Julan appeared lost for a few more seconds, looking down at his hand. "Um, yeah, I guess. I didn't mean to..." 

Julan was not able to say any more before he found himself crowded by their onlookers, or at least some of them. Those who had already been curious about Julan, or at least uncertain about him, were now all smiling and congratulating his quick victory. one boy gave him a playful punch to his shoulder, followed by an encouraging pat on the back. [i]"Well, that was about as clear as it could be. I guess everyone really should be afraid to talk bad about you, or your mother."[/i]

[i]"Oh, well, I don't really want to make people afraid..."[/i] Julan began, though he stopped mid-sentence once the girl, Leeus, caught his attention. She approached him, smiling in a way that made him just want to smile back. 

[i]"One punch. Guess that's all you needed. I would apologize for dragging you into all that, but I guess you had it all under control. You were so fast, and...those muscles aren't just for show."[/i] Leeus grinned.

Meanwhile, those who were already suspicious about Julan were not dissuaded by the fight, but were preoccupied with Vaarkai. Two of them, likely friends of Varrkai since they had been sitting together, rushed over to him after they got over their shock from watching the fight. [i]"Hey! Get away from him, softskin. Stop touching him!"[/i] The girl growled as she ran over to check his breathing, then pointed to her other friend. [i]"We should get him to the healer; get his legs, I've got his shoulders."[/i] 

[hr]

Ahnasha nodded. She did not generally find the subject uncomfortable to talk about with friends, but speaking about it with Rhazii, in this context, did have her slightly nervous. "Yes. By now, it is something of an...open secret that I no longer age. Or at least, not very quickly. It was something I pursued because I want to follow your father into old age together, which would be hard when he could outlive me by over nine hundred years. I worked hard, trained, and eventually learned what I needed. But, if I am being honest, the thought of me living on in youth while you slowly grow old in front of me is...frightening, I guess would be a way to put it. I don't want to have to leave you behind...but it doesn't [i]have[/i] to be that way. Extending a life isn't [i]too[/i] difficult, once you have the knowledge you need. It would not be hard for me to help you."