"I can't put my finger on it..."

No doubt there would be hijinks having the twins in and out of the Rest in the future. The degree of said hijinks would likely vary but what mattered, was the amount of people congregating to protect and prevent Claire, from going down that dark road. One in which the victim of such was right here, with a slew of complicated questions to answer. To Lumina's credit, she decided to think these through carefully before conveying her thoughts.

"Simply put, the risks involve my proximity to death. In my world, Chaos is a manifestation of emotion and will, because it is a collection of the many hearts and souls, waiting to be reborn. Using the power the way I have, has side effects." Lumina admitted, her gaze becoming contemplative as she cupped her chin.

"Impulsive behaviour is a symptom. The strongest emotions are the ones that rise to the surface and colour your thoughts. When Claire gets up to mischief, it's...more tame at times because she is ultimately rational. When I get up to mischief, it's sometimes sporadic, compulsive. At least, that's how it used to be." Lumina had observed that although her memory was tampered, there were differences in the nature of her power, in its 'reach' as she would call it.

This limited reach, staved off a peculiar aspect of her chaotic ways. "When I helped people back in my dying world, it was often more a detriment than help. People forgave it as the antics of a pre-teen, since I always meant well and never did anything malicious. It just felt like there was something random that would go off, I refuse to call it bad luck because I don't want to think of myself as a jinx." granted, a smaller degree of that happened in the earlier days of her arrival and it was deliberately weaponized in the case of her dealings with Sonora.

"That doesn't happen anymore, thankfully. Now when I help people, it's exactly as I intend it to be. I can be someone who can be relied upon, without the weight of the world on my shoulders." Lumina confessed and closed her eyes for a moment to relax. When she opened them, she was resolute. For the topic she wanted to broach was not an easy one to discuss.

"Serah once gave a theory that my heart might not be broken. At least, not anymore but I thought she was just being optimistic at the time. Recently, I can see things that I would have had to ask Mog to tell me. I've had memory problems since I arrived in Zephon but I've been regaining memories as I lived here. I saw my...'death', as it were; when my heart rejoined with my other half. I know that I don't exist in Serah's timeline anymore but people still remember me. So, I think you're right...there's no threat of reuniting anymore." Lumina confessed but while there was relief to those words, there was something underlying her words.

"I'm free." yet the thought of it, the responsibility and all that entailed, scared her. Going along with Claire's plans and watching her new life here, was easy. Just as how sometimes with twins, there was an outspoken twin and a quiet twin. The later, tended to go along with the outspoken one. Sometimes that lead to trouble but other times, there was an equilibrium to it all.

"Say, Caius? Did you have cars in your world? If not, imagine a carriage and the Coachmen that drives it. I lived my life with someone else driving that carriage. One day, a God changed that, giving me autonomy. Now, in Zephon, I'm living with the consequences of that. It was easy to get by just by focusing on straight forward objectives. Now that it's mostly peaceful, where do I begin to be...myself, I guess?"

"I can't put my finger on it..."

"From anything that would disturb her slumber." Lumina replied without hesitation. Of course, there was much more to that story, something she noted to explain later on as it was fairly heavy. "Ah, well...there is an explanation for that." she'd admit, hesitant but happy that Serah was out there, holding her own. After their talk the other day, Lumina was a bit worried.

The playful banter between them was much appreciated. Lumina had a twinkle in her eye at the mention that a bit more company (of the chaotic variety) wouldn't hill him. Her expression implied she'd put that to the test eventually, laced with a whimsical smile. Lumina was the self-proclaimed good twin, the "Angel" as it were. What could she possibly come up with in the future, that was anyone's guess. Serah was probably right to call them Twin Devils, if tact weren't a thing.

Perhaps as proof of being the Angel, Claire looked immediately concerned when Caius admitted his loneliness. That prodding and assessment got her into trouble often, causing her to look into Caius eyes deeply. "Don't worry, you're in good hands." she remarked off hand. Claire was not the type to let anyone suffer in silence. She was rather empathetic, helped with the assessments she did; even if it wasn't used for helping people in earnest, like it used to be. No, that wasn't true, if she took her own actions into account, she helped plenty...though it was often detrimental (chaos was a difficult thing to control).

As for the prospect of triplets, the fact even Caius admitted he had his hands full with two of them, made her laugh in earnest. "Well, you did invite me. Be happy that I'm the Angel of the two of us." she declared with a sweet and endearing smile. For now, their conversation went into complexities and Lumina awaited a new round of questions.

"That is the question, isn't it? Fortunately, Mog provided me that answer. The souls of the living were brought to a new world, where they could be reborn. Serah as you can guess, was reborn in that new world. I didn't know that the Serah from that time was here on Zephon prior to our reunion. So, when I say I was protecting Serah, I was safekeeping her heart and soul from any incident that would happen while I was here." clarifying this point was important but there was more Lumina wanted to shed light on.

"There's something I should mention since you asked about the two halves coming back together. Claire's heart is fine, since it's unsplit. I'm the only vulnerable one, as all I have is a fragment of my heart. Maybe you're wondering, why would someone tear their heart into pieces? My other self, Lightning as she calls herself; wanted to grow up fast, to be strong, to get rid of anything that could make her weak. Her selfishness, her loneliness, her doubt...the parts that make us human." she confessed, her expression was sad.

"There was a Claire before the one you know and cherish. I can only guess that one, Lightning; had her heart restored before they went to the new world. Serah has never given me an answer about that but I can intuit it. In her timeline, I don't exist anymore. In Claire's timeline, I'm unborn, because we're still whole. Yet somehow, here in Zephon, I exist."

"I can't put my finger on it..."

Lumina wasn't sure what she was expecting from all this. There was something to be said about second hand information after all. What captivated her interest was the respect and admiration Claire had for Caius. When he called her Miss, she started to understand a bit better. "Almost correct, Serah and Claire moved in more recently, I guess. This is actually one of two homes that I have, my second is in Provo. I also have a condo in Sonora but I don't ever go there, so it's more like a guest house." she explained, trying to be modest in the face of overwhelming business success.

It all started when she got out of Sonora. Smuggling Diamond Dust was a very difficult thing. It caused her to be separated from...a friend. One she felt sad trying to recall but it was thanks to his efforts that she escaped and smuggled it out. After that, she met with certain clientel who wanted to get their hands on the restricted good that Sonora coveted. It effectively became an invest for more investments, for you had to spend money to make money. It started with getting an airship and permission to sell goods from Torensten to Provo, as well as Provo to Torensten. Effectively opening up a major trading route that she then had to pay a crew to secure that route.

"They've settled in quite well, it's nice to have company after being alone. Oh, right, can I get you anything?" she gestures with her left hand. Mog who took up the rear, had moved on inside and went to make himself comfortable. Acting as the silent observer who would fill Claire in on the happenings.

"I have to hand it to you, your fashion sense is good. I'm starting to reconsider dressing so casually. Claire kept me in the dark mostly but she strongly insisted this was a casual meeting and that you had questions for me. To be honest, I half expected one of her classmates at the door." for even Lumina wasn't above receiving Claire's mischief but well, Lumina had a time advantage over young Claire. Trying to trick the Master was folly.

"I can't put my finger on it..."

"You're right but it's always been that way. We've had a lot of time to lean on one another, centuries, really." Lumina confessed, feeling the tears stall as her mood improved. She wouldn't wipe away the tears just yet, she wanted the reminder of these emotions to stay awhile longer. It proved that she existed, then and most importantly, now in Zephon. A world where they had a new life together. Lumina had only started to treat Zephon as a new life recently, instead of being stranded here. However, if she was asked why the change of heart? All she could feel was a tight pain in her chest. A longing and she couldn't explain why but she knew that, she wanted to be here.

Distracted by these thoughts, she couldn't help but feel playfully challenged when Serah put a hand on her shoulder. Certainly, Light would take it as a challenge, the goal being to pull the wool over Serah's eyes, at least once. Yeah, the "twins" would try, in the future maybe but Zephon had changed them both in ways profound and simple. On the other hand, even if there were changes...differences, really. The core of who they were, wasn't so difference. Just different expressions, from different points in time or so Lumina felt. Though perhaps, the longer they were in Zephon, the more they'd become their own people. That thought somewhat frightened Lumina but somewhat excited her too. After all, they both had their own approach when it came to Snow.

Hence, Lumina rolled her eyes and effortlessly put on a Lightning imitation, "He passed, barely." it's not as if she hadn't tormented him for centuries to be sure. Something she'd not inform Serah of, given the circumstances. What was a secret between siblings-in-law, hmm? Such thoughts would be stowed away, as Serah was working out the information provided about Claire's preferences. They'd typically been focused on Serah's relationship concerns and needs, so this was a change of pace.

"Now you're catching on~" to think certain disputes could have been avoided with this added, "third party" foresight. "As for if she'd admit it, no, probably not. It's not that she's embarrassed or something silly like that~ Light is in the prime of her life now. Do you remember how she was when she decided she'd be trying out for the Guardian Corps? It's similar just more laid back since the stress of money and securing your future isn't on her mind." this fact made Lumina very happy in truth. Seeing her with a proper work-life balance, remembering the people important to her.

Alas, the thought was cut short because she picked up on something unsurprising. Even Serah wanted to make sure whomever dated her sister was 'just right'. Hence, Lumina had a very knowing look on her face, even as the subject shifted to Leo and the dilemma of switching. "Twin devils, I guess." it amused her but soon her expression softened as Serah provided Leo's point of view in all this.

She hadn't really considered how he felt until now. Largely, she was doing the switch to enjoy the atmosphere of being in school. The effect was different for Lumina, who had gone through this once already. Sure, she was happy that Claire was getting the proper experience but this was for her. It wasn't going to make up for the decisions made, with the people Lightning grew up with, after all. Now that she was considering it, she had an apologetic expression.

"Then we should tell him, I'm just worried that it might hurt him, I guess. There's no gentle way to tell someone that the person they like...isn't who they think. Also, I'm over five hundred years old sis..." it was a point she'd been making throughout her time on Zephon. For Lumina was treated as an eternal child and while it was fun to get away with mischief, for matters of doing business, it really impeded her. It was to the point where she had a proper assistance, who needed to handle certain "official matters". To which, her assistant was merely presenting an adult face.

When Serah playfully brought up the nickname, she did perk up but looked a bit uncertain as to how she felt with Serah using it. "When Leo uses it, I feel...unique, I guess." Zephon had changed her perspective on life and what it meant to exist. Strangely, she knew that this view had changed because of someone but when she furrowed her brows in thought, the memory only left her feeling a sense of longing. Lumina also knew that she didn't really want to leave Zephon, for it was here that her life had taken on new meaning.

"Mmm, when you use that nickname, I actually feel like the age I look. It's different but fun." she'd conclude before nodding with a smile. Just getting accustomed to being her own person and not a fragment, so when Serah brought up how Light was, later in life, Lumina shook her head. "Now, now. This is a different Claire, remember. The one you're thinking about, is me." the concept of a person that they knew, being a unique 'instance', as opposed to a continuous entity, was challenging but that did seem to be how Zephon operated.

Not that Lumina blamed Serah, this was a time of adjustment, changes, and so forth. Even if it did amuse her to see the shoe on the other foot, Lumina felt it was her place in this equation to keep a balance. "Sounds like you need some time to yourself, Serah. You won't be able to make the right judgement if you don't take care of yourself, you know~?" it was a hint, as per her style of problem solving. For now she was beginning to assess the needs of her sister.

Lumina noted how she clung on to the Blazefire saber's hilt, her words and a thought occurred to her. "I know this should be obvious but you really do love Lightning, huh?" Lumina leaned forward, propping herself up by her elbows resting along her thighs. Cutely, her hands craddled her chin as she observed Serah.

"I think it's clear now that what happens here in Zephon, means a lot more than we realize. The memories you had of Lightning, here are what you're trying to protect, not the memories you made back home. As for being the protector now... This is just the next part of your journey of independence, of coming into your own person. I won't stop you, if that's the role you desire. Just know that you don't have to do it alone. Claire might not be the Lightning that raised you but I am. Oh and don't overdo it, okay~?"

Serah made the pledge, as Lumina expected she would, so she nodded her approval. It was likely all she wanted of Lightning if Lumina thought about it, rationally. Mom had said they should work together as a family, to not do things alone. Sure it was...centuries late but in lieu of her complete self, she'd learn this lesson. Oh and there was plenty of sisterly team work to be had, between coming up with a nice outfit for Serah to wear as a teacher, to helping her fend off the crushes that were developing. Hmm, judging by her desire to give detention, maybe she'd spare the students identities...

"While it's true you do have a fiancé, Snow isn't here right now and in terms of age... You do look about the age of the senior students. It is a university, hmm, reminds me of the one I wanted to send you to, in some ways." admittedly, Lumina didn't have the heart to tell Serah that Snow might never be here, that she should keep an open mind. Probably because she believed in the big ol' lug, at least a little. Zephon could use his heroics and not his brooding. Besides, it was okay to wait a while, absence made the heart grow fonder after all.

"I'd hope Lebreau would dress appropriately around students, while being engaged too." she quipped, playfully. Perhaps that was why, when Serah called her Clarity, she 'groaned' but it wasn't remotely serious.

"Yes, yes, I'll help you. Honestly, you'll need a few. It would help to consider what the faculty likes to wear since they're the natives and we're the 'Outlanders' but the school seems pretty liberal, provided a certain aesthetic and cleanliness is met. So, let's get you seven outfits, with interchangeable parts. Then we need to go shopping for clothes to suit living here, permanently. You'd think this coastal heat would be nostalgic but it feels dreadful. Maybe I should dress more maturely too?" to Serah's surprise, Lumina might just be serious about that last part.

If only Lumina and Serah knew, that Claire had set Lumina up on a date, that she'd really need these clothes. Really, who was the chaotic one out of the two?