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"... believed to be dead? Sounds like we have something in common then," Ari muttered to herself. As they were dismissed, a horde of girls flocked to the exit. They were all chattering at the same time, and it was as loud as it was irritating. Ari wasn't quite sure what to do with herself. Tyler was over with his sister, and Nik was hovering there too. Maybe she would go meditate. Yeah... that sounded calming. Ari could use some calm. With that, she joined the other girls leaving the auditorium and headed up a couple of floors to the meditation room. Luckily for her, it was empty.

She grabbed a mat and spread it out in the middle of the floor and sat down upon it, closing her eyes. The minute she did, she felt soothed. Dark was familiar... the dark was her friend. She'd lived in it for seventeen years, until recently. She didn't know how many times she wished she could see... but now that she could, she wasn't so sure. Then she felt guilty. She's been granted a second chance and was now able to see. She was whining about things people would kill to have. Ari decided maybe trying to embrace what she'd been given was the best track, instead of renaming angry and upset.

As that thought was settled, she felt a tiny bit of peace warm her body, then came another thought. Nikolaus. Ari took a deep breath in through her nose, and exhaled through her mouth. He was what he was, and he'd been that way for longer than she and her mom and even been alive. It was a fact of life. She couldn't change him. Only he could, and that was if he wanted to. She needed to accept this, and move on. Ari was beginning to think that maybe... she could. As that thought settled, she felt a bit more rested than before. It wasn't good to be carrying all that stress around. She chuckled to herself, the sound reverberating around the empty room. Taking another deep breath, she continued to meditate in the dark.

Ever went to the Headmistress's office, though she didn't bring her suitcase with her. She'd pick it up before she went to the edge of the barrier around the school outside.

Ever knocked on the Headmistress's office door. "Headmistress Krause, it's Evermore. I need to talk with you, please. It will only take a moment."

Ever quickly walked into the office and curtsied for the headmistress. Then she went and sat in one of the two chairs in front of her desk with a bright, excited smile on her face.

"Thank you, Headmistress! I just wanted to ask if you'd let me pass through the barrier so I can go to the nearby village. I thought I'd do some research there for the Relic. Aphira DiTe, the guidance counselor, vouches for me and said that it'd be okay with her if I left! I'd be gone for a couple days."

Ever quickly sank down in the chair and looked at her headmistress in slight fright.

When she spoke, her voice was a lot softer and shook just slightly. "Uh,... Might I point out, Headmistress, that I'm a goddess and, thus, immortal...?"

Ever frowned slightly and looked down at her lap. "Well, I have an idea what it does... Ares told me a couple times, but sometimes when he yells at me, I... I close off everything he says. I know, it's a horrible habit and I'm trying to stop! Believe me, I've paid for it... I just assume that the Relics can kill gods, thus the name. But, I didn't think about Setsuka possibly having one in her possession already... I was simply thinking about our Relic and how she doesn't have it yet. I forgot about the others."

She sighed, feeling very foolish for not having thought about the other Relics. She also felt a weird feeling in her stomach and chest. It was like someone poured warm water into her and it heated up her insides. It felt nice. She assumed it was from her headmistress caring about her and saying no to her. There was no secret agenda that a god might have. The only reason Krause would be doing it would be to protect her.

Like a mother.

{{Cool avi, Secret! biggrin It's really pretty. And I really liked your post. It kind of reminds me of the philosophy that children can remind us how we should behave and we shouldn't. It's cool that Krause is realizing that. We all make mistakes. It's what we do when we make them, such as realizing it and trying to change for the better, that defines us. Very cool post! biggrin I wish I could tip posts in the guilds!}}

Ever looked up at her headmistress and her eyes were slightly watery. "I... I won't go, Headmistress. If it means that much to you, I won't go. You've been so kind toward me and watched out for me with no hidden agenda of your own... If the only way I can repay you is to obey you and believe that you know best in this instance, then I will."

She realized that if Ares or anyone else saw her right now, they'd want to smash their head against a wall without easily and effortlessly Krause had just pacified Evermore. But Krause didn't yell just to make her upset and she wasn't trying to get her to do something that would make her own life better. She just was concerned about Evermore's well being.

And, maybe Arielle was right. Maybe the gods, especially Ares, did know a lot about the world and they were trying to help her in their own way. Well, she was starting to truly believe that Ares, and probably Aphrodite as well, did that. They just did it in their own crazy way. It wasn't like Ever was an expert at personal relationships herself or knew the best way to portray her emotions.

Maybe she could start trying to see the intentions behind Ares' words and anger. Maybe instead of seeing Aphrodite trying to control her and possibly steal Ares away from her, she could see her words as passionate suggestions. She had already had a minor breakthrough with her earlier today.

Ever stood up and smiled shyly at her headmistress. "Thank you, Headmistress Krause. For everything. I'll... I guess I will either see in the hallways or at Saturday's first class."

She curtsied and left the office, closing the door behind her. She hoped Headmistress Krause knew how much she just given Ever. She probably didn't, but over time, hopefully she would come to learn how much Ever appreciated what she just did and how much she respected her.

As she began to walk back to her room to unpack, she opened a telepathic link to Ares again.

"I'm not going on tour. I'm staying here... Where it's safe."

She smiled softly and went into her room.

The second Evermore left, Arielle collapsed onto her desk, head buried in her arms. Hypocrite. It was the thing she despised the most in other people. Hypocrite. Hypocrosy was wrong, so wrong, and only created fools. Hypocrite. What would her fellow Heads think of her? What would Ophiuchus, who she did look up to, think? Hypocrite.

She was disgusting.

Hypocrite.