Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was unbelievable. Xiu could not possibly have imagined what took place inside the lab. One day, it was all fine and well and the next…he was seeing a news report about the lab being encased in ice. For days afterwards, Xiu had followed the news closely and had even visited the site once or twice as though confirming what was said with his own eyes. The ice, as the news had mentioned, was impregnable.

Which had made the white Sigel even more worried. Being a fire elemental raevan, the cold was not Lazarus’ forte and Xiu could only imagine the torment the Fire Sigel was going through being encased in a fortress of ice…which…as the Sigel recalled, seemed to be surrounded by a rather…negative aura…

But thankfully that was all over now. Glancing at the unconscious Raevan on his bed, Xiu floated over to caress Lazarus’ face tenderly. It was not long after the news had got out that the mysterious ice had finally cracked that the Doctor had appeared at their doorway holding an unconscious Lazarus. The Doctor himself had looked rather beaten but had insisted that he already had a place to stay. The problem was…having a place for Lazarus…which Xiu solved by immediately volunteering his room for the hurt Sigel.

That was the easy part as Xiu had found out later. After all, there were only so many times you could change a bandage or wipe a sweat lined forehead. The rest unfortunately, was filled with long hours of worry and wait. It had already been a week and yet the Fire Sigel had not awakened. Not for the first time Xiu wondered what had happened in the ice encased Lab. Settling a small candle beside Lazarus (as a form of food), Xiu took up a book and settled himself down for a long read. The shop could be looked after by the capable housekeeper for the time being. Right now, his place was beside Lazarus.

Xiu was downstairs, attending to a couple of customers when the shout came. Startled, the white raevan glanced upwards. Was that Lazarus’ voice he had heard? The quick pit-pattering of the housekeeper’s feet as she ran down the stairs confirmed this.

“Xiu! T-That … friend of yours is awake!” said the old dame breathlessly. She would have liked to use the word ‘demon’ better but knowing that there were paying customers down here, the housekeeper chose to maintain some form of civility. “Why don’t you go to him? I’ll look after the shop for the time being,” said the housekeeper bustling up to the cash register. “I’m sorry if the noise startled you. There’s a…person up there who has recently been hurt. He’s been having nightmares I’m afraid,” said the housekeeper smiling a poker faced smile at the customers. “Please, don’t let that bother you,”

Xiu meanwhile, had taken to the stairs and floated quickly towards the direction of his room. Lazarus was awake? That was good news indeed! He had been so worried for his friend and at times, Lazarus seemed almost overwhelmed by some nightmarish ordeal. An ordeal which Xiu knew little about except that some rampant Sigel had taken over the lab. The details of the incident were not clear; Dr. Kyou seemed reluctant to talk about it. Besides, he had Lazarus to worry about.

Floating into the room, the white Sigel gave his friend a gentle smile, relief clearly showing on his face. “You are awake,” the white Sigel mouthed silently as he took Lazarus’ warm hand. It was like cupping a mug filled with hot water but Xiu ignored the heat and held it tightly. “I was worried…”

Xiu nodded uncertainly at Lazarus’ question. Lazarus was feeling warmer than usual. Dr. Kyou had mentioned that Lazarus needed some time to ward off the shock of the chill inside him. Seeing the hapless way that Lazarus was observing his bandages, Xiu could not help feeling angry. Angry that another person, no, raevan of all things had intentionally harmed his friend.

Pressing the back of his hand gently against Lazarus’ forehead, Xiu made a worried face. Was Lazarus feeling dizzy? Perhaps...Lazarus would like some water? His lips were looking rather dry and cracked...

Reaching for the bottle of mineral water by the side of the bed, Xiu uncapped the bottle and offered it to Lazarus. Hazeline had received a whole box of these and Xiu had kept one in his room, mostly to fill up the bird’s water dish from time to time.

Xiu hesitated at the question. Lazarus had been out for more than a week and that was not the worse part of it. The worst part was when the Sigel seemed close to burning up. Those days were the most worrisome but no amount of sign language could convey that so Xiu merely held out eight fingers for Lazarus to see. Eight fingers for eight days...

The white single once again turned his attention to Lazarus’ wounds and touched the bandages lightly but questioningly. What was it that had wounded the Fire Sigel this much? Or better yet, who...? The wounds were not light and Xiu himself had tended to the wounds with care. It was good now that they were drying up and closing but for the time being, changing the bandages would be a painful thing. Xiu hoped Lazarus was not the kind to cry out when the time comes...

Xiu was surprised by Lazarus’ sudden question but the Sigel smiled and nodded. If by ‘alright’ Lazarus meant that there were no deaths, then yes, everyone was alright. But if Lazarus was referring to the financial loss due to the damage caused by the ice onto the Lab...

Let’s just say that the good doctor had better start thinking of hosting lots of fundraising events.

Feeling Lazarus’ warm hand over his own made Xiu smile sheepishly. It might be a cheesy moment but it was one that the white Sigel found comforting. Settling himself beside Lazarus on the bed, Xiu allowed himself a small blush at Lazarus gentle teasing. Quickly taking out his notepad, Xiu scribbled a reply.

Don’t be silly. You are better because of the medications but I am glad to see you again as well. You had the rest of the raevans worried when you were trapped in the ice.

Pausing briefly, Xiu shook his head in wonderment. I was worried that the cold would get to you.

Xiu nodded. With such a wistful request such as that, he could hardly turn the other down. In fact, the request scared him a little. Sure, we can go to the park everyday when spring comes. Just…please don’t make it sound like a last request or something. the white Sigel wrote; only half in jest. You have had a narrow escape but the worse is over .

It was then that Xiu noticed Lazarus’ attempts at getting up. Frowning a little, Xiu placed a firm hand onto Lazarus’ shoulder and pressed the other back down onto the bed while shaking his head. It was too soon for the other to be up and Xiu was worried that the other would collapse if he overexerts himself.

Not yet the white Sigel mouthed as he readjusted the blankets and stroked Lazarus’ forehead. Rest.