Day 60, late afternoon

[gwenyth_b_good]

The soldiers on the practice fields were thinning in numbers as they began to retire for the day. After his talk with icAnissina, Gwendal had wandered out to the fields to think about what he had gotten himself into. On one hand he was excited to think about a new theme park in this world; on the other hand, the rumors he had heard about her and

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[lavendar_blade]

Gunter sighed quietly and gave Gwen a wane sort of smile at his joking. He wasn't in the mood and yet it made him feel worse to know he was such poor company when Gwen was trying so hard to get along with him.

"I suppose I should be honest about my health with you since I've come to know a great deal about yours today."

He held out the two kinds to Gwen in the white palm of his hand.

"The little pink ones are for settling my stomach. Healer Tremaine makes them and they taste of strawberry, they're not so bad at all. But the orange ones taste terrible and I avoid them mostly. They're for pain and I don't want to become reliant on them."

"That being said, I don't find either very affective at the moment. My problems are still related to the amount of houjutsu in my system and that will take some months to wear off. Like the scars on the outside I have chronic ulcers and other old wounds on the inside that are equally contaminated and the more I am around and use maryouku the more they bother me."

He put his pill box away and folded his hands neatly in his lap, looking down at them was better than looking at Gwen when he admitted the shame of his weaknesses.

"I can't sleep for the pain most nights until I work myself to exhaustion and I haven't been able to keep any solid food down for the last few days. I think as blocked and crippled as it is my own maryoku is the only thing keeping me going right now. It's a waiting game really, to see if I can outlast the poison in my body."

His voice became softer and his eyes glassy in the golden light as he admitted what he had been determined from the start he would always fight against.

"Today... today has made me really question staying here. I could be putting the Maoh and everyone else in danger if I can't be relied upon to act in a crisis. I'm tired and slow and I'm overly irritable. My patience has never been so thin. If I can't maintain my duties then I must give up my position...but, I don't know who else they could find to take my place. Sir Weller was taken by the anomaly, the King is already vulnerable without his protector. If I go too, and something were to happen..."

He closed his eyes and bowed his head against the tears of frustration that wanted to fall. He ran his fingers through his hair and clutched at the strands there, he had never had anywhere else to turn but himself.

[gwenyth_b_good]

"I don't know what to say, Gunter, but I'm honored that you would confide in me. Rest assured that your words will go no farther." Gwendal reached over and gently took Gunter by the wrist, tugging him off the chair. His eyes pleading for compliance, he motioned towards the bed and scooted over. "Sometimes, just a little care from another makes things better for the tired mind. Rest awhile, Gunter, and know that I am here for you as you have been for me." They both ached, but in different ways. Gwendal hoped that he wouldn't refuse the close contact. In truth, there was nothing that he could say that would calm Gunter's thoughts, but the warmth of another body might soothe his soul.

[lavendar_blade]

Gunter was rather startled by Gwens offer.

"...Thank-you, I, I suppose I could stay for a little while longer?"

He was used to being out on his own and even his friends here hadn't the time for his weakness. Anissina kept sending him away and even his own Gwendal barely had two words for him most days and though his double was comforting he had the feeling his offers weren't all that platonic.

He allowed Gwen to lead him onto the bed and he removed his swordbelt and his boots so he could have his feet up and sit against the pillows. Gunter stayed on top of the blankets though leaving them for Gwen and crossed his arms over his chest.

It wasn't long before his eyes started to become heavy and he leaned over against his new friend in sleep.