Chapter 73

Perched in a chair, Riley kept her front paws on the windowsill, looking out over Ranger Central from their ninth-story window.

The room had a "medieval hotel" style to her thinking. One twin bed, with a dresser, washing basin, chair, and table, filled the small space with functional efficiency.

The washing facilities were at the end of each hall, and the walls were the same smooth black stone. There was no entertainment, not even a crystal music box, and only a window to stare out of.

"Even the cheap hotels back on earth had radios," Riley pondered.

Tobias had his new gear laid out in a grid pattern on the bed, and his leathers were off, for the first time in months, save for their bath at Timbergarde.

"Thank God you chose to wash those. My nose thanks you," Riley said as he went over his jerkin, checking for damage, before eying the sleeve and taking up his ranger patch.

"You weren't exactly fresh as a flower yourself," He chided with a chuckle.

"I smelled natural. You smelled like a stinky guy," Riley stuck out her tongue.

"That's natural, but I admit, I missed washing. Especially after Cid ran us... By the dead gods, I thought I'd never be clean again," He scratched the hair on the back of his head in thought.

"Two baths later, and I still don't feel clean, but I smell minty!" Riley face groomed, then hopped off the chair, eying all the shiny new gear.

"Will sewing that on mess with the magic?" She gestured with a paw towards the patch.

"Why would I sew it? Justinian would kill me," In demonstration, he pressed the patch to the arm as Riley saw a brown flash.

"No way!" She exclaimed in awe.

Tobias pulled at the brown patch, only for the arm of his jerkin to move.

"You're still impressed by simple things," he muttered nostalgically, stroking her ears.

"You'd go ballistic if you saw a cellphone, trust me. It's the same thing in reverse," Riley observed.

"Cell phone," Tobias tried to say. To Riley's ears it sounded like "kale pone".

"You always have the strangest accent when you try to speak english," she mused.

"Your calarian sounds stilted to me. I wonder if that's the magic?" He rubbed his chin in thought before pausing and looking down at her.

"Do you want to go to the library with me?" Tobias asked with a smile.

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"Duh! It's a magical fantasy library in a magical fortress! Besides, I always go with you. I've been to class, the boot camp from hell, and the tavern to scrape Cid off the floor. You'd be lost without me, and it would be scary being out there on my own. It works out, " Riley bounced on her paws excitedly, falling into a quick spin.

"And is that a good thing?" Tobias asked.

The question stopped her cold. Her ears dropped as her front paws went limp, hanging in front of her, "It's what we do. Do you really think I should go out alone? I'm just a creature to most and not a normal one. There are certain realities to my existence here. I understand that."

"That doesn't make it right. I've been thinking a lot about what Cid said yesterday. I feel... guilty. How much choice have you had really, in anything that's happened to you?" Tobias sat on the bed next to his leathers, centering himself in front of her.

"I've had more choice with you than I would with most sorcerers here, by the sound of it. I'd give them a run for their money now, but before I knew magic and how things worked, I was a target. I got lucky with you. You've treated me like a person since you knew I was a person and even before." Riley pressed up against his legs in her favorite show of affection.

"But you've still been taken on this crazy ride with me," Tobias countered, acting as his own prosecutor.

"So? You never bound me. Nothing was keeping me from running off into the woods or skulking away while roaming through the crowds. I've stayed with you because I wanted to and because you're my family. Family faces things together. Besides, you totally need me," Riley replied.

Tobias nodded, "I do need you, and I think you need me too, but I care too much to bind you in anyway. You have your freedom."

"I do, and I'm a full-fledged ranger now; just don't ask me to practice sword forms or for anyone to believe that. I have trouble believing it," she admitted.

Tobias tussled her ears. "You're every bit the Ranger I am."

"Then you should look the part before you go to the library! Kit up, son! Don yer leathers, strap on your sword, and at least look like you're making an effort by the dead gods!" Riley said, imitating Cid almost perfectly by the benefit of projection.

Tobias laughed, "Enough, goon, one Cid is enough, but I see your point."

"I want to see the new cloak. It's all black and mysterious. I bet you'll look like a badass!" Riley bounced again, finishing with her trademark twirl, "Just what do you want to study anyway?

"Well, first tier bonding rituals if you want to know, elven magic if I can find anything on it, I may even talk to Cid when he's sober if that happens before we get orders. I'd like to understand the process more," He explained before pulling off his shirt, revealing a chiseled but skinny physique worn down by hungry nights and long physical days.

"We should probably get you another meal or ten on the way, but I admit to being curious too," She replied.

"It's still on your mind then?" Tobias asked.

"Cid said it balanced him out and tied them together on a deeper level. We've never had that with our contracts. I care about you, Tobias, and I admit that having that might be good for me," Riley replied.

"I care about you too, which is why I would never bind you like I was taught. If it's sharing, as he told us, and not slavery, that's something I think I could do," he said, sounding unsure, while switching out his pants before pulling on his boots, finally donning his cloak.

"So this is something you'd want too, then?" Riley asked, looking him up and down.

"A partner in the magic? Someone to face this crazy world with? What would change for us, really, except that it would be deeper than we've had? I'll never forget that moment you were hurt. The idea of losing you felt like I was dying myself; it scared the hell out of me. I've been thinking on that since," Tobias said, looking down.

"Healing magic is better than band-aids, thank the Thirteen," Riley agreed. Tobias ruffled her ears again, then held out his hands, showing off his new clothes.

"Yep, a total badass, especially with the scar. You look like an extra from the Lord of the Rings!" Riley bounced on her front paws excitedly before running towards the door.

"What are you waiting for? I want to see a magic library!" She exclaimed with childlike wonder.

Tobias belted on his sword and set his dagger on his belt, "Alright, let's go."