[center][img] https://i.imgur.com/By4TUr5.jpg [/img][/center][hr][color=indianred]“If you say so.”[/color] Katie’s response mirrored Ciel’s as the Serei was called off and returned back to her card. She wasn’t quite so sure about the fish’s analysis of Runa but if the Stargazer said there was no issue she couldn’t handle, Katie wouldn’t summon her just to burn fuel. There was no need for it when it was best to conserve after all. It was the opposite philosophy of Katie’s peers, each of which unleashed their bouts and went all out in their own ways. Perhaps, she supposed, it was because for once they faced a worthy enemy in the Tower. She was almost surprised Ami didn’t go around swinging berserker’s pride but figured the demon saw Nephy inferior anyway. With the wolf being battered back, she couldn’t help but agree. Katie’s gaze was inevitably drawn from the battle to one occupant of it, noting the invisible force around Akiko firing off at the wolf. What caused the cat to finally take action? That wasn’t like her…was Runa responsible? Katie of course couldn’t know what was spoken between the two but her sight kept track of the horned demon and the bard, silent thoughts kept to herself. These thoughts would fizzle away as only Clair brushed past her group, interested in some distorted clams growing on the cavern walls. The scent of Jester on her made Katie recoil but she knew the thief couldn’t do much in retaliation if it came to that. [color=indianred]“What exactly are you doing,”[/color] she asked deadpan. No really, first she was [i]eating[/i] the crabs and now here she was treasure hoarding and-at that moment, Katie was reminded of the warm weight in her arms. ….oh right, she was still carrying Riku. Before she could deposit the princess on stable ground, something new entered the air that made her pause. It was distinct and subtle, small enough that none of the actual battle junkies would notice. It was doubtful Thomas would have noticed either had the soft sound of [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPZ5f-slfBI&ab_channel=LucasKing]music[/url] not filled his head. A familiar piano rang a new melody with the air progressively getting thicker. [color=8882be][i]“Run,”[/i][/color] were Marianne’s words among the piano keys to Thomas alone. [color=8882be][i]“It’s coming.”[/i][/color] It was a creeping sensation that tingled up Thomas’ spine in a similar manner to Marianne’s fingers crawling up his skin. A similar aura was slowly forming over Runa like hidden fog intent on choking her beat by beat. [hr]