[b]Eclair Espoir![/b]

You have, naturally, retreated to the facilities when you receive word from Hazel Valentine Fletcher, asking for your aid. I should like to think that this is an impulse that is common among the Knights; when your shield must be adjusted to face the world, seek a secluded room where everyone is alike in their vulnerability. A place where you can inspect yourself in the mirror, can make small adjustments, can see how the world sees you and make it fit with how you should very much like to be seen. There's an impulse there that I can respect.

This is not a retreat, except in the strategic sense. It is fortifying yourself for what is to come.

But then, ah. A quest. Something to distract yourself with, avoiding the smiles of adoring children and the applause of those who unknowingly still hunt you, for just a little while longer. A damsel in distress has called for your aid; a princess in a tower, if you will. And being a knight, you know just how to answer.

[hr]
[b]Yuki Edogawa![/b]

Aadya barely apologizes as she pulls you from the grasp of Walking Elm. There is a much bigger trouble to be concerned about.

She needs a battle sister to deal with the Dark Dragon.

"Sayanastia," she says, summoning her heartglaive; behind the two of you, Paladins block off the dance floor. There is distress, confusion, but they know their duty to protect the innocent and defend Civelia. If you squint, and you're not good at recognizing aprons, there's not so much difference between them and the Knights of the Aurora - thus, the professional rivalries. Well, one source of the professional rivalries. "Dark Dragon. Going for [i]Hazel.[/i]"

Do you need much more prompting? Look at this absolutely [i]unhinged[/i] woman, fending off three paladins at once; on the floor lies Civelia, the goddess of civilization herself. You might not be the hero this time around, but that doesn't stop the impulse to do the right thing, now does it?

[hr]
[b]Sayanastia![/b]

The thing about heartblades is that they're very good against [i]you[/i] in particular, and other things of the Outside. Where there is nothing, let there be something; let that something fill you up, however briefly, and shine.

Three paladins? This is a joke. This should be a joke, rather- but when you fend off one, in comes another at your blind spot.

A thrust. Righteous anger fills you.
A cut. Controlled fear fills you.
A slice. Confused attraction fills you.

And they bleed away - of course they bleed away - but the residue remains.

As a group, take [b]Frightened[/b], the lot of you. This is frightening, isn't it? Not just to be struck, but to watch Sayanastia stagger and yet keep going, relentless, only to be faced with a bright-eyed girl in a silver dress. She shines. She sparkles.

She's a little like Heron, isn't she?

[hr]
[b]Hazel![/b]

Rejoice! You shall be saved. Not just from Sayanastia- don't worry about that, unless she decides that she will let absolutely nothing stand in her way in order to seize you, which she'd [i]better not[/i]- but from the impish fashion choices of those two lovely girls. Between you and me, they're prettier than anyone else at the ball, aren't they? Not that you'd have them in mind as suitors, goodness no, but... there's something there, isn't there?

I should very much like for you to be assailed by thoughts of such nature until Eclair's arrival. Come now, you can tell me, don't be shy: is it the way that Keli swishes her curves, or the way that Seli's eyes gleam when she has you right where she wants you, [i]Master~?[/i]