There's gotta be another way out
The Phoenix's Eye symbol floats in the sky, glowing blue.
I've been stuck in a cage with my doubt
The camera falls, dropping from the sky and into the stands of Domus Flau, focusing on Kynigós.
I've tried forever getting out on my own
The sky turns black, and images of Equivaton, Asuka, Ryos, Lucy and Zena appear around him, until Zena resolves into reality and Kynigos scratches her horns.
But every time I do this my way
The camera pans into the arena, where Sarph and Artorias are clashing with Jasmine and Eishaj.
I get caught in the lies of the enemy
Pierce and Tyria engage Orga and Asakura.
I lay my troubles down
Pierce bursts out in blue fire, before shifting into a a combination Take Over of Phoenix and Lairon Souls and launching himself at Asakura like a cannonball.
I'm ready for you now
He slams into the floor of the arena, leaving a hole, and the camera drops through the floor, entering the caves.
Bring me out
The camera swoops past Aberforth, skulking in the shadows.
Come and find me in the dark now
It emerges into the Fissure, focused on Entropy, with the Swordmaster backing her up and wielding Thraide.
Everyday by myself I'm breaking down
Entropy spasms, falling to the ground, reaching out towards the green crack that holds her husband.
I don't wanna fight alone anymore
The camera lingers, and for a second a massive eye can be seen through the crack.
Bring me out
At the mouth of the cave, Aberforth crouches.
From the prison of my own pride
He collapses, limp, and Yurei emerges, looking around.
My God I need a hope I can't deny
Team Pierce, Cal, Entropy, Mister Thick, Nino and the Swordmaster look back at him.
In the end I'm realizing
Cal scoops him up, and both smile at one another.
I was never meant to fight on my own
The image fades into a Phoenix's Eye logo, coloured the green of Yurei's scales.
-[CoT]-
Dinner was not as sociable an affair as Kynigós would like; as much as it was a pleasure to eat with the King and Princess Hisui, it just wasn't practical considering how busy they both were running the country. Actually, they were out of town for the week. On nights like this, he tended to find himself with only Zena for company.
"Enjoy, sir," the black-haired serving girl deposited a plate of steak before him. Kynigós smiled, taking up his knife and fork, before pausing, noticing a small piece of paper peeking out from under the broccoli. He carefully extracted it, unfolding it to read; Meet me in the gardens tomorrow night. The phrase was written in fine calligraphy, and a heart was inked under the words.
Kynigós cast the serving-girl a questioning glance and was rewarded with a shy smile, flushed cheeks and a wink. Once she was gone, Kynigós cast a glance at an oblivious Zeta and hummed. "I guess I have an admirer,"
The following night, Kynigós entered the Crocus Gardens and quickly found the serving-girl in question, seated on a picnic blanket with the most stereotypical picnic basket imaginable at her side. She was dressed in a low-cut plain dress that glittered a dark blue. "You came. I'm so happy," the young woman, probably a couple of years younger than Kynigós, beamed as he sat down.
"Geez, I feel underdressed," Kynigós has made no effort to dress up for the occasion, and his aged and ragged coat, which still had faint stains of Dragon blood in it, contrasted sharply with the decor.
"You're fine," the young woman assured him. "I'm Sonya," she added.
"Good to know," Kynigós cooly replied as she pulled out a plate of sandwiches and a decanter of some kind of juice. "I know it's simple, but you don't strike me as the sort to care about fancy food,"
Kynigós plucked a sandwich with his sole remaining flesh hand and bit into it. "Beef. Good choice," he offered.
"Thank you," Sonya nodded, sounding pleased.
For a few minutes, the two chatted. Kynigós couldn't help but smile a bit. Sonya was sweet, and funny.
It was almost as though she really was a simple servant who had a crush on the mysterious dragon tamer.
"So," Kynigós asked during a lull in the conversation. "How many knives are hidden inside that dress?"
Sonya blinked. "Wha - What are you talking about?" she stammered.
"Or do you prefer guns? You obviously aren't much of a sniper, but do you have pistols in your boots? Or how about some kind of obscure magic for killing people?" Kynigós guessed.
The young woman shook her head nervously. "Why would I have a gun?"
"Because you're an assassin sent to kill me. Which country sent you? I'm fairly sure that the first two were from Giltena and the Alvarez Empire, so that rules them out. You're not skilled enough to be from the World Government. Some obscure principality, maybe?"
"What makes you think I'm an assassin?!" Sonya was on her feet now, looking cross.
"A few things gave you away. First, your handwriting," Kynigós flashed the note that she had given him. "Most of the people in this castle are only barely literate. You, on the other hand, write in cursive and dot your 'i's with hearts. No ordinary maid would have the opportunity to learn to write like that,"
"I take pride in my handwriting. That doesn't make me an assassin,"
"Second, there are two kinds of sandwiches here. Some of them are made with ham, some with beef. You've only eaten the ones with ham. So, either you really hate beef, which is unlikely given that you're the one who prepared this meal, or the beef sandwiches are poisoned,"
"I know that you like beef more than ham, I was saving them for you,"
"Also, I can literally taste the cyanide," Kynigós flatly told her.
She was stunned for a moment. "Well . . then it doesn't matter! You're already dead!"
"Yeah, not so much. You know the king keeps a poison neutraliser mage on retainer? His job is to prepare poison neutralisation lacrima pills for anyone likely to get poisoned, and I've been having one with my breakfast every morning. So's Zena, if you're wondering," Kynigós laconically explained.
"Oh - well -" Sonya stopped dead as a detail from earlier in the conversation finally registered itself in her brain. "The . . first two?"
"The first one was a total klutz. She tried to snipe me. Me," Kynigós scoffed derisively. "The second one was good, he attacked me at night while I was asleep. Too bad for him I sleep with one eye open. I'll admit, poisoning's a new one on me. Usually people have the guts to kill me directly,"
"And . . they're both dead?" Sonya asked, looking suddenly fearful.
"One of them is. Care to guess which?" Before the assassin could answer, Kynigós slammed the back of his fist into her face. "It's the second one. Because he was stupid enough to come within arm's reach of me!"
Sonya stumbled backwards, and a magic circle appeared before her as she began to cast, but in a flash Kynigós had his rifle out and lodged a bullet between her eyes.
"Easily the worst assassin yet. Four out of ten," he scoffed, before looking at the corpse. "I suppose someone needs to clean that up,"