In any other circumstance, Stark might have arrested Alex right then and there. But orders from the Imperator herself stated that they had time to kill. To Stark, both probably knew this was little more than a game of flattery and manners but if Alex wanted to go down this route, that was fine by him. The metal warrior glided in before halting a good distance from the thief.
“There have been massive energy waves emitted from this location,” said Stark, getting right to the point yet making sure not to accuse Alex just yet.
“So far, nothing has come close to matching this level of frequency. Nothing but a Legend Relic. I’m sure as a citizen under the Imperium, you are aware of the policy regarding such treasures. All Legend Relics are to be reported to the Imperium as soon as possible. In case you forgot Alex Kincaid.”High atop Yggdrasil’s tower, Titania wasn’t sure what was going on. A quick glance to her side and she found Měihóu to be falling off. Huh. Well, so much for a big rescue plan. Unfortunately, this meant she had ran right into Yggdrasil’s location, skidding to a stop before the platinum warrior. White Relic still in hand, she fired a shell at the Knight for a distraction before jumping off the side.
“Over here Měihóu!” Titania said, dropping like a rock. A heavily armored rock with a very valuable treasure in hand. She didn’t want to accidentally crush the White Relic so she holstered her weapon behind her back and cradled the treasure tightly, all the while aiming her body so she could properly align with the monkey’s freefalling form. Still, falling off the side of a massive flying tower was a better scenario then the one Eleonor found herself in.
Solanne stared silently as the form of her sister was swallowed up whole and gone from sight. Not only the Red Relic…but her sister as well.
“Get ahold of yourself Lorelai. You’re not the only one who failed here,” said the Crimson Hound, who clamped a hard hand on the maid’s shoulder. But by the way her own body was shaking, it was obvious rage was slowly coursing in her veins and her eyes flicked a wild fury that betrayed the beast inside.
“Yeah, snap the fuck out of it. We’re going the same direction anyway no thanks to these shit suckers here,” Ruxen growled, barreling past the two. Indeed, she was running in Eleonor’s direction because there was still a giant slime being formed behind them. Solanne saw this and forcibly began to drag Lorelai away by the arm, motioning for the Tori and the twins to hurry it up as well.
Further away in Rivenwood, things were finally falling into place. Two warriors of ancient times stared each other down and even now, the wheels of fate were turning all the same.
"Ah, but that is where you're wrong Fairy. Those with power are allowed to dictate the natural order," said the Jester of the Court. The machinations of the battle around them were of no concern of his; indeed, right now the only focus of his interest was Si herself. Perhaps he had come to intimidate her or perhaps this meeting had more dire implications then one would believe. Whatever the case, the Jester continued to stand rigid, almost like a cloaked corpse as his eyes narrowed in on the cat before him.
"Of course, you defying me was expected and encouraged. There can be no evolution without conflict and bloodshed.""There may be no progress without bloodshed... guh!" Si acquiesced the Jester's point.
"But it doesn't.... mean that you can play with people like pieces on a game. Nature has its own order... guh!" The cat fairy twirled her tail ever so slightly, barely enough to ring the bell she had near its tip, while eyeing the Jester with a stoic face that was uncharacteristic of Si.
"If this was a hunt, it would be ok, but you treat us like rats in a cage. What kind of result might you want to achieve when we have no means of fighting back?""I wouldn't say that to be true. You have the Relics, don't you? Think of them as gifts towards humanity. A way to challenge the future laid before you," the Jester mused.
"Nature's plan for you leads only to more suffering. Wouldn't you prefer a world of dreams and winners? One without need for sacrifice? To accomplish such a thing, pain and strife are needed. In the end, I am only assisting your journey."Si turned her back to the Jester, looking over the ensuing battle in the city bellow, both what could be seen and what couldn't. Her eyes rested on top of a high spire that once housed the seat of power of the Ancients. The beings that lived in this Shattered world long before the arrival of the Great Beast and all the conflict it brought.
"Nature is very simple; if we are hungry, we hunt and eat. If we are tired, we rest; if we are in heat, we mate and... if we find an enemy... we fight it. Your words are contradicting themselves. You want to cause suffering to end all suffering? And evolution to end all evolution? What's the point... guh!" Si's words had a firmness unusual for her, but this wasn't an usual situation as well; she could afford to bear her fangs a bit more, just as she did, when she turned back to face her interlocutor. It didn't mean any attempts at aggression, though, but rather a testament of Si's own words.
"We'll soon have all the Relics and those who shall wield them. When that's done, what shall come? Do you plan to reveal your trump card? Or are you going to let our own infighting destroy us?""My plans hold too much meaning for someone like you to understand. The minds of frail creatures cannot dream of the paradise I have in vision. Even so, your actions are beneficial to my cause. Conflict will always be present. But I can see that holds no meaning for you; allow me then to put this in simpler terms," said the masked man, tilting his head.
"A proposal then. There is a great battle to be waged Fairy, one between your forces and the Imperium. Is this faith of yours in nature so strong that you will continue to defy the path chosen for you?""... guh! It's not like I cannot understand, but that I cannot see why go so far and... why us?" Si sighed, twirling her tail once more before staring at the pitch black circles that stood for the Jester's eyes as if she could see a whole universe inside of them.
"With all the worlds, why come to this one? With your power, you could certainly even build a Realm of nothing but conflict; there was no need to interfere with our lives. And we will show you we don't need your assistance to live. I know they can, even if we must use the power of the Relics to do it. What I ask is... what will come after you are done? Also, why did you choose the Dollmaker for your agent? Isn't she supposed to be an enemy of your cause as well?""How vain you creatures are. You assume this world has anything special about it? In all of reality, have you ever heard of a world without peace? The reality is that all worlds suffer from a lack of evolution. As I said, I'm only assisting your journey towards being a superior life-form. One world at a time," said the Jester.
"But yes, show me your capacity to fight. Prove to me you deserve to choose your own paths. Through actions, not words. Only then can you find the conclusion to your story. What you come after is reliant on you alone," continued the masked man, his form slowly fading away like a phantom.
"As for Emilia Warov, well.... perhaps you should ask her yourself?" he offered before he was gone from sight.
"It seems like this battle is about to reach its climax... guh! I'll be sure that they reach it and win. Otherwise... where would I take my naps?" Si licked her lips, taking in the remainder of Fei's scent, while slowly descending the hill towards the battle against Tegonay.
"I think I know where I want to be from now on. The true question is do you have somewhere you belong to?" The white feline snickered, not even turning back to look at the fading smirk before all that was left of the Jester was the blowing breeze.
