Welcome to Gaia! ::

As the door closed, Joshua and moments later his companion would be able to see the flat figure of the Skellion slip under the door frame and slither away in a flash down one of the many halls.

And then they were traveling. It was very easy to get lost on Shadow Island. While everything was wonderfully decorated, the length and size of the estate meant that certain decorations repeated themselves. Only vague changes noticeable by only the most practiced or most perceptive guided the way. The paneling on the walls repeated the same pattern, every so often it seemed one would see the same desk with the same vase and perhaps slightly different flowers. Perhaps a vase was at the center of at able not the end. Every so many feet other hallways intersected and crossed the main hall like a complex and yet ornate hive.

It was in one such crossroads, a four way cross, that Joshua would see it. The demon would likely be the first to notice it because he had been in the manor the longest, and thusly would be able to recognize something which never existed previously better than someone who had never seen any of this previously.

At the center of the crossroad was a bleached white skull bobbing softly as it floated in an orbit around the center of the intersection. Atop the skulls head was a burning candle, with a sharp purple flame casting pale light in all directions. The skull seemed oblivious to anything but its own circular path until Joshua entered the light. In order to proceed it was impossible not to. All at once it stopped, its head snapped in his direction and the shadows burst into motion. Lengths and tendrils of black curled and twist in from the depths outside the light. They pooled and joined and spread until a form was manifest. Beneath the white skull was now a tattered and torn black cloak, a wicked thing that spoke of combat and carnage and monstrousness. The grinning white face contorted as it opened, inside of its the skulls mouth were rows and rows of sharp fanged teeth. It now, suddenly, more closely resembled some infernal creature's head as opposed to a humans. It screeched a loud piercing sound that echoed off the wood walls and without warning, it was in motion.

Like a fish glides through water the cloaked skull raced at Joshua with seemingly nothing but malicious intent. Only...not at Joshua, but at the being in his arms. And already, behind the first gnash skull down each of the four visible lengths of hall moved several more skulls. Each with a candle atop their head. Each floating ominously toward the noise.

With a crunch Joshua would find that the hungry skullish fiend had both the consistency and endurance of...a human skull. The white bone shattered all too easily, and then way of the force he placed into his vehement defense jagged bits of bone and fang pierced him. While a moment ago the demon would have been able to smell that ripe rich scent of Maximos' particular brand of arcana flooding the air the very moment the skull was shattered and the candle was put out the scent vanished. The magic dispersed as easily as if it had never been there, all vestiges of the shadowy essence slithering away into the house proper.

It seemed the skulls sharp fangs, fierce appearance, and heavy magic existed solely of the purpose of...giving the skull sharp fangs and a fierce heavily magical appearance. As Joshua had assumed, in a house of shadows and nightmares this was exactly the sort of thing one would expect to see.

And now, with their comrade gone the other floating skulls immediately engaged their own nightmarish transformation. Each one took on a slightly different appearance, this one had large malformed eyes, this one had several horns, this had vampiric fangs...and they all speed like with their candles streaking a path through the hall like a bright violet LED. And it seemed by the their angles and the set of their glowing eyes, it seemed not a single skull was looking at, heading for, or had even noticed Joshua. They were swarming, five or six were immediately in view and behind those were a dozen more pale violet lights barreling and twisting down passages and tunnels and crowding the halls with a wave of 3-set violet lights. Two eyes, one candle. The only hall it seemed that was not visited by a plague of nightmarish skulls was the hall down which he had originally come, and yet if he ran down that hall it was almost assured they would follow too.

Joshua was about to be face to face with and infestation when...

"Skullion désarmet." And all too familiar voice called out from behind him. "Incultus infernos, toujours effrego mis choses."

It was the somewhat annoyed voice of a one Maximos Lucillien Dark, speaking what could safely be assumed to be Arian. The skulls reacted immediately, each stopped dead in its tracks. The writhing and tattered cloth beneath it quite literally poofed out of existence in a cloud of black and dispersed into the houses ambient darkness. And then all at once the skulls began retreating, depending on how long Joshua stood to watch he would notice that as the cranium's returned to their normal human forms a few of them took up resting spots on the tables which had repeated in the background during his walk. Others hung on spots on the wall, and still other vanished down the hallways they came likely to assumed similar resting places. Joshua might also notice that not a single skull came from behind him, where Maximos was currently walking.

"Really Razliek? Must you break something every time you visit?" Maximos said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. The Shadow was dressed in a usual vest with a set of dress sleeves rolled up to his elbows and various kinds of paint and fluid staining his face and hands. He had clearly been at work. "The Skullion's were designed to scare thieves and intruders back out the way they came and or occupy them until someone can properly attend to them. There is no reason why they should..."

He stopped, as Maximos forward into the intersection he came to a stop. There was a girl caged in the corner. This wasnt Joshua's usual style, it wasnt Maximos' style either...but far be it from the Shadow to judge. There was a very faint glow from his right eye, and a few sniffs at the air. He chuckled a bit to himself, adjusted his glasses and then turned to face Joshua again with a wry smirk on his face.

"I see." She smelled of grave soil, she was smothered in Joshua's very unique sort of essence, a mix match of positive and negative and strictly organized via now no longer present circles and shapes in chalk.

"You made yourself a girlfriend! Congratulations!" All hints of annoyance were completely gone from Maximos' face. Joshua was free to whatever deviant ways he chose. This of course, meant they had a new guest to attend to. That explained everything. "Did it have to be used? You strike me as the sort to demand...em fresh product."

Maximos paused again, his nose crinkling slightly. For some reason unexplained reason his right arm began to twist and stir, though he ignored it. Now that he had noticed it, it was hard to concentrate over that smell. She smelled like a garbage can! Or was it just rotten soup? "Were you going to eat her?"

"I would have tried not to break your things if I could avoid it, maybe starting by putting out those candles and seeing if that would do, but..." his reply came with a suitable twinge of disinterest for the bothersome creatures, "you leave me little other choice when your things try to eat mine."

Maximos bowed, and offered a very formal apology. It was the sort of apology that usually in both tone and delivery that usually meant the individual was not very sorry at all. Maximos in truth, was actually more than a bit surprised that the Skullion managed to draw blood! But at the same time he did not imagine Joshua had alot of experience fighting while defending anything or anyone.

"At least it isn't just a copy of someone else's." Maximos feigned a dramatic offense and then added.
"I prefer the term "upgrade". An upgrade, of someone else's." And then with a smirk he added. "Although I recently upgraded the original as well...but then again, can it ever be said that an elf does not need upgrades?"

Maximos found himself off on a tangent of thought. This happened very often while he was working and lead to him adding together several concepts that seemingly had no correlation to each other. It was as excellent way to make unique and wonderful things...but when his work was interrupted it bled over and it was not so excellent a way to hold a conversation. Eventually his mind snapped back and continued the subject at hand. Particular when the demon took the girl in his arms and said a certain name.

"Say hello, Gale." Maximos' eyebrow cocked.
"Were you going to eat her?" And then it clicked. And then his eyes widened. And then they immediately shrunk into slits as he leaned forward taking the little girl in a second time. It wasnt the body. Clearly. But there was something in her...just a fleck, just a shard. And yet it was in a container so much bigger than itself, and was just beginning to fill it out. But yes...yes it was her. Maximos immediately genuflect himself.

"A pleasure to properly meet you Lady Gale." He said with a wide smile. "My apologies about all that..." His two hands actually made air quotes to say. "..."killing you" business."

And then of course, like a proper gentleman he extended his hand as a greeting and to offer a handshake. Of course...it just so happened to be the hand she died in, but it was gloved and such.

"A sheath, a sword rack, some sharpening...trust that here on Shadow Island all your needs will be tended to. However..." And his eyes rose back to the demon. "I believe Walter has drawn you a bath in the bathroom nearest your personal room. Dinner will be ready in about an hour or so, I hope to see you...." His eye glanced at Gale, then back to Josh indicating both. "...there."

And with a parting wave, Maximos was off. The way to the bathroom would be rather clear, but inside Joshua would find a particular issue. He had requested a dress, and a dress was provided. As was soap, and warm water, brushes, shampoos and various scrubbing utensils, and a variety of feminine hygiene products...but the dress however was exactly what he requested. It was a dress the size and proportions of Teira's dresses. That meant that it was built for a full grown female figure with the proportions of a swim suit model, wearing swimsuits that never fit. Even though Maximos had not designed her that way, shadow conforms to suit its wearer. This meant that although proper in every regard, it was built for a very thin waist, large hips, a round rear and a cup size a rank or two above what is usually sold in average department stores.

This could present a small problem. Or, at the very least, represent a big joke.

Dinner was today as it was yesterday, and as it was the day before. Nothing about it was different from what Joshua had experienced before save for the fact that dinner on Shadow Island was different from anywhere else on Gaia.

The Dining Room itself was humongous, far larger and longer than it ever need be to accommodate its few residents. If everyone who live one Shadow Island and everyone who had ever visited the house during Maximos' reign over it were to visit all at once the room might begin to appear populated. Mostly, the guests would look like the last few customers who lingered with their final items after the enormous department store was closed.

The room was very long but not as wide with pillar supports along the north and south walls and huge floor to ceiling stained glass windows at the east and west walls. Stained glass best depicted its beauty during the day, but Shadow Island never saw day. Despite how inviting the large windows were, they were also a reminder that just a few feet past them was nothing more than rock and dirt. This house was never meant to be underground.

The dining room table was placed in the center of the lengthy room was over 50ft in length. A split in its center hinted that an extension could be added to make the table even longer, as if such a thing was never necessary. Joshua would enter the dining room from the north, through a set of double doors. Directly across from him, on the opposite side of the table was a fireplace. The fireplace looked as if it could fit six average built people side by side, and it was alive with a roaring fire. The fire was a dull purple, but rolled to a rich lavender, a dark indigo, and even a vague cobalt. This cast a sort of light on the dining room table and the room as a whole, working in conjunction with the chandelier hanging overhead filled with easily over a hundred lit candles, illuminated by a similar unnatural light. Place settings were made at the center of the table spanning outwards. Silverware, crystal ware, fine china (created no where near China), all glinted and reflected the various dark hues of the dark light. No denotation of status was made. No one sat at the foot or the head of the table. Maximos was just not that sort of individual. Today three places were set, one on the south side two beside each other on the north.

Maximos stood beside the place setting at the south, the large churning fire at his back making him a appear more like a silhouette than a man. Or perhaps a shadow, casting darkness on the darkness. He might not have seemed real at all if not for his constant motions and gestures to the man beside him. He was very animated, and the closer one got the more one could hear how very heated a discussion this actually was.

"But no. Nothing! The fabric is just too thick!" Walter, his gray hair tied back behind his head in a small pony tail, simply nodded. Purple light reflected off his monocle making it look like a bright lavender disk where his eye should be.

"I cannot send anything substantial without it being reduced to nothing. I even tried sending myself as a shadow, but that is all I stay. An ambient shadow stuck behind something." Walter again chose to simply nod. His face spoke of understanding and interest, but the stately butler never commented instead choosing to keep his personal knowledges clandestine. And it seemed, that despite how agitated Maximos appeared he never once asked the butler to interject or to comment. He simply required a sounding board. And sound he did. Polite and proper as ever Walter did interrupt his master until his sentence was done, at which point after nodding he turned his head in the direction Lord Razliek and Lady Gale and gave only the most proper of bows. Walter had a way of genuflecting that made an individual, even if not royalty, feel as if they were in some way suddenly higher class.

"Prince Kar, Lady Gale. An honor that you should join us." Maximos for just a flash looked momentarily surprised as if he for a moment did not recognize those particular names. As if he was caught in another world, a daydream and its dream world bubble had just popped. His surprised was quickly replaced with a smile, and he to bowed. Maximos' bow was formal, and yet even at its best could not match Walter's. And yet, today's bow was lacking, as if it was somewhat rushed, and as if at the same time that rush was trying to be hidden or erased.

"Razliek, Gale, have a seat. Make yourselves at home. Dinner will be served shortly." Maximos sat, but could not help smirking. "I see you two cleaned up rather nicely."

At this, Walter's soft glance fell on Gale, his elderly gray eyebrow cocked. In a delicate octave just above a whisper the man-servant said. "That is not the dress I..."

"I provided Razliek a piece of attire more befitting his request. A garment from the dollhouse, if you will."
"You took a dress from Lady Teira's room?" Walter said, turning the cocked eyebrow on Maximos.
"Yes." He replied proudly.
"She will not be pleased."
"As if she wears them...as if her proportions do not continue to change...as if she's ever here! She only wears that thing with the straps and the hearts that might as well be underwear! The dress was better suited to Lady Gale. Look how perfectly it fits here petite figure."

Maximos made a passing gesture at Gale, and had to choke back a laugh, instead tossing the demon a wicked grin. Walter did not seem to share the sentiment. And yet Walter also never crossed the line into giving his master any judgmental looks, instead, he made another perfect bow in Lady Gale's direction and said. "Your room with be stocked with a wardrobe of properly tailored attire."

It was in the small details that it showed. Maximos' interaction seemed normal enough except to those with a trained eye. Except to those who had spent a great deal of time with him. By average standards, Maximos had cleaned himself up wonderfully, but by his standards he was a bit unkempt. His fingertips and nails still held multicolor stains. His clothes were pressed and worn, and yet one cuff link was undone, his necktie was a hair off. Maximos' eyes were never able to stay on one target at a time, even when speaking he looked at an individual before his sentence was concluded his eyes were already peeling off onto the next target. It was as if his brain had concluded the dialogue before his mouth and was already rushing to the next topic. He was proper, and not rude, and yet if one looked carefully enough it seemed the efforts to maintain this formality were not as pleasurably indulged as usual. They seemed to be obstacles in the way of something else. Maximos was at dinner, his mind where here, and yet at the same time a greater portion of his mind was elsewhere. Wherever that was, for the moment Maximos' attention moved to Gale. He smiled a warm smile, as warm as ever and said.

"So how does flesh feel over steel?" Before he finished his eyes had snapped to Joshua. "Be happy her flesh is flesh, other mediums only give ridiculous amounts of trouble." And he was back on Gale, patiently awaiting an answer.

Walter, was a man of great many things. But he was not a man of pride. He may have known enough to fill libraries, but he did not gain that knowledge through osmosis, but through experience. And he most certainly did not know everything. Any man who honestly believed that did know everything, truly knew nothing. And so, in equally proper display Walter bowed in cue with the demon princes final bow and very softly said. "My sincerest and deepest apologies Prince Razliek, I meant no offense."

And the lesson would never need be repeated.

Maximos however, took a more vested interest in the exchange. He leaned back in his chair, his elbows pausing on either arm rest as his fingers interlaced in front of his face and he look, sincerely and truly at his Reaper counter part. There was something different about the way Joshua treated Walter. There was a respect. And while there was a respect between the two of them it was a far different sort. More than that, Maximos attention was drawn to the way in which he spoke of his culture.

Records existed for all Reapers so that they may watch each other as they watch existence. Maximos had read many such files but reading Joshua's always felt like...a spoiler. He had learned bits and pieces, but refused to simply blow through it all. Experiences with the demon would teach him so much more. He wondered if one of those bound souls was Kar of Renn. But he doubted it. There was a hint something in the other man's voice that said Kar was something far larger than the royals bound to the infernal First. Curious...and yet the answers would come in time, he was sure. For now he sat up properly and events continued.

The Lady Gale flashed him a smile in response to his comment and truthfully, Maximos meant no real offense. When he constructed Teira he constructed something modest and simple. Maximos was not a lustful man. She grew into what she was and his feelings on the subject were mixed at best. Part of him knew she would grow to become whatever she would and that was necessary. Part of him was proud to see something he created work so wonderfully and be displayed so proudly. But the largest part of him honestly wished that her sense of decency had matured with the rest of her.

There was a simplicity to Gale that he honestly appreciated. Her smile was pure, her nod was...mostly correct. She was simple. And yet not plain, but rather simple in the way an apple was simple. It was a small red thing not assuming in any way, and yet it was perfect and needed no bells whistles or flashy lights. Though, he imagined, being able to walk would have been a nice improvement if only for her convenience.

All and all she looked well, as did the prince who had dressed himself...well Maximos could not remember a single occasion in which he had seen Razliek so properly dressed. Even despite the pieces of the ensemble that were missing this was a far cry above jeans and a T-shirt, or rags and a cloak. Albeit a very fancy cloak. To his recollection, the classiest thing he could remember Razliek willing wearing was his hat, in this dining room. The memory of what followed that exchange brought a smirk to Maximos' face. Walter did not seem wary of the idea of having most of the dining room and table destroyed, this time.

And then all were seated and Maximos posed his question. He wasnt precisely sure what he expected Gale to do for an answer but he was curious. He took her bobbing nod to mean yes, she preferred flesh to steel. And then she touched her chest and her cheeks. Was she saying she loved her face? Did she enjoy having a heartbeat and flesh? Was it simply an attempt at a joyful gesture that was skewed just enough to be mistakable? It could have been all of these, and more, especially as she began to slip and had to be corrected. Instead of focusing on the details Maximos took in that the gesture was indeed a happy one and simply said.

"Good, very good." At which point the stately butler beside him spoke up and said. "Dinner, is served." Taking a bow to emphasize the point.

What followed could only really be described as an orchestra of motion and color. Doors opened at the east and west ends of the dining hall. These doors lead only to the kitchen with no guest access, and from the doors poured Skellions. Each masked figure held a covered silver tray all of various sizes in its gloved hands, some Skellion's had to team together to hold larger trays, other Skellions had no trays but carts with various containers of liquid in them. Some steaming, some perspiring, others sloshing, still others bubbling. Each moved with precision and grace bringing the tray to the table and setting it down in an exact pre-planned location making the entire act of serving dinner into a choreographed dance in which dark silhouettes passed by and between each other with only their multitudinous eyes to act as a sort of violet starry sky momentarily filling the room. Within a few minutes the entire length of the dining room table was covered, and while it was more than these three could ever eat, it was unlikely anyone save perhaps Gale was surprised.

Color, came when the dance ended and a Skullion was left with a hand on each tray. Still, silent and waiting. Violet eyes fell on Maximos, who had at some point during the ballet stood.

"I believe this is the time in which most mundanes would say a prayer to their chosen deity and begin eating. I imagine it is as if dedicating the meal to the god. I think, present company considered, such a practice would be more than a bit off. So, in lieu of the more commonplace sobriquet, allow me to assign this feast a more appropriate meaning and dedicate this meal and the enjoyment here in..." At which point he bowed, as formally as he knew how, setting aside whatever had managed to steal his focus to give full attention to the gesture. At the bottom of his bow his arm gracefully slid out gesturing across the table.

"...to Lady Gale. Who has honored us with her presence, and gifted us her birth." Maximos began to clap, there was no sarcasm in this, but sincerity. Walter also clapped. And as he clapped, the Skullion's clapped. Or rather, their hands did move but each emitted a clapping sound. While he may not have listed Joshua as her creator, he somehow believed the Reaper would not mind if Gale and Gale alone was given this moment. When the clap faded, Maximos bowed halfway a second time and said.

"Let us begin." And all at once the Skullion's removed the lids from the plethora of trays revealing a veritable rainbow of colors. Just about every edible animal on Gaia had its place on this table as did a few that were not from Gaia. Today's meals were kept mostly locale, and mostly recognizable, where as their regions of origin covered Gaia's globe. Among them specifically however was a certain black soup and spidery meet that had presented itself during Joshua's first meal on Shadow Island. While every color was dyed in the tint of the flame, none of the colors seemed to diminished because of it. When dinner began on Shadow Island, Walter would list off the items on each days menu. Unfortunately in the time it took for him to complete the list all but some of the enchanted foods were cold. Walter remained silent but wore a proud smile.

Automatically, a Skellion moved to place a large steak on Maximos' plate while another manned a bowl of mashed potatoes, another gravy, and a last to pour tea. This choice was, as far as Maximos was concerned, an exotic meal. A wave of the Shadow's hand staved them off. It was rude to be served before ones guests. With light purple glows set on Prince Razliek and The Lady Gale, but mostly Prince Razliek, the silhouettes patient awaited orders.

There was nothing quite so satisfying, when you are a man of much, as seeing a gift happily received by one that did not have quite as much. In this case, the gift was no riches or even the expensive and high quality of everything surrounding the Lady Gale but the experience itself.

While Maximos would never be able to understand what it was like to make the transition from object to living being he imagined that since things on Shadow Island surprised most everyone, that everything she had experienced here would be a first experience, a new experience, and perhaps part of the thrill of living. Maximos had lived for a number of years, Joshua a number more, but Gale hadnt even truly lived on year, he was a man of much giving to the one of not quite as much.

Her clap, or rather her attempt at clapping brought a brilliant smile to his face. He found himself reminded of a dinner he shared with a young woman in full plate who could not read some years earlier.

"Is there anything you'd like to try first?" Razliek said, and Maximos watched, fully interested in seeing her tastes form. She had no concept of flavor likely, but she might soon find what flavors she did and did not enjoy. In moments she was stockpiled with plates and dishes, surrounded by her own personal army of entree's. Joshua, over Gale would find that some of the dishes closest to the Lady Gale were not infact things she had selected. But, most everything within arms reach of her shared a particular quality. There were soups. Fried things in small easily manageable sizes. Finger sandwiches, and a variety of dipping sauces. So as not make her feel her selections were being ignored everything she asked for was present, just a step or two beyond the first layer....even if in all likely hood she might not reach the second layer.

Walter himself quietly stepped away from his master and made a walk around the table, he stepped in beside Gale as easily as any of the Skellies had and with one hand set down what was a plate with some sort of sausage on it, only the sausage had now been sliced into small pieces. What looked to be a towel lay over his unused arm. And then just as fluidly, as if setting down another orderve he moved beside Prince Razliek and set down the "towel" folded over his arm, and a few extra forks. The towel, as it was laid out proved to a bib. Skellies moved in to place down a few extra napkins. This was, of course, all done silently so as not to alert the Lady obnoxiously of her own mishaps and mayhap make her uncomfortable, but while still providing the necessary equipment to handle said mishaps. Gale was not stupid, but there was no reason for her to be made to feel stupid.

Maximos' attention was fully locked on seeing how this all played out. He leaned back in his chair and interlocked his fingers, laying them over his lap. And he watched. This was a curious gaze as opposed to any sort of creepy leer. With a chuckle he couldnt help but add on to his fellow Reaper's comment.

"Is there anything you wouldnt like to try?" And then, forseeing the inevitable outcome he said. "Dont worry, what you dont finish can be saved and brought to you later in the eve."

The Brother's visage vanished in unison as they both grabbed their respective blades, leaving only their words echoing in her ears. All at once, the air went out of her, as if she'd forgotten that this new body needed to breathe and she had held her breath for too long-- unaware that she'd even been holding it. Her shoulders hunched as the strain of the days events caught up to her, and she felt suddenly weary, in a way that she had not experienced before.

"We shall see..."

She repeated the words softly, before closing her eyes and sighing half with exhaustion and half with frustration.

"Why do I feel, like I've done something wrong?"

The words were to herself, but it was at that moment that Walter spoke and then came to stand beside her, startling her from her self reflection.

"Ah, excellent. It seems all went as planned."

Her eyes snapped open as she half swayed-half turned to face Walter. Shadows unwound from her hands, undoing the tendrils that had lashed the blades to her grip. Transferring the swords to the crook of her arm, she hugged them against her chest and wiped the back of one hand across her eyes to clear the blood from her vision.

"Planned?"

There was a sadness in the word as it left her lips.

'This was planned? Even the Lady's death?'

Her eyes burned at the thought of the beautiful golden woman who had stood before her only moments before. Moments that seemed like a small eternity now--

Teira stared down at her hands, holding the swords to her chest.

"The Master has continued on ahead, he requests you three join him in his personal training room down the hall, and three doors to your left."

She stiffened. She couldn't explain why-- but she wanted to be alone right now. For reasons she couldn't identify, she felt and shamed, and she didn't want anyone to see her like this... least of all him. But there was no helping it. Her eyes gazed down at the length of the black gown she had formed before leaving the lab. Blood spattered the shadowy fabric. Smoothing one hand over her skirts, the fabric unsolidified before reforming as it had originally been designed, stainless. As if fixing her clothes could fix how she felt, even though she knew it couldn't possibly. Clenching her jaw, she swallowed and raised her eyes to Walter. Crimson orbs burning in their black depths.

"Ah, thank you Walter. I'm uh, sorry about the gym..."

Bowing slightly, she turned to leave--

"Will you be needing assistance?"

She paused and cast her eyes to the discarded walking stick that lay strewn several feet from where she stood. A little voice within said to accept the help offered-- but something, Pride? Spoke instead of reason

"Thank you, but I'll be okay Walter."

Exciting the gym, she made her way to the place Walter had directed her. Her mind hazy with mixed thoughts and emotions. Was it pride that had caused her to say what she had said before? Perhaps. These swords were a mystery to her. But there was truth in what she had said-- she wouldn't be ruled. Was she wrong to say what she had? Had they not been the ones to kill the Lady's spirit and force themselves on her? Surely she had been in the right-- but if she had, then why did she feel like this?

She looked up, the door to Maximos' training room was before her.

Taking a steadying breath, she knocked and then pushed the door open, peeking inside hesitantly.

"Nii-chan?"