《Open Heart, Open World》


 All That And a Bag of Chips

    Kelves sighed and scratched his fuzzy belly as he stared into the TV screen, where the Sealed World''s premium nighttime talk show was displayed. The host, an elegant but comically over-the-top ghost, was interviewing a rising music star about his upcoming album. While he enjoyed the host''s diatribes and dramatic posturing, he had never heard of "DJ Roc," a giant bird that was awfully talented with his talons and a turntable.


    When it came down to it, he regarded it all with apathy. As a Caprimet, a humanoid goat-like monster with a long tail, he was supposed to be one of the strongest types of Magicants. Instead, he was the last of the Weaver clan. His losses had left him in a nearly permanent stupor of depression, fatigue, and indulgence, and so the other Magicants did not see a mighty Caprimet. Instead, they saw a white and grey goat guy who ate, drank, and slept way too much. Of course, that would be if they even saw him; Kelves didn''t like to leave the comforts of his home too much. Thank goodness for Winstead''s delivery options.


    Sometimes it felt like all he did was kill time until he was ready to eat or sleep again. He would watch TV and crunch his potato chips until he felt ready to sleep, and then another day of trying to keep himself afloat would arrive. Kelves didn''t like to think much about what he did or what he planned to do, because if he did, he would realize that he was barely living, and he''d feel the pain all over again.


    Kelves''s main methods of distracting himself mostly boiled down to bingeing. He could stuff himself silly, sleep for nearly an entire day, or watch TV till everything went numb. He was also a lush when he could get away with it; there was a chain of beer bottles lining the floor by his couch, and on rare occasions when he could get something better, he''d put all his efforts into getting absolutely hammered drunk.


    It seemed that every aspect of his lethargy showed on his body; he sported a generous belly and thick arms and legs, a side effect of his eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. He walked slowly, there was a lazy drawl to his speech, and he gave off an overall air of fatigue. At least one person had said that just being around him made them want to go back to bed. Comments like that made him not want to be around others that much.


    Kelves''s hand hit the bottom of the chip bag. The number of potato chips in a bag is always the amount you want minus one, he mused as he let it drop to the floor. He''d clean it all up someday. A period of time passed where nothing happened, and soon he drifted off.


    For all the sleeping Kelves liked to do, he could wake up very easily. His doorbell rang, and he jolted awake, his tail flicking. He had no idea what time it was and he couldn''t remember if he had ordered pizza or not before falling asleep. Winstead had some great pizza places, ones worth answering the door for. Groaning, he pulled his shirt back on, stretched, and went to answer the door. What he saw when he opened the door made his breath catch in his chest: another Caprimet, one with reddish-brown fur and cream-colored horns. The guy had a bit of heft to him; not quite as much as Kelves did, but a bit nonetheless. Kelves''s green eyes met the stranger''s blue ones as his brows knitted. "You''re, uh... not the pizza guy, I take it?" he asked.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The stranger chortled, a sound almost unfamiliar to Kelves at this point. "I''m afraid not. But I sure am glad to see that the rumors were true."


    "Which ones?" Kelves knew there had to be rumors of all kinds about him. Maybe the pizza guys got together and gossiped and tried to guess what his deal was.


    "That the last Weaver is living alone in Winstead as a recluse," the other Caprimet said. "May I come in? There''s something I''d like to talk to you about."


    "Uh." Kelves looked over his shoulder at the messy living room, then back at the man in the doorway. "Do you want to? It''s kind of messy in here."


    "I could come in, or we could find somewhere else to chat," the stranger said.


    Kelves weighed the pros and cons. If he let the man into his home, he wouldn''t have to go anywhere, but he was in no state to entertain a guest and neither was his house. If he went out, that required energy and effort, but perhaps they could have their discussion at Frey''s, where he could make the experience more bearable with burgers and beer. Also, nothing suspicious could go down at Frey''s. The Winter Walkers, a group of elite guards, liked to visit the bar after their shifts. In essence, at least three quarters of the bar''s patrons could act as bouncers at any given time because of that. If this guy wanted to pull something, he''d be caught for sure. With that in mind, Kelves made his decision. "Let''s go somewhere else. There''s a bar, Frey''s, down the street from here. But first... what is it that you want to talk to me of all people about?"


    "My apologies. I should have explained myself sooner. And introduced myself, for that matter. I''m Geralt Wishell. Pleased to meet you." Geralt extended his hand for a handshake, and Kelves stared at him before awkwardly returning the gesture.


    "My name is Kelves. You still haven''t answered my question yet," Kelves said. He remembered hearing of the Wishell clan before the days of the Sealed World, before Magicants were banished from their home world; the Wishells were diplomats and bankers. They were on rather good terms with humans. Too bad that all that diplomacy couldn''t avert a curbstomp of a war, the mass deaths of Magicants, and the loss of everything the Magicants considered theirs.


    "There''s someone I''d like you to meet," Geralt said. "I think you two could get along well."


    Kelves''s eyes went wide. A mixture of indignation and curiosity unfolded inside him. On one hand, where did this guy get the idea that he wanted to meet people? On the other hand, Kelves wanted to know who was on the other side of this matchmaking sort of deal. As hard as he tried to hide and ignore the urges, there were times when he ached for companionship devoid of pity. "I... who?"


    "My sister. She has a unique set of circumstances, just like you do. How about I tell you more once we''re at our meeting place?" Geralt stepped back slightly to give Kelves some space.


    How unique could she be? She has family, Kelves thought, but once again the curiosity won out. "Give me a few minutes."


    With that, he shut the door, threw on some sweats, and got ready for the trip to Frey''s.

 Light The Match, Maker

    The two goat men didn''t talk much on their way to Frey''s. Winstead was located in a rather wintery region of the Sealed World, and Kelves found that having to be out in the cold made people either exceptionally talkative or nearly mute. He was huddled in his jacket for the most part, his gaze angled towards the ground so that he wouldn''t step on anything (or anyone; some smaller Magicants made for tripping hazards). Eventually, the duo made it to the restaurant and were seated in a booth off to the side. Kelves was sure people would be whispering about who his companion was, which made him uneasy, but it wasn''t like the gossip had any tangible effect on him. The waitress, a plant-like humanoid who used vines from her back with remarkable precision, mentioned that fried tentacles were the special today, generously donated by a marine Magicant from the western islands; while Kelves passed and ordered his usual burger, fries, and beer, he noticed that Geralt ordered the special.


    "I''m trying to broaden my horizons," the red Caprimet said as the waitress left. "Gatesend is nice, but every region has its own unique flavor, literally and figuratively." Kelves made a small affirmative noise; having lived in Winstead''s region ever since the collective banishing of Magicants to the Sealed World, he didn''t know much about the so-called unique flavors.


    Once he was sure the attention was off of them, Geralt leaned forward in an almost conspiratorial manner. "I think now would be as good a time as any for me to start my story, don''t you think? Something to do while waiting for the food." Once again, Kelves made an affirmative noise. Waiting for food was always a trying process. With that, Geralt began his tale. "Very well then. My older sister, Alea, lives in Gatesend. She keeps to herself quite a bit. As time has gone on, she has become sort of a recluse. She only leaves the house for groceries, and even then, she tries hard to blend in. I''m sure you know that''s difficult for creatures such as we."


    Kelves shrugged. "I blend in fine," he said, which wasn''t entirely true, as he rarely went out enough to have to blend in in the first place. "At least she goes grocery shopping. Winstead has a delivery service."


    Geralt arched an eyebrow. "I don''t think that helps your case very much," he said before returning to the topic at hand. "Anyway, I''m worried about her. It''s not healthy to be so isolated. I want her to have a friend."


    "Gatesend is the capital. There have to be other Caprimets there," Kelves said.


    "There are," Geralt said. "Believe me, I''ve tried to get Alea to socialize with them even a little bit, but either she loses interest or, in the case of the Siers, they''re too busy with official matters to pay her much attention. Setalei Sier is a sweet girl, but she''s too young for Alea to really have much in common with her."


    Kelves nodded. He had heard of the Siers too; they were the priests and historians, expert recordkeepers, often in the service of the royal family. "So you came all the way here to play matchmaker and make me see her?"


    "I suppose you could put it that way," Geralt said. "One of my coworkers took a trip here and mentioned seeing you in passing, and that others had told him you were all alone here. So I thought that perhaps I could join two lonely souls together."


    "You do realize that I''m the only Weaver left, right? Your sister has you, at least." Kelves couldn''t hide the bitterness in his voice. "She can''t be that lonely."


    Here Geralt''s expression grew solemn. "You aren''t the only one who experienced losses in the Sealing War," he said. "Yes, you''ve witnessed incredibly devastating events. But my sister... she lost a daughter."This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    "Oh." Now Kelves felt like a complete jerk. It was one thing to lose a mother, a father, cousins and friends. Losing a child was a tragedy in its own class. "I''m sorry to hear that."


    Geralt exhaled heavily. "Alea fell in love with a human. They were very passionately in love with each other, and about two years before the war, she gave birth to his child, a half-Magicant. He betrayed her and fought in the human king''s army." He paused, using his thumbnail to pick a speck of dirt out from under his pointer finger nail. "It seems that being half-Magicant was enough to make her child be sent here with her. I remember seeing Noel, that was the girl''s name, not long after we had arrived in the Sealed World. But one day, she was nowhere to be found. Alea said that she had died and refused to tell me more."


    "I''m sorry," Kelves said again.


    "My sister was once a cheerful, gregarious person. Now, she''s bitter and reclusive. It''s painful to watch. So..." Geralt rested his arms on the table, clasping his hands. "Do you understand why I''m asking you to at least give her a chance?"


    Kelves nodded. "I guess. But I don''t think you should expect much. I''ve been told I''m a drag to be around."


    "Well, that''s not very nice of whoever said that," Geralt said. "You''re grieving. You have a lot to grieve over. But I think that maybe you and Alea could find some common ground in your losses and support each other. It would be nice to see her take comfort in another person''s presence again."


    "Maybe," Kelves said.


    "I don''t hear a no from you," Geralt said. "Does that mean you''re willing to come with me?"


    "I guess. It''s not like I have anything better to do." Kelves looked off to the side to see if the waitress was coming around with the food. She wasn''t. "I don''t have to leave immediately, do I?"


    "How does tomorrow morning sound?" Geralt asked.


    "Tomorrow afternoon." Kelves did not like the idea of getting up too early.


    "Fair enough. How about we meet at the train station at 1:30 then?"


    "2:30?"


    "The train has a schedule, you know," Geralt said. "I believe the train leaves at 1:45."


    "Fine," Kelves said through a sigh.


    At that time, the waitress finally came around with their orders. At first, the conversation halted as the men dug into their meals. After a while, Geralt noticed that Kelves''s attention was on his plate. "Do you want some of this?" he asked. "It''s got an excellent consistency."


    Kelves wondered if it was really that obvious that he was regretting not trying the special, especially when it smelled so good. "Um... sure."


    Geralt cut off the end of a tentacle that he hadn''t gotten to yet and lifted it onto Kelves''s plate with his fork and knife. "Here. I''m curious what you think of it."


    "Thanks." Kelves cautiously took a bite, and it felt like his taste buds lit up. The seasoning was flavorful and savory without being overpowering, and the consistency was as good as advertised: somewhere between meat and fish, in a way. It had substance without being too tough or squishy. "Huh. Maybe I''ll get some of these to go."


    "When do you intend to eat them, though?" Geralt asked. "I suppose they''d make the trip if you packed them carefully. We have microwaves."


    "Oh, right." It wasn''t as if Kelves had completely forgotten what he had agreed to, but it might have slipped his mind just a little. "I guess it''d solve the problem of lunch."


    From there, the conversation turned to small talk as the duo finished their meals. When they left the restaurant, Geralt went back to his hotel room while Kelves went home to flop into bed, exhausted from the extended social interaction. It was tempting to wake up and dig into the fried tentacles he had gotten to go, but he had a feeling he was going to need to conserve his resources for tomorrow''s adventure. He would need a food break eventually, given that he was leaving his home for the first time in a while. Travel would be stressful.


    Still, he was curious about the woman he was going to meet, and that was enough to keep him committed.

 Arrival in Gatesend

    The next morning, Kelves was alarmed by his alarm going off. He never set his alarm. Why was his alarm set?


    Right. He had somewhere to be today. For the first time in who knew how long, he had somewhere to be. Groaning, he pulled himself out of bed and threw some clothes into a backpack, the only real sort of luggage he had. Maybe he didn''t even need to pack anything aside from some food, but if he was going to be there for longer than a day, he didn''t want to be caught without any clothes. It would be hard to find any that fit him, and that would just set him up for embarrassment. He also packed the fried tentacles, of course; he didn''t want to leave those behind.


    Kelves arrived at the train station on time, and sure enough, Geralt was waiting for him, his suitcase in tow. "You made it!" he said.


    "You didn''t think I would, did you," Kelves said back. He expected people not to place much confidence in him.


    "It''s not that; I''m more surprised at how punctual you are. That''s a good thing." Geralt looked towards the train platform. "The train to Gatesend will be here in fifteen minutes. I''ve already got the tickets for us, so now all we have to do is wait."


    Some more small talk ensued until Kelves went to visit a vending machine and grab some chips. His crunching tapered off the conversation until the train was there and ready to board. Once the Caprimet duo was on the train, Geralt tried to strike up some more chatter. "Twenty-five gold for your thoughts," he said. "Are you excited about meeting Alea? Nervous?"


    Kelves made a thoughtful noise. "I don''t know. I''m trying not to have too many expectations."


    "That''s fair," Geralt said. "That''s better than expecting everything to go sour for one reason or another."


    "Like I said, I''ve been told I''m a drag to be around. But for some reason, I want to see what will happen first," Kelves said.


    "I think you secretly have an adventurous spirit," Geralt said before being interrupted by a harsh chuckle from Kelves. "What?"


    "I''m not adventurous. I''ve never left Winstead''s region since coming here, and I barely leave my house." Kelves scratched behind his right ear as he spoke.


    Geralt frowned, his voice becoming serious. "I think you have more positive qualities than you are willing to see," he said. "You''re punctual. You honored a commitment that came from out of the blue. Not once have I heard you refuse my requests. You''re trying to suspend your pessimism. Even if you don''t think you''re a good person, your actions are speaking for you. Does that make sense?"


    Kelves made an ambivalent noise and looked away, somewhere between flattered and embarrassed. It had been a long time since he had received a compliment like that, much less one bundled with a set of affirmations of his character. The train began to leave the station, and it was a bit noisy. "I''m gonna take a nap," he said.


    "Oh, come on, don''t just brush me off like that! Maybe a change of pace is helping you. Besides, how can you take a nap with all the train racket?" Geralt said. When he got no response, he sighed and looked out the window.


    Some hours later, Kelves felt a hand on his shoulder, shaking him gently. "We''re in Gatesend," Geralt said.


    "Already?" Kelves mumbled, scratching his belly and rubbing his eyes.


    "It''s been a few hours," Geralt said. "I''m amazed at how soundly you sleep and how quickly you wake up when you need to. I''m also amazed that you don''t snore very loud at all."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    That pulled a small chuckle out of Kelves. "Really? Huh." Magicants of all shapes and sizes and types were beginning to get out of their seats around them, from a frog creature with a turtle on his back to a dog made entirely of flame. "Guess we should get ready to go."


    "I guess we should," Geralt agreed. "From here, we''ll head to Alea''s house. I have to warn you, it is a bit of a walk." Kelves groaned in his mind but held the objection back outwardly.


    The walk to Alea''s house was mostly spent with Kelves trying to keep up with Geralt''s pace without getting lost. Gatesend had a distinctly more city-like feel to it than Winstead; the buildings were taller and stronger-looking, the roads were paved, and Magicants seemed to flow through the streets with ease. Eventually, they arrived at an unassuming little house on a side street. Geralt waited for Kelves to catch up, and then rang the doorbell and knocked on the door. Kelves took a deep breath to steady himself. He had no expectations of who he was going to meet, but he was nervous all the same.


    The door opened to reveal a Caprimet woman with reddish-brown fur and blue eyes like Geralt''s. Her horns were cream-colored, much like her brother''s, but they were stumpier as was to be expected. She was solidly built, fleshed out a bit more around the hips and bust; Kelves tried not to let his gaze linger for too long. "Geralt," the woman greeted in a curt contralto. She looked past him at Kelves. "Who''s this?"


    "Alea, this is Kelves. Kelves, this is Alea," Geralt said, gesturing between the two.


    "Nice to meet you," Kelves said with a nod.


    Alea made a noncommittal noise. "Come in," she said, backing away from the door to allow the men access.


    Kelves found himself looking around at the inside of the house, though there wasn''t that much to look at. It was almost bare in its simplicity. He followed Alea and Geralt to the living room; Geralt sat down on the couch quickly, and Kelves got a feeling that he was used to doing that.


    "Take a seat," Alea said. Kelves did so, and Alea sighed and looked over towards her kitchen. "I wasn''t expecting guests. I''m sorry I don''t have much to offer," she added, her voice softening slightly.


    "I thought I told you I was coming over today," Geralt said.


    Alea shrugged. "Maybe you did. But you didn''t tell me you would be bringing a friend."


    "I thought I told you that too, or at least that I was looking for someone I was hoping to bring back." Geralt rested his arm on the arm of the couch as he spoke.


    "Mm, perhaps." Alea''s attention shifted to Kelves. "If what Geralt has said is true, you must be the last Weaver. Is that right?"


    "Mm-hm." Kelves felt a small pang of resentment at the idea of being just "the last Weaver," but he wasn''t sure that he expected to be known for anything else.


    "I''m sorry," Alea said. "I should at least show you some hospitality. There might be something I can make quickly, if I look."


    "Um, actually," Kelves said as an idea came to him. "I brought something from a restaurant in Winstead. Fried tentacles. Maybe I could heat those up? I think we could all split them."


    "That''s an excellent idea," Geralt said.


    "Fried tentacles?" Alea asked, arching an eyebrow. "I should thank you for solving the lunch problem, nonetheless."


    "They''re pretty good," Kelves said as he dug the takeout container out of his bag.


    "I can confirm that, considering I''m the one who turned him onto those," Geralt said with a chuckle.


    "If you''ll guide me around your kitchen, I can go heat them up," Kelves said to Alea.


    "Certainly." Alea started off towards the kitchen, and Kelves followed. When they arrived, she said, "There''s not really much to show. The microwave is right here, and there''s not much to drink aside from water and orange juice. Do you want anything to drink?"


    "Water''s fine." Kelves shoved the container in the microwave and set it to run for two and a half minutes. He hoped that the power was set correctly; he didn''t want to know what would happen if he ended up overdoing the leftovers. A few silent minutes passed; Kelves noticed that Alea did not leave him alone in the kitchen, and he had a feeling that she was watching him closely. Before he could act on that hunch, the microwave timer mercifully went off. "Food''s done," he mumbled.


    When Alea and Kelves returned from the kitchen, Geralt wasn''t in the living room anymore. "Geralt?" Alea called out. She then noticed a slip of paper left on the arm of the couch. After setting the drinks down, she read the paper over. "He says he was suddenly called away for a business matter, and to go on without him."


    "More food for us, then," Kelves said, setting down the food and the plates and silverware.


    "I suppose," Alea said.

 Alone With Alea

    Once Kelves had split up the tentacles between him and Alea, a few minutes of silence passed as they ate. Alea was first to break the silence. "This is good. I wasn''t entirely sure what to expect."


    "Me neither," Kelves said. "At the restaurant, I passed it up at first, but like he said, Geralt gave me a taste and that won me over."


    "Hmm." Alea''s expression became thoughtful as she chewed. "Tell me a bit about yourself. What is your life like in Winstead?"


    "Well..." Kelves was unsure of how truthful to be, but ultimately decided to tell the truth. As far as he was concerned, she would probably be disappointed either way. "It''s a nice place, I guess. The grocery store delivers, and so do a bunch of other places. There''s a library and a hotel, and Frey''s. That''s the restaurant I got this from."


    "I''d imagine it''s quieter than Gatesend?" Alea suggested.


    "Yeah, definitely. I was surprised at how many people were here, and how many buildings there were. Winstead has a more small town feel to it," Kelves answered.


    "I suppose that has an appeal of its own. If I didn''t live in Gatesend, Winstead sounds like a good option." Alea took a bite and swallowed before continuing; Kelves noticed that she had a rather dainty way of eating in small bites. "Is there anything to do for fun there? Gatesend has a few interesting places, though from what I''ve heard, it pales in comparison to Sandsford in the desert region."


    "Most of the the TV I watch is filmed in Sandsford," Kelves said, remembering the TV show he had watched the night before. Then he remembered the question that Alea asked, and he grew sheepish. "I... don''t really go out much. But there''s lots of people who hold snowball fights or snowman building competitions. Snow is one thing Winstead never runs out of."


    "Ah, I see. May I ask why you don''t go out?" Alea''s gaze on Kelves was steady, but gentle.


    Kelves took a moment to think about the answer and wished he didn''t. It all came down to him holding an extended pity party for himself. "I''m just never in the mood to leave. It''s cold." It was a fib and an excuse, and he wasn''t sure how thoroughly Alea would see through it.


    Alea nodded. "I can understand that. I don''t leave my house very often either. I suppose that''s why Geralt brought you here."


    "Yeah, that''s what he said. Something about wanting to ''bring two lonely souls together.''" Kelves scoffed just a little bit when he quoted Geralt.


    "He means well," Alea said. "I can understand his concern, but I have my reasons for being a hermit."


    "I..." Kelves was going to say he had reasons for being a hermit, but altered his statement at the last minute. "Heh. I have reasons for being a hermit, too. They''re just not very good ones."


    "Tell me anyway," Alea said.


    "I have no friends or family here. Most of the Caprimets got thrown into the Sealed World with at least someone they knew. I just have me. So... I try to keep myself comfortable. Even if that means eating, sleeping, and drinking my days away." Kelves looked away in shame. He knew she would be disappointed. There was no point in trying to lie about who he really was.


    Alea''s expression softened, and she reached across the table to place her hand on top of Kelves''s. "I''m sorry," she said. "You''ve been through a lot. You deserve better than being by yourself."


    "Really?" The word slipped out of Kelves''s mouth almost automatically, and he felt immensely silly. "Um, well, I''ve heard about what happened to you. About your daughter, I mean. I''m not trying to compare, but I think that''s in a class of its own."This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "That may be true," Alea said. "Perhaps Geralt was onto something, bringing us together. At the very least, I can keep you company while you''re here."


    "You don''t think I''m a complete loser?" Kelves asked.


    Alea shook her head. "It''s not a matter of being a ''loser.'' It''s a matter of wanting to ease your pain where I can."


    Once again, Kelves looked away. "I''d like to say I could do the same for you, but I''ve never been very good at comforting people. Most people say I''m a drag and that I make them want to go back to bed."


    "I don''t think so," Alea said. "You''re an honest soul. You''ve suffered. If others can''t understand you, then maybe you''re in with the wrong crowd."


    "Maybe," Kelves mumbled, feeling his face warm.


    "I think I have some wine hidden away somewhere," Alea said suddenly, releasing Kelves''s hand. "Wait just one moment." She departed to search for the wine, and Kelves was thankful for the brief respite from the emotional overload. He hadn''t seen himself as worthy of that kind of care from others. Alea seemed to be acting out of genuine sympathy and not pity. It gave him a nice, warm feeling that he wasn''t used to. Eventually, she returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses. "Here we are. I don''t drink often, so there''s plenty left."


    "Thank you," Kelves said, watching as Alea poured him a glass of wine. He was really more of a beer person, but any port would work in a storm. He gave it a sniff; it had pleasant fruity notes, but the alcohol smell was definitely pleasant right alongside that. When Alea poured her glass, he noticed that it was much less than his, but didn''t comment on it, taking a fairly deep drink of his glass instead. Exhaling heavily, he said, "This is pretty good, but... it''s also kind of strong."


    "So it is. You''re welcome to have more if you like it." Alea took a small sip of hers, but her attention was on something else. "You should eat. It''ll take some of the sting out of the wine, and besides, you don''t want it to get cold, do you?"


    "Yes, Mom," Kelves said, chuckling. "I don''t see you eating, though."


    "I was going to get back to that," Alea said.


    The two continued eating and making friendly jabs at each other like this for a while; Kelves noticed that Alea was quick to refill his wine, and he didn''t object, partly because he had no problem with it and partly because every drink made it harder to say no. After some time blurred by, Kelves noticed that his plate was empty. "Where''d th'' food go?" he slurred, his brain fuzzed over from the alcoholic buzz.


    "You ate it, silly," Alea said. "Here, you can have the rest of mine. I''ve had my fill." She put her leftovers on Kelves''s plate and watched as he swiftly dug in. The food was gone so quickly, it was like it had never even touched the plate.


    "That''s better," Kelves mumbled, patting his belly. "You''re really nice, Alea."


    "It''s nothing, really." Alea waved Kelves off dismissively. "You should get some rest now. You went through quite a bit of wine. I''m surprised you''re still standing."


    "A man''s body is a cheating bartender, or something," Kelves said. "Yeah, I guess a nap would be good. The couch''ll be fine."


    "I''ll go get you a pillow and a blanket," Alea said, leaving Kelves to hobble his way to the couch and flop down with a great force. Alea came back and put the pillow under his head and tucked him into the blanket. "Sweet dreams."


    Some hours later, Kelves slowly regained consciousness. The blurry buzz of drunkenness had worn off enough for him to realize what had happened, but not quite enough for him to not think an apology was required immediately. He staggered up; the house was dark. It must have been late, but he knew he had to find Alea and apologize to her for getting so drunk. He wandered around, hoping he wouldn''t bump into anything. He felt around for doors and began knocking, hoping she would answer, and eventually, she did open one of the doors.


    "You''re awake," she said. He noticed that she had changed into a nightgown, but it didn''t occur to him to be embarrassed. "It''s still early in the morning."


    "I''m sorry for waking you up. I just... I''m sorry. I''m sorry I got so drunk that you had to tuck me into bed," Kelves stammered.


    "It''s fine," Alea said, then sighed. "I enabled you. I let you drink as much as you wanted. I wanted to spoil you a bit."


    "Spoil me?" Kelves cocked his head, confused.


    "I felt like you deserved a little special treatment. It''s been a while since I had anyone to look after." Alea looked off to the side.


    "Huh." Kelves scratched his head. "Thank you. It''s nice to be looked after. It makes me feel, well, good."


    "I''m glad," Alea said. "We can talk more later. I think you''ve still got a bit more drunkenness to sleep off."


    "Maybe. Night, Alea."


    "Good night."

 The Set-Up

    Kelves woke up to the sound of sizzling and a distinct meaty smell. Grumbling, he sat up, and it took a few moments for him to remember where he was and what had happened. He was still embarrassed over getting drunk, even if Alea had encouraged that to a degree. "Alea?" he called out.


    Alea''s voice drifted over from outside of the room. "I''m in the kitchen."


    Still grumbling, Kelves got up, stretched a bit, and sleepily hobbled his way over to the kitchen. When he got there, Alea was paying strict attention to a skillet full of eggs. "Good morning," he said after a bit of shy hesitation.


    "Good morning," Alea said back. "Breakfast should be ready soon."


    "Um, well... I didn''t bring anything for breakfast, so... sorry," Kelves mumbled. He didn''t want to impose on Alea, even if she seemed willing to meet his needs.


    "What are you apologizing for?" Alea asked. "This breakfast is for you, too. Once the eggs are done, I''ll get the bacon ready."


    "Really?" Kelves felt silly as soon as the questioning word slipped out of his mouth. "Thanks."


    "Have a seat."


    Kelves did so, and he silently watched Alea cook. She was very attentive and precise, but not mechanically so. The scrambled eggs were seasoned, and she scooped them onto two plates, placing one by Kelves. He could swear that his portion was a good deal larger than hers. "Eat up. Eggs are no good when they''re cold. I hope you don''t mind that I put cheese on these," she said.


    "It''s fine," Kelves said. "I''m happy to get anything at all, really." Alea nodded, and then set about preparing the bacon. Kelves looked from his eggs to her, and decided that he had to ask a question. "What did you mean when you said you wanted to spoil me?"


    "Hmm? Ah." Alea shook her head. "I meant exactly what I said. I wanted to give you a little pick-me-up. My offerings may not be much, but maybe they''ll help you feel a bit better."


    "They mean more than you''d think," Kelves said. "Don''t take this the wrong way, but... Geralt called you bitter. But you don''t seem that bitter to me."


    "He''s got a big mouth," Alea grumbled. "It''s true. I am bitter. I don''t trust most others, but you... you''re different, somehow. You don''t seem like the kind of person who could sustain an ulterior motive for long. You''ve got an honesty to you that''s refreshing."


    "You think so?" Kelves sighed. "Thanks."


    At that point, there was a knock on the door. "Now who could that be?" Alea asked before leaving to investigate.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    When the door opened, Kelves could hear Geralt greeting Alea and more or less inviting himself in. It wasn''t long before the red Caprimet man was standing right next to him in the kitchen, a rather disgruntled-looking Alea close behind. "Good morning, Kelves!" Geralt said. "How was last night? How are things going with you two?"


    "You are so nosy," Alea grumbled before going back to the stove to monitor the bacon. "Things are fine."


    "I''m glad to hear that," Geralt said. "I found it a bit odd that I never was called back to pick Kelves up, though."


    "I slept on the couch. It was fine," Kelves mumbled.


    "I see," Geralt said. "You seem to have made yourself comfortable here. Or rather, Alea let you make yourself comfortable."


    "What''s your point?" Kelves said.


    "I''m just wondering if maybe you''d like to stay here in Gatesend for a bit. You could stay with me, or... well, Alea, what do you think?" Geralt''s attention shifted to his sister.


    "What do I think about what?" Alea said.


    "If Kelves continued to spend the night here, would you be okay with that?"


    Alea sighed in exasperation. "Geralt, what are you getting at? Yes, it''s fine if Kelves stays here."


    "Thank you," Kelves said, this time relieved at catching the surprise before it completely slipped out. "How long can I stay here for? I mean, I''m not missing much at home, but I can''t impose on you two forever."


    "How about I check in with you in a week?" Geralt asked. "See how you feel then."


    "You''re making it sound like I could just stay here," Kelves said. "This is Alea''s house, so... I think it''s her call."


    "Let''s start with a week," Alea said as she transferred the bacon onto plates. "Geralt, I''m sorry, but I only made food for two people. If I''d known you were coming over, I would have made some for you."


    "It''s fine, I had breakfast already," Geralt said. "I''ve got some more things to do, so I''ll be heading out, but I wanted to check in on you two."


    "Thank you for your concern," Alea said, irritation clipping her voice.


    "You''re welcome!" Geralt drifted out of the room as suddenly as he came in. "Bye, sis!"


    When the door shut, Kelves scratched behind his left ear. "Well, that was weird."


    Alea grunted in frustration. "He means well, he really does. But sometimes he gets pushy and overbearing. And other times, well... I think it''s a natural younger brother response that he tries to get my goat every once in a while."


    "Must be nice, except for when he starts making trouble," Kelves said.


    "That''s just how it is, I suppose," Alea said. "Though I think right now his particular brand of trouble is more focused than usual."


    "What do you mean by that?" Kelves asked.


    "Isn''t it obvious?" Alea said. "He''s trying to set us up together. He wanted us to be together last night." Her expression softened. "But I don''t mind. I think he found someone worth the trouble."


    Kelves felt his face warm, and he looked away. "Huh, really, well... if you think so, then..." He trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence.


    "How about you just eat breakfast?" Alea nudged Kelves''s plate closer to him. "You can''t process on an empty stomach."


    Kelves wanted to ask for further clarification but opted not to, deciding he agreed with the sentiment. He had a feeling that he was going to be doing a lot of processing over the next week.

 Out And About

    A few days passed, and Kelves saw that Alea was content to let him watch TV and relax while she went about her own business. She still paid attention to him, offering him meals and asking if he needed anything, and that made Kelves do more thinking than relaxing. It didn''t feel right to him that he was doing the same thing he did at home, except in someone else''s house, especially since that someone was going out of her way to attend to him. He wanted to make a move, prove that he was worthy of all the attention. Alea had said that her behavior towards him wasn''t a matter of him being a loser, but a matter of wanting to ease his pain; nonetheless, he still felt very much like a loser. Furthermore, her willingness to "spoil" him was sapping his self-esteem just a bit. He felt like she was treating him like a second child, and he didn''t want to be a child to her.


    He wanted to be her friend.


    Alea passed by the couch, pulling on her coat as she did. "I''m going to get more groceries. I''ll be right back."


    Kelves sat up a bit straighter. "Let me come with you. It''s only fair, since I probably ate most of your groceries. I mean, I don''t have much money to help you with, but... I think I should help."


    "Thank you for your offer," Alea said, eyeing Kelves with suspicion. "But people might say things if they see me with anyone other than Geralt."


    The words sent a pang of disappointment through Kelves''s chest, but for some reason, he didn''t feel compelled to just lie down and take the objection like he normally would. "They probably already know I''m here. And why do you care if they say things?" He regretted the question immediately after it left his mouth. He knew why Alea would care if people gossiped about her. It still stung to have those little whispers floating around, no matter how hard one tried to swallow the sneaking pain.


    To Kelves''s surprise, Alea accepted the counter point. "You''re right. It''s not as if they don''t talk about me already." She beckoned him to come with her. "Are you coming?"


    "Yup." With that, Kelves followed Alea to the grocery store.


    On the way there, Kelves heard children''s voices and turned towards the sound on reflex. What he saw nearly made his heart stop. Two human children, a boy and a girl, were following a young white Caprimet boy. From what he saw, the girl had tanned skin, making the boy look starkly pale in comparison. Both of them had medium-length hair, adding a touch of similarity to their looks. The Caprimet, meanwhile, didn''t even have vague stumps of his horns growing in; clearly, he was still a child. The three seemed to be talking happily with each other, but the mere sight of a human made Kelves jump. "Alea, there''s- there''s humans here?" he said to Alea in a hurried whisper.


    Alea arched an eyebrow. "What?" Then she saw what Kelves was referring to. "Ah. Them. Those two are Caleb and Fenne, and the Caprimet is Prince Alrai." Kelves felt a bit embarrassed about having passed by Magicant royalty and not even having known it. "Caleb showed up in the Sealed World about two years ago. Alrai found him, and the royal family took him in. Fenne showed up last month. She''s been adopted too."Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    "Huh." Kelves scratched his chin. "How does a human even get here?"


    "Who knows," Alea said. "But there''s talk of how Caleb and Fenne might be the key to unsealing this world."


    "Really." After a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure no one else could hear and comment, Kelves added, "Honestly, it doesn''t make much of a difference to me. It won''t give me my family back. Some people might get their homes back, but who knows? Maybe the humans have already taken them over."


    Alea nodded. "I understand that feeling." She then changed the subject. "Let''s keep going."


    Eventually, Kelves and Alea arrived at the grocery store. It was a smaller establishment, with the aisles fairly well organized; he could see points for and against the possibility of being seen here. On the one hand, maybe people went to the bigger, more popular stores, but on the other hand, if someone spotted you here, there wouldn''t be any escape. He dutifully followed Alea around and watched as she put groceries into the cart. "You''re getting a lot," he noted at one point.


    "Yes, I am," Alea said. "Not only is it to feed you, but you''re around to help me carry these, so why not get a bit more than usual?"


    Kelves chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "Right."


    A woman''s voice came from across the aisle. "Alea!"


    Alea jolted, then froze as she was approached by a Caprimet woman with snowy white fur. "Kastra."


    "I''m so glad to finally see you again," Kastra said. "I haven''t heard from you since your daughter died."


    "I''ve been busy," Alea said flatly. "I saw Alrai and the humans earlier."


    "Ah, I must have just missed them. Alrai told me he was going out to play with Caleb and Fenne, but he didn''t tell me where, so I thought I''d look for them myself. Nash is holding down the fort." Kastra then looked to Kelves. "Who is this?"


    Kelves swallowed nervously. "I''m Kelves. Kelves Weaver. I''m, um, visiting."


    Kastra''s face immediately fell. "Kelves... I''m so sorry. I know about what happened to your family. I wish we could have done more."


    "We all wish that," Kelves grumbled, only to receive a firm elbow to the ribs from Alea.


    "You do realize you''re speaking to Queen Kastra Aryes, don''t you?" Alea asked.


    Kelves''s eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "I-I''m sorry, Your Highness, I didn''t realize..."


    Kastra giggled. "Alea, don''t scare him like that! You know full well that both Nash and I are fine without the formalities. At any rate, while I''d love to catch up a bit more, I really should continue my search. Next time, Alrai really needs to tell me where he''s going. Take care, you two!" As suddenly as she appeared, the Caprimet queen left.


    "Huh. For a queen, she''s rather personable," Kelves said. "I wonder what was with that sudden exit though."


    Alea shrugged. "King Nashir is also famous for being a very accessible person," she said. "As for Kastra, well, it''s not so much that she''s flighty as much as it is that she tries to do a lot at once but isn''t the best multitasker."


    "You sound like you know her well," Kelves said.


    "We used to be on good terms before my daughter''s death," Alea said, her voice barely above a mumble. "How about we wrap up here? I only have a few more things on my shopping list."


    Kelves nodded, and the duo finished grocery shopping and headed home.

 The Heart of the Matter

    The days went on, and Kelves tried to make himself useful. Nonetheless, Alea had a tendency to insist that she could cook and clean and do other chores on her own, except for grocery shopping. Kelves still had that feeling of being treated more like a child than a friend, and it was making him question Alea''s motives. While he initially thought she acted out of pure-hearted sympathy, he had a suspicion of there being a darker side to her generosity.


    Kelves awoke that morning to a hand on his head, gently stroking him. "Good morning," Alea said softly. She was sitting on what little couch space Kelves''s bulk hadn''t taken up, her back slightly pressed against him. He tried not to read into the contact.


    "Morning," Kelves said. "What are you doing?"


    Alea sighed. "I couldn''t resist the temptation any longer. I wanted to rub your head while you slept. It''s odd, I know, but it''s something I miss doing."


    "What do you mean?" Kelves asked. He was definitely enjoying the contact, but he wanted to know more.


    "I used to do this for Geralt all the time when we were young," Alea said. "And then... for my daughter."


    "I see." Kelves went silent, except for some soft, contented purring noises that he couldn''t hold back. He then realized there was no better time than now for an important question. "Alea, I need to ask you something."


    "Yes?" Alea''s hand had still not left Kelves''s head.


    "Do you think of me as a child, or as a friend?"


    That question was enough to stop the petting. "Come again?"


    Kelves shifted slightly on the couch. "Don''t take this the wrong way. I''m not spurning your generosity or anything, but your insistence on doing things for me makes me feel kind of like a substitute child for you."


    There was a flash of realization and perhaps a bit of hurt in Alea''s expression, something in the way the warmth dropped. "I..." she hesitated as she tried to find her words. "I''m sorry. I didn''t realize. It is possible that maybe I''ve babied you a bit too much."


    "I''m trying to make myself useful because I don''t want to be your pet, but you keep lavishing attention on me, and it''s making me wonder." A part of Kelves felt a pang of regret; he felt his words were too sharp. Still, he went on. "Do you really want me as a friend?"


    Alea opened her mouth to speak, and at first nothing came out. "Absolutely," she said. "You are a good man, Kelves Weaver. Just you telling me that you want to do more for me lets me know that. I''m sorry that my coddling made you feel like a pet and not a person."


    "I see." Kelves hesitated, then decided on a risky choice. "Could you do me a favor?"


    "What do you need?" Alea asked.


    "Lay down next to me for just a minute," Kelves said. Alea gave him a confused look, but she followed his directions, even though it was with some difficulty due to how much space Kelves took up. When she seemed to be settled, he threw his arms around her and held her close. "I want to show you that I can keep you warm, too. It''s been a long time since I''ve really wanted to do something for someone. It feels like you''re waking up some part of me that''s been asleep ever since I ended up in the Sealed World, and... I kind of like it."


    "I-Is that so?" Alea asked, clearly surprised by the embrace, but not making any attempts to pull away.


    "Yes."


    "I see," Alea mumbled, her gaze slightly averted. "You... you don''t want to go home, do you?"


    "If you''ll treat me like a man, then I''d be happy to stay for as long as you''ll have me. I''m not missing anything at home." Kelves repositioned one of his hands slightly on Alea''s back.


    "I''m glad," Alea said, finally returning the embrace. "A man with your integrity is very rare these days. I hope you realize that."


    "Thank you," Kelves said. "There is one thing I''ve been meaning to ask, though. Why hasn''t Geralt stopped by to ask if I wanted to go home? I was only supposed to be here for a week."


    "Ah, about that... I''m sorry. I sort of told him that you wanted to stay longer so that he wouldn''t keep popping in and bothering us." Alea''s smile was sheepish.


    Kelves sighed. "I really wish you would have told me about that. I''m not complaining, but really."


    "I know. I apologize. But at least we could enjoy each other''s company uninterrupted, hmm?"If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "I guess so."


    "Kelves, I..." Alea looked away, and her jaw tensed as her expression became serious. "There is something I''d like to show you. Something very important to me."


    Kelves pulled his arms away so that Alea could move. "What is it?" As much as he wanted to guess what Alea wanted to show him, he thought it would be best if he held no expectations, much like he did when he met Alea.


    Alea got up. "Follow me." Kelves did so, and the two went to the hallway where Alea''s bedroom was. She stopped in front of a painting of green hills and held her hand up to it. A blue light shined from her hand, and the painting faded away, along with a piece of the wall around it. A stairway leading down appeared, and Kelves felt his pulse quicken. Something was being hidden, and he was becoming a bit afraid of what it might be.


    Kelves followed Alea down the stairs without a word. The stairway opened into a dim chamber lit only by glowing orbs along the walls, and he didn''t have long to wonder what she was trying to show him before he caught sight of it.


    At the other end of the chamber was a bed; a glimmering tent of magic encapsulated it. From the looks of it, the bed was occupied. Alea approached the bed, and beckoned Kelves to come with her. When he did, she began to speak. "Kelves, this is my daughter, Noel."


    Kelves stared at the sleeping girl. She looked young, perhaps ten years old at the most. She had pale skin and red hair that matched her mother''s fur, along with the stubs of cream-colored horns. The rest of her body was under the sheets. "Is she...?" He found himself unable to finish his sentence. He was trying to suspend judgment, but there was definitely something unsettling about a mother keeping her child''s corpse.


    Fortunately, Alea dispelled that notion. "She is in a magical stasis. I tucked her in long ago, invoked a powerful spell, and created a barrier tied to my life force. No one will be able to get to her unless they go through me first."


    Kelves opened his mouth to speak, but all he could stammer out was a befuddled "why?"


    "Kelves, you have been good at avoiding jumping to conclusions so far. Would you be willing to listen to my story before you decide anything?" Alea did not face Kelves when she spoke, her eyes pinned to her daughter.


    "If you have a story to tell, I''m willing to listen," Kelves said.


    "As a half-Magicant, Noel has some special properties, or so I''ve been told. A rumor started up that it would take essences from both a human and a powerful Magicant to unseal the Sealed World and bring us home. No Magicant has ever survived having their essence extracted, and a human''s survival is questionable. Those that have survived often have lasting wounds, mental and physical." Alea''s tone was distant, mechanical.


    "That must be why the royal family took those human kids in," Kelves said. "They don''t want anyone trying to kill children."


    "Yes, exactly," Alea said. "Kastra and Nashir are aware that they are effectively holding the freedom of Magicants hostage, but they despise meaningless sacrifices. They have been searching for an alternative ever since Gatesend was established."


    "And what does this have to do with Noel?" Kelves asked.


    "There are factions that would jump at the opportunity to see if my daughter could fulfill both the human and Magicant roles in the unsealing ritual, or otherwise experiment on her. The previous royal scientist was a member of such a faction. He spewed honeyed words at me to make me surrender my daughter in the name of ''science.'' It was then I knew that it was not safe for Noel to be out in the open." Alea''s nose wrinkled. "He was a despicable man with no moral compass. He got what he deserved."


    "So you put her in stasis to protect her from him?" Kelves wondered what happened to the former royal scientist, but decided that was a matter that could be pried into later.


    "From him, and from other unsavory factions. I am a pessimist who does not trust the majority of the people around me. Though her father is a traitor who can rot in his grave, Noel is the most precious person in my life. I will do everything I can to protect her." Alea''s hands began to shake.


    For a moment, Kelves thought he could feel Alea''s devotion to her daughter on a visceral level, a twisting feeling in his gut. Still, he had a question for her. "Does Geralt know about this?"


    "He has a big mouth," Alea snapped, her fists clenching. "He is my brother, and I know him well. Not only would he be against the measures I''ve taken, but he isn''t good at keeping secrets. But you..." She suddenly grabbed Kelves''s hand, gripping it tightly. "You are the first person that I''ve felt I could trust fully in a very long time." She closed her eyes and looked away, sending two thin streams of tears running down her cheeks. "No. Please, don''t let me influence you. Tell me what you''re thinking right now, even if you hate me for doing this to my daughter."


    "Alea, no..." Kelves tried to wipe away one of Alea''s tears with his free hand. "I don''t hate you. I understand what you''re doing, and why you''re doing it. In your position, I think I''d do the same thing." He took her other hand and held it firmly. "I can tell you''re a good mother. I won''t breathe a word of this to anyone. If I have to, I''ll step up and protect your daughter, too."


    "Really?" More tears pooled in Alea''s eyes, and Kelves recognized her surprised tone as one similar to the one he used. "Kelves, I..." Despite herself, she choked back a sob. "I''m so happy!"


    Kelves found himself asking how Alea would comfort him if he were in this position and using that to guide him. He freed his hands and took her into a gentle embrace, giving her forehead a nuzzle. "I''m happy, too. I haven''t been able to say that in a while." He looked over to Noel again. "About Noel... I was told that she was born two years before the war, but she looks much older than two."


    "It seems that, for some reason, half-Magicants age erratically. Noel is two years old, but her body is ten... I remember hearing from someone long ago that they age normally after a certain point, but I don''t think she was there yet." Even as she wept with joy, Alea smiled at Kelves''s interest in her daughter.


    "I hope that, someday, she can be with all of us again," Kelves said. "And I mean us. I''m going to stand by you until you think it''s safe enough to wake her up, and then I''ll watch over her with you."


    "Thank you," Alea said with a sniff. "As long as you stand by me, I will support you in every way I can." She looked into Kelves''s eyes, a prolonged contact that made him wonder what she was planning. "Kelves, can I... can I kiss you?"


    Kelves''s heart thumped hard in his chest, and his face warmed. Still, he didn''t hesitate. "Yes."


    Their lips met, and Kelves knew he was ready to live again.