"So what will you do?" The voice asked, and Vilhelm sighed, looking down at the blade in his hands, eyelids heavy.
"I don't know… I can't kill Aerendyl. Not strong enough."
"A homunculus took his arm off. He's powerful, but he's arrogant."
"Arrogant, and he gave me everything. I won't… I won't betray him."
"Right. You are in charge, after all. Even if you can't remember where I came from… or if Aerendyl really did give you everything."
"Shut up," Vilhelm sighed, leaning back against a column, one leg swinging in the open air, watching the sun begin to rise.
-
Marcus crossed her arms, swallowing, and stared at the training mat in front of her.
How quickly things have changed… guess Lynx isn't going to be coming back, huh? Wonder if I get any claim to how far she's come.
-
Aerendyl stared quietly into the mirror, glancing at the dark bags under his eyes, golden blood dried on his right shoulder still. Sighing, he turned and hauled himself into the shower, turning on the hot water and leaning on the wall, closing his eyes, breathing slowly.
I promised I'd stand behind her no matter what.
I want to be good but I'm not- I'm not, good.
I failed, but… I don't have to stay, failed. Some time taking orders, being held accountable… feeling small… it'll be good for me.
Good for me, right…? Gods, when's the last time I slept for more than a half hour…
Tie your hair up…
Aerendyl moved slowly, sluggishly, and sat down on the floor of the tub once he had, leaning his head back, uncaring if a headache rose later… and let himself drift off, content with the knowledge that the choices of tomorrow were out of his hands. His help would needed, but not his leash.
-
"Hah." A certain brunette man smiled, sitting down at his kitchen table and opening a book, stretching. "Suppose I can still whip up a good story. I think I'll take a break before I begin the next novel- let Lynx have a break from the grandiose events…"
-
"Excuse me- you're gorgeous," A young man laughed, politely waving to a young brunette woman, who stopped, raising an eye suspiciously. "I'm taking photos of the city for the paper- an article on how the average person in Ravenhold lives day to day life. Could I please take some pictures, and ask you a few questions?"
"Of course," The woman, flattered, smiled, and nodded.
"Thank you so much, what's your name?"
"Alexia. Yourself?"
"Elijah- and this is my brother Justin."
"Well met," Alexia smiled. "What do you want to know?"
"Well, how do you feel about recent events, and the formation of Aigis Order?" Eli grinned, eyes twinkling. "I'm a little biased, so I want to hear more opinions."
"Biased? As a journalist?"
"Hey, cut me some slack- I was trapped about a hundred miles underground, and Lynx hauled me to safety. She had every reason to leave me behind, and she didn't. She didn't brag about it… just got me to safety and put my life back in my own hands. Justin's, too."
"It's true," Justin chuckled, looking away awkwardly.
"Well, that is something…" Alexia sighed, nodding. "I think I speak for many when I say that we feel confused, and lost. Contracted Arms is a military that harms us through inaction but would execute me for something simple as robbing a corner store. Elevated offers unity and togetherness- but freedom via submission does not seem like real freedom, does it?"
"Fascinating," Eli smiled. "Do you believe the mission of Aigis Order? Do you believe that Lynx can be different?"
"Does power inevitably corrupt?" Alexia laughed lightly- a musical sort of sound. "We shall have to see if she has the self-control to institute collars around her own neck. As it stands, she is in a position to have all of the power. I want to believe she is different- and certainly, things need to change. I am uncertain how I feel about Aigis Order being part of CA, but to make it another entity would impose its own challenges…"
"Do you feel, safe, walking down the street?" Eli asked curiously, angling his head.
"I feel… like I am safe if I keep my head down," The woman answered, with something like melancholy creeping into her tone. "I must be going now."
"Thank you, then!!" Eli beamed, snapping a final photo and inhaling slowly, drinking in the scents. Air, snow; so crisp and cold it burned his lungs. None of the dank, musky stench from that arch-demoness, or the arena. "I'll find more people to ask. Have a great day, take care!"
-
"It's not my fault we're late," Lynx whispered, leaning on Nara's shoulder and sitting down slowly beside the fox girl on a bench at the back.
"It is, you took an entire hour in the shower," Alice smirked, nodding. "Bitch."
"Oh yeah, and who's fault is it that I couldn't feel my legs," Lynx shot back, slowly smiling and leaning into Nara's head, pushing her cheek into the dark-haired girl's temple. "Mmm, must mark you or whatever…"
"It is good that you three could make it." A voice, from the front of the room- their instructor was smiling.
"Sorry for being late!" Lynx chirped, giggling, then covering her mouth, wincing at the girlish noise.
"You're alright," the instructor smiled kindly. "We were just about to begin painting- so get ready girls!!! Today, we're going to be painting a forest, and I'm sure we can all do well- but all that matters, is you being happy with the result. Oh I didn't forget you, gentleman… now, are we ready?" She smiled, glancing at the sunny windows, and Lynx picked up her brush, excitedly.
-
That night, Lynx did not fall asleep in the dorm. She blacked out in a huge, comfortable bed, somewhere well-removed from the Contracted Arms campus. Alice on her left, Nara her right, and a mural of three paintings bound together over the headboard; a forest, a mountain, and a river all blending together- so very different and yet so very much the same.