Archer's gaze narrowed at the retreating creature, and his arm cocked back as if he were preparing to throw the card.  A faint glimmer ran through the array on the top of his hand.  After a moment he seemed to reconsider, and with a flick, the card disappeared.  The corners of his lips twisted into a frown as he gazed off at the departing creature in quiet contemplation.  Such a visceral reaction.  Could mean that it had experienced some kind of trauma from someone whose name or aspect carried similar weight.  It vastly narrowed his list of suspects.  He sighed and turned back towards the group, rolling his eyes as he caught Zolya's expression.  Yue just watched with a haunted look.

[b][color=#c45302]"Don't get too attached, it's very likely I'll get called upon to put it down,"[/color][/b] he muttered.  [b][color=#c45302]"She's a special case,"[/color][/b] he quipped vaguely, addressing Zolya.  [b][color=#c45302]"I do more than just hide her, though admittedly it's been increasingly difficult to keep a lid on that crazy signature of hers.  No solution is perfect, but thankfully it's not up to me to choose anymore,"[/color][/b] he sighed, with a small air of relief.

[b][color=#c45302]"I agree with Raudd, actually."[/color][/b]

[b][color=#CE2B95]"No!!  Someone needs to tell me what the fuck is going on right. NOW!"[/color][/b]  Yue punctuated her statement with a stomp.  The thud resonated through the wall, and the ripple of force shook dust off the barrier's surface nearly clear around the settlement.  Archer narrowed a hard look at her.

[b][color=#c45302]"It's not safe to speak about this in the open.  We've said too much already, and if necessary I [i]will[/i] move you,"[/color][/b] Archer replied in that tone of voice he only used when telling someone that no:  It was, in fact, [b]NOT OK[/b] to take the final pastry unless they wanted to lose a limb, because he was saving it for her.  Yue deflated, swallowing the lump in her throat.  Oh.  It's [i]that[/i] kind of serious.

Yue took the talisman numbly without further complaint.  The ride back to Stoneworks was quiet.  Nobody spoke, and though her head was full of thoughts and questions, Yue just rested her head against Archer's back and closed her eyes against the nagging feeling that she was forgetting something.  Archer was always so soft with her.  He always seemed to be exactly where she needed him, and she felt instantly guilty for shutting him out to wallow in her own depression, in spite of the cheerful indifference with which he always insisted that he was fine.

[b][color=#c45302]"Oh stop,"[/color][/b] quipped Archer softly as they trotted towards the Stoneworks, lagging a bit behind the others.  [b][color=#c45302]"I can feel that guilt eating you up from the inside and there's no need for that.  Listen... your whole world is about to get flipped topsy-turvy.  Some stuff is gonna come out and you might feel a lot of things, you might even feel betrayed and I'm sorry.  Just...,"[/color][/b] he sighed, searching for words as they passed through the barrier.  [b][color=#c45302]"I [i]chose[/i] this.  Us.  I'm here to shield you from all the stuff you can't see... so you can keep doing the wonderful things you do for the people who need you.  I'll keep doing that even if you hate me for it,"[/color][/b] he trailed off.

The rest of the ride to the manor was done in silence, and Yue spent the long minutes processing his words as they caught up with the others and got settled.  She couldn't block out the anxiety she felt, like she was arriving to an intervention and everyone was about to whip out heartfelt letters and teary eyes.  Listen... Final Odyssey isn't an addiction... Yue snapped back to the present as Archer began talking.

[b][color=#c45302]"Listen, before I start I want to emphasize that the knowledge we're about to impart on you is [i]dangerous[/i].  There are reasons we don't share it with the uninitiated, and just knowing of its existence is enough to put you in peril."[/color][/b]

[i][color=#CE2B95]Wait...[/color][/i]

[b][color=#c45302]"Many will seek you out claiming to have a gift in one hand, but hold-"[/color][/b]

[i][color=#CE2B95]Wait!  I've heard this before![/color][/i]

[b][color=#CE2B95]"-A curse behind their back,"[/color][/b] Yue blurted out.  [b][color=#CE2B95]"The nature of Aether is shaped by the thoughts and desires of those that wield it; your actions and feelings color it for those that follow.  Only you know the path that is true and right, and asyouwalkthelinebetweentwoworldsasoneofthe- ARE YOU QUOTING FINAL ODYSSEY'S 'THE PERILS OF AETHER' QUESTLINE TO ME?!"[/color][/b]

[b][color=#c45302]"Wh-what?!"[/color][/b]  Archer flustered uncharacteristically.

[b][color=#CE2B95]"Unbelievable,"[/color][/b] quipped Yue as she threw her hands up in the air.

[b][color=#c45302]"Figures that bastard would steal one of my best speeches,"[/color][/b] he muttered, regaining his composure.  [b][color=#c45302]"Maybe Zolya [i]is[/i] better equipped for this after all."[/color][/b]