At the checkpoint, there’s only a watchtower that oversees the south area, and a stationary barrack for the patrolling groups. It is quiet and houses only a small number of troops, though otherwise well-equipped for any kinds of emergency attacks and medical situations.

Penelope takes them to meet with the post’s leader, and reports to them about the monster clusters in the map area they just found. The able Guide then asks for the leader to excuse both Amara and Sara earlier after giving their account as Penelope says that they need to rest up after ‘assisting with the operation’.

Both Penelope and Shura don’t talk after that, and as both Amara and Sara must continue their mission, they part from them in the checkpoint.

Of course, Sara urges Amara to take time as she needs Guiding. They both settle in the barrack’s common room, close to the infirmary, with Sara stops her there so she can take a good look at Esper, who’s talking more normally now.

There’s no sign of Mental Out—or not yet, just a sensory overload after having to concentrate her Aerokinesis with every ‘exploding’ punch. Her ringing ears and absence in response from earlier can be one of indications, though unlike the first time when they were working together, Amara doesn’t show any physical signs of exhaustion.

“How’s your condition now, your ears still ringing?”

Amara shakes her head, “It’s better.”

“I can hear but in that.”

“Miss Khalida, I feel quite alright.”

Sara casts another doubtful look, “Don’t be like Miss Shura.”

Amara chuckles, “I’m not, really, you can see for yourself.”

Sara is not the least bit convinced, but Amara isn’t wrong. She looks perfectly okay.

The bespectacled woman inches closer, her hands reach for Amara’s cheeks, then her fingers caress on Amara’s ears. Amara stills, but she doesn’t relent from the touch. Amara is slightly bit taller, though not too tall that Sara has to tiptoe for reaching her. Sara mumbles a word of excuse as she tilts Amara’s head lower, and begins administering her Guiding as she touches the ears, probing whether there’s something wrong.

They’re so close that she can look deeply into Amara’s amber eyes. Amara doesn’t blink. She stares back, holds the gaze, and opens her mouth slightly, as though entranced.

The probe is working. Through her touch, Sara slowly unravels the knots. Uneasiness in Amara’s expression slowly wears down.

“... Ah.”

“Yes?” Sara asks softly. The touch to Amara’s skin feels colder, but maybe it’s just her being warmer.

“It’s even better now.”

“See? So the problem wasn’t gone, after all.” Sara murmurs, maintaining her position. Her thumb brushes on the lower shell of Amara’s ear, and the redhead flinches.

“Mm—”

“Sorry... is it your weak spot?”

Amara’s cheeks dust pink. Sara feels stupid for asking. 

As it is awkward to be there, standing around, doing Guiding despite the hallway being deserted, the silence is deafening. Sara clears her throat as an indication, before she shifts slightly, adjusting her hands around Amara and tilts the Esper’s head forward, so their forehead touches. Amara’s hands remain slack beside herself, she doesn’t make any move to come closer than that.

“Miss Angkara you can …” Sara steels herself. “... hug me, if you want. This will take a while and I need you to relax more.”

“I—alright.”

It’s only a half embrace at most, with Amara’s hands secure around the small of Sara’s back, and she doesn’t pull her in. Amara takes in a deep breath, as if steadying herself, while Sara silently implores her. Concentrating, yes. Heart-skipping, yes. Guiding, yes. But-

“Say,” Sara wets her lips. “How come the brick exploded like that earlier?”

“A simple science.” Amara answers, there is a shrill ringing in her voice. “Though it can only happen as rocks here are already saturated in Aether. You just put another force to catalyze a reaction between two saturated rocks—in that case, the force from my Aerokinesis.”

She recalls the rush of wind, and the moment when a brick falls in front of Amara to be greeted by her air ‘fist’. Just as Shura lauded, ‘like a psychokinesis’. 

Amara already plans on that, counting the trajectory ahead of time. Making swift decisions that four of them can handle.

Sara pulls away, indicating the Guiding is done. Amara touches her own cheeks. The tips of her ears are red, though it doesn’t remain for too long.

“How come it can work like that too for two concentrated rocks?”

Amara smiles, “... It’s just knowledge in mining and Aether-related masonry.”

“Mining,” Sara repeats the word as though it is foreign to her. Somehow that she doesn’t have anything to do with her hands, she rubs it together instead. “So when you said you’ve came from outside the Capital-”

“Yes, I was a child of a miner family,” the redhead resumes. “It’s nothing extravagant, we’re working class at most.”

Sara nods along, taking in the information. It’s strange to learn something so new, never she’d expect that Amara is coming from a modest household. She looks almost on par with other high profile Esper families like Valendorf and Hamelin.

“Right, now that we’re done with this, shall we go back to our patrol?”

“Yes, we still have some time,” Amara checks the time. “Are we close by with the nearest safehouse, or shall we camp again?”

“I think we can still make it in time for the safehouse if we follow the right trail.” Sara pushes up her glasses.

Then, they carry on as if nothing happened—just another day between an Esper and a Guide in the middle of an important mission.