The supporting pillars

That'd be the second time I had been brought to that castle without my knowledge. Yes, I remembered it was Nyx who took me there, but I didn't recall the way she dragged me over. When we entered the astral realm, the light from the sky seemed darker than usual, but as a psychologist I will tell you that is an effect of our emotions in our attention focus. If we watched a lake while being depressed, we'd look for sorrow-inspiring things to rejoice in our misery.

I got up slowly from the bed, feeling the exhaustion clenching my body. I had never participated in such fight, let alone steal someone else's life. It wasn't the nicest of experiences, I won't lie to you.

There is an advantage for psychologists like me when it comes to dealing with matters alike. As I know what underlies us, I am able to put in words the hard things, and in doing so, I find the way to fight it. It's like I took both the roles of therapist and client, making sure to remain sheltered of my own pain by adopting a reflexive stance and yet being capable of treating my injuries.

My throat itched. I couldn't recall how many tears I wept. Actually, I couldn't recall for how long I cried. I made my way to the bathroom… yes, the men's bathroom that time… Only the mirror's reflection allowed me to see my messed up face. Nightmares weren't as pleasant either. I washed my face clean with the hope that sorrow would fall into the sink.

"Ah!" I screamed when I returned to the previous room. 'Why did I scream?' You'll wonder. To boost myself. I was physically depressed: if I managed to get me out of that state, my chances for recovery would raise. It's disgusting I can manipulate myself like that, uh? It's just like I wasn't even human. Although, again, that'd be a thought fruit of my despondency, which sought to feed me bitter ideas. Attention focus. I have already told you. Heheheh, I can't even screw myself up at this point. I'm glad I studied psychology.

I began singing at the top of my lungs a song that always cheered me up like if in the room a welcoming light turned on. I definitively wasn't as good as Azura, but I took pride on my shameless singing. When I was alone, that is.

Even with the storm of bleak thoughts that pained my head, the fact that I was trying to help myself was kind of comforting. I loved myself. And I had already told Mozu how important was self-esteem.

When my voice ran out, I started stretching with deep breaths. I'd make that room mine, if nobody had an objection. It was humble. Almost empty, but the only requirement to make something special was to believe it was. I'll be noting that sentence down, don't mind me.

While I started doing the menu teacher Silas's gave me, not without effort, I'll tell you about the phenomenon that would help me to get through the day after the second worst in my life. It was about the positive comparison contrast. When we are in an awful state and we happen to see some other person in an even worse condition, we feel better since we are not as bad as him. At the same time, that person could look at us and make the opposite effect: he'd feel even worse if possible. But, if the upper person, with more resources, helps the lower one, both benefit from each other. The first one would be the 'nice-guy' and the other the 'someone worth helping'.

In a nutshell, you could say I was just going to help whoever I could. I don't like describing what underlies people. What drives us, the feelings, the emotions… whenever I bring them up is like if someone treated me of 'mister'. That makes me feel unconnected with the world around me. Just like a bubble that traps and isolates me from the others.

"But I am no mister!" I told myself, finishing the last of push-ups, sweat falling down my chin. "Phew, my body shakes… At least I can now blame the training for my tiredness and not the yesterday's scramble, which helps me forgetting all about it!" I smiled as I stretched out my arms. And once again, I underestimated how helpful a smile was at the hardest of times. It's like warmth came back to me, allowing me to sail through tragedy.

When you have spent huge amounts of time not saying a word, without nobody to wake your ears up, you can get to a point where you don't distinguish sound from thought. That is how, without noticing, one can start talking to himself. Just like me when I feel needed of some talk.

"What are you going to do now, Miles? You're the army's 'psychologist'. What a mess, huh? I mean, you're supposed to help others, but you even barely helped yourself." I pondered, recapitulating how bad I've been. "I'll take back that last part. If you hadn't recovered, we wouldn't be speaking like this, now, would we?" I added, bothered for saying something mean to me.

"I don't know." I resumed, ignoring that little parenthesis. "It's not like we had any lesson to help others out back in university anyway. But, if we stay put doing nothing, that'd be the worst thing we could possibly do. Depression is like a spider, and it eats the first ones to fall prey to its webs." I replied, supporting in poesy to resurrect the drama and expressiveness in me. I smiled for some seconds, feeling better. But then my mind was once again invaded by that disturbing reality I ignored until the day before.

"Wanna talk about it? The man we killed…" I suggested, nervous. I let out a sigh.

"You know that doesn't matter. I mean, yes, we have killed a man, but it's not like we lunged the strike on purpose. It was a little terrible accident. If you change the point of view, it was a nice way to step into the being-a-killer thing. If… I had to do it again… to save that young lady…"

"Who is probably dead by now after the slaughter there was." I interrupted myself in a storm of words. I put a halt to those thoughts, for they had tortured me enough by that point. I was over that already. … That was what I needed to believe.

"I'd do it." I resumed, sticking to reasoning line. "If I had had enough time, I would have taken joy into killing every nohrian monster. Because my feet screamed that to me! Because my hand trembled upon thinking about it! Because my head tormented me! Because my heart cried blood!" Curses. I really minded the big deal about what happened. But I'm no fool. The past is like an eternal ice spell: unchanging.

"Well, Miles. Time to get off your arse and get out there. I won't say they'll need you, I don't know, but go out there anyway. You're a psychologist. That's what you do." I ordered myself. With the motivation of the minion and the boss, I crossed the door of my new room. As I was saying, self-esteem is an important motor for our conducts. Love yourself, and you'll never cease to move forward. Tsk, I love myself way too much. *Scratches head*

Upon opening the door, I saw Arthur at the end of the long corridor. He was stooped over, with a lost sight, and the hair falling down over his face.

When he saw me, he waved at me energetically, forcing himself to fire up. After returning the greeting, he started running towards me. Not even a second went by before he tripped over a big shelf, falling onto the floor. The shelf was knocked over him and showered the hero under the books, forming a literature grave.

"Is that how you're supposed to forge a legend?" I asked amused as I helped Arthur to get out. I tried to make a joke out of it, but it lacked shape and intention. I couldn't help smiling, nevertheless.

"Apologies, mister Miles. I-"

"Just Miles. I'm your justice minion, boss! You don't need to treat an underling so highly!" I corrected him, checking on the big mess the hero created. I started to pick the books up with resolution. The blonde was unsure how to proceed, but he was tired enough as to give in.

"I didn't pretend to burden you with helping me to fix my blunder." Arthur resumed, grabbing the shelf and placing it on its original position.

"It's never a burden if it's helping, Arthur. I'm okay." I assured, looking in the blank distance. It was rare he said such thing… "Are you… okay?" I asked with an insinuating voice.

"Oh, um… well, a book's corner hit my head, but besides that-" The blonde started informing, taking a big bunch of books I handed him over and leaving them on the furniture.

"That's not what I was trying to get at." I cut him off raising a hand. "What happened tonight was no good, but you of all people must feel the worst." I mumbled. My words were dangerous, since they could bring his mood down. But that was like taking some nasty medicine. One take and you're done. Or… that was my hope. I didn't really know how others would react. Some would cling to the pain… others would refuse it… and others wouldn't even feel it… You never know.

"You're right. I failed everyone. I'm no worthy justice defender: I didn't carry its name in the darkness cloud that now is Cheve." He replied lowering his head. I smashed his back with all my strengths, catching him by surprise. I was the one injured, though. My goodness, his back was hard as a rock!

"Since when is the justice-bringer a weakling that crumbles after tasting defeat? Arthur. Since when do you allow accidents to get to you?" I scolded off with energy. "You're a superhero. You inspire people. I know it isn't fair to treat yesterday's massacre like a mere obstacle to overcome, but there is nothing we can do about it now. Think in the people that needs you now! Think in Elise, and Effie!" I told him, waving my arms with each sentence. I wasn't being very reasonable, but I needed him to gain some mood. Arthur stayed still, surprised by my sudden punch of words.

"Miles… you…" He muttered, looking through me.

I… didn't know if I was doing right or not. I didn't reflect on it. But if I meditated on each step on the way, I wouldn't get far in life, would I? But, still…

"I-I'm so sorry, Arthur, I…" I began saying, afraid of my own acts. I had been too pushy on him.

"You're totally right! I couldn't feel any sorrier for poor chevois, but a hero of good can never give up! If I didn't keep on fighting, I wouldn't be a defender of equity! It doesn't matter how many times we fall as long as we keep getting up with the same might! As long as I keep true to my path, I'll be Arthur, destroyer of evil, champion of the weak!" He proclaimed, raising his arms, incapable of restraining the inner power that awakened within. I blinked a bunch of times. Did I do it? Was that good? I was too shocked to tell.

"Thank you, Miles." He told me placing a hand on my shoulder after finishing the cleaning. He swept his hair back and stuck his chest out. "You're amazing. I'll go help whoever I can right now! See you later, my good friend!" He said goodbye, running downstairs. I felt like a hurricane just went by my side, forcing me to spin on the spot.

"I'm the amazing one? Have… have you seen yourself, Arthur?" I murmured amazed. It was almost comical. That man had an undying iron will. He even orientated it towards fulfilling justice and following his heart's designs… And there we had his humility as well…

If… Mark… had made it that far, maybe he wouldn't be as 'justice spirit' as Arthur, but he would have been just as strong. In his eyes you could always find that fire, proof of his determination to explode by his feelings command… I had a long way to walk to get to that point. But I'll do it, just you wait. After all, it wasn't only Arthur who inspired me. From time to time, I liked imagining Mark encouraging me to persist. *Laughs*

That, in a nutshell, was a way to fool death: keeping others alive in your head. The only problem was that they were muted, since the only voice you'll be hearing in your mind is yours. I'm not counting Lilith in, if you're wondering. The thing about the 'aggressive voices' in your head is just a myth. They are your own thoughts, deformed in such way you don't even recognize them as your own.

Anyway, Arthur didn't only inspire me to follow that cruel path I chose. I had an army to fix, and not much time to do it. Who knew when we would be receiving new orders?

After turning a corner of the long corridor, I saw Felicia standing next to a door. She had her hair loose, and she wasn't wearing her maid diadem. I decided to hide behind the corner, for I didn't feel that ready to face someone else.

"Please, Lord Corrin. You have to eat something." The maid pled, softly placing a hand on the door. "Open up, I beg you." She asked, pushing away slightly the cart where she had the breakfast.

Eh, that was a good solution. If she was terrible at carrying trays, if she brought things on a rolling cart, there should be no problem. Felicia probably came up with the idea to avoid blunders in that delicate moment. She didn't intend troubling Corrin when he was like that. She wouldn't forgive herself.

In spite of that, it was odd to see Corrin shutting himself away, because he had some quarters of his own. Maybe he didn't want to be found. Unluckily for him, Felicia wouldn't leave him alone, and he couldn't blame her.

Silas came from downstairs next to Felicia, in silence. His face was impeccable, as always. He must have live through many tragedies alike… or he must be putting a lot of effort into pretending being like usual, hiding the effects Cheve had on him.

"How is he? Has he eaten anything yet?" He asked Felicia upon seeing her. The pink-haired girl turned gloomily. She shook her head as her eyes scrutinized the floor. "I'll leave him to you, Felicia. I failed to make him get out, but if anyone can make it, it's you." The cavalier commended. The maid looked at his eyes with renewed strengths. She would betray his trust. But there was not much to do besides staring at the door with the hope it moved.

Silas then walked towards me. When he turned the corner, he got scared by finding me silent. I took my index finger to my lips. We moved a little further so Felicia didn't overhear us.

"What were you doing there, Miles? Were you spying on us?" Teach asked me, confused and bothered.

"You could say that." I reckoned, aloof. What? Fine, I'll confess. I needed to bring it up to him anyway. "Actually I was hiding because… I didn't know how I was going to face anyone after…" Killing someone. Killers are rejected, and I had just become one.

"Oh, I was going to tell you about that. I didn't get to prepare you for what you would feel like upon… taking someone's life. I'm sorry." He apologized, regretful. After further inspection, he seemed tired, like he barely managed to get any sleep.

"Don't worry about me, Silas." I sighed, gaining his attention. "I'd tell you all about my philosophical conclusions about 'good' and 'evil', but I'd better tell you what I get out of them." I smiled, merciful. My thoughts were hard to follow, and I have seen people getting headaches from hearing my ideas.

"I'm sorry I killed a person, but if it had been me, it wouldn't be able to mind afterwards, would I? I mean, I'd be dead already. I'd be too late to complain. I'd like my killer, if he's a disgraced person, to have a good life for both of us, since he'd never forget me as long as he lived." Just like I wouldn't let Mark die, so to speak.

"Hence, I won't forget that thief, but I'm sorry if I don't depress enough. I have a life to live and stuff." I finished, giving a strong smile. I considered myself a good thinker.

Silas observed me with surprise. He then placed his hand on my shoulder, relieved.

"That… is a good way of seeing things. I'm glad for you, Miles." He smiled back. Yay! I made Teach proud!

"Thanks. And, hey, I'm a psychologist. I noticed you are tired. Is there anything you want to share with me?" I said, making clear my interest was not his body but his mind. My self-esteem has gone too far. I mean, since when one can say 'I'm a psychologist' like he was really trying to say 'I'm god personified, you can't hide anything from me'? Well, I was really proud of my studies. Thanks, Mark.

But then again, it didn't really take god personified to notice when somebody was tired, so I may have been a little overbearing. It's not usual in me to be like that, to begin with. *Laughs*

Silas sighed, taking his hand to his neck as he sat leaning his back to the wall. I mimicked him, resting my head over my hands.

"I think I know what Corrin feels like right now. I don't know if we're doing the right thing fighting for Nohr." He confessed lowering his tone.

"I… don't want to fight for a king capable of bringing disgrace to his own citizens. Whatever the decision Corrin makes is, I'm confident he'll make the right one, and I'll follow him until I draw my last breathe." The knight assured me, giving me the chills.

That was his source of strength, huh? Corrin, his childhood friend, was his supporting pillar. Wow, childhood friends rock, don't they? It's too bad mine lost his presence in the world, but whatever am I going to do with that?

"You're awesome, Silas. Corrin is really lucky to have you as his best friend." I praised, feeling a teeny bit more relieved.

"He's just as lucky to count on you, Miles." He corrected me, smiling. I averted my eyes, uncomfortable. I didn't really enjoy being the subject of high expectations, you know? "By the way, I've spoken with Beruka about what you and Mozu commented yesterday morning. She told me something quite disconcerting."

I became pale suddenly. He did what? She told the assassin how I spoke about her behind her back? Not only was I her mistress' enemy, I had just become her next most likely target. The thing she probably answered was how she was going to take care of me… for bad.

"She told me she was dead inside." Oh, that wasn't what I was expecting. "I promised I'd help her however I could, but I can't think of anything. I tried telling her Arthur's most bizarre adventures, to no avail." The cavalier deflated, recalling the helplessness he felt.

"Gods, leave it to me. I'll have a word with her." I calmed him down as we stood up. That'd be a good fears-fighting training indeed. … Dead inside? Apathetic. Which means…

"Thank you, Miles. I'll see you later at the training grounds. Don't be late." He said as he resumed his way to check the weaponry inventory.

"I won't." I waved my hand at him, returning his smile. What a nice guy…

I returned to where Felicia was, but I didn't hide that time.

"Oh, hi there, Miles." The maid greeted me with low spirit. I approached her and placed my hand on the door that isolated the prince.

"Silas is right. I can't think of anyone better than you to get to Corrin." Maybe that Azura… but nah, I better not bring her up. For once, I didn't speak my mind up. Lucky. "Do… what you find fit." I told her, walking the stairs down backwards. I grinned as cocky as I could and raised both my thumbs. Clowning around was harmless, and luckily, funny. I didn't get see her reaction, for I slid my feet and fell to the very end of the stairs.

"I'm cool! Nothing broken over here! Wait… Yeah, nothing to report back!" I assured to the worried maid. I was good at falling, if you consider that a talent. Felicia sighed with a tired look, but a slight curve formed in her lips. Hurray. That was pretty dumb, but it managed to cheer her up a bit. Maybe it was empathy, as clumsy partners. *Laughs*

I wouldn't stay there to spy on her interventions with Corrin. Sucks for me, but at least you will have some 'mysterious and omniscient voice' to tell you. Just count on us narrators to do the job whenever it's needed. *Wink*

When I was about to enter the tavern, I noticed that Odin and his friends were sitting on the bar once again. They seemed to be having some serious talk; hence I decided to sneak around the other entrance to make my presence unknown. I sat next to the table of the back corner with dissimulation. I would have just to see the next deadly chef to take me the menu. Please, don't be Beruka just yet. I'm far from ready. *Finger-crosses*

"I'm sure it was quite similar, but… it did resemble Yli-… our homeland when it burned to the ground, didn't it?" Selena murmured, taking a sip of her tankard. Laslow, sitting to her right, nodded in silence.

"And just like that time, my delusions and fantasies served of nothing tonight." Odin grunted to her left, clenching his fists around the iron jar. "What does it matter if I'm 'cloaked by a dark veil' if I'm capable of doing nothing?" He tortured himself. Selena looked at him with a serious face, maybe a little worried. I couldn't really tell.

"Odin, you're not the only one who feels that way." Laslow objected, evidencing some of his frustration as well. "It's just like we relived that nightmare that haunts me since then…" He added, lowering his head and gazing to infinity.

"True… D-don't tell anyone, but I have similar nightmares about that fatidic day. I thought the reward we got for coming here would help me with it, but I was naïve." The redhead confessed, drowning her woes with her drink.

"How are we going to clear our quest like this? We haven't managed to reveal the truth yet. At this rate we'll really have to conquest Hoshido." The blonde cursed, gritting his teeth in agony.

"And what do you propose we do?" Laslow retorted, turning to his mate. "With the hex on us, it's impossible to speak up and get away with it alive. And I don't plan to die here. I won't allow myself to perish before seen our friends once again…"

"I used to think just like you…" Selena admitted, annoyed to confess she how she missed those 'idiots'. "But after tonight's events, I'm not sure we'll make it back anymore." I could see the pain behind their faces. There was some serious business I had yet not heard about.

"What are you jabbering about? I can't tell if we'll be successful in our duty, but I won't permit you die on me! That's for sure!" Odin burst irritated. Then he saw me looking at them. I think I was quick enough to lick my finger and continue counting the grooves on the wooden table. Twenty eight and counting…

Woops. I had found something quite shocking. I would never admit witnessing it, though. It's just that… knowing Odin didn't make up the 'curse' meant that everything he told me about time-travelling and the Fallen Dragon was true. That would be really exciting to believe, and unless Selena and Laslow are as delusional as Odin is, I had just confirmed one of the biggest secrets I had yet found. …

Wait… they, owners of the endless secrets, had just said they haven't reveal some truth. Which one? … They knew something really important. But I couldn't force them to speak. The hex. I didn't matter the strategies I used to persuade them, they couldn't confess. They had heavy weighted reasons. I was so close… but so far at the same time…

Charlotte and Peri came out from the kitchen and served the dynamic trio some soup with grinded almonds and potatoes. That time, Peri wasn't wearing her armor or her cloth-like diadem. Instead, she had a white sleeveless shirt that highlighted her figure while her pigtails were like always. She was downcast, and she wasn't behaving as childish as she used to. Noticing the blonde's blue eyes on me gave me the willies.

That day's cooks returned to the kitchen to prepare the next dish, or that I guessed. Laslow followed his blue-haired companion, distracted. He seemed worried. It didn't take long for Charlotte to come out of the kitchen, almost jumping, to come to my side. I focused my attention in her cute ribbon. I wouldn't lay my eyes on the bouncy parts she was tried so hard to exhibit.

"Hi there! We met yesterday, but I have yet to hear your name." She smiled at me sweetly. A cold sweat stormed in me. I didn't know how to deal with fake people. Besides, the fact that she was so recklessly dressed, showing off the greatest cleavage I've seen, challenging even that of Camilla's, didn't quite help me get my thoughts straight, precisely. *Coughs*

"I-I-I'm Miles. Miles Stone." I gulped, averting my eyes from her as my life was on stake. I wouldn't lose my challenge. I had to prove myself a gentleman to some provoking princess I knew. The problems she gave me…

"It's a great pleasure meeting you. Here, you must hungry, aren't I right?" She said offering me a lunch box with a salad that, honestly, made my mouth water.

"T-Thanks." I managed to reply as I gave a taste to that food. "It's delicious!" I praised, busying myself munching.

"Hee, hee. You're most welcome. This over here is cheese, and these are some fresh tomato bits." She illustrated me, getting… um… pretty close to me. … Screw it, shames out: I'll stick to the facts. She rubbed her breast on my arm like who pays no mind. For a moment there, I turned into stone, but I forced myself to react.

"Cheese! I love cheese!" I smiled, retrieving my personal space by retreating back the area left in the corner of the room. I was trapped, because the blonde was covering my only way out. I could force my way over the table…

"Really? I'm so glad you liked it!" Charlotte smiled, stealing the space brazenly, seeking the contact I was running from.

"Time out!" I pled, on the edge of desperation canyon. "Let's see. You're amazingly pretty, you're divinely attributed and you can act quite delicately. But I hate being manipulated like this, so, if you're so kind to drop the act, I'd be even more thankful." I bluntly stopped her, sheltering myself with my arms.

"Eh? What are you talking about?" The blonde naïvely asked, playing dumb. Ha! I'm the mind's gate's keeper! I should talk to Odin to find some other shorter name… But no tricks would fool me, you woman!

"I have nothing against your desire of pleasing me, but I'd like dealing with the true you. I mean, do you really think there exists a woman who behaves like that? I'm a psychologist: I know it doesn't." Well, just if we excluded fake behaviors, that is.

With those words I managed to make her return me some space and switching her posture. Thank heavens, for I wouldn't have been able to control my eyes for much longer. Few times I've had such great panoramic of a woman's chest. I'd lie if I told you it displeased me, but I hated that second the man in me couldn't pull himself together. It's quite shameful to tell all this on its own, so please, don't blame me.

"Agreed. I don't know how you men can like the idiotic woman I pretend to be." Charlotte shared, sitting next to me properly with a more natural voice. I sighed relieved upon seeing her true colors. That was much better. Not just as a man, but as a person as well.

"It's not the personality we like; it's the feeling of being loved, affection." That is why I couldn't correct Niles. Who could possibly say that he or she didn't want to be loved? If that living being existed, I'd like studying him or her.

"Your rubbing was hair-raising, actually. But you have just targeted the least susceptible to your charms." I sighed, correcting my posture as well. Leaning on the wall was kind of uncomfortable.

"Eh? What do you mean? Do you not like women?" She asked with a surprised face, placing a hand close to her neck. Although she wasn't pretending to flirt with me anymore, the question made me nervous. She had just meant that, and having the likely bisexual of Niles in mind wasn't really helping.

"I do like them!" I hurried to clear out. "It's just that… I don't know. It's hard to explain. I like your attributes and stuff, like many heterosexual men in the statistics, but I may like them so much that it annoys me beyond healthy." I confessed, squirming in shame.

"You're the first guy to tell me something like that, but I still don't get what you mean." She said, leaning her head to rest it on her hand, raising her chest with her arm and drawing some yelling lines to her figure. Habit, I guessed. Focus…

"As a psychologist, I've learnt to judge other people attending to their conducts, not to their appearances. Watching myself getting so fussed over seeing… you…" It was quite hard to bring that topic up, especially since I had been honest. I couldn't go on, because I didn't know what I was saying anymore. All I knew was that my face was red.

"Oh, now I get it. You're shy! That's why you got so scared when we exchanged glances before!" Charlotte laughed, satisfied. I had to cover my face in shame.

"Now then, given that my 'manners' won't affect you, I'll save them for someone else." She said as she stretched her arms. "But when you see me with others, you better humor me." She warned, turning to me threateningly. "Or else, I'll have to give you loads of 'love'." The devil said while grabbing her breasts sensually and sticking her tongue out with a slight smile. Dread struck harder than excitement, I tell you.

"Yes, ma'am! Anything but that!" I begged averting my eyes and decomposing my expression. Damn she, destroyer of gentlemanliness. How can I feel decent when I couldn't stop checking on her? Worst thing about all of it was the way she smirked with my terrified face. What if… she got used to bullying me like that? *Trembles*

"Good. It's nice to see we get to understand each other, my so dear Miles." The blonde taunted, leaving me with the lunch. That was terrible. That woman had found a way to extort me whenever she pleased. And what a way… *Sighs*

"Hey, wait." I called her, tired. Charlotte turned back to me, startled. She probably thought I wouldn't be able to reply after what she did. That would have been the case only if what I had to say wasn't important.

"Are you okay about tonight?" I had to ask. Under the layers of lies she built around her, it worried me that she hid her wounds as well. I hadn't showed myself that afflicted, precisely.

"Why would you want to know?" She wondered, curious, playing with her lips.

"I have already told you, I'm a psychologist. Although I don't really fancy the way you behave with people, I'd like to make sure you're fine." I was going to allow her speak, but I thought otherwise when I saw her frowned face. I shouldn't have commented on her manners.

"If you're going to reject me just like your face makes me understand, simply bear in mind that if you ever need anyone to talk to, I'll be at your disposal whenever you need." I promised, trying to look more reliable than I was. I focused my eyes on hers, ignoring the rest.

Charlotte didn't get to reply. She just returned to the kitchen, thoughtful, as she crossed with Laslow, who was going out from there. At least my words seemed to reach her…

When my excitement wore off, I managed to retrieve my cool. Why were all my nemesis attractive and bulky women? Was that any kind of punishment? If this is your doing, Mark, it's not funny. He knew about my timidity with cute girls, and he forced me more than one time into a situation I wasn't prepared for.

Still, Camilla inspired me much more hatred than Charlotte. The later was just frustrating to watch as she used a horrible mask, but the former… oh, the former… That monster always found a way to piss me off. If she didn't torture me with wyvern-riding, the princess would provoke me just to call me a pervert afterwards. As a Dark Odin would say… my hands twitched in agony to strangle her. …

Concerning Charlotte… if you thought carefully, she was even pitiful. If she had to win others affection in such carnal ways, that meant she had been rejected countless times when she was true to herself. You might know, you might not, but I assure you that hurts. Despite that, carrying a mask was no better either, for the longer you wear it, the more you forget yourself, losing whatever self-esteem you have towards yourself.

As a therapist, I had to help Charlotte accepting herself just the way she is, and then, perhaps, luckily, she may be accepted by others. And… if that somehow managed to reduce her exhibitionists tendencies, that would allow me to breath at ease around her. *Gulps*

Before the poor psychologist suffered Charlotte's sexual harassment, the other blonde on the room stood up, tired.

"I… am not feeling too well. I'll go get some fresh air." Odin whispered, letting all his air out. The events of the last night were just too unfortunate to be able to smile.

With a lost pace, he made his exit. Selena raised her arm towards him, failing at reaching him. She doubted for some seconds, troubled by lots of things of her own. She couldn't show empathy, for that wasn't something Selena could do… but…

"Odin seemed kind of down. You should go after him." Laslow commented, taking a sip of his almost emptied jar. The redhead turned abruptly to him, shocked.

"Why would I have to? He's fine!" Selena replied with a face that didn't resemble her words. She was utterly worried about him. Laslow analized her on a peek, not fully understanding what she had in mind.

"I'm still not convinced. Would you be so nice to go check on him?" The man requested, smiling in a way that annoyed Selena.

"Why are you so persistent on me going after him? What are you…?" The redhead suddenly shocked, glaring at her friend not very friendly.

"We've known each other for quite the time now, Selena. I've seen the worried face you made when he left. Don't be stupid and go catch him. He probably needs you, and I myself am not feeling like helping him right now. I have some… issues of mine to deal with." Laslow confessed, showing with a gloomy face the pain he had been hiding.

"Who is the stupid then? Just cry already, like you always do!" Selena reprimanded staring at him with powerful eyes. It took a while for the man to finally break a smile and cover his face.

"Just go already, or you'll have me asking you out for some tea yet again!" Laslow ordered, turning his back on the redhead. She clearly got pissed, but as no one was looking at her, she could finally loosen a little.

"Imbecile… thanks." She muttered as she left the tavern, following a chosen one's very steps. The lone man gazed into infinity, letting a smile out. He was yet annoyed. How could he have missed such thing? It was a bit shameful that Miles had found out earlier than him.

Anyway that, he had ended with more food for himself than he could possibly eat. Maybe Effie could take care of it later, but Laslow would bring the dishes to the kitchen before. He crossed the beautiful blonde from before, but he wasn't really in the mood to flirt with her. Besides, she was carrying some lunch box for Miles, and he had been counting the table's grooves for quite a while.

After delivering the soup dishes on one of the many countertops, Laslow heard some disturbing noises coming from the pantry. Carefully, the sensible man showed his face over the door. Peri was jumping everywhere like crazy, yelling like a psycho.

"Peri? What's going on here?" He asked with fright. He even worried if there was being an enemy attack. The bluehead progressively stopped, turning to him with a smile. Her bangs had been clipped over her forehead with some hairpins, letting her green eye be seen.

"Oh! Hi, Laslow! I was letting out some steam! Tonight worn me off very much, and since I get a little crazy when I fight, I need to relax a little to soothe my blood thirst." She confessed, happily sharing her secret.

"I-I understand…" The light dark haired man nodded, not sure to understand her. "By the way, the other day you mentioned something unsettling. Were you serious when you said you killed you servants?" Laslow asked, wary of her reaction.

"Oh, that? Yep! Back home in the mansion, whenever I got mad, thwack! One servant less. There'd be so much blood! It was amazing!" The girl smiled, gesturing her hands like she was some kind of spring.

"P-Peri! That's terrible!" The man jumped, angering.

"It is? How come?" Peri wondered, noticing his sudden change of heart.

"Those servants took care of you, right? It's wrong to kill people who haven't done anything to you!" Laslow lectured, crossing his arms.

"Huuuh? What's wrong about it? You kill lots of people! The bluehead complained, irritated.

"Yeah, but… I had to. If I hadn't killed them, then they'd have killed me! Your servants weren't trying to murder you, were they?" Laslow asked, desperate to bring some sympathy out of her.

"You're making this too complicated. Do you always think about hard stuff like this when you fight?" Peri became uncomfortable, bringing her hand to play with her bangs, just to notice they were clipped away.

"Yeah, I try to. Even my enemies probably have families and friends who'd mourn their deaths." There was an uneasy silence after those words. "Have you never considered the ones who care about the people you kill? About how sad they must be now that their loved one is dead?" Laslow asked, afraid of what the answer could be.

"Actually, I do know what that's like." The woman replied, retrieving her composure. My mommy was killed by a servant when I was little. He loved her so much that he killed her when he was rejected. I remember finding her lying on a puddle of her own blood. I thought somebody had spilled a lot of tomato juice." She revealed bluntly. Laslow couldn't have been any more shocked.

"They punished the servant, of course, but I was little, and all the butlers and maids looked the same to me. It was like the one who killed my mommy was still there with us. So whenever I got upset, I'd take it out on one of them. Thwack! My daddy knew, but he never said it was wrong." Peri told, mature enough as to describe her life in retrospective.

"When almost all the servants were gone, I decided to leave home. Since I was so good at killing, I decided to fight as much as I could, which finally led me to meeting Lord Xander. I forgot all about my mommy. Forget about… how much I miss her. About her delicious cooking I'll never taste again. Things would have been so different if that never happened…" That resumed her life quite well.

"I'm so sorry!" Laslow exclaimed hugging her. "I had no idea! I shouldn't have said you wouldn't understand what it's like to be left behind. It must have been so awful for you! I mean, it sounds like you tried to block it all!" He apologized, lowering his head as he placed his hand on her head.

"Laslow? Are you crying?" Peri surprised, trying to figure out why tears were falling down her cheeks.

"I am. But so you are." The man whispered, shaking like a leave in autumn. The emotions burst out of him, helping him crying what he hadn't during the night.

"Wow… you're right… Real tears… This is a first…!" The woman said, suddenly feeling weaker. Their hug lasted longer.

"Cry all you want, Peri. And remember that your mother lives in you, even now." Laslow muttered, remembering that he could tell the same thing.

"Really?" The bluehead lightened up. "Speaking of mommy's cooking. I can make it now! Is that 'cause she's inside of me?"

"Yes. And the same goes for me. I can dance just the way my mother did." He shared, nervous of bringing his family up, but warmed by the memory of his family and home.

"Neat! We're two of a kind! That must be why we're partners!" Peri cheered up, smiling like she used, with the little difference that somewhere inside of her felt the joy in a whole new level. When they separated, Laslow scratched his head, ashamed.

"So as your partner, I have a favor to ask. I'd like you remembered how you feel now before stealing somebody's life." Laslow requested, patient.

"Okay… I might not remember all the time, but I'll try real hard." She promised, filled with determination as she clenched her fists.

"Thank you, Peri." The light dark haired man murmured, giving her one of his most sincere smiles. The bluehead smiled back cheerfully, almost jumping on her feet.

"Hehehe! I feel better after a good cry! You really are my best friend, Laslow!" She celebrated raising her arms.

"Y-yeah." Laslow replied, blushing. He hurried to say goodbye and leave the pantry. He didn't keep such transcendental conversations with girls: he had his nerves on the edge. Peri started preparing some more soup, slicing the potatoes with skill. As long as she could, she would try to channel her killing desires into the potatoes, and with some effort and tomatoes, they may even bleed.

Laslow switched places with Charlotte upon leaving, but he didn't pay her much attention, which he would have normally done, if only he wasn't so weak at that moment. The blonde became startled when she saw the disaster Peri was doing with the potatoes and the tomatoes.

"What's gotten into you? I thought you were a fine cook, miss killer psycho." Charlotte scolded, starting to fix the mess the blue haired girl created.

"I was murdering potatoes! They don't really feel anything, so it's okay to crush them as much as I please!" Peri laughed, taking a piece of murdered boiled potato. Charlotte sighed, meeting her eyes. She was surprised by Peri's eyes, but there were some other businesses that were more worrying.

"I'm amazed how honest you can be. Especially since being like that won't catch any men." She muttered that last part, almost talking to herself.

"Eeeh?! Potatoes have their own feelings?" Peri horrified, feeling suddenly bad for what she had just done. The pigtailed girl didn't get Charlotte's words correctly, and since she was thinking about feelings and potatoes, her thoughts affected her perception. Concerning the blonde, she thought she was being asked about that issue.

"Potatoes? I guess potatoes themselves don't, but maybe the plants do. But it isn't like any plant has ever spoken as to let us know." Charlotte joked, trying to picture a talking potato, amused. After a while, she found that she has never said anything about how she felt like, being under her mask for that long. … That damned psychologist.

"Huh? Talking plants? You're a weirdo, Charlotte!" Peri laughed, leaving the knife to wash the ingredients seriously.

"I wonder why it pisses me off so much that you, of all people, tell me that." The blonde got annoyed, believing Peri wasn't one to talk, precisely. But again, her sincerity was overwhelming. That faculty was something she had not practiced in a long time.

Selena caught up with Odin at the road that connected the fortress with a park with a beautiful spring. Nobody was around, so they were alone with the big bushes of that little park. She followed him in silence for a while, incapable of making her presence known. After feeling ashamed of herself and her doubts, she grabbed Odin by his arm, stopping his sad march. When the blonde noticed who was with him, he became estranged.

"Selena? Is anything the matter? Your face is red as your hair." The mage worried, checking on her with caution. He would have placed his hand on her forehead, but that wasn't something the moon's daughter would allow.

"N-not really. It's just that… I-" The redhead bit her tongue, stopping herself for what she was going to say. "Laslow was worried about you. Besides, I had already told you: a sad Owain is just sad." She muttered, lowering her voice as she pronounced a name that shouldn't be heard.

"Hey, don't worry about me. Odin Dark will overcome any mishap that jumps in his way!" He grinned confidently. However, his mate didn't seem convinced.

"But what would happen if you get surrounded by too many enemies? What if your foolishness gets the better of you and leads you to your death?" Selena asked in a storm of words. She put more feelings in her voice that she intended, but just imagining that hurt her. She had seen him fighting as a mage, and he was just as reckless as when he was a swordsman. Why couldn't he just stop being an idiot in battle?

"Oh, come on, Selena. You know me better than that. I may get a bit too carried away in battle, but I'd never do anything like throwing my life away." Odin tried to soothe her, softening his voice.

"I don't believe you." Selena replied coldly.

"What?! For real? After everything we've been through together?" The blonde was shocked and his face became pale. The redhead gritted her teeth, frustrated. Things weren't going as she pretended.

"It's not- … I do trust you, Odin, but I'm too scared of the idea of losing you…" She confessed, recollecting her thoughts the better she could. Her feelings were making a fuss out of her.

"The only thing that I can make to ease your concern is giving you my word. You can count on me to keep annoying you with my epic and thrilling plays." The mage promised, sticking his chest out with pride. Oddly enough, Selena only got angrier.

"That's not good enough!" She yelled, turning red once again and scaring the honest Odin. As she noticed she had lost her cool and was asking for impossible, she let out a sigh. "I'm sorry. I'm just sensible after Cheve. Just forget everything I said." She told with the intention of leaving just like that.

"Wait." Odin interrupted, grabbing her hand. There was one of those magical moments when their eyes met. "I won't forget anything you say just as easily. You should know your lashing tongue better." He joked, earning an irritated look from her. "But you are someone dearest to me. If you need anything, I exhort you to ask me whatever design your mind has! Were you to claim a portal through time and space, that you'd have! Were you to-"

"Okay! Okay! I get it." Selena stopped him, ending with a sigh. As she averted her eyes to the ground, she thought of what she could ask for. There was something that came to her mind. Something that should never escape her lips.

"Oh, your face lightened up! Anything in mind?" Odin asked with pleasure, impatient to practice the weirdest of his spells to aid his friend.

"I want another of your dreams." Selena confessed after an eternity of expecting silence. She raised her head looking in the raving mage an affirmative response. She meant that magic with which Odin was capable of designing dreams to suit her rest.

"Consider it done! What do you want it to be about? About the time we went to the springs? The resurrection of your Alliance with Brady? Oh! Maybe some of Cynthia's flying acrobatics?" The mage offered away, adventurous.

The way Odin was pushing her answer forced her to slip up and air her thoughts.

"Of you and me. Together." Selena whispered with almost no voice. Her eyes were unable to settle in one place, and her face blushed so hard she could have even emitted light. "Since all your dreams somehow imply world-leadership and some more of your antics, I'll have to chose for myself: I'd like one in which we were a couple." She repeated, finishing what had been already started. It felt like if time had frozen.

Selena had made her biggest mistake ever. She had been herself and spoke her true feelings. That was something a tough girl wouldn't do. She couldn't just reveal her soft side like that. She would be the laughingstock when the rest knew of what she had just said. Selena was bossy, pushing, competitive and impatient. Especially with Odin. And for her to bear such feelings… the joke was on her. But that was the way things were… from a long time ago…

Odin seemed to tremble into pieces like a broken training dummy, losing his composure. His reaction made Selena laugh. It was pleasant seeing she wasn't the only one on the stake there.

"What are my eyes seeing? Odin Dark in trouble? I could swear I had just heard you would overcome any mishap. How's that, huh?" She taunted with a smirk that didn't combine with her blushing face. Her brown eyes got teary from the emotion she was feeling.

"O-o-okay." Odin replied, equally as blushed. "If that's your request, I'll gladly fulfill it at the best of my skills as a-a-a sorcerer." He promised stiffly, placing his fist on his chest.

"Huh? But…!" Selena was about to complain. She had just confessed, betting her feelings in that game: an answer was in order. But she knew the person she had somehow fallen in love with better. He was confused and probably panicking. She would have to give him some time to reflect on her words. It's not like the opponent is always ready to reply to a confession. *Exaggerated coughs*

"I see… So thrilling… and embarrassing… Jerk…" Selena muttered in a mix of emotions. She slid her eyes towards Odin's, slowly. That moment, no falsehood would tie her tongue to say the words: "Thanks, Owain. I… … love you." The redhead smiled, composing a face Odin had never seen before. She then gave him a hug that almost hurt him. The five words that left her mouth were the hardest she had ever told, but they had been the sweetest. She would probably regret saying them, but not at that moment. Odin froze like a human-shaped block of ice with a pounding heart trying to break through his chest.

Once Selena released him, the redhead was unable to hide her smile, but the frustration of not being able to hide her feelings made her form a funny face. She was ready to snap at any time, not bearing the intensity of her feelings anymore. She hadn't felt that aroused in quite a long time, and she couldn't get her thoughts straight. What was she doing?

"You… are welcome…" The blond replied, breaking through the warm that imprisoned him. "I thought you didn't want us to use our real names." He added, trying to go off-topic to give his mind some truce. His headquarters of thought were buried in something warm.

"That was the name you used when I fell for you, okay?! If I want to call you that, nobody will stop me from doing so!" Selena finally broke angered. Nevertheless, a smile showed on her lips from time to time, alternating with the frowned eyebrows. At the same time, some sadness and scare appeared strongly. She wasn't ready for what was going to happen. Regret popped up.

After she noticed how terrified Odin was, she focused herself in chilling out. She would yell somewhere else afterwards, where nobody could hear her.

"I'll leave you now. I'll be seeing you tonight at my room." Selena started, unease, averting her rolling eyes over the ground. "I'm looking forward to that dream." She confessed with almost no voice, looking one last time at him in the eyes. It'd be really weird to have the person you like but who isn't your lover to forge a dream of that nature, but Odin had done weirder things, and she knew.

Odin returned the look with emptyness, like if he had forgotten how to word. After Selena took a couple of steps, she turned back with an angered face that gave him the chills.

"If you tell about any of this to anyone, you're dead!" The redhead added threateningly. She almost felt satisfied of being rude with him. Being soft and caring wasn't in her nature, and she really liked the way the blond effusively nodded.

Selena walked away slowly at first, but when distances grew bigger, she started running away, feeling all the anxiety she had been restraining until then. She had done it. Why had she done it? She decided she would go to the grave with the secret, and still…

Part of her refused to acknowledge what just happened, but the other… found pleasure in the newly forged memories. She would probably pretend like nothing had happened until the time of their promise came. … Selana slowly started panicking about everything that was said moments earlier. Regret struck like a thunder. She needed to scream somewhere. What had she done?

Regarding Odin, he wasn't capable of moving an inch in ten minutes. When he broke free of his ice shell, he looked for a place to sit: he was feeling dizzy. Luckily for him, there were many benches in that park. It took a while for him to notice he had fallen on the spring instead. He was that affected.

Phew, this part took its time, didn't it? I am the living proof that thinking too much is painful, so, when you start having 'toxic' thoughts, just disconnect, like I did. Can't assure its effectiveness, but it's better than bumping your head against the wall that is trying to find a solution to exhaustion.

Here's a funny fact: The first time I did this, I thought I nailed the scene of Odin and Selena. How naïve I was. I didn't get Selena's character right at all. It could have been posible, yes, but this version is much more like it.

And, yes, I know. The only twitch I made to the support of Laslow and Peri was the fact that I joined two scenes into one, and made Laslow more emphatic and sensible. After Cheve's events, it would have been weird for him to keep his cool that easily. He may be handsome and all, but he's not grief-proof. Heh, it's not like that was a bad thing, you know?

That morning is far from over, and some important stuff is yet to come. (You mean more than what just happened?) Astonishingly, I do. Jeez, I'd better not set the expectations too high, but I'm happy I did those things in the first run. Whatever. Feedback is welcomed as always, I don't bite, I swear. Feel free to let me know any blunder in the translation (the hundreds there are, I mean). I'll see you next time. *Wink, wink* *Elbow, elbow*