate, and one of the few areas where an alkahestrist may do permanent damage if they are not careful. It requires very fast, precision treatments to do anything with the brain, or to move incredibly slowly, and without using too much energy at once.

"There is an alkahestrist here in Xing, Ahn Xhisuan, who specializes in brain research and treatment. Particularly, he has developed very precise treatments for issues relating to imbalances in the brain related to addiction."

Cal was floored. He hadn't realized such a thing was even possible. Ethan had always talked about how careful alkahestrists had to be with the brain, compared to other organs (which were still tricky) and harder to heal than bones and muscles. While they could partially heal concussions now to some extent (mild ones were easier) they rarely tried to heal severe brain issues. Only very specialized physicians had studied or attempted it. But to not feel the need for a drink every time he felt emotionally overwhelmed… knowing that was no longer an option… He was doing better these past couple of months, but some days he still felt like he was walking a wire about to snap. "Is it safe?"

"For Xhisuan to attempt treatment? Yes. At least, the safest it is possible to be. He's been working on these treatments for over fifteen years, including cases far worse than yours. It won't take much time out from our vacation, and it won't interfere with any activities. He could do it tomorrow, and no one else needs to know."

It was a fascinating possibility, though it sounded almost too good to be true. A thought occurred to him. "Does Fullmetal know about this treatment?"

Ren smiled. "He does. I actually mentioned the developments to him several years ago when they were still in experimental testing. He told me he didn't need it."

Was that so? Well, Cal supposed that might be true. Fullmetal had been sober for decades, and with alternative medicines he had also, so far as Cal was aware, never again taken anything with kashu as an ingredient. He had succeeded.

Cal could not say he was as confident in his own stubborn will. "Is this, by chance, also the guy who treated Maes?"

"He is. Maes was one of his very early patients, though his treatment was different from what you will be receiving, and part of a much more complex process coupled with medicines, therapeutic counseling, and meditation. You have already taken most of what you need into your own hands. This will help."

Maes Mustang had come back from Xing in much better shape mentally than he had left, after his breakdown. He had been able to put himself, and his life, back together and live it out long and successful and happy. He, too, had never relapsed, having put so much effort into rebuilding himself.

"I'll do it," he blurted out. "Anything to make this less unbearable." Only then did it occur to him to look at Alyse. What did she think? "I mean…"

Alyse smiled, looking a bit misty-eyed. "Do it, Cal. It can't hurt."

"She's right," Ren agreed. "The effectiveness is different for everyone, and it's not a cure-all, but if he can return the balance in your brain back to its proper state, it will help you recover faster."

Anything was better than years of fighting cravings, even if it was just fewer years of fighting to keep sober. Cal nodded. "I'll meet him when and where-ever he wants. Thank you, Ren. Though, why didn't you mention this sooner?"

Ren looked sheepish. "I wanted to be sure it was possible, and that he would even be available. Xhisuan travels often, and visits clinics all over Xing. I had contacted him weeks ago about possibly seeing you, but did not hear back a confirmation until we arrived. There was a response waiting for me. As for where and when, he can come to the palace tomorrow afternoon and treat you privately. No one has to know he's here or what's happened if you don't want to tell them."

The last thing Cal wanted was to distract anyone in his family, or get anyone else's hopes up. Part of him was still skeptical it would work, but if it was safe, then at the worst case he was no worse off than he was now. After so many years, he might be too far gone for alkahestry help, but he'd let the alkahestrist decide that. "All right. Tomorrow it is."

"I'll make the arrangements, and leave you to ah… enjoy yourselves." Ren winked at them before ducking back out the door.

Cal was glad he was still in his chair, because he had a feeling his legs would have collapsed out from under him during that conversation otherwise.

Alyse grabbed him in an enthusiastic hug. "Oh, Cal. How wonderful is this?"

He reached up and put his hand on her arm. "I'm still taking it in," he admitted. "It may not do much."

"As you said, anything is better than nothing," Alyse pointed out. "If he's the best there is, then have hope that he can at least help ease what you're going through, and speed the process along. You've been doing so well."

He was glad she thought so, given the hurt and betrayal and fear he'd seen in her eyes too often over the past few years. "Because I have you," he replied quietly. It was true. It would always be true. Still, he had resolved himself that he was not going to ruin this trip for her, or any of the time they had left. He wanted to be at ease with himself, and be able to relax and enjoy their remaining years. He did not want her to spend all that time fretting over him either. "I'm doing my best."

"I know." Alyse's squeeze eased up, but she didn't let go of him. "And I know this won't fix everything. I'm sure Doctor Xhisuan will have a lot to say before he treats you, and probably most of it will be what we expect, but I'm still happy that there is something that can ease this for you, even if it's just a little bit."

Cal nodded. "You'll be there with me?"

"Of course, I will."

"Good. That's all I need."

Ren left Cal and Alyse to themselves, and returned to her family's inner chambers, where she found Tao, Peina, and Will waiting for her in the sitting area of the suite of rooms that belonged to Ren, whenever they came to visit, with a fresh pot of tea and a tray of small savories from the kitchens.

:You couldn't wait for dinner?: she teased her husband as she folded easily down to the floor beside him.

:It was a long flight: Will pointed out. :It's just a snack.:

:And my idea: Tao admitted, grinning. :It is possible for even an Emperor to miss lunch.:

:Did the conversation go well?: Peina asked.

Ren had not told Tao or his wife about the contents of the note she had received, or the substance of the conversation she'd had with Cal. Will knew, but only because Cal's struggles were not secret to him, as part of the family. :It did, thank you. It had to do with an interesting bit of alkahestry research we'd been discussing. I got the answer to it.:

As neither Tao nor Peina were alkahestrists, as she expected they did not press for additional information. Instead, Tao smiled. :It's too bad Grandmother isn't here to enjoy the conversation.:

:I will tell her all sorts of things when we see her in a few days: Ren assured him. She was very much looking forward to spending an extended stay with her mother. The fact that she had asked for so many to visit she rarely saw, however, concerned her. :Is there anything you can tell me about her health? She has not been nearly forthcoming enough with me on the subject.:

Tao's smile slipped. :She does not like to discuss it with any of us, Aunt Renxiang. Father and Mother are the only ones who seem to know anything of substance, and they have refused to say more than what Grandmother Mei will say for herself. I expect she will tell you everything once you arrive. She has insisted on having family in person for this, and we have done our best to accommodate her wishes.:

:Which is appreciated.: It had taken a lot of planning to manage to get so much of their family together. Ren was looking forward to having all three of her children and their families in one place. :You managed to get Creta to let their President out of their sight for weeks.:

:I would like to say I had anything to do with that, but I believe that was all cousin Minxia's doing.: Tao chuckled. :I merely extended the invitation in the name of international diplomatic and familial peace. If Creta gets a nice little discount on trade goods through seaports, it's the least I could do to make sure my honored grandmother's wishes come to pass.:

Had he really offered a trade agreement as an excuse to get Thrakos and Minxia all the way across the continent? It sounded like the kind of thing her nephew would do. Our family may be a little too influential sometimes. It was a good thing they didn't have the tyrannical bent of the emperor who had been her mother's father; the one who had claimed wives from all of the fifty clans, and had children by all of them. It had been by greatest fortune that it had landed in the hands of a family who had changed the nature of Imperial rule in their country. For the better, Ren liked to think. After so many decades living in Amestris, she had to admit that it felt a bit dated to her as a concept of government rule, but Tao had given as much power to the representative council portion of his government as was possible without losing control. Xing was not ready to consider a truly more democratic system. Perhaps in another generation or two. Or, perhaps, they would continue to wish to go on with some form of Imperial leadership, even if they became more of a figurehead. Which, so far, neither her father, brother, nor nephew had proven to be.

:You are both dangerous and generous: Ren complimented her nephew.

Tao sipped his tea. :You sound like you approve.:

:The Imperial daughter in me very much approves.: Ren nodded. :The physician who happily works for a living finds it a bit presumptuous.:

:The deal provides benefits for both sides: Tao added. :It will provide some small economic improvement. I will say, it was much easier to arrange flights with the Amestrian government.:

:The benefits of family ties to the head of the military.: Will grinned.

:Your uncle's foster son would not be much of a tie, if it weren't for this family.: Ren had always appreciated how quickly one was subsumed into the Elric family once they considered you one of them. Sometimes even before they did. Their family friendship well predated her relationship with Will, and she was fairly certain if they had called out for assistance from the Elrics it would have been given, and it would have had nothing to do with their family's position or power.

:Which makes him the foster son of my uncle-by-law's uncle: Tao pointed out. :Clearly international cooperation can be based on such ties.:

:There have been times it was based on less: Ren conceded. :Though in this case it's as much a matter of expedience. The military is often more streamlined in terms of permissions than some civilian companies, and as much as we've done for Amestris, it wasn't difficult to work us into their surprisingly regular practice flight schedule.: Pilots did need to practice consistently. Tore had intelligently worked that into a schedule of supply runs and any needed travel for when he wanted face-to-face meetings with officers from the other Headquarters without traveling there himself. It was much more efficient to fly them in than have them spend days out of pocket on the trains. Airstrips were already standard in several locations within the country now, particularly at the border checkpoints and the cardinal cities.

:Which only makes it more your influence than mine.: Tao smiled.

:That is usually how it works with Mom.: Minxia replied to her cousin as she came through the door, grinning. :She never has to bring up her royal status. People just listen to her anyway. By the way, the cooks have sent up word that dinner will be served in a few minutes.:

:Then by all means, let us not keep anyone waiting.: Peina smiled, as they all stood. :I'm sure everyone is looking forward to a real meal after spending most of the day in the air.:

:The food on the plane was more than adequate: Ren assured them as they headed for the door. There wasn't a kitchen on the plane, so everything had been pre-packaged, but at least it had been nutritious.

Will chuckled. :Of course it was, but it has nothing on palace cooking!:

June 16th, 1997

Cal tried not to show his nerves as he waited in the unassuming room somewhere in the depths of the Imperial Palace for Doctor Xhisuan to arrive. Or at least, as unassuming as palace rooms got. The woodwork and lacquer were still probably worth twice their house back home, but they were understated. The furniture was minimal. It was, in essence, a medical examination room, except without a cold table to lay on. Though Cal might have appreciated chairs. Instead, he sat in his wheelchair. It wasn't worth the effort to lower himself all the way to the ground and try and sit cross-legged. In fact, he wasn't entirely sure if he would be able to get up again if he did.

Alyse stood beside him, one hand resting lightly on his shoulder. It was both a comforting and slightly protective gesture. They had talked about it again last night, after dinner with the family, in the privacy of their guest room. Cal thought he was prepared, but he still wasn't sure if he should feel hopeful or not. He wanted to, but somehow changing his brain chemistry this way felt different, even if it was better than the ways he'd been doing so most of his life.

The door opened, and a man entered. Cal saw Ren at the door, quietly closing it behind him, staying out of the room. Not even a member of the staff had escorted the man into the building. Xhisuan was, perhaps not surprisingly, about the same age as Cal himself which was to say, old, though he had an energy about him as he moved deliberately into the room. He wasn't smiling, but he wasn't scowling either. His face merely said he was here on serious and important business.

:Doctor: Cal nodded his head respectfully.

Xhisuan nodded back. "Would you prefer we speak in Amestrian?" he asked. "I can conduct our business today equally well in both."

"If you please." Cal felt relieved. He hadn't been sure he would fully understand a medical explanation in Xingese. "Thank you for coming today."

"Thanking me may be premature, but I will accept it in either case." Xhisuan closed the distance between them, and gave them both another proper bow of greeting. "Renxiang assures me that she has explained to you the basics of the procedure you are to undertake."

"Yes."

"Good. Once done, it cannot be undone." Xhisuan pulled up a chair from the side of the room and sat down across from Cal, on his level. "In essence, I am going to examine and then, as much as I can, reset the part of your brain that is stimulated by, and then craves, whatever addictive stimulus it desires to return to that feeling. It is a simple matter of returning the chemicals in that area to their original levels, which is what happens naturally over time when someone has quit a substance. I am, in a way, merely speeding up the process somewhat."

Cal nodded. That was simple enough to understand.

"What this procedure cannot do," the alkahestrist continued, "is undo the root causes that led you to choose those stimuli in the first place. This will not keep you from becoming addicted again should you choose to continue in their use, which is why I will not perform this procedure on just any patient who comes requesting it. Renxiang has also assured me that you have been somewhat successful already in receiving appropriate psychological counseling and addressing the emotional and circumstantial issues that have brought us to this point."

"Yes. That's right."

Xhisuan looked, not pleased exactly, but he nodded with a hint of approval. "Good. I do not need your entire backstory for us to proceed, but before I examine your brain chemistry, I do need a couple of pieces of information. The first, when did you first begin using alcohol? The second, when was the last time you had a drink?"

At least he wasn't going to have to relive all of the life trauma he had gone through with Isaac Dahl. "When I was fifteen, and almost six months ago… in four days." Almost a month longer than he'd made it last year, and still going.

He wondered what the man thought of either admission, but he made no judgement calls, he just nodded and pulled out one of those long pieces of cloth he wrapped around his arm that contained transmutation circles. Cal didn't recognize these, but he wondered at the fact there was more than one. "Can you use more than one circle at a time?" It had never occurred to him to try.

"More like changing circles quickly for different transmutations," Xhisuan replied. "This allows me more precision and speed. The less time spent putting alkahestric energy into your brain, the better."

On that, Cal could agree. "Will it feel different than a usual alchemical healing?"

"Shorter, and possibly more intense. Every patient has reported slightly different sensations to me over the years based on their body's interpretation of the sensation. Though I have been assured none of them felt pain."

He could live with that. "All right. What do I need to do?"

"Simply sit as still as you can, and relax. Close your eyes or keep them open, whichever makes that easier." Xhisuan reached out and put his hands on Cal's temples. Cal decided he would rather close his eyes. It made it easier to try and see if he could follow the other man's work inward. "I am beginning," was the only warning he had.

The soft warm sensation of alchemical energy in his body did feel different in the brain. This was so focused, instead of something he could feel anywhere else. It pulsed, steadied, intensified, and then there was a tiny burst that his brain interpreted as rays of light for some reason.

In seconds, it was done.

"The procedure is complete."

Cal opened his eyes. "That was… anticlimactic," he admitted. "Though I feel all right. Honestly, I don't really feel any different, except for this bit of an after-fuzz."

"That will pass in a moment." Xhisuan looked quietly pleased now. "Considering the length of your addiction, your brain adapts incredibly quickly. Its resilience is a benefit."

"So, it worked?"

"From a medical standpoint." Xhisuan gave another satisfied nod. "How you will feel that will be a bit more individual, and you may not notice a difference immediately, except that you should find that your body does not crave alcohol as its immediate response to stressful stimulus as much as it did before. It may not at all. Be cautious, but I think you will find it easier to continue to resist."

Which was really far more than Cal could have asked for. "I guess I'll just have to see how it goes then. Thank you. Anything else I should know?"

"Any changes will be subtle, but you may notice some differences in your olfactory and taste senses as well. Hints of it in your thinking processes when your mind doesn't react immediately by jumping to the same response. But you are still you, and nothing major has really been changed. Just don't be surprised when you notice those little differences for a bit. Likely you'll know what they are in the first few days, particularly if you're out and about during the festival."

That made sense. Even if he had no plans to drink, there would be alcohol in his vicinity at some point. Or his anxiety would sneak up on him over something, and he'd react.

His brain did feel… different, but he couldn't say if it was the residual from the treatment, or if there was now, somewhere, something fundamentally different. A reset. Had it felt like this when he was fifteen? Perhaps a pointless question since he had never given any thought to his brain as a teen, let alone what it felt like outside of the emotions he was dealing with at the time.

"All right. What do I owe you?" It occurred to him that price for treatment had not been discussed.

At that moment, Xhisuan did smile. "Nothing. Guests of the Imperial Family do not pay for services rendered under this roof."

Which meant that Ren had made sure it was taken care of, and probably through her own private funds. She was still a princess. He would have to have a word with her about that later.

"We are very grateful for your time and expertise," Alyse spoke up for the first time.

"I am glad to have been of service. Now, if you will excuse me, I am to be on a train within the hour. I have more patients awaiting me in Lien Province this evening. Any care you might need, or questions you have after this, Renxiang is more than qualified to handle." He stood, bowed to them again, and left.

The entire visit hadn't been more than ten minutes. For several seconds, Cal sat there feeling a bit like he'd been at the center of a whirlwind. One that had taken place almost fully in the deep reaches of his mind. Finally, he looked up at Alyse, who was smiling, and a little dewy eyed. "I guess that's it," Cal spoke up. "We're supposed to meet up with a few people for something soon, aren't we?" He felt foolish for not remembering, but discussions of today's schedule had washed over much of him as preoccupied as he had been with this appointment.

Alyse nodded. "We have two options. There's an organized shopping trip for anything anyone wants to pick up before flying out tomorrow. For anyone who doesn't feel like heading out into the city, there's supposed to be snacks and games in the larger private family area. I believe there's a game on this afternoon that some of the family was planning to watch."

"I'm having trouble visualizing the Imperial family sitting around watching sports on a television in this palace," Cal admitted, chuckling. "Though I'd really rather not go wandering around the city this afternoon. I'd like to give my brain a little time to sort itself out. Did you want to shopping?"

"Not particularly," Alyse admitted. "At least, not here. I'm much more interested in seeing what there is to offer at the festival, and I've been assured anything we really want can also be found at our final destination. There's a lovely little seaside town by the Eastern Palace that will be hosting most of the festivities."

"Sounds good to me." It sounded charming enough. The perfect place for a romantic holiday, which was his goal. He wanted to recapture the romance of their earlier years, for both of them, without the tentativeness he'd felt when he wasn't sure how to properly romance a woman he was actually trying to keep. Now, somehow, he had managed to keep a relationship together with one woman for almost thirty-two years. Not quite half his life, but he had been fortunate that Alyse wanted him at all, especially with the age difference, which had seemed much more of a gap when they had first met. He was determined to make this a memorable vacation they could both treasure as a happy, stress-free trip. So far, it was off to an unexpectedly interesting start. "Well, if that's the case, why don't we go see what they have for professional sports in Xing?"