Forum Thread

There was still someone for Kendo.

She had no romantic interest in him. Well, not in anyone at all.

And right now, Kendo was not her highest priority. He told her to leave him in the cell.

But her tenacity was cast aside. For she trusted Kendo that much.

She might not be the real deal. A fill-in for a much superior Version of her own.

She has memories of him though. And she sees him as a friend or more.

Hell. If Kendo wants a family..

even if she is the worst pick...

the fill-in witch would gladly be in it.


She knew he could read her thoughts. He told her about some forum power.

She just hopes... even if he didn't read it that he knew what she thought.

---

---

---

Isla Greer

---

"Asking me not to weep in your embrace is an impossible task," Isla murmured, relishing in the feeling of the Saint's arms around her. "Every bit of tenderness you show me threatens to break my heart. My love, these are tears of joy."

She gently ran the back of her hand over the Saint's face.

"I have never showed this to anyone else before. Deep down, I don't believe I could've loved anyone other than you... my saint."

---

"Isla..." The Saint smiled warmly and took one of Isla's hands in her own, staring at her lovingly. She leaned into her touch, closing her eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath. "That makes me happy..." She knew of her impending doom. It was soon- very soon. But for now, she wanted to relax under the gaze of someone she loved.

---

---

---

Isla Greer

---

Isla could barely breathe. "I love you," she whispered again.

Then something pierced her midsection and she was screaming. Her hand flew to the agonizing pain around her stomach- and felt nothing.

Isla collapsed to the ground, still writhing and gasping for air. Her teeth gnashed as she fought against the sensation, looking wildly around for the assailant. Some magic user, casting some horrible spell that shred her insides to pieces...

But nothing.

The pain faded and nausea usurped its throne. It can't be... Aeries?

---

"Isla!" Aret flinched at the loud noise, then kneeled next to her, grasping her shoulders. "Isla! What's wrong?! What happened? Please answer me!" Worry etched each feature on her face, her short hair falling in front of her long ears while she looked down at Isla.

---

---

---

Isla Greer

---

Isla slowly unfurled herself, testing her aching limbs. She planted her hands on the ground and looked up at the Saint.

"He betrayed me," she said blandly. "He's changed sides- and bodies."

Her eyes narrowed. Why? Had he somehow sensed what she was doing with the Saint and bailed? She wouldn't betray him for anything... he knew that.

But he would betray her, when he saw opportunity.

"The castle is compromised," Isla said, pushing herself to her feet. She withdrew her sword. "Saint. I can't promise I can protect you. It may be safer for you to return to Legion... in order to preserve your life."

The thought was agonizing. But she had to tell her.

"I would not blame you... for any choice you felt you had to make. You are important to our nation, and your life takes priority... over everything."

Isla tried to hide the shaking of her hands as she moved her sword to an accessible slot on her belt, ready to be withdrawn on the second. "Whatever you choose, you must choose quickly. We don't have long."

---

"If I left you now, Legion would know something is wrong. He's also start my transformation early- I can't let that happen... I want to stay with you. I can help." She took Isla's hands to steady them, kissing the back of each. "Take a deep breath. You can do this. I love you."

---

---

---

Isla Greer

---

Isla exhaled shakily. Her hand went to steady her agaist the wall. "Very well," she concluded. "Please then... sleep." She took the Saint's hand in hers. "I know that sounds contradictory- but while the castle may be compromised, it's also the place I best know how to protect you."

He knew I would sense it when he severed the connection. No doubt he has an ambush planned- and any escape would have a fatal conclusion.

Aeries would never plan something halfway. He timed it. Never made a choice without a thousand plans to fall back on.

Undoubtedly, he would look to secure an alliance with Legion.... or worse, the Rebellion.

Her best shot was to stay here. Keep the Saint safe and happy. And wait for Legion to crush the rest of the world.

Then... hiding again. The thought infuriated her. Her freedom to preserve the Saint's life? Sacrificing herself like an idiot heroine in one of those fantasy novels Aeries had slobbered over?

But a promise was a promise. You could justify any atrocity but that.

One day, she might yet betray the Saint. But for now, she had an oath to uphold.

---

"No-! Please don't push me away, Isla, I can help." She pulled on her arm, trying to bring Isla down to her height. "I protect the land, and the people who live peacefully on it. You can count on me, can't you? Don't you trust me to fight alongside you?"

---

---

---

Isla Greer

---

Isla bit her lip as she looked down at the girl clinging to her arm. So selfless... A woman this beautiful belonged in nothing but the pages of myth. Gently, Isla eased her off her.

"Of course I trust you. Have I kept anything from you so far?"

Something panged in the back of her head. Liar.

"I do count on you."

Liar.

"I can handle this myself. The most important thing is that you remain safe."

LIAR

Her conscience was screaming at her, but she'd wronged it before. She pulled back before the Saint could get a good look at her face. "I'm going to secure the perimeter. Stay safe, okay?"

---

Aret nodded and took a step back. "Okay. Please be safe out there..." She looked away, then an idea crossed her mind. "Wait- here. Take this." In her hand was a small whistle made of ivory, engraved with angelic runes. "If you find yourself in need of my power, blow that."

---

---

---

Isla Greer

---

Isla blinked. Even in the Saint's dainty hands, the object was dwarfed. Small and pathetic- something that could be forgotten in an instant if one passed it by the street.

Yet she was a a magic user. She could sense the power radiating off of it. It nearly took her breath away.

This was something ancient.

Reverently, she cupped the whistle in her hands and held it to her chest. "Thank you," she said quietly. "I... appreciate... it. And everything else."

---

"Promise me you'll come back to me, Isla. I know you will." She embraced her one more time, nuzzling her head against Isla's shoulder and taking in her scent. When she pulled away, she let her touch linger just a bit longer, then placed her hands down at her sides. "I'll see you when you're done."

---

---

---

Isla Greer

---

"Then I don't need to promise." Isla gently peeled her off. "Don't worry. I've made it this far. I'm not going anywhere."

She clasped her hands together, and the fabric of reality rippled. A portal ripped through the air, and several spirits drifted through it. Relatively low level, but high in magic. Decent enough guards. "Protect her," she ordered them, then spun on her heel.

Goodbye... Saint.

The door closed behind her.

---

---

Setsuna Jun

---

The Rebellion was growing stronger. Setsuna sat on the edge of a bed, legs swinging as he hummed a tune under his breath. Every moment that the Blue Squad was dissaembled was another moment for them to overtake his great ruler.

Setsuna winced as a flash of pain lanced through his head. These days, the thought of Legion always brought on weird feelings. Things he shouldn't be feeling. Traitorous things.

Luckily, the pain took it all away.

Happy pain. That's what it was.

He smiled at the wall, and the pain faded. He was fighting for Chiara. She would have the happy world she always dreamed of, and he would be her hero. Legion would reward him, a thousand metals pinned to his chest.

Bloody chest...

The agony seared back up and he winced. Setsuna prodded at the painful buda of hair growing out of a buzz cut he didn't remember getting. Ever since the doctor gave him the needle, his head was hurting.

Happy pain though. Happy pain.

It meant he had magic. It meant he was loyal. It meant soon Chiara and Legion and everyone would be happy.

Setsuna leaned back and started thinking about medals again.

A knock came from the door.

He got up, and walked over, intending to answer it. Then he stopped in his tracks. A sallow figure stared at him. Dark skin, shaved head, stitches in a tight ring around the scalp. Hospital gown, bony legs, ivs in the arm.

Oh. He'd forgotten about those. His fist collided with the mirror and bloody glass sprayed everywhere.

The knock increased in urgency.

"Hello?" he asked.

---

She looked around the spirits. They seemed very lively to her, even as guards. "I believe in you, Isla... You'll come home to me..."

---

Chiara felt a weird sensation, like the little hairs on her neck shivering. She hasn't felt that in a very long time. The saint leans over to the young mineral collector. "My child, Yasuo is a wind controller, he is not that well with rocks. How about you pick a single rock you think fits them best?"

After giving him the task, she leaves behind a tree and gets on her knees, praying again. She did for Aretstikaphaniela's safety .. But also her party and even Setsuna. Something in her mind told her he might need it.

---

Lean meanwhile flies right behind, still flying with a stern gaze. She stares at nothing in particular but since she followed Selaphiel, her gaze hits their back. Then... She hears something. A ticking clock.
Iteral was drawing nearer.

---

---

---

Isla Greer

---

Her magic crackled in the air as she sent it around, casting a thin mist over the castle. The magic use weighed on her, but she grit her teeth and bore past it.

A tendril of magic brushed past her cheek. She ignored it, but gave a start as she felt it make physical contact.

In an instant, she was up, slashing her sword- only to connect with nothing.

Her eyebrows furrowed. What...?

Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes!

She whipped on her heel and promptly lost her breath. "Aeries?" she gasped. "How did you get here?"

I'm always here, you know! Your very best friend, popping up right when you need me. The puppet sauntered over. Aww, what's with that face? You look down. It reached for her, but she pulled back with a hiss, shocked out of her stunned state.

"What the hell's that supposed to mean? You and I both know we could hardly call one another friends. Siblings at most."

She glowered at him.

"How did you get here? Why is my magic solid?"

---

Aret had been sitting on the bed, watching all of the spirit guards. She found them quite amusing, even though they were simply doing their duty.

And that's when she felt it. His presence. But... So soon?

He was back to collect her.

"I see Isla had left you alone." He whispered next to her. Wait- why weren't the guards doing anything? Could they not register him? "That's right. They won't be able to."

"My time here hasn't run out yet-"

"I've been playing these games with you long enough. Ms. Greer will understand." He held her waist with such force she thought her bones would crush. He left a simple note on the nearest table and walked to the opened window, all the while Aretstikaphaniela was thrashing in his hold. She didn't want to go.

---

---

---

Isla Greer

---

"Oh, you're so cute. Stumbling over such trivial things, while your very subjects plot your downfall." He smirked at her gradually darkening face. "Don't be like that. You know I don't lie to you. That was our promise, wasn't it."

"I remember no such thing," Isla said coldly.

The lights around her flickered. Puppet's face was barely illuminated, shadows dancing across the fabric, rippling...

Isla went still.

"I thought you didn't have magic anymore."

Puppet went still.

"Who are you?" she demanded, and flung out a wave of magic, intent on ripping the imposter to shreds. But nothing emerged from her hands. She could only gape as the puppet melted into the shadows and the colour bled from the firelit room.

Everything was black. Isla looked for her sword, and realised that it was gone- and the rest of her body with it. Her senses were gone. No eyesight, no hearing, no touch, no-

Stitches snapped by her feet, and an eyelid peeled back to reveal a bloodshot eye in the endless black landscape.

All around her, the world was turning into a hellscape. But she could no more scream than run in a world designed to contain her.

A giggle bounced around her skull. She couldn't hear where it was coming from- it was if- it was if-

It was being implanted directly in her brain.

Well aren't you the smart one! Another giggle. You usually take a looot longer, Isla! It's almost like you're improving- whoops, said the "i" word.

Isla pushed her entire magical core outwards, but it was useless. Nothing she did made her any more real.

All that mattered here was the eyes- and that horrible keening voice that was still going.

Get it? Eyes! I'm super funny! Dontcha think?

---

For the remaining time, Chiara kept praying. This time, it was done by just folding her hands together while they roamed, constantly whispering prayers and well-wishes to everyone she knew. And to the Saint Deity/Aretstikaphaniela. And of course... paying respects to her members from the church. The others only heard "please be safe", as that was the only part of her prayer where she slowed down enough to be audible.

-----

Iteral did her best to catch up to them, constantly shouting. A few shouts include warnings. "Don't trust her! Selaphiel is not what she claims to be!"

---