PS: I know the page separators look weird rn. Deal with it. ALSO, Our Homelands pt 2 will be up in about a week!

Sophie clutched her hair tight, attempting to scramble a tree to get away from Maha's shears.

"No way in HELL am I cutting my hair, Maha!" Sophie hissed.

Maha groaned, trying to keep her composure, "Amalia, I know you Inalians are VERY attached to your hair, but we need to go undercover!"

"No! I worked very hard on growing my hair out, I'm not cutting it off again!" Sophie barked.

"Amalia-"

"No!"

"Stop being difficult!"

"You stop being difficult!"

"Amalia!"

"Fuck off!"

Maha rubbed her temples.

"Fine, we won't cut it for now, but we need to stay on the down low!"

"WHY?! Hyda is a big place, I'm sure no one will recognize us!"

"No, they won't recognize me, but they will recognize you! Do you remember what happened during our last contract?"

Sophie faltered, cringing. Her and Alexios were nearly killed after being caught assassinating a fraudulent tax collector. And then Sophie blew up their barracks.

"Yeah, okay, you may have a point." Sophie mumbled. Maha put down her shears and threw Sophie a cowl.

"It is the best we can do is hide you the best we can. Put up your hair and hide as much as you can until we get proper clothing and disguises. From there we can stow away on a ship to Inalia."

Sophie wrapped the cowl around her nose and mouth, patting Ricin on the nose.

"Why don't you do some shifting practice while we are gone, alright buddy?" Sophie proposed.

Ricin purred, his eyes carefully watching them as Maha and Sophie slowly walked towards the town through the thick jungle. Even though it was the autumnal season, the humidity was thick. It caused the cicadas' buzzing to grow louder than normal. Birds and monkeys chirped and howled amongst each other, flying through the thick canopy or swinging on the hardy vines. Sophie missed her weapons dearly, and at that moment, she would've killed for her sword back. Leaves and grass kept tripping her or blinding her.

But not the sword Kynareth gave her the steel one Maria made. The one made with love. Sophie shuddered, a chill traveling down her spine. The pounding of Kynareth's powers in Sophie's veins. Sophie has felt extra overwhelmed recently, with both her powers returning and all the information Kynareth gave her, and she knew it is only going to get worse. But she wouldn't let Maha know about her struggles; no doubt Maha struggled with the same anxiety as Sophie.

But Sophie's mind has been drifting to places she would rather forget. Things that haunt her nightmares.

Soon, Maha and Sophie stumbled out of the thick jungle to the hills above Hyda's main village and, most importantly, the docks. Their way home.

Sophie and Maha easily found their ways to the shadier parts of town, seeing as they have been there before because of their jobs.

Sophie waited as Maha perused through the stall, considering the types of shirts and how well it would hide them. She did not have much cash to spend. Maha thought ahead and stowed away a few extra coins during the conference, just in case.

Sophie was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed with the crowds, and she began pacing around while Maha shopped for them. She then decided to people watch, swinging around a light post as she scanned the crowd.

But then her twirling stopped when she saw him.

He looked so exhausted as he made eye contact with her too.

"Ruy?" Sophie asked.

Ruy's eyes widened when he saw her, quickly glancing over his shoulder. He had a bloody cut on his forehead, his hair was disheveled, his undereye bags a bit darker than normal.

But he was there. He was really here with her.

Sophie smiled, but Ruy did something she wasn't expecting.

He ran from her.

"Wait-Ruy!" Sophie pushed through the crowds after Ruy. People gasped and cursed at Sophie, but she was only focused on Ruy as he weaved through the crowds. Seasalt burned her nose as Ruy turned onto the

"Gods damnit Ignis," Sophie hissed when Ruy turned a corner and ran into a gated courtyard. Sophie ran up a pile of barrels and crates, using those to pull herself onto a lamp post then the roof of the opposing building. Quickly shaking herself out, Sophie ran towards the edge and lept. She landed on the opposing roof and dropped into the courtyard.

But Ruy was gone.

"Ruy?" Sophie whispered, her voice cracking a bit. No one answered her, and Sophie deflated. Sophie knew what she saw; she would know Ruy from anywhere.

But why would he run from her?

Maha panted through the courtyard, skidding to a halt when she saw Sophie looking around in confusion.

"What the hell Amalia?!" Maha hissed.

"He ran away from me." Sophie wasn't feigning the hurt in her voice. Maha caught onto Sophie's mood, and her face instantly softened.

"Amalia-" The Heiresses jumped at the sound of soldiers opening the gate. Sophie was still a bit distraught and followed Maha as she grabbed her wrist. They sprinted through some open door from the courtyard, through someone's house.

"Sorry!" Maha called to the family, who was sitting down for lunch. The mother yelled something at the two of them, but they were gone before they could get a good look at them. Maha shuffled behind a barrel of crates, Sophie slumping beside her.

TW- Triggering scene starts here.

"Lia, are you alright-" Maha froze at the sight of Sophie blinking away her tears.

Why would he run from her? They worked so hard at their relationship, on this special trust, and then he just runs?

Just like Eumelia. He was leaving her just like Eumelia.

"Oh gods, Lia, oh no." Maha gasped. Sophie struggled to keep back her sob, her lip quivering.

"I'm sorry, I got distracted, we should get going. That caused a fuss, people are probably going to be looking for us-" Sophie tried to get up, but Maha grabbed her shoulder, gently pushing her back down.

Sophie's breath became inconstant, and the world getting louder and louder. Merchant's chattering turned into screaming, the man sleeping on the bench turned into a corpse, burns and blood staining his body.

The bell tower sounded, and Sophie heaved, her natural impulse kicking in as she got up in an attempt to get away from the noise. Maha scampered after her, and Sophie bumped right into a man.

"Oh I'm sorry dear, are you alright?" The man asked, his strong Carianan accent worried.

Brown shaggy hair, rugged mud-stained boots, strong hands that helped stable her.

Brown eyes.

Sophie sobbed, her hand flying to her mouth as she stared at her father. Allesandro's concerned face stared at his daughter, the same expression he would wear when Sophie came home with her sprained ankle.

Sophie's father was wearing one of the darker hooded robes. Sophie never liked them, she always preferred his white one, even though blood always ended getting on it. But in his dark robes, her father stared at her. The sound of screaming and fire dampened, the colors muting, the only thing that had color to Sophie was the blood-red sash wrapped around her father's waist.

Maha came up behind Sophie, making up some excuse to the man.

But Sophie couldn't stop staring at her father. The cut going through his upper lip, his beaten armor, the very same skin tone as Sophie, it was all the same.

"I'm sorry again sir," Maha's voice came in and out to Sophie, tuning in and out through the screaming of the market behind them, "She is a bit distraught," Sophie's hyperventilation only grew worse.

"Possibly bring her to a doctor?" The man proposed to Maha.

"A quiet place would be better." Maha whispered to the man, her hands keeping Sophie upright.

Loud, loud, gods it was so loud.

The belltower gonged again, and Sophie yelped, her hands clamped over her ears, tears beginning to drip down her cheeks.

She looked at the man again, her father's face replacing the man's.

"Go down the street...left...and then..." His directions were muddled with all of the other noise.

Her father's voice was in her head now.

"What's wrong Passerota?" His voice was wheezing, not his deep soothing voice he would use to comfort her. Wheezing and coughing, like it was his final breaths.

Sophie couldn't tell what was real and fake anymore.

Sometimes, she was in her older body and stumbling along with Maha through the streets of Cariana, trying to keep her hyperventilating and sobs quiet.

And the other times, she was on that horse with Leto as they galloped away from Inalia. From her father propped on his knees. That smile he gave her right before Elrond shoved metal through his back.

"What's wrong Passerota?" He asked again, blood dribbling down his chin, dripping onto his freshly pressed shirt that was beneath his armor. Elrond had torn off her father's armor, left him only his hooded white robes.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Sophie had screamed, kicking and fighting against Leto.

Elrond only smiled at Sophie.

Then she was back with Maha, struggling to remain in Maha's arms as she spoke to what looked like an innkeeper. The innkeeper quickly nodded, leading Maha through a few doors.

Then she was back on that fucking horse.

Everything was muted now, though; Sophie couldn't even hear the fire licking up the sides of the buildings. The only thing she could hear was her scream.

Sophie felt her throat go sore; she felt her fingers dig into Leto's back as she cried.

Sophie felt Maha place a cool towel on her forehead, propping her over the toilet.

"Anything else you need lass?" The innkeeper asked Maha.

"Some more cool towels please," Maha answered.

"Maha, I'm sorry," Sophie croaked, her voice shaky as she felt her stomach rumble. Maha held Sophie's hair back as Sophie gagged.

"It's alright, I'm here." Maha whispered, rubbing Sophie's back.

Sophie gagged again, nothing happening.

The loud screams thundered in her head, slamming against her skull. The metallic tang of blood mixing with the dying embers of her burning home, it is a smell she could never wash away. She can never scrub the blood off her skin; she could never clean the ash and smoke out of her hair.

"Take deep breaths, Sophie, deep breaths," That was Edaline's voice.

Deep breaths, take deep breaths.

"Keep going. You can do it." Edaline gently cheered.

Sophie struggled to keep her panting to a minimum, trying to get normal oxygen in.

"Come on love, breath," Ruy's voice this time, soothing and deep, just like when he whispered with her the night after the Battle of Foxfire.

"Why did you run?" Sophie asked, her voice shaky.

Sophie swore she could almost smell the rain and pine of his cologne.

"You need to breath, please, you're worrying me. You're going to pass out." Ruy whispered.

Sophie knew Maha trying to talk to her, but she couldn't focus on her.

"You're going to leave me. Just like Eumelia, just like Luram Bak, just like Pater. I'm going to lose you. Just like the rest of them, you're going to leave me." Sophie clenched the rim of the toilet, gagging again.

"Kynareth is getting to you. The stress is getting to you. You know how much I love you." Ruy whispered in her head.

Breath, breath, you're going to pass out.

You've dealt with these before, Sophie, come on.

But she feels so hopeless, so lonely, even with Maha holding back Sophie's hair.

Breathe, breathe, breathe.

You're going to pass out.

"Maha-" Sophie couldn't finish her cry for help before she slid off the rim of the toilet onto the cold bathroom tile.

~~~~~~

TW- Triggering scene is done.

Alexios held onto his mother tight, Filomena sobbing into his shoulder.

"Oh my boy, you had me so worried!" Filomena whimpered. Alexios didn't let her go, squeezing her tight.

"We are okay," He muttered back. Filomena glanced around a bit, "Where is Maria? Where is Amalia?"

Alexios took a deep breath, but Filomena nodded, "No, I think I knew. I knew, Ruy told me something would be suspicious-"

"You've seen Ruy?!" Alexios smiled, "Where is he?! How'd he make it out?" Alexios needed to see his friend again. Things have been so tiring recently, and Alexios just needed to go down to the bar with Ruy and Lia to get wasted and sing till their all horse. It was a bit of a tradition of theirs.

Filomena took a deep breath, and she leaned up on her toes, whispering into her son's ear so the other's wouldn't hear.

Alexios felt his blood run cold.

"No, but that, he can't do that." Alexios muttered, Filomena wringing her hands out.

He threw himself back into the thick of it. Back in the place he hated so much just to give them a chance at winning. To get information. To sabotage.

"He went back to the Neverseen?" Alexios confirmed.

Filomena took a deep breath, "To protect Keefe. To spy for us."

Alexios felt sick. His sister was not only missing but one of Alexios's closest friends as well.

"Son, the guild looks to you. They are scared, confused, and angry. They want their mentore back. They want orders." Filomena knew what she was asking of him.

Alexios had a certain hatred for responsibility, but he would do everything in his power to pull through in the times where he was truly needed.

Assassins were going missing. The ones remaining are scared and angry. They want justice.

Alexios would give them justice.

Mansi and Alvar were at the physician right now, and either way, they were going to be out of the fight for a while.

All that was left was him and Nour.

Nour clasped his shoulder.

"I'm here to help." Nour confirmed.

Alexios took a deep breath and began.

"Nour, I want you to create a party of our best infiltrators. Apparently, the Neverseen are holed up in the old Castello. Are you going to be okay going back there?" Alexios had no idea what atrocities happened in that castle, but Nour was collected and didn't seem scared.

"I'll be fine."

"Your job is going to be getting Keefe out of there and back to the Lost Cities. See if you can find Ruy as well and get details out of him."

"That's no good," Filomena started, "Apparently the squadron Ruy is assigned to hauled onto a ship early this afternoon. Our spies confirmed it."

"Shit. Well, then you can focus on getting Keefe out. Make it as fast as you can and most importantly, don't get caught. We don't want the Neverseen to know we are onto them. Make it seem Keefe got out on his own."

Nour nodded, "It will be done." He said, setting off into the guildhall to prepare.

Alexios turned to his mother, and she just gently put a hand on his cheek, "I'll take over the boutique since Maria is... gone," Filomena was clearly struggling over her missing wife, her voice cracky, "Our spies will focus on finding your mother and sister."

Alexios loosed a breath, leaning against his mother's hand.

"And I'm dealing with this son of a-"

"Alexios." Filomena scolded.

Alexios sighed, "Fine. I'll deal with this traitor of ours. Start rooting people out."

Filomena nodded and placed a gentle kiss on her son's nose.

"Well, before we all scurry about, I made rosemary bread and lokma." Filomena's tired eyes made it clear.

"Of course I'll have some mater. I'll wrap some for Mansi and Alvar as well." Alexios smiled.

Ruy paced the small cabin, his anxiety through the roof. They have been on a ship for the past two days.

He should still be in that base, that is where Keefe is and Ruy needed to keep an eye on him. But they loaded Ruy's squadron onto a ship heading to gods know where so early this morning that not even the gods were awake.

His plan for getting rid of Trix was nowhere near ready; he still needed a few people on his side to make it work.

He bonked his head on the cabin door frame, stumbling back into his room.

"Malaka," Ruy cursed, pressing at the bruise at his forehead. His hand came back with blood. Ruy groaned, shuffling towards the dirty mirror, using the basin of questionable water to wipe away at the cut. He exited his room, ducking this time, and walked to the deck. He scanned over the crew, all Neverseen low lives scuttling about, his squadron, and the captain.

Trix glared at Ruy, and Ruy tried to ignore it.

They both were plotting how to get rid of the other.

Ruy squinted at the distance, the island finally somewhat visible.

"No way," Ruy muttered. He plucked the spyglass off the captain's belt, the man not even knowing. Ruy focused through the spyglass at the very same island from his memories, from the time he washed up on the side of Allesandro's boat.

"Which island are we traveling to again?" Ruy asked the captain quietly. The man quirked an eye at Ruy, looking him up and down.

"The Island of Hyda, ruled by High Lady Nyoka. Do you seriously not know where you are heading boy?" He asked.

Ruy resisted the urge to pass out.

The crystal hasn't done anything else when Ruy touched it, nothing at all. It left Ruy pondering what happened that night.