Despite my efforts, I wasn’t allowed to just ignore the world around me.
Bella acts incredibly sweet the entire time, though. Not in an obvious way, but in ways that I notice.
Like how she takes the skewer and begins nibbling on it. Or how she sits next to me and presses her shoulder into mine as we’re questioned.
She only moves away once, but only for a moment. And only because I’m so pleased with her that I couldn’t stop my tail from wrapping itself loosely around where she sits.
I never thought I’d be envious of Bluebell's seemingly infinitely long tails, but here and now?
What I wouldn’t give to just wrap Bella up in warm, fluffy goodness. Her reaction would be priceless.
Finally, after nearly a full hour of questioning, and several Healers poking and prodding us, the interrogations come to a close.
“Last question: Do you both feel comfortable returning to classes tomorrow?”
The woman—a human Attendant—asks it with a surprising degree of concern in her features. I say surprising because for the vast majority of the interrogation, she questioned us as if we were the cause of the whole scene.
In a way, we were... but it quickly became clear to her that we had no direct part in what went down. Even then, she seemed impartial at best.
I shift to look Bella in the eyes, only to find her giving me an expectant look of her own, waiting for me to answer first.
I smile up at her. “I’m fine with it, unless you need some time. I’d rather keep you company, if you do.”
Her lips twitch into the ghost of a smile, but she masters herself quickly. Apparently, being so close for so long has done wonders for her self control.
Is she getting used to me? Already?
I eye her a bit more intently, and her cheeks gain the faintest tinge of pink under my attention. My ears twitch with delight, the gentle tinkling of my earrings momentarily drawing her gaze.
Nah... she’s still adorable.
Realizing she’s also been giving me a bit more attention than she usually would, she quickly turns away, refocusing on the Attendant.
“I’ll return to classes as well,” she says.
The woman nods, a genial smile growing on her face.
“Very well. However, please remain on school grounds until the investigations are complete.”
I frown at that. “I have friends in the city...”
She sighs at that.
“I’m aware it may be unpleasant, but I must insist you comply for your own safety. Once the investigations are complete, the restriction will be lifted and you’ll be free to go where you please.”
I’m about to complain again when Bella’s hand lands on my forearm comfortingly.
“We understand,” Bella says. “We’ll be safe.”
The woman nods. “Good. Now then—”
“There they are!” someone shouts from near the gates.
Sarys and Orik step through, trailed by city guards and captured mercenaries. There’s eight of them in total, their bodies battered and bloody. Some aren’t even conscious, simply being dragged along by city guards.
The foxkin is nowhere to be seen, though.
For a moment, a thrill of savage delight floods my core with anticipation. I stomp it down, hard.
As much as I want to personally rip them to shreds, them being free in the world isn’t good news for anyone.
Orik’s once bloodied arm is now fully healed, only the jagged and bloodstained sleeve leaving any evidence of him being injured at all.
Sarys, on the other hand, seems completely untouched.
Just how strong is he?
I inspect his tag again.
Elf FighterLevel ??
Still just Tier Two... but he treated other Tier Two’s like children.
He catches me eying them both, my gaze flicking from Orik’s healed wound to his immaculate appearance. He smiles at me.
“Proper training goes a long way, Miss Emilia. I encourage you to take your time in the academy seriously.”
I flush a little at being so easily read, but nod anyways.
“Good. Now, how is Ela faring? I saw she was injured in the escape,” he asks, glancing around.
“They took her to the hospital,” I answer. “She was poisoned by the leader.”
He tisks with annoyance, glaring at the mercenaries still being corralled. His hand lands on the pommel of his sword, and for a moment I worry he might try to finish the job.
Then another administrator approaches him and Orik.
“’Ere we go,” Orik grumbles.
Before they can be asked any questions, Sarys begins speaking. As he does, he starts moving towards the nearest hub of platforms.
“We’ll talk and move, I would like to check on my partner,” he says tersely, stopping the administrator before he can even begin.
My eyes widen at that, and I stand to join them. Bella moves with me without a moment’s hesitation, so I take her hand and jog along behind the small precession.
If they’re checking on Ela, I want to be there. She saved our lives, and she was...
Honestly, the word amazing doesn’t even do her justice. The amount of control she displayed, and the power behind her abilities was simply incredible.
Even though every ability she used was almost entirely defensive in nature, she single-handedly held off over two dozen determined mercenaries as we ran through the city. Several of which were Tier Two, just like herself.
And I fully intend to learn how to do the same.
As we move, Sarys begins speaking so fast I almost have trouble keeping up.
“From our observations, they’re the same mercenaries that attacked the inbound train on the 2nd of Auren. Our charges have previous reports of encountering and escaping them at that time. They seemed to be after...”
Much of what he reports is the same as what Bella and I told the Attendant who questioned us, but he delves into more details. Like how many they encountered, where they were, where they ran when they escaped, and more.
Orik interjects several times in the recounting, detailing ambush locations, party compositions, levels... everything.
The amount of information they recall on the fly is honestly impressive.
While I’ve decided to focus on my main stat almost exclusively, I’ve still been tempted off that path every now and then. This is one of those moments.
Of course, Cari and Bella both suggested I speak with the professor of our Stat Synergy and Optimization class for guidance.
I agree, obviously. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted to diversify after seeing our escort’s performance today.
Eventually, we board a platform that takes off mere moments after the last person steps on, flying through the Academy and straight to the hospital I’d visited in Applied Healing (Practical). On the way, both Sarys and Orik are looked over by a few Healers that thankfully find no issues.
When we arrive, we’re let in immediately and lead toward one of the rooms on the water aspected side of the building.
Ela groans the moment Sarys and Orik step inside.
“Don’t you dare, Orik,” she snarls.
“What? The wee lioness can’t handle a little jab?” he says immediately.
She groans louder.
“It seems you’re doing well enough,” Sarys says, though I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Yeah, yeah, quit your worryin’,” she grumbles.
When Bella and I step in, the first thing I see is Ela, loosely wrapped in gauze and wearing a simple robe as she rests in a small pool of water. She looks good. Not quite at one-hundred percent, but significantly better than earlier.
Her gaze snaps to us, widening in surprise. Then they soften in visible relief.
“Oh, thank the gods,” she sighs. “They told me you two made it just fine, but I’m glad to see it with my own eyes.”
For a moment, nobody says anything.
Then I step forward, hand in hand with Bella.
“Thank you,” I say, lowering my head.
I’m not one for bowing, but... it feels right, after what she did.
Ela blinks, seeming momentarily caught off guard.
Then Bella repeats the action, her head lowering just enough to be respectful.
“You were injured protecting us,” she says quietly. “I would also like to express my gratitude.”
For once, Ela looks genuinely uncomfortable.
“Enough of that!” she snaps. “I was just doing my job.”
I look up and shake my head violently.
“Honestly, I’m still not sure how you did all that with the barrier,” I say.
She stares at me for a moment, then her head flops back to rest on the edge of her small pool with a groan.
“No,” she says.
My ears twitch. “No what?”
She sits up to point at me accusingly, eyes narrowed.
“I know that look. You want something.”
Orik chuckles, and Sarys just watches me with a suspiciously amused sparkle in his eyes.
“What? No,” I say, objecting on principle.
“You’re staring at me the same way people stare at mythical artifacts,” she says flatly.
I glance at the floor, suddenly aware that I was, in fact, doing just that.
Bella quietly looks away, her free hand coming to cover her mouth.
She’s laughing too!
“I’ve been betrayed,” I grouse.
“No, lass,” Orik says through a deep, rumbling chuckle. “You’ve just been called out.”
I splutter for a moment, then give up.
“The barrier,” I continue stubbornly. “How did you do that?”
Ela quirks a brow at me. “Do what?”
“How did you make it do all the stuff it did?” I ask impatiently. “The blasts of wind were so tiny and focused, but every time it was perfectly placed to be disruptive. And the lightning! It’s like you predicted where they would be and zapped them to open them up further, or stun them, or—”
“Emilia,” she interrupts.
My mouth snaps shut.
“You’re asking the wrong questions.”
I frown. “What? How?”
She offers me a warm, reassuring smile.
“The real question is how many years it took before I could do all of that.”
“...Oh.”
She chuckles, then suddenly stops with a wince as it agitates her side. Everyone stiffens, but she waves a dismissive hand at us.
“I’m fine,” she says. “What was I saying... right. Look, Emilia, I can see what you want to ask. You want to ask if I’ll teach you how to do what I did, right? I know you have wind magic too.”
I nod without hesitation, momentarily excited by the prospect.
“The answer is no.”
My ears wilt instantly. “Why not?”
“Because—and this is the most important bit—I’m not a teacher. Besides, you’re already learning the foundations you need. Just keep doing that,” she says.
Then she gives me a stern look.
“And if you want to get as good as me, master control.”
I wince.
Bella gives my hand a reassuring squeeze.
“Yes, we saw your exam results, too. That’s why I’m bringing it up,” she continues, leaning back once more. “If you want to be able to do what I did, you need control—and lots of it.”
Bella nods along in agreement.
“Fine,” I sigh, still feeling somewhat disappointed.
For a while after that, the room settles into easier conversation.
Then I make the mistake of complaining to Bella loud enough for them to hear it.
“One day off isn’t enough to delve,” I say. “It takes weeks. How am I supposed to be able to get any serious leveling done?”
Bella sighs, about to respond, but Sarys beats her to it, startling us both.
“As your partner is no doubt about to explain, this semester doesn’t last forever,” he says.
At my confused look, he continues.
“Every other semester is a practical semester,” he clarifies.
Excitement begins bubbling up deep within me, and my tail swishes to match it. I don’t even bother to stop it from brushing Bella, as I know full well she likes it. Even if she’s too flustered to admit it yet.
“What does that mean?” I ask, leaning forward.
I have an idea, but I need to hear it. To be absolutely certain.
Ela sighs. “A delving semester, silly girl. Classes are paused every other semester to allow students to do mandatory delves, pursue crafts or research, or just take time off.”
My entire body freezes as I process her words.
An entire semester. Six months where I can just delve the Tunnels.
Six. Whole. Months.
“Emilia,” Bella says, and edge of warning in her tone.
Even if I’m slow and take an entire month per delve, that’s at least six. Five, if I want to be careful not to come back after classes have begun.
But if I’m fast...
“Emilia!”
Despite the glare she's giving me, my brain immediately gets distracted by how unfairly pretty she is.
“Huh?” I ask, momentarily dumbstruck.
“You aren’t going to spend the entire off-semester delving,” she says, her tone daring me to challenge her.
Foolishly, I do.
“What? Why not?”
“Because—” she starts, then glances at our three spectators.
Her face blooms into the most beautiful blush I’ve seen her wear yet.
“Because,” she continues in a barely audible whisper, “I’m... I’m your girlfriend now.”
My brain sputters and dies the moment the words reach me.
“A-and I want to spend time together.”
My chest feels oddly constricted, and warm, and fuzzy and... so, so many strange, good things, all at once.
“Oh,” I manage.
Sarys, Ela, and even Orik do their best to pretend they hadn’t just heard every single word Bella said. Ela’s twitching ears give them away, though.
And for the first time in as long as I can remember, I think there might actually be something more important than getting stronger.