"That wasn't very pleasant..." I let out as I awake to find myself in darkness. My body's all numb and cold. Shivering in the chilly air, I recall a lovely thing about my magic. A coat of sparks sizzles across me and I find myself toasty warm. Finding my feet, I head toward the night sky.

My spasms seem to have ended. Which means a lot of time has passed... My thoughts return to the urgency that brought me out this far. I was chasing after-

"Rianta-chira!" I almost scream, spinning around in a panic. She isn't here. Better yet, why am I in a cave right now!? Someone must've found me and put me in here. Or is this the home of that monster?

No, it can't be that. I am too close to the exit of the cave if this is the monster's hideout. But... Just in case, I slow down and keep my ears open. If this illusion of safety breaks, then I will be ready.

Hopefully, I will be able to find signs of my friend. I pray that she's safe. She has to be. She must be.

I cannot forgive myself if she's not. She's the closest thing I've had to a friend in years, and I do not want to go back to the loneliness I left behind. I left all of that behind the moment I broke into their room! I may have lasted that horrible, multi-year journey on my own...

But having a friend is an impossible high. You just don't part from it willingly. A gunshot echoes down the tunnel. Not hearing any impact in the cave, I rush to the exit and grip for dear life. How high up am I!?

Putting myself on the ground, I catch my erratic breath. More gunshots echo. Shouting voices start to reach me, too warped by the distance to be clear in my ears. I move closer to the edge and try to spot someone.

There's a crowd there in the light-disturbed dark. Maybe they've seen Rianta-chira!? I hope they have, they must've. I move closer to the mountain's edge and get a clearer view.

Wait... I recognise one of those figures. It's Nin-kischu...? He's out here with that big bag of stuff he was packing earlier. The one with all of Rianta-chira's stuff in it.

The group down there are all pointing guns at him. Other weapons too. Nin is in pain. He's on the ground clutching his leg. They shot him?

"STOP IT!" screams a familiar voice, a pair of lights in front of her head. It's Rianta-chira! But, why is one of the men holding her hostage? If she's safe from the monster, then why is she someone's captive!?

Kidnappers in league with an inhuman monster...?

I can do something, I need to do something. Can I do something? I cannot tell how many there are and they're all armed. However I help, I need to remember that I am no fighter.

But, maybe, just maybe... If I can get rid of the ones threatening Nin-kischu the most, he can deal with the rest? I cannot waste anymore time thinking about it. I need to get on with it and save these two!

"Gods and goddesses, protect me." I mutter, getting back to my feet and spotting a cloud. Transforming into a crackling ball of lightning, I weave through the sky. I am counting maybe a handful of armed men at most. But some more might be in the trees and I don't have time to linger...

Focusing on those closest to Rianta-chira, I nod my thoughts at the plan. If I can free her, then her love can safely handle the rest. Pointing my sparking determination, I strike. Striking through one gunman, I reform my body and tackle the next one. I shock my body full of power.

Rianta-chira stumbles free and I target another gunman. They overcome their shock and take aim. It's getting riskier, but I keep charging and shocking even as bullets return. Unable to reuse my spell, I mutate into a lightning-woman. Routing some gunmen away, I safely collapse.

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"MOUNTED-CAPTAIN!" one of them shouts, the rush of boots and gear above.

I watch in despair as they rally around their leader. Nin-kischu rushes over me and takes out a couple. He ditches the bag and more bullets hit him deep. My eyes linger on the strange colour of his blood. The blood of the gunmen only makes it stick out more.

The pain drives him into a fit of rage and he tears many more into bloody chunks... I choke on the upheaval in my stomach. Clutching it with my body spasming from magic over usage, I feel like I might vomit. I manage to keep it down as the bullets ignore me.

While I have killed before, I always have left them black and charred. I've got used to the smell of burnt meat. Not the excessive blood and terrible screams. Another wet tear between the bangs of guns.

I empty my stomach across the grass. Blinking the pain away, I spit out what bile remains and shake to my feet. The gunfire has stopped. Are we...?

"So the picked rose is poisonous it seems..." what I assume is the Mounted-Captain says to Rianta-chira. She kicks the man along the ground, ignoring the spit of blood. She spears the man back to the dirt and stands over him. Her body shakes and I watch the odd sight of her curling fists.

"Do. Not... Ever! HURT MY LOVE!" she screams, stabbing at the man with her stake-like legs. She forces her next leg in, pinning the screaming man as he tries to reach for a weapon. Rianta-chira's hand erupts with a vicious mass of swirling green. She smothers the man's screaming face.

My stomach acts up again as he bloats, bubbling and popping all over. I flinch away, some of the blood almost reaching me. The man's not even screaming anymore. He's only letting out wet gurgles and spasms.

I avoid his face as Rianta-chira picks herself up. My expression is blank and I can feel my skin turn pale. I blink repeatedly. I fell on the ground...?

Sitting there quietly, I ignore the death around us. I sit here. Not sure what to do. I...

I'm surprised Rianta-chira is capable of such violence. She's still filled with rage even now. Soaked in blood that's steaming from her emotions more than the bodies it was taken from. Somehow, I bear to look her in the eye.

A groan forces our eyes apart and hers snap away, "My love! Are you okay!? Are you okay!?"

Trailing my eyes after her, I watch as she collides with the injured lover. Fortunately for us all, I am not paralysed, so I get up. Wandering over to the pair, I wonder if I am able to help them in any way. I should see if I can help. It doesn't matter if he bleeds yellow, I just need to try.

Rianta-chira whips around, hissing me back like a wild animal. I raise my hands, stepping back as her magic builds. She knows I...? No, no attitude, I need to keep calm.

"It's alright, it's alright, I might be able to help..." I tell the pair, and she turns away to await an answer. Nin-kischu nods, beckoning me to come closer. I have no tools to help him with, but lightning magic has natural traits I can exploit. If I can just get it right, I should be able to magnetically pull the bullets out.

Doing my best to beat down my fear, I get to work. I've barely practised this way of using my magic and now I am using it on a living being!? Oh, something going to go horribly wrong... I know it will!

Rianta-chira puts a bloody hand on my shoulder, "Calm down."

Watching the white fabric of my clothes stain red, I nod slowly. Breathing in deeply, I pair two of my fingers together and alter the charge over a wound. The dial feeling in my heart turns and I move closer to the shaking in the air. Bullets systematically escape their entry wounds, and I collapse backwards on the final one.

"Einer... Einervaene..." Nin-kischu says through labouring breath. His hands roll over the bullets, rattling and flicking them.

"What do you need...?" I ask from my spot on the ground, a sense of exhaustion otherwise rocking me. I can barely find the energy to turn my head to get a good view of him.

"Me and Rose-sweerui will be heading out now... You want to come with us? Brewbrt gave me his blessing, if that means anything," he asks me, his explanation sounding rather strange. Rianta-chira cuddles up to him, the stress of the moment making her cry into his arm. Watching her still, I start to shuffle over.

I would like to do this too.

Reaching him, he seems to be fine with me holding him close, "Yeah... I'd be fine with that..."

I choke on my breath and shake. Today has been a rather rough one. I was hoping to be rid of such experiences, but I suppose I am a fool for thinking that. Though, I guess, if the Founding-Lord, Mother's Friend... I guess if he has given his blessing, I do not need to head back to Tryhpeltzweig.

The situation is giving me the impression we might have to go without saying goodbye, anyway. It's... It's a shame. He has helped me for so long, as far back as when I first set sail technically. It's unforgivable that I go without saying goodbye. Still, maybe the safety of these two matters more.

My two friends. Rianta-chira and Nin-kischu, they matter more. Yeah, they do... I will go with them and we can all get to Thrurstradtur-Suhurlodst together!