A Comeback

Being here is probably one of the hardest things that she could do as of now, especially, when those of a higher order tell her that she and the rest of the foreigners have no place here. It has caused a virulent split between herself and the rest of these kind- how their laughs and mockery of Nima Hatayer reached her- and how she strove the other night to not just defend him, but to defend all of those that had been ridiculed for where they had come from. Many people say that there is plenty of space and opportunity but lately, within this small bubble- she felt as if there was little to no room at all. And this rage that she felt...This impossible anger was suffocating. If only for the moment, her lips would part-..

"You're a liar." It wasn't what she had meant to say- but it was the first thing that had spilled from her lips. "And I should've known...I-..I should've known about all of the meetings that you guys held about the people that aren't from here." Zetes and Joy were good to her- but even she could not deny it...

"If I was really that bad,if we were that way, then-...Why'd you promise?" Or maybe, she simply didn't understand. "What's the point in lying to me-..I didn't even-...I didn't do anything wrong." But it was almost desperation tucked within this being...Idle fists clenching, the thought of being an 'embarrassment' because she was seen as a simple girl and not a worthy warrior bringing an impossible ire.

 "If you were just going to drag me along to-..To leave, then you shouldn't have done anything in the first place." Maybe, she had grown too dependent. Maybe, she was just a little too much to handle- or to hold. Regardless of such a thing, amethyst flames would blossom around her only to steadily coalesce around her limbs.

 She thought this was a place of equal opportunity for growth. But perhaps, it is not what she had expected.
(Bei Bei)

Ah. Her voice.

And here he wondered, when she would get to him like this. Perhaps, he'd expected for a peaceful return of the two to each other, or maybe he expected to actually hear anything nice from her, and yet- deep inside he'd known that she was hurt, that her hopes were crushed, that her heart was broken. Much like his was.

And it's his fault.

The scarlet hues turned towards her. Steeled as always, perhaps even apathetic, they almost did not betray any emotion to them. There was a frown to such words, however, as he was named a liar- Arthur could be many things, he could be cruel, prideful and flawed, but he'd certainly not accept easily that he's now a liar too. No, that's too lowly for him.

"--That's not what happened."

So young, and already experiencing such heart wrenching conflict between them two. It's almost a tragedy, to experience such pain while at such age, but it couldn't be helped. You are responsible for those that grow attached to you, after all - and Arthur had to be responsible for her. Especially now.

"It wasn't that way. I promised, because I felt the bond between us. I promised, because I cared about you. I promised, because I wanted to protect you from everything and be yours - and have you as mine."

"I promised, because I love you."

Yet, despite such words, her stance seemed... hostile, preparing for something. Preparing for a fight, for violence. He'd known the sort of resolution she wants - maybe that's a punishment, an emotional burden he would have to take?

"I never intended to drag you along just to leave you behind. But-- if you do not believe me, so be it."

The lightning crackled, and the winds howled around him. Despite all the training he's done, his hand waivered, and his determination for a conflict did not seem to match hers.

Something off about him...
(Arthur Rowan)

It was something that she was beginning to accept- a natural found ability that came with her impeccable resolve to prove herself. This terrible pain, this intense need to evolve infront of all of those that were within the school. She didn't want to be seen like the rest. And she most certainly, did not want to go down in history as another Jink who simply died and did nothing with whatever little life that she holds. Instead, it seemed that this newfound power would finally be given a name...

 Brilliant, amethyst flames coalesce- and just as she exhales the fire, she seemingly inhales the life that is around her being. As amethyst scales pulse to life and extend past skin, flesh would burn from the proximity. Her teeth gnashes-- the cries of the student spilling out as she runs forward, narrowly dodging each attack and somehow...still beating sliced into by the rapids of winds and tornados.

"Then what happened!" It was no longer a question, but a demand. The afflictions of Ostrava were something that she could not fathom and to be quite frank...She knew that eventually, the two would meet with one another. And she knew that one of them, even after all of this mess, would eventually falter. But regardless of such a thing-...She seemed terribly, terribly hurt by the antics of all those around.

 But still- a single leg sweeps within the distance, knocking him flat upon his back before giving him space once more...."I-If you promised, then what did you mean then? I'm yours..I'm yours and I'm supposed to help you with your problems. I can do it-...I'm strong enough. I can carry you just like you can carry me but-..." No, no, she was not allowed to because- what?

 "You let what Chrom say get to you and that's what happened." She cannot help but to bite back the venom- the heat billowing from her body charring the grasses below-- the atmosphere filling with a muggy humidity.

 "Right?...Right?"
(Bei Bei)

Despite the fiery storm of fire that he was met with, his own magics seem... to falter? The blasts of water seem far less frequent, the zaps of lightning do not seem to even reach her properly, and the cutting wind is almost non-existent, save for the occasional push she was offered. Despite the power of Storm feeding his circuits, there was actually no use to it.

He knew she wouldn't take a victory if it was far too easy.

But he didn't fight. He didn't try to harm her, and the invasive hemomancy that was used to lock up her joints was not followed up with anything- instead, a split moment given for her to evade the attacks, for her to actually dodge and get away. He didn't perform well, but--

-- for her? It looked as if he simply made a mistake.

"Ostrava- he mentioned your name. But it was in a good light. He had no hostility towards you, and specifically mentioned that if I had any request about how we'd deal with this all, then I would have the right to voice it."

"I'd not give you up so easily."

A single sweep, and he's already fallen on the ground. For a moment, he lays still, almost as if accepting for her to simply finish the fight, but... she didn't. Odd. The scarlet hues gazed at her with the steeled look, and he stood up once again.

Despite the wounds wearing him out, his breath growing slower and deeper and his stance craning over, he only gazed at her, shielding himself from any significant harm - but otherwise, not planning to fight.

"I allowed for what Chrom said to get to me, that is true. I-- felt bad about it."

"It matters not now. Show me what you can do."
(Arthur Rowan)

He had to act along.

Knowing just how prideful the Drakaness can be, Arthur knew that if he'd faltered completely, she would suspect something- it's not something that could be allowed, because otherwise, the offense would be much greater than any actual payoff from this whole... charade.

But he chose not to employ any deadly aspects of his magic. Sure, she was pushed off with the beams of water, and she was at times punished with the whippings of blood and water made against her, and yet- the electricity only caused slight harm, seemingly aimed to wear her out instead of truly doing any damage.

What's wrong with him?

"Have you really thought that I abandoned you?"

"I still hold you dear. Even with the words I said, even with how we parted our ways, I-- I still cannot let you go from my mind."

"And even if it came to that, I would leave Valmasia if they dared to harm you just because of who you are."

She could tell herself that it's a lie. She could convince herself that he's not telling the truth- but there's one undeniable thing about it; he sounded genuine, entirely honest, without even a second thought to his words.

Something about his presence made it clear that he meant those words.

"Come, now. I'm certain you still have more to show."
(Arthur Rowan)

This wasn't what she had been expecting. And it most certainly didn't feel like him in the midst of the battle. Since when could she possibly down him? Since when could she possibly stand against him in matters such as this?--- regardless though, it was no longer his words that angered her, but his strange sense of holding back. And perhaps, it was mainly because he desired for her to listen when she was terribly, terribly overreacting to what happened to Nima the other day.

"..-Then...Hrrk-..!"

 The whips force her to crash against the ground in a horrible thud- the blood within her form being used against her, temporarily inducing paralysis.."-Then why does it feel that way?" She didn't want to be reduced to tears within moments such as these- but its all still too hard.

"I-I shouldn't-...There's no answer you can give me anymore." Because she knew it within her own heart to be true. But regardless of such a thing, she, too would eventually come to a slow stand. "But there's something more that-...That I'm missing, I feel. Tell me then." Wobbly and shaken- her vision tunnels briefly as she slides back into her stance- her ragged breathing coming out in amethyst smoke.

 "You aren't even fighting the same-..I-..I won't accept this." she murmurs softly, her body beginning to move within a slow run.. "-Just tell me what's wrong..!" His problems weren't meant to be her own, but isn't that what she's here for?

 Or maybe, she is the issue. Maybe, he didn't want to hurt her and look past things such as this, but its all too intense. Even now, her fire magic clouds the atmosphere...Her body transforming only slightly, fang and claw becoming more apparent within her ravenous advance.
(Bei Bei)

She finds that there is vague hope within this place. Somewhere, propped upon the heads of adolescents and teenagers willing to become more. Somewhere, propped upon the hearts of those that are willing to do whatever it takes for power- but...She feels as if it is the opposite. The hope that she carries often comes within the form of passion- so much so -that her stance on many matters are nothing more than a reaction upon the feelings that she had carried within her heart. A terrible flaw that comes- and perhaps, it was due to her own pride that she could not accept anything else. Regardless though, even she knew that there was something more to this than what she would have expected..

 And even when she yells at him- nothing seemed to feel complete without his presence. Nothing seemed to settle right with her, when he wasn't present. But still...As many lies that she could have came up with, she knows within her heart that what her mind says is not true. It's sad to say, but her love for him extends farther than what others might possibly think. And because of such, she fights.

 Not just for him, but against him within cases such as this. Because she cannot fathom losing a piece of herself that has carried her through these years. And even she, cannot fathom seeing him hurt. But regardless, she moves to the percussions within the backgrounds. The hollowed beats of Nisseth becomes a violent dance of the drakaness- where flames billow and pulse to the wild, aggressive strikes. Where the mana that burns her flesh and chars the tangled knots of grass underneath her glimmer and become more...Far much more..

 Even when her vision tunnels- even when she falls within battle and gets back up again and again and again. "I-..I just.." Smoke and fire...She heads in for her final strikes and soon, all of the chaos ensues...

 And then, suddenly, everything is black- and she finds herself upon the ground next to the Rowan- her vision looking up towards the sky-- the rain of magic pitter-pattering atop of her head...

"I just don't want to be alone." It's hard being the only one here. It's hard having no one who can truly relate. "I...I'm sorry." She almost felt ashamed, because when he said those things...It really resonated with the doubts that she had within herself.

"I..felt like I wasn't enough. Like I'm not enough for you and I tried hard to forget it but I couldn't." Just as he cannot let things go, she could not. The smoke and fire vanish and soon, she could be seen holding herself upon the ground, unable to move from overexertion.

 What was supposed to feel like a win most certainly did not feel like it within her mind. And to be quite frank, she didn't enjoy fighting him like this either. "I'm sorry." It is out of embarrassment. It is out of sadness..

"I just-...Didn't want-.." To be alone anymore.

 In this world, there is someone for everyone. In this world, where connections and dreams are similar to the charred, tangled knots beneath their forms...She feels as if there is one being out there that makes another person perfect. And sometimes, no-...there was something about Arthur, that made her feel as if she were perfect just the way that she is. And she could not apologize enough for her own mistakes and misunderstanding.
(Bei Bei)

There's a definite want to not hurt her.

But as much as he tries to hold himself back, as much as he tries to surrender himself in the fiery embrace of her flames and punish himself like that- he just can't. His mind, his subconsciousness resisted that by default, even if by a small margin, and because of that, he'd begin to actually fight back just slightly. Although, knowing their differences in strength, in raw power, in resolve? It's probably enough.

Unlike her, he doesn't fight for himself. He fights to prove a point, that he's never truly abandoned her, and them going separate ways was a minor setback to them as a duo, that it was only temporary. Whether she would believe him? He didn't know. He could only hope that she would see that he was truly honest about this all.

It was in the flash of a moment that he barely saw what's going on, it was the smoke and fires that clouded his vision, and instinctively, the winds pushed out against it, almost forcing Rowan to defend himself and his life- the rage of his magic promptly ended, just as quick as it started, only to be replaced by silence of falling beside her, and with a sharp exhale spilling from his lips.

Has he been defeated? He'd hoped so, and yet... she's next to him?

"I don't blame you for trying to forget."

Was he even good for her? Unlikely. All the pain that he's caused to her, to himself, it was not a good influence, not by any measure. But it was their, and especially his pain to cope with, it was something that he needed to walk through, and reflect about later on. It's something that she would need to stay for as well--

-- or leave him at once.

"You were everything to me. You still are."

"And it's okay. You won't be alone anymore."

Weakened and moving with struggle, the hand reached out to hers, clutching it into his. The scarlet hues remained staring upward however, taking the much needed time of recovering from this fighting.

Maybe it's over, now.
(Arthur Rowan)

She wanted to forget all of the things that had happened within the past. And to be quite frank, even she knew that it was partially her fault that he had ended up the way that he was. In a way, she understood that it looked as if she were trying to defend him and to be honestly, she partially was. If it were not for Chrom being terribly tired after his fight with the Rowan, that she most certainly would have attempted to give it whatever shot that she possibly could have...It was, after all, something that she most certainly had no choice but to do. Regardless though....

 This silence that she possesses comes briefly. The hand that drifts into her own is held tightly, lifted towards her chest as she turns carefully towards the Rowan. "I-..And you're everything to me." The exchange of feelings and passion- the relief that comes with knowing that someone is there. That someone knows your heart. If only briefly, does she exhale while regaining composure...

 "And I won't let you be alone either."

 Slowly, would she move to a shaken stand- her gaze fluttering slightly, wobbling as she positions herself to be a little more 'grounded'. "Now-...I'm afraid that I wasn't really satisfied with that battle. I know you were going easy because you didn't want to hurt me...But please, this time, show me what you can do, yeah? Just once more." It wasn't like before. After all, she knew that tying with him was out of the question- especially, when he was much better than her when it came to true battle.

 "Just one more for old times." A soft breath, followed by a slight nod. She'd fight this time, only to see what she had been missing for these past few months.
(Bei Bei)

Maybe Chrom and his words were given too much power, to begin with.

Now that Arthur was looking back on it, did it really matter what that Accursed has said to him? He knew his own power, and the others knew it too; if anything, it only meant that he was exposed to his weakness, and because of that, he'd known what he needed to improve on- it's something he'll surely take in account the next time they fight.

"...I was afraid you wouldn't say that."

A clutch of her hand, and with a sharp exhale, at last he decided to regain his composure properly as well. Standing up from the ground, his gaze was pointed at Bei Bei- hearing her issue yet another challenge, most likely due to being curious on how well he can fight, it's... odd.

Maybe she just wanted to test him properly?

"Mm... if you'd like to, I suppose we could go for another rounder."

Taking a stand, he raised her by the hand as well, aiding in making a distance between each other- if another fight is what she wished for, Arthur would gladly oblige. Nothing wrong with letting her get a taste of how powerful he is, right?

"I'll be ready."
(Arthur Rowan)