"You asked me to trust you, and I will. But if you need anything at all -"

"Yeah, I know, and I will. I love you, mom."

"I love you too."

She lingers in the hug, and then she takes a deep breath and gently disengages.

"Now," she says, in a businessy tone, "I believe that unless you particularly care about my quality as a host, I might need to end this early in favor of finding and hugging my husband."

"Nah, go on," he says. "I don't mind at all."

Nod.

She stands with all the grace and austerity of an empress, and then promptly flees.

"Well," says Rivethira. That seems to be about all she can say on the subject.

"Yeah."

Hug?

Hug.

"... I think I'll go tell them goodbye, then we can head back to the castle. I've done all the reassurances I really can, now it's just a matter of seeing me continue to be okay." Pause. "Plus I kind of don't really like seeing my parents freak out over me and think they both need their space."

"Yeah. All right."

She tightens the hug briefly, and then smiles up at him and departs to go tell her parents goodbye.

Soon enough she's back, complete with red-rimmed eyes. "Right, okay. Time to go?"

He nods and hugs her and kisses her forehead and then they're off on the wind.

It's nice to look at scenery. It gives her some space to think.

But when they cease being wind she thinks she has had enough space and instead goes for another hug.

Hug.

"Thank you," she mumbles into his chest. "For thinking of it and for taking me to see them and holding me."

Hug. "I'll take you to see them anytime you like."

"Thank you for that, too." Cling? Cling.

Hug. Hug hug hug.

Best hugs. Best sorcerer. Well, okay, maybe not the morally best sorcerer, but he's good at hugs. Which counts for something.

She nuzzles him, then pulls back so she can kiss him.

"I think I'm going to go raid the library for a good novel to cheer me up. I wouldn't mind cuddles while I read, but if there's anything you'd like to do instead I won't be brokenhearted and miserable."

"I think I'll go work on resurrection, actually."

She smiles at him brilliantly.

"All right. Have fun, and best of luck."

He smiles. "Enjoy your book," he says, and gives her a peck on the cheek and dissolves into the wind.

Rivethira smiles adoringly after him, then goes to do just that.

He finds somewhere comfortable to sit, and he plays with power. What does resurrection mean, what does it look like, what exactly would he have to do, and how much would it take? It's slow going, but he's getting somewhere.