Today was the perfect day to piss off the government.

Mainly because that was the only thing comforting Aoife right now as she strode up to the castle in the distance. Not Talus telling her that really, she looked nice, not Selatan trying to brush a finger against her hand and tell her it would be all right, and certainly not Eldrazi acting as though there was nothing wrong. Her hands went to clench again, and annoyed, she dragged her fingers through her hair. They got to about her shoulders before hitting nothing but air.

Because it was gone. Almost two feet of hair just... gone, all for some stupid prank. Tears built up in her eyes, blurring the rocky countryside. It wasn't that she really cared about her looks, but now all she could think about was sitting by the river edge with Selatan, the way his soft hands had caressed her face and pulled through her curls, telling her how beautiful she looked. At least, before they'd been interrupted by Eldrazi kicking a hole through the door, because he had to ruin everything, didn't he?

The reminder made the sadness evaporate into pure anger, and even the sight of him sauntering along beside them, talking with Talus, was enough to make the fire in her chest burn until her lungs ached. After all, she couldn't let it flicker out into the air around her yet, no matter how freeing that would feel. How much of a relief it would be to let the power course its way out of her system until it was gone. Over.

No. That would only get them caught, and she knew that, but it was hard to keep reminding herself when he was right there. Everything about him enraged her, from his cockiness to his childishness, to...

"I just gave 'im that little push in the more selfish direction. That's not control. In fact, I'd argue it makes them more unpredictable than anythin'."

A chill ran down her spine, cold enough to douse the smouldering, choking feeling of her magik pressed too tightly against her lungs. She could still remember it: that strange, haunting aura as he'd winked at the Demon girl, convincing her to let him have a drink. The way his energy had felt both so hot, and so, so cold with its sharp, all-too familiar touch.

The hair on her arms pricked. Everything about it made her want to run, and yet—

If it wasn't for him and Gavin, I'd still be in that prison.

She bit her lip, slowing her pace. When put like that, she owed everything to them, and talking to him the other night, watching the fire under a starry sky, that had been nice, like talking to an old friend. And his apology had sounded genuine. It was just confusing because if it was...

Why the vaeloc did he even do it at all?

Her eyes darted to Talus before she could stop them, though guilt made her drag them back to the cobblestone. Even so, that didn't stop the sudden reminder of the claw marks on her chest, tucked beneath her hoodless cowl.

The way death had crawled over her skin like an endless ice until she'd managed to escape Astren's hold.

She shook her head, hating the way it tossed her hair about, so light and fluffed without its usual weight. No. That was different. Talus lost control, and he's not like that. That was one mistake, years ago, and he'd tried to make up for it ever since. Honestly, as far as Aoife was concerned, he already had, but Eldrazi on the other hand?

Her teeth grit. It didn't matter if she was technically in debt to him; that didn't just make it all right, and neither did a sorry. That was going to take a bit more time.

A rock stood out along the path, having the audacity to sit right in front of her boots, and angrily, Aoife gave it a swift kick. Instantly, a hot, tearing pain raced up from her knee, and the rock only bounced along a few steps before challenging her to kick it once more.

She grumbled. "Are we there yet?" They ought to be. She was so, so sick of walking. This whole damn adventure had been nothing but walking, and even once Weiss had cleaned the area, stitching the wound and using magik to heal the wound shut, there was still a small, sharp echo of pain that came with each step.

"Am I holding a Relic?" Weiss replied, coming to a stop. It wasn't because they were much closer to the castle though. More that the mountain had finally begun, the paved cobblestone drastically shifting to a winding path, more overrun with broken stone worn smooth from the caustic rain and collapsed ledges, and that was the main path leading up, which the man wasn't taking.

Instead, he was moving towards the slanted line of trees where they could have more cover, and she could have more leg pain. What a lovely day this was.

Her next words came with an eye roll. "I wish you were. Vaeloc. All we ever do is walk and run." Already, her boots were sinking almost ankle deep in mud as she stepped off the path, and it took wrapping her hand around one of the skinny tree trunks to tear her legs out of it each time she wanted to move. Again, her magik pulsed in time with her anger, squeezing at her throat painfully with its boiling fingers, and it was a struggle to force it all under her skin, at least enough to speak. "It's infuriating."

"I agree, especially when you do it for several years straight."

A calm, Durnish brogue reached her ears, and Aoife was surprised to see Gavin walking along behind them. Of course, she'd known he was there, but it'd been a long time since he'd last spoken. Then again, Aoife figured she'd be quiet too if she'd had the misfortune of being born stuck to that soih of a Demon.

Instantly, her mouth opened, a sharp remark already prepared on the tip of her tongue, but she bit it off, her heart softening a bit. After all, it wasn't him she was mad at. Gavin had been nothing but a helpful sweetheart, despite how aloof he could be at times, and besides...

"Years?" she asked with a wince. She couldn't imagine something like that. Only hiding, and waiting. It was all Róhain had ever let her know, and while sometimes she hated the endless amount of babying and rules from him, perhaps it was for the better. That- that sounded horrible.

"Years," he repeated before passing her, and Aoife noticed he wasn't hiking up the mountainside at all. Rather, he was on all fours, boots tucked within his belt as he scaled up the terrain, far faster than the rest of them. If he said much else, Aoife couldn't hear before he was past the small patch of trees, climbing not on the rock, but rather sticking along its underside before scrambling over the edge to sit on the stony ledge. His patchy, scaled feet swung back and forth, until they froze, leaving him to stare out into the horizon.

"Hey! See something up there?" Talus asked, and moments later, he was dissipating into the shadows, racing up the cliffside to reach Gavin in moments.

"Cheater," Aoife spat under her breath as yet another rock tumbled out beneath her, causing her to stumble further into the mud. It was so strong today, the taste of ash rising on her tongue, so similar to the Dust already so thick within the air. Again, the urge to release just a flicker of magik out struck her, but something about being surrounded by vines and vegetation made it seem like a bad idea. And so she held it in, even when her lungs seared to the point that tears pricked at her eyes.

Gods. If she could just pull the flames to her feet, it wouldn't hurt. The fire wouldn't have to stir agonisingly in her body where it didn't belong, she wouldn't have to walk on the ground, where sharp, driving pains continued to lace through her leg, and she wouldn't have to think and struggle trying to keep up with the others. If she could just pull at the fire– even for a second– she could feel the weightlessness of walking on the air itself, and the rest would fade away, like it always did.

But it could touch a leaf and burn, or perhaps a stick, or brush. It didn't matter, really. It was all dried out from the acidic touch of the blackened rain. It would all ignite at the simplest mistake, and then everything would alight, and they would get caught, or die. Most likely both.

An electric shock pulsed into her thigh, and her teeth ground further as it settled in thin, crisp lines over the bone where the stitches lay. Her face felt wet, and somewhere ahead, she could hear leaves crunching, Selatan most likely coming to a stop to wonder why she was taking so long. Quickly, she wiped her bracer against her face, because what was she doing? She couldn't cry. Not now. There were only a few more steps to reach Gavin and Talus left. Just one more uneven rock, one more uncomfortable angle to haul herself over, and it would be done.

And what were tears going to do? Make the terrain disappear? Make her knee stop hurting or her hair grow back or her emotions stop lashing out like a pathetic child's? No? Then it was a waste of her time.

She was almost there anyway.

Only those few steps ahead, Gavin mumbled something to Talus' silhouette, pointing to the horizon. It took a bit longer than she wanted, but eventually Aoife managed to drag herself over to where they stood. Hard stone replaced the muddied land beneath her boots, and now with a wall of rock in her grasp, she leaned against the cliffside, panting. Everyone else could go inspect the mysteries of what lay beyond the mountain. Her? She was taking a minute to breathe.

"Well, that can't be good."

Or maybe she wasn't, because those were the last words she wanted to hear her boyfriend say right now. Taking a step forward, she stumbled to where the other four stood at the cliff's edge, looking not down, but out, and it was only when she followed suit that she saw it.

For in the distance, miles out, was battle.

It was still in Ulnter, given that the soldiers weren't off to Aoife's left, near the Dusty lands of Tercia, but that didn't change much other than the fact it was closer than she'd thought. Or maybe it was just closer than she'd wanted to imagine it being, because to watch the ground be littered in bodies... It was horrific, and yet, she couldn't tear her gaze away. Eunsi soldiers filled the air, summoning weapons to rain down from above, Demons shifted into large, terrifying animals to bat at them from their newfound height, all the while Humans picked off the weaker ones left behind. Each spread blood and shed blood, and it was only once nausea came knocking at her throat did Aoife finally manage to turn.

"It's war, Selatan. I'm curious as to why there would ever be a chance of it being considered 'good' in the first place," Weiss pointed out, taking very little time to address it before he too, looked away. Not that Aoife could blame him after the conversation they'd had to break up the silence of repetitive stitch after stitch. Having to be a slave just for being Corvaile– their word for black-winged, he'd explained in between staring off and tongue clicking in a repetitive beat of nine– forced to heal soldier after soldier all for a side that hadn't wanted you in the first place... She couldn't imagine that either. She couldn't imagine living the lives of most people here, really.

And I'm this upset over having my hair cut.

Maybe that's why she was doing this: because she was pathetic. Once Róhain had found her, alone on the streets with nothing but her flame for comfort, she hadn't had to suffer once. He'd fed her, clothed her, done his best to care for her, and never once asked her to go on missions. She'd taken that upon herself, and maybe it was to make up for everyone's suffering. After all, she'd take another year in prison– no, years– if it meant everyone here could live a normal life. It was worth it.

"Weiss? Have you ever heard of something being an expression?" Selatan asked, his gruff voice slicing through Aoife's thoughts. She looked up, and the rest of the group was already starting to move on, with her still standing there. She quickly raced to follow.

"I have. Have you ever seen war from the frontlines?" The hooked mask turned to face them, and it would've made him impossible to read if his curt voice didn't switch to something so... cold. Bitter. "It's a horrid, vile thing: a false sense of bravado sold with the lie of how sweet and becoming it is to lay one's life down for their country, when it's nothing more than useless suffering with no end."

"I mean, war 'as its uses."

Eldrazi's voice, drenched in that infuriating Malish accent, forced Aoife's fists to curl before she could stop them, and this time when her teeth grit, there was an aching snap. "Shut up!" She whirled on the Demon as he pressed Gavin's scaly ears back, acting like he was surprised that somehow, the concept of her not loving war was also a confusing thing. "In what situation is people fighting, dying for some stupid purpose ever useful?"

He cocked his head. "When the mortals learn from it, of course?"

"People don't learn from war. They kill and get killed, Eldrazi," Weiss explained, voice tight.

"Ah, but you're not lookin' at the big picture." The Demon spun on his heel as he gave the apothecary a sly smile. "See, mortals are such strange beings, caring about money, power, land. They think that's what life is about, when really, it isn't about anything at all."

He waved a hand. "So they bicker, fight, and- get enough of 'em together for a common purpose- and you've got a war on your 'ands. But, give 'em a few 'undred years and they sort it out, sign their treaties and lo! We make excitin' stories out o' it so 'istory doesn't repeat itself." He eased closer to Weiss, yellow eyes giving off a haunting glow and voice dropping to a whisper as goosebumps pricked along Aoife's arms. "Which is good, because it'd be such a drag otherwise, dontcha think?"

Weiss' entire body stiffened, spine straightening until he towered over Eldrazi, nearly twice his size. "A lesson? You think that war is all some lesson? From what? The gods?"

"If any one o' 'em knew what they were doin', then yes. I mean really, what were they thinkin' giving birth to a bunch o' people that live forever?" His eyes rolled. "That they wouldn't make more? Cover the 'ole land until food and resources grew too tight to survive? Course mortals were bound to start fightin' over things. There's too many o' us to live offa the land anymore, for cryin' out loud." Eldrazi scoffed, hands falling into a shrug. "Someone's gotta die, and the only fair way to decide who does is through the randomness o' war."

"Someone has to die? That's what you think?" The apothecary was shaking now, finger back to tapping again. And again. And again. "My wife was nearly burnt to death because of your kind pillaging her town!"

His arm forcefully swept out, pointing out into the distant fields, and when he spoke again, there were the start of tears in his words. "You think this helps anyone? You think hundreds of people suffering is right because the gods made a mistake?" His gloves clenched. "Why is that our job to fix?"

Aoife blinked at him, her heart sinking in her chest. Her hand reached out, trying to rest on the man's back, but he was already collecting himself, staring Eldrazi down.

"Was my family a worthy sacrifice for your beliefs, Demon?"

Eldrazi's eyes shot open, like snapping out of a daze, and he took one step back, then another. "N-no. I don't mean it like that at all. I don't want anyone to 'ave to die." He winced, mouth screwing up like he could barely explain his point. "It's just... necessary. Always 'as been, always will be."

There was a long silence, and Aoife glanced at Selatan, standing there so stiffly, and so far away from where she could reach. He looked uncomfortable, but she couldn't blame him. Everyone was.

Finally, Weiss sighed, hands tucking into his coat pockets. "Perhaps.
Or perhaps it just seemed that way because no one had the forethought to consider other options."

"Well, at least it won't have to be that way for much longer." It was so weird, watching the expression on Eldrazi's face shift into something smaller, more shy as Gavin tipped their head down, talking from behind his sleeve once more. Then he pulled it away with a wince, giving Aoife the softest of smiles that she couldn't help returning. "Because that's why we're on this mission, right? To get equality for all of us, and maybe, once we can do that, they'll realise that there's nothing to fight for. That we can all just get along."

Suddenly, Talus was at their side, nodding along, albeit almost too eagerly. "Exactly, and we're almost there. Just one more Relic to go after this, and then we can spend the rest of our lives doing whatever we want! No more wars, no more Cearte, just partying."

Something about the hopefulness in his words eased the tension in Aoife's chest, and she moved closer to the others, hand instinctively reaching to find Selatan's own. And, when a gentle warmth hit her finger, she looked up, finding those kind, amber eyes softening in a smile, the feeling of hope only grew. Because Gavin and Talus were right. They were close. After this, they could have everything they ever wanted and more, and, as she continued to stare at the man she wanted to spend the rest of her days with, her chest warmed once again. Except this time, it felt right.

"That's what you're using the Relics for?"

Aoife tore her eyes away to find Weiss completely stopped in his tracks. "Yes?" she answered, her brows furrowing. Why did he sound so bothered when he'd just explained how awful he thought war was? "What else would we do?"

"You?" He surveyed the group before his shoulders dropped in a sigh. "Nothing, I suppose."

"Well, what would you use them for?" Talus asked, coming to a stop with the others. Not that Aoife could complain. The ache in her leg had sharpened a good bit now that they were walking again, and she'd started squeezing Selatan's hand tighter to make up for it.

Weiss hesitated, looking back towards the mountain ledge, before it became the looming, stone edge of the castle. It rose quite high, a solid wall broken occasionally by gates and Demons coming and going through the village safely nestled inside. But his gaze rose past that, to the sky, with its thick, dark clouds nearly blocking out the world's glistening rings. "I... would have used them to cure the Dust."

"Oh," Aoife said with an awkward frown.

"As much as I hate the stuff too, there's only so much we can do," Selatan finally offered with a shrug. "There's too many problems with the world for us to solve them all, and right now, that's the least of our concerns."

Weiss' head slowly followed Selatan, gaze lingering on their interlocked fingers as he led Aoife along. "Do you know what I once calculated Human life expectancy to be, if there was no Dust?"

He shrugged again, continuing to walk ahead. "I don't know. Forty?"

"With easy access to healing magik and general self care, I'd estimate it to be around a hundred, give or take a little depending on the individual."

"What?" Aoife shouted, although she wasn't the only one. Everyone turned at that: Talus, Selatan, Gavin, who looked the most shocked by far, and Aoife couldn't blame him. Them, managing to live an entire century? That was impossible. Even if the Black Death didn't settle into their lungs, that didn't sound right.

"A hundred." Weiss patted down his coat, moving to follow once more. "And while I've all of eternity to solve the plague, I can't say that when I was told this kind of magik exists last night the thought didn't cross my mind."

He paused to haul himself over the final step. The gate lay only a few feet ahead, and with the amount of people bustling in and out, Aoife doubted they'd have much trouble getting in. At least, not until they had to wander the actual building within. Weiss watched them come and go, almost solemnly. "But I suppose your cause is helpful too, and I was paid either way. So-" He cast one last look at their surroundings, landing on the tower that supposedly held the second of the three Relics. "Shall we get going?"

Aoife licked her lips, thinking. Part of her wanted to ask about the Dust, about living for a hundred years and how he planned to get rid of something that as far she'd ever considered was simply a fact of life ever since the Eruption, so many years ago. But now wasn't the time for that. Now– much like ever– was the time for moving forward. So she looked at Selatan, at the confidence he gave off so freely as he nodded, replying with a solid one of her own.

And then they turned for the castle.