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Not a single hint of expression came from Shio, as she stared absently and languid at Aegle. Even when she was asked the question by the smaller fighter, who glared at her with piercing emerald eyes, all she could do was stare back at her as testament to just how lost she was. Everything around her had gone quiet, as if she could not even hear Aegle over the sound of the ocean in her own mind - not even the insult to her pride that proceeded after registered as well as it should have. Her eyebrows lowered in frustration to a mild degree, whilst Aegle continued as if she didn't have a face-full of Shio's palm stuck to her features, and even though she was very obviously trying to taunt her, Shio gradually appeared to seem more perplexed than provoked.

Something had crept its way into her mind like a toxin, seeped into every nerve in her body, and whatever that feeling was, it was now preventing her from moving an inch. What exactly was it, this paralyzing reaction that she now felt? It was too elusive for her to catch up with, she couldn't quite pin it down, and somehow this mere emotion managed to impact her so heavily. It was the first time she had ever felt such a sentiment, and she couldn't even describe if the feeling was necessarily a positive or negative. The only thing that she could unquestionably discern, was that it felt unnerving, but why?

No matter how desperately she tried to pull herself back together, back into the fight, the faunus only felt the enormous burden of a blank void shrouding her thought. The last word that Aegle spoke, spat in vehement tone right at her, passed through her ears without any meaning behind it. Then before she could even recognize what it meant through her despondency, two bootsoles slammed and fastened themselves onto each side of her expressionless face. Immediately Shio recoiled back, her left leg and right arm fighting to stay balanced after the sudden awakening from the daze she was in, more than the force of impact.

Every feature on Shio's dumbstruck expression distorted as the faunus braced her fangs, vexation brooding, she tried her best to keep ahold of the grip on Aegle's face for a reason unknown to her. However, despite her unwordly profuse physical strength, a loose grip was all that it was, and it was harshly torn from her fingers when Aegle pushed away with every bit of her boundless persistence. It was almost a relief to her, that Aegle was no longer stomping on her eyes- mouth and nose, and had she still not been caught in a wave of confusion she may have responded with a low-pitch growl to show just how little she appreciated it.

Instead her eyes were wide with nothing but amazement, that Aegle could even escape from her grapple, or even tried to for that mattter, left her entirely disconcert and open for attack. Shio felt herself unable to do anything, as her eyes tracked on Aegle for that brief and slowed passage of time.

And in that moment - as her sky blue gems sparkled with incandesce - she finally understood the thing that confounded her.

The fist of undying determination closed in, and Shio did not even think to dodge it, even though she quite physicall could have. Wildness returned to her expression faster than thought, and met with Aegle, as her right arm was trailed back on the bending point of her elbow. Energy surged like thunderous waves rupturing from the point of her knuckles, in a mighty display of the potency of her aura, the amount of unrestrained power emitting from that singular point could not be measured, but with its added speed, would have easily been destructive enough to level a stone building.

'Would have', if it had been used, and not only appeared for the small fraction of a second. Before Shio threw the punch that very well could have ended Aegle, a sudden occurrence made her stand frozen in place. Aegle's aura- it burst into many fluorescent pieces, scattering and lighting the dark sky, quickly to disappate along with the deadly atmosphere that encompassed both fighters.

Aegle slumped to the ground, and Shio stood in place, her eyes wide and disorientated all over again. It did not take the faunus a second to realize what had just happened, and when she did recognize the clear indication, the sweltering and swollen aura in her right fist reduced to nothing more than soft azure embers burning from her body.

Watching Aegle suffer and sprawl around on the ground, bleed and retch, Shio did not show the least bit of compassion with her expression. In fact, she appeared to be very apathetic as the confusion dissolved. If anything, she looked frustrated. Then her eyes met with that one emerald globe, as it glared up at her with hostility, she could only perceive the way it deemed her as contempt. A vibe went down her spine, as she stared back, as if she had just swallowed something incredibly bitter. There were no words that Shio could think to respond with, she was captivated for the entire two seconds of animosity.

Even though no words were exchanged Shio knew exactly what it meant, and as Aegle's eyes faded to rest- hers stared down at the girl almost furiously. Assuming that she was still just barely conscious, Shio took one step forward with her left, and another with her right... then lowered her posture to sit at her side. Right leg upright and straight, left leg crossed under its arch, her right elbow rested upon her kneecap. A serious and foreboding face glowered out at the nothing in front of it, and watched in complete stillness. Many seconds passed, as Shio was still brooding over the things Aegle said, and in that time the last of her aura grew feeble - until it flickered and died, leaving the two of them without light.

In the dusk Shio's amber eyes were almost luminesce, a howling gale swept at her token scarf and short hair. There would not be a very long pause after, until Aegle would feel her limp body being hefted from the ground. A voice, one of heartfelt sincerity, spoke slightly above the ominous and tense quiet.

"You impress me, Aegle."

As if it did not want to be heard, or had been shamed, it managed to stay genuine and neutral even though sounding very close to apologetic. Aegle was lifted higher, and gently, as the voice continued. This time a lot more hardened, as the intensity of resolve and ferocity appeared within its undertones.

"You're strong, and that is why-..."

Heavy wheezing and coughing interrupted before the voice could finish, but it seemed determined to convey this message, even if its recipent might not be conscious to hear it. Even if Aegle could not hear it, Shio felt a convictional need to tell her, exactly how she felt and what she was thinking. So even though she was rasping at each breath of air, she did not stop. Even though it was a pained her just to move, let alone carry someone on her shoulders, she lifted Aegle onto her back, and carried her. The reason why, she announced resolutely, as miserably loud as her exhausted lungs could spend, in hopes that it would reach her.


Nothing but pause came after - the scarfed faunus shambled forward, head downcast and posture slouched from the fatigue she felt, as well as the person she carried.

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