That statement caught him by surprise for a bit. His immediate reaction was to reject but then he thought carefully of the meaning behind the statement and he began to nod slowly, “Maybe? Almost? I don’t really like that phrasing. Maybe better is a voluntary submission to one another.”

“We would be each other’s master?”

Joe grimaced inwardly at the phrasing but nodded, “In a sense, yes. In other senses, for example in making decisions or in getting things done, one person would have to take the lead and do it. But in the sense of making those decisions and why we make them, we make them for the best of, well… each other. To make it the best for us!”

Kilniara stared at him a bit more before shaking her head, “This is confusing!”

Joe laughed, “Yes. Yet another reason for time, so you can see it and grow to understand it as we speak with one another and as I show it to you.”

“You will show it to me?”

“I hope I am doing it now.”

She stared at him. She then laid her head back down on his chest and fell silent. Time slipped by, and it became obvious that she was lost in her own thoughts, so Joe returned to his mana point practice. The rest of the morning was spent in practice and silence, and soon Kilniara joined him, her mana spewing up above him and he easily watched as it did so. Light grew in the room over the next hour or so until Kilniara finally roused, her time to leave now arrived. She took the moment to prepare herself carefully before she turned to look at him.

“I do not know that I understand yet. I do not know that I can truly understand what you mean. But I think I can say this. I desire to learn of this from you. I desire it from you. Yes, I acknowledge that the other things are a nice… temptation, but, right now, I truly believe I seek you.”

Joe smiled at her, “Make sure to teach me what you desire and seek from a husband so I can try to offer it to you as well. So that we can both benefit from one another.”

Kilniara stared at him for a bit, lost in her thought before she began smiling bright at him, excited by what he’d said. Joe felt his own heart warmed as well, and the two embraced before kissing softly in the deep warmth. Their passion did not grow, but he felt as if their connection and commitment had grown. At least some kind of qualitative change! She smiled at him then slipped from the room. Joe’s answering smile stayed on his face long after she left before finally fading as he returned to his own practice once again until breakfast time arrived.

With breakfast, he awoke and dressed before heading out into the common area. Breakfast was delicious, as always, and everyone enjoyed their conversation but Joe remained a bit silent through it all, struggling to figure out how to broach the subject of asking for help from Gwenvair.

About half way through the meal, Kilniara began throwing suggestive looks, then finally suggestive comments, trying to urge Joe in speaking to Gwenvair. Joe was able to ignore much of it, but the comments soon became too much for the others to ignore in their various conversations.

“Joe. Are you alright?”

Joe looked over at Kilniara, attempting to cover his grimace and frustration at what Kilniara was suggesting, “I’m fine. Just a bit pensive.”

“So, no problems?”

Joe’s lips twitched, “Yes. All is fine.”

She left him alone for a few moments more, but tried again when the meal was ending.

“How is your exhaustion, Joe?”

Joe’s eyes twitched as he stared at Kilniara, but her smile was a bit tremulous and Joe realized she was quite afraid, and he finally sighed and offered her a comforting smile. It was enough, however, to catch Gwenvair’s attention.

“Exhaustion? Are you OK, Joe?”

Joe looked over at Gwenvair before sighing once again and wobbling his head, “I am fine, but I have found myself feeling quite exhausted from my mana manipulation. I do not usually fight with mana, so I have found myself… being pushed quite far. Physically, I am well, but mana-ly?...” Manaly? Mana-ly? How would I even… guess I gotta just make … magically, that works… “Magically, I guess… is the best word for it, magically, I am finding myself strained.”

Gwenvair immediately sat up at that, concern rapidly coming over her face, “You over strained your mana?”

Joe paused at that, considering, “Maybe? I am uncertain what I have done. My points are acting well enough, but my mana is… strained.”

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Gwenvair and the Matriarch both froze at that, staring at one another for a time as they both breathed deep. Joe wasn’t sure what he was noticing, but grew tense. They both considered each other for a time, obviously searching for something while Joe struggled to figure out why they had tensed up. Joe quickly reassured them.

“Don’t worry. I’ll still be able to fight. I’ll simply need some few moments of rest, unlike other days. I will have to take twenty or thirty minutes to recover… maybe three of four times today … maybe tomorrow… the day after as well, if needed? I am uncertain. I am unharmed. I’m pretty sure I know what happened, even if it is… unusual for me. I have experienced this many times physically, just not so often magically. Rest for a week or two will heal me back to perfection… and even stronger than I was before, if it is parallel.”

Gwenvair twitched at the mention of growing stronger, and stared at Joe, “Stronger?”

Joe nodded, “Yes. Much like the exercises we all do, although those are for physical strength… enhancement. I believe what I have done has been a strain upon my magical capabilities. Resting will return them to strength and even greater than they were before. Hopefully, I will practice more carefully and less strenuously so as not to harm myself in the future.” A bit differently, though… physically the pain is usually after only a day… so… but yeah…

“What can we offer you?”

Joe nodded, “Thank you. I apologize that I have… not been able to hold my wall till the last day. I am …”

Gwenvair quickly interrupted him with a laugh, “You have held the wall longer and better than any other ever has. Mother is the only other one who is still on the wall without a break, and she is only there because she cannot feel comfortable burdening you.”

Joe blinked in surprise at that, “Oh. Were we supposed to take a break?”

Gwenvair giggled, “Several days ago.”

Joe smiled, “Well, I’m an idiot. You gotta tell me these things!”

Gwenvair’s eyes widened, “You did not know?”

Joe shrugged, “I thought our rest for the evening was the rest.”

Gwenvair nodded, “It is, but we must also prepare for the final day as well.”

“Ahh. The final day?”

“Usually, the major power moving the monsters comes at the end.”

“Oh… that… Then I should be OK. Do you need rest, Matriarch? Please take it. I will be fine as long as I no longer use any magical capabilities. But it will slow me down and make defense a bit difficult. I would simply need three or four breaks throughout the day, as I said.”

Gwenvair paused at that, thoughtful while also staring at him deeply, “You will not be harmed?”

Joe laughed, “No. I will do nothing to exacerbate my injury. I tested this morning, and I was perfectly fine. Although, I will also be cautious of that as well. I believe it is less strenuous because I have been doing more with my mana points.”

She stared for a bit before continuing, “Do you wish … to simply be backup for the day?”

Joe considered for a bit before nodding, “Maybe? That might work. If several others help defend the wall, I will only come forward for defense when the need is great. That could work.”

Gwenvair turned to look to her mother, “Matriarch, could we request additional defenders for the next several days?”

The Matriarch bowed sincerely to her daughter, “Certainly. We are ever grateful for the eccentric’s protection.”

Gwenvair smiled and bowed, “We are grateful.”

She then bounced back up and wrapped her arms around her mom, “Thanks, mom!”

Her mother smiled softly and chuckled, “The thanks is to be given to others.”

Gwenvair blushed a bit but still smiled happily, “But it is still… thank you.”

She shook her head, “We have too much to return for us to be accepting thanks.”

Joe quickly stepped in, “No. It was freely offered. And as I said before, I live in this city, so must defend as well!”

Gwenvair’s mother still smiled and bowed slightly in her seat, this time to Joe, “Then I will offer a welcome and thanks in equal measure.”

Joe smiled at that, and the conversation ended, moving on to other topics, although Gwenvair and Kilniara quickly dove into a quiet conversations of whispers and close heads. Gwenvair seemed concerned, while Kilniara seemed to calm her. The Matriarch then took over the conversation with him, and the two enjoyed the rest of the breakfast in each other’s company.

* * *

Once the request was complete, her mother agreeing easily enough, she quickly turned towards Kilniara as she was worried over Joe’s injury.

“Injury?” she asked urgently, whispering.

Kilniara shook her head a bit, whispering her own reply, “I’m… uncertain. He was practicing his mana emissions this morning and jerked in pain. He spoke of his mana points and said they were ok, but his emission was causing him problems.”

“Is it… bad?”

“No. He said it is… temporary. He claims simple rest will return him to health. He even claimed to return to health stronger than before, same as now.”

“Do you think it is… true?”

Kilniara shook her head, “I … don’t know, but I know he felt certain of it. You saw how he spoke.”

Gwenvair paused at that, thoughtful before shaking her head, “But he is… well?”

Kilniara sighed deeply before dropping her forehead against Gwenvair’s as she collapsed into an inclined embrace, “I don’t know. I don’t… know. But, he seems certain. And he is not bothered or worried at all. His only concern was being able to hold the wall.”

“Truly?”

“Yes. He was worried he would fail in his defense, but he was certain he would be able to maintain it for some time, only needing a few moments to rest.”

“So he is… well?”

Kilniara paused a moment then nodded, “I worry, but yes, I think so.”

Gwenvair took a shuddering breath before she smiled tremulously, “I don’t know why I am so afraid.”

“Of course you are afraid. I am very afraid to lose him as well.”

Gwenvair looked up at that, staring into her eyes and the two took a moment before both nodded and then Kilniara started smiling before she giggled softly. Gwenvair noticed and narrowed her eyes as she stared at her.

“What?”

Kilniara continued to giggle, unable to keep her laughter in.

“What?!”

Kilniara held up a hand and brushed it across her cheeks, shaking her head which gave Gwenvair enough to understand she needed to wait. Kilniara calmed herself before she began.

“He… explained his recalcitrance.”

“He did? Again? I thought he already did so?”

Kilniara nodded, “But did it not seem… weak?”

Gwenvair frowned at that then spoke, “Hmm… Yes, he was reluctant, but he would obviously be cautious of choosing mates, any mate.”

Kilniara nodded, “But he did promise himself to me… only… later.”

“He may have been… maybe using you?”

Kilniara shook her head, “But then would he not have taken me even if he did not wish to follow through?”

Gwenvair paused then nodded, “I… true. Then, he explained?”