[center][color=gold][b][h1]Aerith Hastings[/h1][/b][/color][/center]

[center][i][h3]Here We Go Again: Part III [s]Death is Unbreakable[/s], Suttling's Basin, Priestella[/h3][/i][/center]

[@Ryofu][@Rune_Alchemist][@Althiel][@BrokenPromise]

[hr]

Aerith had hidden behind Irene, clinging onto the other girl in a genuine manner. It was almost pathetic, like a scared child clinging to hope and to their mother in the face of something terrifying. But it was not this mob that was the thing that scared Aerith the most, or got under her skin right now. 

It was the [color=gold][i][b]memories[/b][/i][/color].

Spears impaling her body repeatedly, their cold, potentially rusted metals gouging, piercing, tearing mercilessly into parts of her she had never truly "felt" before this moment. Her own hand, reaching out in futility to try to stop them, to grasp something, to pull out the spear in desperation....but yet it was too weak, too frail, too drained of that precious lifeblood flowing out of her body as the taste of iron had filled her mouth and soaked her taste buds in that grinding metallic sensation. The life, seeping from every hole and gaping maw of her body, even as her eyes struggled to stay open and her body had succumbed to the gnawing, gnashing, in a sense creeping cold of death as the warmth of life had left her loins. 

It was a scene that would haunt her all her days. 

[center][quote][color=gray][b]"Stay behind me, alright? Please worry not. [i]I won't let any harm occur to you[/i]."[/b][/color][/quote][/center]

Those words and smile gave her some real hope, hope these two would be alive, hope herself and Hiro and Chieko would remain alive this time....for as long as they could manage. Hope she could find out who had loved her so much as to want her to be there. 

But before more of these thoughts could continue on, Irene seemed to go into a "state" of some kind, a sort of focusing state? It seemed somewhat familiar to her to what a swimmer might do during a competition, that "mode" one seemed to take on when training and determination met focus and a desired goal in front of them. It was almost....fascinating how Irene seemed to do this, though, and as Aerith focused on her briefly she listened to what the ruby-orbed girl said. 

[center][quote][color=gray]"[b]El Shamak[/b]"[/color][/quote][/center]

The words sent a thrum of...something through Aerith's body, her bones even. Perhaps a shiver? A resonance with her by some mysterious means? Maybe it was just a reaction to seeing this....magic, of all things, used to suddenly stop an entire mob in one uttered phrase without any further actions? She had no idea, but the words felt interesting as she mouthed them behind the back of Irene. Not saying them, but thinking on them herself, focusing on them and that pronunciation Irene had used. 

It was like one of those moments a person would always remember from then on, that abnormally strong sensation at the moment where they got the feeling of "i'll remember this" for no apparent reason at the time. 

As Vasilis and Irene checked out and rounded up the defeated bandits, Aerith ran over to where Hiro and Chieko were. Though before she could say a word, her breaths still a little panting from the prior panic of "those" memories they had all three perhaps just experienced a short time ago, the two knights seemed to turn and talk to them again. As the other two answered, Aerith used the sleeve of her shirt to wipe off some sweat and take a few deep breaths. She even heard Vasilis give his small explanation as she watched Chieko talk to him breifly, though she could tell something was "off" about the other girl....and rightfully so based on what had happened to the three of them. 

[color=gold]"My name is Aerith. I am pleased to meet you both, and-"[/color]

It was then someone interrupted them, just as Aerith was beginning to speak up to Irene and Vasilis to introduce herself. A girl with wolfish ears and a tail, wearing suspenders. Though this struck a minor chord of panic for Aerith in her current state, as quick as the girl had appeared she seemed to leave the group again to their own devices. A bit of panic subsided at this, but overall Aerith looked back to Irene and Vasilis again, a mix of trying to be calm and polite.....but also urgent...on her part. 

[color=gold]"-and with that i agree with Hiro that we should all relocate to a far safer place and area. Ah, swiftly perhaps, so we can all talk more without another ambush."[/color]

Truth be told her own senses were still on alert, though she kept a bit closer to Irene and Vasilis somewhat unconsciously out of a desire to stay alive. The faster they vacated the area and were safe, the better they would all be right now.