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The end of the fight had left Reylan mentally and physically exhausted, but even so he could not forget the image of Alisea’s health bar slowly fading away. She had done something so reckless and nearly gotten herself killed...simply thinking about it was enough to upset him. There were many reasons why he was angry with her, some of which he didn’t quite understand. What should have been a joyous occasion at their victory was mired by this incident. He did his best to appear happy to the rest of the guild, and he was, but he wouldn’t feel better until he spoke to Alisea. He donned his calmest look, and approached her with a serious expression. “Alisea, can we talk?” he asked, a hint of irritation in his voice.
The magess, who had been thanking Aster for sparing them the ordeal of a return journey, turned to face the guildmaster. Truthfully, she was expecting this sometime. It was a sign of how great a man Reylan was that he wanted to pull her aside to have this chat privately, and doing so while the others stepped into the inn was a good time. “Right,” Alisea answered with a nod. She wished Aster a goodnight, letting her roommate know she would follow soon, then stayed with Reylan as everyone else went in. He led them around the corner into the mouth of the alley. Now alone, she waited to see what he had to say.
His nails dug into his right hand as it clenched tightly as a way to mitigate the small rage inside him. “We may have won today but you...you nearly died!” He had tried to say it differently, but ended up getting straight to the point. No longer did he shield his emotion, a mixture of worry and anger filled his silver eyes “How could you be so foolish! Do you have some kind of death wish?!?” The truth was he had been scared, frightened that he had just lost her in that moment.
Alisea frowned. Her brow creased in consternation. ”Do you honestly think I would?” she demanded, the hurt apparent in her voice. ”If anything, I would turn that question back on you! Do you not want to be alive?” She kept her voice low, between only the two of them, but her words were edged with heat. Alisea knew she had done something dangerous. She knew Reylan had only been worried for her. She knew; but she would not accept being called the fool. Especially not for this.
He was not sure what to think, Alisea’s brush with death had been the consequence of her own actions. A perplexed look filled his features as she asked her own question. That confusion shifted into a fiery expression ”Of course I want to live! I just don’t have the luxury of being reckless! My concern extends beyond myself!” His words came off sharp, a quality he wished they did not carry.
”Well maybe you should-!” Alisea clamped her jaw shut, biting her own tongue before any more could come out. In an odd way, the pain was refreshing--a small reminder of the drive that had carried her through that dungeon. ”...be concerned...for more.” Somehow she ground the words out between her teeth. It was obvious she was forcing it--that there was something else not being said--but the accusation had dropped from her voice. ”Reylan, I… am sorry. But please, not right now.”
More, she said? Reylan was putting every ounce of his energy into trying to be the kind of leader that would lead everyone to the end alive. It hurt to hear such words come from her, but it frustrated him greater that there was more she left unsaid. He stood silent for a moment before sighing “Fine, but when?” Two fingers pinched the center of his forehead “I won’t be able to relax until I know you’re not going to put yourself in so much danger..” This time, concern seeped into his firm speech.
Alisea managed to smile at that idea--a small, sad, but amused smile. As if there was a place in Talrae sheltered from danger. ”Tomorrow morning, after breakfast,” she answered softly. ”I have no time to try something reckless before then, right?” she added, trying to lighten the air. The meager jest was inadequate, and she felt it.
Reylan, having vented his frustration, had slowly calmed down. The angry shell shattered leaving the worry inside exposed. In perhaps a spur of the moment, he moved closer and hugged Alisea. “I just don’t want to lose you, or anyone to this death game.” His voice trembled, the hug ending with the last word. It was not that he had been truly angry, it was that in that instance when her health bar dropped quickly he had been terrified he lost her.
The sudden embrace took Alisea by surprise, but she accepted it. Her arms wrapped around his torso in return, and for a moment she remained surrounded by his embrace. ’So warm…’ ”You will never lose me. I promise.”
Alisea wished Reylan a goodnight, promising again she would see him bright and early. She turned and hurried away, trying to not let him see her face. She couldn’t tell what expression she was making, but it most definitely was not one of her customary smiles.
The magess gratefully washed the grime of a dungeon from her body. Climbing the inn’s stairs after, Alisea tried to force her mind to calm. Thoughts of what she might say tomorrow swirled about. Each time she tried to cast it away. Her words to Reylan had been sincere; this was not the time. Exhausted, hungry, stressed--these were all conditions that only clouded judgment and led to more problems. For now she needed only to sleep.
Aster was already in bed. Alisea didn’t even wait for the door to finish closing behind her before she began stripping off her own gear. When she slid under the covers, their chill gripped at her skin. She slid closer to the center, seeking to the spots Aster’s body had already begun to warm. As the bed began to heat, Reylan’s words echoed in her mind.
”I don’t want to lose you, or anyone to this death game.”
On impulse, Alisea reached out and wrapped her arms around Aster. She pulled herself close, holding her gently but firmly. The swordswoman’s warmth flooded over her, reassuring her. ’I feel the same, Reylan. Stay safe. Aster, too…’ Sleep rapidly overtook the young woman.
