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“Lana not sick?” Rin asked. Lana blinked as she took in her surroundings. She was sitting on Rin’s bed. The morning sun was shining through the windows and the Halfling was looking imploringly at Lana.
Why is he asking if I’m sick?
There was dread, a weight that rested on her shoulders.
“I just saw Faela. She had confirmed it,” Lana caught herself saying. It felt like she was underwater. Her speech felt slow and slurred. Nothing felt tangible.
“...that all that matters,” Rin’s voice penetrated, “Lana not damned. Lana blessed.”
Then there was that. The unwavering optimism the Halfling had. Why she was angered by it though, Lana couldn’t remember. She had went to see him a week ago. Something had changed. Something big, but all that came to mind was her need to be held.
The smell of bacon and warm muffins filled her nose. She was cooking with Rin and burnt the pheasant eggs.
“Lana is smart,” the Halfling told her in her frustration, “and kind and very important.”
A bite of a citrus yogurt then filled her mouth. They were at the table, breakfast nearly done, and Rin instructing her to say, “Lana gonna be okay.”
“I’m going to be okay,” she repeated. The dread Lana felt was beginning to leave, but on its heels came a sense of urgency. There was life and the need to live.
“Rin stand by Lana and be child’s father if Lana chooses,” were the final words Lana recalled as she sucked in a cool breath of air, immediately coughing up the obstruction that tried to fill her lungs. Daylight blinded her and left her in a haze.
“Babygirl!” Sylis’s voice came. She felt weak as he lifted her into a hug.
“Did I die?” she questioned as her senses began to give more dimension to her surroundings.
“No, but we should get you back and have the baby checked on just to be safe-”
“Baby?” came a familiar voice. Shard was looming over her. It brought a soft grin to Lana’s face to see her friend.
“Yeah,” Sylis began, a proud smile on his lips, “We’re expecting Shard.”
The Warforge took Lana from Sylis, hugging her almost too firmly. “I’m going to be an Uncle!?” he exclaimed. Still weak from being crushed, Lana remained helpless to Shard’s bout of joy. He then insisted on carrying Lana all the way back to Sharn.
Along the way, Lana learned that they had accomplished the task of killing the Dao, a token of their kill being brought back for evidence. The judges voted them as the victors, gaining The Bringers of Hope guild more renown and money.
There was much celebration throughout the city, the festivities of the holiday abounding, but Lana was far from merriment. She met with Faela who noted the child within was fine. As they walked back to the guild, Sylis wrapped an arm around Lana and said, “We were lucky this time, Lana, but this is why you need to be more careful when fights rise up.”
If clouds could form over Lana, she would have had enough for a storm. All day they had been collecting and it didn’t help that Sylis began to talk strategies with her while Shard continued to tell anyone with ears the good news.
“I’m to be an Uncle!”
“Perhaps we can work on your reflexes.”
“My girl, Lana! She’s pregnant!”
“Some foot work might be useful too.”
“Do you know where I can buy a solid gold bassinet?”
“Oh and some more running to keep your stamina up.”
Lana’s voice seemed lost as her friends continued on and on. It was as though she left it behind in the King’s Woods, in the very pit the Dao tried to bury her in.
They entered the guild hall, the festivities abundant as fellow guild members congratulated them on their win. Lana was given her share of the prize money and surprisingly was given added portions from Kari and Shard.
“For the two of you and the future of your child,” they had said. The emotions continued to mix aggressively inside Lana. She was grateful that people cared and were supportive, yet she hated that everyone seemed concerned about her ability to look after her kid.
Lana walked toward Rasuvius’s office to pay off the last of her debt, Sylis in tow. He began to suggest that they do some training which pushed Lana up to her breaking point.
“Sylis, I’m going to stay the night at Rin’s!” she snapped.
The Wizard nearly tripped with shock.
“Wha- why?” he asked.
“Because I’m sick of all of this!” she gestured to the celebrations taking place, “and to everyone knowing I’m pregnant, no thanks to Don and Shard. And to you with your obsessive training! I have been doing what ya’ve taught me but somehow all ya see is where I fail! What about when ya ran off!? Was that my fault too!?”
Sylis blinked rapidly, his mouth searching for words.
“I was just worried. I don’t want anything to happen to you or the baby-” he tried to explain.
“Whatever,” Lana interrupted, continuing toward her destination, “I just need a night to cool down and be away from everyone’s scrutiny.”
“Just the one night, okay?” Sylis called after her.
I’ll stay away as long as I want, Lana thought irritably. Once she walked into Rasuvius’s office, she would be free of her debt and had no intention of returning to the guild.
Even after telling Rin everything that had happened, Lana’s mind was restless. She had every right to be angry, yet part of her hated it. All she wanted was to go back to being carefree.
Lana began to reminisce the past three months she had known Sylis. She loved the spontaneity he embraced. Seeking fun wherever they were. Whether it was running through the streets and rooftops of Sharn or throwing their magics at children, Sylis was exciting. They lived in their own world when he wasn’t so focus on her.
Then there were the times he would teach her some of his magics. Sylis would channel his energies through her, intertwining with her own powers. It was probably more intimate than the physical connection they had.
So in spite of the hellish day, part of Lana longed for Sylis... and hated him all the same.
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