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These beasts were far too large, far too big for the hooded figure, it seemed. No, these were no thugs, no bandits; these were monsters, through and through, and monsters that their staff could not simply, easily defeat.

This really, really wasn't a good day. They would have to make a run for it as soon as this was over; not even a quiet slip away, but a desperate dash for freedom.

It was the fastest way to keep everyone safe, and they regretted every moment of it; because those they saved would likely fear them later, chase them out, and they risked drawing those who would pursue them here. But there was nothing for it.

Quietly, the hooded woman cast her cloak aside, a pulse of energy running through her as she doubles over in pain and stumbles towards the monsters, her blue-tinged silver hair covering her face. Her body rapidly increases in size, her visibly pale skin splitting aside to make way for moon-white, silvery scales as her silvery dress seems to mold into her scales and her face elongating into a lizard-like, reptilian snout with two black horns growing where her hair once was, her red eyes morphing into snake-like slits and her newly grown fangs snapping open to unleash a pained roar as muscle and skin tore and grew anew, reinforced and stronger. The last of her skin fell aside, discarded like a snake's molted skin. Her now-massive, scaled limbs expand, growing in size, cracking and tearing to give way for claws and talons that rend the ground beneath her, the gouges torn in the ground flattened as her tail slams the ground.

When the woman finally completes her transformation, discarding the last of her humanity, what stands in her place is a wingless, ethereal white dragon, lightning sparkling around its mouth and horns, far larger than she was before.

With a single roar, she rears up and exhales pale lightning upon the beast Caderyn attacks.

The hooded figure behind Caderyn stops, looking around as people flee and are assailed by the beasts that appear. They pause for a moment, trying to decide something, deciding whether to flee or stay. To flee, at least, would mean they could remain concealed just a moment longer. Staying would risk exposure; at least imprisonment, at most execution. Concealment was important; they could leave now, in the chaos, and nobody would ever notice.

They take one step to run away. It'd be so easy, just to take that second step and keep running, keep moving, keep safe and secure-

The screams of people being assailed by the beasts cements their decision.

Cautiously, carefully, the figure turns heel and follows Caderyn, attempting to keep themselves concealed, wrenching a slender white staff from the folds of their robes. They would try to keep concealed as long as possible and hide what they were for a moment longer; at least then, they could slip away when this was over.

Heal Kaldach

A hooded figure is nearby, their head kept down as the royal procession advances past, only the slightest glint of shadowed eyes flitting about, like a mother doe searching the woods for wolves. The cloak they wear is rather rough, disguising the form beneath it.

The girl simply gives Nobunaga a knowing look.
"More true than you think.

And if you need to call me anything, you call me Tatsuki. Don't get me confused with that....Ryuko chick...."
With a final, bloodthirsty grin, Tatsuki's eyes roll back into her head, as her body begins to shrink and she falls forwards. Within a few seconds, the torn and ripped hoodie and jeans she wears fit loosely again as her muscles and skin shrink to fit her normal-sized bones, and the girl who collapses to the ground in a heap is the tiny, vulnerable Ryuko Inui once more, unconscious but otherwise none the worse for wear.

"And don't pretend knowing mine will make you trust me more. I know your type; you won't trust me even if you knew how we turned into this. I know Ryuko won't tell you; she's all traumatised and scared about it still. And I sure as hell won't; it'd ruin the fun and I'd rather keep you guessing. Besides, as long as Ryuko holds the sword of fucking Damocles over my head, you're all safe; she's far too scared of what she thinks'll happen if she ever loses control of me. It won't be bad, but if you don't trust me, why would that mewling coward of a girl?

You should be thanking her, you know. She's really doesn't want any of you to die; especially you, sniper boy. 'Course, with how you're all probably going to treat her after she wakes up, that'll probably change. Don't worry about it. She'll have me for company. I'm a good friend; I know everything about her, after all."

"Oh, look at you, hyper-responsible and all. Yes, of course you'd say that. You haven't been on the run as long as we have. When you do, you'll take anyone to have your back, and do anything to keep them there, even if they're just forced to stay with you because they've got nowhere else to go. Feel free to chew her out, of course, she'd deserve it. I'd love you to do so. Really.

Of course, unlike me, she's a traumatised woman on the run, whereas I'm a high-functioning sociopath held in check by the fact that said woman will also kill herself to protect you from me."