The days went on, and Kelves tried to make himself useful. Nonetheless, Alea had a tendency to insist that she could cook and clean and do other chores on her own, except for grocery shopping. Kelves still had that feeling of being treated more like a child than a friend, and it was making him question Alea's motives. While he initially thought she acted out of pure-hearted sympathy, he had a suspicion of there being a darker side to her generosity.

Kelves awoke that morning to a hand on his head, gently stroking him. "Good morning," Alea said softly. She was sitting on what little couch space Kelves's bulk hadn't taken up, her back slightly pressed against him. He tried not to read into the contact.

"Morning," Kelves said. "What are you doing?"

Alea sighed. "I couldn't resist the temptation any longer. I wanted to rub your head while you slept. It's odd, I know, but it's something I miss doing."

"What do you mean?" Kelves asked. He was definitely enjoying the contact, but he wanted to know more.

"I used to do this for Geralt all the time when we were young," Alea said. "And then... for my daughter."

"I see." Kelves went silent, except for some soft, contented purring noises that he couldn't hold back. He then realized there was no better time than now for an important question. "Alea, I need to ask you something."

"Yes?" Alea's hand had still not left Kelves's head.

"Do you think of me as a child, or as a friend?"

That question was enough to stop the petting. "Come again?"

Kelves shifted slightly on the couch. "Don't take this the wrong way. I'm not spurning your generosity or anything, but your insistence on doing things for me makes me feel kind of like a substitute child for you."

There was a flash of realization and perhaps a bit of hurt in Alea's expression, something in the way the warmth dropped. "I..." she hesitated as she tried to find her words. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize. It is possible that maybe I've babied you a bit too much."

"I'm trying to make myself useful because I don't want to be your pet, but you keep lavishing attention on me, and it's making me wonder." A part of Kelves felt a pang of regret; he felt his words were too sharp. Still, he went on. "Do you really want me as a friend?"

Alea opened her mouth to speak, and at first nothing came out. "Absolutely," she said. "You are a good man, Kelves Weaver. Just you telling me that you want to do more for me lets me know that. I'm sorry that my coddling made you feel like a pet and not a person."

"I see." Kelves hesitated, then decided on a risky choice. "Could you do me a favor?"

"What do you need?" Alea asked.

"Lay down next to me for just a minute," Kelves said. Alea gave him a confused look, but she followed his directions, even though it was with some difficulty due to how much space Kelves took up. When she seemed to be settled, he threw his arms around her and held her close. "I want to show you that I can keep you warm, too. It's been a long time since I've really wanted to do something for someone. It feels like you're waking up some part of me that's been asleep ever since I ended up in the Sealed World, and... I kind of like it."

"I-Is that so?" Alea asked, clearly surprised by the embrace, but not making any attempts to pull away.

"Yes."

"I see," Alea mumbled, her gaze slightly averted. "You... you don't want to go home, do you?"

"If you'll treat me like a man, then I'd be happy to stay for as long as you'll have me. I'm not missing anything at home." Kelves repositioned one of his hands slightly on Alea's back.

"I'm glad," Alea said, finally returning the embrace. "A man with your integrity is very rare these days. I hope you realize that."

"Thank you," Kelves said. "There is one thing I've been meaning to ask, though. Why hasn't Geralt stopped by to ask if I wanted to go home? I was only supposed to be here for a week."

"Ah, about that... I'm sorry. I sort of told him that you wanted to stay longer so that he wouldn't keep popping in and bothering us." Alea's smile was sheepish.

Kelves sighed. "I really wish you would have told me about that. I'm not complaining, but really."

"I know. I apologize. But at least we could enjoy each other's company uninterrupted, hmm?"

"I guess so."

"Kelves, I..." Alea looked away, and her jaw tensed as her expression became serious. "There is something I'd like to show you. Something very important to me."

Kelves pulled his arms away so that Alea could move. "What is it?" As much as he wanted to guess what Alea wanted to show him, he thought it would be best if he held no expectations, much like he did when he met Alea.

Alea got up. "Follow me." Kelves did so, and the two went to the hallway where Alea's bedroom was. She stopped in front of a painting of green hills and held her hand up to it. A blue light shined from her hand, and the painting faded away, along with a piece of the wall around it. A stairway leading down appeared, and Kelves felt his pulse quicken. Something was being hidden, and he was becoming a bit afraid of what it might be.

Kelves followed Alea down the stairs without a word. The stairway opened into a dim chamber lit only by glowing orbs along the walls, and he didn't have long to wonder what she was trying to show him before he caught sight of it.

At the other end of the chamber was a bed; a glimmering tent of magic encapsulated it. From the looks of it, the bed was occupied. Alea approached the bed, and beckoned Kelves to come with her. When he did, she began to speak. "Kelves, this is my daughter, Noel."

Kelves stared at the sleeping girl. She looked young, perhaps ten years old at the most. She had pale skin and red hair that matched her mother's fur, along with the stubs of cream-colored horns. The rest of her body was under the sheets. "Is she...?" He found himself unable to finish his sentence. He was trying to suspend judgment, but there was definitely something unsettling about a mother keeping her child's corpse.

Fortunately, Alea dispelled that notion. "She is in a magical stasis. I tucked her in long ago, invoked a powerful spell, and created a barrier tied to my life force. No one will be able to get to her unless they go through me first."

Kelves opened his mouth to speak, but all he could stammer out was a befuddled "why?"

"Kelves, you have been good at avoiding jumping to conclusions so far. Would you be willing to listen to my story before you decide anything?" Alea did not face Kelves when she spoke, her eyes pinned to her daughter.

"If you have a story to tell, I'm willing to listen," Kelves said.

"As a half-Magicant, Noel has some special properties, or so I've been told. A rumor started up that it would take essences from both a human and a powerful Magicant to unseal the Sealed World and bring us home. No Magicant has ever survived having their essence extracted, and a human's survival is questionable. Those that have survived often have lasting wounds, mental and physical." Alea's tone was distant, mechanical.

"That must be why the royal family took those human kids in," Kelves said. "They don't want anyone trying to kill children."

"Yes, exactly," Alea said. "Kastra and Nashir are aware that they are effectively holding the freedom of Magicants hostage, but they despise meaningless sacrifices. They have been searching for an alternative ever since Gatesend was established."

"And what does this have to do with Noel?" Kelves asked.

"There are factions that would jump at the opportunity to see if my daughter could fulfill both the human and Magicant roles in the unsealing ritual, or otherwise experiment on her. The previous royal scientist was a member of such a faction. He spewed honeyed words at me to make me surrender my daughter in the name of 'science.' It was then I knew that it was not safe for Noel to be out in the open." Alea's nose wrinkled. "He was a despicable man with no moral compass. He got what he deserved."

"So you put her in stasis to protect her from him?" Kelves wondered what happened to the former royal scientist, but decided that was a matter that could be pried into later.

"From him, and from other unsavory factions. I am a pessimist who does not trust the majority of the people around me. Though her father is a traitor who can rot in his grave, Noel is the most precious person in my life. I will do everything I can to protect her." Alea's hands began to shake.

For a moment, Kelves thought he could feel Alea's devotion to her daughter on a visceral level, a twisting feeling in his gut. Still, he had a question for her. "Does Geralt know about this?"

"He has a big mouth," Alea snapped, her fists clenching. "He is my brother, and I know him well. Not only would he be against the measures I've taken, but he isn't good at keeping secrets. But you..." She suddenly grabbed Kelves's hand, gripping it tightly. "You are the first person that I've felt I could trust fully in a very long time." She closed her eyes and looked away, sending two thin streams of tears running down her cheeks. "No. Please, don't let me influence you. Tell me what you're thinking right now, even if you hate me for doing this to my daughter."

"Alea, no..." Kelves tried to wipe away one of Alea's tears with his free hand. "I don't hate you. I understand what you're doing, and why you're doing it. In your position, I think I'd do the same thing." He took her other hand and held it firmly. "I can tell you're a good mother. I won't breathe a word of this to anyone. If I have to, I'll step up and protect your daughter, too."

"Really?" More tears pooled in Alea's eyes, and Kelves recognized her surprised tone as one similar to the one he used. "Kelves, I..." Despite herself, she choked back a sob. "I'm so happy!"

Kelves found himself asking how Alea would comfort him if he were in this position and using that to guide him. He freed his hands and took her into a gentle embrace, giving her forehead a nuzzle. "I'm happy, too. I haven't been able to say that in a while." He looked over to Noel again. "About Noel... I was told that she was born two years before the war, but she looks much older than two."

"It seems that, for some reason, half-Magicants age erratically. Noel is two years old, but her body is ten... I remember hearing from someone long ago that they age normally after a certain point, but I don't think she was there yet." Even as she wept with joy, Alea smiled at Kelves's interest in her daughter.

"I hope that, someday, she can be with all of us again," Kelves said. "And I mean us. I'm going to stand by you until you think it's safe enough to wake her up, and then I'll watch over her with you."

"Thank you," Alea said with a sniff. "As long as you stand by me, I will support you in every way I can." She looked into Kelves's eyes, a prolonged contact that made him wonder what she was planning. "Kelves, can I... can I kiss you?"

Kelves's heart thumped hard in his chest, and his face warmed. Still, he didn't hesitate. "Yes."

Their lips met, and Kelves knew he was ready to live again.