The group had made it to an obelisk, glowing gently in the night sky. Egil decided this was as good a place as any to rest until it was light out again. He gestured for the others to follow him and settled next to it, waiting for the rest of them to do the same.
Vanea sat on his left and Alvis on his right, everyone else moving to sit in a circle from there. With everyone looking at him, curious about why they stopped, he sucked in a breath. Well, it was now or never.
"We're farther than I honestly expected us to make it." He looked at everyone with a sigh. "And that's why I feel I should make something clear. If you want to turn back now, I will not hold it against you."
He was used to doing things alone, in his lab and out. If it came to that again, he would not mind. It may make some things… easier for him. Not that he would say that out loud, Vanea may slap him for that.
But she slapped him anyway, a frown on her face. "Egil, you and I both know I wouldn't just leave you now!"
"Nor would I." Linada spoke up, giving them both a look. "Miqol would kill me if I didn't bring his lovely children home."
"You two…" He should have expected that from them, and a small smile came to his face when he thought about it. "Thank you."
"Oka also staying!" Oka spoke up next, voice loud. "Oka is heropon and here to help!"
"I will also be remaining. We are after the same man, remember?" Kallian smiled at Egil from across the circle. "Don't worry, you have my aid."
"...I suppose I'll stay for now." Tyrea rolled her eyes. "Not like I could go back to Alcamoth at the moment."
"I see… thank you." He nodded at them and turned to look at Alvis.
Egil watched him, quietly, not sure what to expect. Would he stay, or did he find him time with the group coming to a close? Egil would respect it, either way, but… the thought of him leaving hurt Egil.
He didn't want to see Alvis go.
"Where you go, I will follow." Alvis smiled at him, gentle and sweet. "I plan to see your entire journey, from start to finish."
"I… I see." He smiled just a bit, closing his eyes. "Thank you. All of you. I suppose in the morning we'll set out for the lower parts of Bionis. No turning back."
"Here, here." Tyrea rolled her eyes, standing from the circle. "We should get some rest, then, before things get too hectic."
"Good idea." Linada stood, stretching a bit with a yawn. "Shall I cuddle you?"
"Oh, Oka want to cuddle too!" Oka hopped up. "Oka and Linada cuddle Tyrea to sleep!"
"You're both so annoying…!" She looked away, cheeks red. "Do as you please."
"Shall we take that as a yes, Oka?"
Everyone was asleep or in their own little world, but Egil could not sleep. He sat against the obelisk, letting out a sigh. On nights like these, nights before large events, he always found himself thinking of Arglas.
"Egil." Alvis sat next to him and he let out a hum in greeting. "You still seem as awake as before."
"I suppose I am." He stared at the ether lights in the air, quiet for a moment. "I'm thinking about Arglas."
"Your first love, correct?" Alvis looked at the sky in turn. "What are you thinking about? In regards to him, I mean."
"What he would say if he saw me now." He gripped his hands together for a moment. "I wonder, would he find me a fool or would he understand?"
A question that would never have an answer. Arglas was long dead... Though, in a way, he was part of the reason for why this journey had ever started. After all, if he had not found that cursed sword, who knew? Maybe he and Egil would have grown closer. Maybe Egil would have confessed…
But now was not the time for those what ifs, he supposed. Not when Alvis was sitting there, watching him. The last thing he needed to do was give the Seer more fuel to tease him over…
But instead, he placed a hand over Egil's. "You are clear in your passions and your ideals. I am sure he would understand, should he be able to see you now."
"Alvis…" He looked at him. "I suppose you're right. But I can't help but imagine him laughing at me, telling me this journey is so silly. There are better things to do with my days than hunt a man I've never met…"
"Perhaps, but perhaps it is also fate." Alvis's voice was softer as he spoke this time. "There may be a larger meaning behind you hunting down the boy with the Monado."
"I suppose, but… hard to tell if there is." He made a bit of a face. "Thinking about it too much makes me think of all the philosophical debates I would have with Arglas. They always did hurt my head."
"Aw, that means I know how to give you a headache now." He poked his cheek, sticking out his tongue. "I won't though, it seems those were special… Between just you and Arglas."
"They were, but…" He sighed, closing his eyes, barely believing his own words. "If anyone else could talk to me about that, it's you."
Nothing else was said then, Alvis simply hummed and leaned his head against Egil, staring up at the sky. And for now? That was fine for Egil. Just sitting with someone he had been able to open up to a bit, looking at the sky.
Anything else could be dealt with come morning, he supposed. For now, he would hold onto this feeling.
"Vanea, are you comfortable?" Kallian was on about his fifteenth question about Vanea and how she was feeling that night and, well…
It was starting to annoy Vanea, just a bit. She had a big brother to worry over her already! And Kallian had two little sisters he could direct this at! No reason for him to be hovering over her like this!
And that was why she sat up and turned to look at him with a frown. He seemed to realize she was annoyed and shrunk down a bit, but no… That wasn't what Vanea wanted. She wanted to talk about this.
"Kallian. It seems you have a knack for mothering anyone you see as younger than you." She sighed. "A true big brother, to your core."
"Ah, is that so? I apologize!" He looked a bit embarrassed as he replied. "I don't mean to, it just seems to happen."
"I assumed that was the case." She laughed a bit, doing her best to not roll her eyes. "But you should be more careful with that. You may have two little sisters, and may run into plenty of boys and girls you can be a brother too, but…"
"But?" He tilted his head to the side, wings moving curiously.
"Some of us already have older brothers." She looked to where Egil sat with Alvis. "I'm not sure how my brother would react to you encroaching on his turf!"
"Oh!" His eyes went wide. "I didn't even think about the fact you and Egil are siblings! To be honest, I thought you were the elder sibling."
She snorted. "Don't let him hear that, that's a recipe for disaster."
"I'm so sorry Vanea…" Kallian rubbed the side of his head with a sigh. "I will do my best to not act as your big brother, then."
"You don't have to stop fully, just… cut back on it a bit." She pinched his cheek, earning a little yelp. "I not only have Egil, but I'm also a grown woman, after all."
"Yes, of course." Kallian nodded, rubbing his cheek. "Then I will do my best to cut back on it a bit."
"Good. Now then, goodnight, Kallian."
"Goodnight, Vanea."
