[b]Sayanastia![/b]

It is time to leave.

The thought applies itself across the surface of Sayanastia's mind, light left by Heron bending its way around her thoughts. She has no plan and no objective; Rurik unleashed her to cause a distraction, and now he has fallen to an enchanted sleep. She is surrounded by superior foes. The environment has shifted to blunt the effect of her weapon. She has provoked a deadly foe into revealing a hidden ability. There is nothing to gain here and everything to lose. It is time to take Rurik and leave.

She can't. She can't.

She has never fled before. Every remotely comparable situation was other people fleeing from her. Heron fled from her often, avoiding conflict until she was ready. She is aware that the maneuver is useful but she still cannot conceptualize it. She has stretched herself so much recently. She has used a sword. She has used disposable weapons. She has gone so far from herself she can scarcely recognize herself, and now the world asks her to change again? She can't do it. She couldn't do any more character development today. Not without anyone to push her or guide her. The light blurred around the edge of the void of her mind and she relaxed back into herself. 

She does not move forwards. She does not move back. She sets her feet over the sleeping Rurik, and stands immobile. She shall break or the world shall break itself against her. She is ready for her final stand[1]

[1] Though it would be a relief if nobody took her up on it. If everyone else retreated and left her the field by default. She knows how bad Heron's swordplay becomes in each new cycle, and she imagines that she is already in a vast skill deficit given how many times she has died without ever investing in improvement. To perish here would no doubt increase the debt of experience before she can even rise to baseline competence.