One minute, she's bound, frustrated, but in his presence. The next, her body is crashing limply against dirt, chilling night air rushing across her skin. Ciri blinks, stunned. Her vision focuses, taking in her surroundings.
She's outside, lying on her back under the starry night sky. She sits up, looking around. The terrain around her is barren, littered only with sparse trees and small, dry flora. Her pupils constrict at the sight.
'I am...on the minor continent?'
The realization sends a shiver down her spine. But not out of fear...out of excitement. Her lips twist into a delirious grin, and she falls back onto the ground, chuckling hysterically.
"Fufufufu...beaten and cast to the other side of the world effortlessly. How exhilarating..." (Ciri)
Her hand slowly moves up to her neck, the faint sensation of a firm grip lingering...choking her, restraining her completely. Her breath becomes slightly labored, a deep blush blooming in her cheeks as her grin widens.
'I think...he really almost killed me...'
She lays there for several minutes, relishing the unfamiliar sensation. The feeling of helplessness, the faint pain. Eventually, however, her reverie is shattered by the sound of flapping wings, and she realizes that there was a presence near her when she arrived. A voice echoes in her head.
[Cerilia!?]
Ciri glances up in time to see a massive red dragon land nearby. Recognition flickers across her face, before she scowls, growing irritated.
"Veyron, why are you bothering me?" (Ciri)
The dragon's eyes widen, seemingly stupefied.
[You are...in my territory? When I felt a Presence inexplicably appear, I was worried that-...well, never mind. It's so good to see you, Cerilia! Have you finally come to accept my proposal!?] (Veyron)
She can practically feel the ignorant glee in his question, the desperation...crawling across her skin like a parasite. Her expression twists in disgust. She promptly lifts a finger, and without a word, a blinding blue beam of light shoots from it, slamming into Veyron's front leg.
The light tears clean through his flesh in an instant, leaving a basketball-sized hole through his entire leg, wisps of vapor rising off the flash-frozen edges of flesh. Veyron's pupils constrict.
ROAARRR!
A roar of pain is wrenched free from his maw, as his front leg buckles slightly. Ciri just snorts at him derisively, her voice ice cold.
"Shut up you pathetic sand snake. How many times have I told you that the thought of being your mate disgusts me? Besides, I've already set my heart on who my mate will be, as soon as I show him I'm worthy to join his other wives..." (Ciri)
Ciri's voice trails off thoughtfully as she eagerly considers her next steps, completely oblivious to Veyron's persisting low growls of pain. Suddenly, she remember's Mizuki's final words to her. She snaps her gaze back to Veyron, something other than disgust finally in her eyes as she studies him. She speaks, her voice curious.
"Veyron, have you perhaps met my future husband, Mizuki? He told me to greet you before he sent me here." (Ciri)
The effect of the name is immediate. Veyron's pained growls cease, and he instinctively curls in on himself. Something suspiciously like a whimper seeps between his teeth, and his eyes begin frantically sweeping over the area. His voice echoes in her head, disbelieving, panicked...terrified.
[Mizuki!? He's not here, is he!?] (Veyron)
Ciri raises her eyebrows, intrigued by the uncharacteristic response.
"No, it seems I displeased Future Husband, and he sent me here alone." (Ciri)
Veyron seems to relax marginally, but then he looks at Ciri, bewildered. As though he just registered something absurd.
[Wait...you want to become his mate!? Cerilia, are you insane!? That...creature, is pure evil! He treated nearly killing me like an inconvenient chore!] (Veyron)
Ciri smiles, almost giddy. Her eyes get a far away look. She faintly registers Veyron's implication that him and Mizuki got into an altercation, but she doesn't particularly care. She's sure Veyron earned it.
"Yes, he's perfect...truly incredible. We are having a little...misunderstanding, right now. But I just need to be committed, prove my worthiness..." (Ciri)
Veyron coughs out something between a snort and whine, his voice incredulous.
[Cerilia, be reasonable! You can't go trying to fight that monster and prove something! You won't win, and he won't mate with you – he'll kill you!] (Veyron)
Ciri blinks, turning a bewildered gaze to Veyron. She speaks, her voice flat, full of disdain.
"Are you an imbecile? Never mind, of course you are. That's exactly what someone pathetic like you would think. Always flying over to bother me. Challenging me to fights to try prove yourself, win me as a mate. I have no intention of doing something so misguided...only an idiot thinks like that." (Ciri)
Veyron blinks slowly, silent for a moment.
[Then...what?] (Veyron)
Ciri rolls her eyes.
"I accept it, like you should have – my place beneath him. I will behave accordingly. Make it clear that I'll respect his will, and endeavor to be useful to him. It's clear strength alone does not sway him – he wants loyalty, harmony, and his wives' happiness. So, I will facilitate that." (Ciri)
Veyron balks.
[You're going to serve him!? Like some kind of pet!?] (Veyron)
Ciri blinks, briefly caught off guard by the comparison. As she considers it, however, she feels an exciting warmth run through her. A lewd smile finds its way to her face, and she hums approvingly.
"Mmm, I guess so...let's hope he rewards me." (Ciri)
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Nina lands in a deserted field, shifting back into her human form and collapsing onto the ground in an exhausted heap. Her breaths ragged, wheezing, sweat matting her brown hair to her lightly tanned face. Her cheeks are flushed.
She's been pushing her dragon body to the limits of its speed all night, trying to keep up with Ciri, and this stretch of desperate travel across Gelrod's Pass really drained her strength.
'I...just need...a few minutes...to rest...'
White she lays there, gasping on her back, she tries to reach out to Mizuki through their Bond again.
[Mizuki?] (Nina)
Suddenly, Nina senses surprise through the Bond.
[Nina?] (Mizuki)
Nina sits bolt upright, despite her fatigued body. Her voice permeates their Bond, both ecstatic and frantic.
[Mizuki! You're finally awake! Oh gods, I'm so glad that you-...wait, there's no time! Mizuki, Ciri – err, Cerilia, the Elder Dragon of ice – she's on her way to you! She could be there any minute! I think she's fixated on you now – you have to be careful! I've been trying all night to reach you and stop her, flying everywhere. I'm so sorry, this is all my fault!] (Nina)
She senses shock from Mizuki. But, unexpectedly, it's followed by a strange mix of exasperation and affection. Then, the scenery around her suddenly shifts, and she finds herself sitting on the floor of her and Mizuki's room. She glances around, stunned, and her gaze falls on Mizuki.
He's sitting up in their bed, shirtless, and she can see a naked Ilina sleeping peacefully, cuddled against him. He raises his finger to his lips, a small smile playing on them.
[No talking out loud...we wouldn't want to wake Ilina. After all, she just had a very frustrating encounter with your dear friend Ciri, and I suspect she's going to be quite cross with you about it in the morning.] (Mizuki)
Nina's eyes widen.
[Ciri was here already!? Ilina, did she-] (Nina)
[Relax, Nina, Ilina's fine. It's all fine now...I suppressed Ciri and teleported her to the minor continent, near Veyron's magic signature. I suspect they've had a beautiful reunion by now.] (Mizuki)
Nina sighs in relief, followed by a flicker of amusement at Mizuki's teasing sarcasm. She remembers telling him how much Ciri dislikes Veyron...he was clearly intending to punish her by sending her where he did. She directs a hesitant gaze at Mizuki.
[You're...not mad at me?] (Nina)
He purses his lips thoughtfully, but she doesn't see any anger in his eyes. If anything, she just senses a touch of...guilt, from him.
[No...I've already figured out that you didn't intend for this. You clearly have been trying hard to warn me or stop her, and Ciri mentioned that you refused to tell her where to find me. However, I am a little...concerned, that you went to see someone that dangerous alone. You obviously avoided telling me specifics about your trip. Why?] (Mizuki)
She feels a touch of apprehension.
[I...knew that you'd insist I not go, at least not without you. But I wanted to deal with this alone, and I wanted to avoid her meeting you and causing problems like this. Plus, I knew I wasn't in any danger, despite what you would have worried about.] (Nina)
Mizuki is silent for a moment, conflicting emotions emanating from him. Then he sighs regretfully.
[So, essentially, this could have all been avoided if I wasn't so much of an overprotective, controlling dipshit that you didn't feel like I'd respect your personal autonomy. Seems to be a popular theme lately...] (Mizuki)
Nina falters, her head almost physically jerking at the severity of Mizuki's language towards himself. She feels a pang of regret – she wasn't blaming him.
[No...Mizuki, it's not your fault th-] (Nina)
But Mizuki just shakes his head, cutting her off. He smiles at her sadly.
[No, Nina, it really is. At least part of it. I'm not basing this on just you. When I get similar impressions or outright accusations from three of the four most important people in my life, all in a couple weeks' time, that makes me the root of the problem. And...I'm sorry for that, for making you feel like you needed to hide this from me.
[I just...it's easier to cope with the idea of someone I care about being in danger when you can tell yourself that it's out of your control. But now that I can eliminate any danger I put my mind to, it feels like I don't have a choice but to be at fault if anything bad happens to those around me. Risk is a decision, not an inescapable reality.
[That's no excuse to act like those decisions are purely my own, though. I need to learn to accept that, sometimes, it's your right to take risks as part of your own lives. I'll keep that in mind in the future. So, just...next time, give me a chance to prove that to you? Trust me...please?] (Mizuki)
Nina feels regret and sincerity rolling of Mizuki in waves, his green eyes studying her pleadingly, silently. The sight causes her chest to constrict with guilt. From her perspective, this is her fault. She was so prideful that she wanted to deal with these insecurities surrounding her humanity without Mizuki. If she'd just told him, accepted that he might want to help her, he wouldn't be feeling like this.
She clenches her jaw, nodding at him, her voice deeply apologetic.
[I promise...no more secrets.] (Nina)
Mizuki smiles appreciatively, and she senses genuine relief.
[Thank you, Nina. Want to come lay here and talk? I've got a free arm...] (Mizuki)
Nina glances at the free spot beside him on the bed, finding it very appealing. She nods hesitantly, and suddenly feels a sense of weightlessness. She's quietly floated towards Mizuki. He gently lowers her onto his side opposite Ilina, wrapping his arm around her. She lays her cheek on his shoulder, and feels him kiss the crown of her head. The gesture causes a warm feeling to spread through her, soothing her nerves.
[So...did you at least get what you needed from this trip of yours?] (Mizuki)
She nods contentedly into his shoulder, pulling herself closer against his warm body as a satisfied sigh escapes her lips.
[I...think so. Ciri was quite helpful...at least, until she wasn't. I'm less concerned about the feelings I told you about. Perhaps being a little more human is not the curse I thought. Will it be okay with you if I'm...unstable, like this?] (Nina)
She feels a light chuckle rumble through his chest.
[Fufufu...okay with me? I like you exactly how you are, Nina. And, for the record, caring about me or others enough to act emotionally isn't mental instability. It's proof you love someone. Just my thoughts...] (Mizuki)
Nina's lips twist into a small smile, and she nuzzles her face closer to his neck. She keeps her last thoughts to herself.
'Then, I think...I'll keep being emotional. I like loving you...'