“Hi, Jon,” Macy said, twinkling her fingers. “You don’t look so hot today.”

“Mmmm…” Jon grudgingly moaned in agreement.

“That’s alright, I’ll take care of it.” She walked up to him and touched his cheek. “Tell me where it hurts.”

“No funny stuff!” Tallow yelled, stepping in between them. “I’m watching you!”

“What type of girl do you take me for?” Macy responded. “Maybe I enjoy it when people watch.”

She disregarded Tallow’s disgusted reaction and returned her attention to Jon.

“Okay, hun,” she said. “I’m gonna give you a big massage, okay?”

Jon nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

“I’m gonna go for your pressure points in your back," she continued. "Speaking of back. someone probably should have done a better job watching it!"

Jon heard growling next to him, but no further response.

“But we can’t worry about that now!” Macy clapped her hands. “Alright, clear the room!” she demanded. “I can’t have you ruining my vibe!”

“No!” Hector said. “I’m not leaving you alone with him.”

“Hector,” Mallory said, “I think we should trust her. Come on.”

“Well, I’m not leaving,” Tallow said. “This is my room.”

“...That’s fine,” Macy said, shrugging, her voice lowered. “Everyone else can go.”

“Alright!" Mallory clapped. “You guys can all go. Thanks!”

The nurses all filed away out of the room.

“Let’s get back to business,” Mallory said, patting Hector on the back. “We’ll come when we’re finished.”

“...Sure.” Hector looked at Macy. “He’s my friend, so-”

“I got it!” Macy said. “No worries, bro.”

“Just… good luck.” Hector definitely looked worried, but he just sighed without more comment. He and Mallory then left the room and closed the door behind them.

Macy looked at Tallow. “I’m gonna have to undress him.”

“Like hell,” Tallow said. “Like, I don’t care, but like that’s not happening.”

“You can do it,” she said.

“Fine.” Tallow came close to Jon.

“I’m joking, I’m joking.” Macy waved Tallow away. “This’ll be fine. Although It feels much better when there are fewer clothes between the action.”

“It doesn’t need to feel better," Tallow said, "You just need to fix him."

"Fixing would imply he was broken," Macy replied, already polking hard into Jon's back.

She then helped guide Jon’s head so that it was mildly comfortable, and to where he was facing the end of the bed.

“Is that good?” She asked.

“Yeah.” He tried to nod. It was hard with the pillow under his neck.

He then felt a large object climb onto his back. More poking and prodding happened until he felt a strong surge of heat.

He had gotten sacred, thinking that Macy would set his back on fire. Instead, his body just mildly warmed up, and he had a strong sense of feeling again.

Maybe Macy was right. It would feel better without his shirt on.

She suddenly grabbed both of his wrists. “Ready?”

Ready for what? Jon wondered.

He didn't get to ask felt himself be yanked back by the arms. He was no longer looking at the back of the bed, but up at the ceiling.

Macy's knee had anchored itself into Jon's back, and he was being pulled back so hard, he thought he was gonna snap in half, especially with all of the noises and cracking he could hear coming from his back.

Eventually, her grip loosened.

Jon thought that he was going to naturally flop back into his bed, but instead, he felt a hard shove into his back, and his face went into his pillow at high speed.

“Are you okay, sweetie?” He heard Macy asked.

“I think you killed him,” Tallow said.

“He’s fine. Right, sweetie?"

Jon couldn’t answer, due to having no breath to do so. His entire back was aching.

He slowly began to reach for it. His arms were stiff, but he made it partway through when he realized that amount of both movement and feeling that came back to his top half, even if he was sore.

“Better, right?” Macy confirmed.

Jon didn’t know if it was entirely better, but he was happy he could at least move his arm again.

“Yeah."

He couldn't add any more to that statement as he felt several sudden jabs on his back.

Oh...

“You want to help this time?”

Jon had thought she was talking to him at first, but then he felt four pairs of hands grab him and gently turned him over. He could see both of their faces above him.

“Alright, hun,” Macy said, “you should be fine from here. You should come back to me… in a few hours, yeah? We’ll do the whole thing over again.”

Jon nodded slowly, not sure if he was prepared for a second session. “Yeah.”

“Cool. Maybe next time, you can even give me a massage.”

“Get out of here before I utilize my reserves of hoe-be-gone!” Tallow said, gesturing for Macy to leave.

“Fine. Don’t forget to bring him back later…” she brushed Jon’s cheek again and walked out of the room.

Jon sat up as much as he could to watch her go.

His upper body was sore, but at least he could feel most of it again.

“Get some rest,” Tallow said. “I’m gonna go take a bath, wash the hoe off.”

She went to a door on the other side of the room and turned around before going in. “You’ll be okay?”

Jon nodded.

“Call if you need me.” She disappeared into a door.

Now, Jon was alone. He sighed and pushed himself back up with his elbows so that his head could lean on the pillow properly.

He waited, trying to mentally gain control of the rest of his body as he pondered what Mallory told him.

His body’s mana was now trying to protect him. That was good, right? He wondered about when he first started using the gun. If he had gotten hurt then, on the farm, would he have even survived that time? How much stronger was he?

He didn’t have any training even to begin with. He was privileged for the fact that he had the gun that did most of the work for him.

He turned to it. It had even begun to make him avoid dealing with injuries and pain. But if any of the others had pain, they would have to carry it on their shoulders.

Jon couldn't feel guilty for too long as the hallway door swung open again. Jon turned to watch Hector and Mallory enter the room.

“Hi, again!” Mallory said. “I have a present for you!”

In front of Mallory was a large wooden wheelchair.

“The finest in the market,” Mallory said. “Right, Hector?”

“Sure. Can we just put him in?"

Jon took a short breath and braced himself for impact.

Thankfully, Hector was a lot gentler this time. He picked up Jon with both hands and lowered him into the chair.

It felt good for Jon to have his back sitting up straight again, even though he still heard and felt more cracks going through it.

“Where’s Tallow?” Hector asked when he finished putting Jon in. "I thought she was supposed to-"

The door behind them opened. Tallow was wearing a plain white t-shirt and large bell-bottom pants with her hair wrapped up in a large towel. Parts of her were obviously still wet.

“I knew I heard something,” she said. “You really don’t ever knock, do you?”

She realized that Hector was avoiding her gaze.

“What?” she asked.

“You just came out of the shower?” he asked.

“Yeah, why?”

“You’re not supposed to be showering!” Hector said, still trying to avoid her gaze. “You’re supposed to be watching Jon…”

Hector covered his own face with his hand.

...What?” She asked. “Can’t even bear to look at me while you yell?”

“You’re barely wearing anything…” Hector muttered.

Tallow looked at the clothes she was wearing and huffed. “Really? Are you that immature! Just cause I’m not wearing a cape or a hat or a sword, I’m naked?”

“The clothes are sticking to your skin,” Mallory added after. “Hector doesn’t really see his sisters that often."

Tallow’s mouth tucked in itself.

“Get out!”

The three boys promptly left the room, before the door slammed was behind them.

“Couldn’t keep your big mouth shut, Hector,” Mallory said.

“What did I say?” Hector raised his arms in disbelief. “It was obscene!”

“I think you mean, she’s learning to trust you,” Mallory said. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Genevieve didn’t dress like that around us,” Hector responded.

“...Genevieve’s half-naked all time,” Mallory explained. “You just don’t notice it cause she’s covered in feathers everywhere.”

“...Oh…” Hector looked at him. “Then what do I do?”

“Nothing!” Mallory slapped the back of Hector’s head. “You don’t say anything.”

“Anything...” Hector nodded. “Like Jon?”

“Like Jon.” Mallory patted Jon on the shoulder.

The door eventually opened. Tallow was wearing all of her gear again.

“I hope you feel comfortable now,” She said in a mocking tone, mostly towards Hector. “Don’t you live around a whole bunch of women anyway?”

“Yeah, but…”

Tallow didn’t wait for his answer. She had started walking away.

“You don’t even know where you’re going!” Hector called.

“Anywhere far away from you!” She kept walking.

“...She’s walking in the right direction,” Mallory said. “Just wait it out."

Mallory grabbed Jon’s wheelchair and the three of them went in the same direction, just nowhere near as fast. She was already starting to disappear around the corner.

“Just treat her like you treat Genevieve,” Mallory continued.

“How do I treat Genevieve?” Hector asked.

“...Like a guy.”

“Oh…” Hector grimaced in thought. “I thought I was doing fine.”

“You were,” Mallory said. “But in the battlefield and out of the battlefield are two different things.”

“Where are we going?” Jon asked, curious. He wanted to know where he was being pushed to.

Mallory began to explain. “Ah, we’re going to-”

“Well, it’s exhausting,” Hector muttered, cutting him off. “Always having to be…”

“Nice?” Mallory suggested. Jon figured he would get his answer later, so he decided to let Hector and Mallory finish their conversation. Hector clearly needed to vent. Jon would wait his turn.

“No… maybe…” Hector grumbled. “I want to be nice…”

“No one wants to be nice all of the time,” Mallory said.

Jon thought about Mallory's statement. Jon did try to be nice all of the time. Was it harder for other people to do the same? Or was Jon really being nice to others?

“Except for maybe Jon.” Mallory squeezed Jon’s shoulder. Jon could actually feel the squeeze, which made him excited.

“But I don’t even think Jon’s nice,” Hector replied. “Jon’s just Jon.”

I’m just Jon… Jon nodded in understanding. As if he could be anyone else.

“...If we could all ever be so lucky,” Mallory added.

Lucky? Jon didn’t think that he was lucky.

They turned a corner.

“I can’t believe that we all have to go this stupid-”

He stopped in place. “Oh no.”

Mallory stopped in surprise as well, quickly making a smile. “Hey… Cecilia… my girl…”

In front of them was a girl with long blond braided hair that came halfway down her back. She wore a yellow dress that was similar to Amalia’s, but Jon noticed that there were many more details on it.

“Hector?” The girl gave a toothy smile. “Hector! My darling!”

“Cecilia!” Hector took a step back. “I.. you’re early! I-”

She ran up and hugged him. Jon was astonished by the speed of it all. Hector must have known a lot of strong people.