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"--!" The horse neighed loudly, even as arms wrapped around him and eyes widened in surprise.

But it wasn't the touch of arms along a boy's chest that stirred those eyes. An unending road, with wind whipping past, and the feel of warmth against a man much older. The roar of the bike gave way to the relaxed look that yellowed eyes gave out.

Meanwhile...

"Damn it...-- what is this!?" Stepping back, he waved his right arm, trying to send a bunch of the snakes flying, even as he caught sight of Owle and the younger Vahn.

"I see now. Too bad. The hope of saving that useless trash that you gave birth to... ...and all this effort to stop me has been wasted. He will be swallowed up by me!"

Yelling aloud, the Other tore himself from the towering staircase, weilding an ice cold flamberge that seemed to deprive the surrounding area of heat, instead of producing it.

However as he sailed downward, he began to encounter resistance, as a result of Lucind's interference.

Born from the inner world itself, spurred by something inside the true persona, projections of those close to Vahn made themselves known.

thrown back by a mid-air swing from a quarterstaff, the Other found himself thrown into the ground, cratering. "UGH--!"

"Thank you," Owle said aloud to the Vahn she was clasping, seeing the figures rise up against the Other. She took them as a sign, a sign that he was beginning to come out, that he was going to fight now.

"You want any help, or you got this one?" She was grinning behind him like a madwoman. The snakes around them were slowly easing up on the poor horse, letting Vahn take more control of the animal.

If you have any brilliant ideas, or a good plan, something I should be doing that I'm not... she sent to Lucind. Just let me know, and I'll do as I can.

The snakes that had attacked the other were sent flying, both from his attack and from his sudden decision to be airborn. A very small number clung to him stubbornly, even so...these were crushed and thrown off when the Other impacted the ground. All in all, thirty snakes withered and died, leaving only 60 still seperate from Owle and acting on their own.

They hissed and spat when the image of Sunstrike appeared, crawling even further away from it and the battle with the Other. They knew that it brought them pain and sadness, but they also knew assaulting it would only bring worse pain and sorrow. So they kept their distance, hissing and spitting their displeasure to any who cared to listen.

You okay, Owle?

Lucind knew the horse had shied away from something, even though she didn't turn her head, but held the look of the Other, unfaltering.

Bring him here, if it's possible. But watch out...he might...don't be too pushy...

Ignoring his question and still not holding back her mental call, the Half-Siren replied:
"For some reason, your way of talking reminds me of Victor.
You surely like him better than his brother, or that part of his persona you call 'pathetic', don't you?.

Absolute freedom...." She murmured the last words, as if pondering on their meaning.

Is that one of your fears, Vahn? To be like -him-?

"Killed by the sons of Anak... Without doubt an indelible trauma. - Tell me, what was it like? You were there, though not in this form I suppose. Could you stand the terror and pain...? Maybe it was even the hour of your birth..."

Lucind got the feeling that she was close to solve the riddle, to fully understand this projection of Vahn's mind - and she hoped they could balance the whole situation until then.

"And tell me, if he was lost - why is he still here then? And don't say because of you, because you held him upright. If you want your freedom, then why did it take you ages to stand up?

I tell you: he goes his way. But I could also say you go your way. Only that...you are not the leader. What world would it be if everyone gave way to his Other side?"

Do you hear that, Vahn? Do you want to finish your things here? Find yourself a home? Whatever it is, you've still got chances. You don't even have to do it alone.

But you have to come back for now...

"Shut up-- shut up-- SHUT UP!!"

Yellowed eyes widened even as the matured Vahn swung out with his flamberge once more, sending a freezing wave towards Lucind. "You know nothing! Of the pain-- the sorrow-- the loneliness!!"

The teenaged Vahn stared down, horse long forgotten as he slowly reached and pressed his hand against the ice. "I... I know you... all of you... " Tears fell to the ice even as his head was lowered, his body trembling by Owle's.

He was suddenly pulled up and back by arms, finding himself hugged tightly by Owle, even as the ice began to finally crack, a thin scrawny arm reaching out.

This was a body long since past its prime.. a body that showed over decades of age... with faded yellow eyes, and graying hairs of a lost black hue.

Yet the weathered and wrinkled face bore one recgonizable scar.

So we come full circle.

The young, the bold, and the frail.

Three parts of a whole, shattered into their own choosing.

"Yeah..." Owle said softly, in response to the teenaged Vahn. "You do."

She held him close, supporting him as best she could, as the older man...older Vahn?...pulled himself from the ice. Yes...that was the same scar...this was another Vahn. As if the eyes weren't enough to tell her.

"Well..." she looked up at the older Vahn, then down at the teenager she still held close, her arms lightly around him. She wasn't going to hinder him if he chose to move, to escape her grasp...but for now she was close, and warm...comforting.

"What do you two say we put things back in order around here?"

I'm doing what I can.

She sent the thought to Lucind, feeling the 60 snakes she had left unchecked suddenly cry out and charge forward as the freezing wave went straight at Lucind. Of course they were too far away...they couldn't reach her before the shot got to her. But they were there, and close to her now. In case he tried again.

She had faith in us.

They stopped where they were, now, making no further move. Lucind had handled it, the danger was no longer immediate, and they were reminded again of the presence of one whose very image brought them pain. Still, there was no telling what they might do if the Other attacked Lucind again.

By the way...if you need them, just call them. Owle had felt rather than seen the snakes behavior, and for once she was confident they'd do the right thing if Lucind needed them.

Nodding mentally at Owle's offer, the Half-Siren's senses carefully reached out for the remaining snakes, asking them if they would be ready to distract the Other if needed so - just when the old and the young Vahn merged into one, which Lucind took as a sign that they were almost done here.

Running a hand through her untied hair and occasionally brushing her ear hidden under blue strands, she stared back at the Other, whose rage obviously was about to reach its peak.
"Well, from your point of view...or most likely from anyone's point of view who doesn't belong to my people, I maybe don't have the right to do what I do, that it is arrogant, dangerous to 'mess' around with someone's inner world.

But there's an oath I have to obey: protect soul and mind; don't make no difference between friend and stranger; make sure nobody will ever be forgotten - his life, thoughts and dreams.

If the real Vahn tells me to not enter his mind ever again, I may follow his wish. But if he - or you become a threat for others, for other souls...should he get out of control..

'If you can't save someone's mind, at least guide his soul over the ocean.'"

She wondered how much longer the Other would listen to her babbling before he exploded - and if he had noticed her removing the pearl from her earring.

"This it what we've been doing for aeons. Maybe it's a cold job, yes: take as much information as you need for reparing mind or soul, calculate your energy, plan your next step well, don't risk your life unnecessarily.

Yet..."

The woman shrugged lightly and for the first time she showed a smile, a real, warm smile.

"You know about my blood, don't you? Makes everything more difficult for me..."

[Breaking Benjamin - Sooner or Later]

"..Owle..." His head was lowered, even as pressed a hand to his face. "What are you--- what's going on----"

Eyes widened and he actually took in stock of where he was, before also noticing that he actually had no clothes on.

It was about the same time that the Other was ont he tail end of Lucind's words when he felt a nagging sensation in his gut. It was hard to ignore, all things considered.

"Dammit.. out of time, as usual." Speaking apparently as if this were not the first time he had run the gambit.

He turned his eyes back onto Lucind. "As usual, my performance has to be cut short..." He smiled deeply.