Be Ready

"Be ready?" I asked.

Gemma's eyes darted and I realized she was asking me to mix the tea for her.

She coughed a bit. "You got here a bit late. So, rest. Your body is probably going to be over stimulated. It might hurt for a bit."

Right. I nodded. She had been through all this for a long time. She mentioned there was no way to cancel the spell earlier from my cast, so there was nothing much to be done about that. We both knew that a hospital wasn't going to do anything that major to Chrissy, especially when her sensation returned this evening.

"I can feel it, and ready, set," she paused.

Uuugh... I fel like, a grape in the sun. Wow that sucked. My airway was the worst part, I took an immediate puff. Gemma jumped up and stretched. Ugh, I was jealous already, I felt worse than yesterday.

"I know that look. Yeah. Losing your first steal benefit does suck. You body was running as if it could move way harder than normal. Of course when it lost the support it was gonna feel sore. You're aren't hurt or anything, but, I need to do a few things. So, can you handle that for a bit?"

I nodded. I didn't wanna open my mouth. I knew I would probably be fine in a few hours, but that-

"Don't worry, I plan to let you steal from me today again, I have to help you practice," she said. She paused and rubbed my fingers and leaned down. "I can even teach you another spell, maybe two. Or maybe let you steal some of my confidence or cooking knowledge."

She rushed by me. Darn it, I wanted to turn and ark her about that! Steal could take... knowledge? Like, someone would forget, but they would remember the next day? I... had anyone ever done that to me? Is that maybe why I felt like I forgot something sometimes? I could write down whatever information I took, and.... no no no. I that. Tea. Drinking tea. Calming was nice. Stealing knowledge? That just feels... evil. I mean... but she was... offering? Was that stealing? Hmm?

The tea was nice and relaxing. Help me not worry about things. Gemma came back down with her hair all wet. Freshly washed it seemed.

"So much better. But, yeah. To think that guy would meet my student. I see that face, you like him! Well, afraid you can't steal boyfriends. Though, you can steal a lot of things he like's about his girlfriend, that might-"

"That isn't my go-"

I began wheezing and holding my chest. Holding my sides. Ouch! I talked to loud to suddenly.

"Yes," Gemma said. "Good point. This Trish is a problem. She realized the Kyoei No Senban was magical without touching. A rare trait!" she glanced over to the six other books over on the shelf. "I know, you are a bit sad aren't you. Vellus. Well," she turned and looked at me. "I can talked to the seven books. Vellus Pedis is merely sad, it feels like the one we are talking about, Trish would have been a good match for it. But it is too late for that."

I looked down. Trish problem? I mean, she wasn't a problem? She was a good person just trying to do good.

Gemma sat down touching my hand, I looked up at those eyes that just understood me. "Sorry, I got a little excited. Remember, I was bed ridden yesterday thinking about how much fun you were having. I gave Eddie Kyoei No Senban because it was destiny and because that was what was meant to happen. But perhaps it was meant to happen for this. For you to find it not from me, but by him."

"But, I..."

Cough, cough. Just so frustrating!!!

She smiled and lifted my hands up. "It is your choice. I am a bit emotional, the Kyoei No Senban deserves to be in the hand of a watcher or a destined one. Not someone like Trish, stuffed in a bag, unable to help anyone! My beautiful little greened eyed monster. It breaks my heart. Well, if you don't want to rescue him. That is fine. I can think up ways to get him back myself. Then perhaps you should come back tomorrow-"

"Wait, but you said you'd teach me," I said.

"Hmm," she paused tapping her foot. "I will teach you, but I just need to do."

Fuck it. I really wanted that book anyhow. I couldn't deny what she said. Trish was soooooo amazing. That book, it belonged to us. Why did she have to take it! Didn't we watchers get so very little as it was! "I'll do it!"

She smiled. "Okay, well. You can't speak or read this language unless you have a connection to the infinite. But you can still cast the magic. As long as you can speak it with your heart. So, you did it once by instinct with the Kyoei No Senban nearby. I am another source of of that power. The more you steal, the more you and that necklace will become stronger in that same energy. Focus on me. Focus on what you want! And take what is by right yours!"