Everything was going according to Add's plan.

        In the three days that he had to prepare, he managed to compile all of his tasks for the next three months into an easy to follow schedule for Dynamo to oversee. After Raven was filled in on the matter, he had surprisingly agreed to assist the little nasod for some of the tasks. Add felt a little reassured to know that Raven was the one keeping watch over his home. He knew how dangerous the mercenary could be, and trusted that there wouldn't be any problems even if Add himself didn't return before three months had passed.

        A bag for himself and a bag for (y/n) was carefully prepared so that they could leave as soon as Night Saver got to the garden. Add made sure to pack some medical patches in (y/n)'s bag just in case they crossed through any particularly heated places on their way to Eldemyr. He didn't know how to reach the closed off elven land.

        Just yesterday, Add returned from the capital after his speech. He had informed the visitors from Hamel that he was about to go an a medical expedition to Eldemyr, and they had been more than willing to offer him their support as well as wait for his return to ask for his help there too. That said, he was already quite exhausted. The past three days had been significantly trying his patience, but he survived the ordeal in the end. Now, the real trial began.

        Add sat in the glass encased garden early to wait for Night Saver to meet with him. The sofa was a lot more comfortable than usual, but it could have just been his imagination. (Y/n) was there with him, but she roamed the plant sanctuary like Add did when he first saw it. She had actually never been inside the dome before, so Add was given the chance to watch her happily explore the enclosed area. The way her eyes sparkled at the sight of the various plants had lightened Add's mood.

        "Hm? Add, isn't this the same flower that you were trying to grow at home?" (Y/n) stopped at a bright green flower that stood taller than her. "It's a lot smaller than ours was though."

        The door to the garden opened before he could give her an answer. Add was already facing the entrance, so he looked over to see that there were four elves this time. Synn was with them this time. He was noticeably younger than everyone else, but Add wasn't about to assume any age just in case. The elf's short black hair with a blonde streak at the side of his bangs made him stand out a bit more than the others.

        "Oh, my apologies for keeping you waiting, doctor," Kassias said. "If I had known you'd already be here, we would have arrived sooner."

        It was only after he finished speaking that the elves took notice of (y/n) approaching from the garden. She hadn't bothered to wear the hood of her cloak, so they immediately knew that she had elf blood in her veins. However, it was Sael that froze in place, and (y/n) reacted similarly. She reached back for her stones out of habit, forgetting that she hadn't brought them with her. The remaining elves didn't understand why the two had taken fighting stances, but Add quickly figured it out and internally cursed.

        Sael put his hands into the air and uttered a single line of elvish to (y/n) who hadn't let her guard down for even a second. The only words Add understood from the sentence was "calm down". Add was left in the dark as (y/n) replied in a tone that suggested she didn't believe a single word Sael had spoken.

        "Who is she?" Ilphas questioned, in an understandable language, without caring that the situation had already gone from civil to potentially deadly. She had understood every word of Sael's promise not to harm the half elf, but the woman held an arm out in front of Kassias and glared at Add. "Is this a set up?"

        Add stood and got his dynamos ready in case she tried anything foolish. "No, this isn't. I just simply failed to account for this possibility," Add sighed. "Whatever needs to be said can be explained in a language we can all speak, right?" He looked at Sael specifically who hadn't taken his eyes off (y/n) nor lowered his hands from the air. Add glanced back at her himself before moving between her and the elves in front of him. "Are you alright, (y/n)?" he asked her without turning around. Soon after he spoke, he felt her rest against his back to hide behind him. His dynamos automatically fell in line around her.

        Out of everyone present, Kassias was the only one who hadn't reacted negatively. His patience for a clear answer remained unshakable. "I don't believe we've met," Kassius spoke to (y/n) as politely as he could manage. He lowered Ilphas' arm out of the way and took a small step forward. "I'm Kassias Grandiel, but it's best if you just call me Kassius." He began gesturing to his companions. "This is Synn, Ilphas, and it seems you're familiar with Sael. We didn't mean to startle you."

        "This is (y/n). She's my assistant. Wherever I go, she goes also," Add began to explain. "I didn't think someone that she knew would be among your group. It was my mistake." He also hadn't expected (y/n) to react that way, but how else was she supposed to respond to someone that had been there when she lost her father? Add remembered her telling him how she had been powerless to stop them, and that feeling must have still been within her somewhere.

        "You already know then," Sael quietly commented. Add nodded in confirmation.

        "Know what? What's going on?" Ilphas demanded.

        "I knew we couldn't trust anyone outside of Eldemyr..." Synn mumbled thinking that he went unheard. Kassias promptly elbowed the elf in his ribcage all while keeping a smile on his face. Synn shot the man a glare but said nothing to him.

        "Your friend that went rouge a little bit ago," Sael started telling Kassias. "That's his daughter. I spared her life. Me and that group that was dispatched to handle that mission were supposed to..." he fell silent. "I'm sorry. You shouldn't have had to go through that at your age," he said to (y/n). The remorse in his words was believable enough.

        Kassias faltered in that moment. The shock on his face remained visible, and he looked over to Sael as if he were joking.

        "You weren't supposed to let her live," Ilphas hissed at Sael.

        "And you're very close to losing the last remaining hope you have of saving all of Eldemyr's sick," (y/n) spoke up from behind Add. "Go on, keep talking." Add couldn't help the smirk that briefly surfaced. "I'm okay now, Add. Thank you," she said to him before stepping forward with her head held up to meet any stares she recieved. "We aren't here to talk about the past. You asked for help, and now you're here for an answer to that plea. Don't ruin your chances by bringing up some distant memory. Now unless there are any questions about the doctor's decision, I suggest you watch what you say."

        Not a sound was heard from anyone for a good few seconds. Kassias broke the silence to move on with the current proceedings. "I apologize on Night Saver's behalf for offending the two of you. If it's okay to ask now, I'd like to know what your decision was."

        "I'll go and treat everyone. Don't worry about any form of compensation. You can pay me back by treating (y/n) like a highly esteemed guest. If anything happens to her, we will leave and any of your sick will likely perish."

        Even though Add's words held a hint of hostility, everyone was relieved to hear that Add was going to assist them. Even Ilphas.

        "Thank you very much, doctor," Sael said with a slight bow of his head.

        "When do you think you will be ready to leave? I don't wish to rush you, but it's best if we return to Eldemyr as soon as possible."

        "Right now." Add paused and shook his head. "Ah, well first I would need to retrieve my belongings, but it shouldn't take very long at all. If you all would wait right here, we will return shortly."

        "Are you sure that you can even help us?" Synn questioned.

        Add determined that Synn was probably as young as he looked. Perhaps still in the stages of his early youth from how he spoke without a filter. "If I couldn't, I wouldn't have agreed," Add simply stated. He looked back at (y/n) who caught his silent gesture for them to head back home to retrieve their packed bags. The two of them left the room and took the stairs to reach the exit of the building.
       
        There weren't many people out today either, so there weren't any witnesses to see Add slip his hand into (y/n)'s while they were going down the stairway.

        "That was a little awkward," (y/n) quietly noted with a light laugh. Her distant expression gave away her unease.

        "If you need a moment, take as much time as you need. They'll have to wait."

        "Thank you." She was about to let his hand go once they neared the bottom floor, but Add intertwined their fingers enough to stop her. If anyone saw, they would just have to see today.

        By the time they reached their home, (y/n) was back to her regular self. Add didn't feel the need to let her hand go until they had gone through the door.

        "Back already? That was fast," Raven spoke from where he leaned against a wall to wait for them. Dynamo was with him, and both of them gave their own signs of relief at seeing the two return safely. "One of you should probably do one last check around the place to make sure you didn't miss anything."

        "I'll do it. Won't take long," (y/n) offered. "Come on Dynamo. It'll be faster if you help."

        "As you wish, Master (Y/n)." They quickly vanished into the hallways leaving Raven to say what he wanted.

        "Take care of yourselves out there, Add. Especially her."

        Add tilted his head to the side. "Are you alright? Is the medication doing something to you're head? I have time to change the formula before I leave." Raven deadpanned at him to which Add briefly laughed. "Alright, alright. You really have no sense of humor. We'll be careful." Add saw his expression shift into something he was not used to seeing. "Raven...?" He watched with curiosity as the mercenary walked right up to him. "Hey, cut it out! Let go!"

        "I mean it, kid." Raven didn't let him escape the hug. "Come back safe."

        Add thought to snap at him for the millionth time, but the disliked nickname didn't bother him this time. It had been quite a while since he last heard it. "I told you we'll be fine, old man. Just don't get senile on us while we're gone..." Raven let him go, and they waited for Dynamo and (y/n) to come back.

        "House scan completed," Dynamo announced as they returned. "All required items have been accounted for."

        "Guess this is it then," (y/n) commented and picked up her bag. While Raven gave her a proper farewell, Dynamo floated over to Add to do the same.

        "You aren't worried about me too, are you?" Add asked him.

        "You took care of yourself just fine in my absence before, Master Add. I do not doubt that the same can be done again. However, that will not stop me from monitoring your vitals until you are out of range."

        "It's just three months. It'snot even that long." Add told himself, but their sentiments were starting to effect him. He had a feeling that these three months were about to feel like an eternity, so he smiled an pat the top of Dynamo's frame anyway.
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It's never easy to say goodbye even for a short while. Until next time you beautiful readers!