Zasia was attempting to pester him about something or other, probably something boring. She had elected herself to be the mother figure for everyone here, and that came with all the nagging and prodding one would expect. Only known to their inner circle, however, was that making it into Zasia’s circle of close friends was one of the hardest things one could do. She was fiercely dedicated to caring for all of them, shielding her adopted family from others, and occasionally, themselves. It was a lot to put on a young woman barely into her twenties, but she shouldered it willingly.

As persistent as Zasia was, however, Aldric only had eyes for the woman seated directly across from him. Based on her return gaze, the feeling was mutual.

Shocking violet eyes, platinum white hair, and a painfully lovely face that put even Zasia to shame; all worked together to snare his attention, as always. She looked simultaneously annoyed and pleased that he was staring at her. She gestured to the others with a “pay attention” gesture, but couldn’t hide her trademark elegant smile. It only made him stare more.

Her ever present staff leaned against her chair, its black and white wood glowing faintly and causing her hair to shine in intricate shades. He’d always wondered how such a lovely creature could exist without putting any noticeable effort into it. If it was up to him, he’d stare all day.

Some inner part of him suddenly screamed at him, demanded that he do so. It ordered him to stay in this moment forever, uncaring about the rest of the world. The powerful yearning grew until Aldric couldn’t stand it anymore. What was going on with him?

Zasia’s pestering was getting more and more insistent. Aldric finally turned to her in exasperation. “What?”

“Are you feeling alright?” a suddenly older version of Zasia asked him. Blinking, Aldric looked around himself. Balrus and Kedrin, also older, were looking at him in concern. The guild hall was gone, replaced by an office. Kedrin’s office, some part of Aldric’s brain supplied. They were at the academy in Rhagia, where he worked as a professor. They were all meeting together again for the first time in ages. Apparently, it had been enough to bring back old memories against his wishes.

They were missing someone, however.

A decade of grief and regret came bubbling up to the surface, and he scrambled to stuff it all back down again. Aldric had been sober for months now, but at that moment, he wanted a drink more than he ever had in his life. To forget again.

“Kedrin, take another look at him. I think he’s still experiencing mana withdrawal,” Zasia insisted, ignoring Aldric’s attempts to wave her off.