Impero

@strigidae_23:

The role of Impero was not one Shiho relished, and in fact she hated it more often than anything. Others acted, she followed. It was not her place to lead, and placed at the head of what some, Ishin included - and herself by following, considered a dying clan had caused her more trouble than it was worth. She couldn't fathom why anyone would willingly seek it.

Shrugging, she nodded affirmatively and let out a sigh, almost smiling herself.

"Shikata ga nai."

A throwing knife was visible in her right hand, one that wasn't there before. The other was balled into a fist. Assuming a stance, her grip tightened around the blade stretched in front of her.

But she did not open engagement with martial maneuver; instead, she began with a multi-faceted energy assault. In an instant, the mountain's rocky innards boiled beneath the surface and erupted in a pillar of lava, unleashing Hell itself directly at Twenty-Three's back. Simultaneously, the Impero's lively emerald eyes shone, for a fraction of a second before discharging an equally intense thermal outpour where her eyes gazed: unexcitedly into Ivana's own, aiming to boil vitreous humor and blind her in an acute paroxysm of pain.

Her body remained unmoved.

@strigidae_23: I'll let you know.

Ivana sorta reminds me of Kratesis sometimes in some ways.

@strigidae_23:

Although she hadn't endeavored to understand her on a personal level, it was no Arcani secret that Ivana had been Shiho's favored Strigidae, for no one else, outside of Amaranth and Kratesis, would the former Strigidae One grant favors or take it upon herself to save their lives without asking.

A moment of weakness. Comfort. An understanding easily formed and distantly maintained. Those foundations upon which they stood culminated at Reisho's mountain.

Ivana approached. Typically, Ishin answered her. This time, the youngest Impero responded. Telling. If she came for Shiho, there were two possibilities: she needed help, a favor, or...

The gates swung open and a diminutive silhouette approached the outside, closing them behind without a motion. She embraced the harsh outside and its inhabitants as always, with a glare colder than the mountain itself. A Giant Pocky hung from her mouth, slowly nibbled from the end. Her head inclined slowly and slightly, inquiring for confirmation.

@myrmidon_: @ishin:

Following her declaration of temporary truce, Shiho paid Myrmidon little mind, and resolved that, as an ally, he would continue to receive just that until the end of that duration. She stood vacantly as Ishin delivered his rallying cry, the order similar to the one she had issued at the start of her tenure, though Ishin was imbued with more charisma. For her part, she had little to add until the confrontation would commence. However, remembering the dissent she faced when she'd started as Impero, and disobedience last time a kill on sight order was issued for Milo, she added behind him, simply,

"Disobey...You..die." That said, she took to following Ishin once more.

@ishin: @myrmidon_:

Ishin's subtle acknowledgement of Shiho's newly provided information did not go unnoticed, showing as something, at the very least, more than what he had previously given her. Rather than satisfaction, however, all show of emotion came in the form of a twitch of the eye as she herself took in Myrmidon's presence approaching the monastery. "Hai." Without a word further passed between them, she understood what she was to do.

Pulling the mask from her face, she tossed it aside and followed Ishin out of the Impero's Quarters and through Reisho to meet the Vespa Vanguard, understanding her advantages and disadvantages thus far, now accounting for Ishin's presence as well.

As they entered the frigid and spiritually antagonistic environment outside the gates, Shiho prepared to explode upon Myrmidon and commence his destruction. Hostile or not, the Impero didn't care. He registered as an enemy and the only way to deal with enemies, as she learned, was to kill them - though that method seemed to be becoming less and less effective in her observations since meeting Ishin. The only thing preventing her from attacking in spite of the circumstance was Ishin's coming into close proximity with the Myrmidon to retrieve Ali. And as he changed, so, too, did Shiho.

The Arcani Impero felt but a small, budding connection to Alianette, not taking the death personally as did her father. But Ishin's own feelings were enough to warrant her certainty in the matter. Mostly, she felt...proud, of him. That he was no longer weak, as he was immediately after his resurrection, instilled within her something akin to joy that he would be able to handle himself once more; it was the first display of anything significant that she had seen in quite some time. Placing the Impero mask upon her face, Shiho simultaneously sent a mental command to Dante and Lyra to prepare, understanding the need for contingency since even before the last time facing Milo's eyes.

From underneath the alabaster mask, her eyes scanned Myrmidon. In spite of the present state of affairs, she held no care for him, though she understood Ishin's wishes. "Kyūsen," she whispered to herself, Dante, and Lyra, ensuring her accomplices understood the situation.

@pyrogram: The only thing Shiho knows is they fought and Ali apparently lost. Anything that Alianette didn't tell her (And she didn't say much), she's unaware of. Besides, I don't even know if Shiho fully understands what all that stuff is.

@ishin:

In truth, the response surprised her. If Alianette wished to die, and wanted Shiho to do it, the Impero willing, there was no big issue. But she had asked Ishin for a reason, and as she thought he might, he seemed closer to refusing her permission; it would be honored, if he should. Although she was no expert on human interaction and social reactions, it was clear to Shiho that her news was being partially ignored. She squinted in an unconscious gesture of annoyance at Ishin, for to her understanding, Milo's return and Ali's condition were intrinsically linked. She intended on illustrating this just as Ishin himself led in with his question.

Her own understanding of the situation between Ali and Milo was minimal at best. Explaining would have been difficult even without her particular lack of eloquence in speaking. Instead, to better give Ishin the full picture, Shiho raised two more constructs to illustrate the brief meeting with her "sister" just moments prior to his own arrival.

"Shiho, Milo requests your presence," a small needle being thrown in nearby map. "Please do this clan a favor and end him. Preferably end me as well, bested by Heavens Eyes I became his servant. I'd rather not be."

Following the display, feeling she had proven a point, there was a slight air of almost childlike smugness about her. Now he would have to mind her directly with the guidance she sought.