"SUPPRESS THE FLAMES YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!" James shouted upwards to Tina who watched the battlefield burn. He hung on the wall and watched for his moment as he saw Lilac fly above Astral with Sora in her clutches. James smashed his fist into the wall as he looked far ahead to see what his plans were. Did he convince Tina to do this or is it something worse and more sinister than that.
The fires roared as the forces on the wall watched in pure fear. Was this Astral or was it another? Astral himself stayed motionless inside of a fiery ring as the mirror image faded into smoke. The fire would only stay and match the intensity of Astral and his passion. He felt tethered to it deeper than what he thought. Was something binding himself to this? 'No more, embrace the cold.' Astral crouched down and waved his arms out as an icy wind extinguished the flames and froze all the remaining demons that were burning. He no longer had desire for these battles and the world itself. But why, his kids were here and stuck with him?
"Go to sleep." Sora rested a thumb on Astral's head as he passed out instantly. Anyone watching from a distance would just think he passed out due to exhaustion. James watched and stayed silent to himself. Everything now felt different than what it was supposed to be. So much of it did not add up anymore. He watched as Sora picked up Astral and carried him back slowly as Lilac stood by his side. James crawled to the top of the wall as he looked disgusted at Sora. He waited for the moment when Sugar tapped his shoulder.
"Sir, no wounded to be reported from all our fronts." She wiggled her tail as James scratched behind her ear. A low growl of approval was the only thing to come out of her mouth as James studied the look of Sora. Something was vastly different than what he seemed. But the scent was no doubt one and the same. He looked over to Sugar.
"Warn all Hybrids to only report to Astral and I. I have a feeling of something but it doesn't feel right. Astral's soul feels too light. And with his abilities being where they are at. I wonder if." James began to think inside of his mind as Bitsy landed next to him. His mind wandered for another moment as he lightly grabbed Bitsy by the cheeks. "What was the discussion between you and Sora?"
Sugar looked shocked for a moment as Bitsy refused to struggle. She felt lighter than she did this morning. Sugar saw this as she pulled at James' jacket. "Do you think its fair to question her like how you are?" All the hybrids were watching James as he looked into Bitsy's eyes. He felt a soft ring from his ear. But those were supposed to be offline.
'Was there an update to the software? Was there even more to these than what I thought? How much time passed?' James lowered his hand to her shoulder as he tapped his ear. Nothing happened. It was probably something not very important. It weighed on his mind as he looked in the back of her eyes. They were almost glossy and forgotten about. Similar to when Angel was in her poor mental state. 'Astral has the cures in the tomes, he just needs to keep them away from her.' He reeled his hand back instantly and took two steps back. "Bitsy, tell the other three to never leave Tina's side. That includes you too. Till death rips you from her side." Sugar looked confused as Bitsy flew off.
Sugar tried to speak as all the Hybrids watched. James rested his hand on her mouth as she bit it in habit. James let himself bleed as Sora walked through the lower gate and up to the upper area to let Astral rest in his mental torment. James looked at the rest of the hybrids as they waited for their leader to say something. Anything for them to feed off the bad energy and change it. James gave a small nod as Sugar let go of his hand. "Why did you dismiss her and the other four?"
James nods to come downward so his voice could be heard by the rest of the hybrids. Two fox hybrids sprint over and wrap his hand up with gauze. "Listen, Astral is still one of the few humans I actively would trust unless I was back on the Merle, I expect the same for you, something changed to Bitsy when she talked to Sora. Those four will stay with Sora, no one else will interact with him, we are strong and Astral has a deep respect for all of us. Sora only cares for personal gain. Same can be said for Astral as he wants to find himself. In the meantime, we will go and make a new base outside of the capital and bide our time. Reinforce the people on the countryside and restore faith into those who may have none. But we leave when Astral leaves. Bitsy and the other three will sadly have to stay as well. For we cannot trust them in this current moment." The hybrids all nodded as Bitsy landed next to the others and whispered the order as they all nodded in unison.
Sora set Astral in his bed as Sora walked back to the throne room and began to plan more with what to do about Astral and his crumbing stability. Wanting to isolate him and take him out for good. Lilac, Tina, Sanguine, Errol, Bitsy and Evelin all listened to his rants. None of them knew what awaited them. Sora had a plan.
Astral started to toss and turn as all his dream entailed was darkness, every way he turned all he saw was void and darkness, something trying to cloud his past. 'If Sora is working with Overlord I would know, he would have that expulsing from him and he would try directly for me from time to time. He hasn't this is all his own goal and he wants the glory for himself. I need to focus on myself.' He jolted awake as he cleared his mind. He sat on the ground and thought deep into himself. 'He is the blocker himself. The sealant, the one trying to prevent me from being me. He will try to do whatever he must to stop me.' Astral slowed his breathing down significantly to once a minute. 'Jaimie, you are my star and light, I will never stop until I see you and your brightness once more.'
Astral felt the veil from earlier lifting. 'Think of all the people who I have saved, all the people I have interacted with. The fragments of my mind can see you all. Valkira, Airsoft, Indy, Astrid, Zeta. All of you are missed and I will find you again. Anders, you can heed the call and you can find us. Use the earpiece. I beg of you. We are finally safe once again.' He kept his breathing low as he cleared his mind. All of the darkness deep within faded once more. He started to regain much lost senses and things he should have never lost. He looked at the ground as he created a circle with his wrist as a flash of light appeared. He closed it instantly as he smiled and continued to breathe slowly. He sensed a turning tide approaching as he felt where pieces of his armor was.