[Rina]

Aaaand Schezo ends up cracking into an actual laugh, claiming mental victory. He didn't think he'd strike a nerve anytime soon, but he actually did! With his history of getting screwed over by her, this felt incredibly satisfying.

"Hahahaha! What's wrong? Has your wit run dry?"

[Mari]

Arle's eyes narrowed slightly at Schezo. The temptation to attack him on the spot was strong. She wanted to teach him a lesson for making light of her nightmarish experiences. Yet, it was futile. As much as this level of restraint wasn't in her nature, Arle bit her tongue and resisted the urge to set Schezo's rear end on fire.

" . . . "

For a long moment Arle was silent, uncharacteristically so. It wasn't really like Arle to keep her thoughts to herself, especially when someone or something was bothering her. Yet, the retort never came. The moment passed and Arle just seemed to deflate a bit, the tension evaporating from her body.

"It's not funny, Schezo." Arle snapped rather quietly, shaking her head in disillusionment.

One might get the impression that Schezo's words had stung a lot more than Arle had initially let on for reasons that weren't necessarily clear. The mage turned with the intent to depart.

[Rina]

Cue a mood whiplash from Schezo. There's some serious to be had, and it's somewhat related to this 'talk'.

"Scathing words aside, do you understand how I feel nigh constantly, being the recipient of mockery this time? I've been the target of your ridicule and sarcasm, so much so that you've taken light of everything I say and attempt to do, as if I'm lower than that idiot of a lord of Puyo Hell."

He's...got a point? Sure he managed to get back at her, and it stung pretty hard, but did he really have to do that to get a point across? Maybe. Schezo isn't a very soft person.

[Mari]

Arle hesitated, doing a double take at Schezo over her shoulder. Was that what he thought, that it was his words that felled her? She spoke without turning to face him. "Gee Schezo, I'm not sure. Did it feel like several tons of metal and teeth breaking you, or did it feel more like someone took a bite out of your soul and left you to resist the tug of the void?" Arle asked backhandedly, sending a glare over her shoulder for a moment.

"...You think you're so different from Satan, but you're both stuck in your own ways like senile old men chasing a dream they can never catch."

[Rina]

"I- I am not-!"

Was...was that a stammer? That last bit might have got under his skin a tad. Well, he is beyond a human lifespan, but 100 years or so is young for a lifespan of a wizard you'd hear in tales of old. If Arle ripped on his personal pursuits unnerved him...then maybe...

"D-Don't you dare question my personal goals!"

[Mari]

"...Or what? You'll chase me across time and space to defeat me?" Arle asked rather flatly, staring into Schezo's soul with contempt.

The mage quickly continued, leaving little time for a response. "Hey, I've got a funny joke. Help me finish this thought. Schezo Wegey challenges Arle Nadja and... it ends well for him? Does that sound right to you?" Arle asked in a rather accusing tone.

[Rina]

"I-...I-...You know that flawless-"

Oh boy, looks like Schezo probably shot himself in the foot with that one line. What to do...? He hasn't been this flustered at all, if you exclude all the times he got called that.

"Confound it, n-never mind! I'm through with this conversation!"

[Schezo fled the scene!]

This behavior isn't very much like him. Arle must have said something bad enough to get him to react like that.

[Mari]

" . . . "

Arle just sort of stood there for a moment, quietly watching Schezo run off. Huh. Y'know, she didn't think she'd ever talked Schezo down like that before. He was usually a lot more confrontational about his feelings. ...Perhaps he simply knew that fighting here was folly? Another thought occurred to her, however. For some reason, the idea that Schezo might leave the Life Sphere was the first thing that came to mind. Was she ... worrying about Schezo's safety? Arle quietly resigned herself to accepting these feelings. As much as Schezo had hurt her feelings earlier, she couldn't just wish anything terrible on him. ...Anything more terrible than a fireball, anyway.

What if Schezo got infected? She knew he'd come back from apparent death before, several times in fact, but ...what if he didn't though? Arle's concern was just enough to get her to try and tail the wizard as he left in an effort to observe where he was going.