Diablo 2: Visions of You (Chapter 3)
By Amethyst Haze (amethyst_haze@hotmail.com)

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Disclaimer: I do not own Diablo II, its concepts, its designs or anything else related to it. Those are the property of Blizzard Entertainment, this story is simply a non-profit tribute and parody. This story is Rated R for moments of sexual content, offensive language and violence.

Amethyst Haze's comments: If this story sounds EXTREMELY familiar to you.... then you've read the original fanfic as the NC-17 version when it was under my old pen name. I will not be writing like that anymore. Also, you might want to have read through "Longing to be with you" first since Visions of You is the second in that series. :P

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(Authors note: In this chapter, if you see a centered paragraph in italics, it is an excerpt from Ferrum's journal. If anything is written in past time, it will be mentioned prior to it..)

From the journal of Ferrum R. Maitland:

I miss Alys. It's strange how my thoughts come out when I write. I've noticed that with each entry, I write every single thought that comes to mind. It's very weird. Oh well, Alys, I'm keeping my promise, you get to read all about my travels when I return to you. Any day now....

So, it's been two nights since the pirate attack. Krysta and Rune still want to kill each other. It's been this way since I first met them, and it seems to have gotten worse because of Krysta's attire. Due to the loss of her clothes, she had to search the ship for an alternative.... the only available clothes was a skimpy blue harem outfit. Needless to say, she was not pleased. Most of it is see-through, save for the area around her chest and hips, lucky her. But, she took Rune's fur cloak, so her complaints have lessened, so long as Rune doesn't comment on it.

I know Krysta is very much capable of killing any one of us. Just this morning I tried to wake her up. I was on the flat of my back in one second and she had her katar to my throat. I don't know what to say about that. It scared me, but at the same time... I couldn't help but think of how I'd rather have Alys in that position.

Anyways, Rune is the one with all the windpower to guide our ship. I have to admit, it's pretty funny watching him throw wind spells at the sails to make the ship move. Speaking of Rune, I'm really getting tired of him and his animals. This is a ship, not Noah's ark, dammit. Though my newest golem, Spikey, seems to be quite attached to them. I really cannot stand those wolves. Every night, they decide to howl at the moon. I think it's a conspiracy against humans to deprive us of sleep. I swear, tonight I am feeding them enough sleeping root to shut them up until we get to Kurast. Another thing I've noticed, Rune tosses and turns in his sleep a lot, mumbling to himself, weird. Well, as long as he doesn't suddenly reach into his pants during the night, I have no problems with him.

Anyways, we ended up picking four people to take back to Kurast with us. Krysta kept hinting at wanting one of them to be a woman and Rune adamantly refused that. I'm not sure what to be worried about more: Krysta wanting women or Rune refusing them, huh. One of the survivors is Reikarh. I picked him! He's a damn good cook, you know? Krysta looked really ill when she was hacking up that cow by the way. At one point I commented on her pale skin and she turned on me, yelling that she'd slice ME into steaks in place of the cow.

So, now we have meat, fresh meat. Rune was a little irritated with being the one to haul the meat below, but stopped complaining once he found the room that stored all the ale. What a weird guy. He acts really strangely around Krysta when she's sleeping. He doesn't sleep much also. I don't know what he's so on edge about. He also really hates that minstrel or bard guy, Bayard. Poor guy. Rune let loose a wolf after him just for singing around him. I don't know what it is about Rune, but he seems... normal at times and then something triggers a bad mood. Does singing bother him? Bayard's voice isn't that bad.

Andreas is one I don't get along with. He's plain crazy in a scary way. I won't even go into detail about that bastard. He helps with the sails along with Bayard and knows how to navigate using the stars. On a side note, I'm really not too happy with the people on board stepping on me while I'm sleeping. I'm not a damn floor mat! I wonder if I should just sleep on deck from now on?

Anyways, the fourth one is... oh, right. Just awhile ago, he accused Rune of being a completely dishounorable man for winning some bet against him and Rune threw him overboard for that insult. Huh, I never really thought him to be one to care much about honour. Well, I guess he's just full of surprises.

Also.... What is with him? He's been REALLY soft around Krysta since that night...

***

(Author's note: This is what happened "that night" that Ferrum's journal mentions. This is not present time yet. You will know when present time is because the indent is gone and there will be mention of the time.)

Rune sighed, grimacing at the memory of Omega. He glanced over at Krysta's sleeping form sympathetically. The woman had endured quite a bit today. No doubt her mind was strong enough to overcome the horrid event that took place in that room. Because of her being the fairer sex, and perhaps also his compassion, he felt sorry for her.

As the light of the lantern flickered, moths danced around, creating small delicate shadows upon the wooden planks, he leaned back against the wall and thought more of the lecherous barbarian.

By now, he had probably sank to the bottom of the ocean. From the very first moment Krysta came in, he knew well that Omega was not one to be trusted around women... but he didn't act at all on his suspicions. It was his fault.

The door swung upen and the druid reflexively made a grab for his trusty dagger. In the doorway and holding a small pillow, the blonde Ferrum smiled awkwardly. "Hey, hey, it's just me." After a nod from Rune, the young necromancer closed the door and knelt beside the sleeping assassin. He gently lifted her head to slide the pillow in and, once the task was done, an odd look swept over the young man's face. Suddenly, the druid felt it was neccessary to questioned him for it in case he turned out to be wrought of the perversions that Omega probably was.

"Oh, I just thought she might've attacked me..."

Rune paused. "What?"

Leaning back against another wooden pillow, Ferrum quickly explained his recent encounter with an assassin and making camp with her. "The girl was sleeping and I knew she was probably cold, so when I tried to spread my cloak over her, she suddenly jumped on top of me with a dirk in hand." He shook his head. "Crazy girl nearly killed me that day."

Rune chuckled, "Krysta won't wake up."

"What makes you say that?"

"The reason she went to sleep was because she was tired from throwing up all the time," he shook his head, amused. "She'll be out for awhile." He glanced over at the sleeping assassin and frowned as she tossed and turned, shaking her head rapidly.

With a start, Krysta jolted awake in her sleep, gasping for air.

Ferrum glanced over at her from his pallet. "Are you okay?"

She looked around, dazed and confused. Her palms felt damn, her throat felt dry and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't slow down her quick and ragged breathing.

Concerned, the blonde young man hopped off the soft pallet and crouched down beside her. "Krysta, are you alright?"

Slowly nodding, she reached into the leather sack that she stored all of her belongings to pull out a water canteen. "I will be," she replied in a scratchy voice.

Truth be told, she didn't hold too much faith in her words. Would she be alright? Even though the deed was not done, mostly thanks to Ferrum and Rune, it still had shaken her. She felt vulnerable. A strong woman--an assassin, for crying out loud--became a victim on this very day. Worst of all, in her opinion, she was victimized by a man--a shallow and despicable man who dared to even set his eyes upon her; Even worse, his filthy hands had violated her body.

Drinking in the lukewarm water, she managed a weak smile at Ferrum. "Just go back to sleep, I'll be fine."

Giving his infamous lop-sided grin, his right eye managed to catch a sparkle in the faint saffron-hued lantern light. "I wasn't
asleep," he admitted. "I was just listening to some ballad the bard in the next room is singing."

Rune groaned. "I want to kill Bayard..."

"What does he sing?" Krysta suddenly asked.

While Ferrum spoke, Krysta, from where she sat, took the moment to carefully study his face. He was young looking, but not in the adolescent range. His face wasn't overly chiseled like some men his age, but still held a hint of softness without lacking its appeal. He had a strong chin that suited the shape of his face and mouth. It didn't jut out or hide in layers of fat, it was perfectly in place, nothing seeming wrong. His skin appeared thick and spotted with the slight growth of facial hair that also ran over the skin between the nostrils and upper lip. His nose was a nicely defined aquiline tip with the edges hooked gently. She smiled with a small nod, still studying his face. She had met one man in Kurast very gifted in art... Ferrum was clearly a handsome man to look at with strangely appealing face, well worth a painting in the name of art. Regardless of what gender the viewer preferred, his face could be stared at for a long time... and Krysta hadn't realized she was doing just that.

"Krysta, are you listening?"

She snapped back to reality. Sorry, what did you say?"

"I'm not quite sure, but he knows all sorts of songs and ballads from almost every region." He paused, his voice become rich with the obvious interest he had. "Apparently, he's travelled everywhere. Zann Esu valleys, the highlands, the blood moor, Kurast, maybe even to the land that Viz-Jaq'taar was born."

Krysta's attention was snagged then. "Really? ... Interesting." She paused, fully absorbing his words before she mused out loud. "You think he would mind singing something now?"

Rune groaned again. "No... I want to sleep, dammit."

Too late. Within mere seconds, Ferrum scurried out the door, and the metal golem, which he aptly named "Spikey," still faithfully following him, in search of the bard. Turning to the assassin, Rune frowned. "Do you really need him to sing to you?"

"Not really, but I'd like to hear it," she snapped.

He sighed and the blonde returned with the auburn-haired bard.

"You called for me, my lady?" Bayard asked with a smile.

She nodded and patted the spot next to her. "Yes. If it's all right, could you sing something?"

Ferrum lay back on his pallet with a smile. His blue eyes surveyed Rune's expression. He did not look happy. "Rune, cheer up, would'ya?" He got a scowl in return.

The bard gladly took his place and, humming a few opening notes, he then announced his song. "I will sing to you the 'Eternal Beauty's death.' "

The door was opened and closed quickly as the druid left the room without one single word.

***

Rune sighed. His stomach had not felt any discomfort to the uneasy sway and bob of the wild waters. A sound echoed in the night; someone most likely throwing up into the water... most likely Reikarh. The poor man in charge of cooking really did not like the sway of the sea. For some strange reason, the man only threw up at night, in the mornings he was lively and healthy seeming enough.

The salt sprayed in his face and he rubbed his eyes. He had been sitting on the deck with Andreas for two hours since that damn Bayard came in. Picking up his empty ale mug, he tossed it aside and stood up, feeling his knees crick from the extended period of time he spent seated on the stool.

Andreas was already asleep on the floor in a drunk and sated state of mind. Rune left him like that, not wanting to wake the man in case he turned out to be a mean drunk as he suspected.

Stumbling down the stairs into the barely-lit area with his candle, he glanced at the door leading into the mainroom. He paused, listening for singing. None.

Good, he thought with a nasty frown. Damn Bayard is gone or has shut up finally...

He pushed open the heavy door and closed it gently behind him as he blew out his candle. Making his way over to his pallet, he suddenly felt something squishy, yet hard, beneath his boot: Bayard's leg.

"Yeow! Hey!" The bard cried out, clearly startled and wincing in pain.

"Shit... sorry," Rune couldn't help but smile.

Scowling, Bayard settled back into the velvet pillows to drift to dreams again. Almost instantly his soft snores returned.

Rune settled himself upon the firm pallet and sighed.He flicked sympathetic, look to the assassin, Krysta. In the corner of the room, diagonal to the one Omega originally sat, she was curled up into a tight ball with Rune's thick fur cloak pulled over her slim body. Her shoulders and arms remained in view along with the red swollen lines marking the ivory skin of her wrists.

Rune grimaced, wishing that he could've arrived earlier before any harm was done to the woman. Even though he knew she was a strong woman, capable of protecting herself, it was quite obvious, from the very beginning, that Krysta was not handling the rocking of the ship all that well. The fierceness of her voice was trying to draw attention away from the pale and weak expression she carried as her legs wobbly carried her into the cargo room. Krysta's expression of confusion and hatred after Omega was disposed of had been one Rune wished he hadn't seen. Assassins were of a proud breed and, although Rune might've been pleased to see it another of time, it was painful to see their spirit crushed even if only temporarily.

Once again, the protective nature within him bubbled to life, regardless that she was the one who worked so hard to undo his plan to keep Nevia for himself.

***

(Author's note : Ferrum's journal again)

I don't know what to think of it quite honestly, Alys. If you were here, I bet you'd be playing matchmaker with the two of them. Another thing I noticed recently: Rune doesn't hate Bayard, he hates his songs... one song in particular. That "Eternal Beauty's death." I don't blame him. I find the song depressing as well. Even I'm tempted to punch the guy out or sic Spikey on him.

Speaking of which, Spikey has a bad habit of breaking things. For example: he made a hole in a wall. So now, from the cook's quarters to the main room, there is a spyhole. Reikarh really isn't happy with that. He kept griping about "privacy" and other unimportant things that I couldn't care less about.

I think when I arrive home, you'll like them. Even though their weird, there are traits about them that I find amusing and almost good to be around. Notice I wrote "when I arrive home." That's right... the only home I want to come to is one that you're in. I miss you and I love you Alys.

Oh yeah, and I miss your breasts very much.

***

(Author's note: Yes, NOW we're back to present time. ^_^;)

Rune wasn't sure how much more of Bayard's singing he could take. Strangely enough, his wolves had also been awfully quiet for the past few nights. Weird. But with that strange phenomenon, Between mouthfuls of salty dried beef that Reikarh had given him as a meal, he frowned. He wanted to tie Bayard to a pole and pummel his brains out. He had been singing one hour straight. Any minute now, Rune was expecting to hear that dreadful song. The very second the opening word were sang, he knew he'd bolt it out of there and find Andreas to drink with.

Bayard smiled as his rich voice carried over the sound of the crashing waves against the sturdy wood of the ship. "Deep in the green Zann Esu valleys..." Rune sprung to his feet and left, slamming the door behind him.

Ferrum and Krysta exchanged glances before turning their attention back to Bayard who was startled by Rune's sudden leave.

"Did I do something to offend him? Should I stop singing?" Bayard's eyebrows furrowed with disdain.

Krysta shook her head. "No, please, try again."

Nodding, Bayard needed no more coaxing. He began his song again:

" Deep in the green Zann Esu valley, this sorrow-brimmed tale shall begin.
Love unreturned is the cause for pain, And for one man to carry much guilt within.
A kind and honorable man dared to love a woman who was pledged to another.
The woman didn't want to betray either of them, for they often seemed like good brothers.

A peaceful and humble man this woman was married to, and they had a daughter of their mother's grace.
This woman was no peasant, wench or ugly hag, but a modest one with an eternal beauty's face.
The honourable man spoke up with words so cruel, that his friend should not love her if he cannot defend.
And at the discussion of flaw in the married man, a wide rift emerged between those two friends.

The honourable man felt guilty for his words even though he knew he carried the woman's love,
He left without a word to his friend's wife and was never again to be spoken of.
Then two evil women emerged out of the darkness and called for the flawed man out loud.
Cripple and unable to fight, he gave into their demands - a sacrifice of pig, chicken and cow.

Their next request was one quite evil. It required the life of their babe.
It was delivered, and the beauty arrived, running towards her daughter to save.
One female devil glared haughtily at the beauty and the other slashed the column of her neck.
The baby cried out for its dying mother before it was killed in the same respect.

The child's blood spilled into those evil mouths and was savoured much like sweet wine.
The she-devils then burned the village down and slaughtered everyone like detestable swine.
The honourable man returned one moon later and scared the sister demons away.
He found his friend bleeding his own rivers and listened to what he had to say:

"If only I had a complete body, none of this would have transpired.
I would have slew those demons before they could claim my wife and child.
Or, if you had been the husband in my stead to love and protect like she deserved,
She might now be alive and in your arms instead of rotting beneath the Earth!"

As he buried the dead husband next to the wife, he knew this to be a situation not great.
He carries the sorrow and guilt of their deaths believing it was all of his fault, and not the one of fate.
So he walked on with his heart much darker, carrying a lesson learned not so small.
If you have love and will not fight to keep it, then you don't deserve love at all."

As always, Krysta held her breath during the last half of the song. The verse that pulled on her emotions the most was the death of the wife and child. She finally exhaled with an ache in her heart. Lost love was a topic so near to her. All the song did for her, was strengthen her resolve to find Avery.

Ferrum shook his head, thinking the song through as he glanced curiously at the door Rune exited. "Deep in the Zann Esu valleys..."

Bayard nodded. "I was there about two years ago and acquired that song from another bard actually."

Nodding, the blonde necromancer recited another line. "A kind an honorable man dared to love--"

"--a woman who was pledged to another," Bayard finished for him.

Stroking his chin thoughtfully, Ferrum turned to Krysta, finally taking notice from the corner of his eye the strange expression she wore. "What is it?"

The assassin shook her head. "Nothing, but you have a funny look. What's up?"

Scratching his head, Ferrum sighed and turned to Bayard. "Don't take any offense to this, but, I don't think you should be singing that song whenever Rune is around."

"May I ask why, sir?"

Ferrum lowered his head, casting a slanted look towards the door and looking quite astonished with his own discovery. "Because, I think the song's 'honourable man' is Rune..."

***

Rune closed his eyes, enjoying the false security the warm burn in his belly provided provided by the hard alcohol. His green eyes opened, watching the dark water's rippling reflection of the waxing moon's light saffron-glow. He sighed, running a hand roughly through his oily hair, desperately in need of a wash. He really didn't know how much more of that song he could take. He was almost at rope's end and ready to toss Bayard overboard.

With his ale-muddled mind, it seemed like a good idea, but his conscience and old morals of honour stopped him. "It's not right" it seemed to reason. That was enough to win him over and spare the bard a long swim to Kurast.

Resting his arms crossed on the rail, he lowered his chin to the muscular forearm. The salty water spray lightly flecked his skin, cool to the touch and augmenting the sweet chill of the night winds. His mind was swimming in circles, bordering the problem that lay in the middle; his past was still on his mind, poking him like a much irritable Dark Omen.

From behind him, footsteps sounded on the deck. He sighed. Without even turning, he knew it to be Krysta. He could tell just by her light steps as opposed to Ferrum's heavy-booted and attention-grabbing walking style. "I'm not going down to listen to him," he called out with a grumble. "So you can forget it."

Krysta ignored his usual complaint and stood next to him, leaning on the rail and stared down at his brooding face. "You want to tell me what happened?"

Rune paused. "Why? You were there." He shook his head, surprised Krysta would forget so quickly. "Bayard started singing, I can't stand such sad crap so I left."

"I didn't mean that... I meant with your time spent in the Zann Esu valley." Rune jerked his head in direction, surprised that she knew. Krysta continued out ."Ferrum told me that he noticed your accent and... you act really weird when Bayard sings that song.. 'Eternal Beauty's death.' "

"I see... That song was never called Eternal Beauty's death, you know." He looked away, his jaw tightening. "Was originally named 'Honour's Folly.' " He sighed, taking another gulp of his ale. He swiftly exhaled and started up again. "That damn bard back in Nerreth--" He spotted Krysta's eyebrow arching and he quickly explained it to be the village he lived in for some time. "Anyways, the bard there, Roarke, wanted to name it "Rune's Folly," but I leveled him as a warning not to and am rather surprised he heeded it."

A mirthless laugh spilled from Rune's lips, bringing a bitter smile to Krysta's own. "So it is about you?" A redundant question, but she had to make sure.

He nodded. "Yeah, long time ago."

Krysta paused and the strange realization came to her; Rune was actually being open with her. Must be the alcohol talking, she thought, not wanting to believe there truly was a change in him as Nevia believed.

"Why do they call her 'Eternal Beauty'? It sounds rather conceited."

"It does, doesn't it?" A strange smile was delivered from the druid. "Her name was Eterna.... a play on with words. I suppose Bayard thinks himself as a genius for renaming it that, the stupid idiot." He threw his ale mug over the water, waiting anxiously until he heard the splash and saw the moon's reflection break from the surface's disturbance.

Pursing her lips, Krysta felt her heart wrench. So... he went through all of that... she thought, biting down on her lip. She was about to ask more, when Rune spoke up, all the words falling from him with ease and obvious torment.

"I met her when I was just sixteen summers and travelling with two other friends through Nerreth," he started, a nostalgic smile coming to his face. "Gods, she was incredible. But... years later, when I met up with her again, she was already married." The smile faded. "I suppose she was tired of waiting for me... what killed me the most was that it was Grey."

Grey... the friend of the honourable man, Krysta recited to herself. She also recognized the name of the village being one not too far from the Zann Esu forests. "When did Grey meet Eterna though?"

Rune smiled bitterly again. "The same minute I did. He was one of the friends who joined me on our little 'trek.'" He paused. "Grey and Jenner came with me... all of us are druids, you know?"

Krysta wrinkled her nose. "All of you? ... I thought druids travel and train alone..."

"They do... but try to understand," he explained, tracing the pattern on the wood with blunt fingers. "Being alone, for so many years can drive a person insane." An awkward grin resulted in his reason. "Anyways, Grey had an old injury from when the village was attacked by some crazed Wendigos," he stood up, pacing with his hand running along the railing. "Jenner had taken off towards the Highlands a month earlier and I wasn't there yet. I arrived there when Eterna was in her last months of pregnancy." A hurt look touched his face. "I envied him so much..."

Krysta nodded sympathetically. "For having the life you wanted..."

Rune didn't bother acknowledging she was correct. "It tore at me even more when Tylissa was born... God, she was just as beautiful as her mother." He swallowed hard, his short nails digging into the railing as he gripped it tightly. "And.. I knew she loved me, Eterna still loved me." Noticing Krysta's questioning look, he explained her confession one day while he was out hunting.

"I didn't know what to do and... well, I took it out on Grey." He lowered his head. "After realizing I said some pretty fucking horrible things to him, I left. Eterna objected to it, so I stayed... for her."

Krysta's eyebrows raised in surprise. "But the song said--"

"--The song isn't accurate. I think I know what happened better than some damn bard," he grumbled, his irritation rising. "I was called away later..." His voice trailed as he turned his eyes back to the assassin, a softer expression present. "Do you know what the Túr Dúlra is?"

She nodded slowly, not very confident with the words that followed, "It's... a school for druids?"

Half pleased with the answer, Rune nodded. "Yes, well, it's actually the greatest of the druid colleges. Anyways, I was there before, and... I swore to my mentor that if he needed me, I'd return. And at that time, he needed me. It was trivial quite honestly, but I couldn't break it... because I gave him my word of honour. So I left, even though Eterna got on her knees and begged for me to stay." He hid his face in one hand, taking a deep breath. "I told her that it's convenient that my mentor was calling me. Afterall, she belonged to Grey, right? It's not my place to feel that way about her, to want to do those things to her."

Krysta stared at him, astonished and slightly disgusted. "You mean... you and her.. did you?" Her question faded as she swallowed the uncomfortable lump formed in her throat from the unsettling thought of infidelity.

Rune shook his head. "A long time ago, yes, when we were still together but... no, as much as I wanted to, I couldn't bring myself to betray their trust." He paused and sardonically added, "Not to mention if Jenner found out, he and Grey would tag-team up on my ass and kill me." He laughed, his shoulders shaking gently as Krysta took several steps back, watching the moon illuminate the edges of his sillouhetted form.

"You came back a month later, right?" Krysta prompted him after he fell silent again.

He shook his head, surprising the assassin. "No, stupid bards messed that up too. I returned one year later. I found Túr Dúlra quite boring, so I left after two months and that's when I met up with Nevia." He sighed. "I didn't ever want to go back to Nerreth, but, rumour was that the village was under control of evil... and it truly was." He sighed. "I found Grey in the village square, tied to four poles and barely alive." He fought to keep his voice steady. "These two demons, The Countess and the Enchantress, were...God, they were torturing him. Knives, spears, rocks, fire, magicks... everything. Nevia snapped right then and ran after them. She saved him from enduring any more of it, not me. But..."

Krysta prompted him again but also added, "If you don't want to continue, I understand."

He ignored her and returned to his tale. "Grey was dying...He told me that after I left, Eterna became unhappy with her life and with him. When the demonesses arrived, she was the one who came forth and obeyed them. Ten months later, she even willingly gave up her daughter in hopes of becoming one of them." He angrily uttered the last sentence, shaking his head with disgust. "Grey tried to save her, but she was killed along with their child."

The fine hairs on Krysta's arm bristled on end. "What?" A chill ran up her spine as Rune continued on.

A dark and bitter laugh came from him. "Bards always screw up so many details... Eterna's body was hung in the village square and I don't know how long it was there. Grey decided to bury her body properly despite their threats. When the demons found the body missing, they put him in her place." Rune's fists were balled tightly, the knuckles turning white. "He was tortured for one month until Nevia and I..." The next words were formed on his lips, but the sound was never produced.

"...Arrived." Krysta caught herself right there at the third mentioning of Nevia. She was actually starting to feel sorry for Rune and understand his actions. But even so, his plot against Nevia and Erix is still inexcusable. She straightened herself to try and return to her cool-headed mind, but the female compassion within her couldn't help but feel pity towards the druid.

"I can't believe that even with her stupid and unforgivable actions, Grey would risk his own life by burying her. Idiot." Rune shook his head, his face was struggling between displaying his torn emotions and maintaining a stone mask. He pushed away from the rail and headed towards the stairs, not glancing back to Krysta when she called out his name and wished her good night. All he did was mention to her that she should come in soon considering the night's chilled air and her thin clothing.

Minutes after his departure, Krysta was still on deck, staring out at the moon's waving reflection. She was trying to place herself in Rune's position. If she was in the same situation, but having Avery in place of Eterna, what would she have done?

She truly did not want to give her answer, and it did not astonish her in the slightest. In the strange aftermath of Rune's confession, she felt angry with herself. Had she been given the choice... she would've been no different, she would've ran just the same path Rune had.

Glancing at the moon's reflection again, her mind couldn't help but think of Avery's blonde hair compared to the glow of the moon. She missed her dearly and, if for one moment she could kiss her lips once more, all the pain and waiting would've been worth it for just one second of it.

Closing her eyes as she pushed away from the railing, she deeply inhaled the cool night air before descending down the stairs and past the door where she promptly stepped on Ferrum. He winced in pain, growling loudly before resuming his slumber.

___________________________________
C+C appreciated.