04| Fourth Flame

[courage_of_fire]

[Voice; Open to the entire network. After This]

No..

This just couldn't have happened. I-- I can't believe Eagle would do something like this. Only a few weeks ago ... we had a snowball fight during that weird freak blizzard...

I thought-- that maybe... maybe here in this City ...things would be different. But-- they aren't. I wanted to believe...

Comments

Private Voice to Hikaru

[eagleofautozam]

[A long pause… as for an unusually lengthy time there is no answer.
Abnormal for Eagle who had been fairly prompt at answering messages, save for the one time when an angel stepped on his Network Device…
But after a while Hikaru received an answer… voice only. ]

Hikaru?

[The voice sounds somewhat feeble, not the usual strong timbre Eagle usually spoke in. But, it gradually became stronger as he forced himself to sound as normal as possible. ]

I’m fine Hikaru. Your Master Mage… is he recovering well?

Private Voice to Hikaru

[courage_of_fire]

[And actually, just like the angel debacle she was worried that maybe his device might have been broken during the fight. Thankfully that did not seem to be the case.]

Yes, it's me.

[In that first breath, he sounded horrible.. but he had managed to answer. Listening tentatively to the device she was now clutching it so tightly that her knuckles were growing white]

-- Clef is doing okay. [So he was concerned about the master mage?] With Fuu's magic it shouldn't be too long before he's back to normal. [Fuu's healing spells were perfectly suited to repairing battle damage.]

[She had a feeling that Eagle wasn't being entirely honest. Sounding more determined this time..]

Now is not the time to act tough.

I may not have Fuu's magic but I can bring a plenty of bandages and antiseptic.

Private Voice to Hikaru

[eagleofautozam]

[He laughed. ]

You could bring them Hikaru but honestly there would be very little you could use them on. I was not badly injured in the battle… just roughed up a bit…

[Eagle added as almost an after thought… ]

The smoke from all of those explosions seems to have affected my voice a little….

Private Voice

[courage_of_fire]

[But .. his voice had sounded so weak..]

Private Voice OOPS 2/2 ^__^;

[courage_of_fire]

[Just from the smoke...?]

So you're really sure?

There's nothing that you need?

[How had Eagle managed to get off so easy when Clef had received a broken limb?! Clef was a powerful mage, were his powers so limited here?!]

Private Voice

[eagleofautozam]

Still worrying about an enemy…

[The teasing smile could clearly be heard in the response. ]

You should be careful of that Hikaru.

Private Voice

[courage_of_fire]

[He was right, she should be more careful but-- she also couldn't just leave him all alone. What had possessed him to try something that daring in a place where he had no allies to speak of. It was insane! And if it kept up.. someone might get hurt worse than just a broken limb]

You're the one telling me to be careful?

[Cue an incredulous tone]

What you did was so risky, on so many different levels...

[Biting her lip she proceeded]

I just don't understand why.. Clef's ring won't do you any good here. There's no way to currently reach that room.. why..

[Why does it have to be like this...]

Private Voice 1/2

[eagleofautozam]

[ ”What you did was so risky, on so many different levels...”
That was probably what Geo would have said… after yelling at him for taking the risk in the first place… ]

Private Voice 2/2

[eagleofautozam]

You know why Hikaru… as I have said, I have a wish that I can’t give up on. Maybe the ring would do me no good here, but when I do leave this place something like that would become very useful.

[An unspoken doubt… ]

Private Voice 1/2

[courage_of_fire]

[She had known without asking what his response would be but it hadn't stopped her from asking it. How had she allowed this all to transpire in the first place?]

Private Voice 2/3

[courage_of_fire]

That may be..... but..

[She regretted was she was going to say next and it was obvious]

Private Voice 3/3

[courage_of_fire]

I can't allow you to keep it.

It belongs to Clef, and the pillar system belongs to Cephiro..

I know you have your reasons, but I also have mine. I vowed to fight for Cephiro, to protect the people and the country I grew to love. For that reason... I can't allow you to keep that ring.

Private Voice

[eagleofautozam]

I understand Hikaru.

[Eagle had known she would say something like that… Hikaru was very loyal and she too had something she had to fight for with everything she had. There was no avoiding that they would have to face each other in battle once again… ]

I will be looking for you then.

Private Voice 1/2

[courage_of_fire]

[Now.... where did that commander go....?]

Private Action of fail 2/2

[courage_of_fire]

[Barely audible as Hikaru is now searching for your location]

Want...to give me a hint?

[She might not have meant to say that last bit outloud. Locating Eagle while he was injured.. felt underhanded, but it should be easier to get the ring back if he was out of commission to some extent. She didn't really want to fight him. Not here but she would if she had too.

Deciding to lug the first aide kit with her anyway... Really what was she thinking.. going after him alone, with her hands full, and no plan or direction.. but it would be better if she found him first. The others...

They were all still so upset over Clef, not to say that she wasn't but... this was all her fault for not warning them of details she thought they already knew.

Occasionally she stopped to check the device for Umi's responses and listen for any telltale signs of another human in the area... this is a big city....]

Private

[eagleofautozam]

[Laughs again… ]

I was wondering how you intended to track me down… It isn’t like I plan to tell you where I am.