Ursula, like always, kept her eyes on the ground when around me. She wasn’t hyperventilating but she was taking short and sharp breaths. She was tense, her thin shoulders shaking a little, and she kept fidgeting with her hands.

Although the sight of her on the chair, looking about ready to flee at the any moment’s notice, looked bad… I knew better.

The fact she was sitting in the same room with me, so close, was telling. She’d not have stayed in the room had any other man entered it. Let alone sat down in a chair only a few feet across from her.

We were in the little secondary library that she liked to spend her days in. It smelled a little of old paper and books, though there was also a new smell of dense rain thanks to the storm.

I sat opposing the two women, and with my back near the window. Opposing the door. As to let Ursula have a clear path of escape, if she needed it.

So far, she’s not once looked back to the door. Even though we’ve been in here for almost half an hour already.

I’d be proud of her, thinking she had made progress… but the truth was Ursula had always been able to withstand my presence. Maybe not for long, or well, but it was doable for her.

Other men made her flee in terror. Made her unable to breath. The mere sight of them sent her into a panic.

Yet around me she simply felt discomfort. Unease. I didn't make her feel so bad as the others.

Not a surprise, really. Not only had I been the one to save her, and bring her here to safety…

She also had a slight misconception of me… which helped her feel safe…

“I get it though, Ursula. Vim’s strong, and dangerous, but… he’d never force himself on anyone. It goes against his entire being, his beliefs. I bet he’d stop his own heart before he even had such a thought enter his head,” Renn said happily.

She was sitting next to Ursula, but at an angle. As to be somewhat between me and the timid woman. To act as a small buffer. So that Ursula could look at her, while talking to me.

Ursula nodded, and actually gave Renn a tiny little smile… though she had only glanced at Renn for half a moment. “Right? But that’s to be expected of a god’s creation,” Ursula said.

Renn’s ears fluttered, and she glanced at me.

She had noticed Ursula had said that a little too literally. Not in the sense of one with simple faith, speaking in general.

“She believes I’m an angel,” I told Renn.

“Because you are one. You can lie to the rest, but not me, Vim,” Ursula argued.

Renn sat up a little straighter, and for a moment glanced between us. She then gave me a small, sad, smile and then returned her attention to Ursula. “Some of his beliefs are pretty much the epitome of certain aspects of faith, even if he doesn’t admit it,” Renn told her.

Ursula looked up from the floor again, to nod in awe at Renn. “You’ve realized it too?” she asked, excited.

“Well… I can see the similarities, at least,” Renn nodded back.

“Isn’t it weird no one else notices? They simply hear his disdain for their religion, and assume! Not realizing that their faiths are for them. He’s different. He’s a servant. A creation. Of course he wouldn’t have the same rules!” Ursula rambled about her personal beliefs of my existence.

I sighed as Renn, sitting with wide eyes, listened to her intently.

Please, oh please, don’t believe the woman who clings to a fantasy as to keep sane…

“So… if he is an angel… why do you still worry?” Renn then asked, and I wanted to kiss her. Yes. Thank you. Finally someone else brought it up. Someone other than me.

If you’re going to firmly believe I was some kind of deity, at least act it.

Ursula opened her mouth, to say something… and then she glanced at me. “Why do I?” she whispered at me.

“How do I know?” I asked her back.

The tall woman went into thought as she frowned and debated it. I wanted to roll my eyes as Renn glanced at me and smirked, as if she’d just accomplished something mighty.

Please. Knowing Ursula she’ll just delve deeper into her misconceptions and…

“When Vim saved me. He did not know I was there. He simply knew something was wrong. Guided by his lord, I’m sure,” Ursula started.

I shifted in my seat.

“Yet without knowing my circumstance… he didn’t hesitate once he laid eyes on me. He saved me without a word. Without question. Even though I at the time had been… less than cooperative…” Ursula added.

Renn tilted her head at me. “She stabbed me,” I explained to her.

“With a knife. In the head. I’m sorry about that, again,” Ursula apologized.

I shrugged.

“Well… I don’t know the whole story Ursula, but I’m sure he understands. Plus a little knife isn’t much to him,” Renn said.

Please. She had jabbed it through my eye and brain. It had made the entire left side of my body numb for a week.

“Not only had he saved me… he put up with me. Endured for me. And brought me here…” Ursula said… then she took a heavy breath. “Yet still. He saved me… I know… especially after all these years, I’ve nothing to fear from him. Yet here I am, shaking,” Ursula said as she stared at her hands. They were half clenched together, and even from here I could see the clammy sweat.

“Yet you’re able to talk to him too,” Renn noted.

“Yes. His voice doesn’t make me startle either, like the voices of the other men,” Ursula added.

“I’ve never been very loud,” I agreed.

“Do you think some kind of separation would help, Ursula? What if we chained… say, Abel, to a wall? Would you feel comfortable talking to him then?” Renn asked.

I scoffed at the idea.

Ursula too shook her head. “I’ll not do that to him. Making that poor man endure chains again would not be right at all,” Ursula said quickly.

“Ah… right. Sorry…” Renn glanced at me, and it was obvious she felt bad. She hadn’t realized she had somehow randomly pointed out a very tragic past.

Not her fault. She didn’t know his story. Few did.

“I’d be willing to do the chained thing, if you want,” I said.

Not that the chains would be able to actually hold me.

Ursula was the one who scoffed this time, and then laughed afterward. Her laughs sounded funny, as if she wanted to scoff again and again. “It’s fine Vim… but um… uh…” she hesitated, and then her shoulders rose a little. She became a tad more tense, and then she nodded. “Can I try to touch you?” she then asked.

“Sure.”

I remained seated as Ursula stood. Renn was the one who started fidgeting, unsure if she should remain seated or join Ursula for support.

The tall woman stepped towards me, and after two steps paused. She took a tiny breath, and I did my best to not stare too directly in her eyes. She was focused on my own, but…

Then she stepped forward again, and after a couple more steps… was within arm’s reach of me.

I remained still, and smiled gently at her. “Well done, Ursula,” I told her.

She made a tiny noise as she nodded… and then with a very shaky hand reached out to me.

Without moving, I watched her hand reach for my right shoulder. Thin fingertips touched me, for but a few moments, and then she pulled her hand away.

“See? Flesh and bone. Not a god at all,” I told her.

Ursula froze for a small moment… then smirked at me as she giggled. “Vim…!”

“What? Still doubt me? Want another knife? A few good stabs can help prove it too,” I said.

Renn groaned as Ursula giggled some more, and noticeably relaxed because of it.

Then… Ursula sighed and reached out again.

This time she didn’t stop at a few fingertips. Her whole hand placed itself on my shoulder… but she didn’t squeeze, or grab. She simply laid it there.

I felt a tiny tremor in her hand, running down from her body, and she took a small breath as to steady herself.

Although it felt a little ridiculous… especially since Renn was smiling happily at us… I had no choice but to genuinely praise the woman.

As far as I was aware, this was the first time she’s touched a man in likely hundreds years. And that’s just in general.

I could be the first man she’s touched, willingly out of her own intention, for the first time in over half a millennia.

Such a thing was a little strange. Concerning. It made me appreciate that I didn’t have such phobias or fears.

What was it like to have such fears? To be so terrified of something the mere presence of it destroyed your very sense of reason?

I’d likely never know.

“Try to ruffle his hair, Ursula. It’s really calming,” Renn offered a suggestion.

Her thin fingers squeezed my shoulder, and she shifted on a foot. “Hair…” she mumbled as she glanced at my head.

I lowered my head a little, to let her.

At first I thought she’d not give it a shot… but Renn must have noticed something in her. A will I hadn’t seen.

Ursula’s thin fingers slid into my hair, and at first she didn’t really move them… then she did. For a few moments she brushed my hair, although rather stiffly. As if she was an embarrassed child.

But I knew this wasn’t embarrassment. This wasn’t fun to her.

Ursula was facing her fears. Nothing more.

“Feels… the same as back then, Vim. Though no blood is clumping it,” Ursula noted.

I frowned, and realized she was likely right. She had likely felt my hair when she had attacked me with that knife. She had stabbed it downward, after all…

Funny she still remembered that. Though to her, that day… those moments…

She’d likely remember them clearly until she died. They were that momentous to her.

“Well, least I’m not going bald?” I suggested.

She and Renn giggled, and Ursula finally pulled her hand back.

I waited, to see if she’d go at it again… but she didn’t. However, even though she didn’t return to touching me… she didn’t step away.

Looking back up at her, I smiled at the woman who no longer looked… well… completely terrified, at least.

“Those were small but mighty steps, Ursula,” I told her.

“Yes, good job,” Renn happily agreed.

She nodded. “Yes… I uh… think I’m done.”

Ursula promptly stepped back, and hurried back to her seat. She sat down next to Renn, and then released a mighty sigh of relief.

Amused, I nodded. “Want me to step out, Ursula?” I asked her.

She blinked at me, and shifted. “Um…”

Taking that as a yes, I went ahead and slowly stood. Ursula didn’t try to stop me as I stepped away, and headed for the door.

Glancing at Renn, she gave me a tiny nod with a smile. She was okay with being left with her.

Reaching the door, I opened it slowly… as to not startle Ursula with any loud sounds or quick movements.

“Thank you, Vim,” Ursula said as I went to leave.

Pausing a moment, I glanced over at her. She was smiling at me, and staring me straight into the eyes.

“We’ll try more again tomorrow. Don’t forget your knife,” I told her.

Her face scrunched up as she laughed, and I left the room and shut the door.

Once out of the room, I waited until I was far enough down the hall and around a corner before letting out a sigh.

I didn’t mind helping someone. Let alone for something so serious… but sometimes things were unsettling.

Poor woman was still so traumatized all these years later. I was glad she was finally willing, and wanting, to make a change and see if she could overcome it… but…

“Some scars never heal,” I whispered as I headed towards the courtyard.

Her getting calm enough to sit and talk with me, to touch me even, was a big step… but…

To her I was a god. Or at least, the servant of one. And on top of it, I had been the one to save her. To free her from that hell of a life.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Was her progress transferable to another? If she could barely get over my presence, being the man and thing she thought I was, then… could she do the same with any other man? Was it possible at all?

I highly doubted it.

Though I’d been proven wrong before.

Entering the hall that opened to the courtyard, the sound of constant rain peltering the windows and stone roof tiles became louder.

Walking along the hallway, I studied the courtyard beyond the windows. There were tiny little puddles forming on the stone paths that ran through the gardens. Nothing too bad to worry over, and I knew they’d rarely actually flood, but it meant the paths here would be murky and muddy for awhile. It was a good thing we didn’t plan to leave anytime soon. But it meant I might want to consider leaving once this storm fully cleared, before another started.

I could traverse such mountains easily, but Renn…

Well… honestly she wasn’t as bad as I kept thinking she was. Especially since she was more than happy to let me simply carry her if I needed to.

Thinking of last night, as I carried her off the mountain and back here as to avoid the storm, I wondered if I should try running at a fast pace with her on my back before we returned to the more populated areas.

It’d be a good test. To see not only if we could accomplish it but if she’d be willing to oblige. Renn actually enjoyed traveling, and seeing the sights. Riding on my back as I ran would likely be boring to her after awhile.

I doubted Renn would ever actually deny me from carrying her, if the need was there, but…

“Oh, Vim!”

Pausing, I turned to nod at Abel as he hurried over. He had one of his bibles in his hand, tucked under his arm. Likely had just been in one of their little prayer groups. It was about that time.

“Abel,” I greeted him as he drew near.

“I heard you’ve been helping Ursula. Very well done, Vim. It’s a mighty task to attempt, yet I could think of no greater one for our protector,” Abel said happily.

“She’s making tiny steps. She actually ruffled my hair earlier,” I told him, pointing at my head.

Abel’s eyes went wide and he went to quickly make a small motion with his maimed hand. “Oh praise the lords!” he said.

From one extreme to another, I swear.

I gestured for Abel to join me in walking. I didn’t have any destination in mind, but if we were just going to have a small chat I’d prefer to look around while we did.

He obliged, and I kept our pace slower. Not just so we could talk leisurely, but also out of courtesy for him. He could run, and hurry, but I knew it wasn’t easy for him. I knew it pained him just to stand and walk… so…

“I have a dinner date with Frett by the way. To hopefully find the source of the issue,” I told him.

“Ah, yes. Frett informed me during our prayers. I’m thankful for that as well, yes,” Abel nodded quickly.

I studied him for a moment as he walked, and I wondered if he knew the truth. He didn’t seem to act as if he did… but for as firm of a believer he was in his religion, I knew he wasn’t as strict to its doctrine as people thought.

He’d not blame Frett and Tim for what they did. He’d pray for them, but he’d keep his internal disgust to himself.

Yet he seemed genuinely confused by their actions. To the point that I doubted he knew at all.

“It’d do us all good to overcome the heavy air. Each storm that comes I pray for it to wash it all away, but alas,” Abel said with a sigh.

“I fixed two of the statues too, already. There’s another I want to check, but I’ll wait until the storm passes,” I tried to change the topic a little.

“Oh good! I heard some banging earlier, so that was it,” Abel nodded, happy to hear it.

Banging…? I hadn’t hammered anything. Wonder what he had heard.

“Other than all that…” I tried to think of anything else, and then remembered as the one in question appeared in front of us.

Sharp noticed the two of us, scowled at us, then continued on her way.

Smiling I nodded. “Plus I plan to teach Sharp how to properly make glass. So her little hobby stops bothering everyone,” I said.

“Ah yes… thank you. I’m actually very glad she’s found such a hobby. She’s learned to appreciate even the smallest of our gods’ creations, but yes… it’s caused some discontent, and even physical suffering too,” Abel said gently.

“I heard,” I said.

He sighed as we neared the end of the hallway. It intersected, leading either down another hallway that rounded the courtyard, or either deeper into the church or back towards the entrance.

“How’s the human doing?” I asked.

“Elisabella is doing just fine. She’s already taken an interest in our lord’s good word, and she’s become attached to Yasa. I doubt you’ll need to worry over leaving her here,” Abel said.

Good. Good…

“Wait? Elisabella? I thought it was just Elisabell,” I said.

He frowned. “It might be. Forgive me, Vim, but… she is still just a human,” he said.

Right. Although very religious, and believed his gods had created the humans and so they should be cherished…

He like all the rest still had that strange disconnect. Humans in the end were still humans.

I’d not find it strange, since I did it too… but…

I mean…

I did it to non-humans too, sometimes. So I was even worse.

Or was it that I was just indifferent…? I remembered certain people, after all. The ones I cared for. The ones I found interesting, or…

“Would you like to join us, Vim?” Abel then asked.

“Hm…?” I glanced at him. Had I missed something?

He smiled gently at me and gestured at the bible in his hand. “Tomorrow morning. It’s a holy day,” he reminded me.

“Renn’s been joining you all, right?” I asked, ignoring his invitation.

Abel knowingly nodded.

“She seems to like your religion,” I told him.

“She knows a lot about it. I had thought her indifferent, as many of our people, since she had not opened the bible offered to her during our readings. Yet she had known the gospel word for word. It had been rather shocking, even I struggle sometimes to remember certain passages,” Abel said.

Right. Her memory. “Scary isn’t it?” I said.

Abel sighed. “It worries me you find the word of our gods so terrifying,” he shook his head as he said.

Well… that hadn’t been what I meant. But sure.

“Have you read Rapti’s letter yet?” I asked, changing topics.

“Hm? Yes. I’ve prepared a response too, for when you leave,” he said with a frown. He wasn’t sure why I had asked. It had likely been the first time I’d ever inquired about his letters, or their contents.

Doing my best to not pry too deeply, I gestured lightly. “She didn’t happen to mention Sharp, did she?” I asked.

Abel shook his head slowly. “No, Vim. Every letter I send I tell her how Sharp’s doing… but she’s never even acknowledged it, or asked of her,” Abel said softly.

I nodded. “I figured,” I said.

The holy man sighed. “I’ve asked Sharp to write a letter too. She just threatens to hang me upside down and bleed me or one of her many other fanciful ways to kill me,” Abel said.

“She doesn’t mean it,” I said with a smile.

Not entirely at least.

“May I ask why you brought it up?” Abel asked carefully.

“I’m not sure. It had simply bothered me earlier,” I told the truth.

Abel hummed as we neared another hallway. A bend, which led to the right. We followed the hallway, and entered the new one, but slowed to a stop a few feet after doing so.

Shifting a little, I sighed at the look he was giving me.

It was somewhat similar to the look Renn gave me. When she wanted to ask a thousand questions, yet knew I’d not answer a single one.

“I have rules, as you know,” I told him, before he could say anything.

Abel gulped, but then nodded. “I do. Somewhat, at least,” he said.

“One of those is I don’t intrude. Not in personal beliefs, or their actions of them. No matter what,” I specified.

He nodded slowly, listening intently.

I tilted my head and gestured lightly, as if unsure of what to say… but I did know what to say. I knew the exact words.

I simply didn’t wish to say them aloud.

Instead I glanced around, to make sure we were alone. Sharp had run off, but we were near the kitchens now. A place typically frequented, at all times of the day. Even here where gluttony was seen as something wrong and to be avoided at all cost.

“You’re not a god Vim. None of us are. We can only do what we can,” Abel then said.

Noting the way he had spoken, and the kind tone he had used, I knew that he had just did his best to… forgive me, for not being good enough of a protector to help everyone with all of their problems.

Half tempted to tell him that Renn would have chastised and ridiculed me instead, I instead smiled and nodded. “That is true. But recently I’ve been thinking… it’s a little sad we have so many members who won’t talk to one another, just because of what had happened so long ago,” I said.

Abel shifted, and I noted the way he squeezed the bible under his arm “Yes. It is terribly sad,” he said gently.

I could hear in his tone that he had a lot more to say about it, but was keeping himself from speaking those thoughts aloud. Not because he feared what I’d say, or hear, but rather because… like Renn… he was afraid to say too much. They knew if they did all it’d accomplish was make me clam up and go quiet, or change topics.

Funny. Renn was so different than most of them, yet at the same time so similar.

“Basically I was just wondering that it’d be nice for Sharp and Rapti to be friends again, is all,” I told him.

The pious man nodded slowly. “It would. Yes. Though… I’m not sure how to accomplish it, to be honest. As… hard as this is for me to say, I believe the true issue is Rapti. Sharp, as abrasive as she is, at least still cares and thinks of her. Rapti however won’t even acknowledge Sharp exists,” Abel said with a sigh.

“Hm,” I nodded. It wasn’t surprising to hear from Abel what I had already assumed.

“Do you um…” Abel hesitated, and I glanced at him. He smiled, a little unsurely, and shrugged. “Do you have ideas? On how to fix it?” he asked after a moment.

“Not at all. But I figured I’d try all the same,” I said.

Abel relaxed a little, and his smile warmed a little. Pleased to hear me say so.

Returning to walking, I decided to ask Renn for help later. She was surprisingly good at becoming friends with people… so she might know how to heal broken friendship too, or at least have a few ideas on how to do so.

Not that I didn’t have a few ideas but…

I blinked, at the sudden realization that Renn was in a very peculiar situation. For me.

I couldn’t intervene. It broke my rules. My personal beliefs, too. It made me uncomfortable.

But… Renn on the other hand…

She had no shackles. If anything she was more than happy to snick her nose in such things half the time. And most of the time people seemed to not only allow it, but enjoyed it when she did.

As soon as I thought of it though, I tossed the idea away. Not completely, of course… just to the back corners of my mind.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to burden Renn in such ways. Not just yet, at least. Especially not when I was only recently starting to make her carry more responsibilities as it were.

Too much too quickly was tough for anyone.

Abel then coughed, drawing my attention to him. He gestured lightly… and came to a stop again.

We paused in front of one of the few windows in this hallway, and I waited for whatever he had to say.

“Um… Vim…” Abel stuttered a moment, and he flinched. He squeezed his eyes shut and turned his head a little, as if something had just stabbed him in the temple.

I knew better than to ask if he was okay. He wasn’t. But there was nothing I could do for him. His body simply had endured too much damage. He was simply suffering from ailments and wounds that had never healed right.

Waiting for his little fit to end, he took a deep breath as he regained control. A tiny layer of sweat had formed on his forehead as he opened his eyes again, and took a small breath.

“I uh… what had we been talking about?” Abel then asked, with a weary voice. He now sounded tired.

“My foolish rules and how bad I am at following them,” I told him.

“Ah… right…” Abel gulped a dry mouth as he blinked and pondered for a moment. He looked hurt, and ashamed, as he tried to remember what we had just been talking about… I resisted the urge to reach over and pat him on the shoulder. To let him know it was okay. To not be embarrassed or ashamed of his infirmities. Doing so would just make him hate himself even more. So I kept still and waited for him to find his voice.

It didn’t take him long, and clarity returned to his eyes. “Ah. Right. Sharp. Her and Rapti. Two souls adrift,” he remembered.

I nodded.

Abel sighed. “Sorry Vim… I remember we were talking about them, but not much else… had one of them asked of the other? Rapti’s not brought up Sharp to me in so, so long,” Abel then said.

Smiling, I shook my head. “No. Regretfully. I was just lamenting on the sad state of our members. Of friends and family separated, and not because of distance,” I said.

“Indeed… and they not the only ones, either. Look at Prasta and her mother, or Herra and her family. So many of us, children of our gods yet as if not,” Abel said with a shake of his head.

Right… I guess.

Though he was right. Prasta was the same. Why had I forgotten…? Her mother was at the Bell Church.

Maybe that was why I never tried to fix such relationships or addressed such drama.

It was too much. Especially so for one man to attempt to fix. An impossible task, even for me.

Abel stepped forward, returning us to walking… but he did so slower than before. I did my best to stay even paced with him, and let him control the speed at which we walked.

I knew pain. I knew it well… but I didn’t know his kind of pain. I didn’t know what it was like to have your own body to betray you. To feel as if a prisoner in one’s own skin.

It made me wish I could somehow share that which I had. If I could just… give Abel a few moments of what my parents had given me…

A tiny moment of hesitation made me roll a shoulder, as I thought of the heart in my back pocket. Hidden in the belt loop made of a monarch’s hide.

Glancing at Abel, I wondered if I should let him try or not. Would he risk it? In his condition it was dangerous. His body was already broken. Already maimed. It’d be unlikely he’d survive.

Not to mention he was so religious… and his religion didn’t allow the acceptance of monarchs. They saw them as demons. Devils. Malignant. He’d likely think my offering of the heart to be something sacrilegious and wrong…

Yet…

“I think I’ll go rest a bit, Vim… before dinner,” Abel then said as we reached the end of the hallway again. This time it branched two different ways.

I nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry to bother you Abel,” I said, tossing my thoughts away.

“Nonsense Vim… maybe later we’ll talk more of this. I’ll… pray on it,” Abel said as he frowned and nodded.

If I hadn’t known him better, I’d have thought he had just made a joke. “Please do,” I said gently, and nodded at him as he stepped away. To head down the dimly lit hallway. To head for the front of the church, to where his bedroom was located.

A tiny hole in this massive church. A room with an uncomfortable bed, a single rack for the single set of robes he wore… and nothing else.

Likely not even a single candle or lamp, knowing him.

I sighed, and turned to look down the hallway we had just come from.

Sharp’s small figure jumped at my glance, and she at first stepped back behind the corner. To hide herself… then after a moment she sighed as she stepped back out into the hallway.

Smiling gently at her, I nodded as she strode towards me.

“I thought he’d never leave,” she complained quietly as she drew closer, and glanced down the hallway Abel had just ventured down.

He was far enough that he hadn’t heard her, hopefully.

Looking down at the mumbling woman, I wondered how tall she was.

Small Sharp wasn’t as tiny as Merit, but she wasn’t far off. Rather what made her really seem small was her frame. She was a scrawny, thin, woman… especially when one considered that she had several layers of bandages and clothes wrapped around her. They made her seem bigger than she was, and yet she was still skinny. She was honestly so thin that I'd worry she was sickly, or starving, if not for the fact she's been like this for as long as I've known her.

“What…?” Sharp asked, noticing my gaze.

“What yourself?” I asked back. Did she forget she had been the one to stalk and approach me?

Sharp sighed, and looked around… as if for an excuse to run away. “I don’t see your pet anywhere,” she said.

“Renn’s with Ursula… or at least she had been,” I said.

“Hm? What for?” she asked.

“Ursula wanted to spend time with me. She’s trying to overcome her fear of men,” I said.

Sharp’s bandages shifted as she tilted her head and frowned at me. “Seriously?” she asked.

I nodded.

“Huh…” Sharp sounded shocked as she pondered my nod.

“They’re likely still in that library she likes… or maybe back at her room, if you’d like to find Renn I’d check there first,” I said.

“Hm…” Sharp nodded, and I realized that was exactly what she had wanted.

So when she had passed by earlier… she had been looking for Renn. And had returned to find me, and Abel, when she hadn’t been able to.

“Want to go find her together?” I asked Sharp. I wanted to see what she wanted Renn for. It wasn’t often that Sharp took an interest in anyone.

“No…” Sharp stepped away, likely to go find her… but then she paused a moment.

She turned back, and I smiled gently at her. It was good the two seemed to be becoming friends. Even if Sharp would never admit it.

“Don’t bother Rapti, Vim. She has a right to hate me,” Sharp then said.

I blinked, and realized she had been following closer than I had thought. “I won’t Sharp. You know my rules,” I said.

“Yet you had asked about her,” she accused me.

“I had. A moment of curiosity, nothing more,” I said.

“Hmph.” She obviously didn’t believe me. She turned away and went to head down the hallway she had come from. To head for the library as to find Renn.

“Stand tall, Sharp,” I told her.

The small bandaged covered woman paused and glanced back at me.

I nodded. “Stand tall,” I said again.

“Last time I did the whole world cursed me, Vim,” Sharp said softly.

Frowning, I shrugged. “Let it. Stand tall anyway,” I said.

Sharp stared at me for a moment… and then slowly nodded. She then turned and hurried away, as if to get away before I said anything more.

Turning away from her myself, I returned to walking around… to see if there was anything else I could occupy my mind and time with.

Hopefully I’d find something soon, since it seemed I kept trying to get in trouble.