When Pahn failed to answer her question after walking a short distance, Anora gave an irritated sigh, her mouth pursing slightly to the side.
	[i][color=goldenrod]Fine. Don’t answer,[/color][/i] she thought, crossing her arms over her chest.
	She glanced between Pahn and Odin when the latter winked mysteriously, her brows furrowing in a mix of confusion and curiosity. The expression only deepened when Odin actually responded. She stopped for a moment when Odin vanished with a rush of warm, sea air that made her hair flair from her close proximity. Others nearby had noticed it, glancing toward the area, then moved on, oblivious and practically uncaring about the oddity that had affected them. She stared after a man who had walked by, sparing only a confused glance, wondering how much of the world she had been blind to all her life. Had she unknowingly passed by something like Odin or the gorgons before, only could not see it?
	She shook her head, then hurried to catch back up with Pahn. No matter the answer, at long last, she was facing the beginning of the adventure and purpose she had ached for since she was a child.
	[color=violet]“What was [i]that[/i] all about? Where’d he run off…”[/color] Anora’s words trialed off when she noticed Pahn’s unusual expression directed at her. [color=violet]“What?”[/color] she asked slowly, her eyes narrowing in suspicion as she readjusted her arms. She did not much like the way he was looking at her. Though, it was certainly preferable over his raw anger.
	[color=6ecff6]“Anora…”[/color]
	[color=violet]“That’s my name.”[/color] She raised her brows at his slight pause and slow speech.
	As Pahn continued, Anora’s expression sobered. She uncrossed her arms and slowly slipped her fingers into the pockets of her jeans. In the heat and excitement of everything, she had not so much as paused to even consider the possibility of not coming back. Of the people she would be leaving behind—her parents, siblings, friends—if she did not return, and what would become of them from her going missing. Of everything that might happen [i]here[/i] to affect the people she loved while she was away.
	With Pahn’s back to her, her feet slowed to a stop shortly before his steps ceased, her gaze on the concrete between them.
	[color=violet]“I was of the impression that getting your regalia would [i]avoid[/i] Earth’s apocalyptic downfall,”[/color] she said without looking up, addressing the easier of the subjects at hand. 
	When Pahn turned toward her, Anora’s head twitched upward slightly, but she did not fully look to him. She inhaled at how final “to say goodbye” sounded. She swallowed, then raised her gaze to his, holding it for a long moment. After a few seconds of silence, any uncertainty in her expression was replaced by determination that glittered in her amethyst eyes and set in her jaw.
	[color=violet]“You’ll have to try harder than that if you want to scare me off, Pahn.”[/color] She raised an eyebrow. [color=violet]“Whether I go or stay, [i]nothing[/i] will ever be the same for me after the morning I’ve had. My reality’s already changed.”[/color] She raised her chin slightly. [color=violet]“All my life, I’ve felt—I’ve [i]known[/i]—there has to be something more out there that I [i]need[/i] to be a part of. I’d be an idiot to turn my back on this now, especially when I could actually [i]do[/i] something to try stopping a complete apocalypse instead of sitting at home twiddling my thumbs and waiting for the world to end. Also, there’s no way I’m letting you go alone. Or just with Odin. Doesn’t seem like fair odds, you against the Underworld. [i]Someone’s[/i] going to have to watch your back when that poison takes full effect.”[/color] To demonstrate her ability in doing so, she raised a hand, fingers stretching upward. Her eyes glowed softly and the specks of gold in them became more prominent as the shimmering, purple mist of her base powers formed around her fingers, golden lightning weaving playfully between them.
	She dispelled the magic and her eyes returned to normal. She hesitated as she got to the concept of saying her farewells. She took a deep breath, then shook her head.
	[color=violet]“Don’t worry about wasting time going to them,”[/color] she said, her voice a touch quieter. [color=violet]“I wouldn’t know what to say, anyway.”[/color] She smirked, the action half-hearted, as she continued, speaking with her hands along with her words. [color=violet]“Because I’m pretty sure, ‘Hey, guys! I’m going to the Underworld with a man who just destroyed the city—but don’t worry, he fixed it and erased everyone’s memories—to save the universe from some ultimate evil. I might not come back alive,’”[/color] her voice quivered slightly at the concept, but she continued just as animatedly, [color=violet]“‘and chaos is going to take over the world, so thought I’d drop by to say I’ll see you in the next life,’ wouldn’t go over very well. Especially with my parents. And with my luck, Ethan wouldn’t let me out of the house without him. Trust me when I say he can throw a tantrum that’d make even Mr. Gray do anything he asked.”[/color] She rolled her eyes, but a small smile quirked her lips at the thought.
 	She paused, glancing to the side. Despite her words, she [i]had[/i] to tell them something. A day of avoiding her phone was a normal occurrence, but she had no idea how long she would be gone for. Or if she would be coming back at all. After a couple days without hearing from her, her parents would be frantic.
	[color=violet]“But I should at least leave a note or something,”[/color] she concluded quietly. [color=violet]“If you don’t mind stopping by my apartment.”[/color]
	Anora cleared her throat, and began walking again, taking the lead. [color=violet]“Besides,”[/color] she glanced over her shoulder at Pahn both to look at him while she spoke, and to see if he was following her, and gave as light a shrug as she could, [color=violet]“normalcy’s overrated. And boring, to boot.”[/color]