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

[AlteredTundra]

Enjoying the breakfast that he made for his friends, Wesley was happily eating some of it as well as Savayna. He was enjoying some of the eggs and one of the pieces of Dire Wolf Steak he prepared while Savayna herself was just having some of the Blueberry pancakes. All the while they were having that, Nadeline seemed to be on her cranky pill this morning, at least that's what Savayna thinks. Nadeline seemed to not want the coffee that Wesley had prepared for everyone, but that matters not. She would just make her own, it would seem, and while Wesley and Savayna were just making small talk about how Jaakuna and Emiri were nowhere to be seen, that is what seemed to get Nadeline's attention slightly. She said no words, and Wesley thought that was weird.

As him and Savayna were finishing up their breakfast, Wesley would get up from the table and go to the sink. He would put his plate into the sink and turn on the fosit. He would adjust the settings to slightly warm and as the water would wash down any of the excess food leftover, he would then turn it off and walk back to his chair and sit back down. Savayna would then get up and do the very same that Wesley did. It would only take her a moment or so to do what Wesley had just done. As soon as she finished, she also sat back down at the chair that she was sitting at. By this point, Nadeline came back to the dining room/kitchen area with a curious and confused look on her face. She would then go onto say that Emiri seemed to be missing. Both Wesley and Savayna looked towards her in shock. Like, they literally turned their heads to Nadeline in unison. She would also go on to say that Emiri was not in her room and obviously not in the kitchen/dining room area.

When Wesley thought about it, he thought it was definitely odd. He didn't know Emiri as well as Nadeline did, but he knew that if someone was going to sleep, they would definitely be in their room, either remaking their bed or still sleeping. So, for Nadeline to say that she was not in her room really made him worry about her. Okay, maybe it was more curiosity rather than worry, but still. "Hmm, this truly is troubling." Wesley said thinking about where Emiri could possibly be.

Savayna was the only one not bothered by any of this. She really didn't care and it showed on her face. "Perhaps she took off running, that IS what she's known for right?" Savayna said looking as bored and uninterested as she possibly could. Her head rested on her right arm and her body was shifted in her chair to a counterclockwise position and her left leg crossed over her right.

[Hero]

Nadeline blinked a few times, processing what both Savayna and Wesley said. Once again it took somewhat longer then usual for the cogs in the blonde's brain to start turning. She wasn't even worried, she was more curious then anything. There was the possibility of her having gone into town, maybe. She waved Wesley's worries away, then started to think. No, she doubted Emiri would run away, not after yesterday's events. She shook her head at Savayna, tilting her head to the side as she let out a yawn. Buy, she felt tired today. She clucked her tongue impatiently, drumming her fingers on the table as she thought.

She let out a light whine, resting her head on the table. "Mmm...I wonder if Jaakuna is missing too. Perhaps they went out." She suggested.

[AlteredTundra]

It was a nice suggestion and Wesley was considering that as an option too, but if they would have went out, Iris would have informed them. Or at the very least, would have given the notice that people left the airship. Unless, of course, they told Iris not to tell anyone in the event that they wanted to be alone. Wesley was considering all angles and it's surprising because he's usually not this way when he wakes up, but he had a good breakfast, so all is good. Savayna, on the other hand, was just being as uninterested in the current topic of conversation as possible. To her it didn't matter if Jaakuna and Emiri were gone. If they were gone, then they were gone. If they weren't, then they weren't. She would just let out a groan of boredom.

Wesley would speak as he would hear Savayna release that bored groan. "Perhaps we should go check Jaakuna's room. We might find some answers there." Wesley suggested.

"Whatever." Savayna just groaned at that suggestion. She didn't care, but anything beat sitting around thinking about the 'what ifs?'

[Hero]

The blonde perked up slight,y the coffee finally at the very least giving her energy. She nodded at Wesley's suggestion, very pleased for whatever reason. Nadeline wrinkled her nose at Savayna, however, clearly disappointed in her lack of interest. However she did stand up, a chin on her finger as she pondered it more. "We must be careful, I wouldn't want to upset him too much if Emiri is truly missing. He might still need some rest." She mumured slowly, though she snapped her fingers, triumphantly pointing to the hall. "Lead the way Wesley! Let us go and get to the bottom of this, Savayna!" She suddenly declared, full of energy as her coffee invigorated her.

Now if only it could invigorate her brain.

[AlteredTundra]

And so they were off, to Jaakuna's room to venture off for the truth. The Mystery Gang would go from the kitchen, well that was before until Wesley would put away the food. That took about five minutes and though he didn't see their eyes, Wesley could feel the impatient eyes beating down upon him from both ladies. He could hear the tapping of feet. This really didn't make it any better for Wesley, but he would hurry as quick as he could to get all the food put away. When he finally did, The Mystery Gang would enter the Elevator just down the hall and as they would enter it, Wesley would press the button that read 'My Room." Wesley couldn't help but chuckle at that. "It seems Jaakuna surely knows which button leads to his room." Wesley admitted in a slight chuckle. As the door closed, the elevator would go up to Jaakuna's room.

[Hero]

Did Wesley have the clean up now? Nadeline huffed a bit, trying to remain patient, but for whatever reason she was having none of that this morning. She did mildly play with the idea of Wesley making a good husband--the princess herself didn't really know how to cook, much less prepare a meal. Once an eternity and a half had passed, he had finished, and the girl nearly cheered in victory but proceeded to rush the other two (yes including Savayna) to the elevator. Now Nadeline just felt giddy, like they were secrely infiltrating Jaakuna's room or something. She just had a stupid smile on her face, like it was some kind of adventure. When Wesley made the comment of the button, Nadeline snickered lightly.

"I think it to be a good idea for when you're intoxicated." She commented stupidly, holding in her laughs.

As the elevator doors opened, she tried to be as quiet as possible approaching Jaakuna's room. She hesitated slightly, looking to Wesley. "You open it." She instructed him. "In case he is...taking care of his business." She told him quietly, crossing her arms. "Gods know that is not a thing for a lady to see."

[AlteredTundra]

The door of the elevator closed and NAdeline would make a comment about how the idea of having the button that led up to Jaakuna's room was a good idea to have it as it was if one was intoxicated. Wesley laughed at this and nodded. As he would press the button, the elevator started to move upward and after about fifteen seconds, it would stop, and the doors would open. This meant that they had arrived on the floor to Jaakuna's room. As the three of them walked out, Wesley couldn't help it but be amazed at how fancy Jaakuna's set up was for his room.

"Quite the setup he has here." Wesley said, admiring Jaakuna's set up.

When they arrived at Jaakuna's room door, the nervousness was pretty high among Wesley and Nadeline. She would tell Wesley that he should be the one to open it. Instantly, Wesley turned to Nadeline, face full of surrpise. Now she brings the lady card up He thought just looking at her with surprise. "I think not. I need not to see what 'business' he is doing, either." Wesley said as politely as he could.

Both Wesley and Nadeline would go back and forth on arguing of who should open the door. While they were doing that, Savayna took it upon herself to kick the door wide open with the full force of her right leg. "SURPRISE JACKASS!" She yelled as the door was flown right open..

[Hero]

At this point, Emiri was on top of Jaakuna, the two heavily caught up in each other so to speak. She then broke their current kiss, and as she caught her breath, her scunchie released its futile grip and her hair spilled all over her shoulders as she sat up, placing her bum on top of him, her hands on his chest as she admired him, if only for a moment. She put on a rather seductive smile, her heart racing as she took her hands off him. She tugged at the ribbon based behind her dress, and as the lace binding the dress together loosened, she took in a breath. She began pulling her dress down, starting with her right shoulder, albeit a very loud voice interrupted her.

Emiri looked behind her, seeing Savayna happily having kicked the door open. Wesley and Nadeline were not too far behind, the two peeking in curiously. Emiri looked at them, her dress slipping off her shoulders and revealing her chest. What in the world were they doing? Her realization came slowly, and her face turned a bright red. The brunette let out a gasp, then let out a horrified piercing scream. She scrambled off of Jaakuna, trying to cover her dignity, though her terror became something of a righteous fury as she glared at them. "What in Ivalice are you doing?! Haven't you heard of knocking at all?!" She yelled, pulling up her dress to cover her chest, though without the ribbon holding it, it was a futile attempt.

"What in the world are you doing, frolicking around like this?!" Nadeline wailed, shaking Wesley, as if he was the one she was yelling at. "We thought you were missing!"

[AlteredTundra]

Everything was leading up to this moment. Emiri was on top of Jaakuna, he looked at her as her hands came away from his chest and she would go to removing the scrunchie that tied her hair and all it flowed angelically down her shoulders and back. The way her hair naturally flowed over her frame, Jaakuna was mesmerized by her beauty. A part of him wished she would have her hair like this all of the time. She looked so angelic like that. When she would remove the ribbon and her hair released as a result, she would take the ribbon that held her dress up in fitted position and remove it. The dress would remove itself via the natural aspect of gravity. Jaakuna's heart was racing at this point. It was a good kind. This is the moment they've both been waiting for..

Aannnnd it's gone.

Two things were the cause of the moment going away. The first was the door to Jaakuna's room flying way open with such severity of force. The second, and this something Jaakuna knew all too well, was the yelling of Savayna. When the surprise made Emiri immediately pop off, Jaakuna instantly popped off not noticing that there was a sudden rise of activity down south. Jaakuna was beat red, just as Emiri was. However, unlike Emiri, he was more angry as fuck rather than surprised like Emiri. Though, she would express some anger at Savayna and the two peepers looking through the door. Jaakuna saw them. "I CAN SEE YOU TWO!" He yelled out, anger clearly expressed across his face.

By the time that the two had came in, Jaakuna would turn his gaze to Emiri for a brief moment, and well, he saw her wonderful breasts. Shaped to perfection. Those assholes, they ruined what would have been the perfect moment.I'LL KILL THEM! JAakuna was livid and he would only continue to curse them out in his mind. As he would do that, however, Nadeline would go on to say how dare Emiri, as she put it, frolic around in such a way that she was doing. Jaakuna lost it. "YOU STUPID, IDIOTIC, MOTHERFUCKING, INTERRUPTING DUMBASSES!" Jaakuna had begun his cursing train and it would not end there. "First off, if you guys had any awareness at all, you would have simply asked Iris about our whereabouts. But, noooooo, you took upon yourself to enter my private chambers and god-forbid you should knock. I swear, what possible reason could you have for barging in to my room while Emiri and I.." And there it was. He heard himself. Jaakuna stopped as, for the first time in a long while, Jaakuna was embarrassed. He simply sat there silent.

[Hero]

Emiri let out a low groan, hastily lacing her dress and trying to preserve whatever dignity she had left. She couldn't believe them! As Jaakuna yelled at them, she managed to secure her dress onto her body, and she let out a long sigh. So much for that, who knew if she would ever have the courage to do that again? As Jaakuna's voice trailed off, she caught his embarrassed look, and in turn she became very embarrassed too. Wow, she was really into it, huh? Did she really want it to go all the way like that? Well, it mattered not, as the moment was ruined and she highly doubted that even if she threw the three off the airship the mood was brutally slaughtered.

Nadeline looked shocked, to say the least. Not by Jaakuna's outburst (she was quite used to those at this point) but by the fact that he was actually vulnerable. He was embarrassed! They totally loved each other! Did that mean that Emiri had confessed to him? Boy, did Jaakuna decide to mate with everyone that told him that they loved him? She let out a pleased squeal of delight, though she would confess that now she felt slightly guilty that her own worries had been the result of not being completely awake. Now that she thought about it, she was definitely wide awake now. Boy, this was better than her morning coffee.

Nadeline cleared her throat, twiddling her fingers nervously. "W-Well...Emi hadn't come down to breakfast...and she was not in bed..." She tried not to giggle, but it was not working.

[AlteredTundra]

Sitting there quietly, Jaakuna didn't know what to say. He almost outed what he and Emiri were doing and now as he would gaze over to Emiri slightly, he saw that she too had embarrassment across her face. Jaakuna never was like this before — this venerable, and he just didn't know how to handle it. — Jaakuna was just trying his best not to go off on his friends again, but he still wanted to give them more pieces of his mind. However, before he would get a chance to do as such, Nadeline would go on to say that they couldn't find Emiri and even worse, she wasn't in her room. Jaakuna had then looked up at Nadeline with a dumb look on his face. He knew it. They were down and awake when Jaakuna had suggested it to Emiri that they should go down, but the moment of what they were having and the emotions of their feelings took over and they didn't go down.

Jaakuna looked like he felt so sorry. "Oh, uh, sorry..?" Jaakuna's voice trailed on like it was a half-statement, half-question. He didn't know whether he wanted to ask that if he was sorry or simply state it.

Wesley looked to Jaakuna and by result, to Emiri, but he would turn away. Wesley felt uncomfortable in the current situation. The raised voice of Jaakuna didn't help much either Did they really come at a bad time? Wesley didn't know whether to stay silent or just say something. "My apologies for barging in on you two." That's all Wesley could say.

Savayna, being the who had initially kicked the door open, she was the one who was the most silent one. She didn't know why that was, either. There was just something about this all that made her not say anything. She wanted to, but the words wouldn't come out. That was until she just decided to blurt out something and she knew that she was going to regret them. "So, were you two fucking or what?"

[Hero]

If the ground would swallow her whole, the gods would have been much too merciful.

Emiri shifted, clearly uncomfortable at the now very awkward situation. She had managed to get her clothes on, and yet she felt so naked. She hugged her arms, choosing to stare at her own knees. Gods, why did this have to happen now?! She let out an irritated groan, though she huffed, deciding to take control of the situation. She raised an eyebrow at Wesley's apology, and shot a glare at Nadeline, who decided to cower behind Wesley, clearly wanting to avoid the awkward tension in the air. She was in disbelief at them, specifically Wesley and Nadeline. Savayna she could half excuse, not knocking was something she would probably do, but she expected better from the prince and princess!

And when she thought it couldn't get worse it did.

Her jaw visibly dropped at Savayna's audacity--so much for not blaming her. Regardless of whether they did or not, why in the world would she want to know?! If her face could have gotten any redder, it probably did. She felt somewhat dizzy at this point, unsure if she could take any more of...this...

[AlteredTundra]

Jaakuna couldn't believe, Wesley couldn't believe it, Emiri no doubt couldn't believe it, and it would seem that Nadeline couldn't believe it. The bluntness that Savayna had was met with just disbelief and everybody in the room just gasped and looked at her. Savayna would look at everyone in this order: Wesley, Nadeline, Jaakuna, and Emiri. That would involve her turning around in a full circle and the awkward gazes. However, Savayna didn't really care. No one else was going to ask the question, so she had to.

Just as Jaakuna was about to go off again,Wesley did something that would save Jaakuna more words and less strain to his voice. "Okay, we're leaving." Wesley said.

Savayna looked at him like he was stupid. "Are you fucking stupid? This is the best thing to happen to me all morning." She stated.

Wesley gave the former general a stern look. "We're leaving. Now." He said with a firm stance. "You too, Nadeline." He said turning to her.

Wesley would get the two ladies out, guiding them forcefully with his two arms — his right guiding Nadeline out and the left for Savayna. — Once they were all out, Wesley closed the doors(there were two of them). Wesley breathed in deeply and then exhaled out. This was a stressful situation and he knew that letting Emiri and Jaakuna at least adjust to it would do everybody some good.

[Hero]

Now she really felt guilty. Nadeline let Wesley pull her out of the room, though she did offer Emiri an apologetic look. Once the doors were closed, she let out a slight cough, trying to dispel the awkwardness. Now that it was over, she was horrified to find that she actually wished Savayna's question had been answered. Waving that thought away, she cleared her throat, turning on her heel. "I believe I still have some texts to translate...for...the next Esper...if you'll excuse me." She muttered, pretending that whatever happened did not just happen, and she began to make her way to the elevator.

As the doors closed, Emiri let out a low groan, hugging her knees as she tried to get her heart to return to its normal beating. Leave it to Savayna the moment killer. No, she didn't just kill the moment, she strangled it and brutally murdered it. How terrible! And yet, somewhere inside, she couldn't help but imagine how she must have looked, half naked on top of Jaakuna. For one reason or another, she found herself chuckling lightly. It turned into a laugh, and she let out a sigh as her laughing finished. Oh well. There was always next time. She looked at Jaakuna, still smiling from her laughter. "Bet you wished I would have said to go down to breakfast." She said lightly.

[AlteredTundra]

They left Jaakuna and Emiri to be alone. After the embarrassing moment that they probably put them in, Wesley and the two girls would just let them be. It was obvious they wanted alone time, and Wesley was going to make sure they had gotten that. As the doors were closed, Nadeline, trying as much as she could, evaded the subject of talking about it and she simply stated that she has more texts to translate for the espers. Wesley thought that was a wonderful idea. "I shall assist you to do that." He said. As he would start to follow her, Savayna was just staring at the door of Jaakuna's room. She started to walk to it but, Wesley prevented her from doing so.

"Come on, you're coming too." Wesley said.

Savayna looked at him, like before, as if he was stupid. "I'm not going anywhere." She exclaimed.

Wesley had no choice. He picked her up by the waist and as she would kick and claw at him. She would yell and curse and do just about anything she possibly could as he would carry her when he would follow Nadeline.

Meanwhile, back in Jaakuna's room and on his bed, he and Emiri are just sitting there most likely thinking about what just happened. When Jaakuna was just thinking about what had just happened, he heard Emiri laugh. Why is she laughing? That was his initial thought. He didn't even know why she was laughing, but then when she spoke, it made sense. She was laughing at just how they probably should have went down to breakfast when they had the chance.As she said that, she turned her gaze to Jaakuna and he did the same. He couldn't help but chuckle at it too. Jaakuna would let the laughter expire before he spoke. "No, I don't." He said as he took Emiri's hands and looked into her eyes. "Despite what just happened, I'm happy you stayed up here with me." He said smiling at her,"what we did, what we shared, it's everything I imagined and then some." He said just looking into her eyes, still holding her hands, but this time he raised them up as he had both of them in both of his.

[Hero]

Nadeline grinned widely, watching Savayna struggle against Wesley. SHe was ipressed by his strength, she was sure him carrying the general was no small feat. She led the pair into the elevator, pressing the button needed. She looked at Savayna, a small smirk on her face, and she let out a small chuckle. "Now, now, Savayna, remember that you are a lady." She reminded her, raising a tantalizing eyebrow.

---

Emiri watched Jaakuna speak, though she was secretly glad as well. She would probably never admit it but she actually quite enjoyed their little escapade while it had lasted. She looked at her hands in his, then back up at his eyes. She was just so happy he was back. She wasn't sure if she would be able to go through that again, really. She then frowned slightly as she thought about the remaining Dusk Shard. The longer it existed, the bigger the chance of that happening to any of them. She let out a sigh, gently releasing her hands from his as she crossed her arms.

"I don't want anyone to get engulfed by the Shard's Mist." She said quietly, looking up at him. "Aloa said...that if I hadn't convinced you to come back, you would never have awakened." She informed him. "The Dusk Shard is too dangerous to exist...and yet even destroying it is just as dangerous. We need to get rid of it, somehow." She thought to herself for a moment. "Nadeline said the Sword of Kings was given to the Gran Kiltias of the time...maybe we can go to Mt. Bur Omisace and find out how to safely destroy the Dusk Shard."

She sighed again, looking at Jaakuna. "I don't want to lose you again. Don't you ever do anything like that again, okay?"

[AlteredTundra]

As Jaakuna was reassuring Emiri that he was glad that she stayed and had not gone down to breakfast when he had originally offered, she would just smile at him and would further go to speak about how the Dusk Shard and how she would not want anyone to get lured in by the shard's mist. She would go on to say how Aloa told her that if she didn't convince him out of the dream that he was in, he would have been trapped. Jaakuna didn't even know Aloa had any part to play in it, but then again, when he thoguht about it some more, Jaakuna did think that it was weird Emiri was able to get into his head like she did. He knew the Viera were in tune with the mist and nature, but he was pleasently surprised that Aloa would agree to help. "Never pegged Aloa for the helping time. Bunny bitch surprises me more and more." Jaakuna laughed a bit. When Emiri would speak more about the shard and how it was too dangerous to exist, Jaakuna agreed, but when she said it was just as equally as dangerous to destroy it, he nodded his head at that. When she would bring up the Gran Kitlas and going to Mount Bur-Omisace, Jaakuna placed his thumb between his lips and bit on it slightly. "Hmmm, yeah perhaps knowing how to use it might just do us some good." Jaakuna said as thought about that idea.

As he would continue to listen to Emiri, Jaakuna would hear Emiri somewhat plead to him that she didn't want him to do anything like he did yesterday ever again. Jaakuna could hear the worry in her voice and within her eyes as she would ask him to not do it again. Jaakuna knew it was a stupid thing to do and now looking back, he remembers the danger he put himself in. He remembered when he was overflowed with the mist of the Dawn Shard. He remembered being so powerful and so enlightened with nature. After that, however, he remembered nothing. He does remember the dream, but in-between all of that, he doesn't. Now, as he would look to Emiri, he smiled gently. "You don't have to worry about me doing that ever again. I now know how stupid it was for me to do that. I worried my friends, and most importantly, I worried the woman that I love." He said. "I will never do such a reckless thing ever again, that I promise." Jaakuna said as he took Emiri's hand with his and placed it on his heart and he would do the same with his free hand on hers. "You feel that right? That is me promising you — giving you my word — with all of my heart." He said looking at her.

---

Back on the elevator, Nadeline had pressed the button to go down as the three of them were in it. Wesley had already put Savayna down and she was even more pissed off than she always is. The look in her eyes were full of anger and when she was about to curse the both of them off, Nadeline would remind her to behave like the lady she is. This did not help her anger towards either of them. It was so bad now that Savayna was getting ready to tear them a new one verbally, but that's when the elevator arrived at their destination. Savayna stayed as Wesley and Nadeline walked out.

The doors to the elevator was about to close and WEsley looked back. "You coming?" He asked. Savayna huffed and puffed, but she was coming. She sure was in some mood.

[Hero]

She didn't believe him. That isn't to say she thought he was lying--no, she didn't think he would lie about it. His words were sincere, as were his intentions. But when he said he would not doing anything reckless, she couldn't help but not believe him. Reckless was what he was, after it. Swing your sword first, ask questions later, right? She wanted to believe him, but she couldn't. If she was in danger, she was sure he would come rushing in and get hurt again. She supposed to avoid that, she would have to not get into any situations like that, then. She then nodded at him, smiling, though she paused. She then took her hands, lifting her left arm and showing him her inner bicep, pointing to a straight line. It was now white in age, barely visible against her pale skin.

"This is scar number one." She explained, admiring it as if it were a cool tattoo. "Believe it or not, Nadeline was the one that did this. First time I ever wielded a sword...I became afraid and did not defend myself in time, and she managed to land a hit on me. Mind you, it was entirely unfair, she was so aggressive, ahaha." She giggled slightly, though she picked up her boots and began to lace them up. "In case I ever need it, I won't tell you how many scars I have, but I thought I would share at least that one." She then stood up and stretched. "Let's get going, hopefully we can find some answers from the Gran Kiltas."

---

"It seems I was right after all."

Nadeline looked rather defeated at the book in front of her as she ruffled her hair in frustration. She let out a groan of indigence, crossing her arms angrily. "Mateus was not the Esper I believed to be in the Stilshrine of Miriam." She told Wesley and Savayna, though she did lay a fist on the table. "I was a fool, I knew not of Mateus but thought I had been mistaken. The Esper I believed to be in the Stilshrine was called Zeromus, 'Honoring the law more than any other, a scion of holy order and condemner of criminals. Created in opposition to Knight-Star Pashtarot, scion of light. He turns his deep, abiding hatred for those who break the law into living darkness, therein to plunge the guilty in fell judgment. Over time, he came to care less for upholding the law and more for condemnation, and so tainted by hate, he sought to condemn the gods themselves to death. Thus, did he earn the title "The Condemner", and thus did he fall from grace.' I would not be surprised if that was the reason Grant never caught up to us--he was obtaining Zeromus, and because Emiri had passed through the Stilshrine, she may not have realized that she had unlocked it..."

[AlteredTundra]

When Emiri showed Jaakuna a scar on her arm, he just couldn't stop staring at it; not because he found it fascinating — which he did — it was just cause this was the first time she was showing it to him. He remembers vaguely about in his dream or whatever it was that she mentioned something about scars on her body, but now that she was showing these to him, Jaakuna just smiled at her as she would tell him about how she got it. When she told him, Jaakuna laughed, but it was more of an accidental, non-controllable laugh. The fact that she got it cause she was a novice at sword-fighting just seemed a little funny to him. When she covered it up, she would say that she had more scars, but she won't show him them, she just wanted to show him that single one. Jaakuna said barely anything, but he did give her a nod. "You'll tell me when you're ready." He said.

As it was most likely done for now, Emiri would suggest going down to the others and get ready for a departure to Mount Bur Omisace. Jaakuna agreed on that. They needed to know how to use the Sword of Kings properly and so any of them — Jaakuna, Emiri, Wesley, Nadeline, and even Savayna — don't make the same mistake that Jaakuna did. "I agree. We need to know how to properly use it." Jaakuna said. He would also get up, stretch and get off his bed. Jaakuna would feel the release of the cracking bones as it felt pretty damn great to do so. After he was done with that, Jaakuna looked to Emiri. "So you want to shower first or shall I? Or..." Jaakuna smiled seductively, moving his head and eyebrows to Emiri and then to the direction of his bathroom, obviously hinting the two of them shower together.

---

Down back at the Dining Room area, Wesley, Savayna, and Nadeline were all sitting at the table as Nadeline was looking at her tomb, to which she seemed very angry about something. "What's wrong?" Wesley would ask as Nadeline would go on to say that the Esper that she thought was in the Stilshrine wasn't Mateus — the one that Savayna commands — wasn't the one that she initially was thinking of. As she would read more of it from her tomb, it would turn out to be that the esper that she thought was actually Zeromus, The Condemned. Wesley, intrigued by this, listened as she would read off the translated text from the tomb that was about Zeromus. As she read, Wesley listened and Savayna just was picking the dirt from her nails.

As she read, Wesley heard that the Esper Zeromus was the one who would condemn criminals as he saw fit. He would then hear that this esper — this condemner — became full of hatred for humekind — or anyone who broke the law — that he turned to darkness and condemned anyone, even those of who were of good and light. He would get to a point where Zeromus cared less for upholding the standards of the law and more about condemning and thus became overtaken with hate, and given the title of "The Condemner", he fell from his grace and was sealed away for his treachery and treason by the gods. When she concluded, Wesley became more and more intrigued in the story of this esper. Somehow, he felt this esper was him, but yet again, it wasn't. He truly became intrigued with this.

Wesley would speak as Nadeline would finish. "Truly, this is a bittersweet pill we are swollowing. We walked away with our lives, but we yet again lost another esper at the hands of our enemies." WEsley said, speaking his mind about this matter. "We must capture more before we lose in the game of power."

Savayna looked towards their direction. "And how do you suppose we do that genius? Last time I checked, we are on the run basically from the two biggest empires in Ivalice. We almost lost the knucklehead just yesterday." Savayna said as she had a sour taste in her mouth. The fact that Jaakuna was actually almost gone from them yesterday.

Wesley listened to Savayna and she was right. "Then, I guess we'll have to translate these texts more then." He said chuckling a bit.

"Smart ass." She spoke quietly and under her breath.

[Hero]

Nadeline listened to Wesley and Savayna as she kept her eyes on her book. It was a dreadfult hing to admit defeat, but Savayna was right. Zeromus could have been excused, in a sense--they had to give it up in order to have been able to flee from Grant and save Jaakuna. It was a three way power struggle between themselves, Rozarria, and Archadia, and for the moment, they were winning, in a sense. Still, in terms of power, Archadia clearly had the upper hand, especially with their judges. Rozarria was more passive in their power, but she did not doubt that Aloa and Vlyn would be searching for Emiri, as the Espers were second place to her--whoever had Emiri had the key to unlocking the Espers' seals, after all. They had two, Rozarria had one, and Archadia had one...thanks to Savayna joining them. She looked at the book intensely, as if expecting it to give her the answers she wanted. As if on cue, she recognized one word: Mosphoran. Could that be referring to the Mosphoran Highwaste? She widened her eyes, but shook her head. No, she would not make a mistake again, she would translate the entire text to be absolutely sure.

"We almost lost Jaakuna to the Dawn Shard." Nadeline spoke in response to Savayna. "Which also brings the issue of the Dusk Shard, as well as the Midlight Shard. The Sword of Kings...perhaps there is a way to properly utilize it. I would think that perhaps we could find our answer in Mt. Bur Omisace, as the Sword of Kings was originally given to the Gran Kiltas." She paused. "I wonder which should be taken care of first...the Dusk Shard or the next Esper..."

---

Emiri was happy Jaakuna had agreed with her. It was always better to be safe then sorry. She began to pick up her hair when Jaakuna asked who wanted to shower first. As she thought about it, she noticed he had trailed off. She looked at him properly, following is gaze. Was he suggesting what she thought he was suggesting? She definitely recognized that sexy (did she really just think that?) suggestive smile of his, and she felt her cheeks flush lightly at it. She let out a small giggle as she finished tying her hair, flipping her ponytail off of her shoulder. A shower together could be nice.

"Mmm, I wouldn't want to get interrupted again." She mused lightly, testing Jaakuna's reaction.