θ Wow! That’s so cool??

θ Oh- hey! Yeah, uh..,θ That’d be nice. My glasses got broke, so- oddly enough, my visions improved a bit with my left eye gone?

θ Still kind of blurred, but its definitely an improvement. I’d almost forgot that I need them!

[ He pauses, puzzled for a moment... he’s never interacted with grey faces before, though he’s heard Of them... ]

[ Promise nods. He might as well stay... if only for a few days. Where’s the harm in it, after all? Helios seems... trustworthy enough. ]

θ ... Right. I don’t see why not?

❂ You’re still injured, anyways. How does your eye feel?

θ My... Eye?

[ He raises his hand to the bandage over his left eye, his eyebrows furrowing. He barely even noticed the bandages there- he did get hit in the face in that fight. ]

θ Huh. You know, it doesn’t really hurt at all-?

❂ That’s a good thing! I’ve been using my magic on you while you were asleep- it helps mend, though it doesn’t heal on its own. Think of it as an antibiotic.

❂ Perhaps you should take the bandages off? It should be fully healed, by now, but... I can’t make any promises about your vision.

[ Promises nods, and Helios stands, approaching him slowly to help him remove the bandages. Promise’s bows his head forward to let him get at it, and slowly he feels them fall away.

He blinks, then closes his right eye fully, looking around; its dark. Not fully dark, but it’s bad enough. He can only see bright lights with it. ]

θ Well. Uh. That’s kind of jarring? But, I kind of expect something like this, so-?

❂ You’re taking this well, for someone who lost an eye.

θ Could have been worse? Like an arm? Or a leg? Or both. That would suck,

[ ... Helios chuckles. ]

The stranger sits back with oddly perfect posture in the wooden desk chair, hands folded in his lap with one leg crossed over the other. His head tilts occasionally as they speak. ]

❂ ... I see. If you do not mind me asking-- just what are you doing in these woods, anyway?

❂ It’s not often that I see a stranger in these parts, let alone one so- young? Not to presume, of course, looks can be misleading- but you do seem to be younger.

[ Promise smiles sheepishly- he isn’t exactly wrong, is he? On any of the parts. ]

θ Well- you’re right, I am pretty young? ‘N as for what I was doing out here-

θ I...

[ He pauses, thinking carefully about his words. He doesn’t want this person trying to be... a guardian. He had three of those. He doesn’t want to deal with it anymore. It’s not like he’s helpless, anyways-! He fended off that creature just fine.

.. If getting just a teensy bit hurt is fine. ]

θ I left home. It was just that time, you know? Everyone’s gotta leave the metaphorical nest at some point, right-??

[ ... Ah. ]

θ I’m sorry. I don’t think I ever got your name-? 

❂ .. Of course. I should have introduced myself sooner, I suppose. I am Helios. It is good to meet you- it’s easy to get caught up in the flow of things, yes?

θ  It is. You can call me... Sol.

Beyond the door, a fragment stares in at him, blinking for a moment before a wide grin spreads across his face. ]

❂ I’m glad to see that-! But-

❂ Are you already leaving?

[ Promise seems to be a little taken aback at that, glancing down at the bowl in his hand. It’s not hard to put two and two together; this man had been caring for him. ]

θ ... Sorry, I didn’t realize--!

[ The first thing he notices is a throbbing pain in the upper left side of his skull- and then a chill running down his spine. He takes a deep breath and opens his eyes. It takes a minute for them to adjust to the darkness of the room, and he sits up all too fast for his body to adjust to. He reels forward, the pain intensifying as he brings his hand up to his face, only to find- cloth? No.. it’s a bandage. His head swirls- it hurts too much to think, right now. He leans back slightly, holding the weight of his torso up on his arms, and blearily takes a look around the barren room- he can’t quite see anything aside from the window behind him, and his bag at the base of the bed. 

There’s snow outside. How long has he been out? He can’t tell. 

He glances to the side for only a moment; despite his now blurry vision, he can see what remains of his glasses there, shattered from the creatures’ strike.

A shadow shifts and looms over him, catching his attention- he stares up into the maw of the beast that attacked him. His eyes meet the creatures and he feels fear well inside of him- he shouldn’t of left home, should he? He should have just stayed put-

No.

Now is not the time for doubt, as the creature leans down, its teeth only inches away from Promise’s face. The beast sets its clawed hand on his chest, pressing hard enough to knock the breath out of his body.