Fesday passed like a half-forgotten memory from years ago. If you asked Theo what had happened, he would admit that there was a significant chance he was just guessing.

He went with Francis to The Woods, and Eva let them sit there in the clearing and pretended not to hear them whenever they asked about helping out.

Which was kind, but it also meant they were left alone with their thoughts, which was definitely not what they needed.

So they didn’t cultivate at all, instead just taking it easy and talking. It was the kind of conversation where the clear purpose was just to kill time.

There was a time for deeper communication and sharing, and that time was long after they’d come to terms with what had happened.

They went to find the next chest from the Coins of Unity, and following the clear pattern set out over the past few weeks it was in the only College they had yet to check, the College of Song.

It was a rather ordinary find, stashed in a room of little significance, and the contents were the most disappointing yet; cocktail recipes, instructions on distilling alcohol, and some short notes about how to lead.

If it had been any other week, Theo was sure it would have ruined his week, but as it stood it was merely a bird shitting on a shoulder-high pile of manure.

Audits were cancelled. Obviously the focus audit would have to be cancelled or covered by another teacher as Reginald was in no state to teach, but all four Colleges came together and decided that, since so many students had been present at what was a rather traumatic experience, all the audits were cancelled for this week.

Which is how Theo ended up here, sitting in the park and holding Jenny’s hand instead of learning about focus magic.

“-and I haven’t been able to sleep either.” Jenny ran a hand through her short hair. The circles around her eyes told Theo that already. She leaned back on the sapling behind her with enough force to make it creak and bend.

While almost everyone on the night had been affected, those that were paralysed were arguably the most traumatised.

“Every time I close my eyes, every time I relax and feel like I’m about to drift off, my body just seizes up, afraid that I’m back there, unable to move.” Theo could feel the stress in her body, least of all because she was crushing his hand in her grip so much that he wasn’t sure even Iron Bones could save him.

“So I move, just to make sure that that’s not the case… and then I’m wide awake again.” Jenny’s eyes welled up, body tensing as she almost forced herself to breathe.

He was worried about her. He wasn’t doing the best either, but right now that didn’t matter. Jenny needed him, and she came first. He came closer, holding her as carefully as he could while doing a great impression of two people who were obligated to hug but found it distasteful to make contact. Theo wasn’t willing to risk making her feel constrained in any way.

“Closed spaces are bad too. I can’t stay in my room. Too small.” She shook her head, as if telling the memory itself to leave.

He asked Francis yesterday, and unfortunately even with all the good their healing could do for the bodies of the paralysed, it couldn’t do anything to their mind. Something about the soul.

Jenny’s half-sob half-sigh brought him back to the present. “Right now, I just want to sleep.” It was almost a whisper, a prayer in and of itself. Theo patted her on the shoulder, trying to think of anything at all he could do to help.

Jenny looked up into the sky, staring at nothing, as the conversation lapsed into silence.

Theo followed her gaze, and found that to not be entirely true. Way up high, almost a speck floating in the breeze, was a bird, flying and pin wheeling as it played and made the sky its own personal canvas.

With Owl’s Eyes, he was barely able to spot the bright red feathers that covered its form, and how the wind brushed past its feathers.

She squeezed his hand again, but not as strongly as before. This was less “my stress has taken over and possessed my physical form”, and more “I am notifying you of my extended interest, please notice it”, to which Theo squeezed back.

“It’s a pretty bird, isn’t it?” He idly commented.

“When I was a kid, my dad used to point to any bird that wandered by and make a point about how you could either fly with a flock in formation, or be lonely by yourself but fly wherever you wanted. It was a lesson about teamwork and compromise, but right now, I’d trade any and all company forever just to feel safe and free.” She said, not answering (or caring, really) about his question.

Theo froze, almost flinching as Jenny realised that company was present.

“I didn’t me- I’m sorry.” She finished lamely, cutting herself off.

Theo waved it off. “It’s okay.” It wasn’t, but that wasn’t a priority right now. He plastered what he hoped was a convincing smile on his face, and reached for her hand once more. A fake smile graced her face as well, and for a moment they could pretend that things were alright.

Their hands intertwined again, and as he readjusted Theo felt Jenny’s hand naturally following his.

“Can I try something?” Theo asked, partially because he had an idea, partially because he didn’t want to think too much about what she just said.

Jenny nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

Theo started moving their hands. “How does that make you feel?”

She cocked her head to the side, slightly perplexed. “Like… I’m moving.”

The smiles that graced their face this time were much more genuine.

“I’ll keep doing this as long as it takes for you to fall asleep.” Theo offered.

They rearranged themselves, no longer sitting side by side, as Jenny got comfortable. Before she lay down to sleep, she reached up and gave Theo a peck on the cheek. “Thank you.”

Theo settled in for a long vigil, and wondered if he could cultivate here.

He closed his eyes and began to send his mana into the park, as Jenny fell asleep in his lap.