[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/1U4bQ50.png[/img][/center][hr][sub][color=lemonchiffon]Location:[/color] The Sun Temple[/sub][hr][hr]

Tia slowly opened her eyes, blinking away the bright spots that danced in front of her vision. Even with her eyes closed and her sleeve as a barrier, the light from Dyna’s shield had been a formidable flash. Her arm lowered as Dyna’s commanding voice filled the room. Her heart still hammered in her chest as she tried to reorient herself. Somehow Gadez had ended up in front of her, and once again Tia found herself searching for Dyna’s eyes from behind his back. 

Dyna was [i]arresting him[/i]. Somewhere in her mind, Tia knew that this was the logical response – he’d spoken of treason so openly, so [i]brazenly[/i], and to a member of the clergy no less. But still, with her frantic swirl of thoughts, Tia was desperate to [i]deescalate[/i]. 

Gadez was talking now. His voice was unbothered as ever. His weapon landed on the floor with a graceless thud. He was… giving himself up? Her eyes snapped up to his smiling profile, stepping to the side so she wasn’t behind him anymore. His eyes were still closed. The slight tension he held around them was the only indication that he’d been affected by the light at all. 

Dyna kicked his weapon away. Tia flinched at the sharp clatter. Her sister met her eyes, as if to confirm once again that she was unharmed. Then she looked down at the staff, and back up to Tia in a silent command. Because there was something Gadez was wrong about: Tia [i]couldn’t[/i] overrule Dyna. Not when it came to matters of safety. Dyna might’ve deferred to Tia for most things, but once weapons were drawn, Dyna’s status as a Champion meant she was in charge. 

Tia forced herself to leave Gadez’s shadow. With shaking hands she reached down to grasp it. It was longer than she was tall, with a simple wooden shaft and a wicked double edged blade. A metal ball was secured to the other end of the shaft, for balance presumably. The wood was smooth and worn where Tia wrapped her hands around it — and unmoving. Tia blinked, before hefting with more force. It was heavier than she’d expected. Memories of Gadez practicing with it swam through her mind, how fluid he’d seemed, like this mass of wood and cold metal had been an extension of him. It felt unwieldy in Tia’s hands, like one wrong move would send her toppling. 

Slowly, carefully, she walked in an arc through the room to stand by Dyna’s side, facing Gadez. He was smiling still. How was he [i]smiling?[/i] If Dyna had heard enough to arrest him… the punishment would be sharp. Panic was the blood running through Tia’s veins. Steadying the ball end of the weapon on the ground, she placed her free hand softly on Dyna’s arm. Tia leaned in, angling her chin up to whisper voicelessly in her ear. It was nothing but enunciated air, her throat still raw and burning. 

[color=lemonchiffon][i]‘He’s confused.’[/i][/color] That had to be it, right? The things he’d claimed about the blight, Aelios, [i]her[/i]…

His face flashed in her mind — how softly he’d looked at her. How plainly he’d declared that he wasn’t a danger to her, like it was as true as the ticking of the clock. 

[color=lemonchiffon][i]‘He’s… unwell.’[/i][/color] Tia’s grip tightened on Dyna’s arm as she pulled back. She tried to catch the Champion’s gaze, to silently ask for understanding. 

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[sub][color=lemonchiffon]Interaction:[/color] Gadez Paladice [@Dezuel], Dyna Soleil [@Queen Arya][/sub]