RO Bonus story: Little Changes (nonbinary Keo)

It was Flame season when I met Keo. Den Zarel's newest batch of recruits had been selected, and we were all standing in the training grounds awkwardly introducing ourselves. I remember being surprised - they told me they'd come from a neighborhood a few miles away from my own, and yet I'd never seen them.

"I moved," they explained when I asked. "I came here not long ago."

That explained it. I didn't wonder at how they said "I" instead of "we." I thought about it later, though. When I noticed no visitors ever seemed to come for my friend, and when I got no response after I asked about the human side of their family. It seemed like they weren't close - to the point where Keo didn't even consider them enough of a family unit to use "we." That word was reserved for their fae mother. Still, they didn't talk about either parent often, and never in any detail. Time let me notice a lot of things like that, once I started paying attention: Keo was reluctant to talk about anyone close to them, they were strong, they were afraid to be touched, they didn't like to speak, they took care not to trample flowers that grew out of place in the gardens.

It was almost funny, a kid that strong caring so much about plants. Most recruits on the 'combat' track weren't exactly focused on the ground at their feet and what lived in it. I kind of liked that about Keo. So many of our peers were focused on proving themselves to be the toughest, the one who could make or take the most hits in sparring, or the one who could run the fastest or recite the most facts about the fae or cast the strongest spells. But being with Keo never felt like a competition. They trained to be better, not to beat anyone else. They wanted everyone to be alright, even the plants.

"Should we move the rest?" I asked once in the gardens, when I saw their eyes fill with tears they refused to shed. A group of kids had just run past us, leaving a bunch of light yellow flowers flattened against the dirt path.

We dug up what remained, roots and all, and planted them back at the den. Keo hugged me for the first time after that. Years later they told me they were still learning to "quiet the noise" of the ambient magic around them then. That included the energy of the flowers - they could actually feel the plant healing when we'd rescued it.

The second time was a month later, when we were training. They caught me off guard and struck a little too hard, sending me flying onto the mat with a thud I knew would leave a mild bruise on my hip. I let out an annoyed breath at my mistake, wincing as I sat up and found Keo already kneeling at my side.

"I'm sorry," they said, the words tumbling out all at once. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. Are you hurt? I'm so sorry."

"I'm not made of glass," I laughed, but they didn't smile back like usual. I rocked forward to sit on my folded knees and caught their worried eyes as they looked me over again for injury. "I'm fine, Keo," I promised.

"I could have hurt you," they muttered, obviously not convinced. "I made a mistake, I can't do that."

"It's okay," I repeated. I didn't know what else to tell them, so I just said, "I trust you."

I watched something break and reform again in their eyes when I said that. I was in their arms a second later. It was just a quick hug, but I could feel something change in them, just like it had the day with the flowers. They started to hold back less in training and we came up with all kinds of strategies together, imagining ourselves fighting against the dangers beyond the city's walls.

Day by day little moments like that popped up. I was paying attention by then, and I noticed. It was like watching little pieces of my friend come back - I'd never known those pieces, but I could tell they were more 'Keo' than the Keo I'd met, my first day at the den. Keo liked holding their friends' hands, but they were always too shy to ask first. They loved being hugged, more than they liked presents or praise. They were stronger in combat than I'd ever realized. And when we started venturing into the wilds, they had my back like nobody else.

I think about that sometimes, now that we're grown. Not often, but every now and then when I hug them goodbye before a mission I can sense that same warm surprise, radiating off their aura. I can see that same connection from the gardens between us when they point out a rare plant to me in the wilds. It's the same Keo, but freer. Lighter. And one I'm happier than ever to have by my side.