test

The room is cloaked in a deep, unsettling quiet, save for the crackling of the fire, which casts long shadows against the walls and fills the space with a flickering, restless warmth. Ryua lies sprawled on the couch, her face half-buried in a pillow, her eyes fixed on the flames dancing in the hearth. In those flames, she sees it—a small, familiar figure twirling and spinning among the embers, a little fox-bear doll, its mischievous grin etched into her memory. 'Flarey,' she thinks, her expression remaining stoic, though a single tear escapes and traces a slow path down her cheek.

"I'm a horrible person..." she whispers to herself, her voice barely audible over the soft hiss of the burning wood. "Their deaths could have been prevented if I'd just listened to Nio." Her hand clenches into a fist, knuckles turning white. "I should've double-checked the plan instead of drinking that night." She forces a smile, a strained, fragile thing. "I'm afraid to tell him... What if he sees me as a monster? H-he's all I have left, I... I don't know what I'd do if he blamed me."

Kael, seated across from her, pokes at the fire with a metal poker, the embers glowing brighter with each prod. He sighs, his attention momentarily split between the messages on his holographic screen and the woman before him. "So you never told him the truth?" he asks, his voice steady, devoid of judgment. "You're stupid, a dumb woman who's horrified of not being human. This is surprising—you're not afraid he'll change once he finds out he was an experiment. You're afraid he won't see you the same. Tell me, why do you try so hard to be human? Why are you so unwilling to accept your origins?"

[Kaeeeeel, where are you? ╥﹏╥ ]

[Ash keeps complaining with a customer and big sis making the zombies scarier. She keeps laughing while training them. She made one of them grow out scary wings and makes it fly around the forest shooting ice out of its mouth. ὸ.ό] 

[Oh! Today teacher Eira is really happy, she came out yelling she was finally done and collapsed on the grass. She told me she made you something awesome! (≧◡≦)]

Kael's thoughts briefly drift as he reads the messages. 'What the hell is Lysandra doing to the zombies? The reason I didn't bring her along was to use her for an experiment, since the presence of dragons over time evolves and mutates creatures. I want some data to see what she can create. The cube is taking notes, so if it works out, I might use her a bit more. Eira... this is perfect; she finally finished it. I wonder what exactly she turned the dragon heart into...'

Ryua watches him from the corner of her eye, then sighs and turns onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. "You're only half right. I do hate myself and wish I was human, but there are other reasons I haven't told him. Nio... he asked me to keep it from Oda. I don't want Oda to go through what we did when we found out the truth. It's painful..." she murmurs, her gaze distant as if searching for answers in the white ceiling above.

Kael closes the screen and lies down on the opposite couch, his eyes tracing the patterns in the ceiling. "I'm more interested in knowing why you keep running away from yourself. Have you thought about what you are?" he asks, stifling a yawn.

"I..." Ryua bites the inside of her cheek, hesitation written across her face. "I'm afraid... I'm afraid I'll be more of a monster if I find out what I am. I know it sounds stupid, but I don't want to know. I was born out of an egg... what if I'm something like a dragon? It would haunt me, knowing what I am."

Kael coughs, almost choking on his own laughter. "Pfff, a dragon?" he clears his throat, "You're no dragon. Though your birth and a dragon's birth are very similar, if you were a dragon, you would know. Dragons have an incredible sense of pride."

"You say it like you know them," Ryua smirks weakly. "Dragons are the hardest species to find. All the remaining documents regarding dragons are either hidden or lost. The last dragon found was killed by that stupid dragon hunter who destroyed its home. Well... dragons are monsters, so they had it coming."

Kael sits up, scratching the back of his head with a mischievous grin. "Hmm, I know where to find them. I've been taking care of one for a while now. Don't listen to the bullshit history and rumors. Dragons are no different than anyone else—there are bad ones and there are good ones." His tone shifts to something more serious. "I'm sure he told you about number 6," Kael mumbles, his voice lowering. "She is a dragon."

[Test!]

[When the 24-hour mark ends, two rifts will open. Each rift will lead to a different area. Both of these areas have teammates in need. You two may not enter the same rift.]

[Rift one will lead to an area infested with the corrupted. One elf detected in the area. Rift two is infested with the corrupted. The corrupted are less dangerous than in Rift One, but the quantity is greater. Five humans and one hobgoblin detected in Rift Two.] 

'I see where this is going. I think I understand. So the prince is in one, and I'm guessing the guild master is in the other. I can make this work,' Kael thinks, his mind already strategizing.

Ryua takes a deep breath, her eyes closed as she contemplates the situation. 'Why would he tell me? I don't understand what he's trying to achieve.' "A dragon... Why would you tell me this?" she finally asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

"So you can tell them," Kael replies with a grin. "I give you permission to tell the guild master and vice guild master—no one else. Tell them that I'm number 8, that number six is a dragon, and that I hope we can work together in the future."

'What is this?' Ryua sighs, reading the holographic screen. 'Looks like we'll need to split up for the next test... now that I think about it, I've spent most of my time in this dungeon with Kael.' She looks at her crimson tide revolvers, pondering his words. "Why don't you tell them yourself?" she asks, standing up and stretching.

"I doubt we'll be seeing each other. Once I accomplish my goal, I'll be leaving, I have a mess to clean." Kael mumbles, reaching into his pouch. 'I was planning on giving this to Isadora as a gift, but I can always get Eira to make another one. Right now, I need her to feel indebted.' He pulls out a sword wrapped in a black cloth and tosses it to her casually. "Take this as a gift."

Ryua blinks, looking down at the soft black cloth in her hands. "I... I don't wield swords..." she murmurs, holding it out to him. "I can't accept this. You should give it to someone who can value it."

Kael sighs, rubbing his forehead. 'The 24-hour mark is going to end any second now. Good thing I wrote this ahead of time.' He ignores her protest, reaching into his pouch and tossing her a letter. "Give this to the vice guild master, and shut up," Kael says, flicking her forehead lightly. "How dare you reject a gift." He turns to see the two rifts appear. "I'll take the first one."

"Huh?" Ryua rubs her forehead, confused. "What, but the prince is in that one... I can take it if you don't like him," she offers, handing him the sword.

"No, I'll take it." Kael walks up to her and pats her shoulder. "I thought it was weird when I saw your movements—I saw a sword user, not an archer. This place is horrible; you'll be forced to fight with all you have," Kael mumbles, pushing the sword against her chest before pushing her through the rift. "When you meet the guild master, tell her not long from now there will be a time when she'll have to make a choice to attack or not. She can't get involved. If she tries to, I will send someone to stop her. I won't let her personal feelings create a bigger mess." As soon as Kael turns, the rift closes behind her.

"I hope Eira doesn't get mad... I gave her a good sword," Kael sighs, walking toward the first rift. "I wonder how close I am to the lowest floor."