"Then it's settled. We're going above ground. There's someone we
need to talk to." Alaire bashed the last of the mole men, who had
also disappeared in Perceval's absence, and led the way through the
gloom to the subway platform. She was going out on a limb, trusting
Twilight. She could only hope that she wasn't making a mistake.
Alaire excercised more stealth, her newfound speed allowing her to
stay in the shadows. She climbed just ahead of Elias, her wrapped
feet padding quietly up the rusty metal stairs. She didn't trust
the disappearance of Perceval, not when they were so close to
finding the [Fallen Star]. It was too coincidental of timing. And
even if he returned, Alaire was wary about openly opposing Percy.
To start, she had no idea what his stats were. He was likely far
more powerful than he was letting on, meaning he was far more
powerful than her. (But of course, if the constellations were to be
believed, Elias could likely kill him.) And then there was the
nasty little hypothesis she had about Twilight being his
constellation, or at least working in conjunction with him. Adding
more danger to the dangerous. Higher and higher she climbed,
drifting towards the surface.
Miyasaki laughed, dodging every attack that Toshiko threw.
His expression was calm, despjite his laughter.
"You're a coward, Toshiko Aden."
But he stopped dodging, instead blocking the attack, keeping Toshi
in place, as he looked back. Out of the Subway station that Toshi
and Chizu had walked out of, Elias, Yohan and Alaire bounded
out.
It was him, the [Fallen Star]. She just knew. And he knew who they
were.
"Have we met? In past regressions, I mean? After what one just
happens to hear, I've assumed you've lived multiple cycles."
Alaire examined her nails analytically, playing coy. "And I am not
calling you [Fallen Star]... do you have another name, preferably
one that rolls off the tongue a little easier, love?"
"[Tea at Noon] has an ear for gossip, Miyasaki. And I? Well, I have
a penchant for it." Alaire smiled, enjoying the first time she had
the upper hand since this mess began. "Now I can't help but notice
that you avoided my earlier questions. Have we met, Miyasaki,
love?" She steeped closer, cutting an unexpectedly imposing figure
in the dim light.
"Oh, don't mind him. He's just the [Knight of Annihilation]." She
stalked closer. "I'm surprised that... of all things... is what you
didn't know. How many regressions have you lived, Miyasaki, love? A
lonely existence, no?"
For the first time she noticed the two girls, one enraged, one
almost... scared.
"Hello there, dears. I'm Alaire. You seem... interesting." She
smiled, half predatory, half flirtatious. It was a completely out
of place gesture that due to her charisma and magnitude, just
worked. Somehow.
Alaire picked up her staff, and darted in front of Elias with
superhuman speed, weapon raised.
"Not so fast."
She took one hand off of it, implying that Miysaki make no sudden
moves.
"I don't know what happen, Miysaki dear, but he's not quite the
threat he eventually becomes. Not yet, at least. We're all going to
take a deep breath, and you're going to answer my questions. Okay?"
"Even wolves can be tamed. Show someone loyalty, and they'll return
it tenfold. I refuse to believe in a future that hasn't yet
occured, Miyasaki, dear. And I've heard it from so many. Do tell
me... who is your constellation? Or does [Fallen Star] mean that
you used to be one yourself?" Alaire arched an eyebrow, having nono
of his doom and gloom.
"See, I don't remember anything, Miyasaki, dear. You're going to
need to refresh my memory. Because if the tittering from [Tea at
Noon] and the others is any indication, I'm doing something
differently this time." Well he was kind of cute. (Understatement
of the year.) She wondered how many timelines they had ended up
together, she wondered how many timelines they had ended up as
enemies. There was some sort of strong connection between them,
that she knew.
"Oh, you mean Perceval?" Alaire said, brows knitting. "Yes. He
travelled with our party for awhile. Who is his
constellation? And if you know me at all, then you know I
haaate my questions being ignored. In what context did you know
me?" She was barely an arm's length away from Miyasaki now, her
eyes flashing.
"Oh, a long and tragic tale that I have once again, no recollection
of." She smiled, vindicated. Alaire's spidey-senses were correct in
this case. "So. You've probably been through this enough times. Can
you just answer all the questions I'm going to ask? You know, why
everyone hates Eli, the finer details of constellation politics,
whatever was between us... you know~"