“That’s not?—”
“Listen, I’m not actually saying this, but the gremlin isn’t wrong in calling me your valet. Did we or did we not agree to that kind of arrangement?”
“Yes, but?—”
Eunny tsked at him. “See, yes, we did. So, sneaking off instead of asking for help?” She thumped his bag. “Do I need to whack you on the nose with a scroll or something?”
Ollas’s mouth opened, but no response came out. He didn’t even know how to begin, to protest or apologize.
She raised the salve and lint again. “I know it’s kind of weird being sort-of roommates. You don’t have to like me being here, Ollas, but if I’m?—”
“I do like you.” The words slipped out, quiet and sure. Without any thought or worry at all. That part came after, as Eunny’s eyes widened, her mouth frozen open.
Heat burned across Ollas’s face, spurring him to babble on, “Living here. I like you living here. Being roommates, or whatever. I-I really appreciate it. You’re—” In a detached way, a warning bell sounded in Ollas’s head, trying to steer him to safer paths, but his mouth galloped on before his better sense caught up. “You’re a good friend, Eunny.”
Eunny’s mouth slowly closed, her expression unreadable. Ollas held back a despairing moan. His stupid mouth. Why did he have to say that…
“Oh?” she said, leaning toward him. In a conspiratorial whisper, she added, “Better than Gransen?”
A hoarse laugh bubbled out of him, and he gave her a weak smile. “You didn’t hear it from me.”
Eunny snorted, shaking her head as her eyes danced with glee. “Excuse you, but I’d like that in writing. I’m going to frame it and put it up over my door. No, his door. Humility would do him some good.”
She reached slowly for his arm, eyebrows raised in question. Ollas nodded, grimacing as he held still.
Neither spoke as Eunny peeled away the dirty bandage, though she did hiss in sympathy as she cleansed the wound. It stung, but Ollas hardly noticed. It was taking every shred of his self-control not to do something pathetic like lean into her touch and blow the relaxed air between them all to hell.
Eunny re-wrapped his arm. “How does that feel? Better?”
“Much, thanks.” Ollas cautiously rotated his arm. Still sore, but the fresh dressing helped.
“I can brew some tea that’ll help with the tightness.” Eunny stood up, gathering the pile of used bandages. “No magic, all from pre-made stores.” She stuck her tongue out at him.
“Thanks,” he repeated. As she turned away, he murmured, “Do you, back when?—”
The door opened again, admitting Gransen. He glanced between the two of them. “Why, hello. Am I interrupting?”
“You should probably clean up,” Eunny said. “You kind of smell like dirt, no offense, and I don’t do bath duty.”
Ollas blushed. “Yea, that’s, I’ll… Granse?”
Gransen saluted Eunny. “I’ll scrub him raw in all?—”
“I don’t need the details.” She glanced back at Ollas. “Were you going to ask something?”
“No, just…” Whatever brief bout of courage had risen in him, the moment for it had fled. “Thanks.”
The corner of her mouth curled up. “I’ll be back to help you with your stuff for class later.”
I do like you.
Huh. Of course, he’d followed it up with the clarification of “living with her,” and then capped it off with the death knell of being a “good friend.” Which should’ve left Eunny feeling elated. Those words were incontrovertible proof of progress. And yet, she felt distinctly unsatisfied with them—those words, specifically—and couldn’t quite put her finger on why.
Disgruntled, she sat back in her chair to watch the rest of the elective students trickle into the classroom. Zhenya had already been seated by the time Eunny and Ollas arrived. She’d claimed two small desks at the back of the room, and Eunny was grateful for the distance from the front, meager though it was. Sylveren had few large lecture halls, most of the class sizes being no larger than fifty. Twenty was the norm, and their current room in the Grove’s classroom branch was sized to hold about that number.
Ollas had been quiet on their walk over, mumbling to himself every once in a while as he went over his introductory remarks. He probably could’ve managed just fine without her, but carrying his bag had given her an excuse to jest with him. He’d never be as brash as someone like Gransen, thank the gods. But he’d taken her teasing with good humor. Yes, he’d gone a bit blushy, but he also seemed relieved. More at ease around her than Eunny could remember him ever being in the last six years. A touch closer to who he’d been before the delegation’s doomed rescue.
Professor Rai introduced himself, speaking for several minutes about the course and the syllabus. Eunny listened with half an ear as she watched the assembled students. Ollas had mentioned a mix of Initiate and Adept levels, and that was reflected in the fifteen people sitting in front of her. Mostly Initiate Fours and a handful of Adept Ones, if Eunny’s judgment of age could be trusted. A mousy kid sat in the front row, watching the professors with rapt attention.
