"So, from now on, we advise bed rest and not putting too much strain on your body." the doctor tells me as she looks through some information on a stone tablet.

"Okay." I simply said as I did not really have the know-how to complain. Besides, the bed was very comfortable.

"We are sorry, Student Einervaene. But, given what has just ended, we just don't have the resources to focus on everyone. I hope you understand." she repeats in apology one more time before she walks out the door.

"That's fine..." I quietly say, too late for her to hear as the door had closed behind her long before I said anything. Then, as there wasn't really much else to do, I turned and faced the window before looking outside it. I could not see much as the Orbital-Halo was nearly coming through the glass. Yet, I could still make out large gatherings of people.

Perhaps they were preparing a party out there? I have heard that there are quite impressive celebrations for the winning House. And, as a participant in the event, I was invited by proxy. Yet, I probably would not go unless they others went.

I wasn't particularly interested in being surrounded by those high on their victory. Yet, I was curious as to see what Baltanthan had been up to during it. He was training for that event for far longer than we ever were... And, it was his House that won.

So, who knows, maybe I would go on my own if it came to that. I should at least offer congratulations where it was due. But, I can see it being quite funny if he admits that he had been removed long before victory was assured. I, however, chose to presume that he had held on to the end.

"Hey! Hey!" a muffled voice then began to say as the door to my room began to get thudded on. It was Larishazza and she was as cheerful as ever.

"You can come in!" I tell her, slightly annoyed and confused by her constant knocking. Yet, it was Vadei who eventually opened the door and I smiled at the pair of them. I even kept my smile when Rossie-chira of all people stepped in with them.

"I've made a new friend!" Larishazza chirps as she tries to play with Rossie-chira's tail.

Then, I briefly frowned, "Will you introduce them?" I ask as it seems odd that I kept on using that old nickname. I had grown used to using their actual names so just having Rossie-chira being referred to in that manner was odd.

"Rose'lhia!" Larishazza answers while Rose'lhia just raises a brow.

"I would think I would have had a greater impact on you, no?" she asks me as she approaches. And all I could was smile nervously as it was easier to do that than just ask for her actual name.

"S-So, how have you been?" I then asked her nervously as I had not seen her in a long time. She sort of disappeared once she stopped being around Nin.

"I have been very happy, as of late." she tells me with a dreamy sigh before she straightens her expression.

"We're going to go find Nin. You well enough to follow?" Vadei explains after she rolls her eyes at Rose'lhia.

"I don't know. The doctor says I should stay in bed and rest."

"They said that to me to- OW!" Larishazza began to say before her jumping upset the injured arm and side.

"Point proven." I joke as she pouts at me.

"How bad is it, then?" Vadei asks as she moves closer and shows off her slightly bandaged fingertips.

"Does it look bad?" I ask nervously as I start to feel a painful outline around my body. Whatever happened when I was caught, it was relatively clean, I guess. The precision kind as I very much still remembered all the blood...

"You aren't dying, so no." Vadei tells me with a smirk and shrug.

"That's quite an extreme point to work with." I tell her before I look down at where all the stitches and bandages were. All along where my frame was... I guess that meant I would have to make a new outfit. Or part of one, I guess.

It was only along my torso where the pain was, my injuries from the other fight were dealt with. Maybe as far back as before the fight against that woman to begin with. And, as I was going to give Baltanthan congratulations. I should at least offer thanks to that fire-user as well.

"So, will you be coming or not, Dear?" Rose'lhia asks me as she rests a hand on me. Some magic even started to pass into me but I don't think it did anything.

"I will need to see if I can..." I answered with some worry before I slowly exposed my legs. Yet, when I did, I hid them back under the quilt as my legs were bare.

"You aren't naked, Redface." Vadei scoffs in bemusement as I glare back at her.

"I'm the only one dressed like this!" I squeak while Larishazza and Rose'lhia both laughed at me. And, I whined as they did so... This wasn't funny...

"We're both dressed far more appropriately than you, Dear." Rose'lhia comments before she just pulls the quilt from me.

"PUT IT BACK!" I scream before Larishazza spins away with my only protection. Yet, she invoked the God of Justice and provoked her injury for the act.

"See, no problem at all." Rose'lhia then teases as she runs a hand up to where it shouldn't have been.

"S-Sorry!" I then squeak as she suckles her finger after I shocked it in response. Yet, the look she was giving me only made me turn redder.

"Maybe learn a different way to do that?" she asks me with wet lips before she backs away giggling.

"I hate you all..." I then let out as I slowly get out of bed before I snatch up a dressing gown to further cover myself with. However, I could still feel a draft come in from under me. And, as I walked about to make sure my injuries were fine with it. I took on a stiff posture with my legs barely moving at all.

Outside of that, though, I was fine and everyone was ready to go. Well, everyone but Larishazza who had trapped herself between my quilt and her injury. So, I sighed before we helped her up. And, she did not learn her lesson at all and still kept on dancing about.

"So do you know where Nin is?" I ask them once I close the door behind us. And, to my disappointment, Vadei gestured down the quietest part of the hallway. I guess it was fine if he wasn't injured. But, if he was...

"At least there's no one in our way!" Vadei jokes as we make our way down the hallway. And, as we did so, Rose'lhia got some compliments while Larishazza made a point of getting smiles whenever she could. I, however.

"Hey! Come on! Open up!" some guy joked before the others near him cackled as I walked by. And, as usual, I turned red and sped up until I was out of sight.

"You need to have more confidence." Rose'lhia tells me with a slight shrug as she tugs at my clothes.

"Confidence isn't the issue..." I complain as I started to recall Mother's teachings in my head. Loose dress was unbecoming of someone like me...

"Oh, I think it is." Rose'lhia counters as she starts to prod my breasts. Much to the enjoyment of those looking at us. Or rather, her as she was barely dressed at all. The imagination was simply not needed with her!

"Stop that!"

"Yes, stop it, we're nearly there." Vadei snaps before she comes to a stop before what was likely the most hidden-away door. We didn't even have any windows now, it was just light from the lights now.

"Hurry up." Rose'lhia scoffs impatiently before Vadei snaps her glare towards her. Everything about her had taken on a threatening persona and it worried me. Vadei wasn't so thin-skinned as to just turn around like that because of impatience.

"Excuse me, I need to see..." I say to my friend before I force my way past her so I could force open the door. And, when I finally got in, I felt tears build up once a gasp finally escaped the invisible chokehold around my neck.

"Hello, Nin." Larishazza opens up with quietly as she quickly takes up a seat next to him. Rose'lhia, however, just went straight for the room on the bed. Despite Vadei's protests to the action...

"Nin?" I say as I slowly approach the end of the bed. Everything about this room was half-done. Nin wasn't even dressed in clean bandages and many of his wounds still looked fresh...

"M-Morning..." he eventually let out once he stirred from his pain-induced slumber.

"W-Why aren't you...?" I idiotically ask as I was just too focused on the state of his wounds.

"S-Scary bug..." he answers with a surprising amount of brevity before his head suddenly rolls over to Rose'lhia.

"What scary bug? All I see is my handsome lover." she says as she teases his lower jaw before he moves his head away from her.

"It hurts." Nin eventually says as his shudders set off even more painful reactions around his body.

"Is there anything we can do?" I ask while looking around at everyone.

"We could try giving him our magic..." Larishazza says before she tries to drip-feed some water to him. Yet, he could never keep his mouth open long enough to get even a fraction of what he needed.

"It will take some time, he did stand before a Valkinvar." Rose'lhia says but that term confused me. Was a Valkinvar a term for a very powerful student...? I swear I have heard that name before...

"Why would one of them be here?" Larishazza giggles awkwardly before she goes quiet. I guess even she was having trouble keeping the mood light...

"You know what they are?"

"Ancient warrior order. We went passed their home city on the way to..."

"Tobaballe?" Nin finishes, much to our shock as this was the first time he had said that word since...

"Do you remember what happened, when we went there?" I asked, something that scared us all but Rose'lhia.

"What are yo-" Vadei began to hiss before Nin started to move. An action that frightened us yet he did nothing when he stopped.

"It blew up." he answers quietly before he pulls Rose'lhia in closer. But only by a bit as his injuries were not to be understated.

"Y-Yes..." I tell him with uncertainty before he sighs and looks down.

"So, what're we going to do when I finally get out of here?" he then asks with a slight smile before he winces in pain.

Larishazza's stomach then grumbles, "I don't know about then, but, I know what I want to do now!" she says with a smile before she starts to play with one of Nin's fingers.

"Yeah, that would be nice..." Nin moans before we all seemed to face Vadei.

"Yes, yes, I know, I can smell it so I should get it..." Vadei grumbles before she gets up.

"I was going to say because you have no injuries." Nin comments before Vadei shoves her fingers in his face. He then smiles at them which in turn makes her smile.

"So, what do you all want, then?" Vadei asks as she resigns herself to being a food courier.

"Wait, Larishazza..." Nin says as he looks at her.

"Hm? Hm? Hm?" Larishazza repeats until someone makes her.

"S-Shouldn't you be checking on your sister?" Nin asks with a wince before he settles down again.

"I did, she's fine." Larishazza tells us before she starts to nod over and over again. That made me relieved, as while I did not know her all that well. It was gladdening to know my friend was not held up by her sister's injuries. And thankfully, she was not grieving.

"Ok." Nin mutters before he seems to fall asleep. An action that worried us before Rose'lhia confirmed it by trying to sleep herself.

"What do sleeping people eat?" Larishazza then jokes as we all decide to give them space. Albeit, I was reluctant to do so as I would have liked to be in Rose'lhia's place... Then again, I could only have the urge inside of me. She was far too forward with how she felt!

.

.

.

"Open wide!" I giggle heartedly as I moved a spoon near Nin's mouth. An expression of agitation stared right back at me as I did so.

"I hat-" he began to say before I shoved it right in the opening. Giggling some more as he wiggled the caught spoon between his many teeth.

"No, I don't think you are a hat." I tell him before I take the spoon out of his mouth.

"You know what I said!" he snaps before his eyes look down at the bowl once again.

"Oh, but you still want me to keep feeding you?" I ask.

"You've handled this for long enough, now let me..." Rose'lhia starts off with confidence before she tries to push me over. Yet, her actions did nothing and she was left backpedalling slightly after that failure.

"Hm, no." I tell her as I think about all the times she would just stay in Nin's bed as he recovered.

"Stop arguing and feed me." Nin demands before I happily go on with his decision.

"Of course." I say before I start to feed him once again. Sometimes, I made sure to draw it out just to annoy Rose'lhia, even if she kept it hidden. Other times, I just messed with Nin as he has been pride-struck since finding out his injuries require us to look after him.

"Alright, off the bed, please." Nin then let out all of a sudden. His body also twitched as if he had just awoken from a nightmare.

"What're you doing?" I ask him. A face full of concern then quickly turned to one of shock.

"No! Nin!" Vadei began to say as she used her tail to brush at his injuries. A strange way to react, but, it slowed him down.

"I just want to stand up for once... Now move!" he lets out with growing anger before he shoots out of the bed and stumbles.

"Hello!" Larishazza chirps as Nin leans on her before he starts to show nothing but confusion.

"Is something wrong?" I ask while taking careful note of all his new scars. The one on his leg stood out the most. It was such a big patch of pale, deformed flesh and shell. At least, compared to the rest.

"I... I just remembered that my leg was reattached."

"EXCUSE ME!?" I shout in shock before I turn red when I realise what I had done.

"I'm surprised I forgot about that to be entirely honest..." Nin then shrugs as if my outburst hadn't just happened.

"W-W-What do you mean your leg was reattached!?" I asked him as I started to usher him back to the bed. We knew full well he wasn't getting the help he needed, so we were filling in for him. So we just couldn't risk anything!

"Will you calm down? You've had no problem whatsoever with holding this claw." he complains as he shoots up his scarred hand before me.

"What about it?" I ask once he stops trying to struggle against me. And, for once, I was confident in my ability to keep him down as whatever magic he had was going straight to his wounds. Nothing was left for his other functions. Something that was not the case for me.

"It got torn off, just like my leg. Well, my leg was taken off because something was thrown at it..." he explains before I take ahold of his hand.

"A-Anything else I should know about...?" I ask him as I start to make sure he was getting plenty of my magic and whatever the hospital staff had put into me.

"No." he shrugs before I give way for him to stand up again. However, I was also being held back by the others. Something that I did not appreciate.

"So, my Love, how do you feel?" Rose'lhia asks him as he seemingly practises how to walk.

"I feel like I might fall ap-ART!" he starts to say before he falls down.

"SEE!?" I screech at first as we rush to his aid. Only for sparks to start flying off me when he loudly cackles at our reaction.

"Funny..." Vadei sarcastically says.

"Inappropriate." Rose'lhia scoffs as she tries to help him up anyway.

"Funny." Nin repeats as his body convulses with each chuckle.

However, once he stood up fully, I made sure he got a healthy shock to his system, "No, it wasn't."

"I found it funny." Larishazza then says, to which Nin smiles once he is done flinching at my magic.

"What now?" Vadei asks before Nin suddenly leaves the room.

"Nin?" I ask once we had all filed out after him.

He then stops, an uncertain expression on his face, "Where's Liada?"

"In here." Vadei says before Nin suddenly bolts off. I would've called out to him, but, I had a feeling we all quickly figure it out. Those of us who knew Liadanann, anyway.

"Where's he going?" Rose'lhia asks as she struggles to keep up on the smooth floor. She wasn't wearing her tubes a lot recently as Nin had complained earlier during their little sleeping sessions...

"To them." Vadei eventually answers once we reached a far more densely packed area of the hospital. And, when Nin forced his way through the doorway. Screams erupted.

"Yes, yes I know." he grumbles as everyone starts to make way for him until he reaches a locked door.

I then break it open for him just to prevent him from hurting himself, "Is she alright?"

"She's fine..." Nin answers with an uneasy tone before he slumps down into a chair.

"Excuse me, this patient needs her space!" one of the doctors snap at us.

"And she's going to have your heads if she wakes up with a bunch of needles around her!" Nin nearly roars before he settles down as Liada seemingly stirs. But, all she ends up doing is moving very slightly towards Nin. An action I quickly became jealous of...

It was sweet seeing Liadanann react like that to Nin's voice... Now if only I was the one to be in that bed...

"How many days has she been out?" Larishazza then asks once she is done observing Liadanann's wounds. Many of which were still there. But, I guess that was because, unlike us, there was no telling how her body would react. However, I took some joy in seeing her massively deflated chest.

No longer did it so obnoxiously eclipse my own bust...

"Since the Inter-House Talent Display ended, she hasn't..." the doctor began to explain before Liadanann finally did start to wake up. And, her immediate reaction was just as Nin said.

"GET THESE OFF OF ME!" Liadanann roared in panic once she took in all the sights her room had. From the clean surfaces to the abundant machinery.

Yet, Nin was quick to intervene, "Hey, hey!" he starts to say just before Liadanann nearly uses her talisman to do something.

"Wh-Where am I!?" she asks him as she latches onto him.

"Hospital. It's alright, they haven't done anythin-" he starts to say before a damning laugh could be heard.

"I can't believe such an opportunity came to us. A few sedatives and we were able to easily fill out what we couldn't before!" someone laughed loudly from outside.

"Th-They what...?" Liadanann asks slowly as her body starts to tremble. Yet, Nin made sure he had a firm grasp on her as her breathing picked up and tears started to come.

"Get out!" he then barked at the doctor before he focused on consoling our violated friend.

"I told them I didn't want..." Liadanann began to recount as she shivered in Nin's grip.

"Can't trust these shits at all..." Nin spits out as he briefly looks at his wrist. Something that deeply disturbed Vadei and Larishazza before we all focus on our friend. Hostile as she may be to most of us.

"N-Nin, get me out of here... GET ME OUT!" Liadanann starts to say in panic as the bed begins to violently shake.

"Okay, okay. Come on, we'll go find a tree to sit by." Nin tells her just before a shield suddenly makes them drop to the ground. Liadanann, in her panic, had suddenly created a shield for the pair of them. And it had cut cleanly through the bed and immediate floor.

We then watched in concern as the two disappeared through the doorway they just widened.

"Did we forget about her?" Vadei then asks quietly as she starts to nervously rub her tail. And, while she did that, I put my fingers together and let little volts travel across and between them.

"We were focused quite a bit on Nin these past few days..." Larishazza mutters as she tries to justify our mistake. Yet, her words only made me shake my head.

"It's still unacceptable." I sigh out as this was a major error on our part. Once we had confirmed Nin was safe... We should've made sure the rest of our friends were too. Larishazza at least checked on her sister, why didn't we even so much as do something similar?

I mean, I knew why... We just cared a lot for Nin. But, even then. We know full well how Liadanann was around people.

So, I think we at least owed her an apology. If it came to that at the very least. Maybe she would not care to chase us up on the topic. But, we had to be prepared for the eventuality.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Should we get her something to eat?" Vadei then asks.

"Meat and gold..." I recall while Larishazza loudly tapped her chin.

"We can at least get meat, no. Wasn't the menu today bird?"

"Will they even let us collect another portion? We already went for our food." I point out before all eyes turn to Rose'lhia. As she had not gone once to get food as she was too busy hogging Nin's affection.

"Do you need something?" she asks with a polite tone as she looks at me and Larishazza exclusively. Something that made Vadei scoff before she likely disappeared after Nin and Liadanann.

"Can you get food for Liadanann?"

"No, never." Rose'lhia scoffs as she crosses her arms. Her attitude was similar to how she spoke to Vadei...

"Liada needs help, though!" Larishazza reminds her to which she still scoffs.

"Something as magicless as her doesn't need help." Rose'lhia tells us before she moves to likely leave to.

"Rose'lhia, please. Nin needs to be with her to make sure she is alright."

"So I am helping my Love, not that thing?" Rose'lhia asks as her mood suddenly shifts. Her ears even twitched when we mentioned Nin being in need of help... Well, I guess it reminded me of what her strings were.

"Yes." I nod with some subtle disgust as I did not like agreeing with that statement. Liadanann was our friend... Even if she was an unlikeable creature that kept lashing out at me. And, well, anyone who was a human, really.

"Very well, I will ensure my Love! Is helped." she says loudly in clarification before she walks off.

"She seems to be a very difficult person." Larishazza comments after a short while.

"Aren't we all?" I ask with a sigh before I look out the window. Tapping a finger on the glass until I saw a hint of where those two might have gone. Yet, it might have also just been other groups of friends seeing each other. Yet, there was a few that stood out.

Girls would come running at boys as they left this place and they would leap into a kiss. A passionate one, too. And, it left me annoyed because I haven't even mustered the courage for something like that. I still hadn't even confessed my love to him yet...

"Ooo, that one has good technique." Larishazza then comments when she suddenly leans over my shoulder.

"Eh!?" I let out in shock after flinching at the sudden comment. And, obviously, she giggled at my reaction. Thankfully, it was short-lived.

"Come on, let's go find them!" she then says as she spins around before she starts to slide out the broken door.

"Slow down..." I start to say loudly before the sight of frightened staff and patients made me quieten down. I then marched on by while resisting the urge to apologize for Nin's actions. Yet, I suppose there was a very good justification for it all... And that was a good reason as to why I lost Larishazza as well.

Because, while focusing on how to resist the urge to apologize. I lost track of where she had gone and now I was on my own. It made me groan quietly. But, outside of that, I just kept on going until I reached the door to the outside.

"My, my, Lady-Heir, aren't we confident?" Hycidna comments with a clap when a sudden gust of wind blew up my patient gown.

"DON'T LOOK!" I scream as I secure the loose clothing before pressing myself up against a nearby wall. Something that drew more attention than I wanted until Hycidna had her guards make a statement.

"We have it all under control, don't worry!" she coos as she comes in closer before she then offers me the outer layers of her kimono. Something I gladly accept even if I don't wear it properly.

"Th-Thank you..." I quietly squeak before her smiling facade begins to crack into laughter.

"So, how come you stepped outside with so few... Coverings?" she asks with a quiet giggle and subtle raise of her brows. A tilt to top it all off too...

"Don't you start." I tell her with a pout before I get my emotions under control.

"Okay," she giggles one last time before she wipes her eyes, "anyway, I've been looking for you since the award ceremony ended."

"How long ago was that...?"

"Three days."

"I see... So, why did you want to find me?" I ask, feeling like I had just damned myself to further embarassment.

"You wanted a personal recording, remember?" she asks with a brief giggle before I turn red-faced again.

"Oh, how could I have forgotten this!" I moan before I slam a curled up fist gently against the wall behind me. The very thing I wanted that led to my injuries to begin with!

"So, to reiterate. Take it straight to the Lady Bosphama?" she then asks with a straightened out face and serious tone.

"Uh..." I let out before I glance at my bandages. My wounds were healing, but, the doctors still saw a need for quite a few of them.

"Is that way to blunt? I can do it with greater subtlety..." she starts to say.

"No, no, no! It's fine. I just... I'm just worried she will get the wrong idea if the last she sees of me is..." I tell her before I rub a hand on the bandages.

"I think we can add on to it. So you want to prepare an afternote?"

"Yes! That will ease her worries..." I sigh out before tentatively taking the device from her hand. It was a weighty, cylindrical object. But, its weight might've just been my lack of magic right now. Then, I returned it to her.

"Shall we head to the place I got this from, then?" Hycidna asks as she turns around and gestures.

"If it is alright, I have a friend I would like to check on first. He suddenly had to rush off for someone else's safety."

"Oh, can I meet him? He sounds quite heroic." Hycidna purrs before she winks at some passing by native students. Maybe I should tell her that Nin wasn't...? Yet, I wanted to also see if I could get back at her for the teasing she has done since we just met.

Yet, I also wanted to be honest, "He is very heroic..." I quietly affirm while blushing softly. And, I was fine with this blush too, it wasn't like the others. Because my heart also felt light as I thought on it. I was even feeling a little light-headed!

"I do hope I am not able to take him, then." she laughs before she clicks her fingers. Her guards then swiftly fall into line and we start to walk. Yet, I felt awkward as she carried herself with a lot of grace that I had been taught to show. However, I had gotten used to a more casual style of walking.

Travelling so much had beaten a lot of the behaviours out of me by sheer nesscesity. But, Mother also insisted I act less like a noble's daughter for my own safety. I never understood then. And, I don't think I quite do, even now.

"So, how was your brother?" I ask as I start to remember why she was here. As I also did not want to dwell on my unfortunate past.

"Terrible, just terrible." Hycidna scoffs before she holds up another one of the strange devices.

"I'm sure he did not do that bad." I say as I try to stick up for him. Maybe she was just expecting too much of him? From what I experienced at the very least, it was not an easy thing to partake in that event.

"He and those he was with were cast aside by some cutie at the head of an army." she starts off with another scoff at first before her tone takes on a dreamy aspect.

"Hm? Army?"

"Yes, the... Traditional House? They had rallied around someone and simply overran most they came across. Like a true haomplerai!" she sighs out once again towards the end.

"It must've been quite the sight." I gently laugh as I try to imagine something grander than what I had seen. There weren't that many people I had come across since the event started, after all. Then again, there was that strange relocation magic that sent us all over the place.

"It was, surprised a lot of people to see such a grand display of courage."

"Do you know who it is?" I then decide to ask.

"That general was called Baltanthan." Hycidna giggles before my mouth turns agape.

"Baltanthan? Well, I best make sure to congratulate him, then!" I question before enthusiastically recalling a past choice. If he had done that well, then, I simply had to make sure he was aware of it! It was truly impressive as I struggled with what I encountered.

I even nearly died in the latter of that which I encountered...

"You know him?" Hycidna asks with a sudden twist in her neck and stop in movement.

"Yeah, he's a friend I travelled with on my way here."

"W-Well, then, you can keep your heroic lover, Lady-Heir. I want to speak with the one who kept her safe as she made the perilous journey to this country!" she stutters at first before lustful enthusiasm filled her body. The results were unladylike, yet, it was amusing to see.

Yet, her choice in words for Nin had me blushing, "I'm fine with that." I giggle as I register the prospect of one less competitor for Nin. And, who knows, maybe Baltanthan would indeed enjoy having such a romantic opportunity! Hycidna was no common girl, after all!

"Then you must lead me to him!" she loudly asks of me. Something I nod to as it was an amusing prospect. Perhaps I could even get payback on Baltanthan for his comments from before the event.

"Only if the place for these is on the way." I then decide on as making sure Mother was aware that I was okay mattered more. Yet, I would probably show her the way anyway.

"I'll make sure it very much is." she seriously answers before she and her guards just rush on ahead.

"You going to check the route?" I ask her to which I get a smile and wave. Which I took as a yes. Then, with her gone, I turned around and tried to find Nin. Which, thankfully, did not take long as looks of disgust gave me an idea of where to go.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Liadanann screams hysterically as she retreats deeper into Nin's embrace. And, at first, I kept on approaching, yet, Nin shook his head directly at me...

"W-What did I do?" I ask in confusion while also staring at the shield surrounding them. Liadanann had carved quite a bit of space for them to settle down in. Yet, she was also very protective of people going near her protection...?

"Nothing, just, keep your distance." Nin answers before Liadanann suddenly jerks in his grip.

"NOTHING!? I TOLD THOSE HUMANS NOT TO DO ANYTHING! AND THEY DID IT ANYWAY! THEY DRUGGED ME AND STOLE FROM ME!" she roars in his face before she breaks down crying again.

"Don't worry too much, I'm not allowed close either." Vadei whispers once she is done coming over to me. She then strokes my new clothes before letting out a sound of appreciation.

"Liadanann, I'm not a doctor. I'm not with them." I argue, hoping she would at least understand my reasoning.

"I TOLD YOU, HUMANS, NO! AND WHAT DID YOU DO!?" she screams after she suddenly rushes at her shield and slams against it.

"Liada, you need to calm down and rest." Nin tells her as he slowly brings her away from the shield.

"Rest...? Have you not heard me...?" she tearfully chokes out before she curls up in Nin's arms.

"Liadanann, what they did was wrong, yes. But it was them that did it. Not us." I point out before her tail suddenly slaps the ground near her. A few chunks of grass flying up once her tail calmed down.

"I will not suffer... ANYMORE LIES! JUST STAY AWAY FROM ME! ALL OF YOU!" she roars as her hand tightly grips her talisman. And, not wishing to see this turn worse. I just raised my hands and backed away, saddened by the turn of events.

"My Love, I have brought you what you needed!" Rose'lhia calls out as she slowly steps out onto the grass. A clear expression of confusion on her face before she is suddenly face-to-face with a suddenly active Liadanann.

At first, she seems to hate Rose'lhia, yet, she eventually eases around her, "Who are you?"

"The lover of the one you are keeping prisoner." Rose'lhia snorts as her tail waves about defensively. And, with each sign she showed that she was not a human, Liadanann warmed up even more. Even if it was clear that Rose'lhia was not the kindest soul. Yet, given what Liadanann has just experienced, that was still incomparably better than...

"You asked for her...? You...?" Liadanann begins to ask Nin who nods quietly in response. The shield then disappears and Rose'lhia walks closer. However, it all went back up the moment she joined them at the tree in the middle of it all.

.

.

.

"Thank you, Rose." my love tells me to which I smile. Then, I settle down onto my knees before I frown at the peculiar sight before me. Here was a spec of dirt, just, pathetic dirt... A root.

But, in her hands, she held something I had not seen since Nin shared that desert with me... The magic in that item she held was beautiful and so strange! I had never seen anything like it before! Yet, I was left confused as to its existence...

She was so weak, so fragile and forgettable. But, she had that. A piece of jewellery I could only ever dream about having. It had the clear makings of having been touched by the divine!

"Where did you get that?" I ask this root as her hand attempts to cover it. Yet, like a light shined behind paper, I still saw its power clearly. What intrigued me more is, how it did not seep into the world around it. This talisman defied traditional arcane law and stood out all the more for it.

"God gave it to me... He gave it to me so I would be safe..."

"God?" I question when I hear such a strange way of referring to the divine. There wasn't just one god. Even if there was a clear hierarchy.

"Iderim-Ovi. The god of my people." she clarifies with a slight smile before she moves closer to my love. In response, I tried to snake in as well. Yet, she was a large individual and it did not take much for her to block my attempt. Even with Nin's size, it was quite a damning experience.

However, her lack of magic made it quite easy to tear down this false giant. And I got my space because of it. A triumphant smirk from me then met her glare as my love made sure the food I brought him was safe. Yet, he then began to give it to this root...

One that was arguably worse than actual roots... They at least had magic. She was practically barren were it not for the land around her. As such, I became irritated as she ate the food slowly and cautiously.

I got that for my love, not her!

"You don't have to worry, it's not going to kill you." my love tells this root after he jokingly takes a small portion for himself. And, personally, I would have preferred to see him take it all. But, it was not my place to question his choices. Only make sure he was making the right ones.

Something I was quite proud of doing as I have seen its results. From that human town all the way in the paths our flowers tread. I turned his fear into courage and I did it again so recently. And now my love wore the signs of strength on his body.

He may have not beaten her, but, he held his own, however briefly against a Valkinvar! I may have seen him beat a certain someone, but, I would have returned to his side from just watching that fight. To stand against Waionr's warrior-maidens... His future brides and tenders of the Field of Honour and Glory.

And, I suppose, this root did also take part in this fight...

"So, how was it, using your god's power to serve something greater?" I then asked her as she came to an end with her wrongfully gained meal. And, I made sure to put emphasis on how it was not her power. I also snuggled up to my love more just to make sure she knew who I spoke of at the end of it.

"Frightening... Even with how impervious it is... They can still get past it..." she tells me as her eyes turn towards the edge that rested on the grass. And, upon closer inspection, she was right. It only went to the ground, it went no deeper.

"A limitation of the talisman?" I ask her, curious as to the implication of a god's limits. Even if it was something I would not discuss aloud in fear of blasphemous speech.

"No, mine... I've never used magic until a few weeks ago..." she nervously answers as the talisman suddenly glows brighter. Yet, nothing came of it from what I could see. At least, until I caught a glimpse at her feet. There was a brief flicker.

"Yeah, isn't that why you had the armour, to make it easier?" my love asks as he tries to reassure her with a shake of the shoulder.

"I don't know what good it did, though... All it took was one punch for me to..."

"Don't worry about what happened with... Vapooliar... Just say how the armour worked for you. Is it something you could improve on at all?" my love asks her as he clearly starts to push for her confidence to rise tall.

"It was rough, yes, but I do not know what I could do."

"You had quite the place to work in, why not ask whoever owned it?"

"He's a human who worships Thunder..." she then spits. Something I nearly gasped in shock at as I had never heard such contempt for the Heroic Storm. So much of the world owed its continued existence to the actions of Thurnmourer and his hammer, Mesofunderod.

"My tributary god is Thurnmourer, Liada." my love points out to which she just looks away and sighs.

"I know..." she says nervously before she reaffirms how my love made her feel safe.

"But you don't care." he says on her behalf to which she slightly nods.

"Why is it an issue?" I then whisper into my love's ear.

"One of the stories is her god losing to him. Her people are in opposition to him." he quietly answers.

"Did you see if that was still true?" I ask him, seeking more information about his time as a soul before the greatest of all beings.

"They did get along, yeah..." my love says quietly before his expression lights up.

"So there is no reason for you to not seek the owner of that workshop, no?" I then ask the root. Advice I only offered as it would let me see her more so as a god's chosen. Rather than a root-like creature.

"I can't just..."

"Yes you can, Liada. Remember, even if something does go wrong. You still have this." he tells her as he takes the talisman into his hand. And, when he did that, I seized the moment and gently reached out to touch the powerful artefact. For a very brief moment upon doing so, I felt entranced. As if I could leave Nin again without so much as a qualm about it.

Yet, that sensation is also what made me pull away from it. Because I loved Nin, I really did. He was the one I was meant to be with... The one who would give me a son.

It was not the Gilded-Bark who I had chased for so long. Who's lover and son live upon this very mountain right now. It was not the human I turned to upon seeing that Nin was not in fact the best I could have. The one I loved was him, the one who first showed me divine food, who took me to the sight of Jhroungijherammujhernosumonaterikra!

"But, what if they take it from me...? I can't trust humans..."

"Then why is it still in your grasp?" I decided to ask her as her worries had one flaw. I had seen the curiosity held by these wind-people. It was as ravenous as the lust I felt for Nin on occasion. They would do anything for the fruit of knowledge.

"Because..." she starts to say before she comes to the realisation quickly.

"The talisman protected you. No harm has befallen you."

"Yeah, and look, problem solved." my love then teases as he grabs her large bust with a jokester's confidence.

"That's not a good thing..." she mutters before a pout forms. Which, made me curious. Had my love been regularly asserting himself over this root, perhaps? I suppose it was his right, yet, I was a jealous petal.

"Surely your tits no longer needing my help is good?" my love asks her as he gently slaps one of her impressive glands. And, it made me gulp in anticipation as, by the gods, did they jiggle.

"S-Stop it..." she moans quietly while also leaving herself open for more.

"Anyway, to get back on track. Your talisman has kept you safe, Liada. You don't need to..." my love begins to say before he gestures towards the shield around us.

"Then why don't I feel safe?" the creature asks him back as her faith in the power of that talisman detaches itself from it.

"Because it is a perfectly normal reaction. But, remember, I won't hurt you. Rose here won't either. No one at our dorm will hurt you or try anything bad with you. We are here to help you. To keep you safe. Because even if you do have your issues, you are their friend. And you are most certainly mine."

"And you are mine." I then tease as I crawl up to my love's cheek and kiss it.

"Stop ruining the moment." he growls through a closed mouth as the creature slowly stands.

"Can you promise me that?"

My love then goes quiet before he stands up without me, "I don't know if I can, but, let's at least give it a try no? You had faith in me back in that place. Give me a little more and I can promise something good will come of it."

"F-Fine..." she says as the shield disappears and we are approached by an old friend and possibly a new one. And, even now, I was still in awe at how beautiful their strength was. Something only enhanced by their foreign nature. It looked so bizarre, and in the good way!

"Is everything alright?" Einervaene asks as she reluctantly steps forward into the formerly barricaded land.

"I believe it is." I proudly declare as my intervention had once again shown its potency.

"Give Liada her space, and, good things will happen. Don't you worry." Nin assures them before smiles start to form.

"Now, now, now what, Ninno? We still need to wait until we can leave..." the one with blue magic asks as she energetically swung her body about. And, I could detect a certain hint about the way she moved. So, I moved closer, much to her amusement.

"You are familiar with men?" I ask her very quietly, only for her to stop with a cold sweat suddenly drawn out.

"Larishazza?"

"Oh, nothing, just a very dark joke." she laughs off awkwardly before she seems to plead with me using only her gaze. And, reluctantly, I stepped away. I only want to know if she had any information to offer as my love was formerly similar. I knew much of how to please an aelenvari man, even if I had never done so before...

But, my experience with the wind-people came from assumptions alone. That and stories and the second-hand ramblings of my former desire. Attrition through lustful intent was unique to our people. It did not take much for our attention to be called elsewhere.

Much to my personal shame...

"Well, anyway, I need a bed..." my love then says as he slowly yawns and cracks his jaw.

"You've barely been up, lazy." the oxfuine scoffs as she walks around him before she swishes her tail at him.

"His wounds are also opening again slightly..." Einervaene points out. And, upon hearing such words. I clung onto him and made sure my love was receiving all I could support him with.

"Pretty sure it is just me being in need of new bandages. Speaking of, can I have yours? My style of clothes doesn't fit you at all." my love jokes to which the golden-woman laughs quietly.

"I think it does, it reminds me of you, after all." she compliments. Yet, to me, it stung as it reminded me of the fears I had regarding her. She had her eyes on my love and it had driven a wedge into my confidence before... In a way as well, my departure might've been little more than me giving up on my love...

If someone like her could have his attention, what good was I? My magic was nothing compared to hers! A fear I often thought about before and will do so more now. Yet, I could also reinforce myself.

The Wind-People had given us quite the place to learn magic after all. I would take what I had learned from all the Ivy-Mother's I inherited the knowledge from and refine it here. In the land of the most magically-gifted people!

For now, however, I just had to keep Nin's eyes on me through other means. And, thankfully, ever so thankfully, Einervaene did not know how to assert herself. She was a restrained woman. Yet, she clearly had the teachings to be more than that.

Yet, then was not now. And I intended to make the most of that.

.

.

.

"Come on... Wake up... Wake up..." I complained with a sigh to the two beautiful women on top of me. It wasn't uncomfortable, but I would like to move even just a little. Yet, since a certain group of people decided to do a certain thing...

I have had to share this already small bed with not only a nubile aelenvari. But a near equal in size ddrai'och with a tail probably as long as she was tall. Thankfully, however, I was a fidgeter and this impatience made me fidget up a storm. And I was soon barraged with quiet moans.

"My love... You're meant to put something else there..." Rose spoke as she spun around in my arm before she started to grind on me. And she did it all while still sleeping...

"Yeah, my foot." I tell her as I try to wipe her out with a stare.

"Nin..." Liada then shivered out before she finally started to stir. And when she did, it was amusing seeing her hair.

"Need some time?" I ask while nodding my head at the knotted mess she now had.

"More time to sleep..." she then said before she moved up closer. Only for Rose's unrestrained strength to slap her away.

"HEY!" Liada roared almost instantly. Yet, it only made Rose slowly rise.

"Morning, my love..." Rose muttered before her lips went against my neck.

"Good, move." I said without missing a beat as I shot up to my feet. Catching her before she fell to the ground. And then, I placed her down. Much to her disappointment.

"You're in a hurry." Liada comments as I flex my limbs about.

"No, just didn't want to be stuck under you two." I correct before I slow down on the stretches when a burning sting suddenly surges from my back.

A reflex that had Rose offering what she could in no time, "I still don't see how they can just ignore you like this."

"You quite literally can." I tell her as her magic helps dull the pain before I then turn to face the window.

"It's quite early..." Liada calls out as she wraps herself up in the quilt. Which, came to no surprise. Sleeping naked did not tend to be a warm experience. It was, however, a wonderful sight to see.

"So, I take it you have some plans for today?" Rose asks me as she reclines herself on the bed and moves her legs about. One of them soon pressed up against her body as well as her hips tilted up.

"And what you suggest is not one of them." I snicker, much to her well-shown disappointment.

"My love, at some point, you will have to submit to my desires." she confidently scoffs while keeping up the act.

And, despite joking just now, I became serious, "No, I don't think I will." I say with a quiet smile. A certain blue-haired woman then appeared in my mind. Then, she quite literally appeared.

"Yay!" I heard her cheer, and I smiled and scoffed as she let herself in. Already dressed and ready for whatever.

"You been watching us?" I nervously ask before I laugh out what I could.

"Perhaps, I really wanted to jump on the bed." she giggles before she skips closer to me. I even backed up a bit as she leaned in.

"Sounds fun..." I say as my heart begins to shudder at how beautiful she was.

"Yes, I do like a bit fun." she then says after suddenly straightening out and backing away. She even put on a strange accent before she started to drum various things.

"Well, can it wait til after breakfast?" I ask as I gently scratch my tummy.

"Ye." she answers with a nod as the other two move about with ignored flair.

"Very good, hurry up you two." I order with a smirk as I leave the two annoyed women behind.

"My love!" Rose nearly shouts from behind as I head on ahead with Larishazza. Unlike them, I did not have a necessity to wear clothes. Granted, however, I doubt Rose would have any issues going out naked...

"She really likes you." Larishazza points out with a confused tone as she starts to walk backwards.

"She does, yeah..." I say with a distant voice as I was really hoping that did not put Larishazza off. I know my bracelet doesn't seem to do anything... But, still...

"How come I don't see her around often, then?"

"There was falling out that got resolved in the thing..." I answer quietly while I struggled to remember the embarrassing defeat I had from that guy the first time. Yet, I did not know why I struggled to remember it now. I used to remember it quite well. Then again, I also have no issue with thinking about Tobaballe anymore.

I guess it can be quite a straightforward affair to change my mind. After all, Rose just had to clarify something to me to make the pain go away. She seemed to be gifted with that. Making someone move away from their worst impluses.

While still gladly showing off hers.

"That's very good." my crush then nods before she slams against the door.

"Careful." I say before I see how her arm was no longer wrapped up.

"I don't need to be!" she sings as she slides through the open doorway.

"Over here!" her sister then called out from the other side of the empty cafeteria.

"Where's the food!" Larishazza complains before she slips up into her seat.

"I was waiting for you as otherwise you'd complain about me picking something for you!" she snaps before she calms down and smiles at me.

"Morning." I say with a nod before dropping down into my seat with a bang.

"Looking a lot better now, aren't we?"

"Yeah, got some good nurses taking care of me." I chuckle, something she quietly laughs at too.

"Yes, my sister has had to compete for the right to look after you. After all, you got quite the following." she jokes at the end. Her head positioned itself ahead of the body by resting itself on her hands.

"I just hope they aren't overdoing it. I've taken a while to recover, it seems."

"Some progress is good progress!" Larishazza declares as she takes ahold of my hand.

"That's right, yeah." I say with a gentle smile before she starts to play with my fingers.

"So, we waiting or can we eat now?" Tiyanat asks before she ruffles her shorter, paler blue hair.

"Hold on!" I tell her as I raise my claw.

"Betting on the nosey one." Larishazza quickly says before she puts forth her hand. And, within her palm, a single button.

"Uh... I raise the bid." I say before I grab the strap to her bra. Ready to yank the metal bit off.

"No." Tiyanat says before a piece of ice hits my claw. Yet, it was her sister that suffered.

"Hey!" she complains as she jumps up at the cold. Only for her bra strap to snap as I still had a hold on it. My own body not being affected by the cold as it was covered up.

"Well, that joke went a bit far." I comment with as straight a face I could while Tiyanat started to berate her sister.

"But it's your fault!" Larishazza snaps back as her modest chest dangles out before my eyes.

"Surprisingly, disappo-" I begin to say before a water hose goes off in my face.

"No one asked for your opinion!" Larishazza snaps at me before she quickly dries me off in apology.

"I did." I correct while laughing at the rare sight. And then, we were finally joined by the other two. They had clearly been arguing all the way here as well.

"My love, answer me this. What matters more, size or texture?"

"Food." I quickly answer with a pair of slamming claws before I get up to get food. Whatever it was, I wanted to avoid it. And so did the people serving want to avoid me. Which I happily exploited as it meant I got a bigger meal out of it.

"Stolen."

"Hey!" I complain at my crush as she skips away with a piece of my bacon.

"Can someone get me my food please..." Liada then asks nervously as she sits down next to me.

"You can always have some of mine." I tell her with a sigh. Disappointed that I might lose out on the mountain I had made for myself.

"Don't worry, a good friend will get it." some stranger then said as he walked on by. And, to my surprise, it was that really muscular guy who I fought with against Vapooliar.

"Now, hold on a moment." I interject as everyone stares in confusion at him.

"Hm? Should I check to see if they would mind a few utensils going missing?"

"He's very handsome..." Rose quietly comments. Yet, I could see her bite her lip in the corner of my eye.

"No, not this again." I snort aggressively as I pull her in. Yet, going by the sounds she makes after. That might have just been her intention.

"You aren't so bad looking yourself, lshea." he sends back to her before he claps his thick hands together.

"Uh, Ombbo?" Larishazza then asks as she seems to imitate his mannerisms.

"Indeed I am!" he laughs.

"Eh?" I, Larishazza and Tiyanat all let out as we double-checked his body. Was this some kind of joke? The guy we were talking about was the fat bastard of fat bastards!

"Yes, I know, I have lost a few." he says as he attempts to jiggle his rockhard set of abs. Only, there was not so much as a sliver of fat left on them. It was like I was staring at Sraacdchammu again.

"No... That is him..." Tiyanat then confirms as she gazes at the magic likely trailing off of him. Yet, even then, I still did not see how she came to that conclusion. This guy's magic had far less of an impact... Like, Omb was never an obnoxious type with his aura...

But you could certainly feel how much magic his body had. Now, there was practically nothing in comparison! It was as if I was staring at a completely new person! Which, frankly, it might as well have been!

"So, as I offered before. Shall I get you a meal, lshea?" he asks as his attention turns to Liada.

"Yes!" she then said with surprising enthusiasm. Much to his expressed joy.

"Wonderful, now, I'll admit, it won't be like last time as I am not the chef." he warns with a playful wink before he heads on over to the counter. His body likely being enough to cook all the eggs in that place if I went by how everyone stared at him.

"Ombbo seems a lot more approachable now..." Lariashazz comments with a rare display of lust before she giggles on her way back into her seat.

"Stay away, he's my tutor." her sister bites with before the two try to blow each other up with glares.

"Aw..." I quietly complain as I stare down at my own body. It was a strong one, sure. I climbed a mountain and through a deadly blizzard, after all. Yet, my body did not lend itself well to showing off that strength.

"Don't worry, my love, yours is far better." she reaffirms my confidence with. Even if she was referring to my magic. Yet, that just ended up making my jaw drop open.

"Where'd all your magic go!?" I then called out after my fist dropped onto the table.