Alyze walked down the main street of Lucel. Less people than usual were out that day. Alyze had predicted that this was because of the fight in the square. The day right after it, almost no one was out and about. Alyze had heard that this was mostly due to the merchants getting penalized for interfering with the fight, causing not that many interesting stands being up.

However, today was different. It seems that the merchants that had neglected to set up shop the previous day had come back in business. Alyze didn't know if this was because the mayor wanted everyone to think that they were safe and the whole situation was a menial matter, or if the merchants just stopped listening to him after the first day.

The fight still had lasting effects besides that though. The Isisks in the village weren't treated as kindly as they were before. It was not to the point that they were unwanted, it was just enough to be noticeable.

Alyze had no business with any of the merchants or the Isiks today. She simply just wanted to be seen. The mayor would cause too much of a scene if she just up and vanished off to the garden. Her goal for today was to ease his worries about her running off, just before doing that exact thing.

Alyze was a little frustrated that she could not just go off to the garden without going through the effort. She was overcome with anticipation at just what Umbren wanted to do. However hard she tried she couldn't come up with a reason for his behavior. The only lead she had was her dad.

She had tried asking him what he had given Umbren, but the only thing she could get in return was some grumbles about how Umbren should tell her himself. This was his response every time without fail, so now she was just left to wonder what he wanted to do.

She understood that he liked the garden, but that didn't explain why he was in so much of a rush right after Jarvus had given him something. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't come up with a reasonable answer. All that was left to do was clear her thoughts of the matter until she was on her way to meet him.

Alyze walked the street looking for the mayor. It was useful to be seen by a large number of people, but if she wasn't seen by him then what was the point?

She even started asking the people she saw on the street.

A group of Isiks:

"I haven't seen him today. Though I would like to meet with him and apologize for our brother's actions."

A mother and her child:

"The mayor? I don't know...but he must be really busy with the recent attack and all."

She even made it all the way to town square and asked a merchant:

"How should I know!? He's lucky I haven't seen him anyway after that tax he dropped on all our heads, for what that young fool Bombal did."

Alyze walked back to her house defeated. She had failed to find the mayor anywhere. She usually had to only worry about avoiding him, so how could she even be struggling to find him? Eventually she came upon Ms. Sallote. She was cutting the flower bushes in front of her garden. Alyze had never seen her fail to do so every single morning.

Alyze raised her hand to greet her, "Hey Ms. Sallote, have you seen the mayor by chance?"

The old woman looked up from her plants, "Hmm. No I don't think I have."

She went back to trimming her bush. Alyze shrugged and went on.

"If you're going to that garden of yours I suggest you be careful."

Alyze turned back around in surprise, as the old woman continued, "The mayor went through quite a large amount of trouble the other day, and he's more alert than I've seen him in forever. You know what? I think I should have tried harder to warn that Isik."

Alyze's interest had peaked and it showed on her face, "What do you mean?"

"I saw that member of the Ceartas Order on that day. I warned him we here in Lucel don't take kindly to his kind, but he didn't seem to heed my words, maybe I should have been more direct. Who knows?"

"Oh! Well thank you for the advice."

Ms. Sallote simply went back to her flower bushes.

Alyze knew she wasn't going to get much out of her, so she resumed her way back to the house making a note to ask Umbren what he thought of Ms. Sallote.

Once her eyes caught the sight of the forge, she didn't even bother going inside. She went straight around the forge to the back of the house. She would probably have to convince a guard to let her through, but that was nothing compared to the burning anticipation inside her about what awaited her in the garden.

As she made her way down the alley between the forge and her neighbors house, she had expected to see guards guarding the perimeter of town, but there was no one. Had she been too cautious? Was she able to go to the garden right when she wanted to? She hadn't seen the mayor on her walk so she had no idea where…

"Alyze!"

She turned around slowly in the alley to come face to face with the mayor, "Oh...how have you been Mr. Mayor."

The mayor glared at her, but his voice was filled with worry, "Alyze, what do you think you're doing."

There was no reason to hide it. She had been caught red handed, "Going out."

"At a time like this!? You saw what happened the other day! We don't know how many of them could be lurking around the village! So it's too dangerous to go out. Especially into that forest!"

Alyze met his glare with one of her own, "I can handle myself Jacob. I'm going if you like it or not."

The mayor jabbed a finger at her, "Not if I can help it."

Alyze's glare deepened, "You really think you can stop me by yourself?"

The mayor stepped back surprised by her sudden threat, but soon regained his ground, "In seconds I can have the guards swarming this place. Surely you are not strong enough to take them and me on at the same time."

Alyze's face didn't change, and she stood straight with perfect posture, "Yes, but that doesn't mean you can stop me from trying to go to the garden."

This time the mayor stepped back twice with a look of shock on his face, "You don't mean that. Do you?

Alyze took a step forward, "You may be able to keep me in this cage masquerading as a village, but I will not be your pet."

The mayor grimaced and took a ready stance, and a faint light could be seen emitting from Alyze's hand.

Just before one of them made a move a firm hand gripped the mayor's shoulders.

"Jarvus! What are you!"

The smith's look was a dark one, "She said she can handle herself Mr. Mayor."

"But!"

Jarvus's strengthened his grip, "Besides I have some things I want to discuss with you."

The mayor looked like he was about to protest but in the end he just nodded.

Alyze's posture relaxed and the glow vanished from her hands, as she turned and walked out of town.

The mayor watched her leave with worry and sadness in his eyes.

***

Umbren sat next to the attoka. At this point Umbren's sides had stopped aching, and the attoka seemed fine. Though just out of caution Umbren would wait one more day before leaving…

"This place really is great, huh?"

The attoka looked at him with a curious expression.

Umbren motioned to the garden, "You know what I'm talking about. There's no place like this back home. Everything lacks the bright color, The forest we have even looks dead."

The soil isn't even close to fertile enough to yield anything like this. Well Umbren had heard that Avayev was a paradise, but a part of him thought those were only rumors, and he doubted he would ever actually see the place himself.

Also the food in this place was unbelievable. It was the best he had ever had in his entire life. He didn't know if that meant that Alyze was just a good cook, but it had to have something to do with the ingredients that were naturally found here.

Umbren looked towards the attoka with a frown, "I don't even want to think about what'll happen to us wants we regroup with the others."

Umbren had actually thought about it a lot, but not at all in a positive light. No matter how you looked at it he had failed. He even doubted if they would even bother to look for him. They most likely thought he was already dead, and even if they didn't, why would they go through the effort to find one tenebrage soldier who hasn't done anything but fail in his whole career.

Umbren started to believe that if he didn’t regroup with the others, no one would care

"Hey, what if we stayed?"

The attoka tilted it's head, perplexed at Umbren's words.

"You know what I mean. I don't know about you, but I’m no hero. I won’t be able to live up to the expectations of Mortis. If we stay here, we can probably start a new and better life." Umbren paused and smiled wryly, "The only downside is that I would have to start it with you."

The attoka looked to be listening intently, until that last part where he snorted in defiance.

Umbren was serious about what he said. Before now he had only thought of it as a dream. A dream that would tickle the brain and keep one up at night. Now they seemed close to reality. A dream that could actually be accomplished.

He didn't know if he would stay with Alyze. Maybefor a couple more weeks, but he would eventually have to leave. He could easily disguise himself as an Isik again. He could travel all over the country. Live off the land and off the charity of others.

He smiled to himself, "I'm actually starting to sound like an actual holy man."

The attoka looked at him with curiosity.

Umbren didn't notice it as Alyze rushed through the entrance to the garden. Upon her arrival he abruptly stood up, and walked towards her.

She threw her hands up, "Well? What were you so excited to talk to me about?"

Umbren didn't say anything as he kept walking towards her.

Alyze pointed at him, "Do you have any idea how much trouble it took to come here? I probably just ruined my relationship with..."

Alyze stopped mid-sentence, shocked.

Umbren had gotten down on one knee.

This seemed like the grandest way for him to give her the rings. This paired with their current location, and a few fancy words would result in her definitely taking the rings.

It must have been working because Alyze's cheeks became bright red when he got down on his knee and pulled out the ring.

"Alyze."

She still looked flustered, "Umm...yes?"

"You've done so much for me and I don't think I've deserved any of it. As far as I was concerned I would have died that night, but against all odds you saved me. Now I don't feel that I will ever be able to pay you back, but with this I'll be able to ease my conscience."

Alyze was frantically looking everywhere except for Umbren. She finally found an anchor in the form of the attoka, but the look she gave him was one of disbelief.

Umbren held out the ring with the gem the color of the sun, "This way we will be able to remember each other. And whenever around I will be able to come to your aid. So please..."

"Umbren, wait!!"

Umbren stared at her in alarm.

"I mean I don't get why you wouldn't accept. I try to pur..."

Alyze interrupted him with a shout, "Umbren, we can't!"

Umbren blinked a couple of times, "But..."

"Umbren, listen to me!"

Umbren stopped trying to protest and listened to her.

"I mean I do like you, but not in that way. I mean we've only known each other for a couple days." She started to fidget with her fingers, "I mean...marriage is a little serious don't you think?"

Umbren jumped back, "Marriage!!"

"What's that reaction for!"

Umbren held out the ring, "I just wanted to give this to you. What are you talking about marriage for!?"

Alyze waved her hands in the air, "Why wouldn't I! You literally got on one knee and started proposing with a ring in your hand!"

Umbren mimicked her actions, "That's not how marriage works!"

Alyze stopped waving your hands, "Then how does it work!"

"You just ask out right, and then you get married. The proposing part is much more simple than what I just did!"

Alyze started to laugh to herself.

"What is it?"

"I just find it funny. Of course I'll accept the stupid rings, but you owe me for putting me through that."

Umbren relaxed a bit and chuckled, too, "Okay, what is it."

Umbren handed her the ring, and she accepted it and put it on right away, looking at it with admiration.

She held out one finger, "I want to know how it feels to soul bond."

Umbren blushed, "Huh?"

"What's wrong? You can do that can't you?"

Umbren's mind was panicking. What should he do? Doing that with another person was the equivalent to marriage. He couldn't tell her that after what had just happened. It was also one of the only things she had only things she had requested. Though there was no way he could do that.

"No, I can do it if you want to."

He could easily undo it after they make it right? Besides he was also curious how it felt. She doesn't seem to know how serious it was, and he couldn't do anything in good conscience without her understanding at least a little how serious it is.

"So...you do realize that you are asking me to bind our souls together..."

Alyze nodded her head, "I understand completely, and that's exactly why I want to experience it."

Umbren looked back at the attoka with a questioning glance, but he didn't seem to know what was going on.

Umbren coughed, "So...just to make sure about this you really want to do this."

"Yep."

"Well the first step is to hug each other I guess."

Alyze smiled, "You guess, uh?"

"Well it's not like I've ever done it before!"

The two embraced awkwardly.

Umbren had been taught how to bond with an attoka at the training camp.

First both parties had to want the bond to happen.

He didn't have to worry about that.

Second, the two parties had to make some type of intimate contact.

Umbren guessed their contact was intimate.

The third step was to find the other person's soul.

Umbren searched for something. He tried the same method he used when he tried to find his own soul, just with Alyze. It worked surprisingly well, as a golden line crossed through his mind.

The final step was to bond.

Umbren found his own soul and a purple line appeared next to the yellow. He slowly and carefully intertwined his line with hers. This step was actually very hard on Umbren. He felt an icy cool pain spread throughout his whole body as he kept pushing forward.

Once both lines were connected to each other. Umbren's eyes were forced open and he fell down panting.

Alyze rushed to his side supporting him.

Umbren was slowly starting to feel an unusual sensation. It was as if he was full. As if a hole had been filled. As if he would never be alone again.

"Are you okay Umbren. Do I need to go get some medicine."

Umbren shook his head, "No medicine will fix this."

He slowly stood up, and smiled back at her. Though that was short lived as he fainted.

Alyze tried to go to his aid, but she also ended up fainting.

When Umbren woke up he felt a furry sensation over half of his face. After remembering what happened he panicked thinking he had turned them both into some type of monster, but after a few seconds he realized the attoka had come to sit by both of them.

"Oh, it's just you. Did anything happen while we were out."

Umbren must have been asleep for a while. It was now night time, and he laid surrounded by the purple glow of noctils.

From the look on the attoka's face the answer seemed to be "no"

After a moment he realized the warm sensation that he couldn't quite pinpoint on his body, and remembered Alyze, and jerked himself up.

She was on the other side of the attoka rubbing her eyes, as if just waking up.

"What time is it?"

"I don't know, but it must be late."

Alyze put her hand to her head, "Uh. My head hurts."

Umbren looked away from her, "So...how does it feel. The bond I mean."

Alyze put a finger to her chin as if inspecting it for herself, and whispered, "Wonderful."

Her eyes suddenly widened, "They must be worried that I'm not back yet."

As she jumped up and muttered about how somehow was going to kill her, Umbren looked on still reflecting on what had happened.

He could undo it whenever he wanted right. Of course he wasn't going to do it so soon after he went through so much trouble to bond them. He would untangle their cords later. He wanted to savor the bond and he was sure Alyze did too.

Umbren tapped the mumbling Alyze on the shoulder, "We should probably start back now."

Alyze nodded frantically

As the two got back to the village, guards were swarming the place. There were more than there were on the night when Umbren had his fight with the mayor.

When they came upon a village, multiple guards ran up to Alyze, so many in fact that Umbren was afraid if he could remain hidden under his veil of darkness.

"Alyze, where have you been the mayor has been worrying over you like there's no tomorrow."

Alyze chuckled uncomfortably, "Ya, I sorta fell asleep. Sorry."

"Don't apologize now, just make your way home. I'll escort you."

Alyze walked past him, "That won't be necessary, I know how to get to my house."

***

Jarvus sat at the main table with a cup of liquor in his hand. He hadn't gotten enough from the bar he had taken the mayor to. Their talk had left him feeling a deep pity towards the man. The mayor had complained a lot at first but after some drinks, he started expressing how he was worried that he couldn't save Alyze at the point where he was almost in tears. After a couple more glasses he was mumbling about Alicia.

"So he still hasn't found acceptance, huh?"

The forge door opened up behind him, and the two came walking in.

Jarvus took a sip of his drink, "You really took your time giving her that ring Umbren. Though I can't really complain, since I got to do things which I wouldn't normally do."

Umbren immediately took notice of his drink, which he had just realized he had never even seen a bottle of alcohol around the house, a hammer also laid on the table next to Jarvus.

Somehow Alyze seemed to ignore all that and sat down across from Jarvus still rubbing her head.

Jarvus raised an eyebrow, "What happened to you?"

"Umbren performed a tenebrage ritual on me. I thought it might be exciting, but this headache isn’t that fun.”

Umbren's mouth went agape at how nonchalantly she said it.

Though what really caught him off guard, was the sound of glass shattering.

Jarvus emotionlessly grabbed his hammer.

He turned around towards Umbren, a deadly glare spreading across his face, "You did what!?"

The hammer came down so fast that Umbren barely dodged it.

"You get back here!"

Umbren couldn't really come up with a good excuse so all he could do was run around the house from Jarvus with his hammer.

Alyze didn't seem to care all that much as she rubbed her templed with her eyes clenched shut.

Just when Umbren was cornered and thought he wouldn't be able to dodge the hammer in the giant man’s hand, he was saved by an unlikely hero.

"I am Kagi of the Hands of Morta and you will release him at once”

A small young girl with pigtails jabbed her finger at the three people in the house.