No more.. uncle... arms... heav...

Awakening from his slumber Lang had quickly sat up, heaving as he clutched his chest, but as he felt the softness under him and his body feeling lacking in the grease of dirty and sweat he spent a few lingering moments to steady himself. However as soon as he had calmed himself Lang was struck by piercing pain around his body, his muscles overworked with caused him to sharply inhale.

Alicia using the chair from Lang's desk had awoken from the ruffling and grunts made by Lang. Standing up and hurriedly arriving next to him she placed her cool hand against his back. Sliding her hand back and forth gently, patiently waiting until for Langs' pain to subside before attaching his translator and handing him his clicker.

"You finally woken up, everyone was worried, Lang."

"Woke... Happened?"

"You're really something you know, okay, the officers had told us you did something amazing, you got excited and when all the blood rushed to your head you felt lightheaded and fainted, they told us it was bound to happen since you were working hard."

Alicia grinned, raising a hand and running her fingers through his hair, then grasping him tightly and pulling him into a tight embrace as she saw a smile blossom radiate on his face from the news. Feeling proud at his accomplishment but curious at what it was she chuckled to herself silently.

You make her so proud.. and you also make me proud! I don't know what's going on but I'll cheer for you.

Separating herself from him and standing up, she advised him to rest himself as she excused herself to bring him a drink and a snack. before she had left the door she looked at him one more time before humming and leaving.

The warmth of her familiar scent had decreased the amount of pain and as Lang brought his hand to his chest, the thought of the hug tickled the back of his memories, a memory that had wanted to come out but did not. Confusion for why he was reminiscing pervaded him, but only for a moment, and with the thought buried back once more he now brought one hand to his arm, massaging his muscles gently.

Half an hour had passed since Alicia had left, and just as Lang's stomach grumbled fiercely the three knocks on his door sounded out. Just as he hoped for the decadent sweet smell of bready, the strong odor of the cheese and a wild smell had lingered past his nose. Alicia walking had brought a sandwich and a few grapes for Lang, just as she placed the plate on his lap, Lang's hands eagerly fumbled around as he found the sandwich and quickly promptly stuffed his face full. A lighthearted giggle rang out from Alicia as she sat beside him, thinking to herself a bit, she had placed both hands on his shoulders, massaging them mildly.

Sis Alicia is the best!

As Lang finished the sandwich, he picked up a grape and reached behind him, offering one to her. Feeling the grape leave his fingers he slowly ate the rest as he lightly leaned back as she kneaded his tense muscles.

"Hmmm, It looks like the grapes are definitely in season Lang"

Sweet, a little tart, but juicy! it feels so good after the sandwich.

".... Lang."

???

"I have to go soon, something important with my family has come up, so I won't be around, will you be okay?"

"Miss... Alicia...Be... Fine."

"I'll miss you too! It won't be long, only a couple of days, when I come back I want to see what the security looks so happy about."

"... Okay..."

Solemnly, Lang curled up, although he was mentally mature from learning to cope with his inconveniences, he was still a ten-year-old boy. Alicia who knew how Lang sulked each time she had left before once more hugged him. The comfort once more lavished him easing his negative thoughts while sighing gently, he chatted with Alicia until she looked up to the clock, shocked she quickly pulled away and stood up, leaving the room and informing Lang dinner would be soon, apologizing that she would be leaving first to help.

*****

This morning.... that was great... I... I got somewhere!... Can I do it now though? My body isn't as tired so maybe I'll have to practice more... That also... Can I use my smell? Mom, Alicia, everyone else, I remember their scents... I can also smell things from a bit further away than where I'm sitting.

Hmm... It sounds possible, I guess I'll have to practice to know, ahhhh. practice practice practice. I'm turning into an addict for this stuff.

...No use mopping around, I guess I'll try to find something to focus on then... the strongest smell in the room.

*****

Scooching himself slowly, Lang had gotten out of his bed, he made his way to the desk, struggling not to deviate from the number of steps it would usually take as he staggered forth. Upon reaching the desk Lang leaned in close, and took one big whiff, trying to get all the smells and determine which would be most suitable. The result was a failure, but he did not let up, leaning closer and sniffing around more.

Unbeknownst to Lang Valerie who had finished with her task and the paperwork had come to fetch Lang for dinner, standing in the doorway she could only see Lang who was too preoccupied with sniffing the desk and its contents to notice his translator inform him that she had knocked. As she stood there shocked and bewildered she had silently stepped back into the doorway, heading to the dining hall as she had asked a passing maid to fetch Lang for dinner.

"Young Master?..."

?!

The several vibrations from her question informed Lang that the door was open, and more importantly, he had been seen. Pausing himself, he straightened himself with dignity and smiled facing the doorway while pulling out his clicker.

"Yes...?"

"...."

"...."

"Dinner is ready, shall we be on our way now?"

Dignified... dignified... dignified...

Nodding his head he outstretched his hand, and as the maid grasped onto it, they had made their way to the dining hall. On her face, a crinkled grin was placed, and small streams of laughter threatened to escape her lips.

*****

The next day Lang had awoken, despondent with the farewell party for Alicia and embarrassed by the incident yesterday he tossed about in bed cringing at himself. However, embarrassment did not mean he would give up, sunlight doused his body, still sore from yesterday, warm as he rose from the bed, eager to try his sense of smell once again. Minutes passed by with little progress as the sound of three knocks sounded out as it did yesterday night. Lang, however, had paid attention to his translator on his wrist and promptly stopped sniffing around his desk.

Taken to breakfast, his mother had whispered why he was acting as such yesterday, and while feeling wronged by the maid Lang had answered his mother that since most of his sense won't work, he would try to make the best and appreciate his other senses. Valerie nodded praising her son on how hard he was working. She did not know about the incident at the training grounds, and apart from the soldiers stationed there, there did not seem to be another person who knew. Feeling thankful Lang promptly finished his breakfast and had asked Noir to take him to the training ground.

Agreeing she happily grabbed Lang's hand pulling him along while she hummed.

"Happy... Sis Noir..."

"Of course I'm happy, I have now have a chance to spend time with our young master!"

"Teasing..."

"Of course!"

Tucking her pale blonde hair behind her ear she continued to enjoy the light breeze as they continued to the building, however, after arriving she could only snort and leave childishly throwing a tantrum as she separated from Lang crying to herself as Lang desperately tried to release himself from her grip before finally taking ahold of Reynolds's hand and made her way back. As they sighed in unison Reynold had taken off Lang's shoes once more, leading him out into the open field.

"Lang, today you will be practicing what you learned yesterday, the reason why I left the translator on is so we can continue."

Seeing Lang nod Reynold had called forth the three from the group and sent the rest on their way to continue training, as they positioned themselves he had instructed Lang to measure the distance on how far they were from him, the rules were as followed. One, he could lift his hand at any time, if he touched them while they were passing then it would be a point if he missed, it would be half a point taken. Two, they will walk in turns every one-minute taking turns, they could not dodge. Finally three today, he needed to at least lay his hand on them three times for today, and training will last for three hours.

Easy! I dodged Bro Anthony yesterday just as he passed, I'll just have to reach my hand out this time.

Miss...

Miss...

Miss...

Miss...

Miss...

*****

Fudge! The footsteps are too soft! I can barely feel them. This is going to be much harder than I thought! I want to talk with the me Fifty misses ago and hit him.

Air again, but at least after this one I can tell the soft thump only happen really close to me... hmm about the size of a hand... maybe a hand and a half? Tch, it's too small, if only they could be a bit nicer and stomp as they walked.

Gill! You! stop making fun of me! I swear if I catch you I'll drag you to mom!

Ahhh bro Anthony! Keep the encouragement coming! It's nice for a weary soul.

...Rick? Even though I can't hear your voice, I feel like you're not talking anyway.

*****

Without even knowing, three hours had passed since they started and Lang had made no progress he could only dispiritedly hang his head while Noir put his shoes on. After being chided by Reynold he had left with Noir back to the house, disappointed with himself Lang sulked quietly while they walked.

"That old fart Reynold He should have held off a bit... Lang... You know... Listen ... things out of your control will always happen, so lift your head. If something is making you down you don't have to mope on it forever..."

Huh?

"Sorry, what I mean to say is... Time, take your time. We're not perfect you know... Unless we're you and somehow manage something amazing on the first day ahaha."

I feel like your half sarcastic somewhere in there Noir.

"I'm sure you're expecting a lot out of yourself too... Remember, we're humans deep down, disappointment and sadness are also in our core, it's what you do with it that makes the difference."

Noir...

"Reynold was ecstatic... I've never seen him so happy when the other maids and I brought them dinner yesterday, he probably raised the bar much higher than he should have for you! Our little genius..."

Finished her sentence she halted her steps, Noir slowly knelt gradually pulling Lang back and into her arms as she embraced him gently, rubbing his back. Parting her lips slightly her words trailed out calmly as the tender voice quivered.

"We're all cheering you on, even if it's not today, you'll amaze everyone again. I know it."

As Lang buried his head into her neck Noir continued to comfort him, she knew after touching him that the amount of sweat that clung to his shirt showed the world if not physically, just how hard mentally he strained himself. With his slight breathing that tickled her neck, she enjoyed the moment dearly.

...

...

Lang! Keep at it, you'll grow into a nice kind hot-..young man! You're totally going to be my type! That damned Alicia hogging all you for herself!