Several weeks had now passed since Sting Eucliffe, master of the Sabertooth guild, had requested aid from the Stonevale Rangers and Ayva Stryt, the Shifter of Stonevale. In those weeks, what little information about the Hellcry Devils available was gathered and compiled, but to no avail. The Sabertooth guild and Ayva were no closer to finding the dark guild, and Ayva was no closer to restoring her soul. But in those weeks, though having a rough start- especially with Minerva Orland- Ayva found herself in an environment she hadn't known since childhood. She found herself having fun, smiling more often, and feeling a sense of happiness that had eluded her for sixteen years- even in her own guild. And she found herself growing close to one particular individual and his exceed companion.
One night when the guild hall was quiet and everyone had already turned in for the night, Ayva sat in her room, looking out of the window at the starry sky. She was having trouble sleeping again and felt like stretching her legs. She left her room and made her way down the hall, turning the corner into the main part of the guild hall. She left the guild hall and walked barefoot through the streets, feeling the cool cobblestone beneath her feet. A wind blew through the town and she lifted her face to feel it as it rushed over her, her hair billowing out behind her.
"Ayva?"
Ayva looked to see Rogue coming towards her. "What are you doing up so late? I thought the guild turned in for the night."
"I was having trouble sleeping so I went for a walk. What about you?"
"Same. I thought I'd stretch my legs and enjoy the quiet night." She thought for a moment, then reached for his hand. "Come with me."
Rogue let Ayva lead him off, surprised and curious.
Ayva led Rogue to the forest and through it to a lake.
"What are we doing here?"
"I wanted to show you something."
Rogue looked at Ayva as she stepped towards the lake shore, blushing as she slipped out of her nightgown.
Ayva looked back at Rogue and smiled. "Come on, Rogue, don't be shy."
Rogue watched as she waded out a bit further into the lake and sighed. He pulled off his shirt, his pants, and his boots, ignoring his blushing as he waded into the lake after her.
"Alright, what was it that you wanted me to see?"
Ayva smiled and ducked under the water.
"Ayva?"
Rogue watched the water, confused. When Ayva resurfaced, she smiled.
"Are you coming?"
Rogue watched as she ducked under the surface again and he took a deep breath before diving under the water after her. When he saw her, she had transformed into a mermaid like creature with blue scales and fins. She swam up to him and produced an air bubble that surrounded his head, allowing him to breath under water.
"Follow me."
Rogue followed after Ayva as they swam further and deeper into the lake until they reached what looked like old ruins. "What is that?"
"It used to one of the greatest of the Eranosian cities. These are the ruins of Alanarius."
"It's beautiful, even as ruins."
Rogue and Ayva swam through the ruins, Ayva telling him about things as they passed by them and explaining a bit more of the history of her people.
"What's that?"
Ayva looked at where Rogue pointed and she smiled. "That's the Mirthshade Coliseum, where festivals were held. Before the culling of my people began, all major events and celebrations would be held here. In its day, Mirthshade Coliseum was the pride of Alanarius. And Alanarius was the jewel of the Eranosian people."
Rogue looked at Ayva as she smiled sadly. "What happened? Why did the city sink?"
Ayva's smile faded and she looked away. "We should resurface, you don't have much longer before your bubble bursts."
Rogue followed her back to the surface of the lake, grateful that the bubble of air lasted until then. He looked around, seeing Ayva making her way to the shore.
Ayva returned to her normal form and stood by the shore as she wrung her hair out, looking at Rogue as he joined her. "Sorry..."
Rogue stood next her. "It's alright. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you sad."
Ayva looked up at the sky and sighed. "It's alright. To answer your question, Alanarius was the first to fall during the culling. When word came of the danger, my people tried to erect a barrier around it with plans to hide beneath the lake, but the dark guilds found them before they could and once they had finished culling the city, they sank the city as a way to spite Eranosians everywhere. It was a massacre and from here, the culling spread until it was only Lilvelone left."
"That's where you grew up, right?"
Ayva nodded. "Two hundred and eighty-five years ago, my people used as much of their strength and magik power to teleport the city far away where no one could find it. And so we lived in peace, trying to put the culling far behind us while never forgetting those that were lost. But, sixteen years ago the Hellcry Devils somehow found the city. No one really stood a chance since our ancestors had used nearly all of their magik power to teleport Lilvelone to safety. Magik was all but lost to us after that and what few were born with magik were both treasured and shunned. They served as a reminder of the past they were trying to forget."
Rogue reached over and touched her arm. "I'm sorry, Ayva."
Ayva smiled sadly. "It's alright. I've spent my time grieving and I've tried to move on, but the memory of it all is still a bit painful."
"We'll find the Hellcry Devils and we'll find a way to get your soul back."
"How can you be so sure, though?"
"I have faith that we will succeed."
"I hope you're right." Ayva turned and grabbed her nightgown. "We should head back."
Rogue picked up his clothes and his boots, following after her.
They walked in silence for a bit, the wind a bit chilly but drying them out quickly. They stopped for a moment not too far from the edge of the forest to change back into their clothes.
"Where'd my shirt go?"
Rogue looked around but didn't see his shirt, then he looked up as Ayva presented it to him. "Thanks."
Ayva turned away, ignoring the blush that had been pestering her since the lake. 'Why do I feel like this around him?'
"Ayva, are you alright?" Rogue had slipped into his shirt, but noticed that she looked flushed. "You're not getting sick, are you?"
Ayva shook her head, her cheeks burning as he reached up to feel her forehead. "I-I'm fine."
"You don't have a fever, that's good." Rogue stepped back, looking down at her. 'Is she blushing?'
Ayva glanced at him as the wind blew through the forest. She giggled and reached up, pulling the leaves out of his hair. "We should hurry back before you're ready to start a leaf collection."
Rogue smiled at that, letting her pull the leaves from his hair.
Ayva pulled free the last leaf, but found herself looking at his scar. "I don't think I've ever asked, but how did you get this scar?"
"After the Grand Magik Games, during the battle against the dragons."
"So it's true then..." She brushed aside his bangs, cupping his cheek as she stroked the scar with her thumb. "I'm glad you survived; it'd be a shame if I never got to meet you."
Rogue blushed at that, his eyes widening with surprise. "Ayva..."
Ayva blushed, looking away as she pulled her hand back. "Sorry... We should head back..."
Ayva started to turn away, but Rogue reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her back. Ayva looked at Rogue to see what was the matter and Rogue leaned down, kissing her. Ayva's eyes widened and she stood there, stunned as she felt herself beginning to give in. But then as a tiny voice in the back of her mind told her she didn't deserve to be happy when she didn't have a soul, she pulled away and stepped back.
"I'm sorry..." Ayva, tried to find the words to say, but she turned away and ran from the one person who had completely and wholeheartedly tried to be her friend, to get to know her, and accepted her for all her good and bad- even her lack of a soul. But the little voice in her head kept prodding and as she ran through the forest and back to the guild hall, the tears slid down her face. 'I'm so sorry, Rogue...'
Back in the forest, Rogue stood alone as the wind blew around him. His head hanging low and kicking himself silently, he wondered if he overstepped his boundaries with Ayva. As the weeks had gone by, he found himself drawn to her more and more. He came to care for her more than he thought ever would and now he may just have well ruined their friendship.