>"And in the meantime, I believe I have a request to make to go and make. If you've nothing else to say right now?"
>Assuming no complaints, let's go walk over to Ice. ...and suggest our companions still keep an eye on things here.
>"
I am finished here." the Champion replies. With a smug look, the fox adds, "
Good luck talking to Ice. You'll probably find it as challenging as your friends."
>The Champion walks alongside you as you head for the exit, with White Rose following rather close behind, keeping an even closer eye on the Champion. It is an interesting sensation, walking peaceably next to one of the biggest threats the world has known in the past several millennia. But the more interesting sensation is Fire's comment. The Champion appears to assume that you have no way of reliably communicating with its partner. It may not know that Ice, despite her apparent muteness, does possess a means of communication with you. What that means, you're not sure. Ice seems to be entirely subservient to Fire. Could she be keeping secrets from the being that appears to be her master? And if so, why?
>The Champion of Fire takes to the air once you step outside, and isn't long disappearing from sight. The tarmac is a different scene from before. Of the four soulless ones, only one of them remains in evidence. It is the young woman who wielded a trumpet before. With her soul restored and her body cleansed of the darkness that had been corrupting her, you can see her to be the lovely young woman she started as. You recognize her as Merlin Prismriver, a member of Flandre's band. She is conversing with Magical Poppy near the ruined hulk of the plane, and outwardly appears none the worse for wear from her experience.
>The Ice Champion is standing on the ground, the otherworldly avian creature seeming serene amidst the carnage, the striking beauty of its form marred only by the sadness you see in her eyes. Eyes that are looking your way. Haruka is nearby, examining two ugly looking hunks of black and purple crystal. The hunks of rock radiate evil. A third hunk is sitting in front of the Ice Champions' talon.