Gareth awoke to find himself in his bed, snuggled warmly in thick, heavy quilt wool blankets. He kept his eyes closed - that barely conscious awareness one has just after waking from a deep sleep, enough to note his bodily sensations – like that he needed to pee – but not conscious enough to face the world.

  His chest and core muscles ached tremendously but each breath he took felt easy, like going from a high altitude environment like the cliffs to all-of-a-sudden standing at sea-level. Each breath left him refreshed, with none of the burning, stinging sensation to which he’d become accustomed.

  A blinking notification drew his attention, visible even with his eyes closed.

  Congratulations!

  You have successfully awakened the lungs of Vahagn bloodline.

  You have awoken two Traits:

  Breath of the Vishap (Left Lung): Water Breathing.

  Breath of Victory (Right Lung): 45% increased endurance.

  You have awoken one Ability:

  Breath of Vahagn: Exhale a cloud of damaging essence in the form of water, fire, or steam. (2 uses: recovered over 3 hours).

  Definitely worth the pain -- Gareth thought as he felt the power coiled in his lungs, ready to be released at his will. Each deep breath sent a flicker of comforting heat from his right, and a cooling gurgling mint from his left. Like eating spearmint gum with eucalyptus balm rubbed on his chest, each breath brought new life to his weary body. While it was certainly strange, he could feel a bubbling sensation from his left lung each time he breathed, as if he had the world's phlegmiest lung without the accompanying need to cough. It felt perfectly natural.

  His right lung held a kindling of warmth, more of a spark than anything, but each breath sent a flush of heat through his extremities and face. Like inhaling deeply after taking a shot of tequila. The cooling deep breaths, the flushing of his cheeks and chest, and the comforting warmth of his molten stomach, invigorated him like never before.

  It felt divine.

  “Welcome back to the land of the living, Gareth.”

  Ellisandra spoke quietly from his bedside. She'd taken to skipping his last name, since he'd told her to be less formal. He was glad she'd taken him up on it.

  “Oh-shit!” he hurriedly sat up, his core muscles screaming, his arms flailing, the blankets falling off his shirtless torso and pooling around his lap.

  He was in his room, there were a few mage lanterns that lit the space warmly, and he was buckass nude, his nipples perked from the cool winter breeze.

  Ellisandra, her legs folded beneath her, elegantly sat on a zabuton taken from the living room. She recoiled slightly from his sudden movements, her arched silver brows raising in surprise, but when her silver eyes briefly flicked to his chest Gareth couldn't help but follow her gaze.

  What the fuck?! Why did I lose so much weight? – he thought in shock.

  His ribs, which had started having a slight blanket of muscle on them, were once again cleanly showing through. His stomach skin was thin and tight, his belly button fully visible even through his slumped posture, which would hide it on a healthy individual. His biceps and forearms still held some muscle, but they were much diminished, while his fingers once more looked abnormally long and skeletal.

  In other words, he once more resembled the brainjacked stimmers, the alcoholics, the druggos that he’d worked so hard to eat his way out of resembling.

  He had finally felt like he was catching up to the weight he used to be, now it was all gone.

  It even looks like I’m skinnier than I was! – he thought angrily. He had to fight back tears at the utter devastation he felt. Two steps forward, three steps back -- he thought and slammed down on that train of thought with the mental equivalent of a jackhammer. He couldn't allow himself to break down in front of Ellisandra. He couldn't, wouldn't. He would hold it in until he was alone again, but for now he clamped down on that impulse with the iron grip he'd honed over the last few years. He could take a scalpel to the chest and not flinch, he'd do so again.

  His wooden mask in place, he braved the look in Ellisandra's eyes.

  -

  Ellisandra saw the shocked disappointment in his eyes, his brows, the set of his pale cracked lips, every facet of his body language portrayed sadness and frustration. Yet, once his mask slipped into place she knew what to do. He did not need her pitty, nor her sympathy, he needed facts.

  “Your body had to cannibalise itself to sustain your breath weapons during the awakening.”

  She spoke with a factual conciseness that betrayed none of her own personal feelings. She had once made the mistake of showing one of her fellow rangers pity after he'd lost an arm, and it had cost her their friendship.

  “How long have I been asleep?” he asked, dreading the answer.

  “Only for two cycles, but we have been feeding you broth while you slept to help your body recover.” she said quietly and fixed him a cup of healing herbal tea.

  “Not to sound ungrateful, because I really am, but isn't doing this below your station? Shouldn't a nurse be doing this?” he couldn't keep the embarrassment out of his voice, nor the bitterness.

  She frowned but didn't look offended, “I do this because you will one day do the same for me.”

  She sighed heavily and handed him the cup of freshly brewed tea, “My father foisted your Protectorship on us. It is a fact that neither of us had a choice, but I will make the best of this opportunity. I want us to be more than a bodyguard and client; I want us to be friends, to look after each other when no one else will.” She spoke openly, honestly, willing to show her own vulnerability so that he could realise he had nothing to be embarrassed about, not with her.

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  His brows furrowed, his blue eyes slightly misted before the mask once more slipped in place, “Wh-" his voice cracked and he was forced to clear it, "Why me? I can see how you might want to use me to your own ends, and I can understand that. But why do you want to be my friend?”

  She thought long and hard about her answer, and when he tried to move along with the topic so she could save face, she shut him down with a frown and with a calmly raised hand.

  As she thought, she looked out through the open slide door to the rainy pond outside. Master Guanji's bonsai had grown slightly since she'd seen it last. The lantern, symbolising his passed wife, still hung from its branches, suspended over the lightly rippling pond and casting a warm light around the small courtyard. At a high tier 3, she had a lot of practice with meditation, introspection, and symbolism. She therefore took inspiration from the world outside.

  “‘To lie is to cast shadows in the world, and to cast shadows is to invite danger. I must be honest so as to keep the shadows at bay. The rest of the world beyond my city is now cast in Darkness for the next number of months, and darklings will inevitably attack.” She looked back to him, a hard yet compassionate gleam in her snow white eyes.

  “The suitor I met did not take my rejection well. I am in more trouble with my mother than ever, and my father is placing more trust and more responsibilities on my shoulders. I cannot trust my peers or ladies in waiting because they might have been bribed by Curt Marryvale...I desperately need a friend.” She whispered, words she never would have uttered to anyone she knew. Sometimes it was easier to trust a near-stranger than your own family.

  -

  Her face was stunningly cast with a warm orange light, her white eyes glistening from the lanterns. Shadows danced across her high cheekbones, contouring her face into sharp angles, made softer by her elegant jawline and pursed lips. She looked vulnerable, and while Gareth certainly found her attractive, he saw her for the scared young lady that she was. She might beat him in terms of age, but he beat her in life weariness, and he knew she needed someone on which to rely. Someone who could shoulder her load. It would be easy to acknowledge that vulnerability and cast it aside, to think that it wasn't his responsibility, not his problem, and it wasn't. Yet... just like he had been there for his younger sister all those years ago, so too could he be there for this young lady. She needed a rock, and he could be that safe harbour.

  As they stared into each other's eyes, Gareth saw the small scars across her right temple, extremely faint from age. He saw vulnerability, yet a fierce will that would ensure she did not take any betrayal lying down. She was vulnerable, but more like a ‘tiger forced into a corner’ vulnerable than anything else. Badass.

  They were so lost in each other’s eyes that Gareth completely forgot his self-hatred and she forgot her fear of the future.

  “Well, isn't this just unexpected.” Guanji said from the doorway, neither had noticed it was occupied. His tone was light and teasing, and he chuckled lightly when they both gave a start.

  “Elder Guanji!” Ellisandra quickly jumped up, remarkable given her full length blue dress, and performed a shallow bow, “I did not hear you enter.”

  “Calm, child, I am not one to spread rumours. How long have you been awake, Gareth?” He smirked kindly and trained his ruby red eyes on Gareth.

  “Only a few minutes, Master.” Gareth said respectfully, scared to have been caught in a moment with the city lord’s daughter. He had no clue what rules they worked under, and wanted to err on the side of caution.

  “And how did it go?” Guanji asked pointedly.

  Gareth quickly called up the dismissed notification, “I think it went rather well. As you can see, I lost a lot of weight but after a few minutes of digesting it, I think it was worth it.”

  “Oh, really? Do elaborate.” His dark brows rose as he poured his own cup of tea. These people really love their tea.

  “I unlocked two Traits and an Ability.” Both Guanji and Ellisandra shared a look of surprised shock, “Is that bad?”

  “No-no, no. It is not 'bad', it is just very surprising. Uhm…” Ellisandra ran her delicate hand through her long, silky silver hair, struck speechless.

  She and Guanji shared another long look that Gareth couldn't decipher, “Maybe it's not that bad, what if they were all weak?” she asked Guanji and turned back to him with a swoosh of her hair, “What are they, exactly, if you do not mind my asking?”

  He frowned slightly but shrugged his emaciated shoulders, “Water breathing, 45% increased endurance, as well as a water, steam, and fire breath.”

  The people in the know once again shared a long look.

  “What’s the problem?” he asked, getting frustrated that they were trying to hide something from him.

  “Well, I don't know how to break it to you Gareth, but that is not normal.” Guanji said at last, his normally professional diction lost to worry.

  “How so?” Gareth’s heart pounded in his chest, straining under the weight of malnutrition.

  “Because people just don't awaken three bloodline aspects! …At once!” Ellisandra quietly yelled and threw her hands into the air, “Never mind that those aspects are so powerful! I am quite envious.” She finally said with a smile to show that she harboured no hard feelings. Her smile turned slightly evil, “You are going to be a monster, once you get your feet under you." She winked.

  "Elder,” she said, turning to Guanji, “when will we be able to do his next awakening?”

  Guanji was already shaking his head before she even stopped talking, “Looking at the strain it put on his body, I will not feel comfortable for Gareth to awaken until he has gained at least thirty kilograms.”

  They both baulked at him, “Oh come-on! It wasn't that bad!”

  “Yeah!” She supported helpfully.

  “If it weren't for the leaves I shoved down your throat, you would have been a dried husk by the end of it. Your body must build up its reserves, lest you risk being completely drained come the next awakening. A month.'' Before Gareth could raise another complaint Guanji decisively raised his hand, “I have spoken. This month will also give you time to incorporate those breath abilities into your combat style, and maybe learn a skill or two.”

  Gareth and Ellisandra quickly remembered that while Guanji gave them a lot of leeway, he was still their Elder, and had to listen to him. To Ellisandra, it was a reminder of her place in the hierarchy. To Gareth, it was a sign that he was still far from dictating his own fate, and it chafed.

  “Then I guess we better get to work.” He said and painfully pushed himself off the bed.

  He didn't make it far before Guanji's stoick palm pushed him back into bed, "Rest first. You must eat something other than broth to get your strength back. I will go prepare something. Lady Ellisandra, please keep him company while I do so."

  With a gulp he finished his cup of tea and left the room...leaving the two youngsters to their own devices.

  There was an awkward moment of silence as Ellisandra and Gareth both thought of something to say while he climbed back under the covers. Ellisandra was about to speak when he forestalled her with a raised hand. He recalled the topic of conversation before master Guanji had arrived and wanted to put her mind at ease.

  "I-...hmm." He looked down and fretted with a loose string of wool, "I haven't had many friends." He saw his fretting for the insecurity that it was and consciously raised the blanket, straightened it out, smoothed it, and looked her dead in the eyes, "I would like to be your friend, for what it's worth." he chuckled and threw a look at his lamentable biceps.

  She chuckled lightly at his attempt at a joke, "Then, I propose a small ceremony."

  She collected their tea cups, to Gareth's mild surprise, and removed a green liqueur bottle from her spatial treasure, "It will likely be hard on your constitution, so take only a small sip, but typically a cup of sake is shared between friends to cement a friendship."

  She poured them both a cup of off-yellow transparent booze, and held up her cup while he did the same.

  "To my friend and Protector, Gareth Elson." She downed the cup.

  "To my friend and charge, Ellisandra." He downed the cup, the consequences be damned.

  "A little liquor never hurt anybody." he said with his tongue-in-cheek as she threw him an incredulous look.

  "Hahaha! Well then, gambai!" she laughed and sat back comfortably in her zabuton. They spent the rest of the evening chatting, getting to know one another, and eating dinner with Guanji. She was eventually called away to some biz, but as Gareth lay in bed, alone once more, his weight was brought back to mind.

  He might be taking steps back and forth, making progress then losing it again, but for once he might not be walking this path alone. He'd made something that day that he hadn't had since his friend Jacky lost his life, not since his little sister had been relocated to who knows where. He made a true friend.