[center][color=CFD3C6][img]https://i.imgur.com/QxwohJt.png[/img][/color][/center] [center][@Gentlemanvaultboy][@Roflsmazoy][@Dezuel][@Hammerman][/center] [hr] A team of Saint Laurels students beat a bunch of weird nuns. Then a knight fought some demons in what felt like some sort of fantasy play rather than a tournament battle. Then Kath got shot in the ribs with an arrow. [color=CFD3C6]"Ah... fuck,"[/color] Rurik sighed. Christine wasn't going to be happy about that. In fact she was getting up. [color=CFD3C6]"Christine there's a-"[/color] [i]BZZT![/i] Christine bounced off of the force-field in a failed attempt to save her sister. [color=CFD3C6]"-barrier..."[/color] And then his girlfriend skated off, leaving a scattering of iced over people in her wake. [color=CFD3C6]". . . wait."[/color] Rurik said pathetically, long after she was out of earshot. He probably could keep up if he tried. But he didn't like to try... And to what? Save Katherine? That held no appeal for him. He recalled hearing Bak panicking somewhere nearby after Vittorio had blown up, so that was also happening. It seemed he was at a cross-roads. Christine and Kath or Bak and Vittorio. Both people he associated with somewhat willingly, and both trying to save someone. What should he do? What should he pick? The tournament was canceled and his team was in shambles, so that wasn't an issue anymore anyway. [color=CFD3C6]"Oh to hell with this, I'm going home..."[/color] Rurik muttered and shoved his hands in his pockets. [i]"...he was so strange, it was as though he wanted to pour out his entire heart. He has never talked to me like this before, not for that long. And, and...look! He gave this to me, asked me to keep it safe when he was gone. Rurik, I know he talks often about killing Alto but this feels different. I do not believe he intends to come back this time."[/i] Rurik clenched his teeth a bit, but kept going. [color=CFD3C6][i]"That sucks. And?"[/i][/color] [i]"Please promise you will stop him! You always lie about going to class so this time you must promise!"[/i] [color=CFD3C6][i]"Why me?!"[/i][/color] [i]"Please promise, please promise, please promise, please promise, please promise-"[/i] [i][color=CFD3C6]"GAH! FINE!"[/color] Rurik slammed his hands over his ears. [color=CFD3C6]"I promise! But you owe me!"[/color][/i] He was now grinding his teeth and picked up his pace. [i]"Thank you! I knew I could trust you!"[/i] [i][color=CFD3C6]"I don't know why..."[/color] he mumbled to himself.[/i] He stopped, eye twitching madly. [color=CFD3C6][i]"I promise!"[/i][/color] [color=CFD3C6]"GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"[/color] Rurik half-growled half groaned through his teeth and spun on his heel. [color=CFD3C6]"FUCK!"[/color] [center][b]- - -[/b][/center] Bak would have suddenly felt a weight land on her backpack. [color=CFD3C6]"Get real, Bak. He's not gonna friggin' answer you. He's more of a robot that you are..."[/color] Rurik grumbled, now crouched on top of her. Now, how to spot the guy? He had his hand over his eyes, blocking the sun, as he peered around for Vittorio. What did he know about him? Gloomy, kinda weak in his real body, and... probably the only one skulking around in a hoodie walking toward Alto. From his perch, it was easy to pick him out. [color=CFD3C6]"Right then."[/color] He jumped off Bak and landed next to her. [color=CFD3C6]"So I've got an idea you might not enjoy..."[/color] Rurik said and began gathering energy. [center][b]- - -[/b][/center] Meanwhile up in the crowd Alto stared, hands clenched into fists, in the direction the demoness had flown. So it was back, drawn out by Clara's pet killer. He could tell the demoness knew, the way it had stared at her. He'd put it together as well. And now the tournament was canceled. The students nearby were all abuzz, some making their way out, other's just chattering anxiously. Some... distracted by a strange, screaming robot girl. And then there was one moving against the tide -- toward him? He thought he saw something shiny...