Traya paced bad forth in front of the building she was led to by one of the healers, an apologetid nervous-looking young woman with rabbit ears, feet, and fluffy nub of a tail, but also a pair of small brang antlers. She stood, nervously twistiaff in her hands, raya with a sizable pile of things oher side. “Where could—” The Aide began to grouse before she saair of figures e trudging up the stoh, “What… happeo the pair of you?”Peter looked down to Ennalyssa, who looked up to return his tired gaze, before meeting Traya’s eyes to the best of his ability sine of his was swollen not all the way shut but enough to make him squint, “Training. If you could call it that.” “Mhm.” Ennalyssa agreed, holding one arm close to her chest with the other, trying to keep it from jostling while it was supported by a strip of cloth ed around it and her neck, “Swordbearer Havengard ordered me to have two extra hours because of what happened with Mis— with Reva.” “Enna!” Traya gasped, rushing to their sides and lookiweewo, “I know training is rough but you two look like you were beaten up!” “I feel like it.” Peter frowned, “ we get a healer for Ennalyssa?” He asked, “I’ve heard people talk about healers but I couldn’t reize one if my life depended on it…” “Oh…” Came the whisper-quiet ‘excmation’ as the ure, a long white gown with a red shoulder mantle walked over, “I’m a healer, actually.” She mumbled shyly, “I help if you’d like.”Peter wordlessly pressed a hand against Ennalyssa’s back, between her shoulders, and pushed her gently forward indig she should be treated. “Oh, dear, let’s have a look at that arm, shall we?” The healer whispered as she bent down to look at it.

  Moving away from the pair Peter, quietly, spoke with Traya, “What’s our luck that a Healer just so happeo be waiting with you?”Traya shook her head, “I don’t like how that sounds, but she is one of Shepherd Vaunn’s healers and she came to me to help me pack my few belongings before bringing me here saying that I’m being moved into the visitor’s suite with you and Ennalyssa.” “Ah, well, that’s my fault.” Peter admitted, expining quickly to her what he brought up to d’Zaier and his choi including Traya in this, as well as the less-than-subtle hint that they were no longer wele in the dining hall. “That expins the food and kit supplies.” The young cilor-in-Training gave a nod toward the pile that was on the healer’s other side. “I am sorry about that Traya.” Peter frowned, rubbing at the back of his ned wing as his arm shifted wrongly.She shook her head, “No, it isn’t, Peytr.” She whispered, “And I am not just saying that.” Traya gave him a gentle smile, putting a hand on his arm, “You protected Ennalyssa, and you’re right… how could you protect her when you weren’t near her? You didn’t even know where her room was pared to yours was.” “I know, it’s just…” Peter frowned, “If he just focused his ire on me instead of making you twets.” “Shepherd d’Zaire has his reasons, I am sure.” She stammered a little, “Regardless, you did nothing wrong.” “I just wish I knew more about this world, so I could at the very least cook for us.” Peter frowned. “You cook?”He nodded, “I like to, yeah. I didn’t do it often, and wao do it more.” He blushed, “I’d get frustrated making sure everything was ready at the same time so nothing was cold but spreading my attention across four or five things to make sure everything was cooking, not burning, so on and so on…” “Ah. That is why you didn’t cook often?” “Embarrassingly, yes.”She smiled again, “I wouldn’t be embarrassed. And as for cooking, I cover that.” Traya gave a fident nod, “And you watch me, I’ll happily teach you what is what so you pare it to the world you came from, if that will help you learn.” “I’d appreciate it.” He agreed, pausing, “Is it weird fuy to want to cook?” “Not at all. It’s a life skill, after all, everyone should know how to prepare themselves a meal.” Traya blinked, fused, “Why, do men not cook ba your old world?” “Yes and no.” He admitted, notig that the healer was doh Ennalyssa and the two were ing towards him and Traya, “If it’s professional, in a restaurant, done for money… men are in charge. In the home? It’s a domestic chore and thus a woman’s job. Unless it’s grilling or barbeg; I guess si involves ~fire~ it’s a man’s domain.” He held up his hands for a pause, “Grahings had been ging as I grew up, with men being allowed to be ‘okay’ with more and more domestic things but I ’t help but feel overall that it was still that sort of split, and distin.” “That… feels very backwards.” Traya mused, “Shouldn’t g for the household be split among all those involved?” “You’d think.” Peter nodded, “All those involved?”Traya hough before she began to expiher two arrived. “If… if it’s alright, I’d like to look at you now, Champior Kharl.”He nodded assent to the healer with a sigh, “Please, just Peter is fine.” “As you wish then, Just Peytr.”Traya snorted, c her mouth, though her smile glinted in her eyes as Peter rolled his eyes. “I’d like to ask what happened, if I may.” The healer put out her hands, not toug Peter’s face, as they began to glow a soft green-tinted white, and a gentle warmth started to fill his fad swollen shut eye. |Well, well. First day at ‘school’ and already getting into a fight~|Peter stiffe the whispered, teasing words tig against his ‘mental ear’, so much so that the healer stopped with a worried look. “Sorry, you’re fine” He apologized, “As for what happened… I sparred with a rger, more experienced oppo who just didn’t get that I wasn’t a fighter — never learned, couldn’t defend myself physically… et cetera.”She nodded, “I was worried that, somehow, my healing magic was hurting you. And… oh my I’m sorry that happened.” “No, no not at all. I promise.” Peter smiled, though strained, “Thank you, and I hope that ges soon, otherwise all my training is going to be is people mollywhomping on me.” |I should hope not. Peytr, was it?| Peter, actually, but Peytr is as close as anyone here has been able to pronou. Might I ask who you are? |Certainly you may.|Peter waited, though after a moment, and a mental eye roll, he sighed. And, who might you be, ma’am? |Di’si’thy, Goddess of Magic/Truth.| came the answer with a soft chuckle, |I thought I might say hello, and figured one of my followers healing you would be the best time. I’m sorry if I startled you.| Ah, no, it’s fine… I think. I’m still getting used to Na’at being in my head… |Ah, uandable. And don’t worry; I, like her, will respect your privacy. Moreover, as Na’at is your patron you expect the others to poke in unwantedly or uninvitedly. Which, yes, I realize I did exactly that.| Granted, but I reize mental unication is tricky if you haven’t met or ’t meet the person you want to ect with. |Truth, that.| Di’si’thy agreed, |I realize it’s only been a day but I wao see how you were adjusting, as well as offer you the knowledge of the healing spell being used on you. Na’at mentioned you had an affinity for all magics but wao learn them on your own?| I do, and I do but I appreciate the offer. If you’d like to teach me, I’ll happily accept. |Boop.|Peter blinked as a prickly warmth spread through his brain from the top down — like that old sensory trick where one preteo break an egg oop of another’s head and it made the person feel like something was running down their head from the top… just a bit more warm-feeling than goosebump-y — enveloping his whole skull for a moment before disappearing. “Do you hurt anywhere else?” the healer asked.Peter nodded, one hand going to his ribs, “Here, all along my side, actually, miss…” “Oh, I didn’t introduce myself. I’m so sorry for my rudeness.” She bowed her head tritely, “My name is Anamea.” “Anna-me-a?” Peter tried. “Ah-na, actually.” She whispered, “Ahnuh-may-uh.”Peter nodded, “Ahnuhmayuh.” He smiled, “The least I do is try to pronou properly.” “That’s kind of you.” Anamea blushed, “Thank you.”She hovered her hands over the side Peter indicated, beginning to glow that green-white light again, and the warmth started to fill his side. “Thank you, Anamea, I appreciate this.”The healer nodded, “Of course. Shepherd Vaunn had asked me to gather and deliver some things.” She o the stacked pile of things nearby. “I was w what all this was…” Peter admitted, “… Looks like it’s moving day.” “Well, you aren’t wrong.” Traya pointed out, “Healer Anamea expihis was for us to furnish the visitor suite while we stay there.”Anamea nodded, “As well as the Heroine’s personal belongings there’s bedding for you three, toiletries as well. Food and kit supplies for cooking aing.” She expined, “Does your other side hurt?” “Yeah, it does.” Peter nodded. “Alright.” The bunny-girl nodded, switg her hands to his other side, the warmth traveling. “So, it is moving day.” Peter snickered, “I appreciate everything you and Shepherd Vaunn are doing to help us.”She gave a warm smile, shy as it was, nodding, “Shepherd Vaunn asked me to remind you that you are not alone, Champion Just Peter.” Her lips curled ever-so-slightly into a smirk, “Though, I did not find anything in your chambers except a box under your bed, filled with frycakes?” “Please tell me you didn’t throw them out…”She shook her head, “I did not want to waste the food, plus it wasn’t mine so I wasn’t going to make that sort of decision, especially sihey didn’t look moldy or off.” “Only a day old. So, stale at the worst.” Peter nodded, “A gift from a baker in town.” “Ah, Miss Traya took you to Sharra’s bakery then?” Anamea asked, at Peter’s curious look she tinued “Her favorite… my favorite too actually.” “I really would like to go back.” Peter admitted, “Though I am g in local currency.”Anamea nodded, “I will speak to Shepherd Vaunn about a stipend for you if you’d like. I dare say you deserve as much.” “Oh, I…” Peter blinked, looking to Ennalyssa, then nodding, “It would certainly help me take care of my duties. I’ll admit to that.”She nodded and smiled, “Now, is there anywhere else you’re hurting?” She asked, “And, how are you feeling where I’ve healed you? I ask because being from another world…” “Oh, I feel fihank you.” Peter said, smiling, “Not even sore anymore.” “Wonderful to hear.” Anamea sighed with relief.Peter raised a hand over his shoulder, thumb pointing, “Though since you asked, my back…”Anamea nodded as Peter turned around, “After this, we move everything into the visitor’s suite a you three settled in.” “Sounds like a pn. Thank you, again.” Peter said gently, And you too, Di’si’thy. |Not a problem. If you ever want to learn more magic, feel free to reach out. I’ll be happy to help.|

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  The visitor’s suite, such as it was, was ostentatious enough to off-put Peter’s sensibilities.Did the door’s carvings o be gilded? Likely not, but as this was the building used to house important visitors like dignitaries and other, likely higher ranked, Church Luminous members then it made a sort of sense — but as Peter had wao keep things low-key and ‘stay out of trouble’ it bothered him in that annoying ‘voi the back of one’s head’ sort of way. He had already been ‘attacked’ by that one soldier in the dining hall, then his ret bout at the training fields.Peter sighed, his mind not letting him fet standing up to those two thugs in the bakery, as well as Shepherd d’Zaier and Reva, of course — He had a feeling that “staying quiet and uhe radar” had been well and duly deferated at this point.The inside was no less decorated with gilded olding, and rge paintings depig ses that were likely histori nature, perhaps folkloric, if not mythic, stories. Though if the gods and goddesses are real and say ‘hi’ any time they please… is there such a thing as folklore or myths and legends?He paused, thinking about it. Well, yes… just because deities are real and i with the mortal races doesn’t meahing is known. Histets muddled through the geions, rumors and mistaken animals or phenomena grow into folklore and legends as wets around…

  The kit they had was on the rger side of ‘moderate’, which made sehey didn’t need something as rge as the dining hall as the visitor suite only had to aodate a small number of people.It had an icebox that allowed the preservation of foodstuffs via a magic sigil that produced a cold aura and even included a drawer that was colder still for long-term preservation. Peter was quite happy at having a fridge and freezer.He also was happy that they had a stove and oven — though iingly the two were not magical in nature; he was unsure if he should call it ‘real’, or ‘analog’, but it was a heavy iron box that you could feed wood or charcoal into and had a door for cooking food as well as spots on top for pots and pans to heat up. The mix of magid mundane captivated him, in all hoy.

  The bedrooms tihis; both captivating him and making him ge with the decoration, this is also where the three of them had some difficulty as the visitor suite was desigo have a rger room, where the important visitor was staying, and smaller rooms for the attending servants that came with them.Ennalyssa had assumed that, as the Chosen Heroine, she would get the biggest room as she was, naturally, the most important. Traya argued that Peter should as he was the oldest there and, as Champion, important sidering the time and effort it took to summon him from his world to Aetyros. In truth, Peter did not care, though he would not have mihe rger room as it had a private bathroom, and since he was the only male out of the three of them it made seo him. Why did not he bring this up?In truth, he was tired after the long day and did not want to deal with another ‘versation’/argument. So as Traya and Ennalyssa ‘discussed’ ‘ownership’ of the rooms Peter went to help Anamea i.

  “Oh, you …”Peter winced, “Please? If only to give me a break from… that…” He o the two deep in their ‘discussion’, keeping his own voice low.

  “But I’m the Chosen of the Goddess!” was Ennalyssa’s repeated reasoning. “Aer is a chosen Champion. He’s a strao this world, he deserves something nice.” Was Traya’s ey to the younger woman.

  “…Fair point…” Anamea nodded, handier a box, “And, it makes sense, now that I think about it, that you help put things away, so you know where things are.” “Yup.”The two began to put things away with Peter handling the pots, pans, utensils, and other kitware and Anamea handling the foodstuffs, happily answerier’s questions about what was what in an attempt to learn more about his new home. After a prolonged but fortable silence as they worked, Anamea piped up. “You know you aren’t alone, yes?” She askedPeter, stopping his work on a utensil drawer, looked over to the healer, “I know I have Traya as my Aide, and friend… and Sheildbearer Broseff seems a good sort…” “I know him, and he is.” Anamea nodded in agreement, “And I’m gd to hear that you and Traya are getting along. But that is not all I meant.” She whispered, “I don’t know if you recall but Shepherd Vaunn told you that you were not alone in this. That you have people on your side.”Peter recalled the short versation from the other day with a nod to the healer. “Shepherd Vaunn is, of course, one of those people. As am I.” She expined, “I… don’t know what all you’ve seen, or experienced, in your short time here but please know that there are those who worry and care for Ennalyssa.” “Few people seem to care she has a name, let alone use it.” Peter frowned.Anamea nodded, “A sad state, to be sure. But not without historical prece. Being a goddess’ chosen… tends to… remove one’s Self, as you bee representative of the deity iion.” “That may be, but they also treat her as something lesser. Havengard, at the very least, told me simir to what you said. Refusing to use her il she has ‘earned’ it.”Anamea frowned, “Havengard is…” “Peytr!” Ennalyssa came running rabbing his hand and tugging, “Tell Traya that I should have the big room!” “Ennalysaa! He’s not going to tell you that when he deserves it just as much as you!” Traya was hot on her heels, poutier couldn’t help but snicker, “Alright childrele down or no dessert.” He paused, leaning over to Anamea, stage-whispering, “Is there dessert?” “I did get a small cake to ‘celebrate the move’, as it were.” Anamea giggled, hand over mouth.Standing straight he looked at the twht. Like I said.” “I…” Ennalyssa pouted.Traya huffed, “Children?” She put her hands on her fists. “Well, it got your attention and got you to stuing.” Peter pointed out, “As for the big room… I don’t really care who gets it. The only reason I might think of taking it is because of the private bathroom.” “Why would you…” Ennalyssa started, blinking, “ht. You’re a boy, and we’re both girls.”Traya blinked, realizing the same thing, “Ohh.” She nodded, “If Enna took the big room… I’d have to share…” “Or if you took it, I’d have to share a bathroom with Ennalyssa, yeah.” Peter agreed, “So, really, if you want an ‘argument’ fivihat room… that is a pretty good one.” “That is.” Ennalyssa admitted, “And… truth… even the small rooms for the servants are bigger than the room I had before.”Traya nodded in agreement, “It’s the same for me.” “My room wasn’t very big either.” Peter admitted, frowning, “Which is holy why I didn’t care, siher would be bigger.”

  “Well.” Anamea smiled, g once softly, “It sounds like you got that figured out. How about dinner?”

  ====================

  Later that night, ∏-o’clock by the table-side time-piece, Peter y in the bed of the rge room — a thid soft stuffed mattress that cradled him with equally soft and stuffed pillows.The sheets were ‘pin’, the same ‘cotton’-like material that his outfit was made from, and holy, Peter was okay with that. His private bathroom had a separated ing area with a shower head whose hose was ected to a ste tank that, itself, was ected to the wall to fill it up, with magical symbols in red, blue, and purple for temperature trol o a ne, but deep, soaking tub. The whole room was tiled and those tiles were etched, painted, and protected so they were smooth to the toud roof. And he quite eaking his time scrubbing himself and almost falling asleep in the soaking tub.

  And so ends my first full day oyros… ?And I am very proud of you, sweetie? Na’at’s voice filled his mind and made him feel warm and fortable inside as the forter/quilt was making him feel outside. Oh, hey, Na’at. And… thank you. I’m still not sure I deserve it but— ?I say otherwise.? You would. ?I’m your mother after all.?Peter paused at that, shifting in bed. ?Oh, Peter I… I’m sorry.? Oh no, I’m just… that’s something I’ve been thinking about today, aerday, holy. ?I see. Do… you want to talk about it then?? Yes, actually, I do.Na’at coughed, a little unsure, ?And, how do you feel about that? I… like the idea. I… miss my family but being a ‘clipping’ they aren’t my family, I mean… thinking of this one way, you know? ?I see what you mean. And I know family meant a lot to… well him, since you seem to want to separate yourself from your former life.? Right. It just makes seo me. Like I said earlier. ‘New’ Soul, new life… so-on and so-on. Sht now, I don’t really have a family since I just sort of… spawned… in the body you made me. And sinade the body… you’d be my mother. ?Again, that makes sense. So you don’t really mind my being your mother?? No, not at all. You seem like a nice persole, uanding. Granted I haven’t known you for long… ?We all have bad days, I admit? Na’at blushed, ?I appreciate you think that of me, Peter? She smiled, Peter could feel it, ?And I couldn’t ask for a better son. You’re better than you give yourself credit for and… I hate to say that you’ll see it for yourself in the days to e, all things sidered.? I only try my best, Mom. ?I believe in you, Peter.? Na’at smiled, ?For now, though, rest. You have a big day tomorrow, for certain, and I’ll help you learn anything you want to learn. I have a feeling d’Zaier will make that hard because of you standing up to him.? Heh. ?Right now, as I said, sleep well, my son.?

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