Alina's face, as always, was sullen.

She always looked like that, eyes cast down, shoulders slumped as if weighed down with responsibility when she left her daily lessons with Saros.

Delta stepped out behind the corner and approached Alina. Her downcast expression evaporated as she straightened her posture and flashed Delta a smile. "Hey, Delta!"

Delta wouldn't be fooled by Alina's facade. "How...how are you doing?" The words felt strange addressed to someone other than Brook.

"Oh, fine," dismissed Alina easily.

"How's your arm?"

Alina's gray eyes fell to the bandages wrapped around her right arm. "Healing well. The healer says I'll be able to use it in about a week."

"You could use it now if you let her heal it," said Delta.

Alina sighed and crossed her arms. "We've already gone over this. No healing. Besides, I want the healer to have enough energy to help Brook."

"...I suppose." It was a dim, foolish hope--they both knew very well there wasn't much more the healer could do for Brook. Not then, not two weeks ago, when Alina, with impressive stoicism, hadn't revealed her broken arm until the rescue party had returned her to the palace. The only explanation she'd given for her refusal of magic healing was that she wanted to save the healer's energy for Brook, and some strange bit about wanting to feel the pain.

"Let's walk," said Alina, starting down the hall. "You've probably got places to be, right?"

"Yes, I've got to get to Brook." Delta fell into step beside Alina. It had been too long since she'd seen Brook. Even if it'd only been two hours. Any time was too long. Delta was actually quite proud of herself; instead of heading straight to Brook after she finished training, she'd taken Brook's advice without any prompting and went to check on Alina. But that was already out of Delta's comfort zone--it was time to get back to Brook.

They walked in silence for a while; Alina was clearly content to stay quiet. But Delta couldn't just give up there.

"How are your lessons going?"

"Oh," Alina said airily. "Alright, I guess."

"Really?"

"Yes, really," insisted Alina, an defensive edge lining her voice.

"You seem tired."

"I suppose I am." Alina set her gaze at the glossy floor in front of them. "It's a lot, though. I spent years in an isolated village with practically no responsibilities, and now I'm suddenly expected to be ready to rule the kingdom as quickly as possible. And between everything that's changed, the killer, and ...Luci...it's a lot to take in. Saros tells me there's no rush, but it's obviously just pleasantries." She smiled weakly. "Don't you worry about me, though. You've got plenty to worry about already. I'm doing fine."

"You don't seem fine," commented Delta.

"Because I'm tired," dismissed Alina. "Not enough sleep with all the work I've been doing. What about you, though? How are you doing?"

Suddenly on the defensive, Delta faltered. "I--I'm fine."

"You're a mess, Delta," pressed Alina, pinning Delta under a steady stare. Her gray eyes glittered with worry--she was so much better at this "concern" thing than Delta was. "If there's anything I can do to help--"

"You can tell me what I can do to help you," countered Delta. If Alina could change the subject, then Delta could do.

Alina scowled at Delta. "As I said, I'm fine."

"And so am I!"

"Well, if we're both fine, then there's no reason for either of us to be worried, right?"

Delta glared at Alina, then reluctantly muttered, "I guess so." They were evenly matched. She'd concede to a stalemate now, but in the end, she'd get Alina to crack. She hadn't forgotten Alina's breakdown in the forest, and there was no way Alina had already gotten over it. It was only a matter of time until Delta came out victorious.

"...isn't that Brook?" Alina pointed down the hall, where two figures were slowly making their way toward Alina and Delta.

"She should be in her room," Delta said slowly, squinting at the figures. She bit her lip and took a deep breath, struggling to quell the surge of panic that rose up inside her. She walked faster.

As they grew closer, it became clear that the person was indeed Brook, white bandages against black hair. One hand was on the wall, and other was held by her companion, who had a shock of long, red hair braided neatly down her back. It took a moment for Delta to remember her name: Blaise.

The moment she was sure it was Brook, Delta rushed down the hallway, leaving Alina behind her.

"What are you doing out here, Brook?!"

"...oh, hi, Delta!" Brook greeted cheerfully, seemingly unfazed by Delta's panic. "I'm just taking a walk. I can't stay cooped up in my room, after all."

"Ah--I--I guess so," stammered Delta, beginning to calm. She's fine. She's fine. She's fine.

"Blaise offered to help me around," continued Brook. "I was wondering where you were, so she said she'd help me look."

Delta's stomach lurched. She needed me and I wasn't there. I should have gone straight back. Even if Alina needs help, Brook comes first. She glanced at Blaise, who was making a clear attempt to not make eye contact.

Brook had certainly made true of her promise to befriend Blaise--over the last two weeks, the two had become closer and closer, to the point where they were together whenever Delta wasn't there. Blaise always seemed to leave quickly whenever Delta arrived; Delta wasn't entirely sure why, but she didn't really care.

Blaise's presence seemed to cheer up Brook considerably, so Delta supported their friendship, but, admittedly, the idea of a somewhat inexperienced wielder of powerful fire magic hanging around Brook made her uncomfortable.

"Where were you, anyway?" asked Brook lightly. Her words were light and innocent, but a stab of guilt still shot through Delta.

"After I finished training, I went to talk to Alina," replied Delta.

"Really!" Brook, if possible, became even cheerier. "Oh, that's great--it's--you--on your own--!"

Delta's guilt lessened somewhat. It's what she wanted me to do. Even so, she needed me. She was looking for me.

"Brook!" Alina, who had been taking her time walking, finally caught up to Delta. "How are you doing?" Her eyes instantly shot to the side, looking at anything but Brook's face.

Though most of Brook's face was bandaged, the bandages around her mouth had been removed a few days before. Blotchy, red burn scars mottled the warped skin around her mouth, hinting at even worse damage above. It was a harsh sight; it pained Delta to look at it too, but she had to accept the result of her mistakes, not shield her eyes from it.

"I'm doing great," replied Brook, smiling widely. "How about you?"

"Pretty good," answered Alina. Her response was so much smoother and convincing than when she responded to Delta earlier, even putting on a believable assuring grin that Brook couldn't see. The smile soon fell away, though, as Alina's evident discomfort shone through. "I--I'm sorry, but I can't stay and chat. I'm pretty busy, you know." She backed up a few paces.

"Oh, that's fine," said Brook. "I understand. Suddenly being saddled with the responsibility of the next queen in such troubled times, and alone, at that. If you ever want to talk, I'm ready to listen."

Alina's smile was pained. "Of--of course. You can talk to me, too. I'll see you." She hurried off in the opposite direction, not once looking back.

As soon as Alina's footsteps faded into the distance, Brook said, "She sounded strained. Did she tell you anything about what's troubling her?"

"Pretty much what you said," said Delta. "Leadership. All this trouble. Lucian. She's pretty determined to not trouble anyone."

"Sounds like someone I know," teased Brook. "Anyway, could I ask you a favor?"

"What's that?"

Brook's smile seems somewhat sly. "You see, Blaise here—" Blaise, eyes still fixed on the floor, flinched "—has been training really hard but she's still having troubles with control and some other small things. Could you help her with that? Give her a lesson or something? Just this one time."

Delta frowned at Brook in confusion. "...why?" If Brook wanted her to, she would, but Delta didn't see any particular reason she had to school Blaise when she could be guarding Brook.

"Because you're really good at fine control, right?" answered Brook. "And, also, well, Blaise told me that—"

Blaise hissed softly, cutting off Brook.

"Ah—sorry." Brook smiled apologetically. "I won't say. Anyway, Delta, I'd really appreciate if you'd help her. Don't you worry about me—I've got guards."

Blaise finally spoke, voice quiet and meek. "I—I'd really rather no—"

"You remember what I told you?" said Brook pointedly, smiling playfully. "This is your chance. Also, Delta really is amazing. I'm sure she can give you some good pointers."

Blaise scowled, tearing her gaze away from the ground long enough to surreptitiously glance at Delta. "Fine."

"Great!" exclaimed Brook. "Why don't you go, then?"

Delta, caught off-guard, stammered, "N-now?"

"Of course."

"H-how will you get back to your room?" asked Blaise, clearly nervous at the prospect of leaving immediately.

"The guards will lead me," dismissed Brook easily. "I heard them following us. They're probably just around the corner. Can you get them, Blaise."

"I...I guess so." Blaise gingerly released Brook's hand, then scurried down the hall.

Brook's smile soon faded as her now empty left hand fell to her side. Perhaps unconsciously, she stepped closer to the wall, the four fingers on her right hands tracing the illustrations carved into the stone. "D-delta."

Delta grasped Brook's empty hand with both of hers. "I'm here."

"Th-thank you." Brook's right hands ran along the carvings faster and faster, tracing a nervous spiral.

Delta's heart stung as she realized that, ever so slightly, Brook was shaking. "I'm here. I'm here."

Brook laughed softly. "Clearly. I-I'm fine, Delta. Don't worry." She took a few deep breaths, and the shaking subsided. "Is Blaise almost done?"

Delta glanced down the hall to see Blaise heading toward them, trailed by a group of guards. Seeing their stoic expressions and disciplined postures was somewhat reassuring to Delta; See? Brook's in good hands. Follow her instructions and go get a life. "She's here."

"I've got the guards," called Blaise, breaking into a run to reach Brook sooner. "Y-you're sure you'll be okay?"

Brook was once again beaming. "Absolutely." She faced Delta's general direction. "Go on."

Delta bit her lip. Reluctantly, she let go of Brook's hand. "I—"

"Go on," repeated Brook. "I'll be fine. Okay?" She flashed Delta her most reassuring smile, though it wasn't convincing Delta.

Delta sighed and stepped back. "I'll be back soon, okay?"

"Take as long as you need."

Delta practically dragged her feet as she made her way down the hall.

"Um...not that way."

Delta turned to face Blaise, who still wouldn't make eye-contact. "But this is the way to the training field."

"I...I train in a different place."

Delta frowned skeptically, but said, "Okay, then. Lead the way."

She switched directions and fell into step with Blaise, who kept her eyes fixed forward. She eyed Blaise in confusion. Why, exactly, did Blaise seem so nervous around Delta? Had Delta done something to her? Delta couldn't remember anything, direct or indirect, that could've caused this aversion. Oh well. In the end, she couldn't care less what Blaise thought of her, as long as it didn't impact her positive impact on Brook.

Thinking about it, she didn't know much about Blaise—probably because Blaise went running whenever Delta got close. Delta's general impression of Blaise wasn't all that positive—she seemed hot-tempered, somewhat immature, and not really suited for her position. No qualities that could justify her becoming a councilwoman—though, Delta heard it was a rushed process, so perhaps she was the least terrible out of the other candidates.

Being a councilwoman at that age was probably tough, especially in such a troubled time—but Delta didn't have the time to care about anyone else other than Brook. But doesn't Brook want me to care about more people? Delta scowled in confusion. Should I try and talk to her, then? I bet Brook set this up because she wants us to get to know each other.

"Hey, I...um..."

Delta stared at Blaise in surprise. She spoke first. Wow. "What?"

"You...uh...do you remember the meeting last month? The one where I yelled at you?"

It took Delta a moment to recall it. She had cared so little that she'd discarded the memory the next day. "...yeah."

Blaise wrung her hands. "I'm sorry," she muttered reluctantly. "For yelling at you. I didn't understand your...uh, circumstances, and it was wrong of me to judge you." Her amber eyes flared indignantly. "Even so, you—" She cut herself off, probably realizing whatever she was going to say was going to contradict her apology.

This sounds rehearsed. "It's fine. I really don't care."

"Okay, good." Blaise's shoulders dropped in relief.

"Took you a while to get to it, though."

Blaise's face went red. "That—I—"

"Did somebody put you up to it?"

Blaise glared at the floor and bit her lip. "Yeah."

"Brook?"

"And Kaia."

That makes a lot more sense. Satisfied with the answer, Delta was comfortable letting silence fall between them, but Blaise clearly was not. She picked up her pace so they didn't have to make eye contact, walking a few steps ahead, and she was never doing a single thing with her hands for too long--swinging them at her sides, wringing them in front of her, playing with loose strands of her braided hair. Delta was fine with letting Blaise fidget as they walked to the mystery training ground.

The walk, however, soon became irritatingly long, making Delta scowl as they turned corner after corner only to reveal another nondescript hallway, covered in the same glossy white stone. Arched ceilings, carved walls, white stone, over and over and over again.

The occasional servant they passed would cast confused glances at the two, making Delta's skin crawl with guilt. I should be with Brook. But she asked me to do this. Even so, I--

"I don't suppose you know if the council is making any progress in returning my status as guardian," said Delta.

Blaise immediately glanced over her shoulder, clearly relieved to end the silence. "We haven't talked about it."

"Why not? It's already been a month."

Any relief remaining on Blaise's face turned into irritation as she became somewhat defensive. "I don't know! We've been busy, I guess? Got a crazy killer to deal with, after all." She quickened her pace in a vain attempt to escape Delta.

Delta strode right after Blaise, catching up to her and fixing her under an unwavering stare. "There still haven't been any attacks, though. And we're not due for a report on the killer's followings until a few days from now. So why haven't you guys--"

"Don't lump me in with them!" snapped Blaise, finally embracing eye contact so she could glare at Delta. "Like I ever know what the hell the rest of the council is thinking! It just hasn't come up, and I don't know why, okay?!"

"Maybe you should bring it up."

"If I bring it up, nobody will ever take it seriously," scoffed Blaise. "Talk to them yourself."

"You think I haven't?" snapped Delta. Even the thought of Astin saying, "We'll talk about it later" for the thousandth time infuriated her. "I've talked to all of them."

"Why bother, then?" said Blaise. "You don't need a special title to protect Brook."

"I--" Delta's mind stalled, and her found herself standing in place as Blaise walked away. Cursing herself, she hurried to catch up and form a response. Being a guardian was her life, her meaning, her everything. She couldn't remember a time when she wasn't a guardian.

But would she quit guarding Brook just because she wasn't officially her guardian? Of course not. Even if she hadn't chosen to get the position, she did it for Brook, everything for Brook. She guarded Brook because Brook was worth guarding, because Delta wanted to protect her, not because it won her recognition and power. Even so, she couldn't give up "guardian" so easily, for an elusive feeling Delta couldn't quite place. For one, if she wasn't "guardian," that made it all the easier for the council to snatch her away. But doesn't Brook want me to do more things on my own?

"Agh!" Delta cried out loud in confusion. What was she doing? Was it right? Should she be doing it?

Blaise once again glanced over her shoulder, eyebrows raised. "You okay?"
"Y-yeah." Delta hurried to catch up to Blaise. "Are we almost there?"

"Actually, we're there." Blaise pointed at a smaller archway marking the entrance to one of the outdoor courtyards, judging from the sunlight gleaming off the white stone. They rounded the corner to reveal a thoroughly underwhelming courtyard.

The stone underfoot was unpolished and riddled with cracks, depressions, and scorch marks. It was completely empty, and the only entrance was the one they were standing in. Sunlight glared off the tall white walls surrounding the courtyard, almost blinding Delta. Compared to the other courtyards, this one was pathetically small, only about twenty feet across.

"What is this place?" Delta couldn't hide the disdain in her voice.

"It's my special courtyard," stated Blaise, standing proudly in the center of the yard. "Great for practicing when you don't want to be disturbed, because nobody ever goes to this part of the palace."

"How have they not torn down this place yet?" asked Delta, descending the stairs into the courtyard.

"I won't let them," answered Blaise. "Nobody's touching this place. Once I'm good enough to not need to practice secretly, Kaia's gonna help me fix this place up and make it pretty. For now, though, anything we fix is just gonna be trashed the next day. I come here a lot."

She's emotionally attached to a courtyard. Delta shook her head. Everybody's different. "Why do you need to practice secretly?"

"'Cus the council doesn't like me overworking." Blaise rolled her eyes. "Yet they think I can somehow meet their impossible standards practicing as little as they let me."

"Get used to it." Delta faced Blaise in the center of the courtyard. "Shall we begin?"

"Yeah." Blaise shrugged off her cloak and tossed it to the side. She reached to take off her long, black gloves, then froze. She fixed Delta with a cautious stare. "You won't tell anyone about this practice session, right?"

Delta tilted her head. "What? Is there something you need to hide?"

"I--it's nothing bad," snapped Blaise. "I just don't like taking handouts."

"Sure. Whatever."

"Reassuring," muttered Blaise as she pulled her gloves off, revealing the scorched skin underneath.

Delta stared in astonishment as the second glove came off, revealing similar burns. She fought off a shudder as she instantly recalled similar burns, burns creeping out from underneath Brook's bandages. "Oh...how'd you...how'd you get those?"

"Practicing," answered Blaise nonchalantly, swinging her arms back and forth. "I'd get in trouble if the council knew I was doing it without permission, so I can't go to the healer to get burns healed--she'd tell the council. So I treat them on my own, and they scar. It's possible to practice fire magic without getting burned, of course, but I don't have the luxury to take it slow." She furrowed her eyebrows, a small touch of concern. "Y-you'll be safe though, Delta."

Newer burns over older burns, layers and layers stacked on top of each other, a blotchy collage of scars that hurt to look at. For Blaise to train and train and train, knowing that it would bring more pain everytime, just so she could be a suitable councilmember--perhaps Delta had given Blaise less credit than she deserved.

"C'mon, Delta," said Blaise, frowning in annoyance. "Snap out of it. Let's get to work."

Delta looked up at Blaise, who was practically jumping in her eagerness to get started. "Of course. Show me what you've got."