Oka could tell both Alvis and Egil were not having very good times right now. Alvis had upset Egil, that much Vanea had made clear, but Oka didn't know much else. Well… not much else that she was told directly.

Oka, being a mother, was very good at picking up on little quirks from people. Signs of what was happening. And she was starting to figure out just what had happened between Egil and Alvis!

Egil couldn't look at Alvis, so whatever it was really made Egil uncomfortable. Alvis, meanwhile, seemed to be keeping his distance and letting this all simmer. That was stupid, if you asked Oka! It was always better to just talk things out and make things work.

But, she would leave that for now. Alvis was a smart Homs! He would realize eventually he couldn't just leave it like this, right? Oka had to have trust in him! She would cheer him on silently the whole time, too!

The Machina, however… Oka felt he needed a bit of her mamapon magic right now. He looked so sad, and didn't have his father to lean on, after all…

"Egil!" She ran over to him, smiling up at him. "Does Egil want to walk with Oka?"

"Oka…" He blinked a few times, but nodded. "Ah, sure. Why not?"

"Good, good!" Oka smiled up at him. "Oka going to make sure you happy happy!"

"Is that so?" He chuckled a bit, shaking his head. "I'm afraid my mood will be hard to bring up."

"That okay." She pat his leg. "Oka just want to make Egil give real smile today! All Oka want!"

"Why are you so suddenly worried about me smiling or not?" He frowned a bit, tilting his head, and Oka knew she needed to be serious.

"Oka know Egil very sad right now, after talk with Alvis other day." She sighed, shaking her head. "Oka want Egil be happy happy before Alvis finally say sorry!"

"Ah, I see." He looked away and his shoulders shook a bit as they kept walking. "Thank you, Oka."

"Huh?" She ran to try and get a look at his face. "Is Egil laughing or crying?"

"...A bit of both, Oka." He stopped, bending over to pat her head. "Sorry, I just… wasn't expecting that."

Oka wrapped her wings around him, patting him the best she could. "There, there, Egil. Oka will be mamapon when Egil need one most."

He hugged her, giving her a little squeeze. "...Thank you, Oka."

"Oka here to help."


"You're quite violent, aren't you?" Tyrea spoke up as they shuffled through the spoils of yet another battle with Hodes. "In battle and out."

"Excuse me?" Vanea frowned at her, confusion setting in. "What do you mean by that?"

"You're more ruthless than you like to let on. Need I remind you of what you did to Alvis the other day? I thought you were going to snap his neck." She turned to look at him, hand on her hip. "You try and act pacifistic, but I know the truth."

"That's not true! I am not naturally a violent person, no Machina are." She shook her head. "I'm simply… protective."

"Protective enough to nearly kill a Homs because your brother pouts?" Tyrea raised an eyebrow. "My my!"

"That is… simply a side-effect of protecting Egil for so many years." Not one she was proud of, actually. "If you do not believe me, you can ask Linada. She'll back me up here."

"No need to be so defensive." She clicked her tongue. "I simply was making an observation."

"The observation was wrong!"

"My…" Tyrea crossed her arms. "Are you about to get violent with me, as well?"

"I've already told you-"

"Ladies." Kallian walked over, a concerned frown on his face. "What are you two arguing about? The last thing we need right now is…" He glanced towards Alvis and Egil. "More infighting."

Vanea sucked in a breath, trying to calm herself. As much as she hated to admit it, she had become a bit more violent than most Machina. Years of protecting Egil had led to this, led to her always being ready for a fight.

It was a piece of her that she was ashamed of, but a piece of her nonetheless. She simply had to remember how to control it. She did not have to hide that piece of her, simply keep it controlled. No matter how hard that was.

"I apologize, Kallian. And to you, Tyrea. I swear to you I am not actually the violent person you think I am." A calmness fell over her again. "I cannot force you to believe me, but I will show you."

And with that, she walked off, ignoring the stuttering of Tyrea and the stare of Kallian. It was for the best she put distance between them to finish cooling off. She didn't want to explode again, not when Egil was already having difficulties.

She would save her anger for Alvis, instead. For when he inevitably messed up once again.


Looking at Alvis, speaking with Linada, sent bile into Egil's throat. He felt sick to his stomach every time he saw him now. Saw Arglas and his dead body every time he looked at Alvis. Felt so ashamed of clinging onto his dead friend as if there was any hope to speak to him again.

An outsider looking in had pointed it out and now he couldn't stop thinking about it. He didn't - no, he couldn't forget about him. Arglas was his first love, a person who had meant so much, now gone.

He didn't know if he was angrier with himself for feeling that way or Alvis for pointing it out.

He looked away as Alvis glanced towards him, lower lip quivering. He decided then that… it was Alvis he was angrier with. Alvis, always pushing and prodding and poking holes in who Egil was. Always being so snide and throwing him off balance.

Alvis walked into his life and ripped it to shreds, wouldn't allow him to mourn at his own pace.

And as long as Alvis saw no problems with that, he couldn't bear to be near him.