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"He's fine." Io replied, almost offhandedly as she thought through what they were planning. "But I've got a score to settle with Baron. And with my powers back... Well, I think I'd like to add a new stone to my... collection."

They probably wouldn't understand that comment, she thought, remembering that they didn't recall everything yet. But a soul became a stone when taken. And without a soul the body was useless.

"Because he's more useful alive and in a good mood." Io replied, calmly. "And you had the same powers, mostly. But stronger." She was calm, but already thinking of how they would deal with the Rade. She turned, looking at Shiva, a contemplative gleam in her eyes.

"You enhance emotions, right? Even things like... confusion?"

"It won't be nearly as bad for us as it will be for them." Io replied, already taking in the costs for her plan. "Not when they're blind, that is. But..."

She paused, looking over at Nika. "How large is your time rifting? Can you only change the speed of time in a small area?" There had to be a way to make the affects of the confusion hit the Rade before it hit them... "Can you focus it on one part of her spell?"

She was reaching, she knew it. Had he been maskless... or maybe older, he probably could have done it easily, but as he was... She didn't even bother to ask if he could do both speeding up and slowing down at the same time.

He shrugged and tilted his head to the side.

'I'm not sure, exactly. When I was a child, it took a lot out of me and I could barely handle what was twenty meters ahead of me. I suppose, that with some practise I would improve.'

Nika glanced at Shiva, about to say something about her safety and then he thought better of it. They would only end up arguing again. But...

'Are you sure, Shi?'

*I'll get as close as I need to.* she answered. *I can take some pounding if needed, but the best way to divert an attack is to not be there when it lands. Courage is only effective with caution, afterall.*

Crinkling her gaze at Nika, she tried to make him more at ease. *It's fine. It will clear a path through.*

And the closer she was, the easier it would be to see them suffer.

Zahar's hand reached out for his then stopped. 'S-sai... Kasai I-I cannot.' Her fingers lightly brushed the back of his outstretched hand. Zahar's eyes fell as her hand lingered for a moment longer. 'Everyone has found a new life. I never quite fit in, not even in this second chance.' She started to back away shaking her head as her hand dropped to her side again. Zahar's eyes were dark with tears. 'Do you know how many masks have been broken? D-do you k-know how many of us ha-have died because of me?' Her voice was strained as she backed into the tree Zahar had previously been leaning on.

Shiva shrugged. *A reason would be nice.* she responded simply. *Or if not that, at least a history. At the most, our home back, and the Rade driven from it. I would be content with the latter, or the former. So long as an attempt was made to reclaim what is ours by right and blood. Too many have perished for things to not come to a resolution. * She squeezed Nika's hand, forcing her eyes to not look at Io for a moment. It was not for her sake she did so.

*But only you can decide what it is that you want to fight for...or even if you wish to fight at all. DO you reconsider this course of action?*

It seemed formal all of a sudden, the gentle hand squeeze out of place. Almost like this was a meeting of some sort...a planning session of pre-planned origin. Not some motley and spur of the moment event.