Welcome to Gaia! ::

She was truly learning fast. Walter gave her an accepting nod to show her she had done well. And as she rushed off, just as she imagined Walter took the moment to fuss over his monocle getting it to sit just right before going back to garden work.

Yes! Waltewr and big brudder!

D would say back while zooming down the halls. He didnt know the place by heart persay, he knew it by feel. And he navigated the maze rather haphazardly, just barely missing a desk here, a table there. Flying truly would have been more fun, but Walter didnt allow D to skate in the house, it left horrible marks on the walls as D had not yet learned any method of stopping beyond crashing into his destination.

Still, it would be almost no time before they had arrived at a large set of double doors at the end of a long marble hall. A very large M had been engraved into the doors and as soon as they were within sight D slammed to a crawl, a mischievous grin sliding on his features, pointed white teeth creeping out from behind pale lips.

Wanna mess wif him?

Rae was indeed shocked, and upset, and before more than a moment had passed she was screaming at the top of her lungs for John to put her down, preferably on the ground!

Before she had been calm, if slightly ticked off at the puzzle that was her blank memory, but now she had a frantic feeling growing deep inside her. Her mind was telling her that people could not fly, not without machines! The arm that held her was a machine, but she didn't think it wa giving them the ability to fly!

Donner was about to tell her to hush before Grace did it for him, albeit a little differently. "Thank you Grace..." He murmured, adjusting his grip on the girl now she had gone limp. "...Are you able to wake her up again at short notice? I don't think the Shadow will like it if i present it with an unconscious girl out of the blue..."

Well, everything he was doing was rather strange at the moment. But unconscious might be a step too far.

The giant Aesir nodded. He should have thought things through a bit clearly before wisking the girl away. He'd been under pressure and scrutiny at the Stadium, and was still feeling a bit confused about what he was actually doing at this current moment in time...

Was he trying to regain his friend for his own purposes, or for hers? Even if he got Honoraven back - this was considering the Shadow even knew a way to bring her memory back - what then? He'd wished to seek her out because she was the Raven of Memory, and Andi had pointed him in the right direction...

...But there was something more happening.

No.

Something that would happen.

Something suddenly revealed itself in his mind, like a curtain drawn away, unveiling a truth that had been locked in his mind.

"War..." He whispered, not knowing that he'd said it.



He blinked as he was suddenly thrust back into reality, Grace's own words drowning out his one whisper. "...Yes. It is wise. If It cant help, then perhaps It can point me in the right direction...if it's being cordial, that is...the last time i tried to approach the island, The Shadow had rendered it impregnable by me. Otherwise i would've blown straight onto it."

He locked his eyes with Grace. "Perhaps i should send you in my stead...I'd like to think Walter would give you the courtesy of listening before kicking you off the island..."

"You'll be fine." Donner said quietly, as he opened his arm, allowing Grace to slip free.

For a split second Grace would feel the wind rushing through her hair - before her feet found solid ground. She'd been in free-fall for at least .25 of a second - then suddenly she was on the island.

She was in the middle of the Garden, tulips bobbing around her in the wind. Beside her, laid out comfortable admits a bed of colorful annuals, was Rae, sound asleep still. The gentle breeze died down slowly, only to pick up once more, creating a wave-patten amongst the flowers.

It was up to Grace now.

Grace's flight would be anything but difficult, abrupt or rough. It would be as if the winds themselves embraced her and carried her gently to the surface of the island. Maximos knew Grace and Ver, and Hono, they shared wonderful experiences. They were friends. And friends should be treated like proper guests, and they would be.

Tomorrow, Donner, or what ever title Thor put on the same war machine, would be left outside. As expected. Perhaps the other guests could vouch for his "safety".

There would be silence, and a warm gentle breeze for a minute or two before a rattling echoed from the wooden door of the windmill, and out came Walter. The stately butler looked to be in his mid 60's, his white hair tied back in a small ponytail, a monocle in his right eye, a black vest, pants, shoes, a white dress and simple white gloves. His every step was the epitome of glass and formality. And with the brightest smile on his face, he approached the guests.

Madam Grace, Madam Verandi, and company...

Of course referencing Rae.

...Master Maximos apologizes that he's currently directly in the middle of a magical ritual, as soon as he's finished he'll meet you each in person. In the meantime, is there anything I can do for you?

His voice was calm, gentle and warm, and as a proper butler...only ever an octave above a whisper.

"How are the tulips?"

A voice called from high above, almost swallowed by the wind itself.