Welcome to Gaia! ::

This was fast turning into a mess. A part of her wanted to go along with it -- wasn't that always easiest, in times like this? But another part, the rational part that had seen Bischofite stabbed because everyone had been too polite to question anyone else at the purification, to really do their due diligence -- that part said there was no correcting some mistakes, and only foolishness in refusing to learn from them.

"Enough," she said tightly. "Both of you, please. You both need to be reasonable right now. This is too important."

What she wanted -- what she really wanted -- was for Zippeite to take the time he would've needed to explain everything to this girl he evidently cared about and trusted. It was unwise and unsafe, in her estimation, for him to be running off to his purification in the way he was doing -- and if he'd said a proper goodbye, this girl might not be so keen on interfering.

Unfortunately, that option was not as viable as she might've preferred. Hvergelmir didn't know Painite well, but she knew the woman spun deceptive tales about human energy and starseeds, and she knew she'd stabbed and nearly killed one of Hvergelmir's friends, a kind and brave page of Mercury. If that was who was on Zippeite's tail, they had to keep moving.

But she couldn't just let this civilian try to trail them like this.

She extended one hand, palm downturned and conciliatory. "I'm sorry. I know this must be difficult for you," she told Lyddie. "But time truly is of the essence here. We're in danger -- he's in danger -- if we stay much longer. And there's no room for tourists where we're going. I've seen how that can go wrong before. I know this is hard, but please believe me: if you care about your friend, you have to let him go. When..." She fished for something she could offer in recompense. "When this is all over, I'll come back and explain as much as I can. That's all I can offer you."

"Noooo," Zippeite responded childishly to Lydia, defensively toning his voice like he was answering a stupid question. In all honesty he was hoping for an ounce of guidance and maybe subconsciously he thought he was going to get it here based on old notions trenched deep in nostalgia and instinct. But now he was eager to excise himself from the situation he had been insistent on creating, because it was not going the way he wanted. He wasn't sure what he wanted.

He was ready to reach out and try to physically move Hvergelmir with him again, but he halted in mid-reach for her other arm when Lydia put the henshin pen in the squire's hand.

He was just confused, and let his arms drop limply to his sides. "What's that supposed to mean?"