Niphru’s worry slowly gave way to despair. Days passed, yet he could only move his eyes and struggle to move his head, his limbs failed to respond at all. He sidered it luck that he was even able to breathe at this point. He had heard people leaving each day as they healed enough to move, and even Dawn had been able to get out of bed, even if she couldn’t leave yet.

  The sed day of recovery, Monti had e by and released the blocks he had put on Dawn’s nerves, allowio move about again, though with severe caution to not let anything touch her babsp; Niphru could do nothing but y there and watbsp; Unwilling to just sit around, Dawn began helping Monti with the other patients, often ing back to spend time with him and check if he was doing aer.

  After the fourth day, Amilya came by with Devon, bringing Dawo Niphru to talk together. Amilya began by speaking to Dawn, “Devon and I have agreed that it would be best for you to go to the capital to learn from the mages there, as they teach far more than I .”

  Dawn began to protest, but was cut off before she could begin.

  Devon o both of them while tinuing from where Amilya left off, “I couldn’t keep watg both of you during the battle too closely, but I know her of you were holding back much, but you still outsted all the es by more than double the time. It takes either serious skill, or incredible effid talent to mahat. I’d have loved to have mages as talented as part of my team.”

  Chug at the st ent, Amilya spoke up again, “I won’t force you to go, but I highly reend it, once you heal. I know I mentioned before that the Church of flict tries to kill any awakehey , and they guard the gates as well, but we came up with a pn to get Niphru through as well.”

  Niphru could see Dawn’s protest die, and she began to look intrigued by the idea. She turo Niphru, stroking his head before responding, “I will think about it, but we still don’t know what is wrong, Niphru ’t talk anymore, or move, and I ’t restore the liween us…”

  Monti came over, having overheard, and stated, “That is true, I’ve never seen anything like this. His body is fiher than a few cuts. No nerve damage, and I don’t think there is any brain damage, as he seems to uand fine even if he only respond with gnces. I think that is even more reason to go to the capital, though, perhaps some of the healers or priests will have an idea. I certainly don’t have any idea about the spirit, I’ve only dealt with bodies. But I believe the foxfire iritual in nature, given how much mana it would have taken to keep going at all times.”

  “Thank you, Monti,” Amilya replied, “we don’t hold it against you, you have done wonders a far more alive than we expected. Failing to solve something no one uands is uandable. We won’t keep you from your work any lohank you again for your input.”

  Monti nodded and smiled slightly, before turning back to the other patients.

  Devon then tinued, “My men and I expect to be put on guard duty as a punishment for losing so many men. Even if we don’t, I will request it so we recuperate for a time, and, since practically all of us hate guard duty, I am sure we get it. If you e to the capital before the end of the season, we should be able to sneak you in.”

  Amilya o him, then took her turn to speak again, “It is very risky for Devon and his men to even offer this, so I hope you appreciate it. We ’t do anything about the normal guards, but as a mage, you have a fair bit of leeway as long as you don’t cause problems. I’ve sent a message to Morris, and I’m sure he would be willing to help as well. If nothing else, he could send Kel with a message so you know which gate Devon and his me.”

  Dawn looked at Niphru with a hint of tears shining in her eyes, and he moved his eyes up and down, signaling his agreement. Seeing he was in agreement, she turned back to her mother and Devon before responding, “You’ve really put a lot of thought and effort into this idea, haven’t you?”

  Without letting them respond, she sighed, steeling her hen tinued, “If you are both certain and willing to go so far, I won’t let it be wasted, I will go when I . Thank you fing the opportunity for us.”

  Amilya smiled, then headed out of Niphru’s sight, back towards the door. Devon grinned as well, holding out his hand to Dawn, and stated, “I am gd to be able to offer some form of help. You personally saved many lives by fog on the acid ants. Most of the casualties were from after you were injured, as were all the deaths besides the madman. Your friend Niphru,” and he o him, “well, he certainly carved up the swarm something fierbsp; We would have had to pull back to the wall far earlier without him, and he saved all of us from being overwhelmed at least once each.”

  Dawn smiled back, then shook his hand, uain of what to say.

  Devon chuckled at her expression before tinuing, “o reply, I know this is ued, but you should get used to it. Both of you are heroes of the vilge now, without you, it likely would have fallen.”

  As Devon fialking, Amilya returned. Walking around the bed, she presented a staff of bed wood to Dawn, smiling proudly as she did so. As Dawn received the gift, Amilya stated, “Normally you have to have been trained as a mage for years before you receive a staff. You, however, have shown incredible skill araint with your power, and are thus worthy of it already. This was created from wood of a burree he source of the Bck Tide, as a reminder of how you ear, as well as being attuo the fmes you wield. Please pull out your neckce.”

  Dawhe staff with one hand as she pulled the neckce out from her gown, still surprised it had survived Niphru’s fgration unharmed. As she held it out, Amilya gently pushed her hand away befuiding her in how to i it into the staff. As she pleted the task, Amilya mentioned, “This staff is quite unusual. Most are desigo permaly house the stohin, but it may be better for you to be able to remove it and repce it. I think you will go far beyond what I was able to manage.”

  With a smile, Dawhe now-plete staff down beside Niphru before hugging her mother. Devoo speak with some of his men who were still rec, and shortly after, Amilya had to leave as well. Exhausted by the emotional swings she had experienced, Dawn decided to rest again, propping her aff against the wall beside the bed and ying down beside Niphru.