It was... Odd.
Artos seemed to be older, even older than her. The way he walked, the way he talked, the way he looked.
He didn't seem like a ten year old boy, it almost seemed like he wasn't  the same person. What did he do to himself? Maybe it was a Neries thing? To mature and change so much in such little time?

"Y-Yeah, sure. You know, I got a new animal! It's a Jay, I called him Aoi."
She smiled, following Artos right by his side. It was good to have some time with her brother!

"He is odd, and old. But something about him is so great, you know? I love him."
Looking around, she tried to see if the animal was around, but as always...

"He likes to do his own thing from time to time, so he isn't around. Even though this is the place we first met! Not only you and me, but Aoi and me!"
With a sigh, she continues.

"It took me so long to find you... I met so many people, and learned so much about myself and the world around me. I don't even think I am the same person."
An odd and dark weight was felt by her, inside of her heart. She didn't know what it was, for she wasn't able to feel depravation.

"And.. It seems I am changing everyday."
(Luka Mayer)

That wasn't Artos.

Artos was a kind boy who had emotions, and shared them with Luka.
As the teenager told him what happened to her, and many others things... His anwers were all blunt and almost rude. It seems that the changes affected more the Neries than Luka. She stopped by the docks with her brother, a serious look on her face, as Shiro stopped by her side and kept looking at Artos with a rather irrelevant look on his eyes.

[So you noticed it as well... I see.]
Thought Luka as she had her gaze turned to the wolf. If anything, Artos Azer was long gone.

"I wish you good travels, Artos."
She would not follow her brother this time. They were not supposed to be together anymore.
Not only that, but... Her heart.. It was getting heavier. The look oh Luka's face would start show what she was feeling. Pain.

-Kill it.-
She heard a voice coming from behind her, but saw nothing as she turned around.
The pain was getting even more annoying, as she started to sweat a little.

Waving at Artos, she slowly made her way towards the market.
Her heart pounding.
The pain increasing.
The voice, calling.
(Luka Mayer)

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
The clock is ticking.
The world around Luka was changing inside of her mind, the voice was loud and annoying.
She was sweating, her heart pounding. The pain was so big, she didn't manage to see what was in front of her.

-Stop trying. You want that. Go back and kill him.-
The voice kept saying it in a loop, as she fell on the ground, barely staying awake.

"What.. Are you? Get out of my head.."
Her counscience almost vanishing, as the voice continued.

-You know me. Stop trying. Kill him.-"
All her thoughts vanishing, as all of sudden... She heard a rather familiar voice.

Satoshi, the teenager who Luka had a very poor opinion. She looked up to him, as in a sign of hope!
But, still...

"Yes..."
-Yes...-
The voice took over, it wasn't Luka anymore. She fell towards it, as the voice hold the dagger and engaged towards Satoshi in an instant! Her eyes were not emerald anymore, but colorless. What was happening to that girl?
(Luka Mayer)

The voice fought as fast as Luka.
Same speed, same strenght, same skill. It was like the voice knew what it was doing, like it always knew what Luka could do, like it was with her since she started training. What was it? Some sort of demon? A spirit?
The girl fell on the ground as the voice still controlled her for a few seconds, only to vanish right after.

-I am not gone. I am with you. Stop trying.-
That was the last thing Luka heard, before passing away in front of Satoshi. Her eyes slowly going back to her emerald hue.
(Luka Mayer)

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

The clock has stopped.
But... Everything was dark, warm and safe. A beautiful yet odd silence covered Luka's mind, as she would see some sort of light. Steps, one by one, she walked inside the dark room towards the light. A campfire? Yes, but the fire was white. It was cold now, why would it be cold next to a campfire?

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

The clock is ticking.
She could feel her heart pounding once again, as her body would start to sweat. She tried to scream, but it didn't come out, she tried to speak, as the sound of silence was so loud. What was that? Was it death? No... It was too unreal to be something as real as the sweet embrace of death.

-So you finnaly did stop trying...-
The voice came from the fire, but Luka could not respond. It was even colder now, the shivers going down the spine, as the voice continued.

-Worry not, for I am with you from now on. You can go."
The voice made an echoed sound around the dark place, as the fire slowly faded away.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

The clock has stopped.
"Where... Am I?"
Finnaly waking up, she stands up from Leira's lap and looks to Aoi, within its eyes.
How did the bird find her again? It was odd, like a clock ticking inside a teenager.
(Luka Mayer)