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Team Sun wasted little time before travelling south to Southmarch aboard one of Declasia's Zeppelins. Nyru insisted on escorting them personally to a captain that he knew would get them east to Entei. Captain Alaric Fenmaw was a wise, middle-aged Therian who allowed the Team aboard 'His Majesty's Knell'. They later learned that the ship was named in honour of the Therian's deified, fallen king from generations ago. The ship was huge, made of a dark, grey wood that would appear black in the darkness, and foggy in the sun. Whilst the ship was carrying mostly cargo, there were some spare rooms for the Captain to take guests occasionally. Each of Team Sun were assigned their own private cabins, which was much better than sleeping with the crew. There were 5 cabins in total, and one of the other 2 spare rooms was occupied.

Being out at sea for a few days now meant they were half way across the South Sea. His Majesty's Knell certainly travelled quickly and smoothly, which Micha'el was surprised by. He expected the trip to be dreadfully slow. However he spent much of his spare time reading the Aria, then at night would often stare out into the night sky on the main deck like he was tonight. The stars above were shining bright, and the Milky Way could be seen stretching across the sky. But non of these trillions of stars were the one he was looking for, none quite the right colour, none shining quite the right light. "Hey, Micha'el" came Lottie's voice from behind him. She tapped him on the shoulder, smiling delicately as she tilted her head. "Me and Tsuna want to get a sparring session in!" she then twirled to gesture towards Tsuna, "there's a huge deck here... and... it will be just like our first week together on the way to Otherearth!"

Micha'el looked over to Tsuna, who looked sheepish, and made out like she would only like to spar if he did. He hadn't spoken to Tsuna too much since their previous disagreement. He wasn't mad at her, at least not now, and he had was glad to be heading east towards the star. Though he couldn't help but feel like trying to understand her completely was beyond him now. Every time he thought he knew her, she would surprise him. Lottie on the other hand was willing to make peace no matter what the cost. Micha'el had decided now not to dwell on whatever rift was between them. He had more pressing matters to worry about now - like researching the Aria. He looked between the girls again, feeling a weight in his chest as he idly investigated them, weighing his options. He didn't really want to spar, he couldn't understand the purpose of it other than wasting time. He was already agitated by not being about to do anything except wait around to dock somewhere near Entei. But he also didn't want to let his teammates down. He couldn't be mean or unreasonable, and so in the end he nodded and smiled. "Sure, let's pass some time" he said, sudenly stunned when he heard the small cheers from some nearby crew members who were excited to see a show between trained guardians of Occulas. The Team had told them on more than one occasion that they hadn't graduated yet - Tsuna didn't even seem to think she ever would - but they would also shrug this off, reassuring Team Sun that graduation meant nothing. He had to agree they had some merit.

Micha'el stepped forwards as the main deck was made clear by the crew, and then Micha'el summoned the Aria, and threw his hand out to the side flat - palm down. The Aria hovered above his other hand, at chest height. "By the divine power invested in me by the light of Aria, may no blood be shed within my reach. Within these walls may pain and fatigue by thy teacher." The Aria clapped shut. White magic then reached out and created a large circle around them, lighting up walls of light around them that turned invisible.

Lottie took her position before looking up at Captain Fenmaw, "count us down!" she shouted. The burly therian gave a small nod whilst maintaining a strong grip on the great ship's wheel. "3..." he said. Micha'el looked across at Lottie. "2..." he looked across now at Tsuna, concerned about her new werewolf abilities. Little did he know she might have even darker, newer tricks up her sleeve. "1..." Micha'el took in a deep breath, tossing the Aria behind him to levitate on it's own. Now would also be a good time to use his new magic. "Begin!" the Captain shouted. Lottie dashed to the side, moving quickly to disorientate her foes. Micha'el was momentarilly distracted, knowing she could be preparing a precise attack for either one of them. He decided leap up into the air with white, glowing wings of ethereal feathers... then he decided to attack Tsuna first with a volley of razor-sharp feathers.

Micha'el had expected Tsuna to deflect his attack, but instead she moved to dodge and - vanished. Adrenaline moved through him as his eyes caught something at his vision's edge. Tsuna was now on the other side of the deck. How did she move so fast? Micha'el turned and readied another attack. Lottie was also taken by surprised, not expecting to find Tsuna so close as she jumped to the side to gain some distanceand instinctually threw a spectral glaive at her location. But as she did, Tsuna moved quicker than she could see back to her initial spot. She then sensed danger from above, seeing Micha'els rain of razor feathers reflecting the light from above as they came soaring down on her. She summoned up all her glaives to create a shield above her, deflecting the attack. The two then focused on Tsuna, suddenly realising that her werewolf abilities must have heightened. Little did they know the truth of her actions behind the now flaming wall she summoned for a moment of reprieve.

In the middle of the space where Tsuna looked, the Prince of Crows appeared, arms crossed, eyes disinterested. He looked like a pale snake perturbed by her very existence. "It is you pecking at my ear, Little Mutt. Perhaps you should learn to control your gift, it is you and not I that command it." He then vanished, only to reappear immediately beside her shoulder as he quietly muttered "time to learn your new tricks, Little Mutt." He then vanished from existence, although a lingering presence could still be felt. Cold, barely touching the back of her spine.

Micha'el landed, giving up on his onslaught from above as he summoned a white sword and shield made from light. He then dashed forwards, charging through Tsuna's flames with his sword raised to strike. Lottie meanwhile decided to take advantage of the distraction and ran around to the side. Once she had vision on the two of them she commanded her glaives to encircle them from above - and launched them all down the moment that Micha'el would strike.

Micha'el and Tsuna clashed, staring at each other in the eyes whilst their weapons came to a grinding halt. Micha'el tensed, pushing against her brute strength, digging his feet into the wood of the ship to try and keep himself steady before the wall of flames behind him. He hadn't realised that Lottie was planning her attack, and when she stepped back he was thrown off balance. He wobbled forwards like a child trying to learn to walk, his mind trying to puzzle together what had happened. He then felt Tsuna grab onto his back, using him as a means to propel herself upwards. He followed her, then noticing the spectral glaives poised to assault him. At the last moment he raised his shield, deflecting most of the strikes - except for one. The grey, ethereal blade whistled past his face, grazing his shoulder. What would have normally been a flesh wound was instead a searing ache that cut through his nerves. All the pain of the strike, more achy than anything else, like a stubborn cramp, without the blood or open gash.

Lottie had no time to celebrate her first strike. Tsuna had appeared beneath her in mid-air, causing her to stutter and raise up Willow Morta in defence as a ball of fire was shot in her direction. It struck her weapon, exploding in a ball of heat and smoke. As the two landed, Tsuna prepared another strike. Lottie defended herself once more, but her small frame and light weight couldn't take the brunt of the force and she went skidding backwards, turning into tumble and a thud as she struck the edge of the deck.

The flames beside them were then blown out as a ball of stardust swept through it from one side to the other. Like a candle's wick being blown out, it smoked and filled the air with the smell of soot. Micha'el stood there, sword and shield no more - but he was surrounded by 3 balls of light that had trails of blue cyan dust. Like comets shooting through the sky. They orbited him, changing their radius depending on how far or close he wanted their protection to be. If Tsuna wanted to get up close, she'd have to time it right to dodge them. He then summoned a large two-handed sword of light and swung it through the air in front of him, sending an arc of his divine magic rushing towards her. He swung again, then across, then diagonally. He let the volley force Tsuna into a dodging frenzy but quickly noticed her mysterious trick meant she was too quick. As she came in close, he couldn't react fast enough to shrink the orbit of his stars. They exchanged some blows, where he deflected many attacks and took a strike to his side from her hammer - which he then returned with the pommel of his sword to her stomach to try and wind her. After that he summoned up his heavenly wings of light to jump backwards, creating distance. He recalled his stars, conjuring two more and then commanded them to spin around her much more quickly, in a much smaller circle. He couldn't allow her to get close, if she did, he would ultimately lose. He only hoped that his new magic - these stars - might give him that added protection he needs. As his wings faded, so too did his sword as he decided to try a different approach. Micha'el threw out his hands, throwing balls of white at Tsuna, which would purposefully miss, then latch onto the ground around her. Once he had two or three down he snapped his fingers that signalled the summoning of his divine chains. They shot out, attempting to latch onto Tsuna's limbs like an octopus reaching out from the depths of the sea.

Lottie came-to, her lungs desperately trying to fill with air. Willow Morta lay beside her, within reach, speaking silently to her and telling her to fight. She then swiped it up, pushing herself up from one knee, then onto both of her feet. She surveyed the area, seeing Tsuna dodging and coming up with a new battle-plan against Micha'el who was summoning chains and... magical balls of stardust? That's new, and pretty Lottie thought. She decided to lay low and wait for another opening.

Lottie noticed that Micha'el's magic successfully snagged one of Tsuna's limbs, attempting to hold her in place. The magical chain of divine light rattled and hummed as it withstood the force of Tsuna's therian strength. Lottie knew she had to act now, and so she took a step to take action. But as she did, she looked away for a brief moment as Tsuna broke away in her new form and moved with lightning speed behind her. With one firm strike from behind Lottie was knocked unconscious.

Micha'el tensed as his chain broke, knowing now that he would have to successfully attach several more if he wasn't to hold her down in her werewolf form. "Tsk" Micha'el made a noise as he watched her move quickly again, taking out Lottie from the equation. Then, before he could react, Tsuna had already appeared before him, within his boundary of starry orbs. Up-close, he could now notice the grey edge to her silhouette as she appeared, as if her very existence blurred slightly before her form was completely solid. Micha'el gasped, startled, as Tsuna used her enormous frame to overpower him and use her hammer to sweep him off his feet. With his concentration broken his summoned stars vanished into dust. She then raised up her hammer and in reaction Micha'el lifted up his arms, cyan essence gathering on his arms as he tensed and prepared for her last decimating blow.

But it never came. He heard her hammer bury itself into the wood, splintering, beside his head. Sweat ran down his brow as he uncovered his face to star at himself in the reflection of her weapon. Then, as she transformed back into her human form in a subtle flurry of black wisps of smoke, her snarling turning into an expression of sadness as she removed her weapon from the deck. He stared at her blankly as his own magic subsided. She then turned away, concealing her teary eyes from him. Little did he know she was half expecting another attack. But Micha'el had come to his own realisation. "Well fought" he said, "you win." He pushed himself up from the deck, retrieving the Aria as it spun into his palm, becoming a pendant for his necklace once again. The invisible barrier around their arena flashed then turned into white mist that vanished into the air. The sound of the crewmates watching on could be heard giving a few cheers and claps, whilst the ships captain looked on, eyes dead-set on Tsuna as he carefully steered the wheel.

Micha'el stepped up beside Tsuna. "You're super fast - seems like learning to transform has made your human form more agile too!" He stopped then, just as he was about to move to Lottie, as he noticed the glint of something wet on Tsuna's rosey cheek. He became a statue, a pit of blackness swirling in his chest as he asked "Tsuna? What's the matter? We're not hurt, my enchantment only lets us feel the fatigue and perhaps bruise a little. You know that. You won fair and square." In that moment he wondered, does the very act of fighting with her teammates, even in a sparring duel, take such a toll on her mental state? Even after all this time is she still in turmoil about bringing them into danger? She couldn't run now, they were in the open sea!... He decided not to think on that too much, she might surprise him and run so quick across the water that she doesn't sink. He shook the thought, then reminded himself. If I can be stronger, she won't have to suffer anymore. She won't have to run. Lottie won't have to lose herself to her weapon. I can protect them. I can protect everyone and no one will get hurt."

The image of the cyan star flashed in his mind. Burning bright. Reaching out for him.

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By the time that Tsuna started speaking, much of the crew had turned away to give them space, noticing her sudden change of mood. The captain followed up by eyeing everyone from above, silently nodding at them to get going so that the team could be left alone. However, as he remained at the wheel he was able to make out some of the conversation.

"Cheated?" Micha'el began, his voice stammering half because of confusion and half because a small seed of anger was beginning to regrow. He watched her pull off the bandages wrapped around her hand, a wound he thought was from smashing through the window in the city. She revealed a black mark on the back of her hand, with lines varying from thick to thin, arranged around a circle with tiny symbols lining the edges. It was like a tattoo scorched into her skin that shimmered grey at it's edged. She then spoke loudly, as if yelling at someone that was unseen. Micha'el took a step back, unsure of what to make of the sitatuation as she then explained her conversation with Nyru and Horakhty, followed by how she has borrowed powers by the Prince of Crows. She then demanded that Micha'el kills her before she could do something she regrets. The thought made his blood run cold, and before any other emotion could seize him he stepped forwards quickly and wrapped his arms around her. Squeezing tight, he said "I'm not doing that. I'll never do that. I couldn't live with myself if I ever did that to you."

Micha'el held on for as long as she needed him to. Any anger that might have been rising within him was diminished the moment she chose to tell him the truth. "I don't know who the Prince of Crows is... or what powers he has given you. But I do believe you. And I know that you would have only accepted those powers because you had no choice." Micha'el couldn't help but think of himself in that moment, and how he planned on gaining new powers to protect Tsuna and Lottie - he would make that choice so that Tsuna never has to feel like this again. "Thank you for telling me the truth" he said, squeezing again, "and for not running."
"Hey..." Lottie's voice came as she sluggishly got up, rubbing her head, "What's going on?" Micha'el finally released Tsuna, then held out one arm, to invite Lottie over. "Tsuna needs us right now" he said, with a smile. She then rolled her eyes and said "ah, when doesn't she need us?" in a cute, ironic tone as she rushed over to join the embrace. "We should go to your cabin to explain to Lottie, and me in more detail... away from everyone else."

Meanwhile, a figure in a cloak approached the captain up above, speaking words that no one could hear. "Aye" the captain side, nodding, un-phased by the mystery man. "Oh? Wouldn't be the first time I've met a soul tryin' to reason with superstition n' ghosts to make sense o' things. And I've got my own reason t' think this one's stressed." The cloaked figure turned its hood to face the captain, as if surprised. "Aye, I know of er. Only Therian in the world who has a tail in human form. But I were tol' she'd never transform."

(Let's head into the cabin, and Tsuna can debrief with the team?))

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(server migration fully killed the symbols on my new layout for Micha'el so using the old one again...)

Team Sun returned to Tsuna's cabin where they could speak freely without unwanted attention or eavesdroppers. Tsuna took no time in revealing what she knew to Micha'el and Lottie, who were both sat on the side of her bed, swaying ever so slightly with the tilt of the ship as it sailed over subtle waves. Micha'el did his best to understand it all, then Lottie began to list things by counting each of her fingers. "So... we have a ghost - who was the prince of the Land of Crows before Declasia? The disease is powered by arcane magic... and the only one powerful enough to wield that is Alexis?"
"Well" Micha'el interjected, "she might be using time magic to keep herself young. I... I'm not sure why Alexis would be behind spreading a deadly disease?"
"Didn't Magus-Bane die of a disease? The news kept it quiet for months..." Lottie paused in the silence, looking between Micha'el and Tsuna. Micha'el looked ready to say something but quickly conceded, accepting her point. Micha'el then stood up, circling around Tsuna as he thought. "What do we know about Alexis Truesvale?" he then asked, turning to face the girls. "The leader of the Arcaz Sovereignty falls sick, and then when he dies Alexis replaces him. What's her motive? Where did she come from? I've never heard of her before, have you?"
"She's one member of Team Elixir!" Lottie added, "They helped to end the Darkness of Lucifial. Laxion and Ruby battled Lucifial with a gypsy and some Daywalkers from the royal g-" Lottie let out a small squeal, gasping, "YOU DON'T THINK IT WAS NYRU AND CLAUDIA DO YOU?"
"What? Uh, no, Lottie! You're getting off point!"
"But what if it was?!" Lottie groaned, looking up at the ceiling as she droned "we were living with celebrities and I didn't even get an autograph!" Micha'el turned to Tsuna, looking exhausted as he said "tell her she's overreacting" before turning back to her suddenly and adding "ANYWAY - she's not really a member of Team Elixir, she wasn't there when they defended the island from the Scarred! It was just Laxion, Ruby, and Lucas. She just... inserted herself into that too."