Respite

Falo got up from his sitting position, groaning as he stretched out his back, making an audible popping noise.

.

"Aw man, that was boring." He groaned, shaking Aisha awake. "Did you have a good nap?"

"H-huh?" Aisha said blearily. "Mmm… yeah. I had a nice dream…"

.

Aisha's ears fluttered as she heard the mutterings of the agents from aside her. She rolled her eyes, the motion not unnoticed by the rest of her group.

.

"What did they say?" Aless asked.

"The usual." Aisha yawned. "Fey stuff."

"Bunch of racists." Aless muttered.

.

"At least we're not whores!" One of the agents spat back.

.

Aless sighed, her expression invisible under her hood, but Aisha didn't have to see her face to tell the distaste in her breath. Two took a step towards the agent, but Falo held him back.

.

"Don't do it." Falo said quietly.

"But-"

"Don't worry about it."

.

Aisha's ears caught the extremely faint noise of crackling ice, and her eyes followed a trail of discoloration stemming from Falo's foot to the rude agent's. The man attempted to take a step and yelped, as the ice made his foot stick slightly to the floor. The hours of standing made the man's knees weak, the agent falling over onto his hands and knees in an ungraceful heap, the others around him staring.

.

Falo gave Two a fistbump, as Aless smiled slightly.

.

"Who's going to wake the bear?" Tylich said loudly. "I'm not. Vay-"

"Don't even think about it, rat." Vayne said hurriedly, motioning for her agents. "Such things are beneath a proper lady."

Tylich paled. "Uh, no thanks."

.

Vayne left with her agents, and Aisha was able to catch the face of one of her agents. Even though Aisha couldn't see his eyes, she could tell from the way he held himself, and the curl of his lips… He was afraid of Vayne.

.

She was able to catch one of Tylich's agents too, seeing fear, but for a different reason. They were disgusted by him.

.

"Strange." Aisha mused.

.

Aisha decided to scan the room, something she probably should have done a while ago, but she was unable to catch any more faces, people beginning to file out of the chamber quickly. Soon, all that was left was Raxas, Havel, and their respective agents.

.

"Why aren't we leaving?" Aisha whispered.

.

Falo motioned with his head to Raxas, fast asleep, head resting on his crossed arms. Aisha couldn't see his face from her position, but judging by the lack of movement, he wasn't sleeping very soundly.

"Just wake him up." Aisha said impatiently.

"You do it." Falo shot back.

"Why?" Aisha asked.

"Uh…"

.

Aisha looked around and only saw guilty looks, and was instantly suspicious. They didn't want to wake him up, and Aisha didn't know why.

.

She hated that. She wanted to know.

.

Aisha got up and walked up to her sleeping employer, and was about to touch his shoulder, when she narrowed her eyes, catching a look at Raxas's face.

.

Usually, when people were sleeping, their faces were relaxed, peaceful, but Raxas's was tensed, curled into a disturbed look. It was the look of someone who wasn't used to getting a full night's sleep.

.

The look of someone who was afraid to rest.

.

Aisha decided to not poke the bear.

.

"Why didn't you wake him up?" Falo asked, as Aisha walked back over to him.

"You guys are trying to trick me." Aisha muttered.

.

"Oh…" Havel shifted uncomfortably. "Fine, I'll do it."

.

Instantly, all eyes were on Havel, as she slowly made her way over to the armored man, tapping him lightly on the shoulder.

.

The sound of splintering wood and creaking metal exploded into the room as Raxas's form erupted with a flash, blinding white flames shooting out from his body. When Aisha looked again, she saw Raxas holding his greatsword to Havel's neck, pressing her up against a pillar as he breathed frantically.

.

"James!" Havel struggled out, fingers jammed in between her neck and Raxas's sword. "Hey!"

.

Raxas took a look into Havel's eyes, and then at his sword, before taking a deep breath, the crazed look leaving his eyes as he dropped his arms. His gaze hardened as he looked back at the woman, muttering a quiet "sorry" as he turned to Falo and the others.

.

Aisha looked at the way that Havel rubbed her fingers, and realized that Raxas would have killed the woman, if she had not protected herself.

.

"Wait." Havel said softly. "Please. I… need a favor."

"And why should I give one to you?" Raxas said coldly, looking down at his hands.

"I…" Havel looked down guiltily. "You shouldn't. But… please. I'm asking you… as a friend?"

.

"...You're not my friend." Raxas muttered. Havel looked immensely hurt, showing in her expression. "But fine. What do you want?"

"I just need to borrow one of your agents." Havel said quietly. "It's not that urgent. A-actually, you can-"

"Take Kro." Raxas breathed out. "The rest of you-"

"W-wait." Havel muttered.

"..."

"C-can I take… the fey girl? The small one?" Havel whispered shyly.

"...Sure. Whatever."

"T-thank you!" Havel bounced a little, cutely. "T-thank you, James!"

.

Raxas turned his back to Havel, motioning for the rest of his agents to follow him as he exited the summit chambers, leaving Aisha with Havel and her agents.

.

"Uh…" Havel smiled at Aisha shyly. "Hi! W-what's your name?"

"...Aisha." She said quietly.

.

(This woman wants to cuddle with me.)

.

"The rest of you have the day off." Havel commanded the rest of her agents. "I'll see you tomorrow."

.

Havel's agents looked amongst themselves, passing uncertain looks.

"Um. Ma'am, are you sure-"

"I'm sure!" Havel said hastily. "Just go!"

"But she might be a-"

"Go go go!" She said, rushing them out.

.

.

.

Havel dragged Aisha all the way from the center of the capital, holding Aisha's hand for the entirety of the multiple-hour walk. Aisha wondered how Havel managed to keep her stride in such heavy armor and sweltering heat, until they finally got to Havel's quaint little apartment on the outskirts of the top ring.

.

She watched as the judge magister collapsed as soon as she shut the door behind her, letting out a loud groan as she slid off her helmet and laid on the ground, her cheek pressed up against the ground. Aisha had to hold in a smile. She reminded her of… mistress… the way she would act all playful, and get Aisha to join her…

.

But this woman was a judge magister. And a servant of the false god. She couldn't join her. Yet.

.

"I hate this armor." Havel complained. "You can't even teleport with it. It's too magic-resistant."

"...I'm very sorry about that." Aisha said, with a hint of sarcasm that Havel caught.

.

Havel turned in surprise, the surprised look startling Aisha.

"You're not like the others, are you?" She said in surprise.

"I don't… really know what you mean."

.

Havel smiled. "The other agents won't talk to me. Not even my own."

Aisha scratched the back of her neck. "Well, you are their boss."

"Even employees make small talk with their boss." Havel sulked. "I haven't been able to just talk with someone in… I don't even know… it's like everyone's afraid of me."

.

Aisha looked down at her feet. "I know what that feels like." She whispered.

"You do?" Havel said sympathetically, with those kind eyes…

.

"Yeah. Um, why did you bring me here?" Aisha asked, watching as Havel's shoulders visibly stiffened. Aisha's hand drifted to the greatsword on her back…

'U-uh, do you want some food while I change?" Havel offered frantically.

.

"What kind of food?" Aisha's eyes lit up, unconsciously starting to breathe faster.

"Um… I have a cake in the fridge… some cookies… I can cook some fried chicken for you, if you want!" Havel smiled, seeing the excited expression on Aisha's face as she slid off her boots.

.

Havel took out a big, frosted cake from her refrigerator, along with a plate and a fork, and watched fondly as Aisha engorged herself on the sweets, getting frosting all over her face and clothes. She giggled as she took a jar of cookies from her pantry, the contents of the thing slowly emptying.

.

She ran into her room quickly, afraid that Aisha would run out of food before she got back.

.

.

"Does it taste good?" Havel asked happily, receiving a vigorous nod in return.

.

Havel smiled as she watched Aisha eat, affection filling her heart as she saw someone enjoying her cooking so much. She reached out a hand across the table to pet Aisha's head, but hesitated when she saw Aisha's eyes lock onto it, fearing that the girl would shrink away. Her fears, however, were quelled, when Aisha leaned her head into Havel's soft hand, purring as the woman began to fluff her ears.

.

"Do you want anything else?" Havel asked. "Some warm milk? Or water?"

.

Aisha opened her mouth to respond, but all that came out was an adorable hiccup, her hands quickly rising to cover her mouth. Havel giggled.

.

"I think that's enough food for now." She smiled, taking Aisha's hand. "You can eat more later."

.

Aisha tried to protest, but all that would come out of her mouth was cute little hiccups, and Aisha decided that she would resign herself to her fate. Which happened to be sitting in the matronly judge's lap, two arms wrapped lazily around her midsection, while a soft, somewhat pudgy face buried itself into her ears.

.

Aisha sank deep into Havel's body, blushing as she felt… jiggle. Unlike her mistress, Havel's body was undoubtedly the one of a woman who sampled her own treats a little too often. She was even softer than mistress had been…

.

It was a different experience, pleasant for sure, but at the same time… Aisha realized that what made hugs and cuddles feel so amazing was because she loved her mistress.

.

It was still nice to hug Havel, though.

.

"So you're new, right?" Havel said softly. "I haven't seen you before."

Aisha nodded.

"I remember when I first met my agents…" Havel sighed. "I was a little scared of them at first… But they're just a bunch of jerks! Sometimes I hear them talking behind my back!"

"Mmm."

"I miss being able to talk to people." Havel said quietly, with a hint of bitterness. "Even when I was back on the streets… at least I had friends."

"When you were on the streets?" Aisha asked.

"Yeah." Havel said distantly. "I was… one of the orphaned kids that you see on the streets all the time. Begging for food, or… stealing."

"You don't seem like the type of girl to be able to steal." Aisha said.

"Yeah." Havel nodded, not even taking Aisha's words as an insult. "I… was lucky. I didn't have to. People were nice to me. Because I was a cute little girl. Nnn…"

Aisha was silent.

.

"You know Tylich?" Havel asked suddenly.

"Who?"

"One of the judges. Um… kind of mousy… thin face."

"The gross guy?" Aisha asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

.

Havel opened her mouth to attempt to chide Aisha, but her shoulders slumped in defeat. "Yeah. Him. That's… all that people really think of him, isn't it."

"Do you think differently?" Aisha asked.

"He was an orphan too. I met him once." Havel muttered, dodging the question. "He didn't really say anything to me, he just kind of… stared. And then he ran away after a bit. But he… he left me a little candy."

Havel opened and closed her hand, staring deeply into her palm.

"The second time we met, I was a baker's apprentice. I was twelve, and I went out into the alleyway to throw out the garbage, and I saw…"

Havel swallowed a load of saliva.

"I saw him… he stabbed my teacher in the alleyway. There was… there was blood everywhere." Havel whimpered as she held her head in her hands. "I was so scared…"

.

Aisha turned around in Havel's lap so that she could give the woman a hesitant hug. It was strange - the fearsome judge magister, highest position in the largest empire in the world, one of the most powerful women in the world - and Aisha was comforting her.

.

"Thank you." Havel sniffled. "But… ugh. Now I've… seen that kind of thing so much more."

"What happened to the boy?" Aisha asked.

"Well… I hid." Havel muttered. "I don't know if he saw me or not. From then on I had to run the bakery, and I only caught word of Tylich from rumors. He grew infamous for killing… a lot of people."

"Then how did he become a judge?" Aisha asked.

"Do you know how judges are selected?" Havel asked back. "It's a… really terrible system."

"How?"

"Every judge nominates a candidate." Havel explained. "And the candidate with the most mana gets to be a judge."

"That does sound awful." Aisha agreed. "...But there's another way, right?"

"Yeah." Havel muttered, her eyes downcast. "If you kill a judge, you take their place."

.

Aisha was silent again, not out of a desire to stay silent, but because she didn't have anything to say. Havel was a kind, naive woman, who had been forced into such an ugly world…To be so desperate, that she would confide in a total stranger.

.

"How did you become a judge?" Aisha asked.

"I got drafted into the war." Havel sighed. "I was just a medic, but apparently that was good enough. They… they offered to get me off the frontlines, but… I don't know if this is better."

.

Havel squeezed Aisha tight against her body, shaking slightly.

"T-thank you." She whispered. "For listening to me. Do… do you want to be… friends?"

.

Aisha's expression faltered a bit, before the edges of her lips curled up into a genuine smile. She had never… nobody had ever asked her that question before. It felt… good.

.

"Sure!"

.

.

.

After a few more cookies, and a bit more idle chat about unimportant business, Aisha returned to the adventuring district, once more with nothing to do. Usually, she would bump into someone, just out of pure coincidence, but after walking around aimlessly for a few minutes, Aisha decided to go visit the black market again, to take a better look at potential supplies.

.

As she downed the steps to the lower ring, she was able to walk past the guards, but after a surprised jolt, she was stopped by a firm grip on her shoulder.

.

"Hey!" One barked, his voice coming out modulated from the mask on his helmet. "Fey!"

"I'm here legally." Aisha struggled out, ripping her shoulder out from the guard's grasp.

"Then where are your papers?" The second guard asked, hefting his rifle menacingly. One of his hands wandered to a pair of shackles on his waist.

.

Aisha made a show of reaching into her pocket, withdrawing nothing but a fist as she socked the guard closest to her in the head, sending him to the ground. The second one fired a shot at her from his rifle, but she was able to dodge, giving him a good punch in the stomach.

.

She was ready to deal with the first guard, whipping around, but was surprised when she saw only an unmoving body on the ground, the man's helmet shattered, showing his face. Aisha clenched her fist in wonder. The training had helped!

.

Her wonder was interrupted as a particularly strong gust of chemicals entered her lungs, sending the girl into a coughing fit. She didn't exactly bring a mask, and she considered going back, but changed her mind when she saw one of the guard's masks, completely intact.

She took the mask. "Yoink!"

.

.

.

Aisha wandered a bit before she returned to the shack where Falo had shown her. She was about to knock on the door, when a shuffling near her caught her eye, coming from a cloaked figure, doing… something, in a dilapidated building next to her. Ordinarily, she would pay no mind to some random person, but… something was off about the figure's movements. They were calm, confident, careful - something about the man seemed… out of place.

.

Aisha wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead .She didn't even know if the man was real, or if she was hallucinating it - but she could hear the figure's breathing.

.

"You're terrible at sneaking around." A voice - a familiar voice, breathed out.

"Hey, you're… judge." Aisha struggled out.

"Indeed I am." Raxas replied, picking up a rock and staring at it intensely.

Aisha stared. "...What are you doing here?"

"Investigating." He muttered. "Different strains of nepenthe have different makeups. But distribution always expands from a radius outwards from the den. This is how we track them down."

.

Aisha was silent as Raxas spoke, out of his armor and into some casual clothes - it was like he was a completely different person, still stoic and calm, but with a… serenity, and focus, that showed on his face. He looked young, not sixty, like he usually did.

"See this?" Raxas said, holding up a pebble.

"...Yes."

"It's a different type of rock than the wall." He mused. "And it's solid. This is a rock that came from underground."

"Why are you doing this?" Aisha asked. "Shouldn't the others do this kind of work?"

"This isn't a skill that they teach in agent school." Raxas said. "This… is an adventurer's skill. Do you want to learn?"

"Uh…" Aisha scratched her head. "Sure."

.

"Alright." Raxas said, crouching down again, pointing to a spot on the ground. "See this?"

"It's… dust." She observed.

"No. It's the absence of dust." Raxas explained. "People have been here, at least in the past week, even though this building is supposed to be abandoned."

"Couldn't some random person have just been here?"

"Yes. Of course, but that's why we continue to look."

"Look for what?" Aisha asked. "There's only rubble."

Raxas nodded. "But this building used to have something inside. It may have been cleared out, but there's always traces left behind. Look here. There's a partition in the middle of the building. Here's a doorway."

.

"This used to be a kitchen." Aisha observed.

"Good job." Raxas said, the corners of his mouth barely twitching. He pulled out a thick booklet of papers. "And if we look at this tax record, there's no record of a kitchen being here. This lot was supposed to be a barbershop."

"Must be useful, having all this information." Aisha muttered.

"It's easy to get lost in." Raxas stuffed the papers back into his coat. "But at any rate, this is all still just speculation."

"So what, you came here so you could speculate?" Aisha asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes." Raxas said, dusting off his pants as he rose. "Also, just to visit."

.

"This shithole?"

Raxas nodded.

"Why?" Aisha asked.

"To remind myself." He said. "Of what's at stake."

"..."

.

"Hey! Get your hands off of me, or I'll scream!" A notably... male voice yelled, the sound echoing off the alley walls.

"You're already screaming." A guard said, annoyed. "And you're a man!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

.

Aisha grimaced as she tried to pull her ears off, the voice sounding familiarly annoying.

.

"Hey Aisha!" Korian called, as he was led past, his arms in handcuffs. He opened his mouth to scream again, but was stopped when the guard slapped him across the face, leaving a red mark.

.

"Tch." He spat.

.

.

Aisha rolled her eyes. "I knew that guy was going to end up in jail."

"No." Raxas muttered.

"What do you mean no?"

"Black market merchants are usually protected by the merchant's guild. We… I, don't arrest black market dealers. They provide things to these people that they can't normally get."

"Then who would arrest him?"

"Someone with a lot of influence. Probably Vayne." He said, the weariness returning to his expression.

"Why?"

"I… recognize that face." Raxas muttered. "He's quite a popular upcoming leatherworker. Vayne probably thought he was a threat to her business."

"Huh? Business?"

"Vayne's… enterprise, is most of the shops in the entire capital." Raxas muttered. "She is infamous for crushing small businesses."

"Seems… corrupt." Aisha said flatly.

"It is. Vayne is very corrupt."

"Isn't she your friend?" Aisha asked.

.

There was a long period of silence before Raxas answered, his face flickering in the lantern light.

"No."

.

.

.

Aisha returned to Celeste's apartment, holding a shopping bag full of snacks, and a significantly smaller bag full of supplies - she didn't like to interrupt Celeste and Hana's… play, but the place was the closest place to home that Aisha had, and she didn't really like carrying around bolts all the time.

.

Aisha narrowed her eyes as she saw two women crouched at the window looking into the apartment - one brown-haired ranger, and a tan-skinned amazon.

.

"Look at them, Kua." Fei whispered. "They're just… acting so lovey dovey. So unashamed!"

"I… I…" Kua stammered, her mouth opening and closing, but no words coming out. "I-I don't think we should be…"

"Oh my god." Fei squealed. "The kissing! How can you hold your breath for that-"

"What are you doing?" Aisha asked.

.

"EEK!" Fei jumped, hands fumbling for her bow, before the woman realized she didn't have it. "A-a-a-Aisha! H-hey! We're not spying on Celeste and her girlfriend! Nope! Kua didn't ask me to show her the succubus-"

"Fei!" Kua squeaked.

"I-I'm sorry!" Fei panicked. "I just- oh hey she's gone!"

.

Fei took a deep breath as Aisha walked into the apartment.

"Oh thank god." Fei sighed. "The last time I ran into the succubus, she tried to… um. She tried to get my goat, if you know what I mean."

"I… I don't, friend Fei." Kua said, blushing. "But the demon is… she's cute."

"Of course she's cute! But she'll… if she gets you, she'll… she'll hug you and kiss you and stuff!"

"That sounds nice." Kua whispered.

"Don't be tempted, Kua!" Fei shrieked, pulling on the amazon's shoulders with her entire body. "Nooooo!"

.

Meanwhile, Aisha had ignored the two voyeurs, walking into Hana's den.

"You're just the cutest." Celeste cooed, her blonde hair matted and frazzled, from literal hours of sex. "Adorable little succu-eek!"

"You think I'm little?" Hana giggled, using her tail to tickle Celeste on her sides, the woman's arms preoccupied by being wrapped around the pink-haired woman. "I'm just as big as you!"

"Y-yeah, but- AHIHI! You're the one- HAHA! Cuddling my boobs-" Celeste forced out, through uncontrollable giggles. "L-like a subby little- EEEK!"

"The tickles stop when you say master!" Hana teased.

"Okay, okay!" Celeste shrieked. "I love you, master! I love you I love you!"

"Wha-!" Hana blushed. "I didn't tell you to… I didn't… don't say that!"

"Why?" Celeste asked, breathing heavily as she wrapped her arms around Hana lovingly. "I do love you! Don't you love me back?"

"I…" Hana shrunk into Celeste's body, snuggling into her breasts. "I-it's too embarrassing!"

"Aww…" The blonde woman smiled in delight, giggling. "Does the big bwad succub-"

.

Hana's head rolled lazily to the edge of the bed when she heard a small thump, followed by a cute "ow!" after. She smiled as she saw Aisha's legs and butt sticking out from under the bed, while the girl rummaged around underneath.

.

"Aisha!" She cooed. "When did you get in here? I didn't hear you!"

"Um." Aisha muttered. "That doesn't surprise me."

.

Hana dragged Aisha out from under the bed so that she could hug the girl, a small cookie hastily shoved into her mouth.

.

"Have you been stashing things under my bed?" Celeste raised an eyebrow, as she took her place on the other side of Aisha, sandwiching the poor fey in between two voluptuous bodies.

.

"U-uum. No?" Aisha offered, stammering as she felt the two women fawn over her, stripping off her clothes, caressing her ears and face, and planting small little pets and kisses all over her body.

"Well, you're going to have to pay the tax!" Celeste sang, gazing amusedly on Aisha, looking quite helpless, like a little kitten, as she laid on the bed, blushing with her arms pinned down. Hana slid the ribbon off her hair, releasing the fluffy strands onto the bed - Celeste felt some and marveled at the softness, soft as fur.

"What's the tax?" Aisha asked meekly, smiling slightly. She would never say it out loud, but she loved being forced into bed. It was always more fun than getting in herself.

.

Hana smiled. "You have to snuggle with us all night! And you can't leave to go brood on the roof!"

"Okay okay." Aisha laughed. "Fine. That's fine by me."

.

The two women cooed their approval as Hana rested her head on Aisha's shoulder, letting a hand stroke the girl's side with featherlight touches, as the demon snuggled into the small girl's neck. Meanwhile, Celeste took a position higher up, pushing her chest into Aisha's shoulder, her mouth level with Aisha's ears.

.

Aisha spoke up in a soft voice. "What are you going to do about… uh…"

"Let them watch." Celeste cooed. "Who cares."

"Mmmm." Aisha mumbled. "Aren't you worried, though?"

"About what?" Hana asked.

"The people here aren't big fans of fey." Aisha muttered. "What happens when they find out a demon lives here?"

.

Hana's touches slowed down, as the sleepy, intimate air around them grew colder.

"Whatever happens, will happen."

Aisha turned to Celeste in surprise. "And you're okay with this?"

"Mhm." Celeste nodded. "We'll work something out."

"Don't you think-"

.

"You think too much." Hana and Celeste said at the same time, pausing, and then giggling at the coincidence.

.

"If you're always worried about the future…" Hana sighed. "You'll never be happy. You think that you'll rest later, but it just ends up eating at you. You keep thinking the future is going to get better, but then it only gets worse, and then-"

"Hey." Celeste said softly. "It's okay. We're happy now, right?"

"Oh. Um." Hana blushed. "Yeah."

.

Aisha had never really noticed before, but… all of a sudden, she saw the scars that marred Hana's body - magical burns, cuts, gashes… They blended into her ashy skin, but when Aisha ran her hands over them, she was reminded that the woman in front of her… did not always have such a cushy, lovey life.

.

She felt a sinking in her stomach, as sleep took her.

.

.

.

[

Aisha's eyes snapped open, her ears catching the soft crackling of a campfire.

"You-"

"Yeah yeah," Aisha snapped. "I'm back."

.

She plopped down on one of the logs in the dreamscape, staring dejectedly into the fire as a pair of dark eyes stared at her. She always hated those eyes. They were the only pair she could never really read. All that she saw was an abyss, so she broke eye contact, her eyes drifting towards the flame. Her expression melted into a lazy smile as she watched the memories fondly. Going on a date with her mistress. The first time they kissed. The first time they…

.

"What the hell happened to you?" Aisha blurted out in surprise.

.

A darkness was encroaching on Xelos's body, swallowing up his entire chest, and eating at his arms, legs, and face, his mouth completely covered by the blackness. The man didn't seem that bothered by it, but the sight was disturbing, small tendrils wisping off his body.

.

"Not me." He said seriously. "You."

"Me?" Aisha asked, hesitantly. She took a look down at herself, and gasped, seeing the same dark disease spreading through her own body.

"Yes. You."

"What the hell is happening to me?" Aisha asked in horror, trying to claw at the disease, but it didn't work, only tugging at her clothes.

"Well, you know how I'm just a part of you?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't know."

.

Aisha gave the tall man an incredulous look. "You're always just so incredibly helpful, aren't you."

"Actually, when I was teaching you, I was very helpful." He said. "You must think so, given that I represent your logic."

"..."

"..."

.

A while passed, the only sound being the flickering fire, as Aisha watched the memories grow darker. Leaving mistress. Almost dying.

.

"What do you think?" Aisha asked softly, not giving any context. None was needed, as Xelos was a part of her.

"It's foolish to not prepare for the future. But at the same time, if you're always saving happiness for the future, you will never be happy." He said sagely.

.

He shook his head.

"You have to have a balance of both. It's not as simple as saying one is more important than the other."

.

Aisha hung her head.

.

"However, there is something I can tell you." He said, blocking the fire filled with Aisha's memories from view.

"Hey!"

"You need to stop burying yourself in the past." He said, darkness starting to encroach on his onyx eyes. "And solve this."

"But I don't…"

"You're going to have to try."

]