By the time they had left, sweaty and tired, the epiphany Theo had been searching for was still a scent on the breeze in spring.

At the very least, he was only sweaty, while all those who ended up sparring with him were all exhausted.

Even Jenny had left to go straight home after a rather sticky hug.

Which is how he ended up where he always did, mug of questionable beer in hand, sitting in front of the bar at The Pub.

“Theo!” Rick greeted him as he entered, slapping a hand on his shoulder. He nodded in response.

“Did you hear the news?” There was a look in Rick’s eye, one that Theo recognised. Something had happened, something good. Rick gestured with two fingers to Alan, and returned his whole focus to Theo.

“No, what happened?” Rick’s cheeks twitched, suppressing a wide grin.

“Well…” He dragged out the word, slowly and loosely lowering his head until it was next to Theo’s ear, with the speed and grace of someone with five more drinks in them.

“The Dancing Wind is back,” Rick whispered.

Theo tensed, and it took a moment for him to realise that it wasn’t due to threat, but instead a desire to find them as soon as he could. He looked down at the sound of wood creaking, and found the mug warping under his grip.

Alan shot him a look, and Theo didn’t meet his gaze as he wrote something down. He took some time to consciously relax all his muscles.

He coughed, turning his attention back to Rick, who looked on with more than a little amusement. “How are they?”

“Theo, you can ask them yourself, you know? Actually, no.” Rick paused. “In fact, you will. They asked to see you. They’re at the Guild right now.”

Theo looked at Alan who, with a roll of his eyes, nodded. “Thanks!”

As he rushed out to meet Sparrow, he heard Alan announce that he wouldn’t be performing that night, and a cavalry of groans followed.

“Can you wait to tell him something important after he’s done performing next time?!” Theo heard someone shouting audibly, even as he walked almost a street over. Smiling to himself and shaking his head, he picked up the pace.

---

Theo gave a perfunctory nod to Eva upon entering the Guild of Magic, but otherwise he was entirely focused on finding Sparrow.

He scanned the room. There was Askavel lounging around as always, a few groups of mercenaries, some of the warrior students having a late dinner, and a woman taking care of their friend who was pale and looked exhausted.

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No Sparrow.

No well-matched suit that stood out like a garish thumb that nobody else could have pulled off.

No personality like a vortex pulling all attention towards a single point when desired.

Theo looked again, trying to see if there was anyone he missed.

Still no Sparrow.

This time, he looked closer at each individual before dismissing them, and by now quite a few had noticed his intense scanning.

“Who are you looking for?” Including Eva.

“Someone told me that The Dancing Wind had returned from their diplomatic mission, and they’re here.” He continued to absentmindedly scan the room, even as he talked.

“Ah yes, they’re over there.” Eva pointed to the woman and the person lying down next to them.

Theo looked again, carefully. He could see a passing resemblance to Sparrow, but there was none of the charm or glamour that made Sparrow The Dancing Wind.

The woman next to them however, still stood out. She stood out in a way that was rather familiar to Theo. With shining platinum hair, there were few that she could be mistaken for, but Theo still couldn’t place it.

She, however, could place him.

“Theo!” She waved.

Theo paused, looking between them, trying to remember who she was and where they met.

He also focused on the person lying flat on their back, and when he squinted he could see the resemblance to Sparrow. It was as good a lead as any.

He approached, tentatively. “Are they alright?” He looked over at their chest barely moving from shallow breaths.

She waved off his concern. “They just need to rest for a while.”

“Theo.” Sparrow croaked. He looked at the woman, unsure.

At her prodding (in the form of encouraging nods), he replied. “Yes, Sparrow?”

“I’ve been hearing about all the adventures you got up to while I was gone.” Their voice was weaker and raspier than usual, but still there. “You’re really growing into your own.”

They tried to smile, and ended up coughing up what sounded like both their lungs.

Theo knew that the woman has said that they’d be fine; but something about this situation was telling him that this might be the last time he saw Sparrow.

He quashed that thought, choosing to repeat to himself and they’ll be fine and to focus about anything else, anything at all.

He looked over again, still looking for reassurance and the blonde nodded with a knowing roll of their eyes.

“They’re just being dramatic as always.”

Oddly enough, that of all things made Theo relax a little.

“I heard you were looking for me.” Theo stated his question.

“Yes,” Sparrow wheezed. “I wanted to apologise for the weeks where I wasn’t around. The mission did not go as intended, and a strategy was forced into being.” They cleared their throat, but it didn’t seem to dislodge anything.

“The consequences of that included my longer than planned, extended absence. And my inability to be a proper teacher to you.” Theo blinked. Even now, he wasn’t sure this was Sparrow. This was like a child reciting a poem they had written.

“…that, and it was just shitty to leave you again like that.” And suddenly, Theo was sure this was indeed Sparrow.

“That’s okay, it’s just nice to have you back.” Theo lowered his hand to pat Sparrow on their back, and realised that there was no easy place for him to pat.

He settled on patting their shoulder, after hovering for a little too long. “As long as you don’t have to disappear again any time soon.” Theo joked.

Sparrow froze. So did the woman.

Theo sighed.

“There’s a lot more diplomacy and peacekeeping that needs to happen, especially after the spies we found. Well, you found.” A strange bristle of pride kept his chest warm as Sparrow explained the predicament. “Anyway, the point is that early next year I will be gone for a few weeks again, and hopefully it will be shorter than this time.”

“Fine. But if you take any longer I will go to Etol and drag you back myself.” Theo threatened, drawing a laugh that quickly turned into a cough. “Now, tell me about the trip.”

Sparrow waved him off, moving a little easier than they did before. “Give me a few days to recover, but I promise I’ll tell you everything.”

They did.