Taru opened his eyes and this is so not his house… but it also wasn't the venue or the woods… or hell. So at least he's not dead. He slowly turned his head to try and see where he was but it was so dark… the last he remembered… he decided to slam himself into a fractal trying to kill it, and Meiko killed it instead… after that everything was really hazy and he honestly just wants to barf.
"Are you actually awake this time or are you gonna just pass out again." Oh it was Jemm, he was peeking over the edge of the bed at him.
Taru just blinked. He isn't actually sure if he's awake… Why is it so hot? He was about to speak but the words he wanted to say did not come out. Instead he just, "A..aaaaaa….." In a really groggy voice.
"T…Taru?" Jemm leaned in. 

"It seems getting doused in that fractal excretion plus the burst of mana has given you a mild case of mana-sickness. You'll be alright after some rest though I don't advise getting up." The elf next to him was known as Poni, one of few elves who devoted themselves to healing as a path. They can be quite… eccentric… though… They began to laugh as they brought their hands to their face. "Your friends… they're so kind you should've seen their cute faces… they came running in holding you saying you were dying… I would've believed it too… there you were practically foaming at the mouth and wheezing… no matter what I tried you wouldn't wake up and you kept rejecting almost every medicine i shoved down your throat. How funny."
If he could, Taru would respond or leave but he can't do either, maybe he is in hell.
"… ok weird comment aside is he gonna be okay? Should he stay here or is it okay for me to bring him home?" Jemm stood.
"Oh yes he can go home, I'd be careful moving him though as changes in mana can effect recovery. I can make a nice detailed list for you to follow for helping him get better. Also that means absolutely no work. You hear me Kiyo? No. Working. Do. Not. Use. Your. MANA." They poked at his nose as they spoke.
Taru closed his eyes, imagine the picture of the dog in the sunset.
"Well you guys take care alright? If any symptoms begin to get worse call me immediately and I'll be right over. Granted he doesn't die before then." They smiled. What a morbid healer… "Oh and careful moving him, sudden fluctuations in mana can make it worse. Once you have him in a place keep him there until he begins to improve. Of course refer to my first line of advice if that does not happen." They nodded.

And so Jemm carried him back. What a morbid healer… and a terrible end to that mission. Getting threatened by MiMi was bad enough but he was hoping that would've been the end of it… and then that fractal shows up and Taru gets sick. He and Yoshi were lucky Taru was so light but he wouldn't stop shaking and puking mana the entire time they dragged him back which didn't make it easy…
MiMi shattered that gem in one hit though… is she stronger than Taru then? They are siblings but he's the high elf… Okay, right no need to think about it. Not his business and really even better to not think about it.

Jemm carefully placed Taru in bed and huffed as he took the note out and read over it. It was very very detailed. Mana sickness really wasn't a joke, most elves rarely get sick because the concentration of mana around them is so strong, so when it weakens they can get sick from anything, though getting sick from a lack of mana is the closest to death one can get since it makes it harder to actually keep any mana in the body. It's always a 50/50, while some simply are mildly dizzy and tired for a while some… simply just begin to lose whatever they had left rapidly until they turn into a fractal or back into wood. Unless something can continuously funnel mana until they get better…
Jemm looked at his hand and then at Taru. He stopped losing mana once they got to Poni… so maybe he'll be fine… He decided to leave to go get something.

Taru slowly opened his eyes. Oh hey now he was in bed. He's still so dizzy, he hasn't felt this sick since… thinking about it makes him feel sick…
"Oh you're awa- actually no I'm not saying that you've passed out each time." Jemm set a tray on the nightstand. "Oh let me get your earrings for you…" He reached out and carefully started removing his earrings and setting them aside. "Do you… feel any better? You were like real out of it for the past few hours…"
"Blegh." He stuck his tongue out. Usually Jemm would find that funny but instead he just found himself reeling back slightly. "Please don't… I don't think you have enough mana left to do that…"
Taru groaned and turned his head to the side and Jemm stood, leaning over him since his fingers were on his face piercing still. "Woah woah careful!" he sighed. "So… can you open your mouth so I can remove these two?"

Once he had all of his jewelry off he took them to the bathroom. It was so unorganized… He glanced back at Taru before at the mess. Surely he wouldn't… mind? He started cleaning up and organizing everything. When he came back out he saw Taru staring blankly at the canopy above… he carefully fixed it so it was actually attached to the bed correctly.
"Do you think you can sit up for tea? Or are you still too dizzy?"
Taru slowly sat up with help from Jemm and he leaned back into his pillows. Jemm set the tray on his lap and started stirring his tea, he then held the cup up to his lips. "It's warm so you don't have to worry about burning yourself."
He closed his eyes and started drinking it. Jemm lowered the cup so he could take a breath and set it down. "Was that alright?"
Taru nodded.
"Good…" He stood, looking around. He… wants to clean his room so bad… Taru looked like he was dozing off… alright as long as he doesn't touch anything important or lose anything surely its fine right?? He started moving around and picking stuff up, putting things away and folding and separating clothes.
"… what are you doing…" Taru mumbled.
Jemm froze and slowly turned around. "I… Uh… w…well you're sick so… I just figured I'd help… by cleaning up…" He stood. "Listen I'm sorry I should've asked before i started touching your stuff-"
"It's okay." He closed his eyes again. "I don't care…"
Jemm let out a breath he definitely knew he was holding.

Once he finished cleaning he walked back over and sat on the bed. Taru had just been sitting there with his eyes closed… his nose started dripping, glowing stuff dropping on the tray. Mana. Jemm flailed a moment before quickly grabbing a tissue and wiping his nose. "You're leaking again dude… okay okay what did the note say…" He read over it. "Okay… Dammit the weird guy didn't write anything about you losing mana like this…"
"You have such pretty eyes…" Taru mumbled.
Jemm's eyes widened slightly before he turned away, he didn't even realize he opened them wide enough for him to see them. He turned back towards him once they were back to being practically shut. "Are you okay??"
He's staring blankly, does he even know he exists?
Jemm reached out and poked his forehead, he was warm still. "Do you wanna lie down? Or do you need to go to the bathroom?"
He's still staring… he's used to Taru staring but this felt weird since it wasn't his usual uninterested stare, his brain might have actually melted.
"How many fingers am I holding-"
He hiccuped slightly, and Jemm immediately picked him up and ran out. 

"Oh dear he's sick? That's unfortunate… Well at least he handled the fractal that's all that matters." Imani leaned back in her chair. "Do you need any help? We know he can be a handful… I can send something for you both or come help you."
"It's fine… We don't need both of you out of work… I can handle it." Jemm laughed nervously. "I just realized I never called after we finished the mission and told you… I'm sure Yoshi was confused that we haven't been showing up."
"Actually she uh-"
"Oh shit- Uh Sorry I have to go thanks again I'll call if I need your help-" Jemm threw his manaslate aside and quickly ran in the room. Pushing Taru back down. "Stooooop trying to get up! You can't go anywhere."
Taru squinted. "I feel… fine… I'm tired of being in here…" He groaned.
"Okay well what will we do if you go outside and fall over cause the feel outside is weird or something?" He let go. "Then you'll start losing mana again and die."
Taru's eyes wandered away. "Nuh uh."
"Shut up you sound like Yoshi."
He does not have a comeback for that he just stared at him.
"Look I know it's been a few days now, but you gotta stay down if you wanna get better. Think about it, the quicker you get better the faster you can be right back out there reading your books and slaying those monsters so just chill out." He pat his head. "Besides you need a break anyways. So take this like it's a vacation."
"A vacation that can end abruptly if I start losing mana and die." Taru deadpanned.
"Oh so you can say that but I can't- Nope, not gonna do it." Jemm walked out and came back with a tray of tea and snacks. "Poni said you can try to eat if you aren't nauseous anymore. If you are then I'll eat these instead." He smiled.
Taru picked up the tea and began to sip on it. Watching Jemm as he just paced around. He lowered the cup. "Are you really that worried…" He mumbled.
"YES I AM!" He spoke very loud and very quickly which made Taru reel back a bit. Though when he realized he yelled Jemm sighed and scratched the back of his head. "I didn't mean to yell man, I just… first this is very deadly and you have to know that, second I hate how you completely disregard yourself anytime I show any concern for you in any capacity! Do you know what it was like carrying you back after that? You literally were throwing up so much mana we weren't even sure if you were close to dying or not we only were sure you were fine cause Poni told us this had happened before and you have apparently an unholy amount but that still doesn't mean I wanna see you sick!"
Taru's eyes wandered away, he then closed them… and then he hung his head. He looks like he's pouting and maybe he is but he also genuinely has no clue how to respond to this without just saying 'I'm fine' or 'It's okay' or 'If I die so what?' cause he's being so sincere… and passionate. He's always so sincere when they get all feely and emotional like this and he never knows how to respond and it makes his skin crawl even more than usual…
"I… uh… ugh." Taru just turned his face away fully. He did not mean to say that but he couldn't stop himself.
"Are you okay?" Jemm walked up on the side of him.
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"Maybe."
"Maybe is not an answer." He crossed his arms.

Taru's manaslate began to buzz. Oh right he did have one of those… he was shocked it wasn't destroyed. Taru picked it up and he made a face at the number that rang on it. So Jemm took it. "Wh- hey-"
"You're sick and I'm your assistant, therefore I should be helping you while you're sick." He hummed.
Taru was gonna protest but honestly… he was real tired. Plus seeing who it was… letting Jemm handle it might be better.
"Hello-" Was the only thing Jemm got out before the other voice began.
"You know you missed our date two nights ago, and when I messaged you to come by still you not only ignored my messages but you also did not show. I don't know what your problem is now but I've seen everywhere saying you haven't been anywhere since that little festival mission where your sister took your kill. You can sulk all you want about it, believe me I don't care, however you aren't going to get in the way of my part of the contract because you couldn't do your job and had to get saved by your big sister. Everyone already knows she should've been the high elf cause she's stronger than you so there's no point brooding over that. Now I will be by tonight and we will meet so they can stop pestering me about seeing you is that clear."
Jemm just stared at the phone. He honestly forgot Taru had a boyfriend mostly since he's seen him have more chemistry with Vywr… or a book… He took a deep breath and put the phone to his ear. "Yeah so do you want me to pass that onto him in a nicer tone or what? Cause I am not saying all of that."
"Who is this." It sounded like he got closer to the phone, funny, he sounds pissed.
"My name is Jemm, I'm Taru's assistant. Now I'll say this slowly alright? Taru is dealing with a really bad case of mana sickness and absolutely cannot leave nor have any company alright? He's been struggling to keep any mana and he's finally gone a full day without losing any and I'm not going to have you undo all of that progress." He spoke slowly.
"Assistant? When did he get an assistant? You know what whatever… You don't dictate anything. Why do you even have his slate to begin with." He hissed.
"Cause he gave it to me. Goodbye." He hung up before the other could say anything else. Jemm turned to Taru who was staring at him with really really wide eyes. Oh man did his brain melt again?
He offered him his manaslate back but he shook his head. "Put… it… put it on silent…" He mumbled.
"Why- Oh-" His slate began to buzz rapidly with many many messages, so Jemm put it on silent. "I'll… go put this in my room.
Taru nodded. "Okay…"

"Glad to see you're doing better, you know Jemm put it like you were on deaths door." Imani pat Taru on the head. Taru squinted and slowly looked over at Jemm who turned back to organizing books. "I was fine really, just a bit dizzy and nauseous… that's all." He pushed her hand off. "There were no attacks while I was gone was there?"
"Nothing we couldn't handle. Though there is something I need you to go deal with. Yoshi also hasn't come back since you guys returned from that trip. I'm worried something may have happened to her… Did she also get sick or did she simply go off since you were away? I'm not exactly sure… On top of that she isn't answering me."
"I see. Okay I'll see if I can find her." Taru nodded. He and Jemm set out once they finished tidying up and first they went back by Poni's who was crushing… questionable substances. They put them away quickly. "Ah I'm glad to see you recovered. I knew you had it in you." They stood. "Did you need anything? A check up or more medicine?"
"After we left here do you happen to know where Yoshi went? She was the really really short elf in green and a really broody expression." Jemm spoke.
"Ah, let me see… I remember you two carried him in here… and you were freaking out… and when I started giving him medicine she simply left." Poni shrugged. "I apologize I can't help much, though if you would like the more eyes the better, I can help you look."
Taru and Jemm traded looks before they nodded. "Alright, we can go start in the forest." Although Taru did have a feeling he knew where she was already.