Page 31 of Out of Sight

Regis put a hand on her shoulder. “It is good to hear you. When Ted started asking about this event, she explained your condition, and I have never heard of someone so far gone coming back. It was a good call that you asked for extra mass, but Achilles couldn’t leave it there. He’s super fussy about the shape of stone.”

A low voice said, “He is not the only one. If he had not assisted you, I would have, lady.”

Lucia looked up, and she saw a man who continued where he should have stopped. She looked way up and blinked. “Hello up there.”

He smiled. “I have a smaller glamour, but I wanted to meet you properly, Lady Lucia. I am Yorwell, mage, giant, bon vivant.”

She snickered. “You have been around for a decade.”

“Indeed. The emperor is wise, and he pointed out that ladies were being born to match power this world didn’t have balance for yet. So he is providing the balance and the training.”

“I saw him. The emperor is shocked, and he is trying not to lose the foothold that the original colony began.”

“Just so. I have felt you in the city.”

She blinked and blushed. “Uh, I have been around in the energy state for about seven years.”

“And have you peeped at anyone in all that time?”

She blushed. “You have really clean grout in your shower.”

He looked at her, and his own blush began, turning his pewter grey skin dark across his cheeks. His features were lovely. He was like a giant elf made of soft metals.

She shrugged. “I did go through a peeping phase. Sorry. After looking at a few hundred naked guys, I was numbed. No novelty after fifteen.”

He grinned. “That is honest.”

“You asked.”

Regis chuckled. “Lucia, is there anything you need?”

“A change of clothes? This is nice in a rogue silk nymph kind of way, but I am more jeans and sweatshirts, much to the despair of my family matriarchs.”

Regis nodded. “You are a tall fit, but I think we can find you something.”

“Good because I am one rainstorm away from indecent exposure.”

Yorwell smiled. “If it comes to that, you can have my jacket.”

Ted came to them and smiled. “Are you ready? The family took the day off for the reunion.”

“With you. They remember you.”

Ted frowned. “What?”

“I was fading while I was in their minds. They were happier when I didn’t show up. It was easy to make me disappear. I wasn’t really there anyway.”

Ted looked at her and stared. “You stopped coming to events three years before you disappeared. You lived alone, and your family didn’t talk to you.”

“Yeah. I will come with you, but just say I am a friend from school. They won’t recognize me.”

Ted took her hands. “They will remember you.”

“That’s doubtful. What do I get if I win? They have to recognize me, not just my name.”

Ted blinked. “Right. Um, you get an extra hug from me?”

She laughed. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”