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“I have two daughters, a son, and the last time I saw my wife, we were expecting another.” Nithel said. Four children…how long had he been married? Alessio was trying to do the math because it was easier to process than his feelings. “My elder daughter is about your age.”

Mathematical gesticulations froze his mind.

Nithel said it like Alessio might even count as family to him…Maybe that was just wishful thinking, he should stop right there, Nithel spoke warmly to everyone…

Nithel bit his lip, staring down as if trying to formulate something more to say. Alessio shouldn’t have let him feel bad about it…He couldn’t even imagine what it might be like to be torn away from a place you actually loved. But Alessio was still trying to come up with something comforting to say when Nithel looked up. I’m sorry. He thinks reflexively nearly blurting it outloud.

“Alessio…” He remembered Alessio’s name, suddenly that was all that mattered to Alessio. “I have not been here for over twenty years, I believe.”

That loosely answered his attempted mental calculations.

“And when I awoke from this place, it was hard to tell if it had been real, or was just a dream. When I woke up. But this strap-” Nithel touched it before dropping his hand. “Showed me it was not all in my mind.

“I remember vaguely. I remember faces, the feelings attached to them, more clearly now.” He said, holding Alessio’s gaze for a few seconds, discomfort practically radiating off him.

His fingers were on the hilt of his sword which makes Alessio’s palms tingle. When he was a boy he was an exceptional swordfighter but that was…an advantage they considered too dangerous in conjecture with his powers and his rebellious nature. So they “fixed” it, and Alessio now couldn’t even touch a sword without shaking.

Alessio didn’t look at the sword again.

Nithel stared down a while, which made something crack in Alessio’s chest. His friend didn’t deserve to be broken by anything, he didn’t deserve any of this.

“I just don’t know anymore.”

Alessio mechanically touched Nithel’s shoulder, horror beginning to creep inside him. He didn’t like how close that sounded to his own tone of voice sometimes. That wasn’t right, he just couldn’t have that pain, Alessio wouldn’t allow it. Even though he was helpless to stop it..

“Don’t give up now.” Alessio whispers, a little huskily.

 

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