-Kaelen-

  Lord Nerve: Sister Initiative, do come out.

  Someone wearing one of the Circus Light masks, one without facial features, came out. She wasn't wearing any of the other clothes. But the clothes she was wearing he recognised. He recognised them well.

  Kaelen: ... T-Talyndra...?

  Sister Initiative: Kaelen... I... I'm so sorry.

  Kaelen: It is you... Isn't it?

  Tali: Tali, Kaelen. I prefer Tali.

  Kaelen: I... I know that... What are you doing? Why are you wearing that mask?

  Tali: ... They were going to hurt her, Kaelen. They were going to hurt Ela.

  Lord Nerve: Right, I'll be leaving you two alone now. And Sister?

  Tali: Yes?

  Lord Nerve: Don't kill him if you can, humans give more Luminosity when alive.

  Tali: ... Yes, Lord.

  Lord Nerve walked away down one of the corridors.

  Kaelen: Talyndra. You don't have to do this.

  Tali: And let Ela die? They have her right now. Sister Flight is holding her hostage.

  Kaelen: We can save Ela if you help me, Talyndra.

  Tali: ... I don't want to hurt you.

  Kaelen: Then don't.

  Tali: I really don't want to.

  Kaelen: You don't have to Talyndra.

  Tali: My name. My name is Tali.

  Kaelen: ... Tal...

  Tali: You don't listen to me. Not now, not ever. You never did. We've known each other for a long time, Kaelen, and no matter how many times I correct you, you never change. I prefer Tali. It's not hard, Kaelen. It's not. And they have her. They have my sister, and if I don't do this, they kill her. I liked you, you know. I really did. But you just... You just aren't worth it anymore. Not against my sister.

  -Tali-

  He still wouldn't call her by her name. Sure he used her actual name, but not her real name. He refused to. He knew she preferred it, and had done so for their entire- Friendship. But he didn't change. He never would. So their friendship was over. Here and now. In order to save Ela, she would sacrifice Kaelen. If it was three days prior she wouldn't be able to even dream of doing something like this, and yet here she was. Preparing to beat Kaelen into submission to save her sister. Whatever it took.

  -Kaelen-

  She was gone. She was standing right in front of him, but it was already far too late. She had joined the Circus Lights, those who had tried and succeeded to kill him on multiple occasions. Maybe not fully willingly, but she had still done it. She didn't trust him enough to protect both her and Ela. Talyndra- Tali didn't care about him whatsoever. Even after all of this time she was going to burn everything they had built simply because he wasn't enough. He never would be. He didn't want to kill her. He wouldn't kill her. He would have to try and talk her out of what she was doing, no matter how long it took.

  -Tali-

  She dashed at Kaelen, using her Sigil. She had been given one to subdue Kaelen, not to kill him, so it was more defensive than offensive, but it had certain offensive capabilities. As far as she had been told, Kaelen also had a Sigil, so she would need at least some level of offensive instead of pure defense. She Fabricated a bow and arrow and shot one at him, but he didn't move and it struck him right in the chest.

  -Kaelen-

  [Health Points: 270/270 (-1.5) -> 268.5/270]

  ... Her stats hadn't improved, she hadn't leveled up at all. Her attack stat would be only 18, a mere quarter of his defense stat. He was the "miniboss" here, not her. She would have to hit him 180 times to kill him.

  Kaelen: Tali, we don't have to fight. I can save your sister, help me do it.

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  Tali: I don't want to hurt you Kaelen. Just give in. It'll be painless. I hope.

  Kaelen: It's not. Being Blazed hurts like hell.

  Tali: How would you know that?

  Kaelen: I've had a hard few days.

  -Tali-

  He was trying to look as if the arrow in his chest wasn't hurting him, just a few more and he'd give in. She Fabricated a knife and thrusted it straight into his neck.

  -Kaelen-

  [Health Points: 268.5/270 (-9) -> 259.5/270]

  Kaelen: Tali, you're not going to get anywhere. This is pointless, just let me help you.

  Tali: I'm surprised you're still standing, you're stronger than I remember. But not strong enough to deal with them.

  Kaelen: I know, but over time I'll learn how to defeat them.

  Tali: Give up Kaelen.

  ... Some people just wouldn't learn without force.

  Kaelen: You'll forgive me.

  -Tali-

  She hadn't noticed, but at some point Kaelen had picked up a pair of daggers, and was slashing at her with them. Her Sigil of Initiative did the dodging for her, no matter how many times Kaelen cut at her.

  -Kaelen-

  She wasn't even thinking about it. She had no experience. How was she dodging this well? He dropped the daggers, and summoned a katar, punching the blade toward her chest. She manages to push the blade to the side with her palm, and hits Kaelen in the face with her other hand.

  [Health Points: 259.5/270 (-0.5) -> 259/270]

  She was good. Way too good. She had been given a Sigil when she joined the Circus Lights. One that helped her dodge and parry attacks far better than anyone should be able to. The only way around that kind of thing was large area of effects. So that was what he'd have to do if he wanted to teach her a lesson, to get her to stop and listen without accidentally killing her. Never again.

  -Tali-

  She didn't recognise the next weapon he summoned, probably with his Sigil. It looked like a double ended flail, only much bigger with spikes over the entire surface except from where Kaelen's hands went. He swung with the weapon. The area was too large to jump back or forward and dodge it, so logically she'd just jump. She jumped onto the weapon and raced across the chain toward Kaelen, and kicked him in the face. Kaelen fell onto the floor, the weapon disappearing when he dropped it.

  -Kaelen-

  [Health Points: 259/270 (-0.5) -> 258.5/270]

  Tali: Please stop resisting Kaelen. I don't have to not kill you. I-

  She was distracted. He didn't hesitate to take that chance. He summoned a small pin and stabbed it into her leg.

  [Tali - Health Points: 35/35 (34.5) -> 0.5/35]

  She immediately toppled over onto the floor and screamed in pain, so he stood up and went off to her.

  Kaelen: Be good and stay. I don't want to hurt you more than I have.

  Tali: M-MY LEGS! -THEY! THEY WON'T MOVE!

  Kaelen: It'll heal eventually. Stay here, and let me save Ela. Then I'll pick you up and we can all go back home. After killing all of the Circus Lights here of course.

  Tali: You've changed... The Kaelen I knew would never talk so casually at murder.

  Kaelen: As I said. I've had a very hard few days... Or weeks.

  Tali: Like I haven't?! You almost killed me!

  Kaelen: And I've- ... almost died. Several times. I've been burnt, shot, bled, burned again, had two heart attacks, got my chest kicked in, a few complicated ones, stabbed, crushed, had all of my bones broken, shot, drained of my blood, stabbed again, and I think that's it. Honestly my memory is a bit patchy at the moment. I Blazed a living breathing human. Simply because I needed fuel to fight back. Outside of the Perimeter is hell. A boiling landscape of nothing but heat. They threw me out into that heat, Tali. I died over and over, so I had to kill them. Don't make me kill you too. Because I know how much it hurts.

  -Tali-

  She didn't know what to say to any of that. The only thing she wanted to think about was how someone she thought was her friend had almost killed her. But he'd dealt with a lot as well. -No. That wasn't an excuse. Why bother not killing her if he was going to torture her instead? Even if he didn't intend it, that's what he was doing. He had ruined everything they had. Now nothing was left.

  Tali: Good for you. You almost killed me!

  Kaelen: *sigh* Look. Tali. I'm not sorry for killing you. But I need you to stay down Tali. I have better things to be doing than dealing with your tantrum.

  Tali: Tantrum?!

  He thinks she's having a tantrum?! Her sister's life was in danger! Kaelen was not her friend. And was slowly getting closer and closer to becoming her enemy. She did her best, summoning all of her strength and stood up, staring Kaelen in the face.

  -Kaelen-

  She wasn't staying down. Not now, not ever. And he knew that. But he didn't want to hurt her more than he had to, so he had to go about this a different way.

  Kaelen: Tali. I'm going to save your sister. Stay down or help me, those are your options.

  Tali: Fuck. You. If anyone's going to save my sister, it's me. By getting rid of you.

  Kaelen: Why are you siding with them? Because it's not for your sister, as I said, I plan on saving her whilst dealing with the other Circus Lights.

  Tali: Maybe I hate you.