Rowena
Noctis watched Akira go for as long as she was in sight, he wanted to say more but was unsure what to say. For a moment he'd thought... Well, there was no time to wonder. Despite her savaging of him, his eyes only held fondness for her. He hoped that he'd see her again, that life would put the Kitsune in his path again. Perhaps that was a selfish desire, perhaps it would be better to be apart, but he hoped for it either way. Heart aching from the loss of the Kitsune and the child, he turned to face Waken. 

He took the clothes with a nod, noticing the women but not paying them much mind. He pulled the tunic on to cover his torso, lean and rippling with muscle. It was flawless save a scar in his stomach where he'd been stabbed by Emi, as a child of Masculo it was supposed to be impossible for his body to carry scars. He also stepped into a secluded corner to change his ruined pants, then was following after the Warforged. 

A strange clan, it was as if they were ready for a war, or an onslaught. As they reached the paintings, his thoughts were confirmed. They'd made the divine their enemies. The gods had been so far removed from the world from what he knew of, their presence less and less in this age than any other. Some could see that as a curse, but others would see it as a blessing so that the lives of mortals would be their own. 

He listened to the question and... He lied. Noctis had been practicing lies for several hundred years, he'd been a hundred, a thousand different people with different motivations and now he was Luce Belmont. 

"No, I don't worship any gods." A truth, he did not believe in worshipping one's own father, but he loved his father. "I think the gods presence and blood in the realms have caused some of the greatest harm and pain they will ever experience." Another truth, which always made the best lie. The cousin conflicts, the unification war- the bloodiest wars in history. It was the best way to lie, by telling the truth. 

He kept his face a b

Eautiful mask as he sensed yet another quarter god, only this time, it was... A descendant of Masculo? His heart wanted to race, but careful breathing and exceptional mental control kept his pulse and breathing steady and normal. So he'd had a brother or sister out there, now a niece or nephew. Family he'd never gotten to know. Family that hated the divine. 

*"Well shit."* He thought.
Raul
*The warforged listened to the man's words, if he could expression any emotion. It would be satisfaction. The mercenary was not blinded by faith nor seemed to be defined by their Patron. His understanding that the pantheons have been responsible for so much bloodshed was appreciated. The machine was convinced yet only gave the man, a slight nod before continuing to lead him towards the door where chatter could be heard. A older male voice and a female voice that was alluring to the ears.*

*Inside Eileen and an elder historian were deep in their discussion about demon of the lands beyond. A missing demigod was a concern to the man but an opportunity for Eillen, perhaps Noctis was imprisoned by this unknown creature. The lands beyond would be a perfect place to hide. Yet the elder man seemed more interested in finding connections based on the magic used, records of such magic used by the Era of Scipio were more concerning than finding the Son of Masculo. It sounded like a heated debate yet with a hue of respect between the two, one wanted to know if the source of the losses could be connected to Noctis while the other wanted to understand the motives of this unknown creature.*

```"It's drive and motivation is hardly a priority. What if it's collecting champions and demigods as a source of power? One of them could be Noctis, imprisoned and sucked dry of his divinity."```

*Eileen spoke with a enchanting voice as she'd lean next to the seated man, their attention on a map of the lands beyond. The masked woman wore the same simple tunic that Luce wore. Ivory skin shined, raven black hair with a hue of crimson flew straight over her back. Even with a mask on, there was little to deny a beautiful face behind it. The woman looked around her young adult years, yet spoke to the elder as if she was in charge. The elder shook his head as the door began to pry open, the Warforged politely knocking.*

```"Come in! Eileen for my sake, calm yourself. This monster could even kill you. We can't be sure if it's some sort of charming magic, mental control or some demonic possession! More scouts and careful documentation. You know there's wisdom in my words."```

*The elder man said as his frustrated eyes held some concern within, his attention turned to the Warforged and the guest behind him. Smiling to see a new face wearing their colors, a new recruit would be refreshing. A handsome young man, the Warforged introduced the mercenary to the two.*

```"May I introduce Luce Belmont, a powerful mercenary. Capable of healing critical wounds and teleportation. He had just defeated a feral god. I believe he holds greater strength than me, once he masters his skills. A worthy ally to accompany you on this mission, Eillen."```

*The warforged politely introduced the mercenary to avoid an awkward air and confusion, he was aware that Luce was not one to respectfully introduce himself. Yet, the air felt heavy and intense. The masked woman began to give out a very high and intense killing intent, her body shaking with rage as her mask stared at Luce.*

```"Leave us, now."```

*Her voice that held an almost magical quality to it, held deep hate in each word. Yet it was held back. Noctis could lie to the Warforged but not to the woman who was obsessed with him for centuries. She learned every single thing she could of him. The shape of ears, every description ever written or spoken, each depiction and remembering the haunting words of her mother. Every tiny detail of Noctis was known to her, it was her purpose to find him. She had no doubts in her body that Noctis stood before her. His almond silver eyes, raven black hair and his perfect form. Her attention turned to his sword, the Ebony Rose on his hip. All he was missing was his armor and the blood of innocents covering his ivory skin. The Warforged and the historian were confused, but the intense killing intent coming from her would silence their questions. They made their way out, leaving the father and his daughter alone. Silence fell and filled the room.*
Rowena
Every step that brought him closer brought a larger and larger picture, one that was haunting and promised nothing but pain. So far he'd experienced misery upon misery, pain after pain, failure after failure since awaking in this world. Now after all this time of being a forgotten name and a spectre of the past, his only lifeline that no one would be seeking him was suddenly ripped out from his feet as he heard his own name. Not a common name and worse, matched the context of his existence. Thoughts flashed to one of the 11, theoretically possible for any of the ones who hadn't perished to have lived all these years. His mind raced as to who it might be, his first thought was to flee and he was on the verge of teleporting then when he remembered that Akira and the child were here. He cursed silently and decided he had no choice but to wait. 

As the door opened and introductions were made, Noctis watched the woman in the mask and knew instantly that he would die soon. How many times in the past week had he come to that realization? Nonetheless it had been an almost correct thought, and he was sure that this would be no different. Worse, any cards he had up his sleeve were exposed by the Warforged. So she'd aim to kill with one blow. Now he *Really* Wanted to go, to vanish, but Akira and the child! He wanted to grit his teeth and shift into a battle stance to go out fighting, but once again he kept his mind and heart calm, no sign of panic inwards or outwards. He simply blinked at her almost stupidly and scratched his own chin, waiting till the two men left. Then, there was only one option- to fight. 

So he waited, waited for her to strike and prepped his magic, he brought the teleportation ability to the brink of activating and held it, the second he released he could teleport again. If she was strong and fast, she could blitz him, but he might have just enough time to shift away before she took off his head or pierced his heart. 

"Who are you?" He asked softly, o

Ne hand resting on the sword. A bluff, it would make her glance at the weapon- one that would be useless against an enemy with any strong magic with his weakened body. But if it made her hesitate even a second it would give him the chance to jump- what then? He could jump through the fort till he found Akira and risk jumping with the toddler and have Akira flee through the shadows. He'd find another way to cure the child and he'd have his sword back. All it took was one wrong move...
Raul
The air was intense, it felt as if the wooden floor began to crack from the weight. Rage that was held back and allowed to be controlled, began to leak out of her body. She finally had him in her view, yet she couldn't reach him yet. To see the peak of the mountain, but unable to reach it. Eileen was aware of his teleporting ability, the coward was probably calculating a hundred different ways to kill her. Nothing more than a weapon that needed blood, even if it was his own. Perhaps he did not know her power. What a frustrating battle to be held, the moment that she'd gain an advantage... He'd just teleport away. However, death and a warrior's death was beyond what Noctis the Defiler deserved. He should lose any and all that love him, to watch them die as he'd turn into a husk of a man. That was true revenge, poetic justice. Centuries had made her patient and wise, yet that anger shook her core.*

```"No. You don't get to ask questions, your voice means nothing here. Your words of lies and manipulation will never work on me. Noctis Camille. Oh the names that they call you. Death's Lover, Perfect Night, Scipio's Poison and Breaker of hearts. But I know what you really are. Father."```
.

*Even if she tried to hold her anger back, her voice held those words with deep anger and hatred. Resting his hand on his sword. It felt more like an insult than a threat. Coming into her home, with her colors and holding his sword at her. Was he trying to goat her into attacking? Oh how she'd wish that her hands could rip his head off and punch him into a pile of flesh. But, no. That would be a mercy.*

```"I really want to hurt you, Noctis. To end you. But, you would run away the moment I'd step forward huh? Is this a form of mockery? Then heed my words, before you vanish back to whatever shit hole you've been finding in. I will not kill you, Noctis. That's mercy. I will kill everyone you love, anyone you care about and anyone who even has a good memory of you. Once they are dead and rotting, you can do me the favor of ending your own life."```

*Eileen spoke with a rageful tone, her words sharper than his blade. Her body held back so much anger, but she'd control herself. It would be foolish to attack him, that's what he wants. The masked woman took a stance with a lot of openings, she'd prepare herself for a revenge technique. Should he be foolish enough to attack her, than she'd wound him enough to send him bleeding to whichever whore he was charming now.*
Rowena
Noctis listened to what she said with a cold, impassive face. The word father rang through him like a hammer upon a gong, everything reverberating as confusion and pain flooded his eyes- then it was gone again. He had to think logically, on close inspection he supposed he could see resemblance, in fact... She looked just like his mother. Without the mask, he might have thought she was his mother reborn. The blood of Masculo with the visage of his mother- all signs pointed to the fact that she wasn't lying. Yet it was an impossibility. Any children he sired through his years would have been only quarter god, they'd have lived a normal lifespan. Even the elves would not live thousands of years with no sign of age. 

More confusing however was why she hated him, why she loathed him so that she'd make such vile threats upon him and those he cared for- like the *Two girls he'd just deposited into her care.* 

No, no need to panic yet. She hadn't known it was him until she'd seen him, so she hadn't prepped a prison or torture for the others. He needed to find his beloved Kitsune and his beloved charge and escape this place. So many questions, so much to try and understand. He could always flee, she knew that and hadn't made a move- he needed to ask her as much as he could, she'd be buying time to find a chance to strike, he just wanted answers before he fled this place. He'd kill every man and woman to find Akira and the child t- 

Only... He wouldn't. The thought made bile rise in his throat. To take innocent lives again would ruin everything, he'd been reborn with a second chance, a clean slate- at least so he told himself. This woman's vitriol challenged that very ideal. 

"How could you be my child, I haven't been with a woman in over two thousand years." He said, his angelic voice dancing through the air like a razor upon the skin. 

She knew of his old titles, his old name... How? Perhaps... 

"Magic. You've expanded your lifespan... What was the cost?" He asked slowly, his g

Rey eyes, no longer their beautiful demigod silver, but mortal grey, analyzing everything. There were many fell magics that could do the impossible for prices no sane person would pay. 

If she had done something so, what could he have done to hurt her? Could she really be his child? Had he had a child in the world, one that he could have taken in and raised in the empires wealth and power? He could sob at the idea and prayed he could prove this woman false.