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“Can I try something?”Alessio whispered, and Nithel’s eyes lifted to his friend.

Nithel winced, flinching. Alessio had touched his shoulder. It stung, badly.

Then Jericho called him friend again, and rose to her feet, face concerned. Egad… Nithel was stunned, and warmed. They cared. These people actually cared. And though Alessio’s hand on his shoulder hurt, Nithel was moved deeply.

Alessio melted back as Jericho knelt beside him. Nithel felt bad, and determined to get close to Alessio again.

“you needn’t put on a brave face if you are in pain. If you ask, I will help.” Jericho spoke, and again reminded him of Vinia. Her tones… She looked at Nithel’s shoulder, apparently assessing.

I ask. But Nithel said nothing.

Her hand then touched him, and his chest tightened again. Her touch was soft, but it still hurt.

The pain then started to fade. The ache in his arm slowly retraced, then condensed at his shoulder. Like a ball, then that started to dissipate. Nithel stared at the woman, shocked and in awe. So many emotions rushed him at once. He didn’t know… The pain was gone.

Jericho slowly exhaled, opening her eyes.

Nithel was stunned, lips parted slightly. Thank you. He needed to say it. “Thank, thank you miss.”

Then she had stood, and was returning to her seat. Nithel stared at her a moment, then the ground. He wished to weep, but refrained. He wished to embrace this woman, but also Alessio. Alessio, his friend. And this woman, who called him friend.

“Shall I tell my story or would someone else like to go first?” she asked, and Nithel’s chest moved a bit.

Tell your story. Not just a story. Though, people were known to have slips of the tongue. Or mean things completely different.

He glanced back to Alessio, in the shadows, just out of reach of the light of the fire. It would be colder there. But his friend… had been slightly stood up. Even though, Nithel looked back to the woman, and nodded, Thank you. And he truly wished to hear the story.

Nithel then scooted to where he was beside Alessio again. He waited silently, moving his arm, shocked that it was healed. “Thank you Alessio.” He said softly.

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