Anya went to pick up Att from the nursery class, and the boy had a big smile on his face, telling her about all that he could do... which involved writing a full sentence and learning his numbers. Really, the child was four. She didn't know many four year olds that could write a full sentence just yet. Really, she thought the boy would be just messing around and playing, though that obviously wasn't the case. Anya could only smile at the boy, who just seemed so happy with his learnings. "Why don't you go out and watch Luther with the knights? They'll be training right about now," the girl chirped lightly, to which just made the boy grin even wider, if that was even possible now. "Yes!" He chirped exitedly, before letting go of Anya's hand and running off and out to the gardens before even giving her a chance to react. She never really know what to refer to themselves as when it came to Att... was she his mom? And was Luther his father? The boy just referred to them as Anya and Luther, but was he their son? That was how they acted, at least. Soon, she decided to go and check on Sage, see if he was fit to go outside and watch the training with Att. It'd be good for the boy, both boys, really.

Sage worked at the branch until it resembled a sword, though of course it had a blunt tip and blade. And it was wood, so it didn't really look like a steel sword, but maybe he could draw on it later and add some details to it. Maybe Att would remember him as someone good, someone strong...not a sad heap of skin and bones who just wanted to go die somewhere peacefully. Though, a peaceful death was the last thing that he'd get. Whatever, he didn't have to dwell on that right now...right now he could get some rest since he was up all night. He really was tired, plus he had nothing else to do, so he may as well sleep. He'd have to sleep that night, he supposed, though maybe he should get some kind of lantern or something so if he woke up from a nightmare he didn't freak out in a corner again. He winced at the thought, wondering what Anya thought about that. He'd caught her looks of pity...those made his entire body seem to burn with blush. He didn't need pity, he needed someone to support him but let him be strong on his own. He needed someone to have to lean on when he needed it, but not someone who would...what? Judge so much? She wasn't really judging him, but he knew she was wary of him now...he wasn't who he was, and she was reluctant to get to know this new him. He wasn't sure he blamed her...he didn't like the new him, either.

Anya made her way towards the ward again. If Sage was asleep then she'd leave him be. For some reason, she had the urge to get him involved with everyone, even if her head told her she didn't want him around Att anymore than he had to be. She still wanted him to be safe, and happy, but it seemed to be harder now. She used to just give him a peck on the cheek and tell him how much she loved him, and how much of a difference he'd make to life in the castle to so many people... but she couldn't do that anymore. Because it wasn't true. She didn't love him, and he wasn't making a difference. He wasn't who he was, and she hated that. Now, all she could see was some scared little boy, someone with no will or fight left in them. He was like a frightened deer, skitteish and wired. She hated it... she really hated it. She poked her head through the curtain and gave the boy a small smile. "Oh look, you kept your promise," she hummed in a half bitter tone as she looked towards the little plate. There wasn't much gone, but there was enough to know he'd at least tried.

Sage whirled his head around when he heard the girl's voice, heart leaping into his throat and speeding up before he realized he was being stupid and it was just Anya. He felt the all too familiar blush of shame creep onto his face at the realization that he'd startled at another small thing that really had no impact on him. He glanced over at the plate and grinned sheepishly. "I tried anyway," he murmured. He'd really only eaten two or three crackers and part of an apple. He hadn't even finished the fruit before he just felt like puking. Well, more so than before the red piece of fruit. He picked up on her tone...maybe she was mad he hadn't kept his last promise but had tried to keep this one. Or maybe it was something deeper. Whatever it was, she wasn't much more than someone who was friendly towards him...could he even still call her a friend? Or was the new sage someone she'd rather stay away from? He didn't know, and Wondering would drive him crazy. He was silent for a moment before suddenly asking "Did you even want to come back," to the girl, thinking about how she'd said it was Luther's idea for her to not let him die alone. "Or bring me back here," he added on. He needed to know the truth...would she have left him out there if Luther hadn't insisted on helping him? Did she even want him here or with Att? Luther definitely seemed to be the friendlier one towards him, which was certainly ironic. Even if the truth hurt...he had to know.

Anya just kind of stared at him for a moment, not really expecting that to be the first thing out of his mouth, after replying to her, of course. The simple answer was no, she didn't want to come back. It was Luther that had wanted her to go and sit with him. He didn't want Sage to be alone. But, when she thought about it, she would have probably forced herself back down to him. She would have gone back up to the castle, and it would have eaten away at her... so yeah, she would have come back down, even if she didn't want to and Luther hadn't told her to. She would have brought him back to the castle... that was her idea anyway. She shook her head and gave a small sigh before wandering over to sit on the side of his mattress. "No, is the simple answer," she murmured quietly after a moment. "But I would have come back down even if Luther hadn't wanted me to, and I would have brought you back up here anyway." She glanced at the boy for a moment, wondering if he'd care or not if it was anything she'd wanted. Hell, he was probably just happy to have a bed to sleep in.

Sage stared at the girl silently for a moment before nodding. It was more or less what he'd expected the girl to say...though he hadn't quite expected a flat out no as her way of start off her answer. "I just needed to know," he murmured, somewhat apologeticly, as if asking her questions took more bravery than anything else. Perhaps it did...though he didn't think he had any bravery left to ask questions like that. He wasn't really sure, and it had hurt, but at least he knew. But would she really have come back? For the first time, he found himself doubting something the girl had said. He hated the feeling...and he didn't think he was close enough to Luther to spill on him, like he'd used to with Anya. Maybe he should have insisted they leave him out there. He shouldn't ever have even let Anya help him into the tavern. Not that he really had a choice in the matter.

Anya nodded quietly before patting his shoulder. "I'm sorry, that probably wasn't what you wanted to hear," she murmured before glancing out the window. She could see Att and Luther from here... the boy was swinging Att around in circles, and she could hear his little squeals from here. She gave a little smile to the boy with a small smile... or, she tried a smile. "I don't want to lie to you, Sage, but I'm not sure how I feel about all of this. About you being here, and around Att. It's a bit like inviting a stranger into your home," she started again before glancing at the floor. "But I don't think I'll be able to leave you alone, now. If you're going to be here then I'm going to have you getting involved with things," she chuckled softly before shaking her head.

Sage jumped when she first patted his shoulder and shook his head slowly after a moment. "I just wanted the truth," he murmured. "You don't have to apologize." He chuckled bitterly when she admitted it was like bringing in a stranger but nodded in agreement. "I feel like a stranger to myself," he admitted. "I don't know what's wrong with me but I don't know how to find and fix it this time." He shrugged slightly and hugged out a breath as he flopped backwards onto his back, ignoring the pain from his stitches. "You should have let me die," he told the girl after a moment. "Especially here...I died. The doctor brought me back, but..." He trailed off and took a deep breath. "I had Liz, Anya. I had her in my arms, after all this time. When...when he brought me back..." He trailed off again and closed his eyes, willing himself not to break down in a sob. The rest of the sentence stood for itself...Anya could figure it out. "Don't worry too much about gettinge involved. I still can't walk without help anyway, and no one wants me here," he said after a moment. He supposed he was still blunt...at least one thing had stayed with him.

Anya furrowed her brows slightly when the boy jumped. It was a friendly pat, but Sage seemed so... weary of her. She didn't want him to feel like that... she wanted him to be comfortable around her, like she was safe. But she supposed that was hard when she'd just said she didn't want him there. Well, she was a bit wrong when she was saying that... but a simple no was easier than getting into everything the way she wanted to. She wanted to tell him how much she'd missed him, and how... hurt she was when he left, and how broken she'd been for about a year after. But it wasn't about her. This was about Sage... he wouldn't trust her after so long, and that was understandable. This was about telling what he needed to hear, even if it wasn't completely how she felt. She glanced down at him with s slight frown when he mentioned Liz. "Sage, know there are people out there that aren't just going to let you die. I know you miss Liz, but..." she trailed off slightly, realising how frank that sounded. He didn't need a lecture from her, not now, not anymore. "How did you feel... having her back again," she asked quietly, shaking her head as though she didn't quite believe she was asking that question.

Sage sighed when she started trying to tell him se people still cared. "Yeah, three of them..you, Att, and Luther. And Att only would help if he knew what death is and because I saved him. And I don't even know what you're thinking about all of this, except for what you just told me," he huffed. His brows furrowed when she asked that last question, and he opened his eyes to look into the girl's much softer ones. "I wanted to go," he whispered, voice breaking slightly. "I was happy." It was hard to explain but that was the truth. "You told me the truth, and now I'm telling you. I hate it here. Everywhere. And I hate everything that's happening and I've missed her so much and I'd give anything to be back with her. It doesn't matter how good life can get, no matter how much you spoil me...I just want my sister back."