"You're getting faster." Grim says to Ryan as they sit staring off into the horizon, the sunset staring back at them. They were seated in the meadow, all around them craters, gullies and upturned mounds of dirt serving as evidence of their earlier fight. Ryan shrugs his shoulders in response.
"I still lost. A lot of good that speed did me."
"Don't be too hard on yourself only a handful of people exist that can be on par with your current level. Unfortunately for you I'm one of the A listers on that list."
"More like fortunately" Ryan says sneering in amusement.
"Fortunately for our sister as well." Grim says turning the expression on Ryan's face sour.
"She got on my nerves and I decide to make a point." Ryan says standing to signify his disinterest in the direction the conversation was starting to take.
"Its okay. I'm not here to chastise you. I just feel you should know that as much as you won the next time you go up against Alya the outcome will be different. You took her by surprise and she underestimated your ability, it won't happen again. Not that you should be bearing arms against your sister. What would our elder brother think of this?" Grim says pressing the issue.
"If Ty were here then the fighting would've stopped by now. We wouldn't be at war right now." Ryan retaliates.
"I don't doubt that but he isn't here. We are."
"You could stop it if you wanted just as easy." Ryan says to Grim.
"True but that wouldn't serve my best interests."
"Exactly why I didn't ask you to. I don't understand why The Perils decided to go against the treaty but for the first time in a long time I can actively do something to stop the fighting. I won't let this chance go to waste."
"The last time you spoke like that you killed a lot of people," The atmosphere suddenly becomes tense, "Either way I have no business stopping you. Just do it right and think of the consequences of whatever it is you're going to do."
Ryan gives a nod in response his face portraying a grim expression.
"Yeeesh! You need to work on your facial expressions even if your face is always hidden behind your damn mask otherwise how'd you expect to get yourself a lady?" Grim says punctuating the statement with a little laugh.
"Do you take me for our brother Charios ? I don't have time nor interest in seeking that kind of companionship. What's the use unless I marry our sister or some primordial dragon I'll outlive them either way." Ryan responds refusing the idea the opportunity to take root in his mind.
"Hey, you said you'd stop all this fighting after it's done you realize you'll have all the time in the world so don't be too narrowminded."
"Whatever you say." Ryan says shaking his head absent mindedly.
"I ought to be leaving now but before I forget you're undoubtedly aware that two days from now is the beginning of the War Festival. Before it starts I'll be taking a stroll within the city. You're to join me."
Ryan tries to protest but Grim interjects, "Save yourself the trouble you won't talk yourself out of it."
"I'll see you then I suppose." Ryan says opening a portal for Grim to leave.
After Grim leaves Ryan starts towards his tree house, a gargantuan tree with numerous structures all connected by a system of rope and wood bridges save for one structure at the very top of the tree. As Ryan walked toward the tree Alya's and Grim's words replayed in his head.
"You self-righteous prick. You really think you're doing this in the name of saving us bloodshed! The same person who opened up a floodgate of blood on a whim six hundred years ago or have you forgotten."
"The last time you spoke like that you killed a lot of people,"
He opens a portal to the entrance of the top most structure and walks through it. The inside of the room was mostly dark save for numerous candles placed at the far wall of the room and a warm glow emanating from neon flowers placed all over the floor in a systematic pattern allowing one passage toward the wall that harbored the candles. Beneath the candles were numerous photos of men, women and children all different but evidently from the same community.
He somberly paces towards the pictures and kneels placing his weapons on the wooden floor, Vunangeu to his left and the Torrent Blades to his right. One particular picture is placed on a pedestal, Ryan reaches for it. The photo was of him from his younger days and another lady standing infront of him. Little Ryan was hovering over the lady's shoulders with his arms propped up to look like horns on the lady's head. Both of them had the goofiest brightest smile. In the background was his eldest brother. His face barely visible due to the light contrast in which the photo was taken but one could make out a smile from him as well if u strained your eyes enough. Ryan studied the photo quietly and without realizing he had started to tear up but he didn't let the tears fall.
Rubbing the face of the woman on the photo with his thumb Ryan whispers under his breath, "First you left…then Tyrelios…I miss the both of you. The twins remind me of you a lot at times. At first I took them to atone but they've grown on me. They'd have loved you ass much as I did."
Placing the photo back and picking up his weapons he leaves the room and flies to the very top of the tree. There was a flat wooden platform with a mat and a small pillow. Most of his nights were spent here though barely ever sleeping. It was mostly a place for him to meditate and improve on the channeling of his aura though at times he'd sit and gaze at the stars as he connected millions of constellations whilst his mind went back and forth. Tonight was one of the nights he took to the stars in hope of refuge from his haunting past.