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In fact, she had no concrete destination in mind so Lucind decided to just do some window shopping, visiting some stores, having a fresh waffle with hot cherry-sauce.
During their walk the woman tried to imagine her surrounding by her memories of the town and the audible information all around them.

"Ah, by the way. I want to thank you for helping me like this. It's really kind of you," she spoke softly on their way back.

When they entered Feimurgan, most of the girls had already left, but when she asked Kraun to lead her back into her room Kara called for her.

"Lucind! There's someone waiting for you up in the library."

"Hm?" Lucind wondered why Kara's voice sounded a little strained.

"It's your brother."

The Half-Siren blinked, then smiled. "Now, that's a surprise. - Then I won't let him wait any longer."

"He won't be pleased to see...I mean, your eyes."

"I know. But I can't run away from him, ne?^^ "

"Okay. Erm, we're going now, too. See ye tomorrow. Goodbye, Mr. Kraun." Kara waved and packed her things.



While walking up the steps to the library section a little voice told Lucind that Larhien's visit didn't necessarily have to be a good sign.

The male Half-Siren showed the same reaction as Kara had done several hours before: first shocked, he then scolded her in a lenient, worried way.
He greeted Kraun with a nod and a friendly sounding, "Hello" - his eyes didn't smile though and one could see his jaw clenching and unclenching.

With a faint smile Lucind introduced both men and asked Kraun to leave her alone with Larhien. When the monk was gone, the woman crossed her arms in front of the chest, her smile suddenly stiffening.

"Now, tell me, brother. Did you pester Hetel until she told you everything - or did she send you right away?"

"Larhien? - Hey!"
She heard her brother clearing his throat and when he spoke it was more like a whisper.

"Who...is he?"
The male Half-Siren had gripped his own arm and stared at the spot where Kraun had walked down the stairs.

"I thought you already know everything..." But she had figured out that her brother must've just met Kraun's eyes, without the glasses in front of them.

He didn't answer but shook his head to get rid of the bone chilling cold and turned towards his sister.
"No, Hetel didn't send me. She wasn't even approved of me visiting you. Not the usual story, hm? He smiled, or tried to.

The woman arched her brows. "Indeed."

Larhien guided his sister over to the next seating corner, but none of them sat down.
"Hetel told me and our aunt what happened to your eyes, that you were a bit too ambitious. I was worried, of course, so I directly wanted to leave.
But Hetel said I should give you some time for you were still exhausted and stuff.

I saw she had a point there, therefore I decided to wait a couple of days."

Running her fingers over the cold stone being the windowsill, Lucind closed her eyes. Larhien's voice was trembling ever so slightly - due to suppressed anger. She didn't like that. Because she knew where it was going to lead to.
As casually as possible she replied: "But you changed your mind and already came now. That's really sweet^^"
There was most likely no way to prevent him from exploding, but she gave it a try anyway.

The man snorted. "Oh yes, cause only last night I heard them talking bout him...by pure chance. I understood bits and pieces and hoped I was mistaken. But - what a surprise - it got even worse when I demanded to be fully informed...!"

"So, you only know what Hetel could find out until now and -"

"Only??" Larhien blinked in disbelief and snorted again.
"Lucind, how can you let him stay here after what happened?! What Hetel told sounded like he's some kind of...of...angel of death! How can you be sure he's not here to -"

"Okay, that's enough." Lucind sighed and turned around, her look almost really meeting his eyes. "We've had conversations like this a thousand times. And it always ended in unnecessary shouting. So please, Larhien, let's stop it right now."
No matter how close brother and sister had always been, when it came down to cases like this, Larhien didn't know any pardon or excuse. He wanted to protect his sister, and we was ready to do anything for it.

She smiled and shrugged. "I love you. You know that. But you also know it's no good when you're acting overly protective and jealous." Lucind heard him breathing out slowly and added: "Please, trust me this time. I know what I'm doing. I wouldn't have invited Kraun if I sensed acute danger.
Plus: it was my decision to do the ritual. He warned me. Twice."

"What...? Could you please repeat that." His eyes narrowed dangerously and the muscles of his neck tensed. "He did it?? He caused your blindness?!"

Lucind hold her breath when it dawned on her. Hetel had told him about her being blind and her guest - but not how both were connected. She jumped a little when her brother kept on shouting.

"Are you crazy?!" He flailed his arms and searched for words, his veins throbbing. "Lu! Tell me why he's still here then! And why the hell didn't Hetel do anything so far?? - Where is he?"

She heard him leaving. "Wait! What are you doing?"

"Having a few words with this...monster," he hissed.

"Oh no, you won't. Larhien, can't you see how ridiculous this all is??" The woman made some steps forward, intently listening to what he was doing. By then, it was hard for her to stay calm. She simply hated those stupid fights.

"It rather seems you're blind - in more than one way." The man walked back to his sister, trembling in rage.
"What did he do to you? Did he hex you? Or is it blackmail?! What is it that you're protecting him now?"

She ran a hand through her hand and breathed in deeply.
"It. Wasn't. His. Fault. And he doesn't do anything now but help me to cope with living like that until my temporary - and it is only temporary - blindness is gone. You know perfectly well it's a normal reaction of my soul to restore my psionic power."

"And how do you want to know it's not him who controls the state of your eyes..??"

"...unbelievable." She laughed and shook her head to keep herself from shouting back.
"I trust him. And that's my last word."

Larhien fumed. He walked over to the next shelf and back.
Barely calmer he spoke: "I can't let you stay here with him. When you don't want to kick him out I'll do it then. Or I simply take you with me."

"Larhien..."

"You're totally helpless like this!"

"That's enough, brother!!"
Why did he always have to cross the line? With her hands clenching at her sides she strikingly resembled him.

Whereas Larhien moved close, and suddenly let his arm shoot forwards as if to punch her. Which he didn't intend to do, of course, but to stop right in front of her face to prove his last statement. But it didn't work - for Lucind simply blocked him, her hand tightly gripping his fist.

"I'm no bloody invalid, brother," she stated quietly but deadly serious.
"Leave. And don't come back until you can think straight."

For a moment nobody moved.
Yet remorse and pain was written all over Larhien's face. Finally, he let go, gently pressed his sister's hand.
"M'sorry..."
Without waiting for a reaction of Lucind - for he knew there was none to come - he left the building.


When she heared the front door's bell ring, she heaved a sigh.

"Idiot..."

She let her eyes drift half shut and shove her hands into the trousers pockets.
"Yes."

Still facing the windowsill, she turned around to lean against it.
"I'm sorry. Suppose one could hear us throughout the building. - That was probably the only real fight we have in five years. Larhien...when he worries about me he can be extremely short-sighted, unreasonable and unfair."

Lucind didn't know why she was justifying her brother's behaviour: he had not only been rude towards her but also to Kraun in some way.

Somehow, his words or something in it made her p***k up her ears, literally.
When Kraun left though, Lucind slowly made her way over to the couch, got out off coat and shoes and lay down.

Pondering about the previous 'conversation' with Larhien only caused her being pissed again, so she forced her thoughts on something else, anything else.
Finally, trying to find something better to spend her thoughts with made her fall asleep after half an hour.

Judging by the quiet sounds coming in through the window she assumed it was some time between midnight and the early morning. Lucind grabbed the coat, slipped into her shoes and felt her way over to her room where she got ready for bed. Finishing that, she found she was hungry.

Preparing a little snack was in fact no problem for her despite her eyes, it just took her longer. She switched the radio on and started collecting all things needed.

She hummed along to a kitschy pop song and put some marmalade onto toast: the snack most easiest to prepare right now in her opinion. Licking some marmalade off of her finger the woman fell silent and smiled, feeling Kraun's presence.
"Hey."

The Half-Siren started to put things back into the refrigerator or into the dishwasher, then started nibbling on her toast after pouring some orange juice into a glass, always checking everything first with her fingers.

"You okay?^^"

"Good...that's good."
Leaning against the sideboard, munching her toast.

She had a certain feeling that his eyes were resting on her, still she didn't mind the atmosphere.

When Lucind wanted to get another sip of juice she knocked the glass over: it didn't shatter on the floor but spilled its content on the board from where it dripped down.
"Ah damn...," she chuckled.