[Mari]

(...Great. Shiya hates me now.)
(Wow. Who would've guessed he wouldn't like being eaten?)
(I thought we were all okay with it after earlier...)
(Don't you think you're tempting fate saying something like that?)
(Fate is not a force of justice. And even if it were, it has no hand.)
(...I was talking about all the monsters and people who might like to eat you.)
(Oh. Actually, I haven't had a problem with that.)
(--What?? Nn... Whatever! You're taking him when we split back up. This was your idea.)

Arle was of two minds about what they'd done to Shiya, especially after his reaction. The muffled yelling from her mid-section was certainly a special feeling. However, she managed to settle her internal dispute, all of the puns intended, and her thoughts slowly blended back into an indistinct stream of consciousness. Shiya could feel a hand press in slightly and caress his upper back as Arle attempted to soothe him. Her heartbeat could be overhead, steady and strong.  "...Healing." Arle softly incanted, directing a burst of healing magic to her midsection!

lB9TvWhKp_2d15+14 (Arle's Healing @ Shiya; Heals for 38%)

"...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." she continued to softly say, perhaps aware that her voice might sound a little different to the person she was talking to. She took a deep breath before continuing. "I did that because I thought I needed to to keep you safe. I want to protect you. ...But I'll understand if you want to hold this against me." she finished and relented. The way she'd said it, her rather empty tone that turned to become more defeated at the end there, seemed to suggest that this wasn't exactly fun for her, and that she might have some regrets.



After this brief exchange Schezo spoke up on Arle's behalf and she was offered a welcome distraction. Schezo would find that as he went on Arle's face lit right back up and she began smiling brightly at him with pride in her eyes. What she hadn't expected, even after a speech like that, was for Schezo to take her hand. Hey Shiya, did her heartbeat just shift gears or is it just your imagination? Thankfully, Schezo had picked exactly the right time to do that and Arle's momentary shock gave way and she smiled contently at Schezo. She then shifted to stand before Schezo, moving into his personal space rather boldly. She then took Schezo's hand in hers and brought it to her own breastplate over her heart. "Thanks, Schezo. You don't know how relieved I am to hear that." Arle replied. She might have hugged him then, but she didn't want to squish Shiya. Instead, she settled for giving Schezo her sweetest, most amiable smile and continuing to hold his hand as she let hers drop to her side and turned back to listen to what Galacta Knight had to say.

Lilith watched Arle expectantly after Galacta Knight spoke, declining to comment.

Arle was somewhat surprised to identify a critic, running her free hand through her hair for a brief moment as she tried to figure out how to feel about what he'd just said. She got the impression Galacta Knight wasn't the only one expecting her to answer that question. "--Well... If you have the power to defeat anyone you want and that isn't really an issue, isn't the legacy you leave behind determined more by who you choose nurture instead?" Arle asked, answering Galacta Knight's question with a rather pointed question of her own. Galacta Knight had decided not to fight her while she was weak. Arle had decided not to fight Galacta Knight in spite of his reputation in the life sphere. So too had Arle decided not to fight Viridi, in spite of having comitted terrible crimes in the past. Without that restraint, she could have never tolerated Galacta Knight's presence long enough to learn about Viridi in the first place.

This time, Lilith spoke up.

"...I have no doubt that Arle can hold her ground. She did not yield during the Quingentarum War, when she was asked to fight a battle against an enemy she could not possibly hope to protect anyone from. Not when her companions were slain, and not when time itself came to an end around her, much like everything else."

Arle's hand visibly tensed in Schezo's grasp. One side of Arle's ... well, Arle, had suddenly gotten very upset at the way Lilith had put that.

(I fought for nothing!! For what cause?! For what virtue?! Nothing!! NOTHING!!)
(Hey, calm down okay??)
(Don't tell me to calm down! You didn't fight that battle!)
(But I'm... you.)

To the outside observer, Arle seemed to be in pain. She was trying to hold herself together as her other half became hostile toward her, unable to control her emotions. Lilith seemed to take notice of this.

"Hm?"

She floated over to inspect Arle, quickly picking up on something she hadn't noticed before she started looking for it.

"...Someone's sundered your soul. Who did this to you?" she asked.

(YOU DID!!)
(Woah! I don't think she had any part of this at all!!)

"...I can't imagine what that must feel like. It looks like it hurts." Lilith regretfully added, noting Arle's involuntary silence. She hesitantly continued after a moment's consideration. "I'm worried that Arle will attempt to create a perfect world. A world made in her vision. A utopia for all of you. ...She would fail, just like I did."2d15+14

[Rina]

Trading a smile this true and genuine, and being this close with one another...He's never felt a bond resonate so strongly in his entire life. Of all the places in the world, here of all is where he truly felt a heart-to-heart connection. What a surreal position to be in. Is this...is this what a platonic bond feels like?

But alas, things have to go awry in some form. He heard Lilith's words, unaware they would evoke painful memories within "Scarlet."

"!? Arle!"

Schezo felt Arle's hand tense up, and a look of worry quickly replaced the smile. Arle was showing a pained expression that was similar to how he fought for control with Lagnus...

Wait a second...

"Arle, are you..."

It eventually clicked to him that this Arle could be a fusion of the two that currently stand on this plane. And he's right. "Scarlet", the Arle he gave his life for in the Old Madou World...and Arle, the one he had many an adventure with in the New Madou World onward. It's both of them in one body. He's experienced sharing a body before, albeit against his own volition, so he came to the assumption rather quickly. Whatever is going on in her head though...he can't say a thing. He doesn't know what she went through in those centuries fighting. Lilith's commentary on her inner fighting...it sounded dire. Creating a utopia, but fail like Lilith did. If what Lilith said is true...

"...Arle...If you are carrying that intent, a utopia is destined to fail. Times of peace may happen, but trying to keep the world ideal will make you disillusioned. And that would lead to trying to toy with the world you made and intended to care for, to potentially destructive means."

He may be betraying his previous word, but he's doing it out of worry. As someone who doesn't put much faith in gods in general, Arle becoming a god-like being is the last thing he wants. He grasped Arle's hand, trying to give some comfort if his words aren't enough.

[Coolshaymin]

"Hmph. Fair enough. It is as you say. I simply had to hear you say it yourself. I put faith in you at that moment since I saw potential. If I had seen only weakness in your weakened state I would of striked you down. You still trying to push forward with the fight despite the uncomfortable form told me that there is.... Well, potential," Galacta Knight replied rather vaguely. Galacta Knight noticed too that Arle was having some internal conflict.... He speculated that in the literal sense.

"Hm...... That is another concern of mine as well actually now that the pleasantries are out of the way. What do you plan to actually do with that power? If you wish to create a Utopia like she says then.... I can not allow such a foolish and naieve dream. No one should attempt something so out of their realm. You think yourself a god while mortal only madness will ensue. It as she and the dark wizard state. No good can come out of such a dream. No matter the cause or the resolve, it will not last long at all. True peace, no matter your power, is nigh impossible and you should work towards a more obtainable dream. I say not so out of spite or test, but out of genunine wisdom," the Knight warned in his usual long winded way... Deciding to ignore the whole eating people thing. He is just going to pretend this custom is not a thing right now.

[Mari]

(( Blade Unlimited has been skipped! ))

(Stop it! Stop it now!!)
(She won't help us!! She can't! She doesn't know how to defeat The Creator!! She can only lead us to nothing!!)
(What?? What are you saying? There is no creator!)
(What freedom did we fight for?! Satan's world does not move! Our dreams are dead from the moment we set foot there!)
(The Creator is gone! All of that already came to pass! Please! I don't want to do this! I don't want to be that kind of person! You can't keep chasing the past! What would Lidelle think if you attacked her now??)
(That's easy for you to say. It isn't your life that was destroyed! When will I see justice for the way I was mislead??)
(Just work with me. Please...)

"...Are you alright? You look like you're about to pass out." Lilith hesitantly asked in concern. After a long moment, however, Arle seemed to calm down a bit and regained her ability to focus without doubling down in pain. "...No." she replied, giving Lilith a look. "...And I'm not interested in building a utopia! I just want to help undo the damage the starvia has done to the planet! We're fighting on a dead planet. Even if we destroy the starvia and somehow reverse its effects on everyone we've lost, the planet won't be inhabitable." Arle lamented. "And do you really need the seraphim orb for this? It seems to me you've been surviving just fine without it." Lilith replied. "We're experiencing a famine. People are already starving. If we try to heal the world before we cure the starvia, the starvia will just pollute the planet again! If we cure the starvia first, we'll have a million mouths to feed when we couldn't even feed a few thousand..." Arle explained, trailing off at that last part, just kinda punching a hole in the Life Sphere Leader's plans logic. Well, except Sonic's. But his plan had its own problems. "...That's quite the ultimatum you're faced with." Lilith relented, not unfamiliar with the horrors that would come from a population well beyond its means to feed itself.A massive amount of death was the polite way to put it, but the nature of people meant that a massive amount of effectually or directly lethal crime would occur. A great evil awaited them no matter which option they took, without a doubt. "I want the power to bring life back to the planet. I don't want to change its nature. I just want to... give everyone a fair chance to live their lives. Y'know?" she explained, glancing over at Schezo. Surely he of all people must've known that it wasn't in her nature to be so controlling as to try and create a utopia. After all, she hadn't tried to create a perfect Schezo. She'd done the bare minimum to protect the orb and then allowed him to grow at his own pace! It seemed like Lilith's concerns were coming from a place of not knowing Arle in actuality.

A moment of long silence followed from Arle and Lilith before Arle continued. "...A part of me feels like you can't help with that." Arle remarked in a somewhat accusing tone. "Hmm?" Lilith replied, taken off guard by the remark. "You hurt me! Badly. I don't even know why, and it's tearing me apart. I need to know. What was I fighting for? Why did you put me through that??" Arle explained rather snappily. "...I thought you could handle it." Lilith replied rather hesitantly. "...I'm not a titan!! All I did was my best, and it ruined my life." Arle snapped back, insulted by the idea that anyone was supposed to come out of a five hundred year war and a five hundred year imprisonment in the void intact. That was like asking someone to 'handle' being chewed up by a chain chomp. That was something you 'survived' if you were lucky or strong enough. 'Handling' it wasn't an option. "...You got a new life, didn't you? Aren't you happy now?" Lilith asked, revealing that she had at least some knowledge of what was supposed to have happened. "...Not all of me." Arle replied simply.


((You are faced with one last opportunity to influence the outcome of the mission.))

[Rina]

Hearing Arle in this much anguish was such a far cry from what he's used to. He always encountered her with such a sunnier disposition, and it's like talking to a different person. What Arle plans to do can be summarized as "Temporary Solution, Permanent Problem." It's a shame, but it's a hard reality that can't be shaken. And with Arle urging Lilith to stay out of it...That's one loop Schezo can't get in, even with memories restored. It was an event that happened so far ago, it was erased from history, as if it never happened. At the same time, it was a deep-seated scar far beyond the scope of Schezo's. And that last sentence...

"Not all of me."

...She's talking about 'Scarlet', isn't she?

Living in that void of insanity since the end of time...
...She may be present but, how long has she been 'lost'?
...She may be physically here, but she still could be lost.

".....I don't know what I can say without overstepping boundaries. But if I may try to give my advice... Sacrifices are inevitable, and life's challenges is trying to overcome what come may. Consequences from the aftermath...or more importantly..."

"...Achieving the ending we want without going astray."

...Something I've clawed myself out of many times, falling further every time.

[Coolshaymin]

"So, that's how it is?" Sword commented as he pondered what Arle was truly suggesting. If the orb was truly that powerful, maybe life could be better. But still, as Arle has pointed out, the other solutions has consequences, yet she is failing to consider the consequences of her choice. There is never an easy way out and no matter what, there will be a harsh downside, potentially even worst than the options before the third. Trying to avoid fate is never a choice you should make lightly. The thinking of a perfect solution was naieve and foolish. Happy endings don't last forever.

".... I would advise against it as well. As the Dark Wizard says life has it's decisions, and while we may not like it and there is always an option... Bringing life sounds like it has it's own fair share of consequences. Don't you have a friend that could restore life either way when you win? Trying to rush it just leads to the Starvia corrupting your valued life. Why do you think the Goddess of Nature is not forcing nature to come here? She has considered what may happen if she tried to bring more life to this land. As much as we do not like the downsides, those downsides are what make people stronger to overcome them. Without consequences, true strength and experience is not born. And yet surely you must have experience from situations like these? Your choices are your own. I ask you be prepared before you do something stupid and cause more harm in the longrun than there is help," Sword lectured, looking at Arle before looking away. He felt like his job was finished. He should probably head out soon. They had plans to set into motion, speaking of plans with consequences. "Just remember, every force has an equal and opposite reaction. It is not good to act on the hope of a good end alone."

[Blade Unlimited]

It had taken a while, but Shiya had finally calmed dow-

"RAHGAAAAAAAAH!!!"

...relatively calmed down. Having finally succumbed to the warm embrace of Arle's innards, Shiya just kinda lay in a defeated slump against the fused mage's stomach wall. Getting healed up a bit by Arle's magic did assist in easing down the disgruntled fighter, though there was only so much that a person could relax after being quite literally eaten; in a fashion that pretty much defied all logic, anyway.

Still, even in his current state, Shiya couldn't help but overhear at least bits and pieces of the dilemma going on in the group. The fact that Arle's conflicting mentalities were warring within her made it painfully clear that she was not particularly calmed. Clearing his throat, the mage did his best to make himself heard with strained shouts that he hoped would reach his teammates, or Arle at the very least. "Hey so... I know I'm kinda stuck on the 'digestive track', here but I feel like I should have a say in this!"

"Injustices aside... I don't like the cut of that new lady's jib! Kick her ass, Arle!" ...well, that was helpful. It wasn't really certain whether Shiya truly understood the full extent of the situation; however, that might just be a byproduct of his earlier bout of disorientation. "And all of you guys should be ashamed!" Frowning, the mage got surprisingly heated as he heard what at least sounded like his teammates trying to dissuade Arle from her plan to restore the world or something with this "super-orb". "I don't know about any of you guys, but I came here mostly to support Arle... and I trust whatever plan she has, no matter the risk!" Sounding surprisingly convicted, Shiya continued to shout at the top of his lungs with words of stalwart encouragement. "And even though not all of them are winners (case in point EATING ME) it's the thought that counts. Doing nothing's just as bad as doing something and things not always working out... but at least you can say you tried to do something instead of sitting back and letting things get worse! If she thinks we can save Li with this thing, then I say let's do it!"

"Any consequences that need to be dealt with, she wont have to deal with alone! I'll help too, for what it's worth... because, that's what friends do!" What Shiya didn't have in intelligence or charisma; the mage was at least more than capable of making it up with heart. Like it or not, he was with Arle until the end of this. That was his mission; not only now, but as a friend... because he knew she'd do the same for him!

"Hey Arle. ...Can I get out now." Not being in a stomach though would probably make it sound more meaningful... of course assuming anyone had even heard Shiya at all. For all he knew, everyone else just heard Arle's stomach go on hunger tirade or something! SERIOUSLYTHISISNOTSOMETHINGHEISCOMFORTABLEWITH!

Shiya Damage: 138%/180% Shield Durability: 65%/65% Status: Convicted... but still not liking being in a stomach

[Mari]

First, Schezo questioned Arle. He talked about sacrifices. Then Galacta Knight talked about how even the best actions had consequences. ...A friend? He was talking about Viridi, but why--...He expected her to confront Viridi?? It all clicked together. And then--Then! Just when Arle was about to reply to those thoughts, her stomach began talking to her.

Y'know, literally.

Boy, that was a weird feeling. Probably not as weird as being on the other end of this exchange, but odd none-the-less. Arle wound up sheepishly chuckling at Shiya's request. "I don't..." Arle began to very reluctantly apologize before something occured to her. Oh right, problem-solving orb right over here. "--Yeah, sure~! Just gimme a moment to figure out how to make this thing work, alright?" Arle sheepishly replied. She could've warped Shiya out like another earlier visitor, but in hindsight that had been unexpectedly awful in its own right. Someone had to bite the bullet here--unless she used the orb, of course. Looking up, she caught Lilith staring at her. " . . . You need to chew your food." Lilith remarked rather flatly, poking fun at Arle. Arle folded her arms and narrowed her eyes slightly. "I can tell you've changed. Last time we met, you were almost like a little kid wearing shoes too big for her." Lilith began to muse aloud. "I was having a bad day...!" Arle protested in annoyance. "That's alright. Even back then, you were wiser than you seemed. ...Unfortunately, I cannot stay for long. I'm sure you know why by now. If I could, I would be more than willing to try my best to make everything up to you. However, all I can do is help you empower yourself further."

"...A-Alright. Well, maybe there is another way. But if there isn't, I should know what to do." Arle awkwardly relented, seeming to demote her plan to a Plan B. "The mortal mind is unable to grasp the inner workings of the universe. You would spend your every day chasing down the flaws in the world you create, never to find satisfaction." Lilith idly warned. "Iii... don't think I could live with myself knowing I just let such a horrible tragedy come to pass. If I have to have regrets, I'd rather try and fail." Arle retorted, stress bringing her tone to a flatline. Honestly, she had a hard time believing the consequences would be any worse. What, was the entirety of humanity going to get wiped out instead of just the majority of it? Was a greater tragedy going to come later instead of the already cataclysmic one now? There weren't a lot of worlds worse to live in than one where people were starving to death and murdering each other in a bid to survive on a constant basis. The very idea was too much for Arle's heart to bear. Forget living with her inaction. Living in that world at all would be a challenge, physically and mentally! "For now though, can we make a few small changes? I'd like to get rid of the law that normally keeps you out of this world." Arle explained.

"...What?" Lilith replied, surprised at the gesture. "That's what you said, right? You wanted to make everything up to me? You're going to need to stick around for that." Arle replied. "...Arle. My time has passed. There's nothing left for me here." Lilith replied, earning herself a moment's silence. "...Then why are you here?" Arle protested, calling the other out for not being entirely honest about her situation. " ... Very well. Perhaps I can pass onto you more of what you have inherited from me. Now, about using the orb." Lilith replied, gingerly crossing her legs in a leisurely manner as she floated there in the air. She... really didn't seem excited about the prospect of continuing to exist. "--Actually, can you help me get my friend ... out of me first? I... um..." Arle hesitantly requested before trailing off, becoming flustered. "...No. He wanted to kick my butt." Lilith replied in a mock vindictive tone. This earned her a startled stare from Arle, who watched in bewilderment as the ancient sorceress began leading the way out of the dungeon at a relaxed pace. "...H-Hey! Are you kidding??" she protested as she gave chase. It seemed like the group had successfully reached a sort of middle ground with Lilith and Arle, convincing Arle to search for another way to solve their problems and convincing Lilith to help. Arle abruptly stopped, moving to address Schezo. "We've gotta leave together. I don't want the guardian turning on you once we leave or anything." Arle blurted out, squirming a bit where she stood. She then reached out to take Schezo's hands before sort of awkwardly attempting to catch up to Lilith without running. She didn't want to make her guest any less comfortable than he already was...

...Hey, was she going to stay fused like that forever? Someone should probably answer that before the thread--

MISSION COMPLETE!

[Rina]

"Hu- Wh- Hey!"

Schezo felt urged to follow her lead after all is said and done. It looks like everything was put together and tied up nicely, but getting subtly urged to leave made Schezo feel like he's missing something here...

"I-I understand where you're getting at, but I think we're forgetting someone here!"

One part being Scarlet, but that seems to be half the part of booking it out. Schezo's presence is pushing his welcome here, and staying here would be risking another Messy Final Test scenario. The moment he eyed the inanimate trophy lying on the ground, he held his ground to momentarily pause Arle so he can pick up the statuette. The Trophy of Lemres, that is. He must have had it rough in there, and it's best to get him now and not get back in there just to pick him up. He did his best to keep Schezo out of there, but he still did his job even if he was down and out in the end. Lemres trophified was a bit on the heavy side, but that's about what to expect.

"There, we're in the clear to leave."

...I think there's someone else we're forgetting...

Eh, it's probably not a big deal.