Frustrations had to be let out. Some people fought, others wrote down their issues, and some people channelled them into art of various kinds. Lily was neither of these. 

In some ways, she resembled a great deal of human women in this regard, in that she went shopping. Although, to call it shopping might be a misnomer, as what she did was usually either plain steal, or manipulate the cashiers into letting her leave without paying. This time, however, was different, for she had actually paid for all of the items currently contained within the three, large bags dangling from her arms. One she had filled to the brim with new clothes, seeing as how a couple of sets had been ruined lately, thanks in part to her shapeshifting — she really needed to find a way to let her clothes meld with her form when she became half dragon, like she did when she let her magic take over her body — but she also because she had had second thoughts about a few of the attires she had... acquired the last time she had gone shopping, and had subsequently torched them. A pink cocktail dress, really? She grimaced at the mere thought. 

The other two bags were occupied by less fashionable items, with one of them doomed to smell like the living dead if not refrigerated. Its contents were courtesy of a few German butchers, and should hopefully serve as a snack for Fenn. Possibly two. Sausages, hams, beefs, lamb chops, et cetera. She couldn't help but wonder what he'd think of the curry wurst. It was something of a delicacy, or at the very least good enough to warrant its international fame. She liked it, at the very least. 

The third, and final, bag was filled with an assortment of jewellery and random nicknacks, sans a peculiar, cylindrical package, and was only about filled halfway, and was the smallest of the three bags at that. She had had the modesty to only buy the things she [i]knew[/i] she would use at some point in the nearest future. That being the next hundred or so years. 

As it was nearing night time, Lily decided that it was time to take a rest before returning back to the Citadel, and the rest of her temporary allies. She found a tiny square that was, for the most part, abandoned, save the occasional drunk or cocky teen passing through, and sat down on one of the nearby benches. She discarded her hat — it was akin to a very wide-brimmed fedora — and let her hair tumble down her back; thick, wavy and the colour of [url=https://i.gyazo.com/8aa8e6ea481b694e5aa29f879f7913ea.png]cornflowers[/url]. The day had been exhausting, not the least of which was because of the fighting in that obnoxious forest. Actually, it was mostly that. The arrogance and hypocrisy of the angels, their blind loyalty and ignorance. They had failed to heed her warnings, failed to see that there was more to gain in working together, and so had been the cause of yet another seal being destroyed. Not even the famed Son of Sparda had been of much help. Heirs of the mightiest Demon to have ever existed; so strong that even [i]she[/i] dared not try to compare herself to the monolith that was Sparda. Sometimes the apple did not fall far from the tree. In this case, it had tumbled down the hill, it seemed. Had he at least been successful at stalling him, she could have vaporized him then and there. At least the fragment of [i]his[/i] power that had slithered its way into the mortal realm. 

She sighed, feeling some more of her frustrations and tiredness from the day escape her. Shopping always felt nice. Simply the act of being able to acquire new things; the novelty of it was what enticed her so. After so many years, she wondered if perhaps it was only natural to desire novelty. Strange though it may seem, and much to her surprise, she never quite seemed to catch up. There was always something new. It made her smile. [i]Humans,[/i] she thought.

She rested a hand over her breast, feeling the slow beat of her own heart, and the cold, glassy surface of the necklace she always wore. She held it up for herself to see, quirking an eyebrow as her green eyes were reflected in its metallic surface. Green really did go well with this hair colour. 

Black on red on black. An obsidian sphere, ruby sphere, and an obsidian oval. A gift from times long since past, and the beginning of a tradition. It resembled an eye few humans had ever seen, fewer demons and angels still. She remembered the day fondly; so long ago, and yet still so vivid. Who would have thought that— 

A faint rustle from above, like that of flapping clothes against the wind. Lily reacted without thinking, acting on instinct far moreso than any cognitive thought. She was on her feet—paws—before the sound even came within metres of her; her body already that of a half-feline and a long, straight blade held in her grasp. 

A distinctly human shape wreathed in cloth fell down where she had been, its silvery blade piercing the bench where she had been seated moments before. It moved in a blur, tearing the blade out of the bench and charging against Lily once more, forcing her to parry. Moving faster than any human should be able to, the attacker struck again, moving fluidly, and expertly moved past Lily's defense and struck at her heart, only for the attack to bounce off of a hastily made Projected around her torso. 

Enraged, moreso that someone dared risk harming her medallion than herself, Lily went on the offence. Her opponent was an expert, but she was stil the faster one. She met her blow for blow, fighting back the cowled figure, forcing them on the defensive as she hailed down attacks with swords, axes, polearms and spears. And yet, somehow, her opponent did not back down, flee, or even get hurt. Every slash was parried; every lunge flicked aside. 

Finally, she had had enough, morphing her sword into her black-read spear, point at her opponent. From beneath the cowl she could see a smile, and then they charged. She held them on point, and lunged. 

A flicker of silver, and the spear was knocked aside. Lily didn't even have time to process what had just happened before she felt cold metal against her neck. Cold and slightly damp, as if mist clung to it. She looked down at the cowled figured, glanced at the mirror-polished blade, then at the hand holding it; delicate, feminine, and around the wrist... A bracelet, with a ruby, a sapphire, and a piece of obsidian attached to it. 

Realisation dawned upon her just as her would-be assailant pulled back the hood, smiling up at her with violet eyes. "Bonjour mère."

It happened so rarely that it was a novelty to feel it again: Surprise, and delight. "Fayette, Little Fairy," she said, returning to her human appearance. She pulled the other woman into a hug, feeling another pair of arms wrap themselves around her. She only let go several long moments later, holding her at arm's length. "Decades," she said, smiling wider than she had thought herself able to today, "it's been decades, and not a word. But, what does it matter. You're here." She sighed, but ended up chuckling halfway through. "Attacking me, really? I could have seriously hurt you," Lily said, worry in her voice and on her face. 

The woman, Cassandra, grinned wider. "Judging by your frantic swinging with your sword, I don't think she," she said, speaking with a light, French accent. She let her gaze fall, and gently ran her fingers along the medallion around Lily's neck, smiling fondly at it. "But, you have improved."

"Have I now?" Lily asked wryly, only to be met by that unbelievably sincere smile again. 

"Oui." 

Lily chuckled in spite of herself and let go of Cassandra, moving over to where the contents of her bags lay scattered across the ground. It came as no surprise to see Cassandra kneel down beside her, and help with putting everything back where they belonged. She held up a couple of golden earrings, squinting at them thoughtfully, then glancing at the other woman. [i]Maybe... Yes. I think that would work.[/i] She held up the two golden hoops in front of Cassandra, and met her uncertain stare with a nod. "For you," she said. 

Cassandra went through a series of facial expression at that statement; from surprise, to delight, to suspicion, then to a quiet joy. "Thank you," she said and accepted them, making quick work of the tags. She had them in her ears a few moments later and was inspecting herself in a mirror she conjured herself. "How much did they cost?" She asked, turning to Lily. 

"About two hundred euro," she admitted while carefully putting the cylindrical package back in its bag. "Why?" 

Cassandra turned to face her fully, trying to meet her eyes. "And did you pay for it?" 

Lily nodded, smirking as she met Cassandra's gaze. "I did." 

"Your own money?" She pressed. 

Lily was about to say that, yes, they were her own money, when Cassandra did nothing more than raise an eyebrow. She pressed her lips into a thin line and looked away, an embarrassed blush painting her cheeks. 

"Mother!" 

"He bragged about how much money he had," she said in her own defence. "I hadn't intended to steal anything until I heard this braggart talking about how rich he was, and showing off his wallet to his date. So I thought I'd just... Teach him a lesson in humility. So I helped... him?" 

Cassandra sighed, hanging her head. "Qu'est-ce que je vais faire avec toi." 

Lily huffed, and glared at Cassandra. "Don't use that tone of voice on me, little Lady." She paused, then mellowed out a bit. "Regardless, I didn't take from someone who needed the money badly. If his car and clothes were anything to go by, emptying his wallet didn't really hurt him much." 

Cassandra looked up, squinting at her, then allowed herself a small chuckle. "You never change, mother," she said and put the last dress back in the bag. She rose and handed it to Lily. "Please, never change." 

She took the bag, and hefted the two others. "I have no intentions of doing so, Little Fairy," she said, and meant it. "But what have you been doing lately?" 

Cassandra shrugged and donned Lily's discarded hat. She nodded approvingly. "Très peu. I was in Russia a couple months ago, travelled here through Ukraine, went through Poland and spent a few weeks in Czech, then came here a week or so ago." She turned in place, looking at the various buildings and rooftops, stopping only once she faced the setting sun, her eyes locked on the red-and-purple clouds. "And you?" She asked. 

Lily hesitated, unsure of how much she could say. Cassandra was her daughter, one of the few people she trusted completely, but this was dangerous knowledge... And yet, she was a grown woman, however many centuries and millennia separated them. By human standards, Cassandra was among the oldest in history. She could make her own decisions. "I have been involved with the Charred Council. They are the faction that enforced the ceasefire between Heaven and Hell some two millennia ago. Someone is out to break the Seals and force another cataclysmic war; one that will inevitably result on Humanity's extinction of not stopped." With every word she felt her hackles rise; felt the churning core of fire in her gut start to flare with anger. Her fists clenched almost of their own accords. "I can't let that happen," she whispered, forcing herself to remain calm. 

Cassandra, on the other hand, did not seemed so torn up about it. She was studying Lily, her face almost impossible neutral. Casual, even. Someone who knew her less might have thought she didn't care, but Lily knew better. She was just good at hiding what she thought. Always had been. Once Lily had finished her small tirade, she crossed her arms and looked her mother square in the face. "I'm coming with you," she said, then held up a hand to forestall the rebuttal Lily had already opened her mouth to say. "No ifs, no buts. I am older than most humans will ever be, and I am a [i]part[/i] of this world as much as anybody else. Even moreso than you, mother, because I am half human; a fact that I am proud of. And that's not even mentioning that even [i]you,[/i]" she swept an arm out at Lily, "who taught me everything I know, cannot beat me with a sword, and you have literally twenty times the experience I do. So no, I will not let you keep me out of this. If my family — if Humanity — is in danger, than I am not going to sit idly by." 

She didn't know what to say. She didn't even rightly know what to feel. Anger? Sadness? Concern? No... Neither of those. The one that was most prevalent was one she was oh so familiar with. It was Pride. Not in herself, but in her daughter. And it was said pride that swept aside her anger, and brightened her entire expression. "If that is what you wish, Cassandra," she said and put a hand on her daughter's head, ruffling her hair. "Now, if you really wanna join, you probably should meet the rest. There are actually two other Humans fighting beside us." She turned to the side, calling into empty air for one of the Watcher's to appear. 

A few seconds passed by before the inhuman, six-eyed creature that was one of the Watchers faded into view before them. It regarded Lily with something akin to disdain, and annoyance that it was forced to answer her call. Something she returned with a smirk. 

"We need to return," she told it, and reached out to grasp Cassandra's hand. "This is Cassandra, she will be joining us in the fight to defend the Seals. You have no objections, I hope?" 

"None. I'm not the one who's bringing a fashionista — with horrible fashion sense, I might add — to a war." If it had a mouth Lily knew it would be grinning. "But it's not me who's dying. But fair warning, the Citadel might make your fancy shoes dirty!" 

Neither Lily nor Cassandra replied, simply staring it down until it, finally, it seemed to grow tired of trying and snapped its fingers, bringing them to the realm of the Charred Council.

[hr]

They appeared before the gates that lead to the Citadel, and while Lily was used to it, Cassandra was not. She gaped wide-eyed and open-mouthed at it, muttering a quiet "Wow." She wordlessly followed Lily into the fortress, heading for their room. 

"How big is this place?" Cassandra asked, still looking up at the ceiling far above them, and around at every door and hallway they passed. 

"No idea," Lily admitted, turning down one such hallway. "Big enough to allow an elephant to walk around without much trouble. As for the entire fortress, I can only guess. Far larger than any human castle I've ever seen." She stopped in front of a large double door, placing one hand against it but didn't open it. She turned to Cassandra. "This is my room, which I'm sharing it with someone else. I'm sure you remember how to get here—" Cassandra nodded "—so you're free to go explore. For the most part, just ignore the Watchers, they are like foul-mouthed imps. Anyone else here will most likely be friendly, maybe a bit confused as to your presence, but explain it to them and everything should be fine." She pushed open the door a bit, allowing Cassandra to see just enough to spot the large, queen-sized bed in one end of the room. "Now, I'll get my things here sorted out, and come find you later. Come find me if you need anything." 

Cassandra nodded, and managed to dart in and give Lily a peck on the cheek before she darted off, a faint "À bientôt, mother!" In her wake.