If the Grimleal could only be one thing, then they would be considered heartless. Kana has been on the receiving end of the worst torture, all because he showed more 'promise'. Validar nearly tossed his mother out after finding out how much more potent her son's dragon blood is, and almost all of this was in the name of bringing the God of Chaos, Grima, into this world. The High Priest claimed that there was, in fact, a nation called Ylissa, another called Plegia, both of which were completely conquered by the Grimleal's namesake. So they knew he would just destroy if they brought him here, but they wanted to do so anyway.

Why? And the only reason Kana learned all of this, is because Validar would just go on and on about his plans, giddily sharing them like how Midori would talk whenever the topic of Science would come up. Apparently, there were two ways to bring Grima back now. The first way is the Fire Emblem, but that is locked deep inside Valla's vault, which is so secure that even Validar believes Niles and Nyx couldn't break in to. The second is making a descendant of the Dragon King a vessel, but that could only happen if that person could transform.

He noticed Corrin's time would mostly be spent by herself, the only reason Validar even kept her here was in the off chance she did transform. Kana missed her smile, her laughter, all the things that made Corrin 'mama'. It looked like she had given up a while ago, resigned to a fate of cruel treatment. It broke Kana's heart, it also angered him, that all he could do is bear the torture while his mother seemingly wasted away.

And gods, Nina… her own father practically jumped at the chance to be her torturer. Niles doesn't hold back on her, what is wrong with that man? Bit by bit, when Nina, Corrin, and Kana were shoved back into their cages, the Grimleal Thief would share what exactly went on over her years as a forced member. Some of it went over Kana's head, like when she explained something about how the magic she inherited from her mother was reversed and forced inside her to strengthen her enchantments, which is how Nina could pull of feats like stopping Gregor's attack with ease.

Daddy was still out there, hopefully safe. Maybe the Shepherds took him under their wing? Maybe Queen Azura is shielding him. Would any of them even had the spare manpower to save them?

"I wanna go home…" Kana broke down as he lied down in his cell, the stone floor no longer bothering him. Validar did something and now his skin is reinforced, the man couldn't even get a dagger to pierce it.

"We're getting out of here." Nina responds, her cell directly across from his.

"How?" Corrin asked, her own voice devoid of hope… she sounded the most dead out of all of them. That single fact nearly brought Kana to tears.

Nina didn't respond immediately, and Kana looked up to notice she was checking the hallways, "Do you really think I let myself be bound by Nyx's magic? We're getting help, it's just a matter of time."

"I don't know how much longer I can take this." Kana whines. "How are you handling it so well?"

"Most of my screams are forced, I'm just satiating his twisted desires. I would recommend the same, but you and Corrin's standards are already set." She sighs and slumps back into her cage, "Doesn't make it any easier, obviously. It seems just as hard to keep up the act well enough to be convincing."

"Nina…" Corrin starts, "About what Niles brought up… with that box…"

"It was a selfish idea." Nina shares, "After Xander was assassinated and you were taken, I convinced Kana to spend the day with me, skipping school." Her voice finally cracks, "I had it all planned out, I would make it the most memorable day he ever had. Then, at sunset, I would have proposed… but then I couldn't find the ring's box inside of my enchanted pouch, then Niles showed up and well…" She gestures at the cell.

"...Proposed?" Kana echoes, "You wanted to marry me?" His face heats up.

"Yes!" She immediately exclaims, "But this is why I asked if you truly wanted to be with me. Apparently, I'm not allowed to be happy, I can't have my own desires. They killed my last one in front of me." The hardened thief finally cracks and tears start flowing. "Gods, I'm so sorry for dragging you into all of this. Both of you."

The door opens, "Alright, if you guys are well enough to chat your ears off…" One by one, the cells open and they are being led out.

"Nina…" Kana whispers as they arrive at the only other place they visit. "I do." He simply states with a red face.

"...I do." She replies with a sad smile.

"Robin, this has to be your craziest idea yet." Cordelia states, "Even worse than forcing Kana to transform into a dragon and wreaking havoc in our garrison."

The robed woman sighs, "I'm still human, everyone. That was my first slip-up since arriving here. Is Midori here yet?" She looks around. "Ricken, how's it coming along?"

"Magic can only do so much, Robin." A boy shorter than even Kana calls out, "We are going to need Midori here to finish this elixir up."

"Are you sure this is the best way to go about this?" Chrom asks, "How do you know Tharja will take you to Validar?"

Asugi scoffs, "That woman is obsessed with Robin like I am with sweets, maybe even worse. She'll contort herself into a ball for her attention."

"Exactly, so how do you know she'll take Robin to Validar and not do something like chain her in a personal dungeon or whatever?" Cherche asks.

The Thief leans forwards, "Her obsession extends to Robin's wants. So, if Robin were to display interest in joining the Grimleal…"

"Then Tharja would take Robin to Validar." Frederick finishes with a nod.

"Okay, say all of this works and now you're an official Grimleal and all that." Nah starts, she is a woman with a growth problem worse than Ricken, but she makes up for it with her aptitude in magic and sharper senses. Though they aren't as keen as Corrin's or Kana's. "Then what? Does it have something to do with this elixir?"

"Yes." Robin answers, "It is a more potent version of what I gave Kana in the Garrison."

"...You want Kana to go on a rampage?" Sumia asks. "Okay, this part is even worse than you waltzing in and asking to join the Grimleal."

"Yep." She nods, "If Validar wants to see his dragon form so bad, he'll have it. That elixir will be magically spiked, preventing any magic from attempting to control him. It will also reinforce his body with a shield." She pauses as she looks over the Shepherds, who are reasonably looking at her like she lost her mind, "The downside? I hope Nina can still calm him down."

"You are potentially sacrificing someone's humanity to finish this off?" Chrom looks offended, "How does that make you better than Validar?"

"If any of you have a better idea, speak up." She challenges, "Yes, I get it, Kana is sweet. Kana is caring. But, if the texts I read are even partially true, and if Validar gets what he wants, there won't be a Valla if we fail. Grima will swoop in and reign destruction on Valla, Hoshido, and Nohr. Are you saying that one person's life is greater than everyone else combined?"

"No, but…" Chrom admits defeat, "Alright, I trust you."

"Mighty Midori has arrived!" The small girl nearly leaps into her father's arms, an oversized backpack is on her. "What did you need?" She looks up at Kaze.

He shakes his head as he puts her down, "I called you so you could assist Robin, not me." He frowns, "This is going to be a very important task, daughter. You are going to need to give it your all."

She giggles, "I'll find a way to give it 200%." She turns towards Robin and does a salute which comes out as adorable rather than serious, "What do you need, ma'am?"

The robed woman smiles, "Work with Ricken. There is an elixir in there that induces rage, it also reinforces the user with a protective aura. I want you to do all you can to improve on it with science, Ricken has done all he can right now with magic."

"Ma'am, yes ma'am. Mighty Midori is on the job!" She marches over to the short man.

"She is so cute." Sumia sighs. "I wonder if my child will be like that…?"

Kaze shifts in place while an awkward silence follows, "You need to get laid first, Sumia." Robin bluntly states, and said woman starts flushing a bright red.

"Ro-Robin! Gods…" Cordelia scolds her. "Seriously, that bluntness of yours needs work."

She shrugs, "Cordelia, how many times have you managed to get Chrom to…"

"Robin!" She shrieks.

"Get me to do what?" The blue-haired man asks.

"She wants your…" Her sentence was cut off by Cordelia covering her mouth.

"Nothing, don't listen to her." The red-hair prodigy says.

"I… okay." Chrom looks at the two women with a curious glance.

"...She wants your 'sword'." Asugi finishes and Cordelia gives him a mortified look, "Seriously, Chrom, you wouldn't know someone was in love with you unless they wrote it in big bold letters. Maybe not even then."

"...Cordelia?" Chrom starts. "Do you… uh."

Thoroughly embarrassed, she backs off, "I uh, need to go, my bird needs her feathers groomed. Call me if you need my help." She quickly leaves.

"Her bird needs her feathers groomed." Robin gives in to laughter, "I'll admit, that is better than 'my fish is drowning'."

Asugi sighs, "Gods, I hope this works." He looks the Shepherds over, he honestly never thought he would be working with them, the Thieves' Guild isn't exactly on good terms with them.

"Asugi… you don't know?" Kaze soundlessly approaches him.

"Huh?" He raises an eyebrow. "Know what?"

The forest-green hair ninja glares at him, clearly displeased, but before he could say anything, both his and Asugi's phones vibrates. "Saizo wants us?" Kaze asks out loud. "Well, I was about to tell you, but…" He starts walking, "It's time. Let's go."

"What shall we do today, hm?" Niles asks as he looks at his selection of tools. "I'm afraid we need something new."

"How about putting your head on a rusted platter?" Nina snarls. "Wait, you would probably like that."

"Ah, perfect." He continues as if he never even heard her. He pulls out an enchanted dagger, its metal is surrounded by a fiery red aura. "This should do the boy nicely." He grins.

Her heart slows down, "Don't you dare…"

"Touch him?" He smirks, "More empty threats from a daughter who could have been so much more. Honestly, you are starting to bore me, considering a simple lashing brings you to tears." He stares her down with his one eye, "Unless, of course, you are faking it?"

"I didn't spend my life doing self-flagellation, of course my tolerance isn't as high." Gods, did he really knew she was playing along?

"Your enchantments should be giving you more protection, trust me, I even checked up with Nyx." He gives her a withering look, "So, let's take her advice, and we'll turn things up a bit. I want your screams of agony be genuine." He brings the dagger to her skin and she can just feel the heat of it passing through her, "Ah, you're shaking, this is already going much better…"

Corrin stood bound in the main room, where a large table lies. Validar stands in the front of it, seemingly waiting for something. She can vaguely make out both Nina's and Kana's cries, and it's killing her inside. "Don't just stand there." She finally speaks up.

"You disappoint me, Dragon Girl." He states after nearly a minute after her comment. "Kana should be the one with the diluted bloodline, considering you were courted by a mere human."

"Leave my husband out of this."

"Yet somehow," He continues regardless, "You came out as the defect, useless, a failure." He approaches her, "You have all the physical and personality traits of the Dragon King, but you can't even harness the powers. Pathetic."

"It's a legend, what else do you expect." She admits to believing in magic, but she still refuses to acknowledge some parts of the tale.

"So, we'll try this for one more day." He seems oblivious to her remarks, "If I can't get any results, I'll just throw you to Henry and let him deal with you. I know he would be overjoyed to have someone like you to experiment with."

"I thought you wanted me alive." She narrows her eyes.

"Bah, did you not just hear me?" Hypocrite, "You are useless if you cannot transform. A defenseless pup surrounded by wolves. So, keep that in mind if you still crave living. Let the dragon take hold. Guards!"

Robin steadied her breath as she approached Tharja. Despite being the Valla's Grimleal leader, she was actually pretty well known, if just for her endowed chest and preference for skimpy outfits… and the fact she actually went to Vallite High. The way the dark mage's eyes just lit up at the sight of Robin sent chills down the Shepherd's spine. "Tharja." She acknowledges, forcing a smile on her face.

The other approaches her in a predatory manner, while also keeping her form seductive. "Robin…" She breathes, "You finally came." She wraps her arms around the other woman, "You finally came to me." She forcibly pulls her into a kiss.

Robin tries to keep her focus, even as Tharja proves to be very capable with her actions. Gods, it's like Tharja knows Robin's body better than her! "You're right…" Robin puts on her straight face, her alarmingly natural experience with lying taking hold, "I do want to be with you, but…" She bites her bottom lip.

"But…?" Her interest is peaked, perfect. "What do you need?"

"I 'need' to join the Grimleal, first." She finishes. "So we can always be together."

She seems unsurprised, then drops three words that causes Robin's well-knitted plan to come crashing down, "Can't do that." She smiles.

"What?" Her facade breaks for a moment, "Why?"

"It's simple, if you join, then you'll be required to go through… things. And I'm not letting you leave my sight."

"I've done research, if I'm not part of the Grimleal, then you will be breaking rules."

"Mmm…" She hums, then forms a disturbing smile, "Grimleal? I'm afraid I don't know where you are going with this."

"Don't toy with me." Robin's expression turns deadly.

"I'm not." She frowns, "I wouldn't dream of deceiving you. Which is why I need to tell you something very important..." She lets the statement hang.

"And that is?"

Another woman walks in, looking almost one-for-one to Tharja, "I'm Valla's Grimleal leader. My name is Rhajat."

"And I'm not part of the Grimleal." Tharja grins. "Thank you for the help, Rhajat. The rest of your payment is on the way."

How? Tharja wasn't the leader? But then it seems to hit her, Asugi did mention Nina was curious how Tharja still has her position, considering how little she does. Gods… now what? A mere few minutes in and the plan is a flop. Robin's Clairvoyance spell ceased to work a few minutes into the trail, because magical interference popped up, most likely from Nyx. Kaze was just as stuck… so Tharja was their only lead. And now Robin has been played like a fool. She needed to salvage this.

"Come, love. I have a few things planned. Just. For. Us." She whispers and Robin suddenly finds it hard to concentrate, "No no no." She shakes her head, "Can't have you making plans on me." She says as the distinct flair of dark magic fills the air.

Gods, this was a mistake. "Where to?" She finds herself unable to stop the question from coming out. She's angry at herself for slipping up… but that anger is locked inside, all she actually feels is a want for Tharja. The Dark Mage had all of this planned, she wasn't looking for Robin's consent, she was just spinning a web to capture her in, and the robed woman all but leaped into it.

Kaze, Asugi, and a man that looks just like Asugi, complete with candy pouches, are in a basement. The basement that leads to the Thieves' Guild.

"Wonder what boss-man wants?" Asugi asks as he inputs his code. "Saizo rarely asks for anything. He can run this Guild by himself."

"Your guess is as good as mine." Kaze says as he goes next, "Gaius?"

He simply shrugs, "I dunno." The three enter the hidden passage and travel down the tight hallways. "It's going to be something big, obviously."

The door to Saizo's office seemingly opens on its own and the three thieves enter. A man with a scar over one of his eyes and a mask stands behind a desk, a plentiful amount of paper on it. "Gaius, dismissed, your part is done." Saizo orders before the man even makes it two steps in.

"Huh?" Asugi asks as the other man leaves.

"He wasn't part of the Guild." He simple states. "And the Guild won't be part of the Grimleal by the end of this day."

"You can't just…" Asugi starts.

"Sit." The other two comply and he pulls out one of the papers, it is a map, "This will be the most dangerous mission, infiltrate the Dragon's Table, and take out Validar."

"That's a high order for two people." Kaze remarks.

"Four." He replies.

"Oh? Who's along for the ride?" Asugi leans forward.

"Back against the chair." Gods, this guy means business. "Kagero and I will be joining."

A woman appears from seemingly thin air beside Saizo, she has long black hair, done in a ponytail. "Asugi. Kaze." She nods.

"Still pretty rough. We're still human." The sugar-craver says.

"Leave if you don't think you can handle it." Saizo spits out, "But know that if Validar succeeds in his plans, then you can die knowing that the world will burn with your corpse."

"Come again?"

"Validar seeks to revive Grima, and he has the means to do so now."

"Then… why did we wait this long?" Kaze asks.

"The ritual requires an absurd amount of magic to perform," Kagero answers, just as curtly as Saizo, "As such, the magical defenses won't be present, this is our only chance."

"I thought he just needed…" Asugi starts.

"Are you in or not?" Saizo stares him down.

"The world isn't going down in flames while I still breathe." He answers, "There won't…"

"Good, Kaze?"

"You can count on me." The green-hair thief nods.

"We're moving out now."

"Gods, Nina…" Kana breathes as she returns far later than usual, her body is adorned with burns and gashes.

"He figured out I was faking it." She simply states.

Kana growls, it comes out more bestial than usual, the roaring in his head is faint, but there. "I'm gonna…" He starts, but then notices a scent is missing, "Mama? Mama!"

"I don't see her." Nina responds.

"Hey!" He shouts, "Where's mama?!" He bangs against the bars as tears form.

"Are you trying to get another round of lashings?" Nina hisses.

"I don't care!" She startles as his voice comes out deeper. "Bring mama back!" The roar starts to increase.

Thinking on her feet, she comes up with a quick lie, "I overheard a rumor that Validar believes she has outlived her usefulness." Gods, it killed her to say that, but if she could get him angry enough, then maybe…

Kana gives her a mortified look, before it takes the intended effect and he looks angry. To Nina, it is a horrible expression, Kana is such a happy boy, and to see him like this. "Validar!" He shouts and slams against the bars again.

"He'll probably send her to Henry." She goads on, "Remember when I told you he is the worst of the lot? He'll kill people just to see their blood fall. If she gets in his hands… "Get Validar! He's breaking the bars!

"Bring my mama back! Leave Nina alone!" The roaring is nearly deafening. "Let. Us. Go!" His world fills with red as the bars give in. The last thing he remembers is the jail cell seeming so much smaller.

Nina gasps as she actually witnesses his transformation. Sure, she had seen his dragon form before, but this is the first time she could actually look at it. His form was larger than the gate holding him in, yet his strength shattered the metal. He was covered in pale blue scales, his horns were ripping into the ceiling, he seemed to have hands instead of actual feet. His face wasn't visible, replaced by a thick coating of armor. Water pooled around him and puddles formed wherever he walked.

She jumped back as his tail easily destroyed her cells' bars, but for she thinks it was by accident, and not him actually thinking about it. She truly hopes she can bring him back again. He looks far more gone than last time. After the entrance was demolished, she started following, while keeping her distance. Kana should be fine, but she needs her gear. Glancing down both sides, she chooses to go the opposite direction of Kana, who is just bashing through walls without a care. She doubts he even realizes where he is heading.

She pushes herself on the wall when footsteps are being sounded out. A total of three guards slip by her, thank the gods some of her enchantments are embedded in her, as much agony as it caused her. She resumes moving and ends up at the entrance of the dungeon. A chest lies near the entrance… it isn't even locked, fools. She opens it up to see a few things. Kana's dress, what she assumed is Corrin's dress, and a small enchanted pouch. She snags the pouch immediately and sighs in relief when she rummages around and finds all of her gear.

Stripping down on the spot, she puts her custom Grimleal gear on, and proceeds to sheathe all of the weapons that come with it. Attaching the pouch to her waist, she grabs the dresses and gently puts them in. Now, she needs to find Corrin, she has a sinking suspicion her provoking statements were more true than she would like to admit. The area rumbled, Kana must have broken something important. She dashes up the stairs, not wanting to wait around to see if anything crumbles.

Nina unsheathes her short sword and takes out a guard. She stops for a moment and listens, her enchantments whir to life and she is able to make out faint sounds, it's nothing definite, but something is better than nothing. She moves towards the sounds, weaving through the hallways like she has lived here her entire life. Approaching a door, she listens in. "Make sure she's bound up tight." Not taking any chances, the Grimleal thief opens it to see Corrin tied up way more than required. Several lengths of rope cover her arms and legs.

"Woah, stand back!" A man pulls the Dragon Girl up, blade to her neck. Nina forces her body to relax and slowly sheathes her sword. The man, too, starts to drop his guard… before Nina whips her pistol out and drops him in one shot.

"Nina… thank you." Corrin is trembling, lack of nourishment?

"Sh…" She whispers and she uses her sword to cut the bindings off. "Stay very close." She states, "Body-to-body close, Niles can easily hold you hostage if you are even a few inches off of me."

"I understand… and trust you."

"...And he won't hesitate." She adds as they leave the room. Admittedly, she finds it harder to move with Corrin so glued to her, but she wasn't taking chances.

"Where are we going?" Corrin asks. "Where is Kana?"

"Validar. He's a dragon." She quickly answers.

Corrin nearly stumbles, "He's…"

"Yeah."

Corrin gasps and brings Nina down, but before she could question why, "Hello, dear daughter." Niles smiles, while switching his bow out for a sword. "Your list of punishments just keeps growing."

Nina stays silent as she pulls out her hand-crossbow and fires a shot, unsheathes her sword and stays next to Corrin. Niles quickly closes the distance and lashes out, Nina easily deflects and strikes him. He doesn't stand a chance in a close-quarter one to one. The daughter starts to push him back, her own attacks becoming more aggressive. Niles is no father to her, Corrin, Kana, and Forrest are in distress because of him. Niles staggers back when she lands a rather brutal cut on his sword hand.

"Not bad." He still finds time to smirk.

"Nina!" Corrin shrieks.

"Quiet, child." Nyx commands. "You." Nina can just feel the mage's magic being directed at her, "Kneel." Nina gasps as a wave of magic hits her, she suddenly finds it hard to breath. "And by Validar's orders, take your last."

Nina starts choking as the magic tightens. She can hear Corrin struggling. Nina drops to the floor, struggling to take at least one more, break the hold, anything. "Sweeter than chocolate." The magic drops and she gasps. Asugi?

"For the Thieves' Guild." Niles drops in front of her. Kaze stands behind him.

"I got you." She hears a third voice say, female.

"Thank the gods we came in time." Asugi pulls her up and into a hug, a rare display of emotion showing. "Kana?" He asks.

"He's a dragon, I need to get to him… and Validar."

He shakes his head, "Saizo is on his trail, let's get to your love, alright?"

She fights back a flush, "Right." She looks at the third thief, "Thank you…"

"Kagero." She nods, "I'm returning to Saizo." She vanishes into thin air.

A heavy rumble echoes through the hallways. "I'll assist you, miss Corrin." Kaze walks over to her and picks her up. "Asugi, Nina, I trust you can cover me?"

"Get her out of here." Nina says, then grabs Corrin's dress out of her own pouch and hands it to the peacekeeper, who accepts it with a nod. "Asugi, ready for a sugar rush?"

"You bet." He readies his daggers, "Two strikes for every pain they brought you."

She giggles, "I don't think there's enough skin for that." Nina frowns as she barely catches hearing part of the building cave in, "Move! Sounds like Kana broke something really important."

Validar breathes, calming his nerves as he stares what used to be Kana. He finally got to see that, yes, the boy's blood is potent enough to transform. But, what he wasn't expecting that his spells would just merely bounce off of the dragon's scales. He would try something more potent, but that requires time… time he doesn't have as the Dragon Boy continues to charge him down in an attempt to skewer him with his horns.

At this rate, it would have been smarter to break into Valla's castle and steal the Fire Emblem. "Eliminated." Validar's world goes black as his throat is slit open. Saizo stands over his corpse, then jumps back as Kana nearly crushes him. He holds his daggers out.

"I'm here." Kagero appears.

"Attempt to subdue." He simply orders. She nods and they blur together, their combined attacks are almost too fast to be seen, they leave but mere nicks in Kana's scales, but that was the point of their weapons.

"Leave him alone!" Another voice echoes, and Kagero had to jump back to avoid a crossbow bolt being planted in her neck.

"Saizo, Kagero, let Nina handle Kana." Asugi announces. The man hesitates for a split-second, before nodding. "Good luck, Nina." The three thieves leave.

Kana roars and attempts to give chase, "Kana!" The dragon turns towards the voice. "Kana…" She drops her voice muffler. "You still there?" Her weapons have been discarded. "The threats are gone, your…" She stops as she jumps back from his tail. "Corrin is safe." Another attempt at a strike, "Kana, it's me, Nina." Gods, the boy isn't letting up. "The woman who wants to marry you." She adds. "I want to spend my life with you, but that can't happen if you're stuck in that form. Kana!"

Her heart drops as his attacks don't become any less aggressive. "Gods, please. Kana, I don't know what I would do if I lost another, please. Come back to me." Her will starts to waver. "Kana…" Her voice breaks. "Ah!" The dragon finally connects a hit and she skids across the floor. "Kana…" She repeats his name, she doesn't know what else to do. "You are my world, don't leave me without a home." She gets up. "You are my home, I'll go anywhere with you… for you."

The dragon roars and shoots a stream of scalding water in her direction, she narrowly avoids being scalded. "Kana, I love you. You love me, right? Nina?" He finally stops mid-attack and she smiles. "Calm down, it's just me. Nina." She slowly reaches her hand out, "Don't leave me alone. I need you." Kana pushes his head towards her hand and she gently strokes it. "Kana…" She giddily grins.

"...Is Grimleal's property." Nina squeaks as a blast of magic hits her. Gods, her insides feel like they are boiling. "Nyahahaha, this was a doozy of a ride."

"Henry?" She coughs up, she'd recognize that laugh anywhere, "Why…" She shrieks as the burn increases.

"Whew, good thing Validar has back-up plans. It'd be a shame to lose now." The Nohrian Grimleal leader casts a spell and Kana trembles. "It's also a shame that the High Priest was such a pitiful Dark Mage compared to Nyx and me… especially me. Come now, Kana. We have a Fell Dragon to revive."

"Kana…" Nina wheezes out. Gods, what kind of curse is this? "It burns…"

"I'm not asking again. Come, or she gets fried." Then he laughs, "Actually, I think I'm going to fry you anyway! Just to hear you scream!" Kana slowly walks towards Henry. "Good boy, now…" The Dark Mage is cut off by Kana using his front hand to snag him from where he stood, squeezing him hard enough to prevent anything from being casted.

"Leave. Her. Alone." His voice comes out as an otherworldly echo. Kana roars and slams the white-hair mage against the wall, then on the floor, before just stomping on his midsection. "She's my love." A glow envelopes him as he shrinks back into human, a bloodied, but grinning, Henry lying dead in front of him. Kana turns and looks at Nina, who is recovering from the fading curse. "Nina!" He runs over and gently hugs her. "Nina… Nina…"

"I'm here. Sh…" She whines through the lingering pain. "We're in the clear. Just gotta get out of this place."

"...Marry me." He blurts out. "Here. Now."

She flushes from the sudden proposal, "Of course I do, but we…" Kana pulls a box out. "How did you get that?"

"...I don't know." He shrugs. "I just felt something rubbing against me."

He pops the top open, and there it stood. An ill-gotten ring, engraved with a 'N' and 'K', an amethyst in the center, and little hearts adorning the side. "This is supposed to be your ring."

"We'll get another." He has a knowing smile, "I'll help you two out, this time."

"You knew?"

"Well, yeah. I can smell emotions. And this ring is lined with misfortune." He giggles and grabs Nina's hand.

"And you don't care th…" She is cut off by a kiss, then feels the ring being slipped on her finger before he forces himself closer.

"You stole my love." He smiles with a heavy flush as he breaks it, "And that's all I care for."

"I wouldn't dare to ask you to drop to my level. You don't need to dirty your hands."

He laughs, it is rich and pure all the tension of the last few days seem to melt away in that one moment, "I'm afraid that's out of the question, love. You won't ask, because I'm going to help regardless." He pulls her up, "Come on, we got a wedding to plan!" He giggles, "Ooo… wait till mama and papa hear about this!"

Nina's heart leaps as she lets herself get dragged by a skipping and whistling Kana. Gods, she is so hopelessly in love with him. The two leave the room and Asugi pops up from the shadows, "Whew. I was afraid he would sense me." He takes a sucker out and puts it in his mouth, "I'm still going to pry the proposal out of you, Nina. Just to see you flustered."