Uncrossing her arms, she gives me a long stare. Then takes a big breath before speaking.

“Here’s what we’re going to do. I actually want you to listen to what we say. Stop randomly healing people. If it was my choice, I’d say you actually need to stay inside and not talk with anyone. But Gong is adamant you need to be able to move about and do as you like.

“As a compromise then, ask Gong when you are about to heal someone. Unless they are going to die in front of you… wait for her. Once again, if it was up to me, I would say to let it happen. You can’t save everyone. Knowing you, though, that would make this tougher.”

She looks slightly uncomfortable as she says this next part.

“While we are grateful for you saving us, it was not the… most informed decision you could have made. There are many ways you could have ‘vetted’ us, that we will work with you on… so you can be safe against anyone that comes after.

“We also know you can communicate with Gong from a distance. If you are going to heal someone, check with her or with us. After this latest incident, we are going to be using this ability more. Since, it has such the capacity for immediate information.”

She takes a small breath and I take the moment to notice the little things about her. I shift my scan to pick up more about the situation.

I can sense some nervous ticks from her, as her left finger is tapping quickly. The small, quick breaths she’s been taking. Her eyes darting around a slight bit more than normal.

She’s unsure of this. Or maybe of what she will say next.

“Also, I’m going to sleep beside you. Every single day, from now on.”

Ah. That Does NOT seem like the best idea. I’m not sure this will go well if I have to lie next to her every night.

“No, I don’t believe I can…”

“This isn’t for you.”

Her lips are pursed and her eyes are sharp.

“When we went to the shop, back when we were going to grab ingredients, we had some issues. I… I had issues.”

She gulps and continues.

“I was the one that was supposed to speak to him. But I froze up at the sight of the Alchemist. As I looked at this older man, I felt scared, horrified. Everything about him, reminded me of Old Rong.”

Her arms cross each other again, but this time as she shivers. It’s almost as if she’s reliving it right now, in her mind.

“I couldn’t think, let alone speak. Thank God, thank God, that Lin was there. She took over the conversation pretty easily. Lynn was a bit confused at the time, but I think she sensed something was wrong. She has enough things to worry about right now, and I don’t want her to think that I’m broken again.”

She stopped speaking. Still holding herself, with the slightest hint of distraught, still clear on her face.

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I feel myself suck in a breath of cold air.

Ah shit. This is worse than I thought. That must be why they looked so uncomfortable leaving the shop at that time.

But… why is she telling me this now? And why does she need me to lie with her?

I don’t want to believe that this is some convoluted way for her to get me attached to her. To manipulate me.

No… that might actually be the case.

But that doesn’t mean she’s not telling the truth. That she actually needs and wants help.

People are fucked up. They get fucked up and turn that against others, because they don’t know any other way. They sometimes hurt the people trying to help them, while still hoping for the assistance.

As shitty as this might be, this might be her way of coping with things.

She affirms my thoughts with her next words.

“I didn’t want to admit it earlier, but every man that I’ve seen from when I was healed, makes me feel like I’m back on that sheet. Basically, crippled again. Unable to move. Unable to speak out. If go to the sect like this, Lin will suffer in trying to help me.

“You are the only one I feel somewhat normal with. That I don’t have the freeze with. Probably because you healed me earlier. So, this is the best way I could think of to help myself with this.”

I think for a moment.

Yeah, I think I can help her with this. In fact, I know the perfect solution that won’t require all this.

“Actually Ai, I forgot to tell you guys this… but I can heal any condition. Including mental ones. Here, let me show you.”

“What, seriously? W…wait a second.”

I lock onto her body. A quick low-level scan reveals she has a mental condition. It is partially debilitating, but only in stressful situations and against certain types of people.

With the condition verified, I drench her in healing magic. Flooding her body with the power to heal her mind and body. Removing the negative engrained habits built into her muscles.

A soft and enticing gasp escapes her, likely from the healing. The optional light from her dims, bathing the room in silence.

A job well done.

She looks up at me.

Contrary to my assumptions, she looks irritated.

Really, really irritated.

Why do I feel I did something wrong?

Forcing out her words, she says, “Thank. You. James.”

Her teeth gritted, she articulates the next words.

“Why do I get the feeling, James, that I just told you to watch how you heal people? To let people know, when you’re healing them?”

Ahhhh, I see what I did now. I ruined her plan.

Not only that, though. I broke another promise to myself. To ask for consent first.

… Do I really need to do that?

Yeah… I would say in most situations, I should.

Distracting me from my delineation of thoughts, Ai gives a sigh, and then rubs the back of her head. While also pinching the bridge of her nose.

“With that said, yet again, I have to thank you for healing me. That could have been a real issue if it wasn’t solved. I wish we knew earlier, that you could take care of mental issues, as well as physical ones.”

“Sorry about that, I should have waited until you consented to being healed. As soon as I heard you were having troubles like that, I wanted immediately to help you with it.”

Even if I personally believe that to be the case, I know that’s not normal in this world. To do so, shows a deep level of care. She’ll understand that, and it should allow me to regain the initiative in this conversation.

I need to make sure this doesn’t head off in the wrong direction.

Her lips tighten and she looks off to the side.

I speak to fill the silence, “Well, with that done, I guess I’ll make sure to follow your directions from now on, to not heal people randomly. And since you’re healed, you won’t need to stay in my room anymore.”

I move over to the side of the bed and begin preparing to go to sleep.

“Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to get some sleep. I hope you have a good night.”

Her mouth slowly opens, but then she closes it. She looks like she wants to say something, but struggles to find the words.

Slowly, she gets up and heads up to the door.

I did it.

I got through this. Hopefully, I won’t have to worry about this any…

Just before she leaves to go out into the tunnel, she pauses. She seems to contemplate something before turning slowly. My eyes lift to reach hers, still naked, with nothing covering her body.

She only says one word.

“… No.”