FATE\Deus Decipit

Chapter 27: Light O'er the World

11:40pm, The Athenian Acropolis

Aaron stood at the center of the Acropolis in front of the Old Temple adjacent to the Parthenon. He stood in casual clothing, a black jacket over his typical tank top and baggy jeans, with his chin raised and arms crossed, doing everything in his power to look as badass as possible. Rider had informed him that the girl from earlier had arrived at the base of the Acropolis, and he stood in anticipation of her arrival. He was stressed, and eager to have this alliance work, but he wasn't going to show it. These sort of interactions went best when the person on the other end felt like you could walk away without a problem. Naturally, he had a plan.

Rider manifested next to him, appearing as if in stride just in front of his Master. The lower elevation gave Aaron the appearance of a lord over him.

"The lady shall be cresting the hill in moments, mine Master."

Aaron looked over his Servant. Rider appeared as he always had, except for one detail. He had tied back his long hair into something like a ponytail. Now, instead of the mane of floating hair he'd had before, it resembled more a fish tail in the way it moved with his head.

"What'd you do with your hair?"

"Ah. I simply did tie it to behold more presentable. One should not at each moment be dressed for the front lines."

Aaron looked at the hair again, which was beginning to now float back towards him after going as far as it could the other way. It was hypnotic, in a way.

"Fair enough."

As he looked back to the marble threshold of the acropolis, he saw the familiar, straight black hair rise up the stairs behind it. She walked up with surprising strength. Even after 'working' here for well over a week, he still couldn't make the climb with his breath intact, but she had no such issue. She stood with a straight back and no signs of physical exhaustion, at least none that could be seen from this distance in the darkness of night, though the bright moon behind him meant that the dark wasn't nearly as oppressive as it otherwise would've been. She stood with a military green jacket and black sports pants. From what he could tell, her expression was neutral, if tired.

He plastered a wide smile on his face, a maniacal grin like those you saw only in fiction, "So you actually showed up?"

She nodded. Not quite the reaction he'd hoped for, but better than hostility.

He raised his hands in a "Y" form and activated the runes he had placed around the acropolis.

In moments, the hilltop was alight with thunder as lightning came down and struck the various runes, creating a shifting cage of electricity behind and around him, a grand display created from a perfect storm of weather conditions and magnetic magecraft.

At first, she jumped slightly in surprise, likely anticipating an attack, but then took a deep breath and returned to her tired expression, unfazed.

His fake smile couldn't help but falter with the failure of his attempt at drama, but he refused to relinquish. He began to run across the rocks in front of him, allowing gravity to pull him down to create an almost-stumbling stride. Rider followed, but slowly and more deliberately, allowing his master to keep the lead while he maintained an air of diplomacy.

Aaron ran his hand through his blue hair with a false swagger, "Honestly, I'm surprised you came. I was worried we'd scared you off."

She nodded. "I think an alliance would be beneficial. Especially if this Berserker is as strong as you say."

What was with her? She had energy earlier- moxie, even. His wrist, now thoroughly wrapped and splinted, still hurt like a trainwreck and she was choosing now to be quiet and submissive? It would've been infuriating if it weren't so confusing.