Royce packed his bags and looked at his humble dwelling a final time. It was slightly dusty, the worn simple furniture was practical but held no beauty. Where he was moving would be a huge difference. Royce had seen Eirian’s household. Their clanmates were warm and welcoming. Their home was decorated in golden carved vines. Art, servants, and an impressive library were some of what the clan boasted. As a clan of healers, they did well in the district.

Their leader was a Fa and Eirian was one as well. Not all clans could claim to have two at such a strong level. Eirian themselves became known during the continental war as they were able to heal small groups of soldiers simultaneously. Some argued that the healers’ presence lengthened the war. However, Royce knew that without them the war would be that much more deadly.

It took a lot of thought to make this decision. In the end, Royce figured if he was to lose his memories, he wanted to be near the one constant he had in Adasion—his friend.

Alan, the other man on the street was not impressed. “You are a sellout!” He shouted from across the street along with more colorful expletives.

Eirian paled. “Did he—did he suggest we intercourse?” They began to glow and looked like they were about to either loose their powers against Alan or throttle the man. “How? Why would he suggest we baby create?”

Royce shook his head, “Ignore the giant asshole.”

“And why do you call him an excretion opening?! This is horrible! Does everyone from Earth speak like this?”

“Well Eirian, they don’t sing their insults in creative songs like Adasions do.”

Royce flipped the bird at Alan as he walked away from his house he barely remembered to lock. The next unfortunate man to land on this planet would be Alan’s neighbor. Let him deal with the jerk.

“He’s waving his third finger at you with both hands. Royce what does this mean?” They waved their hands back at Alan who turned scarlet and started shouting louder.

“Um, you just told him to intercourse himself.”

Eirian gasped. “I didn’t mean – wait, can you intercourse yourselves? I understood that reproduction was between one human man and one human woman.”

“I am not about to explain human sexuality to you!” Royce walked faster.

“But for the scientific knowledge—” Eirian chased after him and Royce laughed.

The climbed into Eirian’s carriage at the end of the street. One of Eirian’s clan waited for them in the carriage. They hugged Royce and spoke animatedly about a party they prepared for them when they return. As they left the Do District the roads became smoother and the smells kinder. Suddenly, the ruddy beasts stopped. The Do driver called out, “Healing Clan—the road’s blocked. We’ll have to drive around the bazaar. It’ll take at least half and hour with how many other carriages are being rerouted.”

“Never mind that!” Eirian opened the door, “Royce and I will walk ahead. Zobno, what about you?”

The long yellow haired Mi Adasion shook their head, “Too much noise there. Too many songs. We’ll meet you back home.”

Eirian nodded as they left Royce’s luggage with the carriage.

There were many sights at the bazaar and Royce made sure he stopped to buy a skewer. Eirian reminded him not to eat too much since they have the banquet back at the mansion.

A woman’s voice called out, “Royce! Eirian!” Juliana jumped far away in the cramped crowd.

Suddenly the ground shook. Royce’s footing wobbled and he fell.

Giant cracks climbed the walls as bricks came loose and crashed to the street. A whole side of a wall leaned towards Juliana. Juliana screamed. The white haired in her clan pushed the wall the opposite way.

Suddenly a sculpture on the third floor of one of the buildings toppled over. Time slowed for Royce. It barely missed as he leapt away. It smashed the tiled road. Finally the shaking ebbed and stopped. Thick dust blanketed the air.

Royce coughed, “Eirian! I’m okay. Eirian, where are you?”

Standing, Royce walked with shaky steps where Eirian last stood. As the air cleared, Royce saw a flickering glow around a leg bent at an uneven angle. Eirian’s pelvis was crushed beneath the stone. Part of their upper torso was also beneath the rock.

A shaky voice came from Eirian, “I’m trying to keep my circulation inside. My gulatopic organ is crushed. I—Adasion’s energy can’t flow…”

“Somebody! Help me move this off him now!” Royce shrieked.

Some elves nearby heaved at the broken statue, but it was too heavy.

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Id’rit slid at the torso of the statue. Raising their arms, they strained with their mana. “AAARRRAH!” The statue was lifted cleanly before being thrown into the rubble behind Eirian.

“Someone’s going to get help.” One of the onlookers said.

Eirian’s eyes sluggishly opened and closed.

“Can you see me? Can you hear me?” Royce held Eirian’s hand, “I’ve got you.”

Eirian’s flickering energy stopped.

“It’s too late. I can’t feel my limbs.”

“A healer can’t be too far away, hang in there.”

“No. I know my life will be short.”

“No! You have so many years to live. Things to see. You’ll outlive me. We have so much to do to change the world. Your clan’s waiting for you.”

“Royce, listen to me. I’m going to give you my mana.”

Royce didn’t understand. “What are saying?”

“I’m in pain, whatever’s left of me. I feel my life slipping. It’s nearly gone. Take it—my power. Everyone here witnesses. I’m giving it freely.” With those faint words, Eirian began to crackly sing. Those around them joined in. “Feel my energy? Only men can do this—take it! Suck it in.”

“No—” Royce wanted to deny.

On their final breath, they gave their mana away.

As Eirian’s energy touched Royce, Royce felt the desire to suck. To feed. He didn’t understand how he did it, but he pulled Adasion’s energy from his friend. It didn’t take long. In one moment of thought, it was over.

Flipping over his glowing hands, Royce stared in awe at his body.

“Eirian, I can heal you now, let me try!” He reached.

Oynoiz jumped in and his power snuffed out.

“What are you doing?”

“They’re dead. There’s nothing more you can do.”

“No—I’m right here!”

Id’rit softly spoke. “Anytime a man steals energy, it kills the Adasion. Eirian didn’t want your guilt, he waited until his last moment.”

Royce screamed and screamed. He never felt so alone on this planet. Juliana tried to hug him, but he pushed her away. He stayed kneeled in the dirt for some time, keening in agony. Royce kept repeating that he was alone. That it was his fault. That he shouldn’t even be on this cursed planet.

A heart-wrenching cry came from the south. Zobno leapt over rocks and collapsed near Eirian. Holding was left of their body, they rocked and tearlessly cried.

Eirian’s body began to disintegrate into gentle lights that fell like round glowing snowflakes. They disappeared once they touched the dirt.

“Eirian returns to Adasion.” Id’rit flatly stated with crossed arms. The Sonata elves echoed his statement, crossing their arms with bowed heads.

After a while, one of the onlookers explained the situation to Zobno. At first, they glared at Royce. When they saw the hopelessness in his expression, their face softened. “You are clan now. Eirian gave you a gift. You will live as long as we do, you will keep your memories and use the healing energy at the same Fa rank as Eirian. Don’t waste this gift.” With a chagrined smile they grabbed Royce’s shoulder. Royce nodded, but his eyes were downcast.

“I need some time by myself. I didn’t want to enter our clan like this. I—I just need a moment. I’ll be back.” Royce walked through the destruction.

As Royce stepped carefully around the collapsed buildings, he would see someone injured.

One Adasion held their arm to their chest.

“Let me see it?”

They held it out.

“How do you use your special abilities?” Royce asked. The Adasion looked confused.

He tried again, “Your color powers. Is it an emotion?”

“We reach in and push out energy.”

“Okay. I’ll try that.”

There was a moment of nothing. Royce frowned. Had the transfer failed? Was Eirian wrong? Was their gift wasted? No, no, that would be too horrible.

Royce tried again.

And again.

A faint light shone.

“I did it!” Royce exclaimed.

The Adasion was healed, but looked at him in horror. “Who did you kill? Killer! Executor!”

“No! It wasn’t like that!” Royce stood.

Someone nearby shoved him. “Get away from us!”

As he walked around the damage and healed others, they became afraid. Harsh words were yelled, one Adasion even spat. Would it always be like this?

Unwiped tears dripped and snot dripped down Royce’s face.

“Why does that human leak?” One young Adasion asked.

A pink striped Re answered. “Can’t you feel it? See it? He’s in sorrow. Let’s sing a song.”

The smallest smile came to Royce’s face. He slightly bowed at the Asa as per their custom. He continued to walk, now turning down more narrow streets.

The sky became darker.

The sun set. Royce had not returned. He did not return the next day.

Search parties sent by the Healer’s Clan couldn’t find their newest and welcomed member. It was as if Royce had disappeared.

The Training Center’s lecture hall buzzed with gossip and worry. Where was Royce? There were so many theories. He ran away ashamed or confused after receiving mana. He was kidnapped and trafficked to one of the other countries. He found a way to return to Earth. The human community was at a loss. The Training Center spoke to all the women to question about Royce. No one knew where he was. Alan, despite being always cankerous, expressed concern. Juliana prayed that Royce would be all right. Wherever he was.

Zobno and the Healing Clan sat in their laboratory. Zobno had their head in their hands.

Juliana’s clan was with them as friends of Eirian. It was an hour before the Departing Ceremony.

“I don’t understand. We are happy to have him as one of us. Where could he be?” Zobno spoke through clenched teeth.

“Eirian is an unreplaceable loss, but his intentions live on in Royce. We must find him!” Another clan member said.

“Do you think he was ashamed and ran away? He could be in the Quantop Forrest now! If the beasts see him or the Wild Elves—oh no—I don’t want to think what could be happening!” They cried.

For Eirian’s clan, this was a double loss. Juliana could not imagine their sorrow. Adasions live for centuries and Eirian had so much potential. They were expected to eventually lead the next generation as the younger Fa. They were so kind and so welcoming to humans. Despite others’ criticism of how close he was to Royce, they didn’t mind it. Friendship knew no bounds with them. They were progressive about the future. Their loss was a loss for Asa.

At sunset the Healer Clan sang songs of loss for Eirian. Their slow sorrowful melody rose and ebbed. Occasionally they would ring hand bells.

Fionn sent waves of comfort whenever the sorrow became too much.

A large hanging bell rang four times to conclude the morning.

Zobno turned to his clanmates, “Should we sing a song for Royce?”

“He is not dead!” One hissed.

“He could’ve ran, Zobno. No song was sung in ceremony inducting him into our clan. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a stranger.” Another coldly answered.

“But what about Eirian’s power?” Zobno retorted.

“A loss for us all. The same loss we would’ve expected without the mana transfer. Consider this a series of unfortunate circumstances. At the best news, Royce is lost. At the worst, he’s a mana thief. I don’t care if it was given at Eirian’s last breath. That power should be with us.” The second huffed before walking away.