~Ace's POV~

Talia holed herself up in her loft above the library for days and refused to see anyone. Oyaji told everyone to leave her be, but we were all worried. She'd never come down to the galley. We had no idea if she was eating, if she was hurt or what was wrong. When she'd left Oyaji's room that night she looked like she was in pain.

I sat atop the hull of the ship outside of the library doors not taking my eyes off of them. When she was ready she'd have to exit through these doors. It had been my post for the past few days, since she'd decided to barricade herself in the library. Marco dropped down beside me and extended a bowl of soup.

"I can't worry about both of you." He offered me a small smile as I accepted the soup.

"Thanks." I mumbled gratefully.

"Anything new?" He indicated the closed library doors.

I sighed, "No, she's still keeping herself locked in there. I wish I knew what was wrong. What did Oyaji say?"

Marco ran his hand through his blond tresses. "To give her space. He wouldn't tell me what they discussed. I don't know what to think."

I sighed and sipped at the soup. It was smooth, hearty and warmed me to the core. Our travels had taken us to waters that always seemed to be encased in winter. It snowed every other hour and I was worried about the bookworm holed up in her library of books. Was she warm enough?

After I finished the soup, I set it aside and repositioned myself atop the railing. Marco sighed and draped his arm across my shoulders, "She'll be alright."

"Who are you trying to convince?" I chuckled as I caught the worry in his tone.

"Both of us." Marco smiled.

"Needs more conviction."

An explosion blasted from the roof of the library causing Marco and I to leap to our feet and bolt for the library doors in a panic. Fireworks shot through the roof with tiny balls of dazzling flames in a flurry of colors before exploding in the air with loud thunderous booms.

"TALIA!" Marco and I screamed in unison as everyone jumped to attention thinking we were under attack.

We barreled through the library doors simultaneously as Talia screamed from the loft. Flames roared from the loft and my stomach dropped as I heard Talia coughing from the thick black smoke.

"Get the fire under control!" Marco shouted at me before taking flight as a brilliant blue and gold phoenix. He disappeared in the smoke and flames as I hurried to extinguish the flames that were starting to trickle down from the loft. What the hell happened?

Commanders and crew alike began spilling into the library trying to extinguish the flames. Izo and Thatch were in a panic screaming for Talia. What was taking Marco so long?

"Marco?!" I yelled frantically worrying if Talia was buried under fallen debris or worse.

He burst through the smoke and flames in a brilliant blast of blue fire cradling Talia's delicate frame in his arms. Tears streaked down her pallid cheeks as she clung to the first division commander coughing and sputtering while trying to fill her lungs with oxygen. The crew swarmed around them as soon as we got the flames under control.

Luckily the fire hadn't spread to the library, all of Talia's precious books were untouched. It appeared the fire had started in the loft, but I wasn't sure how. It's not like she kept anything combustible in her room.

"We need to get her to the infirmary." Izo's voice sounded above the others in an authoritative tone clearing out everyone below commander status.

I rushed to her side and felt my heart sink as I noticed a large blistering burn across one of her slender legs and more burns on her palms as if something had fallen on her and she'd tried to move it. Her body was trembling, whether from pain or fear I couldn't tell.

"What happened?" I asked her frantically as I quickly scanned her over for any further injury. There was a small cut across her temple and a few minor scrapes and bruises on her arms, but otherwise she seemed alright.

"I don't know." She choked, "I was sleeping."

Marco, Thatch, Izo and I exchanged worried looks. Had someone tried to hurt her?

The rest of the commanders stayed behind to scope out the library for any foul play while Thatch, Marco, Izo and I headed to the infirmary. Talia looked faint and her baby blue eyes kept fluttering closed.

"I think she may have a concussion." Izo noted as Talia's head fell atop Marco's shoulder and she slipped into a state of unconsciousness.

"Eh, that's not good." Thatch grimaced and reached a gentle hand to her back and shook her lightly, "No sleeping just yet, little one."

A thought crossed my mind, she was more honest in her sleep, maybe we could ask her about what was bothering her. "Hey Bookworm, why are you so upset?" I asked her as I fell in step with Marco. Thatch and Izo threw me curious looks.

Marco stared at me in awe before looking down to the frail girl in his arms as she spoke softly in her sleep.

"I can't learn about my family heritage without putting everyone else at risk." Her voice sounded so broken.

"That sounds lonely." Izo smoothed a hand through her frosty pink hair soothingly.

"What happened while you were sleeping?" I asked her as we were about to reach the infirmary.

"I don't know." She mumbled, "I dreamed about my mom and her book of symbols, I think it was the incantation in my dream."

"Incantation?" Izo and Thatch exchanged looks.

"Maybe you should try to learn about it so you don't set yourself on fire." I sighed.

"I can't." Talia whimpered. "I can't put everyone in danger." She was in so much pain.

"Setting us all ablaze in our sleep is perfectly safe." I noted sarcastically.

"Ace." Marco scolded me as Talia cried in her sleep. He readjusted his grip cradling her closer and cooed to her softly, "It's alright, Talia. It's not your fault."

"I think we need to talk to Oyaji." Thatch noted as Marco sat on one of the vacant beds with Talia in his arms and Izo went to fetch a doctor.

Marco nodded, "We will, after I know she's alright."