Adult Awakened often find it hard to adjust to the change it brings to their life. They knew who they were, they knew what life was supposed to be, only to find out they knew nothing.

  They are expected to conform to rules and traditions, to act in ways appropriate for an Awakened of their station. They have to start over, learn to be someone new.

  They are almost never shown lenience, they are adults, they should know the rules. If they are lucky they can explain their lack of experience, if they are luckier it will be taken into account.

  ~ * ~

  When they'd hit level 5 a few days after Fay admitted she'd never taken breaks until she took one with them, Anya had started to wonder about their pace. She had a rough idea of how fast was considered fast, she knew they were on the edge of that pace.

  When they hit level 6 four months later, despite losing over a week to injuries, she knew something was strange. They'd made mistakes one after the other and gotten hurt. The enemies were getting stranger, not just stronger but more dangerous even when they weren't variants.

  Seb, she sent as he came out of their tent, his pace only the slightest bit unsteady as he adjusted to the level up.

  Yes love? he answered as his eyes locked on to her.

  She smiled, how could she not when he called her that. It didn't matter that it had been nearly a year since they'd first said the word, she doubted it would ever matter.

  We need to talk.

  She saw him tense, saw the confusion and felt the uncertainty start to flood the bond.

  No, she clarified quickly. Nothing's wrong.

  Then?

  She gestured to the area they'd taken to using for practice over the last few weeks. Shall we?

  Squaring off against one another they started out with the simplest of routines. It was relaxing, simple, an easy way to limber up and unwind in the same moment.

  A year ago you couldn't do that, she sent as he slipped past her kick, countering as he did.

  She wove out of the way, neither moving fast enough to have a chance to land a blow. He followed, keeping pace with her, his blade flicking out time and time again.

  What do you mean?

  When we looked in the Vault that first time you were stiff. The first Depths Rat nearly got you. The Horned one- she trailed off, remnants of her fear still there after all this time.

  I've improved, he answered, his words full of reassurance. I have a good teacher.

  Seb, she sent, lashing out at full speed as she did.

  He didn't blink, didn't hesitate. He batted her hand to the side then went on the attack. If she hadn't been able to feel his amusement she would have thought he was trying to kill her. If she'd been any slower he might have left her crippled.

  You're proving my point, she sent as she disengaged and held up her hands. A year ago you couldn't have done that. You know what my gifts are. You know why I was able to advance so quickly once I fully Awakened.

  Yes, he agreed. You learn through combat. You improve to match your opponent.

  And you're as good as me! she tried to point out. I had years of training, years of practice.

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  She lunged, ducking past his startled defense and tried to tackle him. She hit him, she felt him move against her and they fell. Somehow they ended up entangled in one another, neither finding advantage.

  Anya?

  I'm a better fighter now than I was at level 3, she said before shifting to curl against him despite their lying in the dust. You're a better fighter after a year than Rios was when I faced him. I'm learning when we train. I can feel myself improving.

  Feel yourself improving, Seb sent back, his arms reflexively pulling her closer before he propped himself up to look down at her. You mean you can tell what I'm doing, you can see what you need to do?

  You surprise me, I do what I can to defend. If you try the same thing again I know how to win, she answered.

  I- Seb began. That-

  And sometimes, she sent with a growing realization, I feel as though I know what is in the caverns before you share. That I can feel for myself.

  But how? he sent before his thoughts seemed to sharpen. The bond?

  Bonds don't let you share Gifts, she answered.

  Normal bonds don't, he argued. Yours is supposed to give extra benefits though?

  She took a moment to consider then nodded.

  Maybe? I guess we'll have to test, she said before turning her head to look up at him with a grin. Later.

  ~ * ~

  By the time they were due to head back to see Fay a couple weeks later they were almost certain that Seb's guess was right. They were quickly able to find other evidence of Seb benefiting from her Gifts going back to almost the moment they'd first clearly formed a bond.

  Anya had never stopped to think about how strong Seb's first few blows had been when he was figuring out how to use his sword. She'd been nearly three levels above him and he'd forced her to block, he'd managed to stagger her. He'd been drained afterwards, she even remembered how strange it seemed at the time, but he'd hit much harder than he should have been able to.

  As he'd grown more proficient and used to using the technique his stamina had improved drastically. Everything he tried to learn was executed with precision, a single success all it took to turn his newest attempt into something viable. She had always found it that easy so had never questioned his progress, only now did they both see how strange it was.

  She'd been leveraging his Gift as well. She'd always learned new techniques quickly, but since working with Seb she'd been faster still. She might not be able to recognize or convey every Energy pattern she'd ever seen, he'd tried a few times while testing and it still gave them both a headache, but she knew what the right pattern was for her techniques in a way she never had before.

  Testing his Aura, as he'd decided to call it, was trickier. She couldn't see Energy Patterns the way he did. She could see them if he shared the vision with her, let her see what he saw, but not on her own. She could however tell where things were.

  When Seb had asked her what it was like she hadn't been sure how to describe it. She knew where things were, the same as she knew where her own body was. She could feel their locations as though they were touching her skin, but without the actual contact.

  Seb had finally gotten around to testing out his third gift as well. They weren't making much use of it yet, but the fact that they could keep track of the stranger monsters more easily had saved them an injury or two in the last week alone. The fact that their tent still had the mental impression of tent hovering over it and their practice field sparring just went to show that Seb couldn't resist further tests even though they were about to leave.

  ~ * ~

  The moment she stepped through the Staging Point Anya focused on her ability to use Seb's Aura. Using it for too long became exhausting but practice made all things easier. She felt a presence in the house above and she glanced at Seb.

  Fay?

  She felt his confirmation before he nodded, concern following almost immediately. She understood, Fay was here more often than not when they arrived, sometimes waiting for them in this room, at other times busy in her office. The fact that she was upstairs in the middle of the day, without them being there to keep her company? Something was going on.

  Setting their things down they made their way upstairs as quickly as possible. Fay looked up as they stepped into the living room, the smile on her lips almost conflicting with her obvious anxiety.

  "Fay?" Anya said, trying not to sound worried.

  "Anya! Seb!" Fay answered as she stood, nearly running over to them.

  "Hi Fay," Seb said with a faint smile.

  Is she ok? he sent.

  I think so?

  "You're home early."

  "Yes, we would have been here in the morning but we decided to wrap up-" Anya began.

  "No, no, no. It's good," Fay interrupted. "I need your help."

  "Of course," she agreed. "With?"

  "Clothing. I need help picking something out."

  "Fay," Anya said calmly. "What do you need to pick something out for?"

  "Dinner tomorrow," Fay answered.

  "We're not doing anything fancy, you know that."

  Fay paused and looked momentarily confused. Then she smiled again as she shook her head. "No, I need to pick out the right thing for tomorrow."

  "Fay," Seb said. "What makes tomorrow special?"

  "We're going to a restaurant in Deep Earth," she answered. "You're coming with me on my date."

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