Tossing and turning, Rowan finally gave up on sleep early in the morning. Scribbling in his notebook, he took down everything they’d discussed earlier: teams, composition, names and preference order. Staring down at the notebook, he blinked, then shook his head and snapped it shut.

In the bed beside him, Ikara rolled over, her face contorted.

Quiet, quiet. Rowan climbed carefully out of bed and slipped into the other room. Gills slept soundly by the door. Creeping up near Gills, Rowan turned to the side and knelt by his plant. He whispered, “Hello. Good morning.”

The plant bobbed gently, as if on the wind. Atop it, the bud danced, thicker than it looked the night before.

“Can you hear me? Well… I doubt you could reply if you could. Or understand me,” he chuckled.

It continued to bob on a wind that didn’t exist.

Rowan sighed. He pressed his fingers into the plant’s base, checking the soil. Still damp. The plant itself looked a bit large, so he reached into his bag and pulled out the shears. They felt awkward in his hand, and he glanced at them, confused, then remembered: I don’t have proficiency with these.

He paused, then shrugged. Probably good enough for this. It’s not like the plant is going to dodge. “Alright, hold still.”

Obedient, the plant stopped bobbing.

Rowan lifted the shears. “Prune!”

Blue lights guided his path. He chased them with the shears, snipping extra bits and leaves off the plant. When he was done, the thick stalk looked much better, and all the half-yellow or browned leaves laid in a pile at the foot of the plant.

“There. Much better,” he murmured, hands patting just over the plant.

Even with the thick stalk, the heavy bud bowed the top a bit. He glanced through his tools, but there was nothing that could stand in as a support. Would it even work? It only allowed plants, last time I tried to put stuff in it. Maybe if it’s only there for the plants? Not like it matters now. He held his hand out. “Return.”

Nothing happened. Rowan blinked. Right, skills don’t—

“Pffft,” Gills spluttered.

Rowan whipped around. Gills watched him from the bed, eyes curved into half-moons, a devious grin on his face.

“How long have you been awake?” Rowan asked.

“Since you came out,” Gills said, barely biting back a giggle.

“You…” Rowan sighed and put his head in his hands. Dammit. He saw all of that? Ugh.

Gills laughed and sat up. “Any chance I could get a warm breakfast before I go?”

Rowan nodded, then paused. Do I want him taking advantage of me like that? He’s not on my team, and he only sees us support classes as objects, servants to assist his own rise. Hell, he’s on the opposing team, and that’s all I need to know. I shouldn’t even be hesitating. He shook his head. “No.”

“Worth a try.” Gills hopped up and slid over the bed and out of the Haven. “Thanks for everything. And tell that friend of yours to chill out a bit. He’s wound so tight it makes you wonder if there’s a screw up his ass.”

“Uh…”

“You know, to get him wound tighter?” Gills pantomimed, then sighed and waved it off. “Joke didn’t work. Let’s move on. Hey, see you around. Try not to kill you!”

With that, he pushed the door open. For a second, the room filled with the patter of rain. Then the door shut, and took Gills with it.

Rowan stared after him. What the hell.

The door creaked open behind him. Kaidu stepped out and arced a brow at Rowan.

“What? I didn’t say anything!” Rowan said.

“Warm breakfast,” Kaidu demanded, and vanished back into the room.

“I’m not your servant, either!” Rowan shouted after him.

One warm breakfast later, the three of them gathered by the door. “Ready?” Kaidu asked.

Ikara and Rowan nodded.

Kaidu opened the door.

Rain-soaked streets. Worn stone. Half-moon windows, glowing with gold light.

“Let’s go.” Unbothered by the anticlimax, Kaidu stepped out into the street.

Rowan sighed. At least no one was waiting to ambush us, I guess. “Wanna help?” he asked Ikara, nodding at his gardening box.

“Sure.”

A few minutes later, the box dismissed, the three of them stood under the rain. Squinting up at the oppressive gray clouds hanging low overhead, Rowan frowned. Really wish I had a hood right now.

Kaidu took to the building-tops. Rowan and Ikara walked side-by-side, chasing the sound of Kaidu’s whistles. Though he knew Kaidu would see her long before he would, Rowan kept his eyes open and his head on a swivel, searching for Red and Blue. Hope they’re still split into twos. It’d be obnoxious if they swapped back to travelling together after all our planning.

Ikara glanced up at Rowan. “I’ll restrict her movement with Unspool. You go for the KO right off the bat, understand? I can’t guarantee the string will hold her long.”

Rowan nodded. “Got it.”

“It won’t feel fair. If it’s fair, we’d lose. You can’t hesitate. Take her down.”

“I got it, Ikara. I know.”

She nodded. “I’m just… after last night, I…”

Rowan nodded silently.

“But… I’m sure you’ll do it! You fought the guys in the arena, no problem, right? So it’ll be okay.”

He nodded again. “I’ll be fine, Ikara. Don’t worry.”

She leaned forward, peering up to see his face. Their eyes met, and she smiled. “Mmm!”