I startled awake again, alone, and staring at the feet of a creature that I knew was too feeble for resistance. I pulled at my covers, curling into myself as I waited for dawn to arrive and the bone-drinking beast to leave me alone. But it took from me and absorbed the fine static above my skin into itself. I tried to pull my hand back from the tendril leeching into my arm, but it stepped with me, and a long talon sank through my flesh with a grip strong enough to grind the bones.

I found myself unable to cry out, or summon the flicker of protection offered from the static around me, so I waited already half-asleep and weak enough to feel my body shiver. "Kid?" The blankets were removed, "why is your arm out? Did you get too hot? I didn't—" I pulled it in, hiding further underneath the sheets.

"I have bread for you, and some sweet porridge today." He moved the chair over to me again, but I couldn't sit up. I hummed at the smell, warm through the air and so close. Chike sat upon the bed, his weight pulling me closer to him.

"You're cold again, why are you cold again?" He huffed while his hand reached under the covers. The same cold made me pull away from him as it pressed against my forehead, "you can't get sick…" I heard him mumble and with a frustrated hum, he sat me up against the pillows, before seating himself upon the chair.

"Mother and Father had to leave, so it's just us."

"Stay…?" I whispered.

"I really don't want to spend all day babysitting you." He said, "and I can't, I have lessons with my Aunt." He paused, "actually…" he stood then leaned to adjust the blanket around me, he scooted me closer and I fell upon his shoulder once he picked me up then adjusted me further. "Don't look, Mother will kill me if she knew I was showing you the mansion." Even if I wanted to spite him, I could barely keep myself from shivering, let alone keep my eyes open.

"Mas—" Chike motioned for the man to be quiet, jostling me from a short rest.

"Do not say anything to my Mother." He said, his young voice steady.

"I—" the man cleared his throat. "Certainly." The blanket had moved when Chike stepped away and I was able to see a grand floor, shimmering our reflection back at us. The patterns that passed were black but webbed with white veins until a thick fabric led us to a door. The cold was heavy as I coughed through a dizzy sway that kept my coherence unravelled.

"Chike?" Her tone was warm, it made me flinch unexpectedly.

"Yuna, he's a fire mage, and cold all the time." A hand had slipped under the hem of my blanket, the knuckles placed upon my brow were luke-warm but gentle, with her thumb brushing above my eye, then to my cheek. She held above my jaw, almost hovering until her thumb passed in a calm caress.

"Any bite wounds?" Chike adjusted me, his silence long before I could feel the shake of his head.

"No?" He said, sighing, "he's asleep most of the time. I thought it was him just healing, but…I don't really think that's the case anymore." Yuna was slow to open the blanket, her face was hidden by the soft fabric as she lifted my arm to observe where the creature might have punctured my flesh, but no wound marred me.

"Squeeze if you require me to leave you be." She said, placing her fingers beneath mine. Her touch was steady, warm, it felt nice as she slowly pulled at my other arm to look at it. The brand remained which she covered with a silent regard when she turned over my wrist. My hand was supported by a set of short, coloured nails that flickering with a brilliant blue dust. Her callouses spread out my fingers, until her thumb brushed over my knuckles with a care that sent shivers through me.

"Come, we need to speak with your Mother."

"She's not here, she's…talking to another—adult with Father. And I can fight a measly Ghoul, Aunt Yuna! If it is a Ghoul." Chike's adjusted me with a quick huff.

"Yes, but it will kill your guest just as quickly." Yuna said. "Come, we will postpone for this weekend."

"What are we going to be doing? Mother will be displeased."

Yuna moved away, and I was able to see thick padding upon her body. "We need to care for the young man you are currently carrying, Chike. Everyone is slightly different, especially when they aren't trained in magic."

"Right." He said, following after her. His breathing and heartbeat were elevated as we returned to the room, it would have been a comfort if I hadn't felt insecure in his arms. When we entered, Chike placed me back onto the bed, leaning me upon the pillows while covering my leg with the blanket. Yuna paused when she saw me, her brow furrowing slightly as she looked me over and then back to Chike.

She looked older and the corner of her eyes were creased. She wore a blue coat, which was open and stopped down to her mid-thighs, it was short-sleeved, belted under her chest with a black, long sleeve fabric covering her peachy-skin underneath. She wore more padding upon her legs and thin shoes that were nearly silent upon the wooden floor. When I looked up at her face; I felt my tension leave when I recognised a softness upon her brow and kindness in her eyes. Her brown hair was short, barely to her shoulders with a blue band pushing back her bangs. Her blue eyes studied me, until a genuine smile greeted me.

"I'll stay here in your stead, how about you work on your studies in the meantime and tell your mother there was something more pressing that I had to attend to." Yuna's tone was quiet, with a gentleness that I wanted to lean against.

"I can do it."

"I know, but you are very busy and the Ghoul will not leave him alone." Chike's silence made my eyes open to ensure that he was still sitting upon the bed. He was, and I found him staring down at me, his lips pushing into a frown.

"Fine. I guess you're right. I just—Mother told me to watch him."

"And you are, but you can't all day." He paused momentarily before continuing. "How about you show her a new schematic? Something that will help our friend?"

Chike answered with a scoff. "He's not my friend…" his inhale was brief, "but—I think your idea seems feasible. I do want to show Mother my current work though."

Yuna scooted closer, folding my hands over my stomach. "Then let's keep it a secret, I know you can complete this in a few days though."

"I could, by this weekend." He said, nodding. "I'll get to work now."

"Goodbye, Chike." He waved at Yuna as he left.

The silence was long and she sat with me, her breathing a genuine presence. "Are you awake?" She asked, I fluttered open my eyes, staring at her blearily, "do you want to hold my hand?" Yuna placed her open palm beside me, leaning closer.

"How many?" She hummed curiously and I raised my hand towards her, reaching for her ears. "It was said that there were only a few."

"Few whom?" Yuna asked, leaning for me to pinch at the ridge.

"Us." I pointed at my ears.

"Alvarians?" She tilted her head slightly, her squint and uplift of her chin brief. "You were told that there were only a few Alvarians in the world?"

"Ever." I said.

She shuffled, but kept her hands on the bed. I hesitated before I grasped her fingers, she was warm, and her smile spread wide upon her lips. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Yuna." I stared at her before I answered.

"I'm Twelve."

"Do you like that name?" Her expression remained wholly neutral, but there was an intensity behind her eyes.

"I don't have more names."

She nodded sympathetically. "Unfortunate—would you be willing if I gave you a new one?"

"You can do that?"

Yuna's smile returned, "of course. But I need your permission."

"Why?" I had closed my eyes again, realising my question was delayed by a few breaths when I managed to wake again.

"Why? Oh! Well—consider it a blessing of sorts. You're giving me permission to do something for you. It's very important to ask someone permission."

"What's permission?"

She paused, "have you ever had someone do something to you that you didn't like? Such as touching you on your shoulder when you're feeling hurt, but you don't want them to touch you?" I grimaced and nodded as Yuna continued. "Well, permission is when you allow someone to interact with you. Which is also called consent, it's important because it sets up boundaries with people and what they can expect."

"What happens when they ignore it?"

Yuna inhales slowly, "a few things, but it depends on the person. If they are a nice person they will accept that you said 'no'. If they are a bad person you need to be firm with them, and tell them 'no' again. But if they are a really bad person, you run as fast as you can and tell an adult."

"No, adults…" I said, the sudden strain burning up my throat.

"Have adults hurt you?" I squeezed her hand, the other brushed away my tears, a gentle sob pulled itself from deep in my lungs as her whole palm rested upon my cheek. Her thumb continued to stroke underneath my eye.

"No, but they're scary—I had Her." Yuna quieted, the soft shudder of my inhales tired me further until I felt the warmth settled upon my palm leave. But I was too tired to pull it back.

"I apologise for tiring you, rest. I'll stay." She pulled the blanket up to my shoulders. I tried to keep my eyes open, the numb exhaustion pulling at my want to continue speaking with her. But I couldn't form my words before I fell asleep immediately.

I heard voices the next time I woke. The door opened softly, with Chike and Yuna entering. "He really likes bread." I heard him say, coming around to my side to set the tray by the table. "You're awake, that's good. Do you need help eating?" I nodded slowly, trying to sit up.

I startled back from a flash of bright-green before the tray was set down on a table. I glared dubiously at its sudden appearance, but forgot about it when a warm spoon was placed upon my lips. I opened them automatically, humming with the savoury taste.

"I—they put mushrooms in this one." I heard Chike whisper, "is it good?" The texture was different, with a spiced taste, muted upon my tongue but flavourful with something I couldn't think of. "I also added some chicken too, and a few carrots. Something simple to balance the bland texture of rice."

"I like…" I mumbled, but it slurred and Chike huffed.

"It must be hot." I heard him blow on it before he spooned another bite past my lips. It was easy to chew, and honestly good enough that I wanted more when the empty bowl clattered upon the tray. I swallowed my request as a roll was placed into my hands.

"Chike. You should stay here tonight." I heard Yuna say.

"I don't want to though." He tutted.

"I think it's best." Her tone was stern and with a long sigh, Chike stood.

"Why can't we move him closer to my room?" I saw Chike gather the finished tray then set it upon the table.

"You passed your demonology class Chike, I do not need to lecture you on the detriments to that idea."

"It hasn't killed him though."

"It will if he moves rooms. Therefore, I think you should stay here for a few nights and see if you can exorcise it."

"Fine." He sighed, exaggeratedly falling upon the chair by the table while I fell asleep again.

He left. With the minimal strength I had I sat up. The faint reminder of my limbs dragged under the covers, the pain that came with it crawled up my throat with a strained panting. It itched horribly, somewhere down by my ankle that folded into a sharp and painful pulse.

I noticed the creature almost immediately, the Ghoul had settled in the corner above me, squeezed into a created, dark tear where it stared, barely moving or breathing. I sat at the edge of the bed, my leg hung off and far from the floor, with a seemingly infinite void open below.

I tensed, once I realised a body was laying in the centre of the room, another stood in the far corner, and the one beneath the bed was staring up at me.

I cried weakly when her hand reached for my ankle. Her fingers were cold and shackled itself to my attempt at leaving. I tried to pull away, but it was dragging me down. The sheets folded loosely in my grip stretching with a subtle shift while I tried to pull back. A hard yank pulled me to the floor and I found myself bathed in blood. More bodies were lying utterly broken around me, flayed alive to release the rot which burrowed wholly into my panic with a spark from my palms. The light blasted out, hot and sudden that my ears rang upon its expulsion, I didn't move even as my body ached with each hard shiver.

The darkness returned with a crushing silence—but the smell of burnt flesh was cathartic, despite making a horrid gag push from my stomach. Alongside a trembling weakness I slowly curled onto my side folding my hands over my ears to stop the slow. I didn't know if it was a scream or if the fire I summoned was melting the walls but something was too loud.

Chike was kneeling in front of me, his hand hovering for a moment before squeezing my arm. "I leave you alone for two seconds…" he was looking at the bed. "You killed it? No one—"

"Young Master, come away!"

Chike raised his hands, "it-it was an accident! He didn't hurt anyone!"

"We have strict orders—!"

"At ease!" A woman shouted, "please bring me a pitcher of water and a blanket." Yuna stood in the doorway and a man was behind her, his expression shaded by the casted light while he observed the simmering walls. I could barely breath, the room was too dark for me to convince myself that something wouldn't crawl from the crevices. More people returned, the man had blocked them and Yuna entered the room with a calm confidence. She set down the pitcher in the middle and stood with her palm hovering above the container.