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Illusion's voice was broken. "Lucas stop! I will not crawl low enough just to ask the King to remove this curse" she spat at the word. "Once from fire...always from fire." She tried to rise off of Hidama, to support her own weight. "Hidama, please stay with me..." she whispered the words into her ear, no one else would hear her except for possibly Luke. "This may last longer than I thought." Then for all to hear. "I'm leaving! I don't care about staying in hiding! Nothing has worked for me or my people!"

She felt the reassuring warmth of his hand, the rough callused hands and squeezed them tightly. She stood, her long white hair dragging to the ground, still bound but coming undone. She opened her blue eyes, she knew from seeing others that her pupils should be a milky white now. The thought brought more salt to her eyes.

Ait streams will be my way of life now, they only way to tell direction, to see people, to live. She shook her head numbly at Lucas. I will make him my prince, and he shall guide me. I shall make Hidama royal, and she will lead with me... She reached out blindly towards Hidama who still sat at her feet. I will be strong without vision.

"Please, lead me. Stay with me..." She remembered Talia, Violet, Xin, Tala, Kiro, and Colm. She did not know if they were all fine or if they had all equally been attacked like herself.

[exuent to PalpiSol I guess >.> meet you there Hidama]

Kiro saw Illusion leave. Damn it all... I still couldn't tell her... He guessed it was for the better of things. Water has no allies now, and has teh biggest territory to defend. Their cities were far, and wide apart, with only three military bases, and on the far edge was a frequently visited temple and holy ground. "I need... I need to go. My nation has no allies in the war as of yet, and they will need everything they can get to safeguard the towns. Specially the Temple on the far side of the nation." He sighed, "I-I need to help my own nation before I help the Capitol City and it's remains. I-I hope to see you soon." He didn't like to say those sort of things, and for once, he didn't sound so sure about leaving. He turned away, "King Colm, you are still the King, and the Water Nation recognizes that, but if you side with your homeland, we WILL break off from the Capitol Alliance..." With that, he walked out the temple, not being phased by any of the new arrivals and departures.

[Exuent Recon Isles]

Valkyrie rose hesitantly to her feet, still feeling ill at ease with her body. She pushed her bangs out of her face, and leaned against a pillar for support, thinking over the king's words.

Am I angry with His Majesty? No. I don't think I am. Because of this, I learned about Eien's killer, something I've wanted to know for all of the two years he's been dead.

Decidedly, she shook her head. "I have no problem with you, Your Majesty."

Tala shrunk back from the livid man, not wanting to be caught in his electricity. Before she could say anything, Illusion intervened. Her point went unsaid. But she didn't know how important it was now in this time of war.

I side with him because he is the King. He does what is best for the people.

When they had left, she stood, unsure of what to do with herself. She didn't want to go into hiding. But if she sided with anyone, then that would mean that she was no longer able to keep peace. She decided that she would stay in the temple, since Kiro and Valkyrie were here.

But Kiro decided that he needed to leave. She understood his reason for doing so, but she couldn't help but think that she was stupid for even entertaining the notion that she should have any feelings for him. She didn't fit in his world. He was a higher status and of an opposing Nation that had been sworn enemies with her own since the beginning of time.

She didn't fit anywhere. She didn't even fit in her own world; if she voiced her ideas in front of the Senate, she would be exiled or even executed for treason. Fighting back the urge to completely break down in front of the people, she kept her expression calm, her face resembling that of a porclein doll. Smooth and unfeeling.

"Safe roads and swift travels, Duke Kiro." She kept her melancholy thoughts from the King or anyone else who could pry into her mind. "If you'll excuse me, I need to continue my research on the cause of the fire in the Capital. Good day."

She forced a smile for Valkyrie. She walked past her and wandered around the temples until she found one that was covered in pillows and had an altar in tribute of the Fire Goddess. She closed the mammoth double doors when Makani had entered after her and put an unbreakable locking spell on it. She crumpled to the floor. Silent tears began to run down her face. She laid out her hand, palm up, and created a small flame. She watched it with dispair.

Valkyrie watched Tala intently, knowing that something was wrong with her friend. The smile Tala had given her obviously been forced. And it had all started when Kiro had decided to leave. Perhaps Tala had feelings for the water element...?

'Tala?' She called out through their connection, but it seemed that Tala had closed it off for the time being. Valkyrie frowned, concerned, but pushed it away. Tala had said she was going back to work. If that was so, then Valkyrie needed to do the same.

But what is my work?