Chapter 7

Kairi weaved her way through the panicking crowd with little trouble, calm eyes taking in everything yet nothing. She did have to divert through several longer routes to avoid the stampede of rushing people, however, and that had caused the slight delay to reach her destination.

The brunette was mentally cursing that fact when her ears picked up on someone’s not-so distant pleas to let them go. She dashed through the alley she was in to get to the once-not clearing, cussing audibly when she saw a lady and child who were cowering from their attacker – a man she and her sister remembered with little fondness. The silver haired, yellow-eyed man looked no different from the one in Kairi’s memories – complete with the same sadistic smile on his face. “Cain,” Kairi hissed with more than just venom in her voice when said person made to strike the defenceless duo with the sword he held.

Remembering the replacement spell Yula taught her just days ago, Kairi hurriedly casted it and allowed her position to switch with that of the vulnerable duo, her Wind-elemental shield raised immediately and deflecting the strike from Cain’s sword. “Run, quickly!” Kairi called to the woman and her child, eyes still focused on the man before her.

“Ah, Kairi Thyride,” the man before her spoke as he angled his sword away from Kairi’s shield, listening to the quickly receding footsteps of his almost victims. “Imagine my surprise when I went looking for you two months ago only to find the people I ordered to contain you dead.” His tone was one of mock-disappointment.

“I’m not sorry at all,” Kairi spat, orange eyes narrowed. Briefly, she wondered if her weapons would answer her summoning – it had been a while since she’d called upon them, and all the times she spent training with Stein they had utilized mere wooden weapons. But Kairi found she had no time to consider summoning them to her aid as Cain did not take her response favourably, launching a vicious spell in her direction.

Kairi flipped away from the incoming fireballs, frowning when she found she could not move beyond the clearing they were in. ‘When did he have time to cast a barrier?’ she wondered, rolling away from a sudden ice spike.

“Reinforcements better come soon,” she muttered under her breath, dodge-rolling under a swing from Cain’s sword and lashing out with a kick.

~*~

Karyme found the weapons shop with ridiculous ease, dashing inside and immediately bumping into the very person she was looking for. Said person blinked at her, confused by the seemingly unnerved expression on her face though his hands remained securely fastened around the package he had picked up for his father. The…quake…the blonde deduced, had not reached this part of the city after all. “Is something the matter, Miss Doyle?” Stein asked. Noticing Kairi’s poncho in her grasp, his eyes narrowed slightly. “Where’s Kairi?”

The older recited to Stein word-for-word of what Kairi informed her earlier. She watched as Stein’s eyes widened for a split second before narrowing once more. He nodded and gestured for her to follow him. As the pair arrived briskly back at the Aitelorn castle, Karyme observed that majority of the town folk, if not all, had already gathered within the sanctuary of a castle.

She continued to wordlessly follow the youngest Aitelorn, watching attentively as Stein marched into the meeting room without any hesitation whatsoever. A hasty but somewhat necessary action, the blonde figured, recollecting beforehand-mentioned instructions that the meeting’s progression was not to be interupted. It seemed the room’s occupants were yet informed of the ill happenings outside either.

“Cain is here,” Stein announced bluntly, steeling a new tenseness within the space’s atmosphere.

~*~

Stein was not all that surprised to see the occupants of the meeting room stand in shock – Cain’s influence and the horrors he brought were beyond infamous, after all. “Are you absolutely sure, Stein?” Seloria asked, her sole eye slightly narrowed. There was a certain edge in the older female’s voice that Stein did not like – it was one of barely concealed rage.

“More than half of the towns folk can testify to that,” Karyme answered instead from behind him, and Stein nodded to her in thanks as he dropped the package he was holding onto the table. Rather hastily, he worked himself away from his parents and brothers’ grasp, silently cursing himself for not being prepared with his weapons – he now had to dash to his room to grab hold of his swords.

“Stein!” Rityu called as he once again evaded their grasps and dashed out of the meeting room hurriedly. He turned ever so slowly, expression one of pure annoyance as he regarded adults who had to ask too many questions when someone was waiting for back up.

“I,” he said slowly, as if talking to children who did not understand why they could not have ice-cream before dinner, “am going to my room to grab my weapons. After that, I’m going to run back out with them. Kairi is currently facing Cain alone, and she specifically told Karyme that she needed back up so I am going to go back. Her. Up.”

Feeling much better now that he had managed to shock them into silence (Karyme was looking at him rather amused, though), Stein made a mad dash to his room. Rather frantically, he strapped his swords to his belt and quickly ran out – Seloria had recovered from her shock fast enough to join him at the door, and he welcomed her help. He saw how Cain had practically single-handedly killed the Thyride family that day via Kairi’s memory, after all. If he was that strong then, how was Kairi going to be able to handle him on her own now, when she was just starting to build her strength back up?

‘You troublesome woman, you had better still be standing when we get there,’ he thought to himself with a growl, unconsciously moving faster in the direction Karyme had told him earlier.

~*~

Green eyes regarded the two within the barrier with a sigh. He had rushed to Destila from Lyma when his informant told him he was going to attack, but it would seem he was still a little late. Glancing almost sadly at the barrier that was set up by him... he sighed; he should really be getting about to breaking it. A Draining Barrier had only ill effects to those not its caster. He shook his head, semi-long silver locks flowing with the movement. He stepped forward and slowly raised his hand to touch the barrier.

Upon contact, the barrier’s own coat of magic lashed out at him with the force of a raging ocean, but he did not care. At least, if his unwavering gaze was any indication, nor did he move from his position. His normally calm expression morphed into a frown – he had the barrier up for quite a while; the girl lasting as long as she had thus far with a Draining Barrier continuing to weaken her was impressive. Perhaps it had something to do with those flickering seals on her right arm… but she did not appear to notice them.

The silver haired man shook his head, refocusing his attention to the barrier before him. The girl was not likely to last much longer.

~*~

Kairi barely rolled away from yet another Ice-based spell that was sent her way. Sweat encased her very being and forced the relatively form-fitting top she wore to cling to her like second skin. She staggered to her feet, one hand quickly pushing her bangs away from her eyes.

‘Something about this barrier’s not right,’ she thought to herself with a quiet growl, breathing heavily. ‘Even during my spars against Master Aitelorn I don’t usually feel half as tired as I do now.’

Before her, Cain smirked. “I see you realized this barrier is no ordinary barrier,” he drawled rather cockily. Kairi’s eyes narrowed at him, suddenly realizing what the barrier was. Yula had taught her about certain barriers types and their effects.

“This barrier… a Draining Barrier,” she growled lowly, pretending not to notice that her legs had started shaking in an effort to keep herself upright. She was definitely a goner if help did not arrive soon. Black was starting to creep into her vision, and Kairi had fallen onto one knee when her legs decided to give out on her.

“Why yes,” Cain responded. “Most people barely manage standing the moment I pull this barrier up, but you…” his yellow eyes regarded her with concealed interest, “you were capable of moving and attacking me for more than twenty minutes.”

The youngest Thyride considered flashing the man before her a rude hand sign at that, but decided against it – no use wasting her remaining energy on something so pointless. Her vision swimming, she did not realize when Cain stood before her and could not react at all when his hand closed around her neck, choking her and lifting her from the ground.

Despite her body’s severe fatigue, Kairi refused to give in, struggling desperately against the vice grip on her neck – however futile her efforts were. Black was starting to consume her vision when the barrier broke (sounding very much like glass breaking slowly) and she was tossed aside like a rag doll – the blade that whizzed where Cain earlier stood to choke her following soon after.

“Kairi!” Eyes squeezed shut while coughing and gasping for air, she felt someone lift her into… his? her?... arms. She cracked one eye slightly open, body heaving with the need for precious air.

“La…late…” she whispered before allowing herself to obey her body’s demand for rest, falling limp in the person’s arms

~*~

Karyme had surprised him, Stein conceded. Despite appearing quite sickly, the slightly older female was fast – as proven when she had ran up beside him out of practically nowhere, and was ridiculously strong too. She threw her weapon, a freaking claymore, in Cain’s direction in a bid to save Kairi. Seloria had immediately gone to her sister’s side with Karyme in tow while he had positioned himself before the two females.

Stein was ready to draw his swords, but Cain’s narrowed eyes in a direction other from his and the girls’ made him glance over. His different coloured eyes widened just the slightest bit at the sight of the man who openly opposed Cain – there was no mistaking the man’s twin, after all.

“Lord Vermios,” he uttered, dumbfounded as his family came up behind him. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Rityu nod to the aforementioned lord slightly – an action that confused him, though he paid it little heed.

Said lord smiled, though there was no perceivable emotion behind it. “Hello, brother. Here to destroy lives again, are we?” he asked almost casually, as if talking about the weather. Cain narrowed his eyes at him.

“Hello, Abel,” he hissed, spitting the name out as if it were poison. “How nice of you to break my barrier," Cain said rather sarcastically before continuing. “If I did not need you alive, I would kill you right now. You,” he paused, his yellow eyes snaking towards Kairi again (Stein and Karyme fell into defensive positions immediately, while Seloria tightened her grip on her sister), “and that girl.”

Stein watched as a tense moment passed before Cain started chuckling. “No matter,” he said, stance relaxed. “I have other, more important plans right now.” The man barked out a laugh before he disappeared, presumably via teleportation.

The remaining silver-haired man swept his glance over the area before settling on Kairi’s still form. “Let’s get her to your infirmary and let her heal, Lord Aitelorn.” His green eyes – very much alike his mother’s, Stein realized with a start – gazed over at his father, who nodded curtly.

“Of course, Lord Vermios. We have matters to discuss.”

Chapter 6

The room both sisters shared was immensely large: two queen-sized beds positioned on opposing ends of the vast space, each having its own polished, wooden bedside table propped beside it with an ivory water jug and a glass for drinking, whenever the need arose.

In addition, each sister was in possession of an individual closet, Seloria’s stuffed to bursting point with work clothes and several casual wears. Kairi noted, having preened through the lot of hardly-fashionable garbs, that her older sister did in fact have a pair of formal dresses, stashed in the very back of the hefty wardrobe cupboard. ‘For business-related…stuff,’ the younger reckoned, flopping leisurely onto her bed followed by a tired sigh. Her own closet, the 15-year-old knew, was slowly filling up with casual clothes. Having just got out of the most spacious of bathrooms (with a huge bathtub and shower), she cast her gaze about the rest of her shared domicile as her mind took in the past month and two weeks.

Stein had constantly drilled into her during their spars of how she could control herself and her actions in battle, that she could choose for her self to not hurt those she did not want hurt, and to hurt those she actually wanted hurt. Odd stuff really – but true. Yula would then train her in magic and help to expend her magical reserves near immediately after while her sister found time in her ever-busy schedule to tutor the younger Kairi regarding world-matters and current issues. Basically, things someone of the time just needed to be up to speed on with Rityu and Phiol occasionally popping in for the assist.

The former often disappeared during the day, something Kairi wondered about but thought nothing more of at great length. When he was around though, Rityu would spend that time with her and Stein in the training compound…training. Other times, even the all-important Lord Nerion would come around and provoke the younger duo into a match against him. Such happenings usually concluded with both teens on the cold hard flooring, breathless and dripping with sweat. Obviously Stein’s persistent declarations of “We’ll get you yet, father!” had yet to see fruition, not once.

“Kairi,” Seloria called from the room’s entrance, stirring her younger sister from her recollections. Kairi tilted her head to look at the other, fatigue refusing to permit her the bother of sitting up. “Your clothes for tomorrow are ready.” Seloria masked an amused smirk as the tired girl shot up stiffly from bed, rushing up to her after a very slight pausal-blink. She watched as Kairi narrowly avoided running into the table on her side of the huge room, noticing some of the top few strips of paper of the large piles on it flutter minutely at the younger’s speedy run-pass.

The teen stood before her sister full of childlike glee, fatigue presumably forgotten. She had been informed of tomorrow’s stressingly-important business conducts that were to be had with the Doyles; of which she was to have no part in. It would have been a long journey for these ‘guests’ apparently and as her parents were to be involved in the meeting for a lengthy duration, Karyme, the Doyles’ lone daughter was to be her (Kairi) and Stein’s responsibility for the day – they were tasked with taking her out into town, hence the new attire. On a side note, Kairi had overheard some of the maids’ gossip about Yula having supposedly forced Stein into getting a similar outfit as hers. Curiosity had sparked her to question the older teen about the matter just the other day. Stein, of course, simply rolled his eyes and refused to say anything.

“Where is it? Where is it?” she asked the older excitedly, bouncing repeatedly on the balls of her feet. Seloria sniggered, finally giving in when Kairi pouted and handed the younger the uniform look-alike attire she had choicely hid behind her slender frame. To her amused delight, Seloria watched as her sister performed a little happy dance before actually looking at the set of clothing. Said clothing was really a semi-formal assemble of a collared, three-quarter sleeved top and a simple pleated skirt in shades of calming blue and white. A pair of black ankle-high boots that were to go with this outfit had been passed to the younger of the two earlier by a maid.

Kairi stared at it for a moment before the corners of her lips lifted up, a pure, happy smile lighting her face. “This is great!” she exclaimed, turning to face her sister. Seloria laughed and walked up to the younger Thyride, gently picking the clothing out of the girl’s hands.

“You need rest,” the older affirmed her response to Kairi’s whine. “Unless you have no intention of waking up on time to join us in greeting our guests.” Kairi pouted at her sister yet again before grudgingly returning to her bed and lying down. Just before she pulled on the covers, she sat up again as if some urgent detail had jolted in her mind. The young brunette looked at Seloria who was sitting at her study, leafing through several folders. Seloria caught her gaze and smiled.

“I have some last minute adjustments to do for tomorrow. Go ahead and sleep first, Kai.” Kairi frowned a little at the nickname. It was Phiol who had first gotten to calling her that, and soon enough everyone else caught on too, even (rather surprisingly) Nerion, who used the nickname to taunt her into fighting all those spar matches against him in the first place. Seloria laughed at her expression, and Kairi huffed and laid down, pulling the covers up and over her head before muttering a quiet ‘g’night’.

As soon as Kairi’s breathing evened out, Seloria set down the file and sighed. Stealing one last thoughtful glance at her younger sister, she moved towards the door, flicking the light switch off as she passed it and stepped out, making sure the wood shut silently behind.

Stein met up with her in the hallway, he had been waiting. The purple-haired teen procured a curt nod of acknowledgement before then leading the way to Phiol’s personal office on the same floor. Seloria had the keys. Once the duo had settled themselves in the relatively still-messy office, Seloria turned to her companion.

“So what did you want to know about Kairi?”

Seloria watched languidly as Stein leaned back in his seat, as if thinking on how to word his question. She found the frown on his features to be somewhat unsettling. “That scar on your neck,” he began at last.

“Was it Kairi’s doing?” The duo locked eyes (or ‘eye’ in Seloria’s case). Stein’s gaze questioning, Seloria’s taken aback.

Absent-mindedly, she reached up to rub said scar. She had gotten it right after that one failed ritual Kairi had undergone, the brunette remembered. “Yes…yes it was,” she answered uncertainly, wondering where this conversation was headed. “It was a few weeks before the massacre,” she chanced.

Again, Stein frowned – Seloria was being evasive. He would not obtain the answers he sought from her this way. The teen exhaled. ‘Time to tell her what I know,’ he decided. “Kairi showed it to me,” he stated, his mismatched eyes coolly looking into Seloria’s sole blue one that widened in heightened surprise. “So… what was that ritual thing all about?”

Seloria closed her eye, a hand pinching the bridge of her nose, the other on her hip while muttering something about how she ‘shouldn’t have taught Kairi that spell when she was young’.

“It’s…to tame the demonic qualities in our Thyride blood that causes us to go berserk unexpectedly. Most of us – me included – needed three or four sealing rituals to get it under control, but Kairi needed more than that. She was…a special case.” Seloria paused. “The demonic quality in Kairi’s blood is far more potent than normal, which means she is more susceptible to turning berserk when fighting,” she trailed off at that, sighing again. “Look Stein, to fully understand any of this, you need to know something about the Thyride ancestors. No, don’t interrupt!”

After making sure the younger teen understood her warning was serious, Seloria began. “I don’t remember the exact date, but it was several hundred years ago. The world was at war, and the situation then was far graver than it is now. A demon by the name of Lucifer was let loose then, and while he had an entire army of soldiers at his disposal to do his bidding, he purposely took control of a human’s mind. He…used this individual to bring terror into civilians’ hearts ala clichéd ‘take over the world’ plan. What made this fear worse, however, was this person was strong for her age, immensely so, and she appeared to have no emotions to speak of whatsoever while committing whatever acts she was forced to do. This person was the Thyride’s ancestor, Janice – an interesting fact: Kairi is said to look exactly like her, even in terms of fighting style.”

She moved on before Stein could comment on that. “Within a month, nearly the entire world was under Lucifer’s control, and that control was enforced by the controlled-Janice. At the time, most did not dare to stand up against the demon, and those who did lacked manpower and met their doom. Then came a man who is shown in the Aitelorn history archives to look…exactly like you, Stein; your ancestor, Livore Aitelorn.

“According to the stories, he was as brash as you were,” Seloria jibbed with a laugh, making the younger teen scowl at her. “But… he was brave enough to stand and face both Lucifer and Janice, and managed to bring Janice out of the control Lucifer placed on her – exactly how he managed that feat we do not know. Subsequently, he completely turned the tide in the war, and with Janice, they sealed Lucifer away in a location unknown.”

“Uh-huh…The Demonic War was written in history books,” Stein deadpanned. Seloria gazed at him evenly for a moment.

“There are things history books don’t write down, Stein,” she said solemnly, and Stein immediately turned serious in return. “What people did not know was Janice was slowly dying due to a spell Lucifer placed on her, and had to get into a pact with a neutral demon who hated Lucifer with a passion to keep herself alive until the war was over. The price was simple: the Thyride blood was to have its demonic qualities in it from then on, and should whoever of her descendents look and act like her will the demon state its next price. We don’t know the demon’s actual name, but Janice recorded the name down as ‘Roan’.”

“There is something I don’t understand,” Stein muttered after a moment’s silence. “Why did Janice not tell Livore about the spell on her? Did she not trust him?”

Seloria kept silent for a moment, apparently thinking. “From what I remember,” she started, “It was not an issue of trust. Her personality, once out of Lucifer’s control, was one that worries about others more than herself. Her journal recorded that she did not realize the effects of the spell until near the end of the war, and after the sealing of Lucifer, she made sure Livore could not find her. All for the simple reason ‘I don’t want anyone to worry’.”

“It’s almost as crazy as how Livore ignored all the people who wanted the Aitelorns to have ‘hero statuses’ of sorts,” Stein commented with a wry smirk. “Of course, according to his journals and much to his displeasure, they treated him and his family like royalty for a while. They still do right now, but it’s extremely mellowed down.” Seloria noted he had to gall to smirk cockily at that – he and his brothers were the ones who made sure the royal treatment was not-so royal anymore in the first place.

~*~

Everyone in the Aitelorn household was up pretty early the next day. Maids and butlers scuttled about to make sure all was orderly for the Doyles’ arrival. The guest rooms were cleaned and tidied, the meeting room was propped with necessities and cleared of the constant clutter Phiol always caused, and refreshments and meals were prepared. Seloria was amongst the maids and butlers, putting together the preparations, then overseeing all files and documents required for the eventual meeting for a hopeful-merge. Nerion and Rityu were barking commands about, occasionally assisting a butler or two in positioning some of the heavier miscellaneous items. Yula on the other hand, busied herself in the kitchens with the chefs.

Missing from the bustling scene were the two youngest of both families, hiding out in one of the training fascilities. They figured the hectic situation was as good an opportunity as any to squeeze in some last minute training – they had a mission, or so Nerion told them, after their soon-to-arrive company left. Stein grinned at the other after a particularly fulfilling session in which Kairi had actually dared attack him more times than he could bother to keep track of during a spar. “Better,” he told the cocoa-haired female, who had immediately dropped to the floor. If her expression was anything to go by, Stein reckoned the girl was dumbfounded that she had gone on the offensive as much as she did.

He walked over to her, pulling Kairi back on her feet. “Now, we have to freshen up before the others come at us,” Stein said, a little apprehensive. Kairi regained herself and let out an amused laugh.

“I brought my change of clothes with me,” she proudly declared, then paused for a bit to study her companion’s features. “You…didn’t bring yours, huh? You’re so screwed,” she deadpanned, then guffawing away as Stein’s expression grew graver.

With that, the slacker-duo rushed their preparation, Kairi laughing in extreme amusement the moment she spotted Stein in his new attire as they met up in the corridor. She noted that besides the fact that he was in slacks and short sleeves while she a skirt and three-quarter sleeves, the maids had been right in their gossiping. It was they whom had fetched the clothing for him too. The latter scowled profusely in response. He felt certain Kairi’s older sister had something to do with these matching uniforms.

Their dash to the Central from their meeting point took a ridiculous fifteen minutes. They skidded to a halt just before the Central, ducking their heads sheepishly when Seloria and Yula levelled them a look. Nerion shook his head, displeased and Phiol sighed exasperatedly. Rityu, on the other hand, had laughed and clapped them both on the shoulder with a “that was awesome, do it again next time”. Kairi believed Rityu’s rather odd and sometimes twisted sense of humour was at work here for him to think barely making it on time was awesome.

“Announcing the Doyles’ arrival,” a butler called from the main doors as two others pushed the sizely hard-metal barrier open. Quickly taking their positions beside their respective sibling (siblings in Stein’s case), Kairi observed, smiling serenely as Phiol took charged and began introducing everyone to the Doyles’.

The family heads not particularly catching her attention, Kairi listened long enough to know how to address them before riding them off as the stereotypical sort of businessman and his loyal wife. Of course, Seloria and the others had told her a bare minimal about these distinguished guests to begin with besides the fact that they were here to do trade, so it was not as if she had many other conclusions to come to. Judging by their clothes though, odds were they were pretty well off. Several more adults accompanied the Doyles’ and Kairi’s eyes danced across their faces one after another, noting how a number of them were armed with rather intriguingly-designed blades. ‘Assistants and bodyguards maybe?’

“Kairi?” Yula’s voice snapped her out of her pondering thoughts. Distracted, the teen cast a questioning look at the matriarch who in turn jerked her head in a different direction. Kairi traced Yula’s gaze, orange eyes soon meeting that of translucent aquamarines. “I’m Karyme,” the owner offered, exchanging pleasantries. It was then when Kairi realized that this was the Doyle’s daughter that she and Stein were to accompany for the day.

Both females shook hands before Karyme moved on to greet Stein in a similar manner, allowing Kairi time to study her. A strawberry-blonde with long wavy hair and alabastor skin, not forgetting those pale aquamarine eyes. She was frightfully slim too, practically skinny and frail in appearance. As such, Kairi found herself wondering if maybe Karyme was ill…or something. Nonetheless, her clothes seemed as posh as that of her parents’, a short, collared shirtdress with elegant long sleeves, black leggings underneath and a pair of leather thigh-high boots.

“Kairi, would you mind running ahead and telling the maids we’re coming up to the meeting room soon?” asked Yula, completely oblivious as to what was going through the girl’s mind.

The brunette pushed her thoughts away for the time being, smiled in response then nodded. “Right away, Mistress Aitelorn,” she answered smoothly – Seloria shot her a discreet smile; the older Thyride had previously drilled her on such formalities within the safe confines of their room, after all. She took a few steps back and bowed with a soft “by your leave” before turning on her heels and taking off down the corridor.

Kairi made it to the meeting room in record time, watching as the maids were still in the midst of clearing away what was left of Phiol’s mess. One of them turned to her inquiringly, and her message brought them into a rather panicked hurried frenzy. Kairi too decidedly pitched in the clearing and everyone eventually calmed after a few (quite amusing) minutes to set light refreshments on the table. Soon enough, the small group of maids stood by the door, immediately bowing and excusing themselves when the Aitelorns plus one and their guests came into view. Kairi herself bowed slightly as they entered, Rityu whispering a soft “good job so far” as he passed.

A half hour later saw Kairi, Stein and Karyme at the front entrance with Kairi checking and making sure the older duo (Karyme being Stein’s age) had their cloaks on – the weather was slowly getting chilly. While Karyme appeared quizical at Kairi’s scrutiny and Stein rolled his eyes, the cocoa-haired teen just smiled serenely and pulled her poncho on – she liked the “stupid piece of sewn cloth”, as Rityu coined it.

~*~

Karyme knew not what to make of the younger Thyride. Sure, Kairi seemed…pleasant to be around, but at the same time, her senses were alerting her to something…darker…about the young brunette; something sinister. Listening somewhat half-heartedly to the playful banter between Kairi and the only male in their three-man party, Stein, the blonde had to wonder just how much of Kairi was, well…’real’, and then how much was not. The Doyle heiress instinctively decided then that it might serve her better to be wary around the girl.

As they walked on along the many pathways, Karyme remained quite content with being a listener rather than actually partaking in the duo’s conversations. Of course, providing them with this insight saw no end to their occasional attempts to drag her right into it with questions and such, to which she replied modestly. Soon with more careful observation, several questions too arose within her regarding the young brunette. Karyme found it somewhat odd of how the other town folk would keep this certain measure of distance from the girl as they went about their daily activities, something Kairi always seemed grateful for. She appeared fine around Stein though.

‘Something’s…off’, thought the blonde curiously as she continued to tail after the duo. Then as if the sudden thought struck him, Stein let out a string of colorful words, much to Kairi’s amusement and her shock, and turned to them, a sheepish, apologetic smile on his face.

“I just remembered; father wants me to retrieve something from the weapon’s shop.” Kairi let out an overly-exaggerated huff, Karyme noted with mild amusement. “Go on, the brunette told the male, making shooing motions with one of her hands. “We’ll wander around for a bit.”

Not wasting any time, Stein excused himself from the girls then, making his way over to one of the shops the trio had passed earlier on. With that, Karyme found herself obligated to engage the younger in small talk, responding in kind regarding the trivial things Kairi brought up – the weather topic came up rather frequently.

Just as Kairi pointed out the fifth residential district to her, the ground shook just slightly and Kairi looked around, alarmed. It was enough reason for Karyme to adopt some level of circumspection inwardly – Destila was certainly not an area prone to earthquakes. Minor deduction led the blonde to believe that the quakes were stronger towards the Eatern portion of the city, sumrmising from the mass amounts of townspeople running their way from the specific direction. ‘The heart of Destila?’ She pondered.

Quickly, Kairi’s hand shot out and grabbed the arm of a running passerby with a loud “excuse me, sorry”. “What’s going on?” she asked, her confusion clearly etched on her features.

The passerby took a few deep breaths then spoke, stammered more like. “A guy… silver hair… yellow eyes… attacking…” It was slight, Karyme conceded, but Kairi’s (very odd) orange eyes had widened just a tad bit then narrowed, her calm smile masking the… fury?… in her orange orbs.

“I see. Thank you. Get to the Aitelorn castle as quickly as you can, and bring the townspeople with you,” she told the individual, who nodded briskly and dashed off again as Kairi pulled off her poncho, folding it as neatly as she could while standing before turning to her (Karyme), a small smile of cold calm on her features. The blonde could tell; there was something drastically different about her demeanor now.

“Forgive me for my rudeness right now,” Kairi said, bowing slightly. “Karyme, take this,” she passed her folded poncho to her, “find Stein in that weapons’ shop and go back to the castle,” she said firmly.

“Tell Stein, Seloria… whoever, that I have gone on ahead to face this guy, and I will definitely need reinforcements. The most I can do is delay Cain from attacking the other districts.” Although not at all in agreement with Kairi’s insane choice to send her back to the estate while she alone faced this strange enemy without any immediate assistance, the blonde heiress nodded faintly, promting the younger female to recite hasty directions to the specific weapons’ shop. And then she was off, skillfully evading the panicking townspeople.

Karyme watched, apprehensive. Whatever was going on, the young brunette had made it painfully clear that she needed reinforcements and fast. With that in mind, Karyme herself dashed off in search of Stein…

She had a bad feeling about this.