"Oh come on! You can't actually be this against it?"

"I absolutely am."

"You train Liddy, Touka and even now the Hunters-"

"Slayers, they're with us now and its time we referred to them as such."

"Fine, but my point still stands!"

"Oh boy, Artorian's having fun there." Emilia chuckled with a worried expression, Liddy holding her hands up as she walked towards Krovanh, Nakri and Nesat.

"I'm staying out of it."

"Liddy, I'm right aren't I?"

"Or not." Liddy grumbled before turning, Sakura and Artorian approaching the group. "What am I agreeing with?"

"That I'm fully capable of training for combat."

"I guess?"

"And she wants me to be the one to do it." Artorian noted, stepping past Liddy and towards the former Hunters.

"Sakura, Artorian is not training you." Liddy agreed, following pace with Artorian while Emilia and an angered Sakura trailed behind.

"Why not!?"

"Because your abilities are completely incompatible." Liddy responded. "Your similarities are being able to form constructs with energy, and it ends there."

"But there's more to it than that!"

"And there's plenty of people who can train you." Artorian stated, stopping before his team and Touka before turning to Sakura. "I am the least qualified to train you, not to mention I'm already now responsible for four people to teach, and I still have an obligation to train with Liddy, and I have a responsibility to work in the field as a Slayer. Meanwhile you have people like Claire and Emilia, both who manipulate their energy to shift, create and repair their weapons. I already asked Claire and she said she couldn't get the time to do so for a couple weeks. Meanwhile you and Emilia have similar builds, and with her Innocence Type Hundred you two are practically the most compatible for training."

"Well I… why didn't you start with that?" Sakura asked, feeling flustered as she realized he had already planned for her to approach him for training.

"I was going to when you first asked me last night, but every time I tried to extend past my "no" you started yelling and started accusing I was trying to baby you." Artorian pointed, Krovanh and Nakri groaning as they recalled the previous night. "Emilia already agreed to help, and Reitia said she'd help you with the basics of martial arts."

"Oh… sorry…"

"Eh, I've been yelled at for less." Artorian shrugged.

"I'll admit I'm surprised." Emilia commented, getting Sakura's attention. "You weren't ever interested in combat training before. Why the sudden change?"

"Well… it's because I want to be of better help to all of you." Sakura admitted. "Back then, I probably could have made every fight easier. I also… saw that I made too many mistakes in the one fight I was in. If our opponents are only going to get stronger… I don't want to be the one holding us-OW!"

Before Sakura could finish, the idol recoiled in pain as Emilia struck the top of her head. The girl dropped low to nurse the bump, containing herself before snapping up and glaring at the white haired Slayer.

"What did you do that for!?"

"Someone had to knock some sense into you. The fact that you think you were holding any of us back during that fight with the blood freak is a sign you need it." Emilia responded. "Do you even have the slightest clue how close all of us were to dying without you. You can think little of how you helped me, but don't you dare minimize what you did for Liddy!"

The passion behind Emilia was surprising, catching the entire group off guard as she pointed to the Slayer in question.

"When the guy torched the entire area, you were the one to catch her while Claire, Erica and I weren't able to reach her! When she was on death's door, you were the one who doused her flames and healed her! And when that freak of nature nearly had her, you're the one who swapped their positions, nearly costing your voice to do that! You came with us offering not another blade or bullet, but support to keep everyone alive, and you did that!"

It was a stunning passion in each word Emilia stated, Sakura watching in shock as Emilia both gave her a grilling for undermining her, and being thankful for her role. Aside from the stares being sent their way, two faces gave their own responses in the form of small smiles. Artorian closed his eyes and gave a content sigh, seeing as Emilia's own crafted shell was being broken down. While Liddy was grateful to see such fire shared between the team. Everyone expects the hero to be the greatest warrior, one who rises above their peers and battles the strongest foes.

Everyone always looked to someone like Claire, with her power being capable of destroying a Trenta in one shot if she has the position. Erica and Sakura were two necessary pieces that no one else could compare to. Where Artorian could shatter armor, Emilia fit any combat centered position, the Hunters fulfilling a layout of controlling any range of combat; Sakura's control of energy wasn't comparable. Creating free-formed barriers at range, simple holograms for distractions, healing critical wounds, and now the unknown properties of switching two objects between space. As Erica carried equipment and supplies needed for the entire team, the support in a team can determine the survival or destruction of a team.

"I… I'm sorry…"

"Hey, hey Pinky. There's nothing to apologize over." Emilia lightened her tone, Sakura's barrier being breached as tears began to fill her eyes. The white-haired Slayer embraced her, smiling as she kept her composure. "You've been a hell of a teammate, I just wanted you to know that there's more to being help besides throwing a punch. What you were doing was amazing, and if you weren't there things would have been worse."

"I just… I feel so weak sometimes… seeing how strong everyone is while I sit back and watch."

"But you never did. When you and Artorian were on the Zwei Islands, you helped him fight off the Savage that survived our extermination. And you protected Karen when Vitaly attacked. You stood your ground, and that's what matters."

"Bleh." Krovanh and Nakri gagged between themselves, a shared grunt following when Artorian and Liddy both kicked them onto their backs. It was an ignored gesture, as Nesat crouched next to her downed family.

"And to think a few months ago they often argued looking for an edge." Liddy chuckled, looking to Artorian. "Guess there's some perks to being one big family."

"Yeah… Emilia's grown a lot." Liddy blinked in confusion at hearing Artorian's tone, watching him cross his arms before he returned her look. "Sorry, that probably sound more dower than I meant. I'm happy she's starting to be more open with everyone. I was afraid I was going to be her only crutch in the group."

"What is it really?" Liddy responded. She knew that look all too well, it was the same one he gave her when he explained what the Abyss was. She's seen it more than a few times now, especially in the past couple weeks. The poker face everyone thought he had was easy to see through when you learned not to look at his face. Lords were good at turning themselves to stone in the eyes of others. But Artorian cracked the moment you saw into his eyes.

"I don't know, Emilia hasn't spoken about it." He admitted, realizing by now he couldn't keep a secret from Liddy. It wasn't like Miharu, who could ease the truth out of him. Liddy simply saw through him, annoying as it was he knew fighting it would only draw more attention. "I think it has something to do with her family. Claire said she'd deal with it, but neither of them are talking to me about it."

"And you haven't confronted her about it?"

"Not like I'm one to talk about being transparent." He countered. "If its bothering her so much, she'll come to me. If not, I'm sure she's talked to Miharu about it already."

Liddy relented for the time being, knowing pushing the Lord wasn't an easy task. She couldn't say she saw the same cracks in Emilia he was, but she also didn't live under the same roof as her, nor could she see the confliction in someone like he could. A trait of an Abysswalker is peering into the Abyss every human has, its how he often can tell what a person is thinking. How he can tell the intention behind a person's words.

'Well… everyone except me now.' Liddy thought to herself, grazing one of her fingers across the plentiful scars on her arm. After having the growth in her, Liddy was disconnected from the Abyss. Artorian described it as like being colorless in a sea of unknown colors, odorless in a field of every aroma in existence. At first she just figured it was a unique presence, but it had her wonder if that presence genuinely affected others too. Was it a disturbing sensation, to be next to someone who's soul feels empty?

Was that why Lust referred to her like a freak?

"Don't go down that rabbit hole." Artorian warned. "It doesn't help anyone, especially yourself."

"How did you-"

"You often rub your scars when you're thinking about that Vessel." Artorian noted, Liddy stopping her fingers after realizing she rubbed the scar raw. "That thing was a freak even by Vessel standards, you really shouldn't let it get under your skin."

"As if I'm not either?"

"You know better than that." Artorian sighed. "A freak that steals people's bodies and souls compared to a girl with a few beauty marks isn't even a contest."

"Is that what you call being soulless?"

"Nah, that's what I call these." He said, tapping the back of his finger to one of her burns on her cheek. "Your soul being removed didn't make you different, that thing is just an abomination. And an idiot from what I've heard."

"And why do you say that?"

"Because it called you ugly? What else is there to it?" Artorian said with a grin, before Liddy's fist knocked him off his feet and down by Krovanh and Nakri. The Lord just stayed down, rubbing his cheek while the rest of the group looked to Liddy.

"Flirted?" Sakura and Emilia questioned at the same time, getting surprised blinks from Liddy before she huffed, turning her head to the side while crossing her arms.

"Flirted." The two sighed, before chuckling. Leave it to Artorian to alleviate the tension while finding a way to be a headache.

"The women around Shinshisho are complicated." Touka commented, sitting beside her downed master as he chuckled.

"Hehe, yep."

After the morning of training, Artorian found himself sitting in a chair a size or two too small for him, wearing his uniform and in a surprising appearance had his hair slicked back with gel. He was sitting in the principal's office for the middle school on Little Garden, in the final steps of getting Karen, Krovanh, Nakri and Nesat all enrolled.

"Well, I must say Artorian I am grateful to see that the rumors around you were just that." Madam Justine stated, a woman in her 40s said with a satisfied smile. "Not only were you dutiful and well managed with the paperwork, you're far more respectful then what the staff at the Slayer academy informed me."

"Hehe, I assure you I'm being on my best behavior for the responsibility of my friends. And as the Master Chief of Warslran I should at least be able to show deserved respect to our civilian workers. You do a lot for us that goes unseen." Artorian responded. He didn't mind dressing up in his uniform, or even how much he had to prep since it mattered that Karen and the others got their education. But he did admit being so formal was still new to him. Madam Justine wasn't someone trying to get on his nerves, so there was no challenge there. But he can only imagine what being in the same room as Judal would be, especially now that he's responsible for the Rejections recruitment.

Although he may just relent and have the group be absorbed into Selections, share responsibilities would work better since Claire already has his "Black Ops" team kneecapped with daily reports.

Getting the four enrolled was easy, he just had to do his best to be an upstanding member of society. It was a first, but he felt good on it. Madam Justine was thankfully straightforward in the process, she ran the academies to the letter. It had to only have taken thirty minutes to go through everything, including the authorization to carry Hundreds. Normally such authorization could take days, but recent events made it significantly easier for anyone with synchronization to get a permit for armament control. Although the obvious drawback is that they'd be wearing uniforms, so variable suits wouldn't be able to optimize their abilities.

That wasn't on his priority though, being armed was important, but the necessity to be the first armed wasn't what he wanted for any of them. As much as Krovanh and Nakri liked fighting, they shouldn't have to for now.

"I do have one issue that has to be addressed." Justine mentioned, sliding Krovanh, Nakri and Nesat's papers to him. "There's no family names attributed to them."

"They said they wanted to put their old name behind them, I respected their wishes."

"But they still need a legal name. Even if its just a placeholder for now." Justine responded.

"Of course…" Artorian sighed, looking to the papers as he considered a name. It didn't feel right to decide without the three, but doing it over call wasn't much better. He stared down, the first thought giving him almost a pinch of guilt. But he remembered the night he stayed up watching movies with the three, the moments of full trust despite their own struggles. How past all their defenses, they gave a glimpse of their own selves, and gave in to believe Artorian was there to help them.

And Nesat's last words before she fell asleep impacted the Lord more than he realized.

He wrote down the family name without hesitating, Justine giving a smile of approval as she took the papers.

"I agree with the decision."

"I'm sure I'll get an earful from Krovanh and Nakri about not discussing it with them."

"That's the fate of every older sibling, I'll have you know my brother and sister still don't forgive some of my ideas I roped them into." Justine laughed, organizing the remaining sheets before putting them to the side. "Well, I'm happy to say Karen Kisaragi and Krovanh, Nakri and Nesat Abyssal are all clear. I'll send you their classrooms by the end of lunch."

"Thank you again Madam Justine, this… this is very important to me they get this opportunity."

"Of course, our next generation is important. I only wish you had the same opportunities."

"I'm not built for a scholarly career, I can't really picture having a life outside of being a Slayer now." He admitted, sighing wistfully before looking out the window. "I'll be with Warslran till I die. But that doesn't mean they should be forced to do the same."

"I'm sure even a man of your talents can find more to life then fighting. You just haven't found it yet."

"No, I did." He stated, smiling to the mistress. "That's why I have to keep fighting."

"Jeez, training and then school meeting. And it isn't even noon yet." Artorian groaned to himself, looking at his PDA. Everyone else would be busy for the next couple hours, so he was left to his own devices for the time being.

'Maybe I'll go check on Char, make sure she's eating well and getting sleep.' He thought to himself, walking past the fountain in the academy's courtyard. 'Might be a good idea to check up on Claire too, I still haven't had a full conversation with her in weeks.'

"Artorian?" A familiar voice drew the Abysswalker's attention, as he stopped and turned to see Reitia sitting on the fountain's edge with a sandwich in hand.

"Ham?"

"Gouda and mushroom."

"…What is wrong with you?"

"I have a unique pallet, shut up."

Artorian didn't respond after that, as his attention went to the bags under the girl's eyes. His gaze wasn't hard to miss, as he noted her flinch and attempt to look away. But the flinch followed by the jerk of movement had her lose a hold of her lunch, dropping it into the fountain with a sad plop.

"No!" She tried to salvage it, but even without the soggy bread the slices of gouda and mushroom drifted and sank down, resulting in her head dropping in disappointment. "I even used the best gouda from the store… and the pumpernickel's ruined too…"

"Okay, it's officially sad enough." Artorian responded, Reitia shifting her head back to him as he motioned her to follow. "Come on, I'm treating you to lunch."

"But I have to get back to class."

"Master Chief's orders, I'll write a report to cover for you."

"Oh man, and I thought the gouda from the store was good!" Reitia said, her entire face brighter as the two sat outside of a small deli shop. "And the mushrooms are sautéed too, and the pumpernickel, man I can't believe how different toasting it amplifies the flavor!"

"You're really weird, you know that?" Artorian responded, albeit with a smile as he saw her brightened expression. "Like if you had some meat on that I could get it, or maybe grilled it to melt the cheese. But you just… I'm even more concerned you made one without sautéing the mushrooms or toasting the bread. And seriously? Pumpernickel?"

"I happen to have a very refined taste pallet and can enjoy the finer qualities."

"It's an affront to sandwiches."

"You just like to hate."

"Can't entirely argue with that." Artorian relented, sitting back before his face went more somber. "So, what's been keeping you awake?"

Reitia didn't try to argue that she was sleeping just fine. Artorian could call out if you so much had missed two hours, being an involuntary insomniac gave you an eye for it nobody else had. She hated that part about Lords, they were good at reading people.

"I've just been caught up with homework, and I fell behind on a project because of Vitaly and Kai's attack."

"No, you're one of the smartest people I know. You're a procrastinator, but you're never late." Artorian countered. "You're also a terrible liar, so coming up with a story on the fly isn't going to work."

He got the silent treatment after that, Reitia unwilling to delve further into what was bothering her. However, much to her annoyance she knew that would still inform Artorian of what was really at the core of it. Not that even being quiet could change it, he likely knew the problem even before he saw her at the fountain.

"Reitia, what he was trying to do was completely right." Artorian spoke, placing a hand on the table as he saw her lowered gaze. "My condition is far too risky to be left unchecked. Even as I was trying to break out I fully understood why Matthew had to try. If I ever lost control that could mean the end of an entire country, hell a continent could fall if its bad enough."

"He didn't even try to save you; he was going to put you down when you were fully in control." She finally responded; her tone showed an attempt at composure. But there was a crack in her voice, showing what she was really feeling.

"He couldn't take that risk."

"Of course he could. You gave everyone your side of an argument, and some of them even knew how important Karen was to keep you alive." She stated. "Matthew and Judal both knew the full picture, more than any of us did. Claire was ignorant of how bad your condition was, it made sense why she fought it. But even she wouldn't let you die."

"If she knew I would cause a million deaths, or hell even a thousand she would. Because she has a responsibility to protect others. We all do."

"That includes you too."

"Not when I'm the one putting lives at risk."

"And if it was one of us?"

"That's different."

"No, it isn't!" Reitia didn't take that response well, slamming her hands down before standing. "Artorian, you're my friend, even if I knew about…! About It, I wouldn't have changed one thing I did! And I know for damn sure if I was the one crumbling you'd break every bone in your body if it meant helping me!"

"Reitia, I am a danger to others." Even amidst Reitia's outburst, Artorian kept his own composure, but his expression grew more concerned. "And my danger is worse than anything else. If you were a traitor, you're damn right I'd still try to save you if the chips fell. If you were turned into an Exalted and forced to work for the Savage, I'd give it my all to bring you back. But I'm a step worse. I'm a risk because I couldn't be brought back. Trying to save me would be like trying to stop a fire by throwing gas on it."

"But you did come back!"

"Blind dumb luck!"

"Bullshit!"

"Reitia, I am one of dozens of Abysswalkers. My line has been defined by our fall."

"And I'd try to save you if it was thousands of your family! Because I will never give up on my friends!"

"And I'm grateful for that, but-"

"No, no buts! I don't want to hear another damn word out of your mouth about this!" Reitia barked, her hands clutching the table as she glared at the Abysswalker. "I will never, ever, give up on my friends! No matter what the hell is forcing you to go berserk, I'll beat it into submission! You aren't a result of luck, and I'll make you lose control a thousand times to prove it!"

"I… I just…" After the blaze of passion, the hands that shook with intensity gave way to trembling, traces of tears dropping down her face before she lowered her head to hide them. "I don't want to have to pick between my friends… I don't want to see my friends tear each other apart. Matthew hid this from me, picked to immediately give up on one of our friends and kill him in cold blood. Artorian I… I have never seen him try to kill a person, much less one of my friends."

"Reitia… I know this is all a lot to take in for you. I can't begin to understand how betrayed you might feel." Artorian didn't push the girl on her flurry of emotions, flinching in guilt each time he heard those tiny teardrops flick onto the table. "But you have to know what Matthew had done was the right call. Even if I am a special case, even if I can be saved I don't want that risk to be taken. I don't hold what he did against him, and neither should you."

"I… I will. Because no matter what, I will never believe killing my friends is the right choice, no matter what." Reitia said, sitting back down with her head still hung low. "You're here, which means there was another option. My best friend decided to try and kill our comrade, he hid everything from me and tried to stop me from saving my friends. How he could know what was happening to you, and force you to sit and rot without going to rescue Karen and Miharu right away… that isn't the Matthew I know. And I refuse to accept the one too scared to face me is him either."

That last sentence was the detail Artorian had been missing, and was now aware of what was really the source of the problem now. Reitia was avoiding him, but Matthew is refusing to confront her on it. He isn't defending himself, not explaining why he thinks he was justified, not even walking up to see how she was doing. He was running from that confrontation; sacred of her reaction or so proud he refuses to humor an explanation Artorian couldn't guess.

He understood Matthew's side to an extent. He's broken off relationships because of his own fear of explaining the full truth to someone. Reitia knew everything, but unlike them she was human. Passion was hard to push away in the face of logic, a side both hybrids struggled with as their conflicting biology endured the conflict of nature and nurture.

Lightning crackled as Matthew sat at the center of his room, sparks dancing across his body with each breath he took. Warmth fueled and left his body, inhaling and exhaling. For too long he was focusing solely on his Slayer abilities, he had allowed his lightning to grow stagnant in his year as a member of Selections. Energy was strange, no true Lord was able to wield it. It was the power of the Great Enemy, the Savage that they've fought for tens of thousands of years. Him and Artorian were the first Lords to be born with such abilities, and he felt obligated to strengthen those gifts.

But he had forgotten the side of him that made him an Ornisium. His roots as a Lord, and the might he needed to face against foes beyond his current standing. Cronu was defeated solely through his lightning, and he had nearly killed Artorian before he would have become a threat.

He could have. He should have. It was his duty.

And yet every time he thought back to it, he finds himself believing he truly did the right thing. Artorian resisted the Abyss, broke through the fog that consumed every Abysswalker before him. There was too many unknowns to pass up. It wasn't his duty to safeguard Artorian, but it was his obligation to study the Abyss. If there was a way to pacify it, or even quell it in the Abyssal bloodline, then he had to try.

And that is why he had to better refine his miracles. Energy could harm the Abyss, but Artorian had already proved in his fight in Qin that his strain of the Abyss had a resistance to energy. Which meant he could not rely on it should the Abysswalker lose himself again. He'd have to be prepared, ready to put him down should this test fail.

A tinge of guilt weighed on him as he thought on his role. Not because he felt some responsibility or concern for Artorian, he accepted his duty openly and would kill him without regret should the Abyss consume him. No, it was his tension with Reitia that was still on his mind. In the past two months, he hadn't been able to even speak a word to her. She hadn't tried to speak with him ever since they got back from the mission, her own anger over his responsibility pushing them apart.

It shouldn't have bothered him, and yet even now it still distracted him.

"Matthew?" He nearly jumped, hearing Reitia's voice before turning to see the girl.

"Wow, that got a response." Artorian's obnoxious grin greeted Matthew's eyes, and suddenly the thought that he made a mistake sparing the Abysswalker boiled up again.

"What do you want?"

"Oh Matthew, don't be like that. I just wanted to talk with-!" Artorian had started to speak with a perfect replication of Reitia's voice, but froze as a flash of golden lightning shot past him, scorching the hall wall behind him from his fellow hybrid's retort. "Alright, voice gone and locked. Message received."

"How are you even able to copy her voice that well?"

"Come on man, I can control shadows and generate ice from my body and being good at impersonations is the strange ability the Abyss gives me?" Artorian responded.

"Why are you here?" Matthew questioned, returning to his attempt at meditation.

"Well I was coming back from talking with the academy and saw Reitia on my way home and I realized I hadn't actually talked to you since I was in the hospital."

"Ah… how was she?"

"Eh, pretty good. Doesn't look like she's been sleeping well, definitely hated when I tried bringing you up." Artorian explained, crossing his arms when he saw Matthew tense for a tiny second. "What's up with that? Two months and you haven't even tried talking to her?"

"She demands an explanation I can't give her. She expects one that will make everything clean and neat, followed with an apology for my actions." Matthew responded, his fellow Lord bobbing his head as it didn't take a genius to know the problem.

"And you won't apologize for doing your sworn duty, yada yada yada. Yeah, I get that part. What I don't get is you not even seeing her. You're going to tell me you're so stubborn you won't even face the music?"

"She's already unloaded her anger at me, she's the one avoiding me."

"Oh shove that shit back up your ass, I don't believe that for a second." Artorian spat. "Lord duty and honor be damned, that's your best friend. You've known her for years, she's learned your mannerisms by just being around you. That isn't something easily done. She's important to you and this is getting stupid."

"You're treading outside of your jurisdiction."

"Fuck you, Reitia's my friend." Artorian stated, stepping into the room more to let the door lock. "We both know this isn't just about you trying to kill me. She's upset that you babied her and didn't trust her enough to even hint at what the Abyss was."

"We aren't meant to just detail it to any random-"

"That girl is your best friend, finish that sentence and I will pulverize you." Artorian interrupted. "She isn't just some random person, why did you hide my condition for so long?"

"Because it is my duty that as few people know as possible."

"And what about Claire? Shouldn't she have known from the start?" Artorian countered. "She's stronger than you, if anyone could have killed me in one go it would have been her. And if you told her before our duel we never would have become friends."

"She also would have likely killed you when your Variant Mode took control."

"If you think that, then you really don't know Claire. And I know that's bullshit, because that's thinking like a Lord."

"We are Lords."

"No, we're their dirty little secrets and regarded as mutts. Because Lords don't like humans, unless you already forgot what they said about Reitia."

"Tread carefully, you speak outside yourself." It was the first proper response Matthew gave, as his glare centered on Artorian. "Words are just that, it was you that pushed them to start with."

"Right, cause Lords are known for proper judgment. I'm sure you know that all too well." Artorian shook his head, his stance over Matthew having him crane his neck to look to him. "And don't even try the words game again. If you didn't care that much, you would have faced Reitia by now. As much as you want to pretend you're just a Lord, you have a very human fear of being rejected."

"I do not fear her rejection. If she wishes to part because of my actions, then that is the end of it."

"Gods you are just unbearable." Artorian groaned, crossing his arms as he rolled his eyes. "Look, I just came to call you a coward and tell you that it's not right for Reitia that you're running from this. You have to face this sooner or later, and personally I'd rather not learn one of you died in a mission because of some drama you're being too much of a brat to confront."

"Then you've done your part. I'd like to be left alone, and even if I didn't you're far from good company."

The silver-haired Lord let out an annoyed sigh before he walked away. He tried his part, and knew at the least he got some answers out of his fellow hybrid. Matthew's emotions weren't as controlled as he attempted to show, given the times his lightning jolted across him in annoyance. He was stubborn, no surprises there, he was just as much of a bastard on that front. But he could at least give way, Matthew tried too hard to be a Lord and refuse to budge even an inch.

"Oh, one last thing." Artorian said, stopping just at the door as it opened. Matthew didn't turn to him, but entering a trance quick enough to ignore him was impossible for a conflicted man. "Thank you, for taking the risk."

"…"

"Unlike everyone else, I fully grasp what you were doing. That's the Abysswalker in me, I know if I lose control someone has to put me in the dirt. You're the only one willing to do that, and I'm grateful that you spared everyone else that responsibility. But you also saved my life, so I owe you one."

"…I was just doing my duty."

"No, you weren't." Artorian chuckled, tapping the doorframe twice before stepping out. "Don't ever lose that edge, someone has to be ready for when I lose control."

"I will."

"I know."

"Hey." It was a simple heads up, but it was all Claire needed to look up and see Emilia enter her office. "You called for me?"

"Yes, thank you for coming on such short notice." Claire thanked, Emilia sitting while Claire was finishing up a pile of paperwork.

"Geez, have you been doing this kind of work for the past two months?"

"A lot had been piled up." Claire answered, confirming her observation. "Aside from all the work around the attacks, a lot of jobs are coming in too. I've kept them back for a while, but with everything starting to balance out we'll be back to work. And that's not even mentioning the Combat Nexus coming up."

"Never a moment of peace for the Perfect Queen, huh?" It was something Emilia respected Claire for but didn't envy. Her willingness and dedication to uphold Little Garden was astonishing, she never hesitated to do her part and was always at work. It took a lot for someone to put that much effort into their role, it was why she was satisfied with just being a grunt, command brought responsibilities she never felt qualified for.

"No, especially after a certain pair decided to make my life more hectic." Claire humored, the two sharing a chuckle at the reflection.

"You know I was always curious, were you really going to kick out me and the others over the orientation scandal?"

"Liu and Xuemei, no not really. It'd be a scare to them to keep them punctual and I would have informed them they weren't going to be kicked out after the orientation."

"And me?"

"Oh yes absolutely."

"What!?"

"Your heart was in the right place, but you were clearly under the mindset not yet prepared for Slayers. We hold our people accountable, and if we don't encourage them to improve and they don't listen to discipline, then they're safer off the field." Claire explained, smiling as she spun her pen between her fingers. "Artorian's response to your outburst however gave me some insight, and so the duel was my way to see and measure him out."

"Aw man, don't ever tell him that." Emilia whined, planting her forehead on the desk as she groaned. "He'll believe his punishment was all the more valid and that it was my fault he was dragged into the duel."

"It was."

"Shut up!"

"Hey, good things came from it." Claire responded with a chuckle. "Artorian stepped up for you, showed he was willing to put his interests aside for others."

"And coped a feel mid duel."

"D-don't ruin the moment with such scandalous statements!"

"Gihi." It was Emilia's turn to chuckle, a grin across her face as Claire's face turned bright red at the reminder. "Gotta put some enjoyment there, you kicked his butt but he won the psychological victory. Couldn't look at him differently after that."

"I'll have you know-!… I'll have you know it wasn't that which gave me any sense of feelings for him. I'll admit, it was different to have a man as forward as he was around, but it simply gave me another challenge to try and match. But I admit… I've yet to win on that front."

"Well at least you're honest."

"I'm sorry, I've gotten us distracted from what I called you in for." Claire apologized.

"No, no, that's okay. Honestly I'm glad to be able to talk to you, you've been rather illusive the past couple weeks." Emilia admitted. The past two months were quiet, not much different then the other layovers after previous fights. There was a few times she rarely saw Claire before, hell before Vitaly's attack she and Claire were closer to acquaintances then friends. So rarely seeing her wasn't new.

But this one felt more… different.

"Is something wrong?"

"I appreciate the concern, but its nothing bad on my front." Claire assured. "Genuinely I've just been busy with work, I'm trying to clear it up so that I can have some free time without putting the burden on others."

"Okay, just let us know if there's any way we can help." Emilia wasn't the best at reading people, but Claire also wasn't someone who tried to hide her feelings unless it was deeply personal. She wasn't trying to hide anything, this was less a desperate ordeal and more just a private interest.

"I feel I should be the one saying that to you, since I called you here for something important on your end." Claire responded, before taking aside a document and handing it to Emilia.

She took it carefully, looking it over as if she didn't already have a clear idea what it was. A request of transfer, from Gudenberg's royal family made explicitly for her. She knew the discussions had been going on since Qin, even if no one was telling her. When Claudia showed up, there was no hiding her identity even if she tried. Now that her father knew where she ran off to, he was going to try and pull her back home.

But it wasn't her home, Wenz wasn't either. Little Garden has felt more of a home then any day since her mother died. The Hunters, Touka, Erica, Liddy, Char, Miharu, Sakura, Karen, Artorian; they were her home. Not an empty castle with nothing but lonely memories. She had no reason to ever go back, much less the reasons her family wanted her to.

"This isn't the first one, but now they're putting forward an accusation of illegal harboring." Claire explained.

"Of course… if my dad can't convince someone he slanders them instead." Emilia muttered. Her father wasn't stupid, he didn't go around making enemies of just anyone that slightly argues with him. He keeps his circle well established, and is regarded positively in the world. It wasn't until he pushed the worst secrets of Artorias that she was really aware of how her father could feel about someone, the venom he held for his political rivals.

And now he was targeting Little Garden.

"Would you like for me to handle this? You're already an official citizen of Liberia, service with Warslran provides political immunity in terms of citizen conscription. And whatever the real reason, your political marriage or concerns of Judal's growing influence you're one of us. And I won't be threatened when one of my own is simply living their life as they choose."

"It isn't about either of those things… maybe the marriage to an extent but that's a different context then whatever alliance terms Wenz and Gudenberg has." Emilia responded. "This… this is something that's been building up for the last eight years, and has been worse for the last two when I left home with Char for my "condition". I have to confront this."

"Is there any way I can help?" Claire stated simply. No terms, no agreements; all she wanted to do was help get her friend past this problem. And even if it meant creating more of a divide between Warslran and Britannia she'd do it.

"Nothing major, just a way to fly out and talk with my dad." Emilia said, appreciating the clear offer. "This isn't something I can fix with just a call, I have to tell it to his face… although he's not the only one I'm worried about."

"…You don't have an easy family life."

"That's one thing we share, huh?"

"Do you want anyone to go with you? I can clear up their schedule easily."

"…I suppose there is one, if you don't mind?"

"Of course not, this is personal after all." Claire said with a smile, not needing her to even think the name to know what she meant. "Do you not want Sakura and Miharu to come too?"

"I… I'm not comfortable dragging them into my mess. And I'm afraid how the rest of my family would respond to learning I'm part of a polygamous relationship. They already hate Artorian on principal." Emilia explained, not fully revealing what her family knows but making it clear her relationship with most of them is in a rough position. She knew any sympathy from her sisters was a lost cause, and her stepmom certainly despised her. And she didn't say goodbye to her brother on good terms so… she already knew this was emotionally charged as it was.

"Okay, just be sure to explain it to everyone before you go. They'll want to know you're going to be alright when you leave."

"Of course I'll be alright, I'll have Little Garden's Wolf Knight at my back." Emilia stated, giving a wink as she did. "And with the Perfect Queen giving her own objection to Gudenberg's attempted claim, I have the strongest allies imaginable."

"I always stand by my team, and I will never abandon my friends." Claire assured.

"Hmmm, it appears an opening is starting to reveal itself." Vitaly said, sitting before her monitor as she listened to Claire and Emilia's conversation. While all of her drones were destroyed in her little attack, that didn't mean she was now locked out of the entire system. A single source was all she needed, and she made sure to use it well without Warslran or Liza from detecting it.

She couldn't access any files, she couldn't get visuals from cameras, she didn't even dare to look at Little Garden's shipping manifold for the risk that the Variant may detect a breach. But she could access communication through passive means. Using as little resources as possible was her specialty, and what she had now was a window at which Artorian would be away from Little Garden.

'If only you weren't going to Gudenberg, I'd have a chance to grab you.' Despite Little Garden's reputation, and Claire's deserved recognition as the strongest Slayer among the new generation, that didn't mean the rest of the world lacked such contenders. Muriel Chanteur and Douglas Wenz both are regarded to be in a similar tier of Claire thanks to the former's Full-Body Armament and the latter's Dual Act. Gudenberg however possess not one but two potential rivals to Claire Harvey; Gertrude and Sigmund Gudenberg. And with Emilia's Arms Shroud and talent with her Variant Virus, the royal family had birthed three monsters of Slayers.

Attempting to grab Artorian in Gudenberg, with not only his abilities but those three present, it'd be a worthless gamble. She needed to draw Artorian into her game, not chase him. The last attack on Little Garden was a test, just to see if she could do it. But now they were aware and alert, a direct attack would be a fools errand. Trying to grab him or anyone there was no longer viable. But he wasn't the only viable target.

Pulling up her personal manifold, she looked at her notes to see Karen's file that was updated with her new school schedule. She took a second to chuckle to herself, satisfied to know the Kisaragi family was doing well. Artorias tried to hide their identity in the later years of their time together, but she was persistent, and found the old records of the Furtive Pygmy, and now seeing that Karen was the latest of the only documented line. And with her brother gone, she was the only human with a pure blood relation to the sire of the Dark Soul.

"Such a sweet young girl, so many friends that could cause problems. But you're perhaps my only ticket to getting to Artorian. And if how that last attack pushed him, you're too good of a chance to pass up."

"Mother." A slimy voice spoke from the shadows of Vitaly's lab, the dull green glow as a pair of eyes stared past the veil.

"Oh, is something the matter Knight?"

"You are looking… at files. Pawn's Murderer?" The gurgled voice asked, heavy footsteps heard as the vile woman glanced down to her datapad.

"No, Claire Harvey is out of the question at the moment. Your modifications are much more refined now, but I do not wish to throw any of you at a wolves like her or Matthew." Vitaly explained. "So far they believe Pawn was a one-off creation, or believe he is the template every of my creations will follow. They're so focused on what he could do that they ignored the Replicants I sent, or notice the modifications they had. I'd rather keep it that way."

"Then why… why look to them again?" Knight questioned, and as it came closer its form was revealed in the dim light.

As with Pawn, Knight possessed a slim body with fray arms and legs. However unlike Pawn, this creature's legs were double jointed, similar to a canine's. It's neck was elongated, and at the end possessed the head of a mutated jackal, the rows of teeth filling inside the mouth and even escaping out of the visible lip. Fluorescent saliva was always dripping amongst its teeth, the amount inside being the result of the beast's slimy voice. Savage metal decorated it as if naturally grown armor, with the proper joints and inner segments providing a better range of movement compared to the full body of Pawn.

"Because Artorian is the primary target. Sakura would be beneficial to properly balance your levels but isn't a priority anymore. My research has given you and your siblings greater stability, but I've yet to help you, Rook and Bishop reach King and Queen's perfection without sacrificing your specializations."

"I… understand." Knight said, lowering its head with dejection.

"I know you're eager to avenge Pawn, but you must know that our mission is beyond the value of sacrifice." Vitaly said, gently caressing Knight's boney jaw. It was a sweet gesture, a light hum coming from the Chimera as it closed its eyes in appreciation. "However, we must still be willing to make careful plans. And that is why I have a very important mission for you."

"Of course, Mother." Knight responded, raising its head back up as its talons dug into the ground. "What may I do for you?"

"I need you to stalk and collect Karen Kisaragi." Vitaly explained, motioning to the monitor as Karen's file transferred up from her datapad.

"Artorian's… closest friend?" Knight questioned, stepping forward and rising on its hind legs to stand at an imposing four meters. It made sure to look close, immediately taking in each detail of her.

"Yes, two months ago shortly after Pawn's attack a secondary threat targeted Little Garden. They took her and Artorian was quick to act." Vitaly explained, Knight stepping back to return to its quadrupedal posture. "I believe the most effective way to bring Artorian here is to capture Karen and communicate with him. With her in possession, he'll listen to whatever demands are made."

"What condition does she need to be in?"

"Alive, and with as little injuries as possible." Vitaly answered. "She is more mobile then she used to be, but you must avoid harming her. Cuts and bruises need to be minimal, we can't let Artorian believe we're unreasonable. If he sees we won't harm her, we can negotiate."

Vitaly then stood to embrace Knight, gently clasping its jaw to press her forehead against the flat of its head. Gurgled hums came from the Chimera, a shared bond allowing for Vitaly to process what information was needed to Knight in preparation.

"Be careful Knight, and be swift. Do not allow Claire or Matthew to bring you down. Return to me with Karen, and do so without exposing yourself."

"What of my identity?"

"Should anyone besides Karen Kisaragi sees you, kill them." Vitaly ordered, a gestational growl coming from Knight as it stepped back. A howl of pride released itself, and Knight turned and rushed out of sight, as if vanishing in a blur of motion.

"To what end is this play?" A deeper voice questioned from above, Vitaly smiling before looking up to the monsters. Several more Chimera hung from the rafters, the one to speak being the largest of them. It's armor was the closest to the Savage, sleek and smooth like a beetle's carapace, its head matching with a pair of horned pincers. Its tail was jagged, each section separate with a razor edge at the end.

"A simple test, to see what Knight's augmentations are capable of." Vitaly assured, the largest Chimera's tail spiraling and resting under Vitaly for her to gently touch. Even a light gesture caused a cut in her skin, oily red blood dripping to the floor.

"Mother."

"You needn't worry King. A small cut is just a reminder of life." Vitaly calmed, hearing the concern in the beast's voice. "Save your concern for Knight, for he will be confronted with a threat capable of challenging even you. Bishop."

Another Chimera dropped from the shadows, noticeably smaller than the rest. It stood only three meters at its tallest, with thinner arms and legs. Barely any of the Savage armor adorned the rest was present on Bishop, save for plating across its back and chest and an adorned headpiece. The skin was almost milky white, contrasting the black of its carapace and the rest of its siblings.

"Yes Mother?"

"Watch both Knight and Artorian for me. I want to know the condition of Gudenberg, and I wish to see Knight's performance without revealing my mole."

"Yes Mother." Bishop hissed, before stepping away. It's head split open, specks of light gliding out before flashing away like a blur. Slowly it closed back in, the fluorescent blood dripping down before the Chimera's crystal skull was returned to the seal of taught flesh and armor.

"Remember to keep a distance, I suspect Karen will be capable of detecting you, and Artorian certainly will." Vitaly said, stepping past the Chimera as it stood on two claws, the remaining Chimera dropping to the floor and joining their "Mother" as she sat at the monitor again, watching as new signals appeared.

"Now we see if my modifications will suffice, or if we need to make a difficult alliance."

"Fight well Knight." King growled, giving its support to a fellow Chimera.

"And glory to the victor." Vitaly finished, smiling as she awaited for the day of conflict. It wouldn't be as grand as her previous attack, she didn't like to cause a spectacle like that unless a point needed to be made. But it would suffice to prove where her design could use work.

And that was all she needed.