Large spools sat on their ends to serve as tables after being donated to the inn by the various ships that had passed through, and the chairs were made with leftover barrels. Heavy sailing ropes garnished the walls as garland, and paintings of the ocean were tastefully scattered across them, but the decor was lost on the girl who sat in deep contemplation with her legs folded under her.

She had paid for a room, and she had already tucked Flora in before she returned to the dining room to stare down her glass of water while contemplating the world. Rune was seated on her shoulders with a clawed hand resting on top of her head while the other fed himself leaves.

“What is happening to the world, Rune?” Allura sighed while continuing to stare at her glass.

Earlier she had listened in on rumors that circulated the room during her dinner with Flora. People spoke of others displaying powers that were believed to be reserved for the gods.

“What are the gods doing?” Allura pressed while placing a hand over her heart, “What am I missing?”

“Ehnh,” Rune commented, and she let out a heavy sigh.

“I don’t know what to do next, Rune… I’m lost,” she whispered while leaning her elbows on the table, and she held her face in her hands.

She was alone with Rune in the dining room with his steady chewing the only melody to grace it, and she allowed her devouring thoughts to silence the world. She would not even notice as the door creaked open or clacked shut. She was lost in her ever-wandering mind.

“Oh, hey!” a familiar voice chimed, jarring her from her thoughts, and her eyes flickered to the two standing before her table.

“Oh... Bryan, right?” she pressed with a friendly smile while meeting his vibrant green eyes as he smiled at her.

“Yep!” he nodded before gesturing to the teenager that stood next to him, “And that’s my friend Armel.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Allura,” she hummed, and he nodded politely.

“I didn’t realize that we were staying at the same inn!” Bryan exclaimed as Armel’s sky blue eyes rolled.

“Why would you?” she asked absentmindedly while trying to recuperate her thoughts, and Armel snickered. “I mean… You don’t live in town?” she managed a better question, and Bryan shook his head.

“No, we’re traveling. On a quest actually!” he smiled while helping himself to a chair at her table, and an annoyed sigh left Armel.

“Ehnh,” Rune was possibly more irritated.

“Quest? That sounds… exciting,” she commented as Armel reluctantly joined them.

“You mean idiotic,” Armel corrected her, and she glanced to find him slicking back his hair, “It’s a mission.”

“Oh?” she replied as curiosity ebbed at the back of her mind.

“Given to us- well Armel- but I’m helping since we’ve been friends forever… But, uh- Oh! Yeah, given to us by the great weather goddess, Aerimber! She blessed Armel with the power of lightning to destroy the fire demon!” Bryan exclaimed while Armel scowled at him, and Allura’s eyes widened.

“Why can’t you ever shut that big mouth of yours?” Armel growled, but Bryan smiled widely at him.

“You should be proud!” Bryan beamed.

“Aren’t you worried what people will do if they find out?” Allura pressed, and Bryan gave her a curious look, “I mean, I’ve heard rumors about magic…”

“Of course not!” Bryan chimed.

“But what about this so-called fire demon?” Allura interrogated with a hint of irritation.

“Ehnh?!” Rune questioned in defensive agreeance with Allura.

“He won’t beat me.” Armel stated flatly as Allura looked at him with critical eyes.

“I mean, aren’t you worried others will paint you as a demon like him?” she pressed in an almost protective tone.

“Why would they?” Armel scoffed, “I haven’t killed anyone,” he added as she stood abruptly, knocking over her chair.

“What if he didn’t have a choice?!” Allura snapped with anger seeping into her voice.

~*~

“He-he was going to kill me!” a young Allura whimpered as her father looked at her in horror.

“WHAT DID YOU DO?!” he roared at Allura as the dagger fell from her hands, and she quickly tried to scramble off the warm corpse only to fall to the ground.

~*~

“Are you defending him for burning villages?!” Armel barked back as electricity arced over his skin, and tears flooded Allura’s eyes.

“H-hey now! I don’t think that’s what she meant!” Bryan interjected, trying to calm Armel.

Allura quickly turned to leave with Armel moving to follow, but a shadow swept across the floor, and he fell flat on his face with Allura leaving the room.

Allura quickly made it to her room’s door, but she paused to take a shaky breath and wipe her eyes. After a moment she managed to collect herself, but as she reached for the handle it opened to reveal a worried Flora.

“Are you ok?” Flora pressed in a small voice as surprise held Allura’s eyes.

“Ye-yeah, I’m fine.” Allura quickly offered a soft smile, “What are you doing up?”

“The shadows…” Flora answered. “They’re whispering to me… It sounded like your voice, and it sounded really mad… I’ve never heard you sound so angry.” she explained as Allura blinked at her, “I heard other voices… I think they were talking to you.”

“About the magic?” Allura pressed, and Flora nodded.

“The harder I focused, the better I could hear you… I- it looked like you were crying,” Flora whispered.

“I-I’m fine,” Allura answered while gently gripping Flora’s shoulders, and she ushered her back into the room before closing the door behind them.

“I tripped him.” Flora admitted as they sat on the bed, “Usko told me the shadows are limitless…”

“She is learning fast, Usko. You chose well.” Noxera praised.