Hector and Rowan continued to laugh and joke as time passed. The fire burned low while the light outside shifted to darkness. Empty bottles gathered at the center of the table, evidence of conversations that drifted between the absurd and the profound without either of them needing to force it. Information was being shuttled into his head, so much so that there was no way he could remember it all, at least that was how he felt. The Pantheon presented a new set rules that he would have to live by, and his only lifeline at the moment was Rowan. He didn't seem bad, but that had bit him in the butt in the past, but he was willing to give reliance on others one more try, this was a new world after all.

  For Hector, the ease of this new situation felt strange. Time had not felt like something he could spend freely in such a chill environment since arriving in Eden. Every moment had been measured in distance, danger, or survival. Here, for the first time, it simply passed, as drinks were shared and stories shared. It had been a long time since he had enjoyed genuine companionship. Rowan seemed content with the current situation as well. He did not push Hector for answers or made demands of him. He simply listened when Hector spoke, filled in gaps when needed, and let silence sit when it was earned.

  Hector leaned back in his chair, staring at the fire as it crackled low. No matter how far outside the tutorial this place existed, he knew it would not last forever. Somewhere beyond Rowan’s domain, Eden kept moving and the Order kept hunting. Thoughts of his past raced through his mind. It had been a long time since he had a genuine conversation like this. He had just met Rowan, but strangely he felt safe, like he was someone he could rely on. Hoping that this was true, he opened up to Rowan. He had a story to tell that he desperately needed to get off his chest. It felt like a weight that was holding him down.

  “You know, I think I have always been this way. Even before the system, before any of this.”

  Rowan did not interrupt. He only leaned back, bottle resting against the table, eyes attentive.

  “When I was a kid, I was the one who helped. Homework, fights, rides home, if someone needed something, I would show up. It never felt like a burden. It just felt right, but when things went wrong for me, nobody ever showed up.”

  He let out a small breath, more tired than bitter.

  “It was never dramatic, no big betrayal at first, just silence. Missed calls, excuses, people who had all the time in the world until I needed it. I told myself it was normal. Everybody has their own problems. I did not do things expecting the same in return, I helped, because it felt right, it is simply what I wanted to do. Somewhere along the line though, that started to hurt. I felt the emotional drain as I poured myself out to those I loved, but they never poured back. I started to realize all the relationship I had forged in life were a one way street.”

  He took a sip, then continued.

  “I got married, I thought I had finally found someone who saw me. Someone I could pour everything into without worrying about the balance tipping. I still remember our wedding day, I was the happiest man in the world. She was so beautiful she just staring at her left me feeling breathless. I treated her like a queen, not because I was trying to earn anything. I just wanted her to be happy, I wanted us happy.”

  He stared into the amber liquid, fighting back tears as he continued the story.

  “Sadly, all good things must to an end I suppose... I came home early from work one day. It was our 10 year anniversary, I had just gotten plane tickets for a trip overseas. She had always wanted to see Europe. I booked the entire package, we were going to see and experience everything we possibly could. I had been working overtime for months saving up for the trip and I was so excited to see the look on her face when I broke the new to her.”

  He gripped the mug hard at this point, veins popping before he calmed down.

  “I pulled up to the house and noticed a familiar car. It looked like Tom, my alleged best friend was over. Not unusual, he often helped look after Stacey when I was away for work. Again, I thought we had a genuine friendship, but I was clearly wrong. As I walked in the door, I heard strange noises coming from the bedroom. I simply opened the door as my heart broke...I did not yell, I did not break anything. I just stood there for a second, waiting to feel something that made sense. The worst part was that she did not even look ashamed. She just looked neutral, like I had interrupted a conversation. I packed a bag and left, never went back. No fights, no closure, I did not want answers that would not change anything.

  "After that, work became everything, I was good at my job. reliable. The guy people went to when things went wrong.” I fixed problems and I was damn good at it. Hell, I even took blame when things got messy just to keep the peace, looking back I realize how pathetic that was...When mistakes happened, the same people I helped were always very quick to step aside. They pointed fingers letting the blame land on me. I kept helping anyway as foolish as that was. Listening to it out loud makes me sound crazy but it was what felt right at the time.”

  He leaned back slightly, eyes drifting toward the fire.

  “Then the day everything ended, I was not even thinking about myself. There was a little girl, she tripped into the street. I moved without thinking, same as always. I never saw that truck. I guess that is the punchline. Even when I almost died, it was because I tried to help someone else. At least this time it was an innocent life instead of a weathered adult, she didn't know any better, she was just scared, I could bare the thought of what would have happened if I wasn't there.”

  He looked back at Rowan then, not bitter, just honest.

  “So when you tell me I use healing to hurt, maybe that is true, but at the core of it, I am still doing the same thing I always did.”

  Rowan studied him for a long moment.

  “Helping...” Rowan said quietly.

  Hector nodded.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “Even when nobody helps back. It is who I am, but even I realize if I am going to make it in this new life I will need to be more selective. In my old life I was foolish, this time I want to make genuine connections. Seeking approval? No, I want genuine comradery, a team that can rely on each other. It is a small dream I have always had. Moving through life alone is no way to live, I just need to better myself and figure out how to make it a reality. I guess the first step though is surviving this tutorial.”

  Rowan was quiet for a long time after Hector finished. He tipped his bottle back, took a long drink, then let out a soft laugh.

  “Well, that explains a lot.”

  Hector glanced at him.

  “Does it?”

  “Oh aye, more than you probably realize.”

  He leaned back in his chair, eyes drifting toward the ceiling, the firelight catching in them.

  “I did not start out powerful. Despite what the system likes to pretend. I was not born special, I was not chosen. Growing up I had to fight for everything I got, deviation wasn't a known concept back then. My powers were odd but useful, people took notice and I enjoyed that. This desire to help and protect built within me. After sometime my power blossomed, and not to sound arrogant but I was the strongest one around, not could contend with me, but instead of conquering I assisted, entire civilizations, in some cases. I taught, protected, I even built things so others could stand taller than me. I did not want worship or fame. I wanted to see what people could become if someone bothered to stand with them instead of above them. Like you I also desired companionship, friends I could rely on and share my life with.”

  Rowan snorted quietly.

  “Turns out, that makes you very useful right up until you stop being convenient. Those around me climbed; friends, students, allies. They all found their own paths, their own power, and I stayed behind, holding the door open. When they no longer needed the door, they stopped looking back. Some forgot me, some pretended I had never been there. A few decided I was a problem and tried to rid the multi-verse of my existence. I was forced to end some with my own hands. In my eyes disloyalty is one of the greatest sins one can commit. Attacking a former ally, absolutely despicable. I did what I had to, then I kept helping the next group, but it still hurt”

  He laughed softly at himself.

  “Terrible habit, really... At some point, I realized I had become a constant while everyone else treated life like a ladder. Upward only with no room for those who stayed behind. You know what the funny part is?”

  Hector shook his head.

  “I never regretted helping, not once, but I do regret that I did expect something in return. Was it really wrong of me to desire loyalty and friendship from those I helped, no I don’t think so. Life is enhanced by the connections we make what I desired I also gave. So, when you told me about your wife, about your life, about almost dying because you tried to save a child…I recognized the pattern. You and I are not broken or naive. We are just built to give; the multiverse decides a lot of things for us, but it will never shape who we are at our core. Magic can’t change everything you know.”

  Hector let out a quiet laugh despite himself.

  “Sounds about right.”

  Rowan raised his bottle in a lazy toast.

  “To being the ones who stay, even when everyone else moves on!”

  Hector clinked his mug against it.

  “To not becoming bitter about it!” he added.

  Rowan chuckled. “Oh, I tried bitter, did not suit me.”

  The fire crackled, warm, and steady. Rowan leaned back again, grin settling into something genuine.

  “You know, most people who hear my story either pity me or try to turn it into some grand tragedy. You did neither.”

  Hector shrugged. “Seemed familiar, no one wants to be pitied.”

  Rowan smiled, something old and relieved in it.

  “Well, that makes you the first new friend I have had in a very long time.”

  Hector blinked, then smiled.

  “Friend? I like the sound of that. I know I could use one.”

  Rowan laughed loud.

  “Oh, lad, we are just getting started. I got an entire multiverse of wonder and mystery to show you.”

  Rowan watched Hector flex his fingers absently, green light faintly pulsing beneath the skin before fading again. He hummed thoughtfully.

  “You know,” Rowan said.

  “Most healers never notice how badly their bodies fight their own power.”

  Hector glanced up. “Mine feels like it is trying to tear itself apart half the time.”

  Rowan laughed. “That is because it is. Healing is not gentle, at least not on a fundamental level. It only looks that way when it is done properly. What you are doing is forcing life energy through a body that was never trained to carry it at that intensity. Now typically the Pantheon does most of the heavy lifting, so most healer's never think of it, but your case is an oddity now isn't it?”

  Hector frowned. “So, what, am I just supposed to use it less, pull my punches? It doesn't seem like a very smart way to go about it. Not when everything is trying to kill me at least.”

  “No, that would defeat the entire point of you. You do not need weaker healing; you need a body and mind that understands what healing feels like. A little control wouldn't hurt either.”

  Hector blinked. “That sounds important. Not sure about the body and mind, but I know for certain I need better control. I can't count the number of times I have almost killed myself. Honestly, it is getting a little out of hand.”

  “Oh, it is, most people separate body training and mana control, but you cannot afford to. There are ways to teach the body to regulate output on instinct. To let muscle, bone, and circulation share the burden instead of letting your core do all the screaming.”

  Hector felt a flicker of excitement stirring in his chest.

  “You are saying I can train this?!”

  Rowan lifted his bottle in a small salute.

  “I am saying, that if you are going to keep punching the universe with healing energy, you should probably learn how to brace your stance first.”

  Hector snorted. “Let me guess. You already have a name for it.”

  Rowan’s smile turned wicked.

  “Several, none of them polite, but that lesson comes tomorrow. You are going to hate me for at least the first few hours. If you want to truly grasp your skill, you are going to have to get your hands dirty, and I can only take you as far as step one. If I interfere too much, your foundations won’t be built up and could crumble. Unfortunately, power leveling is an option, but it is not recommended for this very reason. Once you have the basics, you should be able to fully grow into your unique power over time.”

  Hector smiled despite himself.

  “Sounds about right.”

  Rowan laughed.

  “We can worry about that tomorrow. Tonight, we celebrate two of the universe’s most handsome guys creating a legendary friendship that will surpass time. Stories of our harrowing adventures will be told throughout the land. Hopefully you are prepared for a wild ride, because this is going to be fun!”

  The sound of that was pleasant. With a grin, Hector lifted his glass high into the air, the alcohol starting to take effect as his inhibitions lowered, and life felt a little lighter.

  “To us!”

  “Aye, to us, lad!”

  Conversation and laughter echoed through the realm, even if there was no one else there to hear it.