The world wasblurry and out of focus when I came to. The first thing I was aware of was a voice frantically calling my name. A voice Irecognized.
“Dante?” Imumbled.
His face was in view now. I blinked a few times and cleared my eyes. He looked absolutelyterrified.
“Oh my gods, Gabe, are you okay?” he cried. His hands trembled as they grasped myshoulders.
“Yeah, I think so,” I said. My voice was a bit hoarse and my shirt felt slick with sweat. A throbbing headache made it difficult tositup.
Dante sighed, letting out a small plume of fire in exasperation and relief and anger. As soon as he realized I was okay, he whirled aroundtoRyu.
“What the hell did you make him do?” Dantesnarled.
Ryu put up his hands. His expression was nearly as terrified as Dante’s. “We were doing elemental training and obviously took ittoofar-”
“Obviously!” Dante snapped. “He passed out, for gods’ sake! I should have never left him herewithyou!”
Hurt streaked across Ryu’s face. Even though I was still woozy, I had to say something. I couldn’t let Dante yell at my teacherthatway.
“It’s not his fault,” I interrupted firmly. “I was the one who pushed him to keepgoing.”
Dante frowned. Concern and fear etched into his face made him look older. “Isthattrue?”
“Yes,” I said. “Don’t take it outonhim.”
“No, I should have stopped you,” Ryu said, shaking his head and holding it low. “It’s my responsibility as your teacher to make sure you don’t exertyourself.”
“That’s right,” Dantegrowled.
Despite feeling unwell, I shot to my feet. “That’s enough! Stop fighting. It was my fault and that’s final. I knew I wasn’t feeling great and I still pushed myself.” I glared at Dante. “I know my own limits and I went beyond them. StopblamingRyu.”
The fiery anger in Dante’s face seemed to burn out. He sighed and muttered to Ryu, “Sorry,man.”
Ryu gave him a small nod but his head was still bowed in apologytome.
“Anyway, I feel okay now. Mostly,” Iadded.
“Let me get you both some tea,”Ryusaid.
As he left, Dante turned to me with a worried frown. “You have no idea how scared I was. When I got the call that you collapsed, I thought my heart wasgonnastop.”
“I’msorry.”
Dante pulled me close, putting my head to his chest. His heart was still beating frantically. I felt horrible forworryinghim.
“I’ve never been like this before,” Dante muttered. “Being so worried about someone else all the time. It’s like I can’t breathe when I don’t know if you’re safeornot.”
“I am safe,” I promised him. “I just overestimated my limits. It’s not going to happenagain.”
He sighed, his breath ruffling myhair. “Good.”
Ryu returned with a tray of hot green tea. I took a cup and sipped it gratefully. Dante barelytouchedhis.
“Gabriel, I’ll ask again - are you feeling alright now?” Ryu said, his brows knittogether.
“Yes. No more asking that. I’m fine now,” I said. I hated feeling like a victim more than I hated passing out. “Can we talk about somethingelsenow?”
Ryu smiled cautiously at Dante. “Gabriel was amazing in class today. He did things I’ve never seen done, at least by someone as new to magic as him.” He gestured to the carnation on the counter, which bloomed happily in its pot. “Gabrieldidthat.”
