Desiree was silent for a moment after Luke had said what he did.

"I..." She started bnefore just laughing lightly.

"Well, that's cool. I guess it makes sure that the mana of the planet itself gets to be too great sometimes." She continued.

"I mean, it would make sense that when someone dies, their mana would return to the bplanet." She then said. before pausing.

". . . . never considered a deity of any sort becoming too powerful though."

---

♯ And I wonder what you've done to me || I've lost all my ability to think logically || I know I've never felt this way before || Like someone pushed me through a door || And there's no turning back ♯

"I..." Desiree started before shrugging.

"Maybe she's just hormo---" She sighed before shaking her head.

"Whatever it is, it keeps tryin' to get me to comply, and it seriously isn't fun." She said.

"But that... really is concerning." She agreed.

"But... but what is it that we can do?" She asked, thinking about it. After a few seconds she looked to Luke.

"Wait... how much control do you have over the extra mana you have? As in... can you isolate it?"

---

♯ And I wonder what you've done to me || I've lost all my ability to think logically || I know I've never felt this way before || Like someone pushed me through a door || And there's no turning back ♯

"I... can totally relate." Desiree said.

"But... have you tried sprouting a plant with that mana specifically?" She asked, a bit of a curious expresion on her face. She leaned back in chair she was sitting in.

"Because... if you can... since it's offering you some protection, maybe you can offer some protection to your family as well."

---

♯ And I wonder what you've done to me || I've lost all my ability to think logically || I know I've never felt this way before || Like someone pushed me through a door || And there's no turning back ♯

Desiree smiled softly.

"Maybe you should try." She commented as she leaned forward a bit, her elbows on her knees.

"If only just because of the fact that you never know until you try." She added before pausing.

"And.. honestly? You draydins not acting like yourselves is probably the most concerning oddity out there at the moment."

---

♯ And I wonder what you've done to me || I've lost all my ability to think logically || I know I've never felt this way before || Like someone pushed me through a door || And there's no turning back ♯

Desiree just chuckled after he was gone. By the time he returned, she'd already put her sweater back on, the large collar reaching up and around her shoulders, sitting just above them and falling loosely around her neck.

"Even if you can't do it," she started, "At least you will have put the effort out to try." She said with a smile.

"That's all I think anyone can ask for, for the moment." She added.

---

♯ And I wonder what you've done to me || I've lost all my ability to think logically || I know I've never felt this way before || Like someone pushed me through a door || And there's no turning back ♯

Desiree chuckled lightly.

"Well done, Luke." She said with a smile as she looked around.

"How are you feeling?" She asked after a moment, her voice curious.

"Because ... that can't have been easy to do. Certainly didn't look it."

---

♯ And I wonder what you've done to me || I've lost all my ability to think logically || I know I've never felt this way before || Like someone pushed me through a door || And there's no turning back ♯

Ashley just sighed as she leaned agains tthe wall behind her, her wings hanging loosely behind, and beside, her.

"Well, no shit you little worm." She stated, her voice sharp in a way that rung bells within his own head, even if he couldn't place it.

Being talked to like that... it just felt right.

"How about you don't repeat the obvious things for once." She stated. "Because obviously you fucked up, otherwise we wouldn't be here trying to dig into your head as WHAT you did."

"You've said all that quite a few times now. You aren't giving anything actually useful." Her voice was certainly sharper than it normally was, and over time it had gotten more and more sharp.

To say it was unusual, and kind of alarming, to see her like this... would be an understatement - to those that knew her, anyway.

---

♯ And I wonder what you've done to me || I've lost all my ability to think logically || I know I've never felt this way before || Like someone pushed me through a door || And there's no turning back ♯

Ashley was silent for a few seconds. The next thing that came from her was a snarl before she pushed herself off of the wall and closed the distance between the pair of them.

"Don't you dare try and tell me what to do." She warned, her voice promising trouble.

Trouble that he almost found he wanted.

"If you're holding out on me, you will regret it." she then said ebfore turning away from him, her wing smacking him pretty solidly, and making her way back to the wall. As she turned to face him though, the air seemed to shift slightly. It was subtle, and it was only in that room, but if one knew what to look for (or were paying attention) they would notice it.

"Why would I want to be the Mistress of one as low as you? You're less than the dirt beneath my heel." She stated, causing something to bubble beneath the surface for him.

And for her.

Something was happening, and she was on the precipice.

---

♯ And I wonder what you've done to me || I've lost all my ability to think logically || I know I've never felt this way before || Like someone pushed me through a door || And there's no turning back ♯

Ashley was silent, completely silent, before there was something that could only be described as a 'crack' through the air. It was most apparent in the room, but it was felt throughout the bulk of the building.

"Tch." Was all that he heard before she approached and backhanded him, some of the mana he craved coating her hand.

"You're barely even worth this." She stated.

"But perhaps you'll be able to finally grant me the answer I seek."

---

♯ And I wonder what you've done to me || I've lost all my ability to think logically || I know I've never felt this way before || Like someone pushed me through a door || And there's no turning back ♯

"Delve as far into your own head as you can and find out what you did to my sister." Ashley snarled as she crossed her arms.

"Regardless of what you want, Just find that answer for me. Perhaps, if you perform satisfactorily, I will reward you." She added.

---

Meanwhile, Terra made her way up the head office, her steps silent, but concern in her features. When she knocked on the door and was beckoned to enter, she sighed.

'I'm... not sure what it is that happened, but I do believe that Christopher and Ashley has... had a relationship change. I'm sure you felt it.'

---

♯ And I wonder what you've done to me || I've lost all my ability to think logically || I know I've never felt this way before || Like someone pushed me through a door || And there's no turning back ♯