[PP-F4] Frostbite [Complete]

[Guest]

"Careful," he told her, "they hit like freight trains. Lucky for us, we have armor." He held his shield steady as he interjected himself between the second Wendigo and Lessa, assuring it wouldn't make another attempt to push forward on the woman without him being able to stop it.

Now he was positioned between both monstrosities and his party member, his narrowed on both targets. He was in a dangerous position, but also the one where he needed to be most. "Stay sharp," he told her as he slashed his blade in a warding arc, landing a superficial hit on the first Wendigo, which had decided to advance again. It's fists rained down on his shield, and he winced beneath the weight of the blows.

Alkor glanced back at Lessa as the large creature fell back, reeling from the flames that had caused it damage by virtue of its own attack. "We're in no severe danger just yet." He wouldn't have led her to this path if he wasn't sure he could keep her alive. As long as she didn't lose her cool, it wouldn't be a problem. He had to keep her calm and certain of his ability.

"Another clean hit," he affirmed as she recovered from the strike.

Alkor deals 4 damage (hit)

Alkor successfully blocks (skill; no damage)

Wendigo 1 takes 2 damage from Flame Thorns.

Rolled a 7 on the d10 (battle) dice.

Rolled a 10 on the d12 (craft) dice.

Rolled a 20 on the d20 (loot) dice.

Alkor: 17/17

Lessa: 15/17

Wendigo 1: 18/30

Wendigo 2: 30/30

[Lessa 1]

They hit like freight trains? "So I've noticed," she shot back, though not unkindly. She felt bad that she had failed to land the first blow, especially after Alkor had landed his second. It made her feel useless. At least he was handling himself well. But she knew that she would have to dish out some damage as well in order to win this fight. She let that thought motivate her. It was a fire in her stomach that caused her to tighten her hold on her sword, and spread her feet into a fighting stance.

 

Again, she focused on the weaker of the two enemies. Her face grew hard as she studied it, planning her next attack, watching it unfold in her mind. In a matter of seconds, the girl ran through the possibilities at her disposal. Finally, she decided on one that just might work. This time, she made sure to skirt wide around the wendigo, ensuring that she was not in close proximity to both beasts at the same time. When she drew within range of the weaker one, she wasted no time lashing at it with her blade. The wound she gave it was by no means deep, but it did help to whittle away at its health bar. 

 

Dropping back beside Alkor, she studied him in the moonlight. He was already primed for his next attack, and had clearly spent the entire time she was striking planning it out. For a brief moment, she longed to know what was going on in that head of his. He was truly an exceptional fighter, and watching him was a pleasure.

 

{Lessa deals 5 damage - base, +2 Hell Rose, +2 two-handed skill.}

 

Alkor: 17/17

Lessa: 15/17
Wendigo 1: 13/30
Wendigo 2: 30/30

 

• Rolled a 7 on the d10 (battle) dice.
• Rolled a 2 on the d12 (craft) dice.
• Rolled a 12 on the d20 (loot) dice.

 

[Guest]

Narrowly missing his next strike, Alkor ducked in a breath and prepared to be hit. The Wendigo did not disappoint.

Whacking his blade to the side with one hand, the monstrous beast sent a punch toward his gut that Alkor couldn't get entirely out of the way of. His shield took the brunt of the hit, but he could by no means call it a proper block.

With a bestial roar, the Wendigo gave voice to its anger as it burned once again, and Alkor could feel its malice thick in the air.

He reeled back, bracing behind the flaming aegis. "Can't stop everything, huh?" He said with a smirk, wincing.

He sighed mentally, knowing Lessa would be safe behind him. Even when he failed to connect, his shield would make sure that he wasn't completely useless. He might even get used to having it around. When he glanced at the young woman, he saw a determination in her that he'd known about for a while now, but never seen the extent of before. It gave him the certainty he needed to press on.

"Almost one down," he said. "Keep it up."

Alkor deals no damage. (Miss.)

Alkor takes 1 damage. (5-4 damage mitigation)

Wendigo 1 takes 2 damage from Flame Thorns.

Rolled a 5 on the d10 (battle) dice.

Rolled a 10 on the d12 (craft) dice.

Rolled a 19 on the d20 (loot) dice.

Alkor: 16/17

Lessa: 15/17

Wendigo 1: 11/30

Wendigo 2: 30/30

[Lessa 1]

"Right," Lessa replied, giving him a firm nod. Then, she turned her attention back to the enemies. It had been difficult, watching Alkor take the hit. Even though his armor had taken the brunt of it, she had still felt her stomach drop as the wendigo swatted away his attack as if it were nothing. She had gasped softly as the beast brought down its fist on the young man. And while she knew he could more than handle himself, watching him take damage was not something she enjoyed.

 

Blue eyes burned as she stepped up for her turn. The moonlight reflected brilliantly off of her new armor. And her special claymore emitted its own soft pink light. In the darkness of night, it was even easier to see the way it was lit up. A most unusual weapon, certainly, but it was hers. It had helped her through many battles, some of which she did not think she would survive. She was thankful for her equipment. It gave her courage.

 

But it was those she held dear that gave her the motivation, and the strength, to keep fighting. Her equipment assured her she could take the hit. Her comrades reminded her why she was taking the hit. With a backwards glance at Alkor, she knew exactly what she was fighting for.

 

This time, she knew that the attack she landed was a significant one.

 

{Lessa deals 7 damage - base, +2 critical, +2 Hell Rose, +2 two-handed skill.}

 

Alkor: 16/17

Lessa: 15/17
Wendigo 1: 4/30
Wendigo 2: 30/30

• Rolled a 10 on the d10 (battle) dice.
• Rolled a 3 on the d12 (craft) dice.
• Rolled a 5 on the d20 (loot) dice.

 

[Guest]

The roar that followed caused the world to shiver, more than any amount of snow. Alkor tore his shield up defensively and the fists of the raging Wendigo slid off like raindrops from a tin roof.

Alkor let the shield fall as he rushed forward, bringing his blade skillfully across the beast's chest. The red line remained for a moment before the Wendigo split into a million fragments of data.

Tightening his grip on his sword, Alkor turned his gaze toward his companion. "Next," he said with a laugh. Though the situation was less than funny, it ought to give Lessa some comfort to know they were making good time.

So far, they'd sustained only a small amount of damage. Hopefully, they could keep it from getting much worse.

When the creature fell, the game prompted Alkor whether or not he wanted to keep the <<Wendigo Pelt>>, which he did.

Alkor deals 4 damage.

Alkor successfully blocks. (No damage)

Rolled a 7 on the d10 (battle) dice.

Rolled a 8 on the d12 (craft) dice.

Rolled a 19 on the d20 (loot) dice.

Alkor: 16/17

Lessa: 15/17

Wendigo 1: DEAD

Wendigo 2: 30/30

*material gained*

[Lessa 1]

Lessa smiled back, comforted by Alkor's ease in the middle of what was truly a difficult battle. If he could maintain his cool that way, maybe she should not worry as much as she was. Maybe they were actually doing alright. Maybe she was doing alright.

 

"Next!" She repeated, giving him a nod. Turning to face the remaining wendigo, she rolled her shoulders a bit, settling into her stance.If she wanted this pelt for herself, she would have to fight to get it.

 

"Let's go," she muttered under her breath. With a cry of exertion and excitement, the metal-clad girl lunged toward the hairy creature. She lifted her claymore up over her head, and her muscles rippled beneath her cloth clothing as she brought it down again. A red gash appeared along the beast's chest, and it gave an angry cry as its health was depleted.

 

{Lessa deals 5 damage - base, +2 Hell Rose, +2 two-handed skill.}

 

Alkor: 16/17

Lessa: 15/17
Wendigo 1: DEAD
Wendigo 2: 25/30

• Rolled a 7 on the d10 (battle) dice.
• Rolled a 4 on the d12 (craft) dice.
• Rolled a 1 on the d20 (loot) dice.

[Guest]

"Eyes on me, big guy," Alkor huffed as he rushed from behind Lessa and sank his sword into the second Wendigo. With a cry of agony, the monstrosity turned on Alkor and began beating against the Twinfire Reflector steadily as Alkor held it there. It seemed almost ignorant of the flames surging up to meet it until they were burning away at its fur, and then it let out a piercing howl.

Every ounce of hate the Wendigo had was devoted solely to Alkor. As he stood vigilant in the face of the beasts onslaught, he turned a confident smile to Lessa and nodded his head toward the mighty monster. "All yours," he called out to her.

The Wendigo wasted no effort turning it's gaze away from Alkor as it followed him absently. He walked in a stalking circle, leading it to turn its back to Lessa. Alkor had confidence she could capitalize on the opening. She had learned and grown much since he first found her on the first floor.

A blaze starts with a single spark...

Alkor deals 4 damage.

Alkor takes no damage. (Block successful)

Wendigo takes 2 damage from Flame Thorns

Alkor: 16/17

Lessa: 15/17

Wendigo 1: DEAD

Wendigo 2: 19/30

Rolled a 6 on the d10 (battle) dice.

Rolled a 2 on the d12 (craft) dice.

Rolled a 16 on the d20 (loot) dice.

[Lessa 1]

"You got it!" Came her excited response to Alkor. She was still pumped from her last well-placed attack, and watching her companion deal out more damage only made her more confident. She squared off against the wendigo for hew next attack, planning out the best course of action before she moved into action.

 

Then, to her surprise, the beast turned its back to her. Instead, it lumbered after Alkor. Whether this was a side effect from the burn, or the beast was really that dumb, she had no idea. But it gave her the in she needed. Blue eyes widened with excitement as she saw the perfect opportunity to strike.

 

"Wrong move, buddy," she growled through a tight-lipped smile. Then, she took off at the beast at a dead run. Once she was a few paces away, she pushed off of the balls of her feet, springing into the air. It was a tall enemy, but she had enough power behind her to achieve the desired result. She turned the blade of her weapon downward, and let gravity do its work. Thrusting her blade between the wendigo's shoulder blades, Lessa rode it downward. The wound it left was brutal, and she throw herself and her weapon free of the beast before it finally retaliated. With a pained cry of rage, it threw its arms out behind it, grabbing furiously at its back. But Lessa was long gone.

 

{Lessa deals 7 damage - base, +2 critical, +2 Hell Rose, +2 two-handed skill.}

 

Alkor: 16/17

Lessa: 15/17
Wendigo 1: DEAD
Wendigo 2: 12/30

• Rolled a 10 on the d10 (battle) dice.
• Rolled a 12 on the d12 (craft) dice.
• Rolled a 3 on the d20 (loot) dice.

[Guest]

In its fury, the titanic brute smashed its arms down toward Alkor, who stumbled in surprise. The amount of damage it had taken must have sent it into a rage. Not good, Alkor grit his teeth as he held up his shield, attempting to ward off the brunt of the damage he knew he was about to take.

It wasn't looking very good. He held the shield over his head, but the impacts rocked through his body and he slammed against the snowy dirt several times. The snow drift seemed to do nothing to cushion his landing, and it felt like packed sand when he rattled against it.

Alkor let out a gasp and fought for air beneath the relentless assault. Why the first Wendigo had given them little trouble, this creature was causing Alkor to literally scramble to stay alive. It was all he could do to keep the shield in place. But at least it's focused on me, and not Lessa, he thought.

Alkor deals no damage (miss)

Block skill failed. Alkor takes 4 damage (8-4)

Wendigo takes 2 damage from Flame Thorns.

Alkor: 12/17

Lessa: 15/17

Wendigo 1: DEAD

Wendigo 2: 10/30 (Enraged, +3 damage)

Rolled a 3 on the d10 (battle) dice.

Rolled a 7 on the d12 (craft) dice.

Rolled a 8 on the d20 (loot) dice.

[Lessa 1]

"Alkor!" She screamed, reaching a single gauntlet-clad hand in his direction. The night wind whipped her hair in a frenzy around her flushed face as she watched the wendigo beat at him. The monster had him pinned, and her comrade's health was falling fast. She gave a horrified gasp as the beast landed yet another punch. If this went on much longer, Alkor's health would fall to zero. The thought made her blood freeze in her veins.

She felt as though she were being strangled, and she had to fight for every breath. That feeling rushed back to her. That feeling she had swore she would never feel again. Helplessness. Guilt. A sense of panic as she watched Alkor fight for his life. For her.

"Stop it!" She cried suddenly. It was unclear exactly who she was referring to with that comment, but it did not matter much. It still relit that fire inside her. Without hesitation, the girl threw herself forward. She growled softly as she built up speed, carrying her claymore with both hands on her right side. When she was close enough, she threw her shoulder into the wendigo's side with as much force as she could muster.

The enraged beast stumbled to the side, and she fell with it. Luckily, she was prepared. Before the enemy could right itself, she brought her claymore up across her body diagonally, and struck its midsection with the length of her pink blade. It gave an angry roar, and it was all she could do to scramble backwards and out of its reach. But she had given Alkor time to get off the ground.

{Lessa deals 5 damage - base, +2 Hell Rose, +2 two-handed skill.}

Alkor: 12/17

Lessa: 15/17

Wendigo 1: DEAD

Wendigo 2: 5/30

Rolled a 8 on the d10 (battle) die.

Rolled a 8 on the d12 (craft) die.

Rolled a 3 on the d20 (loot) die.

[Guest]

Am I dead?

Beneath the pummeling blows of the Wendigo, Alkor closed his eyes and watched his health bar drop steadily. Is it... really... going to be like this? Images of the Twinfire Phoenix's flames wreathing his body in deadly warmth came back to him as his body was rocked by massive damage. The avian boss' shrill and mighty screech resounded in his mind. The burns on his body felt hot, as though they had been inflicted anew.

When his eyes flipped open, Lessa was over top of him, chasing the Wendigo off and away from its enraged attempt to beat him to death. The female player slashed at the Wendigo, and it rose slowly, shivering in ecstasy as its hatred consumed it. Quiet and cold, Alkor picked himself up. His body moved like a creaking chair, wobbling to one side or the other as he found his feet and hobbled at the beast that had brought this pain upon him.

His eyes burned with a hatred that mirrored the wendigo's own as he stepped weakly past Lessa, then howled his defiance at the top of his lungs. Carried on the wind, Alkor's rage resonated over the entire fourth floor.

Greedily the beast's gaze found him, still screaming as his hood fell back and his hair blew wildly in the wind. Four powerful arms reached out for him, the mighty mammalian behemoth sprinting for Alkor at top speed.

Alkor's arms hung limp at his side as every emotion rose up and drowned him. The shield on his arm sprang up on instinct to intercept the first attack, and for an instant, an image like a bird made of flames overlapped the youth's entire being. The wind shrieked a cry that sounded like some sort of strange bird, and Alkor's gaze locked on the wendigo.

He wanted to speak, but now, his body moved on its own. Each strike from the monster met with a white hot flame that constricted it like a boa. Alkor pulled his right arm back and exposed his body, but his sword danced in the way of multiple attempts to strike him.

Finally, he stepped forward and pressed his sword to the Wendigo's throat. The flames surrounding him subsided. His head bowed and arm outstretched, Alkor's lips drew up in a smile. "No," he whispered. "This is not how I die."

While the damage from the strike did not deal enough to kill the beast outright, the flames from his shield had been enough. An inferno sparked around the fur laden creature and in a brilliant display, the creature was reduced quickly to ash.

The game prompted Lessa to accept her spoils.

Alkor: 12/17

Lessa: 15/17

Wendigo 1: DEAD

Wendigo 2: DEAD

Rolled a 8 on the d10 (battle) dice.

Rolled a 10 on the d12 (craft) dice.

Rolled a 17 on the d20 (loot) dice.

[Lessa 1]

Her body shook as she watched him. Though she had not received too much damage, every muscle in her body screamed. The anxiety, the fear, the overwhelming emotion - it was taking a toll on her. But she had to stay standing. She needed to be there, ready to go again, should the wendigo move its attention back to her. But it did not look like that would be the case, as the enemy was focused entirely on the boy.

He was marvelous to watch. He lit up the darkness as he fought, with a heat and light that came from some unknown source. It was as if he was creating the fire himself. She could feel his rage. It rolled in waves off of his body, and it seemed to make his weak figure stronger. It gave him strength. And with that strength, he was unstoppable.

When he ended the wendigo, Lessa finally gave up. Her sword clattered to the earth, and her body fell backward. She sat there, chest rising and falling with each shaking breath. "Alkor," she whispered, gaze never leaving him. When the menu offered her the loot, she accepted it mindlessly.

{1 material, 150 (30x5) col gained.}

[Guest]

His shoulders sagged.

In the wake of furious and frightening battle, Alford let out a soft sigh and hobbled forward through the snow. It was as though nothing had happened, and they had wasted too much time in that place. The only difference was, Alkor looked beleaguered and his body showed the telltale signs of battle fatigue. He reached back for his hood, flipped it back over his face, and walked at a steady pace.

When at last he reached Lessa, he stopped and looked down at her. The look on her face was the same he recalled from so many players before her. Overwhelmed by the dangers of the game, beaten and broken by the hardships beyond anything they had ever endured before. It was a look Alkor despised, but by no fault of the woman wearing it.

His gaze was even, measured, and gilded the same way it had always been. Without wavering, his hand reached out, and Alkor nodded. "First step," he told her, "is always the scariest."

How many steps had it been for him, now? How many steps since that first one he took and never looked back? The only thing in his mind when he tried to count was a bird of blazing flame, and a shrill cry that burned in his heart. There's only one thing to do when you fall down, he told himself, get back up.

"Starglade's not far, now," he drawled. "It's pretty much a safe zone. We can rest there for a bit."

[Lessa 1]

The young woman stared up at Alkor. It was clear to her that he was in pain, as his body looked beaten and worn. But the expression on his face revealed nothing. It was incredible, the way that he could simply lock up his emotions and store them away like that. It was so foreign to Lessa, who had always made her feelings known. She was unsure whether she should be impressed or uncomfortable. Perhaps a bit of both.

Finally, she reached up and took his hand. Though she was still shaky, she did her best to help out as he pulled her to her feet. She managed most of her weight herself, knowing he was too weak to lift much. In the darkness, she gave him a small, tight-lipped smile, and a nod of thanks. She picked up her claymore, which glowed softly in the snow, and slid it back into its sheath. Then, she shoved her hands deep into her pocket, and followed Alkor as they moved toward the safe zone.

"I have a long way to go, don't I?" She asked, suddenly. Lessa was not trying to start a pity party, but her distant nature suggested she was very bothered by what had just occurred. She had thought she was better prepared. And maybe she was, physically. But not mentally. She had not been ready for that.

[Guest]

As they moved through the snowy path and exited the pass between two mountains, Lessa asked about her level of adequacy as a player. Alkor offered a noncommittal grunt and a half shrug. "You're alive," he called back over his shoulder. "More than three thousand other players can't say that."

While it may not have been the answer she wanted, it was the answer anyone with sense would give. Even though she was far from the best fighter on the front lines, Lessa had that much in common with him. Neither of the two were dead. "Not enough people focus on that fact and lose sight of the real goal in this world. Foremost, we have to survive. Clearing comes second to that."

So close he had come to death now that he was undaunted by it, but also, grimly aware of it. His was a perspective more players needed to adopt, desperately. No one would get better if they were dead. There would be nothing left to fight for.

Still, hers wasn't entirely an invalid question. Alkor often wondered about his own adequacy as a player, though not long enough to deter him from taking action. At this point, there were no players making strides on the front lines. They were trapped at the edge of the ninth floor, desperately clawing their way toward ten, but everything had come to a screeching halt. Alkor intended to find out why, once he was strong enough to go to the forefront.

Dismissing the shield to his inventory, Alkor slid his sword carefully back into its sheath and glanced back at her. Lessa's fog of glum was palpable, enough that it turned his lips down in a slight frown.

When he looked forward again, the narrow path up to the Starglade was visible through the snowstorm. Alkor smirked. "Almost there," he stated. There was a small tunnel, and on the other side...

[Lessa 1]

'More than three thousand players can't say that.'

It was a terrible thought, and she clenched her jaw tightly. It was hard to keep back the emotion that threatened to spill over, but she would hold it in for Alkor's sake. Who knew how he would react if she burst into tears at that moment? She did not want to put that on him, especially when he was already in such a poor state.

"You're right," she told him, finally. And he was. His answer had been detached, impersonal, and did nothing to sooth her hurt spirit. But it was the blunt truth, and probably what she really needed to hear. Why she had been expecting something more touchy-feely from Alkor, she had no idea.

The wind was picking up, and Lessa crossed her arms tightly against her chest. Her hair flew madly around her head, and she longed to have a hood like Alkor's. Warmer clothes for exploring this floor might be a good idea. Her cheeks and bare skin stung, and she longed for a bit of relief. She had not even noticed the weather while they were in combat, but now, it really bothered her. As the pair entered the tunnel, she hoped that whatever was on the other side would be calmer.

[Guest]

When they were almost to the cavern entrance, Alkor turned toward her and placed a hand on her shoulder, ushering her in front of him through the passage. The biting gale behind them was buffered by rocks, and with each turn, it grew into something less real and more like a memory.

While far from truly warm, what Lessa would see next was enough to excite the mind and soothe the body. Stars stretched for miles, far as could be seen and farther still. If they had seen anything quite like this before, it would have been in a dream. Dipped in a lacquer of royal blue and soft purple, the sky was flecked with silvery spots that painted pictures and told stories.

The path wound down the edge of the barrier mountains that protected the glade from outside forces and gave players a place to rest and enjoy the beauty of the game's "natural" allure.

He only withdrew his touch after he knew she would be alright to walk on her own, still only slightly worried about her mental state. Perhaps she understood that Alkor was far from the physical sort of person she was, and she would glean that the touch she'd gotten was far more personal than he usually afforded other players. If not, he knew it wasn't something she ought to concern herself with just now.

"And your prize, m'lady," he remarked softly, gesturing toward the vastness of Aincrad's sky and its majesty. "You made it."

He wasn't sure if there were any words he could offer her that would give her more comfort than this view. For Alkor, few things that could be said offered that level of respite. As he stood immediately next to her, Alkor smiled up at the celestial bodies that seemed to smile back down at him.

A tear formed at the edge of his eye, but he blinked it away and made no gestures that might hint at what had happened. This place brought out the worst in him (though worst might be interpreted differently, depending on who was asking.)

[Lessa 1]

She gasped softly when he placed his hand on her shoulder. It was a very welcome gesture, but not one that she had expected from him. Focused on his touch, she followed him blindly deeper into the tunnel. The further in they ventured, the more dreamlike the experience felt. The biting wind was gone, and a faint howl from the outside was the only evidence that it ever existed. Even that disappeared after a while. Then, all there was was silence. She closed her eyes. It was nice.

When they came to a halt, and he withdrew his hand, she finally opened her eyes. What she saw caused her breath to catch in her throat. The stars were absolutely incredible. They shimmered like diamonds, strewn about a rich purple and blue canvas. The sight brought forth the emotion that had been pent up inside her. Finally, the tears fell free. As they slid silently down her cheeks, she made no move to wipe them away. Instead, she smiled. As she cried, she rid herself of negative emotion. She felt the weight lifting. These were tears of happiness. How could they be anything else, in a place as beautiful as this.

Lessa brought up her menu, and unequipped her blade, armor, and gauntlets. She did not want them on her. They only served as a reminder of the outside world. The cruelty of the game rarely left her mind. But now, she wanted it to. She wanted to be free of it. She did not want to be plagued with worry any longer. She didn't want to think. She didn't want to feel. In a place like this, she wanted to merely exist.

"Thank you for bringing me here," she told Alkor, closing her menu and moving her gaze back to the stars above. "I can't tell you what this means to me."

[Guest]

With a short nod, Alkor merely responded with "yeah."

The air felt so serene here that his lungs greedily sacked at it, taking in as much as they could while it was possible. Deep and slow, powerful and rhythmic breaths helped him to regain some of his usual sturdiness. His eyes flitted open and he glanced at Lessa, but he did not spoil her moment with any more words. There were few that were worthy of something like this.

Her tears were happy tears, he could tell from the look on her face, but Alkor had never liked tears. There had been a lot of them in his life. He reached over and placed his hand on her cheek, without looking at her, and wiped the ones he could see away. "Don't cry," he told her. "I don't like to watch people cry."

He remembered so many times he'd had to retreat in social situations in the real world because he could neither understand nor cope with the intense emotion that inflicted tears. While Lessa probably didn't intend to make him awkwardly weather her burden, he didn't want to feel compelled to leave, either. Her tears felt strange on his hand, and he made to pull his hand back and wipe it on his cloak.

"It is a pretty sight," he added. "This sky."

[Lessa 1]

His hand felt cool on her warm cheek. She drew in a startled breath as he touched her, and she had to fight the urge to look at him. Instead, she stood still, savoring the feel of his skin. Physical contact was like a drug to her. His thumb moved lightly across her cheek, wiping at the damp streaks that criss-crossed her face. She closed her eyes again.

'Don't cry.'

Her eyes flew open, and her cheeks lost their color. Then, it all rushed back in the form of a fierce blush. "I-I'm sorry," she stuttered, turning her back to him. She wiped madly at her face, until she was sure that all of the tears were gone. She sniffled once, then looked back up to the stars. The young woman wrapped her arms around herself. I'm sorry. And she truly was. Why in the world was she apologizing for her tears? Was she not free to show emotion? Who was Alkor to make her feel guilty, or tell her to stop feeling what she was feeling? She should have been furious.

But she wasn't. Despite the many emotions that overwhelmed her, the strongest one was regret. Regret for upsetting him. Why? She asked herself, her heart tightening in her chest. Why do I care this much?