Rise was back studying at the library. New lectures had started this cycle but she hadn't seen Gentle in either of them. Surprisingly she was missing her nosy neighbours presence. She had thought that getting some alone time would be an excellent opportunity to get some proper studying done.

But her eyes kept wandering to the corner of the alcove, watching for a certain figure to turn the corner. She's been finding herself looking forwards to the presence of that flower girl. Before arriving at the Academy she could never have imagined forming a... friendship with another student. She doesn't quite know when it happened. I formed a friendship?

Life was a battle. Each meal was a tug of war between you, the environment and competitors. So, while this friendship continued, she had constantly been on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Why is she being so nice to me. Why help me study, why waste your time on someone like me. Rise had asked as much of Gentle. Not in so many words but the message had been received. Yet the response she had gotten surprised her...

"That's only an issue if resources are limited you know?" Came the matter of fact response. "I could give a flowery response. But practically it's to both our advantage."

"Limited?" Rise couldn't help but frown. This wasn't the response she'd expected.

"If a resource is limited you may have no choice but to fight over it. It might end up being a case of life or death right?"

Rise nodded, giving a grunt of agreement. That was her understanding of the world.

"But knowledge isn't lost if it's shared. We're in an Academy. The more we help each other the further we both can achieve..." Her expression stiffened a moment, the words falling out of her own mouth cutting something inside. She covered over that feeling rather quickly but Rise still caught it.

"What I'm saying is that altruism can benefit you even if you only have a selfish drive. So... why don't we support each other, a little partnership. We'll both benefit." The message had been utilitarian. But in a sense it had a hidden kindness. Overcoming Rise's barriers of practicality, giving her an out.

That talk had stuck with her. The more Rise had thought about those words the more they made sense to her. But also the less meaning they had. Deep inside part of her knew it was ultimately an excuse. An excuse to give in a little to that small desire that had been growing this entire time.

It left her confused. Dizzy from alien feelings she'd never had the chance to experience before. Alliances could lead to betrayal after all. So she'd never reached out again after being stung so many times. I shouldn't need companionship, I don't need partners or allies. So this new accord should go against her principals. Yet lulled into agreement by her logic she couldn't see anything wrong with her proposal. It was logical to team up. But the whole situation made her rather flummoxed and confused. The atmosphere here at the Academy is so different it's made me soft.

Seriously what am I doing. Partnership. She could do that, at a strain. She could... no should allow herself a least that much. But the conversation had begun to take on a new light as she'd run it through her head again and again. Something wasn't right. What was the feeling of loss she felt when she replayed that look of forlorn in her mind?

Lately Gentle had seemed more subdued. Resigned. And although the relaxed atmosphere suited her better, it only increased that feeling of impending loss. Should I ask? Rise couldn't think how she could express herself. How would she even form the question? She didn't even think she had the vocabulary to show concern for others?

Another sigh leaves her lips and her eyes wander to the corner of her little alcove. Her eyes expect to see those familiar pastel colours turn the corner like every other cycle. A familiar, yet refreshing, scent of flowers to fill the small space. A meddling voice to start asking her annoying questions...

Her heart lifts every time she hears the shuffle of feet outside, only to sink as it turns out to be a stranger walking past. Frowning at her own fickle behaviour Rise forces her eyes down onto the page and begins studying yet again. Stupid. Need to focus on my own studies. It would be no good if she spent the entire Mark staring off into space. She had her own education to attend to.

She had been making progress lately. Much to her surprise the Academy had delivered on some of its promise. Alchemy had seemed like a far off dream at the beginning. But the class had come through. Her annoyance at Gentle for suggesting the class had subsided. She had finally discovered a rich enough source of ingredients and the components to create some simple tools.

Her setup in no way matched up to what existed at the Academy. But the small advantage it conferred gave her an edge. An edge was exactly what she needed. Who would have thought those mushrooms could become edible with a little magic. Never mind that they could be put to good use as ingredients.

She'd had to put up with a few bad stomachs as her recipes didn't quite land in some cases. But Rise couldn't keep the grin off her face when she thought of her one true success. Draft of swiftness. It truly did give her a supernatural edge.

The only problem was, she may have started to gain attention. Being too successful can be just as bad as not being successful enough. Enforcers may begin to keep a closer eye on me if I start to look a little too healthy. Enforcers were just glorified traitors in Rise's mind. Sucking up to their jailers for a sniff of privilege. She couldn't stand them. Yet they could make her life very difficult.

Gangs roamed the Underworld. Enforces looked the other way for a price. But a lone Feral girl had no chance of swaying people unless they had big bucks. But that would only lead to prying eyes rather than free reign. It could even lead to eyes from above coming to investigate. Rise shuddered. That was the last thing she wished to consider.

She wondered how Gentle had been progressing on her own world? She was intelligent, she could read and write from the get go, but she wasn't stuck up like some of the other students here at the Academy. The number of times Rise had to put another student in their place during Combat Arts was astonishing. Just because she didn't have an education didn't mean she couldn't move her body. They seemed to think their training was a substitute for true life or death combat...

But when she was accompanied by Gentle it was different. She never looked down on Rise. Never assumed what she could or couldn't do. Always asked if anything made her uncomfortable. To be frank, her constant questions were what made me uncomfortable. But Rise couldn't say that. Her eyes flicker back to the entrance of the alcove... only for her to jolt in surprise.

"Oh, hey! You're here Rise. How were your new lessons?" Familiar, warm and sincere. Rise found her mind tumble as she was caught unprepared.

She quickly looks away. No answer forthcoming. Eyes searching for an answer to her jumble of thoughts.

"Em, did I do something wrong?" The flustered Gentle pulls up a seat to sit down hesitantly. Rise, having been caught flat footed, had lost the opportunity to respond. The alcove remains quiet.

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Rise's face tenses into a small frown. You weren't meant to show up at that moment. Now I don't know what to say. Unfair criticism levied at Gentle, Rise can only give excuses for her behaviour.

"...Fine."

"Ah, OK." The awkward silence continues. The gentle murmur of the library a back drop to the scene. Rise listens for her continuation. Yet she can only hear the subtle breathing of her... friend. Her chest tightens. Distress settles in her head as she doesn't know how to interact with Gentle. It had been simple enough to begrudgingly answer at the start of their acquaintance. But now she felt herself tripping over words more and more. Simple snippy responses weren't satisfying any more. They only seemed to hurt her, even though Gentle always responded in a positive light.

And yet now. The barrier she's built over her life adds a new set of bricks as a matter of course. Rather than grow closer she felt like each interaction solidified the distance they had.

The shuffle of paper indicate that her friend had shifted her focus. Scribbling away in her new notebook she's no longer focusing on Rise. A little relieved and disappointed she takes a peek towards Gentle.

There was something soothing about looking at her friend. A pastel pallet of colours. A studious expression as she scribbles notes in her notebook. Something warm settles in her heart as the two study in companionable silence. A sense of comfort that she's only experienced in Gentles company.

But that sad look in her eyes was unsettling. It was new. Only having emerged in the last few cycles. What's happened Gentle. It's unlike you to hold something back. What haven't you talked my ear off about?

"Hey..." Rise begins to mumble. A simple sentence is all she wants to say. But she can't form the words. She doesn't know what to ask. Yet her lips forms the word regardless.

"Hmm?" Looking up from her not book those cat like eyes give Rise a questioning look. What was I going to ask?

"How... how was your..." Caught unprepared Rise fumbles. Gentle watches patiently for her to form the question forming on her lips.

"Found you!" Rise jolts as their quite corner is invaded.

If Rise were a cat she would currently be hissing at this interloper. Puffed up in indignation internally but on the surface her lips form a thin line. Who?!

"Gentle! Why are you hiding in this corner? I've been looking all over for you!" She was another humanoid plant creature. Viridian coloured hair, peachy textured skin and a pair of flowers on her head. One crimson the other icy blue.

With a skip she bowled into Gentle almost pushing her out of her seat. Luckily Gentle found her balance, looking a little lost she corrects her posture. Arms hovering not sure what to do with them as the girl hugs her.

"Hey, um, Spring. How did you find me?" Gentle asking a little perplexed.

Why is she being so familiar? How does she know Gentle? Who is this little loud mouth? An ugly feeling began to grow in the pit of Rise's stomach. Like every time she found a place to call her own, only to be evicted by a stronger gang. Or the times she found a good gathering spot only to discover she'd been followed and the entire place had been scoured for resources.

But this time was different. Isn't it? Gentle was her own person, she could be friends with whomever she wanted. Rise wasn't her keeper. So why does it hurt so much?

"I followed your smell!" The girl replies with a proud unapologetic look on her face. Gentles face scrunches as if asking, What!? Are you a dog!

"Sorry about her." Rise almost jumps again as a tired voice pitches in from the side. Another new person had arrived while her attention was stolen. A featureless face. Stone and soil make up their limbs. Their body is covered in various mosses arranged in carefully cultivated patterns. They're a lot more vibrant and colourful than you'd expect from a golem like being.

With a sigh from her non existent lips the golem slips in the seat next to Rise. "She can get rather obsessive. Don't worry, she'll calm down eventually."

"Who?" Rise asks while looking back and forth between the two invaders.

"Ah, I'm Garden and that's Spring. We met Gentle during Mystic Poetry. She kinda became quite attached to Gentle. It's not often fellow Plantae get to meet up."

"Plantae?" Rise asks having a slight sinking feeling.

"Think of them as humanoid plants. Students who have plant based spirits and the Academy adjusts their bodies accordingly."

And there it was. Rise felt like her place had been supplanted. Of course Gentle would favour her own kind. Rise hardly ever gave an effort to even grow closer with Gentle. Always pushing her away. Always giving her the cold shoulder. Yet Gentle had persisted, no matter how cold she was. Won't she move on? Won't she grow tired of trying?

"Ah." Garden gives a small gasp as she seems to realise something. Leaning closer she whispers into Rise's ear. "Sorry. We're interrupting your date aren't we?"

"!!!" Rise splutters as she tries to comprehend Gardens monumental misunderstanding. "It's not like that!" She shouts in a whisper back. Voice raised but also not, as to hide their words from Gentle across the table. Thankfully Spring is talking her ear off and she doesn't hear.

"Oh?" Gardens voice is level. But if she had a face she would be raising her eyebrow at this moment. Cheeks tinged with the warmth of a blush Rise cannot figure out the right way to clear up her mistaken thought process.

"We're not like that. We're friends..." Rise stumbles. It's the first time she's spoken those words out loud. It's a bitter sweat sentence, bringing both the joy of admitting she has a friend. But also that tinge of pain that should have gone away. What's wrong with me...

"I see, I see." Garden nods in understanding, in an infuriating manner which leads Rise to believe she doesn't see at all. And it has nothing to do with the fact she doesn't have eyes. Garden notes Rise's terse expression and gives a plaintive gesture in apology.

"Sorry, I'll stop teasing. But are you fine with this?" Gesturing to the Spring who has snuggled into Gentles chest. Looking to all the world like she's found a home right there in Gentles embrace. Gentle for her part seems a little put out, leaning away. Trying to retain some personal space. But that lonely look in her eyes has softened. As unwanted as the affection is, it soothes that troubled mood she had been in. Whether it be through distraction or otherwise Spring has been much more successful at overcoming Gentles barriers.

She looks toward the whispering Garden and Rise with a questioning look. "Something the matter?" Rise shakes her head vigorously while Garden chuckles under her breath.

"So, so! You ready for the next Social? There's so much I want to show you at... wait. What's that look?" A surprising moment of astute observation has Spring frowning. Perhaps she knows exactly how forward she's being? Rise thinks to herself. "You did sign up to the Social Period didn't you Gentle?" She harrumphs.

Gentle for her part can only look away. Reading the titles on the nearby books. "Well, I haven't really decided yet... you know I might use those points..."

"Hmph! No good! You need a little fun..." Spring puffs out her cheeks in a dramatic pout.

"But..." Gentle tries in an ineffective manner.

"No buts! 5 points won't decide between staying and leaving the Academy. But forging the right connections could. Come, I won't take no for an answer..."

Spring leaps off her perch, practically on Gentles lap and tugs at her arm. Gentle gives a wry smile but seems resigned to follow along with Springs selfishness.

Rise watches as the two begin to leave the alcove just minutes after arriving. That sense of loss tightens once more in her chest. She'll be back in a few minutes, this she knows in her mind, but her heart doesn't recognise the same fact. If she leaves that's one more step between us. Then later she'll concede another and then another and so on. I can't loose my first friend. That feeling seeps into her mind delivered by the pain in her heart.

Abruptly rising from her seat Spring and Gentle are caught in surprise. "Rise?"

"I'm coming." She announces resolutely. "I'll also take the Social Period."

"Oh..." Not really expecting it Gentle responds absently.

"Oh! Nice follow!" Spring gives a thumbs up. "Great tag team, she can't refuse now."

As she passes Garden she spots the wry grin that would have plastered her face... if she had one. Rise face's Springs insufferable smile. "I didn't do it for you."

"Oh?" She looks a little perplexed at Rises comment, but doesn't give it much thought. "OK, wins a win in my book thought. Come on Gentle! Lets get you signed up..."