RIP Lea

[18:03] Lea Elisheva says, "So! Where were we."
[18:06] The Angel-blooded can't help but hum-hum softly. There's a bit of consideration, running through the events in her mind, before she speaks;

"I believe we were at me asking you dears what's your plans for the future if you stay together! Just like group plans - Or, no! I think it was ideal future!"

There's a soft nod-nod the way of the two, gently settling into a kneel, a soft breath taken. Her gold-stained gaze pans from one to the other.
(Magdalen Metzli)
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[18:07] Lea Elisheva says, "Yeah. Rindou can explain the future better than I can."
[18:09] Rindou nodded at that, deciding to explain the plan she— they had in mind for the future. It wouldn't be all that necessary to expose Magdalen to such, but she wasn't going to back away from trying to convince her in a more conventional way.

"We wish for a paradise. One where people won't be hurt. One where no one will be judged for being themselves or feeling in one way towards someone else. A world without... suffering. Without judgement. It's difficult, and I doubt we'll get further than a town at best, but...

... that's what I think the world will be like."

A pause followed, a long one. Amber eyes laid upon Magdalen.

"And your help would be appreciated in such."
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[18:15] The white-feathered can't help but give a soft smile towards the swordswoman, she'll give a gentle nod, speaking as the other finishes!

"I've worked for a similar thing, dears. It's now one of the best times to be alive on Agartha for so many! You should have seen how bright and hopeful so many children are, with the Alliance's Concordat protecting them from lives of conflict, war and strife."

The white-and-gold Artificer seems... Genuinely happy and a little excited about that. She'll pause, turning her attention to the two, her gold-stained eyes flitting from one young woman to the other!

"Mhm? I can rally some political action - invent a new technique, or just try to appeal to people, if you've got an idea, dear!

I'm very open to new plans and ideas tossed myway."

The hopeful, faithful Angel-blooded crosses her gold-lined hands across her lap.
(Magdalen Metzli)
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[18:21] The young woman shook her head, dismissing the various offers that Magdalen had made at that moment.

"Those won't be needed, no. It's a long time to invent new techniques and after seeing your public outrage I think you and I are equally good with politics: Not at all. No, if you wish to help us, then there's something you can do.

You can help Lea."

Her words were said with quite a lot of conviction, her eyes peering towards the blue-haired girl, then back towards Magdalen.

"I fear the contract will claim her soul by the end of it. She's already begun experiencing visions and whispers in her mind; I'd rather if it didn't go any further than that.

I'd like you to help us with what binds your daughter, Magdalen Elisheva.

And we both know you're no fighter."

Her proposal may not have been direct, but it certainly would be understood by the woman who thought that one day her dear, precious little girl would be corrupted by the one who's desires would never be sated. Who else but Rindou would ask someone to die?
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[18:25] Lea's anxiety suddenly shot through the roof at such a bold declaration. She knew this was coming, and she knew what she was gonna say and do, but she didn't expect it to happen so quickly. Her eyes widened and color drained from her face, but she stated her answer in the same deadpan monotone that she had come to use a lot more often lately thanks to those nightmares.

"Yeah, I'd like to hear that you had in mind for that, mom."

She said that as if she didn't know what Rindou was getting at. Because, it's true; she wanted to avoid that. The proposal, the conversation, and... everything that came after.

No matter what she intended on doing, she wanted to, first and foremost, avoid it.
(Lea Elisheva)
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[18:35] The hopeful, gentle Magdalen can't help but keep her attention on Rindou. That subtle twist in her meaning is had, as that conviction seeps into her voice. Rindou's never, ever really, truly talked to Magdalen so openly and honestly like this - at least within Magdalen's perception.

The white-and-gold High Artificer deflates a little bit at the other's request, her gaze lowering to the table. She anticipated this question - though, at the same time, it's much better then Rindou pointing a blade at her, and talking about this like people.

The white-feathered speaks softly, her gaze turning over to Lea and seeing her shock. A gold-veined hand would reach out to gently try to take one of Lea's, giving it a soft, gentle squeeze. A nod follows her monotone question.

Then, the gold-eyed High Artificer turns her attention to Rindou;

"You're right, dear. I am not a fighter. I think through solutions to problems, and do the impossible, when I can.

Though, first, I'd like you to please strip away the figurative language and please ask me what you want directly, so I can answer your question properly.

Lea and I both get your meaning, but just for posterity's purpose, and to fully answer you question, I'd like to hear it from you, please. If you could elaborate on your reasoning - if you have more reason to believe this is the best course of action - then I'd appreciate that, too."

She's not dismissing her words or her assertion at all, looking to Lea;

"I will, sweetie - after her question and reasons, though."

Gaze turns back to Rindou;

"And I appreciate you asking, and talking to me about this."
(Magdalen Metzli)
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[18:44] Being asked to open up directly wasn't something Rindou was quite used to, no. More often than not she donned a mask, played her part, hid who she was or what she thought. She knew, deeply, that people did not agree with her and held the power to silence her indefinitely. The few slip-ups of her thoughts had shown as much. Magdalen held something that kept Lea from being herself - from showing the world what she truly thought and what she was capable of. Rindou was more than honored to speak those words.

"I want you to die for your daughter's sake."

She said it. Outright. She left a long pause for Lea to keep her bearings in check before she elaborated further.

"I'd rather not see Lea suffer eternally over a bad deal she's made. She can't bring herself to hurt others. You won't go out and kill another for her sake, either. You're no fighter. So I ask of you to do the right thing and ensure her safety for the present."

A long pause followed, one that had the Sakamoto leaning closer to Magdalen, bearing an expression that showed unfiltered honesty.

"And to entrust me with her safety for the rest of her life."

It was bold. Incredibly bold. It showed that Rindou wasn't quite connected to reality anymore, or rather, had created a reality of her own in which most of her thoughts and words were merely reflecting feelings or thoughts she pulled from others.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[19:00] The Angel-blooded Artificer has a stoic face. It's neutral, and as that patchwork declaration is espoused, revealing just the tip of how much of a hollow husk Rindou is, those dull-gold eyes glimmer with tiny motes of what Lea would certainly recognize as determination, pure and simple.

She listens to that entire declaration, a small nod given at the end.

"That's true, dear. She can't. It's profoundly unfair to her to have her suffer over the bad deal that you made at the same time as her - that you no doubt pressured her into entering."

Magdalen leans subtly inwards at the same time;

"There's other options here. Sor's new motto is 'kill someone you hate, or you love'. You could give your soul, if you truly love her, and don't just cling to her life a moth does warmth, to protect her from the mistake that you pushed her into making.

Because, if I'm to be honest here, you've done a terrible job of protecting her. My Lea was never forced into anything, but you, as her friend, exposed her to countless instances of danger since you came back from this shrine, beaten by Sors.

If I were you, I'd demonstrate my love for Lea, by actually doing something to make her life happier or help her. You could risk your life to obtain her a spire shard, which would surely give her enough power - being a cosmic mage - to destroy the connection to the Pale Star that Sor's technique creates."

She'll lean back, looking to Rindou quietly for a time;

"I understand Sor's technique, now. I am the only one who is even capable of defeating it or undoing its damages.

You're asking me to give up the Soul of the mother of the person you're supposed to love and protect, to be his puppet, in the eternal damnation of Helheim, because you refuse to fix a mistake you helped make.

That's what it does. You've damned Keitaro to eternal, endless torment, Rindou.

Is that what you truly wish for, or is there another reason behind asking me this, Rindou?"

Hands fold into lap, and the impassioned Elisheva calms down, a breath taken to center herself.
(Magdalen Metzli)
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[19:10] Rindou listened to the words Magdalen spoke of without interrupting. She'd give her that kind of respect; after all it may just be the last place she would ever visit. The accusations ran wild, and while she could defend herself and say Keitaro was never her target or that she had brought a number of wonderful, unspoken things to Lea's life... she wouldn't.

No, that wasn't the point. It was not about her - it never had been.

"What I'm doing right now is helping her live a happier life. My existence would not be enough to quench the contract's thirst, either. But I should not be surprised; you've been awfully possessive of Lea, after all. You couldn't trust her without a collar on. You sided with the family you've denounced for years and even rejected, merely to harm me for who I am.

I'm not surprised to have you suggest I die. You're not the first one. It shows how blind you are. Lea willingly went through those hardships for me. She was the only one who dared to love me, the only one who defended me, who took the time to accept me and get to know me."

A pause followed, Rindou leaned back a bit before she looked at Lea - as if telling her to prepare herself for what was to come, staring before she asked a question, a simple one.

"What do the voices in your head say, Lea? And... how are we going to fix it?"
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[19:19] Lea didn't want to speak. She didn't want to correct Rindou on what she got wrong- the issue with the collar. She didn't want to say anything against Rindou, at all. She just wanted this situation to end. She just wanted the hurt to go away. She just wanted to avoid this- all of this! Everything! She never wanted to confront anything, ever, so when a question was asked...

She answered.

What did the "voices" say...?

"I just don't want to feel the hurt that's coming to me."

As has happened before, in the presence of both of them, Lea's calming, soothing presence gave way to one filled with malice, and perhaps a bit of bloodlust. It was a weak part of her, one never fed what it needed to truly become a part of her, but whenever it came out, it still felt as if something bad was substantially more likely to happen. And yet, despite this part of her coming out, and despite the sense of danger in the room drastically heightening...

"And I'm starting to feel desperate to make sure it doesn't happen."

Not once did she direct a gaze over to Magdalen.

Her intentions were unclear, and a clear indication that she was about to hurt someone had yet to manifest.
(Lea Elisheva)
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[19:33] The white-feathered turns her gaze to Lea, over Rindou. Listening to her daughter's words, obvious sympathy plays upon her face. Both of her hands come to grasp Lea's right hand. Fingers twine with it, and a soft pulse of that gold-tainted light aims to deliver gentle lapping waves of her familiar magic to the Lea. Gently running through circuits so similar - in some ways.

There's that obvious connection Lea has to restorative, gentle water, whereas Magdalen is the rock of stability.

She'll speak, focused on Lea, giving her a gentle, loving smile - the same smile, though softened - that Lea's been able to either get freely, or drag out of her mother, despite how terrible she's doing.

"Yeah. I am possessive. Lea's my strength. She pulls me up when I'm down and at my lowest - and I never want to lose that, I'll admit that.

I've made a lot of things in my life. Tools, machines, wonders, miracles. Nothing I've ever made measures up in quality to my greatest treasure, that I hold before me.

The truth is, Rindou…"

The white-feathered looks back to cast a quick glance to the Sin.

"I came here for my Lea, not you. I was making my best attempt to make this work. I was trying to welcome you into my family, trying to understand you and learn to care about you. You hurt that when you tried to pressure me into killing myself.

But you threw that out as soon as you started pressuring Lea into trying to harm me, just now. People have hurt me in the past, but hurting the people I love is where I draw the line."

Back to Lea, those gold-stained eyes focusing entirely upon the blueberry before her.

"No hurt, Lea. There's always another way. I can open the circles right now, and we can Wayfind to Gehenna. Then we'll go relax and eat snacks and I'll hug you until you fall asleep."
(Magdalen Metzli)
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[20:19] "And maybe wait for the stork to fly overhead and create a family out of thin air?" She retorted, the aggressivity was obvious in her voice. Anger, perhaps a bit of wrath.

"That's a child's idea of a solution. The world is far darker than it seems to be, even you've admitted that. You keep claiming you wanted to welcome me in your family but you never had any intention of doing so— no. You just wanted to... control me. To have me follow the line of what you think is good.

Just like you've done to Lea."

Rindou slowly stood up. Magic unlike anything either of them could produce began seeping out, pulling at the comfort Magdalen offered, at the bloodlust Lea let out.

"You're just like the rest. You think that your divine blood is the richest there is. That family comes above all, even logic, or love."

Rindou's right hand shifted outwards. That green, sinful energy began coalescing within her grasp.

"It's clear you won't do it for her, so I'll carry that burden. I'll be the one who hurts her for her sake."
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[20:30] Lea once believed in the stork, so she would've been able to take Rindou's first question as a good idea. And while Magdalen's handholding did temporarily soothe Lea, Rindou's outburst did just the opposite. Two entirely conflicting ideas and philosophies battled out in front of her, and she had neither the emotional or mental stability to handle it.

So, when Rindou was done, she herself spoke.

"N-no, I'm... uh..."

...but few words came out. She aggressively pulled her hand away from Magdalen, and reared back, a look of abject terror evident in her gaze. It didn't make sense. None of this made sense. She just wanted the pain to go away, she just wanted to avoid the hurt she'd feel in the future. She did not have the capacity to process anything more complicated than that right now, in part thanks to what Aurora did to her.

And so, the only way to avoid that pain was-

No. Nononononono.

She couldn't. She can't. She wouldn't. At the very thought of having to kill her mother, Lea immediately began flashing back to all the nightmares she had that involved killing Magdalen. And there were dozens, if not hundreds of them, reflecting in her reaction: Tears burst forth from her eyes, and she began sobbing, running as far away from all this as she could.

But unfortunately, given where they were, it wasn't very far at all. So, she just curled up in a ball, buried her face in her knees, and began rocking herself back and forth in a desperate attempt to soothe herself.

It wasn't working.

None of this was working.
(Lea Elisheva)
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[20:38] Magdalen...

Doesn't draw her weapon, regardless of the homicidalness pouring off of Rindou. Instead, she runs right over to Lea. Magdalen will hug her gently, pulling her in nice and close.

"It's okay, Lea. I'm here. I'm here."

Soft declarations, her focus ignoring the Sin of Envy, and instead just trying to be close to her currently turbulent child. There's an obvious sense of intense concern for the child, over whatever Rindou's plan is, currently.
(Magdalen Metzli)
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[20:44] Weakness.

Rindou wouldn't allow for Lea's weakness to become her downfall, no. She wanted her to be close to her. To be in her life. To give her all the love that could be given. She wanted her to be strong— invincible. She couldn't bring the world in its perfect state if Lea was dead.

It's with the exact same voice that the shapeshifter spoke, taking step after step to approach the family she wanted, the family she needed to be part of.

"It's okay, Lea. I'm here. I'm here."

The green energies gathering in her hand finally took a physical form, the will to protect and the inherent bloodlust within Lea united to create a blade.

"I'll always be there."

A blade aimed to pierce right through Magdalen's chest.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[20:58] Hug delivered, that eerie voice closing in...

What is Magdalen going to do?

Her hug tightens around Lea, despite the blade-forming behind her. The danger inherent to the exorcist's form - her senses detecting that weapon behind her - has her protective aura strengthen, an overbearing pulse of mana seeping from her, bringing with it currents of physical numbness.

An eye that glows with gilded flames peers back at Rindou. Words are spoken to her, in a voice laced with powerful conviction, as that blade bears down;

"You're right. I'm not a fighter.

That means I'm smarter then you, you dumb leech bitch - feed off of someone else's child."

That exorcist's aura, that bloodlust, that envious, consumptive aura...

They all pale in comparison to the divine mana that surges to encompass both Lea and Magdalen, an explosive pulse of rainbow, overbearing energies. Within the span of a single instant, all six circles are seared into both the mother, and a radius around both Demi-Angels. It's too bright to look directly at, and extremely, massively overbearing - like the Lifestream was forcefully opened, rent and giving way to the will of the Master Wayfinder, as a portal opens around the two in the center of the blast.

The Wayfinding would take a bit of the floor and wall next to them, no doubt.

It's very likely that Rindou would be forcefully launched backwards, away from Magdalen, while those thrumming pulses of radiant, iridescent energies pour from this spot...

Magdalen and Lea would be gone in an instant.
(Magdalen Metzli)
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[20:58] Magdalen activates the artfact "Recall".
(Magdalen Metzli)
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[21:18] The sense of danger was overbearing.

But so was the sense of motherhood. Of protection.

But perhaps this time it wasn't a good idea to run. So, for the first time since she lost her connection to the lifestream, the right hand beckoned. It stabilized her emotional state, all at once, and allowed her to gather herself, right then and there. And so, right when the divine mana was about to surge-

Lea kicked her mom, right in the stomach, as hard as she possibly could.

...and she kicked her away from Rindou and her weapon, causing it to harmlessly pass over the two of them, launching both of them back. Lea quickly gathered her bearings and stood herself back up, as her bright green eyes set themselves upon Rindou. She wasn't running; not this time. And she wasn't going to be afraid.

"Not this time."

As before, an aura of holywater enveloped her body, but this time, there was a noteworthy lack of the wings that burned with the flames of Helheim. Lea rejected the idea of having to kill her mom, and rejected the idea of having to fulfill her contract. So instead of allowing herself to escape, instead of picking the safe option;

She did the right thing.

"I'm solving this problem right here and right now, mother. I'd advise you to stick around and watch."

This was that flame Lea spoke about.

It was last the flickers of a dying flame, one that stood to either be snuffed out or spread through the rest of Lea's person, reigniting the passion and certainty she once had. And, perhaps, it'd grow even stronger, imparting a sense of justice into her that she, to some degree, lacked before. This was the power of the right hand; the hand of severity. It was the hand that enacted justice, and the hand that told her that this wrong had to be righted.

"Only two of us are leaving this shrine alive, Rindou. So you better make this count."
(Lea Elisheva)
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[21:25] It was a surprise to see Lea fight back at that moment, to see the girl mustering up the courage to do what she feared to do for so long. Though it wasn't in the way Rindou would have prefered - far from it.

Why would Lea stand up then and there? Why would she evoke possible death upon Rindou, too? No...

No. It couldn't be. Not another.

Just as the lifestream praised Lea's might, Rindou's own presence was poisoning it - killing it bit by bit due to her presence alone. The sin magic she held only grew mightier, as did her desire to have what she couldn't possess.

"It was supposed to be us, Lea! You and I— you promised me that!"

The blade within her grasp only grew sharper as did her desires. Her body was slowly advancing towards Lea, blood dripping from Rindou's knuckles due to the intensity of her grip. Her lips parted once more.

"I refuse it! I refuse to be nothing more than a pawn in your eyes!"

Envy overbearing. The shrine flooding, though it wasn't due to the Elisheva's magic. No.

Rindou was not letting this one get out of her grasp.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[21:33] You learned the spell Flood.
[21:33] That surprise kick away has the Angel-blooded mother gasp, sending her to the carpet nearby! She's clutching her dress - or rather, some sort of object hidden on her person, those gold-flame burning eyes trying to assess the situation quickly.

Instinctive protection burning bright, once those determination-filled words are spoken, the High Artificer takes a step back, her hand falling away from that hidden, secret trump card of hers!

She'll make room. As much as she doesn't want to let Lea fight alone, she's not going to take this away from her.

Call her a push-over of a mother, but this was Lea's defining moment, not her own. That fire that Magdalen always believed was present, but was so afraid was sapped and weakened by Rindou, rears its head powerfully.

Gold-burning eyes close for a moment, returning to their standard, non-blazing hue. She'll watch, a simple nod given.

"I'm rooting for you, Lea! Like always!"

A simple declaration, tears of actual pride falling down her face. Gunblade is removed, blade buried into the dirt, a defensive cordon of glyphs and rising blades created, countless marble longswords piercing the floor of this shrine, and forming an overlapping defensive wall.

She'll stand watch.
(Magdalen Metzli)
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[21:52] Only two of us are leaving this shrine alive, Rindou. So you better make this count.

And so she did. Rindou Sakamoto did nothing more than making it count in that moment. Lea hadn't precised which two of them were going to leave the shrine alive, and if so, how. This was finally all within her grasp. The sin's influence was literally taking a physical form as she spoke; tendrils of green reached out towards Lea, two of them lifting her up while a single other pulled the staff from within her grasp.

Rebirth can mend the lifestream. When everything here is built properly, I'll use it to cleanse the land.

She never did. Neither did the one who followed. Rindou didn't particularly care for the world's stability anymore, but the fact those promises were never held only proved that No one - no one Rindou had believed in could be trusted.

Not even Lea.

The spirit within the weapon knocked upon its foci from within over and over, screaming in despair before the sin's evercraving desires, only to find itself silenced when Envy grasped it.

Rebirth

Quite the fitting name for this moment, wasn't it? The woman's life was going to change forever from this point on, either from killing Lea or from putting down her mother. In either way, the world would hate her. The flames changing endlessly within the shaft flared bright as the Elishevan inheritance was brought right against Lea's cheek, threatening to take her life.

She turned to Magdalen.

"Only two of us are getting out of here alive, Magdalen. That's what Lea said. She's too innocent, though. Too weak. Too pure. She wouldn't hurt me; she wouldn't take my life. She believes in me. She trusts me.

.. but I'm not like her.

She turned her back on me. For you. Are you going to own up to the mistake she made for your sake like I have, or are you going to keep on flying high where wretched, foul, close-minded individuals like you have no business being?

Are you going to die for Lea, Magdalen?"
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[21:52] {Item} You drop Vitality X.
[21:52] You stole Lea Elisheva's Rebirth.
[22:02] In her one big moment, Lea had failed. She lost. She didn't make it count. People couldn't bet on her. And so, when she was struck down, so too were her motivations and desires. The life began to leave her eyes, turning from a bright green to a dull, half-conscious green.

The flame... had been snuffed out, once and for all.

Live or die;

"Hey mom..."

Lea would never be herself again.

"...I'm sorry."

Rebirth was stolen, and with that, her very will to fight on.

Hope had been extinguished. Despair had set in. Lea slowly shut her eyes, and with that, she prepared to die.

She was nothing if not a woman of her word.
(Lea Elisheva)
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[22:08] Instead of a woman standing in a corner, Rindou would find a spiraling comet of light and overpowering numbness flying towards her, once she turns towards her. Launching herself with wings larger then she is, the High Artificer aims to knock Rindou away, and launch the two of them through a nearby window.

During the battle, she watched that slow decline, tears of pride turning to terror. Wide-eyed horror setting in as Lea was going to die. As they busied themselves with eachother, Magdalen readied herself. Six circles, plus her radiant six linked to them, unseen a massive crest formed in the sky - golden blades hovering around her form.

Waiting for an opening, waiting for right now, as that weapon was leveled against her dearest treasure. To launch both of them a distance away -

Her gaze pours sheer, catastrophic radiance, light that petrifies and turns to naught but gold-veined marble, while a desperate, protection-fueled rain of golden swords fall, marble blades erupting from below to strike.

All to buy time for that Lea to escape.
(Magdalen Metzli)
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[22:24] Magdalen's efforts were mighty, but they weren't enough - no. Not at all. She was facing someone who's heart had long been corrupted by the sin she embodied best, someone who refused to let go of anything, someone who wanted more and more and more— more than anyone could provide, ever. This was who the angel-blooded was facing. This was the monster that her and her family had created, bit by bit.

As blood drenched the artificer's robes, Rindou spoke.

"What did you think you could accomplish, Magdalen? You've said it yourself—

I'm not a fighter."

She kicked the blonde straight in the chest, sending her flying a few feet away before she moved back right by Lea's side, next to the one she loved most.

"The only thing you were ever able to do was create, invent, and tinker. I gave you the choice. I'm still giving it to you, Elishevan trash.

Will you die for her sake, or will you run away like your heart is telling you to?"

Rindou spun Rebirth within her grasp, allowing it to move right by the blue-haired girl's face, to once and for all...

Threaten the one person she thought she could trust.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[22:39] Cuts, burns, and strikes mar her form, defenses of marble weakening her, while weaknesses with her age-degraded circuits start to show after a prolonged fight. Knocked away, the Artificer, armed with just mad, protection-burning ferocity, finds herself stilled.

Her form is beaten and battered, as she weakly pulls herself to her feet, trying in vain to pull together tattered, floating runes to think of something... Anything. Tears are fully falling down her face now, as legs give up to bring her to her knees.

There's that familiar pain of hers, now that the fight's been taken from her. Lancing, red-hot hooks piercing her chest, pulling in opposite directions. Tearing her at her core. A hand clutches her chest as she stares at that child of hers.

The previously-immaculate Atmosian-blooded's entire body is shaking, adrenaline, horror, and fear played out clearly. Rindou won.

"P-please Rindou. You don't need to hurt her... I-I'm so sorry, Lea...

This is all my fault. I should have watched over you closer- This is all because of me, a lapse in judgement, just like Lailah..."

Her torn, screaming heart does not tell her to run away. It's the opposite. It's the part of her that pushes her towards impossible battles, love pouring from that hook-torn hole in her chest. It makes her want to throw herself at Rindou, or at least give up everything so Lea may live.

Then, her mind tells her to stop. That fundamental conflict within her, wrenching her in two different ways. Her mind wants her to escape, to think of a solution and to deprive Sors her abilities, knowledge, and equipment.

Magdalen screams in actual, utter, undiluted agony. This hurts her more then any strike to her battered body. The sounds of something actually being killed within her uttered-

Is this what Rindou wanted? To tear down and make fun of the Divine?

The High Artificer doesn't usually ask for help to solve her battles, trying to beat things alone. She's met higher powers, she understands that they operate off a different time-scale, a year, a decade, a century slips by like moments for them. They preserve the balance over time, not in the moment...

But still, the only thing Magdalen can do, is place her hands together, and utter desperate, teary, agony-filled prayers.

"Please- Elisheva, save my Lea like you saved me and my siblings... Please... Please Mother...

I-I can't do any more. The quarter of me that is good is shackled down by the rest of me that's awful and weak... Please..."

Arranged from the tattered vestiges of her runic circles is the six necessary to escape. They hold close to her, even as the rest fall, breaking apart and falling in sparks and lights.
(Magdalen Metzli)
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[22:42] Mu Ein says, "Oh my."
[22:42] Sho Gwyn exclaims, "Wow...!"
[22:57] P-please Rindou. You don't need to hurt her... I-I'm so sorry, Lea...

"It was your decision."

It hurt. It hurt a lot. She thought she could have trusted Lea, that they had something special, that they were... meant for eachother, in a way. That the endless amount of love she needed could be answered by the Elisheva's boundless, bountiful heart. She thought that Lea possessed all that love because she, too, was loved.

But it wasn't the case. Magdalen was relying upon prayers and hopes rather than making that sacrifice; she hoped the higher powers would come to her aid in her time of needs, that the angels and the gods loved her.

The only ones worthy of that love would never fall like that. They would never bow down before adversity like that. Is that what Cairameant when she called Rindou weak? Is that what she looked like to the Gehennan when admitting she lost hope before Sors Ultovex? Disgusting.

It was no wonder Caira rejected her.

Tears welled up in Rindou's eyes. A rare moment of vulnerability, and this time it wasn't over being bullied, or hurt, or treated like a nobody. This time it was because she was doing something she thought she would never have to do, because she had to punish those who betrayed her, those who went against the values they praised so much.

They called her sin for lying, yet their hypocrisy knew no end.

A heavy heart. A trembling grasp. A praying woman, moments away from departing. Lea was much... much more than a mere girl, or a friend, or a girlfriend. She was the one who was going to create paradise with her. She was the one who was going to change the world. The one she could count on - the one who would never fail her. Lea Elisheva wasthe only person that could have saved Rindou.

.. and just as she gave up on her, Magdalen gave up on her own daughter.

All for the sake of living an empty life. Living a full lie.

"I wish you would have made the right decision."

The dim light around Rindou finally died out completely. The artificial creation was brought asunder as she rose her right hand up, Rebirth held high above Lea's head. Darkness overtook the pair, as if light itself couldn't escape from Rindou while her heart stopped.

The pointed end of Lea's very heritage came down straight towards chest. She refused to pierce her heart. That would have been akin to breaking it like her mother had, no. All Rindou did was take her breath away.

To end a life in tears.
To punish a horrible mother.
To seize fate with her hands and cast away the role set upon her.

.. for a mere pawn would never be able to defeat a Queen.

Rebirth

It seemed the pawn had finally reached the end of the board.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[23:27] Betrayed.

Completely and utterly betrayed.

Her mom completely and utterly failed to save her. And then... she ran. She had the audacity to run, to leave Lea Elisheva behind. Her beloved daughter, a beacon of hope and goodness in the world, was about to die, right when she herself had found her light. To say she was upset over this would be underselling the symphony of horrible, wretched things she felt.

Hope
Hate
Despair
Regret
Indignation

Misery

...and-
Gratitude

Lea had grown miserable and resentful, as happy as she might've acted at times. She had lost too much- far too much- for things that were, in the end, not her fault. Some were. People were stolen from her, people betrayed her, people let her down, and-

People didn't bet on her. They didn't rely on her. They didn't trust her, the one who did nothing wrong.

And so, her final words were dedicated to the one who did.

When her lungs were pierced, and her breath was taken away, if one paid careful attention, they could see a smile slowly creeping on her lips. No tears, no anger, a smile. And her final words were spoken, not to Magdalen, but to...

"Th-thank you..."

Rindou

There was not a hint of irony or sarcasm in her tone, and perhaps that was the most depressing part of all. In her death, Lea had gotten vengeance on all who let her down, all who failed to give her that one chance she needed to fix her mistake. And, most of all...

"...for showing me... who... my real family is."

She had gotten revenge on all who dared to claim that they loved her.

>Even in death, there was nothing sweeter than revenge.

Today, Lea Elisheva had finally been put out of her misery.
(Lea Elisheva)
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[23:30] Betrayed.

Completely and utterly betrayed.

Her mom completely and utterly failed to save her. And then... she ran. She had the audacity to run, to leave Lea Elisheva behind. Her beloved daughter, a beacon of hope and goodness in the world, was about to die, right when she herself had found her light. To say she was upset over this would be underselling the symphony of horrible, wretched things she felt.

Hope
Hate
Despair
Regret
Indignation

Misery

...and-
Gratitude

Lea had grown miserable and resentful, as happy as she might've acted at times. She had lost too much- far too much- for things that were, in the end, not her fault. Some were. People were stolen from her, people betrayed her, people let her down, and-

People didn't bet on her. They didn't rely on her. They didn't trust her, the one who did nothing wrong.

And so, her final words were dedicated to the one who did.

When her lungs were pierced, and her breath was taken away, if one paid careful attention, they could see a smile slowly creeping on her lips. No tears, no anger, a smile. And her final words were spoken, not to Magdalen, but to...

"Th-thank you..."

Rindou

There was not a hint of irony or sarcasm in her tone, and perhaps that was the most depressing part of all. In her death, Lea had gotten vengeance on all who let her down, all who failed to give her that one chance she needed to fix her mistake. And, most of all...

"...for showing me... who... my real family is."

She had gotten revenge on all who dared to claim that they loved her.

Even in death, there was nothing sweeter than revenge.

Today, Lea Elisheva had finally been put out of her misery.
(Lea Elisheva)
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[23:42] The fervently praying, sky-begging Magdalen does not evoke a miracle that she so prides herself on being able to create. She's brought through her own cycle of loss. Forced to feel the torment of supreme and utter failure - and then the final words of her loving daughter...

Condemning her own mother for not damning herself to an eternity of endless, continual torment.

That struck her with a weight that she never would have expected, the words causing her to shake, staring, wide-eyed at that impaled form. Can anyone blame her? With what she knows about Sor's Pale Star, can anyone really say that they would accept that fate?

At least now Lea's connection to Io would guide her Soul to the stars, not to Sors, as his contract can't take effect until it expires...

She'll be safe - and in another life, she'll be whole again and pure and happy.

The white-feathered, who has glimpsed so far - even into the energy nebulas of Atmos - understands this law of cycles, this need to work on the future and the betterment of all people.

She forgives Elisheva for not saving her, rationalizing it as the Angel likely saving people more impactful then one Angel-blooded Mage.

But it still hurts, so, so much. Still, even if Lea hates her, Magdalen speaks the words she always does;

"I love you, Lea."

Tears falling, while her form disintegrates into sparks, pulled into a portal, a few more words move along the breeze.

"I'll look for you in the next life, my treasure."

Just blood, tattered black and white cloth, and residual runes sit alongside the aftermath of her white-stone conjuration and the fading of heavenly golden swords.
(Magdalen Metzli)
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