Teuila basically shouts into my face as she latches on to me, “Dink! My, my, grr, my Airhead! I didn’t realize how bad you were hurt! Do you need a red potion? Do you need the big one? Are you okay? They said you were okay, but they used our joke, and, and I didn’t know! Love, seriously, Air, are you okay!?”
I blink rapidly, then jokingly reach a finger up to clean out my right ear before saying, “Well, I’m blind, and I may now be deaf, but other than that, yeah, doing pretty good Teuila, heh. But no, seriously though. Thank you. I’m sorry I was a complete jackanapes for the last few days. I didn’t really have full touch with reality while doing that. I’ve got good news, and ba—“
Teuila throttles me, “Bad news!? What happened? Who’s dying? Who died!? Where?”
I snort, trying not to laugh. Teuila’s overexcitable at the moment. I cautiously choose my words as best I can, “The bad news is simply that the four books didn’t contain a cure for Dawn, nor even really a new lead, not truly. Bup. Hold your horses Teuila. Speaking of. The good news is, now I can conjure ghostly horses, send my vision to locations that I know very well, craft runes and learn them more quickly, though in a more costly fashion to my daily allowance. Eh, bup bup hold on. I’m saving the best for last. If we have enough rubies to grind into dust, or sapphires, or emeralds, certain different gemstone types depending on the type of spell, I can now craft an additional enchantment called permanency. It makes them permanent, and I—“
Teuila leaps up and down, bouncing on me as she cheers, “That’s amazing! Airhead that’s, that’s so much new stuff, and, and it’s so impressive! I’m so proud of you love. Air. I’m really, really glad you’re alright. I—“
Before Teuila can get swept up in emotions, I interrupt her, “I found an enchantment for Telepathy Teuila, without the need to entangle deadly tethers between hearts. With permanency, I c—“
Teuila’s voice cracks as she pleads, “Now! N-, now, p, please, please. Please, you me and Dawn, right away!”
I sigh as I caress Teuila’s cheek, kissing her forehead lovingly. I try to explain, “I found the enchantment in a book, I haven’t practiced or mastered the runes yet. I only just found it Te, My beloved Wings, minutes ago. I’m sorry. It’ll take quite a few days, I think, even with the new mastery over runostructure, runotyping and runeocrafting. Forgive me?”
Teuila fights sobs as she basically bawls, “W, koff, what’s th, glp, there to even forgive? My, My Air! We, we. I miss you, I miss you in my head so much! Th, there’s, it’s hope. And it’s you, so I know you’ll pull it off! Glp.”
I caution Teuila, “I love you Teuila, but remember, we don’t know how Rayileklian magic works, we will be telepathically bonded, but it doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll have our mindscapes, or telepathic avatars or anything. It might just be like the old days, like when it was sending text into each other’s brains. If that’s the case, maybe we’ll be able to master it in order to expand upon it, or maybe we won’t, because maybe such a thing doesn’t exist in Rayileklian magic. I adore you from the lowest hells to the highest heavens, My beloved Wings. I don’t want your heart to be broken or let down if it doesn’t live up to your expectations.”
Teuila pouts, but nods as she confirms her understanding, “I, I get that. It doesn’t matter. It’s okay. Anything. Anything. I, I’ve just been hanging out with Essie and Firebutt in my head for the last few days with you completely spaced out, absorbed in your books. I want you in here. With me. I want my Air in my head. No matter how. Please, please. Soon?”
I nod, wearing a fretful smile as I gaze lovingly into her sad, longing eyes. I blink away tears that begin to form and rub an itch from beneath my nose. I cough as I recall, “Speaking of. I heard Bud told Essie the way. Bud’s really weak now. I really messed up Te. I hurt him bad by bringing him along with me into that headspace. I. I used and abused him, unintentionally. He, he kept me from, well, from giving up myself, from burning away my emotions and soul to master more magic, faster.”
Teuila’s face is ashen as she stares at me unblinking, she flubs, “You, you hwhat? Bud, Bud saved you from, from that? I, I owe Bud a, a, a, what do halberd glaivey thingies even want anyway?”
Sadness adorns a face as I admit, “Friends. Ones that don’t treat him as crappily as I did during those few days while my emotions were burning away. I’m so sorry Te. I didn’t know that forcing myself into that state would do that. I swear. I feel horrible for hurting him, both emotionally as a friend, and as the damage he’s recovering from from being dragged along on the ride.”
Teuila sifts her fingers through my hair and nuzzles my forehead, kissing it repeatedly. I glance over my shoulder with my senses, but my danger wraps don’t pick up the Sister that led me here any longer. I breathe deep and let loose a slow sigh, falling into Teuila’s embrace, melting into her. My Wings, my everything. I was going to throw myself away, again. I can’t believe I was going to do that to you. I gulp sadly, trying to push away the thoughts, before I accidentally draw a shuddering breath, almost a gasp. Teuila thumbs my cheek, wiping away tear streaks that I didn’t even know were there. Our lips meet, and I remember how much I love living. How much I want to keep living. How much I want to share my happiness with the wonderful, beloved people in my life.
We stand, embracing for long enough that I don’t even know how much time has passed, our lips not parting at all as we hungrily partake of our love for each other. Not in a greedily, romantically passionate way. No. Instead, in a state of constancy, almost unmoving. A reminder of how eternally we’d bonded, how long we desire our bond to continue lasting into the future. I want to be hers, forever and ever. I want to live. I’m not ready to give up. I still think that Dawn’s life is currently more important, but after that deadline, whatever the outcome, I’ll fight for my life, instead of riding out the moments until my demise in despair.
I whisper, around our locked lips, “I love you more than anything else that could possibly exist. Your happiness is everything to me.”
Teuila teases, “I bet you tell that to all the sexy girls who like your face. Big A. Really, really liked your face by the way.”
I blush heatedly as my heart hammers. Dangit Teuila, I was trying to be sentimental, heh. Hm? What’s up? Oh. Hey Bud! Are you okay? Are you feeling better already? I’m so, so, so, so so so sorry. I don’t know how to make it up t—. Really? Just like that? I could cry Bud. Hell, I am crying.
Teuila continues to tease, “Thinking about her touches you that much huh? Brings a tear to your eye? She was a little hottie wasn’t she? Plus she was so cool. Dedicated, trying to keep all those Enookie Buddies safe, especially her students. I totally get it. I’m pretty sure, really, really sure she wanted to start a family with you, like full on having kids.”
I choke and sputter, falling loose from our lip-locked position, and Bud joins in on the teasing, unintentionally. No bud, it’s, it’s not the same when Teuila’s doing this, it’s not exactly mating adjacent. I. I mean, yes, she’s technically referring to mating, but she’s not like, talking about the act, just the result of it. I. Does that make sense Bud? Holy crap I can barely breathe, between you two my heart is friggin’ hammering.
Teuila grins madly as she continues to poke her little fun button, “So, she said I didn’t have to tell you, or anyone, but also that she didn’t mind, but, well, I wasn’t joking when I said we had a fun day. Like, really fun. If ya know what I mean. But actually for reals, for seriously serious, her lips are sweet as honeydew Air, and she’s got all kindsa fun squish in that tight little package. Apparently changelings kinda fall for people like that, for like, short bursts of affection or something.”
Teuila seems proud of herself, but then takes on a quizzical appearance as she continues, “She was so embarrassed. It’s something to do with true selves and contact adding to their internal story or something. It’s especially like, like they change partners frequently, quickly, and maybe rotate back if they love them enough. Flint knew they weren’t like, together together, but he was a smidge jealous, but he knows changelings, and they’ve apparently been friends for a really long time. Plus their undercover stuff was like, dangerous, so they got closer than ever recently. Hah, then you show up and sweep her off her brain. Not even her feet, like she went all stupid around you, not even joking, and not making fun of her, she basically called it that herself. Like, like she really, really wanted to be in, or start, a family with you spontaneously, just, bang! Ya know? Hehe.”
Teuila cocks her head to the side as she gazes up-leftwards before recalling, “Yeah, like, she has this little enchanted thing that lets her see like, influence or something. It helps with their investigation, into, you know, what they call their manxome foe’s presence and influence. Only, when she looked at you, because she was a changeling looking at a changeling, she saw your inner changeling self thingy. Kinda a little bit jealous about that, oh well. Her brain went all screwy when she saw it. She’s always been a little mousy, but apparently the inner you flipped a switch in a big way. Heeee.”
As Teuila sounds her wonderful, amazing Shellcracker Squee, that beautiful single laugh of glee, I gulp while my face steams to my eartips. My jaw wags as I try to form words, but I’m stunned. Huh? Yeah Bud, now Teuila’s going a bit overboard in a way I would tell you to stop. I, I can barely think though, let alone talk. I. I. It’s. It’s kind of like. Like how I worried about things with Teuila. Was seeing each other’s souls or auras or eyes or whatever a vain, superficial way to start a relationship? The only one I could look to for guidance was Lil, and they had no answer. But now, Alanea felt smitten for me by viewing something about me? That sounds superficial, but then again, well, the thing she saw? That was the literal true me. People normally say a superficial relationship is founded on not knowing anything about each other. So, her infatuation or enamoredness or whatever came from knowing me, at least a little, on that one—.
Alanea was able to, ohhh she didn’t just have that brief glimpse when we touched each other’s chests. She was probably reading my whole life’s story every time I showed up, bouncing around in my timeline, looking especially for happiness, and love, and how I got there, or something. Whatever big feelings were easy enough to spot, to jump to those sections of the logs written on my inner selfsame soul. That’s a mouthful.
I don’t know if I’m breathing, or if my heart is beating. I left without saying goodbye to someone who felt so strongly about me. Someone who felt so strongly in a way that, well, I think I reciprocated. Whether or not Alanea was worried that it was a result of the inner me drawing in her feelings empathetically or empathically. Frick. Hellspit. Crap. Huff. I, I don’t want to feel like that about someone on this world. I don’t want to be in love with someone that I’m going to abandon forever when we finally find a way to go back home. What Bud? Oh. Oh yeah. She, she did say that didn’t she. I. Gosh. And there I go not being able to breathe again and blushing harder. Glp. I’m getting dizzy from the blood rushing to my head.
I’m sure she has people she loves here though, and I don’t know if there’s any way to bring a Rayileklian native back with us, if we can even find a way back for ourselves. What if it’s a permanent, final, one way ticket? What if there’s only a limited number of those tickets? Okay, sure Bud, now I’m just making random wild guesses, but, but jeeze. Hiccup. I. I don’t know how to process. One minute, I’m throwing my life away, begging for a chance to save someone. The next I’m cherishing life and wishing for an eternity with the woman I first fell in love with. Then the next I’m being thrown into a swirl of emotions based on someone else’s feelings that, well, I’m really enamored with, whatever the cause or source.
Teuila pokes me in the chest playfully, asking, “You okay in there Airhead? I can see you stuck in your head. Imagining you and her in bed? Eh? Eh? She’s a great snuggler. Feels great all o—, well, to be all pressed up agai—.”
My eyes roll around in their sockets and I nearly faint as I’m low on blood, which appears to now be all pooled in my head. Apparently Teuila notices how pale I am everywhere other than my face, so takes pity on me. I topple forward into her embrace, and she strokes my forehead and sifts her fingers through my hair.
Teuila playfully apologizes, “Sorry I guess Air. Kinda forgot you bled so much. Probably shouldn’t summon it all to your face with thoughts of sweet, short, stacked hotties that were absolutely head over heels, heels to the wheels, b-s to the walls in love with you, huh? Oops, oops, sorry. No, for real this time. I’ll stop. Sorry. My Airhead. I, I just. It’s how I deal with things. You know me. I’ve always done insults and teases. It’s, it’s just my thing. I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m going to miss her. However any of this turns out. I really liked her.”
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
I nod as I kiss Teuila softly. I agree, “Yeah. Yeah. Me too Te. Me too My Wings. I hope that the Enochian Enclave succeeds and everyone there survives and pulls through this crazy overarching battle for the fate of Rayileklia. Love? Where’s Dawn?”
Teuila half frowns as she answers, “They said something about since we’re not Rayileklia natives, we had to be in a different wing until you were better, so they separated us pretty much right away. I’m not sure. It’s kind of eerie here. I’m surprised there’s none of those Sister thingies nearby. Did your danger wraps pick up on th—. Yeah, I can see it in your eyes. Yeah, I’ve got my danger spear in a pocket in my dress, shrunk down. Little bit creepy, but they’re really nice and all. I wonder what it’d be like to smooch one of ‘em.”
My face contorts as my left eyebrow shoots high in incredulous surprise while I wear half of a laugh on my face. I stammer, “Wh-what? Te? What’s gotten into you?”
Teuila fidgets and blushes before admitting, “I, just. You keep doing things. We both said no more solo stuff, I want it to be true, I want us to be at each other’s sides all the time from now on. But, but we keep not being there, and I. I miss Lin. Like, between every wave we were all over each other, and in bed if you fell asleep first. I know she thought she was stealing me from you or whatever silly thing, so she put a lot of effort into it, but, glp, well. I really liked being like that. I just so badly want you and me to be like that, all the time, somewhere safe, to just, just enjoy that. Not all this stupid questing and world ending and dying and, and being sure we’re going to lose friends and, and all this horrible crap all the time. But if we’re going to have to go through it, why not get some kissy time in wherever we can? But, but you first. I want my Air at my side or on my face. Y’know?”
I sputter and blush as Teuila wears a derpy grin. I can’t help smiling lovingly, laughingly, tearfully into Teuila’s eyes. I lightly shake my head incredulously while responding, “Te. I’m surprised you were able to be that honest about your feelings just now. I’m proud of you, My Wings. Me too though. Y’know? Like, like sometimes I think to myself that, that if Dawn were anyone else who weren’t squicked out by that kind of affection, that I’d be offering it to her all the times when we’re stuck alone without you, or all three of us snuggling could be all, well. Yeah. I sort of totally get it. Sorry, I hope I didn’t sound judgmental or anything. The Sisters? They seem friendly enough, maybe they’d be amenable to it if you want to ask. It doesn’t seem like they get a lot of company. If nothing else, it might be a novel experience or something. Just, y’know, watch out for the teeth, heh.”
A sister says from right next to me, “Yes, please do, we don’t bite, but we’d be frightfully upset if we accidentally injured you.” I nearly jump out of my skin as my heart hammers through my chest, nearly escaping my ribcage. My only-recently-healed ribcage.
Even Teuila’s eyes shoot wide as she blushes. The Sister continues, “You are right, young, ancient Reggie. It would be novel. But that is not why we are here. We’re certain you’ve plenty to keep each of you busy, between your own unread tomes, and our resources. Teuila, aren’t you forgetting something you wanted to share?”
Teuila’s eyes light up as they shoot wide once again. She virtually squeals, “Eeeh! You’re right! Holy spootnik. Rej, Love, Air. That book that Bud wanted you to give me, The Apex of Divinity, it’s got some really, really, really cool stuff in it. Like, like, like almost healing stuff with faith in like, a big dragon or something, or like a six legged horse, or some dude that rides it, or maybe a dude is the horse, or, ah there’s so much cool stuff. What’s weird is, it like, resonates with me. Like, like it really feels like a vibe. Y’know? Like a literal actual vibration, but also, y’know, a vibe. Especially the, the true dragon lord? Something something. Eldest silver, first dragon, supposedly such pure silver atop platinum. I think his scales would be kinda like Tenny’s, shimmery and multi colored, despite being silvery whitish. Wait, what was that thingy you put in your helmet that one time again?”
My own eyes flash wide as I reach to dig it out. It’s like a short slat, as if it were a sliver from a dragon’s scale filed down into a slightly flexible rectangle. It’s almost assuredly platinum. I hand it to Teuila immediately. My draconic form is on the back burner for a while anyway. We’re not sure if the glob gunk is removed from it or not. Bluh, my two best combat forms are out of commission on Rayileklia. I suppose with a few days, and a whole lot of bleeding, and mana residue sickness, I could create an entirely new form. Maybe a big ol’ hunter kitty cat like Lightning? Heh. Linti might either get a kick out of it, or be totally insulted.
Teuila gazes over the platinum scale shred as she flips it over and over and over in her hands. It almost looks like she’s falling into it as she stares at it. She does something that I think surprises all three of us. She eats the scale sliver. I’m left blinking, stunned. If the Sister had eyes, I wonder if she’d be much the same, or if she saw this coming. Teuila blinks for a short while as well, almost seeming confused as to why she’d done what she just did. Te then belches a tiny mote of flame, and giggles.
My jaw hangs slack. I’m about to ask, but Teuila nods excitedly as she claims, “Yep, pretty sure, I think I just got baby dragon breath. Maybe bigger? Like, like hold still. Sister, you’re an ally, right? We consider each other allies, yes? Absolutely one hundred percent truly?”
The Sister nods, so Teuila grins as she changes position, and basically drags the sister down to sit in my lap as she sets me against a wall. I raise an eyebrow curiously, and shrug apologetically at the sister. Teuila takes a deep breath, and lets loose a slow rolling flame in a cone in our direction. The flame spreads around us, barely licking at us, and, the Sister, uh. Purrs. That’s the only way I can describe the otherworldly, semi creepy noise she makes. I shudder slightly from the effect of the odd noise, but the flame itself is relaxing, soothing, like being caressed and stroked by strong, warm hands. Just like the scale said it would do to my breath weapon, if I ever got around to using it.
Teuila claps excitedly, and lifts the both of us up to hug each of us, partially passing through the Sister. I could swear the Sister shudders nervously for the briefest moment. I’m starting to build up a sense of something with my genre senses, but I’m not entirely sure what it is yet. There’ve been clues, but I think I convinced myself that some of them weren’t clues. I think the Sisters might actually be scared of us, despite us being in their domain, completely at their mercy. Unless, we aren’t? I mean, we’re definitely in their domain. I poke the Sister gently in the arm, my finger passes through several layers of cloth, and several inches of where her arm should be before coming into contact with what might be her torso beneath her many layered, flowy, floaty dress robes.
I apologize, “Sorry Sister, really sorry. I, uh, that was inappropriate of me, I let my curiosity get the better of me. I’m sure there are things that you’d share with us if it was important, or that are private. I, well, yeah. Terribly sorry for my rudeness.”
She pats my head and sighs as she responds, “You will soon learn unsettling things aplenty. Some perhaps may be about us. If perhaps this is the case, we hope that you choose kindness. We. Well, we truly do choose kindness on our end, and hope that you reciprocate. Enough of that though. Let us retrieve your friend Dawn anon. This way. Also, the answer Teuila as I was saying, is yes, we are interested in novel experiences, but later.”
Teuila blushes and chuckles, remembering what originally seemed to conjure the Sister to our side. I blush, but for a much different reason. I worry that I’ve hurt the sister’s feelings. She said that they choose kindness, but somehow she’s worried that we wouldn’t? Why wouldn’t we? They’ve been nothing but amazing. Apparently helping and aiding Rayileklia for a long time, though that’s only at their own word, and whispered rumors among some of the townsfolk we passed by, or a few people we’ve met, or in Aces’ memories.
I suppose if I learned some secrets about their monstrous nature that were upsetting, that there was a past that they felt they were atoning for, then, well. Hm, did the Sister just shudder at the moment? Are their forms unstable? Regardless, point being, if they’re attempting to atone, or whatever possible combination of things make them fear me choosing unkindness, then, well, yes, kindness. Who am I to interfere?
Well, I suppose I’m a bit of an egotistical maniac who makes it my job to interfere in a lot of things, hah. Yes Bud, I’m being self-deprecating in a humorous manner that holds a fairly large grain of truth. Pft, hah. That’s mean, but also true. No, it’s fine. I’m glad you’re doing okay. Does Te have your Sister? I guess maybe your siblings, because Icebutt is family now after absorbing my blood and soul or something. Okay, good. I haven’t taken even a moment to look over their runes for them, if they have any. I felt bad for skipping that to dig straight into the soul book. Then my heart broke and I dove right into the other four books.
Teuila looses a beautiful airy laugh before nudging me to say, “Essie and Firebutt want me to tell you you’re a butt, but you’re forgiven. Paraphrasing, obviously. Emotion-wave-speak. Apparently Bud was gossiping about something you said or something. They also said they’re in no hurry. They’re happy to hang out with peeps that talk to them instead of just using them for combat and tossing them aside the rest of the time. Honestly I bet they’d be happy if they didn’t have any helpful enchantments any longer.”
We’re finally reunited with Dawn who is eyeing the Sisters nervously. I’m sure her density sense is active, and, oh! I can make that permanent with just a little diamond dust!
Excitedly I ask, “Dawn! Can, can I try something? I think I can make it so that your special sense is always active, forever and ever, so even if you forget the wand somewhere, or it gets stolen or broken or whatever, you’ll always have it! I learned the ability to permanently emplace enchantments from those four books.”
Dawn blinks at me several times. She glances between me and several Sisters that appear, until we seem to be left with only one Sister nearby, before returning her gaze to me to raise an eyebrow incredulously. She slowly smiles as she says, “Well shid, good to see you too Rej, hell yeah pal. Who wouldn’t want that? Also, uh. You guys do know that your voices carry around like, this whole place, don’t you? The uh. I’m flattered.”
My eyes flash wide and color drains from my cheeks, my entire face actually. Moments later the red rushes back across my face and up to my slightly pointed eartips. I gulp, and struggle to both blink and breathe. Thankfully Dawn flashes me a smile and slugs me in the shoulder before holding out her wand. I blink rapidly several times while staring at it, before remembering what I’d just offered.
Teuila was flush with embarrassment for a moment as well, but started snorting with laughter when she saw how pale I went and how quickly I went back to red. I blush and adopt a nervous chuckle with a half smile full of chagrin. I fish out a few diamonds, and some cookware to smash them to dust in. I keep finding myself pausing my breath in apprehension and excitement. I get to enchant something, some-one. Permanently. I, I get to do a favor for a friend. A meaningful, long-lasting favor. Hope, and joy. I, I don’t even remember how to breathe half the time I’m so excited.
Gulping in apprehension, I stare at Dawn with a tiny glob of diamond-ink-paste in a pot. I forgot to tell her an important part of the process. I blush as I mumble, “Um, could, uh, maybe. Privacy? It, um. Glp. I, uh.”
Dawn makes a familiar joke that causes me to nearly faint, “What, trying to cop a feel Shellcracker? I’m kidding. I get it, magic probably has to get all slathered on or something, right? It’s worth it. Come on pal, over in this room. It’s not like you don’t know about, well, stuff. With your senses.”
I’m going to shut my brain off for a few minutes, and lock it away in some sort of like, vault pal. Yea Bud, even I don’t think I should know what I’m about to do, even though my tale is obviously going to exist in Dawn’s mind, and perhaps whatever patron granted me the permanency power from the book. Yeah, I’ll turn my brain back on in a couple of minutes.
I’m about to ask how the enchantment feels, when Dawn speaks, “Rej. Pal. You. You and Boss. This is great, sure. But it’s you guys. You’re the best gift a soul-cursed gal could ask for. Respecting everything I need or want or ask. Doing everything for just. You’re the best pal. Really, really the best. I kinda hope I get to stay ageless when this curse is gone, so that I can hang with you two crazy lovebirds for, for as long as you’ll let me hang around. I know you kinda had to have me tag along what with the curse and fate of the world and all, but, but we’re real, right? Real friends, yeah? I, I’m just kinda suddenly self-conscious about it.”
I choke on my tongue momentarily, and cough in surprise before being able to answer, “Koff, of, koff, of course Dawn. Absolutely. My nickname for you in my heart is My Friend, capitalized. I want that for us, forever. Real friendship. I love all of my friends and family. You’re loved Dawn. You have a place beside us, and in my heart as long as you desire it.”
Dawn slugs me playfully as she elates, and teases, “Awe shucks, hell pal. You’ve definitely given a gal a complex. But seriously Rej. I can’t thank you two enough. I want us to win, you know? I’m kinda curious to see your home world maybe, or at least your buddy that you always talk about, and Boss’s sister that’s got another half of your heart all wrapped around her little finger and big curves.”
I choke, cough, and sputter, blushing wildly. Dawn grins and winks as she stands and hip checks me before walking out of the room. After recovering, I roll my eyes. Does everyone like teasing me about stuff like that?
A sister that I didn’t know was at my side seemingly almost answers the thought, “It appears that you’re very entertaining to bring to embarrassment. We are almost certain it is only done in endearment. Is there something we could embarrass you about? We’re intrigued by the idea of the novel experience at causing the same phenomenon.”
I blush and fidget, trying not to give anything away. She apparently alights on an answer, “Your nearly-beloved Ms. Whifflewillow is speaking with your mentor about you at this very moment. Quite favorably, quite favorably indeed. We are almost certain she is not saying everything on her mind, no, she appears to be carefully picking her words intentionally to not admit what her current thoughts might be. Hm. How odd. It almost appears as if she has sensed us sensing her. Perhaps a curiously powerful young woman. Your interest in her is certainly understandable.”
I fume with embarrassment. I gulp several times as I avoid the seeming-gaze of the Sister. Though she has no eyes, she tracks my face with curiosity. Yeah. Every woman I meet from now on is probably going to intentionally make me blush at least once. Heck, I don’t even know if the Sisters are one woman, or women, or some cosmological otherworldly nongendered entity that presents as a woman to appear non-threatening. Ugh, the nonstop embarrassment has my jaw locked up, and now my eyelids are heavy.