[center][h2][color=silver]Ferrin Astra[/color][/h2]
[color=440e62][h2]Mors Vincent Omni[/h2][/color]
Finale, Part 1[/center]

     Ferrin still had no answers. He was out of time, out of leads, and out of allies. He was walking down the street, deep in thought, trying to piece together the infuriatingly little information he had, but his thoughts were all over the place. [color=silver][i]I need to find so somewhere quiet where I can think...[/i][/color] A savory smell drifted across his nose. [color=silver][i]...or drink.[/i][/color] With a flourish, he turned on his heel and followed his nose. It lead him to a storefront with wide-open double doors, and a prominent sign that bore large friendly letters that proudly proclaimed that the restaurant was open. Ferrin difted in, floating on the intoxicating smell. Inside, there were booths lining the walls on three sides of the room, the fourth side had a countertop bar lined with bar stools. The center of the floor was filled with tables. Tucked into a corner was a piano and stuffed behind it was the piano player, playing a jaunty tune. At regular intervals lining the place were magic screens showcasing the Grand Magic Games so far. Laugher and drinks were spilled with equal frequency while chatter flooded the room.

 It was a happy place.

Ferrin paused in the doorway, suddenly overcome with memories of a place quite like this. Of course, here you didn't have to worry too much about knowing when to duck. Ferrin stopped that train of thought immediately. [color=silver]"Getting dammned maudlin."[/color] He muttered. Then the delicious smell overwhelmed him again, and he found himself making his way over the the bar. He sat down and stared at the source of the smell, a clean kettle hanging over a heating lacrima. 

The bartender was a tall, muscular, dark haired woman who looked like she could drink a man under a table or put him there. She had long since noticed the extra tall stranger in a white coat, and one hand tucked into a pocket. It could have been her acute business instincts honed by years of experience that told her that the man was after something...or it could be the way the man was staring lustfully at the fresh pot of coffee that had just been made. Either way, the bartender moved over to greet Ferrin. "Ho' there, hon. I'd ask what you want, but I've got a pretty good idea." She quipped as she busied himself with poring a mug of coffee.  "You are in luck, as I just made a fresh pot." She set the mug in front of Ferrin. "Anything to go in it? Sugar? Creamer?" 

[color=silver]"No thank you, ma'am."[/color] Ferrin replied, his manners ingrained in him during his childhood coming out. The bartender nodded approvingly. Coffee was best drunk black as a devil's heart.

 [color=silver]"How much?"[/color] 

"2000 jewel." ($20)

[color=silver]"Two hundred jewel! Thats-"[/color] The bartender cut him off with a wave of her hand.

"Robbery, right? Well try it before you say that. This here is the best coffee in all of Crocus. Besides, it come with free refills."

Ferrin gave her a suspicious look, before shrugging. [color=silver]"I'll take your word for it."[/color] He lifted the mug, and took a cautious sniff, the stream ticking his nose. It smelled amazing, at least. He lifted it to his lips, blew to cool it, and then took a sip. Surely the bartender was exaggerating, it couldn't be that goo--- 

The liquid hit his taste buds, and he was in love.

Dark, rich, full of flavor, just the right temperature. Liquid nirvana.

The bartender smiled.

After a sip, Ferrin's eyes went wide. He took a look at it, and then took a much larger sip. 

[color=silver]"Whoa."[/color] Was all he could manage. He dug a one hundred jewel note out of his pocket and passed it to her. [color=silver]"My compliments. It [i]is[/i] excellent."[/color]

The bartender nodded as she accepted the payment. "You enjoy. I'd love to talk, but I have other customers to attend to, but I'll be back with a refill." She said the last part with a wiry smile.

Ferrin rose his mug to her in a mock toast. [color=silver]"You read my mind."[/color] He said.

She left him alone with his thoughts.

Ferric nursed his coffee while he mulled over the recent developments. He knew that the Twin had been kidnapped (no pun intended) and that fact alone made him want to leap out of his seat and run around blowing up stuff until he found them. 

But that probably wouldn't help.

He took a deep breath to calm himself. [color=silver][i]I need to think clearly.[/color][/i] He told himself. [color=silver][i]Lay out the facts:

First, There is some plot to wreck havoc in Crocus using the Grand Magic Games as a cover up. Or possibly a battery.
Second, The person behind this is a necromancer of some kind. He or she is careful and clever, although prone to opportunistic and rash decisions.
Third, The Twin had something to do with them, a prisoner that escaped. They also said they were under a curse, a magic called "Law of Retrogression" from what I know about this magic, the caster has to be in control of their emotions or else it will wear off[/i][/color]

That made him pause. He drank some coffee.

[color=silver][i]Strange. The person that attacked us earlier seemed to be prone to emotions...that could mean that they have an underling with that ability, or they are a pawn of something else. Disturbing thought.[/i][/color]

Ferrin raised his mug to take another sip of coffee. Nothing. He blinked, confused and then he peered into the empty depths of his mug, not quite sure where the rest of it had gone. He looked up and there was another mug, full to the brim with the dark liquid ambrosia. He took an appreciative swig.

 [color=silver][i]Based on points one and two, and with the knowledge I gained from the library, I can conclude they are trying to resurrect the ancient dragons that a long time ago were slaughtered here. As far as I know, something like that would take massive...no an astrological concentration of ethernano. To gather that, they must be using a magic circle and a ritual of some kind. Crocus is a natural magical wellspring, and all of the wizards here generate huge amounts of power. A magic circle over the city would be able to gather and channel that magic...[/i][/color]

[color=silver]"Of course!"[/color] Ferrin shouted, popping up off his seat like a madman, knocking it over in the process. His mind was racing with excitement and caffeine. He knew how to find this necromancer, and if he could find them, he could stop them. He drained the last of his coffee in one huge gulp, then he grabbed a fistful of money, and slammed it down. [color=silver]"I have got to go, thanks for the coffee."[/color] He said, hurriedly. Then he dashed out the door, took a right turn and ran at a dead sprint. Behind him, at the bar, the bartender picked up the jewel and counted them. "Hey! Wait, this is way too much!" She called after Ferrin, but he was long gone.