The Meanderer

by xeveningx

"The world is beautiful and pure, it's the weeds in it that ruin it." And to save the world she loves, Noé will do what she must: find her friends to free her master. But as she learns what saving it implies, discourse stirs in her. Is it really worth saving anymore? "It's not the world that's worth saving," a red cub told her. It's hard to understand his words.

15. The Lion and the Sparrow Part II

Stop! This is part 2 of the double update. If you haven't already go back and read part 1. If you have, go right ahead :')

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Chapter Fifteen:

The Lion and the Sparrow.

Part II.

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i.|

Waking from her deep sleep, Noélia groggily got up from the dirt ground where she slept only to groan when she realized that it was still the middle of the night.

Great…

Cursing under her breath, she slumped back down onto the soft ground she called her bed and stared blankly at the starlit night sky to try and go back to sleep. Vibrations coming from somewhere however caught her attention. Turning on her side, she listened intently, straining her ears to do so, her feathers bristling alongside them in response. Fragile vibrations that were barely being strung along into some sort of repeating sound.

What is that?

Sounded like only one. Made of strings. Curious about it, Noélia rose and climbed down the small hill she used as an encampment near the actual campsite where everybody else rested. Noélia didn't feel comfortable being near those people. They were overly friendly. Too chummy. And she hated every bit of it. It was why she decided to find shelter just outside of their base while only accepting the food brought to her by that shortstack blue-haired magician. Them saving her didn't mean she owed them, after all. They decided to do that on their own accord.

All the same, the woman that had been with them the day they saved her from certain death...now she was peculiar. Noélia didn't know what exactly it was that seemed so off about the lady but it was there and her instincts sensed it. And her innate curiosity was what had her following their encampment these past few days after her rescue. They didn't seem to mind, so she didn't bother to explain.

Now following the strange sound through their camp, she noted how all torches and sources of light were put out for the night. Not a bonfire nor torch was alight anywhere nearby as it usually seemed to happen around that hour. Yet bouncing against the walls of their camp were those noises that she followed to their source. It wasn't until she peeked over a corner that she found it.

It's that woman.

Luscious hair of a deep blue color fell down her back in cascades spilling onto the floor around her where she sat. Part of it held to the right in a bunched bun at her nape where a braid across the crown of her head met it and were both laid tied by a white ribbon. Over her clothes, she wore a long red shawl that moved with her hand as she seemed to strum her fingers over something. Each time her arm moved the vibrating noise came through reaching her ears. Despite how foreign it was, Noélia had to admit that it sounded beautiful for just being a couple of repeating patterns.

"It sounds much better if you come closer."

Her muscles strained at the woman's soft voice seemingly calling out to her. Impossible, she thought. There just was no way she noticed her. Noélia had been quiet as could be, not even her footsteps nor breathing made a sound. Yet somehow she noticed, a fact given away by how she turned her head lightly over her shoulder towards her.

"Would you like to accompany me?"

Her curiosity and self-preservation battled it out for a moment before she decided to step out and take a few steps closer to her. Noélia, choosing her best bet in case things went south, crouched a few feet away from the woman to see just what was making that noise. It was a strange object, one she'd never seen before. It looked like a short paddle but it was hollowed out and had strings attached to it. Each time the woman plucked a string and pressed it on the neck of the paddle, a different sound came. The patterns she plucked them in seemed to be making the noise that she found so pleasant to listen to.

"What...is that…?" she asked, unable to keep it to herself anymore.

"What is what?" the woman asked gently, her fingers never ceasing their strumming.

"What you're holding, what is it?"

She chuckled lightly, the sound just as beautiful as the thing she played. "Well, it depends. Where I obtained it, they called it a pipa. Most other places, however, call it a lute. It's an instrument."

"Ins...trument?"

"It's for making music." Finally, her fingers stopped their plucking as the woman turned to Noélia before calmly showing it to her. "Would you like to try it?"

Weary but all the more curious, Noélia cautiously came closer to the woman before snatching the instrument away from her hands. Instantly, she dropped to a seat, crossing her legs and laying the instrument's pear-shaped body between them as she attempted to mimic what she'd seen the woman doing. Dissonant noises left the instrument with each of her forceful strokes making Noélia pout from the unsavory sound.

"Here, let me show you."

The moment her hand reached over to her, however, Noélia reacted, snatching the lute in her claws hard enough to carve into the wood before crouching back faster than the woman could see. Carefully, she dropped her hand finally noticing how it had been interpreted as a threat.

"I won't hurt you."

"Don't touch me," was all she snarled back, teeth-baring and every feather on her being standing on end.

The woman nodded her head solemnly, retracting her hand to lay on her lap. "I won't if you don't feel comfortable with it. Tell me, child, what is your name? I don't believe you said it when we first met."

Though a little taken aback still, a part of her cautiously decided to answer her question. "...Noélia."

"What a lovely name. Do you mind if I call you, Noé?" Stammering over what she just heard the woman say so casually didn't let her say anything as she mindlessly continued. "Well, Noé, would you mind if I suggest a few pointers?"

Noélia relaxed just enough to listen to the woman as she explained how she had been taught by others to play the instrument. Despite it being a little harder with her hands, she somehow managed to strum along to the woman's instruction and play the simple tune she'd been playing. The notes she played swayed with how hard she held onto the strings but one could still hear the melody if they listened.

The woman seeing this decided to close her eyes as she hummed along to what Noélia was playing. A few words here and there escaped her lips as she continued to play until the softness of her voice mixed in with the lute's strumming.

'Leaves from the vine

Falling so slow

Like fragile tiny shells

Drifting in the foam'

"What are you doing?" Noélia asked as her fingers stopped playing.

"Singing along with you." The woman lifted her legs from where they dangled over the wall to tuck them underneath herself, smoothing over her whites skirts as she did so. "Though I don't understand the purpose of it, the sound is quite pleasing to the ear. Much like it'd be a pleasure to have you with us when we eat, Noé. There are a lot of people who would like to get to know you better here."

Noélia held onto the lute's body with her hands as she thought about what she asked of her. "I...don't want to."

"How come?"

"You people...are scary."

"Are we?" A delicate finger laid on her cheek as she tilted her head to one side pensively. As she did so, a small chuckle left her. "I suppose the manner we do things everywhere we go does come off as frightful to a young child."

"I'm not a kid!"

"Oh, you aren't?" she asked, baffled, before smiling. "Perhaps I miscalculated. Vastago do age much slower than humans, I've learned."

They did. Even her as a halfbreed and well, not fully grown yet, had thousands of years already stacked up over these people. Despite this, she knew that her childlike appearance did dissuade such facts. This woman seemed to know this, so why would she purposefully instigate her? Unable to understand, Noélia pouted and ignored her before going back to strum the lute. Not minding her dismissiveness, the woman continued on with her ramblings.

"I know we might seem frightening out there on the battlefield, but I assure you that there could not be any kinder people in this world to be with."

"I don't know them."

"Because you don't bother to," she retorted.

"And I'm not going to, so sod off already."

"That's a shame. Ignis and I really wanted to get to know you better, too." That she stood from her seat startled Noélia as she once against struggled to hold onto the lute. The woman turned towards the camp's general direction just as the sun began to rise over the horizon announcing the start of a new day. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I have errands to run. You may keep the lute if you'd like." Finding that strange, emerald eyes lifted to find the woman's bright silver eyes gazing at her tenderly before smiling, "You look like you'll have much more aptitude for music than I ever will."

Carefully, she kept a close eye on her as she made her way towards her comrades' encampment. As she did, her heart grew heavy in her chest, conflicted as it was. They were strange people, all of them. They were kind to her and fed her without wanting anything in return. Unlike her aunt or mother who showed her nothing but disdain and hatred, they had saved her and shown her what felt like the most genuine display of benevolence she had ever experienced. And what was more, they didn't fear her. To them, it'd appear that she was just another outcast that had followed after their little band of misfits.

Staring intently at the lute that was now in her grasp, Noélia felt something surge through her and push through the heaviness in her chest that choked her words from her, forcing the first thing that came to mind out.

"What's your name, lady?"

Still not far enough to not hear her, the blue-haired woman stopped briefly before stepping back to turn to face her with those beautiful silver eyes hers.

"They call me Teosa."

---

ii.|

The brilliant rays spilling through her open curtains and hitting her face woke her from her deep sleep. Emerald eyes blinked open as the grogginess slowly ebbed from her head. Somewhat out of sorts still, it took a moment for Noé to realize just where exactly she was.

My cottage? But how—oh...right.

The whole of what happened and how she'd wiped herself out from exhaustion came back to her all at once—must've passed out without noticing. But after what felt like a good night's rest, she was definitely feeling much better. Intent on taking a bath to help her fully wake up, Noé stepped out of bed only to accidentally step on something that howled out in pain.

It all happened rather quickly after that. A large arm swept under her, completely sweeping her off her feet in one fell swoop. And with her being half asleep still, there was no time for her to think of softening her fall, much less do it. Thankfully and strangely enough, however, what she landed on wasn't the hard floor she'd been expecting but instead soft warm skin.

What in Solomon's name?

"Look up, kid."

Doing as Chief told her finally made her realize what exactly she'd fallen on. Or more like who. Crimson eyes grew wide as saucers as Muu's fair skin turned beet red, and thankfully Noé had half the mind to understand what had him like that. The other half however thought it was rather nice to have him under her, oddly enough.

"N-N-N-N-Noé, could you please get off me?"

Her teasing side surfacing as she decided to indulge in grogginess a while longer, Noé smiled coyly before laying her chin on his chest and completely leaning her own against his body.

"You're comfy though," she purred under her breath.

"P-P-Please, don't do this to me!" he cried out desperately, his face even redder than before.

Despite his thrashing around and his hands trying but not quite grabbing her shoulders, there didn't seem to be a bone in his body that would forcefully push her off of him. That in itself made her smile smugly and snuggle against him more.

What a gentleman.

Chief laughed louder than ever she'd ever heard before, seemingly enjoying the exchange as much as Noé was. Sadly she had more of a conscience than Noé. "Get off of the cub, kid. You're going to kill him of embarrassment."

Boo, you're no fun.

Deciding to do as she said, Noé sat back intending to stand up but mistakenly straddled him instead. She was about to apologize and get off but paused briefly when she heard him groan underneath her. Pouting, she turned to him feeling slighted by his inference on her weight.

"How dare you? I'm not even heavy! Most of this is muscle."

"I didn't say—"

"You groaned!"

"It...it wasn't because of that," he sheepishly admitted.

Oh.

A broader grin came to her at finally understanding. Chief, knowing her far too well to not see it coming, asked her to stop before she really killed the cub. Noé, however, wanted her morning fun. Gently, she let herself sit on top of him and felt him tense underneath her, earning a chuckle.

"How cute," she casually said as she passed her hand along his chest over his simple white tunic. Quicker than she could see, his hand wrapped around her wrist completely, stopping her before it reached any lower than his chest and moving it off of himself.

"That's a mean way to play around, Miss Noé. Please, get off me."

"What? No more 'Noé'? I was kinda liking how it sounded coming from your lips."

"No, you didn't. You're just toying with me. But please, enough is enough." Noé tilted her head to one side pensively. It appeared that he'd gotten some of his composure back. Barely any by how red his face still was. Now hovering over either of her thighs, Noé noted how his hands trembled. Almost as if debating whether to touch her or not. And frankly, a part of her wished he wouldn't hesitate so much. "Knowing how you get, I'd rather not have to manhandle you to get you off."

"Knowing how I get?" Though confused by the statement, Noé decided to play just a little bit longer. Letting her eyes close until they were partially hooded, she puckered her lips a bit as she spoke, wishing to tempt him into what she wanted. "Please, this ain't even half of it. But you know something?" Leaning forward to press herself against him once more, she whispered in his ear. "I wouldn't mind showing you just how bad I can get—"

Her words caught in her throat the moment she felt something underneath her. Before she could even question him about it, Muu kept to his word. With a firm grip on her arms, he lifted her off of him without any trouble and tossed her onto the bed before running out of the room and slamming the door behind him. The way the wooden door and frame splintered a little told her exactly how out of sorts he'd been by all her teasing.

All of that however got pushed out to the back of her mind when she remembered what had caught her so much by surprise and got him to react so quickly. What she'd felt grow underneath her and between her legs was… Now it was her turn for her cheeks to grow molten red.

Hoo boy.

Chief heaved a long sigh at her stupidity. "You're unbelievable."

Noé wholeheartedly agreed.

"I need a cold bath."

—{ii}—

After taking her sweet time bathing off the raunchy thoughts that surfaced after her little stunt, Noé minded her time in the water after Chief's nagging. Too carefree to bother with it, she came out dressed with only a white sleeveless dress that left her wing free to dangle through the open back and a towel that hung over her dripping wet head. Just as she began heading out, though, a trail of droplets following in her wake, a rather disturbing sight caught her eye.

The dark gleam of the miasma on her shoulder caught her attention as the mirror in the room reflected it back to her. Slowly, she made her way over to it and turned her body sideways to better see the mark that marred her skin. It pulsated disgustingly as it always did these past few times and now covered most of that part of her forearm with its color.

"Perhaps doing as young Maahes and Rakah suggested could dissuade its spread."

I guess it's worth a try.

Noé placed her hand atop the dark spot making sure that at no point her fingers touched the miasma before using the seal's magic. Through the reflection, she could see her face glowing with the seal's insignia and orange color as it responded to her call. The palm of her hand responded in kind, glowing in response. Light refracted in her palm and stung the instant it made contact with the dark substance. It wasn't bad but it wasn't mild either. All the same, she withstood it as the dark miasma hardened at the borders to brittle away to dust.

It's working.

Continuing on, it appeared that the miasma had a point where magic wouldn't be enough to erase it anymore. From almost taking over her whole forearm, it had now shrunken to a mark no bigger than her palm. Leaving it be, she supposed that would have to do for the time being. At least it'd be quiet for a while.

The sudden ruckus in her kitchen brought her back to the present. Tossing aside her towel and taking a shawl to drape over her shoulder, Noé made her way outside to the rest of her home to find the source of all the noise. There, battling it out with her stove, was Muu who strangely enough was quick to return from wherever he snuck off to after their little morning 'playtime.'

"Cut the cub some slack, Noé. You scared the living daylights out of him."

I don't know if I necessarily 'scared' him, per se.

Noé could've sworn she saw Chief shaking her head disapprovingly. "And you say you're not a kid anymore."

Her comment wrenched a chuckle out of Noé that immediately gave her away and alerted Muu to her presence. The Fanalis cub peeked over his shoulder briefly before quickly returning to what he was doing.

"You're out. Good. It's almost ready."

"What is?" she asked as she came closer to the stove. It wasn't until she spotted the teapot that he slowly poured boiling water into and the cups that were set to one side of it that it hit her. "Tea?"

Muu gave her a weak shrug and a half-smile as he went about serving two cups full of it after a few minutes. "From the sound of it, your throat is not in the best condition right now. This should help with soothing it."

A soft chuckle came from her as he pushed the cup over to her. She took it in her hands and lifted the cup close to her nose to savor the smell of the brew as it helped wind her down. Looking over the rim of her cup, she eyed him for a moment as he began to take a sip of his own after cooling it down a bit. A thought then came to mind.

This was the perfect chance to pull one last fast one on him.

"Noé, don't—"

"Sorry about sexually harassing you this morning."

Good thing she had the mind to conjure a small wall of light between the two of them. Otherwise, she would've gotten a mouthful of hot tea. Muu's stupefied expression brought her enough glee to go on drinking her own tea without trouble.

"You're horrible to the kid."

Thank you, I try.

"C-Can we forget about that, please?"

"Sure." With another sip, she flippantly smiled back at him. "I do hope you learned the lesson though. Never fall asleep anywhere near me unless you want that to happen again. I tend to be a very handsy person in the mornings."

"Thanks for the belated warning," he deadpanned.

"You're welcome!" she immediately chirped gleefully. Muu sighed and took another drink of his tea at the same time that Noé lowered hers. "Funny how Hera-chan thought it as funny as you did when I did it to her, don't you think?"

Another wall of light ended up sprayed with hot tea. Peeking over at his cup, she made the wall dissipate before picking the teapot and gesturing it to him. "More tea?"

His shoulders slumped helplessly as he tilted his cup slightly for her. "S-Sure..."

Her fun over with, she finally gave herself time to relax and enjoy their tea appropriately. It was nice to have some downtime after the damn emotional trip they'd gone through both this morning and the day before. Remembering what had happened just the other day in the colosseum, however, brought her joyful morning to a sudden halt as what occurred went through her head once more. Oddly enough, unlike yesterday, the pang of what she found out stung less today than it had before.

Sensing this, Chief did what she did best and blatantly questioned her about her wellbeing. "How are you feeling?"

"Better."

"That's good."

Suddenly meeting his crimson gaze and seeing that quiet smile plastered on him made her chuckle a bit before shaking her head. "Sorry. Sometimes I forget to keep it in my head when I talk with Chief."

"I assumed you were talking to her," he replied with a chuckle in tow. Despite that, Noé could still see the bit of concern in his crimson gaze. It certainly wasn't something he was trying to hide, either. "But are you? Feeling better, that is."

"I am." Smiling a little, she was just about to reach for the teapot to serve herself another cup when Muu took it before she could and served her instead. Noé thanked him under her breath, taking another deep inhale of the deep aroma from her piping hot cup and feeling herself relaxing by the minute. "You make some damn good tea, cub."

"Thank you," he said. "My mother taught me. Well, she taught My and I, but my sister never gets around to brewing much."

"She's got aptitudes elsewhere, I'll give her that,." Turning the cup in her hands after downing her tea, however, had her mulling over how to say what she really wanted to after recalling the events from the other day. Her grip tightening around her tea, she let the small source of warmth fuel her courage before speaking. "Muu...I'm truly so very sorry about hurting you like I did yesterday. And about flashing you around back and forth, too. I should've had more control of myself than I did."

For a moment, crimson eyes looked at her as if he were taking his time processing those words. He took a deep breath daring to answer her at last. "I appreciate your apology. I truly do. Though I'm partially at fault, too. I shouldn't have fallen for your taunts."

"Well, I can't blame you for that," she confessed. "I can be a bit too annoying sometimes. Even for you." Both chuckled as he agreed under his breath. Setting her cup aside, Noé reached up to the silver arrowhead hanging around her neck. "I'm sorry to you, too, Chief."

"So long as you promise not to do it again. And that you understand that what I do, I do with your wellbeing in mind."

"I know. Thank you."

"You and Andromalius seem close." Finishing his own cup, Muu went about cleaning with her help as he continued with the conversation. "Have you had her for long?"

"Since I came to be here." A vague statement, yes, but it would have to be enough to appease him for now. "Did you conquer Barbatos young, too?"

"It wasn't long after the commander obtained his own. But I was still a kid when Lady Scheherazade took me into the dungeon."

Once done, Noé watched from a safe distance as he easily made his way through the small cottage while looking at every little souvenir that lay about. Some were from Reim while others were ones she brought from her travels when she decided to come back to her little cottage. He took a beautiful hairpin she'd bought at Kou—a beautiful silver hairpin in the shape of some kind of flower—then another from Sindria—a small yet intricate set of earrings—inspecting both before placing them back as he went on with his idle prattle.

"I'm surprised that with all the traveling you do you still only have a single metal vessel. I'd frankly imagine you'd be the kind of person to have multiple ones."

Scoffing at that, Noé leaned back against her kitchen counter, letting her wing brush against the floor as she did so. "I don't travel or dungeon dive in search of more power. Never have and frankly don't think I ever will."

"Why dive then? The gold?"

Noé shook her head. "I'm searching for some people dear to me and I'm hoping that the djinn will have some clues that will lead me to them."

As she moved the blinds on the window over her counter, the glint of sunlight reflecting off of something inside the room caught her eye. Looking back, she noticed his own metal vessel laying precariously atop her table. A few steps were all it took to reach it and once she did, she gently brushed her fingers along the fine blade until they reached the eight-pointed star that marked it as such a powerful weapon.

"Do you remember when the Regalis were kidnapped some years ago by pirates and I happened to be around to rescue them?"

"Kidnapped...You mean the raid I helped you with?"

There wasn't any helping the small chuckle she let out nor the one that Chief reciprocated at his comment. Let's give him that one, for old time's sake. "Yeah, that one. Well, after they were rescued and we returned, Hera-chan granted me the favor of talking to Chief Barb."

"By Chief Bard, I'm assuming you mean Barbatos." The mild slip up made her step away from the blade. Thankfully, Muu didn't see anything strange about it and instead continued their conversation. "Did he help you?"

"They all do one way or another."

Most of them, anyway.

"Have you found them?" he asked, nonchalantly. "The people dear to you."

Her gaze fell at the question as her hands wrung the shawl's ends. "It's looking like it. I just have to wait a little bit longer it seems."

"For?"

"For the right time to meet them."

And to return to her.

"Noé, the room."

Hearing Chief's sudden call made her lift her gaze just in time to catch Muu approaching a certain door and turning its knob. Noé rushed over as quickly possible but wasn't fast enough to stop him from opening the door. The moment he laid eyes on the inside, however, he stopped short, his mind rap on what was there. Despite her trying to pull him away or close the door by pulling at his arm, he refused to budge. Or simply couldn't. Honestly, she was at a loss as to which one. Noé, giving up in the end, simply slammed her head on the wall beside the door and waited for him to finish taking in the small child's room that laid intact after almost nine long years.

That's right… It's almost his birthday.

"Is this...your son's room?" She leaned against the wall to keep from looking inside and nodded. Almost instantly, he closed the door with a soft click, his hand remaining on the knob as his gaze fell apologetically. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone snooping around your home like that."

"It's alright," she said. "I seldom go in there, anyway."

"It's very well kept."

"Maahes comes from time to time to clean for me when I'm gone. He knows what to pick up and what to let be, especially in Elly's room."

Lifting her head eyes, she looked straight ahead at the blinds she'd parted that overlooked out into the garden. An idea came to her then at the sight of it and quickly took hold of Muu's hand to bring him outside with little protest from him. Deftly, she caught the bucket Maahes used to haul water from the nearby river and tossed it at Muu as she let him go, telling him to follow her as she trotted away towards the back garden. With a finger, she pointed towards the river that sat past her small cottage and asked him to fetch her some. He obliged with a smile and left her be as she prepared to do a little bit of work to get such gloomy thoughts out of her mind.

"When was the last time you watered these flowers?"

"A long time ago."

Noé knew she purposefully avoided this place most of the time. Leaving it in Maahes' hands seemed better than to come herself and recall every painful thing that haunted her to that day. Now, however, she felt like doing this—taking care of the place where her own son rested—was a good way to feel closer to him when she missed him like this. Once Muu returned with a bucketful of water, she guided him through the narrow pathways free of flowers and had him carry the bucket around while she used the ladle that paired with it to carefully water the flowers. They did this in silence at first, something she relished in for a moment, but eventually, Noé's urge to talk became too strong to ignore anymore.

"It shames me to say that I don't take care of my own son's resting place as well as I should."

Beside her, Muu tensed somewhat at the mention of Elior and his grave. He searched around as if looking for the gravestone that marked said resting place, but when he couldn't find it, Noé spoke up to end the search.

"There's no grave marker if that's what you're looking for. All I've ever liked knowing is that the instant I step into this garden is when I'm with him again."

Muu remained quiet for a moment as if meaning to choose his question carefully. "These flowers aren't native to Reim or its nearby ranges. Where do they come from?"

"The northern mountains. Somewhere near where the Imuchakk tribes are settled."

"I thought northern flora couldn't live in the heat of the midwest."

"It can't," she agreed. Stepping back to face him, she reached up into the air as the light around them began to fracture, somehow becoming more intense and along with it the heat. His brow furrowed pensively for a moment before it dawned on him.

"Magic?"

"I've cast a whole perimeter of Light magic around my cottage and its vicinity. Also, Hera-chan has a protection spell around it that mimics a borg. It was a gift to protect Elly and I back when we lived here." Turning about with a ladle full of water, she returned to watering the northern lilies as the light refracted again and the heat around the place lessened greatly to a mild coolness. "Those two things combined make a pretty good glasshouse."

"But how can you keep magic active while being so far away for so long?"

Noé stopped mid-step as if suddenly realizing what she'd just given away. Chief also placed her two cents in with a deadpanned, "Good job, loudmouth."

Though she blamed it on her being too comfortable with him, a part of her wasn't all that sorry for letting that bit of information go. In fact, that very same part of her wanted to tell him more. So against her better judgment and Chief's rather obnoxious pestering, Noé decided to let him in on a little secret.

Walking backward on a path she knew like the back of her hand to continue her watering, she fractured the light again with a single thought, this time pointing to her face as it began to warm up on the right side.

Almost instantly his eyes scrunched up questioningly. "I've seen that happen so many times before but I've never had the heart to ask about it."

"Do you have it now?" His nod was all the answer she needed. Taking the bucket with little water from his hands, she tossed it out at the blooms before leaving the ladle behind to carry it in both hands while making her way down the hill to the riverbank. Loyally, Muu followed behind her, always keeping a respectful distance away from her back but never leaving her side.

"It's a magic seal."

"Magic seal?"

Noé nodded as she skipped her way down the hill, her bare feet brushing against the blades of grass. "It's the closest thing I can compare it to. It's also one of its names. But I've known it as a Gift for as long as I've known about it."

"So is it magic that was given to you?"

"No, I forcefully took it."

"So...you stole it?" Noé confirmed his suspicions with a single nod. "Why?"

"It was to help someone that is very dear to me, but it ended up helping make the world what it is now. It's a very powerful and ancient kind of magic...and it's all contained within this tiny body of mine."

"How powerful are we talking about exactly?" he asked.

"Noé, don't do this."

It'll be okay, Chief. The idea of telling Muu wasn't twisting her gut like it usually did when it warned her about her plans horribly backfiring on her. And to her, that was a good sign.

"Let's just say that if I knew how to do it, I could harness the entire rukh from the sun in a single attack and probably usher in an era without sunlight for the next millennia or so."

His footsteps stopping so suddenly and not following her anymore didn't surprise her in the least. It was a lot to take in. It frankly reminded her of her own reaction back when she learned what exactly she had taken, too. Sympathetic of his shock, she skipped the few feet to the riverbank to bend down and scoop a bucketful full of water.

As if noticing the oddity, Chief spoke up. "I thought you finished watering the flowers already."

This isn't for the plants.

Hauling the bucket over to Muu, Noé swung it a few times to test her aim before completely drenching him from head to toe. Crimson eyes blinked owlishly at her, still a tad bit taken aback before he shook his head from the excess water that dripped over him. Noé sheepishly placed the bucket down and made her way back to the riverbank, picking her long skirt to dip her sore feet in the cool water. Thunderous footsteps rattled the ground as he practically lept to be near her, his face losing color by the second.

"W-W-Wait a minute. You can't be serious."

"Do I look like I'm kidding?" she inquired with a coy smile.

"I wouldn't put it past you, frankly."

"Yee may be of little faith, cub, but yee aren't stupid." Kicking at the water, she watched as the light of the morning sun refracted in it over and over. "Think for a second of what you've seen me do and you'll know. Like when I first returned to Reim. I caused so much havoc at the colosseum, remember?" That his disbelief eventually began to disappear told her he was starting to take this seriously and prompted her to continue her explanation. "And that was only a little bit of what I can do. I'm sure if you ask Hera-chan she'll tell you herself that that kind of magic is seldom possible for magicians. If I had to say, the only thing that comes close is Extreme Magic."

"You don't control the sun, little sparrow. It inhabits you."

"I'm sure she's warned you of what kind of danger I impose to all of Reim or any other country." Clutching her chest as she remembered her soft voice made it ache a little and she lowered her head to watch the cool water rush past her feet. "Hell, to anybody who manages to get on my bad side. Even more so with a djinn that's compatible with my Gift. I could plunder a whole continent to nothing but dust and ashes if I wanted to. I can kill anybody with just a thought and an order. In essence, I wouldn't need to lift a single finger to plunge the whole world into darkness. All that because of this," she emphasized with a touch of her face. "Because with this—"

"You are the sun."

"I am the sun."

And the further I am from the world and everyone in it, the better.

"Noélia, enough." Having to abide by Chief's order before she got too slighted from saying too much, she sighed as a smile came to her lips.

"So, yeah," she said with finality, releasing the seal and letting the seal disappear from her face. "It's strong and it's real. Let's leave it at that."

"Miss Noé—"

Whatever he might've wanted to say was completely overshadowed by the grand explosion that erupted in the skies above the borders of Reim. Her feathers bristled in response to the unexpected explosion but relaxed when she saw the smile that came to Muu's lips. Her curiosity and her being a little bit on edge because of the sudden explosion forced her to ask about it.

"What's that?" Unconsciously, she jumped again when another explosion hit the sky in a colorful array before disappearing.

"Firecrackers."

"What are those?" Muu chuckled as more of those things exploded in the air and made her hiss from the uneasiness the loudness caused her. "Stop laughing."

"Sorry," he said while still laughing a little bit more. "They're bits of what they call gunpowder with certain metals combined for the color. I'm surprised you don't know of them. From what I heard, it's thanks to Maahes that the chemistry department made leeways with gunpowder. I think he came up with the idea for the crackers too."

"Huh, he never told me."

"I suppose rarely coming by does have its downfalls," Chief pointed out.

Guess so. She'd have to ask him about them later. But as another hit the sky and exploded in an array of golds and reds, Noé jumped out of the riverbank to come closer to Muu. "Why are they exploding them? Is Reim being attacked?"

"No, quite the contrary." As if remembering something, Muu's face suddenly turned a deep red as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "Actually, it was something I wanted to talk about with you after the colosseum fight but..." Knowing exactly what he meant caused her to be suddenly downcast which he immediately tried to remedy by flailing his arms about. "B-B-But I can tell you about the festival now!"

"A festival, here?"

Noé had attended her share of festivals before in other countries. She especially loved Sindria's Mahrajan with its delicious food and even more appetizing women. But now that she thought about it, she seldom attended any of Reim's festivities. Maybe seldom wasn't the best word to use. 'Never' fitted better.

"It was one of your least favorite places to come to, so I'm not surprised there."

Good point.

"What are you celebrating then? Is there good food?" She gasped excitedly as her eyes twinkled with anticipation. "Are there beautiful hostesses serving the attendees here, too?"

"If you're curious, would you like to accompany me to it tonight?"

Taken aback by the sudden question, Noé turned wide-eyed towards him, her sudden giddiness from a second ago vanishing from the surprise. "What, go as in 'go on a date' with you?"

She would never get tired of seeing how red his face would get with every little insinuation she gave.

"You don't have to think of it that way," he corrected. Calming himself, he smiled at her before nodding towards Reim. "I'd really just like to enjoy a night out with you as my company if that's alright."

Noé knew what her answer should be. With how comfortable she'd become to so many of them, she knew that the best choice was to decline. Yet a tiny voice in her head couldn't help its own excitement at actually enjoying something with someone for a change.

"You should go, kid. Enjoy yourself for once."

Chief's little push was all she needed.

"Alright, I'll bite," she replied with a smile, feeling her own cheeks growing a little warm with anticipation. "What time do you want to come by for me?

---

i.|

"It's so...beautiful."

Noélia sighed in awe as she took in the sight of the morning sky just as the sun broke through the horizon. The colors interchanging from the dark indigos and purples of the night to warm oranges and yellows of the morning only to finish in the brightest of cerulean was a sight to behold and always left her amazed beyond words. The way the colors seemed to bathe the outside, how they seamlessly changed from one to another, and how the rest of the Vastago could ceaselessly soar through the morning air without a care—all of it filled her with unimaginable awe and wonder that was simply too much to contain.

"What are you doing, Noélia!?"

Fear instantly washed over any joy she felt at the sound of her aunt's screeching voice hollering across the plateau. Noélia attempted a feeble escape to reach the cave's mouth before her aunt caught her, but her efforts were wasted like always. Before she was even close to the cave, a set of sharp talons snatched her from her arms and soared upward. She immediately ceased struggling the moment her arms were caught knowing full well how dangerous it was to do so even at the miserable height they were flying at. Still, it hurt when her aunt unceremoniously dropped her at the cave's entrance while roughly yanking her back underground the moment she landed herself.

Desperate and inconsolable, Noélia tried in vain to rip her aunt's painfully tight grip from her arm and was only released from it when they reached the bowels beneath the earth that she had known her whole life as a home. Once there, Theone tossed Noélia aside before going about turning on the candles and torches without saying a word.

The little girl watched from afar trying to gauge the depths of her aunt's anger only to flinch when at last the woman turned to her with the most worried expression on her face. Claws that just moments ago held onto her so roughly now held her tenderly as she wearily searched every inch of Noé's face.

"Are you hurt?" she asked.

"No," she replied softly.

"Were you seen?"

Of course not. Noélia hated the question because of what it reminded her of. The Vastago never cared to look at the ground. Not when they had the whole sky to soar. And if she hated anything more than the question, it had to be the answer that her aunt expected of her.

"No, Auntie."

Finally, Theone let out a sigh of relief before fixing her eyes on Noélia. Her claws brushed through her hair, entangling with the long swirls of auburn that clung to her suddenly sweating face.

"Little bird, what have I told you about going too far out?"

"That I shouldn't do that."

"And why is that?"

"Because others might see me."

"And what will happen if they see you," Theona continued.

"They'll cut off my legs, rip my wings off and feed me to the Red Lions," she said with a tremor to her voice.

"Precisely, Noélia. And we wouldn't want that to happen to you, now, would we?" Noélia shook her head frantically, eyes wide as she buried her face against her aunt's stomach and shook in her embrace. Those claws that had so fiercely yanked her were now soothingly stroking her head as if that would make the ingrained fear of such reminders vanish. "Now, now, don't be afraid. So long as you remain underground they cannot harm you."

"Auntie, I still don't understand why the others would do that if they saw me. Aren't I a Vastago too?"

That soothing hand paused briefly before resuming its ministrations. "No, little bird. You aren't. You're mother committed an atrocious act in mating with a magician and had you. None of the others will ever accept you no matter how much of our blood runs through your veins."

"And you, Auntie?"

"You are the flesh of my kin, Noélia. How could I now when I'm the one that teaches you, dresses you, feeds you? How could you ever doubt that, little bird?" Heaving a sigh, Theone pulled Noélia at arm's length to look her in the eye. "I am the only one who will look upon you without fear, child." Her claw carefully reached behind Noélia and took in hand one of her deformed wings. "You're deformed, ugly—something the world will show no pity for. You must understand."

Bringing her closer to the cavern's mouth, a place she would often go to gleefully, she stood beside her aunt to watch the blue sky that now stretched over the horizon. Diligently, those same claws brushed through her hair as her hand splayed itself atop her head, those sharp nails just barely missing the sprouting feathers behind her ears.

"Out there, you will be reviled as nothing more than a monster."

"A monster?" Noélia repeated in a low tone unable to comprehend such a term.

"They'll throw hate and vitriol your way without a care or thought," her aunt continued ruthlessly. It didn't seem to bother her how her niece only kept repeating the one word under her breath as all color drained from her face. "Why look to instigate their callousness and hysteria? No, little bird, I know what kind of life is best for you and that is here with me."

"I'm sorry, Auntie." Tears pooled in her eyes at simply imagining such terrors and she quickly buried her face into the skits of her aunt's clothes as her hands tightly took the fabric into her hands. "I'll never disobey you again."

---

ii.|

"What's this?"

"Customary robes. Mister Alexius asked me to bring them to you. Surely with them on you'll fit right in with everybody else."

Noé gave her little Helihaptian boy a sidelong glance before raising an eyebrow at such an outrageous statement. Lifting said robes up and showcasing it for them both to see was her lame attempt at making a point.

"Maa, I don't understand how he wants me to fit in among a crowd with this gaping hole on the back with no shawl or robe over it."

"Well, considering the occasion, it might be the brightest idea yet."

Are they both insane?

Apparently not. The Vyssiní̱s Fengári—Crimson Moon, was it?—appeared to be a rather rare festivity in Reim that only came to happen every four years. According to the citizens and Maahes who'd been around the last two times it was celebrated, it was a festival to pay gratitude for their health and longevity. They celebrated all night until the sun broke through the horizon the next morning, all to rejoice an event they had no evidence of it happening or not.

"Remind me who women are supposed to imitate again?"

"Oh, it's the Red Priestess." Maahes gleefully told Noé for the tenth time what the whole point of her attire was as he went about gathering the rest of the accessories that she was to wear. Carrying over the intricate gold corset belt that would tie her particular dress together, Maahes made sure to explain just as thoroughly as he had the nine previous times. "She was the one who claimed the western continent as Reim's even before General Pernadius and Lady Scheherazade came to be here. According to legend, she was seen roaming the land and proclaimed it to be the 'Land of the Sun' before vanishing entirely."

That was new. Last time she checked, the two had stumbled upon the place and its fertile landsand decided it would be as good a place as any. And she'd been there!

Who's this Red Priestess they keep talking about?

Chief, however, only chuckled, apparently amused by her words. "I might have a hunch."

"And how is a dead priestess gonna keep people from questioning why the hell I have a wing hanging from my back?"

"Well, the thing is—"

A sudden knock came to her door, interrupting Maahes and prompting him to answer. Noé didn't have to wonder who it was for too long before Seraphina burst into the room with a giddy smile on her face. The moment her emerald eyes caught sight of the girl in front of her she swore her breath hitched almost instantly.

Dressed simply and yet quite elegantly, Noé knew from the bottom of her heart that no one would've been able to pull such sophisticated and gallant look off other than the little priestess. A beautiful long chiton brushing to the floor fell delicately over her small frame, starting out in a light blue color at the top and ending in silver at the tail. A platinum corset belt hugged her waist like she presumed hers would as well, but Noé was sure it would look half as elegant. Her long platinum hair was somehow and incredibly held up in a neat bun against her head and gorgeously decorated with blue and white feathers that matched her dress. Delicately thin necklaces hung around her neck bringing focus to her fair bosom. But what truly caught her eyes the most was the long cloak attached to her shoulders that fell behind her.

It looks like...a pair of wings.

"Oh, you haven't changed yet!" Those seafoam eyes of hers gave her a once over faster than she could stop her. Her cheeks suddenly grew a light red out of the blue and Noé thanked goodness that Seraphina went about examining the dress that lay displayed on the bed. "How gorgeous! You have such good taste, Miss Noé,"

"Actually," she interrupted, "The cub chose it for me. Said I'd fit right in or something."

It was strange but Noé couldn't deny that she saw a bit of the glimmer in her eyes die down somewhat. Behind it, her enthusiasm followed suit for a brief moment before she regained her enthusiasm once more.

"Muu has always been quite the fashionable one. Well, I'm not one to get defeated so easily." Suddenly, she stepped forward to lay down a wooden box beside the dress before opening it. Noé stepped forward as the little priestess began to lay out different kinds of jewelry for her to look at. "I've brought the best of the best that I own for you to wear tonight, Miss Noé."

"That's really not necessary, Sera." Really, it wasn't. This was just something she was doing to indulge the cub. And of course to get her mind off of very nasty thoughts that had recently surfaced.

"Of course it is!" The way the young magician bounced with her spin when facing her again had Noé jumping from the surprise. Whoa, the girl sure was giddy. "It's your first Vyssiní̱s Fengári! And we will spare no expense to have you looking your best tonight."

So pushy.

Chief merely chuckled in her mind, rather enjoying the scene. "Yet endearing that she wants for you to have a good time."

I suppose.

Somehow—after a long half-hour of choosing what Sera referred to as 'the perfect necklace'—Noé managed to convince Seraphina to leave for her to change. Knowing the newly anointed Regalia needed to prepare for some kind of ceremony before midnight also helped to convince her as well. The girl didn't leave without her two cents about the jewelry, however. "Do wear it, please. I'd be quite disheartened if you didn't!"

Though Noé couldn't help but sigh in relief after being so overwhelmed for once, Maahes showed their joint gratitude with a simple chuckle.

"You and Priestess Seraphina have become quite close, I see."

This time it was her turn to chuckle. "She's a good kid." Turning back to Maahes, she flicked his nose, making him step back with a small yelp. "Much like you." Stretching her arms over her head one last time, she took the dress in her hands before heading off to change.

"Well then..."

Let's get this party going.

—{ii}—

"Is the captain nervous?"

"No way. My brother is as composed as ever!"

"Yeah, right. Look at 'im. He's sweating his ba—"

"You guys think she'll really show up?" Not bothered by the interruption, Lo'lo, Myron and Yaqut all turned either questioningly or amazed at what Razol even suggested. With a shrug of her shoulders, she dismissed their rather poignant looks. "What? It's not like none of you have thought about it."

"She can't!" Myron hissed while biting onto her thumbnail with ferocity. "My brother finally got the courage to ask her on an outing! She can't just stand him up!"

"I wouldn't put it past her though," Yaqut reiterated with Razol nodding beside him.

"Nah, onee-san wouldn't do that!"

All four turned at Rhea's loud declaration and scrambled to quiet her while hiding behind their little corner. Though the Fanalis Corp were mostly enjoying the Vyssiní̱s Fengári their own way—most of which meant eating and drinking till morning came or they couldn't stand it any longer—a handful had to corroborate how their captain's 'date-not-date' with Noé would transpire...or if it'd even begin for that matter. Of course, they weren't rooting for Muu to fail but a lot had their gold on the fickle Noé not showing up in the first place. Being his sister, Myron wanted him to succeed. It had absolutely nothing to do with the countless bags of gold she bet after they goaded her into it, either.

"That aside," Myron muttered under her breath, "you think he's noticed us?"

"Doubt it," Lo'lo pointed out cheekily as he held back Rhea who took it as a game. "Probably too nervous to even hear us."

"He's not nervous!"

Two blocks away, Muu could only chuckle as he stood at the entrance of the Alexius estate.

Of course, I can hear you, My.

She always did forget who would always win their games of hide-and-seek as children. He may not have the strength that pureblood Fanalis did but he certainly more than made up for it with agility and his senses. Sadly though none of them served him any purpose tonight.

It wasn't like anything the lot of them thought. This wasn't a date or anything in that vein. It simply was what he meant it to be, an outing between him and Miss Noé during a festival. Nothing more, nothing less.

"Didn't expect you here so early. Good thing Maahes hurried me along."

"No need to worry, I haven't been waiting...long."

Muu couldn't help how slack his jaw went the moment he saw Noé skipping down the steps of the estate, a single thought rising to his mind.

Red is definitely her color.

Thank goodness she decided to wear the dress he'd picked out. Simple as the crimson chilton was, the fact that it fell into a deep cut in front with the added gold corset belt brought it together quite splendidly. Apparently that's all she decided to allow, however. The rest seemed to be entirely of her own design. The first thing he noted was the quiet pattering of Noé's feet against the ground due to their lack of footwear; the only thing she wore was some anklets of thin golden chains. The next was the way her long curls that were usually held up in their high ponytail were now allowed to flow freely about her. The golden diadem on her head went well with the golden necklace encrusted in emeralds, something he didn't remember passing onto Maahes. But what was truly the most breathtaking was her wing freely bouncing behind her as she skipped down the steps, its crimson tinted gold feathers shining in the torchlight.

"So?" Jumping the last few steps, Noé met him with a twirl before asking, "How do I look?"

For some reason, he found it hard to find the words. "M-Miss Noé, you're…"

A smug grin came to her lips as she twirled again rather gleefully. It was then that he saw how beautifully decorated her auburn curls were with white buds crisscrossed on it.

"Thanks for the dress!" Twirling again, this time with a giddy chuckle, she stopped and leaned on one foot as if posing. "I was really skeptical about it but after Maahes convinced me to wear it, it didn't look as bad as I thought it would've." She eyed him then and smiled back at him "You're looking quite fancy, too, cub."

Finally able to regain his voice, Muu stammered a bit before nodding. "T-Thank you. I'm glad you liked it—t-the dress, I mean. Honestly, I was afraid you would refuse to wear it when you saw the back."

"Well, I won't say it didn't bother me. But after Maahes told me the story of the priestess I thought—'' The noise coming from a couple of blocks away seemed to catch her attention for a moment before she chuckled. Before he could say anything against it, Noé rushed to push Muu from behind and lead him towards the city. "Forget that! Let's go already; I'm starving!"

The group of Fanalis instantly hid when they heard this but had nothing to worry about when the pair rushed past their alley and towards the main streets were most of the celebrations were being held. The four of them let out a breath of relief while Rhea simply watched after the two with a grand smile on her face.

"He froze," Lolo declared outright.

Instantly, Myron snatched him by the collar of his tunic to bring him down to her height and hissed at him. "No, he didn't!"

"He totally did," Yaqut called.

"No doubt about it!" Razol agreed.

Myron's fit only grew with their tagged-on comments, something Lo'lo easily stopped in its tracks by picking her up by the waist to carry her under his arm back to the barracks. While their captain had his fun, there was no reason for them not to have theirs. Noticing them leave, Rhea finally looked away from Muu and Noé's receding backs to follow behind her brother and the others only to stop dead in her tracks at the sight of something.

A mouse. One unlike any she'd seen before scurried out of the shadows before stopping and, strangely enough, locking eyes with her. For a moment, she stared the animal down before her instincts screamed at her to attack. Rhea, knowing not what else to do, bared her teeth at the thing before chasing after it. Panicked, the mouse skittered away into the alleyway but didn't get far before Rhea pounced it and caught it in her cupped hands. Standing back up with her hands still around the rodent, she opened them only to instantly stop her growling when she found absolutely nothing in them.

"Rhea! Come on, hurry!"

"Ah, coming!" Still confused but knowing better than to fall behind, Rhea wiped her hands on her tunic before chasing after her brother and the others.

—{ii}—

You were so right for once, Chief! This was definitely worth the hassle.

A pleased chuckle echoed in her head. "Glad to hear it."

Noé didn't see what was so funny but with what good of a time she was having, she frankly didn't care to find out. Goodness, she couldn't remember the last time she had such a good time during a festival. She supposed that the company had something to do with it. Despite their little outing having started as dusk fell, the past few hours had flown by like nothing. Time truly flew when one had fun.

Especially when spent with such ease.

To be honest, there had been a part of Noé that, even after having changed into the dress Muu had given her and trying her best to set the gaping hole on her back aside, hadn't been all that comfortable with having her wing exposed for the world to see. Years ago—and she truly did years ago—back when Reim hadn't even been a fully-fledged town yet, Noé had gone about her life like she was now, not caring who saw the kind of deformity she carried on her back. Years of her childhood dedicated to hiding it had tired her already, and this time around, she wanted for things to be different.

Too bad I didn't think things through back then.

"You still don't most times, but I digress." Having the leather strap of her arrowhead necklace wrapped around her wrist made it easy to grasp the Metal Vessel in her palm anytime Chief spoke. Something she took full advantage of now to hold in a tight grip when the djinn annoyed her. "I was amazed myself when you decided to go along with the cub's requests. Did Young Maahes truly convince you with that story about these quaint festivities?"

Won't say it didn't help his case.

Sometimes Noé couldn't believe she was still surprised by the stories people came up with to celebrate about. A goddess in disguise. Apparently, that was what this whole Crimson Moon Festival was about. Though they did celebrate their nation's longevity, they tagged along with it the story of the goddess Regia disguising herself as one of her dutiful priestesses to pass undetected among humans. Though she seldom paid any attention to the statues, Maahes assured her that during the festival, the people paid their respects to the goddess by dressing in bright-colored attire with feathers and wing accessories to help them better resemble 'the disguised goddess'. This according to him in an attempt to help her hide better among the crowd.

It was nothing but a huge masquerade when all was said and done. And a remarkably crazy idea that was truly helping her walk among them without a care of who saw her wing.

"I'm glad you seem to be enjoying yourself."

Looking away from her food for a moment, Noé lifted her gaze to meet Muu who looked at her quite peacefully from across a table. After hours of walking through the long and winding streets full of nothing but stands to sell toys and offerings to help celebrate the occasion, they'd decided to take a short break. Something that Noé disagreed with at first but accepted when she noted she couldn't well eat everything she'd gotten while walking. After all, Noé made it a personal goal of hers to taste a little bit of everything before the night was over. She was well on her way to get to that point when Muu had spoken. It struck her as odd, the look he had in his eye, but not entirely in a bad way. It did still bother her quite a bit, however.

Swallowing the last bite she'd taken of her meat, Noé nodded at him and at the mug of liquor he held to change the subject. "What is that, your sixteenth drink?"

"Nineteenth," he readily corrected, chuckling as he took another swig and utterly downed the mug. "About to be twenty."

Noé burst into a fit of laughter at his joke as he took a couple of mugs full of liquor for the two of them from a passing hostess. Pushing hers back while still chuckling a bit, she went about pointing something that had been bothering her since his tenth drink.

"Lucky you. You can really hold your liquor."

"Unlike you?" he asked, curious.

"Trust me," she called while taking a bite of some bread she had on her plate. Gulping down the bite, she tapped the mug he'd gotten her with her knuckle. "I am a mess when I'm drunk."

"You don't say." This time it was Muu who scoffed as he downed his drink before deftly taking hers and downing it as well. Noé played along and clapped amused by the demonstration but couldn't help her brow furrowing a little by the way he so knowingly and confidently said those words.

Am I missing something here?

"Nothing that you haven't done before, trust me."

Accepting that for what it was worth, Noé didn't give it much further thought than that as she continued to enjoy her meal and on their little tour of the festival. Idle chit chat went on for another hour or two as the two went about the festivities, Noé unconsciously enjoying them more and more the longer she was there.

Amidst it all, Noé found a group of dancers who wanted a musician to play along with them, a task to which she took up gladly by taking up the lute they offered. The crowd around them cheered loudly making her ears buzz and her chest tighten with enthusiasm as she played along to the drummers present.

"Festivals were never this fun, huh, Chief?" she called out over the noise that had her head feeling as light as a feather.

"Company does tend to make things more enjoyable."

Spinning on her heels as she played, her emerald eyes kept finding Muu in the crowd clapping along with the rest and cheering them on. On her back and behind her ear, her feathers bristled pleasantly as she twirled one last time with the dancers as they finished their routine. Thunderous applause exploded and brought one of the brightest smiles Noé could muster as the dancers brought her forward with them to bow for their performance.

"Well, how was that, cub—cub?" Turning away with gratitude for the dancers that not only allowed her to join but also gifted her the lute in good faith, she was surprised to find herself alone all of a sudden within the dispersing crowd. "Muu? Where are you?"

"You get lost, little birdie?"

In the blink of an eye, Noé swiped enough of the nearby torchlight as her instincts were set off by how close Rakah's voice had sounded. Unsurprisingly, the blonde boy stood behind her with his hands up in surrender now that a light dagger was pressed against his neck.

"Lost, maybe, but definitely not rusty," he corrected himself with a nervous chuckle.

"What the hell do you want?" Her tone dropped an octave that surprisingly, despite how loud the crowd around them was, could be heard clear as could be. Laughing a bit more, Rakah eyed the dagger pressed against his neck before pressing his lips shut. Noé groaned deep in her throat before dissolving the dagger and letting the light return to the torches. Finally, she turned to him with a peeved glared that sent chills down his spine. "So?"

"Sorry if I'm interrupting your fun." Despite his apology, there was something about his tone and light lilt of his voice that belied his words. "Though I don't know if 'fun' is the correct word to use in your situation. Perhaps 'lollygagging' would be better."

Almost instantly she felt a vein pop in her neck.

What did this punk just say?

"Don't fall for his taunts," Chief reminded her. "Be smart. Like you know how to."

Agreeing wholeheartedly with that, Noé made do with yanking the boy by the back of his collar towards the nearest hideout which turned out to be a small opening through an alley. Though it was hidden, it wasn't of much use with how lighted up all the streets were with stalls in every corner. Shoving him against the opposite wall, Noé took to leaning on hers and glared at the boy that rubbed at his back over his shoulder.

Noé sighed through her nose to level her head and crossed her arms over her chest before posing her question again. "What do you want, Rakah?"

"What? No 'where the hell did you disappear to last time, Rakah'?"

"I don't care where you went, in all honesty," she assured him. "Even though we were interrupted, there wasn't much left to talk about, anyway. Which begs me to question why the hell you're here again."

"Two things." Fishing the chain from under his shirt, Rakah took off the magic item that held her magic. Now, however, it remained empty as could be as he presented it to her.

"A refill? Didn't I replenish it last time with enough to sustain you for the next couple of months?" Despite her question, she took the chain in her hands before letting the crystal orb fall onto the palm of her hand. Not bothering to wait for his answer, she continued reprimanding him, "Where have you been jumping to, anyway?"

"The bearers are on completely different sides of the world," he explained with a shrug of his shoulders. "It might seem like an easy trip for you but repeated trips back and forth for me take more magic than they do for you."

"Do you believe him?"

Not a single word.

But there was no denying that he was using plenty of her magic in fewer intervals than before. Even if what he did say was true and he was flashing between completely opposite poles of the world, her magic would've lasted him for a full month at least. For it to have lasted less than a week…

"Where did you say that was again?"

"Well, since Ceara's in K—hooo, ho. Don't be sneaky, Noé." Rakah flaunted a reproaching finger and a half-grin at Noé. "We agreed not to interfere, remember?"

She clicked her tongue at her little rouse not working like she hoped it would've. The blonde magician, however, seemed to think her attempt rather amusing as he chuckled a bit more before gesturing at the magic tool. Rolling her eyes, Noé closed her fist around the orb before imbuing it full of Light Magic. Crack. Her eyes widened a bit at sensing the way the glass cracked the slightest bit but returned to normal just as quickly. Without a word, she returned the orb and watched him inconspicuously place it back around his neck and under his shirt.

"So…" she said antipathically, wanting the conversation to be done and over with already. "What's the second thing?"

"Ah, yes. I also came to inform you of a certain dungeon that rose not long ago in the east."

Her eyes narrowed at the information. "Where in the east?"

"It's near Kou's eastern shores in a little village called Shika. It's mostly desolate except for the few people that still reside in it, but it appears that Kou's magi raised the dungeon some time ago and it has gone unattended since." Rakah gave her a smug smile as he gestured away with one hand. "Since you told me you dove into dungeons for information, I thought you'd want to know about this one."

A dungeon. The last one she'd dived into had been Zagan. It was about time that another one appeared.

But…

"There's no need to anymore."

Despite not being as shocked as she assumed he'd be at the news, there was a rather unpleasant glint in his eye that she was hating by the second. "What do you mean?"

"The only reason I dove was to gain information about the other bearers. Now that we have all seven of us accounted for, there isn't a need for me to dive dungeons anymore."

"Perhaps not for that but we're still on the fence about the whereabouts of their master," he reminded her. "No matter how hard we try to unite the bearers, it'll all be for nothing if we don't know where she is imprisoned."

"The djinn won't know that," she assured him.

"You couldn't possibly know that."

I can. But that wasn't a conversation she was comfortable having with the blonde magician. Not with a single soul, for that matter.

"What information I have already confirmed that for me, kid. So forget it." Turning on her heels, Noé gave the boy her back, intending to leave him in that dark alley and go back to searching for Muu. All which she intended to do after leaving him with a few last words. "I'm done diving dungeons."

"God, you've gone soft."

Noé stopped in her tracks at the words he so easily let slip from his lips. Without knowing it, her jaw locked for a moment before she let out a terrifying hiss.

"What did you say?"

Those cold amethyst eyes of his seemed to almost glow in the darkness that shrouded him despite the amount of lighting that surrounded them. A taunting grin seemed to tug at the edges of his mouth as he took a tentative step closer to her.

"Don't act so offended. It's not like I'm lying, after all."

"I'll remind you that I can slit your throat any moment I want."

"You already would have if I'm annoying you as much as you make it out to be."

Noé could feel her eye twitching at how his petulant attitude was starting to get on her nerves. Despite reminding herself of Chief's recurrent advice, something about what he said and the way he said it was really irking her beyond belief. It was then that Rakah reached his hand out without warning and though Noé tensed up ready to strike if he did anything that so much as bothered her, she held her ground as all he did was take some of the flowing crimson fabric of her dress that hung loosely off her elbow. The smooth silk slid right through his fragile grip like water and had him smirking full-fledgedly.

"Look at you," he lamented superfluously. "It's only been three months in this place and these people have already transformed you into something so awful. You're so relaxed now. So docile. And here I thought the Vastago had more pride than that."

Noé snatched at his wrist with a painful grip when he tried reaching for her loose sleeve once more. Snarling at him, she brought him closer to spit the words in his face.

"Listen here, you belligerent brat. Nothing has changed in the time I've been here. So go on. Insult me again." The light around him suddenly began to refract, the particles starting to appear near his body and crossing into him every which way.

"I dare you."

"The Noé I know wouldn't have bothered with a warning."

Instantly the light solidified but before they could impale the boy, Noé flashed him just above the mess of crates and trash that rested at the end of the alley. The loud crash of his landing didn't attract any attention thanks to festivities and Noé took full advantage of that fact. Taking one of the light spears impaled on the ground, she brought it with her as she stalked towards Rakah. Just as he started to sit up with a groan, Noé struck right past him onto the wall behind him just inches from his face, catching his long plait instead of skin and cutting it right off. The long piece of hair fell without preamble, setting his now short hair free as it brushed against the nape of his neck. Wide eyes stared back at her as she used an intact crate to stomp her foot on and imprison him there.

"I don't care what you think or say. You don't know me. You never will. So do your work, Azeri, or I'll find myself breaking this contract of ours and taking your Gift for myself. One way...or another."

Noé then lifted her foot from the crate before stomping on Rakah's chest and deftly flashing him out of Reim entirely.

"Where...did you send him to?"

Sindria's seas.

The Rampaging Unicorns near the island country would surely make quick work of him. At least for the time, it would take him to realize he'd need to flash his way out before he was eaten. Walking out of the alley, Noé attempted to clear her head of what had just occurred. More importantly about what he had said.

'God, you've gone soft.'

"Like hell I have…"

"Miss Noé!"

Turning up from her aimless walk, Noé's eyes widened at meeting Seraphina as she called out to her while running towards her with Muu at her heels. She came up to her while wiping away some sweat from her brow and smiling.

"Oh, I'm so glad to have found you. I was starting to worry when Muu told me he lost you in the crowd."

"Yeah, sorry about that," Noé said with a small, apologetic smile as she rubbed her arm. "Had too much fun with the cute dancers." Taking a moment to inhale deeply, she tried letting go of what occurred and not let it ruin the rest of her night as she asked, "So how're you doing, Sera?"

"Excellent," she proclaimed seconds before her brow furrowed slightly. "Although a bit nervous."

"How come?" Noé inquired.

"She has to present herself to the priests along with the other Regalia," Muu explained. "Seraphina's somewhat at a loss with her nerves is all."

"Who's choosing you?"

"Priests of Regia's Temple." Without a word, Seraphina looped her arm around Noé's, guiding her through the crowd with Muu behind them like some kind of guard. "They're quite senile and when we were younger we always thought they were choosing the priestesses because of their looks."

"You've got them beaten there." Noé's nonchalant comment made Seraphina's cheeks warm a little which she didn't notice in the least. It was then as they arrived at the back of a crowd that was gathered near a grand stage. Standing before it was a large table full of old men dressed in rather prudish attire. Seraphina rapidly excused herself to join the rest of her sisters the moment they came close enough to the crowd.

Waving goodbye, the two stood behind all those people, both tall enough to not be bothered by being all the way back there. "She looked really jittery about it, huh?"

"Yeah," he agreed. "This is what the Regalis work towards during their years of service. Ever since we were little, she would talk about how all she wanted was to become a strong enough magician to serve Lady Scheherazade one day."

A rather uncomfortable feeling tightened her chest, something she took as a mere inconvenience from having eaten so much in such little time. "How did you guys meet each other?"

All around them the crowd suddenly cheered as the priestesses began to file onto the stage. Without preamble, the priests told them to give a small speech, something Muu explained was custom for all the Regalia which tended to include how they would personally serve the country and their magi. Tugging at his sleeves, Noé brought his mind back to the question she had asked moments before.

"How we met?" He took a moment to answer her question with a small smile. "I didn't meet Seraphina until after a few years of Myron's birth. I'd gotten away from my studies again and found her in the balcony of the Karras' estate sewing. She'd been curious about me since she'd never seen a Fanalis before, and I was curious about her, too. I'd never seen anyone with such features like hers either and that caught my attention."

A sudden round of applause as one of the Regalia ended their speech made Noé automatically start clapping to keep from looking out of place. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"

"She is." Noé wouldn't lie. It hurt to hear him say that about someone else for some reason. It boggled her mind that she couldn't quite place why either. Unbeknownst to her inner struggle, Muu followed shortly after, clapping for a brief moment before returning to his story. "We began to meet over and over, finding each other's company pleasant. Despite being children, it was nice to talk to someone who didn't treat me like an outsider."

"Why would they?" she asked, confused.

"Believe it or not, I wasn't quite welcomed in the Alexius Family right from the get-go. Despite my mother being my father's legitimate wife, we as children of a Fanalis woman weren't that well looked upon." A dark glint came over his eyes, and although he continued to watch the fanfare before them, Noé could tell that there was a certain melancholy in them as well. "Mother went through great lengths to protect us from the nobles that held disdain towards her and us who dared exist to usurp and taint the Alexius name."

"But you were eventually accepted, right?" she asked, somewhat hopeful.

Muu nodded, though that melancholy from before never quite disappeared. "Lady Scheherazade had much to do with it, too. She talked to the household head, my grandfather through my father's side, to allow us the name as my father wanted for us. This however wasn't without a caveat. She used our being part Fanalis as leverage, promising that we'd serve Reim greatly if we were allowed to live and train under his house. In the end, she convinced him, but even after we took on the Alexius name and became legitimate heirs to our father's legacy, the other nobles who had been initially opposed to us never left their biases behind. And, well, their children learned them from them."

Another left the stage, another replaced her. This time, Noé focused on Seraphina who took center stage. Despite her words flying over her head as Muu continued, the lithe figure and beautiful presence she held mesmerized her all the same. With a sidelong glance, she could tell that Muu was also rapt on her as she gave her speech but didn't leave her hanging where the story was concerned.

"Seraphina was the only one who hadn't looked down on me with disgust or disdain. She didn't care about such things as heritage or nobles. After she told me where she came from as the daughter of a courtesan, I understood why."

Noé did, too.

We're all the same. Unwanted and despised children just for being born.

"Having people who don't judge you and love you for who you are...that's a great thing to have." Reaching up, her hand gripped his wrist tenderly as she took a few steps closer to him. "I'm glad you have them."

"Now with all the priestesses having spoken, we will announce our decision, along with that of our great Sacerdos Maxima." Both turned up at the priests holler, Noé herself taking a few steps away from Muu as they stood on the stage along with the priestesses. "It is our choice as well as our Lady's that the one to join in her service with the other Regalia shall be Priestess Seraphina Karras!"

The crowd instantly roared to life as they cheered the little priestess on, her and Muu included. Having won and apparently needing to have a dance, her seafoam green eyes immediately landed on them at the back of the crowd before Seraphina quickly climbed down the stage to rush towards them. Noé took a few more steps back knowing that she'd want to share this accomplishment with her good friend but was taken seriously by surprise when instead of reaching for Muu, Seraphina came to grab her hand instead.

With a broad smile stretching from ear to ear, the little priestess tried pulling her towards the stage. It wasn't until Noé refused to move from her place that Seraphina whispered gently, "Please, Miss Noé. Would you dance with me?"

"I—" Before she could even answer though, a large hand gently pushed her towards Seraphina. The moment her emerald eyes glanced over her shoulder, they were met with a gentle crimson gaze and a smile that convinced her otherwise without words. It was then that Noé turned back to Seraphina with a smile before nodding and following the priestess onto the space opened by the crowd for them to dance.

Noé, seeing as she was half a head taller than Seraphina, took the man's part as both took their dance as the music started. Just a whisper above it, Seraphina smiled and said, "I'm sorry for pulling you into this without prior notice, Miss Noé."

As her answer, Noé simply shook her head. "It's alright. I wasn't against it, only shocked that you didn't choose Muu instead."

"Muu is my friend," she reiterated as she suddenly averted her eyes. "But we're told that those who we choose to share our first dance as Regalia should be someone who inspired us to be better than ourselves." When she lifted her face, Noé couldn't believe the amount of adoration that came from the expression directed at her. "You know, maybe I'm the only one that remembers it like this, but when you came and saved us all those years ago from those pirates and told me to be strong so as to always be able to save myself...it made me realize that the way that I'd been going about things was completely erroneous."

"How so?" she asked quietly. All around them, the other Regalia that had ascended joined them at last, each with their own partner of choice.

"Up till that day, I had been trying to live up to expectations that had been imposed on me. As a noble's daughter, as a newly anointed Regalis, as a novice magician—I had no purpose of my own to better myself in any aspect simply because it never felt like I was doing it for myself. It wasn't until after I met you and thought long and hard about what you said that I found something to aspire for. And after someone who could help me attain that aspiration appeared, I finally believed that I could do what you said. I felt, and still do, that I can be strong and able to protect myself. And more than that, I believe I can make the world a better place."

Pride. There was no other way to describe what Noé felt at hearing those words. That little magician she had met all those years ago had become this great woman...because of her words. Because of what she did. Because of her. The mere thought of it brought a small smile to her and filled her chest with so much pride that she couldn't believe it.

I wonder...if Elior would've lived, would he have been as glad and proud to have known me? Of having had me as his mother?

"Surely, Noé. They all are better versions of themselves because they met you."

"I'm glad," she finally said as the music began to end. "And I'm proud of you, Sera."

At last, the music of the one song ended. All the pairs bowed to one another to bid their farewells. Before doing this, Noé placed a soft kiss on Seraphina's forehead, leaving the little priestess awed beyond belief as she stepped back from her. Another man—probably some noble by his attire—surprised Seraphina who was now free to take another partner. As taken aback as she was, there was no refusal from her which left Noé to watch after the two as the little priestess took off dancing.

"May I have this dance, my lady?"

Noé couldn't help scoff as she turned to find the rather audacious cub bowing before asking for her hand. Chuckling, she took his hand all the same and pulled him up forcefully, surprising him.

"Don't complain about me stepping on you, okay?"

A joke seeing as she'd danced perfectly fine when she did it with Seraphina. Muu laughed as he took off leading their little dance for the song that was playing. Looking around, Noé still couldn't believe the joy and peace that this little country was experiencing even in the midst of everything else that was happening in the world.

"They know of what hardships are out there, but they choose to set them aside to relish in the lives they have." Chief explained with that knowledgeable tone that despite hating most of the time, she appreciated and understood the most now. "And before you say it, it isn't foolish. It's simply—"

Human.

For once, she understood.

The people in Reim—people everywhere around the world were all the same. They acted selfishly and attacked each other out of fear. But when this fear wasn't present and the people could simply be with the people they loved and cherished, they could live in peace. It was the kind of world she had always imagined would welcome her. The kind that she sacrificed to create and fought to preserve. A world for those like Muu and Seraphina. For those gentle and accepting souls that regardless of what country they heralded from, what class or status they had, what biases they held—

They could still be benevolent.

"People who will see in you the kind person I do are out there. They exist, little sparrow. All it takes is a little searching to find them."

"N-Noé?"

She didn't respond to Muu's sudden anxious tone. Surely, he wasn't a fan of her suddenly leaning her head against his chest as they danced, something she wanted to do simply for the fact that she had him there. Him, the very reason why she ever began to think and understand things the way she did now.

"Sorry," she said quietly and rather unapologetically. "But just for a little bit. I...want this moment etched into my mind as it is now." The light hum Muu gave after a moment rumbled through his chest and against her ear as he held her closer.

Andromalius?

"Yes?"

Thank you. For letting me live to see this day...thank you.

"Thank yourself, child," she tenderly told her, the warmth from her wrist where the arrowhead touched her skin lovingly encompassing her hand. "You brought yourself here to finally witness what all your hopes and dreams had to give. All the pain, all the suffering—they weren't in vain."

No, they weren't.

A pebble suddenly hitting her leg halted her dancing, bringing her attention to it while ignoring Muu's questioning tone. It was then that a voice called out 'over here' that she turned and was struck with a rock right on her forehead. Muu shouted at the men that stood apart from the crowd that didn't bother running away. Still shaken by the sudden attack, Noé could only touch her forehead as a little bit of blood marred her fingers before her mind focused on what the men had started to say.

"—at the colosseum! She's the damn maniac that almost impaled us all!"

Emerald eyes widened as everything else stopped in its tracks at their words. Suddenly, murmurs arose in the air, agreeing and recognizing her as the woman that had threatened them that day. Immediately Muu and Seraphina came to her defense, standing before her to protect her from any other projectiles. That, however, along with her baffled mind, completely disregarded her open back and couldn't stop the people that rushed forward to pull her away from them.

It was then—the very moment that they yanked at her wing—that she reacted on the instinct that centuries of abuse had ingrained in her.

Screams of horror filled her ears the split second after her feathers hardened and flew outward like quills. People behind her scattered, some falling back in an attempt to distance themselves from the steeled feathers. Groans of pain registered nearby making her spin about to find several people being pulled away by others, her crimson feathers impaled in them as they wailed.

"I-I-I didn't mean—I'm so—"

"Don't touch him, you monster!"

Her hand stopped midair when she tried reaching out to help one of the injured. Stunned beyond belief, all she could do was watch as Muu's and Seraphina's cries for the crowd to calm down were drowned by the horrified people as they called for someone to call the soldiers.

And it was justified. Noé had threatened to attack them before and she attacked them now. And now they wanted her taken and harmed for what she'd done.

"None of the others will ever accept you."

Strange how now of all times Noé heard her aunt's voice clear as day over the shouting of the crowd that asked for her punishment.

"I am the only one who will look upon you without fear, child."

Their anger was so fierce it was tangible in the air, and Noé swore it suffocated her so violently that her throat instantly went dry as the lights around them began to flicker.

"Out there, you will be reviled as nothing more than a monster."

They repeatedly cried and screamed out the single word that to her ears was the most deplorable of all. "Monster! Monster! Monster!"

"They'll throw hate and vitriol your way without a care or thought. Why look to instigate their callousness and hysteria?"

Their belligerence finally reached its peak when the soldiers arrived and surrounded the three of them, their spears brandished and held at the ready despite two of their own people caught in the crossfire. Caught...because of her.

"No, little bird, I know what kind of life is best for you and that is here...with me."

"I'm sorry, meistras." Tears fell from her eyes as she lowered her gaze in resignation. "...I'll never disobey you again."

The light refracted and the instant he realized what was happening, Muu yelled for her to stay. But now, Noé knew better than to listen—

And disappeared, leaving only specks of beautiful golden light behind.

—{ii}—

"I'm so sorry, child." Chief's words fell on deaf ears, though, as Noé's senses could only focus on the quiet tears that fell from her eyes. "I shouldn't have urged you to attend."

"It's not your fault, Romali." Between quiet sobs, she tried to keep her voice from cracking, something she managed to by lowering her volume and deadpanning her tone the best she could. "I wanted to go. I wanted to see what it felt like to be—to be—" But she couldn't hold it for long. Noé broke down in tears again as for the third time in her whole life she let out her sorrows in tears.

I wanted to see what it felt like to be normal for one day.

It was too much to ask for. It always was. Both when she was a child and now, it was too much to ask for people to treat her as anything other than a monster. Her chest tightened at the mere reminder of what occurred just minutes ago. Hiccuping through it and wiping the hell of her hand across her eyes, she looked down at the city that continued its jubilation. It almost didn't look like the same place where she'd just been tormented.

"Maybe it's better this way..." Her tears dried, Noé whispered with an utterly broken heart as she hugged her legs closer to her chest, resting her chin atop her knees to better watch the festivities from afar. "Maybe I'm meant to always watch from afar. Always apart from them but never a part of them."

"Noé, no. That isn't true."

"Isn't it though?" she asked with a cynical chuckle. "Everywhere I go, it's the same story. I do the same thing over and over, seeing if I can get a different outcome. Doing it over and over again... Ha, I think I know how Yunan feels now."

Watching the same outcome happen again and again while still having the hope that maybe, just maybe, this time it would be different. At this point, Noé had to ask what was worse: the insanity of putting herself through these situations of the fact that she kept hoping they would turn out differently.

Definitely the latter.

Hope had done nothing but destroy her and cause her so much pain. There had to be a point where it would end. Where she'd be able to do just one thing that's good and end it before things got ugly like they always did.

"There is, little sparrow."

"That's right..."

Returning Grace of Sunlight to its rightful place. That's the one thing that would end everything on a good note. Once the Gift left her body, it would no doubt damage her. All she could hope for was that it would do so to the point of killing her. Death was the only solace she still had left. The one thing she could control that no one would hate her for and that everybody would understand.

"Exactly." For as dismal as the voice sounded, it was almost soothing to hear now. "The world doesn't deserve you. Even if you salvage the few that should inherit it, the weeds you've struggled so hard to destroy will only grow anew. This world...it can't be saved anymore. It's too far gone. We must start anew and leave all of it behind—one more time."

"...once more…"

"Noé."

His voice was so quiet and faint that she almost thought she'd imagined it. For a fraction of a second, her heart soared at the thought of Muu there but it just as easily sank at one single thought.

Surely now it's clicked in his mind...just how much of a monster I truly am.

Noé didn't bother flashing or running away. There was no strength in her left to even try. So unlike many times before, her tone turned docile and quiet as she gave up on even trying to push him away at that point.

"The soldiers figured out you're the only one capable of capturing me, didn't they?" She scoffed incredulously. "Guess they're not that idiotic."

"No," he retorted, his voice closer behind her than it'd been a few moments ago. "I didn't come to find you to bring you back to the authorities. I refused when they asked my help in locating you as well."

"You're the idiot then." Lifting her head, her gaze now went up to the night sky that was dotted with every single star there was to see extending in belts of dark blues and purples above her. "They shouldn't bother too much anyway. It's not like I'll be a problem for anybody for much longer."

"What do you mean?"

Reaching up to the bandage she'd used to cover up her shoulder, Noé ripped it away with ease to expose the dark miasma that marked her. Now beside her, Muu's eyes were drawn to the dark purple mark that contrasted with the olive skin as it pulsated.

"What is that?"

"Miasma." Funny how she said that much more confidently and without as much fear as she thought she would've. "This thing is nothing but an amalgamate of black rukh that's latched onto me. It's eating away at me and sooner or later, it'll devour every little piece until I disappear."

"It's not a death sentence, Noé. You can control it until we find a cure." She laughed and held onto the right side of her face at that statement.

"For how long, Andromalius? How long do you think I can keep this up?" Suddenly growing apathetic, Noé drew a dagger of light from thin air before stabbing the mark. Muu shouted a desperate cry and forcefully pulled her hand away. Despite him doing this, Noé didn't seem to care. Instead, all her focus was on the mark and how it seemingly disappeared momentarily to let the wound bleed before taking over once more and letting her blood seep down the rest of her arm. "I can't get rid of it. I can't stop its spread. Just accept it already. We won't find a way...and it's better like that."

"Don't say that." Muu stepped up to grab her arms and shake her in an attempt to make her see reason. She, however, only averted her gaze not wanting to meet his. "Whatever this is, we can find a way to cure it. Surely we can with Lady Scheherazade's help—"

"That brat won't be able to help," she argued cynically. "And even if she could, why would she? Scheherazade hates me. Get it through your thick skull. Your beloved priestess abhors my guts and I loathe her a hundred times more. She'll be happy to see me die."

"Stop this!" he exclaimed. "This isn't you!"

"Don't think so highly of yourself! You don't know shit about me!" Noé finally forced herself out of his grasp as she jumped off the boulder she'd been using as a seat to distance herself from him. "You will never understand what things I've done—all I've suffered and went through for others only to have it spat back at me. The lengths I've gone to get what I want are far greater compared to the puny things you and your people do for this country. They're worth nothing compared to the world that she loved so much, the one I'm trying to save!"

"It's not worth it. Not anymore."

She clicked her tongue disdainfully and sneered at him as those words incited her further. "And you know what? I'm starting to think it's not even worth it anymore! All those people that do nothing but hate and hurt each other, they don't deserve it. You people don't deserve the gift we sacrificed so much to give you!"

A manic laugh escaped her then but stopped just as suddenly when she saw Muu take a step towards hers. Raising her hand, she launched light spears his way, all missing their target due to her frantic state of mind. Ire rose in her when this happened and urged her to continue attacking to keep him away from her. Though some got close enough to nick his skin, none ever truly struck him. Hysteric as he kept getting closer, she finally felt her fear absorb her as she rose a cage of light crystals around her instead. Noé fell to her knees to shrink the cage as much as possible to keep him out, her hands rising to cover her ears as she closed her eyes as tightly as she could muster.

Stop. Please.

Something touched the crystal. Something warm. His hand.

Stay away.

Cracks crawled all over her cage at once. Her gut twisted at the mere thought of it breaking which immediately rose more walls to compensate for them.

Stop, she cried in her head as more and more walls crumbled and fell only to be replaced and fall all the same, her throat drying more with each one.

I beg of you.

Finally, tears spilled over the instant he dismantled all her walls with so much ease.

Don't give me any more hope.

His arms were so warm the moment they wrapped around her. It was so overwhelming that Noé couldn't help falling into his embrace, her ire and frustrations dissipating with that warmth. Though she thought emptiness would soon replace it, that same warmth that emanated from him filled her instead. Having him so close and having that feeling course through her, calmed her to a degree she didn't think possible after her literal meltdown.

"I won't lie to you. It truly frightens me to my core every time I hear you speak like that."

Noé had trouble finding her voice at first but once she did, it sounded a little less monotone to her ears.

"It's the truth." Despite it being nothing more than a soft whisper, she didn't doubt he would hear her with how close she was to his ear.

"Even if that's so, it still frightens me." His hold on around her tightened as he said his next words. "When you talk like that, it's like you're truly willing to throw your life away and leave this world."

"That's because I am."

And doing it a second time sounds much easier than the first.

But just as that thought began to ease her mind, Muu pulled back from her to have her at arms length. It was odd to think that without him holding her so earnestly was when she finally felt the emptiness hit. It didn't remain for long though. The moment she met those crimson eyes of his, a great turmoil sprung in her. They looked so inconsolable. They glistened in the faint light of the moon, almost as if tears wanted to form from them, but instead of letting them, his eyes closed a moment as his lips pursed. Her chest tightened at the sight of him looking so hurt, while her mind simply couldn't comprehend why he was even hurting in the first place.

Something deep in her urged her to ease that pain. If Noé ever believed there was someone worthy of living out of every last person in this entire miserable world it was Muu. Out of everybody out there, he didn't deserve to suffer. In an attempt to alleviate that, she feigned a smile as she reached up to cup his face in her hands.

"Don't be sad. I'm just a tiny drop in the sea of people in this world. What I'll provide it when I'm gone will be so much more than my existence could ever bring to it. So trust me…" she whispered, wiping away those tears that pooled in his eyes. "When the world loses me, it will have lost nothing of value."

"I don't care about what the world loses. I care because I'll be losing you."

What...?

It happened suddenly. Muu leaned forward without warning until his lips met hers in the most featherlight touch she had ever experienced. It truly shook her to her core, leaving her unable to process what was happening for a split second. But that confusion and shock were gone in an instant as she simply let herself lean into him as he kissed her, deepening the gesture further.

How ironic. All her childhood she had feared what it would be like to be eaten by a Red Lion. Never did she dream it would be like this though. Even worse...she adored it.

Finally, Muu pulled away, something Noé missed sorely when he took a moment to catch his breath. His gaze fixed on her for a brief moment before falling.

"I'm sorry..."

"Why?" It amazed her just how soft and coy her own voice sounded.

"I know this isn't what you need. Least of all now."

"Maybe," she agreed before leaning in herself and kissing him again. Slowly and tenderly, he eased into it again, this time savoring it the way she was doing. Noé sat back to take a small breath and watched how he leaned forward to follow her and lay another tender butterfly on her lips before giving her space. "But...it's nice. I like it."

"And I—" Muu stopped himself short, pursing his lips before that same melancholy came to his eyes. Without warning, he took her cheeks into his hands, almost fully holding her face before laying his forehead against hers. "I...don't want you to leave."

"That's not up to you though."

"I know, and I know it's selfish of me to want you to stay. And god do I want you to stay here."

"Here?"

"Here," he reiterated, weakly. "In Reim...with me."

"...why?"

It was stupid how quick her heartbeat became at merely asking the question. But she couldn't help it. Something in her wanted to know—it needed to. She'd kissed countless people before and done so much more with them than just a kiss. The grand majority had simply been a carnal need she wanted to satiate. But this...it'd been so much more. It'd been so innate and instinctual. The craving of what he'd given her a taste of—that urgency and desperation she tasted—was unmatched.

And Noé needed to know why.

Why is it different coming from you?

"Because I—"

An overwhelming oppressiveness struck her so suddenly that Noé lurched back as she gasped for air. Muu panicked at the abrupt pain that hit her, worriedly searching her for an injury. But this wasn't any injury.

From where—

"Noé, there!"

Head spinning to her left, Noé couldn't see anything out of place but there was no denying that she could sense it. And by that fact alone, she knew exactly what it was. She stood up abruptly while grasping the fabric of her dirtied dress just over her chest as she raised her hand. Light from the city below broke away from its sources as she called upon it, the side of her face lighting up and burning her throat as it did until it gathered into a bright sphere of orange light at the palm of her hand.

"What are you doing?" Muu asked now standing beside her to observe her.

"There's a great amount of rukh moving over Reim."

Crimson eyes narrowed at her words, his demeanor changing at the drop of a hat "How big?"

"Big enough to stir the Light rukh that's always surrounding me."

Spreading her fingers to open her hand allowed the light trapped in the sphere to shoot out in swirls skyward. The sudden burst of light caused a sight to behold as it reflected the rukh that rushed through it, creating an aurora borealis of magnificent sunset hues akin to a road. The rukh caught in the light reflected creating fragmented snapshots as they flew by from the east into Reim and towards a building in particular.

"That's—"

"They're heading straight into Lady Scheherazade's temple!"

"Noé."

I got this.

Taking Muu by the hand, Noé took a moment to breathe before flashing them from that tiny hilltop into Regia's temple. The light refracted with a wave of her hand, lighting to life the same aurora from before which they followed through like a guide to where the rukh was traveling to. Finally, they burst through the doors of the room where all the rukh was concentrating to find Scheherazade sitting on a chair. Muu instantly took the steps forward to reach the magi who on closer inspection seemed quite out of sorts. What bothered Noé more however was how exhausted she appeared.

The moment the cub caught her attention, her head turned upward as perplexion contorted her angelic face. "Muu? Noé? What are you doing here?"

"Noé sensed a disturbance in the rukh. She guided us here because we were worried."

"Correction," Noé interrupted somewhat peeved but most of all finding the magi's current situation bizarre. "You're worried. What I want to know is what caused you to use such an absurd amount of rukh with that body of yours."

At the insinuation that she gave, Muu gave her a puzzled glance over his shoulder as he asked, "You know...about Lady Scheherazade's body?"

"That's a different conversation for a later date, Muu. Focus here." Cutting the distance between them, Noé stood a few steps before the magi with her arms crossed in front of her chest before asking, "So do share with the class, Hera-chan. What were you doing before we broke down the door?"

Between bated breaths, Scheherazade took a brief pause as her gaze fell to the floor before lifting and forcing her to meet those baby blue eyes.

"It's Titus."

Noé's eyes instantly grew with shock and concern in a split second before she knelt down to glare Scheherazade right in the eye.

"What happened to Goldilocks?"

---

A/N:

This time I have a good excuse for taking so long! These past two chapters were supposed to be one whole thing back in the outline but when i got through the last one and looked at the page count I was like 'oooh' this ain't gonna be a single chapter is it?' So yeah! :3 Surprise~

Gotta say that this was a damn excuse to write fluff (partially). I wanted to write some happy but the angst always kept coming back! Luckily Muu's there to soften the blow. Don't mind the start of the chapter. I kinda let myself get carried away there and when I went back to read it over I liked it and kept it in. This chapter (especially Noé's |i| sections) give away one of, if not the biggest source of inspiration for this story. Anybody who figures it out gets a smart cookie! Also damn, this made me realize that I gotta go retcon a small little scene at the end of SL. Not gonna say which one bc its big spoilers and I'm a no spoilers gal. I am drained after writing these chapters but i get so exciting again when i think about what's to come now that we're finally (FINALLY) reaching the Magnostadt arc. Super excited about it and what's to come after too. Granted I think this will be a much longer story that Silent Lamb was.

For now let me say thank you to Ukkiyo-u and DarkEmpress192 for being so kind to fave and follow this story! Welcome to the ride that's barely reaching its half-point! ;) Now to reply to some lovely reviewers who give me the strength to keep writing every day TwT

Handara: whether they're ramblings or not, I love them all the same! Also ASLJHDGLAHSDGKJ tysm for reading SL and giving my weeb ass more of your time with TM too!

SoratheknoledgeDevourer23: Honestly, i have a bone to pick with tsunderes sometimes because they're not used to their full potential. Been guilty of using the trope that way tho so i guess we all learn somewhere. And omg, a little chick noe and cub muu is SO ADORABLE! I'm just imagining them asleep, Muu curled uped with the little chikie nestled between his paws w

Aviantei: hehe, my lies are of omission, my friend. Noe is a cinnamon bun deep down, the world just happened to overload her with loads of glaze that hardened over time (sounds weird but let's go with that). Also YES~! Sera is one of my favorite antagonists I've written so far bc went deep into the rabbit hole that's r/letsnotmeet and found it so intriguing that the most out of whack people are those that we think are completely normal. ALSO TY, I COMPLETELY SLIPPED THERE AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW! The error has been fixed!

Welp, that's it for now. As much as I have the urge to continue writing for TM I have other stories to give some love to. And who knows, maybe next time TM comes around in my writing roulette, i'll give it some extra love like i did this time around.

Hope you all lovelies are doing well during this mayhem. Borrowing from the Game Grumps and their amazing code for that pesky virus, let's hope the Backstreet Boys tour ends soon and everyone who got tickets gets back from the concert well! Hope you enjoyed the double update and that you stay tuned for the next update!

*Evie, signing out~*