Tyrea still couldn't stand being near Alvis. Ever since he'd made an offer (which was less an offer and more her only choice), forced her to come along with him… She just hadn't felt right near him. She swore, he was up to something! Probably working with that wench, Lorithia, too!

And here he was, standing next to her as they all made sure they were ready to go further into the marsh. Smiling like there wasn't a devil hiding under that angelic beauty…

"How are you feeling, Tyrea?" He spoke as if he didn't already know. "Are you adjusting well to the group?"

"As if you need to ask." She scoffed, crossing her arms. "This is no place for an assassin or a prisoner. And I am both."

"Ah, you see yourself as a prisoner?" Alvis clicked his tongue. "Now, that isn't right. You are more… a criminal on parole and I am your parole officer."

She sneered. "Then I would like to request a new one."

"Would you rather the prince be in charge of it, then?" He raised an eyebrow and Tyrea felt like pulling her hair out.

"I'd rather my parole officer not be breathing down my neck!" She was already tired of his sly comments. Oh, if she could wrap her hands around his scrawny little neck-

"Now, now. No need for anger." He held up his hand, a small smile still on his face. "You don't have to like me, simply accept I am in charge of you for now."

"Accepting something doesn't mean I must enjoy it."

"I know."

She let out a groan, turning away from him. Oh, she was so tired of him. Maybe she would prefer Kallian as her parole officer, if it had to be one of the two. At least he was annoying in a stupidly endearing way!

Oh, when the chance to escape showed itself, she was taking it without question. The less she had to deal with Alvis, the better! Stupid Seer and his stupid snark… She hated most men, but Alvis was a special breed she hated more .

"Well, good talk." Alvis hummed, patting her shoulder and earning quite the glare. "Glad to see we are on the same page."

"Don't talk to me unless you must after this." She turned away from him, trying to focus on whatever it was Oka and Kallian were doing. "You annoy me."

"Aw, but it's fun to tease you." He reminded her of a cat at that moment. Like a cat smugly staring down a blade pointed at his chin. "So I think I'll continue. It's not like you can injure me and get away with it."

"You…!"


"So, you are the son of someone important as well?" It was after quite the battle when Kallian spoke to Egil, interest in his eyes. "The chief of your people…"

"Ah, yes, though…" Egil rubbed the side of his neck with a sigh. He never did like talking about this… "I wouldn't say his role is as extreme as that of an emperor, and thus my role is likely not as extreme as yours."

"We don't need to compare extremity." Kallian frowned, shaking his head. "Besides, any responsibilities laid on your shoulders due to your father are sure to be just as stressful as mine."

Really, Egil just didn't like talking about it. He and Miqol weren't on great terms, and Egil tried to avoid most things that came with being his son. Meaning that, yes, he avoided remembering he was the son of the chief whenever he could.

But Kallian didn't know that, looked at him without a clue of the truth. It was almost headache inducing seeing him like that… But what could he do? Not much, other than brace for whatever else he said.

"I doubt it." He shook his head. "Usually he allows me to do what I please, work on this and that. He simply asks me to sometimes speak with the people and…" He let out a little huff. "Sometimes comments about a special someone."

"Ah, I see. My father often had me act as his advisor, and I would speak with the people, but…" He laughed awkwardly. "He never did bother me much about finding a lover. I suppose I'm lucky there."

"Yes, very. It's annoying." Egil made a face just thinking about it. "He thought he could push any old Machina on me and it would work!"

"Well, I guess he doesn't have to worry about pushing Machina on you anymore…" Kallian glanced towards Alvis and Egil didn't like that implication. "After all…"

He really was implying the two of them were interested in each other. Oh for the love of Lady Meyneth… That was not the case! They… they were just friends, and Egil didn't plan on letting that change, not any time soon.

"Alvis and I are just friends." Egil huffed, cheeks colored in embarrassment. "Do not assume things, that's a horrible habit for an advisor to have."

"Ah! I apologize!" He held up his hands, wings fluttering as embarrassment clearly set in for him. "I won't do that again!"

"You better not." He placed a hand on his hip, looking around. It seemed as if the spoils of battle had mostly been sorted through now. Not much time to speak at this point, so… "Come on, we should help out."

"Ah… yes, of course!" Kallian nodded and Egil quietly went to work, thanking whatever deity was listening for getting the High Entia off his back…


Vanea found her way to the clearly tired High Entia assassin and decided she would ask her about things she was familiar with. That may help her calm down a bit, let those jagged edges smooth out a bit… At least, Vanea hoped.

After all, talking about familiar things helped her, when things were rough. Seeing as they'd been at odds with the wildlife for hours now, Tyrea was sure to need a way to destress! She just hoped she picked the right topic.

"Tyrea." She followed her, quiet as could be. "Tell me, what was the Bionite Order like? To live amongst, I mean."

Tyrea opened her mouth and let it close, quiet. For a moment, Vanea thought she wouldn't say anything and that she had messed up. Oh, if she had she would have to apologize to Kallian for making things worse with the prickly woman.

"It was… a hard life, but the only one I knew." Tyrea finally spoke, her voice quiet. "We were raised to stay in the shadows, and listen to the orders of First Consort Yumea. In a way, the life become comfortable… predictable."

"I see." She frowned, the idea of being raised like that didn't sound comfortable to her, but… "Was it truly comfortable? Or was the predictability simply all you knew?"

"Ah, well…" She rubbed her arm, not looking at her. "I cannot say, past the fact it was more comfortable than this is."

"I understand, you were thrust into this, weren't you?" She placed a hand on her chest. "You poor thing, being forced to go out with all these strangers so quickly after being arrested."

"It is simply the burden I must handle. One day, things will be different." She looked off in the distance and Vanea, for a moment, was scared. "One day, we can pretend as if we had never met."

"Well, I wouldn't want that." She shook her head. "Even if you are tense and… distant… meeting you is still worth something! Meeting anyone is."

She scoffed. "You are naive, for someone who lived through so much."

"Not naive, just… optimistic." Vanea sighed, giving her a sad smile. "You and your pessimism… it reminds me a bit of Egil."

Egil, ever the pessimist. It was interesting, seeing that people of the Bionis could be like that, too. Honestly, Tyrea and Egil were similar in the silliest of ways. It made Vanea want to tease Tyrea, just a bit.

"I'm not here to hear you coo about your brother!" She sped up her pace, moving to walk next to Kallian, funnily enough. "Goodbye!"

Vanea watched her and let out a small sigh. Well, that hadn't gone amazingly… But still better than she expected. Maybe in the future she would be able to learn more about Tyrea, about who she really was.

That would be nice, she thought.