Chapter Text
One spring morning, Krobus feels the prickle of mana inside of his mouth. Typically, when Lena uses mana, his gums tingle and that is it. This… this is different. The prickle becomes a pressure that pushes down until his tiny fangs elongate. Lena has never used this much mana in his presence before, and his survival instincts are activated.
Slowly, he creeps toward the kitchen window. Peering cautiously from the bottom pane, he sees Lena in a defensive stance with her back to the farmhouse. In the fields surrounding her, Junimos chirp and shimmer in an almost prismatic way as they siphon their mana to her. She is a sight to behold, powerful and intimidating in the early morning sun.
A man with a shock of red hair faces her, albeit several feet away. His palms are up, signaling his lack of threat. He, too, possesses mana, but his is not readied as Lena's is. Krobus cannot hear him, but his expression is mollifying. He seems to be explaining something to her, perhaps describing how he's not a threat, but both Lena's stance and her mana do not back down.
Lena must be saying something to him now, but Krobus cannot see her face, only the man's. His eyes widen for a moment in surprise before his face takes on an almost apologetic look. He's agreeing with whatever Lena has said, nodding his head as he speaks a few more words. He puts a hand to his chest, gives Lena a deep nod, and fades away.
Lena's mana continues to thrum for another minute, heavy in the air. When it is clear the man is not returning, she finally drops it. The release makes Krobus’ fangs ache as a shiver ripples through his body. The Junimos chirp happily as they reabsorb mana from the air before continuing their harvest.
Lena turns on her heel and begins to march towards the farmhouse.
Krobus scampers away from the window to hover by the front door. When it opens and Lena sees him, she takes two lengthened strides and scoops him up in a hug. Krobus can smell her irritation, sharp and tangy.
“Lena?” he asks, uncertain and more than a little apprehensive. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“Some stupid First Slash guy,” she says into the top of his head. She gives him one final squeeze and then steps back, frowning. “He came by to see you.”
“Me?” Krobus squeaks.
“Apparently our living situation was brought up again at a council meeting,” Lena grumbles. Krobus’ shoulders slump and Lena’s eyes widen. Reaching out, she takes his slumped shoulders and gives them a gentle squeeze. “No, no. It’s nothing to worry about, they won’t go back on their word. We all signed the contract, they can’t go back on it.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Krobus asks quietly.
“Not our living situation, not us,” she assures before letting go of him in order to cross her arms. “But apparently Jolyne’s second-in-command wasn’t made aware until this meeting. He’s got a particular interest in monsters, and he wanted to meet you.”
“Why?” Krobus near-whispers, curling in slightly on himself.
Lena lets out a huff, tilting her head slightly to glare at the wall behind Krobus.
“Why indeed,” she mutters. “No warning from the council, no letter, no anything. They know how uneasy you are around humans, and yet they allow this guy to just… show up unannounced? Wanting to peer at you like some creature in a zoo?”
Krobus feels his gums tingle as Lena’s mana unconsciously begins to flare again.
“This is your home,” Lena continues. “This land has been declared a neutral zone. Guild members should not be showing up here unannounced. We signed a contact. It comes across as threatening if we receive no warning, and no one should feel threatened in their home. I told him that. I told him if he has any decency at all, he’ll ask you for your permission before even thinking about visiting again.”
Krobus blinks.
“My… my permission?”
“Of course,” Lena says, mana dropping as she properly faces Krobus again. “It’s your decision whether or not you want to entertain anyone’s curiosity or company. This is your home. People need your permission to come into your home.”
“O-oh,” Krobus says in a small voice. “Sometimes… I forget… it’s, it’s hard sometimes, to not think I’m just staying with you in your home.”
Lena smiles before opening her arms up. Krobus goes into them willingly, snuggling up under her chin.
“It’s our home, both of ours,” Lena says, wrapping her arms around Krobus’ small frame. “And if that First Slash jerk ever wants to show his face around here again, he better send a letter next time.”
Krobus feels the tension in his body leave as he relaxes into Lena’s embrace. He doesn’t tell Lena, but he thinks she knows: even though the farm is quite a nice place to call home, anywhere can be home as long as he has Lena.
A letter from the council arrives the following day.
Though it is addressed to them both, Lena gives it to Krobus to read first. He skims over it before passing it back to Lena. She snorts at the contents.
“Of course it was Camilla,” she mutters under her breath, before asking: “So, how do you feel about this?”
Krobus frowns at the letter, thinking. Lena waits patiently. Krobus likes that about her: she always gives him all the time he needs in order to process things.
“I think,” he says finally, “I’m okay with it.”
“Really?” Lena raises a brow. “Camilla is a handful on her own, and I don’t know much about Mr. First Slash Guy.”
Krobus thinks for another few moments.
“Yes,” he says, definitively. “I’d like to hear what they have to say.”
“Alright,” Lena says, summoning paper and a pen from upstairs. “How do you want me to word it?”
Krobus isn’t sure how he feels about Camilla. He’d met her only once before, at the council meeting where various guilds and magical bureaucrats signed off on his and Lena’s living arrangement.
She hadn't said much, and she hadn't stayed for long. But there was a slightly… maniacal energy about her, and her fixation on Lena had not gone unnoticed.
Seeing Camilla again, Krobus not only notices the fixation once more, but also feels a sense of understanding over Lena's anger the previous day. What had Lena said, again? That Krobus wasn't 'some creature in a zoo' to be looked at by others? There's a constant calculating look in Camilla's eyes that makes Krobus feel like the witch sees Lena as a creature as well; not as an autonomous being, but something to be studied.
Krobus doesn't like that.
“Lena!” Camilla coos as the front door opens.
She steps forward to kiss both of Lena’s cheeks, and Lena freezes uncomfortably.
Yes, Krobus really doesn’t like that.
While Krobus peers outside the farmhouse from behind Lena, he notices the red-haired man standing awkwardly at the bottom of the porch staircase, gripping something in his hand.
“Camilla,” Lena regards cautiously. “I hear you’re to blame for yesterday’s misunderstanding?”
Tension visibly leaves the red-haired man’s shoulders.
“Oh yes, sorry about that darling, but I couldn’t help but be curious,” Camilla says with an innocent smile.
“Curious about what?” Lena asks, shifting ever-so-slightly to better block Krobus from the door.
“See now, isn’t that sweet?” she calls back to the red-haired man. “Look at her, acting like she could actually stop me from doing something.”
“Camilla,” Lena warns in a low, even tone.
“You just fascinate me dear, that’s all,” Camilla soothes. “I truly meant no harm. Love is just such a powerful motivator, and I feel we’ve all yet to see your true potential.”
The man stiffens before immediately stomping up the stairs.
“Camilla,” he says, horrified, now standing beside the witch, “You didn’t…”
“You wanted me to fight a member of the First Slash?” Lena hisses.
Krobus feels his gums begin to prickle.
“I just wanted to see what you would do,” Camilla says lightly. “Though nothing came out of it. Fortunately, unfortunately, depending on who you talk to.”
“Depending on who…” the man splutters.
“Who?” Lena snaps, and Krobus sees Junimos in the distance begin to leave their huts, shimmering ever-so-slightly.
As if sensing the Junimos, Camilla turns.
“Now that,” she says, “is fascinating.”
All of a sudden, a barrier pushes both Camilla and the red-haired man off the porch and down the steps. The man stumbles, but does not fall, and Camilla merely floats back into a standing position.
Camilla’s grin is positively wicked.
“Such raw potential,” she says with a happy sigh, running a finger along the barrier that now prevents her from walking forward. “And such a deep connection to the forest. Perhaps one day, you really will be able to stop me. But, not today.”
With a snap of her fingers, the barrier dissipates, and Camilla takes a step forward.
“That is enough.”
The man’s hand, the one not gripping something, comes down hard on the witch’s shoulder. She turns slightly to give him a lazy smile. She goes to open her mouth, but the man cuts her off.
“No,” he says, firmly, almost angrily. “No. We were supposed to come here to apologize, not antagonize them further! If you take another step forward, I’m summoning the council.”
Using the hand still gripping the–is it paper?--item, his finger fish around in his front breast pocket and pulls out a small stone.
Camilla’s lips form into a pout.
“Such a party-pooper,” she sighs, before taking a step backwards. The man’s hand does not leave her shoulder.
Lena is frozen in front of Krobus, stiff and trembling. Krobus, smelling her fear and anger, crawls beneath her legs to now stand before her. Fangs out, he glares at Camilla.
“You are not welcome here,” he says, willing his voice not to tremble. “This is our home. We gave you permission but that permission is now revoked.” He hopes Lena will be impressed with his vocabulary; he's been practicing with Magnus during their writing sessions. “You will leave, but first, you will apologize to us,” he then looks at the red-haired man. “All of us.”
“My, my,” Camilla says, eyebrows raised. “It seems I’ve caused some genuine harm after all.”
“You have,” Lena says stiffly from behind Krobus.
At that, Camilla’s casual expression ripples. She looks behind Krobus, to Lena, and her eyes soften. To Krobus’ surprise, her scent even changes.
“I see,” she says, her voice losing its usual sultry tone. “I apologize, Lena and Krobus of Heart Root farm. I apologize, Lance of the First Slash. I do not always realize when I go too far, and today I have.”
Then, she bows. Krobus can hardly believe it, the Witch of Castle Village honest-to-Yoba bows, and then warps away.
Three pairs of eyes stare at the empty space where Camilla once was. The man’s arm is still outstretched, knuckles white still holding grip.
“I… I suppose I should take my leave as well,” he says, finally dropping his arm. Gingerly, he bends down and leaves the item he’d been gripping all this time at the base of the porch steps. Krobus can see it is indeed paper: it is a letter. “I will inform both the council and the First Slash of what happened here today. Truly I’m…” he looks first to Krobus and then to Lena with a pained expression, “... so very sorry.”
The man fades away. The moment he fully disappears, Lena begins to cry.
“I couldn’t protect you,” Lena sniffles later, curled up in her bed.
Krobus, sitting upright beside her, doesn’t know what to say to that. So he just pats her head like she sometimes pats his.
“What did the letter say?” she asks.
Krobus blinks, having forgotten all about it.
“I forgot it outside,” he admits, feeling his cheeks darken.
Lena chuckles wetly. “Well, let’s go see if it’s still there.”
Lena goes outside while Krobus waits by the door. It’s midday now, the sun now too high for Krobus’ delicate skin. Lena finds the letter in a nearby bush, likely blown by the wind, picks it up, and returns back to the farmhouse. She hands it over to Krobus, who promptly opens it.
“It’s a letter, asking permission to visit, and saying he didn’t mean to offend,” Krobus says, passing it over for Lena to inspect. “He must’ve written it after he left yesterday.”
“He didn’t seem so bad,” Lena considers, voice still a bit hoarse from crying. “Camilla was supposed to tell us he was coming in the first place, and he helped put her in her place today.” She then smiles warmly at Krobus. “Not as well as you did, though. How many monsters, let alone how many people, can say they got the Witch of Castle Village to bow to them?”
Krobus flushes. “I just wanted to protect you, too. I wouldn’t have been able to do anything either, though, if the witch tried.”
The smile slips from Lena’s face as she thinks for a moment.
“You know,” she says slowly, “I don’t think she actually did want to try anything. Camilla is… intense, but not malicious. I’m not entirely sure what her intentions were, but at the end of the day, she really can do whatever she wants whenever she wants. If she wanted to do something to us, she would have.”
Krobus is not comforted by this at all.
“Regardless,” Lena continues. “She’s not welcome here anymore, and though you made that beautifully clear,” she smiles at him again briefly, “I want it in writing. Are you up for visiting the council right now, or shall we go tonight?”
“I’d prefer to go now,” Krobus admits.
“I’ll go get your cloak.”
The council reprimands Camilla as much as they can reprimand Camilla, and she is officially blacklisted from entering Heart Root Farm. Camilla sends two individual letters, one for Lena and one for Krobus, a few days later alongside several powerful potions. Lena does not offer to share her letter, and Krobus doesn’t ask. His own letter is surprisingly apologetic, almost personable, but he tells Lena he does not wish to respond. She is more than fine with his decision.
Spring turns into summer, summer into autumn, and the feeling of security slowly returns to Heart Root Farm.
The morning after Lena’s first autumn harvest, two more individual letters appear in their mailbox. This time, however, they are not from Camilla but from Lance.
He does not use his First Slash seal, and explains in both letters that he is writing for personal reasons as opposed to guild reasons. To Krobus, he asks permission to visit and talk. He’s never met a shadow person like Krobus before and wishes to know more about their culture, as well as Krobus’ venture into the human world (if Krobus is comfortable discussing such, of course). To Lena, he tells her he can drink a mana-blocking potion before visiting if she so wishes, and swears he means to get to know Krobus as a fellow being, and not a ‘creature in a zoo’.
Lena is amused that Lance remembered her rant, and Krobus is touched that Lance wants to learn about his culture. After a lengthy discussion, they write back agreeing Lance may visit the following week, as long as he makes a formal request through the council. Lance’s reply comes the following day, assuring them he was of course going to go through the council, he just didn’t want to put in a request without personally asking for both their permission first.
While Lena is still wary, Krobus can tell she approves.
He does too.
Lance’s first official visit goes much smoother than his two previous visits to the farm.
He bows when she opens the door (Krobus finds this very amusing), before lifting his arms and turning to show he’s carrying no weapons (he is not wearing a cape today either, Krobus notes). Lena, having taken him up on his offer to drink a mana-blocking potion, gives him the potion to drink before allowing him into the house. He drinks it without complaint and she steps aside, allowing him in.
“If you do anything, absolutely anything,” she says to Lance pointedly, “that makes Krobus feel even the slightest bit unsafe…” her eyes narrow, and Krobus’ gums tingle.
Lance chuckles good-naturedly, but Krobus can smell a slight spike of fear in his scent.
“I swear on my position as Second-in-Command of the First Slash,” Lance states, placing a hand over his heart, “that should I cause any discomfort to the being known as Krobus, I will subject myself to any punishment you both deem fit.”
Lena assesses him for a moment before giving a single stiff nod. She turns to Krobus.
“I’ll just be outside, okay?” she says, pulling him into a hug.
“I know,” Krobus replies, smiling against her shoulder.
With one final fond look at Krobus, and one final warning look at Lance, she leaves to tend to the farm.
“You have a good friend there,” Lance remarks gently.
“She’s my best friend,” Krobus corrects.
“Clearly you are hers as well,” Lance says with a smile, and Krobus flushes. “Now, Krobus of Heart Room farm, I shall formally introduce myself. I am Lance of the First Slash, and I am positively delighted you agreed to meet with me today.”
He sticks out his hand and Krobus blinks for a moment in surprise before taking it.
Krobus decides he likes Lance.
Lance sends two more letters that week, both addressed to Krobus. The first comes with a small box of ‘Void Roots’. In his letter, Lance laments he cannot grow them himself, but he’s managed to gather a few from a cave in the Highlands. There is a large population of Shadow Spirits in the Highlands, Lance writes, and he would be happy to accompany Krobus if Krobus ever wishes to visit.
He also reminds Krobus that a diet primarily of flies is not healthy, and while he can not provide many Void Roots, he hopes Krobus is considering adding more variety to his diet.
His second letter, arriving 3 days later, asks when Krobus is comfortable for another visit. He apologizes, saying he hadn’t wanted to ask again so soon, but he can’t stop thinking about how much humans can learn from Shadow Spirit societal structures due to their gender-fluidity and asexual reproduction. Their distribution of power and lack of a hierarchy while still respecting key beings of influence are utterly fascinating and he has so many more questions… if Krobus is up for further discussion so soon, of course. Lance writes that Krobus should feel absolutely no pressure at all, and to only schedule another meeting if he truly wants to.
Yes, Krobus thinks to himself. He quite likes Lance.
Lance’s visits become a weekly occurrence.
Every Wednesday he arrives promptly at 6:15am. Lena stops giving him mana-blocking potions after his third visit, but she never leaves the farm when he’s present.
“You don’t need to stay on my account,” Lance tells her during their fourth visit as she’s bundling up to go outside. “I know there isn’t much to do in the middle of winter, and I hear you’ve been rebuilding the old farm on Ginger Island. I’ve yet to see it myself–”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Lena says, eyes narrowing slightly as she dons her beanie, “as long as you’re here.”
Hurt flashes across Lance’s face, and Krobus reaches out to touch a puffy sleeve.
“Lena,” Krobus’ voice is gentle but reprimanding. “That wasn’t very nice.”
Lena softens, looking up from Krobus and over to Lance.
“I’m sorry,” she says. “That wasn’t nice. I…” she bites her lip, looking away. “I don’t want you to think I dislike you, I actually think you’re pretty alright. I just… I just can’t help but still feel anxious.”
Lance nods and his eyes are kind.
“No offense taken,” he says, and Lena looks back to him. “I find you ‘pretty alright’ yourself, and you wouldn’t be you without your protective side.”
Lena’s eyes widen in surprise for a moment before she smiles.
“I appreciate that,” she says, and for the first time since Lance’s arrival in their life, Krobus sees the tension leave her body.
“Be good,” she says to Krobus, ruffling the top of his head slightly. And with that, she turns to head outside.
Before she can fully face away, Krobus spies a faint hint of pink on his best friend’s cheeks. He allows himself a private grin before turning back to Lance with a smile.
“Lena taught me how to make tea, would you like some?”
“I would love some, my friend.”
The following week, Krobus is surprised when he awakens to the smell of cooking.
He wanders into the kitchen where Lena is placing bacon onto three separate plates. Two of the plates look like regular complete breakfasts, while the third is clearly for him. Void mayonnaise on burnt toast, scrambled void eggs, and a side of grilled void root, courtesy of Lance.
His mouth waters.
A knock sounds at the door and Krobus glances at the kitchen clock. Six-fifteen exactly.
“You can get it,” Lena says, looking away.
Krobus’ eyes widen. Never before has Lena not opened the door first before.
“Only because I know it’s him,” she says, busying herself pouring coffee. “I can feel his mana.”
Lance seems as surprised as Krobus feels when the door opens.
“Ah, hello! What a pleasant surprise,” he greets before stepping into the house. “Something smells absolutely marvelous in here.”
Lena comes to stand beside Krobus, steaming cup of coffee in hand.
“I thought,” she starts slowly, eyeing Lance with a shyness Krobus has never seen before, “that it might be nice if we all had breakfast today.”
A beat of silence passes.
“That sounds wonderful,” Lance says warmly, hanging his coat beside the door.
Breakfast is an interesting affair. Conversation, while not quite stilted, is awkward nonetheless. Krobus realizes that Lena is cautiously extending an olive branch, but she is not quite comfortable enough around Lance to speak freely. Lance, on the other hand, very clearly wants to accept Lena’s olive branch graciously, but has barely touched his breakfast.
Finally, Lena sighs.
“You don’t have to eat it if you don’t want to,” she says.
Lance freezes, and to Krobus’ amusement, the tips of his ears go pink.
“Ah,” he says, letting out an uncomfortable chuckle. “I truly mean no offense. I’ve just never been a fan of carbs.” He gives Lena an apologetic look. “I feel terribly rude, though. I very much appreciate the gesture.”
“And I appreciate the honesty,” she replies, giving him a small smile. “So what kind of food do you like?”
Lance’s face goes blank for a moment before a small smile settles upon his own features.
“Well, while in most circumstances I am not a fan of carbs, I do enjoy a good curry,” he offers slowly.
Lena grins at him before leaning over to grab the toast from his plate.
“Curry, huh?” she says to the toast before taking a bite. “Alright.”
With that she stands to gear up and go outside.
“There’s more bacon in the pan, Mr. No Carbs,” she says over her shoulder as she leaves the kitchen, toast in hand.
Krobus can’t help it, he begins to laugh.
Lance, face now matching his ears, stares after Lena.
Spring arrives, and by the end of it, a request from Lance.
“I hope this isn’t too forward,” he begins one Wednesday over their now weekly breakfast curry. “But I’ve been meaning to ask you this for some time, only I never felt it was quite the right time to ask.”
Lena casts a sideways glance towards Krobus (do you know what this is about?), Krobus shrugs (nope), before nodding her head encouragingly at Lance.
“I must admit, I possess no form of a green thumb whatsoever,” he admits, shooting Lena a sheepish look. “I’ve been attempting to cultivate seeds I’ve found in the Highlands. I call them Monster Crops.”
“Oh, you’ve told me about those,” Krobus pipes up. “Those void roots you give me are from those seeds, right?”
“I’m not sure, actually,” Lance says, turning to Krobus, “as I’ve never been able to follow any seedlings through to harvest. I’m hoping so, as I’d love to be able to offer you a steadier supply.”
“Monster crops, huh?” Lena muses, leaning back slightly in her chair. “Besides getting more for Krobus, what else do you want them for?”
“To study them, first and foremost,” Lance replies, shifting his gaze back to her. “To try and understand their properties–both for nutritional purposes as well as magical. Depending on the findings…” he shrugs, “who knows. I cannot say for certain, because I do not know for certain. But,” he looks away from Lena now, and down into his curry, “I do not wish to use them for any ill-will, if that’s a concern.”
Lance’s scent changes. Krobus tilts his head, sniffing again. Lance almost smells… sad?
Before Krobus can ask, Lena leans across the table and squeezes Lance’s wrist. His entire frame stiffens, and his eyes quickly snap up to meet hers.
“Hey,” Lena says with a smile. “I know you wouldn’t use them for ill-will. I was genuinely just curious.”
She lets go, but Lance remains frozen, staring at her.
“Ah,” he says awkwardly, reply delayed by a few seconds. “I-I see. Thank you.”
Lena snorts.
“You have no need to thank me,” she says, pulling Krobus into a side-hug. “Thank you for always being such a good friend to us.”
Us.
The word hovers in the air for a moment. Krobus feels something warm and happy in his chest. He likes Lance. In fact, Lance might even be his second favourite human. It means a lot that Lena likes him, too.
“Bring me some of those seeds next week,” she says, letting go of Krobus and standing with a stretch. “I’ll see what I can do.”
She pats Krobus on the head affectionately, before pausing to glance back between him and Lance.
“I’m gonna head to Ginger Island today,” she says casually, eyes flickering away to avoid looking at either of their faces. “You two behave yourselves.”
She leaves then, too quick to be casual, before either of them can reply.
Krobus beams at Lance from across the table.
“You’re Lena’s friend too, now!” he says happily.
Lance’s cheeks are pinker than the day she stole his toast. He blinks a few times before smiling back at Krobus, pleased and more than a little embarrassed.
“I’m honoured.”
The following Wednesday, Lance arrives with the seeds.
“I’m sorry these are all I have,” he says to Lena over breakfast.
Krobus peers at the meager pile of seeds on the kitchen table curiously.
“Is there any way to get more?” Lena asks
“Yes,” Lance says, enunciating the word slowly, “but it requires a moderate risk. You may find them by slaying monsters,” he looks to Krobus and amends, “aggressive monsters, in the Highlands, or scavenging around their natural hunting grounds. I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“Oh, you don’t have to say aggressive monsters,” Krobus interjects before Lena can respond. “I’m aware most monsters are aggressive. Lena’s a member of the Adventurer’s Guild, but even if she wasn’t, I still know.”
“I prefer to make the distinction between aggressive and non-aggressive, now,” Lance replies smoothly.
Because I know you, now, goes unsaid, but Krobus still hears it. He feels that warm, happy feeling in his chest again.
Lena slides an arm over Krobus’ shoulders and shoots a look at Lance that Krobus doesn’t see. Whatever it is, it causes the man to turn pink again.
Lena seems to make Lance turn pink a lot, now that Krobus thinks about it. Before he can ponder this further though, Lena speaks up.
“I’m pretty good with a sword,” she says, arm still casually around Krobus, and Krobus leans into her warmth. “But I’m no master yet. Perhaps I’ll talk to Marlon, he’s seen me work, he’d be the best person to ask if I’m ready for the Highlands or not.”
“We should invite Marlon to breakfast one day,” Krobus murmurs thoughtfully from Lena’s side.
“We should.”
“I have a meeting with Marlon tomorrow, actually,” Lance tells the pair. “I’ll inquire of your readiness then. I have a feeling though,” he continues, frowning slightly, “that he will approve. I must admit, Lena, you gained the attention of many guilds when you made it to the top of Mount Kohldur.”
This close to Lena, Krobus can feel her straighten her spine in pride.
“Well, then I guess you’ll be seeing me in the Highlands sooner rather than later,” Lena says with a grin.
“Yes,” Lance replies, and Krobus notices his smile is a little less fluid than usual. “I suppose I shall.”
“Are you alright?” Krobus asks Lance once Lena has left for her morning chores.
They’re still sitting at the kitchen table, but their plates have been cleared and the small pile of seeds is gone.
Lance looks over at Krobus in surprise. He opens his mouth, frowns, and then sighs.
“You’re quite observant,” he deflects with a rueful smile.
“You’re only just realizing this now?” Krobus asks, mock-offended, and Lance chuckles.
“No, I’ve known that about you for a while,” he says gently. “It just catches me by surprise when you direct those observations towards me.”
“I have lots of observations about you,” Krobus replies matter-of-factly. “But I won’t get into them today.”
“Oh?” Lance asks, looking amused. “Another day, then?”
“Yes,” Krobus says firmly. “Another day, when you’re not sad.”
“I’m not sad, exactly,” Lance says with a sigh. “Just… concerned.”
Krobus’ eyes flit to the kitchen window behind Lance. He can spot Lena in the distance, traversing between barns.
“Concerned about Lena?”
Another chuckle. “Yes.”
“And the Highlands?”
“Also yes.”
Krobus nods thoughtfully.
“Krobus…” Lance starts, causing Krobus to look away from the window and back to him, “I wish to give you something, but I won’t be able to until next week. If Lena gets approved for the Highlands, can you ask her to wait? Tell her I’m bringing a case of life elixirs, and it’s unsafe for her to go without them.”
“Isn’t that the truth, though?” Krobus asks, confused.
“It is, but what’s more important is the item I’ll be bringing for you,” Lance answers.
“Can I ask what it is?”
“Of course,” Lance says with a smile. “It’s a relic that’s tied to my mana. If you activate it, I’ll sense it no matter how far I am, and I’ll know you need my help.”
“Oh, wow,” Krobus says softly, feeling touched. “But wouldn’t that be better for Lena?”
“In a way, it’s for Lena as well,” Lance says. “The Highlands aren’t the only dangerous place out there, and with her growing status as an adventurer…” He sighs. “If she ever doesn’t come home one night, you call for me. I will come to you, and then I will go find her. If she’s ever on an expedition and something happens, here, when you’re all alone, you call for me. I’ll always arrive as soon as I possibly can.”
Krobus blinks. The warm feeling inside of him has returned, but it’s not just in his chest this time. It radiates through him, pleasant but also slightly intense, rising from chest to throat to eyes before finally spilling out.
Lance looks positively alarmed.
“I-I am so sorry,” he stammers, rising from his seat to awkwardly stumble-squat beside Krobus. “I didn’t mean to imply–I wasn’t saying Lena might–” his hands flutter above Krobus, wanting to touch but afraid that touch may be unwelcome, “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t thinking–”
Krobus leans out of his chair and begins to cry, heartily, into Lance’s chest.
“No, no,” Krobus hiccups. Lance freezes for a moment before hesitantly placing a hand on the monster’s back. “It’s just… that’s so nice of you… I don’t know,” Krobus hiccups again, “how to thank you…”
The tension slowly leaves Lance’s body and he sits back on his heels, holding the monster to his chest.
“You don’t need to thank me,” he mumbles, panic now gone from his tone. “We’re friends, aren’t we?”
Krobus, still crying tears of joy into the chest of his second favourite human, can only nod.
One week later, on the last Wednesday of summer, Lena leaves for her first expedition to the Highlands.
Lance leaves with her, after her morning chores and his weekly visit with Krobus. Before they go, he turns to the shadow monster and kneels, placing both hands on his shoulders.
“I swear on my position as Second-in-Command of the First Slash,” Lance states solemnly, “that should I allow for any harm to befall to the being known as Lena, I will subject myself to any punishment you both deem fit.”
Lena blows a raspberry above their heads, and Krobus laughs.
“You’re taking me for a tour,” Lena says in exasperation, but her tone is warm. “I probably can’t even sneak away.”
“Not today,” Lance replies, looking up at her with an almost-smirk. “I’ve promised my very good friend I won’t let any harm befall you, and I intend to keep that promise.”
Lena rolls her eyes good-naturedly, and Lance stands.
“You can run as wild as you like on your next visit, after I’ve ensured you know your way around the area,” Lance states primly.
Lena sticks her tongue out at him before looking down at Krobus.
“I’ll see you in a few hours, okay?” she says, leaning down to envelope him in a hug.
“Okay,” Krobus replies, squeezing her back.
“Well, oh-Second-in-Command-of-the-First-Slash,” Lena mocks in a haughty tone, straightening. “Shall we be off?”
“We shall,” Lance replies without missing a beat. Holding out his arm, Lena takes it, and the pair fade away.
Krobus stares at the empty space where his two favourite humans once stood. He isn’t afraid, he’s not even nervous. He’s confident in both Lance and Lena’s abilities, and he feels absolutely no concern.
So why does something feel… off?
Krobus takes a breath, and then pauses. Carefully, consciously, he inhales deeply once more.
Something is off. Well, not off, but different. It seems Krobus not only has a new observation about Lance, but a new one about Lena as well:
Both their scents have changed.
Krobus does not have much time to ponder his new observations, as the following day a letter arrives addressed to Lena. A letter with a seal Krobus has not seen in over a year.
The seal of Camilla: Witch of Castle Village.
“She knows I’ve been to the Highlands,” Lena tells him, skimming the letter. Krobus sits beside her on the couch in the lounge room, frowning. “And she wants to offer her services.”
“Her services?” Krobus asks, suspicious.
Silently, she passes the letter over to Krobus.
“Lance wasn’t exaggerating about the dangers of the Highlands,” Lena starts after Krobus finishes reading, “If the warriors of Castle Village really do have a shop in the outpost she oversees, their weapons and potions could really help protect me.”
“Do you really want her to have such easy access to your nexus?” Krobus asks, glancing at the letter warily.
“I don’t know,” Lena sighs. “I mean, not really, but… she has a point. If I’m going to be going on harder missions, I’ll need to start equipping myself with better gear.”
“I don’t like it,” Krobus says, watching his friend with worried eyes. “She looks at you differently, and it makes me uncomfortable.”
“She’s… complicated,” Lena sighs again. “Do you remember that letter she sent me?” Krobus nods, remembering their unspoken understanding of privacy. “She told me some stuff in that letter, personal stuff.”
Krobus doesn’t know what to say, so he merely waits for Lena to continue. Lena raises an arm to nervously run fingers along her scalp.
“She told me she’s the reason Magnus got Morgan, she made a request to the council,” Lena admits, looking uneasy. “I’m sorry I never told you before. I just… didn’t know how to feel about it.”
“I don’t understand,” Krobus says gently, touching Lena’s leg.
“Sorry,” Lena says, flashing him a weak smile. “She told the council not to let Magnus train me, because she wanted to train me.”
Krobus gives a small gasp.
“I know,” Lena says. “I… didn’t know how to process that. I’d been disappointed when Magnus first told me I couldn’t be his pupil, and the council never said anything to me about Camilla. She said she was going to ask me herself, but then she… did what she did.”
Lena leans her head back on the couch, looking up at the ceiling.
“She said some other stuff too, stuff I’m not sure she’d be comfortable with me sharing,” Lena says. “I don’t really know how to feel about her. I’m not scared of her anymore, I really don’t think she’ll hurt us, but I don’t… yeah. I just don’t know how to feel.”
Krobus absorbs this as Lena continues to stare at the ceiling.
“If you make a warp to Galdora,” Krobus asks slowly, and Lena tilts her head sideways to look at him, “does that mean you’re agreeing to be her apprentice?”
“No,” Lena says, “at least, I don’t think so. You saw the letter, she didn’t mention anything about that. Just that she can offer me better potions and gear.”
Krobus hums, picking up the letter and skimming through it once more.
“Maybe you should write back, to clarify, just in case,” Krobus says darkly, hunting for hidden meanings in the neat handwriting.
“That’s probably a good idea,” Lena agrees.
The pair are quiet for a moment.
“You’d be okay with it, though?” Lena asks gently. “If I agreed to make a warp to Galdora?”
“Only if you’re okay with it,” Krobus says. “I trust your judgment.”
Lena shifts to sit properly once more and opens her arms. Krobus moves, climbing into her lap, and she rests her chin on the top of his head.
Krobus doesn’t trust the Witch of Castle Village, but he trusts Lena. And thinking of a relic stored in his bedside table in case of emergencies, he trusts Lance as well.
Camilla is acting surprisingly normal.
She sends Lena a second letter assuring her that no, there are no strings attached to her offer, but she will always be open if Lena ever does want to become her apprentice. She even applies with the council for a one day clearance from her blacklist in order to collect Lena from the farm.
Krobus is still suspicious, but the witch actually following through with proper procedures brings him a small amount of solace.
So when Lena opens the door a few days later and is immediately warped away, he goes into full blown panic mode.
Running to his bedside table, he activates Lance’s relic.
Lance arrives in under 2 minutes, fading directly into the farm kitchen with wide, worried eyes.
“Krobus–”
“She kidnapped Lena!” Krobus yells, pointing at the still-open front door.
“W-what? Who–”
“Camilla! Camilla kidnapped Lena!”
A frightening calm settles over Lance’s features. He marches over to the front door, pulling it shut and locking it, before turning to look Krobus in the eye.
“I will be back in no more than ten minutes.”
And with that, he fades away.
In just over six minutes, three figures fade into the lounge room where Krobus has been pacing uncontrollably.
“Lena!” Krobus cries at the stunned-looking female, leaping into her arms.
Lance is glaring at Camilla, and Camilla actually has the grace to look mildly chagrined.
“I see my sense of humour was again in poor taste,” she says, looking down at Krobus. “I did not mean to cause distress.”
Krobus merely bears his fangs at Camilla from within Lena’s arms. Lena is oddly quiet but Krobus can feel the tension in her body.
Lance sighs, and Camilla suddenly perks up.
“Right, you,” she says, her expression turning sly. She looks back to Krobus. “Do you realize what he’s given you?”
“A relic,” Krobus responds stiffly, fangs still out, while Lance says “Camilla–”
Camilla laughs delightedly, and Lena’s arms tighten around Krobus.
“Hush, you,” she says to Lance before turning again to Krobus. “That isn’t a relic,” she says with a smile, “that’s a custom magical item, made specifically for members of the First Slash. They’re quite pricey, and are typically commissioned only for the immediate family of a particular member.”
Krobus goes slack with surprise, looking down to the item still clutched in his hand.
“How pricey?” Lena asks, finally breaking her silence.
“Now, I don’t think–” Lance starts.
“Oh, it’s been a while since I saw the numbers myself,” Camilla answers, talking over Lance, “but if I had to guess… five million gold, perhaps six?”
Lena’s knees buckle and she slowly sinks to the carpeted floor.
“Lance…” she starts, voice now hoarse. “For us…”
Krobus looks up at the man in question, who is now bright red and glaring at Camilla.
“You should’ve told them,” Camilla says with a shrug.
“You should’ve told me!” Lena says to Krobus.
“You think of me as… family?” Krobus asks Lance.
Lance stops glaring at Camilla for a moment to give Krobus a soft, almost shy smile.
“I do,” he says quietly.
Four things happen in quick succession:
Lena begins to cry.
Krobus begins to cry.
Camilla says, “Guess I’ll come back again tomorrow,” and warps away.
Lance stands awkwardly for a moment before Lena and Krobus, almost eerily in sync, get up off the floor and dogpile him.
Krobus doesn’t think of anything in particular during this moment. He’s too busy feeling happy.
Later, Krobus is curled up on the end of the couch with his head in Lena’s lap. Absently, she traces patterns across his scalp. Lance sits beside Lena, shoulders just touching. They talk in low voices, thinking Krobus is asleep.
Krobus is not.
“I can’t even put into words what it means to me that you’ve done this,” Lena murmurs.
“Really, it’s not that worthy of praise…” Lance begins, and Krobus can just imagine his blush.
“It is,” Lena counters firmly. “One of my biggest fears has always been what’ll happen to him if something happens to me. It brings me immense peace knowing that someone else loves him like I do. He has someone else if I ever… if I… ”
“Shh,” Lance whispers, the couch shifting ever so slightly. Krobus chances a peek through one eye and sees Lance’s arm settling across Lena’s shoulders. She’s staring straight ahead with wet eyes, but he’s looking right at her.
And Krobus was right: the man’s cheeks are positively pink.
Krobus closes his eye again as Lance continues.
“While we cannot prevent the inevitable, it does no good to dwell on it,” he says. “You are a capable fighter with an impressive aptitude for magic. And if the fates ever get the best of you…” he coughs slightly, awkwardly. “I’ll come find you.”
Lena gives a watery chuckle.
“And what about you?” she asks quietly. “Who’s gonna come find you?”
Lance is quiet for a moment.
“You know,” he says slowly, “I’ve never thought about that before.”
“Can it be me?” Lena asks, and Krobus hears Lance’s quick intake of breath.
“Lena…”
“I have savings," Lena interrupts in a rush, "I know I’m not a member of the First Slash, but… could you get one made for me? So I can come find you?”
“Lena,” Lance’s voice is hoarse, “I-I don’t know what to say–”
“There’s nothing to say,” she replies gently. “We’re both Krobus’ family now.”
Krobus smiles to himself, and allows sleep to finally take him.