Jake watched Shyu with a nonplussed expression as she renewed her attack. "So what you're saying is that you've been sent to test our skills, am I right? But who sent you? That's the question of the hour; who the bloody hell sent you?" He scratched his chin in thought as the blizzard made a couple of small scratches on the barrier.

"If you do not try harder, then you will die here, unable to accomplish anything with your powers. Come at me now. I wish to see why you were given such strength. If you cannot be strong, then this world will die."

"So our powers were granted to us with some ulterior reason in mind, but by who, and why?" the guitarist muttered to himself. Jake looked up just in time to see that their adversary was standing on the ground. Now was the time to act. Focusing on the ground beneath the ex-hero's feet, he summoned a second crystal shield that managed to fully encase Shyu. With stage one out of the way, he concentrated on the inside of the trap. A loud squish could be heard as several large crystals protruded from the inside of the dome, skewering the body inside. Although it would be impossible for anyone to survive that kind of physical damage, Jake kept both shields up, just to be on the safe side...

"I c-could get us out of here, but you'll have t-to hold on tight."
The idea didn't sound half bad. She didn't even know these people, why would she risk anything to save them from a lunatic. Her arm was in seering pain. Her head whirled.
"Alright," she said begrudingly, holding out her hand and taking her unsure companions.
"But if you try anything funny..."she threatened, eyes narrowing. She didn't even bother finishing her sentence. The banter back and forth was awful, and even in all the chaos, she couldn't help from sneer. It wasn't as if the boy was going to cause her to laugh herself to death with his corny lines. That's it, she realized. I'm in hell. There's no other explanation.

And then the words hit her as if she had flown into a brick wall.

"If you do not try harder, then you will die here, unable to accomplish anything with your powers. Come at me now. I wish to see why you were given such strength. If you cannot be strong, then this world will die."

Was that a challenge? Pride welled up inside her chest. "What is it exactly that you can do?" she asked the brunette hurriedly.

"Alright," the girl said, holding out her hand and taking Anyu's, but not before growling a small warning. "But if you try anything funny..."

Frankly, the half-Cooran thought that nothing she could do within that moment would be remotely funny in the face of danger.

The guitarist from a while back was active once again, exchanging words with the spirit of ice. He kept his guard up, literally keeping the gem-like shields around him. A case of crystal suddenly materialized at his command and trapped the former legend inside. Anyu felt her insides squirm as she heard the audible squish inside.

She looked back at the blue-eyed man, awed at the extent of his abilities. Though he's not as intimidating as the warrior woman, he was just as powerful...

(A minor thought came up, and she squirmed it down with an embarrassed blush.)

"What is it exactly that you can do?"

The red-caped girl looked at her brunette companion, a sudden straightness in her form that showed eagerness to act. Observing the fight had given Anyu's "acquaintance" enough of a reason to join her, although she was rightly wary of the stranger.

"I c-could try skating us out of here...with the wind. This snow is easier for me to glide through, so you only have to h-hold on." She cleared her throat and looked around for a safe area, cooling her tingling cheeks with the air. A tall, stable-looking structure called out to her in the storm...

The clock tower?

Breezes began swirling around her heels and the heels of the red-caped girl. There was a moment's glow, a brief launching step, and Anyu half-sprinted through the settling frost, gripping her companion's hand tightly. "Please hang on!"

It took some time for Adrian to adjust his sight, though, there was no need to. As he predicted, the figure, or figures had heard the cracking sound of the hatch and the sound his shoes made when they touched the roof.

"Fall? Die? I have no idea what you are talking about but if all you can think about is fighting when a stranger makes his appearance, perhaps you should be the one to get down there and fight. You'll easily make friends with the two fighting the blizzard lady." Adrian observed the male, obviously not one from Merris. His appearance was... unnerving and Adrian had the slight feeling of regret that he choose to come here. Especially since he wasn't too sure about the female figure that stood just behind the mysterious male. "But considering your reaction, you answered my first question without me having to ask it."

The chess player wondered as the dark figure finally figured out for what purpose Adrian had appeared before them. "My, my. So you aren't as thick-headed as I though you were. Well done figuring out why I am here, compliments for that." Pretending he really had accomplished something, Adrian clapped his hands, though shortly after that he turned himself to his more serious attitude. "Indeed, I joined you here to have a little... conversation. Or as I like to call it, a question round."

The male turned his red eyes towards the mysterious male, folding his arms together as he gathered the questions that he wanted to have answered. After he found his questions, Adrian spoke in a calm, collected voice. "So, why is it that two complete strangers who obviously aren't from Merris. Watch the park from the clock tower? What do you gain from watching a fight that has no purpose whatsoever? You know, questions like that."

Adrian stepped closer, keeping his eyes on the male. "Now my final question, you stated that if the people down by the fountain had fallen, I would die pitifully, why is that? Do you consider me a threat? Do you really think I, a complete stranger to you, am an enemy?"

The chess player made his way to the edge of the roof, glaring at the fight down at the park fountain. It was vague, but Adrian could definitely see movements that indicated fighting. The only question was, who was winning?

Things were getting awfully crazy. Shuala was getting cranky--she hated the snow. It clung to her skin like tiny fleas, stinging and sucking the good-will from her.

"Please hang on!" Her new companion's voice seemed urgent. She was going to do something... with the wind? She supposed it might be something like the other powers she was witnessing, but she couldn't be certain. At the same time, she was worried that her extra body, flapping behind her in the wind, would cause more wind resistance or be a hindrance by being an extra target to hit.

"Alright! Let's go!" Making an executive decision in the matter of a heart beat, she transformed herself into a tiny, soft brown colored mouse that fit easily in the palm of her companion's hand. She crawled up her arm and curled up tightly within her clothing at her shoulder. There honestly wasn't a better way to hang on, that she could think of. And it was very warm here. She was pleased.

A funny feeling came to Anyu's hand.

As she sped along she swore that her companion was getting lighter, and smaller. She felt something warm, and distinctly furry crawl up her coat sleeve, up to the corner of her neck and shoulder.

"W-Wha--?"

A mouse? The red caped girl turned into a mouse? If she were merely standing she would have wiggled in laughing from the tickling feet climbing her arm. The girl managed a brief wheeze and a wobble before straightening her travel path once again.

The clock tower was a big structure, certainly nothing similar to what Coora had. The big face had ornate numbers and huge hands, and the roof had a bell that rang with the hours. Curiously, the blizzard was thick even above, and the howling storm made the visibility around the tower even more difficult.

The inside of the tower seemed the safest place from the storm, right? It was warm, and protected from the elements. Anyu sped to the door at the side, opening the door and shoving it back closed again. She panted and trembled--she had never needed to use her powers so much before--and opened her coat.

Cautiously the half-Cooran cupped the little brown creature that had crept into her clothes, and set her on the floor. "I think we'll be safer here...for now, at least."