Silvia’s body ached all over, her head pounded in time with her heartbeat. Her vision was fuzzy as she tried to lean up in what felt like a bed, a hand pressed against her shoulder and gently pushed her back, until her head was cradled by a pillow.

“You should rest longer, it's only been a few hours.”

Although she couldn't see clearly, she could recognize the voice as Darren's. She tried to speak, but no sound came from her open mouth, her world slowly faded to blackness.

She could hear birds chirping, and feel sunlight warming her face. She slowly opened her eyes and understood where she had been resting. It was their room in the straw roofed log house of the town's patron. She saw trees through the open window, and a bright blue sky, a welcome sight after the dark cramped cave she had last been in. A warm breeze of fresh air rolled in. She looked to her right and saw Darren sitting in a chair, leaned back against the wall with its front legs off of the floor, silently reading a book. He was wearing a new set of clothes retrieved from her bag. After her staring at him for a moment his eyes darted to her and their gazes met.

“You're finally awake!” he said, startled. He almost fell out of the off-balance chair as he came to his feet. You were so quiet I didn’t even notice.

She carefully leaned up into a sitting position, her body still somewhat sore, enduring a light headache. All of that aside, she felt peaceful, in a warm bed being looked after.

He walked to her bedside smiling gently, when he reached her though he furrowed his brow.

“What’s that for?” she asked as she sat up straighter.

“You didn't imbue me when we saw it. What happened to the plan, Silvia?”

She was speechless for a moment, too shocked to speak. “Well!.. I had to act fast, I didn't have time to!”

“As soon as we saw the rats you should have done it! Or, when I was wrestling with it and you decided to throw yourself in harm's way and tackle it! Would a spell not have worked better than your tiny ass?!”

“I haven't had magic that long, it all happened so fast! With that fear pheromone I couldn’t think. Stop yelling at me!” She crossed her arms, angry “Besides, it all turned out fine in the end.”

“Oh, yeah, it all turned out great, if you forget the part where, you know, I DIED!” Darren yelled back at her. “I may come back fine, but that shit hurts when it's happening! Do you know how it feels to die? It's, uh, pretty goddamn awful.”

“Well how do you think I feel after bringing you back!? This isn't so easy either. I can't believe you're so ungrateful! If you had just killed it at the beginning everything would have been so much easier.”

“If I had died without pinning it there would have been nothing between you and it! You can't be so careless! You'll get hurt.” He stared her down.

She had nothing to say back to him, not expecting the sudden shift in his feelings from anger to concern. She just lowered her eyes to the bland beige bedspread covering her legs which she brought up to her chest. He walked to the window and leaned against the wall looking past the trees at the field behind the house.

“I'm sorry.” she uttered quietly. His concern left her feeling disarmed and guilty. “I just didn't know what to do.” her voice a whisper. “I saw it biting you and I didn't know what to do. I'm not fully accustomed to magic yet, it’s not a reflex, not when staring down a beast the size of a mule. I didn't know what I could cast that would hurt it and not you, or how to quickly find it in the Index. When I'm under pressure I have trouble telling the symbols apart, which is why I didn’t imbue you. I picked the wrong one when we walked in, everyone was watching us and I had all this adrenaline. And when it attacked you I just panicked and charged.” She felt so small, even though he was only nineteen and she fifteen, she felt like she was being yelled at by some cantankerous old instructor.

“Yeah, that's you alright. Charging in, head first. That’s my job y’know.” he let out a long sigh. “Just try to be more careful next time. I can be brought back as long as you're okay, but if something happens to you, that's it. The fat lady sings.”

“Fat lady?” she asked, trying to divert the subject away from herself.

He looked over at her “Right, sorry. It's a phrase from my world, it's not over till the fat lady sings, not sure where it came from really.”

“I see.” she pushed some hair away from her eye with one finger, still looking down.

He watched her as she kept her eyes on the bedspread.

“Silvia?” he said quietly.

“Yes?” she looked up.

“Though, I'm not a fan of the method, I'm not gonna lie. It was pretty badass when you tackled that thing.”

Her eyes lit up “Right!? I slammed right into him, took him to the ground! I even brought you back! I wasn't sure if I could even do that!”

“Yes, yes, it was all very impressive. You're sooooo cool.” Darren said, mocking her.

“Cool as in good?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

He sighed “Yes, the way they say it in my world.

“Ah, well then yes! I was very cool!” she grinned widely.

He couldn't help but laugh at her “What happened to the prim and proper 'respectable lady' you turn into when we’re on an assignment?”

“She's learning that proper isn't very much fun.” she let out a youthful giggle.

There was a pause as they both relaxed, getting past the tense conversation.

“Well I'm certainly glad to see you're feeling better. You want some food? It’s been three days since I brought you back, and we could only get you to drink some water and swallow a bit of soup.”

“It's been three whole days!? Gah, no wonder I'm starving.” she grabbed her stomach, and threw back the covers. As she looked down she realized she was wearing only an oversized shirt and a pair of underwear, instead of her light battle raiment. She let out a little scream and pulled the covers back up to her chest. “What happened to my clothes?!”

“Well they were covered in lots of blood, mine and the vylox's. So I changed you and washed the blood off of you. I couldn't let you just sit in all that gore.”

“You did what!? How dare you!” she threw her pillow at him, mortified.

He caught it in mid air and laughed “Oh calm down, I didn't really do it. The patron's wife and some girls from the village did.” He threw her pillow back to her “Now you just stay in bed, I'll bring you some stew and some bread. While you eat I'll bring a fresh set of clothes to the bathroom, and heat up a bath for you.”

“Good. About time you start serving me like you’re supposed to be, you fool.” she said raising her nose snobbishly “It isn't nice to trick your mage.”

“I'm gonna pay for that later aren't I?” he asked, wincing as if he was already experiencing her revenge.

“Oh, you most assuredly are.” she pulled the pillow to her face to hide a mischievous smile, only showing her squinting eyes.

“Whatever you wish, it shall be done, my lady” Darren bowed to complete his sarcasm, and left through the open door to fetch her food.

She looked around the room, still appreciating the comfortable atmosphere, comparing it to the cave. The open space, the fresh air, and the bright sunlight. She could hear children playing somewhere outside, she sighed contently and leaned back against the headboard of the single bed, still squeezing her pillow she let her eyes shut. My second assignment down she let the thought flow through her mind And this time, a success. she swelled with pride. She still couldn’t believe this was all happening, that she was able to live this life after giving up on it so long ago. She always thought she would be stuck in that castle, looked after and berated by her shrew of a mother, unable to do anything of real worth. She grimaced at the thought of even seeing the woman when she went back to report her success. Success. Her success. She reveled in that thought, wrapping it around herself like a blanket.

“That's quite a smile, miss.” The patron's friendly voice interrupted her day dream as he knocked on the open door.

“Well I've got a bit to be happy about lately.” she replied as she looked over at him.

He stood just inside the doorway, leaning against the frame. “Now that you're awake I thought I'd come and thank you myself. I've already thanked your companion time and again. You two have done a great service to our town. That creature started with our livestock, when they tried to fend it off it killed Garrick Demmins and his eldest son.” the man looked sad at the thought of his deceased friend, but his demeanor changed quickly “That's when I knew I had to make a request of your gracious uncle, I knew he would help us.” Adrock said as he crossed the room and sat in the chair next to the bed.

“I'm glad you could come to us, and that I could help your village with this. It's only the second service I've done for my uncle and the province, but I'm glad he gave the task to me.” she smiled at the older man.

“I am as well, miss D'Chevalier. Please extend my deep thanks to your uncle as well, upon your return.”

“Oh you don't have to use my title patron, sir. You can simply call me Silvia.”

“Well alright, but only if you stop calling me patron, and definitely no “sir” business. I'm just Adrock, and you, miss Silvia, are welcome in this town anytime.” he gave her a relieved smile. “I'm glad you're okay. I must admit I was afraid something terrible had happened when your companion came back carrying you like he was, with his clothes all torn to shreds and both of you covered in so much blood.” he let out a sigh. “I was afraid you had been hurt on our account.”

“Thank you for your concern, if I had gotten hurt, it would have been worth it to help.” she paused. “But trust me, no one is happier that I'm okay than me.” she said wanting to ease the serious turn the conversation was taking. It worked as they both chuckled.

“Well I might be happier. After all, you die, I die.” Darren said from the doorway. He walked in holding a small tray with a bowl and some bread on it. “You need to eat now. And take it easy, go slow, your body is still exhausted, even if your mouth isn't.”

The patron laughed watching the two of them “You two certainly seem different than the few magents I've seen before. Certainly never heard a guardian yell at his mage the way you did earlier.”

“What are you the patron of? Fuckin’ awkward moments?” Darren rolled his eyes.

“Oh, you're right, sorry to bring up the spat so shortly after.” the large man chuckled uncomfortably as he rose to his feet. “I'll leave the two of you alone, enjoy your meal.” he gave Silvia and Darren another smile as he left.

“He's quite a character isn't he?” Darren said as he took the seat the Adrock had just vacated.

“He is, I like him.” she said as she sat back to enjoy her meal.

They kept quiet conversation as she slowly ate her food, afterwards, the patron's wife helped Silvia to the bathroom for her long awaited bath. Though the water had cooled off some it still felt good to her sore body. As she sat in the tub she opened up her Index to study the runes. She still felt absolutely idiotic for her actions in the cave, embarrassed that she could choose the wrong symbol.

“I know the runes well enough when everything is calm and I'm just looking at them. Why do I fold under the pressure and forget them?” she asked of herself.

That’s what pressure does. We just have to practice till you don’t have to think about it. Darren replied in her mind. Plus, that fear-toxin it gives off probably didn’t do you any favors.

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She went red in the face and walled herself off a bit to make sure no images would transfer, then ran her finger over each symbol mouthing the name of it, trying harder to ingrain them in her mind. She ran through them over and over, until the bath water was cold and she had to get out. She carefully climbed out of the tub, her whole body felt fragile. The amount of magic it took to revive him made her feel like she’d been run over by a carriage. Everything ached and she couldn’t seem to recover.

She finally dressed and left the bathroom, to find Darren sitting alone at the table in the kitchen, but he was wearing one of his nicer sets of clothes. Black pants with a white shirt and a black vest.

“Oh you're finally out. Hmm, those clothes are no good, get a dress, or some fancy royal stuff. They're having a party in our honor, though since you took so long they couldn't help but get started without us.” he got up to help her walk.

“You could have gone ahead without me.” she said as she leaned against him. He took her into the spare bedroom so she could get her clothes.

“And leave you here all alone? Nuh uh. Now hurry up and change.”

“Alright. Thank you, for the help.” she said bashfully.

“No problem.” he pulled the door shut behind him as he left.

Silvia changed slowly, replacing her clothes with dark purple pants made of some velvety material with white trim and runes inscribed on them, and ornate shoes matching the color scheme. She changed her shirt for a sleeveless white collared button up with lace frill around the edges. She stepped to the door and opened it.

“Dang girl, you clean up nice.”

“Why thank you. I must say, I look much better than you in your peasant clothes.”

“I just don’t need fancy clothes to make me look good. Lucky you have those.”

He reached down and took her hand, spinning quickly he brought her arm over his shoulder, pulling her body against his back he lifted her and grabbed her legs to carry her.

“What are you doing?” she asked, confused.

“Oh quiet down, you barely made it from the bathroom to the bedroom. The town hall’s a decent walk away. I'll just carry you.”

“Fine, but walk gently. I'm delicate.” she said sarcastically over his shoulder.

“I know a vylox that begs to differ.”

She let out a little “hmph” as the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

They were greeted by a loud roaring cheer as they entered the town hall. Once Darren had set Silvia down there was a crowd shaking her hand gently and giving him forceful slaps of approval on the back. All the villagers, their moods mirthful from drink and good news, circled around the duo and thanked them profusely. They did this until the next song started, at which point they all grabbed a partner and started a lively movement on the main floor.

“Sorry you're probably too weak to dance.” Darren said, helping Silvia to a seat at a table set back from the dance floor.

“Oh, it's alright. I don't like dancing that much.”

“Oh, it is not. You love dancing. You forget I've talked to your family.” he said as he watched the dancers on the floor. “I might even be able to keep up with this one. How are you feeling?”

“Well, a little better since the food and bath. Why?”

“Because we're dancing. Just keep your feet on mine, and hold on tight.” he said as he helped her to her feet.

“Are you sure? I don't have to, really.” she said, following him reluctantly towards the main floor as he led her by the hand.

“You don't have to, no, but you really really wanna right?” he smiled. “Now put your feet on mine. And hold on.”

She stepped up and wrapped one arm around him, as he wrapped one of his around her waist holding her against him. His other hand lifted her's up, and then they were off. Whirling around the dance floor, much to the villagers delight. They cheered as the two shuffled around the room together for what seemed like an endless song. Darren felt the newly healed skin pulling tightly and aching as they went, but he couldn’t bring himself to slow down. Not with the look Silvia had on her face.

At that moment Silvia realized she couldn't possibly be happier. A celebrated hero, at her own party, dancing with her guardian. She watched his face, it was all she could watch as the rest of the room was a blur in their spinning steps.

After the song the villagers brought out the creature itself. While Silvia rested they had retrieved the beast from the cave and had temporarily mounted it on some saw horses. Everyone murmured at the sight of it, cowed by the size of its claws and maw. Terrifying even limp, with its head and one claw raised in the air so everyone could get a good look. The villagers jovially demanded to be regaled with the tale of the fight.

The villagers cheered and gasped and kept handing the duo beer after beer. Silvia didn’t say much, but Darren dove right into narrating the terrifying event. The villagers stared in wide-eyed silence as Darren described being brought back to life and his body reforming with a pain that rivaled its breaking. He left out their few mistakes and embellished only slightly.

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. His thought came to her with a feeling of joy.

The party seemed like it would go on until the early morning light, but not for the man and lady of the hour. Silvia began to grow tired from all the activity, though she wouldn't admit it. Darren decided to take her back to the house they were staying in, even as the partiers begged them to stay.

“So did you enjoy our little victory party?” Darren asked, piggybacking her home, the same way they had arrived.

“Yes, vury much.” her words slurred from the exhaustion and the mugs of ale she had been handed one after another by the villagers. She laughed quietly to herself, or what she thought was quietly in her altered state of mind. To think of herself getting drunk during a party in her honor, this never could have happened when she was stuck at her family's estate.

“How many drinks did you have, girl? My god.” Darren laughed.

“I'm nuh a girl! I'm the fiersh warrior queen! I turn sixteen in three days and I killed a munster yes'erday! Di' I tell you that?”

“You don't need to tell me, I was right there. I even hugged it, right in front of you. And that was days ago, not yesterday.” he replied.

“Hugged?! Pfft, if das a hug from you then you better never e'er gimme one.” her laugh rang out loudly in the quiet village.

“Oh, don't flatter yourself, I won't. Besides, I think you'd do more damage than the 'munshter' anyways.” mocking her slurred speech.

She leaned back hard and pulled heavily on his neck. “Da's rude! Flatter myshelf? I'm a noble mage lady, you're just… Shut up.” she dropped her head against his back, loudly sucking in air before letting out a long groan and a belch.

Darren laughed loudly “A noble, eh? After hearing that it's hard to say if you're even human.”

“Shush.. shut mouth.” her voice trailed off as she fell asleep leaning against him.

“Oh my, and you thought you felt bad this morning.” he shook his head as he thought of the hangover she would endure the next day.

He walked silently with her on his back, he saw some villagers heading home from the festivities with small children. He thought of his own parents. If only they could see me now. He felt a pang of longing, to see them, to let them know he’s alright. Better than alright, that things might be better than they ever had been. He shook the thought from his mind, better to enjoy the success in front of him than keep mulling over the possibility of never seeing them again.

Darren opened the door and entered the patron's home, it was dark now, long after midnight. He focused and lit the symbols on his arms slightly so he could find his way through the house. It felt eerie, lit with the purple from his arms it wasn’t unlike the cave. A chill ran up his spine.

He opened the door to the back room and walked in, he sat back on the bed and gently set Silvia down. He held her arms and stood, taking hold of her back and gently lowered her onto the pillow. He took off her shoes, and pulled the blanket up around her. She grabbed the covers and pulled them up to her chin, burrowing down and rolling onto her side.

Somewhat conscious, she said “Don't go yet, don' go..”

“I'm not going anywhere, calm down, get some sleep.” Darren turned to grab the chair, but was stopped as her slender hand reached up and took hold of his fingers.

“No, wai'” she pulled him towards the bed. “Sit, stay.”

“I'm not a dog.” he pulled away a little but she only pulled harder in return. “Alright, alright, I'll sit. Jeez.” He sat on the edge and leaned back against the headboard.

Silvia pressed the side of her face against his leg, wrapped her arms around it, and patted his knee. “Be good.”

“I’m not. A dog.” he said with emphasis, but she had apparently fallen completely asleep and didn't answer. “Awesome.”

The first thing she noticed about the following morning was that apparently the air pressure had been multiplied a hundred times over, and it wanted only to cave in her skull. The second thing she noticed was her arms wrapped around Darren's leg and her head pressed into his ribs as he slept, very uncomfortably, sitting up and leaning against the wooden headboard.

“What?!” she yelped as she jumped back and smacked her head against a shelf over the bed. The hit echoed through her entire body, she clutched her scalp and buried her face in the pillow.

“Ugh, what, what? Oh morning.” he rubbed at his tired eyes and let out a loud yawn.

“What happened? Did I drink?” she asked, her voice muffled by the pillow she hid her face in, still clutching her head.

“You don't even remember that much? Jesus, of course you drank, probably more than anyone else in this village. Maybe even more than all the villagers combined.”

“Ugh, shush, boy. I don't need this from you right now. All light and air is my enemy, and their leader is this shelf.” she swung her fist into it as she said it.

Darren laughed at her misfortune “I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to this. I'll have a little mercy though and fetch you some medicine. If I can find it on my own, that is, I may be the only person who isn't passed out or hungover in this entire township.” he said leaving the room. The magic that partly composed a guardian's body kept them from being as affected by ailments like hangovers. While mages had a similar effect, it wasn’t nearly as strong.

“Yes, go, medicine.”

“And that's how drinkers learn from their mistakes.” he said as he returned.

She looked up and he was standing next to the bed with a glass of water with some kind of grey powder dissolving in it. She took it gingerly, still squinting to keep out as much light as possible. “This is the worst.” she said as she took the glass. As she gulped down the liquid her face contorted into a grimace “No, this is the worst, what is this?”

“I have no idea, Adrock's wife set it out the night before for everyone to use after nearly drinkin’ themselves to death.”

“Well I hope it works soon, otherwise this awful taste will've been for naught.” she put her face back into the pillow, holding the glass out for Darren to take back.

“You are truly a pathetic sight.” he said, taking the glass.

She mumbled some response into the pillow inarticulately

“Just pull the blanket up over your head and try to rest. There's no reason for either of us to be up this early anyways, especially after you made me sit up on your bed all night.”

She gave a muffled response that may have been “Sorry.” though it easily could have been “Shut up.” Silvia gripped the blankets and pulled them violently over her entire body and head, hiding from the sunlight and cool morning air.

Darren walked to the den and laid out on a long cushioned seat set against one wall. He put his arm over his eyes and slowly drifted to sleep.

Everyone was sluggish and late to rise that day, the village slept the entire morning away, forgoing the chores and usual routine for much needed rest. The mage herself slept most of all, most of the day and the following night, still exhausted from the mission itself and the use of her magic, compounded with the drinking and revelry.

Finally, on the morning after, they decided to head back to make their report. The villagers all came in from the fields to see off the two who had avenged their neighbor and friend. The mage and guardian kept shaking hands until their arms were sore. They loaded up into Adrock’s wagon for the trip home, the wrapped carcass of the beast took up most of the space in the back, with just enough room for Silvia in front of it and Darren on the driver’s bench with the patron.

“It was a pleasure to meet the two of you, thank you again for all you've done for us.” Erda said as she shook Darren's hand and then Silvia's

“The pleasure was all ours.” Darren said as waved to her and the other villagers he had come to know by name.

“If you ever come by here again, make sure to stop in and see us all.” one villager called to them.

“We surely will. Goodbye everyone.” Silvia said, slightly choked up to have so many people come just to see her off.

The villagers waved and called out goodbyes until the cart had taken them over the hill on the road and blocked them from sight.

We're heroes you know? Darren’s thought floated in egotistically. At least that’s what the girl’s in town said.

Oh shush, like any of them even cared. She turned away from him slightly.

Are you sure? Because it seemed like a lot of them were giving you some fairly ill-tempered glares when you danced with me so happily. He thought in a cavalier manner.

Silvia blushed slightly, she knew he would do something like this, it's why she turned away from him. Of course I was happy, I got to dance at a party in my honor. You were just lucky enough to be my partner.

And the other guys who asked you? Why didn't you dance with them?”

By that point I was tired. I had to make up for the misunderstanding in the cave. I suppose I owed you the dance. She held onto her composure, if she lost her cool then he would win.

Misunderstanding? That's a funny way to pronounce mistake. He replied, giving her a sideways glance in the back seat.

Breaking a tool that can be fixed isn't a very big mistake. Her voice arrogant, her head was angled away, rather than watch him she seemed much more enthralled by the simple trees along the edge of the path.

Darren laughed at the thought of being called a tool in the literal context for once, but he couldn't think of a good reply. She beat him this time. That's a pretty cold attitude, was all he could muster.

Silvia wanted to hurry, she was anticipating her return and the congratulations of her family. Ready to arrive back on her birthday itself, no better gift. She wanted the citizens of her home city to view her as they did the other Chevaliers. The people of this village viewed her that way, as a person of honor, justice, and action. She wanted to live up to her family's revered and powerful name, now it was coming true.