[h3][color=thistle]Io[/color][/h3]

[atBreakthroughfriends]

Io nodded to Shizuka's strategy. "[b][color=thistle]Understood. Lead the way.[/color][/b]" She followed along with the others in the falling rain, her robe completely soaked at this point. She didn't mind it, though she suspected that dripping water would not prove best for stealth.

Io grudgingly accepted some help from Skarsneek as they mounted and crossed walls that seemed, to Io, completely overkill and far too high for anyone's good. '[color=thistle]Waste of resources. These walls would never keep a skilled magic user out. If I didn't have to conserve my energy...[/color]' The incantation for simple flight danced on her tongue, though she didn't actually cast the spell. To an outside observer, there could be the slightest glint of irritation at being reminded of her height - but in the dark and rain, it would not be easily seen.

Shizuka's mist proved to be quite a boon, however. Io could rely on the others, as well as her innate sense of mana flow, to navigate well enough. Though, some small part of her had wanted to feign blindness. She could imagine it clearly...

[i]"[b][color=thistle]Ah. Shizuku...[/color][/b]" Io grabbed the hem of Shizuku's robe. "[color=thistle][b]You will have to guide me...[/b][/color]"[/i]

[i]Shizuku's hand softly grasped Io's, and she briefly gasped as she realized how much larger the swordsman's were compared to hers. As she looked up at Shizuka, she could see the lines of his chiseled body gleaming from the rain, and she found herself leaning forward to embrace the swordsman-[/i]

Io walked right into the back of Skarsneek, throwing her mind back into focus. '[color=thistle]Ah. I need to concentrate.[/color]'

Truth be told, Io had catalogued this phenomenon before. A lich was free of many traits of a living being, like hunger, but not completely free of compulsions that all mamono shared. It tended to manifest as delusions and wild flights of fancy for her, rather than anything a living being would experience. Unfortunately she had only found ways to suppress it, but not be completely rid of it, despite much effort.

She took a moment to clear her mind before continuing along with the team into the manor, where they overhead important plans being discussed. And despite their best efforts at stealth, they seemed to have been detected.

"[b][color=thistle]Perceptive.[/color][/b]" Io remarked, as she quickly thought of a plan of attack before the opportunity slipped away. "[b][color=thistle]I'll clear a path for you two. Be careful.[/color][/b]" The warning was likely unnecessary, but she said it anyway.

She rapidly mouthed an incantation to cast a fan of ice shards through the thin wall of the manor. It was an attack aimed at head and chest height for the Varjans inside, but if they somehow evaded it would at least allow Shizuka and Skar to crash through and follow up with their own attacks.