Aiki opened his eyes, but kept his gaze firmly on the ground. He didn't want to meet Farah or Saul's eyes right now, or feel their pitying stares. They turned their ears back as their breath caught in their throat, and they choked back a sob. "I'm f-fine…" He insisted in a weak whisper, scarcely able to get the words out.
"Saul, stop," Farah ordered suddenly. Saul did as she commanded, and Farah readjusted herself again in his arms with Saul supporting her all the while. "Aiki, come here and look at me," she instructed in a caring but firm tone.
Aiki hesitated before obeying, coming around in front of Saul to look up at him and Farah weakly. Their eyes were welling up with tears, and they were visibly trembling. He seemed to be holding his breath so it wasn't as evident that he was struggling to breathe properly.
Farah reached out and cupped their face. A sort of smile played across her lips now that she was starting to gain her energy back. "I don't know how many times Saul and I will have to tell you this before you believe it, but what happened in that office was not your fault. Rosalind used you, and if you think you're the first young, naïve soul she has manipulated blindly into doing her bidding, you are sadly mistaken."
Aiki choked and fresh tears rolled down their cheeks when Farah touched them. He gasped for breath now that he wasn't holding it anymore, and he rubbed weakly at his eyes with one fist. "I-I just— w-wanna— see my f-family— again…" They managed to choke out, sobbing quietly. "S-She said I could n— n-never see them— again— a-and…" He took a second to try and catch his breath, now shaking uncontrollably. "S-She said she was gonna h— h-hurt you, and— kill me…"
Farah's heart broke for the fox boy. She knew the feeling of emotional loss – she knew it a bit too well. "Darling, what have I promised you since the moment I found you. You will get back to your family. We just have to meet up with Luna." Suddenly, her face deadpanned. She recalled Rosalind's parting words: "I must go pay the princess of Solaria a brief visit."
"Damn," Farah whispered. "Luna."
Saul seemed to comprehend what she meant. "Can you stand?" he asked quickly.
Aiki closed his eyes and whimpered softly, leaning into Farah's hand for some comfort. They relaxed slightly, but they still looked pretty upset, and they felt hot and nauseous with guilt. He looked up when Farah mentioned Luna, and he paled again. "O-Oh god… is she… is she gonna h-hurt Luna too…?"
"I can try," Farah answered Saul before quickly addressing Aiki's question. "No. No, she wouldn't dare. Her relations with the queen are already rocky, and if she were to hurt Luna…" She shook her head. "Alfea would lose the support of the Solarian army."
Slowly, Saul let Farah down. She kept her free arm wrapped around his neck for support as she tested the waters. Surprisingly, she found it easy to stand. "Alright then," she remarked with a nod. "That'll do it."
Aiki covered his mouth with one hand, trying not to throw up. They fell against the wall, letting it support them as they tried to calm down. "I'm sorry, I-I'm sorry, I just… hah…" He moved his hand to his throat, his breathing strained and raspy. "S-Sorry… I can't… c-can't… my chest hurts…" They whispered. "J-Just need a minute…"
Farah looked to Saul and nodded her head down the hallway. "Go. Find Luna. And if Rosalind's already there, warn her."
Saul nodded and took off down the hallway in a dead sprint.
In the meantime, Farah turned her undivided attention to Aiki. "Shh," she whispered, sending calm waves again through her touches. Surprisingly, she didn't seem as drained anymore. It was as if her magic had replenished itself and her energy. "It's alright. Relax. Everything is going to be okay."
Aiki clung tightly to Farah and buried their face in her shoulder, sobbing weakly. "I'm s-sorry… I'm so sorry… p-please… I c-can't…" He choked and his grip seemed to be weakening. They felt lightheaded, and they were still pretty nauseous. "I f-feel— so— awful…" He whispered. "Mmnh… I-I think m'gonna be sick…"
Quickly, Farah used her pain manipulation abilities to draw the sick feeling away from Aiki. "Darling, there is nothing to apologize for. Everything will be alright. Luna is a powerful fairy, and if Rosalind lays a finger on her, then she will feel the queen's wrath through the entire Solarian military."
Aiki relaxed a bit when he didn't feel sick anymore, but he still wasn't feeling great. Not emotionally, anyway. They moved a bit closer to Farah, their heart racing and their breathing still quicker than it should have been. "O-Okay… if you're sure…" He whispered.
"I promise," Farah assured him, shifting slightly to accommodate Aiki's movements. "I know Luna well. She will be alright. And Saul will help her too, I have no doubt of that." She gently stroked her fingers through Aiki's hair. This is what calmed them last time, isn't it?
Aiki shivered a bit and started to relax when Farah pet them, leaning into her hand with a noise similar to a soft purr. "Everything is fine… everything's going to be f-fine…" He whispered. His ears and tail fell limp, and he seemed to slowly be calming down.
"Exactly," Farah murmured. She smiled and even giggled a bit at Aiki's purr-like sound. "Very good. I can feel the control you have over your emotions is getting better."
"Mmnh…" Aiki leaned into the touch more, practically pushing his head into Farah's hand. "Y-Yeah… thanks… sorry for being problematic…" They murmured softly.
Farah smiled and continued stroking their hair, but her smile lost its joy when Aiki apologized yet again. "Everyone is problematic in their own way," she replied thoughtfully. It almost seemed as if her mind ventured to its own world before she drew it back.
"Y-Yeah… I guess so." Aiki hummed softly, slowly coming down as Farah pet him. "I'm still sorry for the trouble… you've got a lot of your own stuff to worry about without me causing extra stress. W-We should probably meet up with Saul…"
"Right," Farah agreed. After a few seconds, she added teasingly, "And to do that, we need to let go."
–
Saul sprinted through the forest, weaving his way through the trees and over roots jutting up from the earth. The gateway was just up ahead, and he thought he could see a group of figures by the door. "Luna!" he called out.
The girl in question turned to him at the sound of her name. She had flowing brown hair, sharp cheekbones, and an intimidating blue stare. "Saul Silva," she greeted him formally. "Are you the friend Farah mentioned?"
"No, Farah's bringing them shortly," Saul answered, out of breath. He'd sprinted all the way here from Alfea. "Have you… seen Rosalind… anywhere?"
"Ah, r-right! Sorry!" Aiki pulled away, flushing in embarrassment. They scratched behind their ears a bit and stretched before they were ready to get moving. "Um… I-I'll just follow you since I don't really know where I'm going…" He laughed nervously, still a bit embarrassed, but looking to continue onward nonetheless.
Farah genuinely smiled. "Alright then. Make sure you can keep up." She winked, and with that, she jogged down the hall, glancing over her shoulder to check on Aiki.
–
"No," Luna replied with narrowed eyes. "Why?"
"Farah sent me ahead. Here. To warn you," Saul gasped for breath.
"Warn me?" Luna asked dryly. "Warn me about what?"
"About Rosalind," Saul replied, becoming slightly impatient.
Aiki kept pace with Farah, although they stayed slightly behind her as they hurried along with her. He hoped that they weren't too late, but he was sure that Saul and Luna could hold their own if they needed to. They sighed softly, brushing off their clothes a bit as they followed. Now that Farah wasn't touching him, he felt a bit sick again.
At Farah’s pace, the pair made quick work of Alfea’s halls and were soon outside. She led Aiki across the grounds toward the forest. “There is a Barrier around the school to protect it from the Burned Ones. Gateway rings only work outside the Barrier, which is why we’re meeting Luna in the forest,” Farah explained.
—
Luna scoffed. “What in the Otherworld would you need to warn me about Rosalind for?”
Saul’s eyes narrowed. “She indirectly tried attempted to murder Farah.”
A blank expression crossed Luna’s face. “What?”
"Alright, that sounds fine to me, then…" Aiki seemed a bit tired, but still kept up with Farah regardless. "How are we supposed to avoid Rosalind, though? Like, if she's following us, s-she isn't going to let me go home…" He fidgeted anxiously, swallowing to try and keep from throwing up.