Aveline watched through the water. Many events were unfolding that she didn't understand. The water held echoes of events transpiring or events that had passed from what Aveline could see. She could even hear the voices she missed as she watched them.
She watched the first event unfold. Her parents were with her aunt and uncle.
Nilly was sitting on a couch, her face in her hands. Thorin was glaring at Marie and Qwyn.
"You can't expect me to just give up! We lost her once and we failed as parents to find her. We won't just let her slip out of our hands this time!"
Qwyn and Marie seemed incredibly exhausted, but Thorin and Nilly were even worse off. They had already felt this heartbreak once before, so this pain was something they never wished to endure again.
The event faded out, replaced by one of Eneli. She was bundled up in a bed, her skin growing a deathly grey. She was with Kyra, both holding solemn faces until Eneli spoke.
"She is alive. She will return. That's just our Aveline. Don't look so glum or she will chew us all out."
Even in her weak state, Eneli gave off a radiant smile. The event again faded. This time it was replaced by a large gathering. Aveline could see most of the girls she cherished, however the two assassin girls were missing.
The room was divided, holding Kyra, Eneli, Milyara, Enna, Victri and Wesrey on one side while Sylvra, Nora, Kaley, Lenora and Naname on the other.
"We get it! You all think she's gone, that she won't come back."
Victri was crying as she shouted at the girls opposite her.
"None of you deserve her love! You wish to abandon Aveline the moment she's gone. At this point, it's best to stick beside her for when she finds her way back!"
Kyra was rubbing her back as Lenora spoke up.
"We all love her. Obviously some have stronger ties, but we can't just sit idly and hope she comes back. What if she chose to leave? Nobody knows where she is. Those girls she had here left forever ago as well. Sure they returned to the kings side, but why must we all sit around? Hope doesn't get one far. Not after all this time."
They all looked bitter. Aveline could feel the pain tearing at her heart as she watched the events change once again. This time, she slammed her fist on the basin. Rune and Orphelia were both chained up, deep underground. They were much weaker then she had seen them last, both barely able to move any longer.
"They'll die at this rate. I need to get out of here!"
Her tears hit the water, Bella's sudden appearance relieving a small bit of the tension in her heart.
Bella was back in the Academy, seeming to be after the fight broke down between the two sides. She was practically glowing, her elven ears on display to the world now. With Aveline vanishing, nobody had even thought of her. Bella wasn't surprised, but Aveline could see the worry in her eyes.
Bella made her way to Aveline's room, a noticeable amount of beds missing now. Upon entering, she knelt in front of the remaining girls.
"I know where Aveline is. I just... don't understand how it's been so long already."
The girls were curious, though Aveline herself wanted this information as well.
"Aveline is in a dungeon. A weird place built for heroes of the past. She asked it to release me, but that was roughly a week ago. Time in there is strange. It's been three months out here, yet she may not have felt more then a couple weeks go by. Believe in her, as she will conquer the dungeon. It only wishes for her to defeat what it holds. She will grow stronger."
The event faded again, this time no new event appeared. Aveline clenched her teeth as she glared into the pool of water.
"I wanted to get stronger, but this?! This is going to hurt more than make me strong!"
She turned on her heel, almost forgetting the small ice elf beside her. She descended towards the third floor, her desire to leave stronger then ever.
"I'll get out of here. I'll get all of the girls back. I'll make them all happy! This dungeon won't break me."
Her conviction even made the ice elf step forward in determination.