It really had been enough. For Darkness's sake, they had been talking for what felt like hours now and that didn't even account for the insanity of yesterday's incessant rambling between the scientific wonder twins. Ienzo contemplated the physics involved with taking one of those 'turn key' like crystals and shoving it straight up Even's-

"Ienzo!" As if on cue, Even's shrill tone knocked his thoughts from their violent trajectory. "Have you finished your portion of the translations?" Before the scientist could even continue to nag him further, Ienzo moodily shoved his written pages at him. He quirked a brow at the implied tone for a word that was never even said. "Calm yourself." Even chided, hardly giving the young man a second glance as he straightened out the papers and took them back to Milo.

They occupied the castle library within the royal palace of Atlantis. It was not to say that Ienzo was unsurprised, but the room could only be described as humid. The blue tint of their surroundings did nothing to allay this overwhelming sensation. The paper seemed soaked to his sensitive fingers, and frankly, he couldn't even stand thinking on that. The amount of water which was contaminating these historic, beautiful works was immeasurable and heartbreaking. Now he felt like screaming at Milo for letting this neglect continue.

The entire point of them coming here had been to keep a low profile, to distract the darkness which was, in theory, dogging their every move. It was not to play 'the adventuring archeologist' and try to help translate their volumes and volumes and volumes of work to unlock the secrets of Atlantis' history. Granted, Ienzo had been absolutely intrigued by their past, enthralled by their story, overwhelmed by their tragedy, but he'd be damned if he'd admit it to that overexcited little twit.

Milo.

He fumed, looking at Even and Milo as they shared some sort of inside joke and cast Ienzo a sidelong, (and to his eyes) somewhat pitying glance. The book before him slammed shut, entirely unbidden but not unsatisfying. Even snapped his attention to the sullen young prodigy.

"Ienzo, what are you-" He began, but Ienzo shoved himself from his seat, sparing Even an unimpressed, bored glance before stepping towards the door.

"I'm heading out for some air." He deadpanned, waving an uncaring hand before strolling away. Milo looked dumbfounded as he adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose before looking back to Even for an explanation. The scientist gave him a one shouldered shrug in response.

"He's just being sassy again."

The outdoors of this clear new day were peaceful and serene, aside from the rumble of gossip traveling through the entire city. It was not hostile in the slightest, Lumaria noted with a good deal of satisfaction as he wore his winning, enigmatic smile while exploring his surroundings. It had not taken long for him to decide that it was high time he explored this inviting city. This new culture was oddly welcoming for one that seemed so very hard to read and downright alien to his senses. It was striking, yet comforting.

The cobblestones of the streets were worn with the activities of centuries of use, wagon wheels digging a track to where the fish vendor was selling his wares, the smell of spices tinging the air with an earthen potent tang, the fruit vendor crying out to the crowds how his produce was simply the finest in all the city. The hustle, the bustle, the absolute quaintness of it all in it's predictability; it reminded him unwillingly of home.

His smile faded.

Thankfully enough, he was not alone within the market place. Peering around to one of the less crowded areas, he nearly missed the still form of Aeleus, which was a feat within itself. He marveled, amazed for a beat of a moment, that a man built as if from the stone itself, towering at probably around seven feet tall if not more could manage to blend in by simply standing aside and being accommodating to the rest of the crowd. His expression was, as usual, unreadable, but when a young family passed by and noticed his large frame, he nodded easily at them as a greeting and they seemed quickly allayed as they hurried off.

His back was to a short garden wall. On the other side, the cough of a child sounded in a weak little huff. Marluxia peered around the corner, smoothly dodging vendors and shoppers alike. It was a small child, her white hair falling over her mocha colored skin, just a tinge lighter than all of the other children around the excitement. She was drawing somewhat restlessly on a few blank scrolls before her with a muddy looking ink and a worn out bamboo rod. A smiling sun, a happy flower, delightfully lopsided yet surprisingly skilled for one her age.

Her drawings were far happier than she seemed, he noted.

The clatter of stones jolted him from his thoughts. A few rowdy boys trampled along the path, laughing shrilly as they tossed another few pebbles her way, smearing the still drying ink. With fearful anger, her little voice rose and shouted something unintelligible by his understanding. The boys stopped mid-laugh, their cruel smiles frozen on their faces as they faded into fear and then horror. The young girl smiled, satisfied to see that they were finally taking her beautiful craft seriously. Of course she didn't notice the shadow cast from the towering figure directly behind her, glaring stonily down at the boys in a wordless threat. Aeleus's thick, tree-trunk sized arms were crossed over his massive chest as he stood his ground. It took mere seconds for the boys to quail in fear and run off shrieking.

Had the girl turned around just a hint faster, or perhaps noticed that lengthy shadow just a second sooner, perhaps she would have spotted Aeleus, but the guardian was a bit too quick on his toes for that. He had ducked back into his rather mundane hiding space before she had a chance to spot him.

He recognized the slow, sauntering cadence of the sound of her steps before he heard her voice from his side. "He's been doing that for hours now." Arlene murmured in undertones by way of greeting him. Marluxia knew exactly what that trill of her voice meant; she was intrigued. "Seems pretty genuine." She trailed, and Lumaria felt her lean casually on one hip. He spared her a sidelong glance, taking not of how exquisitely those draping fabrics lay on her curved form. Aqua blue suited her, he had to admit.

"They certainly didn't call him the 'Silent Hero' for nothing." Came a snide remark to his other side. Ienzo's footfalls were quick, yet careful as he approached the duo. His eyes, though, were locked on the stoic man who was thankfully out of earshot. He walked easily and faked boredom quite well, Lumaria decided, glancing at his own robed form, and noting it's measured grace, but the stressful knot of how he held his shoulders was something which even Ienzo couldn't have discerned.

Trying to prove something, hm, Ienzo?

As if on cue, sensing the presence of his counterpart, Aeleus cast his attention around and then directly at the assembled trio before they could continue their discussion. Something about his stern expression seemed to ease as he tilted his head in slight confusion. Ienzo cast him a knowing smile. The small child, the lonely past-time, the bullies being deterred all to easily by a certain someone. It was all too familiar. Ienzo gave him a small wave of greeting. He nodded in confirmation.

He knew Ienzo was there, but had no idea what they could possibly be watching him for. He was not even really doing anything. Ienzo, of course, understood all of this from that single motion. The other two were left woefully in the dark. Lumaria raised his graceful eyebrows in slight surprise as Ienzo stepped around the two to continue on.

"I'll be heading back to the labs. I think I may be able to do a bit more decoding if I just sit as far as possible from Even and Milo's incessant ramblings." He sighed, exasperated and inconsolable as he continued on. Lumaria cast a confused look at his blond companion. She returned the look exactly. There was no telling what those two scientific nerds were thinking, but either way, for now it seemed quite a bit less interesting than watching the Silent Hero at work before them, for now.

The sound of a gargantuan tome echoed like a gong around the private study of the castle. Milo adjusted his glasses (which had slanted, yet again) as he cast Even another inquisitive, excited glance, thinking he may have found something of interest. Even sighed in response, as though satisfied by a filling meal. "Nothing of your history, but I must admit, this culture is quite amazing. I only wish there were some more contemporary records." He commented with an lazy wave of his hand, as though to ward off unnecessary questions.

"It's a shame that they lost their method of reading and writing when they did." Milo commented with a note of regret lingering in his reedy voice as Even nodded in understand, flipping back and forth between a few pages of his own.

"Ienzo really should be here aiding us." Even continued in a grumble of an undertone, more to himself than his companion. Milo perked at the sound of the other young man's name, and tilted his head in curiosity, easing the book he was currently working through closed.

"Was that the name of the young man who was with you and-?"

"Yes." Even snapped in annoyance.

Milo's eyebrows shot up as he decided to tread a bit more carefully. This was obviously not a subject to take a crowbar to. He gave Even what he hoped was an encouraging grin as the other scientist continued to glare down at his current tome, scribbling notes every once in a while.

"Well, frankly, I'm just thankful that you happen to be here to help. Ienzo didn't quite seem the type to enjoy our sort of studies anyway. He's most likely happier exploring the city. It's quite a beautiful place, you kno-" Milo glanced up from his work now only to find Even, blatantly staring at him, his book set aside, a look of pure and utter incredulousness on his sharp features. He followed this with an eye roll so pronounced that Milo was surprised that Even topple over backwards.

"Really?" Even sighed, exasperated. "Ienzo is one of the most prodigious minds to ever grace the field of written word, and just imagine if he actually applied himself to scientific advancement. He's brilliant beyond what he knows, and frankly, he's insufferable about that so let's pray that he really never figures out how mentally advanced he is." Even explained with a remarkable pretentiousness. "I've raised him since he was a child, and I promise you, there will be a day when he far outstrips me academically. That day has yet to come, but it's only a matter of time."

Milo stared in wide eyed shock. Scientists were a usually such a surly bunch, angry and protective over their own theories and conclusions as though they were their own children. To hear one of such acclaim defend not his own mind, but the mind of his student, admitting that one day he would be far outranked was something new, something refreshing.

Something strikingly paternal.

"I was not able to realize his potential when I was overtaken by darkness." Even explained in flat, logical terms that belayed none of the true horror which the existence of Vexen had brought to his every waking moments. "Now that I'm whole once again, the conclusion seems all to reliable. The darkness, by nature, takes away pieces of you without being clear entirely how. You change without even realizing it. This is why we must unlock the secrets to the protection of Atlantis, Milo. If we do not, your culture, your people and your life may be at risk." The silence which stretched between them was meaningful. There were no words to encompass the fear within Even's bright green eyes.

"And we'd be making a hell of a lot more progress if my dear student," One could almost hear Even's teeth grinding as he continued. "would knock himself from his petulant idiocy and just decide to aid us."

With another amazingly large eye roll, Even picked up his book once again, and got back to his work. Milo's expression settled into an easy smile. When one is an inter, a simpleminded student, it's easy to idolize the teacher into something beyond human, but as it seemed, they all had their weaknesses. His thoughts drifted fondly back to Kida in the throne room (taking care of her queenly duties, no doubt). With a semi-contented sigh, he lifted himself up from his seat, stretching his lanky arms above him with a huge yawn.

"I've got to go check on her lovely Majesty, my wife." Milo bragged with a chuckle, knowing himself to be useless in the throne room, but at least he could offer a bit of support and comfort where it was needed. Even didn't look up from his book, muttering a knowing affirmation. Milo shrugged as he headed toward the door. Even wasn't being rude, he realized slowly, he simply seemed exhausted.

The second the door shut with a soft thunk behind him, careful footsteps sounded from the shadowed corner of the study. Even flipped a page in annoyance, finding nothing of note to keep track of as he continued along, giving the new presence no attention whatsoever.

Ienzo neared his desk, the moment feeling just a touch unreal, as though he happened to be six years old once again and asking Even to check over the spelling on his latest 'mock scientific report'.

"Did you mean it?" He asked, his face carefully shielded from view. There were certainly bright points to having such long, unruly bangs after all.

Even didn't look up. He was furiously jotting down a note before he finally set his pen aside and gave Ienzo a knowing look, complete with delicately arched eyebrow. "The bit about you being a petulant brat, or the bit about you being a prodigy?" Ienzo tried to answer but was cut solidly off by an accusatory wave of Even's pen. "Because BOTH are true." He chided in annoyance. "You're the most gifted mind to ever grace Radiant Garden, the Organization and most likely, every world which has followed. Under my tutelage, you've only grown in potential. And you know all of this, do not play that you don't. How dare you simply walk away when we needed your assistance." Ienzo could barely hear Even grumble something about Aeleus spoiling him rotten with ice cream over the buzzing sound of his own pleased thoughts. "Now, sit down and get to work! You've wasted enough time skipping through the water lilies!" Ienzo eased himself into a seat and settled into their usual comfortable silence, filled with academia, the smell of old parchment and the promise of knowledge.

Only Even seemed to understand his love for this. Perhaps that should have been a dead giveaway sometime before, but it seems to hold true that we're all blind about those we love.

The work had continued and the day had passed blessedly uneventfully which was a sheer creature comfort. As aloof and unassuming as they attempted to appear, it was clear that the entirety of the group was on edge. Their resting was light and their dreams were certainly not sweet. As pleasant as the city had been, nothing could erase the fear of darkness which was constant threat.

A threat which Even seemed to be taking quite personally. Never having been one for healthy sleeping habits, he had slipped directly from the gathering for dinner (unidentifiable fish with nearly unusable utensils, anyone?) to the outskirts of the city. It had not been very hard to sneak out. Frankly, he had not even had to do any real sneaking, seeing an outsider made an individual unquestionable enough that it was a certain matter of unfounded self importance.

The fresh water surrounding the mossy walls of Atlantis were calm and unassuming, shining a pristine yet deep royal blue in the crisp night air. Even breathed deeply, this having been the first time he'd left the confines of his self appointed desk since that very morning. He stretched his muscles with a fluid, lazy grace that he could never seem to muster up whenever around others. Yes, he had indeed explored the idea of social anxiety, but certainly not deep enough it seemed.

But fresh air was not the reason as to why Even had set his hurried steps towards the outskirts, and it certainly was not to take a swim either (unlike his counterpart Milo so very many years ago now).

It was curiosity.

Curiosity which created the spark to push forward when all else seemed unquestionable. Curiosity which had led him to his wonderful, obsessive craft. The very same curiosity that drove him towards his own personal brand of madness. The vehicle was here, just as Milo had described it firsthand.

The iron of the fish's body was was a deep, muted gray, clearly weathered. It looked far more like a skeletal structure than Even had first thought it would have, but with bits and flecks of moss and grass hanging from it's frame, it was far easier to visualize it as a dead fish than it was to see it as anything viable whatsoever. He reached a tentative, slender hand out to touch the rough surface. The sensation was oddly reminiscent of stone. Perhaps it was rather because it was stone, Even realized in amazement. Stone which floated, who could have thought.

Perhaps it was because he knew how to work them that made it such a taunt to want to see these particular fish in actions, swooping from the skies and surfing on the air waves with the greatest of agility. No Atlantean could be convinced of parting with one of their glowing, living crystals, not even for a fraction of a moment. Which was why when the scientist was taking careful mental note of it's dimensions, it's makeup, it's structure (even it's smell), he was so surprised to see those huge eyes glow faintly.

Had he hallucinated it? The fact that he was genuinely concerned that this was a legitimate answer was a testament to his mental stability within itself, but that eye before him was truly glowing, a harsher shade of red now, as he positively stumbled away now from the fish.

He hadn't had the crystal though! He hadn't tampered with the fish, he swore it as he realized exactly how close he was dancing on the edge of his addiction, his downfall. The fish, in turn positively hopped from the moss which had been nearly covering it not a moment before with the greatest, most fluid of ease. The air was it's home, and by it's easy slice of it's fins through space, the vehicle made that quite clear. Even rider-less, it was a beautiful sight.

Or perhaps it would have been if it's eyes were not glowing red and aimed directly at the Academic. Even gulped audibly. Milo had said blue eyes. Pale blue eyes which cut through the darkness as though they were lighthouse beacons, taking a sailor home. No, this fish was all but drawing the shadows unto itself as it hovered before him, a stone testament to all of his current fears in one (bad seafood and the darkness). He might have justified this as a glitch, as a hiccup in programming, but Even knew exactly what the red of those eyes was referring to.

The darkness had not yet been swayed from them. Not for an instant.

He drew forth his shield from his own icy panic as his airborne opponent made to lunge. Even screeched an attack which would never reached his enemy but stone slammed straight into his shield and he was thrown backwards from the sheer force, toppling over in a mass of blue silken fabric and sheer desperation. He made to block once again his shield blocking his view, but the second attack never fell.

With a mechanical sigh, the fish careened to the grown beneath it, Lumaria perched on it's head with an ease which Even could not possibly imagine, particularly after seeing exactly where his scythe was lodged on the fish. Imbedded deep within the eye of his attacker, Lumaria easily and rather wickedly gave his weapon an extra flourish, scattetomering broken glass from the eye on the ground as though relishing the thought of spilling the animal's blood.

Even looked at Lumaria, and then the fish, and then Lumaria once again. It seemed to last an eternity for such a smart man to finally bring himself enough to his senses to shove himself from the ground before Lumaria stepped gracefully from the top of the monster's head. His scythe dissipated into thin air, and yet those crystalline blue eyes refused to blink, even when dyed navy by the darkened light. Even clenched his hands to keep himself from being visibly shaken as he banished his own weapon.

Do not look away, don't you dare look away, Even's pride demanded. "I could have handled it, you know." Even's mind was running at a mile a minute, perhaps even faster than when he was being attacked, in rhythm with the thundering of his heart. It was adrenaline. Surely adrenaline.

Lumaria ventured a small smile, but said nothing in return, letting their silence stretch for a painful moment longer before finally asking. "What was that?" He gestured to the broken fish, looking rather pathetic now that it was missing an eye and steaming slightly.

"The darkness, of course." Even intoned without enthusiasm, carefully hiding fear behind fact. "We haven't outrun our enemy quite yet. We'll have to leave come morning." He planned, watching as Lumaria took a few soundless steps forward, fighting the urge to step back the same exact amount.

Fear of the enemy, indeed.

"We'll tell the rest of the traveling ensemble in the morning." Even admitted with an eye roll, fighting to keep his voice calm, nonchalant. The graceful man seemed somewhat unimpressed by the quirk of his rose colored brow. The silence still stretched between them once again as they fought to understand the enormity of the situation. With a soft hum of agreement, Lumaria turned to return to their quarters before a hand shot out to catch him by the arm.

"Thank you." Even finally broke in, his voice so much more high and uncertain than he would have liked for it to be after hearing it. He groaned inwardly, letting the other man go, trying not to think on exactly how warm his skin had been.

Lumaria smiled enigmatically. "Of course." He replied in undertones.