She had known Rio was strong. She wasn't quite expecting this, however.

Saying that Emiri was on the defensive was putting it lightly. When Rio declared his intention to kill her, he certainly meant it. As the fight went on, it slowly revealed itself to be one of endurance, not skill. Rio was quite talented, his moves sharp and precise, his sword an extension of himself. The only thing Emiri had over him was her speed; he would barely miss stabbing her, his sword merely grazing her each time. He couldn't quite get his grip, though he seemed more amused than anything. He was certainly toying with both her and Shion, the same dissonant smile on his face.

As Shion was pushed back by Rio's swing, she took a few steps back, lightly bumping into one of the shelves. A glint in Rio's eye alerted her, and he swung, magicks spewing from his sword. To her surprise, it had been aimed high, but by the time she realized his intention, it was too late. Books rained down around her, and she broke into a sprint as the giant bookshelf slowly fell forward. She threw her arms over her head, a small shout being heard as everything came down.

"[color=springgreen]Shion![/color]" Emiri called, alarmed as the dust settled, though she let out a yelp as she narrowly avoided Rio's next attack. 

Spinning around to face Rio, she watched his amused expression. [I][color=springgreen]And he called Shion arrogant? What a jerk.[/color][/I] She thought bitterly, taking two of her blades in her hands as the rest hung behind her. [I][color=springgreen]Even if he regenerates, I need to do [u]something[/u] to slow him down.[/color][/I] The thought crossed her mind as she noticed her knees shaking slightly. Gripping her swords tightly, an idea came to mind. Holding both blades in front of her, she never took her eyes off Rio as she crouched down. He kept his concentration on her, his sword aloft, inviting her to strike.

Breaking into a run, Emiri swung high first, her blade connecting with Rio's. Her second blade swung low, and he caught it as she anticipated. Twisting her wrist, she forced him to bend with her, swinging both his arms upwards. It left him open, and her left hand went forward, stabbing his shoulder. He raised an eyebrow, as if interested, though she managed to block his sword with her other one. Using her wind magicks to push herself, her second sword would join her first, driving them both into Rio's shoulder blade. With a swift motion, Emiri swung them in opposite directions, severing his arm off.

"[color=royalblue]Now that's not very nice,[/color]" Rio murmured, his tone light as he stared at his stump. His eyes darted back to her as her sword then went for his neck, and he sighed as he blocked her swing with ease. "[color=royalblue]That kind of savagery isn't like you, now is it?[/color]" Emiri resigned herself to not give into his words--all he wanted to do was anger her--instead becoming more aggressive with her strikes. Rio clucked his tongue, though he smiled once more as she would stab him again, this time on his lower abdomen. "[color=royalblue]Feels good, doesn't it?[/color]" He asked her cheerfully.

The question completely threw her off, her eyes wide. "[color=springgreen]What?[/color]"

"[color=royalblue]Taking out your aggression on me,[/color]" He explained. Her eyes narrowed, and he watched as she successfully disarmed him, though he simply watched her. "[color=royalblue]Touchy, touchy. Tell me, what will you do now? Behead me? Stab me repeatedly? Spill my guts onto the ground for all to see? Bask in the glory of killing me before the Prodigal Son could?[/color]"

"[color=springgreen]Killing you is not something I do for glory,[/color]" Emiri snapped as she kicked him down. "[color=springgreen]You've caused enough of a mess, once you're gone everything will be back to how it was.[/color]"

Rio scratched his cheek thoughtfully. "[color=royalblue]Will it now?[/color]" He asked slowly, catching her attention. "[color=royalblue]Last I heard, Jaakuna will be going to take his rightful place on the throne. I'm going to safely assume you'll be joining him, but...that's a far stretch from 'how it was'. You were always on the lam, always wandering from one place to the next.[/color]"

"[color=springgreen]How did you--[/color]" Inhaling sharply, Emiri rightfully kicked his side. "[color=springgreen]When I say 'how it was', I mean not having to deal with the likes of you and everyone else trying to kill me![/color]" She corrected him, annoyed.

"[color=royalblue]Did I strike a nerve?[/color]" He asked innocently. "[color=royalblue]I'm not surprised, your commitment-phobia is written all over your face.[/color]"

"[color=springgreen]Nothing will [I]ever[/I] be the same,[/color]" She informed him coldly. "[color=springgreen]That's just how life is. Things change, places change, people change--[/color]" Something in the air changed, and Emiri leapt backwards, looking around. What was this feeling?

"[color=royalblue]People like...Jaakuna?[/color]" Rio asked as he picked himself up off the ground. He cricked his neck, closing one eye as he rubbed the back of his neck. "[color=royalblue]That'll be Loghrif's magicks you're feeling. A bit hostile, isn't it?[/color]" He asked her, his arm slowly regenerating itself. "[color=royalblue]The legends say it has the power to purify. His light is supposed to be comforting for the pure, and wicked for the dark ones.[/color]"

"[color=springgreen]I'm getting really tired of this conversation.[/color]"

"[color=royalblue]What, you get tired of the facts?[/color]"

Emiri shook her head. "[color=springgreen]You continue to speak as if we are one and the same, but we aren't,[/color]" She decided to inform him. "[color=springgreen]I, for one, won't cave into my weaknesses.[/color]"

"[color=royalblue]Are you sure about that?[/color]" Now it was Emiri's turn to smile, green eyes lighting up as the wind began to pick up, swirling around them. Rio grinned, crossing his arms as he watched their surroundings. "[color=royalblue]I can't say you haven't kept me entertained, at least.[/color]"
[hr]
Savayna was trapped, and the time had come. At Jaakuna's remark, the princess couldn't help but roll her eyes. Of course she was right, she had [I]some[/I] semblance of an idea as to what she was doing. At the very least, he had done his part, now it was her turn. "[color=coral]If you would simply accept that I'm usually right, things would go a lot smoother between the two of us,[/color]" Nadeline told Jaakuna without breaking her focus, her rod aloft with her magicks brimming. "[color=coral][I]Cleanse[/I]![/color]" She called, her glyph completing itself as her magicks swarmed around Savayna.

The purifying magicks seared through Savayna, driving out the force that would cloud her mind. As they worked, Nadeline's knees buckled underneath her, and she let herself fall on them, still holding her rod steady. This was taking more out of her than she had realized, though she was confident she could continue. As the light faded from her rod, she gasped for air, her hand to her chest. The last of Nadeline's spell would finish its work on Savayna.

"[color=coral]...Did it work?[/color]" Nadeline asked Jaakuna, watching Savayna wearily.
[hr]
As Grant skidded to a halt, something in the air had changed. He looked around, eyes scanning their surroundings. "[color=darkorchid]This is...[/color]" He murmured, frowning as he looked to the direction the sensation was coming from. "[color=darkorchid]I'm sure that's Emiri, but there's something else there.[/color]"
He told Wesley as he looked to the distance.

[I][color=purple]It would seem the Creature has chosen to reveal itself.[/color][/I] Zeromus mused thoughtfully.

What?! "[color=darkorchid]The Creature?![/color]" He blurted out, though a nearby Ren caught his attention.