[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/uurhDHh.jpg[/img][/center][center]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/HtvPRRx.png[/img][/center]This wasn't how she expected things to go, but then again, she doubted anyone would have accounted for this. Still, no one ended up dying somehow and perhaps that was what really mattered. These thoughts were hidden and kept to Katie alone as she observed the Tower group. It was some time since they settled down in the strange Abyssal ruins that almost resembled as city long ago. She herself rested with her back to a jutted chunk of what used to be a wall, arms crossed and saying nothing as everyone went on with their business. Somehow she felt it was the start of a long night; did night even exist in the Abyss? She supposed they'd all find out in a darkness deeper than dreams. 

[hider=A Difference in Odds]Further away was Thomas interrogating one of his Serei cards, trying to pretend no one else would notice. For the longest time the Marianne card regarded him in silence but eventually an answer was given that bit at Thomas' cheek like a harsh gust of wind. [b]Death.[/b] It was the most truthful answer and with that his card returned to silence once more.

What is a berserker to do in an empty city with nobody to kill? Well let's take a look at the surroundings. There were people that she felt no need to kill at the moment. They are all weak and boring, not even trying to piss her off especially so she couldn't even get hyped on her own rage. Aside from that, there are plenty of old buildings and rocks. Many many rocks. Large rocks, small rocks, rocks that were in between.

Let's cut to the chase here, Ami was sitting on top of a large pile of rocks, picking them up, and then throwing them at whatever she felt like at the given moment. Right now she was throwing them at a building wall to try and get it to fall over. She seemed to be making good progress honestly, not that that made her any less bored. The blonde sighs in a exaggerated manor as she winds back her arm and launches another palm sized rock into the wall at mach 1 speeds, embedding the stone into stone permanently before picking up another rock. And then repeating the process. Over. And over. Until something interesting happened.

There had been much thought and planning and moving chairs around but Riku had finally found one perfect for her. It was a tall and ornate stone block that was shaped into a hard L. The princess would scoot it forward through the abyssal ruins. Huffing and sweaty after all the work. She'd sit down on with a satisfied smile, stretching out her legs and flexing her bare soles, free of her boots. 

[color=ed145b]"Is this where the party is supposed to start?"[/color] She'd ask around absent mindedly.  No one else seemed to be talking or much interested in it, and there was little in the way of entertainment.  She saw Thomas was busy, and Ami was there, sitting...menancingly. She did not wish to approach her without her scythe ready to do battle. Though at this rate, there'd be nothing to do if she didn't give in and ask.

[color=ed145b]"Is throwing stones your usual method of entertainment?"[/color] She'd ask quizzically. 

[color=#fc9a04]"No, the usual method is decapitation~"[/color] Ami responds cheerfully, before lobbing yet another stone at the wall.

There was an unnatural number of people being associated with her, Katie realized. Three of them were nearby through Ami, Thomas, and Riku. By choice or chance, they gravitated towards her in some way, though the reason wasn't completely unknown to her.....since when was she resting her hand in her face? She sighed in what could be taken as exhaustion, rubbing gloved fingers into her eyes and temple as if plagued by a migraine or images only she could see. The more the merrier she supposed and to be honest, she wasn't completely surprised by her choice of people she kept close at hand. 

Katie didn't bother questioning Ami's antics like Riku; the demon was bored and displayed it in the blunt method only she knew how. From what she knew of both of them...she rubbed her temples again, bristling with more visible agitation that was soon kept calm by her dead demanour anyway. [color=indianred]"We need to talk,"[/color] she called out to both girls, knowing Ami assumed it was another lecture on getting along and why she couldn't just shove her sword into the princess. 

The demon halts just as she's about to pick up a bigger rock, looking over to Katie and quirking her head to the side slightly with curiousity. [color=#fc9a04]"Wow, you wanna talk? Shit, now I've seen everything."[/color] Ami mutters as she hops off her pile of rocks and walks towards Katie, swinging by Riku and grabbing her by her collar to haul on over to her partner. [color=#fc9a04]"Come on Red, Katie wants to talk to ya."[/color] Sure she had PROBABLY heard what Katie said, but grabbing people and dragging them without giving them time to adjust is fun. Especially since she wouldn't even have time to put her shoes back on, dumbass. Taking off your shoes in the middle of a ruined city. [color=#fc9a04]"So, what's up?"[/color] She stops in front of Katie with one hand on hip and the other still holding on tight to Riku's collar, staring at her inquisitively and with maybe just a hint of excitement. Whatever this was, it would be better than tossing rocks at a wall.

[color=ed145b]"Is there tea anyw-whoa!"[/color] 

Riku was hauled off mid sentence with a yip, yanked from the chair she had put so much time into. She'd be dragged across the floor, flailing around her arms in efforts to get at her captor.

[color=ed145b]"You're the dumbass! I'm relaxing and you're throwing rocks like a monkey!"[/color]

The rivalry continued between them, the princess forcing Ami's hand away and dusting her battle dress off. She'd wipe the dust from her leggings and take a breath to compose herself.

[color=ed145b]"What do you want to talk about? How we should get rid of Ami? I agree, she is a liability and an idiot."[/color] Riku glared sideways at the berserker.

It took every iota of strength not to sigh at the two's display for Katie. There was no helping it by this point but perhaps they could keep from each other's throats long enough to let her finish. [color=indianred]"I have a favor to ask you two."[/color] No, this was a job, and Ami knew that well enough. The difference in wording was perhaps the first clue of something left unsaid. Katie made sure to keep her voice to a minimum as well, eyes almost unblinking in deadpan. [color=indianred]"I need you to steal a Serei card from someone. Ami probably already guessed, but it's a card Akiko has. I want the Bastion card."[/color] And of course in knowing both girls wouldn't remember what that was, she quickly added, [color=indianred]"The shiny one that's red and blue."[/color] 

Every bit of sass and anger was just met with a boisterous laugh as she let go of the dead princess and slapped her on the back cheerfully, if perhaps a bit too hard. [color=#fc9a04]"I wouldn't count on either of you being able to get rid of me haha!"[/color] But she pauses as she takes a moment to think. A slight hint of bloodlust leaks into her eyes, a madness just barely chained down. [color=#fc9a04]"Though maybe both of you at once..."[/color]

But that wasn't what Katie wanted obviously, so back on track! [color=#fc9a04]"Alright. Dead, alive, condition doesn't matter? I really hope the answer is dead, I am getting so god damn bored here."[/color] Blood pools in the palms of her hands as they grow hot with desire, her heart never misses a beat even as she begins planning the public execution of someone who had seemingly done nothing wrong outside of the crime of existing and being boring to Ami. 

[color=indianred]"Dead."[/color]

There was no hesitation in Katie's voice. [color=indianred]"But I somehow doubt that'll happen with her invisible trick."[/color]

[color=indianred]"...what's a Bastion? There's lots of shiny cards."[/color]

Riku was more inquisitive and had her arms to her chest as she thought over Katie's job. She'd ignore Ami for the moment as she processed over the demands. Thieving was a fun hobby of hers, but Akiko was a unknown element she hadn't encountered much yet. Why would Katie want this card so much anyway? So many questions.

[color=ed145b]"Why do you want us to do it? Me and Ami don't get along well, namely because she killed me. Which I still remember."[/color] Another glare. [color=ed145b]"And why should I do it anyways. I want to relax for a moment."[/color]

[color=indianred]"It's the one that feels like me,"[/color] Katie answered Riku, hoping the other girl understood. Surely she could at least sense people's presence right? Judging by that it'd be easy for her to pick the right card, if not going on a thief's instinct. [color=indianred]"I have something to take care of so I'm leaving this to you two. You."[/color] She looked at the princess. [color=indianred]"Make sure you don't get caught. You're a thief right? Think of this as a fun challenge with nothing better to do. And you."[/color] She looked to the demon now. [color=indianred]"Make sure she doesn't get herself killed. If it comes to a fight then do whatever you want, but if Riku's as good a thief as she said she is, she won't get caught."[/color] 

That was all she had to say on the matter. Almost. She added, [color=indianred]"I don't exactly have good options either way here so you two will have to do,"[/color] as an answer to Riku. 

[color=#fc9a04]"Ah, sneaky bitch huh. Well I guess I'll just have to cripple her early to make sure she can't run."[/color] Ami says it so casually you would almost think she's talking about the weather or a game of baseball rather than the brutal mutilation of someone who was "on their side." But that's just how she is in the end. [color=#fc9a04]"It doesn't matter which card it is, just take em all! We can figure out which one is the right one later, focus on the here and now."[/color] She cracks her neck loudly and looks over to Riku, eyes half lidded as the princess decided to play her game of 20 Questions. 

[color=#fc9a04]"And hey, if you're going to complain so much about me killing you earlier, maybe you should've just not decided to come back to life. Seriously, only ghosts whine about how they died, and those fuckers have to stay dead."[/color] If she had the ability to come back to life whenever she wanted, she would die in so many fucking crazy ways it would make Death blush. As is she's only got one life so she's gotta make it count and die in the coolest way possible on the first go.

[color=ed145b]"I don't get to decide to come back to life or not! It is just a curse I have to deal with! It's painful to die, you know! You should try it sometime!"[/color]

Riku scoffed, hating more and more the idea of working with her maniacal rival. Katie's vagueness was proving to be frustrating too and she was beginning to decide this was not worth the trouble. Being a thief was fun but berserkers simply could not be thieves or do stealth well.

[color=ed145b]"Well I don't think I'm interested, sorry. My feet hurt and I want to relax. Not really break people's legs."[/color] The princess stretched her arms out, emphasizing how much she wished to relax. [color=ed145b]"Plus if Akiko finds out I don't want to be on the wrong side of Hellsword, so no."[/color]

Somehow she knew this was going to happen and for a brief, brief moment something else flickered in Katie's gaze. Maybe it was frustration or annoyance with the princess' reluctance to help or maybe something else that would rather her dead in the ground permanantly....but it was fleeting like the rest of her thoughts. [color=indianred]"As I said, it's a favor. If you do this for me, I'll do something for you in exchange,"[/color] she said smoothly. Another pause as Katie considered something else she hadn't quite thought of yet but in hindsight seemed so simple and obvious. [color=indianred]"Ah, I should mention the card you're taking is a Kiara card. It means....alot to me. Having it in Akiko's hands is sullying to say the least,"[/color] she spoke, carefully watching Riku's next reaction.

[color=#fc9a04]"Waaaah, waaaah, it's painful to die!" [/color]And so the mockery begins as Ami begins a painfully bad impression of Riku's voice, she probably wasn't going to have much to contribute to this deal outside of making things even more tense and difficult. [color=#fc9a04]"Maybe if you hadn't taken your shoes off in the middle of a rocky ruined city your feet wouldn't hurt so much. Dumbass."[/color] She was really considering stepping on Riku's foot just to prove a point, but she wouldn't be the one to start this fight. Just the one to finish it.

[color=ed145b]"Mmm. Kiara huh?"[/color]

Riku ignored the juvenile Ami beside her as she heard the name. Katie wanted it that badly? Maybe there was something to this after all, and something very interesting.

In between her thinking she would hit Ami in the back of her head with her boot.

[color=ed145b]"Okay. I'll do it. Sure. For that favor. And other things."[/color] Riku flashed a short smile, moving from them to go gather her shoes and footwear to prepare herself. 

[color=ed145b]"You're gonna regret giving me a favor though. I can be quite devious with them, hehe~"[/color]

[color=indianred]"So I've heard."[/color] 

Despite her deadpan gratitude there was something akin to thanks in Katie's voice, something only Ami probably caught. Once again she put a hand to her head and winced just once from the invisible migraine. [color=indianred]"I'm going for a walk. Apologies, but I'm not feeling in the best of moods so I'm counting on you two. Try not to burn the place down when I get back."[/color] She cast Ami a look telling her she wasn't to be followed before suddenly remembering something. [color=indianred]"Oh, right. Here, this might help."[/color] Spawned in her hand was Ciel's card casually tossed with precision in the air towards Riku. Hopefully she wouldn't drop it. 

[color=indianred]"In case you need that. Later."[/color] Katie gave the two a passing wave before walking in the opposite path that led out of the ruined city. She was probably fine enough on her own.

[color=#fc9a04]"You're never in the best of moods, but sure. Later."[/color] Ami smirks as she gets in that one last potshot before Katie heads off, turning to follow her new "partner" off to grab her shoes. [color=#fc9a04]"Well looks like we're gonna be working together! Now I'm gonna be honest here, I don't really have a mind for any of the tactical bullshit, so any plan making is gonna be on you. Just tell me who to punch and I'll punch em. Unless you sound stupid, then I'll punch you."[/color] She sticks her hands in the pockets of her jacket as they stop in front of Riku's boots, but before the princess has a chance to grab em there's suddenly another boot on top of one. Ami's. 

[color=#fc9a04]"So I gotta ask, really though. What in the world possessed you to take off your shoes in the middle of a ruined city, after we just got done running away from something that could still be after us? You have a thing for your own feet or something? No judgement if you do, except for the silent judgement in my head."[/color]

[color=ed145b]"Whoa!"[/color] Riku struggled to catch the Ciel card before it fell. It nearly hopped out of her hands since she squeezed it so tightly. [color=ed145b]"Bye Katie!"[/color] She'd give a short wave, letting the broody girl have her cool exit while she walked with Ami back to her boots. Predictably Ami had to make a scene.

[color=ed145b]"My feet hurt. Shoes are bad for them. It's that simple. Did you know that they did comparisons of people who were mostly barefoot their whole lives and then people who wore shoes? The people who wore shoes all the time got fungus and all sorts of nasty stuff. You can think it's weird, and that's why you have toe fungus."[/color]

The princess gave her elaborate reason while hastily putting on her socks again, tempted to hit Ami with another boot. Instead she'd place them on and tie them tightly, ready to go with a second wind of energy. 

[color=ed145b]"Let's go figure out where Akiko keeps her stuff first. Probably her room I'd guess. Why don't you go be a loud distraction and get her attention? You're good at that."[/color]

[color=#fc9a04]"Alright but if shoes are bad for you, then why are you wearing them? Isn't that like, going against what you literally just said?"[/color] Ami takes her foot off the boot and allows Riku to put on her own bad reasoning like the armor it was, but not before once more grabbing her by the collar before she could walk off. [color=#fc9a04]"Hold on stupid. What room? I know it feels like we've been here forever, but I don't think the cat has managed to put together a bed made of rocks just yet." [/color]

The blonde is shockingly sharp at the moment, maybe it's the pure unadulterated boredom bringing out her thinking power. Better take advantage of it while she still can. [color=#fc9a04]"I can do distraction, but I can only do distraction for so long before it becomes violent murder, so think of a better plan."[/color]

[color=ed145b]"Stop doing that!"[/color] Riku squeaked out from the pull again, her new puppy ears flat against her head as she shows her distaste. 

[color=ed145b]"I'm not sure where Akiko is staying. Probably somewhere quiet where she can be by herself, and near Kanbaru. That's my best guess. We'll just have to look around and sniff her out. And honestly, I am not so sure you can take Akiko down so easily. But if you would rather do something else, I am all ears."[/color]

With that said, the princess had her equipment satchel slung over her shoulder and ready. She stepped up to where the settled rooms were, hoping to catch a noticeable bit of scenery to inform her who was staying in what room. There were so many places Akiko could be, and she would find her sooner rather than later.

A shrug is Ami's only response as she lets go of Riku, if that's the plan then that's the plan. [color=#fc9a04]"I took you down easy enough, can't imagine any of these other losers will be much of a challenge either."[/color] And so Ami stomps off to go find Akiko, making as much noise any humanly possible as she knocks stuff around and looks around for the boring cat bard girl. [color=#fc9a04]"YO CAT! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU, I'M BORED AND I'M LOOKING FOR SOME ENTERTAINMENT! CAT! CAAAAAAAAT!"[/color] As much noise as humanly possible.

Yeah, something was up. Between the lack of the appearance of Kanbaru and Ami of all people looking for Akiko, something else was going on around the area. Given Ami's... brutish nature, it was likely a distraction of some kind, not that she couldn't figure out the specifics from when the barbarian found her way evetually to the cat. Regardless, Akiko pulled the Red Relic out of the aether and continued to focus. She was on the verge, she just needed a little more time to figure it out.

[color=red][ Someone is approaching. Are you going to wait? ][/color] [color=hotpink]"Yes. If I can find out how Runa does it to some degree, then I'll be in a much better spot to engage if I need to."[/color]

As Ami worked her loudmouth magic, it was Riku's time to dip out and move into the shadows. Staying out of the light, she'd pause and watch how the scene developed. When Akiko left her nest, she'd make her move to get inside and locate the card and get in and out as quickly as she can manage. She'd give an affirmative nod to Ami to signal she was going out into cover now, leaving the rest to her as she saw fit to handle.

She sniffed the air and quickly realized something. She was part wolf now, did this mean she hated cats and vice versa? This would take intense pondering to determine...

It wouldn't take long for Ami to find Akiko with how she was searching, doesn't matter how well the cat hid herself, a rabid dog like her is relentless in its hunt.  [color=#fc9a04]"There you fucking are! You know it's real rude to ignore someone when you know they're looking for you, and I know for damn sure that you heard me with how loud I've been. So what the fuck are you doing, just sitting cross legged and humming to yourself like a god damn Buddhist? You know they're wrong about reincarnation right? We're all going to hell when we die."[/color] A lovely opening to the conversation, even lovelier when Ami was rapidly entering the cat's personal space. [color=#fc9a04]"No but for real though, the fuck are you up to?"[/color]

[color=hotpink]"Given that you didn't assist with Nephetos back before, I decided to take shelter and do something for myself by focusing on my own abilities."[/color] Akiko didn't move, simply sitting there as Ami walked through towards her. Unflinchingly, the red relic shined and attempted to push the blood in Ami's body back, effectively keeping her away. She turned her head towards Ami, just barely. 

[color=hotpink]"Where's Riku?"[/color]  Akiko asked, unmoving from her spot. If Ami really tried, she could maybe feel a second presence in the room. [color=hotpink]"You're here being a distraction, right?"[/color]

[color=#fc9a04]"As far as I was concerned, she wasn't a giant flesh eating monster, nor was she some kind of speed teleporting hyper god of death. If you needed my help to beat up a loser with 3 on 1, you deserved to die."[/color] Blunt as a hammer, Ami saw no reason to help some losers fight another loser when it would be a total waste of her time. As soon as the Red Relic activated Akiko would immediately note two strange things about the blonde's blood as she attempted to control it. The first being that it was absolutely soaking in malice and magical energy, a mere handful of it would feel like bearing the weight of the world on one's shoulders, controlling every bit of it in her body was akin to pushing back the universe with a single hand.

And the second important thing of note, was that it was boiling hot. Even without directly touching that blood, sympathetic connection with it burnt, painfully so as Ami shrugs off the parlor trick and remains just as close to Akiko as she started. [color=#fc9a04]"The fuck was that cat? You really trying to practice social distance here of all places?"[/color] The demon smirks as she leans in closer, the air around her is hot, fire burning just under the skin, ready to burst at any moment. [color=#fc9a04]"How the fuck am I supposed to know where Red is? Do I look like her keeper?" [/color]A beat passes before she speaks again. [color=#fc9a04]"Do I? Cause if so that's fucking hillarious."[/color] The second comment slides off her back and is completely ignored, as is the second presence nearby.

As Riku watched the two come together. She had a realization. Her boots were loud. Hah, it all came back to her footwear! Quickly she had them off again, put away in a quiet corner to avoid any stomping and increase stealth greatly. Akiko was already on her trail as expected, so she'd need every advantage she could get. She'd just have to wait for Akiko to get pulled out of her way and she can dash into the open room as needed.

She spared a glance at her Ciel card, keeping it out in her hand to use it when the time was right.

[color=hotpink]"You do. Unfortunately. And she's... over there."[/color] Akiko waved a hand over to Riku's position before she tilted her head back to Ami. [color=hotpink]"If I may guess, you're here for my Bastion Card for Katie, you have full intent to grind me into a red pulp in this broken basilica, and Riku's here to steal it in the case you're unsuccessful."[/color] Akiko stood from the floor and stretched out. [color=hotpink]"So, if you two are about to gut me and end my life, why not spare me a few minutes to see both of you and give me some final words. After all, you two both know from seeing me before that I don't like to fight anyway."[/color] Something about her words were... enthralling. Fascinating. Compelling.

Akiko stood in front of Ami, Red Relic dematerializing and her eyes locking onto the blonde's. [color=hotpink]"Would make it a little more fun to hear my pleas for life before you kill me, right?"[/color]

Silence. Total silence after Akiko speaks, pure nothingness in the air as the blonde stares at the cat blankly, death's shadow looms over her as the heat in the room rises higher and higher. Ten seconds have passed and nothing has happened, did her little speech fail? Was Ami planning out how she would break the bard's body in excrutiating detail, was this the final minute of her short and miserable life? The tension could be cut with a knife, tasted on the tip of your tongue as the demon takes in a deep breath...

And starts laughing her ass off. [color=#fc9a04]"Wow! You really just deconstructed the entire plan huh! Fucking kudos man, or that's what I would say if it wasn't such a shitty plan in the first place! Alright Red, jig is up! Get out of the shadows, we're gonna hear the girl out before I break all her bones!"[/color]

Akiko gave a sigh of defeated relief. 

[color=ed145b]"Oh come on!"[/color]

An annoyed shout could be heard from the shadows as Riku hopped out, landing on her feet next to Ami.

[color=ed145b]"I blame you for this."[/color] She'd glare at the berserker, before turning to face Akiko and flashing her Ciel card threateningly.

[color=ed145b]"We're not going to kill you. We just want your Bastion card. Why not trade for mine? It'd be a lot easier and there's a nice new home for Bastion and we all get along super well."[/color]

The princess was worried Ami would seek a fight anyways, or Akiko was not as submissive as she appeared. She had seen her fight Nephy, and knew her powers were dangerous. 

[color=ed145b]"It'll piss Ami off if you do that."[/color] She added with a cheeky smile.

Akiko stood in silence for a moment. [color=hotpink]"Well, that's quite a fine offer, Riku. Honestly, it is, but I'm afraid you're negotiating to someone who's likely going to die anyway."[/color] She stood there, arms behind her back and staring. Though, she presented her Bastion Card for just a moment to look at it. [color=hotpink]"Honestly, I'm surprised that Katie would want you to just give the card to her. A card of this strength would mean she could leave both of you in the dust."[/color] The card disappeared for a moment. [color=hotpink]"I've been able to understand the power in this card, and it's nothing to be taken lightly. Giving the card to her is a mistake, through and through."[/color]

She looked Ami and Riku up and down. [color=hotpink]"And while I would [i]love[/i] to piss Ami off right now before she decides to gut me, I feel like my job as a bard would be remiss if I didn't try to convince you guys that, card in my hands, it'd be better for everyone. A card like Ciel would be fantastic, but unfortunately even if we were willing to trade, I'm afraid that it wouldn't be nearly as good of a trade for me."[/color]

She took a breath. [color=hotpink]"So, I propose a deal."[/color]

Ami's eyes flick over to Riku, she smirks as she scans over the princess. [color=#fc9a04]"Seriously? Put on your shoes just to take them off again?"[/color] A roll of the eyes, focus back on Akiko. [color=#fc9a04]"Eh, she is right though. If you hand over the card I won't have to rip your head off to take the card off your corpse. Pretty boring, but a job's a job."[/color] The demon shrugs nonchalantly at the offer of a deal, only half listening to the drivel the bard has to say as she tries to talk her way out of this situation. 

[color=#fc9a04]"If you want to strike a deal, then I'm gonna lay down one condition before we even start talking. I'm getting the card and I'm bringing it to Katie. With that out of the way, lets hear your flowery bullshit."[/color]

[color=ed145b]"Would you shut up about the shoes! We're supposed to help each other look co-ahem."[/color]

Riku collected herself, trying to play the role of the mysterious thief to Ami's threatening berserker. Contemplating over Akiko's deal even if she did not truthfully know much about the mechanics of the Serei cards.

[color=ed145b]"That card means a lot to her, not specifically just about power. It has other special values. But I am willing to listen to you if you make a good argument. I just don't see what the big deal is here."[/color]

Her wolf ears twitch, she felt something was off about this but she would continue along anyway. Her curosity getting the better of her. 

[color=ed145b]"I suggest you speak quickly. Ami is not patient."[/color]

[color=hotpink]"Fair enough. Riku, if I give you the Bastion card, I want the Ciel Card [i]and[/i] I want your Henriette card. Unfortunately for Ami, I'd be giving the card to you since you'd be giving me the exchange."[/color] Akiko let it hang for a moment. [color=hotpink]"You do have the Henriette card in your back pocket, after all. Or have you've been keeping the fact you have Ami's teacher with you away from her, without even a chance to breathe."[/color]

The cat's tails swished. [color=hotpink]"Surely the two of you had this information shared already, right? I would want to know if my ally had my teacher as a trump card this whole time." Her voice was smooth, calm, deathly serious. "It explains why she hasn't been seen for quite a while."[/color]

Ami remains shockingly quiet as the two parties discuss the specifics of the deal, her reaction is fairly muted as her teacher's name is brought up, a simple raise of the eyebrow as she looks to Riku. Something that says, we'll talk about this later. [color=#fc9a04]"Choose a different card. The deal is fine enough, but you're not getting my teacher. I don't like you, I'm indifferent to her."[/color] She leans forwards slightly and smiles, a bright and cheery grin that any teenage girl her age would sport. Yet the aura of menace behind it was overwhelming all the same.

[color=#fc9a04]"And don't think I don't see what you're doing here. I'm dumb as a rock, but I used to be a Magical Girl you know? I know when someone is trying to play me, you're not the first fucker to toy with my feelings and you won't be the last. You're not the first corpse I've ever made either, so don't push your luck."[/color] And just like that the menace is gone as she leans back and lets Riku take over the deal once more. She wouldn't let herself get distracted by whatever shiny toy the bard would dangle in front of her eyes, she knew how to save a problem until later. Not much later, but later enough.

All of this is big news to Riku, who had no idea the importance of the card she held. Ami's tone change solidfied how important it was to her, making the discussion much more tense. 

[color=ed145b]"Well. You heard her. I won't be giving you the Henriette card."[/color] The princess is surprised she's taking Ami's side on this, tempted not to. [color=ed145b]"That's the only deal I can make really. And I am starting to think that there might not be a way to solve this with words, unfortunately."[/color]

The princess knew where her scythe was, and Ami was ready at any moment. If it came to a fight to get the card, Riku was willing and Ami could pick up on that easily.

[color=ed145b]"Ciel for Bastion, that's the offer."[/color]

The cat raised an eyebrow at the malice in Ami's tone and pose, but left herself unphased. [color=hotpink]"I'm well aware of your past title, Black Knight, and I'm well aware one of your reputation would have no issue with killing Riku to get that Henriette card yourself. You were willing to do it to me just a moment ago for this Bastion card, what makes Henriette any different for you personally? Aside from Riku"[/color]

She dropped it as Ami let off. [color=hotpink]"While it's true Riku was in possession of another card that piques my interest, that card is off the table and the Cass card she also has is... less than ideal. Henriette and Ciel make this a much more even trade. Surely if I raised the stakes for things, we'd make this a much more interesting deal..."[/color]

She stopped to think for a moment. [color=hotpink]"Ciel and Henriette for Bastion, and in exchange I will drop my vow for a moment and give miss Murota here a fair fight. If I die, she gets the Henriette Card and I'm one less stain on her shoulder, plus it makes a fight much more interesting. Unless you two wish to fight yourselves, hash out any issues and decide who gets to hand the Bastion card back to the girl you two are both enamored with."[/color]

She let it hang in the air. She could tell that she was prying a wedge, and that was it. [color=hotpink]"That's my final offer. For one battle against Murota, with the Ciel and Henriette cards in my hands. Certainly something that would help settle the score between you two."[/color]

[color=#fc9a04]"Oh. My. God. You are so fucking dumb."[/color] Ami mutters as she drags a hand over her face, smile gone now as she shakes her head with disappointment. [color=#fc9a04]"We gave you every damn chance we could for you to get out of this without dying like a bitch. The original deal was I just kill you and take whatever I want, we literally offered you a trade where you get to keep a great card and your life! And you negotiated DOWN back to death! You are literally the dumbest motherfucker walking this planet."[/color] 

The blonde takes her hand off her face and looks Akiko dead in the eye, time to lay down the facts of life for this idiot to rival all idiots. [color=#fc9a04]"Listen, I'm gonna break down every single stupid thing you just said for you ok? One,"[/color] She raises a single finger. [color=#fc9a04]"- cards are fucking lame. You're all lame for using them. They're not real people, they're not real power, they're probably going away when we leave this Tower, and you're wasting your time relying on them. I could give less of a fuck about sensei's card, I just don't like you so I don't want to give it to you. That's it. Two,"[/color] She raises a second finger. 

[color=#fc9a04]"You were mostly right about the plan earlier, but you fucked up something crucial in the order. She wasn't the backup plan in case I failed. I was the backup plan in case she failed. So don't go thinking I'm gonna be a pushover. I will rip out your intestines and strangle you to death with them."[/color] The smile on her face as she says this, it doesn't spread to her eyes. She raises a third finger.

[color=#fc9a04]"Three, you don't know shit about me. You've been walking around with your pants down with every god damn assumption you've made during this talk, so stop trying to play the cool mastermind like you're some kind of fucking anime villain. You're just making yourself look lame."[/color] A sword manifests in her free hand, a black blade burning with hate, red runes in a long tarnished fae language shining through the obsidian fire. She raises a fourth finger.

[color=#fc9a04]"Four, you're not getting your hands on sensei's card in this life, the next, or any god damn life. I don't know shit about your stupid Bastion card, I don't know shit about this stupid Ciel card, but I know sensei. And whoever holds her power, makes the rest of us look like bugs waiting to be stomped the fuck out. There is no "fair fight" against anyone holding that card. So don't try and play me for a fucking fool."[/color] Jet black armor manifests across her body, spreading up from her boots like a virus. She raises a fifth finger.

[color=#fc9a04]"And finally, five. There is no more deal anymore, because I think you're a bitch and I don't like you. So square the fuck up thot, I'm gonna bash in your skull and play with the pink fucking goop you've got stored in there."[/color] Ami Murota clenches those five fingers into a closed fist, teeth bared like the attack dog she is as she raises her sword and points it straight at Akiko's neck.

[color=cyan]"Those are all some real good reasons, but it's sad to say they don't trump the one good reason not to skin this cat and make a fuzzy handbag."[/color] Kanbaru's words cut through the tension as easily as she did the room, materializing between Ami and her prey with the Cheater's Blade in hand and pushing aside the Demon's blade. Wreathed in the power of Henry in his selfish youth, she matched demonic aura with her own twisted presence. [color=cyan]"I could have stood aside and let you rail her all night, but our lot don't just stand by and let each other be killed. We aren't Kiara. It's not too different to how us Dark Magical Girls would support each other with all those murder hobos roaming about."[/color]

She wasn't stupid enough to take her eyes off of Ami for even a second just to level Akiko a glare for her involvement in this mess, but the JSTR proved an adequate means to glare in her stead with a censoring finger wag thrown in for good measure. It was almost like the manipulative feline had wanted this situation to escalalte and just expected to be rescued everytime, a pampered queen who frustratingly usually did have a knight waiting in the wings. 

[color=cyan]"And you, Akiko, should be happy I don't want our little Broken Basillica blown to smithereens because your crazy knight took offense to Ami and tried to crack the Abyss open like a rotten egg. You two interacting is more volatile then magnesium and water!"[/color]

[color=hotpink]"Why do you think I thought it was suspicious when Ami was looking for me?"[/color] Akiko asked to Kanbaru, Castle manifesting behind the cat to keep her safe. The situation was somewhat dire, even with Kanbaru's sudden appearance, so her stand appearing to make sure it's user was fine made sense. Still, Akiko looked at the blade with indifference. [color=hotpink]"By the way, nice to see you, bluey."[/color]

[color=ed145b]"Oh hey Kanbaru..."[/color]

Riku's heart sank when the whale entered the room, adding to the tension inside her. Her hands would get a bit shaky but she'd push aside her anxiety for now. She realized this was getting out of hand with too many interested parties involved and any attempt at secrecy having long since been lost. 

[color=ed145b]"No one was going to kill anyone. Or try to, for that matter. We just want the Bastion card from Akiko, and negotiations aren't um, going so well."[/color]

She'd spare a glance at Ami before continuing. All the while she had been slowly inching closer to Akiko. She'd suddenly move past her at a walking pace to get some space from Kanbaru. 

[color=ed145b]"So you don't have to rush to any conclusions, right? In fact if there's so much work involved, why would risk our lives for a dumb fight? I like Katie but it's not worth getting killed again over her."[/color]

Riku downplayed the situation and attempted to be a voice of calm. All the while she'd sneak a hand into her pocket and feel the stolen Bastion card there with a soft hidden smile. 

With Riku stepping close, Akiko could swear that it was a sneaky play, and after a quick pat down of her body she looked over at Riku with a smirk. That sly dog...

[color=hotpink]"Well... if you're gonna just take it like that, the least you could do is give the Ciel card since that never left negotiations."[/color] Akiko sidestepped as a force grabbed Riku by the shoulder, Castle to those who could see it. [color=hotpink]"I'll forgo the Henriette card and let you two sort that matter out in a little. Sound alright, Red?"[/color] Her voice carried nothing but respetct - she had to commend the thief. Good choice to make a move for the card. Riku may have some use later. 

[color=cyan]"First off, don't call me that. Second off, don't think I'm here for anything else then keeping the peace. That's a job I take seriously, and Ami knows that from experience."[/color] The Whale wanted to glare so hard at Akiko, but alas her fellow Detention Club member was still a threat to be handled with her full attention. It was fortunate then that Riku, for all that she was a prey animal in Kanbaru's eyes, disarmed the situation with a sleight of hand so smooth even she had to whistle her appreciation. In doing so she'd robbed Akiko of the card this confrontation was spurred over, disarming the situation in a great piece of ironic punishment for the cat. 

[color=cyan]"Well, looks like you've gotten what you wanted, so let's just leave it at that and see if this shanty town has something to eat, hmm? And give it up, kitty cat, you aren't getting the dirt off their boots from Ami. Just accept the loss with good grace, after all, neither of us could even use that card if it didn't involve screwing each other....over that is. I mean screwing each other over!"[/color] Kanbaru shouted, dispelling the Henry card and stomping away, red faced and irate enough to leave Akiko unguarded.

[color=hotpink]"... yes, fine, though I doubt that there'd be anything edible around here."[/color] Akiko wasn't able to use the card anyway, so it wasn't a big net loss for her. Though, holding the power in that card... something about it was worrying. [color=hotpink]"Though, word to the wise for you two, before we leave eachother's company and return to the ones we assocate with."[/color]

Akiko's face turned from a smile of admiration to one of grim warning, her tone shifting to the same level of seriousness that carried with the situation from a minute prior. [color=hotpink]"Don't give that card to Katie. If that Bastion card falls into the wrong hands the hell it will unleash is immeasurable, and if Katie wants it specifically then it can only lead to disarray and destruction. Thats why I wanted to keep it despite being unable to use it like Kanbaru said. Keep it, sell it, do whatever you want with it, but do not let her have it."[/color]

With that, Akiko's stand demanifested and she turned to look at the path Kanbaru trudged down before. [color=hotpink]"I'm serious."[/color] And with those final words, Akiko started to walk off, tails swishing behind her.

Tensions run hot as Kanbaru and Ami stare each other down, even if they were once friends, even if they once fought and bled together, the bluenette would know better than anyone that there would be no stopping the blonde if she really started up a rampage in the middle of this camp. It was very fortunate then that Riku could defuse the situation with a bit of sneakiness while all eyes were on Ami, if she were more of a sore loser she might have started bragging about how this was the plan all along. But she was nothing if not honest in her intentions, so with a flash of dark flames her armor and sword would disappear as Kanbaru and Akiko walked away the losers of this deal. Though Ami still thought they were winners considering they got to walk away with their lives. 

[color=#fc9a04]"I'll do what I want when I want. And right now I feel like doing the exact opposite of whatever you tell me."[/color] She's not even being playful about it as she says this. It's just spite, plain and simple. And with that she turns away and looks towards Riku with a smug grin. [color=#fc9a04]"Not bad Red. Seems like you're almost as good at pickpocketing as you are at decorating the walls with your blood."[/color]

For now, the battle that once commenced refrained from deepening further through efforts of their own. For now, a least. How long such peace could last between them was anyone's guess but it wasn't by their choice to make. The tension that had since simmered away from the transaction burst into the air once more with a howling noise that ripped through the air. It sounded deepened in pitch and shrill in delivery, an inhuman noise that echoed all throughout the Broken Basillica. Its origin was somewhere a good distance away from the group, more than likely the advent of an Abyssal creature. It was a reminder to them all they weren't alone in these dark depths. The creature's call was harsh enough to rattle bones and stir the air with a new sense of paranoia.

But that was neither here nor there. Nor did it matter in the end. What did matter was the undercut aroma of something very new among the dark crepts of the Abyss. It was something foreign and warm and permeated through the dank darkness. To Runa and the other Abyssal inhabitants, it was strange enough to consider; but to those who had come from traveling in the Tower, perhaps even Riku and Thomas, the scent was unmistakable. There was pizza nearby, coming from the center of their camp.[/hider]

[hider=What Comes Natural]Sensing something else was ongoing which was confirmed by that loud screech nearby. Riku would give her excuses before slinking off from Ami and heading out on her own through the Basillica. She'd go up the stone steps and let the group sort themselves out beneath her. Her introverted nature required she get some breathing room from crowds lest she go mad with anxiety.

Using what tracking instincts she had been taught, she moved up to higher points in the ruins to observe over the landscape and see if she couldn't spot anything interesting. Judging by just how loud and nearby those screeches were, the owner of that voice had to be some large beast. A big bear, a wingless dragon, a gargoyle. All sorts of beasts are conjured up in her head with worrying thoughts on how dangerous they might be to face. That passion to prove herself to her new peers was still strong, and her natural curiosity wished to be sated. It wouldn't hurt to snoop around and just take a peek, right?

There was a tactical reasoning for Riku's instincts. If something that big and that menacing was nearby, it was better to drive it off or slay it before it could reach the others. Whether or not that drove the princess unconsciously remained only to her but her skills didn't fail her. Something was moving in the darkness beneath her, scouring the murky depths of the Abyss like a sea predator. The wisps of smog and darkness clouted the top layers of the ground as if the princess was truly watching the bottom of the ocean's floor. The creature rippled in the low light and a lesser eye might have missed it entirely. But there [url=https://i.imgur.com/Qdt9f1H.png]it[/url] was, smaller than what Riku expected, clawing the ground with a feral intent, snapping its skull face back and forth with no notion of foresight or direction in its movements. It was little more than a monster. 

The sight of the hulking skeletal wolf caught her eye immediately. Probably much worse than a living predator since those could be sated with bait or caught with traps. This creature was an ugly abomination, twisting around in its bizarre and creepy movements. It made the princess's skin crawl. Immediately she'd slap her boots onto the ground and plop her quickly socked feet inside and hop down the stairs at a quick pace. Part of her wished to warn the others and she would almost go through with it before rethinking. Asking her peers she wanted to impress for help? Not a good look isn't it? After her struggle with Nephy, she had to find a different way to gain the respect she craved.

[color=ed145b][i]I'm risking my life again for something foolish but this curse gives me the freedom to do so. I can't decide if this is a good or bad thing. Probably bad.[/i][/color]

With her mind made up, the princess made her descent into the depths to track her target and come up with a plan of attack.

The creature continued to stalk in place. It padded around its self-acclaimed territory, kicking up a mess and black rock from the ground beneath. Then it stopped, all of a sudden. Perhaps it sensed the princess? If it did, it gave no indication of it, simply rearing backwards in an agonizing position, struggling on its lower haunches. Its back arched, bones snapping and cracking with a harsh pop. Its skeletal face opened its jaws and out came out another piercing cry. It was the same haunting resonance Riku heard before and here, closer to the source, it was enough to rattle her bones from her concealed position. Its screeches were like twists to the air itself, haunting cries of something inhuman and in pain. Its long arms reared upwards and pawed on either side of its skull, claws gripping into the sparking mane of wispy darkness that bellowed behind it.

A cursed creature. An awful sight to bear as the princess felt a deep chill in her bones and a desire to turn away. She'd cover herself behind a ruined wall, taking a moment to pace herself with her scythe out at her side. Perhaps some poor soul had tampered with something they shouldn't have and twisted into this hulking mass of cloth and bone. It was a story not entirely uncommon back home in Fable.

The princess steeled herself and took up herself and her arms. She'd take it upon herself to put that beast to rest, the gift that only her scythe could bring.

She'd continue to carefully move from cover to cover to close the distance between herself and the beast. Eyes open and ears alert for any sudden changes of movement as she drew closer. Using her scythe to reach up to a ledge, she'd climb up herself to get directly above the tainted fiend. In that moment she had to seriously question just what had gotten into her and what did she hope to accomplish?

At the very least, this soul needed to be put to rest. Humorously, a goal many in the Deathsphere yearned for her to do for their own twisted souls. 

If the creature wasn't aware of the newcomer before, it was now. It was an inherent trait of all creatures of nightmares to be aware of their surroundings and this was no different. The monster stopped in its painful howling before turning its skull face over to Riku's direction. Then it turned again in the opposite way. It perched back to all fours, stalking the area now like a beast guarding some long lost treasure and although it could not see the princess that resided above it, it knew she was here. And not it was going to be a matter of time before it hunted the princess down like game, tearing its claws into her body and draining her life into the Abyssal floors beneath them. More hungry sparks leaked off the beast's shroud, the coloration pulsing like a monitored eel as it felt her presence closer. Closer. Closer...closer.

Riku was crouched with her scythe low and horizontal. Her short red cape flowed in the chilly breeze as she observed the maniacal beast throwing itself about. The skull meeting her own eyes causing a flash of panic to spark in her heart. The skull head moved along, unable to view the princess directly it seemed. Riku's panic trickled away at this news as it gave her a new edge. The hovering heart gem of her scythe began to rotate and pick up speed as the princess reared up for combat.

Jumping up and out from above, Riku aimed to land down with her blade carried by gravity to slash the skeleton wolf with a powerful single stroke. Launching herself high into the air, she'd come down with a cry and aimed right for that skull head to smash it with the steel of her weapon!

A solid weight bucked under the blade of Riku's scythe. With it coursed a seething roar of rage and lack of peace as the creature recoiled. The scythe made its mark, the blade lodged into the thick skull of the creature. However, it didn't go through completely, certainly not enough to lob its head off. The monster made more noise as its shroud lit up in reaction to Riku's proximity. Electricity and power stored in its shroud built up more and more as a low pulsing noise filled Riku's ears like a drone. Then the energy collapsed on itself like a burning star, an explosion of power bursting outwards from the creature's shroud right where Riku was atop it. 

The princess felt a pang of regret at attacking unannounced at the creature. Quickly that was forgotten when the shroud covering the beast collapsed into an explosion of power that knocked the princess back. She'd stumble and catch herself on her own two feet a yard away from where she once was. Her scythe was held up and she faced the creature directly.

[color=ed145b]"Listen to me! I will free you from your torment and give you peace!"[/color]

It was too late to feel fear now. She'd slam her scythe into the ground behind her, the gem in its handle glowing a bright blue. A jet of water shot out with great force as a wave formed at the princess's feet. Surfing along that ride she'd move forward with great speed, evading any potential attacks the skull wolf might send as she boldly charged forward to swipe at the legs of the beast. With her enhanced mobility on the ground with the spell, she'd hope to evade and cut the monster down to her level.

Something was wrong. Something was terribly, inquisitively, wrong. The monsters reared back on its lower haunches, its claws sparking more with that dark energy as it made to swipe at the princess no sooner than when she landed. But its movements locked in place when Riku spoke, bones unmoving and skull left jaws agape. Something was wrong. No creature of the Abyss hesitated in hunting their prey, be it intelligent selfishness or beastial hunger that drove them. And yet this creature felt itself lock up and hold back as Riku made her proclamation. 

It was this hesitation that saw the monster snarling in more wretched pain as Riku's scythe lashed at its legs. Water drove her forward at breakneck speeds, avoiding the slash that the monster started up. It landed nowhere but it wouldn't back down, eager to give Riku blow for blow. It sliced forward with a front limb, energy leaking out from its claws in crescent waves that burned the ground, coming towards the surfing princess.

The princess is quick on the reaction and worked herself to and fro to dodge those large blows. Long skeletal limbs are easy to see coming despite how surprisingly fast they were. One of them got so close to hitting Riku the wind from the blow sent her hood up over her head. She'd shake it off with a grin and aim her scythe through the beast's legs to travel underneath it. Once underneath, she'd slash upward into the stomach to cut it open and reveal what was inside. An incendiary bomb from her pouch was thrown up in the air to land in those open wounds, blasting the creature from within as the princess scurried off on her sail like scythe. 

She was proud of herself! She felt she was doing quite well!

There was nothing to reveal for a creature of pure energy, one that defied its own spatial awareness. The ribcage Riku cut through only showed off more of the endless swirls of darkness that made up the creature's mane. Wisps of it, thick and protruding, seeped out in the efforts to coil around Riku and even catch her completely trapped in its ribcage like a venus fly trap. But the princess had another surprise in store, tossing in a bomb before smoothly gliding away. The monster's coils caught that instead, ribcage shutting tight with a hard clamp before its entire body ruptured and rocked with fire and brimstone. Its screech was enough to hurt Riku's ears as it clawed the ground in pain. When the smoke cleared most of its skeletal features had been blown off, leaving behind the pulsing mass of energy that made up its form. Fragments of its skull were gone, two eye holes boring into Riku as it leapt at her with a renewed speed, seemingly no longer under the trance her words sparked.

[color=ed145b]"Whoa! You just don't give up!"[/color]

Riku cried out after that beast, staying ahead of it as the monster gave chase. She'd cut off the water and roll onto the ground to cut off her speed as a sudden idea came to her head. Her gem would twist again and change to a light yellow color before the blade is slammed into the earth. As the blade was raised by Riku, a wall of hardened earth followed underneath to form a strong barricade between herself and the beast. With a strong poke of her scythe, she'd send those squared walls flying forward as large, disc shaped projectiles to slam into the pursuing beast.

[color=ed145b]"I got a big bag of tricks! Handy for any exorcism!"[/color]

Its prey escaped for now, the monster howled in rage and a desire to kill the princess. Images of her grisly demise flashed in its minds eyes no doubt, blood leaking the floors and parts of her flesh ripped out in chunks. It was this same bellowing hot desire that pushed it forward, the ends of its claws bright with hot energy as it slashed and smashed through the discs sent its way. Rubble and crumble of earth flew on either side and while the beast was halted momentarily, it was coming closer, closer, closer to Riku's protective wall. At last it rang at her doorstep, smashing its arms into the earth one by one. Indents and cracks formed on Riku's side as the beast roared just outside her makeshift elemental bunker.

[color=ed145b]"That's it. Come closer..."[/color]

Riku would brace herself with her scythe up over her shoulder. Her eyes carefully observing the beast bashing down her barrier, cracking through and beginning to break past it. That skull of eternal rage and anguish would rear its head, screaming at the princess with an intense desire to destroy her.

This was Riku's chance. She'd push herself forward with all the strength she could muster, scythe swung forward in a brazen charge to crash right into the skull face of that monster. Her blade would drag through the bone and cut it apart to dig for the heart of the creature underneath.

[color=ed145b]"Gotcha! Time to drag that tired soul one cut at a time!"[/color]

It wasn't long before the wall smashed in completely, a plume of a hole formed from a skeletal fist. Soon the patchwork remains of the skull showed thrown, an energy having long been built between its jaws. Haunting of powers that made the air cold, it was just about to unleash that attack into Riku's trapped fort before the princess swung first. Her scythe cut strong and true, ripping through the skull completely as two sides of it fell to the ground, sliced in two. The creature immediately shrieked as the princess kept her momentum up to cut through it completely and while it had no heart of which to destroy, its skeletal frame that held its essence was sliced apart and fell into dust.

All that remained was the swirling shroud of crackling energy, slithering away from Riku at a pace faster than she would expect. It picked up progress as it glided away, dissipating like black smoke, the puddle getting lesser and lesser, smaller and smaller as it rounded a stone corner away from her sight briefly. Where once lay a haunting vessel now only remained the pitiful essence that made up its whole.

With the creature collapsing into dust, Riku had to take a moment to congratulate herself. That intimidating threat had been soundly defeated by herself without so much as a scratch. All that training had been useful...

[color=ed145b]"Go in peace, angry spirit. Now yo-hey! Where are you going!? Are you seriously still alive!?"[/color]

The princess shouted at that fleeing energy, moving and gliding like a shadow of the sun rolling across a hill. The princess would give chase, running and hopping over debris to try and keep pace with it. Her scythe again forming its wave to boost her speed to keep track of the running energy.

[color=ed145b]"I'm trying to help! I think! Come back here so I can show you to my peers at least!"[/color]

To keep speed with energy itself was to challenge the wind. For most it was near-impossible and such was the case now for Riku. By the time she leapt over rocks and followed the trail, the residual pool was gone, having slithered away and probably dissolved. There was the lingering noise of the monster's screech once again but it was dimmer, as if faded in Riku's mind more so than in the present. Her determination was not fruitless however, for although her slaughtered prey was lost, she stumbled on another living creature in her pursuit. Rested somewhere near the rubble of some long since destroyed structure was Katie. She remained with her back propped to a slab of stone, eyes narrowed and shut but panting to herself in exhaustion. She immediately straightened up when she noticed Riku, fixing her expression into her usual deadpan.

[color=ed145b]"Come back!"[/color]

Riku nearly tripped over herself in her desperation to catch the fleeing spirit. Soon she'd discover something much different, Katie! The black haired hunter was a surprise to see out in the ruins of the Bascilla. Riku would stop in her tracks immediately, giving a short wave as she approached.

[color=ed145b]"Hey! Katie! Did you see a floating spirit going through here? I was fighting some sort of skeletal wolf monster, it was really cool! But anyways, it flew off somewhere when I shattered its head. I hope it doesn't reform again. It was a real cool fight, did you see it!?"[/color]

Riku then caught what she was doing and composed herself.

[color=ed145b]"Oh, sorry. How are you?"[/color] She'd flash a nervous smile.

[color=indianred]".....you're looking good."[/color]

Katie had waited for Riku to finish her rambling before interjecting. The princess was always known for that anyway so best to let her speak first. Soon enough Katie was standing on her feet again, wincing briefly with a hand to her stomach before finally brushing it off. [color=indianred]"I know what you're talking about. I had a run in with that....thing. Evidently, I fell unconscious from a blow by it,"[/color] she said smoothly as if the words were practiced anyway. [color=indianred]"Sorry, I didn't see your fight, but I think I heard some noises. I guess that must have been you then?"[/color] 

[color=ed145b]"Yep. That was me. I completely stomped that monster! I felt real sorry for them though, they seemed to be in so much pain! I hoped I brought it some peace. I'm sorry it troubled you so, but you shouldn't see it come back anytime soon at least."[/color]

Riku thought a second more about Katie's sudden appearance here. Something was odd about it, but she couldn't determine why. There were plausible excuses for Katie to be down here anyways and Riku was too excited over her victory to care.

[color=ed145b]"Are you alright?"[/color] Riku would step closer to observe the woman for wounds. Always wanting to help.

[color=indianred]"I'm fine."[/color]

There was truth in her words. Aside from some ruffles in her coat she was relatively unharmed, though so was Riku. Her body trembled just a bit before she steadied herself with some breathing. [color=indianred]"My migraine's passed I suppose so there's that. I get the feeling you may be right though; about that creature. No...I know you're right. It won't be bothering us again,"[/color] she said with some more emotion in her voice. As usual, nothing seemed to phase the girl at all. That was why it was surprising for her to suddenly whip around, feet planted as she stood in front of Riku.

Her blade was already unlatched, not a moment passing as she stared hard into the darkness surrounding them. [color=indianred]"Get out,"[/color] she hissed, a warning to the one she knew was studying them.

[color=92278f]"It's about time you noticed me."[/color]

Nephy called from her perch above. How long she had been there eavesdropping over the two was only known to her. She had a playful almost cat like attitude in her body language with her ragged tail wagging behind her. She'd hop down in front of the pair, Riku raising her scythe to brace for a battle.

[color=ed145b]"Nephetos! I remember you! You won't throw me aside so easily!"[/color] Riku rose her voice and stomped forward to match the wolf, determined to prove herself as a worthy opponent. The wolf watched her unphased, uninterested in the royal brat. 

[color=92278f]"Katie is lying to you. She knows much, much more about what's happened than she's letting on."[/color] Nephy would reply, ignoring the princess's challenge to focus on the raven black haired girl with those piercing eyes. 

[color=ed145b]"What are you talking about?"[/color] Riku's attention would dart between the wolf and Katie, unsure of what was going on.

Riku's eyes darted to a moving shadow because Katie was right back in front of her again, quick on her feet. She moved with a speed inhuman though at this point it was just accepted she was a cut above the others. Regardless, her blade's tip was rested just beneath Nephy's chin, aimed at her throat. It would only take a small thrust with her wrist to ram it through. [color=indianred]"You don't know what you saw, wolf."[/color] From this close up, only Riku would notice the slight ripple that passed through Katie's body, the strain of muscles tightened but kept rigid lest Abyss resident smelled weakness. She also made sure to keep her body forward as much as possible, standing protectively in front of Riku while eyeing down the wolf.

[color=indianred]"Get out. I won't tell you a second time,"[/color] she said with a rarely utilized malice in her tone.

The white haired wolf in her dark robes stood still at the command of Katie's blade. She'd watch it, moving an unarmed hand to give it a small poke. She'd lick her cold lips out of habit.

[color=ed145b]"You're speaking nonsense, wolf. You should run before we cut you down."[/color] Riku added her scythe next to Penndragon, though her resolve to attack an unarmed opponent was much less than Katie's.

[color=92278f]"Aren't you two so cute together."[/color] Nephy would chuckle, but would not move another step forward. She noted Katie's protectiveness of the princess, something she found admirable.

[color=92278f]"You have a beast inside of you, Katie. Just like me. You want to rush to protect others, but you can't even control yourself. You're a walking danger to that pet princess of yours."[/color]

[color=ed145b]"I am not a pet!"[/color] Riku shouted, her eyes narrowed and scythe ready.

Nephy knew she'd never strike first.

[color=indianred]"I think it's time for you to leave, Nephetos."[/color]

The wolf was right; unlike Riku, she would strike first. She didn't move forward but she didn't budge either, rooted like a shield before the princess. She stared down the wolf until Nephy would finally back down and leave them alone. Katie remained silent on such cast aside notions that her words brought, focused only on getting the wolf as far away from the princess as possible. Despite their shared ears, Riku and Nephy were near-polar opposites anyway.

[color=92278f]"I didn't come to fight. So can we put the blades away. Do they not teach hospitality anymore?"[/color]

Nephy threw up her arms in a mock surrender with an unamused face. Riku didn't buy it, but she didn't press her blade further either.

[color=92278f]"I surrender. How about that?"[/color]

[color=ed145b]"What do you want Nephy?"[/color] Riku asked, enraged by this twist.

[color=92278f]"I want the beast inside of your friend. I'm curious. Very curious. So many secrets in that one."[/color]

Nephy was calm and collected. Riku looked to Katie, wondering her thoughts.

[color=indianred]"I have no idea what you're talking about. If you're pressing for time on some ambush, this is a poor strategy."[/color]

Just because Nephy wasn't armed and didn't want to fight didn't mean she wasn't a threat either, especially to Riku. [color=indianred]"Like I said, you don't know what you saw wolf. So let's keep it that way."[/color] Katie flashed Nephy a glinted stare, one that warned her that if she kept on pressing the matter she would retaliate and make this a fight. And neither of them wanted that right now. [color=indianred]"Best not to make the princess worry about imaginary creatures you might have seen. Not when the real monster's right in front of us."[/color]

Those arms in surrender would reach up above the wolf's head as she decided to stretch instead. [color=92278f]"Oh how dull. We're always very serious here. Such a pointless mission you lead, determined to preserve everything. I make things anew. A creative process you wouldn't understand."[/color]

Seeing that continuing this was futile, the wolf would give her back to the paranoid warriors and hop above onto the ledge where she previously observed them.  It was clear she meant to depart, but would spare a glance to the princess who watched her curiously.

[color=92278f]"You'll have to learn soon that not every monster you face will appear as an ugly beast. Sometimes they can appear as beautiful as a summer's sun reflected on a clear lake."[/color] She'd give free advice to the princess, before falling forward over the edge and disappearing from view. There's a flash of energy barely seen above the ruined wall.

[color=ed145b]"I don't like that one. I can never figure out what's up with her."[/color] Riku would exhale all that tense energy and lower her scythe, happy that Nephy had left. Her heart could relax again.

[color=ed145b]"Thanks Katie. I know we aren't well acquainted but I appreciate your aid."[/color] The princess offered a smile.

[color=indianred]"At least she's gone...."[/color]

With Nephy departed, Katie's own shoulders could relax. Pendragon was put away again and she let slip a sigh to herself. The wolf's words lingered in the air but thankfully Riku didn't do the same, choosing to focus on other things. [color=indianred]"Oh. Don't mention it,"[/color] said Katie with a hint of surprise. [color=indianred]"You did good out there too."[/color] She could almost wince from how bright the princess' smile was but she turned her sight back the way they came. [color=indianred]"We should probably get going before the others worry about us."[/color] 

[color=ed145b]"Mmhm. I don't want to be in this damp and dead place any longer. I want some food..."[/color]

A thought pricked in the princess's mind. She was feeling she was forgetting something...something important. Something she risked her life over at least an hour ago. Riku went still in contemplation.

[color=ed145b]"Oh! Right! The card! Bastion! I stole the card you needed!"[/color] The excitable girl patted down her many satchels and pockets to scramble for wherever she had kept it. It always took her way longer than she felt necessary to find items she had kept.

[color=ed145b]"Here!"[/color] The bright serei card is offered over to Katie, the princess proud over the accomplishment. [color=ed145b]"As requested!"[/color]

[color=ed145b]"Uhh...don't tell Akiko. I think she'll kill me."[/color]

[color=indianred]"You did?"[/color]

Katie's eyes raised in genuine shock the princess managed her task, presenting Serei card proudly. It was immediately snatched out her hands by the other girl, who gripped the card close to her chest like it was a lifeline. Only after a moment of pause did she realize what she did and slowly held out the Bastion card in front of her. [color=indianred]"....you actually did do it. Thank you, Riku."[/color] For the first time since being around the others in this Abyssal Floor, a smile faintly traced over Katie's face as she looked down at the card. It was small, almost invisible to tell, but the smile was there. Her eyes met Riku's and she slowly composed herself back to her neutral expression, pocketing the card, fingers brushing it a little longer....

[color=indianred]"Let's go,"[/color] she said, leading the princess back towards their camp. As they approached, something was off about the air and Katie noticed immediately. [color=indianred]"Is that...pizza?"[/color] 


[color=ed145b]"...pizza!? Whatever it is, it smells delicious!"[/color][/hider]

[hider=Demon Waltz]Meanwhile.
A demon was sitting outside of the fortification made out of the broken parts of buildings and gazed over what one would consider a horizon in this place - the line curved in a shape alien to what an eye would usually be comfortable with, but that was the case for whoever was a guest in this world - for Runa it was her home and that curved line was something she was comfortable with. She sat on the ground with her legs crossed, her tail slowly waved in the air behind her back in a meditative and meditating motion as her head would from the gaze lost in a distant, shift to being leaned over something she held in her hands. Her right hand was to be seen in a slow and precise movement - it could be seen by an eye looking from aside that it was some precise motions to cast some magicks, to summon voices and whispers. 

But her left hand was occupied by a notebook, and her right hand held a pencil - a series of soft strokes painted over the piece of paper - held gently, yet firmly in her hand - to shape up the series of one colored lines into a pattern to resemble a shape of the land before that said horizon - a stretched out wasteland filled with the ruins of the world which one was above them and now served as shells for the vagabond, similar to how she was herself. Buildings collected like pearls were stolen by her eye and hand movement, stolen to be put on the paper, to her notebook, to remain forever there. 
[color=ed145b]“Storm is approaching”[/color], she said to herself, spotting a formless shade of twisted fog to be spurred out of the horizon, seeing it to start to move towards the fort. 

Even with somewhat of an answer being given to him, a whisper in the air from his card as he pocketed it, Thomas still felt as lost as ever. The least he'd expected that presence to be was something malicious, so "Death" didn't quite cut it as an answer. And right now he was feeling impatient. So with everyone else off to their own business, though what exactly that business was for now remained a mystery to the boy, he decided to finally pay the group's new guide a visit. He'd caught sight of her outside the fort and so he followed, stepping outside to see the mysterious girl sat on the ground, seemingly concentrating on something. 

At first, Thomas hesitated to approach. Whatever she was doing was something beyond his current understanding, but as usual it was obviously something fantastical. But then he took a closer look, and his brow furrowed. A drawing? It was weird seeing an act so seemingly normal in a place like this, and it was even weirder to himself that he immediately began to think of all the nefarious things that drawing could be for. Perhaps he was getting too used to this place. His thoughts were interrupted as Runa finally spoke, much to his surprise given how perfectly silent she'd been up until this point.

[color=violet]"A storm?"[/color] He echoed the first word she spoke, approaching her closer to stand at her side. The boy followed the mysterious artist's eyeline, until his eyes were also met with the same fog. The same vile, menacing miasma making its way gradually closer to them. Thomas took a moment before speaking again.

[color=violet]"What is that? You know it, don't you?"[/color] He turned to Runa, gazing down at her expectantly.

Runa at first was to sit still like she was, no new motion to appear in how she moved - her legs were still crossed, her hands working over the notebook to apply the shade onto the picture, in order to add depth to it. It was almost as if the demon did not notice the boy to approach her at all - her gaze locked onto that horizon still and the depth of her eyes was almost sterile, lacking everything in terms of content, trying to approach that gaze to look into it was similar to looking into endless pit devoid of anything - devoid of a person behind these eyes. 

For the moment she looked like that. Then her eyes gleamed and focused, pupils squeezed into small dots as she slowly looked up at Thomas standing beside her. A smile grew on her lips in a usual soft smirk which seemed to be always present be it she was to speak with anybody. She carefully closed the notebook and put it into the pocket of her jacket, a pencil followed there too

[color=ed145b]”It is a storm. A hungry fog that is driven by its hunger and nothing else. On its path it will absorb many things until it will just explode from its miasimous insides being too overfilled with the poison of the local life and whatnot”[/color], she said, explaining and standing up to meet Thomas eye to eye. This time her eyes regained the focus and depth of an actual person, even though from time to time it looked like her eyes were to be looked at by two - or more - different people.

[color=ed145b]”Thomas is your name, correct? You fought well, even though you still have… a long path ahead of you”[/color]

[color=violet]"That's right."[/color] Thomas replied to her question, a slight sharpness to his tone as he thought back to the battle before. It seemed like a distant memory at this point despite its recency. But either way he thought about it, he still revolved back to the same emotion. He was angry, for more than one reason. And that's why instead of fully evaluating what Runa had just told him about the oncoming mist tumbling towards the fort, he felt pressed to satisfy his bubbling emotions.

[color=violet]"You're her friend, aren't you? It's why you both showed up at the same time, Nephy and you."[/color] The boy held his gaze with Runa's, observing with interest the occasional split in her vision. This girl definitely had more mystery and subtlety about her than that insane hound from before, that was for sure. He waited for a reply, if one came, though it didn't make much difference to him if it did.

[color=violet]"Who are you then? Both of you."[/color] Then came another question. Thomas was beginning to sound slightly more aggravated in tone, but he wasn't one to lose his cool so easily. For now it was just irritation and self-doubt mixing within the boy's heart, something Runa could probably sense. More than Thomas might've been able to, at least.

Runa’s face remained completely unfazed, clean and sterile of any emotion to be read on her face or in her eyes. It was the same still smirking smile on her lips and a deep blue of her eyes to look deeply back into Thomas’s eyes, as if piercing through his own gaze to creep into his head and look inside of it. Or at least it could be felt like so as she listened calmly to Thomas’s held back anger.

[color=ed145b]”You seem to come from a place where friends greet each other by trying to kill each other, it seems, I wish I could see that place with my own eyes.”[/color], she replied to Thomas, with a sarcastic and a teasing hint in the words put together, even though the tone of her voice remained still and calm, [color=ed145b]”We are not friends; but we share the fate of this place, as many others do too.”[/color]

Runa said that and turned her gaze back to the horizon, watching that menacing mist to slowly grow in its size as it was move around, [color=ed145b]”It is alright to be confused by this place, even though I will never be able to understand that emotion myself; yet I saw it to appear in eyes of the guests of this place all too often. Everyone had that look of something to slip away, like a ghostly presence of your own spirit being taken away or to be… suspended. The life here is different, and I don’t speak of “a way to live”, I speak of “life itself”. It has different way of manifesting itself here.”[/color], she explained slowly, even though her words remained somewhat distant and alien in giving a clear and simple answer. Mainly because there were no simple answers in this place. 

[color=ed145b]”As for who we are? We are prisoners, Thomas. The weight of this world is our burden, we are forced to carry. We carry this prison on our shoulders, on and on, and there seem to be no other fate for us, because the Abyss is endless and it consumes everything. Even other worlds are to end up here to become mere rubble.”[/color], she said and nodded towards the panorama before them.

[color=ed145b]”So be sure to not to stay here for too long, Thomas.”[/color]

Though Thomas didn't seem to find the same humour in what Runa said as she herself did, it did help to calm him ever so slightly, a less severe look on his face as the girl continued her explanation with an unchanging, calm voice. He found himself following her eyeline once again, looking over to that approaching storm and then to the distant buildings Runa had referred to before. It was hard to believe that any life could sustain itself in a place like this, but then again it probably wasn't the boy's place to understand anyway. If what the guide was saying was true, anyway.

Those last words that Runa spoke seemed to impact Thomas in particular. He turned to the mysterious being next to him, eyes softening a little. He was still annoyed, no doubt, but the perspective Runa had given him just then definitely seemed to have an effect on the way he was thinking now, as opposed to just seconds before. His eyes returned to the misty doom lingering ever-closer, spreading like some kind of infection. A disease.

[color=violet]"Why are you helping us then?[/color] The boy asked. That was one thing he hadn't managed to get his head around after Runa's explanation. [color=violet]"Are you helping us in the first place? I mean, if you can't even empathise with confusion, how do you expect me, or any of the others, to trust you.[/color]" Thomas spoke plainly, a rhetorical question that he wasn't sure how the person at his side would respond to.

[color=ed145b]”I can not emphasize with confusion of your kind - of people - and else - to appear in the Abyss and be lost in the ways of how it exists. I can’t because I did not see any other ways for life to exist. Only have heard of them.”[/color], Runa said and reached her hand towards the pocket of her jacket to pull the notebook out of it and shake it a little held in her hand before Thomas’s face.

[color=ed145b]”Images. Millions of images. To remain in the pages of these. Memories and images”[/color], she said and put her notebook back in the pocket of her jacket, looking to Thomas’s eyes directly after that - the eye contact was tensem and Runa’s eyes remained opened without a blink to appear, only light flickers to appear from time to time.

[color=ed145b]”And you are in your right to ask this question in the end. Reasons to trust there are none, but those things are not to appear out of nowhere; as for the reasons for mine, of my own... You would understand it well, be it you to ask yourself - what would a prisoner wish for the most?”[/color]
Runa kept her smile on as she leaned over closer to Thomas’s face to look closer in her eyes. The answer to that question was rather obvious. 

[color=ed145b]”It is freedom, Thomas.”[/color]

Thomas dwelled on what exactly laid within the pages of that notebook. What depictions were there, what memories those pages held. And what they meant to the artist who held them. But then, it was none of his business. No matter who the person next to him was, if a person at all, that didn't give him the right to poke around where he probably didn't belong. Even if he was probably doing that already even by just being in this Tower in the first place.

Once Runa had given her answer it seemed almost too obvious to Thomas, something he probably should've thought of sooner. Even one like Runa, who knew nothing but the Abyss, who knew little of life other than the one she had led in these lonely depths, had a desire for freedom. Freedom into the unknown. The slightly confused and uncomfortable expression he'd first given when the girl leaned into him, so they could both see the minute details in each other's eyes, fell down to one of neutral realisation and understanding. Still though, as was the usual, answers only led to more questions.

[color=violet]"And what about her?"[/color] The boy asked, again with a plain tone, clearly referring to the other prisoner in the equation. [color=violet]"Why did she do what she did then? Does she not want freedom from this place as well? Or is her tendency towards violence really that strong?"[/color]

Runa kept her eye contact on Thomas for a little bit longer and in that connection of two set of eyes reflecting in each other a some tension appeared which somewhat erased the perception of time and space, a sense of time and self - affording Thomas a moment of peace in his mind as well as allowing him to study the opened blue of Runa’s eyes, blue as the waters surrounding them all.
She then leaned back away from him, giving a blink before doing so to break that connection and turn back into gazing over the landscape before them, occasionally catching hints of conversations appearing behind her and Thomas inside of the fort. 

“[color=ed145b]She is called a “Mad Wolf” for a reason. But do not mistake madness with a lack of a goal - one is just a worldview as unique as consuming. She yearns to consume and feast upon; as her hunger has of little in common with hunger living creatures usually relate to.[/color]”, Runa replied with a light humming drone to form in her throat for a moment as she was pondering over something, before speaking up again, “[color=ed145b]When she spoke of devouring your souls it was no matter of speech, as it had of no double meaning as well. The Abyss has no room for uncertainties. Mad Wolf meant it directly. Literally. Death she brings is of no peace - it is of being served for her endless hunger.[/color]”

Runa took a pause once again, allowing a moment of silence to appear between her and Thomas and that silence to hold some unspoken meaning the demon was to catch onto then and express into words: “[color=ed145b]But though, on the other hand, ain’t all our desires and wishes are of the same nature with such hunger? All we are is driven by it.[/color]”

A sense of dread, that had remained latent for a while until at that moment, ran up Thomas' spine as Runa went into more detail about the murderous hound. It seemed like in his anger towards Nephy, he'd lost the fear that had driven him in the first place. It wasn't so intense now, more like a cold hand on his shoulder reminding him of who she was, a grip that only tightened the more Runa told about the bloodthirsty samurai.

He almost embraced the silence that came after she spoke, allowing him to consider what the blue-eyed girl had divulged. Even if there was still much about the two prisoners that he was ignorant of, he felt as though he understood them both more, at least in some ways. As well as the Abyss they were confined in. But understanding, for the boy, could stretch only as far as his morales could. And that's where his inexperience with this world was shown, once Runa finally broke the silence they'd both been holding.

[color=violet]"Well, apparently that's the reason we're here in the first place. Or so I've been told. But Mad Wolf or not, to be driven by the desire to kill and devour is something I can't understand. And I don't want to understand it, either. Everytime I try to think about it, it leaves me feeling empty inside. I've never heard of a desire that's left someone feeling empty by the time they've reached it."[/color] Thomas was slightly aware of how naive he probably sounded, but he couldn't help it. Not when he'd put so much into desire. After all, at the core of it all, that's what kept on driving him forward, as Runa had noted before. And ironically, it seemed, at the moment, like the one thing that connected him to the Mad Wolf herself.

[color=ed145b]”So you have been told, hm?”[/color], Runa asked the boy after carefully listening to what he had to say as she stood still and motionless. Her eyes directed onto the panorama as she was gaze upon it, and in how she turned her head away from Thomas, her face escaped from his view and it made her voice sound as if coming out of nowhere, surrounding Thomas’s head around in an acoustic illusion as it was to feel for a moment that her voice existed outside of her own body.

[color=ed145b]”Do you know yourself, though? Why are you here, what is your reason? You are no prisoner, none of you are. There should be something of a passion to lead you here - and that passion has of much similarity with a desire to fulfil a lingering hunger. Am I right? What drives you?”[/color], she asked again, her face turning back to meet Thomas’s eyes and as if by some force the illusion of her voice ringing from nowhere and all around at the same time disappeared and it was again to come out of her mouth: [color=ed145b]”There is an answer to that question that you hide even from yourself. A sin, perhaps”[/color]. 

The demon tilted her head left and right as if trying to measure a thought appearing in her head with some invisible set of weights before speaking up again: “[color=ed145b]Mad Wolf’s hunger is of no bestial, despite her name. The madness of hers is just an ultimate conclusion of her nature.[/color]”

Thomas flinched, a hand reflexively shooting up to hold his head as Runa's voice seemed to echo within his mind, bouncing around the inside of his head. He quickly adjusted to it though, dropping that hand back down to his side as he seriously considered the words Runa spoke to him. In fact, the more he listened, the more it sounded like he was asking himself those questions instead of the girl next to him. And then, just like that, the echoing stopped once she turned back to him, though no dramaticism was lost in the nature of what was being said and asked to him. He even ignored the subsequent mention of Nephy as he took a moment to think on his answer. 

It wasn't a difficult answer to find though, and when he found the words for it they tumbled out of his mouth like he'd been waiting to say them to someone ever since he'd appeared in the Tower itself.

[color=violet]"I [i]don't[/i] know myself, that's my reason for being here! I thought I might have in the past, but lately more and more I've been doubting if I do know who I am. It's like I'm stuck in limbo, between being nobody and being myself... If I am here because of some kind of sin, I don't know about it. Not yet, that's for sure."[/color] There was an intensity to his look and voice when the words spilled from his mouth. There was genuine frustration there, frustration that was held back by his meek and quiet nature, but frustration none the less. Frustration brought on by uncertainty and confusion. And even a little fear. He seemed to calm down eventually though, regaining his composure as he finished speaking.

It was then when both would hear the horrendous cry that ripped through the air, bellowing somewhere away from their position but close enough to be heard clearly. 


Runa remained as she was - static and motionless as she was to listen for what Thomas had to tell her, and more than just listening, she was observing over what he had to express beside the words spoken: his body language, the tone of his voice, the aura around him and the energy she was to give out and put into the speech. The confusion, reflected not only in his mind but also in his eyes. She looked all over Thomas, pondering over something, waiting for him to finish.

[color=ed145b]”I see”[/color], she said - her attempt to speak further was disturbed by a sudden shriek to appear and echo through the land, vibrating in the air like a cold wind it was to bring in with itself. Belonged to somebody - or something - far away from them, but still enough for the pitch of that shriek to be felt by ears and skin like a sharp blade cutting through. 

The demon remained unamused though. She did not react to it anyhow and only huffed out of slight annoyance as her speech was cut out by that sound. She looked up at Thomas after that again and shook her head with a smile again: [color=ed145b]”Don’t be bothered by it. It is a yell of none of our concern - asi it is just local fauna. Be it that it appears your friends will deal with it, they are more than capable.”[/color] 

She said and glanced at the distance again, where the cloud emerged and formed and started to appear closer and in greater density, as it felt to be seen more shrinked, and somewhat more filling in its presence. Runa then gave a light nod to the road before them and addressed Thomas: “[color=ed145b]I propose you and I take a little walk here now. As we have other things on our hands[/color]”, she said and stepped down the road which led out of the fortification area and into the wastelands.

Just when the boy thought he'd finally get an answer, some clarification, or indeed anything of the sort, a sudden interruption came. Though Runa seemed to not be affected by it in the slightest, it made Thomas jolt and dart his eyes around them, and down the monstrous caverns where the noise seemed to originate from. His attention snapped back suddenly to Runa as she began to speak again however, but though her explanation helped calm his nerves a little, he couldn't help but stay on edge, especially when she suggested that they wouldn't assist the others in defeating whatever beast had just made its presence known.

He looked to Runa as she began to walk away to a road that led to who-knows-where, as well as that ominous mist getting closer and denser with every second that passed. Then, he looked back in the direction of the fort, where his friends were. And possible enemies, though that he wasn't sure of yet. However, it didn't take him long to also remember the previous battle which had taken not long before. They'd be more than fine without him, in fact for now they'd probably be better off without the boy there to assist. And so, Thomas hastily caught up to Runa on the road, pacing along at her side and taking in the landscape they passed.

[color=violet]"Other things?"[/color] Thomas glanced to Runa with a question.

They both went on through the desolated lands, the lands which held nothing to emerge from them beside the carcasses of broken houses which fell from above, above from the cracked world and flourished through the dead dry sands like a broken flowers; or a body cages ripped open and exposed to whatever contents they have or had. Time, ages of time washed through these carcasses devoiding them of what they were and what they meant to whoever lived in them, to wherever they originally were. A collection of tombstones with no actual signature, no actual sign to be put over them. Anonymous, they spoke of great tragedy, great life which one was, great loss which once happened, but to whose cries they were dedicated to, nothing was told. Nothing was spoken. 

Runa guided Thomas through the alleyways and streets formed by these chaotically put ruins, a city formed out of the city that was long gone. Runa remained silent for some time as she guided Thomas along through the debris, guiding further and seemingly closer to that hovering hungry cloud, lingering above. 

[color=ed145b]”So you are here because you want to understand what you are looking for. You yearn for understanding of what drives you, by driving yourself further in that search - but wouldn’t it do the opposite? Wouldn’t your search for what would be your desire just pull you away from that desire?”[/color], Runa asked Thomas as they went on, “[color=ed145b]Do you know what creates a doubt, Thomas? Inability to take action. It may be what you can’t do because of the world around you, or.. because of what you want to hide from yourself as this desire appears intoxicating. In the age of great despair the doubt is collected like this debris around us, it serves its goal only once you can make it into your weapon or your shield; but otherwise it just fills the emptiness you are roaming through. And does nothing.[/color]”

Thomas was more than happy with the silence. He just observed the surroundings as they went by, letting his mind fill with images of what once was and what could've been, as opposed to this drab and desolate stretch of land. That didn't mean it didn't have its own intrigue to it though, it was like wandering through a broken civilisation. A place ground to dust by the harsh boot of time.

His attitude didn't change once Runa began to speak again though, but the boy was clearly thinking about what his new companion was saying. 

[color=violet]"I think I don't have much of a choice at this point, whether I search for it or not. If the Tower's brought me here like it's brought the others here, there must be some purpose to everything I'm doing. There's an answer to who I am somewhere and somehow I'm gonna find it. But sometimes it just feels like I'm running in circles, every possible answer just leads to more questions, and then... yeah, doubt."[/color] As opposed to earlier, the words came from Thomas' mouth much more gradually this time, as though he had to think about every syllable before he vocalised it.

[color=violet]"Why're you asking all this though?"[/color] The boy queried, looking again to Runa. It had only occurred to him just now, but it seemed strange that of all the people in the group, Runa was asking him these things, rather than anyone of the others. Was it purely coincidence, or was there something else?

[color=ed145b]”If there is anything lying waiting for you as an answer to the fact that you have been brought here, Thomas; it is something opposite to the purpose. If you are to follow the path set before you, by something you have put your faith in, you end up here. In this place, in the age of despair where there are no answers but the coldness of death following you. Which is exactly what your situation is now. Otherwise we would not be talking.”[/color], Runa continued as she and Thomas went on, skipping past the broken constructions laid before them in grotesque forms and shapes, [color=ed145b]”You seek answers in the wrong places. From the wrong deities.”[/color]

They approached a slightly tilted building which once was a tower but now laid flat in the ground. It was somewhat reshaped from its original structure to look like a barricade of sorts, with a set of stairs to be set against its walls to be able to climb up to them. Even put horizontally, the structure remained tall and would give a great view once they were to climb up.

[color=ed145b]”I am not. I am answering the questions you are asking me. You are asking for what you are, but this is not what you should seek. Your existence is what you are moving towards, what you yearn to grasp for, to take, to give. Your existence is a war against what you consider the image of yourself, that image being a prison of expectations - and your attempt to create a confirmation of that image is what drives you away from your actual desire and extinguishes the flames of your war.”[/color], Runa’s speech continued as the tone of her voice became somewhat cheered up, despite the heavy words of hers.

[color=ed145b]”Let’s get up there”[/color], she said and grabbed at the ladder, starting to climb up the barricade. 

Though he didn't exactly want to hear what Runa was telling him it's not like she had a reason to lie to him, so he took those words to heart. And the more he thought about it, staying in complete silence as he did, the more he realised she was correct. And though it maybe didn't explain everything he could've and should've known, what had already been said was enough for the boy to deal with and internalise for now. 

He kept his eyes down towards the ground until the two made a stop in front of a very large, fallen tower. Something Thomas found ever so slightly ironic in this situation. The boy still didn't say anything though, he just listened still, just following along behind the Abyss' resident tour guide while she began to climb up a ladder to the top of the fallen building; which he was beginning to notice seemed to have been repurposed for some other kind of use. For what and by whom though, Thomas wasn't sure. It was an interesting side-thought though, amongst a crowd of other thoughts in his mind pertaining to Runa's words. He decided not to look around as the two got further and further up the ladder, wanting to save the view completely for the top once they'd hopefully reach it.

It was then the smell of pizza reached their noses.

Once they climbed up the tower turned barricared a grand panorama of the Abyss wasteland was once again to be presented to both Runa and Thomas; now though unlike their time in the fort the said panorama lied closer before their eyes, and in so paradoxically enough it felt to the senses more spacious and more massive, taking almost entire space of the view before them for their gaze to capture, consuming over, only a tilt of blue above that wasteland to indicate the skies - or rather what the Abyss had instead of it - the curved and dense layer of impenetrable hint of blue to cover over the static and motionless land.

Once they were to climb up the ladder and set their feet on the ground of the barricade’s made floro, Thomas would spot the mentioned parasitic cloud to draw closer to them - the grey flickering fog would now not appear as dense as it was in the distance and through the hilt of grey the boy - as well as the demon beside him - could spot various pieces floating in that density of mist, spinning around like if slowly being pulled towards the center of it; amidst these pieces were various objects and their parts, be it rocks and floating sand, pieces of buildings, as well as pieces and parts of local flora and fauna.

It was at that moment when Runa noticed a very strange and specific smell to reach her nose - one of food but she could not wrap her head of what origin it was.

[color=ed145b]“Peculiar. Anyhow, Thomas. Tell me. Is there anything that you hate?”[/color]

[color=violet]"Huh?"[/color] Thomas exclaimed, turning to Runa in surprise after that question. Almost like he was taken aback by the idea of even hating something or someone in the first place. Meanwhile the mist drew ever-closer, its shape and the clarity of what laid within it becoming clearer and clearer, only adding to the boy's surprise of what was going on around him. The wafting scent of pizza probably didn't help either, confusing Thomas further for a few seconds before he decided it was probably something unrelated. 

[color=violet]"I... I don't think so..."[/color] Though as he took some time to consider the question and regain some composure, Thomas began to doubt those words. He wasn't sure what, but it felt like he did the deeper he dove into his feelings. Like some instinctual fury towards something or someone. He considered Nephy for a moment, but the boy quickly realised this feeling had nothing to do with the samurai. [color=violet]"Actually... now I'm not so sure."[/color] Thomas said, retracting his previous, and less thought out, response. 

[color=violet]"There's something within me that feels like hatred, though I'm not sure. And I don't know who or what I feel it to. It's just... there. Eating away at me the more I think about it, it's almost frustrating to think about."[/color] The boy clenched a fist as though to emphasise his last point, looking back out to the oncoming tornado-like swirl of fog. It sort of visualised the emotion Thomas had found: a mysterious force eating away at its container, sucking everything in its path in and bending them to its will.

Runa observed Thomas silently, looking into his eyes, observing his face and listening carefully to the voice of his, to the words he was to say. The blunt question resulted in a reaction staggered at first, a staggered denial which would soon sip out more of what Thomas has in both his mind and soul. Runa meanwhile leaned over the clunky fence which was made on the edge of the barricade waiting for Thomas to gather up his thoughts, to express them, to find right words for them. 
A silence rose for a moment in between of them as Runa allowed for the words spoken to slowly lay over in the tensed up air.

[color=ed145b]”I know you do. You can not not to, or you would not be here as well. It is not a matter of why you are here, if you are a mere adventurer or you are a prisoner. This land of ruin, age of  despair. Hate lingers within you. And this is good”[/color]

Runa said and with a smile she twisted her hand a little and air started to flicker around her hand, flickers would shade out light and shadows, casting them in a manner alien for an eye to look at, before stretching into a pole in Runa’s hand to form and further to shape into her spear now held firm in her hand. 

“[color=ed145b]Told to you that your life is to take a direction of morality, you are to become a prisoner of such expectations - an image of yourself is created for you to stay in confirmation for it, impossible to leave it. You are to remain a prisoner of this image and in so, you become a puppet of your doppelganger which is not yours to begin with. A mere copy to hold your war from coming out. To make you lose the sense of what you are. But hate never leaves, Thomas[/color]”

Runa leaned over to the boy with a smile: [color=ed145b]”Hate is always in your heart. It is a beast roaming your soul and the more you try to ignore it, the more rabid it becomes. More it eats away at you with doubt, because this beast? It is a beast of action, it is a beast of motion. No purpose given to it, makes it to gnaw on its own tongue, your tongue, Thomas. You are held down by these chains of expectations, of what you are in eyes of others, but it is only this beast of hate which will guide you through the world.”[/color]

Runa said and offered the boy her spear.

[color=ed145b]”Wage war to what you hate Thomas, wage it and you will never lose the sight of who you are, because in this war you will find destination and strength to reach it. The beast will release you from the chains of the trap you are in now.”[/color], she said and pointed towards the center of the fog - a spherical shape of mirrored surface was to be seen through the spinning objects and the fog covering it. 

[color=ed145b]”This is the Eater of Dreams. At least how we call it. The sphere in its center is its heart, its pulse and its eye as well. Kill it, Thomas. Imagine what you hate the most at the place of this eye and throw the spear at it. It is the only way to get rid of that parasite.”[/color]

She said with a smile and added quickly: “[color=ed145b]Don’t be afraid to miss. I can summon my spear back in that case[/color]”

Thomas watched with fascination as the spear took form in Runa's hand, manifesting just like his own weapon did, if not with a little more style and visual appeal to it. He listened still with intent to Runa's words first and foremost though, relating what she said with himself, realising more and more how he identified with them. He didn't need to be held back by what was expected of him, and he didn't need to wait until fulfiling his goal to decide who he was. That was for him to decide. 

He observed the Eater of Dreams as Runa explained it to him. This fog, storm, whatever it was. Given the way he was feeling, and the conversation he and Runa had just had, the name for whatever kind of creature it was seemed all too fitting.

And so he took Runa's spear, giving the guide a nod as he did, and gripped it tight. Though it felt lighter than he'd expected it to, he could feel his wound from earlier respond with a few sharp sparks of pain that coursed around his body when he hefted its weight. The boy then turned to the Eater of Dreams. Its heart was all that remained at least somewhat motionless as the mist it influenced expanded further around it with rapid swirling movements. But Thomas didn't need to pay attention to any of that. All he needed was the heart.

Thomas took a step forward, closing his eyes and hurriedly muttering to himself the words that Runa had spoken to him moments prior, only occasionally speaking clear enough to be heard properly, [color=violet]"...prisoner of this image... hate never leaves... beast of action... chains of expectations... wage war to what you hate... imagine..."[/color]

He took a deep breath. It was clear the words had made an impact on him, and not just in this moment. This wasn't just for this battle, if you could even call it that. It was for a completely different battle, one he'd inadvertently started with himself. In silence, he raised the spear up above his shoulder, eyes still closed and relaxed. He dug down until he found that feeling again, the hatred buried within him, letting it surface until he could visualise it in his mind's eye. At first, it was a familiar face: Nephy. But as the feeling grew stronger, her image was replaced by another one. His eyes. Just his eyes. And, when it felt as though Thomas couldn't let that feeling bubble up anymore, his eyes snapped open to break that image. He stepped forward, eyes sharply looking straight ahead, and with a yell, no, a roar, the boy hurled the spear at its target. That wasn't all though. For, as the boy looked up to check the spear's course, he caught an image within the mirrored surface of the Eater of Dreams' heart. Another face. One that looked much like his own, one with violet eyes. It was him, but... at the same time it wasn't. However, before he could peer closer, the spear pierced right through the spherical core, shattering it and the image with it with an immense crash.

The spear pierced through the mirrored reflection with ease, slicing through it like a knife would through the piece of butter, shattering and killing the image of the face which was reflected on it by Thomas’s will. Pierced through, the spear flew further into the distance to disappear in the wasteland leaving the now cracked orb in the middle of the spinning storm to crack more and further more, to then completely shatter into shards which got caught in the force that made all the of objects in the fog to move; and in so moved together with them themselves, mixing in the density of the cloud. 

The more they spun however, the more dense and compressed the fog became - it was clear to the eye that whatever “energy” was this monster’s “life” started to collapse and in so it grew more dysfunctional: the spinning pieces were to get closer and closer to now empty center where the orb was hanging, and with it the dense clouds followed as well, squeezing into that empty place, as if trying to fill out the space which was once the center of things, but now held nothing in it. The things were gathering up into that empty center in a dire attempt to form a sphere, fog compressed started to shake the air around itself - and the sound of that force gathering in no way to hold the way it used to be started to reach Runa’s and Thomas’s ears with a low humming drone which was to fill their senses with a motion of dread to come. 
It looked like it was going to explode. 

And then the raindrop fell onto Thomas’s head. And then on Runa’s. The fog compressed in that center of the dying monster, suddenly spread over above the wasteland in a motion rather soft and gentle and poured rain out of itself, washing the dead land and a pair of travellers with a mere water. Objects the monster consumed simply fell onto the ground and scattered over it, while the rain was calmly watering over the barricade and Runa with Thomas standing over, soaking through their hair and clothes, the sound of the raindrops tapping on the roofs and walls of the broken buildings echoed through the desert.

[color=ed145b]“Here is the storm at last. Relieving, isn’t it?”[/color], the demon said, summoning her spear back to appear in her hand and then to disappear again as she did not need it anymore at this moment. She stood still for a second or two more, enjoying the sensation of the water pouring over her face. Slowly she opened her eyes again and with a smile offered Thomas to go down the barricade.

[color=ed145b]”Time to go back. I’ve picked up a peculiar smell, coming from the fort, something of a food. Might be your friends got something to eat. Let’s not deny ourselves a good meal”[/color], the demon said and made her way down the ladder.[/hider]