From Real to Realm

Val looked down at the healer at her feet. “What do you mean, I’ve got it figured out?”

He glanced up at her, amused. “Most new adventurers don’t start thinking about guild politics this early.”

That got everyone’s attention.

“What?” he asked, looking between them. “I’m with Sunthread. We hear things.”

Cyrus chuckled. “That explains a lot.”

Val narrowed her eyes. “Are you here to look in on me for someone?”

He shook his head as he rose to his feet. “No. Sunthread helps cover the medical wing all the time. It’s part of what we do.”

Lynesia leaned forward. “So you do know about her?”

“I know of her,” he said. “White hair, one side shaved low, affinity test gone wild, fought the Ashen King and lived. Hard not to hear about that.”

“I don’t know anyone else with that haircut,” Cera muttered.

The healer smiled faintly, then looked back at Val. “And you’re right. Beating the Ashen King puts eyes on a party. Stormveil won’t be the only chapter paying attention after this.”

Val looked down at her leg. “Am I good to go?”

He nodded once. “Your leg’s fine now. The rest are cuts, bruises, and strain. Nothing urgent.” His expression sharpened a little. “But clean those cuts properly and get some rest. I’m not wasting mana on scratches when worse could come through that floorgate at any moment.”

“The leg was what I was worried about,” Val said, standing and testing her weight. “Feels good.”

“Good.” He stepped aside and motioned toward the door. “Your friends are in the private recovery rooms. Out the door, then right down the next hall.”

Lynesia was already moving. “Come on.”

Cyrus stepped to the side as the three of them moved toward the door. Val glanced back at him to give him a wave just as she slipped through the door.

“I hope the guys are okay,” Val said, walking next to Lynesia.

“Do you think Amarisse is okay?” Cera asked.

Lynesia snorted. “You kidding? Amarisse is one of the toughest people we know. I doubt she’d let a broken arm be a problem.”

Cera pushed open the door leading to the wing with private medical rooms. The last time Val was there had been when Lucia convinced them to check in on Mina. Images of Mina on one of the tables with ice spikes flashed in her head. She felt her hands get a little clammy and her stomach twist.

“Val? You coming?”

Lynesia and Cera had stopped walking ahead of her. At some point, they must’ve noticed she wasn’t walking with them.

“Yeah, sorry.”

When she rejoined them, Lynesia held her hand. “You looked like you saw a ghost.”

Val chuckled, shaking her head. “No, just a bad memory, that’s all.”

“Was it Mina?”

Val nodded. “I remembered seeing her on the table, being worked on.”

Suddenly, the door on the right ahead of them opened. Mina walked out first, then held the door open for Amarisse.

“Looks like she’s already healed up,” Val said, smirking.

“Told you,” Lynesia said, sticking her tongue out at Cera.

Mina saw them first and quickly rushed to them. “Amarisse is all healed!”

Val couldn’t help but smile when she saw both of them exit the room. “Good, I was only a little worried.”

Amarisse rolled her eyes as she walked up. “Yeah, you weren’t worried.”

“Not true,” Val said in mock surprise. “I always worry about my party.”

“Any news on Cain or Braun?” she asked, rotating her freshly healed shoulder.

Val shook her head. “We were coming down here to check in on them.”

Lynesia was looking down the hall. “I don’t see Madeline or Scott waiting outside of any of the rooms. Or Celina, for that matter.”

“They were taken out of the gate room before us,” Cera said, also looking around. “Maybe the rest of them went home for the day while Cain and Braun were looked after?”

“That’s possible,” Lynesia said. “We can’t go knocking on every door. It’d be rude.”

“Then maybe we should go home?” Mina suggested. “If they are still here, then I’m sure we will bump into them later. Or maybe be able to ask about them tomorrow?”

Val didn’t like just leaving after everything they’d been through. Cain and Braun both took hits that contributed to taking down the Ashen King. Even Celina took a mean hit. She considered them friends even if she barely knew them. Anyone willing to bleed with her in a fight was someone she felt she could trust, as naive as that might be.

“I want to come back and ask about them tomorrow,” Val finally said. “I feel like we at least owe them enough to check in on them.”

Lynesia grabbed Val’s arm, squeezing it. “Of course. We’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I think a long bath and a strong drink are just what the doctor ordered,” Amarisse said, starting to walk.

Mina tilted her head, confused. “The doctor told you to rest. She didn’t say anything about drinking alcohol or taking a bath. Then again, the bath probably counts as resting.”

Amarisse chuckled, ruffling Mina’s hair. “Alcohol soothes the soul after a rough day, even if the doctor didn’t tell me to drink.”

Mina pushed her arm away. “Do you agree with her, Val?”

Lynesia was already hugging Val’s left side as they walked together. Cera was to her right.

“I’m not a big drinker,” Val said, shaking her head. “But sharing a bath with someone always helps me relax.”

Lynesia slapped her chest. “Really?”

Val smirked. “Yeah, really.”

When Val looked back up, she saw something in Mina’s eyes. To her, it looked like a hint of jealousy mixed with something else.

Mina lit back up like normal a second later. “I don’t drink either. I think a nap is more my thing.”

Val hugged Lynesia a little closer as they walked. Today could’ve gone terribly wrong in so many ways, yet here they were walking home together.

“I’m glad we’re all safe,” Val said as they walked outside as a group. “Today was rough, but we’re all still together.”

Amarisse nodded. “Let’s make sure it stays that way.”

“Yeah, let’s get stronger so we never have to worry,” Mina said, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

“We’re already stronger than before we met each other,” Cera said, smiling. “We’ll only get stronger together.”

The walk home was quieter after that. Not uncomfortable, just tired. The kind of quiet that came after everyone had decided to keep pushing regardless of what awaited them ahead.

The wooden door to their room creaked open slowly.

“I’m so glad to be home,” Val said, shuffling inside.

Lynesia followed in behind her. “Tired?”

Val flopped on the couch. “I am so fucking exhausted.”

“Well, you went through a lot today. Not to mention how much you were healed.”

Val nodded. “I hate how exhausted it can make you feel.”

Lynesia giggled. “Well, it’s essentially accelerating your body’s natural healing. Now get off the couch, I think it’s time for a bath.”

Only after groaning did Val finally get up off the couch. She gave Lynesia’s ass a firm smack as well.

“Hey! I thought you said you were tired! No teasing me,” she said, mock glaring at Val.

“I could never be too tired to tease you, I promise.”

Lynesia immediately rolled her eyes. “Of course you aren’t. You’re a fiend sometimes, you know that?”

Val followed her down the hall to their bathroom. “I know, but you still love me.”

While the tub filled with hot, clean water, the two of them stripped out of their armor and clothes. Even with all her bravado, Val wasn’t particularly handsy while waiting for the tub to fill. When it was finally done, Val climbed in first with Lynesia taking her spot in Val’s lap.

“This already feels so much better,” Lynesia said, leaning back against Val.

“Yeah, no joke.”

Lynesia pulled Val’s arms to wrap around her before holding on to them.

Together, they sat in silence just enjoying the hot water. Steam had settled in the room, making it a bit hazy.

In the silence, Val thought back to the look Mina gave her. She couldn’t figure out if Mina had just been jealous, or if it was more than that. Her mind drifted back to the messy memory of their drunken makeout session. Ever since, there had been something there. But talking about it made it too real, and she didn’t know how to handle it, even after talking to Amarisse about it.

“Is something wrong?” Lynesia asked, idly playing with Val’s fingers. “You’re quieter than usual.”

Val sighed softly. “Have you ever thought about being with someone else before?”

Lynesia stiffened, then turned around. “What do you mean? Are you… Are you thinking about breaking up?”

Val’s eyes went wide. “No! No!” She pulled Lynesia in for a hug and held her. “I meant more like adding someone!” She squeezed Lynesia. “I could never leave you, ever.”

They sat there like that for what felt like forever. Val could only imagine what was going through Lynesia’s head at that moment.

“Is there someone else?”

Val pulled back, confused. “What do you mean?”

Lynesia took a calming breath. “Something prompted this. Is there someone else? Is that who you’re talking about?”

Val opened her mouth, then stopped.

“It’s not unheard of,” Lynesia said, twirling her finger in the water.

“What is?”

“Relationships with more than two people,” Lynesia clarified. “It’s not unheard of, but it’s also not exactly the norm. I guess I’d never considered it before.”

Val gently pulled her back into a tight hug. “This isn’t something I expect you to decide now. Even if you say no, I’ll never hold it against you.” She kissed the top of her head. “I love you, Lynesia. Nothing could ever change that, I swear on my life.”

“Is this because of what happened today?” she asked.

Val sighed again, trying to find the words. “Maybe today made me say it sooner. But it didn’t put the thought there.”

Lynesia nodded, gently kissing Val’s forearm. “I think I understand what you mean. I’ll need to think about it.”

“Take as long as you need. No matter your decision, I will always be waiting for you at home.”

The tension in Lynesia’s shoulders softened, but didn’t disappear. Val didn’t expect it to, but she hoped she at least convinced Lynesia that she’d never leave or replace her.

“I love you,” Lynesia said softly.

Val kissed the top of her head again. “I love you, too.”

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