"I am glad that you all are making me feel so loved, but I do believe that I should be learning this material. If any of you are going to deter me from doing this, I kindly do request you leave."

"Look at how cute you are, with you putting your foot down. Adorable." Emmelina said and looked as though she wanted to hug me.

And that is how our lively study session began. Cat went through his notes and the lessons that he had planned and Emmelina went over the questions that had been asked during the course. With the joint effort between the two of them to ensure that I understood the information, I think I ended up learning it better than anyone who had been in the course the days that I missed.

"This is going so much faster than I expected it to." Cat commented but did not seem at all surprised.

Kay also got in on things whenever he could. It seemed that Cat was bringing up topics that did not end up being talked about in the course, and Kay was soaking everything in. He had even brought paper and he was adding more notes to the ones that he had already taken. I wondered if that was entirely necessary, but I liked that he truly wanted to know all of the material that he was able to. I knew that was going to come in handy when we were in the dungeon.

Out of curiosity I did look over at what modified Kay notes were, and I was in no way disappointed. Where before a small goblin was shown being stabbed there now was a hoard of them suffering from torrential flames.

When I felt that it was getting late enough, I asked to be excused to go get a snack. They let me go easily enough. I pop into the kitchen and ask George if everything was ready. When he said that it was, I ran around and gathered everyone together. There really weren't too many of us.

"George was kind enough to help me cook all of you something to thank you for everything that you have done for me. Not just since I got sick, but ever since I walked through the doors here for the first time.

"Kay, thank you for your energy and how you seem to never run out of things to say. You truly are a wonderful best friend. I feel as though we will always be there for one another, inside or outside the dungeon. We are truly partners in crime. I am glad that you are the first person that I met.”

“Stop I’m blushing, but don’t stop.” Kay whispered, surprisingly.

"Cat, thank you for never leaving my side. I do not know what I would have done without you. You always make me feel safe and cared about. And even though I was not conscious, I could tell that you were purring for me.

"Vita, you always bring light and fun to everything that you do. I know that you have helped keep me smiling through everything, and while I cannot speak for the others, I do believe that they would agree with me. Also, you not only made sure that I had a bed, you also contributed greatly to my being offered a job.

"Emmelina your quiet strength and gentleness has helped remind me of home, and the kindness of my family. You have truly been there for me and have helped relieve a great amount of the homesickness that I have felt. I also know that if I need a gentle listening ear I can come to you any time day or night.

"Hillie, I do not know you as well as I wish I did. Somehow our shifts simply never align. But what I know of you, you are a calm and strong presence. No matter what is happening around you, you never bat an eye. You handle everything as though it is perfectly normal that it is happening.

"Momma Tia. You brought me into your home, you gave me a job, and you blocked my attackers from being able to come in. This establishment and the people that you have on your staff truly are a family, one that I am blessed to be a part of.

"Crestin, you made testing fun. You teach Kay with such enthusiasm that I almost wish that I was more proficient with magic.

"Alice. I know that everything that you are teaching me is going to help keep me alive. You don't make me feel too silly, even when I am doing something that could easily be viewed as rather silly and peculiar, such as running on walls.

"George, you open your kitchen to me and allow me to bake sweets in there for my tea parties. Not only that, but any time that I wish to learn anything new you are there with a kind and guiding hand to teach me the recipe, or learn it together with me.

“If you thank one more person, I will eat you” Cat jokes mostly because he didn’t know how to respond to such honest compliments.

"On that note, please enjoy this cake and roast that George and I made for you. And with that I do believe that I have hit my quota on speaking."

I realize that this truly was a great amount of words for me to say at any one time. I have never been one to lead or dominate a conversation. I leave that to people like Kay or Vita. Or, apparently, Zayne when he is feeling particularly verbose.

‘I love you Zayne.’

We all grab some food and find places to sit and eat. I, of course, go to sit as near the fireplace as I could. It truly has become my place to sit and relax. It is ever so comfortable. Kay and Cat come and join me. I feel as though Emmelina wants to, but she has other obligations. She was able to get out of them for a while to join in the study group.

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"Wow Ami I had no idea that you could talk so much. Your voice is really nice to listen to actually. I mean, I know that because I have heard you sing before but that is different than talking. Your talking and singing voice sound pretty close, but not exactly the same so it was actually really fun to hear. Also, thank you so much for all the nice things that you had to say. And did you talk about me first because I am the closest to you or because you met me first. Or both! It's both, right Ami?

“Actually, you know what? I don't actually want to know that answer to that. Instead, I just want to say thank you and... That this is super duper tasty!" Kay said, shoving a bite of cake into his mouth.

“Oh dear Kay, sometimes I think the only thing that can pause your talking is food” Emmelina says in passing.

Oh dear, I did not even think of the thought of people thanking me for thanking them. It is all altogether rather embarrassing! Also, I suppose that it is true that I am not the biggest talker. I had just been thinking that, but to think it and then have someone immediately say the same thing? I suppose it does make it doubly true?

"Yeah, thanks. I'm not used to people saying things about me, let alone good things about me." Cat says before sticking some roast into his mouth.

Kay is starting with the cake, and Cat with the roast. Which do I start with? Well, I have always been the type to eat my meal before dessert. There is a second stomach for dessert as people say, thus it makes it easier to eat dessert last. With that in mind I start by sticking a potato in my mouth. Goodness! It really does taste good, doesn't it? I feel the tip of my tail wag slightly.

We all enjoy light conversation as we eat and cracked jokes. The feeling throughout the Paws and Claws was so light and happy that our patrons notice it as well. They call for us to do some singing. Cat and I nod to each other, and I do some singing while Cat plays. I teach him some... Proper songs from home. They still had a bit of a flirtatious undertone but there is nothing that I can do about that. They were from home after all. And everyone really enjoyed them. I know that because they all tried to sing the chorus the second time that they heard it.

After me and Cat did a few songs he says "Thanks for listening. Sadly, that's all for tonight." The patrons boo a bit, but even that is good natured. They know that they are being spoiled by having us playing for them.

"Did Alice already leave?" I ask him.

"Yes, she said that she wanted to warm up a bit before the two of you play."

"She called it playing?" I ask him, unsure of how I felt about that term being used to describe what we would be doing to train tonight. Oh well, no matter what we were doing, I was going to make it fun.

"You haven’t played yet? Well, your training starts now." he said, turning into his beast form and leaping up on my shoulder. "You will be running there, you will need the warmup."

"I am running late again?" I ask him.

"You won't be if you run. Do you think that's why they call it running late?" Kay asks while frosting coated his face.

I want to quip back, but I decided to focus less on my mouth and more on my body. I wanted to make sure that I do not overdo it. I had not been that active since waking up. At first it did not feel good. My body complained a bit and my lungs were not being the friendliest. However, once I had been running for a few minutes my body realized that it could not keep this activity from happening and decided to be cooperative.

Once my body and me were on the same page I was really able to pick up speed. I was most assuredly more familiar with these streets than I had been when classes started, and I knew how to move through a crowd. Though, there wasn't much of a crowd which did make it easier.

"Can you go any faster?" Cat asked in challenge.

Oh dear, I should not have let him learn about that aspect of my personality. Not everyone enjoyed that I was able to be competitive. I did not have to be, but at times when it was appropriate, I could be as competitive as anyone.

"Hold on." I tell him and do manage to find another burst of speed. It felt amazing. I am running so fast that I wonder if this is what it feels like to fly. Moving quickly, feeling as though my feet are hardly touching the ground. I would suspect that they weren't, but it wasn't possible for me to run without my feet touching the ground. I smile to myself.

Cat lets out a little woop. I take this as encouragement and continue racing through the streets to the training ground. When I make it there, I see Alice grinning.

"Keep running like that and no one will believe that you were ever sick." Alice tells me.

"Is that a good thing?" I ask her.

"You don't want to give anyone anything to use against you. Ever. Are you ready?" she asks.

"Yes, I am ready. Can you tell me what we are going to be doing tonight?" I ask her.

"I will be teaching you how to fight in the dark." she slips two wooden daggers into my hands.

"Wood?" I inquire.

"Yes. Your goal these next two nights is simple. Hit me. I'll give you points for every time that you do and deduct points from you every time, I knock you off of your feet. And don't worry, you can redeem these points for something fun, I am just not sure what.”

"You do not happen to have a wooden fan do you?" I ask. I was planning to fight with dagger in one hand and fan in the other.

"I tried to find one but no one makes them. So I guess I will have even more of an advantage won't I." she says and as soon as I have the daggers in my hands she effectively disappears. Okay, it seems that she must be using a skill. Either that or she is extremely fast.

I glance around me, but also try to minimize my movements. I don't want any wasted energy. When I think I hear some soft rustling that could be clothes moving I crouch down and lunge. It seems that she was striking at the same time and we both narrowly miss one another.

"Good." she says.

I want to ask if students usually are thrown into the deep end. Don't teachers usually stand still and show the student how very weak they are by the student not striking them.

"Head out of the clouds." she said and smacked the back on my knee, causing it to buckle under me. Though, after her hitting me, I now know where she is. I spin around, knee still on the ground and swipe the air. I see a few hairs drift down. Drat, seems I missed her again, barely.

"Does your hair count as a point?" I ask. I hear her chuckle and again I lunge, when I miss, I do a forward roll and pop up onto my feet.

I am absolutely astounded by the way that I am moving right now. Is this from eating the mana crystals? I did not know that it was going to have such a boost. Grr, I really want to land a strike against her.

Hmm, I wonder. I know that her eyes are more accustomed to the darkness than mine are at the moment, as she has been out here longer than me.

"Faux fire!" I shout, using both my voice and the skill to try to throw her off. My skill acted strangely though. Small dancing flames burst away from me in a couple different directions, and made it look as though they were casting my shadow.

I look at the ground beneath them and see that it wasn't burning. The fire glowed a soft blue light. The fact that it wasn't blindingly bright was a benefit, but it benefitted us both. However, having some light in the area makes it so that we are able to see one another more easily.

"Found you." I say and instead of lunging I take a couple quick steps, as though I was dancing with her. She decided to face me head on as well. I could see how much more skilled than me she was, and I was glad as I was learning from her. It was also frustrating because there was no way for this to be an even match.

"Clever using your skill."

"You did not say that it was not allowed." I retort.

"I did not." While she was talking I leap and lunge forward at the same time. She easily deflected one of my blades, but I spin my body around lightly on the balls of my feet and strike her back. I manage to only smack her fingers. Normally, that would cause someone to lose their weapon. But Alice wasn't normal.

We both look at one another, and grin.

"New game. Dodge." she says, and pounces.