There is a look on her professor's face that she catches fractions, steps, and half-turns - one that bids her own feet pause. Professor Rhys is a kind and gentle soul, she knows, always looking after those around him with boundless love and ceaseless care; that is simply who he is. But when he looks after others time and time again, who will look out for him? Someone, she is sure, but Maria isn't one to wait for someones.
"Professor Rhys?" Her hand touches gently upon his elbow, voice whispered and soft so as not to startle him, and greets him with a quiet smile when at last he turns to look at her. "I saw you out there, a bit." Even if her team had arrived to the second battle later than the others. "Helping lots of people! You're the kind of healer I want to be like most, Professor."
The little cleric's head cants, smile tilting and tumbling askew, softening then into the faintest curl. Her truth yields to another one, tiny hands holding carefully onto Rhys' sleeve. "...But are you alright?"
“Hm?” Rhys had been staring into space, but even then, it would’ve been impossible to be startled by a voice and touch as gentle as Maria’s. He smiled, gratitude for her company flooding his chest.
“You want to be like me?” He taught his subject as best he could, but it was still a surprise to him to hear.
Rhys had spent so much of his life wishing he was like anybody else. Maybe he was a real role model, an actual inspiration aside from the bard outside and ambient magic. “That’s one of the kindest things anyone’s said to me, Maria.” He put an arm around her shoulders, light but warm.
“You can do it, I know you can. Were I in trouble, I’d count on you to help- ah, and you did.” He glanced at his own side for a moment, and then back at her. “Thank you.”
“I’m okay, physically.” That wasn’t what she was asking about. “I believe I’ve managed to start falling ill at an unfortunate time.” That wasn’t what she was asking about either. “I traveled with a mercenary company for years and never got comfortable with this sort of thing. I suppose witnessing something like that Agarthan’s death leaves me rather shaken. I hope I didn’t worry you, but your presence is, always, welcome.” He gave her shoulder a light squeeze, not pretending he could fix this, but at least they were there for each other.
