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Chapter 22 - Chapter 22 – Damsel in Distress

Vorden and Lana looked at each other then started running in the direction of the scream. Enroute, she asked the trees for directions. When they got close, she grabbed his arm to slow him down. She got a description of the situation and said they should circle around and then act. It only took a few extra seconds but it enabled Vorden to pull a first-year male student off a first-year female student. One look and both were devastated. Lana could hear sounds of combat behind her while she treated the girl's injuries. Her clothing was in tatters. She talked to the girl for minute or less. She then stripped down and gave her uniform to the girl. Lana was a bit shorter but liked to wear her clothing a bit bigger so she could move easier. Lana then encased herself in her stage-1 armor to ensure she was covered, thankful for the cover of darkness so the finer details could not be seen of her or the other girl.

Lana noticed the sounds behind her had ended and turned around. The other boy was being held by Vorden and she added a few injuries of her own. She noticed the look on Vorden's face and lost control of herself. She stepped closer to him and they locked in a kiss then returned to the dorms without another word.

The next day, after the daily routine was over, Vorden knocked on her door. "Can we go for another walk?"

"Sure," she grabbed her bag that was always with her and off they went, back to the same park. She thought he wanted to continue trying to find Pucket. They passed the area where the attack on her took place without saying a word to one another. Once they were deeper in the forested area, Vorden turned to look at her. "We need to talk about last night."

"What about it?"

"The kiss and hold hands… That can't happen again," he replied to her with sadness in his eyes.

"First of all, that wasn't even you. It was this guy," and she pointed to the aura in his head that was controlling the body at the time. "I know there are three of you in there and I can tell your situation is complicated. We were caught up in the moment. I know none of you want a relationship with me. Why would you?"

Voden looked like he wanted to hit something. "That is not what I said."

"Then what did you say?"

"You are right. My situation is complicated. You could make it even worse. In fact, you are making it worse," Vorden's voice got lower as he got toward the end so it was almost a whisper.

"How am I making it worse? This guy here," she pointed to the other side of Vorden's brain, "seemed to always stay at the back when I first saw you that first week. He seems to come forward more often now. Is that not a good thing?"

"It would seem that way but no."

"So he's being more interactive but that's bad? How is he to heal from his trauma if he doesn't come forward? Why would you deny him the chance to heal? What are you afraid of?"

Vorden sighed, "he was a child when the trauma happened, only 8 and that is his maturity level. His power level is much higher."

She nods, "so you fear temper tantrums."

Vorden just looked at her with a bit of fear in his eyes.

"Look. I'm not afraid of death. I'm used to waking being shocked that I'm still alive because it was always a real possibility that I would not wake up. I was told quite often … When I got here, the environment was so much more relaxed than what I'm used to. I'm now wondering if it's possible that I might actually have a future. For now, I live as if there is no tomorrow as much as I can because I still have Dobin to take care of. I have not asked you for anything. All I want is the ability to defend myself from the monster that attacked me. Will you at least think about it?"

Vorden sighed and nodded.

"Let's head back. I want to get that studying done before I go to sleep tonight," Lana said and turned back toward the dorms.

A few days later, Lana brought a sandwich to Logan over lunch rather than for dinner as she usually did. She had something she wanted to work on after dinner and didn't know how long it would take. 

In Logan's room, Lana placed his sandwich on the desk then was getting ready to clear her throat to get his attention if it was possible when he looked up.

"You're early," Logan said.

"I have some things I want to do this evening. Why did you want me to bring my cooking things by?

"Do I understand that you like to cook outside?"

Lana nodded, "Yes. When we were in the orphanage, we used to hide in the woods and cook. Meals were denied as punishment so it became a thing for us. This stuff is all camping equipment," as she unpacks the stuff to show him, "for the purposes of cooking outdoors. If packed properly, it's silent so I won't attract attention if I'm running from beasties."

"Yet it wasn't silent the other night because of haste. Correct?" Logan responded.

"Yes, I lost track of time and didn't pack it correctly. The oven is still new. I don't have the beast crystal it requires for use so I make your bread in my kitchen in my room." She looked at her watch. "Class is going to be starting soon."

"Leave these here. Allow me to create something more efficient and safe."

Lana didn't feel she had much of a choice. If she were to take the time to properly repack everything she would be late to class.

That evening, Come to my room when you can.

Lana looked at the message from Logan then her watch. It was 9:30. Curfew was in 30 minutes. She was almost back to the dorms so she decided to go ahead and head up.

On my way.

In Logan's room she saw a metallic kitchen that was L-shaped. It even had a sink and cabinets to store plates and cookware. "This is beautiful! But how can I carry it?"

Logan hit a button on the side of an upper cabinet and the whole thing folded up into a cube about 2 1/2 feet wide. She was shocked.

"Give this a try. You will need to add water to it but the beast crystal is already integrated so you can use the oven," Logan had a small smile on his face.

"You are brilliant!" Lana exclaimed.

"Please save the praise until you have thoroughly tested the equipment. Including fast-packing and running with it. Here is the bag to carry it in." Logan handed her a bag resembling a backpack but it was a metallic material. The straps looked comfortable. She put the kitchen in and placed it on her back after ensuring she understood how to use it.

"Thank you, Logan!" She ran out the door 5 minutes after the 15-minute warning sounded on her watch.

*****************

On Saturday, Lana decided to go for a stroll around campus rather than the park before heading over to her tree. She saw Vorden sitting on a bench near the first-year building, walked up and sat down.

Vorden turned his head to see who it was, "oh no, not you again."

Lana looked at him, "don't like me, huh?"

Vorden sighed, "you're trouble."

She nods, "then we are perfect for each other. Look. I know you don't like me and I get it. You are way above my station and I should just stick to my lane of no-man's land. Dobin is busy and I was hoping to spar with someone. The people on my team … I'm not ready to show them everything yet. Since you can keep a secret, I was hoping to borrow the nice one in there."

Vorden looked shocked, "nice one? Who's nice?"

Vorden: Raten, you can't be serious. You can't spar with this girl! Heck, you've already kissed her once!

Raten: You need to let us out more. And she is asking nicely. She is not like the others. We can trust her. Get out of that chair. I'm taking over and I'm helping her.

Vorden sighed and let Raten take the chair.

"The one who held that bastard's arms for me. The one who wore such a sexy smile I couldn't resist kissing him and holding his hand. He can fight. Maybe he can help me improve."

Vorden didn't hear anything past sexy as Raten took over. "the name's Raten," he said with that same smile.

She grinned, "Did he tell you my name?"

"Actually, I see most of what he does. Only when the Little One is upset do I miss things. It's nice to be officially meet you Lana."

"It's nice to meet you too, Raten. I'd like to meet the Little One? as well some day but for today, my combat style uses trees so can we go over to the Agricultural Club?"

"Trees?!?! Um, sure. Only if I can walk behind you and stare at your arse the whole way."

She laughed, "I guess," then got up and headed off to the grounds her favorite tree was living on with a smiling Raten trailing behind her.

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