@Crowvette

---

Wolf was a little confused by how flustered Alex appeared after the question. It wasn't like he had room to talk, but it seemed to have thrown her off quite a bit. She could hardly keep her story straight, literally changing her story outright from one sentence to the next.

"Yeah. We see each other every day, almost," Wolf told her. That... hardly explained things. He wasn't sure how to explain things. What was the nicest way to say: "we're dating, but I think she hates me almost as much as I hate myself?" He couldn't think of a good way to say it, especially not within the first ten minutes of seeing Alex again. "I know she missed you just as much as I did. I-I can tell her you're here. I'm sure she'd come right over."

Of course he had no idea of Alex and Vera's prior meeting. No one had told him a thing, even now, and so one could only imagine what he might have done or thought had he known -- if he'd been told how angry Vera had gotten, or that she'd withheld that fact that she'd seen Alex from him.

"I-I should tell her..." Wolf began fumbling to find his phone. "Um, if you're OK with that." He couldn't shake how strange her answer had been. Had she talked to Vera or not? If not, and she'd seen her, why avoid her? She'd seemed to feel guilty about her absence from their lives. Was it that simple?

But why did she feel guilty? She was the victim...

@KillamriX88

Alex's heart nearly jumped out of her chest when Wolf took out his phone. "Um... Ah..." She was torn. Maybe having Wolf around would help, but maybe it was too soon. Maybe it was best to give Vera some space. But then again, maybe not. Alex was utterly unable to predict how Vera would react to anything after their last meeting. She didn't doubt that Wolf and Vera both had missed her - it actually made her feel better to hear it - but it was clear that there were other things going on that made Vera act the way she was.

Or maybe it wasn't another thing. Maybe it was Alex herself.

"S-Speaking of, how has Vera been...?" She had to ask. "Like, uh."

Alex found herself unable to word her question. '"Has she been punching you too?" isn't exactly something I can ask...' Alex thought.

"Has she been stressed out?" Alex blurted out. It revealed perhaps too much about their meeting, but Alex had to ask. If it was something simple, maybe she could help, and make up with Vera.

Something told her it wouldn't be that easy, though.

Reverio Galand

The girl had been strong, too strong. There had been no way to hold on to her as she made her move over towards the barrier which contained the so named Tome of Trium Throne.

'Such strength...'
Reverio thought to himself as he watched Liliya, but he was more concerned with her behaviour, she acted almost like... a golem? That had to be it. 'This girl is another of Darla's servants? She really sent two of them to aid me. I really have to find some way to thank her later.' The blonde nodded to himself before looking at what Liliya was up to, blinking quickly. She had managed to break the barrier?

"Impossible! That crazy bit-" The grimoire under Reverio's arm began to proclaim once it realized that the barrier of the Tome of Trium Throne had been removed. The grimoire would however be muffled as Rev wrapped it into a piece of cloth he carried with him.

"Shhh... do not call the lady such crude things. Wait a moment... can golems have a gender?" He mumbled out loud to himself and the grimoire before looking over at Liliya. "Good work! Tell Darla that I will make it up to her! You go on ahead, I will be with you shortly. To think this tome may hold the key to the greater peace. Oh brother... your sacrifice will not be in vain. I will save this world from it's own people and then at the end, I'll be the last evil to be vanquished. The enemy of everything and everyone, this is my destiny... this has to be it. Never again will the horrors which befell you my dearest of friends happen anew." Reverio spoke to himself as he walked over to the Tome of Trium Throne.

His hand reaching out to take it. "Reveal to me, the path of peace." He took the tome and clutched it closely, he would have to read it, but not here. He had to make it out of here before the library personell and authorities would learn of this breach.

He ran.



@Lewascan2

Alrune

"How goes the reprogramming? I want results soon. Despite my vast patience, I am beginning to think you are stalling on purpose." The blue-green haired woman said to her underling.

"No ma'am! It's just that we want to make sure that the subject will not relapse." The underling quickly replied and showed a notepad with statistics and brainwave patterns.

"It is not a long term investment, it's a tool meant to be used and later discarded once it has served it's uses. Now sedate and gear it up. I want it fully functional upon my return while the memory of what has happened to my husband remain in everyone's hearts..." The woman smirked and then turned around and began to walk to her news conference. The Rhean TV-channels would broadcast news of a murder in the city, and a few blurry images of the suspects taken from the vehicles. Not enough to identify them however. But Alrune's picture is put on the news.

"We appologize for interupting our current broadcast..." The news anchor began, then began spitting details of the area of the murder and who the victim were. Including pictures of said doctor.

"The victim is Dr Jargan Plagerzes, who is known throughout Rhea for his breakthroughs in technology and scientific studies. He was also a council member of the Old Faith Collective, a group who worship humankinds achievements without paying tribute to any of the gods. The good doctor was assassinated when a group of gifted broke into a rented locale of the former. One person has been apprehended suspected of partaking in the crime. It is currently unknown what the motive of the killing is, but with us today is Dr Plagerzes wife." The anchor would explain and motion to her side. A blue-green haired woman all dressed in black would dry her eyes with a napkin.

"Mrs Plagerzes, we appreciate that you are with us here today, we understand this must be a very hard thing to do and incredibly emotional. But you are welcome, please can you tell us anything about your husband?" The news anchor offered her condolences.

"Thank you." Mrs Plagerzes said as she then began to spin a dramatic and emotionally sounding tale of what a great man her husband were, and that she suspects his killers may have been individuals gifted by the gods. Likely a hate crime.

Some time later...

In the hidden facility.

"How was my performance? The stage is set for the next act. Go ahead, send in the lowlife we captured several weeks ago into the containment field. He is useless to us. I want to see my new toy get to work." Mrs Plagerzes took hold of her wine glass and curled her purple lipsticked lips.

"Yes ma'am! Sending in test subject 993. What shall we call the new boy? 994?" The male underling asked as he stood by the controls overlooking the magical proof consoles and windows into what almost looked like an arena.

"He is not a boy. He is a monster. A disgusting little monster which shall do something for us. I know the perfect name... let's drag the prime example of everything wrong with Rhea into view. His name is now Laurel. He should be honored to serve such a noble goal despite the illness in him." Mrs Plagerzes grinned widely in a sadistic manner, motioning for the underling to open the other hatch to let Alrune... no... Laurel into the room." The large arena had many speakers covered over it, which Mrs Plagerzes would use to speak to those into the arena.

"Welcome to judgement day, little criminal." She addressed subject 993 who seemed to be a young man around the age of 18, he immediately began to attempt to throw fireballs at the windows to no effect.

"Such a lack of respect for your betters insignificant thing. This man is a criminal to the Rhea, he deserves to be punished by death. Eliminate him and repent. Laurel~." Mrs Plagerzes said the last line with such pleasure it almost could be mistaken that she was having the best cake in the world. Alrune opened his eyes, his outfit seemed to be a tight fitting black attire with armor at a few select places, there were a pair of visors attached to what could only be described as a big headband which also enclosed his own ears slightly. He could hear the voices into the headphones.

"Destroy the target. Eliminate. Repent." It was a monotone robotic voice in his head. He looked down on his hands, where were he? Who were he? Who was the person in front of him? He tried hard to think, but it was painful. The headset would give off a little shock when he tried. Alrune shook his head slightly.

"Who... who am... who are you? Must... kill or be killed..." The boy tightened his hands into fists, he felt empowered. Strong. He liked the feeling. He could hear something which had some familiarity to it. It wasn't voices. It was music. It made his body instinctively move forwards, his head and arms twitched slightly, electric current running through his body. His eyes set on the man ahead of him. When he saw the man, he heard the command in his ears again. This man was a criminal... he had to die. Right? Alrune darted forwards, dodging two incoming fireballs hurled by subject 993. Then with a thundering smash the boy slammed into the man's chest, hurling him into the nearby wall. The surging feeling of power was overwhelming Al's senses, this feeling it felt good. And he felt no pain. He looked at his hands again how his fingers were twitching almost as if he had been fed alot of medication... or something worse. But such thoughts were not reaching his mind now, nothing were but the feeling of power and lust to... kill? Al walked slowly over to the man, placing the tip of his boot under the man's chin, lifting his gaze up to meet Al's gaze through the purple visors.

"You poor thing... I'll help you..." A wide grin began to form on the boy's face as he raised his hand and then used it to stab the man through the heart while giving off a shock of electricity.

Al began to softly chuckle before bursting out into laughter. "Heh...heheh.... ahahahahah! Ahahah! Ahh... red... it's so beautiful... hnn..hnn.. I feel great." The boy reached up his gloved hand to his face, looking at the bloodied fingers as he took a lick. "That's all? You aren't breathing anymore? What a shame.." He threw what remained of the man's body down to the floor.

"Ma'am... this boy... is a..." The underling outside the chamber began to voice his concerns to Mrs Plagerzes.

"He's perfect. For the task. This little monster shall prove once and for all that their ilk are too dangerous and must be euthanised." The woman grinned and then took hold of her microphone.

"Well done Laurel. Mission complete. You have punished the criminal. Soon you will be having more criminals to punish. Remember that all who wield those powers as this one did are an enemy." She smirked and looked into the chamber, a sense of pride at seeing what her people having accomplished.

"Al... Lau... Alaur... Laurel?" The boy pondered briefly on the name. Was this his name? It did sound familiar. It had to be it. "I feel amazing... where is the next one?" He said in a monotone kind of manner and the voice in the headset gave him the answer.

"I will show you." The woman's voice replied.

Elsewhere...

Suzakura

"Ahh shit... Why did Silly Celly had to go all out holy hells crazy like that? Damn is this bone dislocated? Not again. Oh well... at least I have all the gain and no pain!" Suzakura allowed his body to readjust from the fight with Cel, which had ended with a draw in Cel leaving, having better things to do apparently.

"Damn I need a drink. Oh hey!" Suzakura eyed a young man with glasses walking out of a coffee shop with a hot coffe cup. "Thanks buddy! Gotta love free shit!" The greenhaired young man said as he relieved the boy of his drink and took a sip. "Not bad. Catch you later!"

"Hey! That was my coff- Hey!" The boy yelled after him, but it soon became part of the sounds of the city.

On his way down the street he couldn't help but notice a pink haired girl with cat ears passing right in front of him. "Damn. Nice piece of hoochie ass!" He allowed himself a whistle before brushing off his shirt, closing his eyes as he introduced himself.

"Suzakura, single, sharp and strong. How could the choice ever be wrong? Eh? EH?!" He opened his eyes to the sudden realization that the girl he had just seen had vanished as if up into thin air. "That's definitely not cool. Like this coffee. Damn it could use some more sugar or milk. Speaking of which, where is my bestest bovine babe?" He took a sip as he passed past an electronics store, throwing a glance to the TV in the viewing window. It was his father on the screen being advertised as dead.

It was with the speed of a fire hose that the coffee came back up and went into the face of a nerdy looking boy standing next to him.

"Holy hells! Someone fucking killed my dad!" He blinked for a few moments looking at the screen as if trying to cope with the new reality, he realized it was true once he saw his mother on the screen aswell. "Allright!" He tightened his hand into a fist and raised it in a cheering manner. "Someone earnt themselves some serious brownie points for doing my dad in and it wasn't even my mom. Does this mean I am extra orphaned? I gotta find Chinami and talk about it. I wonder how her parents are like. I gotta find out. Where the hell does her.. hey wait a sec? I wonder if Chinaminamnam's got a Chinamidamdam mom..."

@Dezuel

"Liliya" did not so much as allow a downturn of her lips to cross her blank, placid expression, as she slowly blinked at Reverios's words. Being mistaken for one of Darla's robots... Well, at least she could be certain her disguise was extremely effective now. Still, that was a misconception that would be easy to disprove, and she didn't see a reason to let it fester.

"I do not know a 'Darla'," Liliya replied bluntly in a whispery monotone, tilting her head slightly. "However, I witnessed your scheming on the top floor and the blonde girl you were speaking to... She and her conversation partners were... loud. I presume she is the 'Darla' you speak of."

She watched silently, as Reverio acquired the Tome of the Trium Throne, still muffling the mysterious book under his arm. Truly, the more she heard of his self-directed ramblings, the more aware of how big the bullet she'd dodged was. This man... was truly unstable. Insane. To think she'd almost been enamored with him... It gave her the shivers. "Peace..." Liliya murmured quietly, slowly, almost seeming to taste the word. "I suppose it could be... under a certain definition."

After all, the annihilation of all life would, indeed, create a sort of "peace" in the aftermath. And if this was the Great Evil...?

Behind her back, quick as a flash, her Spirit's invisible arms rifled through her backpack, quietly ripping off a sheet of paper from the notebook she kept within. A pen was uncapped, a number scrawled in large digits, the number of a burner phone, as the pen was recapped and paper folded several ways. She waited until Reverio was sprinting for the exit to follow, matching his pace, as her Spirit slipped the paper from her pack out of sight of them both and stealthily slid it into Reverio's right pocket.

###-###-####
- Liliya Montoya.

As the two finally parted ways, Liliya glanced over her shoulder, allowing a muted smile to upturn her lips ever so slightly, "If you dive into more forbidden places, call me. It's not every day one finds a fellow seeker..."

And then she was gone.

---

The first step in her new plan was to get in touch with an old friend, a face she hadn't seen since her archeology group broke up, their go-to when it came to getting them all the right documents to go when and where they pleased...

Brrrrr... Brrrrr... Brrrrr...

The ringing noise finally ended with a muted click, as a man's voice on the other end finally answered, an edge of confusion in his tone. "Hello?"

Chinami smiled broadly, holding her cellphone closer to her ear. "Uncle Ron!"

"Wha?" There was a moment of silent incomprehension, before he chuffed. "Chinami? Kid, it's been... years! How did you get this number?"

"Mom," Chinami shrugged.

"Ah, that would do it, yes." There was a scratchy noise that gave the impressing Ron was probably rubbing his beard with one hand. "Well, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Ahem... unfortunately not a social matter." Chinami scratched the back of her neck. "It's something only you can help me with, I'm hoping." Leaning back in her chair, she eyed a government webpage and another tab dedicated to St. Laurel's School of Divine Excellence. "I need a solid."

"...I'm listening."

"Your work in government administration gives you access to places I can't reach. I need a new identity and records... high class ones."

"Wha-?" Ron muttered. "Are you and Harumi in trouble?"

"Not... yet," Chinami sighed, shaking her head. "We're fine, but there's something I've stumbled across... something... forbidden. Knowledge, a secret, and worse, how to find where something terrible is hidden... sealed."

"Chinami..." Ron sighed. "I thought you swore to leave that life behind... after..."

"I did," Chinami grimaced. "But unfortunately, I'm not the only one that has this information. If I had any say in the matter, it would stay buried till long after I've come and gone, an issue for another generation to deal with, but..."

"Someone else knows how to open the seal, don't they?"

"Yeah," Chinami grunted, slumping back in her chair. "Maybe it's all nonsense, but if you'd come across this information the way I did... Well, you certainly wouldn't think it was bluffing. If I'm going to have any chance of stopping them, I need to know exactly where the seal is." Her eyes drifted to the computer screen, recalling the memories she had browsed within her mindscape shortly after separating from Reverio. "I know where it's buried, but I lack the excuse needed to spend extended time on -and search- the location." She adjusted her phone, leaning back and glancing at the ceiling of her room. "I need your help to make me a new identity with excellent records, one that will let me work at Rhea's administrative center. If anyone can get me an in, it's you."

"Will you be able to uphold that excellence?" Ron asked, a frown in his voice.

"Nowadays?" Chinami grinned. "Absolutely. I originally went to Kiburi's because my education was lacking, but no longer. I'm confident I can uphold this persona."

Ron was silent for a moment. "I suppose I'll just have to take your word on that." He let out another sigh. "Look, kid, this sounds... Are you sure you should be going this far? If you know who's after this seal, why not bring it to the attention of someone higher up? Why are you doing this alone? You're just, what, sixteen?"

"Seventeen now."

Ron huffed. "Look, what I'm asking is why I should help you put yourself in more danger. If something happens to you... what do you think that will do to your mother?"

Chinami grew quiet at that, and the silence stretched on for a while. Finally, a deep sigh escaped her. "I'm going to be in danger regardless. The other culprit, both they and I are aware of the exact location of two of the three keys needed to break the seal, along with where the seal is buried. It's only a matter of time before the third is found."

"And why act alone?"

"Because I didn't exactly get my hands on this information through the most... legal channels."

Ron sighed, earning a grimace from Chinami. "Dammit, kid..."

"This information was hidden for a damn good reason," Chinami forged on. "If I try to tell anyone I have it, even if it's just to warn the right people... I can't predict what they might do to keep it quiet. I'm just... not certain."

"Sounds like you're backed into a corner, huh?"

"Yeah... I am, so..." Chinami exhaled through her nose, getting straight to business. "Will you help me?"

Ron was quiet for a worryingly long time, before a long-suffering sigh reached her ears. "Alright, I really hope you know what you're doing."

Chinami closed her eyes, inhaling slowly. "Me too."

They got to work.

---

Several days later, Chinami's thoughts were churning, as she hung up, placing her phone on her desk.

Staring back from her on the computer screen, her administration profile as 19-year-old "Liliya Montoya" stared back. For a while, she simply browsed through it, looking through various forms of orientation material she had access to via either her profile or new email she'd created for this purpose. Her schedule was set, her identity forged... She glanced at her Chinami email, where she'd finished arranging for her Kiburi's schoolwork to be mailed to her home to be worked on in her absence from campus. Everything seemed to be in order.

One hand slowly rose to run down her face, as she fully processed what she'd just committed to.

She'd just... gotten herself a whole other life... and a job... as a secretary.

Just... keep your eye on the prize, girl. All you need to do is find the seal, and your powers are restored. That was the deal, and that's the priority. Opening it? Helping Reverio? Bullshit. All of that was to one end: reaching the seal. That's the demon's end of the bargain.

She didn't need to worry about the third "key", the third sword. As long as she could deny either of the ones she already knew about to Reverio, she could honestly drop this whole ridiculous quest entirely, let Reverio uselessly stew in his delusions for eternity... Not that she wouldn't look for the Albion key. If she could get her hands on it first, all the better... And she knew exactly how to do it. If she could find the Seal and get her full power restored according to her deal with the demon inside her, she could use that power to locate and steal the third sword and then hide it away where hopefully none could retrieve it. No, the sword wasn't a priority, merely an inevitable acquisition. And besides, no matter what, Reverio could only accomplish his goals by reaching the seal. No matter what, if he found the third sword first, he would have to come to her... go through her.

And then, she would put an end to this nonsense and restore her quiet life once and for all.

Yet... her curiosity was piqued.

After reading the contents of the Tome of the Trium Throne, reading the tale of St. Laurel and the Lyngurium Lie, some inconsistencies had arisen in her prior assumptions. The Lyngurium Lie had supposedly been a comrade to the being that was sealed away. At first, Chinami had almost come to the absurd conclusion that the one sealed was some "evil" version of St. Laurel, but a more careful read clarified that it was someone she had run with before her time with Laurel... or at least before turning on him. It could have been another member of Laurel's group of heroes, but... the immortal Lyngurium Lie supposedly sought a world of conflict she'd shared with Laurel in their youth. The prisoner was from a time before even the lands of Rhea. Yet, knowing that the prisoner was the Lyngurium Lie's ally... That meant.

"They can't be the Great Evil." The demon within her did not contest her, but she knew it was true. It had to be. Reverio, the fool, only thought he had found the Great Evil; but thankfully for all of them, his intent was undercut by that selfsame tunnel-vision. "If there was ever a time the Lyngurium Lie could be called a hero, someone of sound morality, then the 'prisoner' cannot be the Great Evil. If it was her former comrade, she would have been corrupted and consumed long before she ever met Laurel. She wouldn't have had any heroic period of her life on record."

"So, it would seem..." the demon replied.

Chinami couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and anxiety. "Yet... our deal still stands?"

"This One hast conveyed before; even This One is beholden moste firmly in a Pact."

Chinami grinned. This day just got a little bit better. Even knowing that something that was so dangerous it needed to be sealed a way might lay around the corner, the fact that it most likely wasn't a fragment of the Great Evil soothed her heart greatly. It was a drastic de-escalation of the terrible stakes she'd feared prior. If her new conclusion was correct, then even in the worst-case scenario of a broken seal, this was... actually pretty salvageable.

Of course, that didn't mean whoever was sealed wasn't dangerous, and it was certainly in her best interests to stop them from being released, but the urgency she'd felt prior was... reduced, like a great weight taken off her shoulders. Furthermore, she had no idea what this "Lyngurium Lie" was like, aside from the fact that the old word "grimalkin" pegged her for some sort of ancient cat-girl or feline shapeshifter.

She'd just have to keep her eyes peeled, she supposed. For now...

She glanced at the time in the bottom corner of her screen.

It seemed she'd better get a good night's sleep.

She had work tomorrow.

---

An hour later, as was perhaps too often her habit, Chinami found herself lying awake in bed with phone in hand, frowning at news reports that had happened to cross her feed. The death of someone she... actually recognized. Suzakura's father? Who was also a big name in the Old Faith Collective? Well, even if she also wasn't the biggest fan of the Gods, given some of the sentiments this group was purported to support, she was hardly going to shed any tears. Yet... The media seemed rather riled about this.

That... was a problem, right?

Well, hopefully, it could keep for later. Seal first, social unrest preferably never... Yet, she knew all too well that unless she forced it to, the world didn't care for her comfort, for her peace and quiet. The longer she resisted getting on top of this matter if it had even the slightest potential to screw with her, the worse it would probably be when it finally did... Choices choices...

Chinami sighed and turned off her phone, setting it on her bedside table.

She'd sleep on it and decide in the morning.

Lynnwell ignored the voice of a greenhaired young man on her way down an alleyway, briefly throwing a glance to the TV screen of a nearby shop. Spotting a picture of a criminal. Or so the Rhean news would label it. This was however a familiar face to her, a minor shock even.

"Shal-Akkun..." Her clawed hand reached her chin as she walked in thoughts.

'To think thee would be born anew. Such cruel irony, thee who spoke so dearly about life being a one time occurance. Thee were wrong about me and thyself aswell. I wonder, were thine life as void as mine hast become? Nay matter how fair a song is, time shalt undo it, just like mine home.' The pinkhaired girl threw a glance to the sky, it was the only thing which looked the same as it did... those many years ago.

'Oh Laurel... where art thee now?' She took out the small portrait she had relieved from his school and looked it over, her clawed hand feeling the form of the face drawn upon it. She then was about to turn a corner when someone bumped into her, the portrait fell out of her clawed fingers and ended up into the hands of whomever she had collided with. Her feline looking eyes looked slightly up at who had the misfortune of meeting her and laying hands on her memorophilia.

"Give it back." Lynnwell said as her eyes set at a pair of orange eyes, slightly obscured by green-yellowish hair. It was a young man clad in what could only be described to be a military attire. Was it a member of the Rhean authorities? She doubted it. He looked young.

"Hmph. You should watch where you are going girl. Also I do not appreciate such a rude tone... show some manners." The young man spoke out, he reached out and looked at the portrait he just caught. It wasn't anyone he knew. Lynnwell's eyes wandered over the young man and then to the portrait.

"It is thee whom shalt show respect to thine elders, which are wiser and stronger than thou art." Lynnwell's eyes slightly narrowed as she took a step forwards with her hand outstretched for the portrait, waiting for it to be handed over.

"Tch. Quite the nerve on you girl. You look younger than me. If you were anyone important, I would know your name. I'll give you this stupid portrait back, but you will appologize and show some manners. So let's hear it." Orpheuz placed one of his hands at his waist as he waited to hear an appology.

"Looks may be deceiving, wight. This grimalkin hast bore many names, if thee art as knowledgeable as thee claim... child. Then have thee ever heard of Lyngurium Lie?" Lynnwell's pose seemed to change as if she was analyzing the young man in front of her, she assumed a pose which was...dominant? Like a king posing for a portrait.

"What did you call me? The name is.. Orpheuz. You do well to remember it. Your manners are lacking. Hmph." Orpheuz snorted but his mind wandered, where had he heard that name before? Lyngurium Lie? Was it something he had read about? He couldn't quite place it. Was this person in front of him someone famous perhaps? An author of a book or something?

'This girl is strange. Her pose has changed... she looks relaxed... in control. I do not like it.' Orpheuz eyes felt like narrowing, but he decided to hold back his immediate thoughts.

"I do not know of this Lyngurium Lie. Care to enlighten me girl? And what's with the old-man tongue?" He said with an almost taunting tone.

"A saviour o' tribes, a warrior beside a saint, a foe to the friend of Rhea. That thee know not of me, proves mine former words true. Thee art but a child toying with flame, careful lest it shalt burn thee." Lynnwell said softly, but there was no doubt about it, there were weights behind her words.

"You continue trying to insult me girl. I do not enjoy picking a fight with a girl, but you look like you are begging for a fight. Careful so you don't get into too deep waters cat-girl, you might drown." Orpheuz raised his free hand up and began to conjure a stream of pitch black water, allowing it to form a vortex of spinning water in his hand.

"Like thee can bend water to thy will, I can break thine will with mine. Hand over the portrait now, meager wight. I will ask no more time." Lynnwell held out her clawed hand more urgently, having seemingly grown tired of speaking with the young man.

"Cocky. I wonder how long you can keep up that cool... appologize or I will have to teach you about respect." Orpheuz clarified, his hand outstretched in a hostile manner. Lynnwell quickly lunged forwards, her clawed fist connecting with the young man's chest, sending him hurling through the air for a couple of metres, before the young man would seemingly blink out of existance only to reappear further away clutching his chest.

"Unff! You underhanded scoundrel! How dare you strike me!" Orpheuz gritted his teeth in pain but more so irritation, not at having been punched by this random girl. But how he had been unable to see her fist, she was fast. She was on par with both the fire users of his past, perhaps even faster? Had this girl somehow replaced them in this world? He wasn't sure but there was something he had to establish no matter what. The pecking order. Lynnwell looked over at Orpheuz, her pose changing to a defensive one, her both clawed hands raised in readyness.

"Take this!" Orpheuz created another vortex in his hand before three circular pressurised sawblades of water wouuld hurl through the air towards Lynnwell. The girl quickly sidestepped the first one, then hurled up into the air to avoid the second one, then dodging the third by pressing her legs against the nearby wall, hurling her body diagonally forwards.

'What?!' Orpheuz held out his hand to channel the remaining water in the vortex into a whirlwind funnel of water aimed for the incoming catgirl. It landed on her, wrapping her into the thrashing waters.

"Hah! Caught you little cat. How does it feel being so wet behind the ears? Caught up in a magical washing machine..." Orpheuz smirked, this was what was needed to teach the girl some manners. Or so he thought. A few steps could be heard as he witnessed the feline looking girl simply step through the water, struggling but managing to push through it.

'She can resist the pull of my water powers? Tch. No matter. Everything freezes.' Orpheuz pulled the water baqck abit to wrap around Lynnwell again before turning it all into ice. Pitch black ice. "You left me no choice. That look suits you. Stay in there for abit to cool off won't you?" Orpheuz put one of his hands confidently at his waist. Then there was a loud cracking sound, followed by a ray of light before the ice shattered into thousands of pieces, and out of the ice came the feline girl flying into the air like a burning comet, coming right at him.

"Tch!" Orpheuz quickly teleported himself up into the air and midway falling he began to gather his watery powers again to shoot two jets of water towards Lynnwell who dodged both of them in the air, coming close enough to give Orpheuz a kick into the chest, sending him hurling through the air into a nearby alleyway with trashcans.

"Thou art not his equal." The pinkhaired girl blew some air through her nose as she turned to pick up the portrait, looking at it with a content look.

"It's not over you nonamer! I didn't traverse through the worlds to bicker with a feline bitch." Orpheuz called out from behind her, having gotten out of the other alleyway, a strip of blood coming from his mouth.

"Dost thee see thyself as Laurel? As his equal?" Lynnwell asked aloud, curious what the arrogant young man would answer, not that any answer would truly matter to her.

"That arrogant tone again! I don't care for your prattle about a long dead founder, the future is where Rhea lies. Not the past! Judging by your choice in words you might not be part of it for long."

"Thou which know not history art doomed to repeat it anew, folly child." Lynnwell said aloud, her eyes staring coldly at Orpheuz at a distance.

"Hmph. You mistake me for other STUPID people. You should be taught a lesson, but I have more pressing matters at hand. Perhaps you might even be able to play a part in things to come, once you learn to show some manners." Orpheuz spit his words out, clearly irritated.

"Thee think thyself a seer? A young wight who think he knows it all. I pity such folly." Lynnwell turned around to walk away with her portrait in hand.

'Insolent furry. No matter, not even using force would likely work on this thickheaded girl. I have more pressing matters at hand either way, but this girl... she had speed and strength. If only she would have some idea of respect she could have been a suitable ally. What a shame.' Orpheuz spit some blood to the side and wiped his mouth with his jacket, his eyes almost burning with ambition and anger.

Ken Illustrious Ikari and Hajime Sakurazaki

Ken Illustrious Ikari was heading for Reverio's home; Hajime was at his side, and both carried their swords openly.

They now had a name and face to attach to the person Ken had murdered, and an organization to name as the legal front of the Conspiracy... And Ken knew whom he had to kill next; his heart had grown cold upon hearing that woman's words and how she was stoking the subtlest embers of social unrest - A wedge between Gifted and Non-Gifted. He will need Reverio to bring this conspiracy down; he was ready to concede a lot of things to do that.

After all, he was not going to disturb Chinami's quiet life, all so that he can be acknowledged by her.

Imagine that; I want that woman to acknowledge me. Who knows, she might have been my first love, if not for Hajime... Nah; her standards are too high.

He arrived at Reverio's apartment door; found him not at home yet. Nevertheless, Ken decided to pass the time to wait for his... Friend (?) before saying to Hajime, "Hajime, I keep believing this, that I broke a band of true companions before it was fully formed, that my courage failed at the wrong time. And now, I come to him because I need to ask a favor? What I should be doing is ask for his forgiveness, then refrain from doing anything more. As it is, I broke the fellowship that was forming between us, a fellowship he tried to form, but which failed due to... Disagreements."

Hajime's response to this was, "Then why not refrain from asking for a favor, then? Apologize to him, admit fault for ruining the fellowship, then solve our problems on our own."

Ken turned to him, then ventured one more concern, "He deserves to know."

Hajime acted as a foil once again, voicing ideas that were pushed at the back of Ken's subconcious, "Then let him know, but tell him that you don't need his help if he feels obliged to give it, that you're letting him know for his sake, not yours'. That if he feels obliged to help, to stay out and let you handle it, but that if he is genuinely willling to help you to rekindle the friendship you break, with no preconditions besides that, he can join."

He paused for effect, then continued, "But what's important is to admit to your faults, to apologize, but not feel obliged beyond that. My mentor, Akio Takaki, told me that when you did something bad, to not feel entitled to people's forgiveness, nor to let your genuine faults put you in their debt."

Leaning close to Ken's ear, he whispered, "And do not let him know you killed a man. That is the sort of thing that he or someone he might allow to know can use as blackmail..."

Ken looked away a little and said, "How quick I was to leap to murder as a solution. But honestly, I don't feel that much guilt. How sociopathic, even if only for a moment..."

@Dezuel

@Crowvette

---

Wolf paused with his thumb over Vera's contact in his phone. It was an unfortunate truth that he'd gotten good at reading faces in order to survive his relationship with Vera. It didn't actually help him that much on a daily basis, as he was really only attuned to Vera herself... but Alex wasn't doing a very good job of hiding her feelings right now.

He could no longer ignore that something was off.

"She... has good days and bad days? Why do you ask?" Wolf tilted his head. It was such an oddly specific question to ask about somebody you hadn't seen in years... unless. "You did talk to her, didn't you? Did she do something?"

But if that was true, why wouldn't Alex just tell him? What was scaring her? Why... why didn't Vera tell him? It made sense though, didn't it? Alex had tried to change her story, but she'd still admitted to it. Her behavior made no sense otherwise, and yet what would drive her to hide it? He felt... dizzy, thinking about it? He felt an overwhelming rushing sensation in his head, as if he was drowning beneath unrelenting waves in the ocean.

He tried to keep it from showing, but it hurt. He wanted her to just tell him what was going on. He wanted her to trust him... but he had no right to ask for that.

((Collab between @Letter Bee and @Supertinyking))

Ken Illustrious Ikari and Hajime Sakurazaki

A second later, Ken remembered the existence of one ‘Mr. Immortal’, and pulled out his smartphone, turned on maximum encryption through VPN, then called the guy, asking, “Hey, Mr. Immortal, you free?”

The other end of the line comes to life with the sound of…bubbles and muffled screaming?
“Depends, how important is i- SHUT UP!”
CRASH!
“Depends, how important is it?”

Ken said bluntly, “I killed a person. He was leading a conspiracy to kill all Gifted. No one knows I did it yet but his death is all over the news. And now I need help destroying that conspiracy while making sure I get legally exonerated of all wrongdoing. Is that important enough?”

There is a moment of silence before a few bursts of gunfire blast through the microphone, most likely hurting Ken’s ears.

“Yea, I say that’s important enough. Where do ya need me boss-man?”

Ken mused, “Find Mrs. Plagrezes and her secret laboratory, wring as much information about their plans from both as possible, then leak it to every media outlet willing to cover it. Also, rescue one Alrune, also known as a clone of Shal-Akkun, an ancient hero of Rhea. Yes, this applies even if this is a scenario where they are blackmailing or coercing him to do their dirty work, which is perfectly possible.”

He grits his teeth, then continues, “Also, find out what you can about the ‘Old Faith Collective’; see if there is anything redeemable about their followers and beliefs. Is that doable? Also, tell me if you need any additional rewards…”

“Alright, so, full looting right. Anything I can steal and not get caught with, I keep. Secondly, I don’t leave trails, so I’m going to scrub a lot of my involvement as I go. Thirdly, this is a pretty big favor, so you’ll owe me one. How’s that sound?”

There is another crash, and the sound of a dumpster closing.

Mr. Immortal can hear Ken give a small “Hmm…” before saying, “Full looting, yes. But if I am going to owe you one, I want to know what you’ll use what debt I owe you for. I don’t want to suddenly find out that you have a blood feud against someone I’m friendly with or I might need in the future. Otherwise, I’ll just try and make it on my own, despite the drawbacks; I don’t like feeling like a pawn, hypocritical as it might sound.”

Ken then remembered, Oh, right, the ghost I was sharing my body with; she’s grown quiet lately…

“Ehh, it’ll be something small like hiding something, or letting me crash on your couch for a few days. I do my own fights.”

There was the sound of an engine starting up, and tires squealing.

“Where are ya?”

VROOM!

“I’ll come pick-ya up and we can keep talking more secure like.”

Somehow, one can tell Ken was smiling as he said, “I’m always open for a sleepover! As for where I am… I’m at the doorstep of an apartment owned by one ‘Galand’; I’m trying to reconcile with him before alerting him of the threat, then warning him to keep away.”

He breathed in, then out, then spoke, “I can ask my new fiance to come in my stead if you want. His name is Hajime; future Emperor Consort of Izumo now…”

“....aaannnddd….I think I know where you are. I’ll be parked outside in case your negotiations go awry. Also, congrats on the engagement, and becomin royalty.”

The sound of a vehicle going faster can be heard, screeching tires, horn blowing, wind bustling. It sounded like Mr. Immortal was goin quite fast.

“Thank you…” Ken said. “And this means a lot; you helping…”

“You saved my life buddy. Least I can do, besides, I’ve learned you’re marrying soon. Gotta help the new grooms out. Hehehehehe….If what you say is true, and these wackos were gonna kill all gifted, they’d also be goin after my pops…and I’d of done this for free.”

The joy and jest in Mr. Immortal’s voice drains to a cold serious tone.

“No one fucks with my friends and family and leaves unscathed.”

Ken smiled at that, then said, “Good.”

END

@KillamriX88

Alex wondered if she had found Vera on a good or a bad day. Obviously she would like to imagine it as a bad day, but the thought of the alternative ran shivers down her spine.

She wasn't keeping it together, either way. Wolf could tell she was withholding information. "Well, I ran into her at-"

Her voice caught in her throat as she called to mind the details of that night. 'Should I be telling Wolf that I made up a persona to enter illicit fighting competitions? Or that Vera is attending them too? ...And that we were all in serious danger when things got out of hand at that time?'

Alex took a step forward. "C-Can we go somewhere more private to discuss this?" She gave a shifty look around, seeing the various students walking past the gates to return to their homes.

...Alex had always wanted to say that. If the situation wasn't so close to home, she might have had a moment to think about how cool it was.

She quickly guided Wolf a block or two away from the school's gate, ducking into a secluded alleyway. Taking a deep breath, she took a few steps from Wolf and put together what she was going to say.

"So. I ran into her at the Midnight Tournament..." Alex was sure that Wolf knew what that entailed. "And we were matched up against each other..." She turned to look at Wolf. "She seemed happy at first to see me, but then during our match things got more heated."

She took a moment to collect her thoughts, before quickly remembering something. "W-We weren't the ones who caused that giant commotion! It was completely unrelated to us!"

Alex realized that Wolf may not have learned about the incident at the midnight tournament, but she had spoke too quickly to cover that up now.

"I tried to talk to her about everything, but it left off on a rough spot, and we had to leave quickly. So..." Alex sighed, crossing her arms and holding herself. "I don't know...

Alex's face was turning red, but she caught herself before she let out any tears. Going over it again only reminded her of how terrible it had all felt.

@Crowvette

---

Wolf did not protest as Alex led him away, though her need for privacy was... curious.

However, when she finally spoke, he had little to say in response. He couldn't quite form the words. Every time he tried, he seemed to get tripped up as his mind further processed all she'd just told him. Alex had clearly been awake for some time. Time enough that she felt comfortable seeking out fights. Vera had seen her, and she'd told him nothing. Alex had joined a tournament before coming to see him. Vera hadn't told him.

Oh.

Well, why would they?

"OK." Wolf finally said softly, looking at Alex, yet his gaze seeming to pass right through her. "So, you want me to help you calm Vera down? That can be a little tricky, but I'll do my best." He gave her what was supposed to be a reassuring smile, and while to all the rest of the world it would have looked completely normal, it felt so wrong. "I'm just glad you're OK."

@KillamriX88

Alex had an uncomfortable realization.

After explaining everything, she was supposed to feel at least a little better. But she didn't. She had been away from Wolf for a while, but she could feel things were off. Just like Vera, he didn't seem right. It wasn't the exact same as Vera, but it was still wrong.

Alex sharply inhaled, the feeling in her stomach physically translating to trouble breathing. 'I don't even know what's wrong. Do I be more assertive? Do I give Wolf distance? Is it even something on my end?' Alex wracked her mind for options. 'Do I do the opposite of what I did with Vera? W-What were the exact actions I took with her again...? This isn't some stupid video game, that's not going to work at all!' Alex felt like if she acted naturally, things would progress to something... Something she didn't like.

She had to act out. Anything to break out of whatever was currently going on. She might scream into her pillow a year from now thinking about it, but...

"I entered that tournament with the name of an old character of mine. Actually, I kind of just played it as her entirely." Alex had to break eye contact for a moment, to steel herself for doing something embarrassing. "Do you remember? This one was just between us two, since Vera wouldn't have 'got' it..." She struck a pose - her arms crossed, one hand dramatically covering half of her face. "Andras. The demon who walked amongst the Rheans. Who broke the contract of light and dark, free to carry out her own whim." She intentionally lowered her voice to add effect, just as she had did years ago.

She relaxed her pose, and returned back to the timid Alex. "I thought winning the tournament would have been... Well, I wanted to come back with something awesome under my belt, since my gift-" Alex nearly froze in place as she realized she never explained to Wolf what her gift had become. "My gift completely changed!" Her cards flared into existence around her, each a flat, featureless square of softly glowing gold light. "It's... Uh... Complicated. Actually, the last part of my time in the hospital was moreso the therapists trying to understand how it worked... They kept saying it was unsafe and delayed releasing me over and over..."

((Collab Post between @Letter Bee and @Dezuel))

The walk to his apartment had been one full of thoughts, and his curiousity got the better of him. He had peeked and read into the Tome of Trium Throne, while the words of warning put into it by one Shal-Akkun.

Shal-Akkun. That was a name he had encountered before in his homeland, but he couldn't remember any of his songs or music.

There was someone or something sealed away under the administrative building in Rhea, but what could it be? Someone who was once an ally to Lyngurium Lie. Reverio couldn't help but frown as he spotted the name.

Lyngurium was the name of a mythical gemstone believed to be attracting objects and metals, some suspected it to be a form of tourmaline or yellow amber.

He closed his eyes momentarily as he thought back to his grandfather which had once spoken of this Lyngurium.

It was believed that lynxes bore a grudge against mankind, that they withheld information. The truth.

Lyngurium Lie. Gemstone faux. Could the name imply that it was a cover? That this person was an agent of a dangerous truth not meant for mortal ears? What in the world did this woman know? Reverio couldn't begin to guess, but a former ally sealed away. That meant it couldn't possibly be the great evil itself? Then what or whom?

He felt as if a large stone had fallen right into his stomach, it made him uneasy, worried more than had it been the great evil itself. There was something hidden. He was certain of it.

'A former ally of the lynx, and then a foe. By the gods... could it be Laurel himself? But that's not possible... Laurel died some twohundred years ago. And this being must have been sealed away before that.' He thought deeply, trying to make sense of it all.

Reverio's mind wandered, trying to think of legendary heroes and villains, trying to piece together some idea what was sealed away. Before he turned to the other book in his possession.

"You! You know whose sealed away under the Rhean administrative building don't you?"

"It's a great evil. I assure you boy. So hurry up and release me!"

Reverio was about to reply when he spotted someone outside of his apartment, two figures. He squinted to see if he could recognize them.

"Oh!" He exclaimed as he spotted Ken and Hajime. "I am sorry, have you been waiting long?"

Ken waved hi, while Hajime instinctively bowed before getting up and waving.

Then Ken answered, not indicating that he overheard Rev's book just talk, "Not that long; you came just in time. Anyway, let me introduce Hajime Sakurazaki; he's a Samurai from Izumo, a supporter, and my future fiance, but that's not important for now."

He then followed up with, "Rev, I want to talk. Preferably somewhere there is less of a chance of eavesdroppers listening in."

"Pleased to meet you, Lord Sakurazaki." Reverio offered a courteous bowing motion to Hajime with one hand behind his back carrying the grimoire, the other held closely to his chest. Almost how a butler would bow to his mistress. At least he could remember how the servants back in Vauquelin behaved, surely that would come in use.

"That sounds like a good idea, let us speak at the rooftop of my apartment building, the view up there is quite good and it's generally empty. I just have to leave some things inside my apartment, a few books I... borrowed." Reverio said with an appologetic voice.

"I have something I would like to talk with you about aswell Ken, a favor, or well... a request. Whichever one would prefer to call it." Reverio said in a solemn tone, there was something clearly troubling him about his request.

'I would end up having to lie to my new friend, to take his precious family heirloom away from him. I feel like such a hollow and spineless person. This is something that a villain would do. But then again, if I must do it to make my brother's sacrifice worth it. I have no choice, I must betray my new friend for the greater good... disguised as the greater evil. If what the grimoire say is true. There's still something troubling me about it.' He thought to himself as he put the books into his apartment, fed his messenger bird and then invited both the young men up on the roof of the apartment building.

"Quite the view right? I mean, it's not a palace or a mountain view, but there's something serene in seeing the blue sky and the wind swirling all around you, I suppose I like it because it makes me feel free. I would want nothing more for this world of ours to become more free and good, to avoid history from repeating itself. I have realized that people never truly change, but the world does. So in order to change how things are, one must change the world in order to change how people live. Which brings me to my request, I would ask you, no... beg you to lend me your family sword for a little while. It is a... key you see. My own sword is it's brother, and there's also a third one that went to Albion. These swords were used long ago as keys for a particular door which I need to open. I would ask you to trust me Ken, as I am not able to fully disclosure my full plan to you.

Even if I wish I could, I wouldn't burden you with it. It is my burden to bear, just know that my homeland, Rhea, your own homeland... every land everywhere would benefit from it. Will you let me lend your sword Ken?" Reverio held out his hand towards Ken.

"There is some monster from old that is looking for your sword, I don't want you to get in trouble..." Reverio's ears perked up for a moment, he thought he heard something, like a scratching sound, the hairs at his neck would stand up. He felt a cold chill.

Ken arched his eyebrow as he said to Reverio, "I was going to apologize. For leaving you alone in your hour of need. But if you want me to lend you my sword, then hear me out first."

He gripped the Ame-no-Murakumo's hilt tightly, as if in tension, but in fact, he was using his increasing precision in controlling the wind to detect any eavesdroppers who might be listening into their conversation. Then Ken continued, "There is a conspiracy aimed at killing all Gifted. And I do mean all. The now-dead Dr. Plaigrezes was one of the ringleaders; I am responsible for his death but it only delayed the enemy's proceedings for a little while."

After that was a narration about how he met Alrune, became friends, found out that Alrune was a clone of Shal-Akkun, then went inside a suspicious building where Dr. Plaigrezes and one of his compatriots, Alrune's manager, had a confrontation with Alrune about their plans. Once he was done, Ken then paused for breath and said to Reverio, "What I said might be taken as proof that you are right, that people will only change if the world does. I might disagree with.. hostile means of changing the world, but I cannot be choosy with my allies."

The boy looked Reverio in the eye, and then said, "Reverio Galand, my terms are these; if you want to borrow my sword, then let me borrow yours'. There is a conspiracy that needs to be crushed, secrets that need to be ferreted out, and a friend to rescue. And there is one more thing I want to ask of you."

His eyes glinted with the sun's reflected light as he said, "Chinami will never acknowledge anyone as her equal. But one of my quests - The one not related to helping others or furthering private ambitions - Is to be acknowledged at all, as someone she cannot underestimate, someone whom if she does not pay attention, will one day catch up to her. Someone to keep her advancing, if you will. Aid me in that, please?"

A pause for effect, then:

"Do you accept?"

"Ken, we are all having our own troubles. You have nothing to appologize for, and if you did I would forgive you. As for this conspiracy to kill all gifted? I don't know anything about that but it does sound very extreme, considering there is so many of us. How would someone even go about doing that? Create some kind of weapon? Also you... killed someone?" Reverio blinked in surprise, looking over Ken trying to imagine the possiblity of him actually doing that. Then he recalled their encounter with Nightman where Ken had brought a gun.

Reverio began to nod. "I.. am sorry to hear that, but I can imagine you had good reasons for ending this person, if what you tell me is true about this Alrune is true, these people were up to something very underhanded. A clone of Shal-Akkun. I know that name, it's.. a long dead music maker. But why would anyone go about and clone him? I suppose no one can truly know those answers, but to think that there's someone out there without any parent at all, and no memories or anything. It's quite hard pill to swallow, besides feeling sorry for this person." The blonde boy hung his head almost in shame for feeling pity, despite his own dark past that there was someone out there with -nothing-. It terrified him.

"I agree to helping you put a stop to these people and their genocidal plans for the gifted and rescue your friend. Is that this Alrune person? But the last thing... I am not sure I could do anything to help with. Miss Chinami may have many abilities and who she respects or not is nothing that either of us can manipulate, I am not even sure we should be able to Ken. After all, isn't free will important for everyone? Besides why do you need to compare yourself with her or make yourself worthy in her eyes? There's probably things you are alot better than her at, much like there are things she is probably better than you at. The ambition to climb higher is admirable, but it can also destroy you along the way. Lose track of your focus and you might become stronger but at the cost of losing who you are. An example... my brother, I looked up to him, admired his many positive traits, I wished I were like him. But knew I could never be, no matter how hard I tried. I was raised to be content with my lot, but I suppose even I feel that I want something more. Allright, I will help you to the best of my ability." Reverio said in a firm tone and drew his blade, to use it as a ceremonial piece to amplify his promise, urging Ken to lock blade with his as a signing of the deal.

It was at that point that Ken felt a flicker in the wind, someone was quickly moving up through the air, as if consuming the air itself and then there was a flash of heat close by on the rooftop as a person seemed to land on it, like a burning phoenix landing on it's perch.

A young-looking woman with pink hair, clad in a black high collared black sweater and red wide pants stood before the trio. She wasn't sporting any shoes or boots, but clawed feet and a feline tail would move behind her. Then a pair of golden eyes would peek out from behind her pink bangs.

"Wielders o' the radiance and gale, what is this folly that has brought thee together?" Lynnwell said in a soft tone, but it was also a tone which carried... authority?

"Lyn...Lyngurium Lie. Ken.. get back! This woman is after our swords!" Reverio stepped up and pointed his sword towards the young woman who didn't even twitch.

"Thine elders have taught the well, thou know mine name. One o' many. Thou art so eager to test thine might, foolish little wight. Bark as much as thee wish, this grimalkin does not fret childsplay. Do thee even know what thy carry? Keys o' doom. Shalt I tell thee the grimmest of truths?"

'This woman seeks the swords, but for what reason? The tome warned me about her. But if she keeps talking, Ken will figure out my plan. But if she doesn't I will not know what's hidden behind that door... what should I do?' Reverio could feel doubt crawling over him.

Ken's response was to pre-empt Reverio by saying to the person claiming to be Lyngurium Lie, "Yes. Does it concern your friend, Shal-Akkun himself?"

He then shifted to archaic dialect of his own, "For someone has made a second person from what remains of his flesh and blood, a second person who though formed from him, is his own person and a dear friend whom I must save. So tell me, what do you have to say and what can you offer for my own quest to save him?"

"Shal-Akkun were no friend o' mine, a youngling in the shade o' Laurel yet singing his praises. As soothing as many would find such a song, not all of it reflects what is grim and real, such as what lies behind the seal. It be not Shal-Akkun, he is long dead and gone. All that remains is his songs and tunes." Lynnwell spoke softly, her footsteps soft as she almost seemed to circle them at the rooftop.

"A homunculus he is. Born not by the giftless and their urge for boon o' the gods. There is only one who could craft such a replica, the possessor o' the stone of the philosopher, the sharded one. He made that dirgesinger, his own skald o' doom. As a servant o' evil of a greater kind." Lynnwell spoke as if she was reading from an old book, or perhaps from experience?

"The collective o' the old faith, self-proclaimed guardians o' the great door. Giftless for reason, to not feel tempted by the dark within which whispers may still be heard for those with the power of the gods. The promise of revenge for lands long lost, for a realm usurped by others. Beyond the three keyed door is nay warrior, neither is it a singer o' songs. But a bringer o' death to all things which live and even what is considered immortal. I should know, this particular foe fed upon the fields of battle long ago. Fed the lost into the shard which nourishes it."

The feline woman spoke, but there was a hint of irritation in her voice, that this being was something or someone she did not like.

"Keep thine swords apart, lest thee shall doom all thine built and the very skies will burn." She smiled softly, her hair momentarily covering her eyes slightly.

"I don't believe you. You are trying to deceive us. Don't listen to her Ken! Whatever she's up to, she cannot be trusted!" Reverio kept his blade pointed at Lynnwell.

"Salvation comes in many different ways, bearer o' the gale blade. Thine friend, the homunculus may be found with the collective nay doubt. Time may have altered their hearts, unlike mine. Thee shall find them, under the the head building of the usurpers of this city. Seek the alchemical symbol in the basement, but bring not your keys, lest all thee hold dear will be... gone." There was an almost fatalistic tone to her voice, as if she was the prophet of some day of doom.

"Thine friend shalt always betray thee. Mark mine words, wightlings." She placed one of her clawed hands at her waist.



Ken nodded and spoke to Lyngerium, "Well, right now, the Old Faith Collective has lost sight of their path and want to kill all Gifted, thinking that they are a disease on this planet in need of curing, no better than Demons. They and their friends in Rhea's Government are planning something, something that might - Don't tell me they have found a backdoor into what's allegedly being sealed inside Rhea's administrative building!"

He then looked towards Reverio and spoke, "Rev, I failed to be your friend once before, and this is what resulted - You falling into despair to the point where you now plan something, of your own, that I know for sure will result in your death or worse. And I am not going to fail you again; you are not going to risk your life on some scheme to upend the world order. But at the same time... We both know that saving you requires me to disappoint you, to potentially abandon you once again."

So Ken drew his sword and said, "I name Lyngurium Lie herself as my witness - I will yield up my sword if you can defeat me, on the terms that you do the same if I defeat you. Either way, the winner will have both swords."

His eyes flashed with reflected light once more - His mind was made up.

"Can either of us save the world when we cannot even save our friends?" he asked once more. "So, Reverio Galand of Vanquelin, prove your determination..."

"I do not fear dying, I fear dying in vain... with my brother's sacrifice in vain. I prayed it wouldn't come to this, that I could just have you part with the sword, and not get involved in the sins I must commit to reach the greater good! I need to open that seal, Ken. I need to release that evil into the world so that the world can mend and become whole again. To turn things how they should be! If that means I must pry that sword from your fingers, I will have no choice in the matter. Last chance Ken! Give me the sword! Please! I don't want to fight you! But my brother's sacrifice demands a requiem! It will unite this broken up world divided by race, class and wealth under one banner! For that dream... I will fight." Reverio raised his sword as his powers surged through him, his angelic looking wings manifesting aswell as the halo of light.

'Such a display. Thee would duel for the fate o' the world, one seeking it's destruction, the other it's marination.' Lynnwell mused in her own head as her eyes wandered to Hajime.

"Ken! I beg you, last chance. Give me the sword! I need to do this for all sacrifices up until now to not have been in vain! You'll have to kill me to stop me... I could never live in his stead and watch nothing change at all!" Reverio yelled out, clear anger and agitation in his voice, but also sorrow and... determination?

Lynnwell stood still, her one hand at her waist, her feline tail slapping the ground behind her. 'This would be a fine opportunity to claim both keys. The little peon next to the gale wielder seems to be of nay concern...' The feline mused in her own head.

As Reverio made his grand speech, Ken stood there and practiced thinning the air around Rev at the first three sentences of his speech. At the next seven sentences, as Rev grew frantic, Ken began drawing out his friend's breath in short, thin gasps, not enough to collapse the lungs but definitely enough to cause Reverio to breath harder than normal... But find no respite.

And as his friend made his final appeal, Ken made his move, drawing out the air from Reverio's nose, mouth, and throat, swiftly aphyxiating him into unconciousness. He was going to bring down Reverio, cause him to collapse and fall down, then only let air return to his lungs shortly after he had fallen.

"I know you well enough that you'd give a grand speech, outdoing my own, the moment you accepted my challenge," Ken spoke simply once Rev had collapsed, his wings of light had faded, and it seemed the man was well and truly asleep. "And I am capable of learning from my experiences; sleep well, fellow prince."

But he was still cautious, knowing full well Reverio's strength in times of psychosis, and so as he walked towards the blond man, his left hand stretched out to take the sword of Vanquelin, he glanced at Hajime and gave the briefest of nods.

Heaven's Wrath being only five meters tall made it an asset, and Hajime made good use of it as with a mental command, he caused the mech to appear, flying above the building floor. And so the Mech grabbed the unconscious Reverio and began draining the Mana out of his body, thus allowing Ken to just stroll there and grab the other youth's sword... Or did he?

It was with near blinding speed that Lynnwell had dashed forth and drove her right hand into Ken's exposed back, aiming for his right kidney, her other hand reaching to pry his sword out of his hands, while whispering nearly seductive like. "Thou art to watch where thou art standing, to turn thine back to a feline. Unwise." She then gave him a kick and withdrew her bloodied hand, picking up Reverio's sword with it.

'Shameful display, would-be-warrior. Laurel would be displeased. I shalt be taking these keys for safekeeping. Foolish wights.' Lynnwell muse, jumping into the air with both swords and getting away from Hajime who was too busy grabbing Reverio.

"Oh my." A voice said, full of venom and vindictiveness. "And here I was wondering why he was so late." The girl with Albion features said as she walked up down to them, hips swaying, but with a glare that could melt tungsten. "It seems it was just... boys being boys, playing with swords... and forgetting they're supposed to do things. But breaking codes to see who's the manliest is up to the order of the day..."

She then looked at Reverio's form. "Oh...my poor cousin." She gasped, the anger bubbling underneath each sentence. "Please step away from him, cochon Izumois." She added, her speech being tinged by a certain Vauquelin twang, as her well-maintained Albion diction was melting away.

"Jet, attaquer."

The mech of Hajime would seem to visibly rock... as one very angry maid droid decided it was a good idea to dismantle it one piece at a time, metal groaning and wrenching as the full force of the adamantine maid was beginning to tear the mech apart.

Reverio's vision was blurry and he gasped, trying to get focus and air. What had happened? 'What's going on? Why am I? Did I lose? But how? I- Ken... he must have attacked me without notice... that's not proper etiquette...' He struggled to orient himself, he felt weaker than before. Why was that? Something was holding unto him. But not only that, there was loud noises. He didn't like loud noises.

"Take the swords!" Ken shouted at Lynwell/Lyngerium, spitting blood, "As long as you have them, what cannot be unleashed will stay where it is!"

His other magic items were already activating; Gimlé was shielding him with golden light, and the Ankh of Life was replenishing lost blood, allowing him to tell Hajime, "Let Reverio down gently."

Then to Darla Ken said, "For the record, Rev accepted the challenge when he started his speech and the rest of said speech occured during the duel!"

"Fine," Hajime responded as he let Reverio down gently, before trying to grab the Robot Maid with the claw that had grabbed Reverio and saying, "You know, my betrothed, you have a gift for pushing away people. Who will be our allies against the Anti-Gifted Conspiracy now, much less our other foes?"

Ken was still bleeding as he responded, "Let's get away first!"

Lynnwell fled into the alleyways and streets of Rhea with the swords, going to one of her hiding spots, one of few places in Rhea which had not changed much in time. In there she placed the swords as a temporary measure, covering the entrance with the lid. For they would remain there for abit longer, long enough for her to find the final key. The cold, damp place, where the air was bad and reeked of ages past. It almost made her nostalgic, thinking back on the times of the past, but also of death. And that was plentiful where she was now. Silent sleeping. Much like she would have been, had the gods given her a gift other than hers. The gift of marsching with time. The price of immortality, was the knowledge of knowing just how empty life could be without certain people in it. And the being which was held behind the massive door, was someone she knew of. A worthy opponent for her, in the absence of Laurel or his successor. After all, her final death would be far more enjoyable, would it be by the hand of someone she knew, or someone who had earnt her respect. Nothing else would do.

"Mon chéri." She said as she held Reverio against herself, while Jet looked unfeelingly at the escaping aggressors." You were the object of trickery... They ran away, but a thieving minou has fled with your sword." She said. "But don't worry. I am not mad. I can't be mad at you." The girl brushed Reverio's face. "We will get you home. And a new blade. How does the Albion relic sound? I can fetch it for you..."

Apparently, Hajime and his mech had been allowed to grab Ken and then fly down to where 'Mr. Immortal' was without continued harrassment - Thank the Gods for small gifts.

Ken said with a slight growl, "Negotiations went south. I'll tell you the details later."

Reverio

He had felt something, something warm and soft, and a familiar voice. It wasn't an unpleasant voice, but why did it fill him with the sense of impending doom. Then words came back to him, as echoes in his head.

'Trickery? Thieving minou? The relic of Albion...' Reverio's eyes flashed open and he sat up in shock, his eyes opening wide. He gasped and panted to himself.

What had happened? Then he came to the realization.

'Ken... tricked me... my sword my sword is gone. Lyngurium Lie! She has the swords!' His eyes shimmered as he came to the realization, that the worst possible scenario had come to pass. He had not only lost an ally, he had been deceived, and now the enemy of the entire world had likely two out of three keys needed to open the door which was his to open.

'This is your fault Ken! YOU BETRAYED MY TRUST!' He clenched his hands into fists to the point that his nails would make his hands bleed slightly, his teeth grinding together. His anger was however suddenly quenched, when he realized... where the hell were he? There was a pleasant fragnance in the air, but why did it cause his brain and body to scramble, like a duckling having walked into the fox den. He was in a wide bed? Wait. He knew this decoration, this scent. It was usually accompanied by... his thought pattern was interupted by spotting a bump on the bed just close to where he was lying. He instinctively reached out to lift the blanket.

A sweatdrop sliding down his cheek, there was no way that-

"Huh?" He said unknowingly aloud. Reverio screamed out loud upon removing the blanket, causing nearby birds outside the mansion to fly away from their branches upon the trees.

Ken Illustrious Ikari

Ken simmered with anger.

He had failed Reverio.

Reverio had failed him.

Lyngerium Lie, aka Lynnwell Tourmaline, now had two of the swords and all it would take was for her to change her mind or be caught by Reverio for all three 'Keys' to be collected and a fragment of the Greater Evil to be unleashed.

And worst of all, he knew that the smartest option was to come to Chinami like a beggar, and not the kind that deserved compassion, but the sort that took advantage of others' kindness.

He won't do that. His own pride won't be able to take it. He wanted Chinami to acknowledge him as more of an annoyance, to acknowledge that his way of living was valid and that he did more good than harm.That he was strong.

But was he? As Mr. Immortal drove him and Hajime to a place of safety as he had promised, Ken fumed and seethed yet also reflected on his own behavior. It was clear that he needed help, that he had selected a goal too high for his talents, but that he cannot trust anyone other than Hajime and Mr. Immortal and maybe Jeremy but like heck he was endangering the poor kid like that. Oh, and the ghost that had possessed him; he trusted her too but she had been quiet lately.

So only one or two active allies, and Ken was not going to lie and flatter and soothe others' egoes or downplay the dangers of his course of action to get more - He was straightforward, blunt, and sharp. So his next words to Hajime were, "I have a plan. Would you... Would you be okay with us being seperated for a while?"

Hajime Sakaurazaki

Hajime nodded; Ken's tone was bitter, and wavered slightly, but did not break.

The man respected that about his fiance. And he respected that Ken had another plan so soon after his - their - defeat, one that carried several risks as well as potential rewards.

"You need to go to the Thomas Haast Institute for the Consecratedly Challenged, aka the Giftless Academy, and pretend to enroll there," Ken spoke. "If I'm right, the Old Faith Collective must have contacts there; maybe they even recruit from that place. So find out what you could, and if they are innocent... Protect them."

A sign his betrothed had retained his sense of morality, and can distinguish between the innocent and the guilty. And proof he did not just exchange one tyrant for another.

"Where will you be going?" he ventured to ask. "Surely not... Kiburi's?"

Hajime sighed in relief as Ken shook his head and said, "I am a St. Laurel's student first and foremost. I'll seek help from there first. Kiburis... To go there means admitting that I'm closer to them than a follower of Laurel's."

It was his turn to reply with, "Then it's settled. You're going to St. Laurel's, I'm going to the... Wait, Non-Gifted get to go to school in Rhea?"

Well, this was a surprise, considering how Non-Gifted were treated everywhere else. Even he only got schooling as he was a Samurai.

He saw Ken nod, then say, "If we get things right, it will be the same in Izumo. If we get things right..."

@Dezuel@Lewascan2@Supertinyking

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