[IC] Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

[AlteredTundra]

The influx of monsters had prompted all four of them to go at the monsters swinging. For the most part, it was really successful. There were a few instances where the group were each having their own difficulties killing the enemies in front of them in one blow, but that didn’t stop them. Each swinging their respective weapons at almost every foe that came at them, it wold get to the point that the monsters would stop coming in large numbers. However, they didn’t stop completely. That was until Wesley would utilize Holy into his sword and the undead enemies would stop and it was only a matter of time before the Steelings would stop coming at them.

When it seemed like they were able to move on, they did and Emiri would go on to say that something was there and that she can feel it. It took both Wesley and Jaakuna a few moments to realize what she was alluding to, but then they caught on. She must be referring to the Esper. They definitely were getting close, as the amount of mist in the air was getting more and more thick. It was getting to the point where Jaakuna nor Wesley couldn’t see five feet in front of them. Or at least, they couldn’t see the path. They saw their reflections as it faded from the mist.

When Emiri would ask if they were ready, Jaakuna spoke. “Am I ready? Of course I’m ready cause baby, I was born this way!” Jaakuna said in a very energetic tone.

Wesley looked towards Jaakuna and he couldn’t help but grin. He liked Jaakuna’s energy. “Well then Jaakuna, Emiri — after you guys.” Wesley said, offering to follow the two of them, while he and Nadeline hung back, but he sort of leaned towards Nadeline. “Is it just me or is Jaakuna acting different?” Wesley said as he could put his finger on it, but he definitely saw something different in Jaakuna’s attitude. “It’s like he went through a change, though I can’t place it.” Wesley would say quietly to Nadeline.

[Hero]

Nadeline grinned at Wesley, adoring his cluelessness. She let out a light giggle, lightly prodding Wesley's cheek. "Isn't it obvious?" She asked him, unable to really contain herself. "It's at this point in time that he realizes that she's the one." She sagely replied, nodding in approval. "[b]Mhm, mhm, from now on he will dedicate himself solely to her, and it gets to the point where just being around her is enough to left his spirits. Ah, young love, isn't it beautiful?" She gushed, letting out a rather quiet squeal of delight.

Emiri walked forward with Jaakuna, though she held a hand out to stop him as the familiar looking glyph appeared on the ground. The ghastly figure arose from the glyph, a horned skeleton grasping onto what looked like a blue skinned Hume woman. Its wing extended, lightly blowing the Mist around them. Emiri felt a slight chill, though held her sword at the ready. The thing freaked her out, really. The dude looked like something that belonged six feet under, and definitely lacked the more...mystical aspect that other Espers had. Even Cucucachoo seemed more...powerful for this thing. No, instead this Esper, Zalera, had a more devoid aura about it. Death incarnate, so to speak. She actually felt herself slightly trembling, tightening her grip on her blade. As she was about to make the first move, however, something in the corner of her eye caught her attention. Several skeletons broke free of the ground, assembling themselves.

The shamaness bound to Zalera let out a terrifying screech, and Emiri was sure she would have cracked glass if any were around. Still, the skeletons became much more active after that, each wielding a weapon and pointing it at the party. "Great, he's got friends." She commented, stepping back a bit.

[AlteredTundra]

Was It cause Wesley was clueless? No, it wasn’t that. He just never had that kind of relationship with someone, not like hoe Jaakuna and Emiri seemed to have it. Wesley wasn’t jealous, not in the negative sense. He was indeed jealous, but also happy for them. He smiled when Nadeline told him that Jaakuna realized that Emiri was the one. “Aren’t you younger than her?” Wesley chuckled as he said that. And again, he makes jokes. He’s making a habit of doing that and thus far his jokes have been pretty bad.

While Wesley joked about what Nadeline had said, Jaakuna and Emiri were at the front where they saw that the Esper was coming. Jaakuna looked on and saw that the beast itself took the form of a male(it looked like) that had nothing but his own skeleton and around his arm a woman, fully-skinned and all. It looked hume. Jaakuna didn’t recognize the woman, but he did remember when Wesley read about it and that the Angel of Death had some kind of Shamaness attached to him. That woman must be that very person. Either way, as he looked further on, Jaakuna saw — well sensed — something about this Esper. It had nothingness about it. It was like death was its existence and as such, so shall it be its nature.

When the beast revealed itself in all of its deathly glory, skeletons started to rise from the ground. At this point Jaakuna saw that Emiri was slowly stepping back, no doubt that she was a little frightened by the esper. Jaakuna grabbed her arm just gently, preventing her from walking any further backwards. “Don’t worry Emiri, as long as you stick by me, and we‘ll be fine..together.” He said turning his gaze to her. “Remember, we promised each other?” He said smiling goofily, yet somehow there was a reassuring aspect to his smile.

As Wesley saw the esper appear before them all, he drew his Platinum Sword. He raised his shield too. He would join Jaakuna and Emiri on the frontlines, his sword just boosting with magickal power from the mist and also his own amplification of his magick into the sword.

[Hero]

Emiri nodded at Jaakuna, smiling back. "Yes!" She replied rather happily, though her look turned into one of concentration as she looked around. Yes, together, they can do it. No Esper or anyone could defeat them. At this point Nadeline joined the group, daintily wielding her own rapier, carefully examining each monster and the Esper before them. "Wesley, Jaakuna, you keep Zalera occupied." She said, a glyph appearing beneath her. "Bravery!" She called, and each weapon was enhanced. "Emi and I will take care of the small fry. Oh, and by the way, it's not an order, more of a friendly suggestion! Divide and conquer!"

The brunette grinned, though she figured now was as good a time as ever to see just how much her new weapon would play out--this was the real test, after all. It sang through the air as she attacked a skeleton, easily toppling over the bag of bones to the ground. It was definitely stronger, though at this point she was used to the weight. As a skeletal mage prepared a spell, she smirked, happily casting a spell of her own in response. "Reflect!" She called, and its own Firaga bounced off her magical shield and decimated it. Boy, it felt so good to be able to cast magic again, and she was clearly giddy with it.

[AlteredTundra]

As Emiri gave Jaakuna a smile, it would soon turn to determination and concentration. The two of them would face the enemies as their gaze from each other ceased for the time being. As they did, Nadeline and Wesley joined them and it would soon proceed into Nadeline giving them an order — wait no, a friendly suggestion, as she so rightly put it. Whichever the case, Jaakuna and Wesley charged forward, each crossing each other’s path, like a zig-zag sort of deal, smashing any skeletons that would appear in front of them.

Going with each other’s momentum, they both jumped. Jaakuna’s blade was flowing with Fire Magick. It was like his entire Demonsbane was amplified from the mist and considering that under normal circumstances his blade is always amplifying magick, here within the mist, it’s almost quadruple. Still, Jaakuna found it under his control. The same was with Wesley, but his sword was laced with the bright whiteness of Holy. Glowing like the heavens’ light, he would strike as Jaakuna would strike as well. Both of them releasing the light of fire, if you will. As the two swords were motioned vertically downward, Jaakuna’s white and red fire went forth and followed by Wesley’s white light of the heveans, it would surround Jaakuna’s fire. The end result was a brightness at the head of the fire. This was just ten feet away from Zalera.

As the fire came near the esper, Zalera would scream and as that would happen, a wall of black and purple magickal energy would pop around the esper of death. This wall of flame-like substance just had a weird feeling. Jaakuna and Wesley would both feel it as they would land on the ground. It was like decaying flesh or something like that.

“Dammit!” Jaakuna yelled.
“This is truly troubling.” Wesley admitted.

Their combined attacks would have done a lot more damage if it wasn’t for the fact that they saw that Zalera was not only immune to whatever effects was left over from their attack being held off by that decaying black and purple magick wall, but the holy aspect of the attack seemed to be absorbed into her, as if it healed her. This what was truly troubling Wesley. He knew that his form of attacking wouldn’t be the best course of action. Jaakuna just didn’t know what to do either. Looking at each other, Jaakuna and Wesley were just going to try their best and hopefully something good would come out of it..

[Hero]

As Emiri moved to attack, she swore she heard a spell sing through the air. As she looked up, she saw the familiar rain cloud form. That's...! She let out a yell of surprise as Jaakuna and Wesley were drenched, and once again looked frantically around. This was Aloa's technique! Before she could warn them, however, the sound of lightning crackling caught her off guard. No, she always followed it up with Blizzaga, not Thundaga--and as she looked up she saw Vlyn above her, lightning crackling through his fingers. It was as if he had read her thoughts, giving her an apologetic look, and as the spell converged on Jaakuna and Wesley, she let out a scream. The water amplified the Thundaga attack, quite literally frying the pair.

Nadeline heard Emiri's scream, and as she turned around she saw Jaakuna and Wesley getting electrocuted. She didn't see the Esper fire off any elemental spells, what had happened? Her answer came in the form of Vlyn landing in front of her. As she opened her mouth to say something, he cast a spell on her. She threw her arms over her head, though she wasn't hurt. When she looked up, however, she found herself trapped in what was a makeshift Blizzaga cage. She could only watch as Aloa joined Vlyn, the pair attacking Emiri now. The brunette was somewhat caught off guard by their appearance, though she somehow managed to reflect both their spells, the Blizzaga and Thundaga bouncing back at them. She wasn't as lucky when it came to their physical attacks, and she was promptly knocked back by one of Aloa's kicks.

The blonde haired girl didn't understand what they were doing here. Had they come for them? Or were they here for the Esper? Her question was quickly answered as Vlyn kept Emiri pinned down, his spells making quick work of the skeletons. Aloa, on the other hand, had gone straight for Zalera. As it erupted another death wail, she simply raised her hand, and Nadeline watched as a stone absorbed the attack, so to speak. It must have been nethicite--the manufactured kind, no doubt. She then tossed the stone at the Esper, following it with a simple Fire spell. The manufactured nethicite glowed omniously, and then promptly exploded. In a sense, Zalera's attack was used against him, and it roared something fierce as it faded away. Zalera's symbol appeared on Aloa's hand, and she turned to the group, flipping her hair in victory.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Nadeline yelled through her cage. "What on Ivalice are you two doing?!"

Vlyn shook his head, placing cuffs on Emiri's wrists as she struggled to get away from him. "Forgive us, Your Highness." He murmured, lifting Emiri to her feet.

"I order you to release her at once!"

"That, my dear niece, is a command I must override."

Emiri ceased her struggling, watching as a black haired man appeared, about a dozen soldiers following in his wake. She felt her heart skip a beat, and not in a good way. He smiled at her, beckoning to the soldiers. The spread out, several going to each party member, though he alone approached her. She didn't even notice when Vlyn released her, and she actually backed away a step or two as he neared. Nadeline herself was in disbelief--had he really come all this way out here?

"It's good to see you again, Emelia." Grant spoke, bearing a small smile.

[AlteredTundra]

Both Jaakuna and Wesley didn’t even know what hit them. There was first a drenching of some water-based magick flowing from the sky and ontop of them. That was nothing but a very unwelcomed shower. Then, to their very obvious surprise, in came a Thundaga spell. Both of their faces had the expression of being shocked. First, they felt no sensation like before. Any pain they felt was just ten-times that, well at least for Wesley. Jaakuna remembers what this feeling felt like as he remembers getting electrocuted by his cousin, Ixion just the day before this one.

As they both were shocked and laid out, they could still hear and with little bursts of grunts, they could speak, but they couldn’t move. As much as they tried, both Jaakuna and Wesley were both paralyzed at the spot they laid on. As they laid in that very spot, Jaakuna watched Aloa get Zalera and Wesley only heard the bits of it. Using Manufactured Nethicite, Aloa absorbed Zalera’s instant-kill attack and used it to deflect it back at him, thus giving Aloa the services of the Angel of Death.

“YOU STUPID BUNNY BITCH! JUST WAIT UNTIL I GET MY HANDS ON YOU! YOU’LL BE SORRY YOU WENCH!” Jaakuna roared and roared at Aloa, but that wouldn’t do him any good. He was paralyzed in the spot he laid.

Wesley wanted to say something, but he knew that it would be in vain. As that would happen, Jaakuna would hear Emiri scream out. Jaakuna couldn’t see what was happening, but Wesley could cause he’s facing the direction in which Emiri’s screams are originating from. That wasn’t all. Wesley also could see that Nadeline was in a cage, literally. If he could move his face, it would be lit up with anger.

“Wesley, tell me what’s happening?”
“You won’t like it.”
“Just tell me.”
“The male Viera is cuffing Emiri and taking her to some black-haired fellow.”
“Who can that be?”
“Your guess is as good as mine, Jaakuna.”

As both Wesley and Jaakuna pondered on that, soldiers of both Rozarria and Archadia picked both Jaakuna and Wesley up as they would also be cuffed. Not able to move on their own, Wesley and Jaakuna were dragged by the soldiers and they would both be brought to the area where this black-haired dude would call Emiri by Emelia. Jaakuna hadn’t heard anyone call her by that name since Nadeline did the first time that he met her. Jaakuna would be silent for a few moments as he thought about everything, but most importantly the man that called Emiri by her ’real’ name.

“Wait a minute..” Jaakuna said.. ”You, in the fancy clothes!” All Jaakuna could do was speak. He couldn’t point or do any kind of movement. “You’re---” Before Jaakuna could finish his sentence, he would see Savayna, someone who he hadn’t seen since Lowtown. Jaakuna’s eyes widened. He was both angry, confused, and just overall shocked.

“Oh my dear Jackson.”
“IT’S JAAKUNA YOU BITCH!”
“My, my, why so angry? Oh that’s right, you’re in fucking cuffs, that’s why.”

Jaakuna and Savayna exchanged words — nasty words — and nasty looks. This would prompt Savayna to look around the room and she definite saw that it was a full house. The crown prince of Dalmasca and Archadia were here, and the princesses of Rozarria. Truly it was a rare sight. When she would smirk, Savayna had her gaze upon Emiri. “So this is the bitch that has caused me so much trouble.” She said looking angry, bitter, and just livid with jealousy.

Savayna would just control herself. “Grant, be useful and take these guys to the Airship. I’m growing tired of this place already.”

[Hero]

Her nightmare had arrived. Emiri felt her stomach drop as he approached her. Why? Of all the places and people here, why him? She caught Savayna's comment and glared at her. The feeling was mutual, so to speak--if the two women's looks were magical, an explosion of tension would have likely occurred. "Of course, m'lady." Grant nodded, signaling the soldiers to move out. "Let's get going to the Ark. Make sure they're separately detained." He said, leading the makeshift group of soldiers and prisoners out. The trek was quick and simple, as the soldiers quickly dispatched any monster bold enough to attack.

At his command, the group was dragged out of the Barheim Passage. Once outside, the Dreadnought Ark awaiting them. As they got on board, they were led through to the airship. It was huge, so to speak, and many other soldiers ran around, likely carrying orders. They saluted Grant and Savayna as they walked by, leading the group so to speak. After a while of walking they reached the holding cells. Grant instructed the soldiers to confiscate their weaponry and possessions. The soldiers discovered the Dawn and Dusk Shards, presenting them to Grant.

"Would you look at that." He commented, eyeing the stones warily. He took the Dawn Shard in his hand, eyeing it warily and he handed the Dusk Shard to Savayna. "I'm sure your Emperor will be pleased." He gave his piece to a soldier. "Send this one down to the laboratories, I want it tested .Set a course for the Stilshrine of Miriam as well."

As the soldier took off with the stones, he looked at each person, letting out a sigh. "Really...what a crew." He then smiled, catching Nadeline's glare and chuckling slightly. "Worry not, Your Highness, once we take care of a small matter, we will be heading home. You are safe from the criminal."

"The only criminal I see here is you!" Nadeline replied, rather ticked off. "How dare you detain us as common prisoners?! Have you any idea of who these people are?!"

"Of course, princess. My apologies to you and Prince Wesley." He then beckoned another soldier to him. "Separate him--" He motioned to Jaakuna. "--And her--" He motioned to Emiri. "--From them." He motioned to Nadeline and Wesley. Nadeline was heard yelling something about 'that wasn't what she meant' or something, but he had to ignore her for the moment. She would thank him once they were back in Stigma. As the soldiers complied these demands and separated the group, he turned to Savayna. "Quite the reunion, isn't it my lady?" He asked her rather cheerfully. "If you will excuse me, I want to have a word with one of them." He bowed as he took his leave.

He entered Emiri's cell, finding her on the floor. The girl looks up to see who had entered, but once she saw it was him, she planted her eyes firmly onto the ground.

Grant finally breaks the silence as he kneels down to her and says, "I've missed you."

She refuses to look at him, keeping her eyes directed away from him as her face turns to the side. He places a hand under her jaw, turning her face towards his. She closes her eyes in an act of defiance. He hates it. She knows this. It angers him more. And yet, he manages to keep his temper under wraps, mainly because he senses her fear. She may put on a brave face, but her body betrays her very emotion. He hears her breathing quicken, her body trembling at his touch. And it is for this reason that he knows that he still has his hold over her.

"Tell me." He speaks quietly, releasing his grip on her, but remains kneeling in front of her. "Did you really think you would escape me forever? Your little game of cat and mouse was amusing while it lasted. Now you're where you belong...with me."

He was a fool if he really thought as much. "You can have any woman in the country. Why bother chasing a common born?" She asked him, not really caring for the answer.

"Come now, Emelia, you didn't have any objections when we met, did you?" He asked her with a slight frown as he played with her ponytail. "You seemed relatively passive for years. It was just like any other arranged marriage; we met, we spoke, we got along. And then suddenly, you start to change."

"It's only thanks to you. You opened my eyes at what a fool I was, and you and my mother can go jump off a cliff for all I care."

He smiled as he twirled her locks between her fingers. "Did I? Hmm, I cannot say I recall doing such a thing. Cause me no more trouble, you and Nadeline will return to Stigma with me. Your mother will be happy to see you. All will be as it was."

"Are you mad or deaf? I will NOT return, lest I be used by you AND her! You don't even care about me, you're just upset that I refuse to go along with your demands!" She yelled at him, clearly losing her temper. "Leave me be and get yourself another tool to use!"

"Of course I care. You're my precious doll." He responded with a somewhat hurt tone in his voice.

"I am NOT your doll." She hisses at him.

Grant smiles, lightly grabbing the back of her ponytail and pulling on it so that she is forced to look up at him, He is greeted with a seething glare and he seems amused at this. He gently kisses her neck, sending chills up her spine, and to his surprise, she begins to struggle against him, her bound hands pushing against him. His grip on her hair becomes tighter, and he pulls her up, forcing her to stand to avoid getting her hair pulled out.

"And yet I pull one string--" He replies, tugging on her hair. "--And you do my beckoning. Perhaps not a doll, but a puppet, then?"

Her heart is racing at this point--he may not show it, but he is furious with her at the moment. He tosses her onto the bench, pinning her arms above her head.

"Stop...!" He voice comes out as a mangled plea, a shriek emitting from her mouth as she continues to writhe under his grip.

He takes out a dagger, running it up over her knees, up her thighs as it pushes her dress up. He continues to let it trace over her stomach, then her left breast. When he finishes, the point is pressing onto her collarbone lightly. He presses the blade onto her cheek, enjoying the panicked reaction she gives him. "What happened to that defiance you had just a moment ago?" He asks coyly, using the dagger to slide off her sleeve and revealing her bare shoulder. "Why don't you try bringing it back? I would love to see it."

She froze in place, terror paralyzing her. She feels the air escaping her lungs, knowing what he will do next. He presses his dagger onto her shoulder, slowly tracing a line. Blood seeps out after the blade, and slowly he repeats the process. "Stop it! Leave me alone!" She screams out as he continues.

It is not until several minutes pass that it stops, her screams increasing with every cut and silence only comes once he is done. He lifts the dagger from her skin, admiring his handiwork as if it were art. He kisses her shoulder, then her neck. This time, she does not struggle. His lips smirk as he kisses her cheek gently, and he backs away to admire her face. Her eyes are closed now, her face bearing a pained expression. He places his thumb on her chin, prompting her to open her eyes to look at him. He lifts her sleeve to cover her wounded shoulder, and then envelops her in a kiss. It is short, but its effects haunt her. He pulls away, placing one more kiss on her forehead and stands up, releasing her arms. They drop to her lap, as if all the energy had been drained out of them.

"Be a good girl and sit still, I have some manners to take care of." Grant says as he leaves.

Once she is alone, the feeling of powerlessness returns. It overwhelms her, and before she can get a hold of herself, she felt the tears rolling down her face already. She hated him. She hated him so much. Why couldn't she stand up to him? Why was she so weak? "Jaakuna..." She whispers, shoulders shaking as she cries.

[AlteredTundra]

“It’s over. It’s really over.” Jaakuna said under his breath. He didn’t want to believe it to be true, but it was. Archadia and Rozarria had gotten their prizes: Rozarria had gotten Emiri and Archadia had gotten Jaakuna himself. It was the sad truth of it all and at the moment Jaakuna realized this, his hope was swept away. He not only was hopeless at the moment, but he knew he would surely be put to death by his own brother. Everything just sucked and Jaakuna couldn’t do anything about it in his condition.

As Jaakuna wallows in his hopelessness, the soldiers of Rozarria and Archadia as well as Grant, Aloa, Vlyn, and Savayna lead them all out of the Barheim Passage. The monsters that would come to them either by the mist in the area or just the noise that all of the armor would make from walking, they would be cut down to death. All the soldiers can handle a few skeletons and steelings. Everyone would soon make it out of the passage and into the heat of the Dalmasca Estersand. The heat, though incredibly hot, was the least of the worried that the group faced. They were prisoners and nothing could be done about it.

Within minutes, everyone boarded the Dreadnought Ark. None of the captured four were happy to be in the position they found themselves in. When they were in front of Grant and Savayna and the two Viera, Aloa and Vlyn, Grant would order the soldiers to confiscate all the weapons and any other possessions that they had so that all they had were the clothes on their backs. Both Wesley and Jaakuna roared out. ”NO!” This would prompt the soldiers to attack them with a punch to the gut to each of them. Both Jaakuna and Wesley bent over coughing up blood. Of course, Grant was probably wondering why they were speaking up all of a sudden and when he would see the Dusk and Dawn Shards, it made sense. And of course, the scumbag would take both of them, giving the Dusk Shard to Savayna, and telling one of the soldiers to take the Dawn Shard to the lab for study and research. He would then tell whoever the pilot of the Dreadnought Ark was to set a course for the Stilshrine of Miriam

As Nadeline and Grant exchanged words, Wesley just gave Grant the dead look. Meanwhile, Jaakuna had a very emotionless look on his face. He had been broken. Jaakuna really was at a loss for everything. Wesley would look over to Jaakuna for a brief moment and see how vast the events that had transpired affected him. He really had no idea. Right as Wesley was about to say something to Jaakuna, Grant would order the soldiers to separate the group from each other. He would specify that Jaakuna and Emiri were to be put into separate cells while Nadeline and Wesley were to be put into the same cell.

When the soldiers took Jaakuna, Emiri, and Wesley and Nadeline to their cells, Savayna just smirked at the wonderful position that her dear husband finds himself in. Grant then made a comment about how it was a wonderful the reunion was. He would then take his leave as he made a note that he would go speak to one of them. Savayna knew exactly who he was going to speak to. She actually let out a small laugh as he would walk away.

While Savayna stayed in the cockpit of sorts, Jaakuna was in his cell, sitting on the bench. Jaakuna was so out of it that it’s not even funny. He felt so loss, nothing about this was right and he never thought that he would be caught. Maybe that overconfidence is what led to his capture. He felt like a failure in that sense. He felt like he failed Wesley, he felt like he failed Nadeline, and most importantly, he felt like he failed Emiri. That’s when he could clearly hear screams. This somewhat snapped him out of his hopelessness state. He would hear her screams and he would immediately get up from the bench, pounding on the steel walls of his cell, shouting the same word. “EMIRI! EMIRI!” Shouting that over and over again, Jaakuna wasn’t even sure if she heard him

As Jaakuna would just repeat yelling Emiri’s name, his door opened. He turned to look and see who it was and in his gaze was an encounter than he wished he would never have.

“Oh dear Jackson, are you trying to call out to your little tramp?” Said Savayna as she stood there, walking into the room and the steel door closing behind her.

Jaakuna looked at her with disdain, anger, and guilt. “DON’T CALL HER THAT!” He said

As he would try to attack her with a punch of some sorts, but she would kick his arms up with a vertical kick and spin her body and kick him in the stomach with her other leg. This would send Jaakuna to a hard impact with the steel wall behind him and his ass on the bench. Savayna smirked and she would walk over to Jaakuna as she would raise his arms up and freeze them into the wall for the moment. He was stuck there and that’s how exactly she wanted it to be.

“Now that I have you where I want you, you’re going to tell me everything!” She said as her voice volume would increase.

Jaakuna just spat in her face. She slapped him with all that she could. This would continue for a few more rounds and it would lead her to create a blade of ice around her left hand and placing it against Jaakuna’s neck.

‘You’re going to tell me now or you can die here!”
“But what about my brother? I’m sure he won’t like it if you kill me.”
“Fuck your brother! I want answers and I’m getting them now.”

Jaakuna conceded and the look in his eyes would tell Savayna that he would answer any questions that she had.

“Fine, I’ll tell you, but do take that blade away from my neck. It’s cold as ice.” Jaakuna said chuckling, but it hurt cause the blade was still against his skin.

Savayna removed it both from his neck and her arm itself. She pulled a chair in front of the bench that Jaakuna “Now, tell me why did you kill your father?”

Jaakuna’s eyes widened. He knew that she would ask that question eventually, but right off the bat? He wasn’t even ready to answer that, but most importantly, how could he? He just couldn’t give that answer, not without bringing up what led up to it. “I-I-I can’t answer that.” He shamefully admitted.

Savayna’s face lit up with anger. “YOU WILL TELL ME!” She said grabbing Jaakuna’s face and proceeding to knee him in the gut.

As Savayna kneed him in the gut, he coughed out blood. “Fine, I-I-I’ll tell you.” He said coughing more blood.

Savayna still had his chin in grip of her right hand. ‘Now tell me why you killed your father and left without even saying a word to me?!” She said, slightly shouting as she did.

Jaakuna sighed. “Before I tell you the why, you need to know what led up to it.” He said, “You see, my father called me and Vincent to the Emperor’s Office to name his heir to the throne. You might not be surprised at this, but I was expecting it to be me.” Jaakuna said sounding almost nostalgic. “He chose Vincent over me.” He said in a low tone.

Savayna wasn’t satisfied. “So, you killed your own father — your own flesh and blood — cause he bent tradition and chose your younger brother instead of you to succeed him?” Savayna was both confused at Jaakuna’s explanation.

Jaakuna looked away.

“TELL ME!”
“YOU WANT TO KNOW!? FINE! I KILLED HIM FOR YOU OKAY! MY FATHER SAID I COULDN’T BE EMPEROR CAUSE, TO QUOTE HIM, ‘I WAS MARRIED TO A WHORE LIKE YOU!’”

After yelling that, Jaakuna had said it and even worse, he yelled it for everyone to hear it. However, what the more surprising thing was the look on Savayna’s face. It was as if she hadn’t come to terms of what Jaakuna just admitted and eve more so, why he killed his father. Savayna slowly stepped back. She was in such disbelief.

“You’re lying..YOU HAVE TO BE!” She yelled out.

Jaakuna wished he was, but he definitely wasn’t. “You really think I would lie about something like this? This whole thing is why I left when I did, it’s why I’ve been avoiding you all this time. Trust me, if it wasn’t true, I would face my brother in a heartbeat.” Jaakuna admitted.

Savayna just couldn’t believe him. “I don’t believe you. I CAN’T!”

Jaakuna didn’t blame her, but the fact of the matter of it all was that what he just said was the truth. “Savayna, once upon a time, you believed me. You know that I never would lie about something like this — something this serious. I swear on my father’s memory that I’m telling the truth.” He said, “but why should you care? You hate me remember?” Jaakuna said.

Savayna didn’t know what she felt, not right now. “I can’t do this right now.” She said as she would walk out of the room. As soon as she did, the ice that constricted him to the steel wall cracked and he was free.

---

Across the hall, Nadeline and Wesley could hear bits and pieces of what was going on. They heard Emiri’s screams, they heard the loudness of Jaakuna and Savayna and they even heard his admission. Wesley was troubled by this, but confused above all else. He looked to Nadeline and he saw that she was a mess. He would go over to her, sitting next to her on the bench, reach his right arm over her, and would go on to comfort her. “Nadeline, how are you holding up?”

[Hero]

All of her composure had, seemingly, flown out the window. As soon as Nadeline and Wesley were locked into that cell, she could only lean her head onto the door, mentally pleading with it to open. If Grant was here, she needed to protect Emiri. And yet, once that thought had crossed her mind, Emiri's screams would tear right into her heart. She cursed Grant, she cursed her country, and she cursed herself above all. What was the point of being a princess if she could do nothing for her friends? For the first time in a very long time, Nadeline was shaken to her very core. Her usual, unfazed self had all but disappeared. She wanted to scream, to shout, to cry, to break something, but she was uncharacteristically silent.

And then they heard Jaakuna's confession.

She could not say she was surprised; all the hints were there. Maybe somewhere deep down she had known, but she just didn't want to accept the truth. It was cruel, it was pure denial on her part, and she couldn't take it. She went to the bench and sank into it, placing her head in her hands. Where did everything go so wrong? It was not long ago that they were so united, now they were broken up. Well, she felt broken, anyway. While she was wallowing in her thoughts, she felt Wesley comforting her, and looked up at him. Oh, how could she have been so foolish? Why couldn't she stop Vlyn and Aloa? Why?!

At this point, she just cried.

It was a truly rare sight to behold. For as long as she could remember, she vowed to wear the royal mask with pride. She could not show any weakness, as that was just a way for the enemy to take advantage. All her fears were behind her, as they would only drag her down. And yet, at this moment, she just couldn't take it. So she hugged Wesley tightly cried into his chest. And she cried, and cried some more.

---

What?

Emiri laid against the wall, eyes wide with shock. That couldn't be true, could it? He murdered his father...for her. He did it for her. And yet it pained her to hear this, not because of what he did, but what he said. It kept echoing in her head. 'For you' he had said. 'For you'. She felt numb, and sad, and angry, and frustrated, and every other emotion just seemed to pile on and confuse her more. Was she in denial? She didn't know or understand what she was feeling. Her heart beat against her chest and made her feel sick. So then, did he still love her? And right then, when that thought crossed her mind, she lost it. Why? She asked him mentally as she cried harder. Why did you have to go and say that?!

[AlteredTundra]

Crying and crying on his shoulder, Wesley didn’t say anything. He just let her cry it out. After everything that has transpired, Wesley knew that he had to be that shoulder for her to cry on. He knew that whatever pride or mask that she would have, she would abandon it cause her sadness is too much and now she would just let it all out. “it’s okay, just let it all out.” Wesley said as patted Nadeline on the back as she would cry all of her sadness out of her body.

---

Jaakuna just didn’t know what to do at this point. He was cuffed up, he had just given one of the biggest confessions in the world and the worst part of it all is that Emiri most likely heard him. He heard her screams, so of course she would hear him yell. How was he going to even begin explaining this to her? He didn’t even know if he could. Everything he said would sound like as if he still loves Savayna after all that happened between him and Emiri. Perhaps there’s a very small part of him that still loves Savayna, but that small part is slowly being overtaken by his love for Emiri.

Jaakuna just sits on the floor, against the wall that is closest to Emiri’s cell. He just bangs his head on the wall, the thud sound repeating as he repeats his banging.

---

Savayna had been reeling with what Jaakuna had said. She didn’t even know what to believe and what to take as a lie. On one side of things, Jaakuna could be telling the truth, which makes her position all the more complex. On the other side of things, he could have been saying that to get under her skin. If it’s the former, then it’s pretty bad. If it’s the latter, then it was working cause she’s completely bothered by this. Savayna just doesn’t know what to feel about this. She would have to analyze this all, but then Savayna got a bold idea. She knew she was going to regret it later, but she went to a certain person’s cell.

Opening a cell door, Savayna walked in, and to her sight, she saw a crying Emiri. “Okay princess, we need to talk.” She said pulling up a chair and sitting in it, crossing her legs.

[Hero]

As she heard the door open again, she dreaded Grant's return, though braced herself. However, it seemed that despite all that happened, the gods would spare her--and replace Grant with another demon. She was quite surprised to see Savayna herself walk in, and despite her tears, narrowed her eyes at her. She didn't like her one bit--and that dislike grew stronger with Jaakuna's little confession. Still, she wasn't in any position to resist or even fight; her hands were bound, her powers weren't working, and she was pretty sure her magic was probably gone again. She sat up a bit, wiping her tears away and taking in a deep breath.

"What about?" Emiri asked quietly, eyeing the ice queen before her. Her tone was neutral; she was not hostile, but she was sure if Savayna had her way, she'd slice Emiri to bits if she had the chance.

---

After what seemed like an eternity, Nadeline either finally finished crying or ran out of tears. She really wasn't sure which, to be honest. She felt like crying some more, so she deduced that she had just ran out of tears. Still, her sorrow burned something fierce, and the blonde haired girl had just about had enough of everything. Gently pulling herself away from Wesley, she stood up and approached the opposite wall. There was a moment of silence as she simply stared at the wall. And then, without warning, she punched it. There was another punch, and another, and pretty soon Nadeline was essentially in a fight with a wall that would not yield to her attacks.

Despite her now sore knuckles, she just felt so much better letting her frustration out. She then took a seat next to Wesley, looking at him cheerfully. "What a relief, I feel so much better now." Her voice was much brighter then before, almost back at normal. Still, she put on a more serious face as she thought carefully. "It would seem we are in quite the position here."

[AlteredTundra]

Wesley’s eyes just widened as Nadeline would go to punch the wall over and over and over again up until the point that her knuckles were near bleeding and what even shocked him more was that she just felt all better after that very violent display. Though, Wesley did think it was a lot better than her punching him. Wesley slightly chuckled at that thought.

When Nadeline would speak, Wesley nodded in agreement. “We have to find some way to get out of here. I don’t like the idea of handing over Jaakuna over to Archadia or Emiri over to Rozarria.” He said, pausing, “And god-forbid you return to Rozarria too..” his face instantly went red.

---

As Savayna sat in the chair, Emiri was obviously not happy to see the Ice queen. She would snap at what Savayna wants to talk to Emiri about. “No need for any of that. I only wish to talk.” She said looking to the other direction, then back to Emiri. “Okay listen here, I know you don’t like me and I don’t like you all that much, but above all else, I fucking hate Grant.” Savayna said, “I have half of a mind to sneak you and your friends out of here, but..” She said pausing, getting up, pulling the chair over, and sitting real close in front of Emiri. She would lean in. “You have to answer one question for me. Depending on your answer, I’ll either let you go to god-knows where or you’ll rot here until you return to your homeland.” She said, telling Emiri that she would have to answer just one question and answer it to her satisfaction.

[Hero]

Nadeline let out a sigh as she cast a Cure to heal her hands. Yes, he was completely right. But she knew that! And he knew that she knew! The question was how! Oh, this whole thing was absolutely frustrating and she absolutely hated it. But something Wesley said made her think about something. He had mentioned both Jaakuna and Emiri--the two obvious factors in the alliance. And yet, according to said alliance, it was about Jaakuna and herself. This was also an almost fifty-fifty situation as well from each empire. Grant had also made sure that Jaakuna and Emiri were separate from them. She wondered, did Archadia know about Emiri?

And then it finally clicked in the blonde head of hers.

"Archadia doesn't know about Emiri." It came out as a very quiet whisper, but her eyes were wide with the realization. She looked to Wesley and took his hand. "They don't know about Emiri--they don't know about her power! Archadia is under the assumption that I am more important, but the truth of the matter is, Grant doesn't give a damn about you or I! He is such a fool--he gave it away the moment he told the soldiers to separate Emiri from us! He SHOULD have separated me, but he didn't!" Her voice was low enough so that no one would hear, but it was high enough for Wesley to her.

---

Emiri looked at Savayna, trying to read her. But it was impossible; Emiri was never good at reading people and Savayna was not an easy person to read anyway. At her mention of hating Grant, she quirked an eyebrow at her. It looked like working with the enemy was not as harmonious as she had thought. She actually got slightly nervous as Savayna came closer, but this was more of the effect Grant had rather than Savayna herself; her shoulder still hurt. She also somewhat doubted her offer (and doubted that it included Jaakuna as well). But what possible question could she have for her? Seriously?

"What is it?" She asked.

[AlteredTundra]

Wesley listened to what Nadeline had to say and everything she said did make sense. Everything from how Archadia didn’t know about Emiri’s special power to how Grant truly was a fool. Everything she said pointed to the fact that Emiri was the one true point of this entire abduction. It was the entire point on why they separated Jaakuna and Emiri and not Nadeline and Wesley, which they both can use to their advantage. “Now that we know this, perhaps we can use it to our advantage, maybe even surprise the enemy with this.” WEsley said as he pondered what to do next. It was good that they knew this, but how to use it effectively was the real question to ask.

---

Savayna wouldn’t blame Emiri for her suspicions. Her face gave it away. She was very suspicious of Savayna. However, everything that Savayna had said was the complete and absolute truth. Savayna leaned back in her chair, looking to the ceiling before asking her question. She had to word this perfectly..

Savayna cleared her throat. “Emiri, do you love Jaakuna?” She simply asked not even wanting to waste time. The truth of the matter was that Savayna believed Jaakuna on what he said about killing his father for her and while she hated him for the longest time, she understands why he left. Killing your father for a woman is just stupid, but Savayna understands.

[Hero]

She was not expecting that.

Emiri's large, violet eyes blinked a few times, as if she did not understand the question. No, she understood it. She just couldn't believe that was what Savayna wanted to know. She would have expected her to ask Jaakuna this question, not herself. Once the shock faded off, however, she knew she had to give an answer, lest she suffer from the ice queen's wrath. Except...she didn't know the answer to it. Ever since he had confessed to her, she wasn't sure. No, it wasn't that she wasn't sure, she just...had a harder time putting her feelings into words. Hell, she had a hard time even accepting her own feelings. After years of feeling nothing, suddenly all these emotions are thrust onto her. And this was no exception.

The truth of the matter was, she did not know what love was. She didn't understand it, really. What, two people spend time with one another and then suddenly they love each other? How did it work? How did one person know that they loved another? The only relationship she had that was even remotely healthy was her relationship with Nadeline, but even then that was friendship. Not love. She did not love Grant, his idea of loving her was twisted. She did not love her mother, she doubted that her mother loved her. Everyone she was supposed to love did not love her, and in return she did not love them, either. It was a somewhat painful truth, one that she had been running away from.

Jaakuna loved her. Or...at least for the first time in a long time, she hoped so. Maybe his little admission for Savayna meant he still had lingering feelings. Maybe hearing him say that tortured her. She remembers the ship, where she admitted her jealousy. She wanted him all for herself. She wanted him to love her and no one else. And yet, when it came to how she felt about him, she was just so scared and unsure. Yeah, she was just scared. Scared of him turning out to be like every other loveless relationship in her life. But what did she feel, really? Could she answer Savayna's question?

Her face was completely blank as she looked at Savayna.

"Yes." It was an epiphany for sure. Her admission was so quiet, like an accidental thought that had slipped from her lips. "I love him." She couldn't believe what she was saying, let alone to whom she was saying it to. But this time she was louder. "No matter what. I will protect him from you and anyone else who wants to hurt him." Because she promised that. She said she didn't care, and she meant it. At this point she stood up. "And if I find that you've harmed so much as a hair on his head, may the gods help you, because I promise you, I will make you regret it." She didn't even know what she was saying at this point, but her determination was clear.

[AlteredTundra]

Hearing every word that Emiri spoke, Savayna listened. She would listen to every letter, and how those letters formed words. She would listen to the tone in which Emiri spoke them in and her actions that followed. Savayna would listen for the emotion that she would put into her words and most importantly, she would listen and look for Emiri’s resolve to protect Jaakuna, as she said she would do that should any harm come to him. Savayna was more than satisfied with her answer.

Even when Emiri would stand up and threaten Savayna, the Ice Queen would smile, then nod her head. “I see.” She said standing up from her chair, and turning away. Obviously by this point, Emiri was probably wondering where Savayna was going. Her limited response to Emiri’s confession of loving Jaakuna was probably less than thrilling. That’s when Savayna drew her Ice Queen sword, and quickly slashed to Emiri.

And then there was dropping steel.

When Savayna had slashed her sword vertically, she did not aim for Emiri herself, but rather her cuffs. She then turned to Emiri. “What you said, and how you said it, I accept that answer. I accept that you’re the one that Jackson---erm I mean Jaakuna loves. Once upon a time, I was on that boat, but that ship has sailed. Don’t throw his love away like I did.” Savayna said as she was starting to cry, but she quickly wiped the tear away. “Oh and by the way, I know you’re the Girl of Time in that rumor. It took me a while, but in Rabanastre, I was able to put it together.” She said admitting that she knew about Emiri’s gift. “Don’t worry, I promise on my life and honor as an Archadian to keep your secret safe. It shall go with me to my grave.” She said promising to keep Emiri’s secret of her power away from Vincent.

As she would motion Emiri to follow her, she would lead her to Jaakuna’s cell to which she would open it.

At the door, Jaakuna saw Savayna, and instantly his gaze was of an angry kind, but then she stepped aside, showing Emiri. “Emiri!” He said getting up from the bench and he was going to run and give her a hug, but he hesitated.

Savayna would step into the room and door closed. “Can you two hurry it up? We don’t got all day.”

[Hero]

The Ice Queen sure was full of surprises today. She saw the attack coming...except, she didn't think the attack was to free her. She was almost certain the attack was meant to harm her. For a moment the brunette was completely dumbfounded by the blonde woman's actions. not quite understanding them. But the gods were certainly smiling upon her now, and she wasn't about to decline Savayna. As she followed her to Jaakuna's cell, her heart skipped a beat. No, she didn't have to be afraid. She made a promise and she intended to keep it. That and if she showed any hesitation towards him she was pretty sure Savayna would stab her for real and leave her to die. As Jaakuna was revealed to her, she felt her heart beating faster, but she was slightly disappointed when he hesitated. As Savayna told them to hurry, she nodded.

"We...We can talk later. For now, we need to leave." She told him. She felt guilty, really, but right now they needed to get the hell out of here.

Meanwhile Nadeline heard the commotion--mainly the fact that a pair of footsteps went in, and two sets of footsteps came out. She stood up, beckoning Wesley to follow her as she tried to see through the bars as to what was going on. Savayna had exited Emiri's cell, and her heart dropped when she saw her sword out. She almost had half a mind to rip apart the door and strangle the woman, but she was surprised as Emiri ran out after her. "Wesley, I do believe our ticket to freedom has just arrived." She told him rather nonchalantly.

[AlteredTundra]

When Jaakuna saw Emiri and Savayna appear in his cell, he wasn’t sure what to think. The last time that Savayna was here she almost beat Jaakuna to death, but now she was in his cell again and with Emiri no less. Jaakuna was perplexed, confused, and in all honesty, still pissed about what Savayna did to him earlier. However, as Savayna would go on to say, they didn’t have much time. Emiri agreed to this and Jaakuna nodded.

“I’d love to get out of here, but I’m still cuffed.” Jaakuna said lifting his hands.

In the seconds that he had said that, Savayna had sliced vertically, cutting the anti-magick cuffs off of his hands. “Not anymore.” She said with a grin on her face.

Jaakuna’s jaw dropped by this point. He didn’t know what to make of it. “Savayna, what the hell? You almost beat me to death and now you’re saving me!?” He said confused and a bit pissed.

Savayna laughed and turned away. “You want answers? Live through this and I’ll tell all.” She said as she would peek through the bars and no one was coming. So, she opened the door and she would motion Emiri and Jaakuna to follow her.

When Nadeline had said that they had a chance to escape, first he thought it was highly unlikely that they would get rescued, but as he saw out from the bars, Wesley stood corrected. He didn’t know that of all people, Savayna of the Archadian Empire would be the one to save them, but then again, Wesley has been wrong about people before, just look at how Jaakuna was when he first met him.

Next on her list was Wesley and Nadeline. Thankfully they didn’t have cuffs on. So, Savayna just opened the door and the two of them would be there, obviously wary of what was happening. Savayna sighed. “Why is everyone so fucking surprised I’m freeing you all?” She said sighing. “Let’s go!” She commanded, “Or unless you like the feeling of a cold, steel cell; your choice.” She said as she would leave the door open and walk to the direction of the Armory, which is where all their weapons are at and possessions are at.

[Hero]

"I'll take it~" Nadeline sang happily, grinning from ear to ear at the blonde general. Emiri couldn't believe her; she wasn't surprised or fazed by any of this. She made a mental note to try to emulate her; gods knew she could use a trait like that. To her surprise, said blonde princess drew Emiri into a quick, tight hug, but what really got to her was what she whispered in her ear: "I'm so sorry." Before she could question it, however, Nadeline had released her, grabbing her hand and dragging her along. She winced slightly as she had pulled on her left shoulder, but made sure to keep up with her. When we get the chance, I should ask her to heal this. She looked at her shoulder and shuddered, but kept going.