Determined, keen-eyed, red as a bulrush. Veridian lifted his upper lip and showed his teeth as the bring who had seconds before fallen, now clambered up towards where he and Philomel stood. Bipedal as a human he swung up the white blade of the Rabbit sword, and stood in a simple Akashiman Juichi Re-di stance, whilst his beloved shivered in fear.

Hessiod. That man. Cursed, haunting her mind as it became filled with the screams of his terror. His snarl, his gleaming evil eyes. She had been so young, so naïve, a mere scrap of the woman she was today.

A figure began to ascend and appear on the broken tower pathway before them. Still, Philomel trembled, her hooves quaking, barely able to hold her standing steady. Soon, surely the mirage would finish.

But would it's effects on her?

He had been cruel. He had been savage. Hessiod was everything she had built the Gilded Lily to reject. Now she was forced to face him, with his wicked manner and evil ways. She could have fallen to her knees then, even as the vision began to shudder and reality call to her. Because she was reminded of the darkness, reminded of the night. Reminded of everything she abhorred.

Veridian gritted his teeth, feeling her true emotions. So, it would fall to him for now, while the Matriarch was faced with her nostalgic pain. Lowering his form he braced himself and began to call on the might of the sword he held. It's power met his needs, and as the enemy came into sight a series of vines and vegetation began to shoot out from the end of the blade. It spun and blossomed as if in spring, answering to its wielder.

"You won't touch her," the fox hissed. Ready to fight to the death for his soul's partner.