Where exactly do people get the pleasure of causing their fellow men pain? Caltha made no sense of it. Why would Dyie allowed his men to do it? Then again, it was an inevitable part of what they do.

The blood she saw on Sirius last night told her of the malice that lurked in the shadows of the city's bowels. A mixture of his own and the people he may have encountered.

He was a good man, she believed in that, but was it in her place to actually tell him how to do his job? She didn't think her opinion mattered. Yet, as she stood by the door, exchanging a look with him, she didn't know what to say.

He was healthy and fine, which was good, otherwise her mahiqa would be a failure if he had not recovered. Do men always come with carelessness?

Clueless, Sirius wondered why Caltha was giving him a hard stare. Had he done something wrong last night? There was no way of knowing. Last he checked, poisons didn't come with the ability to make you perceive someone else's mind. So why was she giving him another one of those stares?

His attempt to stare back in silence didn't seem to spark her. "What?"

Caltha sighed. Like he could feel the warmth of her breath against him, like how last night's dilemma...okay, stop.

She began. "You had me worried last night. I thought you were gone for good. I wasn't sure what to do. If I called for help, they would rather let you die, and I can't have that, Rius. You're important to me, you know?"

Sirius could not miss the blush on her cheeks and the way she broke free of his gaze. For all he knew he should relay his gratitude, but as it turned out, was he supposed to apologize instead? Confused, he didn't know whether he should do either. Okay, he was overthinking this one.

Did it take this amount of mental pressure to figure out what she actually wanted him to do? This was a first. It puzzled him what to say next or how to measure his words. Was she mad? She was mad that he got injured? That made no sense. He was the victim here. But to her?

He was at a loss for words. Wow. He conceded. Or should he not?

It's hard to read women, okay? They were lionesses by nature, or kittens when not in the mood to argue.

"Calla?" He summoned. "Thank you."

That's how it should be, right? Instead of apologizing, you'd express gratitude. Thank them for taking you in when no one else would. For mending your scars. Reminders that may either be visible or not. Thank them for being the person they are. It was that simple. Right?

There was a reaction he didn't exactly expect from her based on initial atmosphere. A smile. It was small, but it was there.

It was the gentlest thing he saw ever since Castellone left, and not like Castellone was gentle. No, he was not. She looked like a lost summer bloom on a blistering winter trail, and he was lucky to have found her before it wilted.

Caltha decided to switch tones. "Can I get you anything? I bet you're hungry."

Oh, good, she's no longer mad. Grateful that he wasn't a victim of a lecture, he wondered if it was selfish to just want her to be here right now.

He paused to stare. That would indeed be selfish. And cringeworthy. A bouquet full of awkward should go with that. Needless to say, he was ready to punch himself right now.

"Rius!"

Oh, thank the Goddess for small favors.

Astrum stood by the open doorway. Caltha immediately pulled the boy inside and locked the door behind her. "Astrum, you know the rules when Rius is here, right?"

Astrum giggled when Caltha attempted to stifle his mouth. He protested, raising his hands. "But that's unfair! You didn't tell me he was here!"

Caltha leaned towards Astrum and raised an index finger to her lips. It indicated the rule they agreed on whenever Sirius was around.

Sirius broke a smile. Glad the distraction took his mind off of her. "Good to see you, raccoon."

Astrum hid behind Sirius, hugging a leg while looking up at him. "See, see, word's been going around. Crolis found a few stray boxes of goodies scattered around those needy places. I bet you have something to do with that."

Sirius looked at Caltha. She waved a hand, allowing him to spin the rest of the tale to feed Astrum's curiosity. He crouched in front of the boy. "Where did you hear that?"

Astrum blew a raspberry, pointing out how obvious it was when the man of the house was an Archii himself. "Word's fast here, you know. Crolis said they found bodies of people who came from the mainland. So, did you do it? Did you beat the bad guys?"

Sirius wondered how he should tell the boy. Caltha pretty much knew already, but to tell the boy? He spared Astrum that much detail.

For Astrum, they were tales of heroism, adventures, however you called them. But reality would soon make the boy open his eyes to true suffering. To how people less fortunate than him were more prone to the gates of agony. It would become a once upon a time of colored inks falling upon empty vellums.

Astrum may see him as the good guy, but the law would state otherwise. He was only feeding the boy's fantasies. Sooner or later Astrum would open his eyes to that reality, so for now let it be wooden swords and paper shields.

"That's so cool!" Astrum gripped Sirius's trousers tight. "Will you take me to one of your missions?"

Sirius raised a brow. "No."

Astrum protested, begging Caltha about the matter. He was about to cry when neither of them agreed.

"I want you to do something for me though," Sirius had to take Astrum's mind off from wanting to tag along. "I need you to produce a copy of the mainland's map for me, and make a detailed version of it, especially Flesperia."

Astrum sniffed. "I can do that. It'll be like in art class."

Sirius smiled. "Thanks, raccoon."

"You'd be surprised by my artistry, Rius."

"I have no doubt about that." Sirius encouraged before glancing at Caltha who was smiling to herself.

Astrum ran off to start his drawing task. If he could banter with every single helper in the property, he didn't doubt that the boy could draw just as well.

Sirius shook his head and rose after Astrum was gone.

He began to stretch to ease the hunger he felt after standing up. Even if he wanted to stay for a meal, he shouldn't abuse that hospitality. Yeah, right. He dared to think about that now when he overdid it a lot of times in the past? In truth, he had to head back home. But isn't this home too? Not where Crolis was, that's for sure.

He pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "I have to go."

He noticed the slightest shift in Caltha's gaze when he said that. A hint of disappointment yet again. He wanted to ask what thoughts lingered in her silence. Perhaps she'd talk to him some other time about what ate her.

Caltha nodded, watching him head to the balcony, his entrance and exit. "Rius?"

Sirius was about to drop down after reaching for the balustrade. Like a distant melody of tortured sirens, the tone of her voice made him look back at her.

Caltha retrieved the scarf from the desk before wrapping it around his neck. It emitted a scent of fresh citrus. "Don't forget this."

Sirius watched. Her fingers worked like he was still weak from the poison. But really, that tenderness was only seeping from her feminine side.

He was too busy looking at her that he failed to perceive the change in the air. It pricked his skin. He noticed a single speck of snow made its way on Caltha's hair. And it melted away.

In his known years of staying in Rastite, snow was the least of things anyone would expect from the sky.

He looked in the distance. To the highs and lows of Rastite's corroding environment. It was a sign, an omen, igniting his anxiety. He knew he had to make his mark. "You're important to me too."