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Ares pursed his lips, a wholly uncharacteristic action, and looked away. The problem is, Ev, you can die. He sighed and walked off, staring at the ground as if it would answer all his questions. That's what this whole damned war is about, he explained, his voice low. He guessed she hadn't quite gotten that far in her research just yet. His hands unclenched, then reclenched, then clenched again; the repetitive action seemed to calm him at least a bit. If you're not careful, you will die, whether you're Olympian or not. It makes no difference in this war. Not since he wasn't sure exactly how each school (why the hell did it have to be schools anyway?!) would use its Item. Bai Ching's was 'secured' in a way; Aphrodite was here and could relay any information pertaining to it. So could Evermore, but she wasn't a full-fledged Goddess like Aphrodite. The Tower's Item was secure in the same way; Athena was there, researching it discreetly.

But what would places like Mystic Fountain do? Or, more worrisome, Unwelcome Boulder? That school had little known about it, but it was a school of cold-blooded killers.

Ares turned around, looking at her with an expression that showed, quite clearly how much he thought of what she was saying. He raised one eyebrow, lips in a frown that seemed set almost permanently. Honestly, Evermore? he asked, then paused to shake his head and let out an odd-sounding, harsh laugh. Honestly, I don't just think that you're not strong or smart enough--I know it. You haven't grasped what you're dealing with. The people that you're going to go up against are worse than you're thinking they are, and this isn't just a simple storybook battle of Good versus Evil. His voice rose slowly from a low, dangerous tone. It crescendoed, but had yet to reach a forte. His passion, almost constantly present to begin with, emphasized itself with his jerky movements that accentuated his words, and he was not happy.

His eyes bore into her, the steely dark depths outraged and fiery. In this damn story, our 'Evil' has a fighting chance, Evermore. Evil is not certain to be vanquished with the swinging blow of a 'perfect' leader--in case you weren't aware, we have no ******** leader! For not even Zeus could lead the forces that would rally against Setsuka now. They needed someone, but none of the Headmasters or Headmistresses quite fit the cut. No one was leading at the moment, and he didn't think anyone wanted to. They were being rapidly left behind, these forces of, for the sake of the analogy, 'Good,' and Ares didn't know for sure if they'd recover in time.

Ares shook his head. Evermore, there are many things you don't understand about this world and this war. Zeus may be a perfect leader for the Olympians, but he is not the perfect leader for this war. He punctuated the last few words with erratic movements. You won't die for that. He didn't sound perfectly sure of himself, but he did sound like he was certain. We won't let them get the Relics. Even if it means losing the war, as long as we have the Relics... he trailed off, quiet suddenly.

Ever had no idea what Ares was talking about. She wouldn't die for what?

Ever looked at Ares as if he were deaf or something right now. "Uh, let me spell it out for you again since you don't seem to understand what I'm saying..."

She rolled her eyes and then started to speak slowly. "As I said before... I am only 3 years old and I don't know that much. I'm not that experienced. If this war is that dangerous, I probably won't survive. My job is to find the Relic. After that, I might not survive, not even in the safety of the school that won't exist when the war comes to Bai Ching. Do you understand what I'm saying now?"

Normally Raven would have been frustrated at Ever, but she frankly didn't understand a word Ares had said, either.

Ares looked fiercely at her, but he wasn't truly glaring any longer. His flame had died down somewhat. I get that, Evermore. It's not that I didn't understand. He didn't elaborate. Evermore, you're not going to die. He didn't say why. He didn't feel the need to.

He walked off a bit. I have things to do. I need to go soon.

((lol, it's okay!))

Mrs. Li-Bleu smiled at Luli and Bo. "Such sweet people!" She glanced at something, likely a clock, and said, "Aurora, your dad's not home just yet... He had to work late, but I'll tell him you called later, okay?"

Aurora pouted lightly. "Okay." She had looked forward to talking to both her parents. "Well..." She wondered what to say, exactly. She knew that she couldn't exactly tell her mom everything, because that would just worry the petite Danish woman, but she wanted to say as much as she could. "I've made many new friends already," she started, and Mrs. Li-Bleu seemed delighted at that. "I wrote to Max, too. A lot's going on, and I don't really know all of why..."

Just seeing her mom, and having Bo close by, was comforting Aurora greatly. If she could see her dad, it would be even better, and if her parents were to come to Bai Ching, that would be best. She leaned slightly closer to Bo. Her mom noticed the movements and the closeness, but she said nothing, just smiling softly in her own little way.

Aurora looked at the clock in the infirmary. "Oh... I should be going to bed soon..." she murmured.

Mrs. Li-Bleu nodded. "Then you should call again some other time, okay, sweetheart? Call me when you can tell me everything!" She glanced at Bo, not pointedly, but out of reflex, before looking back at Aurora, who nodded.

"Okay. Bye-bye," she said, waving a little into the mirror. Her mom waved back.

"Bye! It was nice seeing you and meeting your friends!" After a few moments, the mirror-image faded and became a plain reflective surface once more--but before it disappeared completely, the image caught a man who appeared to be perhaps in his mid-thirties, with purple eyes a generally tired look but who smiled when Mrs. Li-Bleu turned. The brief image was of Aurora's father, a full-blooded shapeshifter.

Ever looked back at where Ares had just been. She stared at the spot in utter confusion. "How the hell am I going to be a red flag on a white landscape? I'll be dancing..."

Raven sighed and flew right up to Ever's face. "You're a Greek goddess!!! How much plainer do Ares and I have to be?!"

Ever rolled her eyes and chuckled softly at her familiar. "Raven, it's not like I send off some special vibe or anything. I'll blend in just fine. And if I don't, well,.... then I'll die doing something I love. But I'll make sure to be careful until I find the Relic.... I'll stay right by the guards on tour!"

With that said, Ever quickly disappeared, intent on changing her dream to something more relaxing and without Raven in it.

Raven simply sighed in completely frustrated and sat on the rock for awhile.