He could hear faint mumbling and shuffling as he began to regain consciousness. His eyes began to open, then quickly close. Once again. Taking all of his willpower to keep them open he finally began to notice figures and take in his surroundings.

Looking to his left he saw a figure leaning over him. Through the blurry haze his eyes still had he could make out a gray and white dress, hair tied back and they were moving towards his head and then away repeatedly. It was then he felt something warm and wet run across his chest and stomach. Whoever the woman was, she was cleaning his body, or at least he hoped, he had no idea how he got into this situation or how long he had been out.

“H-how long…” his voice was raspy and quiet.

The rubbing motion on his chest abruptly stopped and the women quickly ran out of the room without answering or acknowledging him. He couldn’t help but think he had offended her or something. His body was heavy and he felt weaker than he thought possible. He had never felt this pathetic before, and he had expended a lot more energy in the past than what he used to heal Kaia.

As Amrin began to lift himself up and use his left arm as support to prop up his head and torso, the door swung open and banged against the wall after swinging too quickly.

“Amrin!” Grandall shouted and rushed to help him sit up. “You probably shouldn’t be moving around yet.”

Grabbing hold of Grandall’s hand, Amrin pulled himself up and leaned his back against the headboard of the bed, breathing heavily from such a simple act.

“Thank you. How long have I been out?” he asked.

“Two days.” He said reluctantly and took a seat in a chair beside the bed.

“Two!?” he shouted louder than he intended.

Amrin covered his face with his hands and sighed deeply. It only felt like a few moments, if even. But time never did flow the same there as it did here.

“Sorry, I know you wanted to get back to Arestoth as soon as possible.” Grandall felt the need to apologize.

“Oh, no. That’s not…no, you don’t have to apologize.”

He wasn’t upset or frustrated that it has been so many days, he was frustrated at the fact that expending only that amount of power caused him to become unconscious for that long. Dwelling on the amount of time he only realized what Grandall had said.

“Wait, you mean we’re not in Arestoth? Where are we?”

“We’re still in Newrand. We figured it would be best that you get as much rest as possible before making such a long journey back to Arestoth.”

“I see. Where are Lestith and Kaia?” He asked, not too entirely concerned about Lestith since he didn’t seem too badly damaged at all before, but wanted to make sure Kaia was well and good.

“Well, Lestith is speaking with the Captain at the Capital Knight’s barracks. And Kaia is yet again dealing with…” he trailed off before he could finish.

“Dealing with?”

“Ah, well it’s about the Adamantine we brought back.”

Amrin wasn’t thinking about the ore in the least, but now that Grandall had mentioned it he was incredibly relieved that they didn’t lose it or leave it at Infernus Pass. It would have made the entire ordeal a complete waste of time.

“It seems it’s the largest deposit of the stuff the local refiner has ever seen. He doesn’t have the necessary equipment to process all of it in one go.”

“Well I suppose that makes sense. But what does Kaia have to do with that?” Amrin failed to see the problem.

“Ah, the sly old badger wants to charge us full price for each refinement process it takes to get it all completed. At fifty gold per process. Lady Kaia is attempting to convince him otherwise.”

“Hm, well how much does a typical amount of Adamantine fetch at market?”

“Not too sure myself, unfortunately. But at least a few hundred gold I believe?”

“And each process is fifty gold? That seems a bit…excessive. How many times does the process need to be performed before all of what we brought is taken care of?”

“Thirty two times.”

Amrin’s jaw dropped and head leaned forward in surprise.

“That’s outrageous!” Amrin shouted. “That’s…” he began to count his fingers and mumble.

“It is one thousand six hundred gold pieces...It is more than an entire platoon of Knights makes in a month.” Grandall said somberly, his head lowered in disgust and depression at the thought.

“Well, help me up so we can go get this straightened out then.” Amrin said as he began to shuffle his legs from beneath the sheets.

“Ah, well…you probably shouldn’t…Amrin, I don’t…” as he was stumbling over his words, arms out in front in a failed attempt to stop him, two figures entered the room just as Amrin stood up.

The first person to enter the room was most likely the maid that was in the process of cleaning his body, so her expression was just one of a simple smile. The second was Kaia.

Seeing Amrin standing made her smile from the bottom of her heart. Until she looked lower than his face. He was fully nude. Her eyes bulged wide open and her body tensed up. After getting an eyeful of his lower body she quickly turned and walked out of the door and slammed it shut. The maid cringed at the sudden boom of the door. Grandall could do nothing but cover his face with his hand and shake his head.

“What was…” Amrin looked down and realized he was totally naked. He immediately jumped back into the bed and covered himself up in the sheets. “Why am I naked!?” he screamed.

“I tried to tell you. While you were unconscious for those two days, you were sweating quite a bit. Miss Emily here has been taking care of you since that time.” Grandall said and gestured towards the maid.

She was an older woman, possibly in her late forties that bowed as Grandall introduced her.

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Lord Amrin.” She said while fully bowed in respect.

“Ah, no…thank you for taking care of me. But umm….can I have my clothes back now?” he asked nervously.

“I apologize, sir, but your original clothing was badly damaged and ruined from your recent visit to Infernus Pass, and have, as such, been disposed of. There is a change of clothing that I believe will fit you in the dresser to your left.” She said as she gestured to the piece of furniture in question.

“Thank you.” Amrin said and began to get up once more and stopped. “Uhh…” he began to speak and stare are Emily questioningly.

“Please do not mind me Lord Amrin. You do not have anything that I have not seen before, or recently. I have lived through two husbands and raised four boys.”

“Is that right?” He was still incredibly hesitant but got out of bed, hands covering the important bits and shuffled to the dresser.

Fishing around behind his back with one hand while the other tried to cover his front, he grabbed the first piece of cloth and hoped it was pants. It was a shirt. Using that to cover his lower half instead he fished around and grabbed the pair of pants and quickly put them on while Emily watched with a completely straight and unfazed appearance.

Even if he has been alive for more than entire civilizations of people combined, standing in front of strange woman he has never seen or met before, completely naked, wasn’t exactly comfortable or normal for him.

“Do they meet your standards, sir?” she asked after Amrin had put the clothing on and situated himself.

“Oh, yes, they’re a perfect fit and are quite comfortable. Thank you.”

“I am pleased. Now if you will excuse me I shall fetch the Lady Kaia.” She bowed once more and left the room.

Amrin sighed heavily and sat on the edge of the bed. His body was still sore and felt heavy to move, but much better than when he first woke up.

“Oh, before she comes there’s something I need to warn you about.” Grandall said suddenly.

“What’s that?”

“Lady Kaia…she’s…different.”

“No idea what that’s supposed to mean.” Amrin said, thoroughly lost.

“It might have been what happened after the attack from the Behemoth, but she seems different. Also she looks…livelier?”

Grandall tilted his head as he said that last part. He wasn’t sure how exactly to explain it.

“Are you asking me?” Amrin held up his hands and frowned.

Before Grandall could elaborate, the door clicked open and Kaia stood in the doorway with her hand covering her face.

“Uhh…I’m clothed now. You can open your eyes.”

Lowering her hand from her eyes, she opened one of her eyes cautiously and looked at Amrin. Her bright orange eyes looking him up and down making sure that he was clothed.

“Well, I’ll leave you two to talk things over.” Grandall said and stood from the chair he was sitting in.

Grandall left the room and closed the door behind him. Being able to admire her appearance better now that she wasn’t running out of the room, a smile formed on his face. She was no longer in her armor, but instead a simple yet elegant light blue and white sun dress. It contrasted very well against her dark black blue hair and complemented her milky white skin.

Admiring just how good she looked he noticed what Grandall was talking about. Before, her eyes and brow had traces of sadness, anger and depression from creases and lines. But now, her skin was firm, smooth and perfect. His eyes widened in surprise. He knew that he had to reach back quite far to get rid of the scars, but the change to her physical appearance was more than he bargained for.

Kaia was conscious of his staring and began to fidget. Her ears began to flit about and now that she wasn’t wearing her armor, her tail began to dart around uncontrollably. She was quite embarrassed by it, but there was nothing she could do about it just short of grabbing it and forcing it still, but that would only draw more attention to it. It was then she noticed Amrin’s eyes darting back and forth from one side of her body to the other. He was watching her tail.

“P-please don’t stare.” She said, her tail flailing about faster than before.

“Oh, sorry!” he said and began to laugh. “I just…I was surprised at how beautiful you are out of your armor.”

Hearing this she instantly remembered the state of her armor back at Infernus Pass and decided it would be a good opportunity to make him be the one to fidget for once.

“Oh, but haven’t you seen me out of my armor once before?” she said in a highly sarcastic tone, covering her chest with her arms and having one eyebrow raised.

Amrin went pale and bug-eyed. He sucked both of his lips in and bit down to keep from saying anything stupid or smiling like an idiot.

“I am so sorry!” He shouted finally, and stood and bowed.

It wasn’t a reaction she was expecting, so Kaia flinched in surprise. Raising her hands in front of her to keep him from doing that she was thoroughly embarrassed and felt awful for trying to hold something like that over him after what he had done for her.

“No, no please. It’s fine. Since it was you…it’s fine.” She said quietly, and averted her gaze.

Still staring at the floor, Amrin furrowed his brow at the comment and didn’t know what to make of it. Of course he wasn’t dense, and he has been confessed to a number of times in the past and received any number of advances from women…sometimes men, but this sounded different. But he was never interested in love or romance before, save for one time…and one person. She never showed any interest in him in that regard so it caught him off guard. He cautiously raised his head and looked at Kaia. Her cheeks flushed red and still averting her gaze from him.

“It was because you saw me that I am now whole.” Her voice broke and tears began to fill her eyes.

He sighed and softened his gaze as he looked at her. He knew there was much more to this.

“Please sit. I’ll listen if you have something you want to tell me.”

Amrin ushered her to the seat that Grandall had used earlier and sat her down.

“Thank you.” She said trying to keep the sobs at bay.

Taking a deep breath she tried to compose herself in order to recall the events. Amrin sat on the bed opposite her and waited for her to take the time needed to recall the events she wished to discuss.

“It was a few years before the Scourge Wars and the events at Randess. I was living in a small hut that my mate at the time, Yaren, had built by himself for us and our…our unborn daughter. We met in the mercenary army, he was my commanding officer at the time. Having been through countless battles and skirmishes between various noble houses and opposing kingdoms we became close, the whole group did, but Yaren and I especially. We trusted each other implicitly and would never leave the other behind.”

“What was to be our last campaign, we were to subjugate a pack of monsters that was plaguing the farmlands of a local noble. It was a simple mission so we were excited to take it on. But what we didn’t know what that it was really a trap. The mercenary army we were a part of was all demi-humans. And during the times we served under the nobles we fought for, we learned a great many things about their normal troop movements, transport routes and other things that, lowly beasts need not know.” She said the last part with as much disdain she could muster.

Amrin knew exactly where this was going, but other than narrowing his eyes, he kept quiet and didn’t make any move to interrupt her.

“We were ordered to wait in hiding in the forest for the beasts one night. They told us that the monsters we were to subjugate were nocturnal and only came out at night. Not thinking that we would be betrayed, we had no reason to question it. And so we waited in the forest. Just before midnight, a cry rang out into the dead of night. One of our crew was cut down before our eyes. Not by a monster…but a human. A squad of Knights and Noble guards had surrounded us. Before we could realize that we were betrayed, countless of my comrades were either cut down or shot with arrows.”

Kaia clenched her fists as they rest on top of her lap as she recalled that night.

“It took all of our effort and skill to escape them. So many of us died that night. They were very well prepared to cut any loose ends. A group of mid-chanters were in the back line casting spells in succession to slow, strike down or capture any who tried to escape. Yaren and I barely managed to flee, taking a fair amount of wounds in the process. We fled deeper into the forest and ran for hours and hours, not stopping for anything. Our lungs feeling as if they were going to burst and our muscles felt as if they were on fire. We ran. We ran until the sun began to rise over the horizon. Only then did our bodies give out and we collapsed amidst some thick bushes and grass.”

“Days…weeks, had passed and we continued to travel as far as we could away from the kingdom that the nobles resided. Until we finally found ourselves just outside the village I mentioned earlier. Glendale was the name of the village. It was small, quiet and out of the way. That’s where we began our new life. He built our home after we had been living in a makeshift hut built from sticks and leaves for months.”

“The village tolerated us and traded goods with Yaren since he was an excellent hunter and trapper. They left us alone and we enjoyed the peace and quiet of the forest and kept to ourselves. It was wonderful. After the first few winters, I had become pregnant with his child, we thought our lives couldn’t be any better. But we were wrong…”

Her expression darkened, her eyes went dull and lifeless and she stared at the floor at nothing in particular while she proceeded telling Amrin of the events.

“One night, Yaren had taken a nice catch to the village to trade for fresh fruits or vegetables and some herbs. It was a day like any other. I was lying in bed and waited for him to return as usual. Then the knock on the door. I was hesitant to answer since we never got visitors. But the banging got louder and more violent. I climbed out of bed and opened the door slowly. Before I could see who was on the other side, the man kicked the door in, knocking me to the ground. That’s when a number of guards came into the house, six of them…two of which were dragging Yaren by his arms.”

Amrin’s heart was beating rapidly, he was getting angry while listening to her story. He knew where it was going from here but still kept quiet.

“He was bleeding, bruised and so badly wounded, and on the verge of death. I screamed for him but one of the guards kicked me to the ground. I had no idea who they were or why they were doing this to us. I pleaded for them to leave and we had no money, but they could take anything they wanted. They hit me again and told me to shut up. The two holding Yaren lifted him up for me to see, and the one that was the leader apparently said ’this was a long time coming!’ and stabbed….stabbed Yaren in the chest…”

She began to sob. The tears ran down her cheeks and her breathing was erratic and she was quivering. Amrin was furious. He knew it was all in the past and what was done was done, but hearing this still caused him to fume.

It took a moment for Kaia to compose and collect herself before she continued. But Amrin was nothing but patient and would let her take as much time as she needed.

“A-after they had killed Yaren, they strung him up by his arms to a tree outside to make an example of him. But they made it worse by stripping him naked and carving into his skin with knives ‘deserter’ across his chest. And left him there. I thought they were finished, I wanted so much for them to just leave and never come back. But they had other plans.”

She tried taking a deep breath in, but instead it turned into her stuttering and convulsing as she breathed in. The tears flowing, her eyes bright red and puffy. It hurt Amrin to see her like this.

“They came back into the house and shut the door. Then tying my arms and hanging me from the lamp hook in the ceiling, they surrounded me. One of them tore my nightgown off and stripped me naked. Some laughed, others spit in disgust…others…touched me. ‘Can you believe this disgusting beast bitch has another abomination brewing in her gut?’ one of them said…I screamed for them to stop. I screamed for help. But no one ever came. The guard that was in command took out a whip and began to whip me over….and over. My back, sides and front were covered in bruises and welts. They took turns whipping me, laughing, spitting on me and beating me…”

It took everything for Amrin not to shout out unconsciously in anger. He was fully aware that Kaia wasn’t the only person to be put through torture like this, or the last, but she was someone he had grown to enjoy the company of and thought very highly of her. Hearing her being put through an event like this infuriated him, as it would anyone that had a heart.

“One of them began to unbutton his pants. Of all the things they could have done to me, I was most afraid of that…but the captain yelled at him and said ’don’t be an idiot! I’ll not be associated with any man that lays with beasts! It’d be no different than fucking livestock!’ To them, I was no better than the animals that are raised and killed for food. No...probably less than, livestock were at least a food source. They began to gather their things, I was so hopeful that they would finally leave. But once again my hopes were shattered. They had come here to kill the last remaining survivors from the mercenary group all those years ago. They each took out a dagger…and stabbed…and stabbed my baby!”

She screamed and covered her face. Amrin had heard enough. He quickly stood and hugged Kaia as tightly as he could. She sobbed in his arms, the screaming muffled only by his clothes and chest. He wished he could do more, he wished so much to ease her pain.

“I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” He said the only thing he could.

She continued to sob into his chest. It took several moments before Kaia could speak again. When she was ready to continue, she nodded and gently pushed Amrin back.

“After they had…stabbed me, they cut me down and left me for dead. I have no idea how long I was there lying in a pool of my own blood, but the only reason I survived was because a gentle old woman from the village who Yaren had befriended and brought fish and small game to, became worried. It was then she found us. She took me back to her home and nursed me back to health…but not before she had to remove…remove my daughter’s body from inside me. It was then I found out that we were to have a baby girl.”

She covered her mouth quickly and began to take slow deliberate breaths to keep from breaking down again.

“She was the local midwife and had delivered many children before. So she had seen many traumatic deliveries. It was her…her experience and skill that I was able to live. But what she told me a few days afterwards only added insult to injury on top of what those monsters did to me that day…”

She breathed in and sniffed hard.

“She said that the damage to my stomach and the surrounding area was so bad that I was…I was not able to have children ever again. So because of those scum, I lost my mate, the child I’ll never see, and the ability to ever have another. I was broken…I was no longer whole.”

She looked up and gazed at Amrin, and through tear filled eyes and smiled wholeheartedly. Her bright white teeth and fangs clearly visible.

“Until I met you.” She said, tears flowing down her bright red cheeks.

“I wish there was more I could do…”

“No. No, master. You have done more than I ever thought possible. For more than thirty years I went through the motions of life because I felt it would be an insult to Yaren and my unborn daughter if I were to die foolishly. But I realize now, that I lived for this day. For the chance to start living my life anew and whole. And it is as such that I do this.”

She wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks and stood from the chair. Stepping to a more open area in the room she fell to her knees and looked directly at Amrin.

“From this moment forward, I hereby pledge myself to you. My body, my heart, my soul and my everything. For all that I am, I am because of you. I vow to follow you, your word and your will until the day that I am no longer needed or the day that I die.” As she finished, she lowered her head and waited quietly for his response.

Amrin’s eyes went wide in confusion and surprise. The words she just spoke were the exact same as…it had to be a coincidence.

“Wh…what are you doing? You serve Ely. You cannot serve two masters at the same time.” He said, trying to pass the issue off.

“I have spoken with Lady Elena, and while I only serve her out of a verbal oath, she has agreed to allow me to serve you completely.”

“What? How? We’re still in New Randess.”

“While you were unconscious, I took the liberty of using your communication crystal. It was with that I was able to relay all of the events that have transpired. It was also at that time she said that if I truly wish to show my gratitude and loyalty, that I form a formal pact with you.”

She said it so simply and naturally, as if a formal pact was something anyone would be able or willing to enter into. He had also completely forgotten about the communication crystal that Ely had given him.

“I see. You know what that entails?” he asked cautiously.

“I do. Lady Elena has made me aware of all of the details. Regardless, it is something I wish to do no matter the consequences. Please, master.”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath in. It was hard to imagine Ely agreeing to or suggesting something like this. There had to be a reason for it.

“Very well. If you are perfectly ok with it.”

“I am. More than you could ever know.” She said wholeheartedly and lowered her head once more.

Amrin stood from the bed and walked up to her and placed his right hand on top of her head. The fur from her ears twitching tickled him slightly, causing him to smile.

“You will have to repeat the pact that you wish to form. But let me make something clear. The wording in the pact is important. Do not say anything specific that you do not wish to be entered into it, for these words hold power, and that will in turn hold power over you.”

“As you say. From this moment forward, I hereby pledge myself to you. My body, my heart, my soul, my love and my everything. For all that I am and will be, is because of you. I vow to follow you, your word and your will until the day that I am no longer needed or the day that I die.”

Her body began to pulse and become enveloped in a dark cloud like wisp. Thicker and thicker it flowed and began to encase her body. Wisps of all other elements popped into existence at the initiation of the pact. The shadow began to converge onto Amrin’s hand and flow up his arm.

Amrin repeated the words in his head and furrowed his brow at how it sounded the second time. After repeating what she said for a second time in his mind, his eyes went wide. She changed the wording…she added more! Before he could remove his hand, the shadowy wisps entered his body and disappeared. So too did the other elemental wisps and the shadows enveloping Kaia. It was too late, the pact was complete.

“Umm…Kaia?”

“Yes, my master?” she said, her voice soft and inviting, while still bowing.

“You…you changed the words of the pact the second time around.”

“I did.” she said simply.

“Why?”

“You said that I should use words that I find important and to enter them into the pact.”

He removed his hand from her head and quickly squeezed the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes. She did the exact opposite of what he said to do. He said not to use words she didn’t want to, but instead she added more.

“But…your love? Isn’t that a bit…I don’t know.” His eyes still closed he knitted his brow in thought on just how to proceed. “Don’t you detest humans?” he finally asked holding his hand out and looking at her with one eyebrow raised in confusion.

“For the many things that are still unknown to me about you master, there is one thing that I know for sure. You are not human.”

He flinched and pursed his lips in confusion. He wasn’t sure whether that was a compliment or not.

“I have not loved or have been able to love for three decades. In these thirty plus years I have looked at the world in black or white. My life had no color, no warmth or compassion. I want that to change. I want to change. I want to be more than just living. I want to feel alive. If there is a possibility that I am able to experience these emotions once more, there is no one I would rather be the first to receive it, than the one that has given my life meaning once more. If there is anyone that is worthy of it, it is you.”

Amrin couldn’t very well deny or refuse her. After hearing her story it was no wonder she felt nothing anymore. It was a wonder she had the resolve to continue living while most would have given up. He looked down at her and once more was impressed. Yet again she realized what was missing, examined the situation and took a chance on bettering herself. Truly amazing. He held out a hand to her and helped her to stand. He looked into her orange eyes and saw determination and drive. He couldn’t argue with her even if he wanted to. She was too headstrong.

“I suppose there’s just no arguing with you, is there?” he said with a sigh. “Well, you know what happens now, right?”

“Happens? I…I wasn’t told anything would actually happen.”

“It’s going to hurt at first, but I promise it will be over before you know it.”

Kaia’s mind went reeling. She had no idea what he was talking about. She knew she promised him her love, and was more than willing to give it, but so suddenly? She couldn’t refuse him though if he asked, nor would she want to. She knew full well why she thought about a mate candidate that day. Amrin was a prime candidate for any demi-human woman. Strong, handsome, intelligent and a born leader. But the thought of him laying with a beast no better than livestock entered her mind. She quickly pushed it out and looked at Amrin.

“P-please be gentle. It’s…been so long.” She whispered.

“Hmm?” he tilted his head in confusion.

It was then something inside her body exploded. An overwhelming surge of power and energy coursed through her. She lost all strength in her body and almost fell.

“Ooh! That was faster than I thought.” He said as he caught her.

Picking her up and laying her on the bed, he watched the pacts magic course through her.

She was hot, too hot, she felt like she was burning up from the inside. She wanted to scream but nothing would leave her throat, she was completely mute. Her body was quivering and her breathing was labored. The surge of energy from inside her was growing more and more. Kaia felt that her body would burst into flames and burn to ash any second. Every muscle in her body tensed and screamed in pain. The veins in her neck, arms and chest could be seen pulsing violently as the blood flowed rapidly through them.

Small streams of tears trickled down her face while she lay in silent agony. Her mouth wide open and wanting to scream, scream with all her might to make it stop, but there was only silence. One more surge of power coursed through her body, causing her to lurch and arch her back into the air. Her chest was going to explode, she knew it. Her hands clutched the bed sheets and pulled on them. But just as she felt that it wouldn’t get any better it all stopped.

Her body slumped back onto the bed and bounced from the sudden drop. Occasionally twitching from the residual effect of the pact finalizing, her body was still hot. Her chest rose and fell rapidly due to her breathing. Her voice was back. The lingering surge of power was coursing through her limbs. She could feel it, it was warm now, not overwhelming her anymore. Kaia turned to look at Amrin who was frowning but looked relieved.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would happen that fast. Usually it takes a bit longer to take effect.”

“Wh…what was that?” she said through labored breaths.

“That was the pacts magic linking us together. A portion of my power is now shared with you.”

The word rang in her ears. A portion of his magic. If this was how it felt to have only a portion of it, the thought of how much power Amrin truly had was terrifying and exhilarating and the same time. She smiled big and began to chuckle.

“Are you ok?” he asked, eyebrows raised in concern.

“Y-yes. My master. I’m…wonderful.” She said while smiling wide, once again showing her brilliant white teeth.

The amount of power she had coursing through her was unimaginable. She didn’t care to find out all of Amrin’s secrets anymore. She would follow him regardless. After giving her a reason to live, hope for the future and for making her whole, she would devote everything to him.

Ancient Demi-human customs declared that the most powerful, the fastest, wisest and respected of them would become Chief of a tribe. The pinnacle of their hierarchy - the Alpha. The one to lead them to greatness and protect them from any danger. She realized then, having felt his power that she wasn’t looking at a suitable mate. No, she was in the presence of her Alpha.