--- Kat ---


    Kat sat down at the table with the rest of the adventuring group. They were outside in a new outdoor dining area that Thyme had spun up on Green''s request. Thyme had liked the idea… but with it being a spur of the moment thing the whole area looked like it had been carved from a tree. Which, it was. Leaves and branches still remained and the whole ce was clearly still alive.


    The chairs were the only bits of dead wood. The tables were still connected to the main structure but Green had found one that was plentyrge enough for everything.


    The fae hade and dragged everyone off for a meeting together, and because the whole setup they were using waspletely new nobody else was there to listen in or bother the group. Gareth had been there first, likely being sent there straight away by Green. Kress had followed shortly after apparently. He seemed… rxed. Evenpared to previous days.


    Heck, he seemed almost as rxed as the first day of this trip where he''d been under the influence a touch.


    In start contrast Nixilei looked cid… but in that harsh wooden way. Kat expected that had Nixilei wanted to, she could''ve disguised her annoyance better but for whatever reason she was making only a half-hearted attempt. Kat and Lily were rounded upst and they… didn''t really know what was going on. They''d just followed Green here.


    Sure it was interrupting their cute couple time, but neither was concerned. They''d spent enough time with just each other, and dinner was approaching anyway.


    Everyone waited for Green to say something as the fae took a seat. After ten seconds it was clear Green was only waiting to bother Nixilei, who started openly ring after the five second mark. Green eventually got around to speaking… after Nixilei pulled a dagger out from somewhere and started to y with it.


    "Right so we''re all here because… things are looking a little questionable in regards to the team for the future.


    "Now obviously, we''re still going to participate in the final round. That''s not even a question. The issue is… well… Kress and Nixilei both have their own things to deal with for the first little bit, and Gareth and I are currently debating if staying at the resort is worth being nearby for whatever fallout happens due to you two. Kat and Lily will eventually be going back to their dimension…


    "But maybe we want to spend a bit of time together first. I know Kress isn''t too keen, and I doubt Nixilei will be either… so I wanted to hear from everyone exactly what you want to do, and then we''ll talk it over and try toe up with something good. I''ll be staying with Gareth and he WILL be going over things first,"


    Gareth winced but took up after Green rather quickly. "So… I''mpletely healed. Apparently… but I still feel some of the after effects. Just phantom pains. Thyme and Green have both made plenty sure of that, with Nixilei chipping in a bit as well. There was a big discussion about it and…


    "Well Thyme assured me it was possible to remove the pain… but that it was mostly just a consequence of my own idiocy. That it was my bodies way of reminding me that I really shouldn''t be using so much mana ever. There is also a whole host of risks involved in getting rid of those pains so… I''m just going to leave it for now.


    "This means that I''ll be hanging around here mostly to rx, but also for Thyme to keep an eye on me just in case it does turn into something. Sure it''s nothing now, and Thyme is confident of that… but I did push the limit a fair bit and it''s entirely possible I cause some issue by ident because I''m not properly focused.


    Just because nothings wrong doesn''t mean everything is quite right apparently.


    "For Kress mostly, and perhaps Nixilei, I do promise to stay out of the way in regards to your rtionships… but I''m not entirely sure when I''ll be ready to leave the inn. If I''m not in top shape by the time we''re told to leave, we might just be handing over some money for an extended say… maybe even dipping into my parents funds instead of just adventuring ones, depending on the price,"


    Kress clicked his tongue. "That serious?"


    Gareth wanted to deny it immediately but Green elbowed him in the ribs so he sighed and said. "It''s… not really an issue but the risks involved if it bes one are massive and Green wasn''t willing to ept anything less then Thyme''s care if I didn''t want to head straight back to one of our parents so that they can fuss over me instead. This seemed less painful."


    Kress winced and nodded before looking over to Green who just shrugged and added, "I already said I was staying with Gareth. I''ll probably justze around wherever he''s taking it easy."


    Once she was done, Green turned her gaze back to match Kress'' who grinned and said "Well you already know what my n is. I''m going to be spending time with Stan… and honestly I won''t have all that much time for whatever the rest of you are doing. If you really need me I''ll be there… but expect Stan to be there if he can. It''ll be… and interesting time.


    I don''t really have ns for after Stan leaves, but I''d be happy to stick around if that''s what you decided to do. Not sure about the money side of things though… I suppose I could rough it on the ind if I really had too-"


    "Kress we''re not going to do that to you," said Gareth firmly. "If you end up wanting to stay longer and Thyme starts charging that''s fine. Heck, we could just ask for money as our reward for winning the round and I bet we''d be able to stay here for at least a year before running out. Or I guess we could just ask for a room to be reserved for us? That might actually be worth thinking about,"


    "It really is. I''m considering it now too…" mumbled Green.


    "Well, that''s my n. Nothing fancy, just getting to know Stan as best I can," said Kress.


    After Kress was done the gazes were split between Kat and Lily, and Nixilei. Seeing Nixilei still didn''t want to say anything Kat jumped in. "Well Lily and I are sticking around to both rx and train. Not sure how much of each we''ll be doing but that''s the n. We might hang around with some of the other groups if they''re sticking around.


    If we can work out some sort of training opportunities with a few people that sounds good. I know Burnice works out in the morning for example, so we might hit up a few of those. Lily and I didn''t really think about it too hard just yet.


    "For the most part? We n to just take it a day at a time and do what we feel like. Eventually we''ll have to head back home, especially because we''ve got people we''ll miss… but the chance to train in a rxing ce like this is too good to miss out on," Lily nodded from Kat''s side without adding anything herself. There wasn''t really any need.


    With that everyone turned to Nixilei who let out a long sigh. "Look, I''m not annoyed at you guys, honestly, I''m not even mad at Green for dragging me over here. It''s honestly for the best… Asteodia is just being a bit… stubborn. I was suggesting… some things that she wasn''t terribly fond of even though I''m SURE it would be good for her.


    "I hope this isn''t a deal breaker for her… because while I''m still annoyed and don''t want to give away her secrets by exining the matter. It''s not… I''m not… god I don''t even know how to exin this. I''m angry yes but it''s definitely not ''I want to break up'' angry. If anything I feel more closely drawn to her for some bizarre reason. So… yeah I don''t have any ns anymore.


    I''ll have to wait till eitherter tonight to talk, or just tomorrow morning before I''ll have things sorted. So… yeah."


    "Well what do you WANT to do Nixilei?" asked Green.


    Nixilei sighed and said. "Well I''d like to do a few things. I guess top of the list is just spend time with Asteodia. I''m not too concerned how it happens, but I''m not sure I''d like to stick around here too much. Sure it''s nice and rxing but I think Asteodia needs time away from people she knows a bit more than she needs a rxing environment.


    I might just see if I can borrow a boat from Thyme and take her out to sea for a bit. Otherwise? Might be heading back to that city and stay there with her for a bit. I really don''t know Green,"


    "Keep us updated then I guess?" said Green with a slight frown.