Ace didn't miss the faltering in the stoic image that was usually Crusty, nor he missed how he took a few steps forward, as if eager to reach the figure in the middle. It was a strange sight, to see him like that, to see him as human and not some stone mobile figure. Nevertheless, whatever it was that Crusty was seeing, it wasn't real. And if he kept walking towards it, they would soon be monster food. Ace was about to intervene, to do something, anything, to stop the man from walking towards danger. Luckily, however, he stopped by himself, mumbling to himself. Oh, so he had noticed. Good. One less thing to think about. Not that the mercenary could do much thinking with that song being sung over and over again, each time making his heart clench with pain and loneliness.<br/><br/>Ace also didn't miss the lack of emotional reaction from Caine, but he had no time nor will to try to figure out what that could mean. What he did, though, was nod in response to the command - Ace would also not think about how he hated to be ordered around, not now, at least -, a short and stiff movement, just to show the other he was listening. His eyes never left the figure in the middle, though, and he wondered, for a brief moment, if it was possible.<br/><br/>Possible to recover everything he had lost. Possible to hug the girl and feel her there, real. Possible to forget everything he had done after her death. To start over again. A new life.<br/><br/>The fleeting thought came and left in less than a second, and yet, it left a longing and an ache within his heart that he couldn't quite shake nor understand. He understood well the desire for his sister, that had never left him. But it wasn't often that he thought about how he wanted a new life. In fact, most of the time, he didn't want it. Shaking his head, Ace took his bow, raising it in the direction of the figure of the little girl, drawing an arrow, every muscle of his body screaming for him not to release it, to let the monster go. He knew he couldn't do it, though.<br/><br/>"Go." he told Caine, voice strained, as if the very act of speaking hurt him, arrow fixed on the still figure that had finally stopped singing, and now had tears in her eyes, trembling in a perfect imitation of fear. "Go." Ace repeated, his hand trembling.<br/><br/>And then, the stillness was over.<br/><br/>Owl after owl after owl descended upon them, talons stretched in a ferocious attack, much like the harpies had done. However, this time, the numbers were way higher, the targets much smaller, and the screeches and screams much more deafening. Ace stumbled backwards when the owls covered his field of vision, eliminating any clear shot he had of the small figure. He cursed under his breath, sending an arrow through the wall of birds nevertheless. A high pitched scream indicated he had hit something, but it seemed useless, a bird easily replaced with another with astonishing speed.<br/><br/>He readied another arrow, at the exact same time a set of talons craved themselves in his arm. He felt the pressure, but luckily they weren't powerful enough to rip the leather of his armour.<br/><br/>"Caine! Climb the trees and try to get a clear vision of the little shit!" he screamed over the birds. Ace was almost certain the monster couldn't understand him. If he kept shooting through the owls, trying to reach the girl... the monster in the middle, perhaps Caine wouldn't be bothered on his climb. "Crusty! Come with me! Let's try to reach the creature in the middle!" Ace dropped his bow, the long ranged weapon not as effective at their current situation. Instead, he unsheathed his sword, looking at Crusty to see if he would follow him. Ace was confident of his abilities, but he wasn't crazy enough to go charging in alone.<br/><br/>Taking a step back, he slashed through an owl that charged at him, and growled. "Ready?" he asked, the blood thirst evident in his voice. As long as he could see or hear his sister, he would be alright. It was just another enemy.