Always darkest before pitch black

[empress_without_a_throne]

[1]

[When she awakes, Mizuki finds herself no longer in the DuskBird and the battle is long since ended.  The second battle with SolEraser, and her desperate, last attempt at taking the machine down... it's still fresh in her mind.  But she's in the infirmary, bandaged and with whatever deep see-based medicines the Unity Group had on-hand in case they were needed.  She felt... weary.]

What happened out there?

[And it's then that the medical staff gets to break the news to her.  About just what happened to SolSavior and the power it had unleashed.]



-But if I'd done that much to SolSavior itself, then...

Oh God!

[2]



[And some time later, Mizuki is just, lying in a sobbing heap nearby Ken and Dido's beds.  It was the SolBalmung incident all over again... there was just a hard limit to how much Void energy a human being can be exposed to and Ken and Dido had skirted dangerously close to it.  She had done this.  She had brought forth all the power of the Abyss Empress to bring down on the Eraser team, but it was her own friends and comrades that'd paid the price for it.  SolSavior itself lay wrecked even more than before, and this too was her doing.  And even if her body was in better shape now, her mind...]

Stop it...

[It's barely above a whisper.]

Stop congratulating me... all of you!  I'm not Marianas!  I'm not here to cause suffering!  I didn't want... I never wanted any of this!

Comments

1)

[sang_av_helten]

[Mizuki. You feel something batting at your leg. It was like someone poking a fuzzy thing at it.]

Mizuki? Mizuki teammate of Dido of Sybil?

[The voice was somewhat less gruff than usual. In fact it was more tired, more anxious. It was Skald. Unsure if he was able to get through to her he lets out a low rumbling noise... then jumps onto her, squirming himself under a hand. Hoping that it would calm her a little.]

[empress_without_a_throne]

Yes?

[She looks down at the cat, deciding after a point to stroke his big, fluffy body.]

[sang_av_helten]

[He actually didn't complain like he usually would when he feels he is suffering an indignity.]

I wanted to be sure that you are alright. I owe it to your companions as well as being your comrade to ensure as such.

[Skald lowers his head a little, ears flicking slightly.]

It has been a very trying day for us all...

[empress_without_a_throne]

What about your...

["Enemies" felt like the wrong word here. So even though it also wasn't fitting...]

-friends? Are they okay?

[sang_av_helten]

They had escaped without harm... though I do not think they will ever fight again. Without Socrates to lead them they will hide and eventually go their own ways to do what they can to survive.

...My teacher himself...

[Skald lapses into silence and goes limp and looking absolutely miserable.]

I do not know if he...

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Petting resumes, the comfort Skald.]

... I'm sorry. Even if you disagreed on methods...

... If he really just saw the Avians as the real threat than you must've had more in common than some might think.