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[@Cello][@samreaper][@twave][@Zarkun][@Joshua Tamashii][/center]
Akemi's ramblings would continue onwards even as others attention were directed towards the door, she herself pausing for a moment before continuing. If it was anything important she was sure the others would mention it, for now she just wanted to continue talking to her new friend-


[color=DDDCE1]"Uriel: Aegis."[/color] As if a switch had been flipped the moment the bodyguard called out for Aylin to take cover, Akemi's body immediately enveloped itself in a light golden glow as a golden light emitted from her hand. Stepping out and raising her hand, she aimed to protect Aylin from any debris from the door, the door itself and if need be help Ariel with the barrier that she now emitted in front of herself. If Aylin was to look up, she would see the halo that now presented itself fully atop her head.

[color=DDDCE1]"Stay down please. I will handle this."[/color] Mind racing as she went over her training with Zen, she gestured to Aylin to stay hidden and safe before stepping out to face the duo leading the crowd. Despite how nervous she felt, how much adrenaline was racing through her...on the outside she seemed unfazed and unchanged. She also looked like a smol child walking up to challenge them but that was because she was short of stature, perhaps a fact that would lead to further underestimating of the girl.

[color=DDDCE1]"...please reconsider your actions, I would rather not hurt anyone. Miss Aylin here just wishes to go home. I do not know what it is you believe she has done, or if she has truly wronged you or not, but I cannot allow you to bring harm to my friend. Maybe we can talk about it? Tell me what you believe she has done to wrong you?"[/color] Akemi was a kind girl, but a naive girl at that. She still believed that a fight could be avoided, after all she wasn't sure what these people wanted or if Aylin had indeed done anything. Though even if she had, to bring violence like this was entirely unnecessary. And nothing that had been done was overstepping the line...yet. But if they truly wished to fight and ignore Akemi's pleas to talk this over?

She wouldn't hold anything back. That was what her training had taught her. Talk, de-escalate where you could. Otherwise? End it, one way or the other. It seemed like she wasn't the only one with a similar train-heh, train, of thought either, as D'angelo entered the fray and she nodded in agreement, before making a slight bowing motion towards the man, even if it left her open to an attack she didn't seem to mind.

[color=DDDCE1]"I would rather not hurt you or allow this to come to blows if need be, so I urge you to reconsider....please?"[/color]

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[@Cello][@Sanguine Rose][@Zarkun][/center]
Spent wasn't quite the word one would use to describe Adelyn right now. Exhausted? Drained? Whatever term of phrase one wished to use, she was fatigued as even she was surprised by the output. Not that she could exactly celebrate as she staggered forward, her fall stopped by Kiba coming to her side.

[color=BFB4B0]"Y-yeah that would be for the best-[/color]" Shit! Adelyn saw from the smoke the blue beam of electricity, too fast for her to react to proper, and perhaps far too concentrated for her to try and absorb. But she was going to have to try! Wait no...she didn't have the time to. The thought died right then and there, as she no doubt would've hadn't Mark stepped in and teleported them back to the horses. It had happened so quickly too, one moment they were in the clearing, the next they were some distance away now.

All in the blink of an eye too. Not that Adelyn hadn't felt that chilling cold of the abyss wash over her, she just hadn't truly registered it yet as now that they were in the clear, she finally felt her trembling legs give way and she collapsed onto her hunches, gasping for air as she felt the adrenaline and stress leave her system...and she realised just how tired she was. Was this how fights usually went? She hadn't fought against a beast, let alone two or even three like that. It was an entirely different experience, and one she knew, not that she would openly admit it, she wouldn't have been able to handle on her own.

Stealing a glance towards her two companions as they spoke with Monroe, she stayed silent for the most part. If they were going to try and track the beast to its lair, she would have to begrudgingly deny and return by herself. As much as she shared in their displeasure at how this was turning out, in her current condition she would be even more of a liability than normal. Besides, tracking and all that wasn't really her area of expertise or knowledge, and she didn't really want to spend too much more time in the forest. However, could she admit to all that outloud? That was a different matter altogether.

So it was no small relief when she heard Monroe turn down their request, which meant she wouldn't have to try and swallow her pride and stubbornness. Though at the mention of a war mage, Adelyn was visibly tense and on edge, immediately reaching up to her ear to communicate back with Monroe.

[color=BFB4B0]"I-if you don't mind me asking...umm....who?"[/color] Getting back to her feet no doubt with the help of Kiba, Adelyn began to press Monroe for an answer. She almost seemed....afraid? [color=BFB4B0]"As in...who the war mage is? Name? Family? Rank?"[/color]

She was so on edge waiting for an answer in fact that when Mark suddenly tapped her on the shoulder, she nearly jumped out of her skin and squealed quite loudly into the VOX, a gentle little voltage shooting up the mages arm and making his hair stand on edge as she flailed and fell backwards, even scurrying backwards as a couple of sparks shot off her.

[color=BFB4B0]"W-w-w-w-w-what are you doing?! Don't just suddenly do that!"[/color] Huffing and puffing, she was redder than the beast that they had just fought as she mentally struggled to grasp what was happening here. Did...did Mark just praise her? A visible look of confusion began to settle in as the realisation sunk in. Praise? When...when was the last time anyone praised her? In fact, when was any time anyone other than [u]him[/u] praised her? Normally they just reprimanded her, as admittedly her trying to help normally just made things worse. She struggled to do things even newbie mages could do. She was small. She was stubborn. She was weak. A nuisance.

So to receive praise for a job well done? It left her with an...odd feeling. One that left her even more flustered and clutching at the pendant she still wore. Maybe...maybe she wasn't so worthless after-all?

[color=BFB4B0]"Hmph! Of-of course it was effective! Do you even know who I am?!"[/color] Of course Mark was probably too busy riding off to pay heed to her flustered ramblings, but as she approached her own horse, she took a moment to lean against it and clutch her pendant tighter. A slight little smile on her face as she let herself enjoy the little success for a moment before moving onto her next challenge.

Getting back on the horse, literally.