Soft fluttering light danced ay closed eyes creating a gentle pink mosaic through my eyelids. Opening them, I found myself in an unfamiliar room. I was lying at the ter of a bed rge enough for four people to sleep fortably side by side. A vibrant green b covered with intricate gold needlework was id over me.

  Beside the bed en window with its curtains drawn closed. The thin fabric let just enough light shihrough thten the room without being tht to sleep. Fresh flowers pced in a vase at my bedside filled the room with their tender floral aroma. I couldn't imagine a more serene pce to wake up in.

  "You're awake," Rochelle's voice was tinged with relief as she telepathically greeted me. "I feared you'd never wake up."

  "Sorry for w you," I replied sheepishly. My face warmed as I recalled how I'd been freed from the dream I'd been trapped within. Even though it wasn't real, the feeling of Lydia's lips on mine lingered.

  "It's okay, ne. I'm just gd to have you back."

  A smile spread ay face as I slipped out of bed. Even without knowing how long I'd been asleep, it was surprising how invigorated I felt. My body felt lighter than it had before.

  Pulling open the curtains I gazed out and found myself staring down at an unfamiliar city. My bedroom was in a tiving me a wide view of the world below.

  It appeared as if we were in a small castle atop a hill, with the city around us stretg out from the base. It was beautiful, multicolored houses, lush parks, and even small family farms throughout. The unfamiliar ndscape was a far cry from anything I'd ever known.

  "How long was I out?" I asked Rochelle, knowing she saw the world through my eyes and would have er idea where we were than I did.

  "At least two weeks." Rochelle sighed softly. "I'm sorry ne, I never expected the Seeds to have such a dangerous tome in their library."

  "It's okay."

  The sound of a door opening caught my attention. Turning, I locked eyes with Ink as she slipped into the room. With a devilish smile she waved and approached the window to stao me. "Good m, ne."

  ?Where are we?? I signed, before I recalled that Ink couldn't uand me.

  "Wylrune, capital of the ty of Marwood," Ink replied, grinning pyfully at my shocked expression. "I asked Lydia and Bir to teach me yuage as you slept. I ot say I've mastered it, but I uand simple things."

  I was amazed. Ink's words warmed my heart. Even though she could speak to me telepathically through touch, she'd still go of her way to learn sign nguage.

  ?How long ago did we arrive?? I signed, struggling to hide my excitement.

  "A few days," Ink narrowed her e eyes as she gazed out the window. "This pce... Even I am startled by its luster. It certainly improves my opinion of the witch."

  Admiring Edna's home, I nodded in agreement. It was indeed a beautiful pce, and I couldn't wait to explore its streets ahe people of Marwood.

  Of course, I'd be incapable of truly meeting ahout a transtor. My thoughts drifted to Bir and Lydia. They were probably both beside themselves with worry. I o tell them I was alright. Edna too.

  ?I o go see everyone.?

  "I'll tell them you're awake when I leave," Ink yawned and ced her fiogether before stretg both arms above her head. Her bck-furred tail twitched behind her as she reached the apex of her flexibility. "Before that, I need you to undress."

  My eyes widened as Ink's words hung in the air. I stared at her, unsure of how to respond. Undress? Why would she ask me to do that?

  "You've been unscious for weeks a you don't feel any hunger or lethargy do you?" A mischievous grin spread across Ink's lips. "Remaining at the peak of health after so long isn't something standard healing magi aplish. Bir could've kept you alive, but it was my magic that kept you healthy. I o make sure its had no adverse effects on you."

  My face heated. After taking a deep breath to steel my nerves, I began to undress. Once I was standing naked before her, Ink circled me.

  Ink's small firaced my shoulder bdes, and then my arms. She carefully pinched my sides and poked my belly button. As she did so she made soft humming sounds which ed me greatly. Had her magic cursed me? Was I going to be the first saint in history to bee a demon?

  "There's nothing wrong with you," Ink noted, pig up my nightgog it in my hands. "You get dressed. I'll let everyone know you're awake."

  ?That's it??

  "It is," Ink sighed. She hesitated for a moment befhing softly to herself. Shaking her head, Ink looked up to gaze directly into my eyes. "I believe I did too much. Beyond just sustaining your body, it seems as if I've made you stronger."

  ?Is that a bad thing?? Even if Ink had said she and Cheimul's chosen would normally be ehat didn't me. Ink had said it herself, she couldn't resurrect during my lifetime.

  Even if it would be the greater good to end Ink's life, I had no iion of ever harming her. She'd saved me, a me healthy when she didn't have to. To me, Ink was someone I hoped I could one day sider a friend.

  Ink's pyful demeanor faded into a look of ption. "I need you to be strong— strohan you are now. But increasing your physical strength when you are undisciplined may only lead you to further injury."

  Without waiting for anything further from me, Ihe room. Dressing myself I sat on the edge of the bed and tried to process what she'd said. I'd bee stronger, but that strength was as much a liability as it was a be.

  When I saw Reika for sword practice, I'd have to warn her. Maybe with her guidance I'd be able to avoid any ill effects from my new ued strength.

  "For one ears so young, her wisdom often catches me off guard," Rochelle admitted, a hint of mirth ione. "If only she weren't... whatever she is, I'd sider her an exceptionally valuable ally."

  "I think she ge," I replied. Even if Ink was an a god, or even a demon, she was mortal now. Ink herself might refuse to admit it, but I believed she could be vio embrace righteousness. She had a heart just like the rest of us.

  Rochelle and I tio speak amongst ourselves until the door to my room opened again. Turning my head I saw Lydia and Bir, both with tears in their eyes as they gazed at me.

  "Lady ne, you're awake," Bir's voice shook with emotion.

  Rag forward Lydia threw her arms around me and hugged me close. "ne, I'm so gd you're okay."

  Gently ing my arms around Lydia's waist I hugged her back. The warmth of her body pressed against mine made my heart flutter. My face heated with embarrassment as I tried to keep the memory of our kiss at bay.

  "Lydia," Bir rushed to my bedside. "ne appears to be a bit ill. You shouldn't hug her so tightly."

  Releasing me, Lydia looked me over. "Are you okay? Does anything hurt?" she asked, etched on her features.

  ?I'm fine,? I signed, f an awkward smile, trying my best not to think about the plicated feelings swirling in my heart.

  Bir's presence made it too awkward to talk about our kiss. Her own feelings for Lydia meant such talk would probably break her heart. At worst I feared she'd feel pelled to leave me. After all, it would probably feel impossible to remain loyal to the girl who stole the person she loved out from under her nose.

  Not that I was ready to pursue a retionship with Lydia. Elise was still the most precious person in my heart. As long as she held such a position, it was hard to imagiing anyone else. I knew Elise wanted me to move on. Even if the version of her I'd seen in my dream wasn't real, she echoed an opinion I was certain the real Elise would've shared. But moving on wasn't easy. I still wao g to her.

  Bir pced her wrist against my forehead, cheg for any signs of fever. "You don't feel warm."

  "Are you hungry?" Lydia asked. "I'll get you anything you want. If they don't have it here I'll go find it."

  ?I'm fine, really. If you don't mind, I'd like to know what happened while I was unscious.?

  Between Bir and Lydia I finally got a better idea of what transpired while I was out. Despite dedug what'd happened rather quickly, it actually took some time before Ink was able to invade my dream. During that time it was determihat the best pe to be was Marwood.

  Even though the Seeds of the Lotus base in Zeipher wasn't in poor dition, it was still almost entirely underground. Keepi our inn withiy seemed like a poor decision as well, si was hardly well protected. Bringio Marwood just made sense.

  "Good m," Edna appeared, knog softly on the open door as she greeted me. " I e in?"

  Nodding I weled her. I was happy to see she was doing well.

  "I'm gd you're awake, ne." Edna smiled, pulling a chair over so she could sit at my bedside. "I'm sure I'm too te, but I wao be the first to wele you to Marwood. When you're up to it, I have several people to introduce you to, but for now I just want you to rest."

  ?Thank you. This city is beautiful.?

  Edna turned bashful as Bir transted for me. "It's not my doing. My brother has been looking after the people in my pce. He's the one most responsible for for Wylrune's prosperity. All I've done is give surroundiories a specter to fear."

  I could see why others might fear her as the Great Witarwood, but I doubted Edna had nothing to do with her ty's prosperity. She seemed to care for her people, even if she spent most of her time in the capital. Her bashfulness at hearing praise for her city roof enough of that.

  We spoke a bit longer before a maid came to fetch Edna. Apparently some important mert had e to meet her as soon as he'd heard she was home. As I watched Edna leave I worried I'd never get a ce to heal her hand. The longer I left her injury ued, the more likely it'd never heal.

  As soon as Edna was out of earshot, Lydia sighed.

  "The two of you still haven't patched things up, have you?" Bir smiled softly, gently patting Lydia on the shoulder.

  "She cares about ne, and that's what is important to me," Lydia frow the doorway before turning to me and smiling. "After everything in Zeipher it'll take time before we see eye to eye again."

  Lydia blushed slightly as her expression softened. "Bir... do you think I could have some aloime with here are things about her dream I wish to discuss."

  I shifted unfortably at Lydia's request. As much as I loved her, being aloh Lydia was too muy heart to bear. Gng up at Bir, I silently begged her to stay.

  "I was thinking it might be about time for o have dinner," Bir smiled softly at me. "I'll go ask the kit to make something that'll be soft oomach. Hopefully that'll give you both enough time to talk."

  Bir stepped out, taking my st hope of putting things off with her. Turning to Lydia I suddenly felt unfortably warm. A heavy knot formed i of my stomach as I waited for what Lydia was going to say.

  Was she going to ask me out? How would I reply? Was asking for more time equivalent to saying yes? Grabbing my tail I cradled it in my p hoping to prevent it from pantomiming the distress I felt.

  "I'm sorry," Lydia's ears ftted as she lowered her head. "I know I've already apologized, but I truly didn't want my first kiss with you to be like that. I-I'm willing to wait for you. But... I love you, ne."

  I held up my hands to sign a respo found myself unsure of what to say. I hadn't expected another apology. Nor did I expect her to say she was willing to wait before hearing what I had to say oter. Her willio put her own feelings aside for me, made my heart feel heavy. I didn't like it.

  "I've been a mess," Lydia tiears falling from her eyes. "I've done so many things I shouldn't. I've kept things from you. But, I love you more than I have ever loved anyone. I would give away my own life if I k would bring you happiness. When you wouldn't wake up... I was so scared. I kept thinking that if only I hadn't lied to you, if only I'd kept you closer."

  Harsh, heavy sobs escaped Lydia's throat as she looked up at me, her eyes already bloodshot. "I keep almost losing you. In the forest, to Pia in Zeipher, even to a stupid book. I don't want to feel this again. Even if you won't allow me to—" Lydia's sobs made it impossible to hear what she said .

  ing my arms around Lydia, I held her tightly as she tiently stroking her back, I wondered what it was I truly wanted. Did I really want to g to the past, when doing so was hurting Lydia this badly? Even if my heart still ached when I thought of Elise, it was no lie that I cared for Lydia. Maybe, even if I wasn't ready, it wouldn't be s to accept her love?

  eri