Colin's posts

"Your mana's just that strong." Gregory responded.

"Simple as that." he said.

"It matured far earlier than expected." he shrugged.

"But you made it through it." he commented.

"Which is good!" he then exclaimed suddenly.

"I was NOT looking forward to potentially collecting you." he told her sternly.

"So. Good for you for being strong!"

"Dead?" Gregory asked.

"Naw." he said.

"You were, though." he told her.

"But at the same time, you weren't." he continued.

"A necromancer's mana maturation is a... wonderful thing!" he exclaimed, a smile on his face, but sarcasm in his tone.

"Regardless, you're fine." he assured her.

"Thanks to the LeBlanc's, but you're fine."

".....yeah..." Alex muttered.

"I... have no energy as well." he admitted.

"...damn... so drained... so tired..." he then mumbled further.

Meanwhile, Madison was floating in a weird sea of... greyness and mist, seemingly suspended in it.

However, a figure appeared before her. One she knew very well.

"Hey." Gregory greeted her.

"Sup?" he asked nonchalantly.

Alex left the room and waited for his turn.

"...Maddy..." he mumbled.

"Please... please be all right." he said.

"Aimee and I will do what we can, but... please... work with us..." he continued.

And sure enough, they took their shifts. They switched in and out, and tried their best to help Madison. They poured their effort and mana into it, and it was taxing on the both of them.

Eventually, they'd done all they could, and were both sitting in the den, exhausted and drained.

"...well, that's it." he said to her.

"We just have to wait now."

Alex looked over towards Aimee, and nodded.

"Yes." he replied.

"Let's do this." he agreed.

He then cracked his knuckles, and shook his hands slightly.

"How we doing this?" he asked.

"Both at once, or shifts?" he asked further.

"And if the latter, who's first?"

When they were home, he led her up to her room, and laid her down on her bed.

"Aimee's on her way, Maddy." he told her.

"She's going to help you. Us." he went on.

"I know you're going through something really hard right now, but just hang on." he continued.

"Please. Just try and keep it together." he pleaded.

"We'll help you. But please, stay strong."

Alex, meanwhile, had made his way to Madison's school, and already he knew what was happening. He could feel it. It was overwhelming and undeniable.

He quickly made his way to the nurse's office, where he went to see Madison.

"Maddy?" he addressed her when he got close enough to speak.

"Maddy, I'm taking you home, okay?" he said.

"You'll be all right, I promise." he went on.

"Okay?"

The nurse was silent once more, before sighing.

"Hang on, sweetie." she told him.

Moments later, Lex received a phone call. It woke him from a light nap, and he answered it.

"Hello, this is Alex." he said.

"...what?... she is...? And how bad is...? I see." he said further, before saying he was coming to get her, and hanging up.

He then paused, and called his sister. She didn't answer, but he called again. And again, until she answered.

"Aimee." he said to his annoyed sister.

"It's happening to Madison."

"...." the nurse was silent for a moment.

"I said I'm ready to see you now." she told Madison.

"...are you all right?" she then asked, before pausing.

"Well... that was a silly question. You wouldn't be here if you were." she then reasoned, sighing quietly.

"What's wrong, dear?" she then asked further.

'...and what is this overwhelming presence?' she then thought.

"....." the teacher was silent for a moment.

"Odd." he said.

"And so very unlike you." he commented.

"Madison, go and see the school nurse." he told her.

"Just to make sure this isn't something far more serious." he reasoned, before pausing once more. The pulse of mana that had emanated from her did not go unnoticed by him, and judging from the looks on some of the other students' faces, they felt it as well. Some even looked like they had almost been knocked over by it, but had managed to somehow stay in their seats.

"Can you make it there?" he asked.

"Or do you need assistance?" he asked further.

"......." Ryker was silent for a moment, before nodding.

He made his way to Eke, placing his hands on his shoulders.

"Calm down." he said.

"Just be calm." he told him.

"Relax. Deep breaths." he said further.

"Now. I'm going to make sure Aly doesn't bother you, okay?" he finished, before starting to head off.

After about 30 seconds of staring at the paper, one of her classmates spoke up; one she had become good friends with.

"Mr. Spence?" they addressed the teacher.

"Yes?" he responded.

"Something seems to be wrong with Maddy." they told him, concern in their tone.

The teacher looked over towards Madison, and raised an eyebrow. He got up and made his way over towards her.

"Ms. Kiczys?" he addressed her.

"Madison, are you all right?" he asked.

Alex just smiled.

"A late lunch sounds good." he said.

"And yes, to get you caught up with school, it's going to be a bit difficult." he told Madison.

"You'll be working with Aimee, and she'll be making sure you're ready for middle school when the term comes around." he said.

"She's right that it won't be fun, but it'll be necessary." he continued, as they walked down the corridor.

"And thank you, Aimee." he then said to his sister.

"In advance, for the schooling you'll be giving to her."

"Of course." Alex replied.

"We have made... well, we have the beginnings of plans, but we wanted to wait until this was finalised before we continued." he told them. "No sense putting the cart before the horse and all." he reasoned.

"Very good." they responded.

"Now be off, and be a family." they said.

Alex nodded, and the two of them left the room, shutting the door behind them, and looking towards where Aimee was sitting.

"...done deal." was all Alex said with a smile.