---[ POV: Flynn ]---

The robotic and emotionless voice of JAX dragged Flynn out of his tormented dreams in the early morning.

The young man got up and immediately went for a short shower to wash off the residual fatigue before Amaryllis woke up and claimed the washroom for her herself.

Once he was done, he returned to the locker beside his bed and recovered the Stygian Predator armor.

When he was not wearing it, the armor could fold on itself until it reassembles a compact block of armored plate and machinery similar in shape and form to a large backpack. Simply putting the folded armor on his back and launching the activation command would initiate the donning process; the symbiotic muscles mass would be materialized from the storage space of the armor where it was stored when the protective suit was not worn and flowed on his body at the same time as the armor unfolded to latch on him in a rapid autonomous process. It took no more than five seconds.

Flynn pinged Athena and realized she was just outside the corvette. She answered the ping to let him know everything was ok but did not open a communication channel.

The young man went to the cargo bay and lowered the ramp.

The day was still in its infancy and the moons had not yet been completely chased from the sky by the rising sun.

As he got down the ramp, Flynn could see that Gwenvar was present too. She was training some distance away, swinging her sword absentmindedly in the same, basic, repetitive motion. She was not covered in sweat as she usually got after some time training so the young man knew she had not been putting as much intensity into the exercises as she usually did.

"Training early. Even more than usual," he said as he approached, trying to gauge her mood by observing her expression.

For once, however, he could not detect anything flagrant apart from a slightly pensive and distracted air.

"I was kinda worried yesterday," he said as he approached her.

She did not seem to hear him and continued to swing her sword. Despite the precise motions, Flynn could clearly see that her mind was somewhere else.

"Well, you're fine, at least," he continued.

Gwenvar reacted slightly this time, acknowledging his presence with a small grunt and a side glance that seemed more of an automated response than a real greeting.

Is she mad for some reason, or just preoccupied? I'm the one who should be mad...

Athena's drone was hovering close by, silent and invisible. Despite the cloaking technology she was using, Flynn's radar was able to locate her easily because she let him do so. If she wanted, she could make herself truly disappear; cloaking technologies were designed to fool sensors before anything else. It was extremely rare they had to fool regular human senses as well.

[Did something happen after I went to sleep?] he asked the AI in a chat message. [She doesn't seem in top shape. Maybe it's just the night outside?]

[Nothing happened,] answered the AI.

That's all, no more explanation? She's usually a true word-mill...

[You're sure about that?]

[I am!]

[Really?]

[Why don't you ask her yourself if you don't believe me! Get off my back.]

What?! Why the sass? I'm just concerned, is all...

The invisible drone flew inside the corvette and a projection of the human Athena appeared in the cargo bay. The projection yawned and stretched as if she had just woken up, throwing a slightly annoyed and mocking look at him before turning around to go up the ramp to the second deck.

That damn little pest!

The princess had been awakened by the sounds of the morning activity and was dragging her feet toward the washroom with a half-asleep expression and an artfully messy bed head. Gwenvar was the one that brushed her hair every morning but she had not the chance to do so yet.

Athena jumped past the princess with an energetic and enthusiastic greeting, spooking the young girl out of her morning grogginess.

Flynn turned his attention back to Gwenvar. The woman had interrupted her morning training.

"That's a chance I realized you were gone yesterday," said Flynn, hoping she would pay attention now that she was not training anymore. "Anything could have happened to the princess."

Gwenvar was looking in the direction of the corvette. She had heard Amaryllis speaking with Athena.

"Ah, right," she answered Flynn while walking toward the ship without much of a look in his direction. "Thanks about that..."

"Next time, just tell me beforehand," said Flynn, trying to remove the sour tone from his voice. "It will avoid some stress and confusion."

"Sure," she answered with a distracted air while passing by him to get inside.

Without much more concern for Flynn, or anything else, for that matter, Gwenvar went up the ramp.

Amaryllis was already on the lookout for the return of her Warden but she also obviously noticed the preoccupied expression of the women so she ditched her plan to go in the shower and instead called for Gwenvar by her side, saying she needed help to brush her hair and get dressed properly.

Flynn had crafted her a simple but functional tunic with one of the grey bed sheets. The princess was really fond of it despite its modest appearance. She and her Warden kept saying that the fabric was just incredible, and had asked what it was, and who had produced it, but Flynn was never able to convey properly the fact that it was a synthetic fabric made by a machine. He had tried to describe the process, but his explanation sounded like magic to the two women.

As soon as she was called, Gwenvar went up to the second deck. The Warden and her Ward exchanged greetings but instead of staying on the catwalk, they soon went to the washroom for the humble morning toilet of the princess. Athena left them and disappeared.

Flynn sighed and went to the engineering bay where he sat on his stool to finish the Stygian Arm.

What's with her reaction. Did I piss her off? I was just worried. Maybe I should have her told her that...

The prosthetic was basically completed. He just had to close the casing, which would not take more than a couple of minutes. He started to work on it slowly, using his enhanced hearing to listen to what was happening upstairs.

He knew it was not really his place to listen to door like that but the reactions of both Gwenvar and Athena to his welcome had left him unsatisfied and curious. More than his frustration, however, was the fact that he was still wary of this world and didn't want to let anything unusual get past him.

Athena's projection materialized sitting on his workbench right beside him.

"I know what you're doing," she said. "Stop it."

"Shhh," said Flynn. "You obviously know something but you won't tell me, so I need to take my own precautions."

"Precaution?! If there was anything dangerous, I would tell you. But there is nothing. You're chasing ghosts."

"Ghosts are dangerous. "

"That pathetic and bad attempts at humor don't change anything."

"We don't know them all that much. If they are hiding something, I need to know."

"Is that what you're telling yourself? Herman has been lying to you for weeks about being alone and you let him off the hook."

"Because I know his secret and prepared countermeasures. Plus, the knowledge he is providing outweigh the danger. Comparatively, I don't know what's going up with Gwenvar and the Princess."

Athena had a contrived smile. "Why are you acting like that? You're not that emotional normally."

"You neither," observed Flynn. "Why the mood?"

"I'm having my first periods."

"Let me return your words; bad humor."

"Well, whatever, you're a big boy; you do what you want. I told you my piece."

The young girl jumped on the ground and walked a few paces away before turning in his direction with a small smirk.

"I'd say, someone's getting all worked up, and it's not because he's afraid of anything."

"What do you mean."

She rolled her eyes. "God, you're slow," she said while laughing as she left.

Flynn quickly dismissed the irritating AI and refocused his attention. When he concentrated, he could faintly hear what was said above.

"...not hurt?" was asking the concerned voice of the princess.

"No. I am fine Amy, I already told you."

"Well, excuse me for asking again, but you don't seem fine. You look tired and preoccupied. Afraid, even. You can talk to me Gwen, you know that. You don't need to act tough all the time. I know just how hard those nights are on you. I also know you feel like you have to be strong and in top shape at all times when you're with me, but we have Lord Flynn with us now. He is strong too, and vigilant. Nothing will happen to me as long as he's here, even if you lower your guard and relax for a moment."

"I know Amy, but I am fine, really. Nothing happened. Nothing... That's what's bugging me. It's not normal... It's only been getting worse and worse for two years, and now, nothing?"

"Nothing? Well, that's good, no? That's great news, why are you acting like that?"

"I don't know..."

"Gwen, I can see you in the mirror. Just talk to me! You're obviously not well! I am there for you, just like you're always there for me. And I'll be there for you... forever..."

"I... I'm afraid, Amy."

"Gwen, it's normal..." the young girl sounded sad and full of compassion.

Flynn was always surprised at how well she could empathize with everyone, mostly because he was not that adept with emotions himself.

"But nothing happened," continued the princess, "so it's probably a good sign; a sign that things will get better, that you'll get through it."

There was a long and tense silence.

"I don't know Amy... I don't..." Gwenvar's voice cracked a bit. "What if it's just what happens next? What if it's just the next stage?"

"It's not!" said Amaryllis with an encouraging tone.

"How can you be sure? I've read some texts and stories... We lose our senses and our mind, Amy... One after the others. What if it's starting for me too? What if pain is slowly leaving me? And then it will be touch, and smell, and sight until I am left alone in the dark..."

"I told you not to read those books!"

"Fremund gave them to me..."

"Fremund is a snake and never liked you. He was obviously trying to get into your mind!" The voice of the princess tried to sound mad and full of confidence but Flynn could hear it shaking. "Don't worry Gwen. I'll get you through this just like you got me through everything until now..."

She was obviously about to cry. Gwen noticed too, apparently, because she immediately answered the princess with a panicked voice that had lost most of its depressed tone. "Oh, Amy, don't cry! I'm sorry I worried you! Listen, we always knew this was coming. There's just nothing we can do about it for now so let's just forget it. I should not burden you with my doubts. I was just a bit afraid because now is really not the time; you need me more than ever."

"But..."

"No 'but'! You know what? You're right, that's probably a good sign; nothing happened. Nothing happened! We should celebrate, not beat ourselves over it."

"I... Maybe..." Flynn could almost see the forced and fake smile on the princess's face at this very moment.

His radar and detection perimeter also detected the presence of Herman approaching the corvette. As he did each morning, the old man sat on a rock and waited for Athena to go fetch him. The old man always stopped right at the edge of Flynn's detection range.

It's as if he's aware it's there, but I know for a fact he doesn't know what a sensor is. Is this some kind of mind game? Is he playing with me?

Athena raised her voice to advise the two women that Herman was coming and went outside to greet him.

Flynn heard footsteps above the engineering bay as Gwenvar and Amaryllis exited the washroom and walked down the ramp.

The lieutenant had completed his work on the prosthetic arm but he stayed in the engineering bay for the moment. He was not exactly sure how to react to what he had heard and was starting to regret not taking Athena's advice earlier.

"Are you sure you're OK?" asked the princess to her Warden.

"Yes, Princess," said Gwenvar as she scratched her elbow.

She's obviously lying, though Flynn as he recognized both this movement and the uncertainty in Gwenvar's voice.

Gwenvar was not a great liar and the princess was sharp and empathetic. Gwenvar smiled as brightly as she could to her Ward, assuring her everything was fine, but Amaryllis was not fooled. It took several reassurances from Gwenvar and Herman finally entering the corvette with a joyful "Good morning all!" for the young girl to finally let it go and turn toward the old wizard.

She greeted him and they both took place around the 'table' they used for their lessons.

Gwenvar stayed behind and, as soon as the princess had turned her back, her smile faded away, replaced by what looked like fear and sadness.

She heard Flynn when he finally got up from his spot and her head turned in his direction. Their eyes met for a moment, and the young man could see the fear and preoccupation behind the woman's eye quickly shifting to surprise, and then shame.

She turned around to avoid his scrutiny and went away to join the princess, positioning herself behind her Ward in a way that put her back to Flynn.

Good morning all..., though Flynn.