[color=95A5A6][b]> Grab her arm again. <[/b][/color]

[hr]

	Aika only managed to take one more step toward the riser between the ground and platform, when your hand seized her wrist once again. She stuttered in that step and shot a uncharacteristically sharp leer at you over her shoulder, lifting her arm in a similarly sharp motion to wrench it free of your grasp. However, you were set on disallowing this, and maintained your grip. [color=7ea7d8]"I said let me go,"[/color] she restated with more emphasis. Your rebuttal was equally filled with agitation, as you sought to remind her of the dangers here. [color=95A5A6]"Are you trying to get yourself killed? Stop for one second and just think this through,"[/color] you urged her to caution. Unfortunately, she seemed unswayed, shaking her head against your advice. [color=7ea7d8]"I told you, this is why I'm here, I'm not leaving empty handed,"[/color] her eyes met yours with a determined glint. [color=7ea7d8]"Now let me go!"[/color] You couldn't help but shake your head in disbelief. [color=95A5A6]"Listen to yourself! Who just strolls up to a dragon and tries to gut out its heart?"[/color]

	[color=7ea7d8]"I told you, he's dead!"[/color]

	[color=95A5A6]"You said 'maybe.' If this is one of the most powerful dragons of the First Era, I wouldn't be surprised if- I dunno- maybe it's some kind of trick or trap?"[/color]

	[color=7ea7d8]"Do you really think he'd let us get even this close? Look at him. He's not even breathing."[/color]

	[color=95A5A6]"All right, maybe not the big scary dragon that needed an army to fell and there's only two of us, of course."[/color] You rolled your eyes with sarcasm. [color=95A5A6]"But why not be as careful as possible, right? This place was build to seal Zorkuth away, forever, presumably. If I was going to hollow out the top of an entire mountain for the sole purpose of preventing one of the most dangerous dragons in history from escaping, I think I'd wanna make sure nobody else gets in either. Just in case some old wizard across the country side wanted- oh I dunno- his heart!?"[/color] You would have thrown both arms up in the air, but with one occupied restraining the woman you were hired to find and escort alive, only one hand would suffice for expressive gesticulation. As your posture calmed down, your free hand pinched your brow, baffled that you needed to argue against such wanton recklessness. [color=95A5A6]"What- what does he need this dragon heart for, anyway?"[/color]

	Your reasoning seemed to calm Aika down as well, she no longer tugged to escape your hold. She didn't look convinced, but she also didn't look like she'd take off the moment you released her. With some kind of understanding reached, you slowly unfurled your fingers from around her wrist, which she then coddled in her other hand to rub away the soreness of your tight grasp. [color=7ea7d8]"I... That's..."[/color] she hesitated to answer, finally choosing not to. [color=7ea7d8]"That's not for you to know."[/color] As you looked up at her again, you could see a deeper worry in her eyes, one that sunk further down than the concerns of magical or mechanical traps, or even the prospect of a dragon's trick to ambush two simple travelers. There was also the worry that you wouldn't take kindly to such an answer, one that you made sure she was right about.

	[color=95A5A6]"Excuse me?"[/color] You could feel your skin of your cheeks heating against the frigid air. [color=95A5A6]"[i]My[/i] reason for being here is to bring [i]you[/i] back to your master. [i]Alive.[/i] He never mentioned anything about toying with dragons on the top of the world, but if it's a danger to both you [i]and myself[/i], I think I deserve to know what's really going on here,"[/color] you justified yourself and finished with a crossing of your arms and one final statement. [color=95A5A6]"I don't care what you were hired to do here, I won't let it get in the way of what I'm here for, which is both of our wellbeings. If your boss really wants this heart, why did he send [i]only you?[/i] What in Atros is so important that he's willing to send you on a suicide mission?"[/color]

	Aika seemed to emotionally crumple under your verbal barrage, shaking her head to let loose her building adrenaline and anxiety before snapping back at you. [color=7ea7d8]"This is [i]not[/i] a suicide mission! I know what I'm doing, and I don't need to explain myself to you! My master trusts me, and one slip-up and fall isn't going to change that!"[/color] After her explosion, her shoulders slumped and she let out a tense breath. [color=7ea7d8]"Look, I appreciate your help so far, really I do. But this?"[/color] she turned and cast her gaze upon Zorkuth, who still hadn't budged this whole time. [color=7ea7d8]"This is far too important. I need- I mean- he needs this. So,"[/color] she turned back to you, that deeper concern still in her eye. [color=7ea7d8]"Either help me or stay out of my way."[/color]

[hr]

[color=95A5A6]
	• "All right, I'll help."

	• "Fine, you're on your own then."

	• "Wait. We should get reinforcements in case this proves too dangerous."

	• "No. I'm taking you back to your master."

[/color]