Evelyn tries to pull back, but Vale's grip is to tight. She smiles for a moment before letting go, watching closely as she squirms.
"She's cute," Vale says, turning back toward Ryven, who watches the altercation with his eyebrows raised in a mixture of surprise and entertainment.
"Now let's go find a table, I read your file and from what you told me, I have some theories regarding what your power may be."
Ryven nods, reaching out and grabbing Evelyn's hand with his right while also carrying the cup holder with his left.
The pair follow Vale, Evelyn sticking a little closer to Ryven then usual.
He however doesn't mind, his lips curling into a small smile.
The trio take a seat at one of the tables right outside the shop. The seats were wet from the snow and whether, but as the trio were about to sit, they seemingly dried up.
"Now, looking at your file, it seemed like the spider didn't wish to kill you immediately. Instead, it lured you in, pretending to be one of the people people you loved."
Ryven nods. "Sounds about right."
Vale takes a sip of her coffee, seemingly pleased with it's taste. "Why do you think that is?" She asks.
Ryven looked down, his hand on his chin, thinking back to the creature.
"Perhaps it needed to meet some criteria or something." Evelyn chimed in.
The other two looked at the brazen girl who had her hands together in her lap, looking down at the table.
"That's precisely what I thought." Vale said happily, patting her head.
"What are you saying exactly?"
Vale sighs.
"During promotions, lunar creatures seem to be required to complete some sort of task, relating to their powers."
Ryven nods, his brows furrowing as he begins putting together the pieces.
"Is this public knowledge or something, because I've never heard of this before." Ryven comments.
"No, not much of what dreamers know and do is public. In fact, our government often resitricts or limits what's said about them online. All of this is just my own theory," she continued.
"But anyway," she reached into her jacket, pulling out a small communicator.
"According to your file, these depictions of people that you knew did not seem accurate, nor normal. In fact, they seemed to go out of their way to act normal, when doing stuff absolutely out of ordinary."
Ryven doesn't say anything. He continues drinking his coffee, trying to understand exactly what his tutor was saying.
"Overall, I believe that the lunar creature's goal was to scare you. That's probably the only possible reason it would act the way that it did. "
The table goes quiet for a moment as Ryven sighs.
"So are you saying that my power may potentially have to do with something like fear?"
Vale nods. "Exactly, and the only way we'll know for sure is through testing."
"Testing?" Evylen ask.
"Mhm. I'm going to bring Ryven to my little lab, where we can test and see the full scope of his powers."
Evelyn stares at Ryven for a moment, but he doesn't seem to have much of a reaction.
"Alright then. Let's go." Ryven stands, getting ready to throw his cup away. Suddenly, small arms fold around his stomach.
"Make sure you call me tonight before you travel back to this lunar plane."
Ryven turns back.
"Your not coming to the lab with us?"
Evelyn chuckles.
"I would love to spend more time with you, but I've got stuff to do, and you seem rather busy. I just came here to make sure that your alright, and now that I've confirmed it, I'm heading back."
Vale smiles as she watches the pair, Ryven placing a small kiss on her forehead.
'Oh to be young and in love…'
…
The elevator doors slid shut with a soft chime, sealing them into a quiet that felt thicker than it should have been. The noise of the garage vanished, replaced by the low hum of the lift and the faint clicking of Vale' nails on her communicator.
"So… are you two dating?" Vale asked, her tone light, but her eyes curious over the rim of her device
Ryven leaned back against the wall, the cold metal pressing through his jacket, and new shirt which he picked up before heading out with Vale toward her research lab.
He shuddered at the thought of walking through a school of dreamers in hospital rags.
"Not… exactly," he said finally.
Vale raised a brow.
"She's technically my ex."
"Reallyyyyy?" She inquired, stepping closer.
"That's not what it seemed like to me."
Ryven gave her the side eye.
"Who knows what she's thinking. From the way she's acting, it seems that she might take me back soon."
"Hah!" Vale giggled as the elevator door sprung open.
At the top of the parking there were only two vehicles. A sports car, and a small luxury transport.
"Damn, you really moving in style huh?" Ryven asked jokingly, moving towards the luxury sports car.
"Where are you going?" She asks. "We're taking that."
Ryven's steps slowed as he followed her gaze, his eyes sliding past the sports car and landing on the other vehicle. The transporter rested a few spaces away, its blue and white body gleaming under the overhead lights like polished porcelain. It hovered just off the ground, thin wing-like fins angled back from its sides, their edges lit with a soft azure glow that pulsed in a steady rhythm. The front canopy was a seamless pane of glass, and as Vale approached, light rippled across its surface in recognition, the hatch lifting without a sound. Snow that had blown in from the open levels drifted away from it in slow spirals, pushed back by an invisible field.
Ryven stared for a second, then barked a quiet laugh. "Hold on, how much does a teacher in training make?" Vale didn't miss a beat, glancing over her shoulder with a small, smug smile. "Teacher in training who's also one of the most sought out dreamers," she corrected. "What about me makes you think I wouldn't be moving in luxury?"