Mana Academy (IC) (Open, Fantasy)

[Rhomaia]

Antonius Ruta

". . ."

As the old hunter remained silent under the black knight sky, the Rabbit again reached out to the old hunter, that tender kindness ever present in his voice. Having shared his own story, one of servitude and soldiery in childhood, the two shared for but a single moment a commonality. A single crimson thread of their fates, bathed in blood and tears, maybe showed that they were not opposites, but rather two sides of the same coin. Both of them had seen so much violence, so much terror, experienced such things that children never should have in their entire lifetimes, that they were so alike, yet as two sides of the same coin. One who basked in the Light, and one who wandered through the dark, but nonetheless similar in intent...

...Or at least, that was what the Jaegar wanted to believe, childish and naive as he was for trying to see the good in the Rabbit. Ruta wanted to believe that he was a good person...But deep in his cold, dead heart, he knew that such assumptions were so ludicrously far from the truth. In these past hours alone, Ruta had learned enough and seen enough to realize just what the Rabbit truly was. A two faced Jaegar killer, just as murderous in intent as the demon Phos was on that infernal night two moons ago...

Everything that the Rabbit said in regards to Ruta was but another lie. Another series of false truths, all being simple tools that the Rabbit was using to edge his way closer to his heart, just to lash out at him and put him down even lower than where he was now, from a mere deathseeker to a breaker of innocent children's hearts.

Soon enough, and surely enough, it came, the expected blow, declaring deserved to suffer the same fate as Soleil, being broken inside and torn apart by the very person he had looked up to. Perhaps he should have felt a pang of biting remorse, some semblance of regret, something that would indicate any weight behind the Rabbit's scathing remarks at all, but all he felt was a pitifully empty jab. All it was, was another guilt trip. Time after countless times he had been put through the same philosophical dishwasher cycle, but it was getting to the point where all of the eloquent words simply stopped, blurred, and petered out as his mind pushed them all away. It was all meaningless, after so long.

And yet he did still have a few words of his own to requite, worthless as he knew they were.

"...The boy named Antonius Ruta died nine years ago...Perhaps if you were not so intent on proselytizing...you would have seen that...as well as the rest of my life story that you think you know so damn well..." Ruta shot back, his words carrying with them a leaden weight. There was little heart left in Ruta to break, and what little that had once been beared so openly to Soleil closed itself entirely.

"...As to whether or not he deserved any of it...I know not...but if you looked upon yourself...your own life...your own actions...then you would understand...just as I do...that innocence is just another thing in this world that is destined to die..."

[Kingdom of Irhk]

Henry Von Kressel

"You didn't prove anything, Hikari. Who am I to judge you before I even know you properly? I don't have such... Authority. And yes, I really mean that. You are from Ignis as well, if I'm not mistaken. More than that, you're the... 'mother' of one of the most sympathetic beings I've ever known, Natalie, and someone dear to a person I consider as a younger brother. You're not a burden, Hikari. And I wish you could perceive in yourself what I just said."

Somewhat worried about what she could do to herself, Henry tried to make her stay, as he slightly pulled the blankets to the height of her shoulders, tucking her in.

"As I said before, you can sleep here if you want. Sleep, and don't mind about the rest. If you need anything, I'm here."

There wasn't much to do. It was clear to him that she lost faith on herself, and it was always a dangerous thing. He wasn't about going to ask about her past, but he knew it was certainly bad enough to leave such emotional scars on her.

"...Thank you," she whispered again, and allowed herself to relax slightly, lying back down and closing her eyes.

"Thank you for not being angry with me..."

I wish I could believe you.

I wish I could believe... in anything...

Henry Von Kressel

"No need to thank me, Hikari. Good night."

Henry once more placed his head on the pillow, calmly trying to drift away in his sleep once more. She was right in one thing: His mind was confused. Henry was thrown from one complicated situation to another one, with few time to rest or to solve anything. It drained him, mentally and physically.

Slowly passing his arm around Hikari, he hugged her, in a friendly and protective manner, before whispering once more before falling away into a comfortable sleep.

"Fawkes will also take care of you, Hikari. Have a good night and a good rest."

[Charlia]

...Stupid. Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid.

He wouldn't do that with you. He wouldn't want a girl like you. Not a useless little whore. No one would. No one does.

I could have pretended to be Aria... I wouldn't even have minded that much... Even if he would just be using me, I guess that would be all right... because at least that way someone would have a use for me.

...This isn't so bad, though.

...Even if it's probably just pity, it's not so bad...

Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow.

[Finsternia]

Shaun Calhoun

As the coolness of the night breeze blew across his face and messed up his hair slightly, Shaun walked along the sidewalk alone in the dark with only the lampposts lined up neatly as they were his only source of light. While walking, he tried to take deep breaths as he was still unnerved by what happened between him and Dominique. As he strolled along with his footsteps only being the source of sound, Shaun began to talk to himself.

"I-I didn't want to do that; I didn't want to...But he just...And I...Argh! What if he hates me?! I mean, I don't blame him. I mean, it was all my fault that this happened. If I would've just left it as it was before, then none of this would've happened. But nooo, I had to do it; I just had to let my pride get in the way. And now look where it got me. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Or was I stupid? No, I wasn't! It was all his fault! If he wouldn't have brought Soleil into the topic, then everything would've been all fine and we could work everything out! But I did call his dad a monster...But it wasn't on purpose! So he had no reason to get mad with me that bastard! Or did he...I-I don't know! I just don't know..."

He was at an absolute crossroad with this. He did know who exactly was at fault for this. Was it him or Dominique? This was just another thing to add on to the list of complete screwups that was caused either by him or someone else. Soon after another ten minutes of walking, he finally saw the lights of the city and soon the large hotel that he was staying at. Standing in front of the doors, he looked up as he shook his head and sighed before walking in the doors quietly as he didn't want to hear anything or anyone; it was already passed ten, and he knew that this bloody tournament was going to start a few hours from now. But he knew that he couldn't sleep. He would guess that after everything that has happened today, he would be completely passing out on the floor right now in tiredness. But he was just too stressed to relax; plus his insomnia was starting to affect him now. Walking passed the receptionist desk and seeing the golden bell sitting there, Shaun stopped and walked towards it and stared at it for a moment. "What makes you so intrigued by this bell?" He said softly before raising his hand up and softly ringing the bell; the gentle ringing of object filling his ears and the room around him. With a weak and tired chuckle, he brought his hand back towards his head and combed his hair now with a faint smile on his face. "I guess why you would like it; but still strange."

Stepping back and looking at the bell once more before sighing and turning around, he placed one hand in his back pocket before walking to an elevator and getting on as he was transported to his floor. Once getting there he walked along the corridor which seemed to never end due to his vision and senses being distorted from his tiredness. However if one were to ask if he was tired, he would simply say 'No, I am not tired.' and go about his business. Once he made it to his room, he yawned greatly as he took out his key card and placed it in the slot; hearing the small 'beep' of approval of the door and the flashing of the green light, he placed his hand on the door handle and turned to as he forcefully tried to open the door. His energy was now completely gone as all of the sugar that he ate earlier wore off, leaving him feeling drained and completely exhausted. Once he got it opened, his vision was once again weak as he saw several distorted and blurry figures in his room. They were talking about something as his hearing was now absolutely nothing but muffled sounds. Then he remembered something: Soleil was still sleeping in his bed. And these people were here. Getting paranoid once again and angered, Shaun closed the door behind him as he locked at and looked at the ones standing near what appeared to be his roommate's bed and softly growled; the bunny that was sitting on the nightstand next to Sol was still watching him as it placed it's two front paws together to clean it's face before it suddenly stopped. With it's beady eyes, the blackness of them with a small golden flame was soon replaced by a sudden flash of light purple as it then hopped off of the nightstand and soon transformed into what appeared to be a big cat of sorts. Standing on the other side of where the dark figures were, the large cat softly rumbled and purred in anger as it stared at the ones near Soleil's bed with it's bright rose-colored eyes.

"...Here we go again with the standing in my room; now I would've been fine with only me in here, but seeing as a certain someone is in here as well, I think that there are absolutly no chances that I can take with him here." Shaun softly growled as the same malice that was with Allistor was now in his voice; this time with more force. "Now I want you to step away from that bed right now and get the hell out of this room in the next three seconds before I make sure that that cougar across from you make your already disgraceful, pitiful, and unwanted lives short-lived. Now let's start the countdown right now..." Shaun said as the cougar construct growled softly as it crouched down with it's bright rose eyes waited for the signal to pounce on it's prey. "One....Two...." He slowly said in his delirious and tired state.

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor shifted his body to look at Shaun with tired eyes. Shaun seems to be tired too, it was clear in his voice and the way he carries his stature like as if he was about to collapse. He was kind off hurt by Shaun's words, feeling the sting of the words of being unwanted on his skin. He silently stood up and pulled Shaun by his shirt, whispering to him in a low growling voice. "If you wanna fight, I'll be obliged to kick your ass. But not here, not now. If you hate me that much, I'll accept it whole heartedly. But please, if you care for Soleil, shut your mouth. He's in a critical condition right now and I believe you wouldn't want to add to the problem." The scent of champagne still clung to him, mixed with the scent of battle and his ever present blueberry soap. He pulled him closer until their noses are practically touching. "Whatever your problem is with me, we'll talk about it later. But please, prioritize Soleil first."

[Luminesa]

Antonius Ruta

". . ."

As the old hunter remained silent under the black knight sky, the Rabbit again reached out to the old hunter, that tender kindness ever present in his voice. Having shared his own story, one of servitude and soldiery in childhood, the two shared for but a single moment a commonality. A single crimson thread of their fates, bathed in blood and tears, maybe showed that they were not opposites, but rather two sides of the same coin. Both of them had seen so much violence, so much terror, experienced such things that children never should have in their entire lifetimes, that they were so alike, yet as two sides of the same coin. One who basked in the Light, and one who wandered through the dark, but nonetheless similar in intent...

...Or at least, that was what the Jaegar wanted to believe, childish and naive as he was for trying to see the good in the Rabbit. Ruta wanted to believe that he was a good person...But deep in his cold, dead heart, he knew that such assumptions were so ludicrously far from the truth. In these past hours alone, Ruta had learned enough and seen enough to realize just what the Rabbit truly was. A two faced Jaegar killer, just as murderous in intent as the demon Phos was on that infernal night two moons ago...

Everything that the Rabbit said in regards to Ruta was but another lie. Another series of false truths, all being simple tools that the Rabbit was using to edge his way closer to his heart, just to lash out at him and put him down even lower than where he was now, from a mere deathseeker to a breaker of innocent children's hearts.

Soon enough, and surely enough, it came, the expected blow, declaring deserved to suffer the same fate as Soleil, being broken inside and torn apart by the very person he had looked up to. Perhaps he should have felt a pang of biting remorse, some semblance of regret, something that would indicate any weight behind the Rabbit's scathing remarks at all, but all he felt was a pitifully empty jab. All it was, was another guilt trip. Time after countless times he had been put through the same philosophical dishwasher cycle, but it was getting to the point where all of the eloquent words simply stopped, blurred, and petered out as his mind pushed them all away. It was all meaningless, after so long.

And yet he did still have a few words of his own to requite, worthless as he knew they were.

"...The boy named Antonius Ruta died nine years ago...Perhaps if you were not so intent on proselytizing...you would have seen that...as well as the rest of my life story that you think you know so damn well..." Ruta shot back, his words carrying with them a leaden weight. There was little heart left in Ruta to break, and what little that had once been beared so openly to Soleil closed itself entirely.

"...As to whether or not he deserved any of it...I know not...but if you looked upon yourself...your own life...your own actions...then you would understand...just as I do...that innocence is just another thing in this world that is destined to die..."

Rabbit listened to him mutter back to him his own resentful words, as weak as the man was. He was stubborn and refused to let whatever was left of him break. He sighed, and he even laughed bitterly himself, the usual light laugh that he demonstrated despite his resignation to whatever may come next. After pausing for a moment in the cold, he then looked upon Ruta's plentiful wounds. Carefully, he put a hand on Ruta's rough, bloodied cheek, seeing he was too weak to fight back, and he began to heal the wound that was there.

"...I have been dead since long before you were even born...if you want to talk to me about dead men walking...I am entirely aware of the fate I deserve for my actions. I have walked with it every day of my life. Do you want the exact numbers?" The wound finished healing, but Rabbit did not move his hand. "...1,853 people, including fifty Jaegars. All by my hand. Innocent and guilty. Man and woman. I am sure this will only serve to anger you further. You may even desire to kill me for saying such. Go ahead. But do know I will hide nothing from you. Anything you desire to know, I will tell you. Anything you ask me to do, I will do. I am indeed a dead man. I have nothing to hide and nothing to lose. If I were to leave this earth now, I would leave nothing behind. Not even a body...but I digress..."

He now moved to a wound on Ruta's arm, once again healing it gently, using the Light Magic that normally came so unnaturally to his kind. Yet he used it freely, showing Ruta that he indeed had no desire to hurt him. "Of course I am aware of what happened to you nine years ago. I was there, though you didn't see me. In fact, I've known you for far longer than you've known me..." This wound was soon finished, and then he moved to his shoulder. "...Yes...You may believe whatever you choose to believe about me. In fact, I encourage it. You of all people should see now that I am not what I have seemed to be...in fact, I may not even be human. Whether or not that means the end of me, I have no business to decide...I was born a slave, and I will die as one...but I will say this, before you make any decisions about my future..."

He then placed his hand by his side, as he stopped for a moment, and he stood back oh-so-slightly. "...Shall you indeed judge me alongside the boy you killed? Shall you truly say that he deserved it, that innocence does not deserve to live because you and I lost ours so long ago? Is his destruction, his death, truly worth allowing, in order to make you feel better about losing yours? You may cover your ears to everything else I have said, and I will not blame you for it. But will you run away from the only person who has ever seen past your flaws and who has tried to put the pieces back together without any thought of what it might do to him, to try and do so?" He now became silent, and he waited for Ruta to reply to such a loaded answer.

[Saldinado]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor shifted his body to look at Shaun with tired eyes. Shaun seems to be tired too, it was clear in his voice and the way he carries his stature like as if he was about to collapse. He was kind off hurt by Shaun's words, feeling the sting of the words of being unwanted on his skin. He silently stood up and pulled Shaun by his shirt, whispering to him in a low growling voice. "If you wanna fight, I'll be obliged to kick your ass. But not here, not now. If you hate me that much, I'll accept it whole heartedly. But please, if you care for Soleil, shut your mouth. He's in a critical condition right now and I believe you wouldn't want to add to the problem." The scent of champagne still clung to him, mixed with the scent of battle and his ever present blueberry soap. He pulled him closer until their noses are practically touching. "Whatever your problem is with me, we'll talk about it later. But please, prioritize Soleil first."

Shaun Calhoun

Sitting on the floor of the hotel hallway, and leaning on John's door, Shaun looked up to see Allistor, who he now knew was just nothing but a memory, come and talk to him; what he said after made him even pale and widen his eyes in shock; with a small growl, Shaun looked at the person who he thought was true and glared at him. Removing Allistor off of him, he stared at him with his purple irises; the whites of his eyes being two shades past bloodshot red in tiredness, stress, and fear.

"What? No, that's not true. You're not real, Soleil's not real, none of this is real! You are all just figments of my imagination! There's no such thing as Soleil! There;s no such thing as you! This smell isn't real, none of this is real! It's all just a lie! Just a damn lie! There's nothing for us to talk about damnit because you're not real!" Shaun exclaimed as he stayed sitting on the ground and leaning on the door in near tears. The boy's screaming being heard throughout the hallway. "This isn't happening...This is all a lie...Just a lie...This all in my head...I've gone insane; just like I knew I would." He softly sniffled.

When will this medication wear off? I-I don't think that I can do this anymore...I can't. I just can't...I'll rather die than deal with this for the rest of my life...I just can't.

[Finsternia]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor shifted his body to look at Shaun with tired eyes. Shaun seems to be tired too, it was clear in his voice and the way he carries his stature like as if he was about to collapse. He was kind off hurt by Shaun's words, feeling the sting of the words of being unwanted on his skin. He silently stood up and pulled Shaun by his shirt, whispering to him in a low growling voice. "If you wanna fight, I'll be obliged to kick your ass. But not here, not now. If you hate me that much, I'll accept it whole heartedly. But please, if you care for Soleil, shut your mouth. He's in a critical condition right now and I believe you wouldn't want to add to the problem." The scent of champagne still clung to him, mixed with the scent of battle and his ever present blueberry soap. He pulled him closer until their noses are practically touching. "Whatever your problem is with me, we'll talk about it later. But please, prioritize Soleil first."

Shaun Calhoun

Sitting on the floor of the hotel hallway, and leaning on John's door, Shaun looked up to see Allistor, who he now knew was just nothing but a memory, come and talk to him; what he said after made him even pale and widen his eyes in shock; with a small growl, Shaun looked at the person who he thought was true and glared at him. Removing Allistor off of him, he stared at him with his purple irises; the whites of his eyes being two shades past bloodshot red in tiredness, stress, and fear.

"What? No, that's not true. You're not real, Soleil's not real, none of this is real! You are all just figments of my imagination! There's no such thing as Soleil! There;s no such thing as you! This smell isn't real, none of this is real! It's all just a lie! Just a damn lie! There's nothing for us to talk about damnit because you're not real!" Shaun exclaimed as he stayed sitting on the ground and leaning on the door in near tears. The boy's screaming being heard throughout the hallway. "This isn't happening...This is all a lie...Just a lie...This all in my head...I've gone insane; just like I knew I would." He softly sniffled.

When will this medication wear off? I-I don't think that I can do this anymore...I can't. I just can't...I'll rather die than deal with this for the rest of my life...I just can't.

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor sat beside him and hugged his knees. He rested his head on Shaun's shoulder and tried to comfort the boy. "I... I'm sorry for scolding you. I should have thought about your wellbeing too." He raised his head to look at him, his blood crusted hair covering his eyes. "Sane people are the only ones who would question their sanity. You're not insane." He slowly cupped Shaun's face so that he is facing him. "See? I'm real. You can feel my hands on your face right? You can smell my scent right? If you're just hallucinating, what am I? Some figment of your imagination?" Allistor hugged him then, resting his chin on Shaun's shoulder and breathed. He smells like blueberries, like him. "Annice, then Soleil, and now you? Do the forces of the universe really hate me that way?" His hug grew tighter like as if Shaun's going to go away. "Please... Listen to me... Please don't drift away from me..."

[Luminesa]

Elizabeth Tsukuyomi


All six of Tsukuyomi's eyes snapped to focus on the one challenging her. Her mouth opened in a wide smile, far wider than a human mouth would allow, and her own rows of razor sharp teeth showed. Her butterfly like wings fluttered and twitched behind her.

"Now child, what exactly do you think I'm lying about? I will gladly explain. And now you say that you mother placed you here? I assume you mean Solaine Rise? That is certainly interesting."

The white-eyed Soleil continued softly, unblinkingly, "I am Soleil's brother...Lumiere...I died as a baby, and our mother placed my soul into him so that I would be able to keep track of him...To watch him and see if he would finally give-in to her desires and become a Dark Mage...but I do not want any of that. I simply want for my little brother to be happy and safe...and right now he is not..."

"TRAITOR!" The red-eyed one growled and screamed at the one who spoke, and he now even bore claws. "I'll kill you right along with her..."

"You will attempt no such thing." The blue-eyed one stared at him with disdain. "You will be immediately killed. She is no pushover. And anyway...I do not wish for him to know Black Magic either."

"What? Hide, you old hound...You wouldn't turn on us, would you?" The violet-eyed Soleil questioned, softly-but-nervously, as though he was hoping his companion would remember their "friendship".

"It is not a matter of turning. I have never, after all, turned from him. And I have never been on your side," he answered, coolly.

The white-eyed one nodded, and he turned to Tsukiyomi again. "You must save my brother. Find mother and have her break the spell. Please...help him. And help me. I do not want to be here..." he answered, gently and sadly, but unafraid should Tsukiyomi attack him.

[Saldinado]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor sat beside him and hugged his knees. He rested his head on Shaun's shoulder and tried to comfort the boy. "I... I'm sorry for scolding you. I should have thought about your wellbeing too." He raised his head to look at him, his blood crusted hair covering his eyes. "Sane people are the only ones who would question their sanity. You're not insane." He slowly cupped Shaun's face so that he is facing him. "See? I'm real. You can feel my hands on your face right? You can smell my scent right? If you're just hallucinating, what am I? Some figment of your imagination?" Allistor hugged him then, resting his chin on Shaun's shoulder and breathed. He smells like blueberries, like him. "Annice, then Soleil, and now you? Do the forces of the universe really hate me that way?" His hug grew tighter like as if Shaun's going to go away. "Please... Listen to me... Please don't drift away from me..."

Shaun Calhoun

Feeling the pressure on his shoulder as Allistor placed his head on it, he listened to him apologize to him; apologize? Is this something that they do? And why would he worry about his well-being? Isn't that the opposite of what he's suppose to do? He would've thought that they would practically continue to torment him until it was all over. With his head still away face him, Shaun listened to the one next to him as he explained how sane people are the only ones to question their sanity. Whether or not this was true was something that he didn't know the answer to. For now he just listened to him speak, his cheeks now slightly wet from the tears that fell down from his face and dried up. Noticing what was happening, he blushed in embarrassment as he was the kind to not cry for almost anything; but yet now he was.

Wiping his eyes of any remaining tears, he felt a pair of warm hands touch his face and tensed up at the sensation as his head was turned to face Allistor and his grey eyes. As he started to list off the things that determined whether or not were real to him, he began to think about it. His touch felt as though it was real; his smell of champagne, sweat, and blueberries felt real to him. Was this something that people who hallucinate do? If he was what he said he was, would all of this stuff be happening to him? Would he be able to feel this sensation? But soon his thoughts were broken as he was brought in for a hug by Allistor before once again feeling his chin being placed on his shoulder. Looking down at him as he expressed if the universe hated him, he tried to see if this whole thing was actually real by thinking of a way to prove to himself that this was real; as he felt the pressure of being hug tighter, Shaun decided to prove whether or not this was all real.

As he looked down at the young teen that hugged him, Shaun gently placed his hand under Allistor's chin and slowly raised it up to where he was staring into his eyes which were still red; yet a glimmer of hope was still in the purple of his irises. "I don't want to drift away from you; or anyone else. I want this to be real. And hopefully this will prove to me that it is." He softly said as a small, shy smile crept on his face. He then leaned in and planted a kiss on Allistor's lips and stayed their for a few seconds longer than a normal one would be, before leaning back, his face now redder than before with his white curls falling over his face again. The same weak and awkward smile on his face.

[Finsternia]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor sat beside him and hugged his knees. He rested his head on Shaun's shoulder and tried to comfort the boy. "I... I'm sorry for scolding you. I should have thought about your wellbeing too." He raised his head to look at him, his blood crusted hair covering his eyes. "Sane people are the only ones who would question their sanity. You're not insane." He slowly cupped Shaun's face so that he is facing him. "See? I'm real. You can feel my hands on your face right? You can smell my scent right? If you're just hallucinating, what am I? Some figment of your imagination?" Allistor hugged him then, resting his chin on Shaun's shoulder and breathed. He smells like blueberries, like him. "Annice, then Soleil, and now you? Do the forces of the universe really hate me that way?" His hug grew tighter like as if Shaun's going to go away. "Please... Listen to me... Please don't drift away from me..."

Shaun Calhoun

Feeling the pressure on his shoulder as Allistor placed his head on it, he listened to him apologize to him; apologize? Is this something that they do? And why would he worry about his well-being? Isn't that the opposite of what he's suppose to do? He would've thought that they would practically continue to torment him until it was all over. With his head still away face him, Shaun listened to the one next to him as he explained how sane people are the only ones to question their sanity. Whether or not this was true was something that he didn't know the answer to. For now he just listened to him speak, his cheeks now slightly wet from the tears that fell down from his face and dried up. Noticing what was happening, he blushed in embarrassment as he was the kind to not cry for almost anything; but yet now he was.

Wiping his eyes of any remaining tears, he felt a pair of warm hands touch his face and tensed up at the sensation as his head was turned to face Allistor and his grey eyes. As he started to list off the things that determined whether or not were real to him, he began to think about it. His touch felt as though it was real; his smell of champagne, sweat, and blueberries felt real to him. Was this something that people who hallucinate do? If he was what he said he was, would all of this stuff be happening to him? Would he be able to feel this sensation? But soon his thoughts were broken as he was brought in for a hug by Allistor before once again feeling his chin being placed on his shoulder. Looking down at him as he expressed if the universe hated him, he tried to see if this whole thing was actually real by thinking of a way to prove to himself that this was real; as he felt the pressure of being hug tighter, Shaun decided to prove whether or not this was all real.

As he looked down at the young teen that hugged him, Shaun gently placed his hand under Allistor's chin and slowly raised it up to where he was staring into his eyes which were still red; yet a glimmer of hope was still in the purple of his irises. "I don't want to drift away from you; or anyone else. I want this to be real. And hopefully this will prove to me that it is." He softly said as a small, shy smile crept on his face. He then leaned in and planted a kiss on Allistor's lips and stayed their for a few seconds longer than a normal one would be, before leaning back, his face now redder than before with his white curls falling over his face again. The same weak and awkward smile on his face.

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor turned away from Shaun's smile as his cheeks burned red. 'Did... did he just do that so he can steal a kiss on me?' It was an innocent act, something that he doesn't usually see Shaun do. He can see the child Shaun was before in the boy's purple eyes, full of hope and glee and kindness. He shook his head and reached for Shaun's hand and interlaced their fingers together. "You need some rest. Seems that you're so distressed awhile ago. What happened? Had a fight with someone?"

[Saldinado]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor turned away from Shaun's smile as his cheeks burned red. 'Did... did he just do that so he can steal a kiss on me?' It was an innocent act, something that he doesn't usually see Shaun do. He can see the child Shaun was before in the boy's purple eyes, full of hope and glee and kindness. He shook his head and reached for Shaun's hand and interlaced their fingers together. "You need some rest. Seems that you're so distressed awhile ago. What happened? Had a fight with someone?"

Shaun Calhoun

He looked at the boy as he turned from him; seeing this, his eyes got wider as he began to breath heavily. He didn't say anything to him; only turned away. Soon after, he once again began to panic, his heart rate increasing and his hands getting more shaky. What if this was just a trick to get him to do something stupid, and make him regret it? Because if it was, then it was working fine.

Oh no...No, no, no, no, no! He didn't respond! He just looked away from me! No words, nothing! That wasn't real! I-I kn-knew it! He lied to me! Just to mess with me! Sane people do question their sanity because they are insane! I knew it!

Trembling slightly in fear, he held himself and looked down at his feet as he once again began to suspect the worst for a few moments until he felt his hand being touched. Looking down at his trembling hand, he gripped it tightly to see if this was actually real like Allistor said it was. Although after what happened just a few seconds ago, he didn't know if he could trust himself to believe that this hand was real. Looking up at the one who's fingers were intertwined with his, the still trembling boy listened to him as he explained that he needed some rest. And asked if he had been in a fight. Hearing it, he tensed up as he remembered what he did. Shaking his head slowly Shaun looked at Allistor trying to stop his body from trembling and shaking. "No, I'm not tired. I don't need any rest, so I-I'll be fine. And yes, I got into a fight, but that's not important right now, and I'll tell you later....If this is really happening only if you say one thing to me..." He trailed of softly and looking back down at the floor. "Is there a Soleil? A real one? The one that I knew for the entirety of my stay here? Or is that too all a lie?" He said as his body began to jerk and twitch every now and then. If he were to answer it in the way that he believes, then maybe there could be any true towards this. "And if so, what did you mean when you said that I needed to worry about him? What happened..." He softly growled.

[Finsternia]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor turned away from Shaun's smile as his cheeks burned red. 'Did... did he just do that so he can steal a kiss on me?' It was an innocent act, something that he doesn't usually see Shaun do. He can see the child Shaun was before in the boy's purple eyes, full of hope and glee and kindness. He shook his head and reached for Shaun's hand and interlaced their fingers together. "You need some rest. Seems that you're so distressed awhile ago. What happened? Had a fight with someone?"

Shaun Calhoun

He looked at the boy as he turned from him; seeing this, his eyes got wider as he began to breath heavily. He didn't say anything to him; only turned away. Soon after, he once again began to panic, his heart rate increasing and his hands getting more shaky. What if this was just a trick to get him to do something stupid, and make him regret it? Because if it was, then it was working fine.

Oh no...No, no, no, no, no! He didn't respond! He just looked away from me! No words, nothing! That wasn't real! I-I kn-knew it! He lied to me! Just to mess with me! Sane people do question their sanity because they are insane! I knew it!

Trembling slightly in fear, he held himself and looked down at his feet as he once again began to suspect the worst for a few moments until he felt his hand being touched. Looking down at his trembling hand, he gripped it tightly to see if this was actually real like Allistor said it was. Although after what happened just a few seconds ago, he didn't know if he could trust himself to believe that this hand was real. Looking up at the one who's fingers were intertwined with his, the still trembling boy listened to him as he explained that he needed some rest. And asked if he had been in a fight. Hearing it, he tensed up as he remembered what he did. Shaking his head slowly Shaun looked at Allistor trying to stop his body from trembling and shaking. "No, I'm not tired. I don't need any rest, so I-I'll be fine. And yes, I got into a fight, but that's not important right now, and I'll tell you later....If this is really happening only if you say one thing to me..." He trailed of softly and looking back down at the floor. "Is there a Soleil? A real one? The one that I knew for the entirety of my stay here? Or is that too all a lie?" He said as his body began to jerk and twitch every now and then. If he were to answer it in the way that he believes, then maybe there could be any true towards this. "And if so, what did you mean when you said that I needed to worry about him? What happened..." He softly growled.

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor sighed as he watched him twitch and shake every now and then, worry splattered across his face. "What the hell did you do awhile ago? Did you drink something bad?" He withdrew his hand from Shaun's and placed both of them on his shoulders, trying to steady the white haired boy. "Hey, calm down. Take in deep breathes. Inhale, exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Good."

When Shaun asked for Soleil, he slowly nodded. "Yes, of course, there is a Soleil. He's being treated by Sir John and Maam Tsukiyomi as we speak. You see..." Allistor scratched the back of his head while speaking. "Sol sneaked out of the hotel and Henry and I somehow found him in a bar in the dangerous part of Paris. He was apparently trying to find Professor Ruta and he got entangled with the business of Jaegar hunters." He paused for a moment to stare right at Shaun's shivering purple eyes of uncertainty. "He was injured and Ruta... broke him. He fell into a cataconic state. But don't worry. He's going to be fine."

[Saldinado]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor sighed as he watched him twitch and shake every now and then, worry splattered across his face. "What the hell did you do awhile ago? Did you drink something bad?" He withdrew his hand from Shaun's and placed both of them on his shoulders, trying to steady the white haired boy. "Hey, calm down. Take in deep breathes. Inhale, exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Good."

When Shaun asked for Soleil, he slowly nodded. "Yes, of course, there is a Soleil. He's being treated by Sir John and Maam Tsukiyomi as we speak. You see..." Allistor scratched the back of his head while speaking. "Sol sneaked out of the hotel and Henry and I somehow found him in a bar in the dangerous part of Paris. He was apparently trying to find Professor Ruta and he got entangled with the business of Jaegar hunters." He paused for a moment to stare right at Shaun's shivering purple eyes of uncertainty. "He was injured and Ruta... broke him. He fell into a cataconic state. But don't worry. He's going to be fine."

Shaun Calhoun

He tensed up as he felt Allistor place his hands on his shoulders and listened to him ask his reasoning for his manic-like state. He looked up at the teen and shook his head. "I don't know. Th-that's what I've been trying to find out; after going to my room and seeing a bunch big, black, dangerous figures and trying to communicate and attack them, only to then notice that there was nothing there to begin with, I-I began no-notice something. I-I don't know what is happening, but I want it to stop. I don't want to be like this anymore..." He said with his voice was shaking, trying to breath in and out just as Allistor said. "Calm? There's no need to calm down. At-At least I don't t-think so." He said hugging himself tighter, forcefully letting a small, weak chuckle escape from his mouth as he tried to find the humor and goodness in this situation. If he can find a way to laugh wholeheartedly, then some good can come from this. Perhaps he was just stressed and tired. Or perhaps he really was really imagining these things. He didn't know the full and true answer to this, but he knew that something was certainly wrong with him.

But what Allistor said next made him even more stressed. Hearing what happened to Soleil, Shaun turned to face him, his face full of worry and shock; his eyes now derived of the hope and child-like manner only to be replaced by the redness of stress, anger, and fear. "What? W-when did this happen?! He's hurt, and I wasn't there to help him?" He said as his heart rate began to once again increase and his hands and body start to tremble as he got up from his spot on the ground and pace back and forth in front of Allistor vigorously, mumbling something to himself.

"I can't believe this happened....He's hurt, and I wasn't there to protect him. To be there for him. I couldn't help him. He looked up to me and I wasn't there when he needed me. I never was. I-I failed him. He called me his family. I've done nothing but cause him pain and despair. Maybe Dom was right...I've done nothing to help him." He said before keeping quiet albeit still pacing. "I need to see him. Now. I don't care if he's real or not, I need to make sure that he's okay. Forget about me or my well-being, I need to see him with my own eyes." He said with a more stable, firm tone to his voice as he still kept pacing.

[Finsternia]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor sighed as he watched him twitch and shake every now and then, worry splattered across his face. "What the hell did you do awhile ago? Did you drink something bad?" He withdrew his hand from Shaun's and placed both of them on his shoulders, trying to steady the white haired boy. "Hey, calm down. Take in deep breathes. Inhale, exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Good."

When Shaun asked for Soleil, he slowly nodded. "Yes, of course, there is a Soleil. He's being treated by Sir John and Maam Tsukiyomi as we speak. You see..." Allistor scratched the back of his head while speaking. "Sol sneaked out of the hotel and Henry and I somehow found him in a bar in the dangerous part of Paris. He was apparently trying to find Professor Ruta and he got entangled with the business of Jaegar hunters." He paused for a moment to stare right at Shaun's shivering purple eyes of uncertainty. "He was injured and Ruta... broke him. He fell into a cataconic state. But don't worry. He's going to be fine."

Shaun Calhoun

He tensed up as he felt Allistor place his hands on his shoulders and listened to him ask his reasoning for his manic-like state. He looked up at the teen and shook his head. "I don't know. Th-that's what I've been trying to find out; after going to my room and seeing a bunch big, black, dangerous figures and trying to communicate and attack them, only to then notice that there was nothing there to begin with, I-I began no-notice something. I-I don't know what is happening, but I want it to stop. I don't want to be like this anymore..." He said with his voice was shaking, trying to breath in and out just as Allistor said. "Calm? There's no need to calm down. At-At least I don't t-think so." He said hugging himself tighter, forcefully letting a small, weak chuckle escape from his mouth as he tried to find the humor and goodness in this situation. If he can find a way to laugh wholeheartedly, then some good can come from this. Perhaps he was just stressed and tired. Or perhaps he really was really imagining these things. He didn't know the full and true answer to this, but he knew that something was certainly wrong with him.

But what Allistor said next made him even more stressed. Hearing what happened to Soleil, Shaun turned to face him, his face full of worry and shock; his eyes now derived of the hope and child-like manner only to be replaced by the redness of stress, anger, and fear. "What? W-when did this happen?! He's hurt, and I wasn't there to help him?" He said as his heart rate began to once again increase and his hands and body start to tremble as he got up from his spot on the ground and pace back and forth in front of Allistor vigorously, mumbling something to himself.

"I can't believe this happened....He's hurt, and I wasn't there to protect him. To be there for him. I couldn't help him. He looked up to me and I wasn't there when he needed me. I never was. I-I failed him. He called me his family. I've done nothing but cause him pain and despair. Maybe Dom was right...I've done nothing to help him." He said before keeping quiet albeit still pacing. "I need to see him. Now. I don't care if he's real or not, I need to make sure that he's okay. Forget about me or my well-being, I need to see him with my own eyes." He said with a more stable, firm tone to his voice as he still kept pacing.

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor listened to him as he explained what happened to him awhile ago. The figures, hallucinations, voices, there might be something to be dug deeper. His mind is turning this and that, piecing the weird happenings in Paris. 'Bourbon is now missing... Two dark mages appeared tonight and openly fought... Then, students are starting to get nervous breakdowns...' Allistor's tinfoil conspiracy was cut short with another of Shaun's stressful attack.

His gaze followed him pace back and forth like a stressed lawyer in court, until he grew dizzy. "Hey, stop that. You look like a clucking pigeon." When Shaun asked for Soleil, he sighed and stood up and faced Shaun. Allistor bent down to hug him, his arms embracing around his hips and waist, before carrying him over his shoulder. "Hmph. You're not that heavy, aren't you?" He proceeded to open the door across them and went inside John's room. "Alright, I found him." He set him down and focused on what is happening. "Don't get too worked up. His condition is delicate like I said. It might stress him further."

[Saldinado]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor listened to him as he explained what happened to him awhile ago. The figures, hallucinations, voices, there might be something to be dug deeper. His mind is turning this and that, piecing the weird happenings in Paris. 'Bourbon is now missing... Two dark mages appeared tonight and openly fought... Then, students are starting to get nervous breakdowns...' Allistor's tinfoil conspiracy was cut short with another of Shaun's stressful attack.

His gaze followed him pace back and forth like a stressed lawyer in court, until he grew dizzy. "Hey, stop that. You look like a clucking pigeon." When Shaun asked for Soleil, he sighed and stood up and faced Shaun. Allistor bent down to hug him, his arms embracing around his hips and waist, before carrying him over his shoulder. "Hmph. You're not that heavy, aren't you?" He proceeded to open the door across them and went inside John's room. "Alright, I found him." He set him down and focused on what is happening. "Don't get too worked up. His condition is delicate like I said. It might stress him further."

Shaun Calhoun

Continuing to worry and have a panic attack, Shaun stopped pacing at a faster rate after Allistor told him to stop. Although while doing so, he furrowed his eyebrows at the phrase 'clucking pigeon'. That was something that he'd never heard of before until just now. Eh, what? A clucking pigeon? Is that a real thing? Do pigeons even cluck? I know that they coo, but cluck? I know chickens cluck. At least I think they do...But a clucking pigeon? Is that a different species of pigeon? Strange... Still pacing and thinking of what a clucking pigeon would look and sound like. he felt pressure on his waist and hips and soon felt as though he was light as a feather; and being a rather ticklish person, felt the soft, poking a sensitive, soft spot of his stomach as he was grabbed there, and instinctively giggled before trying to stop himself. He didn't want to laugh, but his body made him do so. Now on Allistor's shoulder, he looked down at the floor and deadpanned as he heard that he was quite light and blushed in embarrassment. "Um, thank you I guess..." He said nonchalantly as if he didn't mind the statement when in reality, he felt as though it was either a compliment or an insult to him.

Letting him carry him, Shaun yawned greatly in tiredness as he finally made it to where John's room and opened the door. Looking behind Allistor, he tired to listen out as to what was going on as he was in a rather awkward position. Being sat down, he looked up at the teen that was way taller than him, for which he hid is jealousy from, and listened to him as he explained to him to not get anxious as usual. Nodding at him, he turned and slowly walked towards where he saw the figures standing over Soleil. It was like what he saw in his hallucination. But what if this was just a hallucination as well? He didn't know what to think as he tried to not get so worked up in front of Soleil and everyone else. Walking and sitting down in a chair next to Soleil, he watched in suspicion as to what the two people standing up were doing. He wanted to see if this was real, but didn't want to risk harming Sol even more than what he was allegedly. So in response, he sat down and yawned as he tired to fight the sleep derivation, stress, and manic state that all clouded his mind and anxiously waited to see what was to happen next in which both of his legs were constantly bobbing in fear and stress. "Please let this be real...Don't let this be another one of my despairs." He said to himself quietly.

[Luminesa]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor listened to him as he explained what happened to him awhile ago. The figures, hallucinations, voices, there might be something to be dug deeper. His mind is turning this and that, piecing the weird happenings in Paris. 'Bourbon is now missing... Two dark mages appeared tonight and openly fought... Then, students are starting to get nervous breakdowns...' Allistor's tinfoil conspiracy was cut short with another of Shaun's stressful attack.

His gaze followed him pace back and forth like a stressed lawyer in court, until he grew dizzy. "Hey, stop that. You look like a clucking pigeon." When Shaun asked for Soleil, he sighed and stood up and faced Shaun. Allistor bent down to hug him, his arms embracing around his hips and waist, before carrying him over his shoulder. "Hmph. You're not that heavy, aren't you?" He proceeded to open the door across them and went inside John's room. "Alright, I found him." He set him down and focused on what is happening. "Don't get too worked up. His condition is delicate like I said. It might stress him further."

Shaun Calhoun

Continuing to worry and have a panic attack, Shaun stopped pacing at a faster rate after Allistor told him to stop. Although while doing so, he furrowed his eyebrows at the phrase 'clucking pigeon'. That was something that he'd never heard of before until just now. Eh, what? A clucking pigeon? Is that a real thing? Do pigeons even cluck? I know that they coo, but cluck? I know chickens cluck. At least I think they do...But a clucking pigeon? Is that a different species of pigeon? Strange... Still pacing and thinking of what a clucking pigeon would look and sound like. he felt pressure on his waist and hips and soon felt as though he was light as a feather; and being a rather ticklish person, felt the soft, poking a sensitive, soft spot of his stomach as he was grabbed there, and instinctively giggled before trying to stop himself. He didn't want to laugh, but his body made him do so. Now on Allistor's shoulder, he looked down at the floor and deadpanned as he heard that he was quite light and blushed in embarrassment. "Um, thank you I guess..." He said nonchalantly as if he didn't mind the statement when in reality, he felt as though it was either a compliment or an insult to him.

Letting him carry him, Shaun yawned greatly in tiredness as he finally made it to where John's room and opened the door. Looking behind Allistor, he tired to listen out as to what was going on as he was in a rather awkward position. Being sat down, he looked up at the teen that was way taller than him, for which he hid is jealousy from, and listened to him as he explained to him to not get anxious as usual. Nodding at him, he turned and slowly walked towards where he saw the figures standing over Soleil. It was like what he saw in his hallucination. But what if this was just a hallucination as well? He didn't know what to think as he tried to not get so worked up in front of Soleil and everyone else. Walking and sitting down in a chair next to Soleil, he watched in suspicion as to what the two people standing up were doing. He wanted to see if this was real, but didn't want to risk harming Sol even more than what he was allegedly. So in response, he sat down and yawned as he tired to fight the sleep derivation, stress, and manic state that all clouded his mind and anxiously waited to see what was to happen next in which both of his legs were constantly bobbing in fear and stress. "Please let this be real...Don't let this be another one of my despairs." He said to himself quietly.

Soleil continued to lay rigidly in the bed, though now he was starting to show signs of relaxation. He had slowly stopped clutching the blanket, as he had felt the familiar presence speaking in his mind, calming his swirling thoughts and protecting him from harm. Yet his eyes still remained partially-open, and they were hard to look at. The eyes that just a few hours before had shown so much hope, so much softness and love, were now empty and dead, staring into a black void somewhere past Shaun. Even as Tsukiyomi and John were calming him, he still continued to half-heartedly mouth the words 'I'm sorry' every few minutes or so, silently and without any aim.

"...You alright, Shaun?" John noticed Shaun's wild eyes, as he sat down next to Soleil. Wondering if he had come to the room after hearing all of the commotion inside, he smiled calmly at him. "You don't have to be scared. Soleil is going to be okay. He just needs some time. Did you want to say anything to him?...I don't know if he'll hear you, I'm sure he'll still appreciate it anyway, somehow. He cares a lot for you, from what I've seen, and he would be glad to know, when he wakes up, that you and the others came and watched over him," he assured him.

[Saldinado]

Soleil continued to lay rigidly in the bed, though now he was starting to show signs of relaxation. He had slowly stopped clutching the blanket, as he had felt the familiar presence speaking in his mind, calming his swirling thoughts and protecting him from harm. Yet his eyes still remained partially-open, and they were hard to look at. The eyes that just a few hours before had shown so much hope, so much softness and love, were now empty and dead, staring into a black void somewhere past Shaun. Even as Tsukiyomi and John were calming him, he still continued to half-heartedly mouth the words 'I'm sorry' every few minutes or so, silently and without any aim.

"...You alright, Shaun?" John noticed Shaun's wild eyes, as he sat down next to Soleil. Wondering if he had come to the room after hearing all of the commotion inside, he smiled calmly at him. "You don't have to be scared. Soleil is going to be okay. He just needs some time. Did you want to say anything to him?...I don't know if he'll hear you, I'm sure he'll still appreciate it anyway, somehow. He cares a lot for you, from what I've seen, and he would be glad to know, when he wakes up, that you and the others came and watched over him," he assured him.

Shaun Calhoun

"Hm? Oh, yeah; I'm alright I guess." He softly said as he lied to John. And it wasn't hard at all to see that he was lying. His face looked paler than usual, with his hair now brighter and white as the moon itself. Even his outfit being mostly white to where he looked as though he was some kind of holy or important person. Although what made it all come crashing down was the sheer redness of his eyes. In an ironic sort of fashion, they looked as though he himself was possessed in which there was no escaping from the grasps and locks of the tiredness, delusions,and mania that plagued him. But even though that was the case, he didn't care one bit about it. Seeing Soleil lay there constantly saying 'I'm sorry' only made him angrier. He grabbed his knees with his hands and clenched them tightly to hold back the stress and frustration that he was filled with. Why did you have to leave? You could've just stayed in and sleep the night away as usual. And why didn't I stay with you? That bunny was meant to protect you. I could've stopped it. I could've prevented everyone from getting hurt...All of this. This is all my fault.

Looking up at John as he offered him the ability to talk to Sol, Shaun nodded slowly as he looked down at the apologetic boy with worried, tired eyes and gently took his hand and placed it into his. Looking rather calm and collective as on the inside, he tired to keep everything bottled up once more, in fear of embarrassing himself in front of everyone, as well as stressing out Soleil even more, Shaun stared into the emptiness of his eyes and tried to speak to him.

"...Please. Don't apologize. Don't apologize for anything. None of this was your fault. Not one bit. You were just trying to help, that's all. A-And you did it. You did what you wanted to do...Now although it wasn't the exact answer you were looking for, at least you can say that you'd tried your best and succeeded. Now I remember what I told you earlier about those voices in your head trying to make you feel as though there was nothing but despair? Now I want to know that I need you to overcome those negative thoughts and replace them with the positivity and hope that I know that you have.

However, I don't want you to do it for me, Kasumi, Henry, and everyone else. I want you to do it for you. You've done enough to help everyone else, and yet you feel as though it isn't enough. And in reality, it was. In fact, you've done more for me than anyone else has done. If it wasn't for your kindness, perseverance, and overall hope...I don't even know where I would be or do now." He weakly chuckled. It was becoming ironically clear that he was unintentionally using the same words that Soleil used on him when he was in such a despair-inducing state, and telling it to him.

Shaun soon let go of his hand and created the same bunny construct that he used to comfort and console Soleil when he needed it the most albeit this time with something more to it. Looking into it's empty, hollow eyes, he smiled at the construct as a small lilac-colored flash traveled over it's eyes before soon coming to life. Twitching it's nose and ears while scratching behind it's ear with it's hind foot, Shaun placed the creature in Sol's lap and it instinctively curled up in a small ball and look up in the empty dark void of his eyes and stared into them. It's eyes sparkling slightly as they revealed to him his own reflection in it's beady eyes. It showed him the image of the young, blonde boy sitting down on the floor alone in a forest; smiling and laughing softly to himself as all around him, numerous types of animals stood beside him, content and enjoying his company. In his lap was a small fawn similar to the one that he usually makes. Shaking softly from the nervousness surrounding it. Seeing it shake, the Soleil in the image carefully petted the fawn as it calmed down in his arms, now comforted by his touch. Seeing that it was now calm, he laughed softly as he continued to do so and enjoy the company of the woodland creatures around him until the scene in the rabbit's eyes soon went blank and returned back to their normal beady selves before taking it's front paws and rubbing it's face.

"...You see?" Shaun said softly as he was now starting to feel the effects of the use of mana from the construct. And still being effected from last time, he softly sighed as he endured the discomfort."This is the Soleil that I. We all know and love. The one that loves to help out everything and one. The one that will care and comfort animals for the longest time. The one that is filled with hope, love, and a reason to continue doing what he loves. The one that we know has done everything he can for us, and is truly loved by every animal and person around him. Mainly himself because he knows that as long as he's happy and doing what he loves and wants to do, then there's no need to worry about whether or not he's helping everyone or doing something wrong. Because he knows that he has helped everyone by helping himself.

So don't be sorry. Because just know that you've already helped us all. Even if it may seem like it doesn't, you've really did. So now that you're done doing that, you can help yourself and get rid of all those negative thoughts and feelings of being unwanted, or unloved, or a bother. Because you're not. You will never ever be a bother to me, you will always be wanted, and most of all, you will always be loved." He then softly sighed and weakly chuckled before finishing. "It's an honor and privilege to call you my friend, roommate, and even...Brother. The one that I've never got." He chuckled. "So please get better from not this, but from everything else and just be who you want to be. For you. Got it?"

Backing up slowly, he leaned back in the chair and waited to see if he was going to get better. Whether or not he will sleep was up for debate. But for now, at least he can be sure that Soleil will be alright and do the right thing. Not for him. Or anyone else. But for himself.

[Luminesa]

Soleil continued to lay rigidly in the bed, though now he was starting to show signs of relaxation. He had slowly stopped clutching the blanket, as he had felt the familiar presence speaking in his mind, calming his swirling thoughts and protecting him from harm. Yet his eyes still remained partially-open, and they were hard to look at. The eyes that just a few hours before had shown so much hope, so much softness and love, were now empty and dead, staring into a black void somewhere past Shaun. Even as Tsukiyomi and John were calming him, he still continued to half-heartedly mouth the words 'I'm sorry' every few minutes or so, silently and without any aim.

"...You alright, Shaun?" John noticed Shaun's wild eyes, as he sat down next to Soleil. Wondering if he had come to the room after hearing all of the commotion inside, he smiled calmly at him. "You don't have to be scared. Soleil is going to be okay. He just needs some time. Did you want to say anything to him?...I don't know if he'll hear you, I'm sure he'll still appreciate it anyway, somehow. He cares a lot for you, from what I've seen, and he would be glad to know, when he wakes up, that you and the others came and watched over him," he assured him.

Shaun Calhoun

"Hm? Oh, yeah; I'm alright I guess." He softly said as he lied to John. And it wasn't hard at all to see that he was lying. His face looked paler than usual, with his hair now brighter and white as the moon itself. Even his outfit being mostly white to where he looked as though he was some kind of holy or important person. Although what made it all come crashing down was the sheer redness of his eyes. In an ironic sort of fashion, they looked as though he himself was possessed in which there was no escaping from the grasps and locks of the tiredness, delusions,and mania that plagued him. But even though that was the case, he didn't care one bit about it. Seeing Soleil lay there constantly saying 'I'm sorry' only made him angrier. He grabbed his knees with his hands and clenched them tightly to hold back the stress and frustration that he was filled with. Why did you have to leave? You could've just stayed in and sleep the night away as usual. And why didn't I stay with you? That bunny was meant to protect you. I could've stopped it. I could've prevented everyone from getting hurt...All of this. This is all my fault.

Looking up at John as he offered him the ability to talk to Sol, Shaun nodded slowly as he looked down at the apologetic boy with worried, tired eyes and gently took his hand and placed it into his. Looking rather calm and collective as on the inside, he tired to keep everything bottled up once more, in fear of embarrassing himself in front of everyone, as well as stressing out Soleil even more, Shaun stared into the emptiness of his eyes and tried to speak to him.

"...Please. Don't apologize. Don't apologize for anything. None of this was your fault. Not one bit. You were just trying to help, that's all. A-And you did it. You did what you wanted to do...Now although it wasn't the exact answer you were looking for, at least you can say that you'd tried your best and succeeded. Now I remember what I told you earlier about those voices in your head trying to make you feel as though there was nothing but despair? Now I want to know that I need you to overcome those negative thoughts and replace them with the positivity and hope that I know that you have.

However, I don't want you to do it for me, Kasumi, Henry, and everyone else. I want you to do it for you. You've done enough to help everyone else, and yet you feel as though it isn't enough. And in reality, it was. In fact, you've done more for me than anyone else has done. If it wasn't for your kindness, perseverance, and overall hope...I don't even know where I would be or do now." He weakly chuckled. It was becoming ironically clear that he was unintentionally using the same words that Soleil used on him when he was in such a despair-inducing state, and telling it to him.

Shaun soon let go of his hand and created the same bunny construct that he used to comfort and console Soleil when he needed it the most albeit this time with something more to it. Looking into it's empty, hollow eyes, he smiled at the construct as a small lilac-colored flash traveled over it's eyes before soon coming to life. Twitching it's nose and ears while scratching behind it's ear with it's hind foot, Shaun placed the creature in Sol's lap and it instinctively curled up in a small ball and look up in the empty dark void of his eyes and stared into them. It's eyes sparkling slightly as they revealed to him his own reflection in it's beady eyes. It showed him the image of the young, blonde boy sitting down on the floor alone in a forest; smiling and laughing softly to himself as all around him, numerous types of animals stood beside him, content and enjoying his company. In his lap was a small fawn similar to the one that he usually makes. Shaking softly from the nervousness surrounding it. Seeing it shake, the Soleil in the image carefully petted the fawn as it calmed down in his arms, now comforted by his touch. Seeing that it was now calm, he laughed softly as he continued to do so and enjoy the company of the woodland creatures around him until the scene in the rabbit's eyes soon went blank and returned back to their normal beady selves before taking it's front paws and rubbing it's face.

"...You see?" Shaun said softly as he was now starting to feel the effects of the use of mana from the construct. And still being effected from last time, he softly sighed as he endured the discomfort."This is the Soleil that I. We all know and love. The one that loves to help out everything and one. The one that will care and comfort animals for the longest time. The one that is filled with hope, love, and a reason to continue doing what he loves. The one that we know has done everything he can for us, and is truly loved by every animal and person around him. Mainly himself because he knows that as long as he's happy and doing what he loves and wants to do, then there's no need to worry about whether or not he's helping everyone or doing something wrong. Because he knows that he has helped everyone by helping himself.

So don't be sorry. Because just know that you've already helped us all. Even if it may seem like it doesn't, you've really did. So now that you're done doing that, you can help yourself and get rid of all those negative thoughts and feelings of being unwanted, or unloved, or a bother. Because you're not. You will never ever be a bother to me, you will always be wanted, and most of all, you will always be loved." He then softly sighed and weakly chuckled before finishing. "It's an honor and privilege to call you my friend, roommate, and even...Brother. The one that I've never got." He chuckled. "So please get better from not this, but from everything else and just be who you want to be. For you. Got it?"

Backing up slowly, he leaned back in the chair and waited to see if he was going to get better. Whether or not he will sleep was up for debate. But for now, at least he can be sure that Soleil will be alright and do the right thing. Not for him. Or anyone else. But for himself.

John knew Shaun was lying, as he could tell immediately that he was recovering from a sort of breakdown himself. He was pale as a sheet, and he could not sit still. It was almost as though he was afraid to be in the room, as though breathing in Soleil's presence would somehow cause both of them to shatter. Hearing his words to the boy, however, John was touched. Shaun was not usually very open around others, usually keeping his distance out of discomfort around others. Yet here he was spilling his heart to Soleil, who may or may not have heard him at all. So many of the students-Kasumi, Shaun, Henry, and Allistor-all loved this gentle, fragile boy, who now seemed as though he was lost in the thick haze of his mind.

Yet then there was the bunny. A light lavender, it hopped from Shaun's hands and stared into Soleil's eyes, showing him the images that Shaun wanted him to see. He showed him the peaceful, kind friend that he loved, and that he wanted with all his heart for his friend to be well again. Meanwhile, as the bunny finished showing Soleil the scenery, Shaun also finished speaking to Soleil before abruptly leaving. Yet he left the bunny behind, and to a seemingly miraculous effect. Soleil now felt the bunny near his face, and his stiff arm moved slowly toward it and pulled it to his chest. He indeed had seen something-the beautiful forest-scene with all of the graceful woodland animals the boy loved so dearly-and now he seemed to show sparks of life again. He still stared into the void, but now he hugged the bunny to his chest, its softness and tininess slowing his heartbeat just a little.

John smiled at this. Certainly he still had a lot more work to do, but Shaun's gift would make things easier. Soleil seemed to be much calmer with a bunny in his arms, and he sighed as he saw Soleil moved slightly to curl-up with the bunny. "...Thank you, Shaun...thank you..." John whispered, as he saw the boy move again. He could still sense the boy's deep emotional pain, pain which he knew would not disappear overnight, but this was a start.

[Finsternia]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor leaned on the wall as he watched Shaun talk to Soleil. Whether or not Soleil can hear him doesn't matter. It shows how Shaun is devoted for Soleil, how kind and caring he is. Allistor smiled at the images of Soleil in a forest, surrounded by fauna that treated him like family. That he treated like family. Perhaps that's one of the variables that shaped him to be the sweet boy that he is today, despite the evil that is his family. He can see the delibirating effects of Shaun's use of magic on his body, making the white haired boy grow more tired every passing minute.

Allistor approached him and combed his white locks with his hand. "Get some rest. You're already too tired. And I won't take a no for an answer. I want you to sleep and regain your strength. Soleil won't be happy if you just waste your health." Allistor nodded to John then to Tsukiyomi. "Sir, Maam, I'm going now. It's getting late already and it's near midnight. Please send my regards to Sol once he wakes up." He turned his back and before exiting, he casted a final glance at John while making a pointing glance at Shaun. 'Please make sure that he'll rest.'

When Allistor arrived in his and Henry's room, it was dim with Fawkes' flames the only source of illumination. He grudgingly slapped the switch on the nearby wall and blinked at the sudden light. The room looks quite tidy like it always look like but there is something weird in the room. Henry was sleeping on his bed with a suspicious mop of red beside him. Soon enough he realized that the red mop was indeed the hair of a person, a female person. Allistor's eyes widened for a second before covering them with his right hand. "Henry, please lock the door when you have some company with you." While covering his eyes, he found the cabinet and rummaged in his things to retrieve some fresh change of clothes. "Now, if you two would excuse me, I'll be bathing in the shower and be leaving to leave you two alone. I'm hoping you two practice safe sex and I'm hoping that you two won't get frisky under the sheets while I scrub the dirt and blood off my body."

Allistor shut the bathroom door behind him and quickly finished his shower, the cold water kicking some vitality on him. He simply dressed in a jacket, a plain black shirt, and pants. He left the bathroom while drying his hair in the process. "Au revoir. Oh and if you used up all your penis gloves Henry, here." He reached in his back pocket and threw Henry a familiar looking blue wrapper that could be mistaken for a ramen seasoning sachet from afar. "Always practice safety children." He reached for his violin case on the ground and for Glacia, and left the room. He sighed and looked down at the serpent.

"Why are you covered in blood awhile ago?"

"There was a fight and dark mages happened. Soleil was injured."

"I'll take that as another way of saying that you killed people."

"Let's not talk about that."

"Lady Mercillia would surely be thrilled."

Allistor raised his eyebrow at the sarcastic remark of Glacia but he never said a word.

"Where are we going? And why are you bringing your violin?"

"To Sol. Maybe some music would help him. Oh, and it's a good way to practice."

Allistor arrived back in John's room with Glacia around his neck and his violin case carried by his right hand. "Hey, I'm back. Seems that I can't sleep. Perhaps some music would help Soleil?"

[Luminesa]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor leaned on the wall as he watched Shaun talk to Soleil. Whether or not Soleil can hear him doesn't matter. It shows how Shaun is devoted for Soleil, how kind and caring he is. Allistor smiled at the images of Soleil in a forest, surrounded by fauna that treated him like family. That he treated like family. Perhaps that's one of the variables that shaped him to be the sweet boy that he is today, despite the evil that is his family. He can see the delibirating effects of Shaun's use of magic on his body, making the white haired boy grow more tired every passing minute.

Allistor approached him and combed his white locks with his hand. "Get some rest. You're already too tired. And I won't take a no for an answer. I want you to sleep and regain your strength. Soleil won't be happy if you just waste your health." Allistor nodded to John then to Tsukiyomi. "Sir, Maam, I'm going now. It's getting late already and it's near midnight. Please send my regards to Sol once he wakes up." He turned his back and before exiting, he casted a final glance at John while making a pointing glance at Shaun. 'Please make sure that he'll rest.'

When Allistor arrived in his and Henry's room, it was dim with Fawkes' flames the only source of illumination. He grudgingly slapped the switch on the nearby wall and blinked at the sudden light. The room looks quite tidy like it always look like but there is something weird in the room. Henry was sleeping on his bed with a suspicious mop of red beside him. Soon enough he realized that the red mop was indeed the hair of a person, a female person. Allistor's eyes widened for a second before covering them with his right hand. "Henry, please lock the door when you have some company with you." While covering his eyes, he found the cabinet and rummaged in his things to retrieve some fresh change of clothes. "Now, if you two would excuse me, I'll be bathing in the shower and be leaving to leave you two alone. I'm hoping you two practice safe sex and I'm hoping that you two won't get frisky under the sheets while I scrub the dirt and blood off my body."

Allistor shut the bathroom door behind him and quickly finished his shower, the cold water kicking some vitality on him. He simply dressed in a jacket, a plain black shirt, and pants. He left the bathroom while drying his hair in the process. "Au revoir. Oh and if you used up all your penis gloves Henry, here." He reached in his back pocket and threw Henry a familiar looking blue wrapper that could be mistaken for a ramen seasoning sachet from afar. "Always practice safety children." He reached for his violin case on the ground and for Glacia, and left the room. He sighed and looked down at the serpent.

"Why are you covered in blood awhile ago?"

"There was a fight and dark mages happened. Soleil was injured."

"I'll take that as another way of saying that you killed people."

"Let's not talk about that."

"Lady Mercillia would surely be thrilled."

Allistor raised his eyebrow at the sarcastic remark of Glacia but he never said a word.

"Where are we going? And why are you bringing your violin?"

"To Sol. Maybe some music would help him. Oh, and it's a good way to practice."

Allistor arrived back in John's room with Glacia around his neck and his violin case carried by his right hand. "Hey, I'm back. Seems that I can't sleep. Perhaps some music would help Soleil?"

John looked at Allistor as he left the room, and then came back fifteen minutes or so later with his violin. "...Go right ahead. He's going to be here for a while. But you don't need to stay here all night yourself, okay? Make sure that you get your rest at some point," he advised him, giving him the go-ahead to play his violin. He had heard Allistor practicing before in his spare time, back at the Academy, and he was actually quite good. John would not let him play, otherwise-a scratchy violin was the last thing Soleil needed.

Meanwhile, Soleil continued to cuddle Shaun's bunny close to his chest, unaware of the people around him. His silent muttering of 'I'm sorry' continued, despite Shaun's loving words to him, as the words were more of a subconscious survival mantra than actual begging for forgiveness. Yet he did enjoy beautiful music, and the rabbit in his arms was already having a positive effect on him. Somehow, even a barely-conscious Soleil could not resist hugging a fluffy bunny.

[Rhomaia]

"...I have been dead since long before you were even born...if you want to talk to me about dead men walking...I am entirely aware of the fate I deserve for my actions. I have walked with it every day of my life. Do you want the exact numbers?" The wound finished healing, but Rabbit did not move his hand. "...1,853 people, including fifty Jaegars. All by my hand. Innocent and guilty. Man and woman. I am sure this will only serve to anger you further. You may even desire to kill me for saying such. Go ahead. But do know I will hide nothing from you. Anything you desire to know, I will tell you. Anything you ask me to do, I will do. I am indeed a dead man. I have nothing to hide and nothing to lose. If I were to leave this earth now, I would leave nothing behind. Not even a body...but I digress..."

He now moved to a wound on Ruta's arm, once again healing it gently, using the Light Magic that normally came so unnaturally to his kind. Yet he used it freely, showing Ruta that he indeed had no desire to hurt him. "Of course I am aware of what happened to you nine years ago. I was there, though you didn't see me. In fact, I've known you for far longer than you've known me..." This wound was soon finished, and then he moved to his shoulder. "...Yes...You may believe whatever you choose to believe about me. In fact, I encourage it. You of all people should see now that I am not what I have seemed to be...in fact, I may not even be human. Whether or not that means the end of me, I have no business to decide...I was born a slave, and I will die as one...but I will say this, before you make any decisions about my future..."

He then placed his hand by his side, as he stopped for a moment, and he stood back oh-so-slightly. "...Shall you indeed judge me alongside the boy you killed? Shall you truly say that he deserved it, that innocence does not deserve to live because you and I lost ours so long ago? Is his destruction, his death, truly worth allowing, in order to make you feel better about losing yours? You may cover your ears to everything else I have said, and I will not blame you for it. But will you run away from the only person who has ever seen past your flaws and who has tried to put the pieces back together without any thought of what it might do to him, to try and do so?" He now became silent, and he waited for Ruta to reply to such a loaded answer.

Antonius Ruta

"

The Jaegar's eyes narrowed even more as they looked away from the Rabbit, distrust and hatred plain and clear within them. It was just as he had been shown, and just as he had suspected. The masked, enigmatic Professor, who once seemed incapable of so much as hurting a fly, outright confessed to being a killer, and a killer of Jaegars at that. The figure standing before him, speaking softly and treating him with cordial coldness, like a friend on the wrong end of an argument, had killed no less than fifty of his Brothers and Sisters...Hunters of the Abyss no better than he, who had committed just as many atrocities, ended just as many lives, and stained their hands with as much of the world's sin as he did...People just like him, who had lost their way in the Dark in their search for refuge and belonging, only to have their souls stripped away and tainted by the very Darkness in which they hid...and that this same figure had been watching him for years untold.

Ruta's gloved hand, half covered in blood and glistening in the tranquil moonlight, tightened it's grip around the obsidian hilt of the greatsword that it held, similarly stained by the crimson ichor. All around the Jaegar spread a deep, bonechilling cold not unlike the one which had been present around him in the hours preceding this incident. But this time, it seemed so much more concentrated around Ruta, as if it were a heavy weight upon him that was rendered visible by every conflicting emotion clashing within him now. What was he supposed to feel? What was the appropriate response?

For once, Ruta didn't know. The hunter, tired and pained from the fatigue of battle, was at a crossroads, with but two paths from which he could choose. Walk away quietly without anymore blood on his hands and return to his place among the Mana faculty, and live with the fact that he had let the Rabbit, a non-human and a Jaegar killer, walk free...Or instead, bring his blade down upon the masked Professor for his crimes against the Brotherhood, the Accord, and against the Magical World as a whole, in accordance with the doctrine he had pledged his heart to so many years ago...

His choice was either one of honor in disgrace, or freedom in chains...A Jaegar's unique irony, truly at it's finest. To kill, or not to kill, that was the one question to linger within the hunter's mind...Conflicted and consumed by so many countless years of crushed ideals and regret, those remained his only options here on the moonlit night. And worse still, it was far from the first time that he had faced such a scenario such as this...

"...It is not that the boy deserved it...but that on his current path such a loss...such a death, in your eyes...was all but unavoidable...As it was for mine, as it was for yours...That...is something which you cannot simply hide away...as you have everything else up to this point..." Ruta stated, keeping his one hand firmly on the slick handle the black blade, firmly ready to bring it down upon the Rabbit, in spite of the dreadful state that he was in, and that the Rabbit had healed his wounds. Whether or not the Rabbit had no desire to harm him was irrelevant, having so openly declared seconds ago that he was responsible for the deaths of nearly two thousand, with Jaegars among them. Had it been any other Jaegar, be it Kusanagi or Chikage or Heartseeker, judgement would have been swift and instantaneous...But there had been one hunter in Ruta's lifetime that had ever shown mercy to those of pure heart...

[Luminesa]

"...I have been dead since long before you were even born...if you want to talk to me about dead men walking...I am entirely aware of the fate I deserve for my actions. I have walked with it every day of my life. Do you want the exact numbers?" The wound finished healing, but Rabbit did not move his hand. "...1,853 people, including fifty Jaegars. All by my hand. Innocent and guilty. Man and woman. I am sure this will only serve to anger you further. You may even desire to kill me for saying such. Go ahead. But do know I will hide nothing from you. Anything you desire to know, I will tell you. Anything you ask me to do, I will do. I am indeed a dead man. I have nothing to hide and nothing to lose. If I were to leave this earth now, I would leave nothing behind. Not even a body...but I digress..."

He now moved to a wound on Ruta's arm, once again healing it gently, using the Light Magic that normally came so unnaturally to his kind. Yet he used it freely, showing Ruta that he indeed had no desire to hurt him. "Of course I am aware of what happened to you nine years ago. I was there, though you didn't see me. In fact, I've known you for far longer than you've known me..." This wound was soon finished, and then he moved to his shoulder. "...Yes...You may believe whatever you choose to believe about me. In fact, I encourage it. You of all people should see now that I am not what I have seemed to be...in fact, I may not even be human. Whether or not that means the end of me, I have no business to decide...I was born a slave, and I will die as one...but I will say this, before you make any decisions about my future..."

He then placed his hand by his side, as he stopped for a moment, and he stood back oh-so-slightly. "...Shall you indeed judge me alongside the boy you killed? Shall you truly say that he deserved it, that innocence does not deserve to live because you and I lost ours so long ago? Is his destruction, his death, truly worth allowing, in order to make you feel better about losing yours? You may cover your ears to everything else I have said, and I will not blame you for it. But will you run away from the only person who has ever seen past your flaws and who has tried to put the pieces back together without any thought of what it might do to him, to try and do so?" He now became silent, and he waited for Ruta to reply to such a loaded answer.

Antonius Ruta

"

The Jaegar's eyes narrowed even more as they looked away from the Rabbit, distrust and hatred plain and clear within them. It was just as he had been shown, and just as he had suspected. The masked, enigmatic Professor, who once seemed incapable of so much as hurting a fly, outright confessed to being a killer, and a killer of Jaegars at that. The figure standing before him, speaking softly and treating him with cordial coldness, like a friend on the wrong end of an argument, had killed no less than fifty of his Brothers and Sisters...Hunters of the Abyss no better than he, who had committed just as many atrocities, ended just as many lives, and stained their hands with as much of the world's sin as he did...People just like him, who had lost their way in the Dark in their search for refuge and belonging, only to have their souls stripped away and tainted by the very Darkness in which they hid...and that this same figure had been watching him for years untold.

Ruta's gloved hand, half covered in blood and glistening in the tranquil moonlight, tightened it's grip around the obsidian hilt of the greatsword that it held, similarly stained by the crimson ichor. All around the Jaegar spread a deep, bonechilling cold not unlike the one which had been present around him in the hours preceding this incident. But this time, it seemed so much more concentrated around Ruta, as if it were a heavy weight upon him that was rendered visible by every conflicting emotion clashing within him now. What was he supposed to feel? What was the appropriate response?

For once, Ruta didn't know. The hunter, tired and pained from the fatigue of battle, was at a crossroads, with but two paths from which he could choose. Walk away quietly without anymore blood on his hands and return to his place among the Mana faculty, and live with the fact that he had let the Rabbit, a non-human and a Jaegar killer, walk free...Or instead, bring his blade down upon the masked Professor for his crimes against the Brotherhood, the Accord, and against the Magical World as a whole, in accordance with the doctrine he had pledged his heart to so many years ago...

His choice was either one of honor in disgrace, or freedom in chains...A Jaegar's unique irony, truly at it's finest. To kill, or not to kill, that was the one question to linger within the hunter's mind...Conflicted and consumed by so many countless years of crushed ideals and regret, those remained his only options here on the moonlit night. And worse still, it was far from the first time that he had faced such a scenario such as this...

"...It is not that the boy deserved it...but that on his current path such a loss...such a death, in your eyes...was all but unavoidable...As it was for mine, as it was for yours...That...is something which you cannot simply hide away...as you have everything else up to this point..." Ruta stated, keeping his one hand firmly on the slick handle the black blade, firmly ready to bring it down upon the Rabbit, in spite of the dreadful state that he was in, and that the Rabbit had healed his wounds. Whether or not the Rabbit had no desire to harm him was irrelevant, having so openly declared seconds ago that he was responsible for the deaths of nearly two thousand, with Jaegars among them. Had it been any other Jaegar, be it Kusanagi or Chikage or Heartseeker, judgement would have been swift and instantaneous...But there had been one hunter in Ruta's lifetime that had ever shown mercy to those of pure heart...

The cold gathered around both of them, around Ruta as he raged and considered killing Rabbit, and around Rabbit as he stood close to Ruta. "...You have become cold again...Shall you freeze yourself to death here, in this horrid part of town?...I would not want for you to die in such a manner," he whispered, now actually showing genuine compassion for Ruta. He knew the state he was in, in his mind, torn between following his duties and showing Rabbit mercy. He was merely a human, merely a mortal caught between holding his walls as high as he could or letting them tumble down and potentially break him.

Ruta had known such suffering all his life-it seemed that from what Rabbit had seen, any time he had let his guard down he was afraid of being attacked, afraid of losing something precious to him because he reached out, afraid of death and what lay beyond it, for his sins. He could feel the pain that radiated not only from wounds Rabbit had yet to heal, but from his own memories begging to be remembered. "...Do know that I took no pleasure in what I did...I merely did those things because I was afraid, as you were when you first became a Jaegar. For quite some time I had no conscience...I merely did what I was asked because it guaranteed me a home, as awful as that sounds..."

He paused for a moment, as though he was looking himself over for any wounds, for some reason, or perhaps some stray ice on his kimono. Looking back up again, he continued softly, "But now I look back upon such things with the same emptiness and remorse with which you look upon the deaths you have wraught. I have looked back upon my sins, and I have sought repentance for them. Perhaps there is none for me...But that is the way I my life is...I am aware of what I am, and that my end may come swiftly at the hands of someone else, even someone I hold dear, no matter what I say..."

He now walked back toward Antonius again, this time placing both of his hands on his face, staring at him intently but showing no hostility. "I will not hold anything against you, Antonius, if you cut me down where I stand. I have caused you much suffering, you of all people who has suffered enough. But I must say this...You must survive, Antonius...creatures that you have not seen exist in the shadows...and they seek to destroy you and all of the students as well. I came to this school to protect you from these forces, as they have yet to reveal themselves...But you must do what you must," he warned him gently.

[Charlia]

When Allistor arrived in his and Henry's room, it was dim with Fawkes' flames the only source of illumination. He grudgingly slapped the switch on the nearby wall and blinked at the sudden light. The room looks quite tidy like it always look like but there is something weird in the room. Henry was sleeping on his bed with a suspicious mop of red beside him. Soon enough he realized that the red mop was indeed the hair of a person, a female person. Allistor's eyes widened for a second before covering them with his right hand. "Henry, please lock the door when you have some company with you." While covering his eyes, he found the cabinet and rummaged in his things to retrieve some fresh change of clothes. "Now, if you two would excuse me, I'll be bathing in the shower and be leaving to leave you two alone. I'm hoping you two practice safe sex and I'm hoping that you two won't get frisky under the sheets while I scrub the dirt and blood off my body."

Allistor shut the bathroom door behind him and quickly finished his shower, the cold water kicking some vitality on him. He simply dressed in a jacket, a plain black shirt, and pants. He left the bathroom while drying his hair in the process. "Au revoir. Oh and if you used up all your penis gloves Henry, here." He reached in his back pocket and threw Henry a familiar looking blue wrapper that could be mistaken for a ramen seasoning sachet from afar. "Always practice safety children."

Hikari's eyes widened in shock. "N-no!" she protested. "Henry's not like that! I--"

And... he's gone.

"...I'm sorry," she mumbled, her face as bright red as her hair. "...I guess your reputation is going to be tarnished now, huh? I never meant for that..."

[Finsternia]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor grabbed a chair and sat beside Soleil. The warm feeling of the healing magic that John was using was like an afternoon sea breeze, calming and refreshing at the same time. He noticed that Soleil is cuddling Shaun's bunny in his nervous breakdown induced coma and smiled at the sight. 'Atleast he's still receptive to outside stimulation.' Allistor opened the violin case and pulled out the shiny brown instrument and placed it on his shoulder. Fixing his hold on the instrument, Allistor placed the bow across the strings and started to play. The piece was made for a cello but Allistor adjusted it to fit for violin playing. He closed his eyes as he started put emotion into it. It was a serene piece, perfect for a still night such as this. The gentleness and aura of sadness it radiates reflects parts of Soleil, his isolation, his kind hands that shaped those wonderful constructs to life, his scars, his all accepting heart. Remembering one trick that he made during his free time, roses made out of snow emerged from Soleil's bed as Allistor continued to play, as soft as sheep's wool. It looks like they respond to the very music Allistor is playing, blooming, swaying, and shrinking. As the performance was about to end, the roses stayed at full bloom until the final notes were hit. He opened his eyes and looked at Soleil. "How is he?"

[Kingdom of Irhk]

When Allistor arrived in his and Henry's room, it was dim with Fawkes' flames the only source of illumination. He grudgingly slapped the switch on the nearby wall and blinked at the sudden light. The room looks quite tidy like it always look like but there is something weird in the room. Henry was sleeping on his bed with a suspicious mop of red beside him. Soon enough he realized that the red mop was indeed the hair of a person, a female person. Allistor's eyes widened for a second before covering them with his right hand. "Henry, please lock the door when you have some company with you." While covering his eyes, he found the cabinet and rummaged in his things to retrieve some fresh change of clothes. "Now, if you two would excuse me, I'll be bathing in the shower and be leaving to leave you two alone. I'm hoping you two practice safe sex and I'm hoping that you two won't get frisky under the sheets while I scrub the dirt and blood off my body."

Allistor shut the bathroom door behind him and quickly finished his shower, the cold water kicking some vitality on him. He simply dressed in a jacket, a plain black shirt, and pants. He left the bathroom while drying his hair in the process. "Au revoir. Oh and if you used up all your penis gloves Henry, here." He reached in his back pocket and threw Henry a familiar looking blue wrapper that could be mistaken for a ramen seasoning sachet from afar. "Always practice safety children."

Hikari's eyes widened in shock. "N-no!" she protested. "Henry's not like that! I--"

And... he's gone.

"...I'm sorry," she mumbled, her face as bright red as her hair. "...I guess your reputation is going to be tarnished now, huh? I never meant for that..."

[b]Henry Von Kressel[/b[

A slight smile appeared in Henry's slightly reddened face. Indeed, the scene led to a conclusion very different from what it actually happened. He would explain what happened later, but now he had to calm Hikari down.

"No need to say sorry, Hikari. Allistor has a very peculiar sense of humor, and my reputation will be the same, so there's no need to worry as well. I can explain it to him later, in a way that it won't invade your privacy."