Dimensional Descent

Aina sat in silent meditation, her aura in perfect balance. She took deep breaths, controlling her inhale and exhale in cycles that lasted sometimes up to several minutes.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes just as there was a light knock to her and Leonel's room.

"Yes, you can enter."

Savahn came in with a worried expression on her face, one that actually caused Aina to laugh slightly.

"What is it?"

Savahn was speechless. "Why are you laughing, this is serious."

"I don't know, this is just the first time in a while I've seen anything but a smile on your face, I found it interesting."

Savahn blushed, seemingly understanding what Aina was getting at. But then she remembered that she wasn't entirely without ammo in this conversation.

"You're one to talk, I can still smell it in the air."

Aina suddenly panicked. "Smell? What smell?!"

Aina's head snapped around before she froze. This time, it was her turn to blush. There was no smell, clearly Savahn was just making fun of her and had won this round.

was very used to Aina's shyness and she used to have all sorts of fun making fun of her. After the Metamorphosis, she had thought that maybe all their previous interactions had all been an act, but by now, she knew that it

rolled her eyes and coughed slightly, trying

something important? Look

Savahn laughed, "about as

respond, Savahn graciously took her victory and remembered that she

news... Hutch has died

Leonel although she had never interacted much with the man personally. Even

a distinct possibility. No parent wanted to end their child's life, and there was definitely no grandparent who wanted their grandchild's life. However, Hutch had been unlucky in two ways, he had not

Hutch would choose to die rather than make such a

always felt that this era had passed him by. Despite his talent, he never really felt the same

choice or not,

should we do?"

and exhaled. "Nothing. Now

flickered. "Even with the

her head and smiled bitterly. She couldn't repeat what Leonel had said before he left. Her thoughts flashed and she remembered that

too

was too lazy to explain. If he could stop the unnecessary deaths, he would, but

time, there was definitely something tying Emperor Fawkes' hands, likely the same thing tying down the four Great Families. It didn't make sense if only one side faced restrictions while the other

everything, he would have. As such, there was a certain delicate approach that was

be on standby," Savahn nodded. She turned to leave but hesitated for a moment. "If you need anything, I'm