Miscommunication

Ellamir barred the door to their bedroom as she interrogated her lover. 

"I don't understand, why the fuck are you so intent on going with only Shatter Sound!?" 

With Ellamir's timbre, it was no secret how pissed off she was. 

Meanwhile, Antani sighed at how she can't pack her belongings in peace. 

"Ellamir, I'm not going to repeat myself again. It's to help Shatter Sound, to keep her busy and distract her from thinking too much about her clan." 

"Then why won't you take me with you!?" 

(Because I'm doing this for you!) Antani's lit fuse, triggered by her lover, almost made her explode in anger, ruining the surprise she had in store for Ellamir. 

Antani composed herself. Her tone calm as she said, "Just trust me, Ellamir, alright?". Antani slinged her leather backpack in her arms, containing enough clothes to last her for three days. 

The total number of days that they would be separated. 

"Oh, I have plenty of trust. I just don't want to give it when you're being too damn unreasonable." 

As Antani was about to head out, Ellamir stood resolute between her and the door. Like a sentry guarding a gate, whose sole directive was to not let Antani pass. 

"Me!? Unreasonable!? You're the one who's acting like a child! I would like to remind you that you're a grown woman! We both are, I can go where the hell I please, with or without you!" Antani lightly panted as she recovered from her outburst. The pain in Antani's chest caused by Ellamir's left eye shedding a tear almost made Antani immediately apologize. But Antani would abide by what she had said.

Once Ellamir recovered from the verbal damage that Antani's words caused, Ellamir's demeanor immediately shifted to anger. More high-strung than a city guard conducting a raid, the dark elf kicked their bedroom door open, tearing it from the hinges. 

"Fine! Leave, and don't you fucking dare come back!" Ellamir shouted. 

Antani hung her head in disappointment, they just got their bed replaced, now they need to tend to their door too!?

A part of Antani wanted to walk out then and there, to teach Ellamir a lesson. 

Everyone has flaws, friends, family, your other half. How deep your love runs is proportionate to how much you can tolerate and stand by them even as they show you their ugliness. 

Antani knew what Ellamir's was. It was her pride, coating her to prevent the pain she feels inside from seeping out. 

Fortunately for Ellamir, Antani had the patience of a saint when it came to anyone she treasured. 

Antani's hand touched Ellamir's cheek, wiping away her lover's tears as she posed her question. 

"Do you really mean that?" 

"Of course not, you idiot! I don't know what I would ever do without you!" 

As if to coddle Ellamir from being honest, Antani's lips touched Ellamir's own. 

The softness of their kiss blanketed Ellamir's anxious heart, melting away her worries. 

Antani separated and gave Ellamir a comely smile. 

"If you love me, you would compromise. Like I said, just trust me." Antani flashed her ring finger, the symbol of their love wrapped around it, a gorgeous black and red communication ring. "Besides, don't you think it's time we gather data on this thing?" 

With a fond smile, Ellamir garnered a stare at her own ring. The anxiety of separation that weighed heavily on her chest had now been lifted. 

Ellamir laid out her hands, and from within her chest came the crystallization of her love, her Aeon. 

Floating in between her arms, Ellamir urged her lover. 

"Take it." 

"No, I'm not leaving you vulnerable like this!" 

Antani vehemently refused, what the hell was Ellamir thinking giving away her entire drider armor just like that!?

"This IS my compromise. If you love me, you'll take it. I'm not totally defenseless, you trained me, remember? Besides, unlike you, I'm not planning on going on any adventures without you by my side."

That's Ellamir for you. Antani grinned, she found it amazing how Ellamir can profess her love and gaslight her at the same time. 

Doing away with her plain sword, Antani sheathed the regal darkness into the scabbard on her waist. 

Their eyes locked, basking in the moment right before their momentary separation…

…Until Antani decided it was finally time to hit the road. 

"Antani!"

Right as she was about to exit their apartment, Antani turned around as she heard her lover call. 

"What is it?" 

"Come home safe, I'll be waiting." Ellamir fondly smiled at her lover as she saw her off. 

+++

Right in front of their apartment, Yulia's stagecoach was already primed to go. 

Shatter sound made herself comfortable inside and nestled on the seat. Gazing by the window, she sighed. Shatter Sound was not planning on forgetting her clan, their memory will be etched upon her heart forever, especially her mother and father. But it might now be time to reclaim her wish to roam the continent freely as an adventurer. What better way to start that than with Antani's promise of a grandoise academy to visit and gorgeous sights to see? 

"Take good care of her for me." Yulia jumped off from the driver's seat. 

A seat that Antani occupied right after. 

"Thank you, I owe you one." 

"No, you don't." A teasing grin suddenly crept onto Yulia's mug, she asked, "By the way, how big was the fight?"

A question that spoke volume of how much Yulia already knew Ellamir's character, then again, predicting Ellamir's actions weren't that hard whenever Antani was in the equation. 

Antani chuckled as she answered, "We've had worse. Fortunately, Ellamir was able to see reason much more quickly this time."

As if she heard that they were talking about her, the red accents on Antani's ring glowed, and from it rang Ellamir's voice. The voice was clear and vivid, like Ellamir was suddenly speaking right next to her. 

"H-hello, Antani, are you there? C-can you hear me?" 

Petrified that the ring might not work, Ellamir's tone carried with it meekness, something that Antani was able to pick up like a shark smelling blood in the waters. Antani's desire to mess with Ellamir flared up. 

"Is that Augustia's communication ring? Well I'll be. I have got to convince Augustia to give me and Magna one of those." Yulia praised the clarity of the voice that came from the ring. 

With a playful grin, Antani put an index finger in the middle of her lips, urging Yulia to stay quiet.

Channeling a miniscule amount of Mana into the ring, she brought it close and said, "I'm afraid you've spoken to the wrong ring. There is no 'Antani' here. Try again later." 

"Oh, I-I see. Well, if you happen to come across anyone by that name then…" 

There was a pause. Antani giggled, it seems 

her lover was now wise to her prank.

"...Antani, I fucking hate you!"