The Other Side: A Second Chance [Dark Isekai Drama]

The door to the first room creaked open, and Truth popped her head inside. Like a groundhog checking for its shadow, she looked left, then right, and saw it was unoccupied. She pulled back outside and shut it. She turned, ran further down the hall to the next room, and peeked inside.

Dammit, this one's empty too! She thought with frustration and pulled the door shut. I thought a whole bunch of people got hurt or something. At least, that's how Uncle Aenorin made it sound.

Not that she wanted a whole bunch of people to be hurt. Truth wasn't callous, but if they wanted her plan to succeed, she'd need to heal many people fast to get the higher-ups to notice. With a soft curse, she progressed further down the hall until eventually coming to the building's corner, where the path made a left.

Truth began to slow as she neared the corner and drifted towards the wall. Her elven ears twitched as she listened, and she was soon glad she did so as she could make out voices. Two women, presumably nurses, were idly chatting, their footsteps and voices becoming louder as they drew near.

For half a second, Truth began to panic as she glanced back the way she had come, thinking of someplace to hide. Yet, before she acted on that instinctual fear, a thought came to her, a devious little thought.

Truth was no actor. Luna did a much better job in that regard. She was the artist, after all, with her D&D games and old projects. Though she'd never admit it to herself, she was pretty good at improvisation, but Luna wasn't here. However, Truth thought this little lie was maybe something she could play off. The sad, lost little child.

Taking a deep breath, Truth tried to get herself into character. She ran her hands through her hair, tousling it about before undoing a few buttons on her blouse to make herself look more unkempt. Then, she turned and went to step around the corner, and her foot caught on the corner's edge. To her horror, she lost balance.

Having not planned to fall, she flailed her arms about in front of the two nurses and let off a cry as she face-planted the hard, polished floor before the women. Searing pain flashed in her mind, her nose stung like a hornet had pricked her, and her brain rattled in her skull. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she stifled a cry as she rolled onto her back.

Gah, crap! This wasn't–ow-ow, sorry, Luna!

She clutched her nose, and she flinched, not only from the pain but also from the two silhouetted figures of the nurses leaning over her. "Oh, dear, are you okay?" the tall, plump nurse on the left asked in a soothing voice as she knelt.

"By the seven, Lass, what are you doing back here?" The second, a tall and thin woman with her hair in a bun, asked in a soft yet scolding tone.

The plump woman helped Truth up into a sitting position and then quickly examined her face. While doing so, she took out a handkerchief and began to dab away the tears brought on by the pain. "Your nose looks good, it isn't broken, and it's not bleeding." She smiled.

"I-I'm sorry," Truth said softly, her genuine embarrassment contributing to her plan. Perhaps she was good at improvisation.

"It's okay, dearie," the woman looking her over said. "Why don't you answer Debbie's question here? What are you doing back here?"

Truth grimaced; she hadn't thought of a good lie. But did she need one? Not wanting to look suspicious, she said the first thing that came to mind. "I-I was looking for the toilet… I-I got lost… I can't find my Momma." She sniffled and whimpered again as her nose continued to throb.

The woman fussing over her pouted. "Oh, you poor thing. Who's your momma?"

Truth sniffed and flinched as her nose throbbed every time she did so.

I need to stop that.

"Ca-Cailynn…" She muttered, then added a second later, "Ashflow."

The taller nurse, Debbie, cocked her head. "That name… Wasn't that the comatose woman you helped get admitted earlier, Shandra?"

The plump woman, Shandra, glanced back at Debbie. "I believe so." She smiled and looked at Truth. "Were you visiting her, lass?" She asked.

Truth nodded. "I was… but I got lost." She sniffed and winced. Stop sniffing!

Shandra hummed and stood up and held a hand out. "Come, I'll take you right to her. Maybe we'll find the rest of your family."

"Didn't she say she was looking for the bathroom, Shandra?" Debbie asked.

Shandra chuckled and hushedly said, "The bathrooms are near the room. The girl probably just took the wrong turn. I'll show her to them."

Letting the nurse guide her by the hand, Truth followed with a look of humiliation and pain. Half of this was an act; so far, everything was going how she wanted. However, the execution surely wasn't something she'd planned for. What did Luna always quote? She thought. Events like these were "happy accidents." She recalled now that it was an old Bob Ross quote. Back in the day, Luna used to always watch the old painter during her projects.

Truth shook her head. Focus, no time for reminiscing. She gripped Shandra's hand tightly as they rounded another corner. Truth's ears twitched again, and she picked up the sounds of a crowd coming from the open double doors at the far end. The scent of chemicals and ozone caused her nose to flare and throb. Ozone was the scent that ether gave off when a spell was cast, which meant either scrolls were being used or a mage or clergy member was tending to the more seriously injured.

They bypassed the open door, and Truth's eyes widened as she saw the ample, shared space filled with dozens of occupied beds. She blinked and looked up at Shandra as the woman stopped and scanned the room, looking for Truth's mother.

"Why is everyone crammed in here?" Truth asked. They had walked past dozens of empty private rooms beforehand.

"We keep the private rooms for the sick and more seriously injured," Debbie answered in Shandra's stead, then looked to the Plump nurse. "I believe Dr. Ochs had her stationed in the far corner. Now, if you'll excuse me, Shandra, I need to go check on Mr. Davidson. It was nice speaking to you." She bowed.

Shandra smiled and thanked her as the other woman turned and strolled away. She looked to Truth and smiled, "Come on, little one, let's go see your Momma."

Truth gave her a polite smile and nodded as they began walking to the room's far end. Along the way, she scanned the nearby patients they went by, checking to see who was the most hurt. Not that she wouldn't be healing all of them. However, she wanted to start with the worst first. Then again, Debbie had just said the worst would be in a private room, except that wouldn't work. Truth wanted people to see her in action. It felt odd; Luna's parents had made it clear that showing off her magic was a no-go, except now, she was given free rein. Of course, Luna wouldn't have any objections to this; she would just go hog wild and start blessing everyone.

However, even though this was her plan, she was starting to have second thoughts. Yes, she'll gather the attention of the people they need, but in turn, others she may not want to see will surely take notice.

There's no time to back down now. I'm committed. She thought to herself and returned to looking.

Most injuries were to men and women who had severe burn marks and broken limbs. One man, in particular, had both legs and arms in casts held on a pulley system to keep them straight. A nurse was leaning over the man, spoon feeding him what looked to be a curry. The man looked humiliated as he ate, and Truth grimaced at the sight.

You won't look like that for much longer, she thought, and stopped. They were here, at the far corner of the room before the bed her mother occupied. Cailynn, like before, was sleeping peacefully, though Truth noted her clothes had been exchanged for a simple white shift.

"Where's Momma's clothes?" She asked, looking at Shandra.

The nurse, however, seemed confused by something else. "Where are the others?" She blinked and looked at Truth.

She frowned and shrugged. "I was gone for a little while," she lied, "maybe he's looking for me?"

Shandra sighed and thankfully didn't question further. "That's very possible." She crossed her arms beneath her bosom. "He may have gone to the front to ask around. Stay right here, little one. I'll go check."

Truth's heart fluttered. This is perfect! She nodded, and Shandra turned away. Just a few paces away, she walked towards the double doors and left, leaving Truth by herself beside her incapacitated mother.

"This is it," she muttered, "no time like the present."

Disobeying the orders she had just received, Truth turned away and began to march towards the broken man she had seen earlier. The nurse feeding him the curry had just gotten up and began heading away from the man's bed, leaving him to sulk in his many casts alone, but not for long, as Truth's head soon popped up beside him.

"Hello," She said with a big smile.

The casted man jerked in his bed and gasped with pain. "Roots take you–gah! Wh-who are you?!"

Truth blushed, and her smile broadened. If it weren't for the many bandages and casts, the man would've looked handsome, or well, he still was in a way. Yet, now that she was closer, she also couldn't help but sense a familiarity with him.

Have I seen him before?

As the man's eyes locked on Truth's, his brow knitted. "Wait a second," he muttered, then his eyes widened. "By Heaven's grace, it's you."

"It is me," Truth said without thinking, suddenly finding herself enjoying this despite her prior second thoughts. She held her hands out and wiggled them at him. "I've come to bless you with the powers of the Almighty Truth."

The man blinked. "Truth?" He coughed and winced. "Has Father sent you Angel?" He asked.

Truth's insides turned upon hearing that. He's an aerinite… Not that I shouldn't discriminate, Luna wouldn't, so why should I?

Truth tried to hide the cringe and said, "Uh, well. No, not exactly. I came on my own volition, but the power of Truth will free you from these casts!"

The man looked at her, perplexed. "You seem a lot different than before, Child," he said, and Truth started, then stopped.

"Before?" she asked, trying to recall, yet nothing came to her. I haven't seen this guy before, have I? He seems familiar, but… this is a city. Maybe I saw him on the road?

The man blinked and then nodded slowly. "I-It's me, Father Kaleb; I was there when you and Dr. Kegan helped Father Marko. I saw you heal him…"

Truth blinked. I never did that… Th-that was… Luna. Why can't I remember Luna doing that?

Truth flushed and laughed nervously. "Ri-right!" She said, trying to play it off. "Yeah, I remember now, sorry. I just, a lot's happened." She looked him over. "You got really banged up. What happened?"

Kaleb looked at her strangely before blushing and said, "I was thrown. When those rods fell from the sky and hit the park. I was caught in the blast. I had barely survived if it wasn't for Marko and his family. However, his healing could only do so much for me." He coughed. "And without my arms, I cannot use my own magic to tend to myself."

Truth nodded. "Wouldn't it have been easier to treat you at the Trentonville Clinic?" She asked.

Kaleb sighed. "Unfortuantely, Dr. Kegan's hands were full and lacked much of the necessary equipment. So he requested some soldiers to bring me here after I was stabalized."

Truth straightened up and leaned on the bed. "Well, don't worry, Luna is here to help!" She clapped her hands, and Kaleb looked at her with surprise.

Alright, let's get this over with. I just got to do what Luna does, and that is… Heal!

She held her hands out to Kaleb, closed her eyes, and began to… Do nothing.

"Huh?" She opened her eyes.

Kaleb arched a brow. "Is everything alright?"

Truth flushed once again and waved her hands at him. "I-It's alright, I-I'm just… Having performance anxiety. Uh, close your eyes."

"What?"

"Just close them, please!"

Kaleb frowned but did as she said and closed his eyes. Truth took a deep breath, clapped her hands together, and rubbed them as she mentally psyched herself up. Alright, we got this. Luna makes this look very easy. All she does is just think about it, and it happens, right? So, heal! Injuries be gone!

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

She pressed her hands against Kaleb's left, busted leg, and the man gasped with pain as Truth pressed on it a little harder and did absolutely nothing.

"Ro-roots! St-stop that hurts!" He gasped.

Truth yanked her hands away and blushed. "Sorry! I don't know what's happening, my magic isn't working…" She whimpered as her ears fell flat.

What's going on? Why can't I do anything? I think about the spell, but nothing works. I don't feel any different. Is it because I wasn't shown how to do it? She sighed and rubbed her chin as she stepped back from the bed.

Maybe I'll need to wake Luna up. She has been resting for a few hours now. Maybe she had calmed down by now?

"Lady Luna, is that you?" A young and soft voice snapped Truth back into the present.

Her ears twitched, her head perked up, and she turned to see a young blonde-haired boy, no older than Varis, standing a few feet away. In his hands, he held a pair of thin glasses. He wiped the lenses off with a handkerchief before placing them back over his vibrant blue eyes.

Truth fidgeted. Who the hell are these people who keep recognizing us? She blinked, turned to face the boy, and ran a hand through her hair. "Hi!" She said, giving her best smile as she tried to play along. "Please, just call me Luna. Adding Lady to it all just, uh, makes it sound like I'm old."

The boy flinched and stammered. "A-Ah, ri-right." He blushed and rubbed his neck. "Apologies."

"Master Paul," Kaleb said from the bed, and Truth thanked the gods. Someone said the boy's name. "You're back so soon. Did you bring what I asked?"

Paul nodded and reached for the satchel, which Truth hadn't noticed until now. He pulled out a thick book. "Yes, sir, I have it right here." He walked over to the small stand beside Kaleb and set the book on it.

Kaleb smiled weakly. "Thank you, lad," he said, and Paul grinned in response and bowed.

The boy then looked over the bed at Truth. "Did you come to treat Father Kaleb like you did my father?" he asked, his voice hopeful.

Truth felt her heart tighten at this. She gulped. "I'm trying, but…" She sighed, her ears drooping. "My magic seems not to be working."

Paul's hopeful expression began to sag, and he frowned. "The wave drained you as well?" He asked. Truth cocked her head, and Paul continued, "The wave of power that banished all the magic in the city. You were hit by it?"

The pulse. Truth reminded herself, and she nodded. "Yeah, something like that."

Maybe he's onto something. Could that be it? Truth wondered and then dismissed it. No, Luna was able to cast spells after she woke up. This is something else…

"I-I think I'm just having some stage fright, is all," she said hesitantly. "Last time I did this it was only you guys." She gulped and glanced around the filled hospital room. "Just… Give me a moment, I'll get things sorted."

Paul glanced at Kaleb, and the two shared a slight nod. Truth closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Alright, Luna, it's time for you to wake up. I need you here. I know you're enjoying relaxation time, but it's your turn to do something. So, I'm passing control back to you.

Truth took in a sharp breath and let it out slowly…

Luna

You want to know the best feeling ever? Or, well, one of the best feelings. There are probably plenty of things better than what I'm about to describe. Anyway, the best feeling is the day before going on vacation. It can be from school, from work, whatever. More specifically, I'm thinking about work. You have seven days lined up and ready to take off, and you're just about to punch out and say, "See ya, bastards!"

God, it's such a good feeling. That's sort of what I felt like earlier when I spaced out and just let everything happen. I felt like I was sleeping, sort of. It's hard to describe. The best I can compare it to is when my mother woke me up after the Master first took control of me, and I was floating blissfully in that void of colors and lights.

Wait a second. Was that the Cerebellium? Eh, I don't know if it was or not. Maybe that's why the place felt familiar to me. I wasn't floating there now or anything. Honestly, I didn't know where I was. Or what I was doing. Everything was dark, and I felt a little cold. I thought I could hear voices. No, no, I did hear voices. Did I have my eyes closed?

I decided to check and opened my eyes.

I gasped as the bright lights assaulted my retinas, blinked rapidly, and shook my head. "Gyah, it's so bright!" I heard my own voice say as I held a hand up to shield my eyes.

I shook my head, the heavy weight of my hair swishing around, feeling oddly uncomfortable. I felt like I had noticed it for the first time in a long while. My skin tingled with goosebumps, and I felt oddly alien in my own body.

Where the hell am I? I thought as my vision began to clear, and I noticed for the first time that I was in a building. Surrounded by people, hurt people. Around me were hospital beds full of patients, nurses, and acolytes of the Slyondran church moving to and fro.

We took Momma to the hospital? I wondered.

"Luna?" A somewhat familiar voice said. My ear twitched, and I turned to see who spoke. It was the young boy Paul I had met just a few days ago—the one who led Kegan and me to his sick father…

What the hell was he doing here? No, what the hell am I doing here?

I glanced around again. My mother wasn't anywhere to be seen. The person in front of me, who was fully bandaged, wasn't anyone in my family. It was–I gasped. "Father Kaleb?!" I jerked back away from the man.

The guy was practically a mummy with all the bandages around his arms and legs. Or, really, he looked like a puppet with the slings holding his arms and legs up. "What happened?!" I asked, covering my mouth with both hands.

Kaleb blinked confusedly and slowly turned his head to look at Paul. The two shared an easy glance as he returned his gaze to me. "Luna," he said, keeping his voice low and slow. "Is everything alright?"

I opened my mouth, closed it, and opened it again like a fish because I was too dumbfounded to speak. "You were just speaking to us a moment ago," Paul said, and I looked at him with a stupid expression.

"Huh?" That was all I could say. I was, but… I hadn't –how? When?

"Do you want me to take control?" A memory surfaced. My last memory, at least, was the last clear one.

It was from that voice inside me. Not the Master, not Charity. My own voice. The one I had spoken to in the Cerebellium, the jerk that spoke the truth. Truth. They had returned. Or, really, they've always been there. Always part of me, except now they were free.

I had given control to them. I let them take over. Except, how did that work? Truth claimed to be me, and I was them. So, wouldn't I know what I did? I faintly recalled some blurred memories as I stood and thought about it. A wagon ride, a vague recollection of the park, some uneasy emotions… But that was all.

Master, are you there? I asked him, hoping to glean some answers. Perhaps he knew what was happening. He could see into my mind. Hell, he was in the cognitive realm. He had to know a lot about this sort of stuff, right?

Or, a scary idea, Truth was him. The idea was unnerving. The Master was a powerful being, though I wouldn't get why he would do something like that… would he?

Don't be stupid, Luna. The Master isn't the type to do anything like that.

But can I be sure about that? Shaed and I have been through a lot together, but I still don't know if I can trust him. So, what happened then? Why can't I remember how I got here? How was I talking to Paul and Kaleb, and why was Father Kaleb injured?

My heart began to race, and my palms felt clammy. I tried to take a deep breath, but it was shallow and unsteady. I needed to calm down and focus, but…

"Luna," Paul said, and took a step toward me. "It's okay." He reached out, and I began to pull away, but he stopped when I did. His hand retracted, and he smiled gently at me, his eyes reassuring. "You were trying to heal Father Kaleb," he said gently. "He was hurt when the cylinders fell and hit the park."

Hearing him finally answer my question made my beating heart slow. My breathing steadied slightly, and I nodded. "R-right, sorry." I blushed. "I-I lost my nerve a little." I wrapped my arms around myself and took a deep breath.

I'm going crazy. I'm actually going nuts. I needed to figure out what the hell was going on with myself, but that'll have to come later. Right now, I just need to play along. I looked at Paul and smiled gently. Something about the kid's vibrant blue eyes was soothing.

"Thank you," I said softly. The boy's smile widened, and I swore I saw a hint of pink on his cheeks as he nodded.

Okay, healing it is, then. I looked back at Kaleb, who still looked confused. "Alright, Mr. Kaleb," I said, trying to get my voice to return to a leveled tone. "Brace yourself because this is going to tingle, like a lot." I observed the damage. The man sure was broken—pretty much everywhere. I've healed significant injuries before, but this would certainly take a lot out of me.

Hopefully, the migraines from before won't come back. I sighed. Even if they did, I'd deal with it.

"Tingle?" Kaleb said, his eyes widening. "It won't hurt, will it?"

I pursed my lips. "Frankly, I don't know," I admitted.

When Putinov had shattered my leg, I wasn't in control when the Master healed it, so I hadn't felt it. When my arm nearly got shot off in the prison, I was too worried about that to even notice how the healing felt. So I shrugged.

Kaleb gulped. "Well, whatever gets me walking again." He sighed.

I smiled. "I'll use a bit of resilience on you to make you numb. But, since it's your whole body here, that in itself won't feel right. Mentally speaking."

"You're going to paralyze me?" He asked with wide eyes.

"Momentarily." I nodded. "You'll have your feeling back when I'm done."

Kaleb nodded and swallowed hard as I held my hands up and began to concentrate. Taking a few deep breaths, I followed Alexander's teachings and what my mother had taught me a few months back. I cleared my mind of all thoughts and worries and focused on the fire within—a storm of power that surged deep within my core. The power exploded like a raging tempest. A chorus of sensations blew through me, an enjoyable sensation that I eagerly clung to.

The sensation of ether channeling through my body was something I always craved. I felt this power within me churning and bubbling, screaming to get out. It was like a raging bull inside of me, a bull that I so eagerly wanted and would tame. Beside me, I heard Paul gasp, and even a few people from across the hospital room who could see me.

I began muttering the incantation for resilience and reached out to Kaleb. My eyes opened, and I saw ether whisps swirling around me. Dozens of greenish-blue dots flew like fairies in the wind, excitedly twirling around my hands, which glowed faintly. I lightly pressed my hands against Kaleb, and I unleashed the bull.

The power surged up my arms and hands, channeling directly into the man before me. Kaleb gasped, and immediately, his strained expression grew relaxed. His face sagged slightly, and he sighed.

"It's worrrking…" He slurred. "I Feelsh noshing…" I blinked as I began to stifle the power within, though I didn't fully store it away just yet. Instead, I kept it burning within my gut like a small fire, surprisingly keeping me warm.

Huh, I didn't know it could do that. My mind wandered, and I focused back on Kaleb's drooping face and blushed. "Uh," I said, "I think I may have done too much." I giggled. Kaleb looked like a kid who had recently left the dentist after getting a tooth pulled.

Paul snorted and began to laugh, and Kaleb's sagging face tried to do something akin to a scowl. "Whash sho fenny?"

I couldn't help but giggle as Paul howled and said, "It's your face, Father Kaleb, it's so droopy."

Hearing the boy laugh dulled the edge of my previous anxiety, and I took a deep breath and then blinked. There's no headache. I realized. The pain that previously tormented me after I returned from the cognitive realm didn't return. Thank god for that. I breathed easily.

"Alright," I said, smiling at Kaleb. "Now we move onto stage two." I clapped my hands together and paused when I noticed something.

Above my head were twinkling motes of light. The whisps from when I channeled moments ago hadn't vanished. Prior to now, the little lights had always appeared whenever I, or even Mother, had cast spells, yet they always vanished seconds later. But now, the little orbs danced and twirled above me like excited little pixies, eager to see what I would do next. They weren't the only ones, either. Around me, I could feel the eyes of patients, doctors, and nurses boring into me, and immediately, I felt on the spot.

Unfortunately, it reminded me of when I had to sing a solo in my elementary school's Christmas play. Oh, how I hated it. I choked up on the words and fumbled before hundreds of adults and my peers. At least then, it was for something pointless. Here I was, healing someone, but the feeling was still all the same.

I gulped nervously. I really was getting stage fright. Why am I feeling so self-conscious now? I wasn't like this back in the army triage.

Back then, you had drive, a reason to get those soldiers healed. Not only did we want to help, but we needed soldiers—soldiers who could help me save your family.

But that shouldn't change anything, right?

Healing people was nice, I should be enjoying this. Except, I had no idea why I was here. Truth had planted me here, and I can't recall how we got to this place. I don't even know where the rest of my family is, are they in here--

Don't think about them, I'm sure they're fine–wait. I paused. Didn't Father tell me not to heal people? I began to sweat. Crap, crap, crap. He's going to be so mad! I closed my eyes and shook my head. Focus, dammit! It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission, right? That's how the saying goes, I think.

I clapped my cheeks. "It's go time!" I blurted out, mainly for my own sake.

I closed my eyes and took a sharp breath, holding it. I began to count to three and then exhaled. I repeated this a few times, clearing my mind and focusing on that raging inferno inside of me. The air around me began to feel electric; the startled gasps of others could be heard, but I paid them no attention. As I spoke the incantation, I began channeling the ether within me into rejuvenation and held my hands out to Kaleb.

Pressing my palms into his side, I forced the ether through them and into his body. The energy within me burst forth like water through a broken dam. I opened my eyes to notice my very being was glowing, and the swirling whisps had become a swarm of incandescent fireflies. Hundreds of them, more than I had ever seen, swooped down, engulfing Kaleb and those around me. Some flew past my ear, and I could hear the sound of twinkling chimes and what seemed like giggling.

I watched with wonder as the orbs danced and played, and I realized then that these little motes of light weren't just magic. They sounded alive and playful, almost like small children dancing around us. Before I saw them, they were always calm and drifting, but now, they were simply amazing.

As the thrill of ether within me died as the spell concluded, I watched the dancing whisps wink out of existence one at a time. Their laughing chimes dissipated along with them until, finally, only a small handful were left. Their zipping flourishes came short as they slowed and paused as if wondering where their friends had gone. It was sad, honestly.

I shook my head, tore my attention away, and gazed back at Kaleb, who was still groggy from the numbness and healing. Despite that, he looked healthy and… different. Did he always look this young? I swore before he was in his mid-thirties and already had bits of grey in his blonde hair. Now that the grey was gone, his face looked much smoother. Aside from that, he was the same.

Kaleb coughed and shook his head as the numbness began to fade. A few whisps of light twinkled around his head. One landed right on his forehead, his eyes crossed as he looked up at it. His arms in the casts began to shift and move, and he gasped.

"I can move again," he said as doctors and nurses crowded around the bed. "I'm healed!" Kaleb shouted with joy. Suddenly, voices all around me began to speak at once, and deja vu struck me as I recalled how similar things went down in the army triage.

"Okay, okay!" I called out, throwing my arms up as three doctors began to ask me questions.

"I'm only one girl! Please, one at a time! Everyone gets one!" I shouted as I was pulled over to the other patients. "Gosh, I should start charging you all for this!" This would be tiring… but I didn't mind that in the slightest.