Passive Surveillance report: Senior Seer Phelann

  Immediate recommendation: Discontinue Justification: Insufficient information available

  Seer Phelann seems to have no public presence within the EDN. Records of her progress through Seer Training and her ongoing advancement pace are accessible through standard knowledge requests.

  No personal interactions with any information streams has been found, hints of research queries exist from early on in her training however nothing since her promotion to Senior Seer. This is inconsistent with the behaviour of her peers where their traces remain evident even decades later. Her continued advancement and clear additions of indexed data points to a near obsessive need to eliminate her tracks.

  ~ * ~

  The next morning Anya drove back to Skall's to talk with George in an attempt to arrange for lessons. This left Seb at home with strict instructions on what he could not do and what he should be doing instead. Most of the list aligned to the same things he had been doing since their return from Diving.

  After completing his usual stretches and feeling the tiny improvements relative to the day before he pulled up the EDN feed to go over the information Phelann had provided. His first pass through the basic patterns was interesting however he knew that if he started testing anything on his own Anya would be upset to say the least.

  Skimming through the technique list provided similar insights. He had no doubt that most of the variations and specializations on the basic techniques would be useful, especially as suggestions as to what was possible.

  Anya returned home about an hour later with George arriving a few minutes behind her.

  She's going to want to see how you're recovering.

  I took it easy, and saw a few possible first techniques for us to work from.

  "Healer George, I'm glad to see you again," he said as the woman came in.

  "You look better. Sound better too."

  "All thanks to your assistance," he answered with a smile.

  "I told your Lady I would help her learn as long as you were on track to heal up cleanly. She insisted you were."

  Seb nodded and immediately shifted to his True Self without any further comments. Walking over to George and Anya he held out his hands, one to each of them. As they took his hands he felt Energy flow through him, mostly from George but he caught a hint from Anya as well.

  "You've done well dear," George said after a moment. "Spent enough time every day for the healing to take hold and been careful not to strain even in your Husk."

  "Anya has made it quite clear what she would do if I was not careful," he answered.

  "And what do you think of his status My Lady?"

  "He's been quite careful even if he insists on not resting," she said after a moment. "I don't think his True Self is actually injured anymore, just strained?"

  "Excellent diagnosis. Another day, two if you want to be truly careful, and he can exert himself in his Husk without risk."

  Seb glanced at Anya as he felt her emotions shift over the band and squeezed her fingers firmly.

  I told you I was feeling better.

  Tomorrow, she sent back, her words nearly overflowing with nerves and anticipation. You're better tomorrow.

  "And how is your War Husk coming along?" George asked in the silence.

  "Still healing, exo-skeleton doesn't seem to want to repair properly though," he answered.

  "Show me."

  Seb took a half step closer to Anya before assuming his War Husk. He felt himself clenching his teeth as he locked his knees against the on-rush of pain, only to relax as he adjusted to the sensation. Anya on the other hand had started to slip under his arm to support him only to stop when she realized he was stable.

  Once more he felt Energy flow through him, this time clearly centered on the wound. He focused on his breathing as he heard George start to explain basic Healer techniques to Anya. As Anya practiced the techniques he felt the pain recede further as she managed to numb the area.

  "Don't think this means you can move," George warned.

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  He forced himself not to laugh as he replied. "I can feel both your Energies around the wound, I might not feel the injury but I can tell where it is."

  "You can what?" George asked, clearly surprised.

  "I can sense, even see, Energy Patterns. Seer fragment I was told."

  "Ah. Useful that."

  After a few more discussions and explanations he felt Anya's Energy shifting once. This time he grunted in surprise as he felt something happening and looked to them both for explanation.

  "That's right my Lady, the Husk knows what to do, you just have to give it a nudge."

  Seb heard Anya gasp and the technique vanish, her thoughts filling with exhaustion even as she nearly collapsed against him.

  Anya? "Anya?"

  He could feel her focusing on his words, he knew she was still awake even as she was straightening from where he'd caught her.

  "She pushed her Energy too hard," George explained. "Never seen someone pick up the techniques quite so naturally."

  "Shame you aren't a Healer," she added when Anya stopped wobbling.

  "Gift helps me learn, but definitely uses extra Energy if I am not doing it right."

  "What kind of luck do you both," George muttered then shook her head. "No, don't tell me."

  "You can try helping him heal once a day until you stop over-exerting yourself then. I won't show you how to heal the True Self until you can do the two things I showed you without wearing yourself out, and learn how to keep Stabilizing without touching."

  "Without touching?" Anya asked.

  "You were stabilizing him in my clinic. Keeping that going without contact is a form of Energy enhancement," George explained. "Figure that out and I'll show you more. I doubt you'll manage before he finishes healing though. But I suspect one of you will get hurt again at some point, even if not nearly so badly."

  "We'll be careful," Seb promised and George laughed.

  "I'm sure you think so. But I know your type, careful until you think you have it all figured out, then you push and push until you end up on death's door again."

  "He's not going to do that again," Anya answered with a frown.

  "Then you will dear. Or you'll be safe and cautious and only creep forward. But don't mind me, I learned my lesson and slowed down."

  "Thank you Healer George," Seb said. "For saving my life."

  "Holding Syl thanks you for helping him recover," Anya added more formally. "And I personally thank you for the lesson."

  "Don't you go bringing your Holding into this," George grumbled. "I saved him because that was my job. I'm helping you since you seem like good kids. Get in touch with me when you're ready to learn more."

  With that she turned and left their house, not even waiting for them to say goodbye before she'd shut the door behind her.

  ~ * ~

  Anya glanced at Seb as they stepped up to the freshly aligned Staging Point and blushed even as she leaned into him. He'd taken advantage of her exhaustion after George left to banish her to the couch for the evening even though she was fully recovered long before they ate. The next day he'd finally reached level 2 after a brief meditation session and they'd celebrated with some low intensity sparring.

  Ready? he asked as he wrapped an arm around her.

  I'm not the one who got hurt and needs to-

  We're checking that the staging point leads to where we Dove, dealing with one cavern of whatever we find and coming home. I'll even let you do all the work thinning out the creatures so I only have to face one.

  You're still recovering though, she argued.

  She felt his affection over the band even as he let his fingertips brush across her ribs teasingly. Was I still recovering last night? This morning? You weren't wondering about that when-

  She turned her head towards him and interrupted him with a kiss, his non-verbal answer continuing for a moment before she felt him focus fully on the moment. The moment he did she pulled away.

  Have I told you I love you? she asked as he stood there blinking at her.

  Not since I- he began, only to trail off as she started to pull his head down once more before he could bring that up.

  I love you too Anya, he finished as their lips met once more.

  A minute later they finally stepped through the portal, Anya leading the way in her War Husk just in case. The nearby Depths were empty and they quickly found the tunnel they had entered. Anya rushed to the top and found it barricaded as expected before they both made their way to their former campsite.

  Looks bigger without the tent, Seb commented as they stepped out of the tunnel.

  It does, she agreed. One cavern. If it seems safe enough I'll let you fight on your own.

  I think you're just anxious to head home, he teased as she turned to leave the cavern.

  Anya led the way out of the cavern, not bothering to answer him. Of course she was anxious to head home. Of course she wanted to make sure he didn't get hurt again so soon. Of course she wanted- No, now was not the time to think about that, now was the time to find something for him to fight.

  The first cavern was perfect. A handful of slimes, spaced out almost exactly the same as the first time he had tested his lunges and slashes. Stepping aside she let him see and felt his amusement over the band.

  I'll try not to end up a mess this time.

  She felt his uncertainty as he stepped towards the first slime. She heard the Bladesong ring out and saw all the creatures start their approach yet felt herself excluded from the effect. Unlike his last few encounters with slimes before his injury he was cautious, his movements sure and steady but without the excitement he had been showing.

  Yet the moment the first slime broke around his blade he finally truly moved. She had no other word for it. He was only slightly faster than previously, not nearly as fast as she was, let alone fast enough to be hard to track, and yet he was in tune with his Song in a way she had not seen previously. Moments later the last slime burst apart as he danced back, the goo splattering at his feet without leaving a drop on him.

  Not a drop! he sent as he jogged back over to her side.

  She giggled at his self-satisfied smile before turning more serious. What changed?

  What do you mean? he asked.

  You moved with the Bladesong? It was, smoother?

  Oh! he sent back as they made their way to the Staging Point. Something Phelann found in those records. Several references to following the Song and letting it guide you. So I tried and I guess it works?

  Anya followed him back through the portal into their Holding and slipped out of her War Husk, feeling the last bit of tension fade away. It looked like it did.

  She gave him a light push back towards the house. Back upstairs, I need to make sure your exertions didn't cause any issues.

  Issues? he sent back, the words a mixture of confusion and playfulness.

  Yes, she answered, glad he couldn't see her blush even though she knew he would feel it over the band. Have to make sure this morning wasn't an accident.

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