Nina is silent for a moment, less than satisfied with the answer. In the end, though, she is no less ignorant than Alto. It's obvious that Mizuki is busy trying to thwart a threat of some kind, likely from this Note sender, but she can't guess much beyond that.
'I am the one who told him to worry about the Note's author less, insisting that we had little to fear with our strength. Was I wrong?'
Here at the other end of the world, relegated to some damsel role by her own mate, she can't help but feel more powerless than when she was the weakest of the Elder Dragons. Unwillingness boils within her...as well as disdain. Disdain for her apparent weakness, sure, but more than that for her arrogance. No...that's not quite right either.
She is a dragon...an Elder dragon, a de facto god of this mortal world. She should be arrogant, proud. She shouldn't be bending to the will of others. So, what is it that she feels disdain for inside herself?
'My...complacency...'
Yes, that's it...that is where she's invited shame upon herself. Why? Because she's been proven weak time and time again, and yet she's done nothing herself to fix it. How many times has she been too lazy to bother learning Mizuki's strange magic, even though he's offered to teach her? Even though it's clear how powerful it could make her?
After all, she has almost ten thousand times Alto's magic power, and a far more durable body even in her human form. Yet, if she's honest with herself...doesn't Alto stand a chance of killing her if the studious little elf put her mind to it? Not in a traditional sparring match, of course, but...under real life situations? If Alto was just out there somewhere, lurking and intent on killing her, she can't say it wouldn't make her nervous. Invisibility, magical senses, silent long-range magic, unseen forcefields – Alto is a versatile adversary, because of Mizuki's teachings.
What if she'd accepted that training herself? With her magic power, Mizuki's told her she'd be able to teleport herself roughly across the Elven Kingdom and back in an instant. With that advantage alone, would Ciri have been able to outpace her that night? Almost certainly not.
What if she also learned how to turn invisible? Sense others' presences without sight? Use every type of spell or interfere with an adversary's very spell casting ability? Wouldn't she be able to overpower Ciri, even now? Instead, despite being one of only three people on Azura able to learn Mizuki's magic secrets, she's squandered the opportunity and crippled her own potential.
And today, she's collecting her "prize" for that laziness...unworthy to help her own mate against a powerful threat, forced to aimlessly flee like some helpless prey.
"I am entirely too weak..." (Alto)
For a moment, she's jarred by the words that could have just as easily come from her own mouth, if she was capable of speech. Instead, she's surprised to realize they came from Alto, sitting on her back with an expression she recognizes as self-loathing. Perhaps given her own train of thought, she instinctively understands where Alto's sentiments are coming from.
[You have trained more than any of us...there is little more you could have done. In all of Azura, I doubt there are more than a dozen beings who you'd fall in battle against. If you had my magic power, only Mizuki would be your better.] (Nina)
Contrary to her expectations, Alto's face only darkens, her voice hardening.
"Yes, despite all my efforts, I'm still little more than a liability...born weaker than all the rest of you. I...hate it...that I can just lose what I-..." (Alto)
Alto stops herself, her voice heavy with a bitterness that stuns Nina momentarily. After a moment of silence, Alto collects herself, her tone calmer.
"I need to get stronger...there has to be a way to overcome my magic capacity. I refuse to be forced into this situation again." (Alto)
The declaration ushers in a somber silence over their high-speed flight, Alto seemingly deep in thought with a steely expression, and Nina making her own quiet resolutions. Suddenly...
[Nina, are you two okay?] (Mizuki)
The sound of Mizuki's voice echoing in her head nearly makes her drop out of the air, her wings briefly faltering.
[Mizuki!? Yes, we're both fine! Are you okay!? What happened!?] (Nina)
Though she can tell he's relieved by her answer, she also feels complicated emotions emanating from him.
[I'm fine, but...it's a long story. Slow down and land...I'll be there with Ilina soon.] (Mizuki)
Eager to see him again and get some answers, she quickly begins her descent. On her back, Alto has sensed the sudden disruption in her previously smooth flight, speaking in an alarmed tone.
"Nina, what is it? What happened?" (Alto)
[It's Mizuki...he told me to land so he can meet up with us.] (Nina)
Alto's voice raises, both her excitement and concern evident.
"Mizuki? Is he okay? Did he say what happened?" (Alto)
[He's okay, but he didn't say anything else.] (Nina)
Moments later, they're on the ground, Nina in her human form once again. Both of them are glancing around, clearly on edge. Then, Mizuki suddenly suddenly appears in front of them, Ilina hugged against his side. Seeing them, he smiles, relief evident in his expression.
"Good, I-...hngh!?" (Mizuki)
THUMP!
Before he can even get his thoughts out, he's tackled into the ground by a blonde, elven projectile. Nina's eyes widen in surprise, taking in the sight of Alto sprawled on top of Mizuki, arms gripping him tightly, head buried in his chest.
Mizuki initially looks bewildered, then sighs guiltily, resting his hand on Alto's head. His voice softens, and he glances between Alto and Nina with an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry I didn't have time to explain before..." (Mizuki)
Alto lifts her head slightly, but doesn't release him.
"We've already figured out that the Note's sender was spying on us, and you thought we were in danger. What we want to know now is what you've been doing since you teleported us here." (Alto)
His eyes widen in surprise, looking to Nina for confirmation. She nods. Ilina, who just barely managed to avoid being tackled along with Mizuki, interjects in a troubled voice.
"He came to save me from Ciri...she showed up at the palace unannounced and blew through all the guards to find me. What's this about the Note's sender?" (Ilina)
Nina blinks, thrown by the news, then she swears under her breath.
'Dammit, Ciri...are you insane!?'
A pang of guilt assaults her chest, feeling responsible for the trouble this no doubt caused Mizuki and Ilina, even if everything seems like it was resolved. She glances between Mizuki and Ilina nervously.
"I am sorry, Mizuki...Ilina...this-" (Nina)
Ilina waves dismissively, cutting her off.
"It's fine, Nina. Mizuki forgave you immediately, and...I suppose I'm mostly over your transgression at this point as well. After all, I did get something in the bargain." (Ilina)
Ilina smiles smugly as she says the last part, glancing towards Mizuki absentmindedly. However, seeing him still lying on the ground under Alto, her expression stutters for a moment, before twisting into a frown.
"Alto...you can get off now." (Ilina)
Hearing Ilina's measured tone, Nina has to suppress the urge to chuckle. Similarly, she notices Mizuki wearing an exasperated smile, clearly resigned to Ilina's new normal. As for Alto, she slowly turns her head towards Ilina, staring at her in silence for a moment, expressionless. When she responds, her voice is flat.
"No thank you." (Alto)
The rest of them blink, taken aback by the uncharacteristic response. Mizuki in particular gives Alto a bewildered look.
"Alto...?" (Mizuki)
She studies his face in silence for a moment.
"You're so comfy, and I spent days on that research, barely resting. I'm quite tired..." (Alto)
Guilt flashes across his face, and Nina faintly senses his gravity magic activating. He inexplicably rises from the ground to his feet in cartoonish fashion, back and legs straight, cradling Alto against him the whole time. He smiles apologetically.
"Sorry, Alto, I didn't think about that..." (Mizuki)
Nearby, Ilina's expression turns dissatisfied, her eyes studying Alto skeptically for a few moments before she scoffs and glances at Mizuki, her voice a bitter whisper.
"I also helped...every spare second I wasn't planning our wedding, amidst my already busy schedule as Princess..." (Ilina)
Mizuki's expression grows more strained, and Nina feels a wave of concern from him. He reaches his free arm towards Ilina, pulling her over to him and hugging her against his spare side tightly. Ilina's lips twist into a satisfied smile.
As for Nina, she just watches the whole display with a bewildered expression, processing her mounting curiosity about it all. For starters, while she sensed that everything Alto said to Mizuki was true, it was also clear to her that Alto was deceitful somehow. That fact is...strange, to her. She can only think of one other time that Alto has ever exuded deceit like that towards Mizuki, and it was just earlier today.
Her lips twist into a small, amused smile, her eyes studying Alto as she continues to cling to Mizuki with a content expression. She directs a private, telepathic message at Alto.
[That's twice now I've sensed you deceiving him, Alto...your statement just now, and when you were sitting on him earlier on the couch. I hope you don't think that such things go unnoticed in my presence.] (Nina)
It's subtle, but she catches Alto's face stiffen ever so slightly, before a pair of pale blue eyes cut to her surreptitiously. Naturally, Alto can't respond to her, but she doesn't need her to either. She's sure someone of the little elf's intelligence will understand that Nina expects an explanation soon, lest she share her concerns with Mizuki.
Nina's thoughts are interrupted by a pair of mesmerizing emerald eyes meeting hers, warm and curious. She blinks, noting the playful smile on Mizuki's face as he looks at her.
"Have I been ungrateful towards you, too, Nina?" (Mizuki)
His tone suggests he's joking, but she can also sense genuine concern through their Bond. She smirks at him good-naturedly, and shakes her head.
"No, I am not as...well, Ilina-like." (Nina)
She uses her own gravity magic to float over to him at eye level, avoiding the obstacles of Ilina and Alto, and plants a soft kiss on his lips. When she pulls away, his eyes are watching her appreciatively. At that moment, though, she remembers what she was told earlier and her expression turns solemn. She meets his gaze hesitantly, her voice morbidly curious.
"The incident with Ciri...is she dead?" (Nina)
She notices Alto perk up at her question, while Ilina just frowns disapprovingly. Mizuki's expression turns conflicted.
"No, but...the situation is complicated. We should discuss this back at the royal palace...everyone is waiting for us there." (Mizuki)
Nina feels a slight twinge of relief at hearing that Ciri wasn't killed. Alto interjects, her voice curious.
"Who is 'everyone'?" (Alto)
Ilina frowns, her voice mildly annoyed.
"Those that Mizuki is 'close' with in the Kingdom, since he's worried about the Note sender's intentions. Apparently that's us, my parents, Alara and Alyse, Percivil...Cara. Plus, that degenerate dragon..." (Ilina)
Mizuki's face pales slightly, giving the frowning Ilina a pleading look. Nina raises her eyebrows.
"What about Zara and those humans?" (Nina)
He nods.
"We checked on all of them discreetly, and they seem fine, so I left them be for now. The Note sender seems focused on me and Alto, and they haven't acted overtly outside the Kingdom yet. Plus, Zara is busy, and Levi's crew isn't exactly welcome in the royal palace. Unfortunately, it's just not reasonable of me to insist on constantly watching over every individual I know personally..." (Mizuki)
There's a faint bitterness to his voice, and Nina notices his words eliciting a strange expression on Alto's face. She forces an encouraging smile, opting to change the subject.
"Well, I'm sure those present are wholly sufficient to make this entertaining...shall we go?" (Nina)