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?! "[color=darkorchid]The Word took my voice completely,[/color]" Grant decided to clarify to Wesley after Lorenzo finally released him. "[color=darkorchid]But I agree, it is a rather curious case.[/color]"

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

Good to see Nadeline back to normal. "[color=darkorchid]Never one to take a rest, are you?[/color]" He asked.

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

Grant scowled.

[hr]
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.

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

"[color=mistyrose]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,[/color]" 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. "[color=mistyrose]It would seem my time is running shorter than I expected,[/color]" 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. "[color=plum]Forgive me,[/color]" She was just as surprised to hear that, of all things. "[color=plum]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'.[/color]"

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

"[color=plum]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,[/color]" Aloa explained as she knelt down. "[color=plum]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.[/color]"

"[color=mistyrose]Are you saying Venat is not responsible for this mist?[/color]" Emette asked, shocked.

Aloa nodded. "[color=plum]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.[/color]"

"[color=mistyrose]Shion will cut him from Emiri, this I am sure.[/color]"

The viera would stand, lightly patting some of the sand that had collected on her knee. "[color=plum]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'.[/color]"
[hr]
[i]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. “[color=deepskyblue]Good day to you,[/color]” 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. “[color=deepskyblue]You could say ‘hello’ back, you know.[/color]” She chided him.

Finally, he broke out of his thoughts, giving her a smile. “[color=dodgerblue]Hello,[/color]” He would return her greeting, taking her hand in his.

“[color=deepskyblue]That’s more like it![/color]” She seemed satisfied. “[color=deepskyblue]I feel like I haven’t seen you in a while.[/color]”

“[color=dodgerblue]It’s only been three days.[/color]”

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

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

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

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

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

“[color=dodgerblue]Not ‘you’. ‘Us’.[/color]” He replied, much to her surprise. “[color=dodgerblue]I’d like to settle down with you, you know.[/color]”

“[color=deepskyblue]Oh yeah? When?[/color]” She taunted him, ready for the slew of excuses. “[color=deepskyblue]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 [u]now[/u] you want to talk about settling down?![/color]” She stated, clearly frustrated, though after she let it all out, she would inhale slowly. “[color=deepskyblue]Sorry, it’s just—it’s a sore topic. For the both of us. Don’t bring it up so casually, okay?[/color]”

Rio sighed, one of his hands on his hips as the other searched his pocket. “[color=dodgerblue]Mmm…so I guess now would be a bad time to bring this out?[/color]” 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. “[color=deepskyblue]Give it to meeeee![/color]” She said, unable to contain her excitement.

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

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

[i]“[color=dodgerblue]Why would I joke about this?[/color]”

“[color=deepskyblue]I don’t know![/color]”

He laughed as he took out the silver band from the box, taking her hand in his. “[color=dodgerblue]Shion, I’ve wasted enough of your time,[/color]” He admitted as he slid the ring onto her finger. “[color=dodgerblue]I won’t hesitate any longer. I know what I want…and that’s you.[/color]” 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. “[color=deepskyblue]Why are you looking at me like that?[/color]” She asked him.

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

“[color=deepskyblue]I love you, but who the hell do you think you are, saying that?![/color]” Shion exclaimed, clearly taken aback. “[color=deepskyblue]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?[/color]”

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

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

“[color=dodgerblue]Yeah.[/color]”

“[color=deepskyblue]You’re a fucking idiot, you know that?[/color]” She scoffed. “[color=deepskyblue]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 [u]very[/u] special. And you just…want me to give all that up.[/color]”

“[color=dodgerblue]I do.[/color]” His answer was so quick it actually threw her off guard.

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

“[color=dodgerblue]You’re [u]not[/u] stronger than I am.[/color]”

Her lips parted as she raised her eyebrows, an understanding look on her face as she backed away from him. “[color=deepskyblue]Wow, so you’re an idiot and you’re delusional,[/color]” She told him seriously, frowning. “[color=deepskyblue]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![/color]”

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

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

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

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! “[color=deepskyblue]First strike wins, then,[/color]” She told him as she got into her stance.

“[color=dodgerblue]Cocky, aren’t we? Did you forget who taught you the blade?[/color]” He asked her.

“[color=deepskyblue]Course not, idiot! But clearly you need me to knock some sense into you![/color]”

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.

“[color=deepskyblue]Now will you cut this whole thing out?[/color]” 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.[/i]

[i]“[color=dodgerblue]Not until I win,[/color]” 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?

“[color=royalblue]Stop![/color]”

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. “[color=deepskyblue]Avria! What are you doing here?[/color]” Shion asked her, though she kept her eyes on Rio.

“[color=royalblue]Rio, please! You have to stop![/color]” She begged him as he lunged for Shion once more. “[color=royalblue]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![/color]”

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

[i]“[color=#3075FF]O[/color][color=#2E72FF]f[/color] [color=#2C6CFF]c[/color][color=#2B6AFF]o[/color][color=#2A67FF]u[/color][color=#2964FF]r[/color][color=#2861FF]s[/color][color=#275FFF]e[/color] [color=#2459FF]n[/color][color=#2357FF]o[/color][color=#2254FF]t[/color][color=#2151FF].[/color] [color=#1F4CFF]B[/color][color=#1E49FF]u[/color][color=#1D46FF]t[/color] [color=#1A41FF]i[/color][color=#193EFF]f[/color] [color=#1739FF]y[/color][color=#1636FF]o[/color][color=#1533FF]u[/color] [color=#122EFF]w[/color][color=#112BFF]o[/color][color=#1028FF]n[/color][color=#0F26FF]’[/color][color=#0E23FF]t[/color] [color=#0C1DFF]y[/color][color=#0B1BFF]i[/color][color=#0A18FF]e[/color][color=#0815FF]l[/color][color=#0713FF]d[/color] [color=#050DFF]t[/color][color=#040AFF]o[/color] [color=#0205FF]m[/color][color=#0102FF]e[/color][color=#0000FF],[/color] [color=#0303F7]t[/color][color=#0404F3]h[/color][color=#0606EF]e[/color][color=#0707EB]n[/color] [color=#0A0AE3]I[/color] [color=#0D0EDB]d[/color][color=#0F0FD7]o[/color][color=#1011D4]n[/color][color=#1212D0]’[/color][color=#1314CC]t[/color] [color=#1717C4]h[/color][color=#1818C0]a[/color][color=#1A1ABC]v[/color][color=#1B1CB8]e[/color] [color=#1E1FB0]m[/color][color=#2020AC]u[/color][color=#2122A9]c[/color][color=#2323A5]h[/color] [color=#26269D]o[/color][color=#272899]f[/color] [color=#2A2B91]a[/color] [color=#2E2E89]c[/color][color=#2F3085]h[/color][color=#313181]o[/color][color=#32337E]i[/color][color=#34347A]c[/color][color=#353676]e[/color][color=#373872],[/color] [color=#3A3B6A]d[/color][color=#3B3C66]o[/color] [color=#3E3F5E]I[/color][color=#40415A]?[/color]” 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. “[color=deepskyblue]Avria! Avria![/color]” She called out to her, Avria’s blood staining the snow around them. 

“[color=#3075FF]N[/color][color=#2C6DFF]u[/color][color=#2965FF]i[/color][color=#265DFF]s[/color][color=#2355FF]a[/color][color=#1F4EFF]n[/color][color=#1C46FF]c[/color][color=#193EFF]e[/color][color=#1636FF].[/color] [color=#0F27FF]S[/color][color=#0C1FFF]t[/color][color=#0917FF]a[/color][color=#060FFF]y[/color] [color=#0002FF]o[/color][color=#0404F3]u[/color][color=#0808E8]t[/color] [color=#1111D2]o[/color][color=#1516C7]f[/color] [color=#1E1FB0]t[/color][color=#2323A5]h[/color][color=#27289A]e[/color] [color=#303183]w[/color][color=#343578]a[/color][color=#393A6D]y[/color][color=#3D3E62]![/color]” 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. “[color=#3075FF]F[/color][color=#2D6EFF]e[/color][color=#2A68FF]a[/color][color=#2862FF]r[/color] [color=#2356FF]n[/color][color=#2050FF]o[/color][color=#1E49FF]t[/color][color=#1B43FF].[/color] [color=#1637FF]Y[/color][color=#1431FF]o[/color][color=#112BFF]u[/color][color=#0F24FF]'[/color][color=#0C1EFF]l[/color][color=#0A18FF]l[/color] [color=#050CFF]j[/color][color=#0206FF]o[/color][color=#0000FF]i[/color][color=#0303F6]n[/color] [color=#0A0AE4]h[/color][color=#0D0EDB]e[/color][color=#1111D2]r[/color] [color=#1818C1]s[/color][color=#1B1CB8]o[/color][color=#1F1FAF]o[/color][color=#2223A6]n[/color] [color=#292A94]e[/color][color=#2D2D8C]n[/color][color=#303183]o[/color][color=#34347A]u[/color][color=#373871]g[/color][color=#3B3B68]h[/color][color=#3E3F5F].[/color]”

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. “[color=deepskyblue]First strike wins. Remember?[/color]” 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. “[color=dodgerblue]I’m so sorry…[/color]” 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.[/i]

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...