EV B2 Chapter 46:

The pursuit was immediate, and it didn't bode well for us. Carrying the unconscious Astrid in my arms as I dashed through the streets, I stood out like a sore thumb. I could hear the sound of footsteps running behind me.

There were more than a few pursuers; I wasn't in any position to fight them. Not that I would have, given our previous encounter. Especially not with Astrid in my arms.

I turned hard right at the next intersection and saw Alana hiding just around the corner. She waved to me with some gestures that I couldn't quite interpret, but as I went straight past her, I threw up a quick illusion, blocking the pursuit from seeing her. She would know what to do with that. I trusted her to be able to think on her feet.

And sure enough—her Lead Feet spell flashed from behind me, and my pursuit slowed. They fell away as I turned a corner, and we pushed ourselves further away. Astrid was still unconscious, and I carried her cradled to my chest, even as I lost myself in the crowd. I threw on a quick disguise, just in case someone was following us. But despite that, a few minutes later, Alana fell into step next to me.

"That's Astrid?" Alana asked in confirmation. I was pretty sure she already knew that, but still, I nodded in confirmation.

"Yes." I tried to remember what she knew of her. "I'll introduce you when she's awake," I remember telling her what I had been up to, but it had been a while, and we were busy. Alana was carefully studying her as we moved through the streets. No one seemed to be too curious about why I was carrying someone. Perhaps Alana's presence and the hand she laid on Astrid's calf as we walked made them—made me—look less suspicious.

The constant glow of her Minor Cure Wounds spell helped, and by the time we had reached the training room we were frequenting, Astrid was beginning to stir. I still had to carry her up the stairs, but the bruises on her face were fading to yellow splotches rather than the bright purple they had turned after a little bit of healing. Apparently, the interrogation had been going on for a little bit longer than I had expected from when we first visited.

Alana dashed down the corridor ahead of me. She opened the door for me before darting into the room to put some of our training dummies in a way that would work as a pillow that I could set her down on. Carefully, I went down to one knee and laid Astrid on the ground with her head on a stuffed bag. It wasn't the most comfortable place, but it was probably the best we could do on short notice.

"Are you okay?" I said as I stood up, but her hand trailed down my wrist and my arm and grabbed my wrist before I could fully stand up, with surprising strength. Her fingers dug in as she looked up at me with a conflicted expression in her eyes.

"Miles?" she asked with a little bit of confusion as if she was having trouble remembering what had just happened.

"Mm. Yes. It's me. You're safe now. You can rest."

Astrid closed her eyes again, and for a second, I thought she would go back to sleep. But she snapped them open again mere seconds later and shook her head slightly.

"I... don't want to be alone with my thoughts right now," she whispered softly, and her eyes stayed open as if she were afraid to blink them.

I knelt down the rest of the way and leaned back on my heels, still holding her hand. "You're okay. You're safe now. They're not going to get you again."

I looked up at Alana for help, though she looked slightly stunned, like a deer in the headlights. As if the normally brilliant woman had no idea what to do. I wasn't sure what I could even ask for, though. It was clear that neither of us was cut out for the kind of healing that Astrid might need. So, instead, I tossed her a few coins.

"Could you run and grab us some food and water and maybe a blanket or two? I don't think we're up for moving again. They should have some right down the street. I know the place."

And she left in a hurry. I swallowed, looking back at Astrid. The slight reprieve I had with practical concerns had let me collect my thoughts slightly, and so I had some idea of what to say to Astrid.

Or so I thought because what came out of my mouth wasn't exactly words of wisdom or something that Sigmund Freud would consider great psychology.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" I said lamely, wishing that I had been better at comforting people. But maybe a practical—um—approach would be something that she could appreciate.

Astrid shrugged. "I... well. In a bit, though, I imagine I'll have to tell some of it to... Alana, is it?"

I nodded.

"I remember you talking about her," Astrid said as if it had been much longer than a few weeks since we had last spoken. "She was your fiancée, right?"

I shook my head. "It was a political thing, but I would consider her more a student or protégé. And, well, she's not from Earth, but the other world where Loki sent me."

"I remember you went somewhere. It didn't sound like you had too bad of a time there. Maybe getting out of Vallhala is not a bad goal..."

I grimaced, remembering the disastrous ending of my foray into another world that Loki sent me to. "Well, up to the very end, everything was reasonable," I said. "But, well, I got back here pretty quickly, didn't I?"

Astrid grimaced. "I'm sorry. I suppose that's a bit unfair of me."

"No," I said. "You can take it out on me as much as you want. I deserve it. I was the one who set you up with this anyway."

"Was it worth it?"

"Was what worth it?" I asked, confused.

"Getting out of here. Living a normal life. Not having to deal with..." She gestured around us. "This."

I shrugged. "I wouldn't say that I could even live a normal life there. I've changed too much. And for what it's worth, I'm sorry I got you involved with Loki. I guess after what I went through, I forgot that he was..."

Astrid shook her head. "I..." She paused before starting again. "I don't think I regret it. Besides, I went along with it. I know Loki's reputation, and, well, to be fair, it wasn't even really his fault. And, well, I got things out of it. I think it was worthwhile."

"Still," I said, cutting my teeth slightly. "I never thought it would get this... that bad. Otherwise, I would never have suggested it."

Astrid shook her head. "Miles, I'm a big girl. I can handle myself," she said, but I wasn't sure if I believed her. There was a certain fragility in her tone that told me she was a bit more than just rattled from her experience. "But... well, you must have gotten something awesome if it was worth all that pain."

Astrid shrugged and changed the topic. "So, Alana. Is she any good? What level is she?"

"Last we checked... level five," I said, though it might be higher now. "She's a..." I froze and paused, thinking about how to describe her. "A control archetype," I said. "Slows, debuffs, and some damage over time. She's also blessed by Loki. And? Well, she has her own traits."

I paused, not thinking it was something that Astrid needed to know, and she didn't push for me to explain more.

"But she's quite talented," I said.

"Is she going to stick around?" Astrid said with a neutral voice that I wasn't able to fully parse hidden meanings from.

"I think so. I... well, I don't imagine..." I stopped and thought. I couldn't imagine her leaving, and I didn't really want her to. I found that she was a bit too naïve for Valhalla. Besides, I didn't think she would go. But looking at Astrid—was it safer to be around me?

My thoughts were cut short as Alana, out of breath, opened the door, weighed down by a bag of food in one hand and a roll of a bedroll, a few bedrolls slung over her other shoulder.

"Oh, good, you're back," I said, and Alana gave me a cautious smile before she walked over, handed me the food, and started to lay out the pair of bedrolls.

Wordlessly, I unpacked some food—fried chicken and potato wedges. Well. And then, we helped Astrid move over to the more comfortable space. But she sat against the wall instead of lying down, looking both Alana and me in the eyes.

Belatedly, I realized introductions were in order. "Alana, this is Astrid, one of my first friends in Valhalla. Astrid, this is Alana. We have—"

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Alana said politely. "I hope you are feeling better."

Astrid gave a smile that was a touch wooden. "I've heard a little bit about you, Alana. I'm glad to see you made it here, all right. After what I heard, it was a bit of a rough experience getting here."

Alana blushed slightly but nodded. "Thank you."

And Astrid continued, "I have to say, I'm impressed that you managed to make it out of the Lesser Halls so quickly. That was practically unheard of. Though... I suppose I need to thank you for healing me. I was probably a little bit more than concussed."

"Actually, I can probably still heal you a few more times. I have some mana left," Alana offered, dodging the compliment, but Astrid waved her away.

"I'm working it out on my own, thank you. You should probably save a little bit just in case."

Alana didn't press. It seemed like they were getting along well enough, so I kept my mouth shut, just watching the interplay.