Cryo arrived at the Manifested scene in central Sylrael before Banshee, despite the fact that she'd been transformed before him.

She arrived not long after, and within two minutes of her arrival, the Manifested was cleansed in a whirl of shadow and smoke. Cryo stood by as Banshee pulled the ex-Manifested individual to their feet and bounced their clear fragment in the palm of her hand.

"We all good?" said Banshee to the cleansed individual.

"Ye--yes," said the girl. "I'm so sorry."

"No problem, none at all," said Banshee.

She glanced to Cryo. He expected her to hold out her hand and give him that ridiculous grin that could always lift his spirits, but instead, she just jerked a thumb over her shoulder. "You good? Let's go, back to the temple, I need to tell you something but I need to check on Wyvern, like, now. He wasn't doing great when I left."

Cryo ignored the ache of disappointment. "Wyvern?"

"Explain later, Starlight Hall now!"

Not a minute later, they'd both crossed the distance from central Sylrael and stood back at the Starlight Hall. Banshee immediately ran up the stairs.

"Wyvern?" she called. "Wyvern, you still here?"

Cryo followed her up the stairs. "Is there a reason you're searching for Wyvern?"

"Well, yeah," said Banshee with a frown. "Harpy's husband showed up, and Wyvern sorta had a bit of a breakdown and I was talking to him but then the Manifested showed up and he just closed off, but I was hoping he'd still be here when I got back."

"Harpy's husband?"

"Yeah," said Banshee. "Turns out that with these Starsong amulets? When we complete the task, they activate, and we can actually give them to someone and share our secret with them without going Dark, but there's a bunch of rules attached. You have to form the bond with both people touching it and eye contact, and you can only give it to a civilian--so if I were to give mine to you now, it wouldn't work, but if I found you in your civilian identity, it would." She huffed, blowing a piece of hair off her visor. "Can you believe it? Starsong gives us a loophole, then makes it nearly impossible for us to actually make sure we give it to each other."

"And is this how you knew it was truly Harpy's husband? He was in possession of her Starsong amulet?"

"Really?" said Banshee, raising an eyebrow. "I tell you this, and that's your first reaction to it?"

Cryo continued to look at her. "Is there a problem with that?"

"...No, I guess not," said Banshee after a moment. "I just thought... I don't know. Nevermind. It doesn't particularly concern us anyway until our amulets activate, which apparently ours haven't."

"How can you be sure?"

Banshee fished around in her pocket for something, pulling out a Starsong amulet. Cryo assumed at first it was her own before noticing hers still secured just under her throat in her garments. The difference between the two was significant. The one in her hand had a luminous quality about it, while the one at her throat simply appeared to be another carved piece of starstone.

"This is Wyvern's," said Banshee, holding out the one in her hand. "He... never gave it to anyone. I think he was holding onto it for Harpy. Learning that she hadn't done the same for him was a hard truth to swallow for him."

"I can imagine so," said Cryo. "I can't imagine that any Luminary would take the news well that their partner had effectively given up on them. I couldn't even begin to fathom why I'd give mine to anyone but you."

"Well, the rules make that almost impossible," said Banshee, sitting on the arm of the couch. "Wyvern said that any Lumi's in the past that tried to find a way around it went Dark because of it. Patterns and all that."

"I'm sure there's a way we haven't considered yet that would work. Surely Starsong would not give us hope and then snatch it away."

"I've been trying to think of a way, I admit," said Banshee. "But because we both have to be touching it at the same time and making eye contact, and the one receiving it can't be transformed... I mean, I can't think of a scenario we could create where I could give mine to you without realising it was you I was giving it to, if you know what I mean? And since it's me making the bond with you and not the other way around..."

"Then I would be the one to go Dark, because I had given myself away," said Cryo. "A similar problem arises if we were to attempt to exchange amulets at exactly the same time, I would imagine."

"Yep," said Banshee miserably. "But hey, who knows. Maybe we'll come up with something?"

"I hope so," said Cryo.

"You look like the Other has just crashed Skypillar down around your head," said Banshee with a small smile, leaning forward to nudge him in the arm. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," said Cryo. "I'm simply tired."

Banshee yawned. "Aren't we both. But for the record, I don't plan on giving my Starsong amulet to anyone else but you, Cryo. Or if I did, I'd tell you that I'd given it to someone. I think I owe you that much, at least. I mean, I can understand why Harpy gave it to someone else, but... to not even tell Wyvern?" She sighed. "It seems kind of... mean."

Cryo remained silent.

"Not in a talking mood today, eh, featherbutt?" said Banshee, leaning back on her arms in such a way that anyone without a shadow shift would have toppled over from gravity. "That's okay. Tomorrow's a new day, hopefully one with sleep. Let's make a pact. If we're still tired tomorrow, we come to the Starlight Hall and nap all day. Deal?"

"I have other things to attend to that sadly cannot be replaced by naps."

"Okay, tired Cryo doesn't get jokes, gotcha," said Banshee. She pushed herself back onto her feet and pocketed Wyvern's amulet once more. "Well, if Wyvern's disappeared, I've got to get back to a few things. Buuuuuuut one last thing before I go?"

"Yes, Banshee?"

She held out her hand. "You aren't escaping this, mister. Lay it down!"

For her sake, Cryo lifted his hand and made the usual motion. "And down it's laid."

"You really do need a nap."

"Indeed," said Cryo. "Would you like me to ask my Ascended to return the fragment, or will you?"

Banshee tossed him the Manifested's fragment. "If you could, that'd be good. I want to look around a little while longer and see if I can't find Wyvern."

"As you wish. Farewell for now, Banshee. May Skypillar be with you."

"Seeya later, Cryo."

Cryo descended the stairs and quickly found a place to dim.

Even to Banshee, you're an afterthought to Wyvern.

Jason gave Sae the fragment, and his Ascended zipped off towards the Core chamber with the promise to be back soon.

In a rare moment, Jason knew he was truly alone.

It scared him to find out that it didn't feel any different.

He walked along a corridor, heading back towards the performance hall. He just wanted the rest of the day to be over. He wanted someone else to step into his shoes for a few hours, so for just a little while, he just didn't have to exist. It was exhausting just to breathe, let alone put one foot in front of the other.

But Sae would be back soon. The others would return to the performance hall. Life would go on around him, and--

"Jason."

A cold slice of fear cut through Jason's thoughts.

"Jason!" his mother said again. "Come to me this instant."

Jason looked up, finding her waiting, her hands on her hips about ten metres in front of him. Two Shadowspeakers stood behind her, their eyes cast respectfully downward, away from him.

"I don't wish to ask again, Jason," said his mother. "Come here so I may speak to you privately instead of shouting for the whole temple to hear."

Jason walked forward. Aurelia's contempt solidified on her face with every step.

"Jason," she said as he stopped before her, wielding his name like a dagger. "I thought I had made my wishes clear, had I not?"

"You did."

"And yet," said Aurelia. "Here you are, wandering the halls of the temple without a care in the world. I simply don't know what I am to do with you. I'm extremely disappointed with your lack of commitment. I trusted that you would keep your word." She turned to the Shadowspeakers behind her. "I apologise. Go ahead with your task, I'll follow along shortly after I've had a discussion with my son."

The two Shadowspeakers nodded. "Yes, High Shadowspeaker."

Aurelia waited until they had walked far enough away before she continued speaking.

Jason wanted to beg them to come back. Sae wasn't with him this time. He was facing this alone--something that hadn't happened in a long, long time. His mother might have thought them alone, but Jason had always had his Ascended. He'd drawn strength from Sae's presence. Without him--

"How am I supposed to make myself any clearer, Jason?" she said, her glare heavy enough to drop his to the floor. She grabbed his wrist, digging in her nails. "Look at me, you ungrateful brat. Considering that you've seen fit to leave your violin, I can only assume that I will find no fault in your playing today. Are you that arrogant?"

"No, mother."

"So your playing will be nothing short of perfection?"

"Yes, mother."

"No mother, yes mother," spat Aurelia, her attention turning to his hand. She slid her grip down to his fingers and held onto them with both hands. "What are you, an idiot? You were right about one thing before. You definitely aren't a man. Seventeen? Bah. Seventeen years of air wasted as far as I'm concerned." She squeezed his fingers so tight that Jason saw a flash of white. "No response, Jason? Do I have to force something out of you to get the point across? You've been a particular disappointment lately, but perhaps I--"

"Excuse me, Aurelia, but is there a problem here?"

Aurelia flinched as the force of Banshee's words struck her. She immediately dropped Jason's hand and curtseyed, a bright smile on her face that Jason hadn't realised she was capable of. "Shadow of Skypillar, an honour to see--"

"I don't even want to hear it," said Banshee, stopping beside Jason's side. Though she stood shorter than him, it was he who stood in her shadow. Her power. "I thought I'd spoken to you about the way to talk to people. I expect far more from those who carry the blessing of my Aspect than to find them picking on their son where they think they can't be heard."

"I... apologise, Banshee," said Aurelia.

"Don't apologise to me. Apologise to him."

Aurelia inclined her head. "It has been a trying few days. I fear my patience has--"

"Oh, no, it's been a trying few days for you, has it?" said Banshee, false sympathy in her voice before it hardened like the razor edges of her daggers. "What a coincidence. I didn't sleep at all last night either. You know, after I was out doing actual work and not wasting my time teaching people how to be decent human beings!"

"I--he made a commitment," said Aurelia. "One he has been lax in upholding. I apologise if my frustrations have spilled over, but I am simply at my wits end as to how to help him find his motivation when he seems intent on performing every task but those necessary."

Banshee folded her arms and leaned forward, right up close to Aurelia's face. "If you'd asked, you'd know that he was assisting me. I really hate to be a bother to my partner's assistant, but I couldn't find a single trace of the individual supposed to be available to me until I heard your voice floating down the hallway. A 'waste of air', I believe were the words that caught my attention."

"Things became far more heated than I had anticipated," said Aurelia. "We both said some things that we regret. Didn't we, Jason?"

"You were the one I heard, Aurelia," said Banshee. "And you are my High Shadowspeaker. It's you I've asked to consider your words before. Not him."

Jason blinked, his gaze flicking up from the floor to follow the conversation. He'd never seen Banshee quite like this. Even facing down Manifested, her words were understanding, their edges gentle. Her words now could have cleaved rock off the very face of Skypillar.

When Aurelia didn't reply, Banshee held out her hand towards Jason.

She found his eyes with her own, those brilliant crimson irises softening under her visor as she looked at him. "May I see your hand, Jason?" When he obliged, she tugged back the cuff of his sleeve, revealing the red marks that Aurelia's nails had made on his skin. Banshee's razor voice once again turned on Aurelia. "Is this what a High Shadowspeaker does? Treats her son worse than I'd treat a Manifested?"

Aurelia looked frantic. "I didn't intend--"

Banshee released Jason's hand and brought her finger up to Aurelia. "If you dare to try and tell me that you didn't mean to do that, it will not end well for you. If I have enough restraint to not slash my daggers through the throats of those I found last night laughing at Harpy's torture, you should have enough restraint to keep your hands off Jason. Do I make myself clear?"

Aurelia dropped her head, her mouth pressed into a thin, white line. "You do, Shadow of Skypillar. I have failed you."

"Oh you think so?" said Banshee. "Because I--" She cut herself off and took a long, deep breath as she stepped back, closing her eyes. When they opened again, there was something cold in them. The fire behind her previous tirade was gone, replaced by something that neither Jason nor Cryo had seen in her before. "I'm going to tentatively give you a momentary benefit of the doubt, Aurelia. I'll warn you, however, that this decision is not final. Consider yourself on trial."

"I understand."

"Super," said Banshee. She turned to Jason. "Now, Jason. Would you object if I were to escort you back to the performance hall so you may continue your violin practice after I so rudely dragged you away from it?"

A thud of curiosity lurked under his skin for a moment before it was smothered. "I would be honoured, Banshee."

"Then let's go! Bye, Aurelia! Don't waste too much air while I'm gone!"

Banshee took Jason's arm and pushed past Aurelia's skirts and into the corridor beyond. They walked in silence, but Jason could feel the anger flooding off Banshee. Though her arm was gentle on his, her fingers were curled and her shoulders were stiff. If the Serpent had shown up at that very moment, Jason wasn't sure that Banshee would have cared.

Possibly aside from thinking, 'hey, a punching bag!'.

The thought caught him so off guard that it managed to lift one corner of his mouth. In Banshee's shadow, his earlier panic was settling down once more. His chest didn't feel so tight or the walls around him confining.

The thud of curiosity surfaced a second time, and this time, Jason let it crack through. "How did you know what I was doing in the performance hall?"

Banshee waved a hand at him. "I transformed a little while ago and jumped through a few walls to get to the Starlight Hall, I happened to pass through the performance hall and saw you." She stopped their walk in a lonely corridor, where she placed her hands at the sides of her head and took a deep breath. "Look, I'm going to be honest. If it were entirely up to me, I'd fire Aurelia on the spot, but I also didn't hear the entire conversation, so I'm going to ask you. Do you think I should replace her?"

Jason hesitated. "You're asking me whether you should replace my mother as High Shadowspeaker?"

"I realise it's probably a little unorthodox, but I really don't care," said Banshee. "I trust you to be fair to her, despite the fact that she's your mother. Do you think she's worthy of being a High Shadowspeaker?"

Jason's gaze found the floor. "I don't believe she deserves to be replaced for one frustrated outburst."

"Why is that?"

"It wasn't particularly out of the ordinary from her usual discipline."

"That really doesn't help her defense," said Banshee. "If this isn't unusual for her, then why shouldn't I replace her?"

"Her words to me may be harsh, but they're fair," said Jason quietly.

"She grabbed your arm hard enough to leave marks."

"I did break my promise to her, not only this day but on others also. Her frustrations towards me are justified."

Banshee fidgeted on the spot, shifting her weight between her feet rapidly. "But you told me that--argh, nevermind."

"While I appreciate your concern for me, it is unnecessary," said Jason. "I thank you for speaking to my mother on my behalf before, but I am able to handle it alone. I wouldn't wish to waste your time with such menial things."

"You aren't menial," muttered Banshee. "And I didn't specifically bring it up about you. She made that implication on her own, though it was an interaction she had with you that brought it to my attention."

"I see."

"I'm sorry if I made things worse for you," said Banshee after a few moments of silence. "I react in the moment rather than thinking things through like Cryo does, which you're probably used to. I know we've never really spoken so this next bit will probably be a little out of nowhere, but given the way I've seen you conduct yourself and that you're Cryo's go-between, I trust you enough to do it. Okay?"

"What is it you require me to do, Banshee?"

"I'm giving you the power to fire Aurelia as my High Shadowspeaker," said Banshee. Jason's eyes went wide as her own held his, that roaring wildfire back in her blazing irises. "If you ever feel she is unworthy, you and you alone may dismiss her. No matter how bad she gets, I won't do it. It's going to be your decision, though I won't tell her that. It'll be just between us."

Jason wondered if he'd woken up in a nightmare. "May... May I ask why?"

Banshee regarded him for a moment before she kept walking. "Because no one can help you until you're ready to help yourself first. You no longer have the excuse of being powerless against her to put up with the way she treats you."

"I feel you may have an incorrect image of my mother," said Jason. "She isn't always so strict."

Banshee just gave him a sideways look and a small sigh before she kept on walking towards the performance hall. "If you say so, Frostsong."

*+*+*+*

A/N - Early chapter post because I need motivation to write new chapters. (will be one on Wednesday too)

CAUGHT RED HANDED BY THE ONE AND ONLY SHADOW HERSELF. 

Did Banshee catch you off guard with the whole giving Jason the power thing? I know a bunch of you wanted Olivia to straight-up fire her, buuut firing Aurelia won't fix Jason's problem if he can't even recognise that there IS a problem. 

Will it work? Who knows. We're gonna find out. 

SEND ME MOTIVATION PLEASE I NEED IT. 

ALSO I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY <3