Macy pushed Jon at as high of a speed as the wheelchair could go until she finally slowed down in front of a door.

“Here we are…” she leaned forward, pushing the door open with one hand as she guided Jon forward with the other. "Welcome to my dwelling."

Macy’s room was smaller, like Tallow’s, but was still incredibly elaborate in its design. Also, everything in the room that could be was a mixture of red, pink, and black.

On the smaller bed sat in the center of the room sat Amalia, who was playing with her hair in her boredom as she stared at the wall.

“Finally!” she said, turning. “You’re-”

She gasped at the sight of Jon. “Jon!”

“Hi.” Jon waved.

“What happened to you?”

“You did!” Macy said. “He got his butt kicked trying to save yours, obviously! Now, move over!”

Amalia made room as Macy pushed Jon close to the bed.

Jon expected Amalia to help, but Macy simply grabbed him and lifted him onto the bed, putting him face down.

Like brother, like sister... Jon didn’t know why he kept underestimating Macy’s strength.

He also started wondering how much he had in common with his own sister until Macy pulled his legs out onto the bed.

He heard a loud crack, and pain soared through his body.

He screamed into the bed.

“Come on, Amalia,” Macy demanded. “You need to learn! Come on!”

“Fine…” Amalia came closer. “You want me to learn now?”

“With a live specimen?" Macy asked, "Heck yeah!”

She leaned close to Jon. “Do you mind if Amalia practices on your back? She’ll be completely under my supervision, so I’ll make sure no harm comes to you.”

Jon nodded.

“...it'll also be easier if I take off your shirt," she added.

Jon didn’t see any problem with that, remembering the suggestion from last time, so he nodded again.

Macy reached underneath Jon and unbuckled his overalls before pulling the top part off of his back. She then pulled off his long sleeve shirt before going for his tank top.

“There we go!” Macy said. “...Why does your face look like that?”

Jon didn't know how his face looked like. He then realized that it was meant for Amalia.

“It... it doesn’t look like anything!” Amalia responded quickly.

“Let me start.” Macy seemed to ignore Amalia as she began her massage again. Her hands were already warm as they pushed into his back, and the heat probably should have hurt him, but Jon felt nothing but immediate gratification.

Not only did the warmness soothe him, but the intense feeling helped him feel normal again.

“Alright," Macy said, pulling her hands away. "Your turn.”

“...I just put my hands on his back?”

“You know what to do. Come on…”

Jon felt a single finger push into his spine. Unlike Macy’s large and assertive gloved hands, Amalia’s were small and cool to the touch.

Oh. It hurt him a bit. Not enough to scream out loud, though, as the pain went away immediately.

“Come on,” Macy said softly, “you don’t want to hit the wrong pressure point and paralyze him.”

Amalia pulled her hands back. “I don’t want to paralyze him!” She shrieked quickly.

Macy laughed. “I’m joking, I’m joking. Now get on his back.”

“On his back?” Amalia asked. "But that's so-"

“Now!” Jon quickly felt a smaller body scramble on top of him.

“Come on!" Macy urged.

Amalia pushed another finger into Jon’s back.

Jon felt the same sensation again.

“How was that?” Macy asked Jon.

Jon gave a thumbs up.

“Now, you got like... 20 more."

“What?? Amalia asked. “20?”

“Yeah. You should be able to be done in-”

“What the hell are you doing!” Jon heard Mercy yell from the front of the room. He wanted to look up and say hi, but Amalia was so spooked she pressed her knee into Jon's spine.

Jon screamed into the bed even louder, muffled by the fabric."

“Why are you on top of him?” Mercy continued.

“I’m just trying to-”

“She’s fixing his back,” Macy said, interrupting Amalia. “Jon said-”

“I don’t care what Jon said!” Jon felt his body lift from the bed and he was plopped back into the chair.

Mercy's arms were nowhere as strong as Macy's, but Jon was still set in a position where he could look up and see Mercy's familiar face.

“Hi,” she said, with a small smile.

“Hi!" Jon replied, giving his own smile.

Mercy’s smile turned into a scowl as she looked at the other girls.

“You don’t need to work on his back anymore!” Mercy said. “You’re no longer required!”

“You think you can do a better job?” Macy asked.

“Of course I can!”

Macy laughed. "Go for it, then! I was just trying to help-"

"Shut up!" Mercy turned Jon around to face back towards the door.

"You forgot something..." Macy added.

Mercy grabbed Jon's shirts and put them in his lap. He didn't even get to say bye before Mercy rushed him out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

"Let's go, Jon," she said. "I'll fix you up... I won't leave you with that..."

Her words became a mumble, and she continued under her breath,

Jon didn’t want to interrupt Mercy while she was going through her tirade. He wanted to be polite, but she was also beginning to get a little scary. She was beginning to feel a bit scary.

But scary in a bad way.

They were back at Tallow’s room. Mercy knocked on the door and Tallow opened it up. Her hair was scruffed up.

“You were asleep again?” Mercy asked.

“One, I’ve been going nonstop all week," Tallow responded, "so get off my back! Secondly, I don’t think you realized what I had to deal with just now.”

“Luther?” Mercy asked as Tallow stepped aside to let her push Jon into the room.

“Yeah. Like, imagine talking to Hector," Tallow explained, "but like, instead of yelling at you for pissing him off, he’d probably just kill you.”

“He doesn’t seem that bad,” Mercy said, trying to lift Jon out of the chair.

Tallow came to help out, and they put him on the bed on his back.

I’m back again… Jon thought. Here and there and back again… all in the same day...

It was beginning to feel like the farm again. He was in a bed, staring back up at the ceiling like he did when he didn't want to get out of bed, except that, this time, he couldn't.

Jon didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

“Turn him over,” Mercy said simply.

“...What?” Tallow crossed her arms.

“...Sorry.” Mercy didn’t sound exceptionally sorry. "Help me, please?"

"You didn't have to say please..." Tallow said as she and Mercy pushed Jon onto his back. "Just don't be a..."

She looked up at Mercy. “...You’re not doing what I think you’re doing, right?"

“If Macy can do it," Mercy said, cracking her fingers, "I can do it."

“...You know this stuff takes training, right?” Tallow said. "Like-"

“I’ve had training.” Mercy said. “I know how pressure points work!”

Cool. Jon thought. That's what's been happening to my back.

“You mean you know how to kill people with pressure points.” Tallow said. "I'm not sure it's the same."

“...I’m sure it’s similar enough.” Mercy traced her hands around Jon’s back. “I think you just have to…”

Mercy pushed her finger in.

For the third time today, Jon screamed into the bed.

“I don’t think he liked that,” Tallow said. "Just saying."

“It’s fine." Mercy said. "It’ll be fine, right Jon!”

Jon put his thumbs up again.

Mercy pushed another finger into his back.

He screamed again.

Jon lost count of how many times Mercy pressed his back. His back was sore, and his entire body was exhausted. He could barely move anymore. Now, he laid limp on the bed. He was exhausted and he could barely even move the parts of his body that weren't his back.

His elbow did feel really nice, though.

“I think he’s dead,” Tallow observed.

Jon twitched his fingers to indicate that he was still alive.

Mercy reached for his back again, but Tallow grabbed her hand.

“Cool it,” Tallow said.

“Let go!” Mercy replied.

“I’ve gotten accustomed to the fact that you act like a child,” Tallow said, “but as of now, it's getting annoying, and you’re starting to piss me off.”

"Piss you off?" Mercy responded.

"And you're hurting Jon. Stop it."

"I'm not hurting him," Mercy said. "Now, let go."

Jon tried to wave his hands to the girls, but he still couldn't get their attention, nor could he move more of his body.

Jon tried to turn his head and contribute to the conversation, but he couldn’t. He was worried they would get into another fight over his back.

Thankfully, there was another reassuring presence coming into the room.

“Guys, guys, guys,” Mallory entered the room. “I could cut the tension in this room with a knife. “Why don’t you-"

He gasped. "Oh my god! Is that Jon?”

Jon twitched his fingers again.

"He looks like he got run over by a horse," Mallory said. "Or maybe that's how he always looks when he's resting."

“Mercy wants to kill Jon before Macy does,” Tallow said, giving Mercy an evil eye.

Mercy finally ripped her hand out of Tallow’s grip.

Mallory went over to Jon and rubbed his palm over his body.

"Ah... you did this Mercy?" Mallory asked.

"I did."

"Good job. I mean, you sort of shoved a square block into a triangle hole, but..."

Mallory's palms began to glow blue. This time, Jon felt cooling energy over his body.

Mmmmm... It was nice to feel something nice and cool.

"How about this, guys," Mallory said, "We should go blow off some steam… and not on Jon.”

Mercy grumbled, but she didn’t protest.

With that, they got Jon's clothes back on him, and they set off in the direction of the barracks.

“Hector’s not gonna join us?” Tallow asked. She was wearing all of her gear again.

“He’s busy,” Mercy said. “ He sent me away, so I went to find Jon."

"Oh, really,” Tallow said.

"...What?" Mercy asked.

“You know," Tallow said, "if I didn’t know better, I would think that you guys are actually falling in love."

“Hector…" Jon heard growling in Mercy's teeth. He half expected her to yell back at Tallow, as would usually happen.

"...isn’t that to me..." Mercy sighed. “I don’t think I have to explain that.”

“Sure.” Tallow shrugged. Jon was happy that Tallow didn’t push the issue. He considered that development on her part.

When Mallory finally opened the doors to the barracks, they saw that it was mostly quiet.

“It’s empty…” Mercy said.

“Yeah…” Mallory responded, “everyone’s probably busy…”

They went to the large sparring rings, which were ready for use.

“Alright,” Tallow parked Jon outside of one of the rings. "Princess, it's your party. What's on the menu?"

"Really?" Mercy asked. "Are we doing this again? I'm not-"

"You're having a literal royal wedding..." Tallow raised her hands. "In a castle!"

Mercy crossed her arms and pouted. "Maybe."

"So, I'm gonna ask again..." Tallow waved her hands. "Do you..."

"Wait, are you asking me?" Mercy asked. "Like, what do I want to do?"

"...Sure..." Tallow said. "I did... just ask you."

Mercy grinned. "Nunchucks."

"No!" Tallow's head shook quickly under her hood. "No way."

"You asked me!"

"You asked her!" Mallory repeated.

Jon nodded. "Yeah."

Tallow sighed.

Within a few minutes, Jon and Tallow were standing at opposite ends of the ring. Tallow had her nunchucks in her hand, while Jon held his gun in his lap.

Mallory had said that Jon should be able to use his gun, but to take it easy, and to not stand up from the chair.

Jon agreed. He wanted to be ready as soon as possible.

But even he couldn't hide the excitement of being able to use his gun again. His toes twinkled under his feet with energy he didn't even know he had.

He was supposed to shoot at Tallow so that she could reflect the blast, as part of her nunchuck training.

Jon hadn't fired his gun in what felt like ages, but he was sure he would be able to shoot properly, even in the chair. Even Mallory said it might be good for Jon to try shooting his gun again. To see how his mana flow was coping with everything.

Tallow wasn't doing her usual hop in place. Instead, her legs shook nervously.

"This doesn't make sense!" Tallow yelled. "Why would I stand in place when something's coming at me? I should be moving out of the way!"

"That's why we're doing this!" Mercy called. "Yeah," Mallory said. "The arena won't be as big, remember?"

"Still dumb!" Tallow said. She began to flail the nunchucks.

"Shoot her, Jon!" Mercy yelled.

"I'm not ready!" Tallow yelled. She flailed faster and faster, the nunchucks passing under and over her arms faster than Jon had ever seen.

He tried not to laugh at her panicking face.

She had deflected attacks larger than his, so it shouldn't have been a problem.

Jon waved his gun to show that he was ready.

Tallow stopped, holding the nunchucks in place.

"At least it's not a potato!" Mallory called.

"Shut up!"

Jon pulled the trigger.

This time, he felt something sap from his entire body straight into the barrel of the gun.

The largest blast Jon had ever seen fired from his gun. It flipped him back on the wheels, and he fell out of the chair.

"Aiie!" Tallow closed her eyes and swung.

The blast was deflected into the sky before it dissipated into the air above.

Jon looked at his gun in amazement. That had never happened before.

"Cool-" His body suddenly seized up and he laid back on the floor.

Oh...At least it didn't hurt this time.

Mercy rushed over to his side "Are you okay?"

Mallory also ran to Jon's side. Despite being close, it took him longer to get to Jon's side.

Mallory put his hands on Jon's shoulders.

They began to glow blue. Feeling snapped back into Jon's arms.

Mercy and Mallory both began to help Jon back into his chair.

"That was the largest one I ever saw you do!" Mallory said. "That was awesome!"

“Yeah, Jon!” Mercy said. “It was!”

"Yeah!" Jon nodded. He agreed. It was awesome.

He then saw Tallow walk up to him.

"Sorry," Jon told her.

"It's whatever," Tallow said. "I know you didn't mean it."

She also began to help Jon up.

Once he was in the chair, Mercy looked up at Tallow with a large grin.

“You did it!” Mercy said. “Now we can learn more stuff!”

“No way!” Tallow tossed the nunchucks over her shoulder and walked away. “I’m done for today!”

"Wait!" Mallory ran in front of Tallow. "You should stay. You need practice!"

“I could kick your ass right now,” Tallow said.

“True.” Mallory gave her a big smile, “but that’s not what we're worried about. Mercy may or may not have to fight a legion of women one after another to be married to Hector, and maybe you could be a substitute.”

“...Me?” Tallow raised her eyebrow. "I already know what the answer is."

“Yeah, she doesn’t have to if she doesn’t need to,” Mercy said. “I can take them all by myself.”

Mallory shook his head. “Mercy, right now, you’re like an enemy to pretty much everyone on this side of the… castle. I know you have incredible stamina, like…”

Mallory gestured wide with his hands, “Incredible stamina, maybe even more than Hector, but even you should consider having someone on your side. Do you have anyone from the Highlander clan coming?”

“I don’t know,” Mercy said. “Depends on how my father is feeling. He might want me to fight all of my own battles, or he might want to utilize the political situation against me."

"I have a feeling you agree with the first one," Tallow said.

"And I think your father's gonna do enough to leverage the situation with or without you winning," Mallory said. "If he's anything like Luther, I'm willing to bet on it. Even if the others don't know yet."

He whispered. "And by others, I mean everyone in charge."

"Right..." Tallow didn't seem impressed. "But what does this have to do with me being here."

"The Period of Power is gonna take place in a circle like this," Mallory said. "Except the ring will be a bit bigger."

"...Show me," Tallow said, gesturing for Mallory to move back.

Mallory watched his own feet as he stepped backward until he was a certain distance away.

"About here," Mallory said. "From the middle of the circle."

"I know," Tallow said, looking over her shoulder. "It's just... you want to put the fate of two royal families at my feet?"

"Just the one fight," Mercy said. "But... I think I trust you."

"You think?"

"I'll be more confident when you work on your nunchuck skills, come on!" Mercy ran back to the center of the circle.

"Like a little kid, I swear..." Tallow shook her head.

"That's why you're such a good friend," Mallory said.

Tallow gave Mallory a look of both knowing and mild annoyance. She opted not to say anything else and grabbed Jon, pushing him to Mallory's side.

"I'll get to babysitting," Tallow said. She went back to Mercy's side.

Jon watched as Mercy hopped around Tallow, swinging her own nunchucks as she pointed out to Tallow what she should do.

Jon enjoyed seeing Mercy be happy as she ran around. He also enjoyed her and Tallow working together for the same goal. Ever since he had left the farm, he felt more included in everything that was going on around him. Watching both Mercy and Tallow run around reminded him that if he had his legs, or even if his mana points or whatever was working, he would have been included. He felt relief in that.

"Hey." Mallory dropped a large sack into Jon's lap.

"What's this?" Jon asked him.

"Flour. You pour, I push."

It took Jon a while before he realized it was supposed to create the new perimeter of the ring.

"Yeah."

Jon ripped a hole in the corner of the bag and began pouring it on the floor as Mallaroy pushed him around in a circle.

It reminded Jon of when his father and his brothers used to walk around, pouring seeds along the floor.

The memory struck Jon strong. He had never thought of it as any more important than any other occasion, but now, he tried to make sure not to get any of his tears in the flour as he continued to pour.