Even though they normally trained together daily, Tiv avoided Ezra for three days, until he saw her walk down one of the halls on the fourth day. He rushed up to them and took their hand, pulling them into a small room they passed. 

“Tiv, sun and its stars, what is wrong?” Ezra pleaded, “We are friends” 

“Friends?” Tiv looked up at him. “Nothing more, after what happened? You don’t have, let’s say, expectations, from me, or will want to hold my hand, or kiss me or lie with me or do anything that we did?” 

Ezra was stunned. “Look, the other day was fun. I enjoyed it, I’ll admit, but I’m not expecting a single thing more, unless it’s something you want as well. The fey wine and dance got to our heads, it happens. We are friends and yes I may have some feelings for you since we became closer but Tiv, I would never expect anything more from you unless it’s something you want as well. I respect you, as I do Calixa.” 

“You still use the present tense when talking about her” they noted. 

“I- yeah.” 

Tiv narrowed their eyes. “Hmm… Okay. I’ll give you one truth if you give me one.” 

Ezra rose an eyebrow, but smiled. This was much closer to their usual friendship. “Okay” 

“I am terrified of being tied down to someone. Yes I do like you, and your company. Yes, the other night was fun. But I never want to be committed to anything except the crown that saved me.” 

“I’m not surprised.” Ezra chuckled. “You’ve always been a free spirit.” 

She waved his comment away. “Whatever. Now tell me, you don’t only miss the princess, you had true feelings for her, didn’t you?” 

Ezra felt the world freeze around him. “I- Excuse me?” 

“You’re the last who saw her. You’re her spirit guard, so always had a special bond with her. You’re not just in mourning, you’re heartbroken.”

“I- I don’t know how to answer that” Ezra stammered. “I’m simply her spirit guard.” 

“There’s that present tense again.” 

Ezra stared at Tiv, feeling… blank. 

“Rays of the Sun…” 

“Are you alright?” 

“I- I don’t know. I think I need to think about that.” He took their hand. “I hope… sun, I truly hope you don’t feel used. As I said I do like you, I just-”

“Ezra I’m fine, now that I’ve said my truth. Don’t worry about me. I’m glad it was with you and not someone else. We are friends. I should maybe even like to kiss you again if the time is right, you were good at it" she closed her hand into a fist and softly hit his arm. 

Ezra considered them in front of him “You are an odd one, you know that? Your mind keeps changing” 

“Mother used to say it fluttered like a butterfly” 

“She’s not wrong” he chuckled. “Air guard indeed”