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.

previous interactions had all been an act, but by now, she knew that it wasn't that the Aina she had known was fake, it was only that it was just one

and coughed

come here for something important? Look at you making fun

laughed, "about as innocent as

too flustered to respond, Savahn graciously took her victory and

the news... Hutch has

personally. Even so, it was impossible for her not to feel anything simply for the

had known that this was 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 only outlived his children, but he was faced

him to survive both, so even without being there, Leonel knew that Hutch would choose to die rather than make such a voice. It didn't matter to him that Leonel had warned him, it didn't matter to him that

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

regardless of whether this was his choice or not, Aina knew

we do?" Savahn

deep breath and exhaled. "Nothing. Now isn't

gaze flickered. "Even with the capital being burned

said before he left. Her thoughts flashed and she remembered that annoying smirk on

sweat a bit... is what he had said. That man was really too much. This was an existential crisis, but he could only see his beef with

to explain. If he could stop the unnecessary deaths, he would, but he wasn't some sort

was definitely something tying Emperor Fawkes' hands, likely the same thing tying down the four Great Families. It

deal with everything, he would have. As

turned to leave but