It had been a day since Margaret fell into her fevery slumber. Symonne did not worry for her, as that period of adjustment was normal. The girl's mother Cynthia did not see things that way, even after Velvet explained it to her. Having such a caring mother who kept fussing over her child, it almost made Symonne a little envious. Or perhaps not just almost, but she preferred not to look too deeply into herself at the moment. Nica left for Ladylake that morning, so her absence remained mostly unnoticed there. In turn, this meant all Symonne had for company were the seraphim on staff at the Crowe's Nest, Velvet, and Laphicet.

Right this moment, Laphi was the only other person in the room. He laid a few wooden markers and a thread of yarn on the map between them. "As far as she told me, she wants to head for Hyland. We heard that Glayvend is a bit of a problematic area recently, so I think you should move around instead of straight through there."

Symonne nodded, a finger tapping her chin as she considered the route he laid out. "It looks well enough for a basic plan, but we're probably not going to adhere to it entirely. The area around Glayvend is too full of hills and small mountains to get a straight path." She leaned back and cast another glance at the living room surrounding her; it belonged to the two Crowes, but was surprisingly devoid of personal effects. Books and a few trinkets from around the world she saw, but nothing distinctly them.

"You have a point, but there is only so much one can plan for anyway." Laphi adjusted the yarn marking Margaret's potential path a little further and then left it at that, sneaking a glance at her. "Even if it's just for a few days, how are you settling in?"

"It's comfy."

Symonne left it at that, happy enough about the situation and the novelty of sleeping in an actual bed. Not that she would have had the time to elaborate, seeing how Velvet picked that moment to march through the room with two younger girls in tow. Their wide eyes swept the room, gazes passing right over the two seraphim watching them. Then they were through and Symonne cast a glance to her friend, who shrugged. "Our barmaids are gossips, so word of Margaret's state probably spread. Those were some of her friends, I guess they're worried."

She could not help but ask: "Are you certain they are her friends? People often crowd around one who can perceive us, and not with good intentions."

Another shrug. "Margaret is a good judge of character, or at least good enough. I don't think either of those two is in it for selfish reasons." His eyes focussed on her again and Laphi adopted a grin much like her usual ones. "Are you just being pessimistic again, or did you actually get protective of her already?"

Symonne opened her mouth to respond, but had to pause and consider it for herself. What were her feelings on the matter? "A bit of both," she finally allowed. "Though I would not call it pessimism, it happens often. On a guess, I would say what saves her from the worst of it is this place in its entirety." A sweeping motion to encompass the tavern, as everyone could interact with seraphim in it; something about this bothered her, but she could not tell what.

"Possible." Laphi struck something else off the list of potential gear they made, then added flint and tapped his quill onto the parchment. Symonne took the lapse in conversation to follow that thought. Something was odd about this place, and it was not that she did not know what. It was that she refused herself to think about it. The domain encompassing it was quite similar to that of Innominat, raising the resonance of everyone within. Just far, far smaller and weaker. Symonne knew that domain well, so well that just comparing this place to it made her shudder violently for thinking of it.

Laphi, being focussed on his list, failed to notice.

With this acknowledged, Symonne buried those thoughts again before seeking a distraction. She forcefully calmed herself and continued their conversation: "Do you have any idea what Margaret wants to do when she gets to travel? I know she's rearing to go and that she wants to help people, but, uh, how?"

He shrugged again, glancing her way for a moment. "I assume it will be 'in any way necessary' or something like that. Margaret is not picky in how she helps others. Be it by listening to their troubles, repairing something that broke, or guarding their lives. Sorry, I can't think of anything more clear."

"It's okay." But that subject was a bust for distraction. Then perhaps she could get him to teach her a bit... and tease a little. Symonne's mood lightened at the thought and she began to crawl around the table, careful not to alert Laphi immediately.

Once she was next to him, hands steadying her on the couch and her face next to his, she whispered to him: "Hey, Laphi." A start and his eyes snapped to her own, a little down and then quickly back up. Too easy. "Can you teach me how to create that teleportation arte? I'd be very grateful if you did." She gave him a wink and delighted in how much he fidgeted with just an 'eager' posture and some well-picked emphasis. Leaning a little closer and lowering herself on her arms so she could look up at him, Symonne added an innocent look. "Pretty please?"

On the inside, she was laughing at how hard he tried not to glance down into her cleavage, to hold her gaze instead of looking away. If she put her hands on his cheeks in that moment, she just knew they would be burning hot. Her facade broke into a grin and she leaned back to sit normally, giving the boy some space and a moment to center himself. This had yet to get boring and she doubted it would do so anytime soon.

Laphi heaved a deep sigh at that point and threw her a flat look. "You could have asked normally, you know? I don't need any reason to explain things to a friend." He looked as if he wanted to add an 'but if you're already offering' or something like that to the comment, but prior experience told him not to. Symonne grinned, knowing that the one time he tried to match her, he had ended with a red face from her pushing back until he gave.

Still, it would also take a while until she stopped being happy about him calling her friend. Symonne's grin turned into an actual smile and she became mist, flowing back to her own seat. "Thanks. I'm genuinely curious about that one, or how you made it so an ordinary seraph can weave them."

Now it was for him to grin and raise his hands. "Watch and learn." Symonne mimicked his expression and leaned forward, surprisingly eager to learn something from him.

Her eagerness did not hold for long. Neither did the smile.

When Laphicet began to weave his arte from the very foundation, it was the first time Symonne got to see him work mana in any form. For the first time, she beheld the golden light in this era. Her body locked up as her soul screamed, eyes widening until there was hardly any white left visible; Symonne became still like a statue, seeing nothing but the figure before her.

"You see, the very basis is to turn thirteen strands together in a lotus pattern, from which three ends are run back into the same for reinforcement, and the remaining ten weaved into the remainder as a supporting structure... Symonne?" Those eyes were on her now and she stood frozen, the sound of her name eliciting but a twitch. A small part of her screamed to flee, but the rest remained perfectly still out of horror, knowing that there was no place on the planet far enough to run from a god's will. Resistance was futile. All she managed under that worried look was a meek, terrified whimper and to continue staring at him.

Heldalf had praised Symonne's unbreakable will in the past, a force which could carry her through pain and suffering with not even a second glance or a peep. Beholding once more the most terrifying secret Desolation held broke her in an instant. The old god had returned to reclaim his throne.

The arte winked out. Mana dispersed. Light faded. Symonne could breathe again, cascading dread subsiding far enough to let her shiver in place. The very memories she pushed back into the depths earlier returned with almost perfect clarity now, memories she had wished to forget for so long. Now she understood why this domain reminded her of Innominat's; it was Innominat's and not a pale imitation or coincidence. How had she missed this, even under all the different mana? She understood more than that, too; Velvet appeared the slightest bit familiar and now she knew why. The ease with which both siblings handled forgotten artes, the confidence they had. She was shaking.

"Symonne? What's going on?"

He tried to reach for her, but stopped when she recoiled. A shriek was cut off by a hiccup before it actually became loud, followed by Symonne's chair falling backward as she crawled away, uncaring for her abrupt meeting with the ground. Her clothes lost coherence and faded, left leg melting into goo from the knee downward, as did half her belly. Symonne just wanted to be away, far away; or dead, she would take that over another living death. Yet her body refused to follow even the command to flee, futile as it was. She remained a half-puddle pressed against the wall, not mist to seep out of the room. Not fully fluid even, to flow away. Her vision swam from tears, but she never once lost sight of the confused god in front of her.

A spot of black appeared that a blink told her was the Lord of Calamity, poking her head through the door and immediately focussing on her. She needed no actual name, for she was the first of the title. Velvet Crowe, the woman who aspired to kill Shepherd Artorius; the woman who butchered her way through exorcists, malakhim, and daemons alike; the woman who murdered even the exorcist legates, Shigure Rangetsu and Melchior Mayvin.

The woman who ultimately set Symonne free with her bloody crusade

"What did you do, Laphi?"

"Nothing! I was just showing her an arte formula and this happened!"

They talked back and forth but Symonne paid it no real attention; her concious mind returned somewhat, settling back into place far enough to try calming the rest of her. Yet the sheer terror surging through her clawed at it still. Symonne became aware of Velvet approaching and locked up again; the Calamity calmly crouched, making her melt a little further against the wall. A soft smile graced her lips, nothing more. "Hey," she said softly. "Whatever it is, it's okay. You're safe here, Symonne. Nothing bad will happen to you." She kept talking, saying more things like that, in this warm and friendly tone that almost made her believe. A part of Symonne hoped against hope that it was true. Her rational mind latched onto it, even though the fear hardly subsided, she had to know if maybe, just maybe, she could get out of this as herself.

"R-Really? You w-won't eat me? I won't be s-suppressed again? Promise?" Her voice was so weak, hesitant, even breaking as if she were three again. Velvet blinked in what might be confusion at first, only to realise with the last words. A quiet "Oh" from Laphi made Symonne flinch, but her eyes never left Velvet's.

It took only a moment for her gentle smile to return, then she held out a hand to her slowly; her right hand, the 'human' one and not the hidden maw. "I promise."

This would have to do. It was enough, it was a promise Symonne clung to. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, then slapped her cheeks, several times and hard enough to leave imprints on her skin. Her puddle-body slowly pulled itself back together into full coherence as she gathered herself. Even still, looking at Velvet again made dread and hopelessness settle into her heart. Heldalf's ambitions were dead, as he would be the moment she found him. All his aspirations and goals, moot. He did not compare and Symonne knew that.

She started weakly, just talking without really thinking: "You're her. The first Calamity. How are you even alive? Everyone said that Shepherd Artorius killed you. I-"

Strong arms wrapping around her cut off the words, made Symonne lock up again for a moment. She was held in this embrace that was so, so warm. Comfortable. How could a Lord of Calamity be comfortable like that? So warm? It did not hurt to be near her despite the Malevolence that must be there somewhere. A hand gently carded through her hair and a kiss was pressed to her forehead, then Velvet let go. "This is not the place for a conversation like that. Laphi, blanket." The command was obvious to everyone in the room. Symonne's eyes flicked to... her friend? Was he? No, she did not want to think that. Despite everything. She watched how he picked up a wooly blanket and bunched it up to throw at his sister, staying away from Symonne which she was quite grateful for.

A moment later, that blanket was wrapped around a still-shivering Symonne, who once again felt at least a little warm. She did not lock up this time when Velvet picked her up, just soaked up the fact she was there and held her close. The other woman made to carry her away, but stopped in the doorframe. "Go look after Maggie in a bit, Laphi."

No response. Symonne could not see his reaction at all, but that was alright with her; she needed time. Time to think, time to maybe run away... but where to? Nowhere was safe, so she might as well comply and hope for the best. Not to mention she was warm, at the very least. Velvet held her close and carried her gently, down several flights of stairs and past no one. Into a room holding six teleportation artes, equally deserted. There she hesitated before activating one to renewed light that made Symonne's breath hitch. She fought it down this time, the memory of the real one still fresh in her mind; a mere shard of his power could not compare.

She fell forward for a long moment, then they stood... somewhere in a forest. It was mostly nondescript and without any useful landmarks, so Symonne could not tell where they were. She slowly glanced to Velvet, who noticed and pressed another kiss to her forehead. "It's alright, you'll be okay."

Somehow, that did make her relax. A little bit. Symonne took a deeper breath and let it out in a sigh. She was carried a few steps into a clearing, where Velvet set her down against a large tree and came to sit next to her. They were shoulder to shoulder then, and a larger hand gently squeezed Symonne's. "First of all," Velvet began, "what you heard was nonsense made up for the people. There would have been mayhem if they learned the Lord of Calamity won."

"I see." The terror began to fade and left but a lingering dread, taking along most of her newly budding feelings. Symonne was cold and despite it all, she snuggled closer to the only source of warmth nearby. "Why is it that nothing I do ever matters?" she found herself asking. "I, I just wanted to have a purpose, just this once... but with Innominat loose, it was futile from the very start."

Silence followed, a lack of an answer for questions Symonne had never found one for herself. Curiously though, Velvet did speak up after a time: "I felt that way in the past. Or, similar to that. Laphi was sickly as a child, so sick that my entire life revolved around caring for him. Protecting him. And then Arthur took him from me, took my everything."

Symonne nodded softly, she knew how the story continued. "And so you turned to revenge, for purpose?"

"...yes."

An arm was slung around her shoulder and she allowed it, happy to not be as cold as before. She glanced up at Velvet, who was staring at her bandage-wrapped arm. "But in the end, I was only lying to myself. That's what made me a therion, to hate yet love Arthur so much. He was family, until the very end."

She opened her mouth to respond, but found no words to describe her feelings. She did not even know what she felt in these moments; Symonne knew that if she were human and capable of generating Malevolence, she would emit it now.

"What I'm curious about," the other woman muttered with another soft squeeze, "is how you play into this. Were you with the abbey before?"

She did not want to talk about it, but also wanted her to understand. In the end, the latter notion won and Symonne opened up quietly: "I was Melchior's hidden ace. We were just a few metres away from each other, at times. The trap in Lothringen, the illusion over your village, that was me."

Velvet had grown thoughtful and for a moment, Symonne feared she would get eaten after all; her actions hurt this woman more than any other things and people had. Yet all she got was another squeeze. "I see. How did you survive when we killed him?"

"...oh, that. He put me on standby to bond more combat capable malakhim for the confrontation. His own basic illusions were enough for the job, or so he thought." She almost laughed about that, remembering which of them was still alive and who was not. Yet there was nothing worth laughing over, so it became but a sigh. "Thank you, by the way. For freeing me back then, even if it wasn't your intention."

Velvet hummed softly and pulled her closer; the blanket fell open from the continued motions and Symonne quickly flipped it back to not be cold. She did not want to be cold anymore. "I don't know what to think," she finally admitted.

"It's hard. But, maybe I can tell you one thing that's for certain?" She looked at Velvet again, who wore a faint smile. "It's that Laphi didn't mean to hurt you out of malice. He is a sweet boy and despite all of this, I hope you can stay his friend."

There was that word again, 'friend'. A word that had so many meanings yet none at all. A word which Symonne so desired. "I," she began and trailed off immediately. So instead, she buried her head in Velvet's shoulder. A second arm wrapped around her and held her close, secure. She tried to answer her prompt again, but failed and decided to change the subject for now: "You were Innominat's greatest enemy. Why can you work with him so easily?"

She could not see Velvet's face, but her heart beat steadily. And deep below, she now felt, Malevolence thrummed in tune. "Because he is still my brother, my little Laphicet. We left the past behind to look at the future," she told Symonne softly.

"And... where does that put us?" Symonne only realised that nothing had to have changed after asking; they did not know her allegiances, only their past connection. She expected some confusion, or a confirmation for things being the same.

"That depends on you, Symonne. What are you going to tell your boss?"

She froze up again, only to hear and feel Velvet chuckling. "Yeah, we knew. But it's fine, you don't need to worry too much."

It was not much of a consolation, especially so because Symonne could not understand. "B-But why? Is he not someone you're after? The Malevolence, the dead, I-" "Shh."

Velvet shushed her and gave another soft smile. "I try to be more of a proper Empyrean, but that's easier said than done. I'm definitely not going to smite you for acting by your own desires unless you get in my way too much, but I am still selfish at heart. Killing the Lord of Calamity is not a priority to me." Their eyes met and she saw the fire burning within Velvet's. "Saving Maotelus is."

Oh.

With the realisation came... laughter. Symonne could not help it, morbid, broken chuckles rolled out of her throat as it became clear how meaningless this all was. "Ohoho, this is, hahaha, that's even worse!" She giggled into Velvet's chest, confused tears brimming in her eyes at the weird feelings she felt. "He isn't even your goal, he's collateral damage!"

Velvet let her laugh and giggle, merely stroked her back until she calmed down; at this point, Symonne was basically on her lap and did not care for it. When she kept her quiet after that, Velvet sighed and began to whisper to her: "You remember that malak boy I had with me back then? The one who saved me from myself?" A nod she probably more felt than saw. "Phi, he's my saviour. And when I sealed Innominat back then, he stepped up to become the new fifth Empyrean. I can't allow him to end like this, corrupted."

"I see." She felt empty now, but simply walking away until that stopped was no option; especially so because Symonne knew it would never truly stop. She had tried to run away from the past, only for it to come knocking a thousand years later.

Hands still stroking Symonne's back and head, Velvet took her silence as a chance to continue the conversation: "I don't think you should tell your Lord of Calamity about this, though." Lilac eyes turned more attentive now, peering up at the other woman. "If you do, a lot of people will die in the fallout, for no real change of the result where it matters." A soft squeeze. "I don't think I'm too weak to fight him... or her, we haven't even figured that out."

"Him." Velvet paused for a moment, probably in surprise, but Symonne had no reason to keep Heldalf's gender a secret. This did tell her that they had yet to find him, after all.

"Alright, him. But as I said, it is two Empyreans against one Calamity. And we have the elemental Empyreans' backing, at that. He won't win."

She stopped Velvet's carefully worded ramble there: "I know. What you're trying to do is make sure I'm no spiteful bitch who'd sabotage your actual goal. I can't change the result of a fight, but I can influence the body count, and the fate of Maotelus." Symonne looked up and their eyes met. She saw worry in Velvet, but also hope. Pity. Some kind of desire. Her pretty face was actually quite expressive. Neither spoke for a long moment as she weighed her options; spite was something she could consider, but ultimately, that was not her. "Don't worry. I've never been a spiteful person. I just, I will need time." She paused and cuddled a little closer. "But thank you, for being honest with me. I won't tell."

Symonne was embraced once again and settled, the cold fading somewhat. Velvet did not seem to mind her presence, she just held her. "And thank you for doing this for us," she told Symonne quietly. "How about we make it a deal? You don't report on us or whatever you and Maggie get up to, we won't probe you for information on him?"

Only now did it occur to Symonne that Velvet did not even know Heldalf's name. By all accounts, she should probe the girl in her arms for every bit of knowledge, yet she did not. Was it kindness? Pity? Chance? Symonne could not tell and, quite surprisingly even to herself, did not care. She just cared for the warmth, for having hope, for being intact.

She did not know how much time passed exactly, but at some point Symonne managed to get her thoughts... not in order, but under control. She breathed out softly and pulled back a little. "I will try to treat Laphi as Laphi and not as Innominat, but it won't be easy."

Velvet let her go without resistance, a smile on her face once again. "He will be happy that you're at least trying for him. He never had any close friends before Maggie, Edna, and you."

One of these names she did not know and that made her curious. It also made her feel a little weird, but she paid that sensation no mind and promptly forgot about it. "Who is Edna?"

"A seraph girl who lives alone on a mountain."

So that sweet boy adopted more than just her, so to speak. He really was nice, everything Symonne saw and heard of him spoke to that. Yet he was also Innominat, the suppressor. The same being that put her very soul in chains so long ago. Which of these names was more important to her? Thinking and breathing, Symonne slowly retreated from Velvet's embrace. The blanket slid off her form and she soon mustered up the will to weave clothes out of mana, her usual style. They wobbled for a short while, but centuries of practice made sure she could soon keep them steady even as distracted as she was.

A choice, to dwell on the past or look at the present. Another might call the latter as taking a risk, but both options could lose her a great deal. Either the only friend she ever had and the warmth she could now feel, or her soul. Except that by all accounts, losing her soul was not guaranteed. The rest was. That made it simple.

Symonne stood and Velvet followed. She saw the other woman's curious gaze and threw her a smirk, if still somewhat shaky. "If I'm already giving this a try, I will do it properly. Let's go."

"Go for what?"

"Not 'for what', Velvet. 'Where' is what you want to ask, and the answer is 'back'." Velvet's visible incredulity, from her raised eyebrow to her hesitant posture, quite succintly summarised how Symonne felt about the matter. But she would try, at the very least. "Let's go, before I get second thoughts."

After sighing, Velvet nodded and took her hand to lead her; it made Symonne feel smaller than she was, but she also appreciated the gesture and squeezed. Velvet squeezed back as they wandered through the forest. Time passed far too quickly; one moment they approached the teleportation gate, the next they were back in that living room. Symonne steeled herself already, even though they found no Laphi in there. The furniture had been returned to normal and Velvet dumped the dirty blanket on a chair. After checking for her brother, she led Symonne along into one of the connecting rooms, which she knew was Margaret's.

There they found him, tending to the softly snoring girl; he dabbed sweat off of her forehead as they entered, careful with the feverish girl. "It's good that the metabolism slows down," he mentioned softly without turning around. "I have the feeling far fewer humans would want to be bonded if they had to deal with the usual consequences of sleeping for a day or more." She left that uncommented, as did Velvet. Laphicet did not seem to expect an answer, he just finished cleaning Margaret and put the water bowl he used away. Only then did he turn around, eyes widening somewhat when he saw Symonne standing next to his sister.

Her own eyes were wide, too; she was scared, knowing now that there stood a living god. He could end her with little more than a thought if he so wanted. Yet he did not. Had not, despite having known her true allegiance. Symonne forced her fear down and let go of Velvet's hand. "Show me that arte again."

The surprised and confused silence that followed was not broken by Laphi, but by his sister. "I still don't get it."

She clearly prompted Symonne, who sighed but did not take her eyes off Laphicet, the boy befuddled as well. "Exposure. Keep exposing yourself to something that creates fear, and in time your fear response will dull. So you will show me that light until I no longer freeze into a statue... or melt into a puddle."

Laphi did not look convinced. "That... doesn't sound healthy." He did not sound convinced either. "Are you sure?"

Symonne nodded. "It's going to be horrible, but it's fast and I'm not going to get anywhere if I do nothing. And I do like being your friend."

She thought his expression brightened somewhat despite the worry. He exchanged a glance with his sister, who stepped aside so he could walk up and lead her elsewhere; Velvet stayed behind, probably to look after Margaret. They wandered down the stairs in silence, back into the basement and into a different set of rooms. Her mind screamed 'torture chamber' for an insane moment, but it turned out to be just a barren room holding little more than a table, three chairs, and some parchment.

"I never put much thought into how to heal a mind," Laphicet admitted once they were inside, "but I trust you."

She almost laughed. Her experience with friendship had only ever been that of an outside observer until recently, but she was absolutely certain that they went at the entire matter in a completely unorthodox way. Not that she minded, she knew that Laphi cared; being so expressive when agitated seemed to run in the family. Symonne had just never looked too closely, or lacked pieces to the puzzle to gauge them properly.

Taking a last deep breath, Symonne forewent the chairs and sat down on the ground. Laphi did likewise and waited for her to give the go ahead, which she gave with a nod.

This would not be a good day for her, she knew it even before the light began to shine. But maybe, just maybe, tomorrow would be better. And the day after even more.

Then she beheld Innominat's golden radiance and her concious thoughts faded for pure terror once again.