217 : 37

Naya exhaled deeply as she looked across the wide lagoon, the clear water stretched out before her kindling its own symphony as its soft waves rhythmically roll and turn.

With the evening sun turning into a fiery orange, ignited with glimmering flecks that reflected like gold onto the tame waters, Naya drew in a deep breath, recognising the beauty of this place for what it truly was... an illusion.

Across the water, crouched on the horizon was a rather lush island- shaped by the rough caress of wind and water. It didn't look like much, but Naya knew what sort of secrets it held, hidden behind the strong stance of the overbearing trees that marked the island's borders, shielding it away from the rest of the world.

'That must be it', she thinks, 'that must be where the spirits are dwelling... but if so then why could my crystal not take me to it?'

Reminding herself of how much power it takes to transport, she lets the concern drop, sighing as she walks leisurely over to the makeshift wooden dock that was attached to the shore she was currently on.

From the abandoned wooden ledge that held three makeshift boats, tied loosely together with some sting- Naya guesses that this place used to be something akin to the resident's fishing point- the area not defined enough to be a port, but still sturdy enough to tell the hunter that warm afternoons were enjoyed here.

The strip of land she was standing on now was in a crescent moon shape, she could take a couple of hours and walk to its tip, but there would still be a large body of water between her and the island.

Alternatively, she could just brave the open water and possibly get to her destination quicker... riding through the waters on what looked like a floating coffin- or maybe that was just Naya's 'enthusiasm'.

With her mind fixated on the count down clock she had been set, Naya gets to work with untying one of the small boats from the dock, cursing silently to herself some words of blame if this, her inability to row, is what finally kills her. She steadily climbs into the wooden cocoon, her fingers ghosting over the ores that lay inside. She battles spirits for a living, how hard could this be?

Once the boat begins to sway gently, Naya's eyes going wide at how unsteady it was, and almost immediately she crouches down so that she's now sitting, trying to keep the boat as still as she can. Very gently, and careful not to make any sudden moves, Naya lifts up the paddle, softly dipping it into the crystal waters before then pushing steadily so that she crawls forwards, gliding through the open water.

As her ore sinks beneath the surface, the way that the water ripples, almost looks like that of silk sheets being ruffled, with how clean and softly it moves. The action was alluring, it was like Naya could hear someone whispering too her, telling her to take a closer look, just a peak... pulling her upper body over the side to peer down into the gentle waters, encouraging her, persuading her...

As she leans over the side of the boat, wholly enchanted, she sees something shimmer beneath the waves- something glistening a bright white. She felt the need to reach out to it, to try and touch it, as it looked like floating diamonds swam beneath her boat, circling round and appearing one the other side.

It was the same light that Naya could liken to the ones back on Iuana in the sense that it looked far too beautiful to be from this world. As the lights came together, morphing into a myriad of pretty shapes and pictures, Naya could make out the outline of something- or more accurately, someone. They had big eyes, and an inviting smile as the face made from water seems to swim closer to the surface, almost close enough for Naya to reach in and touch...

A smile graced her face as she remembered something from one of the fairy-tale books Leah would read- always about an enchanting world... always about an intriguing character.

Merpeople?

Naya bites her lip subconsciously as she stares down at the creature, it was in water, and it was very pretty indeed... of course mermaids were only a myth, a fantasy- but if they were real, Naya imagines they'd look something like this...

Naya watches as the creature swirls around her little boat, how it playfully splashes the water, managing to wet Naya before it retreats deeper into the water. She had never come across a creature like this before on Earth. Immersed by the water nymph, Naya leant over the side of her boat, watching as they roll backwards, doing something like a somersault as they loop back under the boat, disappearing from Naya's sight.

Instead of trailing white light behind them like it did before, the water turned almost an ash grey, almost like a cloud of smoke trapped beneath the waves as it diffused around her boat, turning the water cloudy. Furrowing her eyebrows, Naya rushes to the other side of the boat, eager to see the creature again, however she seemed lost.

'Where is it?', Naya wonders, returning back to the other side of the boat, peering down into the now grey water. She felt the strong urge to search for the creature, to see it just one last time, but as she continued to search, she felt that luck was not on her side.

But as she took a closer look, her upper body leaning over the side of the boat, she watched on in a trance as the water once clear, now cloudy, began to turn to black- too enchanted to move as a shadow forms, moving stealthily below the surface.

Her eyes growing wide as she begins to realise, maybe just a little too late, what this mystical creature actually is. Partly from shock, Naya sucks in a deep breath, just as the water spirit floats towards the surface, the young hunter's eyes focused on the shadow as when it breaks the surface, a brief shower of water spraying the surroundings, the creature rises from the water- towering above Naya and her boat.

Throwing herself against the furthest side of her boat, Naya manages to curl her legs up to her chest as the spirit jumps before her, snarling- or more accurately gurgling, as it situates itself in front of her- a never ending waterfall of black water running over the creature's figure.

With the spirit hunched over, a cloak of dark water surrounding them, Naya panics, picking up the paddle that was lying by her feet and with shaking hands, she swings the wooden board- knocking the spirit over the side of the boat and plunging back into the water of which it came from.

Naya realises as soon as the creature goes over board that that wasn't the smartest move, as now, beneath the deceivingly serene surface, it could be anywhere.

Making sure her crystal is secure and zipped up in her jacket pocket, Naya's fingers reach out for her dagger, holding it steadily in her hand.

'Show yourself...'

As she moves to the other side of the boat, from the corner of her eye she catches the dark shadow moving round to her left, however, before she can understand what it's about to do, the boat begins to rock violently, causing Naya to drop her dagger and fall to her knees.

Groaning, Naya grits her teeth and with shaky legs, rises to her feet once again, her hands resting on her knees as she attempts to straighten up, not wanting to the boat to tip over and for her to fall overboard.

However, once she does stand up tall, she can feel the presence of something behind her- the icy chill that buries its way into her bones and as she turns, slow and steadily, she barely gets a proper look at the creature as it lunges straight for her, the force enough for Naya to stumble backwards, there being no time enough to process what had just happened.

Naya only feels the back of her legs ache as she falls backwards, and upon impulse, Naya can't help but open her mouth as if to scream due to the shock of the icy water, the liquid filling her lungs which has her desperately clawing at her throat with one hand, the other locked onto the cloak of the spirit.

As she grapples with the spirit, squeezing her eyes shut as her lungs and throat began to burn, Naya feels the creature's grip on her loosen- almost as if it was giving her up.

She knew that it would never do that, that this was all part of some sick game, the hunt, but regardless, she began kicking fiercely, desperately trying to return to the surface.

With her chest heaving as she panted heavily, her limbs feeling too heavy to move, Naya found herself submerged underwater once again, trying to gather all of her strength to move herself back towards her boat.

Her dagger, she needed her dagger.

As she nears her boat, her head helplessly bobbing back under the water, she frantically reaches out for the side,, her finger nails scraping along the wood in attempt to secure herself to the boat.

However before she could even locate her athame, there's a slick feeling against her calves, as something slimy wraps around her leg, tugging gently at first. Screwing her eyes shut Naya curses to herself at what's about to happen.

'Fucking water spirits.'

Just as the creature begins to pull on her leg, almost teasingly at first, Naya reaches into the boat, acquiring her dagger, knowing that if she doesn't get it now, there might not be another chance. She needed to hold onto it, so unbelievably tight.

Gripping onto the handle with so much strength that her knuckles turn white, Naya turns back so that she's facing the pool of darkness that's lurking in front of her- the slimy texture around her leg feeling like that of seaweed, or something similarly fitting.

Positioning her blade for the kill, Naya decides that she's had enough, and as she sets her eyes firmly on the prize, she sucks in a deep breath before she's pushing off from the boat, diving straight for the spirit.

As soon as she breaks through the water, her body slams into that of the creature's, the two of them plummeting deeper into the water as they grapple frantically with one another.

The way that the spirit has wrapped itself round Naya's leg only seems to tighten, and she feels something bind itself around her right arm as well, almost as if it's trying to restrain her movements. However, Naya keeps kicking, she keeps fighting as she feels her head begin to pound, something in herself just telling her that she didn't have much time left.

Scrunching her face up in determination, Naya moves her left hand, slicing through the water to try and hit the spirit, however, as its hold continues to tighten on her, she realises that she mustn't have struck it.

She feels its slimy hold wrap around her neck, her eyes blown wide and aching with the sea salt as she feels like her limbs are being set on fire, as she feels the overwhelming need to breathe... as she clamps her mouth shut, shaking her head as her jaw locks in place.

No, she's not dying like this.

As she feels her body begin to convulse, aware that she's losing control of her own limbs, Naya takes another swing, and another and another- feeling as if her body was on fire she doesn't stop, she keeps going and going and going, until she can't.

Until she feels the hold of which the creature has on her begin to loosen, until her body is screaming at her to give in, her brain winning out as it just tells her to breathe.

She feels something euphoric fall over her for but a second, as she feels like she's floating up on the clouds, she feels the warmth of a thousand suns...

And just as she begins to let go, just as her eyes close, she feels a familiar pressure on her wrist- but too tired to fight back, to draining to even open her eyes, she succumbs to the darkness.

~~~

"Naya... Naya, can you hear me?!"

Ronan gently lays the hunter's body down, careful to cushion her head against the bottom of the boat. She was as cold as ice.

"Naya?!"

Immediately, Ronan grabs her arm, desperately trying to find her heart beat or any indication that she's still breathing. When he couldn't find anything on her wrist he moves to her neck, his eyes squeezed tight as he tries to listen hard.

"Naya... Naya, c'mon... please, Naya, c'mon, Naya wake up..."

Between his murmurs, Ronan can't hear nor feel anything, and it's then that he feels a rising panic within him.

Without another moments hesitation, he mutters a quick apology under his breath before he's placing the heel of his hand to Naya's chest, covering it with his other. He begins pressing down quickly, cursing at his hands for shaking as he begins to pick up his speed, setting himself a rhythm to follow.

"Come on Naya..."

Already out of breath, Ronan grits his teeth as he keeps pressing down, knowing that now that he's started he has to keep going.

After so many compressions, Ronan looks down at the hunter, shaking his head as he removes his hands, letting out a shallow breath, "You're going to hate me for this..."

And as quickly as he can, his hands come up to her cheeks, tilting her head ever so slightly before he slots his lips over hers.

Pinching her nose, Ronan blows steadily before he pulls back, his own chest heaving as there seems to be no difference. Ronan then goes back in, pressing his mouth to Naya's once more before he pulls back, his hands returning to the centre of her chest.

"C'mon!" He cries out, beginning to repeat what he had just done, "You promised, we promised... together Naya, we're in this together, Leah still needs you..."

21... 21... 23... 24...

Ronan keeps going until he gets to thirty compressions before he's leaning back over Naya, doing exactly what he did before, tilting her head back, pinching her nose and giving her two more rescue breathes.

Again. He goes back to the compressions, counting as he goes and making sure not to lose his pace.

After another thirty, he returns to the rescue breathes.

After two more, he goes back to the chest compressions.

He refuses to give up, there's no way that he's going to stop.

And so with teary eyes, he goes back in for the rescue breathes.

Keeping her head steady as he pinches her nose once more, bringing his mouth to hers.

He checks her chest again, and goes in for the second breath, eyes squeezed shut, he blows firmly, cursing her name over and over again in his head- but this time, just as he parts, Naya's body convulses and just as she twists, turning over to the left as she splutters, coughing up sea water onto the floor of the boat, she nearly headbutts Ronan, who jumps backwards, watching as Naya flops onto the floor of the boat again, her cheek smushed against the wood as she feels like she has no strength to lift herself up..

Ronan lets out a sigh of relief as he slumps against the other side of the boat, a hand coming up to rest on his heart. He had really thought that he was too late.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" Ronan demands, raising his voice at her accusingly, as all Naya can do is turn to him with wide eyes, not really understanding what had just happened.

"Y-You're..." She wanted to say 'you're here', she just wanted to make sure that she wasn't hallucinating, however her words fall short and she trails off, absolutely speechless.

'What was he doing here? How did he get here? He saved me?'

"Honestly, what were you thinking..." He cries out, rubbing his hands harshly down his face as he lets out a deep sigh, shaking his head as he looks back at her, his eyes filled with an emotion that Naya does not recognise.

"I..."

"What would've happened if I wasn't here?" He fires back, "What about Leah? Huh, what would've happened?"

At the mention of the mortal, Ronan sucks in a deep breath, not wanting to escalate the situation any further. He knows that she's impatient to be reunited with her love, he knows that she's stubborn and strong willed... but this was just plain ambition and carelessness.

Naya shuts her mouth at his outburst, going quiet once again as she watches Ronan shake his head, not knowing what to say... what words to use.

"I..." The male hunter just buries his head in his hands, running his fingers shakily through his wet hair before he looks up at Naya, vulnerability written all over his face, "You just really scared me"

She had stopped breathing, she was essentially dead.

Ronan had though that he was too late.

That he had lost her.

His first time being in a partnership with anyone and it hadn't even lasted a month. He felt a wave of emotions crash into him, guilt, for not being there, for being pulled back to Iuana, responsibility...

Naya watches as Ronan deals with his mental conflict, she can see every individual emotion that passes across his face... she can feel it?

"I should've been more careful..." She whispers, her voice barely a whisper, and even though her throat aches agonisingly, she pushes through, "I... I didn't even get the heart"

She drags herself into a sitting position, almost doubling over at the pain that blooms in her stomach and chest, such intensity spreading through her body, all the way to her fingertips that now tingle painfully.

She closes her eyes and lets her head fall back so that it is resting against the side of the boat, her eyelids feeling heavy, however, at Ronan's next words- she swears that she's never felt so alive.

"You mean this?"

Almost acquiring whiplash from how quickly she moved, Naya's eyes go wide, unable to hide her joy as in the palm of Ronan's hand is a blackened crystal, sitting still.

"You..." She breaks out into a grin, feeling so unbelievably grateful as Ronan reaches out, placing the heart down in front of the drowned hunter.

"Together?" He utters, and yet it sounds more like a question then repeating an old promise to which something in her chest begins to ache.

The ends of her mouth twitches upwards, nodding her head gently as she speaks, "Together".

They had promised to see this through together, and the immense joy and relief that Naya had felt when her eyes zeroed in on Ronan told her that as much as she had tried to fight it, they were a team now. They needed each other.

Nodding his head, Ronan casts a cautious glance over to Naya before it picks up the broken paddle sighing as he looks out over the open water.

Damn water spirits.

~~~

As their boat pulls up to the island, the bow knocking against the dormant rocks that surround the island, Ronan manages to clamber out of the little boat, holding his hands out for Naya to take, helping her also climb out.

Naya watches as Ronan carefully pulls his dagger free, holding it out in front of him as he then fishes his crystal out of his pocket. As he catches her eye, he gives her a knowing look, "We should be prepared, God knows what's on this island"

And nodding her head, Naya does the same. After crossing that treacherous lake that guards it, Ronan is right, anything could be on this island, and so they had to be aware.

Placing her still somewhat shaky hands on the large rocks that guarded the island from the water, Naya carefully climbs over them, huffing as her feet find their way back onto the land, as she stares up at what's presented in front of her.

The untamed splendour of a dozen trees acts as a shield, hiding the island from foreign eyes. As Naya looks up before her, she can already feel the thickness in the air, something setting her on edge.

Casting a wary glance to Ronan, the two hunters nod at each other, taking a moment before Ronan steps in front of Naya, ready to lead the way.

As they apprehensively enter the forest, keeping low and alert, Naya's mind can't help but stray to the boy in front of her, his own hair dripping wet so that its now a dark brown.

She was still curious as to how he found her, and just in time as well... but given the fact that they were in the middle of a hunt, she settles on just thanking him first, knowing that it's the least she can do, and that there will be time later for them to talk properly.

"I didn't say this earlier..." She whispers, her eyes looking everywhere but the boy in front of her as she feels something warm settle in her chest, "But thank you... for saving me"

At the gratitude, Ronan doesn't turn around to face the fellow hunter, knowing how embarrassed she feels for having to speak her emotions out loud. He knows that she's not good with vocalising such thoughts, as she's never had anyone to listen to them before, and so Ronan just nods his head, content with how she's starting to open up to him.

"We're a team, remember?" He speaks, a smile to his tone. He knows that she's probably curious as to his timing... that he's actually here, and so as he quickly glances around the trees towering above them before he begins to answer, "I knew that you wouldn't wait... that you'd get impatient, that once you knew where to go next, no matter what Arlen or I say, you'd go after the spirit"

She clicks her tongue as she listens to Ronan, not knowing how to feel that someone has managed to read her so well over such a short period of time. In ordinary circumstances, it might've felt rather intrusive, suddenly having someone aside from Leah, who understood her, maybe more than she did herself... however this wasn't an ordinary circumstance, and therefore she's just so incredibly thankful that he was here to help.

"I can't judge you for it" He speaks up, his mind on the conversation and yet his eyes still wonder to their surroundings, "I don't know what you feel towards the mortal, but I know it's strong... you have a tendency to let your emotions cloud your judgement"

"I thought you said you weren't going to judge me" She pipes up, no bite to her voice as she hears him scoff lightly.

"I'm not... now"

They hear a rustling of leaves to their left, and almost immediately they lower themselves further to the floor, sharing a look before they both scamper to find something to hide behind- the best they came across just to be a nearby tree.

With shallow breaths and wandering eyes, Naya peers around the trunk, searching for the culprit, however she finds nothing.

After she shakes her head, Ronan looks from his side- his eyes narrowed as he too inspects his surroundings, however like his partner, he also finds nothing.

"There's a clearing up ahead..." He whispers, and gestures for them to move off again slowly, however, before they made any real progress, Naya was stopping in her tracks, her eyes trained on some sort of large stone that was presented in front of them.

"Is that..." Ronan goes to step towards the familiar object, mirroring that of the gateway to Iuana, before Naya pulls him back.

It was impossible for them to be the same... however like the one guarding Iuana, there were energetic wisps of white dancing around the stone work, almost possessing the two hunters to take another step, daring them closer.

"Should we... press it?" Ronan asks, looking to Naya who is still staring at the stone sceptically.

It could be anther doorway, it could lead them some place else...

But why was it here of all places?

She shrugs her shoulders as she reaches into her pocket, feeling the coolness of her gem against her fingertips. Surely since they were here, it was worth a shot.

Freeing the gemstone from her pocket, Naya holds it up to the rock, sharing one last look with Ronan before she places the green crystal upon the rock, waiting for something to happen. There's no wisps of air, there's no glowing... there's no feeling... and so Naya retracts her crystal, her eyes furrowing as she inspects her gem.

"What happened?" Ronan asks, stepping forwards so that he's by Naya's side, looking down at her crystal with her.

"I... don't know-?"

Before Naya can finish, there's another rustling behind them, and so both hunters turn on their heels, their daggers drawn and ready for battle. However, once they spot what is in front of them, they immediately lower their weapons, their eyes wide as Ronan hurries to bow, one knee of the floor.

"My Lady..."

However, just as Ronan calls her, there's another voice from the distance who also calls her title, and so Ronan rises to his feet, confused as he watches a man run towards them, a smile displayed across his face.

"Arlen?" Naya questions, not believing that her mentor was stood in front of them.

He looked younger, a lot younger, and so did she... and they had this ever so faint emerald glow around them-

"Please" She smiles, waving her hand out in front of her almost dismissively as Arlen joins her, "You needn't call me that"

"My Lady, you shouldn't be shy of your new title" He jests, his eyes full of fondness, "It becomes you"

Naya finds that she can't look away- they don't seem to notice her and Ronan's presence at all as they converse between each other, oblivious to whatever is around them.

Naya tries to place this moment in time- it must've been just after their Lady's coronation. Naya had never spoken her true name, but she remembers it well.

Luna.

And oh how it was fitting. The woman stood before her had starlight white hair that through soft waves reached her lower back. Her skin was ivory and decorating her hands were silver rings and gems which matched those in her hair.

She moved with grace, for she was the epitome of elegance. She had been groomed to be their Lady, and she was acting like it in every sense of the word.

"Are you prepared?" She asks softly, linking her arm with Arlen's, smiling up at him as they begin to walk together.

Naya feels a hand on her elbow, and as she turns she sees Ronan gesture for them to follow the two, intrigued by what they were being shown. Naya nods her head, and wordlessly, they follow.

"I don't feel as though I'll ever feel prepared" Arlen admits with a nervous chuckle to which Luna brings her hand up to rest over Arlen's gently.

"You're an incredible warrior" She reassures, and although Naya has seen what Arlen can do, having been taught by him, she can't help but wonder what he must've been like around her age, "You do not need to feel anxious"

"There are many skilled warriors amongst us" He replies back, giving her hand a gentle squeeze, "Ones that are born Balletors, they would suit you well"

"You know I don't care for that" She responds almost immediately, "Once the ceremony takes place and you take your victory, then it shall be settled", She announces softly, smiling at the boy fondly, "You will be mine and I will be yours... and you can stop calling me 'My Lady'"

Naya gasps, and she hears Ronan do the same next to her.

Arlen was in love with Luna? He was in love, they both were... they both were feeling human emotions... How? Why? She didn't understand...

"He was going to fight for her hand" Ronan whispers next to her, to which Naya furrows her eyebrows confused. Sensing that Naya didn't understand, Ronan takes his eyes off of the young couple in front of them and looks to Naya, "To court those from royal blood, you have to duel... only the strongest will be allowed to ask for her hand, it's tradition, especially when there's more than one suitor"

Her eyebrows furrow and just as she's about to question if Ronan did the same for Emelia, Arlen and Luna continue to walk, and Naya watches on as Ronan follows them diligently.

Just as they catch back up to the couple, leaning in to listen intently, something strange happens. The green glow that surrounded them grew, it grew and with its blinding qualities, Naya and Ronan couldn't help but to close their eyes, bringing their hands up to shield their faces at the brightness.

However, such a distraction only lasted a moment, but when the younger hunters opened their eyes once again, there was nothing.

"Where did they.."

Naya whips her head around, scanning the forest for something, but she couldn't seem to see them.

"Did they just vanish?" Ronan asks breathlessly, eagerly looking himself for the two Balletors.

Just as Naya grew frustrated though, there was another flash of green light from her left, and once she spun around, an immediate smile came to her face.

There's a few more people in this frame, but Naya only recognises three. Stood together are Luna and who she assumes to her her father, and then a few feet away from them, kneeling on one knee was Arlen with a couple of other hunters behind him.

They looked solemn, and Naya knows that something must've happened to make them so.

"Have you come across anything yet?" The elder man questions, to which Naya watches as Arlen shakes his head.

"I'm afraid not" He speaks up, lifting his gaze to meet the man's, "We have a party out looking now, I will join the search and lead some of my best warriors too, we will find Frewin"

"Frewin was the Lord's adviser, he was an excellent warrior" Ronan whispers, to which Naya nods. She had heard Arlen mention his name before, back when he first took her in. She wasn't meant to be listening in, but she had heard by accident and therefore had never repeated it to Arlen.

"Did they find him?" Naya whispers back, watching as Arlen explains their rescue mission.

She casts her eyes to the side, only to see Ronan with his eyes trained on the scene in front of him, his voice low as he answers, "Eventually..."

Just as Arlen rises to his feet the green light seems to grow brighter and Naya let's out a low huff as she covers her eyes once again, praying that the vision comes back again like last time.

When it does though, Naya almost wishes that it didn't.

Stood right in front of her is Arlen.

His facial expression has morphed into one of horror, of shock, of regret as without waiting for the picture to form properly, Arlen brings his hands up to his face... his fingers dripping with blood.

Naya feels a gasp get caught in the back of her throat as Arlen lurches forwards, rushing passed the young hunters, however just as he takes a few hurried steps forwards, he's falling to his feet, hunched over something that Naya can't see.

Curiously, Naya shuffles over to her mentor, some type of sound leaving her mouth as her hands come up to her face.

"Frewin... he... died?"

Just as Naya and Ronan are focused on Arlen who with silent cries, cradles the boy's body against his own, they don't seem to notice something hiding in the shadows.

"Did... Did he.." Ronan doesn't even have to finish his sentence for Naya to know what he was trying to say.

Did Arlen kill Frewin?

Just as Naya opens her mouth, trying to say something- anything, a second figure makes themselves known as they lurk in the background, his hand clasped around something ominous.

He says something to Arlen but their voices are muted, and Naya just wants to scream for someone to tell her what the hell is going on.

Just as Naya thinks the second figure is about to fade into the background, she sees him begin to walk forwards instead, his own hands stained red too, slipping whatever he was holding into his pocket before Naya could get a good look.

"Holy sh..."

At Ronan's exclamation she turns to her fellow hunter, only to see that his face is so incredibly pale. Wanting to see what had alarmed him, Naya spins back around to the image, only for the damned green light to blind her senses.

"No!" She cries out involuntarily, one of her hands reaching out into the abyss as she desperately tries to retrieve the memory.

"Who was it?" She demands, her other hand reaching out to try and locate Ronan, when she thinks she'd grabbed a hold of his jacket she tugs gently, "Ronan, who else was it?"

But before the boy could answer another scene began to play before them.

This one was brief, very much so.

All Naya could see is Arlen drawing his dagger- she wanted to scream at him to stop as enough blood had already been spilt, but of course he couldn't hear her.

Just as Arlen lunges for the secondary figure, the person turns around.

And Naya shouldn't be surprised, she really shouldn't oh but she is.

Despite hating him for what he did to her... she never thought that he'd be a apart of this- of killing another.

"M-My L-Lord?" Ronan stutters, just as confused as Naya.

Before the scene could play out, the vision is being cut again and Naya subconsciously notes that the plays are getting seemingly quicker, she feels her heart palpitate in time as the green light appears again, and Naya wonders if they're about to witness the final scene.

She feels like her head is about to explode- she had so many questions, too many.

Did Arlen really kill another Balletor?

Surely he would've had a reason?

But what reason is good enough to take someones life?

Was Bronwell in on it too?

Was it a joint attack?

Is that why Arlen was banished?

To keep the secret?

Before her mind can spiral anymore, she's faced with Arlen on his knees in front of the court, Luna in tears as a decision is made.

Naya turns away from the scene, feeling her stomach turn as she knows what happens next.

She doesn't even flinch when the green light sounds again, flashing brightly before abruptly disappearing once again.

Arlen was banished because he killed another Balletor...

"Our crystals didn't send us here", Ronan whispers, realisation dawning on him as he looks to Naya. They had been transported to the lake where they had slain a water spirit... but it was Arlen who told them to continue to the island.

"Did Bronwell and Arlen really..." She asks carefully, turning around to face Ronan, concern written all over her face.

"Why do you sound so surprised?" Ronan scoffs, turning to look at Naya, "Bronwell made a deal with you to harvest your spirit... clearly he knew what he was doing"

"But Arlen?" She insists, her eyes stinging as she turns away from Ronan, not wanting him to see her like this.

"Why?" She whispers, her voice breaking as she shakes her head, not understanding what she had just witnessed, "What did he get out of killing that man?"

"That couldn't have been everything" Ronan states as looks to Naya, he head hung low as she brings her hands up to her face.

Her shoulder shake a couple of times before she sucks in a deep breath, before her hands then rest on her chest. She leans forwards, almost doubled over as she tries to calm herself down, "I can't breathe..."

Rushing to her side, Ronan places a gentle hand on her back and clamps one over her shoulder, keeping her upright so that she doesn't collapse to the floor. He rubs her back softly, his own mind racing.

She shakes her head, her thoughts nothing but a jumbled mess as she rasps, "W- Why didn't he tell me?"

"He just did" Ronan whispers gravely, his eyes locking with hers as she turns her head to the side, her eyes glossy. Pulling out his own crystal, he looks to Naya one last time, his lips pursed "We need more answers"