"Our meeting has not fixed our issues. What will happen to our worlds if they clashed further?" Niro said, almost in a trance.
Dusk settled over the horizon, welcoming the kindred moons into the sky. Lamplights lit up the world around them, keeping both leaders focused on the task.
Ether sighed. "I believe there is no way to stop Infinus from fighting your Trilogy." He pointed at himself. "We are too difficult to deal with, and I am sorry. But we can make a difference."
Niro's broken gaze caught Ether in her web. "What would be that difference?"
Through years of built-up strategy, Ether spoke. "Instead of fighting with hatred, we fight with respect. A war doesn't need to be fought by savages, Niro. We can be civil."
"What does that mean?" hope burned bright in her eyes, she leaned closer to figure out why. "Would this partly fix our ordeal?"
"No," he brought a hand closer to his heart. "But the damage here will be softer. Infinus will honor the dead and remember your forces with pride. What your Variants do is up to them."
Golden streaks of glimmering awe lingered around the corner of her vision, perfectly matching the golden tips of hair. "We will burn the bodies of all fallen, so the Nine receive them well."
Smooth skin stretched as Ether smiled, bringing his arms behind his back in the process. "If we show we embrace each other's traditions, we may convince the angered mobs to settle down."
A similar smile flowed through Niro's broken face. "Yes, they can change just as your Variants can. We are beautiful, Ether, we can change. That's what makes us so perfect - we never were nor will be perfect."
Both leaders shared a moment of silence with each other. Trying to figure out what exactly made them so interested in crushing a war before it began.
During that moment, Niro remembered who she deeply feared. The tyrant that began this entire ordeal, she hoped for something more.
"I have a strange favor to ask you," Niro spoke.
"What is it?" Ether was mindful as he spoke. Despite the quick response, his precision while acting on the thought was noticeable. "Tell me this favor."
She brought her hands down to her sides, feeling the weight of her attire forcing her wrists into place. "Hitirus, Self-made Siege was the cause of this all. He is unkillable in many ways."
Niro came to a stop underneath a lamplight. "He needs to be executed if not halted. The only thing we've got is a mysterious mercenary named Excallar trying to hinder the beast."
Ether's black hair brightened up, giving off a warm brown as he came under the same lamplight. "Are you asking me to take care of him?"
"With a lack of a better term, yes. He needs to go, he has been a thorn by my side for years. First, I ask him to enforce peace, then he forms a tyranny," Niro added.
Like a machine, Ether's mind instantly focused on Hitirus' purpose. He connected the dots instantly. Despite what the rebels told him, Niro was not a tyrant, but her ally was.
He was the one they all feared, not the mistress that spoke of peace and offered it all to everyone. After all, she would have looked terrible if she was the one urging for conflict.
"If our Legions are going to clash, I am going to make sure Hitirus meets his end. Regardless of the way I do it, that leader will be brought to his very knees. Together, we can rid Yarno of this thing."
Unexplainable joy clung onto Niro's cheeks as she smiled. Despite not encouraging violence, she felt like Hitirus was too powerful to let him by.
Feeling this excited about the eventual death of another being was unusual and cruel to her. Yet she still found herself giddy at the thought of seeing Hitirus' corpse laying in defeat.
Both leaders walked through the doors, allowing the smell of scented candles to wash over them. Most elites from earlier returned to their duties across the region.
Neva's Yonie, named Nezzle, had woken up. He even began hugging and playing with Hylo as if she was his own daughter.
Upon seeing her dad, Nezzle let go of Hylo. She returned to him, while the Yonie followed close behind. Echoes of his gentle pitter-patter across the warm floor bounced across the room.
"Excuse me, misisister!" his shy voice sprung to life. "Your daughter is very cuuuuute! And fuuun! Can I see her again somedaaaay?"
In response, Ether lowered himself to thank the Yonie. "Maybe, I cannot promise that. Come here, neshvu (my husband)." He hugged the Yonie tight, rubbing cheeks with the little one before letting go. "And thank you, neshvo (my wife)."
Neva smiled at Ether. "You truly are half Thresher," she had a certain warmth to her voice. "Do not feel threatened to visit me and my family, Ether. We live by Open Bay Beach."
Hylo looked up at her father, curiously. "Neddy, why did you call the Yonie your husband and the Yomie your wife?"
Ether softly chuckled. "Thresher traditions. When Threshers from different families develop a bond, they often refer to each other as husbands and wives. Signifying unity and care."
Nezzle chirped with glee. "It is truuue! Bye-bye, mister! Oh... and..." he covered his cheeks. "Thank you for the rubs."
Distant crackling from the candles continued to play ambiance as the two gathered themselves up. It was nighttime, they knew they had to be careful flying this late.
Before the duo walked away from the few remaining elites, Niro stopped them. "Ether, I left a little something extra at the bakery. Stop by before you leave, it is for you and your princess."
"I will stop by. Thank you very much, Niro. Hopefully you can visit Krugi in the future, so I can treat you with the same type of care you treated me and my daughter today," Ether thanked.
With that, their short-lived stay in Yarno was over. Up next came escaping the region before all seven elites launched their independent attacks against the Trilogy.
As Ether walked away, he couldn't help but feel his vocal cords tighten. He didn't want to stomach just how much damage his Legion was going to cause in one day.