Aurelia winced and set the weights down, panting and looking herself over in the mirror, chest heaving; lately, she was sleeping worse and worse, waking up at all hours, remembering things she had no right to remember. A dream of cutting her wrists to forge a blade, a battle in the woods… and sometimes, she didn't think they were memories. There was Lynx staring down a dragon, Nara singing above an army of people she didn't recognize… working out felt like all she could do to tire herself enough that she might sleep without dreams.
Finally, she snapped; she'd been toying with the idea for days, and she knew what she had to do- out of obligation to herself, not anybody else. What if it takes me there, though?
Dialing, she held the phone to her ears, shuddering as Alice's voice answered.
"Hello?"
"Can we meet?"
"Oh? Sure, when, why?"
"Wanna join up," Aurelia panted, laughing weakly. "Rejoin the fray, I guess. I'll explain later, but… not my first rodeo, and I think you could use me."
"Sure thing. See you when?" Alice asked, not unkindly.
"Tomorrow evening?"
"I'll send you the address," Alice had a smile in her voice as she hung up, and Aurelia wandered into the locker room, starting to strip, trying not to let her mind wander. Still, try as she might; she remembered.
She remembered herself sobbing in a corner, screaming about change and virtue and refusal.
Remembered screaming that she'd never come back, choking on her own tears.
I swore I'd be a nobody, but… I can't just stand by, either.
-
Lynx ran along the treadmill that night as she called Charlotte- or rather, Lottie. Alice and Nara were asleep in bed upstairs, but she'd been restless.
"Sup bestie," Lottie answered the video call, upside down- wait what? Yes, she was lying upside down on a couch somewhere, knees near her head, though the camera wasn't showing anything questionable.
"You asked how my Aurelia is doing," Lynx panted. "Sorry for calling you at night, but I was digging through some files. There are two Aurelias? I'm meeting with the one here tomorrow, and I want to let her tell me her story, but… I guess curiosity is getting the better of me. I didn't dig through her files, but I just wanted to know- there are, then, TWO, Aurelias?"
"Yeah, there are," Charlotte agreed, nodding and yawning, wiggling her toes, feet bare. "Why?"
"I want to know why."
"I got a real strong feeling," Lottie snarked, smirking. "That if you ask the one you know when you meet with her, she'll tell you. Mention me."
"Okay," Lynx nodded, but she angled her head.. "Can't you just tell me? I'm not trying to make a big deal out of it but I want to know-"
"It's not my place," Lottie stated with a sudden gentleness that threw Lynx for a loop. "That's all. It's respect."
"Alright, fine, I'll ask her," Lynx nodded, closing her eyes a moment and exhaling slowly, trying to steady herself as a vague glimmer of anxiety tried to rear its ugly head.
"Good. Wanna see my tits?" Lottie winked, and Lynx shook her head, rolling her eyes.
"Maybe after we win a battle together, celebratory orgy. I'm not looking unless my girls are too."
"Ooo, a loyal kitty, we love those here," Lottie giggled more genuinely now. "Anyway, see you later then!"
"Sleep well," Lynx agreed, and the line clicked dead… but she couldn't lay her head to rest, and kept running, panting, feet pounding the track.
Hours later, showered and clean, she collapsed into bed between her lovers, rolling onto her back and sighing quietly.
"Night night," She whispered, and Nara rolled over, slowly throwing an arm and a leg over the catgirl.
"Glad you came to bed… I sleep now…"
"Ugh…" Lynx laughed, a small smile tugging at her lips
-
Come morning- Gods, Lynx would have loved to wake to the sound of roosters screaming, or even an alarm clock trilling- anything other than the knocking at the front door. The door outside- the Mirian one- well, I hope nobody ever knocks at the door to Ravenwood, that might be even creepier.
"Ngh…"
"Our house is in the middle of nowhere," Alice muttered, already on her feet. "Somebody knew where to look- so it's probably nothing to worry about. Besides, if it was an attack, would they be knocking?"
True. The knocking was slow, polite.
"I'll go say hi," Lynx muttered, glancing sideways; Nara was still snoring softly, unbothered, tail twitching. A reluctant smile tugging at her lips, Lynx tugged on a clean pair of jeans that Alice tossed her and wandered downstairs, fixing her tank top, trying not to let too much be visible.
"Who is it?" She called at the door, exhausted.
"My name is Megumin, and I am a friend. I come with a message from Pempa and from those who once knew you well." The voice was feminine- simple, flat, and without emotion. Confused, Lynx opened the door, narrowing her eyes. The girl who stood outside was… simple. Beautiful, but simple. Gray eyes stared up from under brunette bangs, and though the girl might have been entirely human otherwise, a glowing halo slowly swirled over her head, casting a soft golden light down on her stark wings.
"Well hello Megumin- what's your message?" Lynx crossed her arms, and the angel stared at her impassively- truthfully, it was unsettling. There was something hazy in the back of her eyes- like something was there that shouldn't be- no, like something is missing. She's like a doll.No thoughts, head empty.
Something about it felt sickeningly familiar, and Lynx, ever the open book, frowned, wrinkling her nose.
"My message is hello. Would you attend a dinner with people from your old life? They wish to catch up with you, and see how you have been. There will be no attempt to make you return to your homeland."
"What." Lynx stared, blinking once, twice, surprise furrowing her brow. "My… old life?"
"We understand," Megumin stated as flatly as ever, "-That there is no part of you that remains of what once was. Our friends in Contracted Arms have told us as much. We also understand that you are in a position which you cannot easily leave. Though it may be difficult to believe, the people who once delivered your orders wish to give you their blessing in your new life, and see how you have been. In one week's time, the dinner will be held in Pempa- if you accept. We will provide transportation and lodging, of course."
"Who's we?" Lynx asked, raising her eyebrow.
"We are nobody," Megumin answered simply. "If you consent, you will meet us at Ravenwood's Capital Airport in six days, at nine pm. Your airplane will be fitted with a bed and dinner. Thank you," She added, and beat her wings suddenly, sailing into the air as Lynx hurried forward.
"Hey wait-!!" -but the angel was just a speck in the sky, now, already fading.
"What was that about?" Alice asked, walking outside behind her and looking up at the sky- maybe just following Lynx's gaze.
"Some angel- she flies fast, said that the… people from my old life want to… catch up," Lynx stammered, confused. "She made it sound diplomatic, said they'd send a ride for me in a week? At the airport in Ravenwood…"
"Do you trust that? How did they know where t-to find you?" Nara asked; she was poking her head out the door, but she looked… wrong.
"Are you okay?" Lynx asked, stepping forward worriedly and gently placing a hand on top of Nara's head. "You look like shit."
"Slept on my side wrong, arm hurts, I shall be fine," Nara winced, shaking her head. "Pity, demons can regenerate their wounds at the speed of light- so to say- and yet muscle aches we must endure."
"Well you're still talking like an ancient grandma, so you're probably fine," Lynx laughed, patting her shoulder and walking inside, looking around- suddenly, and maybe she hadn't even really realized it yet, something in her had decided that it was the time for action, and not for sitting around.
"It is not something I am trying to do- just because my dialect is not rooted in laziness-"
"I'll fuck you," Lynx hummed offhandedly, and Nara huffed, crossing her arms and pouting in a way decidedly chipmunk-like. The cat just laughed and continued on toward the basement, thoughtful.
"Where are you going?" Nara asked, hurrying to follow a moment later with Alice in tow, and Lynx paused, stopped.
"Right, sorry, the communication thing isn't really my strongest suit yet is it." Not a question.
"Disagree, you are unironically better at it than like almost everyone," Alice snorted in reply, shaking her head. "I mean, think about it- you know how to be honest. More than many can say."
"Yes yes I'm the sexiest and most amazing of all time," Lynx rolled her eyes and stretched. "The plan for today is, I want to go and research Hell more. I think the whole idea about going there and recruiting Cheshire Cats could be a great idea- and I think that if the people of Ravenwood trust outsiders more than their own leaders- sad, by the way- bringing some Cheshire Cats to the order could be exactly the move."
"That Charlotte girl was almost… unsettling," Nara thought aloud, seeming to almost be speaking with herself. "Got it, let us research. Do you suppose you will see Pempa in a week, though?"
"Well obviously," Lynx snorted, nodding. "Be rude to turn down an invitation!" She added, tail curling languidly.
-
Vilhelm sat in a cafe, looking around exhaustedly and nursing a cup of coffee- he had simply walked up to the counter and asked for whatever would fuck him up the worst. The baristas had shrugged, exchanging amused glances, and moments later he'd been handed something that reeked of cinnamon and brown sugar.
"How's it taste?" A voice asked, and Vilhelm glanced down at the knife under his jacket, scowling.
"Tastes fine," He muttered back quietly enough that the rest of the cafe didn't hear, looking around. "Would you just shut up and let me enjoy my coffee in peace?" He added, wincing; he didn't want to be angry, but an unnatural rage pulsed from that weapon- and yet, he couldn't let it go, could he?
"That's right," The knife whispered into his mind. "You can't let me go either, can you? Because if you do, then you'll be just a human again- so we're stuck together, unless you can find a way to get me out of the knife. Unless I can find a way," The voice added almost as an afterthought, with a dry chuckle. Vilhelm didn't love the way he was able to hear the voice more clearly- and more often- than ever before, lately. Nor did he have the brainpower to try and figure it out.
"My brother is gone," A woman muttered, a few tables over. "They took him last night- said he fit a profile and resisted arrest." Across from her, a young man nodded, listening and narrowing his eyes.
"Go on, tell me more."
"They arrested him and I haven't seen him for three days, I want to get him back."
"Yes, I bet you do," The man nodded sagely, narrowing his eyes. "Do you know where he's being held?"
"Supposedly in the jail down in Olmbridge," The woman shrugged, voice exhausted. "This is insane though, isn't it? I just… I want my brother back," She added, steeling herself. "He's all I got."
"Yes, well, I think we can arrange something for that," the man nodded, and Vilhelm stood, walking over and grabbing the man, whoever he was, by the hair, drawing his knife.
"Who are you, and what are you planning?" He demanded, putting the knife to this stranger's throat as people around him began to gasp and stagger back, chairs tipping, tables thudding.
"W-What the hell?!"
"What are you planning?" Vilhelm repeated calmly, digging the blade against his flesh; a single bead of blood slid down, and Vilhelm stared, expectant, waiting. "Go on."
"A protest!!" The man snarled, narrowing his eyes. "Who are y-you?! We're long sick of the way Contracted Arms treats us, you know? It's not like I'm planning on hurting anyone!"
Vilhelm glanced around, thinking.
"He's lying, isn't he," the brunette muttered, pushing the knife deeper, not yet driving it home; the man under him was gasping and trembling, people around were screaming, but Vilhelm couldn't let someone go if he was planning to attack; he remembered the Eastbrook bombing, the sewers, Lynx's descent…
"J-Just take me to CA for questioning!!" The man begged, and Vilhelm slowly looked down at him, meeting his eyes.
"I watched CA torture an innocent girl because she might have been strong. That won't do, will it?"
"Please-!!" His words were cut off as he began to gag, blood pouring down his neck, soaking into his shirt.
"You made the right choice- now let's go," A voice tiredly whispered in the back of his mind, and Vilhelm nodded, pacing toward the door.
"Rest assured, people of Ravenwood-" Vilhelm laughed dryly at the door. "You can't see it now, but killing a killer can only save lives. You can trust me- or I wouldn't be the Paladin," He added with another laugh, this one more genuine, and stepped outside, chest feeling a little lighter now.
-
"Lynx," Aerendyl spoke into his empty living room, trying to sound cordial; failing. "I… Gods Damnit, I'm no good at practicing," He muttered, walking to the bay windows at one side of his living room and looking up at the aurora over the lake. "Call Lynx," He told his phone, and after a few brief dial tones…
"Hello. This is Lynx- away from phone right now. Call me back a few times if it's a crisis, or leave me a mess-" There was a click as Lynx picked up- Fashionably late, Lynx, he thought with some amusement.
"What's up? Sorry, got to the phone in time," Lynx spoke, sounding a bit frantic. "What's going on?"
"I just got off the phone with Timio," Aerendyl spoke exhaustedly, the weight of what he'd let happen pulling at his eyes and his heart. "Remember Vilhelm?"
"Paladin dude?" Lynx asked, and he could practically see her head angling like an owl through the phone.
"Yeah. Him. Listen, when I trained him as my agent… I had no idea what he'd become. He was so desperate for power, strength… we're still investigating, but we think he was given a magical weapon by someone internally; a traitor, one of the ones involved with Nara's experiments. He… asked me for help, a week ago. Or, he tried to, I think- there was a knife, he couldn't stop glancing at it for five seconds."
"Yeah…?" Lynx asked, as if trying to usher him to the point.
"I didn't help him," Aerendyl admitted, voice tipping, husky. "He's sliding off the deep end; killed somebody in broad daylight today for saying he had an idea about how to get someone's brother out of jail. People… they're beginning to hate Contracted Arms. Pretty soon, I think forums are going to become protests."
"There'd be blood in the streets," Lynx whispered, breathless. "I understand. So why are you calling me? Kill Paladin, fix what you've done."
"I know Aigis Order doesn't officially go online for six months, but…" Aerendyl swallowed, cleared his throat, trying to steady himself. "This could be an amazing chance for you to solidify yourself as someone to trust. Bring him in without killing him."
"I-I wanna help, for sure, but I have this thing in ten days; a big meeting in Pempa with some people from my old life who supposedly want to catch up. I know it sounds kind of like a trap, but I don't really care; I'm taking Alice and Nara, and I think I can run away just fine if needed, but… this all seems too official to be a trap. Ride coordinated at an airport here, and everything."
"Got it…" Aerendyl trailed off, faltering, and with a monumental effort, he asked for help. "Then what should we do? Should I really just find him and kill him?"
"Mnh…" For a moment, Lynx was silent. "Give me ten days. I'll bring him in. Then, if in ten days, I haven't succeeded; sure, put him down. Deal?"
"Yeah… boss," Aerendyl laughed mirthlessly, and hung up.