Temporary peace between Ancients Radiant and Dire is issued for two to six months so They can heal the land and fix Their towers. Right now, the victory celebration continues until the early night. The surviving creeps return to their respective base while the Heroes stay at the river to celebrate. The celebration is fun and noisy, with friendly and rivalry competitions, drinking and eating, conversations about the war or plans to do next. Others stay away but enjoy watching from the sidelines, while some already left to act out their plans while the Defense of the Ancients is temporarily stopped.
Rubick is present yet never pays attention, even forgetting to remove his mask. He's left alone to his bothered thoughts about Erno's mystery and the way he fades away. Rubick also asked Oracle for any vision that shows Erno's identity but the answer he received never satisfied him.
"His identity? Perhaps we will know. Much will depend on how we walk our paths." was all Oracle said.
You talk and act so insensitive but every fiber of my being knows you truly care for me... I'm glad I've known you.
Rubick sighs. "Ah, Erno. Your loss disappoints me." from his hidden pocket he takes out his cube with mismatched colors. For a magus who sometimes forget anything, especially what he thought are insignificant, he chuckles when he remembers Erno's horrified expression. "If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't discover the purpose of creating this cube." and Rubick starts to think and twist the cube.
"Rubick." a female's harsh, whisper-like voice calls from behind.
Rubick stops solving the cube and turns around to see a serious Lanaya without her mask. "Yes?"
"I've stayed away out of respect because you were the closest to the boy. But many questions need answers. Tell me about him!" Lanaya demands.
"My knowledge about his identity is limited. All I can tell you is I found and gave him the name 'Erno'."
"I've already heard that from the others. Is that all?"
"Yes. Why are you so persistent in knowing his true identity?"
"Hmph. You're the Grand Magus, so you must have known why." Lanaya said in a derisive tone.
"I am afraid I don't know what you mean."
Lanaya incredulously looks at Rubick. "... You never noticed?"
"Noticed what?"
Lanaya narrows her eyes. "The eye patterns in his clothes... Some of his combat moves." she summons her psi blade in her hand and shows it to Rubick. "Half of his 'sorcery' is composed of psionic energy... Those things are exclusive signatures of the Hidden Temple!"
"Hm?" Rubick is more interested in Lanaya's psi blade. "Why yes, you're right. Especially his purple sorcery. Tis no wonder it feels familiar. Could it be he's a Templar Assassin, too? Sent by the Hidden Ones you serve without your knowing, hm?"
Lanaya extinguishes her psi blade forcefully. "The Hidden Ones themselves don't know how the boy have their blessings. That is why he's a mystery needs solving!" she answers while hiding her vexation. "Urr... How will I know why when he's gone and you lack knowledge about him?"
Rubick looks at the cube he's holding. He remembers the good times he and Erno spent until the very end. Rubick looks back at Lanaya. "... I have no definite answer for that. Maybe we were not meant to know who he is and he must remain a mystery." he earnestly answers.
Lanaya wants to answer but decided not to and the tension in her body loosens. "Maybe you're right. No use to ponder on that boy's mystery when there are no valuable leads."
Lanaya turns to walk away while Rubick looks back at the cube and starts twisting the sides without thought.
"What's that?" Lanaya suddenly asks.
"Hm?" Rubick looks up and sees Lanaya eyeing the cube with curiousity. "This? A brain-teaser cube that I invented. All you have to do is match the colors of the cube's surfaces by twisting some sides." he explains while demonstrating on how the cube works. "The first one who solved this is Erno... but I mismatched the colors again. I admit, I have difficulty solving it. Eh heh heh."
"Mm. I see." Lanaya comments as she continues to eye the cube with interest.
"Would you like to try and solve it?" asks Rubick as he offers the cube to Lanaya.
Lanaya's eyes brighten with delight. "Yes." she snatches the cube and starts studying it.
Rubick chuckles, amused by Lanaya's curiosity and eagerness. 'She's like a child in wanting to learn more and solve them.' he thought, recalling the many times he tries to pry the secrets of the Hidden Temple through her but keeps on receiving her icy glare and death threats. 'Looking at her concentrate on how to solve the cube reminds me of Erno...'
Rubick suddenly stops his train of thought. 'Why did I compare her to Erno?' he wonders. To answer his question, Rubick closely watches an inattentive Lanaya. He studies Lanaya's face and down to her boots. Still can't answer his question, he repeats the process starting from her feet. This time, in a slow and intent manner.
His eyes scan her shapely, strong, athletic feet to her thighs. Then he proceeds to scan her curvy waist and flat stomach. Next are her shapely and strong arms, to her slender and long fingers. Going upwards, he looks at her round and full bosom before proceeding to study her heart-shape face, light-lavender skin and her ridiculously long, black, wavy hair with purple highlights and tied in a brush-like ponytail. He carefully checks her exotic facial features, especially her almond-shaped, steely, striking, cyan eyes...
And Rubick's careful study causes a stirring bellow his belly. He never recognizes it at first and dismisses it. But the more he stares at Lanaya, the stirring persists. And he realizes that what he feels is a baser need that he thought gone for centuries. It makes Rubick fuss and very uneasy on how and why it happened.
"Is something a matter?" Lanaya suddenly asks.
"Hm? Oh, nothing. I am... getting tired of thinking about Erno." Rubick half-truthfully answers.
But Lanaya doesn't seem to believe him when she narrows her steely eyes. Rubick admits to himself, she's really pretty. He would've told her so to escape her scrutiny if it wasn't for Boush the Tinker's timely arrival and inquiry about the cube.
Rubick relaxes when Lanaya's attention shifted to Tinker. He decided to have fun and distract himself. He takes one last glimpse on Lanaya before leaving. 'Is my disappointment that makes me see Erno in her?' he thought.