Snippet #2512259

After returning from town, the two seers decided to take a shower before filling in the others in what they found, neither one of them knowing what had a occurred before they left. Grayson had been resting still and Victor was in his own room.

Tristan was on his way back out to the kitchen when a strange sight of Kilia running around met his eyes. What the heck is she doing he thought to himself.

Kilia moved from one room to the other, opening doors rapidly. She had finished healing the two boys hours ago and had gone to do some things of her own, mainly rest and get rid of her pounding headache that was threatening to make her sleep. She hated the weariness that came afterwards, the headaches, the feeling that she was going to passout. Then again, Kilia had a tendency to overdo things. She wasn't quite refined enough yet with her magic skills like Uncle Vic was to make the most of her energies. So, she had gone to get water, ate, even took a short nap and then showered.

Now, she couldn't find either Jonathan or Peter and she was starting to worry. Had someone snatched them? Had something happened to them but no one heard it? She couldn't figure it out. So as she went, she was suddenly opening doors very quickly and they were banging on the walls, which she didn't notice until about the fifth time and she realized that she was probably scaring a certain blonde haired Seer. Quickly she stopped this and quickly went to where she had heard River and Soran a bit ago in the kitchen.

"J-Jonathan and Peter... they're gone!" She said quickly, trying to keep the panic from her voice, but failing miserably. What happened?

"Yeah. Kilia, they left after the battle." Rethyn said as he had sat down upon one of the many comfortable chairs of which were in the living room. With his head turned he was looking at Kilia from where she stood in the kitchen. His expression remained blank as he looked to her.

Extending a hand out, he moved it to signal Kilia to move to a nearby seat. The room wasn't well light and outside it had grown dark. From within the darkness only the hollow eyes seemed to luminate through towards Kilia.

"L-left..." she breathed, "They... left? Just... up and gone? Why?" Kilia asked, her voice shaking just a bit. Why would they leave? They were Guardian's, they... they couldn't just... leave. Her heart lurched as she stood there, staring at Rethyn in return. His eyes seemed to glow as it was starting to get dark and the lights in the kitchen hadn't grown strong enough yet to block out the dim gloom.

Through the shadows Rethyn slowly nodded at Kilia. "Jonathan grew frustrated from the battle and was convinced we were all that was holding him back from "true power". Like a stray, Peter followed him in turn."

Lifting a glass of water to his mouth, Rethyn sipped it slowly as he was quite not sure what to do. Kilia would not of taken the news well either way, and nobody else seemed to want to break it. It may as well be him.

"W-what..." once again her words were nothing more than air slightly formed to make a sound. Her heart skipped a beat and then a sharp pain followed. Her fingers reached up and curled over the spot as she swayed slightly. Reaching out she took hold of the doorway, her eyes closing shut tightly as she felt a burn. Maybe she would take that seat now. Moving slowly she was making her way to the place that Rethyn had offered for her when Soran's voice slowly made it to her.

"Left... left... he left. Why? Why?" What started off as soft, slowly turned louder and his tone darkened. Kilia, completely caught off guard turned to the little blonde that was at the other end of the table. His food completely forgotten, he was glaring at the table with a look of such rage that it made her blood run cold.

"The fuck would he leave for!? I thought he was here to help me, to protect me when those Gods come calling! Who the hell does he think he is to just up and leave like this!? And he never even said a word to me, I haven't seen my Guardian in days! The hell is wrong with him!" Soran's voice was near screaming now as his fist hit the table, making the wood tremble and the silverware along it jump, "He left me again! Where the hell was he when Valyn was there? Why wasn't he there!?"

Running feet could be heard coming from the hallway, Tristan had been making his way to the kitchen anyways to talk to River and Soran and he heard Soran's yelling. He had never heard Soran like that before, not even when he was mad at Tristan before. He stopped at the enterance of the kitchen, trying to figure out what was going on, "Soran," yet his voice was only a whisper compared to the to the others. He turned to Rethyn, his head tilted in question, what had happened.

"Soran!" River called and moved around the kitchen to get to her son. Kilia stood with both hands over her lips as she was in utter shock. Never once had Soran blamed anyone for what had happened, or if things went wrong, he never blamed anyone. Where was this anger coming from?

"Why!" He screamed, "What is he planning?! To leave me at the mercy of those fucking Gods?!"

"Soran!" Kilia yelled finally along with River's voice that was trying to calm him. He hit the table again, a kind of raging growl at the back of his throat filling the air. Everything trembled, and Kilia could have sworn she felt a spike of energy course through the room as well.

The truth of which went through Rethyn's lips started out cold, but upon Soran's reaction he said. "That's exactly what he was planning Soran. He didn't care about you, he cared about power. " Rethyn paused for moment as he saw the vibrations of the room climb through his water. "I can't promise you the return of your guardian, but I can tell you that as long as you stay here I will do my best to carry the weight they left behind."

Hollow eyes locked onto Soran as Rethyn stood up. Rethyn then spoke quietly to Soran as if he was both trying to warn the boy and make him realize he was in the room.

"Soran."

Just like the few times before, his rage had spiked, but this time he had acted out on it. He shook, shuddered violently even as his fists clenched tightly on the table. His gaze shifted to Kilia who had yelled at him and she paused in mid step to go to him, River hadn't even dared to approach her own son as she was far too shocked at the display. He turned to Rethyn then, grinding his teeth as the other boy stood up. His words hadn't made it any better, if only to fuel the fire that was still raging. He couldn't quite understand why exactly he was so utterly pissed off, but he knew he was taking it out on someone that probably shouldn've have been taken out on.

Still, he couldn't help the feeling of betrayal. The sense of loss, back-stabbed. The word echoed and he clenched his teeth harder, breathing faster as he sat there, his fists shaking as he tried desperately to control himself. Rethyn continued though, his words cutting through the air to reach him. Soran gave a slight moan as he sat there, closing his eyes tightly. He started to lean forward, his breaths heaving in and out of his chest as he slowly shifted forwards.

Tristan was really confused, if he had figured right two guardians had left. He could understand that feeling, he almost thought he was going to face it in the past. He glanced at Rethyn...his words seemed really harsh for some reason. Was he trying to help or do something else? "Soran please, just calm down," he was almost at the point of begging. The anger in the other was hurting him, he took the step forward that no one else even dared. He didn't care if Soran hurt him, he just wanted the anger to end.

Finally, he let out an enraged scream, his fist hitting the table a third time, harder than the first and Kilia was sure he'd broken it, or at least bruised it very badly. She gasped at the sound of the table rocking from the hit and his scream. Looking to the people in the room she tried to plead with them via her gaze, help him... she was at a loss of what to do at that moment and could only stand in frozen fear.

Rethyn raised a hand to Kilia as suddenly-

Wap!

Rethyn suddenly appeared behind Soran as he roughly grabbed him again. With the quick words "Be right back." to Kilia and River there was another loud crackle as both the boys vanished. In their wake a little black smoke seemed to be left behind signaling Rethyn's emotions towards the situation.

From behind Soran the cabin looked much smaller as they both fell from two miles up in the air. However, from positioning Rethyn had what would seem like a death lock grip on the back of Soran's head as kept Soran in front of him during the fall. The wind howled as they picked up speed with every second they spent in the air. As the rocketed closer the howling of wind almost became deafening as they drew closer.

Tristan looked completely shocked at the disappearance of his guardian and Soran. What the fucking hell was that anyways, what was the guardian thinking if he was actually thinking at all. So where the hell had the other taken him...Tristan only thought was to run out the back door.

The feel of the boys hands on him made him jump. He hadn't been expecting to be touched and he would have fought back violently except he found that in the next instant, he was no longer in that room. Immediately his heart lurched and he was sent back to that abandoned warehouse, the golden knife, the face of the God and his horrid screams filled with agony.

He did feel, though, the arms of the boy wrapped around him tightly, holding him in place and right after, the feel of air cutting past them. It roared in his ears, making him cringe in terror. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, and couldn’t do anything. Finally he found his voice and let out a strangled cry. His fingers dug into Rethyn, clinging to him, "Stop... stop... stop!" he cried, closing his eyes tightly as he buried his face in the boys chest, trying to breath properly even though he wanted nothing more than to scream.

As if it were a bad dream everything stopped just before the two of them were to splatter on the roof of the cabin. With a carefully placed teleportation, Rethyn had put Soran's life before his eyes, and placed them on top of the roof of the cabin.

Latching onto the front of Soran's shirt, Rethyn pulled the boy away from him as he begun to preach to the boy. "Dying is easy Soran. Every breath you take someone breaths there last. Within your eyes I see you. I feel like I see everyone these days." Shaking Soran slightly Rethyn continued. "And it's not by this flesh I see you, I see the you under the skin."

There was a pause, Rethyn's breaths drew in longer and more forced before he started again. "I was the one who pulled you out of there Soran. And I saw myself in your eyes. Not even a year ago I was just like you. And you know where I was a year ago? Dead Soran. Dying is easy, but the afterlife isn't. I was there for fifteen years of the kind of torture of which changes you. To survive I've done horrid things in that asylum they call the "afterlife"."

Pausing again, Rethyn looked over Soran with the darkest of looks. Leaning in to whisper to Soran's ear Rethyn said "I lived in a world where the warden would build your own perfect life and then smash it just when you were most happy. Then he'd start over and watch you smash another life he created for you because you couldn't trust anyone."

"I know you've been through hell, but you have family and people left who would die again for you. I would die in an instant so you could tell the God of Death that he'd have to wait."

Throwing Soran away from him, Rethyn pointed to the woods as he spoke loudly to the boy. "You don't see them, I do! When you're brought back the God simply does not wait for you to come back! He's made plans..."

Placing a hand over his face, Rethyn did his best to try to control himself as he begun to deepen his breaths. "Do you see?!" He finished with. In his own mind he felt he made sense, but he feared he just spoke madness to Soran.

Glancing back at the boy, he awaited him.

Panting, Soran hadn't opened his eye as he thought for sure he was going to die. Then he felt fingers latch into the front of his shirt and drag him off of Rethyn's chest that he'd been clinging too desperately. He opened his eyes now, fear clouding his mind as Rethyn started talking to him. Shaking, tears were streaming down his face as he stared at the other boy, white as a sheet. No color graced his features as he sat there. The words took a while to sink in.

He was shaken slightly and he blinked, his mouth opening as his lips trembled slightly, a soft sound trying to escape him as all he could do was huddle there. Rethyn's words about dragging him out of the concrete building made his gaze widen. He hadn't known that. Of course, he hadn't been conscious either. The next words hit him hard as well. Rethyn had died? But... then... how was he, sitting right there? He couldn't get the words out of his throat as he stared in fear at Rethyn, still trembling from the fall.

The boy leaned forward and whispered to him then. He felt tears falling even more as he listened. He had certainly felt that the life he had woken up to after such an ordeal was nothing but an illusion, however he soon realized that hadn't been the case. His heart slammed in his chest as he knelt there. He didn't know what to think, or what to say. It was hard to even breathe still. He managed only one word after Rethyn had told him that the people around him would die for him, and that even the dark haired Guardian would do so too.

Looking at the boy, his breath hardly whispered out Rethyn's name.

Then Rethyn threw him backwards, shocking him even more. Catching himself just barely by both hands, he was leaned backwards, his eyes wide as he watched Rethyn. Confusion was clear on his face as he sat there. What did this all mean? Why had Rethyn dropped him in mid air and then settled them on the roof? Was this... mean to make him feel better? Or meant to make him see something? Because if it was the former, it certainly hadn't worked. If anything, Soran was now afraid of heights of all things.

"S-see... what... Rethyn..." he managed between short gasps, "The God of Death? Waiting for what? What do you mean? Why the hell did you drop me!?" he countered, a flash of anger before he quickly contained it.

"Look around you Soran! What do you see?!" Rethyn barked. "In that instance if you had died everything you loved would be gone! In the afterlife all of this would never be seen the same. I see the same fear I had within my eyes through yours. The world beyond this one is tougher, more horrid! If you don't put your fear behind you it will kill you and those you love."

Rethyn paused for a moment as he coughed slightly. "The God of Death is someone you never want to see. You'll know when you see him. I see him everywhere...I'll do whatever it takes so none of you will have to meet him."

Rethyn felt the same solution he had come to before race throgh his mind. He then heard Kilia's words in turn. Bringing his hands to the side of his head, Rethyn looked crazed as he stared off into the woods. Faceless beings watched him, they were whispering.

"Your eyes are like mine, I can see you see your fears everywhere you go Soran...Everywhere..."

Sitting down Rethyn went silent as he stared off into the distance. It was as if he went into overdrive and shut down. Every so often he would only merely blink between the now almost silent rises and falls of his chest.

Even though it took him a moment to figure out where the heck they were, his heart stopped when he saw them on the roof. It was probably good for Rethyn that he didn't see the entire display of...stupidness.

"Rethyn..." Soran breathed slowly. Fear... he sees fear. Of course it's fear... he thought, trying to keep up with the boy though his heart was pounding and he felt frozen to the spot. He wasn't sure what Rethyn was talking about, his voice sounded off though. But the one thing that did stick was the mention of fear.

Fear had frozen the blonde.

Fear had crept into his very soul, dragging him down into dark depths that he'd never been to before.

Fear was hurting those around him.

He clenched his teeth as he squeezed his eyes shut. The shock of the fall still stuck with him, but he was feeling something else now too. It wasn't anger, it wasn't quite fear, but... realization? Maybe. He wasn't sure just yet. When Rethyn stopped moving and just stared off into the darkness, he worried. Leaning forward slowly, careful of his own actions, he breifly touched Rethyn. The touch didn't burn. It shouldn't burn... Tristan would tell me that I'm sure he figured as he tried to get the boys attention.

"Rethyn... a-are you okay?"

There was no answer. Shit. Now he was stuck up on the roof. With no way down. His heart hammered in his chest. He swallowed dryly as he felt that familiar tug of fear trying to freeze him. Shaking slightly he sat there staring at Rethyn for a while. The boy wasn't going to move, and thus Soran was stuck, with only himself to get out of the situation. He glanced around quickly and spotted Tristan.

"Tristan!" he called, leaning forward and slipping slightly. He gasped a bit and quickly caught himself, his legs stretching out to stop from going farther on the roof top. His boots had enough grip to catch on the shingles. He took a deep breath, let it out slowly and returned his gaze to the boy on the ground, "Tristan... Uh... yeah," he wasn't sure what to say or how to relay to the boy that his guardian had just gone into robot mode and 'turned off'. He glanced over to Rethyn again, "He's um.... broken..." he said and then sort of chuckled as he was referring to the boy as a mechanical object that had stopped working.

It was only slightly funny. Slightly.

He's broken is that what the other just said, Tristan actually thought it fit better than it should have. "Rethyn," he called, "what in the hell are you doing." Ok maybe that wasn't the best response. Tristan was just going to have to come up with something, yet it seemed like his mind just ran out of ideas.

Rope...ladder...but the freaking roof was to high for that, he looked at the windows, damn the other couldn't have landed near one of those. He glanced at his magic pad, did he have anything useful...oh wait.

He hurried as fast as he could as he needed to actually modify what he wanted. A slingshot appeared in his hand, and he aimed it toward his guardian, "Ok maybe this will wake him up," The first object to launch from the slingshot was a water balloon, but as it went toward the other, it just got bigger and bigger. As it hit him it would explode into shower of water.

Soran's gaze grew wide as he watched Tristan design something on his pad and then in his hands appeared a sling shot. He shot something that the blonde Seer couldn't quite see until it got closer. It was a large balloon of sorts and Soran lifted an eyebrow. He wasn't sure but... was that supposed to do something? He hoped so because he wasn't getting down without Rethyn, or maybe some well crafted spell of sorts. He bit his lip as he looked down to Tristan.

"I hope that works!" he called, cringing slightly as the balloon got larger. Whatever was in it was sure to go everywhere and Soran was definitely in range of it as well, though it probably hit Rethyn with more than Soran.

As the balloon smacked Rethyn on the side of the head. Rethyn closed his left eye and blinked twice with his right. The blackness had gone away and like a reboot, Rethyn stood up soaked. Below him was a little circle of a wet spot of which the rest of the water had gone.

Before glancing over to Soran, Rethyn shook his head as he offered the boy a hand. "Come on, let's go."

Slowly, Soran watched as Rethyn seemed to completely snap out of his trance when the water sprayed across him. Some of it exploded onto him too, but not nearly as bad as the other boy. It had completely drenched him. Reaching out his hand, Rethyn called to him. Standing up gingerly, Soran took hold of the boys hand with a nod, "Okay."

Crack!

With another quick teleport, the two of them had landed next to Tristan. In silence Rethyn then released the hand for Soran before turning to slink away. With tired eyes and a lowered head, the young man started to step off into the house. In his wake there were drops of water from his clothing.

The sky looked lovely that night as each of the stars were visible without the lights of the city to hide them. The moon this night was larger as it loomed over the cabin brightly. It even revealed many of the shadowy spots of the night of which on most nights one could not see.

Soran blanched slightly, wincing at the teleport. That was going to take some time to get used to again. He stood there silently though, watching as Rethyn walked slowly back into the house. Looking to Tristan after the boy disappeared into the house, he reached out and took the red haired Seer's hand gingerly, "Tristan... h-hey..." he could only manage before he moved and wrapped his arms around the other's waist, putting his face in Tristan's chest. He breathed deeply.

Tristan watched his guardian come to life again and finally decide to teleport off the roof. As the two landed he sighed in relief, he watched his guardian move into the house, and decided he save the conversation for later as to what the other was doing up there. He looked at Soran as the other took his hand and wrapped his arms around him. "Hey yourself," he said with a smile and held the other. "You ok," was all he could ask, he knew that it wasn't the best question, but it was the first one that came to mind.

It took him a moment, but Soran finally answered, his head nodding slowly, "Y-yeah.... strangely enough. I mean... he terrified me at first but... I-I don't know. I guess... he sort of helped... Kind of. I'm still slightly confused but. I think I know what he was trying to do," Soran said, trying to explain how he was feeling and knowing that it wasn't happening. The most important part was that he was actually okay. Shaking, sure, but... okay.

Tristan smiled, "I am glad to hear that," or at least he thought he was. He was still sort of scared though, wondering what that anger was from before, was it completely gone. "Good, now I am hungry, I swore I smelled spaghetti in there."

~~~Rethyn, Sina, and Kilia~~~

Shooting around the house, Rethyn made his way back to the chair he had sat in before. He was trembling a little as he sat in the darkness. At first he thought he was alone as he merely went back to his glass of water, but with the sound of Sina's light voice Rethyn turned a little to see her in the corner of the room within her own seat.

"Sup weirdo."

Closing his eyes, Rethyn didn't want to deal with her as he finished his glass of water. Doing his best to remove the thoughts swirling through him and the idea of Sina's teasing he didn't respond to her.

"You goin' to respond or am I just going to have to go mess with your stuff? Weirdo."

There was no avoiding her. With a open of his eyes, Rethyn looked hollowly as he said in response.

"Hello. Useless."

With a clinch of her teeth, Sina barked back to Rethyn,

"Excuse me?!"

"You heard me. If you're going to call me weird I can at least call you what you are. And you have been utterly useless. "

Sina scoffed at Rethyn as she stood and folded her arms at him. "I was protecting Tristan's sisters weirdo."

"As I was too useless." Rethyn replied.

Like a child, Sina responded with. "Ugh! Everyone else around this house is so great then there's you!" Stomping off out of the room Sina's last words were. "Not only are you a weirdo, but you're also a jerk!"

Thanking the air of her departure, Rethyn merely glanced down to the floor as he felt sick. Why had he lost control? Was it Soran's anger which triggered it? Was it just his eyes, or was it just himself.

Burying his face into his hands, Rethyn rubbed at his eyes a little before removing them from his face as laying back into the chair. He did his best to not look at the pictures on the wall as he feared they'd move again. He didn't want to focus on anything for too long for the fear of it had set in.

Kilia, having been curious as to what happened between Rethyn and Soran, had paced the house until she heard someone coming into the house again. Dinner had moved to the table, River having finished making the spagehtti. The young pink haired Seer didn't feel like eating though, too nervous and distracted by thought to settle herself.

Moving in the direction of the noise she'd heard, she by passed Sina who looked irritated. Lifting an eyebrow, she watched the other girl storm down the hall. Entering the kitchen, Kilia spotted Rethyn seated there and gingerly made her way over to him. Drawing out a chair, she sat across from him and was silent for a while as she tried to figure out what she wanted to say.

"R-Rethyn... is... everything okay?" she asked slowly.

Speaking steadliy, Rethyn looked forward as he said to Kilia. "Are you alright, you seem nervous." He was dodging again, upon his response he tried to flip the conversation away from him and onto Kilia. He couldn't help but fear he'd said too much to Soran. He had let himself out and now someone in the world knew almost everything about him. He felt even worse knowing it wasn't even his own Seer who knew of him that way, but his Seer's lover instead.

"Are you hungry?" Rethyn asked as he stood from his seat. Maybe around the table in company she wouldn't have the curage to figure him out. Hopefully neither would Soran as he wouldn't bring it up around his mother or Tristan.

Hopefully.

Kilia stood with him, followed him to where the pot was full of the decadent italian food, "I'm fine," she told him and stood right next to him with her back to the table, "I'm... not very hungry right now... But... I'm worried about you. You suddenly disappeared with Soran. You're both alright... right? You can... at least tell me that. You trust me, right? At least let me know that you're okay," she said softly. She wasn't trying to push, but she was gently prodding to get him to say something.

"I could be better Kilia." Rethyn said quietly as he tried to keep his voice from the others ears. "I would never seriously hurt Soren. I only told him what I felt was needed." Rethyn finished as he went to pull his noodles from the pot. "And why do you keep asking if I trust you? I told you before I'd rather myself die than any of you so you wouldn't..." Rethyn trailed off as he looked to his noodles.

Kilia frowned, "Don't say that," she whispered softly, fingers reaching out to wrap around his arm, "I get cold when you say that. Because I know that you mean it, and you would let it happen. Don't you remember what I told you the other night? You are strong. But you are stronger with us standing at your side. I know you want to protect us, but... we want to protect you to. I know you wouldn't hurt him either. You wouldn't hurt any of us," Kilia said softly. She leaned her forehead on his shoulder lightly, "I just want you both to be okay."

"Would you like to patrol with me tonight?" Rethyn asked quietly as he looked down to the hand of Kilia. Her hand felt warm to him as he was still rather damp from his Seer's water balloon attack on him from before.

She then placed her forehead upon his shoulder. For the first time he had come back he felt the warmth of a blush on his face as his eyes moved to her quickly before darting back to the noodles.

"Patrol?" she repeated the word and removed her head from his shoulder. She wasn't sure what that meant, but since he was asking... Maybe she would find out more about him if she was allowed to do so. She smiled sweetly at him, "Sure. It sounds interesting."

"Thank you Kilia." The blush upon his face had not died yet and because of it he didn't make eye contact as he did his best to hide it. He had begun to shiver from his clothing and he begun to silently tell himself that he would have to change after he ate.

Later that Night

With folded arms over his sheath, Rethyn stood in the living room with closed eyes. This was where they had planned to meet for that night. At first he thought he heard someone’s steps, but refused to open his eyes just incase it was something like that one night. The eyeless dog licking the glass of the window was more than enough to flood the memories of a bad night. He held back a shudder to the best of his ability as he remembered the crimson leaving the socket of the dogs eyes.

Kilia moved through the darkness, slightly out of place as she couldn't see very well and then found herself in the living room finally. Spotting the form of Rethyn she walked over to him and with one hand behind her back, a smile on her face, reached out and tapped his shoulder as he seemed to be sleeping.

"Rethyn," she called softly, keeping her voice low in the house.

Rethyn slightly jolted from the tap, but quickly regained himself once he heard the voice of Kilia. Turning to her slowly he opened his eyes as he saw her through the darkness. This night he had chosen not to wear shoes as he merely wore a sleeveless shirt covered over by a soft black jacket with a little bit of what seemed to be fur on the hood. And a pair of simple cargo shorts of which already had gained a small hole at the end of the left leg.

"Kilia." Rethyn said quietly in return.

Beaming at him, she straightened, "I always wondered what it was you did at night," she said with a small giggle, "I feel.. kinda special being allowed to follow you around," she said, one finger scraching at her cheek as she looked around the room. Kilia was certainly glad for the darkness, she could feel her cheeks going slightly red. Dressed in a black shirt that opened at the shoulders with long sleeves down to her wrists, a short skirt with shorts underneath and shoes to match, she rocked back and forth as she waited, "So! Where to first?" she asked, all sorts of energy bubbling through her, which was unusual seeing as she wasn't a night owl to begin with.

"...Thank you for coming along." Rethyn said softly. He was thankful that she came along as even though he didn't exactly explain why he needed her she came along anyways. It brought a warmness within him of which he caught inside of himself. It confused him, but he tried his best not to question it. It was nice, it felt so much better than the other things of which jabbed at him throughout the day.

"I usually move to the training rooms first then just the general downstairs before I start going up. I then repeat."

Kilia nodded a bit, "Ah. Pretty simple," she said with a smile, "So... why do you do it alone, Rethyn? You've always done this, haven't you?"

"Well, I am not exactly fond of Kilia." Rethyn said as he begun to walk in the direction of the training rooms. "Ever since I joined up with you guys, it just became my thing."

Kilia followed him, matching his stride as best she could, "Oh. You never did it before then? So," she lifted an eyebrow as she looked up at him, her hands curling together in front of her as they walked, "So why do you do it now?"

Rethyn paused as he looked into the training room, from within he saw nothing. Speaking quietly he said in response to Kilia as he turned back to face her. "I do it now because I worry about you, and everyone else."

"You worry about us?" she asked, and then gave a small laugh, "See, I knew you did. You're always acting like you don't like us, and you do things alone so often. But I had a feeling there was more to it than just that," reaching out she wrapped her fingers around his forearm as they bypassed the training room, "People think that they're good at hiding things. I think that maybe I've gotten a little bit better and reading a few things. Or maybe you're just slipping," she teased a bit with a laugh, "In any case," her tone grew a bit more serious, "I'm glad to hear it."

"I do things alone because there are things out there I don't want you all to face." Rethyn said a little defensively as a light blush crawled up on his face in the darkness. He had not expected the sudden touch of Kilia and along with her touch felt a warmness crawl within him.

"I know I am slipping..." Rethyn said quietly as he knew Kilia was teasing, but he knew it was true.

Kilia walked with him, her fingers still wrapped around his forearm, "I think that you try to do too much on your own. I also think that you don't give us enough credit. Especially Tristan. Together, you and him could be extremely powerful. Who knows what you both could do if you both started working together." Kilia gave a bit of a shrug, "I've been wondering, too... do you have a magic system, Rethyn? I know... little strange to ask," she said as she glanced around the hall.

Glancing down the hall as well, Rethyn's blush had faded as he truly did think over the aspects of his connection with his Seer. She was right. He knew that he needed to stop trying to protect Tristan so much, but work with him instead. However, a bit of him growled at the idea as he struggled with it.

As they reached the stairs, Rethyn finally answered the second question as he said weakly. "No, I do not have one."

Kilia looked up to him briefly, her content features fading for a moment as she grew a bit worried, "Well, that's okay. I sort of didn't think so, after all you teleport around so much and I've never seen you open the system. Sorry to ask such a strange question," she said, "I just thought that... if you did you and Tristan would be a deadly pair. Not that you wouldn't be still... but... uh..." she fumbled around for words and finally decided on an awkward silence for a while.

"Do you like being a Guardian, Rethyn?"

"Don't worry about it Kilia, I know what you mean." Rethyn then paused as he listened to Kilia's voice. He did not believe she knew, but he could clearly see her in the dark and with his solid sky blue eyes he would watch her closely as she would speak. After what seemed like an even longer moment, Rethyn finally answered her question.

"For a duty I never expected I do like it...It gives me a purpose. Without it, I wouldn't know what to do. I don't believe there is anyone left who cares for a guy who died fifteen years ago."

Reaching the end of the stairs, Rethyn stopped as he looked to her silently. His eyes had held that hollow look of which bore into KIlia as he himself showed little to none other signs of body language.

Kilia frowned, "Oh Rethyn. Then what does that make us? You know we care, don't you? You're special to us, you always have been," she said softly. She never removed her gaze from his eyes as they stopped at the end of the stairs. His beautiful eyes... she always found them so captivating. She smiled, "We care. I care too. Doesn't that mean something for you?"

Rethyn felt a smile pull at his lips. "Sorry, it's just in the past I felt I was merely the expendable one of the group.." He paused for a moment as he closed his eyes and breathed lighly once before opening his eyes again. "It does Kilia...I..thank you." Other words wanted to pull their way out, but for now he had lowered his gaze a tad bit more.

A light blush started pushing its way upon his face as he couldn't help it. He wanted to say more, but words weren't exactly working for him in the moment. He froze.

Kilia hummed a bit as she tilted her head, "What is it, Rethyn?" she had a feeling he wanted to say something to her.

"Thank you for being so accepting of me...I know I come off as a bit off...and." Rethyn felt himself begin to ramble a little to the girl as he tried to find his footing. She had managed to slip past his defenses and break him down with just her mere smile and gaze. In the past he always knew she was cute, but never this cute.

A long moment of silence seemed to pass as Rethyn found himself locked in place. The smile he had let out earlier had been replaced by a little of uncertainity. Without even realizing it he had leaned in closer to Kilia. As a blush crawled up his face so did the warmness resonating within him.

Inches from her face he found his eyes gazing into her sky blue ones through the darkness. For a moment he paused as he felt the uncertainty of his actions. With his hands at his sides he from yet again.

Kilia shook her head a bit as he said he was a bit 'off'. She didn't think he was off at all. He was just fine the way he was, sweet and kind in his own way even if he tried to come off cold and uncaring. Kilia giggled a bit to herself. As they stood there, she suddenly found him getting rather close and she watched him curiously. He got close to her, close enough for her to feel the gentle caress of his breath against her face.

Kilia was mesmerized by his gaze. She had always thought those eyes of his were rather good looking, attractive even. If she hadn't been infatuated with Jonathan for a while, she probably would have fallen for him first. As it was though, she had a feeling that she'd had a stronger connection to him. When Rethyn saved Soran from the concrete during the earthquake, having taken a blow to his head and breaking his mask... she was worried, scared even for him. It was also the first time that she'd seen his eyes. Kilia remembered having commented on it, telling him that he was cute, or adorable like that.

Following after that, she'd spoken to him in the kitchen of the new house, worried yet again. Kilia remembered how he felt when she held him, though he didn't hold her in return, she could feel his strong heart, warm body and with a kiss to his cheek... maybe that had been the spark. Or maybe it had been a bit sooner. Love was wierd like that.

So, when he came close to her, gazing at her, she couldn't help the little breath of startlement, her cheeks growing red as well, though it was hard to tell in the dark. Her heart thrummed a little harder and she trembled slightly. It was only a few more inches... a few more inches and she find out what it was like to kiss him. She bit her lip, hesitant to try. With a small intake of breath, she leaned forward and gently gave him a kiss. Nothing hard, or passionate or anything like that. A soft touch, like testing the water. She hoped to god that was what he wanted...

A small smile played upon Rethyn's lips as he smiled against hers during this kiss. Slowly his hands moved to her sides before one gently slid to her back. The blush upon his face seemed to partially fade as he returned the kiss to Kilia. With it he understood the warm from within of which she gave.

Closing his eyes, Rethyn finished the kiss as he wrapped his arms around her gently. Leaning his forehead against hers he could feel her heart pounding between breaths. With a tiny smile it was okay as his heart too was beating strongly against his chest. His blush had completely faded off from his face as he could feel the light tickling of Kilia's breath as it contacted him.

After a long moment Rethyn lowered his arms and stepped back as he opened his eyes to gaze at Kilia. With a gentle smile he remember how she had spoken to him the first time he removed his mask. The kindness she had supplied him was enough to escape himself and begin his first steps into his new life. He wanted to give her something more, but in his mind he did not know what. Then like a slap the thought hit him roughly as he murmured.

"Answers."

The embrace was gentle and warm. She wrapped her own arms around his waist, though she really wasn't all that big and could only get her fingers to curl around her wrists where-as his arms had nearly engulfed her small size. It was nice to just stand there, letting him hold her and no words needed. She breathed deeply. He smelled nice. With a soft hum to herself she was about to nestle closer to him when he pulled away a bit. There it was again, that small smile. She gave a soft laugh and smiled in return, unable to help it.

Of course, his next words had her utterly confused. Tilting her head a bit, she said, "Eh?" softly, arching an eyebrow as she stared at him, her smile still in place. If at all possible, little question marks might have popped up around her head as well...

"Uh..." In that moment Rethyn realized how odd he sounded. With a quick regain of his footing, Rethyn asked Kilia quietly.

"I know you still have questions...If there are any left I am willing to answer."

"Oh... Um," she blushed a bit as she reached up and tucked a strand of long pink hair behind her ear, "Uh... your... magic system. How come you don't have it? I mean, you were revived, right? Shouldn't you have it?"

"I..uh never had one..." Rethyn replied as he looked down briefly before meeting his gaze with hers again. "The power is a part of me..I am not sure how to explain..uh.." Rethyn shook his head as he awaited the next question. If it was the one he expected...he was going to have to answer everything.

"Oh, that's interesting. Makes you more mysterious," she said with a giggle and a wiggle of her fingers for added affect, with a smile she stood with one hand on her hip as she thought to herself. She had recalled having a thousand question's before, but... at the moment it was actually rather hard to ask any of them. The reason for that was because simply.. She’d forgotten. It was the kiss... Yes, totally blaming it on that.

"Um... This... thing with the God of Death... why is he after you? Is he just mad that you... were revived somehow?"

"...After?...Sweetie that's a interesting choice of words." The voice hissed to Kilia from down the hall. Through the moonlight a suited man could be seen in the light as he sat upon the window frame. With his right hand he adjusted his solid red tie while with his left hand he seemed to pet something within the darkness.

Rethyn's eyes went wide as he kept himself from turning his head. Within his mind he told himself over and over again that he wasn't there. It was another trick and trap to get under his skin. He begun to shake as he grasped at Kila to pull her towards him. With quiet whispers he said.

"Don't look."

Kilia sucked in a sharp breath. Words tossed across the hall in an acidic tone from a voice that she'd never heard before. Her gaze grew wide and as she was about to turn around, Rethyn suddenly grabbed her and held her tightly against him, prohibiting her from turning as her face was buried against his chest and shoulder. Her breathing was short.

"Rethyn..." she said, a bit of a higher pitch to her tone than usual as he told her not to look, "Rethyn... what is that?" her voice was shaky, but as she felt him trembling, she worried. What was going on? Kilia's fingers curled into his shirt tightly as she was crushed against him, "Are you okay?"

"Rethyn...oh come on let me meet her. You know? It's kind of like when you show the girlfriend to your parents for the first time. Well not exactly, but I am the closest thing to a dad in this new life eh?" Death then chuckled at Rethyn's silent trembling before he continued on with. "After? No, I'm just giving him some tough love. I can't have him be soft now...Why kill what you helped bring back?"

"Helped... bring back..." Kilia whispered softly. She couldn't turn, but she did raise her voice a bit, a sharp snap to it that usually wasn't there, "Leave him alone," she said as she reached behind Rethyn and her hand swiped at the air. The soft glow of her magic system came up and her fingers touched the pad, but she couldn't see what she was drawing out. She was trying to make some sort of shield, a protective barrier that she was going to throw on Rethyn. She could only hope that it would work. All the while her voice whispered to Rethyn, "Don't listen, ignore it. He doesn't know anything. You're just fine, trust me."

"But girl, I am speaking to you now not him. What you seek to know is why Rethyn has no magic system? Because the power he processes is the gift I bestowed upon him when I helped bring him back...That foolish girl tried to revive him, but like every other bastard and whore in the past would of failed. I gave just a push of help and look what happened." Chuckling slightly at the barrier he had no intent of attacking Death turned away as he finished with.

"He's even in my image when I was but a mortal..Kazar may of had black hair like he does now, but when he was in my world he was a blonde...Well heh just go look at the picture he has under his pillow...He's not who he was at all in life. Rethyn wasn't even his original name."

Reaching his hand into one of the dogs opened eye sockets, Death begun to write something upon the window with the crimson of blood. It looked to be an array of numbers of which could be entered into a magic system. "This is my number...contact me when you're done with games...Ta ta."

Wamp!

As if it were the same power of Rethyn, Death vanished in a puff of smoke. The sound was similar to Rethyn's but distinctly different in sound as through all of Rethyn's teleport there wasn't a sound quite like that. The sound was quite loud this time too as it carried throughout the house.

Upon the window the blood dripped a little, but still the numbers were visible. As Death had left, Rethyn released Kilia as he looked down in silence. Death had broken out the information not in the way Rethyn wanted to give it. It was the truth and it stung the blue eyed boy as he begun to turn away from Kilia. She would see him as a monster now, and as the fear settled in he started to believe it.

"Rethyn!" Kilia called, her voice nearing a shout, but not one of anger, out of fear. Her fingers were still curled on her magic system. Her other hand reached out, snatching his hand and dragging him back as best she could. She moved too, stepping up next to him and pressed the power against his chest. It was probably a little late, but she also wanted to see what it would do. Golden light streamed across his frame, like little tendrils that pulsed and curled together in intricate designs. He glowed like that for a bit. Kilia tilted her head as she watched it, slightly mesmerized by how it twisted along his body.

"Hmm... not sure what that is really, but I think it's a protection spell. Looks cool," she said with a shrug. Then looking up at him, she frowned, "Why did you try to walk away? I don't care what he said. It doesn't matter to me, it won't matter to anyone else. So what, you had blonde hair once. You look better with black. I don't care what your name was before. You're Rethyn to me and I like you just the way you are now. There's nothing wrong with you, and there's nothing wrong with any of that past stuff. I'm sure something happened. I won't ask, it's not my place. But... the important thing now, you're here. Don't lose face simply because of a few words."

She said, and as she spoke, her fingers curled in his hand that she'd grabbed and her other hand reached up to brush across his face.

As the golden light faded from him, Rethyn quickly begun to look around him as he saw many of the the shadows lose that extra layer of darkness, he saw the picture at the end of the hall stop dancing, and lastly he felt a warmness within his head. With a momentary close of his eyes he felt soothed.

Opening his eyes he stared at Kilia as she spoke to him. She may not of known what she just had done with that spell of hers, but she had just driven from his minds the hallucinations of which had plagued him since his return to the living. With no response, Rethyn lunged forward as he pulled Kilia into a tight embrace. Turning his head he then kissed her twice on the cheek. He felt the warmness of her hands upon his face and smiled to her as he said.

"Thank you..."

Kilia was startled as he lunged at her, pulling her up tight. Her breath was lost to her as he bear hugged her. Then she felt his lips against her cheek and she blushed furiously. Still, she smiled warmly as he whispered words towards her, his thanks made her giggle a bit, "I didn't do anything," she said softly. Shifting her hand from his face, her fingers went through his hair and then wrapped up neatly along his neck as she pulled herself into his hug, happy for the warmth.

"I'll always be here to help you, okay? Me, and everyone else. I promise you. You're not alone," she said softly. The darkness of the hall stayed just like that, with only the silver light of the moon to illuminate them just barely. Kilia enjoyed the embrace. Maybe she could hold him again like that soon, the thought made her smile even more as she released a soft sigh of contentment.

---

Following Morning

"Found her," Cryio's voice was soft as he moved forward through the trees. It had been a long trip, and it had taken a lot of time and extra power that he didn't think he possessed, but it finally payed off. Deriea sighed, she stretched up, pulling at her limbs as her fingers interlaced and rose up over her head, her back curling backwards a bit.

"Finally," she muttered, "Shall we greet the mortals?"

Cryio turned to her slightly, "You shouldn't call them mortals."

"Why not? That's what they are."

"They won't like it," he said bluntly.

Deriea rolled her eyes, "You're certainly loads of fun," she retorted, "Fine what should I call them? Humans? Lesser-beings? Skeletons with skin draped on them?"

"Deriea."

"Fine, fine, I won't do any of that. What's the girls name?"

"Kilia."

"And?"

Cryio shrugged, "Just, 'Kilia'. It's this house," he said, coming to an abrupt halt and Deriea almost running into him. Cursing to herself, she moved to the side of him and stared at the beautiful looking cabin. She gave a soft scoff.

"Seriously, what's with mortals and building such ridiculous things that will never last?"

"I find it pleasing."

"That's because you're strange. And an idiot," she returned, "Well, call her. We really don't have all day."

Cryio turned to her and for a moment she thought he may have smiled, but that might have just been her own weariness dragging on her. She lifted an eyebrow as he stepped forward, walking right through the barrier. Deriea followed and both God's halted right outside the house, waiting.

Deriea sighed heavily, "Idiot," she muttered. Her hand outstretched over the dirt at her feet. The small rocks and dust started to move little by little. Her hand lifted up slowly and the fingers curled in. The ground shifted, a slight roll bucked under her feet and then she directed it towards the house. It rumbled as it went and hit the front door, just short of knocking it off it's hinges. With a bit of a grin, she released the power and crossed her arms with a sort of proud look on her face.

Inside the house if anything a collective moan went up...again, this was happening again. Alauric was in the living room when something hit the front door...well that was a little odd. He scratched his head and decided to go see what was out front. He stared out the windows, and found two gods out there...but they were just standing there as if they were waiting. "I kinda wonder if I go away they will disappear," he mumbled to himself.

Sina watched from a window as she saw the two gods move closer to the home. She had heard the alarm and was on edge, but at the same time nobody seemed to be doing anything so she found herself hesitating to do anything. "If they wanted a fight they would have already right?" Sina asked herself quietly.

Deriea looked to Cryio, "I don't think that worked. Should I try again?"

He shook his head at her, "You will only anger them."

She quirked an eyebrow at him, "What? I just knocked. A simple greeting. A 'hello' if you will."

Cryio sighed.

The rumble that rocked the house just a bit and had drawn everyones attention, had Kilia rushing for the door, heart pounding, "What's happened? What's going on?" She asked quickly, coming up next to Alauric. She had yet to look directly outside yet though.

Following her, was Soran. A slight bit timid, but definitely not huddled in a corner, he peeked around the corner, biting his lower lip, "Alauric?" he called, and took a tentative step into the main hallway.

Alauric was about to answer Kilia, when he heard Soran's voice also, he got a smile on his face with that sound of his name. "Just two gods out there...but they aren't attacking,,,and something hit the door...like a rather loud knock or something." He couldn't figure it out.

"Oh well, if they aren't attacking, I say let’s go back to bed..." he turned from the windows and started in that direction. He saw something that made him more scared than the two gods, "I am just kidding...geeze don't look at me like that."

Grayson was standing there, his expression was extremely stony when he looked at his seer.

"N-not attacking?" Soran repeated, clearly confused.

Kilia, on the other hand whirled around and threw opened the door. Soran gave a sharp cry as she did that. The pink haired Seer laid eyes upon the two Gods now and though she didn't know the woman, she knew she could never forget the face of the one that she had befriened those many years ago. Her lips broke into a wide smile as she drew in a breath and raced out the door, down the steps and across the yard.

Soran moved into the hall, rushing to the door where he stopped, "Kilia!" he yelled, fear in his voice.

Alauric turned as Kilia opened the door, now that was unexpected, he too then went to the open door. "Why do I get the feeling..." he stopped, and tilted his head, he wasn't really sure what to think.

Tristan now stood in the living room, as he looked at the pink-haired girl running down the steps toward the two gods, he squinted his eyes and looked again. "You know maybe I am crazy or something...but I think she knows one of those gods."

"Cryio!!" Kilia called as she sprinted across the yard. Though she threw her arms around the God's neck, the tall God did not return the hug, but did allow her to hang on him. He even bent down a bit for the short girl to do so.

"Kilia. You've grown."

"Yes. It's been a really long time. I was... worried about you," she replied. Then gasped slightly. Quickly releasing Cryio, she took a step back, realizing that everyone in that house had just witnessed her hugging a God. Glancing over her shoulder, she tried to find the words to explain, but faltered as she stood there.

Cryio reached out and patted the top of her head gently, "It is alright. We can explain just fine. I am happy to see you."

"Sure he is," Deriea added with a roll of her eyes, " 'Happy face'.... 'Sad face'.... 'Angry face'," all the while she kept her own facial features exactly the same as she imitated Cryio, "I swear, if it wasn't as clear as day what emotion you were feeling I would have never guessed," her voice was sarcastic.

Alauric had finally walked out the front door and was sitting on the top step, Tristan eyed his father as he now stood next to Soran, "oh what a great and fearless leader he is," he said in his own sarcastic tone. He watched the interaction between the god and Kilia, ok so he wasn't crazy, but what did it mean exactly for them. Was this just a visit, or were they here to actually help?

"I... I can't.... is this... really happening?" Soran stuttered as he leaned against the door, one hand reaching out to tangle with Tristans. He watched in confusion, not sure how to respond.

Kilia smiled, "Uh... yeah. Cryio, I'm sure you know everyone here, so no need for that, but uh... who is this?"

"Deriea."

"Oh. Hello."

"Hi morta- I mean, Kilia."

Kilia arched an eyebrow, then laughed a bit, "I know this may sound odd, but um... why exactly are you here?"

Deriea grinned at Kilia then and waved her hand from one side to the other, "Well you know. Strolling about is just one of those things that us Gods enjoy doing. Not to mention getting into fights with other God's, deciding to help out a group of mortals along the way," with a faked smile she looked at Kilia and then to Cryio, "Of course all of that was this idiots idea," her smile faded as she jabbed at Cryio.

Tristan looked at Soran, "Well you know Kilia...is an oddball," he grinned slightly, "she attracts the strangest friends. but yes its happening...but did she just say they were here to help us?" Alauric had heard the same thing, it was all getting a little to weird for him and he sighed.

"Wait... help? What are you talking about..." Kilia repeated, utterly confused.

Deriea rolled her eyes yet again and sighed as she put both hands on her hips, "You heard right, mortal. Cryio managed to convince me that you needed some help. Not to mention he's been worried for quite some time. Not that you could ever tell of course..." she gave the other God a horrid glare before she looked back to Kilia and smiled sweetly, "So here we are. Besides, don't you think you might need a bit of a... hand? Nothing like having a God back you up in a fight. Makes a statement don't you think? Especially me, I can make one hell of a statement."

"Deriea."

"What?! Jeez, you really are a buzz kill, Cryio. What the hell are you a god of again? Because it certainly isn't emotion," she glowered back at him, "Learn to feel the mood you idiot."

Kilia looked between the two, confused at first but then she started laughing. The woman named Deriea had a fiery temper, and one sharp tongue to add to it, but she was comical in her own way. This could be fun the young pink haired Seer thought to herself as she giggled, "Well, since you're here, why not come inside?"

"Uh..." Deriea looked at the house wearily, "That.. might be a bad idea in my case, girly. If you like that house, I think I'll stay outside."

"She'll destroy it," Cryio answered smoothly and in a matter of factly sort of tone.

Deriea turned her narrowed eyes to Cryio, "It's not like I would do it on purpose!"

Cryio shrugged lightly as he watched Kilia who had taken to laughing again, "O-oh... Okay... I get it," she said between giggles, "Then, we'll stay outside. You can come closer though, I don't want to shout across the yard," she said and turned to start back to where the others lingered on the porch of the home. Cryio followed her without a word while Deriea looked on hesitantly. Finally with a soft growl and string of mumbled curses to herself, the other god followed after. Stopping just short of the house, Kilia smiled at the group.

"Uh... So... this is Cryio. I... um, met him when I was very little. He's.... a good god," she said, not sure how well this was going to go over.

Alauric watched the three approach, and listened to Kilia, "Good god," he repeated, though it sort of sounded like he was saying it differently. "Kilia...um...," he didn't know where to start. Tristan stepped out of the doorway, "What he is trying to say is do you trust them Kilia," he remember her telling stories of her 'pretend friend' when she was little. He sounded like a cool person back then, to a kid, but to really put a actually face to the friend...and the fact that he was a god. Tristan had to ask the question that first came to his mind. He was also worried about the blond seer behind him. He rather thought he reaction would be different.

"A 'good god'?" Soran repeated, his voice turning slightly acidic, his green eyes narrowing dangerously.

Kilia quickly raised up her hands, "It's fine! It's fine, it's okay! He's not going to do anything, I promise you. And she won't either. If she's with Cryio, then it's alright."

"What's wrong with the mortal?" Deriea asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow as she regarded Soran's standoffish attitude to the situation.

Kilia turned to look at the goddess, "He's... that's a long story. He just doesn't trust Gods. For a good reason. But I can promise you, I trust these ones. Do you trust me, Soran? Tristan?"

Tristan looked back, he understood why Soran reacted like that. "It’s not that we don't trust you Kilia, you know that, it’s just going to take some getting used to, but I am all for them helping, we certainity could use it." Alauric looked at his son, maybe it was the right thing to do to stay out of this decision, they needed to start making some on their own anyways.

"And well," Tristan continued, "think of the circumstances now, how some of us are less protected, don't forgot about that Kilia. Maybe we could get them to make a oath or something," he slightly smiled at the thought, it was a rather funny notion to get a god to promise anything.

"I will protect her," Cryio said, his gaze watching Kilia steadily.

Kilia turned to look at him, "Cryio..."

"I recall giving you a promise many years ago. I'm sorry that I left you without fulfilling that. But I can now, and I will."

Kilia nibbled at her lip. She remembered that promise. He'd told her that he would protect her from other gods, no matter what. Then a few years after that, he'd disappeared. She had a thousand questions about that, but figured they could talk later. Looking to Deriea she tilted her head. Tristan had a very good point, and in the case of Soran, something should be said to try to settle him on this idea. Kilia was also happy that the blonde Seer hadn't flown off the handle. Though his anger was definitely something new to deal with, it seemed that most times he knew it was there and did what he could to subdue it. Hell, she was even surprised to see him at the front door, facing two Gods. It made her wonder what Rethyn did specifically to get him out of that shell of his.

Deriea nodded, "I won't harm you either. If it makes anything any better, he's the God of Life, and I'm the Goddess of Earth. I can't exist without this place, and since he's the god of Life, he has a sort of... what do you say. Soft spot for mortals. I suppose I do too," she said the last bit softly and looked off into the trees.

Tristan slighty tilted his head, what exactly does a god of life do,

"So what are your powers," he said looking at the tall male god. Seriously the guy was taller then he was, would have made a good basketball player if he was mortal, he offhandly wanted to ask him if he knew how to play. What the heck...Tristan had moved past the acceptance stage and had in mind to ask the guy to play a game of 1 on 1 or something like that.

Cryio looked up to the red haired Seer. He looked back to Kilia, almost as if he didn't understand what Tristan was asking. Kilia only smiled and waited. It took the God a moment, but he finally seemed to figure it out, "Life. Creating it. Keeping it."

Kilia giggled, turning she looked at Tristan, "Basically he means healing. He's... a great healer. Without anything living, more specifically humans, Cryio doesn't exist. Anything that has to do with healing, medicines, healing plant life... all that kinds of stuff, he creates it and keeps it going. He has all sorts of knowledge on that. Which, through him, we learn. Healers like myself and Victor become capable of doing those things, because he creates it." Kilia was beaming as she explained, hopefully her explanation was understood, because she honestly didn't know any other way of saying it. Also, she was saying it this way because when she had asked Cryio when she was small, this was the answer he taught her.

"Life..." Soran repeated. He moved a bit closer to Tristan, though his acidic tone had long since left him, "I've never heard of that before."

"A lot of god's aren't heard of, mortal," Deriea said, shrugging her shoulders a bit, "And a lot of gods are forgotten over time. A lot who shouldn't be forgotten."

Tristan glanced at Deriea, he had to agree with her on that point. Yet how long has it been like this, their world this way. Every generation had different seers, "I've never heard of it either, and you are right many gods aren't heard of, unfortunely we only get to know the ones who want to hurt us. It shouldn't be that way either."

Tristan was countering her point with one of his own, one that he thought was valid.

Deriea lifted an eyebrow as she regarded Tristan, "Smart mortal. Yes, it does seem that you unfortunately only meet the ones that wish to harm. Those of us that are left that you consider 'good' are few and far between. A lot of us aren't powerful enough to stand up to the others and many times end up being devoured by other Gods because of their impeccable appetite for 'more power'," she hissed the last words, "And so the lesser gods are taken care of first. Which in turn, makes them fighters in a war they never wanted to be in anyway, but in order to survive, they're forced to after human's who have the purest of energy.

"Which slowly builds up in turn and now... here you have your war and it all leads up to where you're standing right now. All because a couple of Gods many many millenia ago started fighting over a simple 'title'. The 'God of Gods'. Whoever holds that title, holds the most power, and controls the other Gods, and essentially controls everything else in the living universe. Quite the powerful seat, don't you think?"

Tristan smirked, but her statement led to more questions, some of which he didn't want to ask in front of some of the others standing there. Humans have the purest energy...that didn't make any sense to him, in comparing a human with a god shouldn't it be the other way.

He looked confused and decided he would let it go for now. He looked at the pink-haired seer, "Well they are your guests Kilia, even though where they are going to stay is a mystery."

Deriea laughed, loudly, "Silly mortal! Unlike you, we don't need a place to stay, or a place to sleep or anything like that. I prefer the outside anyway, and Cryio... is just Cryio. He's strange... he'll probably just stand over there through the night when you strange mortals need to sleep," she said waving her hand over to some random corner of the property, "Besides. It would be easier for us to catch any stray gods that may be around looking for a quick shot at killing any of you."

Soran's fingers tightened around Tristans, a slight shaking vibrating his limbs as he listened to her. The blonde Seer managed to keep most of his fear at bay, but he still couldn't quite help reaching out to the taller boy for a sense of comfort. Clearing his throat, he looked up at Tristan, "Are we sure about this?" he whispered.

Tristan turned and smiled at Soran, "We will talk about inside, let Kilia catch up with her friend." He didn't really know how to actually answer that question nor was he hundred sure about it in the first place."Dad," he said to the guy who was still sitting on the steps. "Hmm, what," Tristan rolled his eyes, had the man actually been napping while sitting there. "Oh, so we inviting the gods to stay...well why the hell not." Alauric mumbled mostly to himself. The older seer was having a hard time with the idea, but like he thought before, he wasn't going to be a part of the situation.

Alauric went back into the house, only to come outside again a second later, "I forgot I had something to do," he went past the gods and Kilia. Tristan had to wonder if the guy was becoming senile...not that he should be old enough for that. "We will talk later," Tristan said to the others out there.

Kilia lifted an eyebrow as Alauric went inside and then immediately came right back out and walked past them. She watched him go, curious as to what was going on, but then shrugged as she turned back to Cryio. She smiled at him, "It's been so long. Shall we walk and talk?"

The god nodded his head and turned to start towards the edge of the property and walk through the trees with Kilia at his side. The pink haired Seer started rambling and it seemed the God didn't mind in the least as he listened to her. Deriea sighed heavily before glancing up to Tristan and Soran, "Uh... yeah. I'll just... be over there. I suppose letting them catch up is fine... but really, we should be getting you all ready," she huffed a bit then turned and went to where she'd indicated.

Soran, still very confused watched it all happen before he reached up and rubbed at his head, "This is... awkward... And what's up with your dad? Maybe you should go talk to him?" Soran asked as he looked up at Tristan. He frowned a bit as he rested his hand against Tristan's chest for a moment. Stretching up, he wrapped his arms around the boys shoulders and pulled himself up so that he could kiss the other quickly on his lips, "I'm hungry. I'm going to go eat. What are you gonna do?"

"Eating sounds good," he said as he held the other close, he was about to go for a tease when he heard a clearing of a throat behind him. He looked back and saw Grayson standing there, "Sorry to interrupt, where is your father," Tristan almost lost it right there as he realized now why his father was in such a hurry to leave, "He went that way...like something spooked him." Grayson nodded, "So we have guests, well at least maybe now we can get down to actually training with them around."

Grayson turned back into the house, and Tristan chuckled, "My dad is running away from his guardian," he whispered to Soran, "he is afraid of being berated for his behavior during the last battle."

Soran nodded, "I would be afraid too... Grayson scares me for sure...." he replied just as softly hoping that the older Guardian wouldn't hear him.

Tristan shook his head, "I suppose we should go tell the others about what is going on, even though I am curious about what everyone's thoughts are going to be." Tristan had to think they were doing the right thing, but still why was he doubting the decision now.

Soran nodded a bit, "Yeah. You're right. I wonder how well this is going to go over. I know that Kilia seems to trust him.. but... but what of that other Goddess... I-I don't know Tristan." Soran closed his eyes tightly and took in a deep breath to try to settle himself. With a soft sound against his lips, he heaved a sigh, "Ugh, I don't know. Let’s eat first. Then we'll talk. Figure things out with everyone over breakfast."

The morning Rethyn had remained hidden in the shadows as he watched over the turn of events. The night eye was always tired early in the morning as he had usually stayed up the previous night walking about the house patrolling while the other Guardians and Seers took their rest.

This morning, Rethyn was confused. He didn't know what was stranger, helpful gods or the fact that Kilia could still function with the same lack of hours of sleep as himself. With a gentle sigh, Rethyn teleported with a soft poof from his outdoor perch to his favorite chair within the living room. With a light yawn the man held his sheathed sword against his body as he begun to doze off in the chair.

Passing by Rethyn, Sina was half tempted to try to snatch the sword Rethyn had been cuddling with in his sleep. With a roll of her eyes she brought upon a smile as she moved into the kitchen. She was very curious to hear about what had gone down while she glanced through the window at her team.

"Good morning all~!" Sina said as she stretched her arms out with a higher pitched yawn.

Tristan was coming back inside with the blond seer to grab something to eat, and to discuss what had just happened with the others. He glanced over at his guardian and shook his head slightly. He looked up as he saw Sina and smiled, "Good morning," he said as he went into the kitchen and raided the fridge. He really thought he would love some bacon at the moment, but it seems they ate the last of it at some point. "French toast anyone," he said. As he started to get out the incrediates, he had to make a mental note as to ask what they were going to do about food if the towns people moved on

"Hell yeah!" Sina said with a raise of her hand. "However, let me make it for you two. You're both too cute." Sina said commandingly as she pointed at the both of them. Within her mind she begun to picture herself as their waitress upon their morning date. The thought brought a little blush under her eyes as she brought her hands to the side of her face. With closed eyes the swooning girl seemed to lose focus as she daydreamed.

"Um..." Soran paused as he stood next to Tristan, "I think we lost her," he said and then rolled his eyes, "I'm so glad your sisters aren't like this," he commented and moved into the kitchen, "While she's too busy... daydreaming" he said and then blushed a bit he joined the taller boy, "I'll help you make breakfast. French toast sounds amazing," he said with a smile. It would also be a great distraction. He didn't want to know what was currently tumbling through Sina's mind at that moment. Yup... he was definitely sure he was much better off not knowing.

Tristan turned and was about to comment, but just watching the girl made him turn back around and blush a little himself. He really hoped it disappeared when Soran came and stood beside him, "Yeah, definitely need a distraction from crazy girl over there," he took out the eggs and the bread and handed it to Soran. "And who’s to say my sisters aren't like that, they just aren't like that in front of people."

Snapping back into attention Sina lifted up a hand as she said in a saddened voice. "W-wait...ohhh you guys are so mean." Dropping her head in defeat she marched over to the table and laid her chin on her folded hands as she sulked quietly to herself.

"So, they're closet fan girls?" Soran asked with a short laugh as he broke open the eggs into a small pan and used a fork to break the yolk. As he whisked that with the fork, he shook his head, "I don't want to find any weird like stories or something from any of them, especially her," he said moving his head in the direction of Sina.

"Weird stories?" River's voice broke into the room and Soran felt his face grow brilliantly red.

"M-momma!" he stuttered in surprise.

River grinned, "I have some really awesome stories that I could share. How about it? Want to hear some, Tristan?"

"Mom! Mom, no... no that's bad, that's bad, don't!" he moved, dropping the fork and tried to put his hand over her mouth while she laughed and fought him back, getting his hands down at his sides and hugging him to keep him there.

"Hmm... which one should I start with."

Tristan started to comment on the fan girl thing, but started cracking up when River came into the kitchen. Oh man Soran's face was priceless and Tristan laughed some more when she offered to tell her own stories, he couldn't offer up a suggestion because he was laughing so hard. Soran was going to kill him later, he was sure of it.

River stumbled a bit as she struggled with her son, laughing slightly, "Oh! I have the perfect one."

"Mom!" he screeched and then yelled at Tristan, "And why are you laughing!!?"

"Oh hush, it's not that bad. So," she turned her attention to Tristan, "He must have been about nine or ten, I don't remember exactly, but he was in trouble. I told him to stay in his room until he had calmed down or something. Anyway, it was about this time he was practicing with his magic system. He wasn't very good at it, but he definitely tried. I'm not sure where it went wrong, but I was sitting in the living room and I heard this horrid scream. So I went running up the stairs. When I opened the door, he had summoned a giant teddy bear into the room. I wasn't sure what the teddy bear was for, but it had him upside down by one leg and was shaking him like a little jar.

"He was crying, terrified of the darn thing. When I asked him later after I got rid of it, why the bear was there, he told me that he'd wanted to try to have the bear give me a hug in apology for whatever it was. But it turned into an evil bear and, his words exactly, "Tried to eat me." I don't think it was trying to eat him, I think it was trying to figure out how to hug him but he was too small at the time."

"Mom...." Soran moaned. Okay, maybe that one wasn't too bad, but then River chuckled and he knew that laugh. Which made him struggle even more.

"Which of course isn't as bad as his running away from me when it was bath time. I swear this child was an escape artist. I'd get him stripped down from his clothes, turn to start the water, and when I turned back not a second later, he was gone. Full blown naked, running around the house like a wild monkey."

"Mom!!!"

Tristan stood there and listened, ok the bear story was slightly funny, but Tristan found it cute. As soon as River said bath time, Tristan couldn't hold it in and started laughing again. He couldn't help it...oh man he was certainly glad his dad wasn't in the room. Alauric would be sure as to try to top that story. That thought calmed the laughter slightly, and he tried to calm himself down. Yet he knew if he said anything, he was going to be in big trouble, so Tristan decided to be smart and let someone else do it for him

On the other hand Sina had dropped to the floor as she giggled relentlessly at the story. "T-that's adorable!" She cried out as little tears escaped her eyes. Kicking her legs with her giggles she looked like a turtle of which had been put on its back.

"Mom!" Soran shrilled, his face a brilliant red color that he knew wasn't going to go away for some time. Laughing she released him and he put on a pout as he turned back to the food, "Traitor," he shot to Tristan, then stuck out his tongue to his boyfriend. River giggled even more.

Tristan gave the blond a look, kinda like don't stick your tongue out at me for no good reason. "Yeah, yeah...," he turned and went back to breakfast too, "It seems we have some guests out there, one Kilia knows well. Two gods so to speak." Ok there is was out in the open for everyone to here


"Who you calling a traitor? He's supposed to agree to listen to stories. I have more!"

"No! Nope! We're good! No more! All good, Momma, we're going to eat breakfast civily, and without interruption. Or I'm going to drag Tristan and myself to the room and we will eat there where you can't tell him any more stories!" Soran said, trying to overpower his mothers voice. He shot a deadly look to Tristan and reached out and poked the boy in his ribs, "You're gonna get it later."

River smiled, "Two gods?" she asked. If nobody was doing anything drastic like fighting... she was obviously curious and confused to say the least.

Sina shot up as she darted her eyes to Soran. "Seriously little guy, why are there two gods outside?" She cocked her head at Soran as she looked to the boy in sheer confusion. Back in Japan every god was a killer, it was strange to see two not willing to strike them down the moment they were found.

Soran turned red again, "L-little! I'm... I'm not little," he said with a pout on his face, a slight puffing of his cheeks and then turned back to the food, "As for the gods... well, I think one of them knows Kilia. They seem to be... kinda close. Or something. The other one... says she's with Cryio. I don't know. It's strange. I still haven't... quite wrapped my head around it," he heaved a sigh, "I don't know."

Tristan looked at Soran, "They offered to help is what's more, help us in this fight we find ourselves in." He turned back to River, "I know that I haved formed opinions about gods based on my experiences with them, but I've never had two gods come up and say they wanted to help in any way. Kilia asked us to trust her, so whatever happens after this, I will take responiblity for."

"Just cause you're little doesn't mean you're not cute Soran-san~!" Sina chimed in before looking back to Tristan with a shrug. " I trust you guys on this. It's kept me alive so far." With a stretch and a rise to her feet she returned to her seat. With a glance over to Rethyn in the living room she called to him.

"Yo! Blue eyes lazy ass, get up!"

"C-cute!?" Soran stuttered... this Japanese woman was really throwing him off, she was strange. He wasn't sure he could keep up with her. The only one who'd ever called him cute aside from his own mother was Tristan. Honestly, Tristan was the only one allowed to call him cute. He blushed furiously as the food was beginning to finish up. It was almost ready to be put on the table. River was busying herself with the plates as well. Soran gave a sigh.

"I think I give up..."

Tristan chuckled slightly and whisper to the boy, "Hey don't give up, anyways she isn't wrong, you are cute." Tristan moved rather quickly away from the other, not really wanted to get hit or anything. The poke in the ribs had been enough. "Yo...didn't I ask you to leave my guardian alone, he sleeps during the day, protects you at night."

A light blush grew under Sina's eyes as her mind started to wonder again. Dazing off to her daydreaming yet again Sina begun to picture Rethyn as something he clearly wasn't. Literal stars in her eyes weren't far from the truth as she gazed over to Rethyn. "He's totally a vampire knight..." She said quietly under her breath.

"Are the Japanese all like this?" Soran asked, he watched her with a lifted eyebrow. Shaking his head a bit, he deftly maneuvered around the star struck girl and brought the plate of hot food to the table and seated himself.

"Just the uber-silly fan girls," Tristan mumbled, "will you stop with the daydreaming and sit down and eat."

"I don't know will you spoon feed me Tristan-kun~" Sina said in return with a stick out of her tongue at him with a wink. "Heh, alright let's eat a good breakfast."

Spoon feed Tristan thought, now he was the one daydreaming of dumping a whole pot of oatmeal on top of the girls head. Maybe he would make oatmeal tomorow....at least it would give him a good laugh.

"Aww...don't give me that look. I'm just teasing you a little Tristan." Sina said with a gentle smile to the boy.

"H-hey..." Soran tried, but then rolled his eyes and grabbed some of the food. He put some on Tristan's plate and set it next to him before grabbing some of his own, "There. Now... I think after breakfast we should... seriously talk to those... um... Gods," he said, trying to turn the conversation to be a bit more serious and definitely a lot less about him and Tristan and Sina's daydreaming.

River seated herself as well, "I want to meet them myself. I'm interested to see a 'good god'. Never heard of that one before."

"Me either," Soran muttered under his breath, his green gaze narrowing at his food briefly. Taking up his fork he stabbed at the food and then proceeded to eat more gently after the vicious attack on the french toast.

Tristan sat down and picked up the syrup and poured a little on the french toast, "Sounds good to me," he agreed. He wondered if his father would have returned by then, he had to come back anyways. He had to wonder was there something he was missing in that whole thing. Grayson didn't just seem to be mad, he shrugged his shoulders and took a bite to eat also.

"So...Tristan." Sina said before pausing to chomp down on a piece of toast. "How did you sister you know...meet gods?"

Tristan choked a little on the bite he was eating, "Kilia isn't my sister," he said and tried to chew the rest of the food before answering the rest of the question, "And she said she knew Cryio when she was a little girl." She must have been really little, yet he had to wonder, how did she get away with being his friend with a mom like hers.

Tristan looked a little guilty, he shouldn't have thought that thought, but he still wondered.

"Tristan-kun, you really should learn to chew on your food. Or I am going to have to teach you~!" Sina said with a little giggle before glancing over to Soran. "Or Soran...maybe you should show him how..." She said with a little wink as she placed her chin over her laced hands with a small smile. She had no shame as River was not too far off from her as she flirted with next to no filter in her words.

"O-oye... Th-that's... I-I'm... Not going to do that... W-why..." Soran muttered, stuttering as he was absolutely embarrassed by Sina's actions. This breakfast plan wasn't going as he had planned it... He took a bite of food and tried to focus on eating rather than what she was saying. That girl... she really had no 'off' switch, did she? An idea popped into his head then... Maybe he could make an off switch... wouldn't that be awesome! He giggled a bit.

Tristan looked at his plate for a second, really trying not to blush at Sina's words. He sighed, she was really annoying, even though he knew she was just joking around with them. Yet he had lost his appetite for some reason. "I guess I should go check on Kilia," he said quietly. He got up and put his plate in the sink. Before he walked out of the kitchen, he grabbed some water from the fridge. "Excuse me guys," he said even though he has already moved away from the table.

Shrugging at Tristan's actions, Sina glanced over to Soran as she asked him. "So..what's going on in this neck of the woods? What's making you giggle so much?" Closing her eyes she sat back in her seat a little as she added in. "That was an amazing breakfast by the way~"

Soran watched, almost with a horrified look, as Tristan left him alone with Sina. Well, not really alone, but his mother wasn't all that great of help either. The one and only person who could have saved him from further embarrassment had just walked right out the door. He looked back between Sina and River. His mother was seemingly ignoring what was going on, lost in her own world, but with a sly little smile on her face. Soran swallowed... hard.

"Uh... I-I... don't know what you mean..." he said quickly and took another bite of food so he wouldn't have to talk to her and further encourage her antics. All the while he was thinking up ways of repaying Tristan for 1) laughing at him in the kitchen while cooking breakfast, and 2) leaving him alone with the creepy fan-girl from Japan who was apparently obsessed with... with... Soran blushed furiously as he couldn't quite finish that thought.