Hero

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

"Not bad, not bad," Igeyorhm found himself admitting as he got up, watching Jaakuna give chase. He grinned, excited to see Jaakuna's enthusiasm, though he leapt upwards as he didn't want to get run over, landing after just a moment. "Alright then! Let's duke it out! If I win, though, I'm stealing your girlfriend," He admitted cheerfully as he brought out his sword, getting into a stance.

And there went Jaakuna. Exasperated, Emiri would step forward, but something in the air had changed. As she turned to ask Savayna about it, she noticed the blonde was completely still. It wasn't just her--Michel and Meli were frozen as well. Why? She hadn't done anything! As a brief panic caught her, she realized that this situation seemed very familiar. She turned around, feeling something calling out to her. This was different from Zodiark--there was no sense of dread, and as she broke into a run, she found herself heading back towards the castle. Why? What was it? How was she so sure it wasn't just another trap?

As she turned the corner, she spotted a girl swaying in her seat, sitting on the steps leading to the royal castle. She was pale, her long, brown ponytail swinging with her. She seemed to be humming something, her eyes closed as she moved to the rhythm of her song. As Emiri approached her, she could see the girl's heart shaped face, and as she opened her eyes, she revealed them to be a striking violet color. She grinned as she would jump up to her feet, approaching Emiri. "About time you showed up," The girl chided her, shaking her head in disapproval. "Sorry to make you come back all this way, I didn't expect Jaakuna to go running off like that." She said as she adjusted her ponytail, a hairtie made entirely of clovers keeping it together.

"Wait a minute, you're--me? What? Is that why I kept hearing your voice?" She asked, shocked.

"I'm you, but a little different. Blame Keiran, he's been trying to keep us apart--literally speaking," She gestured to herself. "I've been trying to reach out to you, but that asshole's been really messing with me. But you've been trying to meet me halfway, I appreciate it. And...I'm sorry."

"I feel like I should be the one apologizing. I've made so many stupid mistakes." Emiri muttered, though she shook her head. "Wait, if you're here, what about Keiran?"

"He's still a problem. I just figured I'd give you a fighting chance," She stated somewhat proudly, though it was quickly replaced by a sheepish expression. "I mean, it's like I said before, it's about time you stopped falling behind, right? I promised we'd meet soon, and here I am!"

"But who are you exactly?"

"My name is Mitron. The real Mitron, mind you, not some half-assed, darkness based fake," She huffed, clearly annoyed, though she managed to calm herself down. "When the true Scions awaken, we fuse with their souls to bring forth their true power from Ivalice herself. It thought that if it created false images, it would halt our progress. Admittedly, it worked with you, but at least everyone else is okay." She told her. "Now that we're together, you'll be alright. I'll make sure neither Zodiark nor Chaos can bring you any harm from within."

It was confusing, but she seemed to understand what Mitron was trying to say. "Then now...you and I will...?"

"There's just one little detail I want you to know, first." She held her hand out to stop Emiri. "To balance yourself, no longer will the possibility to get stuck occur. I mean it--you can go completely wild from here on out. I thought it wasn't fair to pay such a price, but...a price still needs to be paid. I compensated for all the time spent already, and going forward, we'll pay the same way--time will take its toll directly from us. As I'm sure you and a lot of people have noticed, you've already lost a few years. I figured we'd start with a clean slate."

That answered her next question, at the very least. "It can never be easy, can it?"

"Nope!" She grinned, though she would point towards the top. "The other reason I had you come back is up there. She says she's all better, but Shion's still reeling. Give her a hand, will you?"

Emiri nodded, holding out her hand. Mitron returned the gesture gladly, the wind gathering around them. "Thank you."

"It's time! Let's go!" As Mitron would disappear, time resumed, though not without a great light spilling from Emiri. Feeling the surge of power, she knelt down for a moment and sprang up, leaping with ease as she landed on the railings of the balcony. Reia let out a surprised shriek as Roman eyed her wearily.

Shion smirked, waving her hand at Sophia. "The cavalry has arrived," She would correct herself as she light faded, revealing Emiri with her eyes closed as several blades unfolded from behind her. Sophia's eyes widened, though her orb would rotate around her, her golden armor forming. Emiri opened her eyes as they flashed green, moving forward. She felt as light as air itself as her foot touched the ground, though she would surprise Sophia as she rushed forth, her many swords moving with her arms as they were sent one after another. Sophia leapt upwards towards the roof, Emiri on her heels. Shion let out a chuckle as she would take her seat once more. "Another cup, if you would be so kind." She told Roman as she would push her cup towards him.

---

"This is..." Emette had come to a stop for a moment, her eyes wide with disbelief. "What...happened to the Tomb...?"

The Tomb of Raithwall looked nothing like it should have been. Normally a desert palace, it was overrun with what looked like dead wildlife, as if the very place had died. Emette touched one of the vines, watching as it crumbled beneath her touch. Every hair of hers was on end, and she didn't even know where to look. Was the Creature's influence so powerful it managed to murder even nature itself? The Sandsea had been one thing, but it was as if he had spread calamity even to inanimate objects. She was deeply disturbed as she continued with Aloa, who hadn't bothered giving the place so much as a second chance.

Before she could properly digest it, her pain returned. This time, however, she knew exactly what happened. "It looks like Shion fulfilled her end of the bargain..." She noted, letting out a sigh. "Emelia has awakened as well."

That statement managed to halt Aloa in her tracks. She looked back at Emette for a moment, silent, as if unsure how to respond. "Perhaps...it is best if you return, then," She suggested.

"Not yet. I can hang in there just a little longer," She assured her, though she noticed her expression.

"It's curious," She commented. "I sense nothing."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Is it that the stench has grown so foul that I have become accustomed to it, or is it so dark I can no longer see what is in front of me?" She asked out loud. "We tread with the darkness itself. Something is ahead."

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Igeyorhm grinned, though he was rather sheepish about it. "You know, Sophia said it was pretty flashy, but I can't help it! If I want to look good, I should be able to, right?" He replied with enthusiasm, looking himself over. "Always good to get a compliment from someone who clearly dresses so brilliantly!" Was this actually happening right now? Emiri should have been stunned, but the more she thought about it, the more those two really did resemble one another. As Michel arrived, Igeyorhm scowled at him, crossing his arms. He coughed for a moment, seemingly trying to get serious. "Wait, 'caught'? What? I was the one who drew you out here!" He declared proudly.

Holy crap they could be twins. If she wasn't so sure Igeyorhm was one of Venat's creations, she would have sworn he was a Darcone. Or some sort of weird Jaakuna clone. Actually, the latter seemed more likely. Clearing her throat, Emiri tried to get the conversation back on track. "You're outmatched! Tell us what we want to know!"

"I said I was outnumbered," Igeyorhm corrected her, wagging a finger. "Outmatched? That's a pretty wide assumption, my dear Scion. You haven't even seen my moves! Well, not the kind of moves we could do in public, I mean." He laughed.

She nudged Jaakuna. "Are you gonna let him talk to me like that?!" She asked.

Meli rolled her eyes. "Are you sure this is Igeyorhm? I mean, there's no way a supposed Scion of Light can be this..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes landed on Jaakuna. "On second thought..."

---

Shion let out a sigh, eyeing the city rather warily. As she raised her cups, she let out a mutter Reia didn't quite catch, though she was surprised when she would stand. Stretching her arms above her head, she leaned on the balcony, facing inwards. Reia followed her gaze inside, surprised when an oddly dressed woman would approach them. Shion raised an eyebrow at her, curious. "How the mighty have fallen, using Igeyorhm as a decoy. I thought you above such tactics," She told Sophia warily. "I assume Venat has beckoned you to eliminate me? How cumbersome."

"You're wrong," Sophia stated, never taking her dark eyes off of Shion. "Though, I suppose telling you would be a waste of time."

Roman sighed, placing his hand on his chin. "Goodness, my brother has quite the entourage following him..." He muttered, displeased.

"Try to take this seriously, will you?" Reia asked him, annoyed.

"Worry not. Sophia here is akin to a pup trying to take on its father in play," Shion would assure them as she would straighten herself, casually strolling up to the woman. "I warned you before. I will not fall nor bend to you."

"I know you've passed the Sigil. You've lost some of your power."

Shion smiled wickedly. "And yet, you still aren't a match for me."

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Letting out a yawn, Igeyorhm would scratch the back of his head as the area was cleared of civilians, his free hand grasping a map. Man, this was getting old. Why the hell was Archades so big? He clucked his tongue as he continued to walk, not even acknowledging the soldiers approaching him. He stopped for a moment to stare at the map, though it was then a soldier decided to attack. Shaking his head, he ducked, bringing up a punch with full force as he jumped up. As the man hit the ground, Igeyorhm would look around. Why the hell did all the buildings look the same?! He crumpled the map, throwing it over his shoulder as he walked. Fine, if he wasn't going to find the castle, all he needed to do was make enough noise to get their attention.

And sure enough, some distant screaming reached his ears. Grinning, he turned to see what could only be described as a giant ball of flames approaching his spot, and he leapt back, narrowly missing becoming part of a crater Jaakuna's landing had formed. A rather exasperated Emiri dropped to her knees, breathing heavily.

"Oh! It's you!" He suddenly realized as Emiri would stand. "Wait, is it...? I kinda remember you being shorter...I don't think your boobs were that big, either."

The brunette blinked in confusion, though the realization hit her. "You're--wait a minute, stop staring at me like that!" She yelled at him, noticing his wandering eyes.

Igeyorhm placed a hand to his chin, a rather thoughtful expression on his face. "Hmm...The Word's calling, but you're not really able to pick up. No, Mitron's probably declining the call for you, but wouldn't that mean...?" He seemed very curious about something, even closing his eyes to think. He then opened them, his previously playful expression returning. "Heh, even grown a bit you're still as cute as ever. Why don't we ditch the Blond Wonder over there?"

Geez, he was as much of an idiot as she remembered. "You can't be serious."

"I love beautiful women! I've been scouring the world to find my special someone...though today, I was hoping to find a certain someone, but I bet that Sicarius has already tipped everyone off. What a pain..." He sighed, placing his hands on his hips as he eyed Savayna in the distance. "Aw, I'm outnumbered! That's not playing fair!"

So he really was after Shion. "What is it that you want with Shion?"

"I dunno. I don't really ask questions," He outright admitted, scratching the back of his head. "I'm more into action then words, catch my drift?" He asked, winking at her.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Shion watched the smoke, amused. It was flattering to think Venat still saw her as a threat, but it was quite cumbersome. That, and she was actually surprised by Michel's words. So Igeyorhm had decided to show his sorry face, did he? Placing her own cup onto the nearby table, she would place a finger on her temple, contemplating her next course of action. Confronting him would be the simplest course of action, though he wasn't very bright--he would rather fight then talk, though knowing how easily he could be fooled, getting some answers out of him would likely be an easy feat.

Meli scoffed, crossing her arms. "What exactly does he hope to accomplish by wrecking the city?" She asked. "Is he stupid or something?"

"He seems the type to act before thinking, that's for sure," Reia couldn't help but comment dryly. "Considering we didn't have a clue he was around before Michel said anything, you would think he would use the element of surprise to his advantage."

"Like our own Prodigal Son, Igeyorhm is...very straightforward," Shion chose her words rather carefully, shrugging a shoulder. "Even so, he seems to have run out of patience in his search. In his mind, whatever survives his attacks is likely to be what he is looking for."

Emiri could understand the comparison to Jaakuna now. "That's a little..." She started, though she wondered if this was the situation the voice told her. 'Don't worry, we're going to meet soon.' She remembered the words clearly, though she would walk over to Shion. "How will you respond?"

"I won't. Considering I've lost my precious weapon--a very part of my soul--I admit, I haven't quite recovered completely," Shion answered simply, surprising her. "Igeyorhm isn't a threat to my existence, though I admit I'm very curious as to the 'why' of his mission."

"He does seem rather reckless..." Roman said with a small frown. "He's causing quite the commotion."

"I can't help but feel you should be more concerned considering this is your city," Reia said.

"Of course I'm concerned. Unlike my younger half-brother, however, I haven't the slightest combat experience," He stated as he poured himself another cup. "I am fraught with worry." His actions certainly didn't help his cause as he would simply take another drink.

Emiri would then turn to Shion once more. "If you won't go, then I will," She said.

Shion raised an eyebrow at her. "Here's hoping you don't tumble down the wrong path again," She replied.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Emiri was just about to give up. How the hell did no one hear her?! She half-wondered if maybe it was because Savayna hadn't quite finished beating the crap out of Jaakuna, but she was getting tired of being holed up. Getting desperate, she decided to ram the door. Going back as far as she could, she then charged--only to see Michel open the door. She was already in momentum, though of course Michel being Michel, he sidestepped her quite easily. She had nearly forgotten about his skills, though while she would take a second to remind herself to thank him, the unfortunate Jaakuna hadn't quite seen her coming.

She let out a cry as she knelt down, shaking him. "I'm so sorry!" She told him, though it took her a moment to realize the mess Savayna had caused. "Geez, Savayna, have some respect, this isn't your place," The brunette frowned as she looked at the desk, though as if her thoughts had activated it, slowly the desk would become clean, and Jaakuna would be restored. As if anticipating Savayna's thoughts of further harming him, the brunette threw herself on top of Jaakuna, giving Savayna a look.

"Enough horsing around, Michel has something he needs to say," Shion would call out to them.

Is that what she thought was going on?!

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

"Taking my baby girl from me yet again...how cruel this world is!" Lorenzo stated dramatically, using his wife's shoulder to sob on.

"We've been together this entire time," Grant reminded him, rolling his eyes. "You can't have forgotten that."

"That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt, Grant! Oh, why would you care, you're just a heartless man who's always been jealous of his brother!"

"I can definitely assure you that is not the case. At all." Grant was pretty quick to dismiss that thought, though instead he turned his attention to Nadeline. "If you're sure, then let's get going. Whatever Igeyorhm is planning, I'm positive we can overtake it so long as we stick together."

"That's the spirit!" Nadeline cheered rather happily.

---

"Welcome!" Roman hailed the pair, gesturing them to have one of the vacant seats. Reia was very concerned over the fact that Roman hadn't so much as asked how the hell they got there--and judging by his reaction, he didn't seem to care much. That, or he didn't think much of it.

"Not a single comment on the magic portal?" She ended up asking him.

"Details, my lady, you shouldn't concern yourself too much with them, lest they start to drive you mad," It sounded like he was trying to offer advice, but at the same time, it was very clear he didn't care too much.

Shion ignored their conversation as she finished her cup, though she didn't seem too surprised by Michel and Meli's arrival, either. "I was asleep for longer than anticipated, but as we know, Ivalice continues, and the deed is done," She stated as Meli would kneel down before her. "I'm quite pleased with your awakening, though something tells me you aren't here simply to exchange pleasantries."

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Emette surveyed the landscape, the wind blowing her white hair behind her. She frowned, noticing some rather calm cockatrices not too far away. If it wasn't obvious before, something was definitely in the air now. She rubbed her arms as she followed Aloa, who continued as if nothing was wrong. In a way, Aloa's determination was admirable with no signs of stopping. The viera truly were a force to be reckoned with--which begged the question of why someone so spiritually in tune with Ivalice would be out here doing so much on her own.

Aloa came to a stop as she knelt down once more. As Emette was about to question her, she took notice of the mounds in the sand. Likely monsters waiting to spring up on them. As she readied for a battle, Aloa shook her head at her, uncovering one of the mounds closest to them. She was shocked to see the Yensa there, still. Emette would kneel down as well, inspecting it carefully.

"Recall how mist effects the body," Aloa said as she would stand. "Its wickedness is far stronger than I thought. And yet...we haven't reached the heart."

"What madness..." Emette would stand as well. "Does it seek to drain Ivalice of all life?"

"Chaos needs no reason to function," She reminded her, placing a hand on her hip.

---

It wouldn't open.

At first she had assumed that Shion herself had simply locked her in, but after trying to get out, Emiri discovered the handle was jammed. She was trapped, with no amount of calling or knocking getting anyone's attention. Likely, a majority of them were out on the balcony, leaving only the possibility of either Jaakuna or Savayna noticing. Of course, knowing Savayna, she was likely to still be beating some sense into Jaakuna. Letting out a groan, she gave up for the moment and would simply sit on the floor.

The closet was dimly lit, small, but big enough she could sit comfortably. It looked more like some sort of place for records; she suddenly wondered if it was okay for her to be around such things. She couldn't hear much of what was happening outside, but the quietness was comforting. She was alone with her thoughts for the first time in a while, and if she was going to stay stuck, she may as well sort through them.

Of course, frustration was foremost in nearly everything she thought about. Once again, she had let herself walk right into the enemy's plans. Admittedly, she never imagined Keiran working for Levi of all people, though perhaps his so called loyalty to Venat was one of convenience. Technically, Levi was the one who created him. But while she somewhat expected a betrayal, perhaps she thought he had changed his mind. She absentmindedly rubbed her arm where the markings had appeared, and shuddered. Was she just going to always be in the way? Was everyone right?

'Why don't you just do us all a favor and kill--'

Yourself. Emiri was certain of Cassandra's words.

Well, dying would certainly solve a few problems. But it'd cause a lot, too.

And there was the other issue of that. Taking in a deep breath, Emiri closed her eyes in concentration. Welcome back.

Well, are you going to listen to her or not? The voice chided her. I'm sure if you look around you can find something nice and sharp. I don't think anyone's noticed you're in here, so...why not?

You're a very crappy conscience.

You're the one thinking about it! So if you're gonna bitch about it so much, then just do it!

Emiri opened her eyes, her hand reaching into her boot. An old habit she couldn't break, and as she pulled the slim dagger from it, she held it in her hands. The voice had a point. If she was going to sit around and complain, if she was just going to continue getting in the way, there really wasn't any point. She sat up properly, holding her dagger in her hands and pointing it towards herself. For some reason, there wasn't any fear. Wow, did she really hold herself to such a low standard?

Shutting her eyes, she moved to stab herself, only to get interrupted at the last second. Try not to get any blood on the papers, we wouldn't want to inconvenience anyone, The voice told her cheerfully. Oh, you think Nadeline will name the baby after you? No, wait, that'd be too cliché. Hmm...well, if you're dead, then Jaakuna can marry someone worth his while! And then world peace can be achieved!

"Gee, thanks!" Emiri huffed out loud. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

No, what's wrong with you?! Seriously, you really think taking the coward's way out is going to do anyone any good?! She suddenly found herself on the receiving end. What happened to not running away anymore?! Do you have any clue how much you'd hurt your friends if they finally got that door open only to find you dead in here? Listen to Shion! Get your shit together! Put on your big girl pants and say 'fuck you' to the world! Yeah, you've made mistakes, but it's not about what you've done, it's about what you'll do from here on out!

Something about the way the voice spoke was oddly familiar. Why couldn't she quite put her finger on it? "If I get myself out of here, you're telling me who you are," She stated as she stood up.

Yeah...no, it's jammed from the inside, you're not going anywhere until someone else gets you out. The voice corrected her as she stuck the dagger onto the gap in the door, trying once again to get out. But that's the spirit! Keep it up!

"Why won't you just tell me who you are?" She asked as she struggled with the handle once more. "Why go the 'mysterious' route?"

Don't worry, we're going to meet soon, That definitely threw her for a loop. Listen, they're coming for you again. You mustn't run away--things are going to look bad, but it'll all be okay.

"How do I know I can believe you?"

There's no way to know. But I'm serious! Oh, don't turn the dagger that way, it'll--

A painful sounding 'thunk' was heard. The handle wouldn't even move anymore. Uh oh. Panic ensued, though she resorted to banging on the door.

Have fun with that~

---

Grant was entirely confused to the reasoning behind Wesley's laughter, although he resigned himself, something else occupying his thoughts. "Not that I doubt Shion's power or anything, but I have to wonder why exactly Venat wants to get rid of Shion so badly. Now that she's passed on the Sigil, you would think his first course of action is to get rid of Jaakuna. Furthermore, it's as if they don't care about Emiri anymore, either. What exactly are they planning?"

"How do you know he wants to get rid of her?" Nadeline asked him, frowning.

"Oh, right--I thought Igeyorhm had come for Jaakuna, but I was mistaken. He said as much," He explained.

"And...he just told you?" She asked, surprised.

"He isn't their most intelligent. His fighting is as entirely different story--I fear if Wesley hadn't caught him off guard, we may have been in trouble even with my awakening," He told her, hand to his chin. "I hate to admit it, but he's going to cause us trouble the next time we cross paths--or rather, he's going to cause quite the commotion in Archades."

"We should head there ourselves!" Nadeline insisted. She stopped as she heard her father whimper. "Oh, Father, don't take it personally, it's just--there's so much that needs to be done!"

Taking in a breath, Grant had to brace himself for the repercussions of what he was about to say. "She has a point. Wesley and I should get going, I'm sure we can still catch a flight to Archades," He said, crossing his arms.

Nadeline looked just about ready to hit him. "Excuse me?" She confronted him immediately. "My hearing must be leaving me, what do you mean 'Wesley and I'?"

"You can get a flight to Rabanastre," Grant remained steady, surprising her. "You heard me, if Igeyorhm is going to Archades, I'm sure there's going to be another battle. Actually, with the conclusion of the treaty, there's going to be nothing but fighting from here on out."

Karolina placed her hands on Nadeline's shoulders. "He's saying that it's time for you to focus on yourself," She told her soothingly.

"I can handle myself just fine," Nadeline countered. "Not to mention Reia is in Archades as well. You're not getting rid of me yet."

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Nadeline's eyes fluttered open, though she had the same confused expression as she sat up. Grant let out a sigh of relief, though it turned into a groan as Lorenzo would take his happiness out on him. Why the hell didn't he go hug his daughter if he was so relieved?! "The Word took my voice completely," Grant decided to clarify to Wesley after Lorenzo finally released him. "But I agree, it is a rather curious case."

"What? Michel? Where has...?" Nadeline took a moment to collect herself before she would stand, shaking her head. "Of all the--forget it, now that our business is settled, we make for Archadia!"

Good to see Nadeline back to normal. "Never one to take a rest, are you?" He asked.

Nadeline gasped. "You've returned to normal! How relieving, that shrill voice didn't match you at all!" She said happily.

Grant scowled.

---

The sandsea was as dreadfully dull as always. Emette watched Aloa take on the sands quite effortlessly, not even flinching as sand flew at them. She always wondered how the viera could be so composed; did nothing bother her? Aloa's head turned back to her, and Emette offered her a smile.

"It was here where the rescue party had found their heir to the throne," Aloa stated, crossing her arms. "Even now...you can feel the remnants of its dark magicks. What a foulness."

"It's almost as if it happened yesterday. Whatever it is, that Creature must be some sort of monstrosity to have such an effect on the environment for so long after its departure," Emette visibly shivered, though as she approached Aloa, a stinging pain shot through her chest. She stopped, taking a moment to suffer through it, but as quickly as it came, it left. "It would seem my time is running shorter than I expected," She would admit to Aloa quietly.

Aloa looked at her, and Emette could swear by the way her eyes closed slightly that she was sad. "Forgive me," She was just as surprised to hear that, of all things. "I have done what I can to keep you here, but it is not enough. I suppose my magicks don't quite live up to my mistress'."

"The fact that I am here at all is a miracle in itself. I am glad for every second I get," Emette assured her. "But I must ask...why are we here?"

"She hopes that she can bring the Dark One from his throne. This game of cat and mouse is less effective if you know from where the enemy will strike," Aloa explained as she knelt down. "As for my personal reasons...my princess told me something disturbing when we last met. To further Shion's goal I asked her how it was that the Scion of Time was whisked away. She described something foul...something inhuman."

"Are you saying Venat is not responsible for this mist?" Emette asked, shocked.

Aloa nodded. "I am also concerned with the abominations, the False Scions. I feel as if they were created for a purpose, but for what? Venat has the power he needs...there must be something more to it. Something else I haven't seen. And...'Mitron' in particular is unsettling."

"Shion will cut him from Emiri, this I am sure."

The viera would stand, lightly patting some of the sand that had collected on her knee. "I wonder where he has gone. He was abandoned by his master...I doubt Levi would take him under her wing. I believe them all to be under the same umbrella, and yet I have my doubts. There are too many unanswered questions, and so I left the Transcended and the Scion of Time to Shion. Venat will appear again, it is simply a manner of 'when'."

---

Inhale, exhale.

Her breath was swept away by the cold wind of the Paramina Rift. She was more jittery than usual, a rather pleasant hum on the breeze as her boots crunched their way through the snow. She actually enjoyed the cold more than most people did, and didn’t find it cumbersome like others. The cold bit at her cheeks, giving her a blush on her pale skin. Her blonde hair was filled with snowflakes, though she didn’t mind it at all. At the moment, nothing could sour her mood.

She came to a halt before the cliffside, taking a moment to admire the scenery. Holding her cloak to her slightly, her amber eyes roamed until the crunch of snow alerted her to another’s presence. She smiled as she watched the dark-haired man approach her, noticing his rather thoughtful expression. He never seemed to be happy with anything anymore, it seemed. Sure, he was usually moody, but it felt so much different. What happened to the Rio she fell in love with?

No, she shouldn’t think like that. He was still Rio. “Good day to you,” She greeted him rather cheerfully as she turned towards him. He joined her in watching the snow, quietly thinking. After a moment, she gently nudged him. “You could say ‘hello’ back, you know.” She chided him.

Finally, he broke out of his thoughts, giving her a smile. “Hello,” He would return her greeting, taking her hand in his.

“That’s more like it!” She seemed satisfied. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“It’s only been three days.”

“That’s three days without us speaking, or interacting, or…or anything!” She exclaimed, pouting. “Didn’t you miss me at all?”

Rio frowned again. Damn. “There were things I needed to take care of with the Emperor, I told you this,” He replied, seemingly missing the point. “I wanted you to come with me, you’re the one who decided not to join me.”

“Hell itself will freeze over before I set foot in Archades,”She declared rather proudly, puffing her chest out. “If I go there, it’ll be to raze it to the ground!”

He seemed amused, even chuckling. “So I guess living there isn’t an option.” He thought outloud, once again getting that same thoughtful expression.

She snapped her fingers in front of his face. “You just got here! Don’t go wandering into Thoughtland yet!” She scolded him, letting out a huff. “Why would you ever need to live there?”

“Not ‘you’. ‘Us’.” He replied, much to her surprise. “I’d like to settle down with you, you know.”

“Oh yeah? When?” She taunted him, ready for the slew of excuses. “The last time I brought this up, we got into a fight. ‘Oh, but I need to work for the Emperor! Oh, but I need to serve Lord Zodiark better! Oh, I can go three days without seeing you!’ And now you want to talk about settling down?!” She stated, clearly frustrated, though after she let it all out, she would inhale slowly. “Sorry, it’s just—it’s a sore topic. For the both of us. Don’t bring it up so casually, okay?”

Rio sighed, one of his hands on his hips as the other searched his pocket. “Mmm…so I guess now would be a bad time to bring this out?” He asked her coyly, bringing out a small box.

Her jaw dropped, and she made to get it, but he raised it above his head. He didn’t quite expect her to jump on him, though he managed to remain steady as she clung to him and reached for the box. “Give it to meeeee!” She said, unable to contain her excitement.

“Listen! It’s been a long time coming, just get off—ow!” She stepped on his foot as she jumped off, taking a step back with a wide grin on her face. “Can never make anything easy, can you?”

“Isn’t that why you love me?” She batted her eyelashes innocently at him, though she outright let out a squeal as he got down on one knee. “You’re being serious, right? This isn’t a joke, right?”

“Why would I joke about this?”

“I don’t know!”

He laughed as he took out the silver band from the box, taking her hand in his. “Shion, I’ve wasted enough of your time,” He admitted as he slid the ring onto her finger. “I won’t hesitate any longer. I know what I want…and that’s you.” He said as he looked up at her.

She wanted to be happy, but there was something in his expression that didn’t seem right. Her expression fell as he would stand, a rather serious look on his face. “Why are you looking at me like that?” She asked him.

“If we get married, I want you to stop fighting,” He dropped his term on her. What? The disbelief on her face was apparent, because he seemed exasperated at her expression. “Yeah…I figured it’d be like that.”

“I love you, but who the hell do you think you are, saying that?!” Shion exclaimed, clearly taken aback. “What, you’d have me sit and do nothing while I wait for the ‘strong man’ to come home? Did you want dinner cooked for you while I raised our kids, too? What the fuck, Rio?! Did your balls get replaced or did you finally lose your mind?”

He seemed to have anticipated this reaction, though he looked at her calmly. “I mean, I was hoping for the kids thing,” He admitted, knowing it’d land him in hot water. “I wouldn’t feel right with you fighting with our child who knows where, considering neither of us have any family.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa, what?! “Rio, that was a joke. I’m not—why? Okay…” She needed to get her thoughts together. “So you want to get married, knock me up right away apparently, and…just have me stay at home. Right?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re a fucking idiot, you know that?” She scoffed. “You realize you’re asking me this right as I’m at the peak of my power? Even Lord Zodiark has admitted I have the talent. I’m also on the verge of crafting something very special. And you just…want me to give all that up.”

“I do.” His answer was so quick it actually threw her off guard.

“What is this, a masculinity thing? You’re intimidated by me because I’m stronger than you? Is that it?” She asked, narrowing her eyes at him. His lack of response was all the answer she needed. “Wow! That really is it! I can’t believe you!”

“You’re not stronger than I am.”

Her lips parted as she raised her eyebrows, an understanding look on her face as she backed away from him. “Wow, so you’re an idiot and you’re delusional,” She told him seriously, frowning. “Are you intimidated by me? Is that it? Why, Rio? We’ve been doing so well for so long, and now…I can’t believe you!”

“What, you think just because you have our lord’s favor that you’re suddenly better than everyone?” He snapped at her.

She nodded. “Oh, I know I’m better than you.” She stated coldly. For a moment, the two only stared at one another—until Rio would draw his sword. “What, you think you can beat me into submission?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I’d never lay a hand on you like that!” He protested, gripping his blade tightly. “But…a spar, then. If I win…you’ll do as I say.”

What the fuck?! Where was all this coming from? One moment he was proposing, now he wanted to fight?! Shion ended up responding in kind, drawing out her own corsair. Fine, if he wanted to be such an ass about it, she was going to bash his head in until he came to his senses! “First strike wins, then,” She told him as she got into her stance.

“Cocky, aren’t we? Did you forget who taught you the blade?” He asked her.

“Course not, idiot! But clearly you need me to knock some sense into you!”

The wind seemed to die around them at that very moment, leaving them in absolute silence. She almost felt like the entire thing was a dream as he charged forward at. Still, she was much too stubborn to stop at this point, their blades meeting one another. His strikes had always been quick, but uniform, predictable. She shook her head at him as she easily pushed him back, swinging freely. He jumped back as she went forward, slamming his blade down, twisting his body as he went for a kick. She grabbed his ankle, swinging him upwards and slamming him down. She climbed on top of him, stabbing her sword into the ground next to him.

“Now will you cut this whole thing out?” She asked him, watching him catch his breath.

He panted for a moment, though his arm shot up, grabbing her by her neck. With a surprising amount of force, he slammed her to the side, quickly reversing their positions. So he really wanted to finish this? Fine! As he leaned down towards her, she headbutted him, sending him back. Squeezing her legs out from under him, rolled away as she narrowly dodged a swing of his sword. As she straightened herself, she noticed something dark emanating from him. She almost dropped her blade as a darkness surrounded him, his expression completely blank.

“Not until I win,” He said, answering her previous question.

He was in her face before she could even react, knocking all the wind out of her and sending her flying. She stabbed her blade into the ground to stop herself, looking up to see him swing at her. She ducked, driving her next attack into a successful kick, though she followed up with her own swing, their blades clashing. This time, however, he was the one overpowering her, even as she grabbed the hilt of her sword with both hands. Where had this strength come from?

“Stop!”

Shion’s eyes widened as she saw Avria running towards them, though this didn’t seem to stop Rio in the slightest. Using his own force against him, she would bait him into pushing back more, though at the last moment she slipped past him, sending him to the ground. “Avria! What are you doing here?” Shion asked her, though she kept her eyes on Rio.

“Rio, please! You have to stop!” She begged him as he lunged for Shion once more. “The only good that darkness will do is eat you from the inside! It’s corrupting your mind, please, Rio, you don’t want to kill Shion!”

What? Her eyes went over to Rio, who approached her. “You…want to kill me?” She asked him in disbelief. “No, that can’t be right! You wouldn’t ask me to marry you if you wanted to kill me, right?”

“Of course not. But if you won’t yield to me, then I don’t have much of a choice, do I?” He asked, his voice becoming distorted.

Shion froze as the darkness would wrap itself around his body, a dark laugh escaping him as armor appeared, his skin paling as he transformed before her. He was something inhuman now, nary a trace of the Rio she knew. She shook her head at him as she took a step back. Why? Why was this happening? And yet, even as he raised his sword, she couldn’t even defend herself. Did he truly hate her so much? She didn’t understand, she couldn’t understand. And as he brought his sword down, a scream was heard.

Avria had thrown herself between them, taking Rio’s attack in place of Shion. Another scream came, though Shion didn’t realize it had been her own voice as she caught Avria in her arms. “Avria! Avria!” She called out to her, Avria’s blood staining the snow around them.

“Nuisance. Stay out of the way!” He stated as he picked her body up, tossing her to the side without a second thought. The shocked Shion reached out for the fallen Avria, though her thoughts came to a halt as he would pull her to him, a smirk on his face. “Fear not. You'll join her soon enough.”

This was reality. Rio had murdered Avria without so much as a second thought. Her eyes remained on Avria, who was as still as the snow around her, though they slowly traveled to Rio. Gone were those kind eyes, replaced with something similar to hatred. She wanted to cry, she wanted to yell at him, but she knew her words would not reach him. He dropped her, grasping his sword with both hands as he prepared to plunge it into her.

She looked at the ring on her finger, slowly taking it off. “First strike wins. Remember?” She asked him quietly, holding the ring to her chest. He either ignored her or didn’t hear her, continuing the attack when a bright light emitted from her, sending him several paces back. She got to her feet, the ring transforming as she put her hands to her chest. In its place formed a hilt, and she would pull, a katana that shimmered as if blessed by mist itself forming.

Turning towards Rio, he would see her tears. In the next moment however, a sharp pain pierced his abdomen, her blade driven into him fully. He closed his eyes for a moment, opening them once more. He raised his hand, wiping away her tears. “I’m so sorry…” He told her as her sword faded away, and he fell to the ground.

Inhale, exhale. There was no wind. There was no snow falling. And as it all came crashing down, she felt herself drop down to her knees. The darkness left Rio, fading away and leaving him as she remembered him. Sorrow would finally break her out of her numbness, and she let out a scream that would reach the heavens themselves.

Considering the fact that she wasn't burning anything to the ground, her current visit was irony incarnate.

Shion's mind had long departed after her conversation with Emiri, her elbows perched on the balcony, her eyes not really looking anywhere in particular. She could hear Roman explaining several parts of the architecture to a very interested Reia, but she couldn't quite bring herself to add to the conversation at any capacity. Perhaps she still held onto her lingering anger. Perhaps she was nostalgic for a simpler time. She stared out at the city, though after a moment, she closed her eyes. If only...

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Nope, now that was something he couldn't handle. Bringing out a small, dark orb, he pointed at Grant. "Like hell that'll happen! I'm going to complete my mission no matter what! I won't sleep until I have her head on a pike!" He declared as he threw the orb onto the ground, and it would erupt into smoke. Grant was alarmed at first, immediately going into the defensive, though as his magicks would clear the room, he noticed Igeyorhm had gone out of sight. It was then Grant couldn't help but burst out laughing, looking over at Wesley.

"You were having much fun with him, weren't you?" He couldn't help but ask him, matching his grin. "That last one must have really gotten to him, though."

He heard a grumble behind him, turning to see Lorenzo pick himself off the ground, dazed. "Why does my head hurt so much...KAROLINA!" His yell of shock made Grant jump, though luckily, the shout was enough to jolt Karolina awake. "Oh! You were just sleeping on the floor, too? Wait, why were we on the floor again?"

"Fear not, it was a rather simple Sleep Draught," Wesley explained as he helped Karolina to her feet. "Simple, yet effective."

"Goodness...How very frightening," Karolina admitted, giving Wesley a thankful look. "We should be thankful that no one was hurt."

Lorenzo knelt down next to Nadeline, shaking her shoulder gently. "Hey, wake up," He told his daughter, frowning when she did not stir.

"Ah, Igeyorhm cast a spell on her, so it's effectiveness is a lot stronger," Grant recalled.

Lorenzo yelled again, this time running straight to Grant. "Grant! You're a man again!" He bawled, pulling him into a hug.

"Oh for the love of--it was just my voice!" He yelled back at him.

---

The brunette was more down in the dumps than usual, and that was saying something. She heard Roman point out several of Archades' wonders, though as she moved to join them, she felt a hand on her shoulder, tugging her back. She nearly screamed as she was pulled into a closet, the dark eclipsing her, though not a second later did she hear a snap, with a dimly lit magicite above them. She really did almost scream as she spotting Shion's very frightening face.

"You nearly scared the life out of me!" Emiri hissed. "If you wanted to talk, why couldn't you just say so like a normal person?!"

"We needed somewhere private, and Jaakuna and Savayna were blocking the way out," Shion reminded her. As Emiri scoffed, Shion decided to continue. "What happened to that confidence you showed me back in Stigma?"

"It got stomped on, thrown out the window, ran over, chewed up, spit out, then stomped on as much as Savayna stomped on Jaakuna," Emiri stated. "It wasn't bad enough that both you and my mother--Emette, whatever--essentially told me I'm nothing but a liability, but it's apparently public knowledge! I am not having a good day."

"The world will never stop telling you these things," Shion told her bluntly. "Did you think after everything was said and done you'd ride off into the sunset with your beloved and live happily ever after?"

"I thought it'd get easier," She admitted. "It's...it's not easy to actually hear your doubts from other people. It's like having your deepest, darkest fears...I always thought the world was better off without me, and lo and behold, it's a common thought among a lot of people."

"If Jaakuna wasn't getting the crap beaten out of him, I'd drag him in here and have you repeat those words," Shion said, though Emiri noticed she was irritated. "You need to move past it, either grow thicker skin or do whatever it takes to move on!"

"Am I not allowed to feel hurt?"

"You're not allowed to let your already delicate mental state get any more fragile," Shion reminded her seriously. "If you're going to feel bad fine; go cry it out, wipe your tears, then get over it. There's no doubt in my mind that neither Levi nor Venat is done with you,
and we can't afford for you to fall into their hands so easily again."

She's right, you know.

There was that voice again. Emiri strained herself to see if it would speak more, though Shion mistook her silence for understanding. "I promised Emette I'd make sure to watch over you. That doesn't mean I'm going to hold your hand or let it be easy. Grow up, Emiri. People are dependant on you." Shion told her simply as she opened the door, walking out.

As Emiri made to follow, she found Shion slammed the door behind her. That was a great metaphor for the conversation. She gently banged her head against the door, letting out a sigh. After taking a moment to calm herself, she tried to leave, only to find the door jammed. "I hate everything right now."

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Wow, Wesley could really be evil when he wanted to be. Grant made a mental note to never get on the prince's bad side, though he would certainly play the part of one to help their cause. The dark haired man gave Igeyorhm a look of pity, letting out a small sigh. It clearly worked, as the already nervous man seemed to react rather strongly to the look. Igeyorhm visibly gulped, waving his hands in front of him. "H-H-H-H-Hold the front door! D-Didn'tcha hear anything I just said?!" He asked, clearly alarmed at Wesley's words. "I haven't done anything! Nothing's happened!"

"Keiran told us much of your master. He has little tolerance for incompetence--I truly feel for you," Grant added, nodding.

"K-K-Keiran, too?! Wait, no, that can't be right, ohhhhhh nooooooooooo... Igeyorhm knelt down, his hands on his head.