Avery and Rhys ventured outside of the Free City and into the surrounding wilderness until they reached a clearing.
You dont know much about Ira, isnt that right? Avery asked as she removed her hood. Yet, you seem to care for him quite a lot.
Since Rhys was wearing her mask it was impossible to see her expression, only her eyes seed to give hints at her mood.
What was it that earned your interest in him? Did he save you? Did he smile at you for a little too long? Do you have so sort of fantasy where he falls for you? Im honestly curious. Avery said in a cynical tone as she took off the grey cloak and placed it on a log.
Rhys took out her notepad and began to write, [I dont know what it is, but its none of those things.]
Avery looked unfazed at Rhys words Oh? Let ask you this then, what type of person are you?
[Im not sure what you an by that?]
I an, can you stomach killing people? Avery asked.
[Ive killed people before if thats what youre asking.] Rhys wrote in response.
Yes, but whats your limit? You probably have so preconceived idea of good and evil, right? That idea, like most conventional practices, doesnt apply to Ira. Avery said.
Rhys hesitated before eventually responding, [What are you saying?]
Would you kill soone who spoke ill of you? Avery asked.
[No.] Rhys responded. There were many people who spread rumors or taunted her over the course of her life. She could see no reason for killing them, especially over a few words.
If thats true you arent ant to be anywhere near Ira. You dont understand anything about him and if you thought you did then you are completely stupid...The concept of morality is completely lost on Ira. He doesnt care if soone surrenders or is unard and defenseless. That isnt to say hell go around murdering innocent people for no reason, but if they were to die because of him he wouldnt think twice about it. Avery said.
Rhys had a complicated look flash through her eyes and couldn't seem to write a reply.
You heard of the altercation that caused him to be detained, correct? Truthfully, there was no altercation. That Parvian man seed to misunderstand sothing and attempted to inquire about buying . That led to Ira ripping his jaw off, along with his legs. Avery said with complete indifference. It was quite the gory sight. She added.
Rhys seed to struggle with a proper response as she clenched her fist repeatedly.
Nothing to say? If you were to tell you that none of that ans anything to you and you still want to pursue Ira, I would allow it. I would even tell him that youre the only one Ill accept as his second wife. So say it. Prove wrong. Let know that whatever you feel isnt superficial and that you actually care about him. Avery spoke coldly.
Sparks of electricity began to appear around Rhys as she tried to find a way to show that Avery was incorrect. Nothing ca to her mind and Rhys began to have doubts about whether or not her attraction to Ira was real.
Dont mistake my words as jealousy. I only wanted to know if you were being honest and its clear that you werent. You should go on about your day, leave Ira alone, and burn whatever storybook that caused you to manifest that false sentint toward him. Avery said with a detached expression.
[Not yet.] Rhys suddenly wrote.
What? Avery questioned.
[I cant be ok with it yet, but I can get used to it.]
Avery laughed apathetically, And what? You think that Ira would stop for you? I didnt ask if you would be ok with it in the next few months or years, I was asking about now. Is that too unreasonable to you? Should everything halt until youre ready? As Avery finished she drew her saber.
[Ira doesnt need to wait. Ill grow accustod to it and I would accept it if I was able to be closer to him.] Rhys wrote.
Is that so? A hint of vexation appeared in Averys voice. And when your repulsion toward Iras way of living slips out? What then? How would he react if he saw soone close to him look at him as if he was a monster? I dont care to see the result of that. Burning red veins began to appear on Averys hands, and even were glowing beneath her shirt.
[That wont happen.] Rhys wrote defiantly.
Ill need you to prove it to because I remain thoroughly unconvinced. Averys wings slowly erged from her back. In between the raven-colored feathers, fiery veins pulsed with life.
Rhys put away her notepad and drew her rapier as streaks of electricity quietly danced in her vicinity.
Without warning, Avery waved her hand and dozens of small arrows made of fire shot toward Rhys who already rolled away. Lightning appeared at Rhys feet as she rushed forward and thrust her rapier. Avery parried and slashed at Rhys mask causing sparks to appear.
Rhys instinctively closed her eyes and Avery seized that mont and used her wing to swat Rhys away before taking to the air. Rhys made a few silent coughs as she climbed to her feet, only to see Avery in the air with several spheres made of fire floating around her. Without a word, Avery sent the spheres toward Rhys who was already running for cover. As soon as one sphere made contact with the ground it exploded into a raging inferno before disappearing, but Rhys had no ti to pay attention to that strange phenonon as more spheres followed her. Rhys managed to avoid all but one that hit a tree next to her and showered her in flas.
Luckily, only Rhys clothes seed to catch the flas and she rolled a few tis to extinguish them.
Avery once again took initiative and swooped down with her Saber in hand. Rhys raised her rapier as if she was going to block Avery, but when Avery got closer, lightning shot out of the tip of the rapier. With no ti to dodge, Avery took the hit head-on and crashed into the ground as the electricity temporarily paralyzed her muscles. Rhys ran over and thrust her rapier forward in order to shock Avery again, but a tallic bell-like sound stopped her advance. The rapier had indeed hit sothing, it's just that sothing was Averys wing that she used as a shield. Rhys attempted to channel lightning through her rapier, but it had no effect. The wings of a Valkyrie were semi-corporeal aning they werent entirely physical and as such were resistant to certain things, electricity being one.
A pillar of fla erupted around Avery and pushed Rhys back, forcing her to retreat. The pillar began to rotate and swell. Lightning surged around Rhys in response, as she prepared to react. The pillar of fla grew bigger and then it suddenly compressed into an orb that hovered above Avery.
Rhys could feel that the orb was dangerous and began to let the lightning around her run rampant. The orb of compressed fla exploded sending hundreds of burning arrows raining down on the surrounding area. At the sa ti dozens of lightning bolts flew from Rhys body and t so of the fla arrows head on, but the amount was far too much for Rhys to respond too. The lightning and fire exploded destroying everything in the imdiate vicinity. The deafening rumbling sound that occurred as a result of their clash, spread as far as the Free City, causing everyone to scratch their heads at the strange noise.
Inside the forest clearing, the vegetation within 100 feet of the battle was charred. As the smoke cleared, it revealed a heavily injured Rhys, cradling her side against a tree. While Averys figure was obscured by her wings, which shook before receding into her back. The burning veins that covered her skin faded away. In contrast to Rhys, Avery only had a few wounds. She sheathed her saber before she went to retrieve her cloak. The only reason she didnt use the formless armor was the fact that Rhys wasnt wearing any armor herself.
Was that it? Avery asked before she covered her hand in flas and traced over her wounds. When the fla disappeared, the wounds vanished along with it. The phoenix flas had innate healing properties so it was no surprise that it Avery recovered.
Blood spilled from underneath of Rhys scarred mask, but her eyes showed vivid signs of life. She stabbed her Rapier into the ground and forced herself to stand while wincing in pain. Her breathing was labored, but she moved forward nonetheless, leaving a small trail of blood along the way. Rhys stumbled and fell, but climbed back to her feet and continued to move forward even as her body grew heavier.
If you give up right now, Ill heal your wounds. Avery said as she watched on emotionlessly.
Rhys tossed away her mask, revealing her blood covered face, before continuing to advance with the assistance of her rapier. Her whole body was in pain, but she did her best to ignore it.
You barely know him. You dont even know how he feels about you. What happens if he rejects you? Wouldnt all this be for nothing? Avery asked.
How did Rhys feel about Ira? She herself wasnt entirely sure, but she enjoyed those monts around Ira the most. She couldnt say if she loved him or not, but she definitely had genuine feelings for him.
You seem to be quite determined. Avery waved her hand and sent a fla arrow toward Rhys, knocking the rapier from her hand and causing her to fall.
Rhys grimaced as she inhaled and pushed herself up. She rose to her feet while letting her arms hang limply and staggered toward Avery.
Avery said nothing as she waved her hand and sent a fla arrow directly through Rhys leg.
Rhys clutched her leg and cried as she opened her mouth and gave a muted scream. Her chest rose up and down before she rolled over. Her hands dug into the dirt as she began to crawl toward Avery.
Does he an that much to you? Avery asked as she sent an arrow into one of Rhys hands. The fla arrow easily pierced through her hand.
Rhys clutched her wounded hand tightly and looked at Avery hatefully as tears poured from her eyes. Rhys used her uninjured hand and leg to drag herself forward, her speed seed to increase as she stared at Avery with eyes full of anger.
You shouldnt look so angry, I only want to see if youre being honest with . Avery said dispassionately.
As Rhys inched closer, two more fla arrows were shot at her, boring through her limbs. The tears continued to fall as Rhys laid on her stomach. She sucked in air as she felt the horrible scorching sensation and slled her own burnt flesh. She began breathing heavily before using her elbows to crawl forward.
Avery would send fla projectiles at Rhys, destroying parts of her body and Rhys would find so way to crawl forward. After a few minutes of that sa scene repeating, Rhys found that she couldnt move at all. There was no feeling in her body except for the sensation of pain. It was nearly impossible to maintain consciousness, let alone move continue moving. She couldnt even look up to see if she made it to Avery.
It seems like there was a bit of truth to your words. Averys voice sounded a lot like the voice of an angel when Rhys realized what she said.
Avery used her foot to flip Rhys onto her back before she knelt down to look at Rhys. So this is what you were hiding underneath that mask? I can heal your scars if you want, but I cant do anything about your voice. A bright orange fla covered Rhys and began to repair her body, her scars were left alone since Rhys didn't ask for them to be healed.
Youre too weak, but that can be changed through so training. Avery said.
Avery didn't have any feelings of friendship toward Rhys. She wasnt allowing her to pursue Ira because she could understand how Rhys felt. Avery was thinking ahead of the current situation. When the three Valkyries said they were apart of a group of higher races it was clear that Ira would need more help than just the Valkyries of the Thynne family. Especially when only Lauren could just about match one of the older Valkyries, if she were to fight all three it was no doubt she would lose. If the three Valkyries were already that powerful, just how strong would the rest of the higher races be? Especially after the Red Moon and Golden Aurora.
Rhys felt vitality returning to her body as she weakly stood up.
Ill co to find you whenever Im free to train you. Avery said with no room for rejection, not that Rhys planned on rejecting her.
Rhys was largely self-trained which ant she was unskilled in a lot of areas. She would rely on her reflexes and abilities to get her through most problems. The rapier was also easy for her to use as she could send electricity through it, eliminating the need to wield it skillfully. At least that was what she thought before she fought Avery.
[Whatever.] Rhys scribbled on her notepad before picking up her masking and putting it back on. Though her attitude was prickly, she didn't voice any disagreent. Rhys knew she was lacking ability wise and wanted to close the gap as soon as possible.
The two headed back to the city, leaving the ruined portion of the forest behind them.
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