And Everyone Leaves

Lucas returned the kiss with equal passion and nodded when they'd broken it.

"I think so, too. And perhaps."

Quickly, he swept her off her feet, careful to keep her away from the portions of his armor that were damaged. With a nod to the remaining couple, he left toward Lucina's room.

"We'll see you in an hour, then."

Sigmund returned the nod and waited until they were out of earshot to speak quietly to Emily.

"Mind telling me why you gave us an hour to get ready? I'm sure it wasn't for their benefit. Not entirely, at least."

Emily nodded, lowering her voice as well.

"You're right. It's not entirely for them. I now have an hour to get you to tell me what you were doing when you left after the fight."

Sigmund shrugged.

"I'll explain later."

Emily frowned, glancing up at him out of the corner of her eye.

"You mean never?"

Sigmund couldn't help a smirk crossing his face.

"Well, I wasn't going to say anything, but..."

Emily's frown and the tone of her voice stopped him.

"Sigmund."

Sigmund let out a sigh, realizing he probably wouldn't get out of it.

"I'll explain when we get back to the room and there aren't as many unfriendly ears."

Deciding this was the best she would get, Emily nodded, kissed him on the cheek, and set off at a jog toward their room, forcing him to chase after her.

Institute of War Residential Area, Residence of Liana Vertica

Liana was out on the front porch, looking over some reports. It was pretty late, so she had a candle covered mostly in a glass dome to stop it from being blown out. It seemed to be a study on the Life Equalisation Procedure and the results of the next stage of study. She still kept an eye on it due to something that transpired in the Private Lounge she had access to. She looks out into the distance, looking for someone and sighs when she doesn't see him yet. She had snuck over to the Training grounds to find him after hearing a rumor, but seeing he was with another friend decided not to disturb them. She looked back at the report, frowning a bit.

Liana's place
Youay approached Liana's place where he was currently staying, mainly due to everyone pestering him about living in his office for so long. His muscles ached as he walked over to Liana, his match with Silver really did a number on him. He noticed her sitting on the porch and then around.

"Hey Liana, surprised to still see you awake, your usually asleep around this time. Something keeping you up?"

Liana seemed completely unaware of Youay until she spoke. Blinking, she looked over towards him and smiled.
"Oh, hey Youay. Hmm, well... Erm..." Sadly even with all her social skills she was a bad liar, so she had to approach this as close to the truth as possible. "Well I was just thinking about something and decided that while I was up I would check out that study about the life equalisation think. The one that might help that Novus person and Miss Eve. Figured now would be a good time to check on them." She smiled, though something was a little reserved about her smile, and she paused perhaps a little too long before asking the next question.
"So how are you?" She asked, closing up the folder and putting it on her lap.

Youay rubbed his shoulder and rolled his neck slightly before he spoke.

"I am doing better now. There were some issues today and it caused me to get a little hot blooded. I went to the training grounds to blow off some steam, but instead found a sparring partner willing to beat some sense into me."

He gave her a slight smile

"So what was on your mind?"

Liana noticed both his movements, a look of concern flashing across her face before relaxing back into her happy but still slightly reserved smile. She chuckled a little when he mentioned getting some sense beaten into him.
"Well thats one way to do it..." She said, smiling a little more warmly afterwards. She let out a sigh, closing her eyes before opening them again. She wished she was able to lie well.
"I was... somewhat concerned. Though sadly I seem to be as clear as glass at the moment." She said with a self-effacing smile.

Youay nodded at her and helped her to her feet.

"Yeah, I am sure word spread around when of the doctor's is in a poor mood. But I am grateful for your concern."

He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze and walked over to the door and opened it for her.

"You never have been able to hide your thoughts a feelings very well anyway. But its nice to know that people care about me. Well, come on in, I will make up some tea and I will tell you about how my friend Silver wiped the floor with me. Then I am taking a nice hot bath...and you know, I may just sleep in tomorrow."

He grinned and laughed as he led Liana inside to make good on his offer of tea and a story.

Testing Chamber Two: Day Three

Zareen looked up from her work, the staff she was imbuing with magic crackled with energy. She watched as Ethelyn was carefully drawing runes on the ceiling, her work nearing its completion. From what she could see, this was some kind of complex ritual her daughter was putting together comprised of three runic circles, one on the ground, one on the ceiling, and one hovering in the air between the two. What, exactly this ritual would do she had no idea, she couldn't read the runes... But she had a fairly good idea. Her other daughter, Aydin, had gone through something similar... An awakening of her ancestry... But it seems rather strange that Ethelyn was showing use of her actual abilities before going through the ritual itself, and generally these things are performed by another party setting it up and executing it.

She let out a sigh, setting the staff down on the table and standing up. This was the third day Ethelyn had been working, physically and mentally she was probably exhausted and pass out at the end of this... Perhaps that's how she could let a certain doctor in without causing suspicion. She grabbed a slip of paper, scribbled her note on it, and sent it off into the air to the medical wing where she knew he would be. On the note, there was just a simple message of:

Please send Doctor Youay to testing chamber two.
-Summoner Zareen

The senior summoner pushed a few loose strands of hair that managed to pull themselves out of her long braid out of her face and crossed her arms in front of herself, watching her daughter work while being several feet in the air, the only thing keeping her up were the translucent golden wings that grew from her back.

Where is Youay?
It was nurse Sarah who received the message from Zareen. She pondered what it meant for a little bit. It was at that moment Youay walked into the med wing. Sarah waved the note at him with her usual smile. The doctor greeted her, though he was still a bit stiff from the previous night, he was moving pretty well. He took the note from Sarah and read it over a couple time before immediately turning around and walking out without another word. Sarah shrugged and started to go through adjusting his schedule for the day.

" it must be important for him to leave like that."

It took him a little bit to reach the research wing. His face was calm and collected his mind was a furious storm of thoughts. He made his way to chamber two, if Balder was there he would greet him and show him the note, if no one was there he would approach the door and knock, letting Know it was him if she asked. Youay was hoping everything Was alright.

His heart was broken

The wraith snapped. Extending itself, it hissed at Aranoth, Enough of this. Think for a moment, who has escaped the Void? Who has ever escaped its touch? No one. If you kill us she will shut down. Despair will overcome her, her lungs will shut down and she will stop moving. There is no stopping the Void. She will become our enforcer, she will-

SHUT. UP.

Rose burst into flames as she started running, letting the purifying fire envelop her. Aranoth would feel the holy aura empowering him.

The quicker you do it the quicker the recovery. I am in control. I do what I want. Kill it, kiss it, I don't care. Once he kills you, I will absorb the energy, repair my body, and keep going.