Mirannda felt quite pleased with herself. She had delved into the Ancense mines, killed some undead skeletons, released their souls to be free to rejoin the lifestream, and lined her pockets with a bit of gold. It was enough to set her up for a long while without requiring to sell her services. While her personal accomplishments were a marvel, something was causing her stomach to churn, effectively bringing her mood down. All day, as she walked through the Virens, a familiar feeling was descending upon the phoenix. Once, she ignored the effects, thinking she was just tired.

That had turned out to be a mistake, as Mirannda fell deathly ill. It took her weeks to recover. In fact, she was thrust into a new world during the recuperation process, leaving her weak and magicless in an unknown place. Over time, she regained her strength, and her magic slowly returned as she learned how to control its flow here. Not all of her previous spells have returned, making her less of an elementalist. Now, she found fire and shadow spells to come quite easily to her. Last month, she felt the same effects shortly after meeting her goddess. At the time, she thought it was due to her new connection and Dalanesca's death during the war.

But to feel it again, now of all times? Mirannda pressed forward, eating dried rations while on the move. It would not do her any good for her to pass out in the middle of dangerous wild territory. Dusk was falling, and she felt worse. Calcifer hovered over her shoulder, worried yet silent as he felt her strength waning. Suddenly, Mirannda gripped the bark of a nearby tree with one hand, and her chest with the other as a painful scream burst forth. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed. "Mirannda?" But the phoenix didn't respond, instead clenched her eyes shut while focusing inward.

Today, Cecil had decided that this was his day. He wasn't going to stick around the cottage, twiddle his thumbs while waiting for Nelanna to return home. There was only so much that needed to be done each day. The fae was in the mindset that Kohaku could manage the day alone since most of the chores were caught up. Let him do whatever he did whenever he was alone, and Cecil could enjoy the silence. He was so accustomed to roaming, that he was beginning to feel restless while waiting for his beloved's return.

Cecil had wandered aimlessly, wondering what Gahara was doing. As dusk approached, he turned to retrace his steps back home. The plan was to take a bath and curl up under his warm blankets while glaring at the snowglobe on his bedside nightstand. He was almost home when he heard a scream behind him. It was feminine, and she was in pain. Without hesitation, Cecil began to run in the direction of the sound. Low branches were ducked, fallen ones jumped over, stray leaves slapping him in the face and on the arms, yet he didn't care. Someone was hurt.

Soon, he skidded to a halt as he spied a flaming ball hovering over a hunched over figure. Cecil heard the fire call the same word over and over, most likely the woman's name. Mirannda. It drew out the N each time. Was this a familiar like Kohaku and Gahara? She gasped as her grip on her chest tightened, Cecil's moment for assessing the situation over. He approached them with certainty. "Are you okay?" The woman pushed herself off the tree and all but fell into him. Two words were barely audible as he held her up, feeling the weight of her grow heavy. "Guard… me…"

Guard her? Before he could ask, her entire body went limp. The flame hovered overhead, now silent. Cecil gathered the woman up and carried her princess style. There was only one place he could think of here in the Virens. It was a dark night, heavily blanketing the forest by the time he made it back to the cottage. He opened the door with a degree of difficulty, carefully made his way in, and shut the door with his heel. As for the woman, he laid her on the couch and covered her with a blanket. With his hand on her forehead, Cecil frowned. She was cool to the touch, her face was quite pale. "Kohaku!" The fae figured that the fox would know a bit about healing, and would be able to assist the woman.

Nelanna was finally coming back home. She carried bags full of gold and other treasures she had found in the mines, as well as a bit of self-pride that she had managed to do something without relying on Kohaku or Cecil. It was a step closer to getting stronger. But gold and pride wasn’t the only thing she had gotten from the mines. Two large red marks were beginning to scar her left forearm where it had been punctured by the dragon’s fangs. She could still feel the ghost of the agonizing pain its venom had put her through, her whole body still feeling like fire was rushing through her veins. The arm that had been bitten ached all the way into her shoulder and part of her neck, and it trembled uncontrollably, making it difficult to use her hand.

Memories of what happened were a blur before she lost consciousness, but she could scarcely recall seeing a man when she had awoken for a brief moment, then passed out again. She couldn’t hear his voice over the ringing in her ears, but she could see that he was speaking. His hair was black and skin was pale; these were the only details she could manage to see during her brief conscious state. She never got a name from the woman he was speaking to, the one Nelanna came across in the mines, so she was still left to wonder who he was.

Deep down, she felt a desire to find the man burning as intensely as the flames from that Dragon. It was as if an invisible rope was trying to tug her towards him. It felt odd, yet, familiar. Whenever she’s separated from Kohaku she feels a similar tugging. Kohaku had explained that Masters and familiars are drawn toward each other in that way, making it possible to find each other whenever a need is great. So…what did that mean about the man?

Back at the cottage, Kohaku was preparing to turn in for the night. He made sure the house was clean and ready for Nelanna’s arrival, and he had even taken a bath to make himself presentable. He didn’t know when she would return, but he wanted to be prepared.

Since Cecil was out doing who knows what, Kohaku was led to believe he was finally going to have some time alone. And so, he used the last hours of the night to prepare for his upcoming journey. He made sure he had the food he’d need, as well as the fine wine that he always took along with him. But this time, the journey would be extra special. Perhaps his recent dealings with Cecil’s problems had made the fox think more about his own, but whatever the reason, he finally decided it was time to let go. Even though being a nine-tail fox practically doomed him to never move on entirely, he was willing to try.

So, he was up in his room on the top floor. The lighting was dim in preparation for the night, while the chest at the foot of the bed was left wide open. All of the blankets Nelanna had stored within were carefully placed upon the bed so that their folding didn’t come undone. Kohaku stood before the chest, holding a small wooden box that he kept hidden beneath all of the blankets this whole time. Nelanna never knew of the little secret that held much larger secretes. He planned on taking the box on his journey this time; there was something he needed to do.

But before he could unlock it, he heard Cecil’s urgent voice calling for him. He sighed and put the box back where he got it, placed the blankets over it and closed the chest, then tucked the key to the box beneath his dark kimono robe. Recently he had been wearing it on a chain necklace, hiding it beneath his clothing where it could not be seen. Then, he made his way downstairs where he found Cecil and… Oh dear.

“Cecil, what is she doing here?” Kohaku asked with a mixture of bewilderment and irritation in his voice.

Cecil's hand rested on the woman's chest, feeling her heart within that bony cage. Each time the beats raced so fast it practically vibrated consistently, something about her would subtly change. First was her ears, elongating until they resembled elvish ears, yet longer than Nelanna's if he had to guess. Then her heart fell into an almost scary, steady and slow beat. Kohaku's feet could be heard coming down the stairs. His voice sounded irritated, yet the flustered sound suggested that Kohaku knew the woman, and didn't like her. The fae turned to give him an irritated glare. "Same reason I came here, Kohaku," his voice dripped with sarcasm.

As he turned his gaze back to the unconscious woman, he remembered the ball of flame that had been following her. It was nowhere to be seen now. "When I found her, she was in pain. Asked me to guard her, but I don't know from what." "From the wild." The mysterious voice was so soft, Cecil was unsure he even heard it properly. It was almost like the crackle of a fire, which there was one burning in the fireplace. Perhaps he just imagined it. A soft moan came from the girl as her heart began racing again, returning his attention to her. Her hair lost its flaming brilliance, deepening until it became black.

He stood as he turned toward Kohaku. "I brought her here to help her. It's what Nelanna would have done." With that, Cecil walked with purpose to the kitchen. Once he got there, he didn't know what all she needed. Cool, damp cloths were used when one was burning up. But she was cold. Warm ones then? Wouldn't that make her colder when it lost its heat? Cecil settled on a glass of water. Who knows how long it had been since she last had something to drink?

Kohaku stepped closer, ignoring Cecil's glare, and stood next to the Fae. His eyes glanced over Mirannda’s unconscious form, searching her body for any signs of injury while Cecil began explaining things. If she was in pain then naturally the first thing to assume is that she had been attacked by something. The forest is filled with countless dangerous creatures that could bring upon someone such pain. However, he could see no injuries, only the odd changes in her appearance. He blinked with slight confusion, wondering what was going on. But then another explanation came to mind, one that seemed so obvious he felt slightly silly. Magic, of course. What kind, though, he didn't know.

Cecil spoke once more, this time earning him a glare from the fox. Using Nelanna's wishes against Kohaku was certainly a smart strategy; the Fae seemed smart enough to realize Kohaku wouldn't do something Nelanna would disapprove of. But he only sighed and knelt down next to Cecil, deciding he wasn't in the mood to argue. That, and he was supposed to be helping Cecil, not fighting with him. But he had been arguing with fairy boy for as long as he had known him, and old habits die hard.

He took up examining her more closely as Cecil went to get a glass of water, attempting to search for smaller injuries that could only be seen up close. Either she had been attacked by some small magical being that causes interior damage, or she was placed under some sort of spell or curse. Of course, there are other explanations, but he wanted to rule out the ones he had first. If he couldn't figure out what's wrong, then he’d have to ask her when she wakes.

“She's freezing,” he whispered to himself as he placed his hand against her cool forehead. His brow furrowed more seriously, then he spoke up for Cecil to hear, “She needs something that will warm her up. Nelanna keeps blankets in the chest at the foot of the bed upstairs in my room. I need you to go get one.”

The fae returned to the living room, placing the glass of water on the smooth table of a coffee table. If only they had any semblance of an idea on how to help her. Perhaps there would have been a known concoction of an herbal remedy that they could give her, even if it was simply just to ease the symptoms. ”Alcohol… Any form of it. Maybe it’ll help her keep warm until the blankets can start doing their job?” Cecil suggested before heading up the stairs.

Since he came back, Cecil has returned to this room, and the stubborn fox refused to sleep anywhere but on the floor beside him. Thinking about it always made Cecil smile and give a soft chuckle, as the fox refused to let the fae have any chance of sneaking off to Nelanna’s room. Kohaku did not realize that Nelanna was the calling the shots, the one to determine their course and the speed of which they travel on it. However, it did prevent him from watching the peaceful slumber of such an angel.

Regardless, Cecil went to the chest and opened it to reveal the excess blankets stored neatly away for colder nights. As he reached in for several of the folded fabrics, his fingers hit something solid. Curiously, he lifted and placed the blankets on the floor next to him, exposing the hidden box within. Letters were engraved on the top, spelling out Faversham. When he tried to open it, the box remained securely shut. The fae carefully checked the rest of the chest in search of the key. When none turned up, Cecil carefully replaced the blankets and the small box back inside, shut the chest, and gathered the blankets he had pulled out.

While Cecil was upstairs, that flame like voice whispered to Kohaku. If the fox were to look into the fireplace, he’d find a pair of eyes peeking from beneath a burning log. ”We are the same, bound loyally to one. I know you, familiar of the Warden.” Calcifer extracted himself from the flames, standing about the same height as Kohaku. While his skin seemed normal in coloring, his hair and clothing was like liquid fire, his eyes like burning embers. ”This was no attack from an outside source. Her nature is fighting past actions done to her. There is a way to help beyond your admirable attempts. One of you lay beside my master while I keep her connection to the Mother Flame alive.” Once the two were in agreement, Calcifer placed a hand on Mirannda’s cheek and leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead as he disappeared from view to rest within her body, her heart. This was how he could help his master when he had no other means to assist.

When Cecil got back downstairs, the change in the woman was shocking. Her hair was short and somewhat uneven as if it was hacked off by a sword not too long ago, only just beginning to regrow. The shape of her face no longer round but more elvish in appearance, with high cheekbones. Upon her neck was a set of scars, still slightly pink, where some vampiric creature had viciously attacked her at some point in the past. The thing that remained the same was her toned body appeared strong and capable. It was as if she was a completely different person. Despite her warmth seeping from her so quickly, she lay so perfectly still. He placed the stack of blankets on the arm of the couch to allow him the freedom to spread one across her. ”It’s as if an illusion spell fell off… As if it fell as she lost consciousness, but…” Cecil’s didn’t fade when he slept, so what would cause her to do that?

Kohaku only offered a soft hum in response to Cecil’s suggestion to use alcohol, before he went up the stairs to leave Kohaku to his thoughts. Indeed, alcohol may work, but she would have to be awake. They simply could not wait for her to regain consciousness before they do something about her low body temperature. Though Kohaku thought hard on the matter, he could find no solutions better than covering her in blankets as he told Cecil. That’s when a strange voice made itself known.

His ears stood high when he heard the quiet cackle. He glanced towards the fireplace, where he could have sworn the voice came from. But he could find nothing there. There was no person, no creature- wait… He narrowed his eyes as a way of focusing further, and soon noticed something was looking back at him from beneath the burning logs. He blinked several times momentarily as if it would wash away the odd sight, but it still remained. “Who-” his question went incompleted as the unknown creature spoke yet again, offering up a new suggestion to raising Mirannda’s body temperature. If the creature was her familiar as its words suggested, then surely it knew what it was talking about. Kohaku watched as the familiar stepped out of the burning flames, its own body flowing and crackling with watery flames of its own. Kohaku only seemed to be able to watch in silence, still attempting to figure out just what the creature is, all the while taking in its words.

And then it vanished within the Champion of death and desire. Though the fox had many questions now, they would have to wait. He sighed heavily, realizing just how much the familiar’s suggestion might work. However, he was not too fond about getting so close with the woman. Snuggling would only be more effective with fewer clothes, this Kohaku knew, and that was something he certainly wanted to avoid. But, he supposed he had to go with their best option.

Or did he?

The sound of Cecil coming back down the stairs reached Kohaku’s ears, causing them to raise once more, while a mischievous grin suddenly appeared. The Fae’s words went in one ear and out the other. Kohaku stood, staring down at Cecil with his grin replaced by his usual serious expression. “Perhaps there is a better way to offer her heat,” he began, glancing down at the woman as he said so, looking back at Cecil as he continued. “I am from an era where blankets weren’t as common, and fires could only do so much. To keep warm people would often remove as much clothing as they possibly could and transfer body heat by cuddling.” His eyes narrowed at Cecil, silently wondering how the Fae would react.

As Kohaku stood, Cecil immediately began to frantically try to figure out what he did wrong. Why was Kohaku staring down at him like that? Did he say something wrong about the illusion spell? But why would the fox care about that? Then Kohaku spoke about his past, how they kept warm, and his eyes narrowed at the fae. Was he glaring at Cecil because of his budding relationship with Nelanna? Cecil’s eyes slid over to the sleeping woman and regarded her for a moment. When he found her, the moment he picked her up, Cecil knew he was making the commitment to help her however he could.

Without a word, the fae put the blankets down on the arm of the couch and began to take off his shirt. As he worked on his boots, Cecil began to speak, quietly, yet full of conviction. ”I became her guardian, her caretaker, the moment I responded to her distress. It is only fitting that I am charged with keeping her warm, as I am the one who brought her here.” Before he went the next step by removing his pants, the fae lifted the blanket enough to work at taking off first one boot and then the next from her feet. Without uncovering her completely, he worked at removing her pants, actually quite pleased to see that she had undergarments on underneath.

Cecil took off his own pants, holding his surprise as Kohaku lifted the woman to allow for ease of slipping in behind her. Once he was positioned in a relatively comfortable position, since he’d be stuck this way for a while, the woman was laid against his chest. Together, the men removed her shirt, and Cecil watched with suspicions rising as Kohaku covered them with a couple of blankets. It was easier to feel her heart’s erratic patterns being this close to her. As Cecil held her in his arms, he began to wonder if this was all some cruel joke. The fox was suddenly being super nice about her and helping Cecil more than before. Time slipped from the little home, and as the night wore on, eventually Cecil fell asleep feeling warm as his chin rested on the unknown woman’s head.

He obligingly helped Cecil with undressing the woman, being as gentle with her as he possibly could while keeping his eyes averted so he wouldn’t see anything he wasn’t supposed to. She may have been left with her underclothes to cover the most important parts, but he didn’t take pleasure in seeing too much skin. He grunted with a hint of what seemed like disgust on his face when she was undressed and Cecil laid down. Kohaku covered the two with the warmest of the blankets Cecil had brought, then stood next to the sofa to offer the Fae his usual serious expression.

“Try laying there for as long as you possibly can,” he said, then turned to start heading up the stairs, pausing briefly at the first step to glare back at Cecil, adding, “Oh, and try not to touch anything you aren’t supposed to while you sleep.” Just as he started back up the stairs, back facing Cecil, he finally allowed himself to grin. He could feel Nelanna’s presence growing ever closer. Soon she will be home, and the thought of her finding Cecil in his position was quite amusing. Kohaku wasn’t trying to break them apart; on the contrary, he wants to help Cecil with his relationship with Nelanna. But, he saw a chance to mess with the Fae, and being the naturally sly and mischievous fox that he is, there was no way he’d pass up the chance he was given.

And so, with the Fae now sleeping downstairs, Kohaku was up on the higher floors, soaking in a relaxing, hot bath as he awaited his Master’s return.

Then, she finally came. Relief washed over Nelanna the moment her eyes laid on her cottage up ahead, and she smiled softly, wearily, to herself. She had been gone for quite some time, smelled of burning rotten flesh from the undead she had fought, as well as ashes after using her fire magic so much. She wanted nothing more than to take a nice bath, then relax with Cecil for a little while before going to bed. Who knows, maybe Kohaku will finally give them some time alone, allowing them to cuddle just as she always wanted to.

She could feel her cheeks flushing a little at the thought of being so close to Cecil, and she shook her head just before opening the door and walking in. “I’m home,” she announced, glancing around to see if anyone was around. It was so late, the boys may have gone to bed already. If they had then she’d just have to wait for the cuddles.

So far it seemed that no one was around as she made her way closer to the living room. There was no response either, so perhaps they were already asleep.

At least, that’s what she assumed. Until she got a better look at the couch.

At first she didn’t think anything of it when she saw someone curled up on it, apparently sleeping. Her first thought was that Cecil and Kohaku might have had another fight, driving one to decide on sleeping on the sofa for the night. Until she noticed that there were two people, not one. A woman who looked oddly different, but with a quite familiar face. And a man who’s snowy hair and face was all too familiar.

Her eyes widened as she placed her hand over her heart as if to keep herself from having a heart attack from shock. “Cecil?” She gasped, blinking with disbelief. “What are you doing?”

As he lay there, Kohaku's warning boiled his blood. Cecil gazed down on the helpless woman. There was no fun in taking advantage of such helplessness. He paired it necrophilia, another sick and perverted practice. Absolutely no feedback came from the used body, making even the thought less enjoyable. Only the untrusting mind would acuse any of being capable of such baseless acts of barbarism. It was abuse that even Cecil could not condone.

Nelanna's entrance went unnoticed by the sleeping fae. Even if the second was ill, there was something about holding another that encouraged deeper sleep. It was his name being spoken with such incredulity that dragged at his conscious.Blearily, he opened his sapphire eyes and tried to make her not so blurry, to steady her vision from its dancing. "Nelanna, you're home…" Cecil's tongue felt dry as if his mouth was full of cotton, his words half mumbled and slurred. It truly sounded as if he was drunk again. He furrowed his brow at the elf, his mind refusing to work properly.

"Keepin' her warm. Why you ask?" The thought of possible misconceptions running through her mind did not grace itself to him. This whole prank of Kohaku's was still completely lost on Cecil at present. "Found 'er in the woods. Brought 'er 'ere. Can't find injury. Only know she is cold. Can't keep 'erself warm. Don't even know… 'er name." His eyes drifted closed as he snuggled deeper into the warmth of the blanket, unaware of how she would take it. Poor Cecil was only thinking about warmth, comfort and sleep. The thoughts were about as clear as muddy water, his mind gave up struggling against fatigue.