An Awakened's True Self, Everyday Husk and War Husk will all gradually recover after injuries. Healers can accelerate this process and ensure that it goes smoothly, otherwise the body heals exactly as well as an Unawakened would.

  With the help of a Healer these repairs can be accelerated and not require active use of the Husk or True Self while healing. The Energy-based repairs can proceed passively however do require one hour per day in the form for the process to continue. Skipping this time will slow healing, while spending too long will cause the benefits to disperse before healing is completed.

  Truly severe injuries may require follow-up attention from a Healer, or even full-time use of the form despite the pain and suffering it may cause.

  ~ * ~

  They left the warehouse almost an hour later. Seb had been ready to leave only a few minutes after George left them alone but Anya refused. First she'd had to go and settle up their fee for the dive, she insisted on paying them their due even though they had not been in the company's territory. Then she had arranged that the Staging Point pattern be forwarded to Holding Syl as soon as an exploration team could be sent to obtain it and verify their claim, and that access to the area be sealed off until further notice. Finally she had come back to tell him she'd loaded the car and that she'd be driving them home.

  To an outside observer the drive home was spent in silence. They hadn't said a single word or even looked at one another the whole way. As far as they were concerned they spent the whole trip together. She spent a portion of it complaining about how little she enjoyed driving, an equal portion of it telling him in no uncertain terms that he was not to drive no matter how he felt. The rest of the ride however? They spent it in faint smiles and mental reassurances that all was well.

  The next few days were an enjoyable exercise in patience. Anya fussed over him tirelessly, reminding him to stretch, refusing to let him cook, sitting next to him and watching in concern as he spent his hour in his War Husk and suffered through the pain. More than once he felt her start to stabilize him when his breath caught, ready to catch the slightest change in his injuries and keep him from backsliding until they could make it to a healer. The fact that he was clearly improving made her efforts sweet, the fact that neither of them were happy with the progress his True Self was making was entertaining. A year ago he would have been amazed by how quickly he was improving from what had clearly been severe internal bleeding, but after their words when he had woken up in the clinic? Every day it took to heal was an eternity.

  Yshe had confirmed on the second day that a Staging Point Access would be usable within a week even if she had to slap it on the nearest wall. Skall's Depth Administration had sent over the pattern and confirmation that yes, unfortunately, it was a brand new area of the depths and that they would seal it of as per Holding Syl's request. They'd spent a few hours scrolling through the EDN trying to find answers as to how they might finally develop some more useful techniques, and what George meant when she said they should talk to a Seer. Despite Seb's experience searching for nuggets of knowledge in a sea of data neither of them made heads nor tails in finding anything they were looking for. It was as though the EDN was designed to only show you the most mainstream and common information unless you knew the exact queries and efforts to go through to find the important data.

  Finally the day of their next meeting with Phelann arrived. They knew her new office was ready, they'd seen the freshly installed door and the message from Sam confirming everything Phelann had requested was provided. They'd decided to wait for her before entering, it was going to be her space after all.

  And so they found themselves waiting for her arrival. Anya had tried to get him to sit down while they waited, compromising by hovering at his side as though he was about to fall over at any moment. He'd made it as clear as he could that he was fine and that if he felt otherwise she would be the first to know. He knew part of her behaviour was revenge for how he had prevented her from doing anything while injured, she'd said so herself the first time he tried to help in the kitchen.

  "Seer Phelann," Anya said as she stepped through the portal. "Welcome back to Holding Syl. Your new office awaits your approval."

  "Thank you my Lady. I hope you are both doing well?"

  "For the most part. We had a scare when Seb encountered a variant, I had not warned him of their existence."

  Phelann glanced at him as they made their way through the newer sections of the Holding. "You seem recovered."

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  "Mostly," he answered. "Probably another week to ten days for my War Husk and another few days for the bleed-through."

  "Your office," Anya said as they reached the door, stepping aside and gesturing for Phelann to precede them.

  "Thank you for the…" Phelann trailed off as she stepped through the doorway. They could see her looking around before finally stepping far enough into the room for them to follow.

  "This is too much." Phelann made her way through the room, trailing fingertips across the built in shelving and coffee machine before making her way to the desk and simply staring.

  Is it? he asked Anya, not wanting to comment without context.

  You saw the Seneschal's office in Holding Lys, and the Seer's closet where they recorded your Energy Signature, she answered, her tone heavy with surprise.

  EDN feeds flickered up from the desk then vanished, two for visitors and two for the occupant. Phelann started to sink into her chair only jump back up and take a good look at it.

  "My Lady Holder, my Lord Seneschal. You honor me too greatly. I cannot accept."

  "Phelann," Seb began only to have Anya nudge him mentally as she spoke.

  "Seer Phelann, we understand your reluctance. We understand that this exceeds your expectations. However consider it a token of our appreciation for your assistance with our Path Selections as well as the ongoing questions we will certainly ask that you would have expected us to know the answers to, answers that are in all likelihood common knowledge elsewhere."

  Phelann seemed to consider even as she settled in at the desk, her eyes still wide as the feeds responded to her presence. "Very well Lady Lysanya. I will ensure that my efforts match the honor you have shown me."

  Seb, sit, Anya sent as he wandered towards the coffee machine.

  Shaking his head ruefully he made his way over to the desk and sat, Anya immediately shifting her chair to be next to his.

  "Beyond Seb's encounter and injury we have a few things of note for the month we spent in the depths," Anya began as Phelann adjusted her chair to her liking.

  "Seb has nearly reached level 2 and will do so before we Dive again, he would have already were he not healing. More importantly the Depths we dove were not the ones that Skall's had the rights to, a new branch path had opened. When we realized what we had found, we claimed sole rights to the Staging Point and all currently uncharted areas beneath it."

  Phelann nodded then flicked through her EDN feed. "I see, the claim is on file and confirmed by Skall's. I doubt anyone will contest a third level Staging Point."

  Seb felt Anya shift closer. Her leg, previously brushing against his, now pressed firmly from heel to knee.

  "Anya," he whispered, knowing Phelann would be able to hear him as well. "I promise I will tell you if I start feeling faint or ill."

  He felt her shock through the band, he'd spoken out loud, he'd called her out. She didn't say anything, she straightened her back and stared at the wall, her fingers coiling and uncoiling in her lap. He could see Phelann staring at them in confusion.

  I love you Anya. I'm not going to fall apart. I'm fine.

  He put his hand on top of hers, squeezing both of them gently until her fingers calmed and laced into his. He could feel her confusion and shock fade as he continued.

  I'm getting better, I'll be better soon. A few more days. Then no more having to be careful how we touch.

  He felt himself blushing slightly at his words, he could see her flush momentarily as well even as Phelann cleared her throat.

  "Lady Lysanya?" Phelann said, her tone almost as uncertain as it had been when first looking at the office. "Am I right to assume I should have referred to him as Lord Partner Sebastian earlier and not Seneschal? If so I am extremely sorry that I misspoke."

  Anya? Did she not realize?

  I suppose. Yshe knew right away so I just assumed.

  "Phelann," Seb answered. "I prefer to go by Seb. If you feel more comfortable calling me Sebastian, Lord Sebastian, Partner Sebastian, Seneschal Sebastian, or any other formal title I will not be offended. If, to use an expression from the Shallows, you want to call me 'Hey you' and you aren't trying to be insulting? Then call me 'hey you'."

  "But are you not her Partner? It would be impolite to call you Seb," Phelann insisted.

  "He doesn't mind," Anya clarified. "He Awakened as an adult and was not brought up in a formal court environment. If we're going to be working together for years to come please just address us however feels natural. We will not be offended. If you do use something we would prefer not to be called we will tell you."

  "Yes my Lady. Is he your partner though and do you wish the Holding records to reflect it?"

  "He is," Anya replied. "We have not announced the Holding yet, we will refrain from announcing anything else as well."

  As Phelann started to visibly relax after her worry over using the wrong title, or perhaps over their making her accept the office, Seb listed out the information they were looking for and their failure to find any information in the EDN.

  "I know of a few data archives that might have information on most of the basic techniques you are looking for. If you give me until tomorrow I may also be able to find some teachers who might be willing to assist you with this."

  "Thank you," they both answered, only for her to turn her attention to Anya before continuing.

  "Your question about Healing is a different matter however. Stabilizing injuries with Energy is certainly a Path Fragment, as is implicit knowledge of the state of a patient. I will need to see if there are any notes or local Healers who might be able to assist you in learning."

  "Anything you can find would be of assistance," Anya answered before standing and nudging him to do so as well. "I believe that is all, we will be either in the Holding or the house if you have any further information or questions. Otherwise let us know when you return tomorrow and we will join you?"

  Once again Seb saw a flash of surprise on Phelann's face before she nodded. "Of course my Lady, my Lord. I do not want to impose on your time and will ensure you have the information as soon as possible."

  Want to support Confluence Saga?

  Leave a comment to tell me what you think of the story so far.

  is 10 chapters ahead.

  Want to chat about the story? Come to .

  Current Bonus Chapter Goals:

  - 67/100 Followers

  - 14/20 Favorites

  - 10/20 Ratings

  - 1/2 Reviews