"Someone else seems to be in a good mood as well.", Magi said.

"Yeah, no kidding. What happened with you guys? Did you make up for all the history you had?", Lass tried to process everything.

Ikarisa went by his side, "I guess you could say that. Magi cleared up a lot of confusion for me. She will do the same to you, I think."

"For Risa to say that I'm pretty sure you can be...somewhat trusted. Fine then, let's talk. Privately or with Risa present?"

"Actually, someone wanted a favour beforehand. You go girl.", Magi stepped back.

"Umm, Lass. This will be the final song before the king requests our audience, Magi told me it was also something really important. Plus, with all that I can see heading our way, I can tell this would be a very relaxing moment among few so...could you umm...dance? With me?", she said with a blush, fidgeting her fingers, "It's fine if you don't want to, I know you don't like it ever since that arcade game at the fair."

Lass awkwardly smiled, "Look, I-I uh...fine. I'll give you this one, since like you said, a lot of nasty things came crashing down in just a few days. So yeah. But I'm telling you this now, I'm talking a maximum of 2 or 3 minutes. I really don't like it.

"You can go ahead and make him your ragdoll, he will please you any way you want and you're both cute together. Have fun!", Magi stepped in.

Lass grabbed Magi by her tie, "Magi, what the hell?"

"No worries, Anya told me all about you two and your troubles. We will break the ice for y'all tonight. Treat it as a favour."

"My ass, Anya doesn't understand shit, and neither do you! I don't love her, I like her-", he got dragged by Ikarisa.

"Come on, let's go to that side over there, another song is about to start!", Ikarisa smiled gently.

The dance started awkwardly as both Lass and Ikarisa weren't exactly in the mood to dance in front of all the others, but zoned out by themselves. At the start, out of pure reaction, they just sat there and chatted at one of the nearby tables.

"So it's a beautiful night, isn't it? Not a single cloud in the sky."

"Yeah, I think so too. The music is really nice as well, isn't it? A little bit too classy for my taste, but nothing to complain about.", Lass folded his arms.

"You don't need to be so tense. Once the next song starts, it'll be just a little dance. That's all."

Lass relaxed, "Don't ask the question, don't make it awkward.", he whispered, "Alright. Maybe it'll be fun after all, I guess. I am starting to get used to all this publicity anyway. Not really, but kinda."

"Mmh. I think I am too."

"Oh, really? I don't think that quite checks out, Risa."

"I know I reacted a little bit...much, back there. It's just that, it reminded me of something. Something bad."

"I could tell. I've seen the same look you had in your eyes back when I woke up in front of my mirror one night. Hence why the mirror isn't in front of my bed anymore."

"Then, do you mind me asking what it was about? The nightmare?"

"I'm telling you if you will."

"Deal!"

Lass sighed, "It's just...there's always that girl, around my age, who constantly makes me suffer. It's not some sort of masochistic fantasy, I've come to terms with that because I derive no joy from it. She always assaults me physically and verbally in destroyed places. A big theatre once, a big port, a palace, a city...I don't know. She looks very familiar, to the point I think I have actually mistaken you for her that night, attacking you out of hallucinating from that horror movie and stuff."

"Wait, you did what?"

"Ah, never mind! Ehm-", he cleaned his throat, "Anyway. Yeah, that's about it. Same old cycle, though it gets progressively more brutal each time. The way it feels, and the way she kills me. That's my wake-up call, by the way. Every time she kills me, I just wake up."

"That sounds...bad. Is it perhaps because of something that actually happened to you in the past? Something so bad that you forced yourself to forget it? I...I would be lying if I said that a part of myself didn't force me to do such a thing. Maybe even do it naturally, on its own accord."

"I wish I knew, honestly. Maybe that way I could start answering instead of questioning. Now you go."

"When I was captured by those extremists at the Chaos Sect, they used to attack me all over like this. Prisoned before I...I escaped. I don't know how, exactly, but I knew that I was free once I reached your house. I don't know why, but you tend to give that safe aura around you. Although I of course didn't trust you completely but...I do now."

"I'll say I'm somewhat on the same page as you. Though your past is almost twice as mysterious as mine. Any chance of getting more insight into it on short notice?"

"I'll tell you every detail if I can, once it all comes back to me. I don't really know how I came to be the way I am, but...I will.

All though they both had their moment, someone else was not as happy to look at them, mumbling over their words while eagerly awaiting for something more.

"Oh my god.", Magi facepalmed, "What is this circus show? Get it on already."

From the side, Anya appeared next to Magi, being obviously distressed by what she had recently faced.

"Hey, sorry I'm late. What did I miss?", Anya approached Magi.

"This.", Magi pointed at Lass and Ikarisa.

"I told you that despite our best efforts, it'd be a hard one."

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"Are they really both so clueless about catching any hints? Like, correct me if I'm wrong, but you did tell me that they're both dead-ass interested in each other, right?"

"Yeah, as far as I can tell and see.", Anya sighed. "This is like a sweet disaster. Neither of them will make a move to be honest. Unless intervene, of course."

"It's looking more and more that the thing you can tell and see routes back to you getting your eyes checked, to be honest. That or it's because of this shithead being completely emotionally detached.", Magi turned and faced Anya, "Hey, wait a minute. Anya, you alright? Were you crying?", Magi said as she noticed Anya's lowered ears and tail.

"Yea, but don't sweat it. Let's deal with this first and I'll tell you later, I promise. Tonight I want to make it about them...or at least try to.", Anya picked herself back up, "Alrighty. Where should we start? Again, I'm convinced they have it on for each other. So let's see..."

With one swift look at each other, the duo of disasters came up with a cunning plan to get their friends closer, despite one's pleads to be left alone.

"I'll go threaten the maestro.", Magi said.

"I'll go tinker with the lighting equipment," Anya smirked.

"Drinks after this." both Magi and Anya said to each other, handshaking.

After that, the music seemed to suddenly slow down a bit, to a more romantic rhythm, with the lighting fading lowly as the corner of those two shifted to an almost secluded, moonlit paradise.

"Oh...I guess that's the song change.", Ikarisa realized.

Lass paused as he briefly took in the music, "I'm pretty sure I know this song. It's from some musician somewhere up north at Victoria, if I recall correctly. Something about it feels familiar...a classic part.", he sighed as he prepared, "Alright then like I promised then. May I have this dance?", he spread his hand.

She giggled, "You may.", she grabbed his hand."

And as the lights started to get dimmer, both Lass and Ikarisa went to the side of the dance floor, out in one left balcony area where not many people were dancing at. Then, as they had previously done in the arcade, Lass put his hands around her waist and Ikarisa put them around his neck. They then slowly started to move and form the same dance they both remembered from the arcade, during their day at the fair. Lass seemed to fade away slowly as he lost control of his body, seemingly becoming a spectator of himself at the side, just like his dreams. He did not know why it was all happening, because he simply could not share a mutual feeling with her, but at the same time, could not control himself. The moonlight in that area seemed to get brighter and brighter, as it shone on her face and the night itself seemed to become brighter than the sun on a warm summer day. They were both lost in their world, so lost in the fact that they both didn't realize a small crowd had formed around them to gaze at their dance. Not long after that happened they both stopped and looked each other in the eyes. He never had so much focus on something let alone someone in his life. But that didn't last for long as the entire atmosphere got interrupted by them realizing the people gathered around them.

"Truly...charming.", Mellistar echoed in Lass's head.

"Ah, dammit. Magi, same thing again.", Anya looked at Magi.

Magi stretched out, "I've got it. Leave it to me."

Interrupting everyone and saving them again, Magi was quick to tear down unwanted attention.

"Alright you horny bastards, break it up!", Magi shouted in the distance, "Come on, you've got better things to do! Hey, Prince Charming, get your pretty-looking date and come with me for a second!", she shouted at Lass.

Lass grabbed Ikarisa's hand and they both quickly went after Magi, escaping another situation like that again.

"Thanks again.", he said to Magi, "And remind me how the hell has she not been fired yet?", he whispered.

"Just as it was about to be turned into a kissing scene...", Magi whispered, "Oh well."

"Listen, if you came here looking to grind my gears, I've got way better things to focus on.", Lass angrily said.

"Yeah, I can see where all of that focus was at.", Magi continued to provoke him.

"I'll kill you. Someday, somehow.", he sighed.

"Sure you will. I bet you promise everyone that. Childish.", Magi rolled her eyes, "Now come with me.", she lead the way.

Taking him to the side, Magi then started to slowly try and make conversation with Lass, her tone rapidly changing from playful to serious.

"Alright. What did you wanna tell me?", he folded his arms.

"It's no secret that via the history books, I've done some really messed up things and made some wrong decisions, but I'm sure of it. This time, this will truly be the final battle with the gods. We've had several skirmishes with these assholes, but after conversing with Risa, I think we may be onto something, but I don't really know what exactly just yet. However, I can tell you this. Before I detached myself from my...genocidal subordinates, I made sure they won't have an army to work with for quite a while. A maximum of 1-2 years is what I believe is gonna take them to recover from me chopping their numbers to less than half, so long ago. The Enmities, while in their dormant state from whatever hell they sprouted upon, were vulnerable enough to just massacre in numbers."

"You faced the entirety of the god's army?"

"Yes, because they were vulnerable. This is what I told Risa too. She too seemed to be understanding of the situation...she has really started to hate both her brothers, reasonably so. Take into account that the only reason they haven't begun a global genocide yet could range from the fear of backlash from Obsulyte users as powerful as yourself, to simply wanting Risa alive. What for, I don't know, again."

"Believe me, I've been hating them from the get-go."

"About the Key Of The Gate now. I found it and snatched it before I left their little brigade so that the two idiots don't immediately pull a second army out of thin air. That means that Cecilia indeed went after these bastards at some point, given how the lance was at their hands, but they couldn't use it because it was locked on Cecilia herself. Also, the Key Of The Gate Risa held seems...different. It now seems to be able to create things such as knives and blades out of nowhere and even burst off large amounts of energy at once. It's not just bound to create living things anymore, based out of absolute pure Obsulyte, the way it was used before. And I think it might have something to do with you too but. That's it for me. All the details I can give you that I'm absolutely certain of. Oh, by the by, you might wanna go to Thady after this, he might have something interesting to tell you both. See ya later, lovebirds.", she smirked and walked away.

"Wait, Magi. Where are you going now? We will see you again, right? You're not just going to disappear again?!", Ikarisa shouted.

"Oh, I'll make sure of that little goddess. From now on, I'll be taking my well-deserved vacation at Jugnia, down by Vardard in Kolumbia. Heard the beaches in that place are a must-swim too, so I guess I'll thank you for creating that place Ikarisa. See ya!", she saluted them away.

With that Ikarisa turned to Lass and told him most of everything they had said with the Magi. She then told him about the past as told by Magi, the wars, and the Key Of The Gate, and she was determined to fight back, no matter what. Because he knew how stubborn she could be, he just backed away from that one and let her have her moment, not showing her hesitation to demoralize her. Then, Ikarisa, out of reaction to reassure him, lifted her hand and she created Obsulyte-infused swords that floated right next to her, which easily drew attention from nearby onlookers. He grabbed her arm and pulled it down. Even then she still had that powerful look in her eyes.

"I've had enough...no matter who it is. Lass, I'm ready for it, the hardship ahead. So please, next time you go out there, take me with you!"

"Huh. Even changed the goddess too?", Anya chuckled. "Anyhow, I'll be taking my leave too. The king is about to have you anyway, so I don't want to get bored out. If you give me the short version of it later, I'll listen, but I don't think even I will be allowed in such private matters. See you guys in the morning. As we said, Risa.", Anya said as she winked back at Risa, she also took her to leave.

Lass ignored the winking, too tired to once again bicker with the two, to find out what they were scheming. Not long after that happened what seemed like the royal family's butler came in, introducing himself in an expected formal manner.

"Greetings, Goddess and Champion. My name is Alfonse. Pardon my manners, but I had my eyes on you for quite a while now and I do suppose that you're the champion and that goddess our Paladin has told us about before taking her leave? I would like to reassure you that, besides our greeting.

"That would be us.", Lass reassured him.

"Splendid. Please, follow me, the king would like to see you.", the butler bowed.