Arren didn't say anything in response to Soul's harsh words. It wasn't that she didn't know how to answer exactly, it was just something she felt soul wouldn't understand. But Arren would not deny what he said was true. Her husband was a victim to his inner demons, his past actions with taking up some borrowed Eucadian power was proof of this. He had allowed himself to be used as a puppet so many times by men with an unsatisfiable thirst for power, and yet...she still loved him. The woman simply couldn't bring herself to leave her husband knowing he would only continue digging deeper into the pit he dug, knowing he would destroy himself out of grief. Perhaps Soul was right...perhaps she should have left him, but when she thought back on the happy moments they spent together in their early years, she couldn't let go of what little hope she had left just yet.
Pushing the thought aside, Arren looked at Jacob, taking Soul's words regarding the poison resonating throughout Zorian's body. If he was right, then she needed to wake her equally idiot brother-in-law up before her husband really kicked the bucket. It wasn't too long after Soul spoke a familiar winged figure returned, Soul giving her some form of advice before taking his leave. Luckily for her, or so she hoped, Jacob managed to come to, though he looked as if he were ready to just keel over again.
Although Arren had been pouring her magic into him, Zorian only continued getting worse. Was her magic having no effect? She had doubt any of the leftover potions she had stocked would have any effect, and so she looked up at Nemu with a surprisingly look of defeat. Could they explain things to Jacob in time? Would he even help them at all? "Jacob," Arren said, "I know you just woke up and all, but I could really use your assistance right now..."
She was just about to give him the short version of the situation when Eldin conveniently decided to pop back in, causing Arren's brow to furrow slightly. Tempted as she was to tell him to get out, his words stopped her from speaking, and instead stopped the healing process. The b*****d had the nerve to waltz back in after sentencing Zorian to death. And then he did something to Jacob, causing the man to fall over once more. What Eldin had done, she did not know, but his last few words brought no comfort whatsoever, the man was insane. She had to bite her tongue, she had to stop herself from saying something that may encourage him to do worse. Once more she looked at Nemu, but it wasn't long before her eyes returned to the two fallen men, their status of health seemingly having switched. Standing from her place, Arren disappeared a moment to fetch a bowl of cold water and two washcloths, returning quickly to place the cold wet rags on their foreheads. During his time, she took a moment to consider Jacob's reaction before Eldin struck the blow against him, which brought to her knowledge the man knew what it was. More so, why he had done it. All she could do right now was sigh and hope the worse was over and the two would eventually be back on their feet. "Eucadians...have rotten timing, don't they..." she said, her words directed towards Nemu though her eyes were elsewhere. Yet her voice held frustration. David, after all his tyranny against their little circle, had finally been put in his place, only to have another nutjob who claimed to be her son caught up in some complicated time warp take his place. And while she was curious of Nari's whereabouts, she was thankful Nemu had taken the liberty of taking her to safety.
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Rinoa couldn't help but snicker in response to the snort. Poor boy, his first battle against a formidable enemy, and victory was claimed by dumb luck. While funny, it certainly wasn't something she felt she should feel ashamed of, if that was the issue. After all, it could have been much worse, in terms of embarrassment and lack of impressiveness that is. Seeing as Reki obviously didn't want to discuss it further, she would spare him the harmless humiliation and go along with it. "Being brave is simply facing what your afraid of," she said, nodding in agreement, "Besides, were it not for fear, we'd all have run into our own deaths a long time ago...I personally think people should try to view fear in a more positive light. I mean yeah, it's not the best feeling, but it can make us stronger. Wanting to make that feeling go away isn't always easy, but once you do, you gain the confidence to face the fears that come along in the future." She scratched her head sheepishly, "...but you probably already knew that..."
Even if he did already know, it was good to see their conversation take Reki's mind off the condition of his battered body. In fact, he seemed more...relaxed and not in pain now. Of course, that didn't mean she was going to give him the OK and let him get out of bed and move around, Nemu would bite her head off if she found out he wasn't resting when he was supposed to. Luckily her ears were deaf to any crackling sounds Reki might be experiencing, although she could have sworn she heard something, she passed it off as her imagination or one of Cobalt's hooves absentmindedly knocking against the house outside. Having lost track of time as well, she wondered how far along his wounds were with the mending, making a mental note to ask his permission to check should his bandages need redressing. Reki could be stubborn, but she was glad he wasn't trying to move much. At the very least, it had given the two a much needed moment to simply talk and catch up on things, which they didn't get to do very often without some crackjob wandering into Hyrule. And then Reki spoke again.
While it was true Rinoa hadn't traveled the world as he did, Rinoa's life wasn't very normal, either. Sure there were intervals, but for almost every month of her life growing up there was someone who came along because they wanted her family dead, although the main target was her father who somehow attracted foreign fruitcakes. Rinoa closed her eyes a moment in thought. "That's something I want more than anything..." she said, opening her eyes, "Ever since I was born my life has been one fight after another to stay alive, in fact some homicidal maniac tried to kill me the day I came home from Market Town's clinic. I don't know if Soul ever mentioned a man by the name of Isaac to you, and assuming he didn't, the guy was a result of some kind of spiritual experiment done on my father or something some time before I was born...a physical manifestation of my father's darker sides if you will. I don't remember how old I was at the time, but he did eventually meet his demise. A few short years later Jacob came along and tried to manipulate some kind of magic apparently sleeping within me..." she stopped realizing Reki wouldn't know what she was talking about. "What, you might ask? All I know is I was born with some kind of mark on my back, unfortunately I don't know the details. Jacob seems to know...but he and I aren't exactly on family-friendly terms, which I'm sure your aware of..." And she doubted Reki would blame her for feeling that way.
"So, on and off my parents tried to keep him away from me. Sometimes he would come to his senses until he went bat crazy again a day or two later. Eventually Alex and Nari were born and well, we all know about Alex." She sighed. "And then came David from the barren hell known as Eucadia." she looked at Reki, somewhat apologetically for going into the story of her life, which she then cleared her throat. "Long story cut short...I hope we can both realize that dream...Goddesses know we both need a break. To be honest, it's one of the reasons I dream of leaving Hyrule to travel the world. I know it must sound like me wanting to run away from my troubles, and maybe a small part of me does, but...it's not like I'd be leaving my family forever or anything. I just...want a chance to live my life and create a happy future for myself, no psycho of the month or year or anything. But at the same time...I feel conflicted about leaving knowing my family may be in danger..." A small sigh passed her lips as she rubbed her neck. "Sorry...I guess I really talked my head off for a moment there, huh?"