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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jul 18

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He’s very well trained in protecting. We’re all in very good hands. I promise. "

The girl sighed, and nodded.

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jul 18

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" Um … p - please don’t take this the wrong way but … Are you gonna be ok, mister? You look pretty strong, but those monsters are really scary. Will you be ok protecting all four of us? "

" Don’t worry, " answered Aerith in a honeyed tone. " He’s /super/ strong, and fast as lightning.

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jul 18

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" He’s right! He’s pretty much the bestest! "

The boy’s cheeks flushed, causing Aerith to stifle a little laugh.

" A - anyway, yeah, mister. We’ve got your back. You can count on us. "

The third child, a quieter girl, finally spoke.

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jul 18

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It was the eldest of the youths who piped up first.

" Y - yeah! I’m one of the best lookouts you’ll find! "

Grace leaned in close to Reno, as if speaking conspiratorially, though she didn’t speak quietly enough hide her words from the other two.

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jul 4

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fingers with both hands.

" We gotta help Miss Aerith! Please, mister! "

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jul 4

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" I said he’s /not/ scary, " Gracie sassed back in a tone that suggested this was not the first or the tenth time the older kids told her what to do.

Poor Aerith could only wince and the inescapable bubble of laughter shook her aching ribs.

Urgently, Gracie squeezed Reno’s

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jul 4

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Finally, the little girl reached for Reno’s hand, clutching onto two of his fingers.

" You’re not as scary looking up close. "

" D - don’t say things like that, " scolded the boy as he and the third youth scrambled up to Reno and Gracie. " It’s not nice to say people look scary. "

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jul 4

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up to him, her gaze flitting between him and Aerith, as if she were caught in a sort of tug of war between fear and trust, between the voices of the adults telling her not to talk to strangers, and her instinct to believe.

" It’s alright, Gracie, " Aerith cooed, " I promise. "

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jul 4

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Verdant emeralds softened, despite the effort it took to sit up and watch the scene unfold before her. This was a side of Reno she hadn’t seen before —— one she barely recognized, in fact. It seemed there was more to him than he let on.

The littlest of the children toddled tentatively

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jun 24

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Three little heads poked around the edge of the pew, shy and tentative. The eyes of the littlest of the trio were filed with tears, her bottom lip quivering.

" I … is M - Miss Aerith going to b - be ok? "

( Omg sorry for the delay! )

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jun 24

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" It’s alright, " Aerith managed, her voice honeyed and soft, positively oozing with warmth and smiles, despite her anguish.

" You can trust Reno. He may look like a tough guy, but he’s going to keep us all safe. "

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jun 24

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" Miss Aer ——— mmmgfff! "

From behind the far pew on the left side of the church came the sound of muffled shushing and the shuffling of bodies. Even if some of the kids were reluctant to trust Reno … they’d already given away their position.

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jun 24

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Despite a lack of experience, Reno’s instincts were spot on. Name dropping Aerith, /and/ intimating that they could help her, was enough to stir the conscience of the trio.

Well, at least one of them.

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jun 10

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Once he eased her down onto the pew closest to her flower bed, she let out a breath she’d been holding.

" The ceiling, " she breathed. " If the monsters get in … that’s where they’ll come. "

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jun 10

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Lissome limbs wound around his neck, and she buried her face in its nape so she could bite back any groans of pain from the movement. Only after it was too late did she realize that the wound above her hip wept crimson into the fabric of his shirt.

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jun 10

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Never did she imagine she’d find so much comfort in the voice and arms of Reno Sinclair. Despite her stark resistance and she had no choice, she quickly felt that melt away as he walked her through his intentions.

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jun 6

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escaping through gnashed teeth, the pain prickling her eyelids with moisture.

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jun 6

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With all her might, which was rather pitiable at the moment, she tugged at his shoulder, trying to use him as leverage to pull herself to her feet, or at least to a more upright position. Although she managed to sit up, it wasn’t without a whimper

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jun 6

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She had given everything she had to protect those kids.

But … he had a point. If a scary looking ShinRa agent burst into the church alone, they might try to flee right into the jaws of those flying beasts.

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · Jun 6

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To the stubborn young woman’s chagrin, walking seemed out of the question. Given her current state, under normal circumstances, she’d have used her healing powers on her own wounds, but she was simply /that depleted/ of energy that she couldn’t even muster up a piddly cure spell.

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · May 31

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as a weak, ivory fist clutched at the edge of his unfastened shirt. Desperation rimmed those usually stubborn doe eyes with moisture.

" Reno, " she choked, " please … the children … are in the church … you … you have to save them!

/Please!/ "

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · May 31

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from slashes on her right thigh, and just above her left hip.

A familiar voice called to her and thick lashes fluttered, before squeezing shut again. Her chest heaved as she winced, the agony rushing back to her senses.

At last, twin emeralds met his beryl stare, pained and pleading,

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · May 31

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If she hadn’t, it would have only been a matter of moments until they found their way in through the dilapidated ceiling.

Scrapes and bruises decorated delicate flesh, and fresh plumes of crimson stained her bubblegum dress,

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · May 31

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It had all happened so fast. One minute, she was laughing along as the children chased each other around, and the next, the winged monsters showed up. Aerith didn’t hesitate to collect the trio of youths and push them into the church, while she attempted to fend off the beasts.

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. 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִ ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 ༝ 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 ˚ 𐙚⋆｡ @arcaneancient.bsky.social · May 30

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" Riiiight, " she breathed, too stubborn to let down the cheeky facade that veiled her emotion.

" Is this someone actually going to kick him in the nuts and tell him to keep to his own territory? "

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