Mancer sat up groggily. Until just recently, he'd been pretending to sleep in a vain attempt to delay Rixi's lecture. 

“I just… didn't feel like it…” he replied weakly. 

“You didn't feel like it?!” Rixi screamed, her pitch rising with every syllable. “You almost killed yourself because you didn't feel like it?!” 

Mancer rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. “Quiet down,” he complained, “I can't concentrate.” 

“Concentrate on what?! Your next suicide attempt?!” 

“Calm down,” Mancer grumbled, “it's not even that big of a deal.” 

Exasperated, Rixi took several deep breaths, calming the rage that boiled within her. She knelt down on his chest and placed her tiny hand over his heart. Wordlessly, she reached for his mana. 

“What are you doing?” Mancer demanded sharply. 

Rixi, fed up with his fatalism, pointedly ignored him. With a practiced hand, she blocked off the flow of his wellspring. Complete and utter shock dominated Mancer's expression, but his voice was deceptively calm. 

“What have you done?” he questioned, but he already knew the answer. 

Rixi crossed her arms and glared at him obstinately. “I've placed a lock on your mana,” she explained, “and I won't remove it until you swear on your wellspring not to neglect your health anymore!” 

“But, Rixi–” 

“Nope! No buts! We're not playing that game. I won't let you hurt yourself like that again.” 

“That’s not fair!” Mancer huffed petulantly, “you can't do this to me!” 

“I can and I am,” Rixi replied calmly, “you refuse to take care of yourself, so I have to do it for you. This is just a consequence of that.” 

“What am I supposed to do without my mana?!” he protested. 

Rixi rolled her eyes. “I'm sure you'll figure something out,” she said acetically. 

“Don't make me vanish you!” Mancer yelled. 

Rixi zipped up and socked him in the jaw. His teeth clacked together painfully, and he stared at the fuming Rixi in surprise. She had never once hit him before, and so her sudden assault hurt more than just his physical body. 

“Just try it!” Rixi shrieked, “you can threaten me all you want, but I'm not backing down from this! If you won't make the promise, then…” She looked around anxiously, trying to find a sufficient threat. 

“Then what?!” Mancer demanded, “you've already taken away my mana, what more can you do?!” 

Rixi's gaze alighted upon the ring finger of his left hand. She stared solemnly at the tattoo that wrapped around it: Her contract symbol. A sign of their commitment to each other. Her home. 

She looked back at Mancer despairingly, reluctant to say it. She knew how much it would crush him, but she had to make him understand just how desperate she was. 

“If you won't take care of yourself, then I'll have no choice but to terminate our contract.” 

Mancer's eyes widened and teared up at the prospect of a world without Rixi. He couldn't even fathom how terrifying that would be. 

Rixi continued, “I can't watch you destroy yourself, Mancer. I won't. It hurts too much. I’d rather die with the memory of you now than live knowing I let you do this to yourself.” 

Mancer remained silent. He knew he was largely in the wrong, but he still felt that Rixi had overreacted. 

“Are you done?” he asked quietly, “I'm late for class.” 

“Yeah,” she replied bitterly, “I'm done.” 

She shot him one last frustrated glare and darted out the open window, into the world beyond. Mancer watched her go guiltily, regretting his words, but he was too stubborn to apologize. He closed his eyes and exhaled heavily, apathetic in his lamentations. 

“You really are an idiot,” Seiche said from her perch atop his bed frame. 

“I don't need to hear this from you, too,” he complained. 

“But you're going to anyway,” the water spirit insisted. She floated away and stepped onto the windowsill, where Mancer could see her without craning his neck. “I won't rant about how reckless you are, because Rixi did plenty of that.” 

“Then what–” 

She snapped a tendril of water against the wood. “My problem,” Seiche continued, “is your treatment of Rixi.” 

“That's none of your business,” Mancer protested. 

“It is most definitely my business! Rixi is my dear friend, which means I won't let you threaten and disparage her like that.” 

“She blocked my mana!” 

Seiche sat down on the edge of the sill, resting her chin on her hand. “Would you have listened otherwise?” she asked. 

“That's not the point!” 

“That is exactly the point, Pericles.” 

“Don't call me that!” he growled. 

Seiche stared at him wearily. “Don't be stupid,” she said, “Rixi's not a tool for you to use and discard. I thought you understood that, but apparently your brain shrank a little too much.”  

Mancer scowled. “Why are you guys so mean to me?” he asked desperately, “you know how hard I'm trying.” 

“It's because we know you can do better,” Seiche said tenderly. 

“But I can't!” he whined childishly, “I'm already doing my best! You're just too sensitive!” 

“Do you know how immature you are? Your soul is supposed to be thirty six years old, but you still can't see past your own arrogance. You're not infallible, Mancer. And you're not invincible.” 

“Do you really think there's anyone in this world who can best me?” he asked curiously. 

“This is exactly the problem!” Seiche groaned, “you may be from the future, but that doesn't mean you know everything that's going to happen. Events have already changed radically from last time. I'm certain you've noticed.” 

“Yeah? What of it?” 

“Do you have a plan?” 

“Of course I do!” 

Seiche eyed him skeptically, but left it alone. “We're just worried about you,” she said, “you mean a lot to us, and we hate seeing you suffer. Can you understand that?” 

“I do,” Mancer replied, “but I can't fix anything if I'm too afraid to try. Above all, I have to save Jyna.” 

“Her again,” Seiche muttered. 

“What's that supposed to mean?” he asked defensively. 

“Mancer, this is a new beginning. A second chance at life. Don't be so fixated on the future that you lose sight of what's in front of you.” 

“What does that have to do with Jyna?” 

“She's an entirely new person. She doesn't even know you exist. How do you…” she trailed off, not wanting to offend Mancer further. 

“How do I… what? Say it!” 

“How do you know she'll love you again?” 

Mancer was stunned. “She… she has to,” he said defiantly, “she has to, because… that's how it was before.” 

“That means nothing,” Seiche replied, “she has no memory of you.” 

“Then I'll just have to help her make new ones.” He stared stubbornly at the water spirit, daring her to contradict him again. 

Seiche sighed, letting the matter drop. She'd done her part in warning him. If he refused to listen, that was his fault, and he'd be in for a rude awakening. 

“If you say so,” she conceded, “but don't say I didn't warn you.” 

Mancer nodded idly. A reflective silence filled the room, and he turned his hopeful gaze in her direction. “Hey, Seiche?” he asked shamelessly, “do you think you could talk Rixi into unblocking my mana?” 

Seiche chuckled incredulously. “Wow. You really don't listen, do you? Why would I do that? You need to learn self-preservation, and it seems like this is the only way to make you understand. You can talk to Rixi yourself when you're ready to make the promise.” 

“Fine, whatever,” Mancer tsked. 

Seiche rolled her eyes. “Sheesh. It's like living with a six year old,” she mumbled. 

“I heard that,” Mancer replied irritably. 

*** 

Shana was running. The moment she had heard the news, she knew she had to tell Mancer. Her newly appointed guard trailed behind her, struggling to keep up, followed by her maid a ways away. 

“Slow… down…” the guard puffed, “wait up!” 

Shana ignored him, racing toward the little cottage as fast as her legs could carry her. 

“Stop, my lady!” the maid called, “you'll–” 

Her prediction came true before the maid could even finish. Shana's fancy, lacy skirts caught around her knees and she fell flat on her face in front of the cottage. The maid cried out in surprise, but Shana stood up just as quickly as she had fallen, brushing off her muddy dress. She stood in front of the door, reluctant to be the bearer of ill news. 

Her guard and maid were calling out to her, but she didn't listen. Overcoming her brief hesitation, she knocked impatiently on the door, pushing it open with a thud. 

“Pericles!” she yelled anxiously, “where are you?!” 

Mancer sat up in bed and frowned. "I'm here!” he called. Shana rushed over to him, pausing to catch her breath after her run from the manor. 

“It's your mother!” she panted, “she's been arrested!”