"You know I'll drink that." She commented with a light laugh.

"In all seriousness, it's a rather delectable drink, to be honest. " She paused a moment.

"Probably because I'm not a human." She added with a shrug before taking another drink.

---

Rylie was silent for a moment before shaking her head.

I .... didn't expect Rowena to show up." She admitted after a couple of seconds.

"That was.... ... that was a thing." She then said with a light shake of her head.

"And then to find out that Ash's brother is dead? That was a bomb I don't think anyone expected to have dropped."

---

"well... I have her blessing to maintain custody of Ashley, at least." Rylie commented before sighing.

"Beyond that, she's hunting out the elf that stole her boys." She then said.

"... not... not sure she'll survive that." She admitted. "And I 'm not sure Ashley cares, either." She paused here before taking another drink and sighing, heavily.

". . . but to find out your twin is dead. I don't know what to make of that, what to expect regarding what it is that will happen."

---

"Without a doubt." Rylie agreed.

"I'm not sure how long we'll stay here." She added before finishing the drink.

---

It was about half a year later, and the pair of them were by a stream to take a break.

"How're you feeling, regarding that rune?" Rylie asked, her voice curious.

"Any better than before?"

---

'I know." Rylie said with a light sigh.

"But... you just have to move past it. Do you really think your brother would want you to give up because of his death?" She asked.

"I know it's not something you want to hear, but at the same time... it is the truth. From all you've told me, I don't think he'd want you to give up either. Chancc es are he'd want you to finish the bitch off."

---

"So we'll work toward you not being so weak.' Rylie commented.

"Besides, you and I together? I'm sure we could take care of that little issue. I just need to be within range of her." She then said.

"But I'd also have to be quick to not be hit by her mana. IT would be... problematic if I fell."

---

Rylie made her way over quickly and helped him out of the water.

"Ash?" She asked, concern in her face.

"What's going on?" She asked after a moment or two.

"Is there anything I can do?"

---

Ash was able to literally witness the flicker, how they started quick before getting slower... with her being gone for longer.

When the rune faded, she was gone, he could feel her presence, and could feel a chain link starting to form in his hand.

The question was what he was going to do next.

---

As Ash threw the link, he felt it fade from existence for a moment, before solidifying as it hit the boulder. When it did, it shattered, it shatered into far too many pieces to count, almost as if it was delicate glass. The shards vanished before they hit the ground below.

He was left alone for too long, even if it was only a few seconds, before he felt a familiar presence drop to the ground behind him. When he looked, he saw Rylie, trembling slightly, and on all fours. She didn't seem to notice him for the moment, at least.

---

Rylie reacted far quicker than Ashley likely expected. He hadn't a chance to get to his feet again before she was there, helping him to his feet.

"Ashley... stop." She said.

"Let me say my piece first, all right?" She asked. When he nodded, she sighed.

"You... yeah, that was probably more than either of us expected would happen." She started, "But don't leave because you're afraid."

"I'm a big girl, I can handle myself. And you've proven that you can make a conscious effort to not do anything." She added after a moment or two, a soft smile to her face.

"If you want to leave, I won't stop you. Just don't do it out of fear, all right?"

---