~~~~~~~~~~
Walking Obsidian lazily back to the school grounds, I was aware of a permanent wide grin on my face but did little to try to hide it. My morning with Khea left no doubt about our future and reignited my decision to have her with me for the rest of our lives. Once I felt confident in that aspect, I decided it was time to finish Round Nine and make sure I was ready for what lay ahead in Nakbe.
It was earlier than I would have thought when I flopped lazily into bed and searched out Micha, quickly finding him but still unable to fully connect the thread. I wondered what he was thinking, but I already knew his feelings towards Isuet left little room for anything else. I imagined he thought about her dark hair and deep brown eyes, her long legs and gifted abilities as a Tracker. A picture of her crouched and looking at a torn branch from a small bush came to mind, how she concentrated on the trail and could sense what animal had passed there.
I suddenly realized that I had no memory of such an event; it must have come from Micha. When I checked the thread, it was connected, though very weak within the space of the charm. I couldn't get the clear thoughts and emotions I was used to, but it was there.
I ran towards Latinia's Library and found Micha flipping through several books with little interest.
"Hey, Lark."
"It's Isuet, crouching by a hawthorne bush. That's your memory of her."
Micha smiled and, even in the dimness of the library, his cheeks colored a little. Without another word, he handed me the copper bracelet and opened up the memory to me fully.
"I guess I won't be needing this anymore," he said with a smile. Once I had the mental faculties to concentrate, it hadn't really been all that difficult. Why didn't I do this years ago?
"Thanks Micha. I couldn't have done it without you." I clapped him on the shoulder and ran back to my room. There was one more person I wanted to take a crack at.