Hero

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Of course it didn’t add up, and of course Grant had rather conveniently pushed said matters to the side. He had a few theories in mind, though he wouldn’t voice any of them right then and there, instead thinking. There was always the more obvious ‘they saw us break their things and then retaliated’ or the less conventional ‘dumb luck’ excuse, though neither of them seemed to fit the situation. The more he thought about it, however, the more one little fact became increasingly clear to him: he couldn’t quite shake off the thought that maybe they were after Savayna specifically.

It would make some sense, He grimaced, a hand to his chin as he contemplated the thought. I was as off guard as she was, and yet they aimed for her instead of taking us both out at once. Was their goal elimination? Poisoned arrows do the trick, but why not aim for the head or chest rather than the shoulder? No…it could have been intentional if they wanted to capture us instead.

The only sound he made was a small ‘hmm’, though everything he was thinking was simply conjecture as he didn’t really have anything solid. He did, however, decide to voice one opinion he had. “Perhaps there was no pursuit because we came into their territory…so long as we were far away enough, they wouldn’t mind,” He suggested. “ If we were to approach them once more, perhaps we would meet similar resistance. Just a theory, mind you.”

---

Nadeline shook her head at her fiancé. She wasn’t sure if it was the adrenaline or the possibility of hitting her head very hard, but she seemed very nonchalant about the entire situation. She dropped down to her knees, lightly caressing her beloved’s face. Not even a trip from point A to point B could be made simple for them, could it? Instead of thinking further about it, her white glyph appeared under the pair, underlined with Ultima’s symbol. The holy Esper’s influence was clear in her healing spell, amplifying it greatly as the magicks weaving through his broken bones and various wounds. In a manner of minutes, her work was done, a fully healed Wesley before her.

“The Espers’ power is truly something to behold,” She commented as she put a hand to her head, making sure to heal her own wounds. The situation was dire, but it proved an excellent testing ground for her newly Esper-enchanced magicks. “You should be much better now, I think it best to present ourselves lest your sister begins to worry,” She suggested as she would cease her magicks, a sharp pain running through her head. A concussion? It would probably explain her dizziness.

---

A clash of light and darkness collided with one another several times, sending many of the townspeople running for their lives. Any soldier unfortunate enough to make an attempt to interfere would only see their death as they were caught in the blasts, and thus they relegated themselves to evacuating the citizens. Keiran colored himself very impressed with Emiri, as the brunette was going toe-to-toe with Shion with relative ease. His Master would be pleased at the growth of her power, though he had to credit her own emotions were powering her through the fight. A small frown formed on his face as he saw both Aloa and Vlyn running through the crowd. They were probably going to back up Shion, and for a split second, Keiran wondered if maybe it would be too much for the girl to take on the three of them at the same time.

Aloa stopped as Shion would skid backwards, only coming to a halt a foot away from the viera. “This corrupted Mist…it warps the Scion’s power,” Aloa muttered, watching Emiri warily.

The brunette smiled rather bashfully, giving off a rather innocent look. “Corrupted? Mmm, that sounds right,” She seemed to agree, her sword on her shoulder as she looked at them.

Shion scoffed, clearly displeased that Emiri was actually matched with her. Why was this situation different from Jaakuna’s? He, too, had dipped his soul into darkness, although the more she thought about it, perhaps she was mistaken. Jaakuna had taken on a rather corrupted form back then, a direct result of Zodiark. But Emiri seemed less frantic and more controlled, the only thing changed being her clothes and weapon. Shion narrowed her eyes as she dismissed her sword and brought out her regular katana.

Seemingly reading Shion’s thoughts, Emiri let out another giggle. “Met your match, have you? You’re sorely mistaken if that’s the case!” She called out as she shifted her weight onto her other foot. “Come on, aren’t you going to try and purify me, too? It’s like you’re not even trying!”

“It appears as if she’s gone mad,” Vlyn commented.

“A corruption it is…though of a different sort,” Shion verbally confirmed her thoughts, though her amber eyes would rest on Keiran. “You hide your stench well, minion of darkness.”

Keiran grinned, clapping his hands. “All I did was give her a little push in the direction my master wanted. She’s actually quite talented…but she was burdened by so many unneeded emotions like love and all that other crap,” He said almost mockingly. “But even I never imagined she’d equal your power, Blue Rose! That’s really something…I even had concerns about your constant meddling, but it’s good to know I don’t have to worry about you any longer.”

“The three of us can handle her,” Vlyn told Shion and Aloa. “Ancient magicks are at work here, ones that are older than even ours. Still, if we take the boy out…” Aloa nodded in agreement, though they were interrupted as Emiri let out a laugh. She gripped her side with one arm, nearly brought to tears with her laughter. “Uh…that’s never a good sign…”

Emiri finished laughing, wiping a tear from her eye as she pointed her sword at the trio. “Come now! There’s a reason you haven’t even bothered ripping me from limb to limb! You’ve gone soft, Blue Rose, you’ve let your darling Wolf influence you! And Nadeline wouldn’t quite appreciate her most loved teacher slaying her best friend, now, would she?” Emiri sported a rather wicked smile as she spoke, giving them a shrug as she twirled her sword around her. “It’s almost like I have myself as a hostage! But no…the worst part for you lot is one little bitty thing I have yet to use…”

Aloa’s eyes widened as Emiri would disappear, and she let out a gasp as Emiri’s sword made to slice through her. Shion managed to block the attack, though in the next second, Emiri was gone once more. Vlyn looked around, though he spotted Emiri too late as she would leap down towards them. The three jumped away in time, though as her sword pierced the ground, it would let out an immense wave of darkness. The wave outright obliterated the stands and anything unlock enough to stand in its way, even causing the walls of the surrounding buildings to crack. Aloa managed to put up a shield around the three, though it too would crack under the magicks of darkness. Only when it was reinforced by someone else’s magicks did it remain true, and as the darkness faded, Aloa was shocked to see Karolina there, her hand in the air as her glyph disappeared beneath her.

“[b][color=thistle]My lady! It’s much too dangerous here![/thistle][/b]” Vlyn called out.

Karolina shook her head, her hand to her heart as she watched Emiri. “Must it truly be this way?” She asked her with a worried expression. “You saved your father, must you also succumb to the darkness?!”

Papa…! The thought actually shocked Emiri, and she looked at herself. What was she doing? Why was she going through all this? It was as if a veil had been lifted, a moment of confusion taking her. “Karolina…I…I…”

The woman offered her hand to Emiri. “Come back to us—we’ll go to see him together!”

The princess consort was good, this much Keiran had to admit. Still, it simply wouldn’t do, and he would snap his fingers in response. A sharp pain coursed through Emiri’s head, causing her to let out a piercing scream as she clutched her head, falling to her knees. Karolina rushed to her, though as Emiri would look up at her, she realized that she was still in there, fighting herself. “I…can’t go back to him…not like this…” She said, shaking her head. As Karolina went to comfort her, Shion knew what she would do next, and she ran forward, pulling Karolina away from Emiri as a burst of darkness erupted from her. “I won’t go back…not until I’ve had my vengeance,” Emiri clarified as she would stand, the darkness creating a wind around her as she would pick up her sword once more.

“That isn’t the way!” Karolina called out to her as Vlyn held out a hand to stop her from running back to her. “Please, you mustn’t do this!”

Keiran clucked his tongue, looking at Emiri. “We really should get going, don’t you think?” He asked her quietly. “We’ve wasted enough time here.”

Emiri nodded in agreement, bringing her blade out in front of her. The wind picked up around them as she lifted her sword into the air. The dark clouds from above gathered, lightning crackling down around her as she watched the sky. “Creare!” She called as she brought her sword down, various bolts of lightning raining down from the sky. The magicks obliterating anything still standing, effectively clearing around the area around her, and as the wind died down, Emiri turned on her heel and began to walk. Keiran couldn’t quite wipe the grin off his face, snapping his fingers to open up a portal of darkness. Once the pair walked through, it would disappear, and Karolina was shocked to see they were still alive. Shion had stabbed the ground, the holy magicks of her sword erecting a shield, though it faded as Emiri and Keiran would leave. Shion actually let out a sigh, sheathing her weapon as she crossed her arms. Karolina looked to be on the verge of tears, though was unharmed. Aloa watched her carefully, a hand on her arm as a sort of comfort.

The blonde woman shook her head, looking at the trio. “Send word to Archadia and Dalmasca. They…they must know what has happened.”

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Grant watched Savayna carefully, gauging her reaction to the arrow. She definitely recognized it, although from where wasn't a detail she had at the moment. He wasn’t sure how to take the news, though: on one hand, knowing the enemy was always advantageous, but on the other, that same recognition could always come back to bite them in the ass. For now, and only for now, he would have to make due with what he got. At the very least, they were somewhat safe, though the temperature only dropped lower. He let out a small sigh, resulting in his breath forming a small cloud, though he would then shuffle himself into the tent a little more.

“Rest easy now, you’re alright,” He assured her. “No one seems to have followed, though I have to apologize for your wound…I’m afraid my expertize in dark magicks offered no solace in healing so I had to rely on items.”

---

Sand was everywhere.

That was the first thought as Nadeline sputtered some out of her mouth, coughing and hacking in order to free her lungs of the substance. The wind didn’t help matters, though by some miracle she was able to get to her feet with little trouble. She was relatively unharmed, though the same could not be said for the airship they had traveled in. She watched as flames engulfed it, lighting it up like a bonfire. It was then she realized she had landed a distance away from the commotion. Why wasn’t she with Wesley? She couldn’t remember, the last thing that came to mind was her and Wesley combining to protect the ship from crashing.

That’s right, they crash landed. The fire happened afterwards, a combined result of engine failure and the magicite powering the whole thing going crazy. The citizens were being evacuated from the ship by several knights, though it was then Nadeline realized Wesley was nowhere to be found. No, it was the other way around; she spotted the prince in no time, and as she trudged through the sand, she saw that a hole had been blasted through their room. She must have gone flying from the impact, and as if to confirm it, she felt something warm running down her head. Her fingertips confirmed it was blood, though she couldn’t say whether or not she was fine just yet.

“What a miracle…” She told Wesley, astonished for once. “We seem to be relatively unharmed.”

---

“What do you mean there are no outgoing flights?

Emiri was beyond annoyed now. Keiran teetered behind her, amused as she would try to argue with the flight attendant, but to no avail. Airships everywhere seemed to be having issues, and thus most flights had been shut down and canceled. The attendant seemed apologetic, but Emiri was not having any of that at the moment. Keiran patted her should assuredly, though the girl turned on him shortly after.

“Hey, calm down, the Sandsea isn’t far at all. We could always find other means of transportation, we don’t have to go through Dalmasca,” Keiran pointed out.

Running her hand through her hair, she had no choice but to concede, and nearly shoved him aside as she would lead the way. He grinned, running after her, though he could feel Shion’s presence getting closer and closer. She sure was a thorn in his side—no pun intended—though at this rate, there would be a fight he really wanted to avoid. He half wished Emiri could take her on, but he was sure she wasn’t quite ready for that yet. Clucking his tongue, he slipped between the people as they arrived at the chocobo rentals. As the pair approached the man, Keiran realized an attack was coming towards them, He grabbed Emiri as he leapt back, a flash of light passing by them. Letting out a curse, he would see Shion approach them, wielding a blade of light.

Crap! He bit his lip as the woman looked at the pair, though it seemed Emiri was the more courageous of the pair as she stepped forward. “What are you doing here?” She asked, a hand on the holt of her sword.

Shion eyed her rather coldly, though her amber eyes would flicker to Keiran. “Had I known this would have happened, I would have killed you from the start,” She fully admitted, gripping her blade. “Birds of a feather, you and that sky pirate, for you would repeat the same mistake that he did. Fear not, I will cleanse the Dark One’s influence from you.”

That was absolutely the last thing Keiran wanted. No, he didn’t have a choice, he would have to further the plan now lest he risked to lose it all. His lord may or may not forgive him, but losing Emiri was not an option. He stepped behind her, a darkness surrounding him so great that it would materialize. It would engulf himself and the brunette, surprising her, though it was only the beginning….

Where am I?

She could see her own reflection in the walls, as if looking at a broken mirror. A cave path with crystals protruding from several places seemed to be her location, although exactly where, she couldn’t really say. The crystals themselves looked nice enough, but there was something off about them. The cave looked like it would lead somewhere else, and so she would make the decision to continue walking down the unknown path. Further and further, until she reached the inner cavern. Said cavern was covered from top to bottom in glimmering crystals except for a small pool of water.

Emiri approached the water, watching her reflection in the stillness. After a moment, she would see Keiran approaching, and she would let out a sigh. “Something told me not to trust you. I don’t know how you got me to confide in you,” She said, as she would turn to him.

“Actually, you can thank Jaakuna for that,” He outright admitted with a small shrug. “Desperation is a funny thing, you know. Hell, it even makes your worst enemy look like a friend. I mean come on, of all the people to trust, you decided to place it on the one person in Ivalice who’s notorious for having no loyalties for anyone? Although I can’t say that act alone was enough for me.”

He was trying to get under her skin, though she wouldn’t have any of it. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Alienating your friends, grieving over the loss of a family member, anger towards the whole situation…all that pent up frustration does wonders to the mind, you know,” He gestured towards the crystals. She wasn’t entirely sure what he was trying to say until she realized that most of them were cracked, and a few would crumble and fall into the water. “The mind is a terribly fragile thing, you see, especially when left unchecked. It makes it easy for someone like me to come on in and do as I please.”

Emiri hesitated, looking around once more. She hated to admit it, but he was right; as beautiful and serene as the cavern seemed, it was slowly deteriorating around her. So this was her mindscape—it was vastly different from when she had seen Jaakuna’s, at least he had been sound of mind back then. Still, Keiran had finally admitted his intention to take over—she had no reason to hold back. Summoning her sword, she would take a battle stance, much to Keiran’s amusement.

“Not going down without a fight, huh? I admire that, I really do,” He said as he would summon his own sword. “And honestly, at any other time I’m sure you’d have a fighting chance. But with everything that’s happened, this is nothing more than a guaranteed victory.”

She had heard enough, and would charge it. Keiran would parry her first attack and sidestep with little effort, striking her arm. To her surprise, there was no pain from the sword, although instead a brief memory flashed before her. Grant had grabbed her by the hair back when they had been captured, a dark look on his face. But as quickly as it came, it faded, and she was back with Keiran. What the hell was that?! Keiran read her expression perfectly, and would only smile in response. No, she couldn’t lose focus now. She went in again, only for him to block her attack and counter. She jumped back, bringing her sword around and parrying his next attack, but he was faster. She staggered backwards as he lunged at her, his sword barely slicing through her cheek, and again a memory played before her. This time it was Nadeline reprimanding her in front of Wesley and Jaakuna, one of the first fights they had.

Emiri managed to keep her ground as it faded away, though she hated to admit that whatever he was doing was definitely throwing her off. Keiran admired his sword for a moment, glancing at her. “A Nightmare Blade—all it really does is bring up bad times. Mostly distractions, but it’s more effective here,” He explained, his dark eyes briefly glowing red.

Now it was his turn to take the initiative—and he would rush at her in a blinding speed, his sword cutting across her arm. She couldn’t keep up with his strikes, and the memories would flood in one after another: a fight with her mother, the first time her father would leave and no come back for months, the massacre at Dalmasca, Vincent kidnapping her, her powers failing her. Every single moment in her life where she was afraid, every time she was angry, every time she was sad. It was too much. She wanted it all to stop, she didn’t want to remember any of this!

The crystals around them would further deteriorate. Her sword fell to the ground as she would drop to her knees, her hands grasping her head. “Stop it!” She cried, shaking her head.

Keiran let out a small sigh, bringing his blade above his head. He paused as he watched, though he would get down on one knee. He would take his free hand and place it under her chin, lifting her face towards his. “This world is nothing but impure. People have nothing but hatred and sorrow in their hearts. Your travels have shown you this much, I can tell,” His voice was low, almost comforting. “He will free us all from this misery. You’ll never have to feel the pain of being abandoned, I promise.”

It was ridiculous. It wasn’t true, everything Keiran said was all lies, and her head was screaming at her body to do something, anything. He’d remove his hand from her face, lightly embracing her. She let out a gasp as he would run his blade through her, clutching her abdomen as he withdrew his sword. A glyph appeared from her wound, the light of the crystals fading around them. Her eyes darkened as they clouded over, and she would stand as darkness seeped out of the glyph, enveloping her entirely. She fell backwards, Keiran watching as the darkness erected a cage around her. The crystals emitted a red glow, and he let out a small sigh, watching as she writhed in pain.

Emiri managed to sit up somehow, grabbing a hold of the bars keeping her imprisoned. Keiran couldn’t help but clap for her. “Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.” He grinned.

The darkness would converge on the two, and as Shion raised her weapon, it would burst forward, though it seemed it was more for show than anything. Her eyes widened as she had seen that Emiri had changed before her, though it seemed more refined than Jaakuna’s possession. Gone were her dress and boots, replaced with a rather revealing leotard that left little to the imagination paired with a matching set of long gloves and long boots, the remains of a tailcoat billowing behind her. A crown of gold and silver formed on her head, holding some of her hair up as several red jewels sparkled from it. Emiri seemed just as surprised, examining herself, and as she would unsheathe her weapon, it too would change into a blade of darkness.

“So this is the power of darkness…” Emiri mused out loud, looking at her weapon. “Cold…yet comforting…”

Shion narrowed her eyes, though she shook her head. “You fool…fear not, for I shall release you from your shackles,” She stated.

Emiri’s eyes widened, her once violet eyes now a hue of magenta, though she let out a small giggle as she covered her mouth. “Fear…I have nothing to fear now,” She seemed to agree, though her expression would get more serious as she prepared her sword.

“You would challenge me?”

“A challenge implies a chance at a struggle. No…I plan to win.”

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Grant had honestly seen better days; fighting unseen enemies in the middle of a snowstorm would leave anyone irritable. Zeromus had done his job justice, and with an Esper as a distraction, he had somehow managed to escape with Savayna in tow. Still, the snow didn't make anything easier, so as soon as he was sure he was safe, he set up camp. It had been some time since he had set a tent up, though it was relatively simpler once he found the instructions. He had remembered Lorenzo showing him how to light a fire, and so once Savayna was safe inside the tent, he'd light a flame and wait. He knew only how to get to Bur-Omisace, though the Paramina Rift was large, and trekking around in the darkness was never a good idea. He let out a sigh as he would take a seat at the entrance of the tent, letting out a slight shiver. Zeromus hadn't alerted him to any threats, but he could not rest. Instead, his fingers fiddled with the arrow he had managed to pull out of Savayna's shoulder. It was a strange thing, the making one he didn't recognize, though its residue of poison magicks told its own tale. He had hoped this would have been a simple trip, with a simple goal, although in all fairness he figured it wouldn't be easy.

He didn't imagine it would involve this situation, however.

Grant let out a gasp of surprise as Savayna would scream, prompting him to turn around in a hurry. A nightmare, it seemed, although it also woke her up. He let out a small sigh of relief, and responded with "Paramina Rift. We were ambushed, withy ou the unlucky target of this arrow." He would hold it out to her to let her see.

---

Lorenzo pouted, clearly unhappy with how Jaakuna was dismissing him. He looked like he was on the verge of tears, fighting back sobs as he would bite his finger. "You think you know a guy...and then he just throws you away! Just like that!" He whined, although he would take in a deep breath to calm himself. "Fine! I know when I'm not wanted...I'll just go elsewhere...maybe tangle some wires...and see if THAT will get your attention!" He stomped away from Jaakuna, making his annoyance quite clear, although when he got far away enough, he couldn't help but scratch the back of his head. "Roman, huh...Speaking of brothers, wonder how Grant's doing..."

The corridors seemed awfully lonely by his lonesome, though he remembered which way to the personal quarters, and he would watch Reia pass a comb through her blonde locks. She had changed into a more formal gown and seemed to be getting ready. Her hair had gotten so long, however, that she was struggling, to which Lorenzo would gently take the comb and began to brush it himself. "You didn't have to do that," Reia mumbled, embarrassed.

"You used to let me do it all the time when Mother passed away," He reminded her, making sure to get the tangles out of her ends quickly. "Besides, you don't have your usual group of handmaidens to tend to you, so I'll just have to do."

Reia huffed, though she remained silent as she stared at Lorenzo through the mirror. "What's wrong?" She asked him.

"I wonder if Grant and Nadeline are doing okay," He sighed. "Can't help but shake this bad feeling out of my gut. It's a father's instinct or whatever, but..."

Reia seemed to understand. "Wesley of Dalmasca is there with her. He seems like a fine gentleman, I doubt he would let any harm come to her."

"Eh...Kid's still got a lot to learn, him and Jaakie both. Though I think him and Nadeline are doing a little better then Jaakie and Elizabeth are, least they talk to one another and communicate," Lorenzo said as he finished, placing the comb onto the dresser in front of her. "Guess we'll just have to see.

---

"Are you certain she is here?" Shion asked as Aloa would knock once more.

The viera hesitated for a second. "This is where Her Highness said her room was. Though if she is not here, I cannot fathom where she could have gone to."

Had she run away? Perhaps the darkness had already taken hold and alerted her to her presence. Shion narrowed her eyes at the door, focusing on finding the darkness once again. It seemed to have slipped away from them, as the feeling from before had distanced from them. It was moving, but where? Was it truly Emiri, or was it a third party she didn't know about? She was unsure of her next step for once, although causing a commotion could only serve to hamper her rather than help her. She crossed her arms under her chest, looking around. No, she could not take the risk of Emiri becoming possessed as Jaakuna had. Without waiting for Aloa's permission, she would take a step back and kick the door open. Surprise, surprise, the room was empty, and with no sign that anyone was there--with the exception of the doors wide open leading to the balcony. Shion ran forward, leaping over the balcony and landing in the bushes. The plants had given away Emiri's pathing, and gripping her sword, Shion would follow suit.

Aloa watched Shion, and made to follow, only to see Vlyn approach her. "The Scion of Time seems to have run," She told him.

"And a guard just reported that a man was seen in Utena Hospital. It seems that he had taken an interest in Lord Andre, though luckily he was not harmed. If she escaped, would she not go there?" He asked.

Aloa pointed towards Shion, who was now quite the distance away. "The path says otherwise. The girl's intention seems to be to leave Stigma...but to where is the question."

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Lorenzo stood up from his seat, a rather bittersweet expression on his face. He was glad his story had some kind of impact on the kid, though he couldn't say his job was complete. As much as it pained him to admit it, everyone was right about Jaakuna. He definitely had some of that bit of spunk Lorenzo had in his youth, although it didn't seem to bother him as much as it did when Grant had first brought it up so long ago. Hey, life had its ups and downs, all you really could do was ride the wave and hope for the best. He approached Jaakuna, taking his hand in his and gripping it tightly enough that he was able to yank the boy onto his feet with relative ease. Bearing a rather mischievous grin, he raised his hand into the air, higher and higher, and brought it down with full force. It wasn't that it was necessarily strong, it was more than it was needlessly more brutal than it needed to be as he slapped Jaakuna's back.

"Don't let it get to your head kid! Not in a million years could you reach my level!" He laughed rather loudly, patting Jaakuna's head.

As his laughter died down, a shine seemed to appear in Lorenzo's eye. "Just keep at it, kid. Half the battle is just learning how to pick yourself off the ground after life's kicked your teeth in. If a special lady decides you're still pretty lookin' after the fact, keep her around," He sniffled for a moment, lost in thought. "Wonder how much longer we got 'til we arrive."

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

The gods answered his frustrations as Savayna would finally stop for just a moment. Unfortunately he got a little more than he had bargained for, and soon after an explanation was offered, Savayna was interrupted by an arrow. She crashed into him, the man himself staggering backwards as he caught her. Before he could even yell out her name, another arrow came by. He was luckier as it flew past his face, though he was going to make sure the owner wouldn't be as lucky.

"I believe the time has come!" He called out as he lifted his hand into the air, Zeromus taking form before him as more arrows threatened to end his life. "Wherever they are, find them!" He ordered his Esper as he would pick Savayna up, making an attempt at finding cover as his Esper would do battle for him.

As he would hide behind a rock, he placed Savayna down for a moment, withdrawing his gun in case an enemy would slip by his Esper. He examined the arrow carefully, though the way it looked, it seemed poisoned. Holding out his hand, a spell would conjure from his fingertips: "Reverse!" He called. At the very least, the poison would not inflict any more damage, although he wondered just how much it had done. He scrambled through his bags, silently lamenting that Nadeline wasn't there to cleanse her.

---

Lorenzo listened carefully, waiting until Jaakuna would finish until he would respond. He scratched his cheek almost bashfully, a small smile on his face. "You're really preaching to the choir more then you realize, kid," He admitted sheepishly,though he would let out a great laugh as he would throw his head back. "Man...when I was your age, only thing I had to worry about was trying to find the time to sneak out so I could rummage through the junkyard for parts. Wasn't 'til sometime later when I accompanied my father to the barracks did I meet Karolina...and boy, did she hate my guts!"

He sighed dreamily, caught in nostalgia. "She was beautiful...and I was an idiot. But by the gods, I promise that it was love at first sight--I just didn't realize it yet, figured I just wanted to get in her pants like the other gorgeous women I had met. But they were all so shallow, all just wanting to become someone of royalty. She didn't really care about any of that, but she did care that I wasn't making an effort to at least try to get the know the woman I was supposedly so in love with. I used every excuse and every chance I got to go see her, and I guess with some time and effort, I got her to feel the same way."

"That was the easy part--falling in love, getting to know one another. I guess the hard part was ironing out everything else that would follow. She was a commoner, I was a prince, and everyone from the Council to my parents rejected the fact that I wanted to be with her. Kinda got to the point where Karolina started thinking that maybe this wasn't the best idea. She wasn't that interested in having a family while I wanted at least four or five kids. She didn't want to live in the castle while I did. She hated the publicity that came with dating a prince. Not just all that, but she wanted to stay in the army while I wanted her to stay by my side int he castle. We actually fought a lot about that part--and sadly, even though I got my way, it nearly ruined our relationship. I wondered if it was worth it.

"And then, she got sick. Real sick. Like...in bed every day because she couldn't lift herself up kind of sick. She was dying...and suddenly everything else seemed so petty. Why did we care so much about having our own way when all we really needed was one another? I must have apologized a hundred times, begging the gods not to take her away from me because of my selfishness. Then, when she found out she was pregnant, things got worse. There was a huge scandal--I had knocked her up before we had gotten a chance to get married, after all. After that the Council had the audacity to suggest that I leave her right then and there. My parents disagreed, though they were pretty disappointed in me. The world seemed to be falling apart around me...and then the baby died. She blamed me, I blamed her, and one day she just packed her bags and left."

Lorenzo stared up at the ceiling, wracking his brain for more memories. "Let's see...we broke up after that. Wasn't until about a year later that we ran into one another again. No, two years? I don't remember. But all that time apart...and the first thing I did when I saw her was cry. I cried like a bitch, and for some reason she cried, too. We apologized because despite all the shit we went through, not once did we stop and wonder how the other was. I was selfish, she wanted things her way. You'd think at that point 'happily ever after' would follow, but nah, it stayed the same shitfest life is. It was us against the Council, though this time I did things proper and married her ass the first chance I got. Then she got pregnant, got sick, and that was when I met Aloa, I think. And when I saw that baby of ours for the first time...boy, does it change you. But there Karolina was on death's door again no matter what I did."

"At that point, I gave everything up. I gave up my frivolous life, gave up the idea that someday I'd be an engineer, gave up my right to ascend the throne...and did my best to just stay and take care of her. Everything else came second, and one day when it was just us with Nadeline sleeping in her crib, she said to me, 'Thank you'. Now, it doesn't seem like it now, but that was the first time she had thanked me for anything. And then it was her turn to give her own stuff up. She gave up the idea of staying in the army, gave up her own dream of becoming a full fledged white mage, gave up the life she knew to stay with me...and when she did, I swore to her that I'd give her enough love to make up for every little thing she left behind."

The man paused once more, though this time he would look at Jaakuna, letting out a small cough. "Excuse the rambling, I actually didn't mean to go and pour out my life's story, but...a 'perfect' marriage doesn't just come easy. It takes a shit ton of work and communication from both sides just to keep the relationship afloat. You really don't think that leaving her behind hurt her more then any wound from a sword would? Though I'm not just accusing you--it was written all over her face how much she wanted to go, yet she didn't say a damn thing either." Lorenzo told him earnestly, bringing everything completely out into the open. "If she's stuck with you this far despite all the crap you've put her through, it means she's willing to stay no matter what. So now, I have to ask again--are you guilty because she's gotten hurt time and time again, or are you guilty because you don't feel you're worth it, whether it be physically, mentally, or emotionally?"

---

Keiran couldn’t help but scoff as the Creature would fade away, clearly displeased at his little show of power. Of course he was going to do as he was told, it wasn’t like he was going to go at it any other way. His hand massaged his neck, though a wicked smile played upon his lips. Just a pebble, huh? Probably accurate, though it could be surprising how much damage a little pebble could do. But for now, he would digress, and focus on the matter at hand. He figured she’d be waking up at any moment, and as he made his way back to the castle, he would practice his words.

As he rounded the corner, he jumped backwards, hiding himself. Was he going crazy? He almost felt like he had just sensed the Blue Rose here. He dared to peek around the corner, and sure enough, there she was in all her glory. She was accompanied by a viera he didn’t recognize, though the two seemed to be in a deep discussion as they walked. And of course, they were walking straight to Emiri’s room. Great.

Now what? He contemplated his next move, scratching his head. The Creature specifically warned him not to get Emiri hurt in any way—though the way things were going, that would be the exact consequence. If he revealed himself, he’d probably get the entire castle on him, and while it wouldn’t be a problem per se, it’d make it increasingly difficult to disobey his master’s orders. It was one thing to deal the Creature, but disobeying his master was not an option.

He placed his hand on the wall, a darkness seeping out of it. It would enabled him to sink through the wall and into Emiri’s room, though hearing their talking outside the door informed him that his time was up. He went over to the sleeping girl, shaking her shoulder. “Emiri, wake up,” He told her urgently.

The brunette grumbled something under her breath, though she would open her eyes. She was pale, and seemed to struggle to get up. Keiran should have been pleased, as they were signs that his magicks were taking their place, though now was not the time to weaken her. “Keiran? What’s—” She was interrupted by a knock on the door.

An idea popped into his head, and he would put his finger to his lips, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Listen to me very carefully,” He told her. “Aloa is here, she has come to ensure you remain here.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” She asked, though at least she kept her voice quiet.

“Because Lola has been found—” The knocking came again, interrupting him, though he was shocked when she grabbed a hold on his shirt.

“Where is she?!” She hissed, somehow managing to keep her voice low, though her anger was obvious.

It was too easy. It really was! Keiran placed his hands on hers, looking at her very seriously. “We’ll go now. But we have to keep ourselves in the shadows—Aloa wants to make sure you don’t go running off now.” Emiri ran a hand through her hair, contemplating. As a loud, more urgent knock happened, it seemed she made her choice as she would leap to her feet, making her way to the balcony. The man grabbed her by the hand, stopping her for just a moment. “Only go if you’re absolutely sure.”

Emiri had a rather dark expression on her face as she would pull her hand away from him. “I’m sure. Let’s go.” She said, and before he could retort, she would leap over the balcony.

Keiran looked over his shoulder at the door, though he would follow suit. Off to the Aerodome…

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Savayna knew what was going on. She deemed it important enough to go marching off towards the source, but apparently letting Grant in on some knowledge wasn't nearly as important. He wanted to be glad that it was more then her moody responses as of late, but at least then she would talk to him. No, wait, they hadn't had a proper conversation since this morning. Ah, the trials and tribulations of love, it was. For now, Grant would shelf those unpleasant thoughts to the side, as he too wanted to know the source of the machinery. The cold didn't seem to bother her nearly as much as it did him. It was odd, he normally enjoyed colder temperatures, but all that snow combined with Savayna's rather quick pace gave him more of a struggle than he wanted to admit.

As the pair would trudge on silently, Grant couldn't help but sigh. He really wanted to know what was on her mind, but what was the point if she was just going to yell at him for asking? Or worse, instead of answering she could have easily dismissed his question. He couldn't quite hide the scowl on his face, but he continued onwards anyway.

---

Lorenzo squinted at the core, deep in thought and listening carefully as Jaakuna spoke. Any question he had Jaakuna managed to answer, although when it came to the ship's weaknesses, Lorenzo colored himself impressed. This was definitely a luxury cruiser, though the fact that it could take more than a single hit was an achievement in itself. He let out a low whistle, though he would frown at the magicite before him. He was used to seeing different types, and while this one was the first of its size that Lorenzo had seen, something about it felt just a tiny bit wrong. It wasn't the fact that its leftover Mist roamed around, but for some reason it seemed...panicked? Was that the right word? Lorenzo doubted it had anything to do with the machinery itself. It must have had something to do with that crazy blob of darkness going around and messing things up for everyone. He almost regretted leaving Karolina behind, but escorting Reia was too important.

He briefly wondered how his daughter was doing.

Sensing his unnatural quietness, Lorenzo let out an uncharacteristically sound sigh. "It sure is something when even magicite feels like there's something wrong with the world," He said, placing his hands on his hips for a moment. "Don't get me wrong, I'm tickled pink you'd show this to me, kid. You already know I do a lot of my own tinkering back at home, but seeing something like this is a real treat. I can't help but wish Karolina was here, too. Not that she's a mechanic herself, but she used to love watching me work."

He let out a small chuckle. "Not even a few hours away and I miss her like crazy. Still...this little trip of yours is gonna do a lot of good for the world, trust me when I tell you that much," He paused for a moment, looking at Jaakuna intently. "Though as a man, I guess now is as good a time as ever to ask. Why didn't you just tell Emiri the truth?"

---

Keiran looked at the Creature almost fondly. "Best news I've heard all day," He admitted as he nodded. "You just leave it to me. She's almost right for the picking...this'll be the perfect little nudge in the right direction--sorry, the nudge in our direction," He let out a small sigh as he looked over at Andre. "I shouldn't complain, but honestly it's been so damn easy I could finish the job with my eyes closed. Such tragedy befalling the little one...almost breaks my heart. But all that grief and sorrow makes for a rather weak mind, perfect for manipulating." He would then sense something in the distance, clucking his tongue in disapproval. "She is here, it seems...ah well, looks like it's high time to go, then."

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

“Or, you could ignore me and just jump off, that’s a thing, too But hey, a simple warning, or, I don’t know, ‘I’m getting off’ would’ve sufficed.”

Grant’s grumblings were lost to the wind as he would park his car, only mostly listening to the actions taking place. Savayna was always one for the dramatics, so he really shouldn’t have been too surprised. Once he was sure the Thorn was secured, he would take the key in his hand and place it in one of his inner jacket pockets. He’d pat the spot, feeling a small bump of resistance, though he seemed satisfied. The Paramina Rift was as chilled as always, though his coat seemed to protect him from the cold enough, so he wouldn’t worry too much about it.

Letting out a small sigh, he would casually make his way around the crowd as Savayna would wave him over. The crowd’s cheers were rather noisy, though he supposed the opposition had angered people enough that Savayna’s actions were warranted. He’d inspect the fallen remains of the closest machine curiously, looking for any sign of a manufacturer or a clue for whom it could possibly belong to.

He would stand, looking at Savayna. “Should we ask what’s going on?”

---

Lorenzo’s mouth was wide open as he leaned on the garbage can for support. As the Espers disappeared, he would crawl over to Reia, hugging her legs. “I don’t understand what’s happening, Sis,” He whined, his lower lip quivering.

“And this is a first for you? That’s the real shocker here,” She looked down at him. “Do get up, don’t you want to continue the tour?”

“Of course I do! But Jaakie’s talking to that weird guy again. Why are we always getting stuck with the weirdos?”

“The only weirdo here is you, I can assure you of that much.”

“What?! I’m the most normal guy here!”

“It’s quite the opposite. For example, you’re still on the floor hugging me like a child instead of acting like the thirty-five year old you’re supposed to be.”

Lorenzo let out a gasp, looking up at Reia with his watery, golden eyes. “You should be taking care of your big brother instead of scolding him!”

Reia wisely chose to ignore Lorenzo at this point, simply waving Jaakuna’s concerns away. If the Espers were little more than a punchline, she believed it would be best to move on. Walking over to Lorenzo, she would pull him up by his collar until he was on his feet, and promptly smacked his back. He almost threw up again, but Reia would ignore him and turn to Jaakuna once more.

“I would like to rest. If you would be so kind as to show me to a room, I would greatly appreciate it,” She requested.

“I want the rest of the tour!” Lorenzo added.

---

Karolina let out a small sigh, holding a hand to her head as the water ran from the bathroom sink. She glanced at herself at the mirror for a moment, though she would wince as a sharp pain ran through her chest. There was something very wrong, though between having to repeatedly calm down the Senate and trying to keep a watch on Emiri, she found that she was really pushing herself. No, it wasn’t nesessarily her body that was giving her problems. She was always weak, but she always had a good idea just how far she could go before exhausting herself. Right now there was something messing with her own mist, though she didn’t have any idea what it could possibly be.

Taking in a deep breath, she would open a cabinet and take a small bag of herbs from it. As she would leave her bathroom, she spotted Vlyn on one of her chairs, looking worse than she did. He perked up, shooting her a grin as she began to prepare a tea. He would watch her carefully for a moment, though was surprised when she would offer him a cup.

“You’re too kind,” He told her as she would take a seat across from him with her own cup. “Lorenzo would lose it if he knew you were giving me this. He went through a lot to get these herbs, didn’t he?”

She seemed to disagree. “No…my Lorenzo would never question it,” She told him, though after taking a sip she would frown. “Actually, I am glad you are here. There’s something I would like to ask you.”

“Is this about Lord Andre?”

She nodded. “Is it true he would have died were it not for his daughter’s intervention?”

“Unfortunately. But this does not trouble you—there’s something else, isn’t there?” He asked, curious.

Karolina nodded again, this time a serious look on her face. “One of the nurses informed me that there was a young man with Emiri in the hospital. He doesn’t seem to be from around here as no one recognized him. At first I didn’t think much of it, but one of the guards informed me that he was also in the gardens,” She said. “I made an order to detain the man so we could question his motives, but anytime anyone gets close, he makes a rather quick and unfollowable escape.”

Vlyn paused, thinking. “As if there weren’t enough problems…I’ll keep an eye out, if that’s what you want,” He said.

The blonde shook her head, placing her cup down. “There’s something else I’d like for you to do.”

---

Aloa’s walk was brisk, though she was deep in thought. With Zodiark around, her sensory abilities were hampered somewhat, though she could have sworn that something was happening in the castle. It was strange to have her ears clouded, it was as if something was covering them and purposely throwing her off guard. Even so, all that was nothing compared to the bad feeling she had in her gut.

And the rule of thumb was that you should always go with your gut feeling.

The Viera stopped as the wind from an open window would bring in what looked like several blue flower petals. She recognized them and would walk to the window to see Shion in the gardens. Without hesitation, Aloa leapt out of the window, landing on the grass with ease. At least she was fine physically.

Shion was admiring the rosebush with complete sincerity, a rather gentle look on her face as she would lightly feel the leaves. They were lovingly taken care of, this much she was sure of, and it honestly pleased her to see that the plant life had the best gardeners take care of them. She straightened as Aloa approached her, her blue rose glowing softly.

“We meet once again, Blue Rose of Nabradia,” She greeted her.

Shion closed her eyes for a moment. “I’ll get straight to the point, if you don’t mind,” She said, almost apologetic, though when Aloa nodded, she would continue. “Zodiark seems well aware that I am hunting him. Whether he believes I am a threat and hides or he leads me on false trails for enjoyment is unclear, but I cannot seem to pinpoint his location. I had hoped you would be able to assist me.”

Aloa was surprised. “You intend to fight him?”

“No. My battle with them showed that their strength grows. While I cannot ensure a victory, what I can do is guarantee a fighting chance,” She said as the wind would come between them once more. “For this end, I need only two things—a passageway to Zodiark, and the Treaty Blade.”

So that was what Shion had been up to. And here Aloa believed she had simply sunk back into the shadows. Aloa perched her elbow on her hand, her fingers to her lips as she would think. “I see…’only’, she says, as if they were a simple task,” She couldn’t help but retort, earning her a look from Shion. “The Treaty Blade itself is a relic of ancient times, having been granted to Queen Ashelia B’nargin Dalmasca centuries ago. If anyone were to know its whereabouts, you would have to seek out Wesley Alexander—who is on his way back to his home. As for the former…it could be possible, were I to have time.”

“Time is not a luxury we have, Aloa,” Shion reminded her. “Though I thank you for directing me back to the prince.”

She sure was casual about this whole thing. “You must understand, the entire village slumbers to prevent themselves from going mad from the Dark Esper’s power, and this is something I cannot do alone.”

“Then tell me what you need. Manpower is something I do have,”Shion said, though she was shocked to see Aloa hesitating. “Aloa…would you have me beg?”

“It is not so simple. I could have a hundred people helping me and fail.”

Shion couldn’t help but become irritated. Taking in a deep breath, she would open her mouth to make another attempt at persuading her when something in the air caught her attention. There was a great darkness nearby, though it was still. What was that? She narrowed her eyes as she looked around, though she would turn back to Aloa. “Do you not feel that?”

To her surprise, Aloa looked away in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. “That…I know what you speak of, although my senses aren’t what they used to be…” Something was up, then, and Shion wasn’t about to have another Jaakuna situation happen if it meant harm to Aloa. She raised her hand, palm down, and would tighten it into a fist. As it glowed, Aloa would widen her eyes. “You would alert the castle of your presence?”

A brilliant blade of light would form in Shion’s hand, and as she whipped it to her side, the light would fade and reveal the blade in its entirety. “Another seed…who would reach out to the Dark One?”

Aloa’s eyes widened, and she immediately looked at the castle. “I was a fool to think my magicks would keep hold in this state,” She silently cursed. “The Serpent planted a seed of the Dark Esper in the Scion of Time.”

Serpent? That could have been no one else but Levi. Shion inhaled sharply, though she would look at Aloa. “Then lead me to her. I will purify his influence once and for all.”

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

She was burning up.

Keiran looked at Emiri curiously as her breathing became uneven. For a moment he half wondered what the cause would be, though he seemed to realize that her body was rejecting the Mist. He watched her carefully, placing a hand on her forehead. A fever had developed, it seemed, though this just wouldn’t do. What a phenomenon. It was probably Chaos’ half-assed attempt at protecting her, though even his power was waning. He was overconfident, however, and greatly underestimated Keiran’s abilities. Clucking his tongue in disapproval, he would snap his fingers, the Esper appearing before him. Several chains surrounded the being, binding him, and he looked aggravated at Keiran.

“You’ve seen better days,” He made the observation rather sarcastically. “To think you’d actually try to defy me…I’m impressed, actually. It’s a completely idiotic move, but bravo for the effort. But as fun as it was, I’m afraid I’m going to have to punish you for interfering. You understand, don’t you?”

Chaos had a dark look on his face, anger seeping out of him. “Laugh it up while you can,” The Esper warned him.

Keiran’s expression fell into one of curiosity. “Scary! But tell me, O wise one, what do I have to fear?” He patted Emiri’s head almost mockingly. “I’ve got your Scion of Time wrapped around my finger. None of the other Chosen Ones could even dream of putting a scratch on me. I’m disappointed in you, don’t tell me after all this time you’re having second thoughts?”

Chaos remained silent, and Keiran let out a laugh. He would then clap his hands together once, the chains tightening and burning Chaos. Chaos let out a grunt, though would continue his silence in defiance. It was very valiant, though very boring. Keiran raised his eyebrows as he would raise his arm, the chains grabbing hold of Chaos’ blades. They would lift each of them in the air, and as Keiran would drop his arm, one would stab Chaos. Once the blade would get pulled out, another blade would stab him. This would continue as each blade finished and another would start, effectively creating a cycle.

Emiri let out a cry of pain, still unconscious, though Keiran would watch Chaos. “Now that’s hilarious. Stay in your cage like a good Esper, I’ve grown tired of seeing your face.” He dismissed the Esper with a snap of his fingers, and Emiri would be still again. “There, there, I know it hurt, but I had to teach him a lesson,” He would assure her as she slept, though the Mist around them would warp itself, darkening. She let out a quiet cry of protest, though Keiran would gently shush her, patting her head once more. “Now that Chaos is out of the way, it’ll be over before you know it. You won’t suffer long, that much kindness I can give you.”

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Nadeline would gladly comply with Wesley's wish, though she couldn't help but get caught in the mood. Even if it was the end, was it really so bad? Perhaps the taste of freedom and being able to do as they pleased had gotten to him. She didn't want to believe it would truly be the last time, but she couldn't argue too much against it either. Still, it wasn't the time to be sulking, so she would simply sit with him, staring out at the sky.

---

"What's all this?"

Grant would have the ship come to a halt once more, although this time it wasn't completely of his own volition. An enormous crowd of people was blocking the mountain path, and he wasn't about to run anyone over. They all seemed to be protesting something, though by the time Grant parked, some of the people had decided to turn around and leave. Something was definitely happening, this much he knew for sure.

As he would open the door, a cold wind would enter, though he ignored it for the most part and got out. He extended a hand to Savayna. "Let's see what's happening."

---

Reia let out a cry of surprise, somehow managing to keep her footing the first time the ship rocked. She let out a sigh of relief, though she'd find herself regretting it as the ship rocked once more. It was difficult to keep her dignity and balance, and she found herself flailing her arms as she tried to keep herself up. She ended up crashing into Lorenzo, who by some miracle had himself steady, grabbing her with one arm around the waist and the other holding himself up against the wall. The ship rocked something awful, and Reia found herself shaking. Were they going to fall? She didn't quite understand what was going on until Jaakuna would explain.

Once everything would smooth over, Reia let out a second sigh, though now she had a bout of nausea. She somehow managed to keep it down, though it almost came back up when Lorenzo would unceremoniously shove her aside. Before she could call him out, he would kneel down before a garbage can and hurl.

"Are you alright?!" She exclaimed, alarmed.

Lorenzo slumped over, letting out a whine. "Gods take me now, that was bad..." He grumbled,though after a few seconds he would stand.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Nadeline was very happy Wesley had asked, and she was unable to hide her mischievous smile as she would go to his side, kneeling next to him. She placed her hand on his, squeezing it tightly as she looked up at him.

"You did everything you needed to," She told him. "Wesley, in all honesty, you had me at 'hello'. If it was a spell you cast on me, I'd do everything in my power to keep it going, if only it meant I would stay by your side," She smiled, feeling a little nostalgic. "Your kindness, your nobleness, your dedication to your brethren and your country...it's admirable and more. I adore you more with every day that passes. To be your queen is more than an honor, though as a person, I admit that our time together has shown me everything I needed to know about you."

She then let out a slight giggle. "If you hadn't proposed to me already, I believe my little speech would have been grounds for one."

---

Lorenzo shrugged, waving Jaakuna's concern away. "I prefer Jaakie. It's more rugged and manly, the way a man's name should be." He grinned, punching his sister's shoulder and earning him a glare. "A man's name is his pride after all!"

Reia couldn't help but roll her eyes, and made an attempt at a sane conversation. "So, do show the rest of the ship, it would make a poor tour if we finished here."

"Yeah! I need to see the rest of it!" Lorenzo agreed as he would warp his arm around Reia's shoulder. "It's a real treat, getting to soar in a beauty like this!"

Reia shot him another look, but Lorenzo would essentially drag her along.

---

Emiri knelt down, bringing up the bed skirt as she would look under the bed. No, he wasn’t there either. She had no idea how he had escaped so quickly, but he didn’t seem to be around anymore. He wasn’t under the bed, in the closet, or hiding behind the dresser. Clucking her tongue, she would stand up and smooth the wrinkles out of her dress. If he was gone, so be it and good riddance. As she let out a sigh of relief, she decided that she may as well get out for some fresh air. Making her way to the garden, she was pleased to feel the wind pick up around her, though it would quickly turn into an annoyance as her hair whipped around her. She rummaged through her pockets, deciding to tie it up, only to find her hair tie gone. How could that be? She had it earlier before everyone left, had she dropped it on her way out?

It was then she spotted the man again, kneeling and examining some flowers. What was he doing here? He looked up at her and straightened up. “We meet again,” He said as she approached him.

She had little reason to believe this was coincidence. “You sure escaped quickly. A specialty of yours?” She asked.

“I’ll make sure not to stray too far from you if you missed me so much,” He replied, grinning. “Just ask, and I’m yours forever.”

Emiri scowled at him. “Seriously?” She asked.

“A bit over the top, yes, but I can tell you’re feeling lonely. You’d very much like to be with someone right now, don’t you?”

“What I’d like is for you to come out with what you really want,” She cut straight to the point. “You ran away when Aloa showed up, which I can guess is because you didn’t want to be seen by her. What is your true intention?”

He frowned at her accusation, although he seemed somewhat amused. “I meant what I said. I want to mend your broken heart. A lady is much more beautiful when she is happy and whole, you see.” It was comments like that one that made Emiri suspicious. He seemed to have gotten the hint, though, and would instead bow down to her. “Call me Keiran for now. I know it doesn’t look like it, but given time, you’ll turn to my way.”

Emiri believed that he wanted her trust for some reason. But why? What was his angle? Did he want something to do with the royal family? No, he might’ve gone for Karolina if that were the case. She eyed him carefully, trying to sum him up, so to speak. He didn’t look particularly strong, she figured if it came down to it, she could probably take him in a physical fight.

His jaw dropped as he backed away a few steps. “That’s a really scary look on your face,” He commented, his eyes wide.

The brunette scoffed, crossing her arms as she glared at him. “You’re getting on my nerves,” She informed him.

“Good, that means I can get under your skin,” He replied, clearly pleased, though he would beckon her to follow him. “Let’s get going, then.”

“Going? Where?” She asked, watching him walk away.

He grinned again. “Your powers should be stable enough. We should go see Andre and alleviate him a bit, don’t you think?”

What? She didn’t even realize she hadn’t vocalized her confusion until she found herself running after Keiran. “What do you mean ‘alleviate’? Has…has he gotten worse?” She asked him. “You know something, don’t you?!”

“No idea, but I do know that you can do something about it,” Keiran replied as he would lead the way. “Your head might not be totally in the game, but the rest of you is in tip-top shape.”

He seemed more sure of that then she did. “I know everything there is to know about you,” He reminded her. “And I know this is a step in the right direction.”

The pair stopped outside of Andre’s door, Emiri looking at Keiran hesitantly. Jaakuna didn’t think it was a good idea to be using her powers. Still, as Keiran would invite her in, she couldn’t help but follow him, and as she saw Andre again, she could feel her previous bitterness returning. Of course she should help her father, he was suffering, this was as plain as day. At the very least she could do as Keiran said and help him out a little.

As Emiri looked down at her father, Keiran looked at her curiously. He would then stand behind her, lifting both her arms up, as if controlling her movement. “You can do this,” He encouraged her gently, gripping her wrists.

I can do this.

I want to do this.

I have to.

Soon, the mist around them would change, the hand of time itself going backwards. Just a little bit, just enough to help her father. The color returned to his skin, his breathing more consistent. But as she wanted to go further, she felt Keiran’s hands leave hers. As she turned to as what was wrong, she was yanked away from her father, coming face to face with Karolina.

“What are you doing?!” She exclaimed, shaking Emiri. “Have you forgotten yesterday already?

“I’m helping him!” Emiri didn’t realize her voice matched Karolina’s in desperation. “I can’t sit around and do nothing while my father lays on death’s door! I can’t do it, Karolina…I can’t!”

To her surprise, Karolina would clasp her hand tightly. “I know that, but you have to have patience. Look at how pale you are, you aren’t well, my dear.”

What was she talking about? Though before she could respond, she felt the entire world shake. No, it wasn’t the world, she was shaking. Her knees gave way, and Karolina barely managed to catch her before she hit the ground. She was sweating—was she sick? How hadn’t she noticed before? As she looked at Karolina, she couldn’t help but feel like she was losing her mind.

A soft groan distracted the pair, and Emiri scrambled to her feet as Andre would awaken. “Papa!” She gasped, her eyes widening as he would look around.

“Emelia? What—where am I?” He seemed utterly confused.

Karolina hesitated for a moment, though she would concede defeat as she would press a button. In a manner of seconds, a nurse appeared at the door. “Lord Andre has awoken, summon the doctor to tend to him,” She ordered, taking Emiri’s hand. “I know you want to be with him, but I’d rather the doctor look him over first, alright?”

Emiri nodded. She’d do anything if it meant that she could see her father again. “Yes, I’ll go lie down, and then I’ll come back for him, okay?” She promised her, her eyes bright. “I can’t believe he woke up…”

The woman let out a sigh, nodding. “Of course.”

Keiran was waiting for Emiri in her room, twirling a snapdragon flower between his fingers as he was laying down on her bed. Once she would enter, he would look over at her, clearly pleased at her better mood. Once she spotted him, she approached him, and he would sit up. He offered her the flower as he spoke, “All you needed was a little faith.”

She would take the flower from him, holding it tightly. “You were right. Papa is awake…and it’s thanks to you,” She told him as she would sit down next to him. “How did you know that was all he needed?”

It was then Keiran would frown. He gave her a very serious look. “Honestly…I figured he was going to die unless you did something,” He admitted.

“I thought so, too,” She paused for a moment. “You left again when Karolina came. Why?”

“I didn’t want anyone to think I pressured you into doing something you didn’t want to do. But now that it’s done, you feel a lot better, right?”

“I do. I’m so glad…but I’m kinda tired, too.”

Keiran would then readjust himself, patting the area next to him. “Lay down,” He instructed her. Once she would lay down on her side with her back to him, he gently ran his fingers through her hair. “Relax, you’ve earned some rest.”

She did. Papa was alright, and even though she was tired, she felt really, really good about it. As she drifted off to sleep, Keiran let out a small sigh, watching her. “Rest easy, I have a lot in store for you.”