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

[AlteredTundra]

Nothing was ever calm for very long when it came to this group. Jackson should have known this. He knew EMiri was very territorial when it came to him and she most likely was ticked off even more after he had to do something about Cassandra. In hindsight, he could have chosen a different way of dealing with her. Maybe stroke her arm or assure her that nothing was going to happen to her. But nope, like always, he had to choose the one thing that would make Emiri the most angry at him. That aside, he should have expected her reaction, but boy she had a knack for upping the ante.

Everyone had to bear witness to Emiri’s gather rage. Jackson knew this was because of what he did and how she acted. Though, he didn’t know the fullest extent of it. When Emiri would say that Cassandra nearly killed Keiran, he raised an eyebrow towards the queen, who happened to just be smiling at Emiri as she unleashed all of her verbal fury upon her. Meanwhile, Jackson was rubbing his temples. How it was growing more difficult by the minute to remain as Jackson Darcone, the tactful prince and to let Jaakuna Hinoko, the obscene sky pirate take charge.

And as if it wasn’t bad enough that Emiri had disrespected the queen in her own home, Nadeline had to enter the fray. While Savayna seemed to enjoy this as she was chuckling to herself(or so she thought she was), Jaackson saw how Grant had a wary expression, all the while ALoa seemed to just be shaking her head out of pure disappointment for the both of them. This was escalating rather quickly and Jaakson, who happened to be the only one keeping his eyes on the real picture, was growing tired and tired.

And then, just as he was about to do something, Jaakson felt something. IT was that same feeling he got from Wesley’s body earlier. Only this time, he saw the prince’s Mist starting to seep out of his body. Though, it seemed no one noticed this. They were too busy watching the rising of a Rozarrian Rumble between Emiri and Nadeline.

"Calm yourself before I calm you down."

"Oh, a threat! That's right, considering you are both royalty, you would side with one another! My deepest apologies, Majesties."

Jaakuna got closer to WEsley’s bed, looking as his body began to pulsate. It seemed it was only audible to him. He heard it ringing through his ears. The closer that he got to WEsley’s body, the louder that it got in his head. It reached such a volume that Jaakuna found himself struggling to walk. He gripped the right side of his head with the respective hand, though it forced him to take a knee. He dropped right by Wesley’s chest, looking at the prince as the pulsing became fiercer, but this time Jaakuna experience more than the sound of a pulsing heart. He saw images of...something roaring, surrounded by a field of mist. It looked hurt, like it was in pain. It thrashed around and smacked its head repeatedly on something that clanged horribly loud in Jaakuna’s head.

And then Jaakuna experienced the worst of it yet. The sounds of a lion roaring violently in his ear and actually sending Jaakuna inside that field of Mist. If not for a moment, Jaakuna saw--he saw something large and unbelievably strong. It felt incredible. This lion was not a beast that was crying out in pain; it was boasting its power. As he approached it closer, Jaakuna saw who exactly it was. From the deep purple eyes to the dark hair and the rounded face and the flawless complexion. It was…

Suddenly, from his knelt positon, Jaakuna was shoved backwards about five paces, crashing into Cassandra, Nadeline, and Emiri. It was right at the moment they were about to declare war on each other.

“Watch where you going, would you,” Cassandra told Jaakuna as she shoved him forward.

“W-w-w..”

“What?”

Jaakuna simply pointed in front of him. “Wesley!”

Cassandra looked to where he pointed. Savayna looked too. Anyone who looked int he direction that Jaakuna had pointed in, they would see what no one thought they’d believe: Wesley was sitting up and awake. His eyes were open. He was breathing again. Though, to those who had sensitive ears to Mist--like those who have unlocked the Esper Seals and Viera--would notice something different about him. Wesley’s Mist was different than before. It was...crisper. It not only was crisp, but it had evolved.

In the stillness of the moment, silence took the room, though Wesley would look around, blinking. He then looked to the direction of Nadeline. He smiled at her. And as he would--anyone who was looking at him at that moment--would notice that his eyes were no longer purple as they had once been. Whatever had happened to him had affected his eyes; they shined brilliantly like the sun and seemed as though lava itself was dancing in them.

“I’ve worried you. I’m sorry, my love,” Wesley, for the first time in days, spoke directly to Nadeline, then he looked to everyone. “I imagine you all have questions. Please, if you would, speak now. I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.”

[Hero]

The princess had nearly gotten knocked off her feet, stumbling and somehow managing to only keep one heeled foot ont he ground. Waving her arms dramatically, she managed to keep her balance, planting both feet on the ground with confidence. Emiri, on the other hand, landed flat on her ass, catching her off guard. Rude! As she opened her mouth to yell out in frustration, Jaakuna would say Wesley's name. Aloa let out a sigh, a hand to her forehead. This group truly was one for dramatics, wasn't it? She wisely chose to take her leave, seeing as her services were no longer needed, choosing to wait for her Empress outside the room instead.

Nadeline couldn't believe it. She outright dropped her rapier, not caring about anything or anyone else. She ended up practically shoving anyone aside who got in her way without so much as an apology, practically jumping onto his bed, wrapping her arms tightly around him. She couldn't hold back the tears as much as she tried, practically sobbing as she held him as close as she could. All the guilt, all the sorrow she held, all the pent up anger at herself, she let it all out there, not caring who saw or who would judge.

Grant scratched the back of his head, though he ended up extending a hand to Emiri. She declined, getting up herself, though she would throw him a shrug as she crossed her arms, temporarily quelled. He let out a sigh, attempting to smile. "Ah, reunited at last!" He couldn't help but point out. "Though I must ask, are you alright, Wesley? Besides my niece trying to smother you with her tears, I mean."

"It's sweet," She said, elbowing Grant in Nadeline's defense.

[AlteredTundra]

Amid the welcomed surprise of Wesley’s sudden awakening, there were varying reactions in the room. Emiri was happy to see Wesley awake. Savayna simply smiled at him, also glad to see him alright. Though, Aloa seemed more interested in the peculiar thing his eyes were doing. As for Cassandra, she was just as happy as everyone was--if not more--than they were. However, their reactions would pale in comparison to Nadeline.

Nadeline dropped everything--and everyone--as she made a beeline for Wesley. She had knocked Emiri on her ass. She knocked Cassandra on her ass as well and Jaakuna, well he ended up in a position that would set him in a worse light with Emiri than he was before. There he was with his face firmly pressed into Cassandra’s bosom. The queen glanced over at Emiri, smug, pressing Jaakuna further into her full breasts.

Meanwhile, Wesley felt the warmth of his queen. He held her as close as he could, taking in her scent. Though he felt weak, he didn’t care. No physical pain he was feeling at the moment took precedence over how much he missed her. When he was asleep and when he was unable to awake, the only thing that was on his mind was finally being able to hold her in his arms. He heard her cry into him and he held her even closer. “It’s alright--I’m alright.” He said lowly so only she could hear him.

Briefly, after he assured her that there was nothing to worry about, Wesley would hear what Grant said. “It’s funny, I was unconscious for a while and yet, I feel fine,” Wesley admitted, surprised how he wasn’t feeling any real physical pain. The only thing that resembled pain was his overall physical movements and his limbs were a tad stiff. “Oh, that reminds me,” Wesley turned his attention to Cassandra, “later on, you and I will have a long talk about your actions today.”

How does he know Cassandra perked up right away, shoving Jaakuna off of her and she yelped sharply. She knew that tone from anywhere. It was the tone when he was disappointed in her.

And as JAakuna got up, he caught the glare from Emiri, to which he replied with an innocent, "what?"

[Hero]

The princess would finally release Wesley, hastily wiping away her tears. She remained next to him, letting out a slight hiccup as she smiled at him, though it was then she finally noticed the rather luminous flicker behind his eyes. Her hand reached out, lightly touching his cheek. What was this? She was relieved to hear that he felt fine, but something was different about him. Nadeline's own eyes widened as she stared into them. They were so bright, it was actually a rather startling contrast to his previous, darker eye color.

Emiri, on the other hand, sent Jaakuna a rather scathing glare, but at that point, she had decided she had enough as she would once again pick herself up. Holding her hands behind her back, she gave Wesley another smile. "I'm glad you're feeling alright! That's a relief!" She told him cheerfully as she backed towards the door. "All this joy is...kinda making nature call though. I'll be right back!"

Nadeline opened her mouth to call out after her, but Emiri had slipped past everyone and gone out the door. She let out a sigh, although she would turn her attention back to Wesley. "Wesley...I never knew you were the head of the Brotherhood," She wanted to wait until he had rested more, but the matter was too urgent otherwise. "Who is the Protector? Caeru and Sanguine made it clear that you needed to know that whoever they are, they came for them."

---

Lorenzo had sat back down, nearly dozing off, but Reia wouldn't let him. He became quite grumpy as a result, though th epair would stop their fighting as Aloa would waltz in, uncaring for the guards that told her not to go in. The blonde Empress would stand, Lorenzo remained seated, though he grinned. "You made it!" He stated cheerfully.

Aloa rightfully ignored him, and he pouted. "I felt it best to come inform you that Wesley has awakened," She stated, mainly speaking to Isabelle.

"Why didn't you say that sooner?!" Lorenzo jumped up from his seat, energized. "That's great news!"

Reia nodded in agreement, though she would take a seat once more. "Perhaps we can put this discussion to the side for now, I'm sure you want to see your son," Reia told Isabelle, though she watched Lorenzo run out. "...Please forgive my idiot brother."

---

The trip to the bathroom was entirely uneventful, although as she exited, she found herself reluctant to return. She couldn't stand Cassandra being all over Jaakuna. Just thinking about it got her mad again, but right now, she didn't want to cause a scene in front of Wesley. Shelet out a small groan, though she would only just notice how dark it had gotten. Was it truly the end of the day already? It felt like it had been stretched out a lot longer, and as she eyed the moon out the window, she noticed she wanted nothing more than to end the day.

Looking away, Emiri noticed the bouquet under the window. It was filled with an assortment of flowers. She knew the blue ones were called Morning Glories, and the red ones looked a lot like Galbana Lilies. She wasn't too sure about the rest, though her thought was interrupted by something taking a hold of her foot. She looked down to see a hand firmly grasping her ankle, a pair of red eyes in the shadows. "I found you, Emiri~" It sang. She let out a scream of terror, trying to back away only to fall backwards. As its body would form, she tried to crawl away, though instinct drove her to start kicking with her other foot, with the last hit kicking it square in its face. "OW!" It yelled, coming into the light, and only then did she realize it was Keiran as he dragged himself out of the shadow, laying on his back and laughing madly.

"You--You--jerk!" Emiri yelled at him as he would let out of her foot, but not before managing to catch the other one before she could kick him. "Why would you scare me like that?! I nearly had a heart attack!"

"It was supposed to be payback for that little stunt in Archades. That wall really hurt! And your stupid boyfriend weighs a million pounds," He said, grinning as he would get to his feet. He would hook his hands underneath her arms and pull her to her feet, only for her to turn around and slap him. That much he deserved, though he was surprised when she would bring both hands, slamming them on his chest. Those didn't hurt, but she was just so angry he just let it happen. As the last punch landed, he stopped it just by holding out his hand, catching her wrist. "Hey, what's wrong? You couldn't have missed me that much."

"Why were you even here, anyway?" She asked, still staring down.

"Aloa told me to. She was icy as always, and I'm pretty sure it only served to make Queenie even madder, but...what's wrong?" He found himself repeating his question. When she wouldn't reply, he rolled his eyes, patting her head. "Ah, Queenie still draping herself all over Darcone? Jealousy isn't a pretty thing, you know."

"I just want to go home."

"Home? Stigma?" He asked, confused, though he seemed to understand. "What happened to 'being honest' from now on?"

That got Emiri to look up at him, surprised. "How did--never mind, I forgot you 'know everything about me', that conversation was really personal!" She couldn't help but snap at him.

"If you're not going to tell me what's wrong, then I have to look for an answer!" He insisted, crossing his arms. "Or don't, fine, whatever. What'll you do now?"

Emiri shrugged. "I don't think I can stay civil there. I think I'll go see how Reia and Lorenzo are doing," She stated, motioning for him to follow.

"Okay. But, uh, I don't want Queenie seeing me, so...I'm staying out of sight," He said, following behind her and sinking into her shadow.

He was full of surprises, wasn't he? She ignored it as she began to walk, though she ended up stopping in her tracks, something calling out to her in the distance. What was that?

---

“We’ll stop here.”

The comment resulted in a grateful sigh, though Vlyn would quickly take a seat in the shade of a tree. Shion remained standing, her eyes ever alert. He wondered if she had sensed something he did not, though he honestly found himself not quite wanting to know the answer to the question. It wasn’t that the monsters of the Feywood were a challenge—Shion made them comparable to the Dalmasca Westersand Wolves in that regard—but the trek had been quite long. He wasn’t entirely sure if making camp would even be safe, but she had said to stop, and so they stopped.

Vlyn rummaged through his rucksack, finding water. He offered some to Shion, who politely declined. He hadn’t seen her eat or drink in some time, how did she accomplish such a feat? His question went unanswered as he picked up something nearby. How? Whatever it was, it seemed to have reached them quickly. As he made to stand, Shion would place one hand on the hilt of her sheathed katana, her expression amused. What about this was amusing, again?

The woman smiled, her free hand tossing her locks off her shoulder. “You beings are certainly a glutton for punishment, aren’t you?” She called out to the darkness. “Stay in the shadows if you wish, though know that I will strike.”

Vlyn tried to see who it was that stepped out of the shadows, only to reveal a rather tall woman. Her skin painted entirely gray, her eyes darker than the sky above them. Her white hair contrasted her surroundings greatly, though she didn’t look like she was trying to pick a fight. She had one hand on a nearby tree, the moonlight illuminating her impressive silhouette. “You knew I was behind you. Why wait until now to call me out?”
She asked, curious. “Unless…you truly didn’t know?”

“The Feywood is dense in Mist. It’s easy for a minion of Zodiark to blend in,” Vlyn couldn’t help but point out as he would stand.

She smiled. “Were I the assassin, you would be right. But that is not my way—all must be held to equilibrium. And…” Her voice trailed off as she would step forward with no fear. “I thought I would like to see you one more time.”

Shion scoffed, narrowing her eyes. “To think you of all people would be the one to stand in front of me like this…how dare you?” Was that an angry tone Vlyn heard? “Have you come to mock me? Or are you foolish enough to try to take the sword as your ally tried in the mines?”

“You did do quite the damage there. But no, I am well aware of the power you possess—and my lord knows you possess the blade. What I would like to know is why you’re bothering trying to reseal an Esper who has grown out of its chains?” She frowned, a thoughtful look on her face. “And so I’ve come, seeking answers.”

“If your master knows, then there is no need for me to say a word. I will come for him,” Shion stated, withdrawing her blade. “And believe me, even if you’re the one to stand in the way, I will strike you down as well, Sophia.”

She looked sad at Shion’s words, clasping her hands together. “Don’t you see what we’re trying to do? Why bother on a hopeless world bent on destroying itself? If you could reconsider…surely my lord would find mercy for you as well.”

“I’d sooner die than get on my knees and beg before such a tyrant. Don’t play innocent, life is not so black and white that any one being is able to determine the fate of millions of lives,” Shion stated. “His arrogance knows no bounds, his very existence a mistake. If your master continues to fear me, then he shouldn’t send his minions to do his bidding.”

“I speak the truth when I say I came of my own accord. If I should be scorned for this, so be it. But why throw your life away when it can be used for a greater purpose?”

“My life is but for one purpose: to cleanse the world of that entity. That was decided the moment I gained Ultima’s blessing, and further cemented the day he was freed from his shackles. Even if I am not the one to land the decisive blow, I will make sure he falls.”

Sophia fell silent, staring at Shion. Her lips would curve into a smile, and understanding look on her face. “I see now…you realize you don’t have the power to fell him. Perhaps if you had kept Ultima and became her host, but as you are now you’re well aware of your lack of power. So you’re betting everything you have on Belias’ host, are you?” She asked rhetorically. “I thank you for answering me. This must be why my lord has not eradicated you yet…but Shion, unlike the others, you and I are on equal terms. So if he wills it, I will take your life.”

“You’re welcome to try. Leave me now, I have nothing more for you,” Shion turned her back to Sophia, much to Vlyn’s surprise.

The white haired woman clucked her tongue, walking over to Shion and wrapping her arms around her. Vlyn’s eyes widened, though he noticed Sophia still smiled. “You know…he could always bring back Arvia and Rio. Wouldn’t you like to see them again?” She asked her quietly. “It would be nice if we were all together again, like how we used to be.”

“That would serve only to desecrate their memory. And as you’re well aware, neither you nor I are the same as before,” Shion bitterly reminded her. “I will not repeat myself: leave. Now.”

She nodded, much to his surprise, and as she would walk backwards, slinking into the shadows once more, her Mist all but vanished. Shion scoffed once more though she would take a seat next to where Vlyn stood, her back to a rock. He had half a mind to ask what the hell just happened, but as he would sit, only silence accompanied them.

[AlteredTundra]

Much like her heart, in that moment, Isabelle’s feet nearly sank into the floor. It took balancing on Lorenzo’s arm that she was able to stand. It was a miracle. She couldn’t believe that he was up. If what Lady Aloa said was true, then they did it. Whoever was responsible--whoever did Dalmasca this great service--they would be paid handsomely. Though, Isabelle wouldn’t waste any time. Before anyone would even suggest it, she would take her leave.

“I thank you, Lady Aloa,” she took Aloa’s hand and squeezed it lovingly, “If there is anything you need--anything at all--all you need to do is ask and it’s yours.” She said before departing, her tears being left on Aloa’s hand and the door closed behind her.

---

In hearing about his brothers, Wesley remained silent, though he could see the various faces of his friends and family. How could he tell them the truth? While he was in that “coma”, he somehow became enlightened in a way that tied him to everything that his friends were doing. In that, he knew all of which had happened to him. This...transformation he seemed to go through gave him the mysterious gift of some sort of enlightenment. He didn’t quite yet understand it. The only thing he knew was that Wesley was closer to being like ALoa and Shion than he was before he fell into his deep slumber for those short few days.

As he would let out a sigh of defeat, Wesley’s gaze turned to Nadeline, seeing her face and how utterly lost she was and how confused the rest of his friends were.

Though, Wesley took too long to speak. “Answer her already!” Savayna demanded.

“Savayna..” Jaakuna used a warning tone.

“Don’t you ‘Savayna’ me, Jaak. This isn’t just about you or Nadeline. This is about me as well.”

“Thinking of yourself too much, aren’t you, Lady Glacie?” Cassandra commented.

“This is about The Brotherhood and how apparently before they were taken from Wesley’s command, he led them.” Savayna completely ignored Cassandra(much to her disapproval as noted by her huffing). She directed her glance to Wesley. “Now out with it, Wes!” She demanded, snarling at him.

Just as Jaakuna was going to say something, Wesley raised his hand. “I understand your anger. It was never my intention for Dalmasca’s Brotherhood to be reduced to a band of thugs that do Leviathan’s bidding nor was it for them to attack their rightful master. If only--no, now’s not the time to sulk.” Wesley shook his head, “my older brothers Caeru and Sanguine, they knew exactly what could happen to them when they agreed to serve in the shadows even though the rest of their brothers had chosen a more public position.” Wesley stated coldly. He claimed a serenity in Nadeline’s gaze. “I admit that I don’t know that much about The Protector. I only know two things: The Protector is a male and he is connected to Sylvester’s death.”

As he left those words to linger, Wesley would look around. He would go to Alistar who had been silent throughout the entire conversation. “Alistair,” Wesley suddenly said his name.

“Your Majesty! What is it that you need?”

“Escort Cassandra to her room and send for Aloa. There is something I need to discuss with her..with everyone. And please inform my mother that I will see her shortly afterward. “ Much to her protesting, Cassandra went along with Alistair and left the room. When she did, Wesley looked around and didn’t even realize Emiri had slipped out. “Emiri needs to be here too. It involves all of us.”

[Hero]

"That will be convenient, should Cassandra have a change of heart," Aloa was grateful for Isabelle's statement. That about covered any hole regarding the Treaty Blade, and Shion could rest easy. Fluffing her hair, she caught sight of her Empress frowning. "Something troubles you?"

"On the contrary. However, I will take advantage of this and collect my thoughts. Perhaps with this we can properly draw up a proper treaty," Reia stated, pulling the sheets of paper before her, pen in hand. "I am glad Jackson is finally using his head, but it could use some adjustments. Leave me be, I will remain and see to it that this situation is treated properly as soon as things are ready."

The viera bowed deeply, leaving her Empress as she would follow Lorenzo's tracks. The man was shouting something in blissful glee that could be heard throughout. Her ear twitched--so the prince required her presence as well? How interesting.

---

Lorenzo bolted through the halls, showing an inhuman speed as he would cheer rather loudly. If Weston was awake, that meant happiness for his beloved daughter, if his daughter was happy, he was happy, if he was happy, then gosh darn it that meant there was reason to celebrate. As he turned the corner, he slammed into an unsuspecting Emiri, the pair tumbling to the ground. He immediately jumped up to his feet, showing a boundless energy as he pulled Emiri up, dusting her off.

"Huh? What--hey!" She cried out as he took her by the hand and dragged her with him. She stumbled over her footing, nearly falling, though as they neared Wesley's room she finally tripped. This did not slow Lorenzo down for even a moment, though she did notice Cassandra being escorted out of Wesley's room. No doubt she'd get amusement out of this, but she had other things to worry about as Lorenzo practically burst through the door, finally dropping Emiri as he skidded to a halt, panting heavily.

"Good gods, Father, we're about to have a very serious discussion," Nadeline whined, once again upset at her father embarrassing her. “We could hear you shouting the entire way!”

"Owww..." Emiri wailed, rubbing her now sore backside. "That was mean...we could've just walked here..."

Grant rolled his eyes, though Nadeline had a point. "Nadeline's right. If you can excuse us for just a moment, then you can do whatever you please to your...future-son-in-law."

Lorenzo would push his hair out of his eyes, winking at his younger brother. “I had to come and see it with my own eyes!.”

“...what?”

“My precious Nadeline’s happiness is what I value above all else! If she so much as sheds a single tear, then I have become a failure as a father! But then the time comes where Nadeline’s happiness is no longer my burden, passed on to whatever unfortunate bastard decides to marry her!”

Emiri stood up, looking at Lorenzo with an exasperated expression. “That’s a rather harsh way of putting it.” She stated.

“I never thought I would agree with the Time Scion, but she’s right, Prince, Lorenzo,” Cassandra stopped Alistair from moving on just to say that. The brunette couldn’t help but give Cassandra a rather sour look, almost glaring.

“Princess, please we must go. His Majesty strictly ordered me to escort you to your room and get Lady Aloa for him. I cannot--”

“You don’t need to bother yourself with such a simple task,” Cassandra stated, looking to Lorenzo. “Prince Lorenzo, be a dear and fetch the Lady Aloa.” Cassandra rubbed his hand, giving him a seductive wink.

Lorenzo eyed Cassandra, though he held a mischievous glint. “Simple, eh?! Just the way I like it! You leave it to me, I’ll be right back!” He yelled as he ran out, running towards the right side of the hallway.

“I don’t know what’s worse: the fact that she manipulated my father so easily, or the fact that he fell for it without hesitation,” Nadeline was clearly displeased.

“Take notes, Nadeline,” Cassandra approached Nadeline, holding her hand with a smile, “the way to get a man to do what you want him to do is easy with the right glances. How do you think I got Jackson to accept my marriage counter proposal?” Suddenly Cassandra felt the glare from Emiri. “Oh right, you didn’t know that, did you. Whoops.” Cassandra shrugged, stringing Alistar away as the two of them went to her room, leaving the others to ponder on the bomb she just dropped.

Grant shook his head, though a familiar face would appear but a minute later. Aloa looked at the room, noticing all eyes on her. “Whoa, that was fast,” He admitted in surprise.

Aloa raised an eyebrow at him. “I beg your pardon, Highness?”

Emiri bit her lip as she realized what had happened, trying to suppress her snickering. Nadeline let out a groan, burying her head in her hands. How was she supposed to put up with such humiliation?! It hadn’t quite clicked for Grant, a puzzled look on his face. “Lorenzo just went looking for you.”

“I did not see him. I had come from the meeting hall after informing Isabelle of Wesley’s condition, though it seemed she had other matters to attend to, as I arrived first,” Aloa said.

At that point, Emiri burst out laughing. “Lorenzo ran off to the right! Aloa came in from the left! He’s going to run around on a wild goose chase!” She snickered, enjoying the distraction.

“What an idiot,” Jaakuna commented. “I can’t wait to rub this in his face,” Jaakuna spoke a moment later, joining Emiri in a joint burst of laughter.

“That…” Grant trailed off, though he placed his hand on his forehead. “It’ll certainly keep him occupied, at least…”

Wesley also couldn’t hide his chuckling on the events that had transpired, though he did have to do something about his sister. Obviously being in charge has changed her. “At long last, we’re all here,” Wesley signalled Jaakuna to close the door. Though he sighed, he did willingly. “Please gather around, I need to tell you all something. It’s about what I found out when I was in my coma.”

“Pray tell. Your condition was certainly curious,” Aloa stated, leaning against the wall. “After Zalera stated that it was intentional, I couldn’t quite fathom why.”

Nadeline frowned at Wesley. “What is it that you’ve learned?”

“I had a similar reaction, Aloa. At first, I was furious at Hashmal after he purposely put me in a stasis of sorts, but he explained it to me. He told me exactly why he did it and what the reason it was for.”

“Which was?” Jaakuna interjected, raising an eyebrow.

“It was to fuse my mind with The Wood,” Wesley revealed, looking directly at Aloa. If anyone knew of this, he knew it was her. “This is why I asked that you be brought here, Aloa. This is why we all needed to talk. Everyone of us, in some way, has began the journey of bonding with The Wood. Hashmal told me it is our destiny. This is why the Espers have chosen us. They know us to be worthy of such a power.”

“You mean the Word of Ivalice,” Aloa stated, her arms at her sides. “The Wood--Golmore Jungle--is one of many voices of Ivalice. She communicates with those that bind themselves to her. As my people are the ones that seclude themselves in the Wood, they alone hear her words. I am surprised that you understood so much--it is not often that humes today are even aware of the Word of Ivalice.”

“Why is that?” Grant asked.

“Hearing Her voice is no easy feat. It has been some time since I have heard it, though one does not reach out to the Word--she reaches out to you. Until now, that is,” She explained, motioning towards Wesley.

Wesley let out a cough, though he laughed shortly afterward. “I imagine that’s what I heard.”

“Heard what?”

“It was..an echo of sorts. It was layered several tons over, so I don’t know what exactly it was. Not even Hashmal could tell me, but he deduced it was, as Aloa said, the Word of Ivalice.” Wesley looked to Jaakuna, who seemed deep in thought.

“I...think I heard it to. Or maybe not.” Jaakuna hesitated, unsure exactly if what he heard was it or not.

“I don’t believe I can agree on hearing any voices,” Nadeline looked disappointed.

Emiri thought to herself, trying to see, though she would perk up. “Ah, just before, I thought I did! But...I didn’t get a message or anything...I think?” She put her hand to her chin, trying to think.

Grant couldn’t recall any situation like that, disappointed as well. “But...what does it mean, exactly? Chosen? Destiny? What is it all for?”

That was one thing Wesley didn’t know the answer to. He asked Hashmal a few times during this..process, but even he didn’t know. “I’m afraid to say that not even Hashmal knew the answer to that. The most he knew about it was that we, the Chosen Ones, are destined to bond with the Word of Ivalice.” Wesley stated,looking to his beloved, then to Grant, Emiri, Savayna, and Jaakuna. “Some of us have while others haven’t. Though, as it happened to me, we all will go through our own metamorphosis.” Suddenly, Wesley gripped his head, lightly grunting in agony.

Bonding?

For some reason, Emiri didn’t exactly like Wesley’s choice of words. Maybe it was coincidence, but something about it just didn’t feel right. Still, she had to put the thought to the side as she watched Wesley. Letting out a gasp, Nadeline immediately reached out to Wesley. “What is it? What’s wrong?” She asked, her eyes wide with concern.

“I think it just might be my lack of strength. Hashmal told me the awakening wouldn’t be easy, though I suppose he didn’t say how difficult it would be.” Wesley laughed it off. “I will be alright, though there is one more thing we need to address,” Wesley said, coughing, “I need to know about this marriage proposal, Jaakuna.” Suddenly, Wesley’s tone shifted from a general seriousness to a more personal, overprotective brother one. “What exactly were you thinking!” Unlike him, Wesley’s voice rose an octave.

And suddenly, as if out of the blue, the attention was back on Jaakuna. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! It’s not like that--I swear!”

“That--that was real?!” Nadeline exclaimed, alarmed.

“He certainly seemed to be enjoying himself,” Emiri grumbled, her tone rather dark and dangerous.

“Something about a unification between Dalmasca and Archadia,” Grant recalled outloud. “It’s an intelligent idea, though I can’t say I approve of all the displays of public affection. Truly, you have no shame, Jaakuna. I’m disappointed.”

“What displays?! What?!” Nadeline squeaked, her hands on the sides of her head. “Jaakuna, Cassandra isn’t even of age! What were you thinking?!”

“His excuse is ‘I had to do it’,” Emiri stated, fuming.

“Honestly, I could have sided with him, but it was the amount of times he did it that got to me,” Grant admitted, though he looked at the wall. “They were alone for an awfully long time, too…”

Aloa raised an eyebrow. “Love shouldn’t be confused with passion,” Would be her input.

Apparently this was ‘blame Jaakuna day’, which led to Jaakuna’s rather sour expression, staying quiet for he didn’t want to further anger everyone, but by the time Aloa had added on, he just about had it. “Okay, first off, Cassandra is very mature for her age. Her...assets make her seem older than she actually is.

“That answer isn’t going to help you in court,” Grant pointed out.

Ignoring Grant’s comment, Jaakuna continued. “Secondly, she was threatening war between the three nations. Did you honestly expect me to do nothing? I swear, it’s like you guys don’t even want the damn treaty to happen!”

“She also tried to kill me!” Emiri burst out.

“But she didn’t,” Savayna would point out.

“I think I got the impression that Cassandra likes Emi very much,” Nadeline suddenly realized.

“Oh yes, much like how Emiri just loves Lola, isn’t that right Time Wizard?” Savayna snickered, earning a glare from Emiri.

“And for the last time, it not like I’m going to marry her. I offered her an alternate solution. She agreed.”

“THAT is news to me!” The brunette scoffed, crossing her arms.

“If you weren’t so damn stuck in your ways and leave the room before I got the chance to tell you, then you might’ve known, but no, you had to pout away.” Jaakuna also scoffed, crossing his arms too.

Emiri uncrossed her arms, a serious look on her face. He didn’t get it, did he? She felt everyone looking between herself and Jaakuna, not knowing what to say. She shook her head at him, but she had enough. She walked up to him, as if to say something, anything, But the words wouldn’t come, her eyes diverted to the floor. She shook her head once more, opening the door and taking her leave of Wesley’s room.

Grant scratched the back of his head, though he looked at Jaakuna. “It’s tough when misunderstandings arise out of good intentions,” He said to no one in particular, though he would look out the window at the dark night.

“What just happened?” Jaakuna scratched his head. Sometimes he was baffled at Emiri’s actions sometimes. She got mad at him when he didn’t do anything wrong and when he explained himself, he still was in the doghouse. “There’s absolutely no winning when it comes to her.” Jaakuna kept scratching his head, though he would scoff.

“Love is not a game; it is a journey. Only when you truly understand your other, then may you never feel confusion in their actions.” Wesley recited an old scripture he recalled from his youth.

“Uhh..”

“He means go after her, you dumbass!” Savayna, though not as tactful, translated the meaning of what Wesley said. Kind of.

“Oh..right.” Jaakuna laughed slowly. He took his leave, following Emiri out of Wesley’s room. Though, as he would, Isabelle would walk in. “Hi Ms’ Wesley’s Mother,” Jaakuna had good reflexes because he sidestepped, “bye Ms’ Wesley’s Mother~” Jaakuna waved to her as he went after Emiri.

“Did I miss something?” Isabelle asked, blinking at the others, confused about what she just walked into.

[AlteredTundra]

I’m an idiot.

Her footsteps continued at a quick pace, her frustration leading the way. Where was she even trying to go? Mentally, she wanted to go as far away as possible, and had half a mind to head straight to the old bar and lock herself in a room. She didn’t want to talk to anyone, she didn’t want to see anyone, she wanted to punch something, she wanted to cry, she wanted to do a lot of things. Unfortunately for the nearby wall, one of those things were executed as she came to a stop, unleashing a powerful punch to the wall and forming a messy hole.

Emiri’s hand hurt, though it certainly alleviated some of her pent up emotion. As she looked at her hand, she heard a familiar voice shouting Aloa’s name. Lorenzo still hadn’t caught on? She almost felt bad, though she then realized that the damage to the wall would certainly get pinned on her. Crap, what was she thinking?! As if Cassandra didn’t have enough of a reason to hate her! Slightly panicking, Emiri backed away, looking for an escape. A nearby door, heavier than the others, caught her attention--it would most likely lead outside. She could hear Lorenzo’s shouting getting louder, she quickly went through.

As she closed the door behind her, the night air bit at her skin, sending a shiver up her spine. It looked like she could either take a path that lead...somewhere, or another path that led...elsewhere. She hadn’t the slightest idea where to go, though a few lights in the distance caught her eye. She chose the left path and began to walk, letting her curiosity get the better of her. The path ended rather shortly, though she was astonished at the sight laid out before her.

In the distance was a stone gazebo surrounding a statue of someone. A grand pond stood before it, the water's surface covered in sleeping water lilies and other plant life. Speaking of plantlife, the willow trees hung all around her, several lights weaved between the branches and hanging down, illuminating the place nicely. She would follow the stone path, examining the many flowers and rocks set down. Whoever designed this place did so beautifully.

She knelt down, examining the water. Something rippled through it, though she wasn’t sure what it was that she was looking for.

“Finally, I found you.” Jaakuna panted heavily, stopping just a few paces away from Emiri. He saw she was gazing into the water. He didn’t know what she was looking at, but he was too busy trying to catch his breath. “Do you know how hard it is to find you while avoiding Lorenzo’s dumb ass?” Jaakuna asked rhetorically, still panting, though not as much. The few moments he took to stop helped his breathing.

She didn’t respond right away, though she would reach out and grab something. Standing up, she would walk over to Jaakuna, opening her hand to reveal a firefly. It crawled onto her finger for a moment, though it would glow and flutter away. Watching it leave, Emiri looked back at the pond, sitting down. “I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” She muttered.

Jaakuna let out a long sigh. He knew he had to approach this a different way. Obviously, she was feeling some type of way, so perhaps instead of acting like Jaakuna, Jackson should take a stab at it. “Maybe I can try this a different way.” Jackson took a seat next to Emiri as he looked at the pond. “You’re mad, aren’t you?”

Ah, hit the nail on the head. She hugged her knees, watching the fireflies over the water. Be honest. Remember? She could hear Keiran prod at her from a distance. He was right. She promised. “Back at the castle...you brought up how much things have changed,” Emiri started slowly. “A lot has happened between the first time we met and now. I haven’t been myself in some time...even now, I feel like I’m not all here. Not yet. I don’t know why--maybe Wesley had a point in that whole thing with the Word.” She paused, resting her hands on her feet for a moment, trying to properly collect her thoughts.

“The only thing that’s made me feel whole is you. I don’t know if I’ve just become some love sick girl or if I’m just going crazy. We’re past the point where we’ve said we love each other, but it’s more than just words. There’s a part of me that understands what you did. Really. I still hate it, but I understood. And then, I thought…’Maybe he changed his mind about us. Maybe I went past the point of no return.’ I don’t think it was intentional, but...right now is basically the only time we’ve had to ourselves.”

“What are you trying to say, Emiri?” Jackson asked, looking towards her.

She finally brought herself to look back at him. “Honestly...you did the right thing. But I don’t like this person you’ve become,” She stated, concerned. “You had your reasons--fine. And then next time, what will happen? Or after that? I know you haven’t admitted it, but I know you want to return Archadia to rule as Jackson Darcone--”

“And again, you only have half of the story. I don’t want to, Emiri; I have to.” Jaakuna informed her, gripping his pant leg and gritting his teeth slightly.

Emiri shook her head. “That isn’t half the story! It’s the whole thing!” She couldn’t help but respond in kind. “You won’t admit it, but there’s a part of you that wants to. And that part of you…” She struggled to find the words to properly explain herself. “That’s...that’s not you. You basically put our relationship on the line. I don’t like what you did! Most people would consider that cheating! The Jaakuna I know wouldn’t resort to doing something like that no matter what!”

“It’s true that kissing another woman isn’t something I would do, I’ll give you that. However,” Jaakuna turned his head to face Emiri, “Letting Zodiark influence you so easily isn’t something Emiri would do.”

Emiri stared at him for what seemed to be a long time. “So you went there, huh…” She said quietly, returning her gaze towards the pond as she stretched her legs out in front of her. Out with it. Come on. “I can’t believe it...” She was incredulous, shaking her head. “I don’t want this! I don’t want this person next to me! I want the real Jaakuna!” She shouted, her hands on her head, though she immediately looked back at him. “Why?! Why is it that it has to be this way?! I don’t...I can’t take this!!” She said, pushing herself off the ground as she stood. Why couldn’t she just be outright? No, she needed to recollect her thoughts. She looked towards the gazebo, and started walking towards it.

“That’s right, just walk away,” Jaakuna said, not even looking at her. “That’s all you ever do. Whenever a situation gets even moderately tough for you to handle, you run away. You did it when Reia thought you were the key to her power. You did it in Bhjuerba and you’re doing it now.” Jaakuna sharply snapped, his voice colder than Savayna’s Blizzaja.

Don’t take that from him. Come on! Keiran kept mentally urging her. Emiri inhaled, and then exhaled. No, he was right. He was turning this around on her, and the conversation was not going where it needed to. She had to take charge again--or at the very least, try to get her point across.. “I wanted to collect my thoughts. But honestly, you’re right--and I’m letting you have it, so you better prepare yourself,” She stated boldly, turning around and glaring at him. “I’m not running away this time.”

Here goes nothing. She tried to mentally prepare herself, but she was pretty sure it was all going to spill out. “You hurt me, Jaakuna. I don’t like what you’re becoming. Would you gladly toss me aside if it convinces you? If it was something you ‘had to do’? You manipulated Reia into helping you, seduced Wesley’s sister so she would be under your thumb, and now you’re throwing my past failures into my face--you want to know who did things like that?! Vincent did!”

I understand your rage, Jaakuna, but think carefully. This is not being diplomatic; this is your soulmate. Act out in anger and you might end up regretting it.

Yeah, yeah, Jaakuna knew that, but did she really have to pull the Vincent card? That’s what really got to him. He could ignore the Reia and Cassandra comment. She still didn’t know the whole story there, but about Vincent..she knew how much Jaakuna despised Vincent--well, used to, at least. Still, that didn’t stop her from using that card against him. It was difficult for him not to respond in anger, but Jaakuna had to really think. Not only that, but Emiri wasn’t some uptight princess that needed to be handled with care--she was the love of his life. When all else seemed hopeless, she gave him a little of it. If the entire world ended and everyone sent to the Gods but she wasn’t and he somehow survived, he would be happy to spend the remaining days of their lives together with her.

Finally, after what seemed like minutes, Jaakuna found his center. He found a calming sanctuary in her violet eyes. No matter how livid she seemed to be with him, her eyes were still violet, which meant that no interference from Keiran nor anyone hostile was contributing. This, in itself, would give Jaakuna clarity.

“And again, you don’t have the full story.” Jaakuna sighed, “but allow me to tell you exactly how we arrived here. Unless, of course, you want to throw more baseless facts at me.” Jaakuna would gesture to Emiri, letting her have the floor. If she wished, she could insult him more. Or she could actually listen to him for once.

Baseless? Why? Why wasn’t he understanding? Because you suck at explaining yourself. Come on, one more time, use your words, Keiran told her. Emiri looked down at the ground. “It’s not baseless...you kissed her,” She told him, trying her best to convey her feelings. “Even if you had every reason in the world...you still did it. Do you even realize that after getting back....we/ haven’t even kissed...we’ve been so distant with one another. Is that what the future holds? Am I just going to get sidelined as I watch Jackson rule Archadia? Don’t you see why I’m so scared? Why I want the real you back?” She said, her eyes wide, though she couldn’t bring herself to look at him yet. “I want to believe in you, but not like this. Not like this, Jaakuna. Look at us, even now. Our only moment together, alone...and all we’ve done is fight.”

Jaakuna was silent throughout all of that. He felt it was best that he let her get it all out. Though, there were a few times where he wanted to correct her on exactly how wrong she was, he didn’t because he knew her--the real her. He knew that she wouldn’t forgive him if he didn’t let her finish. That’s how he knew all of what she claimed was just what she observed and assumed from what she saw, where in reality, she barely knew half of what the real story was. But, fear not! Jaakuna was about to set the record straight. He just hoped that she would let him tell it without twisting every word he spoke.

“I’m not going to make excuses for the kiss. I know there’s none in existence that would clear me of that wrong, but at least let me tell you how wrong you are about the other bits.” Jaakuna took in a breath, channeling Jackson’s calmness. “From back when I originally proposed the treaty, I didn’t know what I was doing. When we got to Archadia and everything that happened then, I didn’t know what I was doing. After I freed you from Keiran’s hold, I still didn’t know what I was doing.” He kept his eye son Emiri, making sure she saw he wasn’t joking. “Everything that happened from then until we got here, I had no freaking clue about anything. Even after the treaty negotiations started, I was as clueless as a dire wolf babe in the wilderness. I’m not the diplomatic type. I’m no good with sitting in a room while some old maester expresses his opinions about something that’s trivial at best. So, what do you think I did when this maester suggested that the terms of the treaty--the terms I told you about when we were waiting for everyone to reach the gates of Dalmasca? I’m asking you, Emiri. What do you think Jaakuna Hinoko did?”

“You probably hit him,” She stated very seriously.

“Not probably--I did hit him.”

She bit her lip, trying to contain herself, but a few giggles came out anyway. “I wonder what the poor man said to anger you,” She said, finally looking up at him.

There was a moment of silence, then Jaakuna scratched the side of his face, avoiding her gaze for another moment. “He said the wrong thing and paid the piper.” Jaakuna stated as matter of factly.

Yup, that sounded about right. She snickered, though a full laugh escaped her as she tried to control herself. “I’ll be hearing about that one…” She sighed, shaking her head, though her smile faded as she closed her eyes. “...I know that wasn’t a good thing. But I don’t want to completely lose you, either,” She said quietly.

“And you won’t,” Jaakuna reminded her, taking her hand. “But this man, much like many in Dalmasca, couldn’t enter a ceasefire with Rozarria and Archaida when knowing full-well that the murderer of their fallen king was free. None of them know that Wesley pardoned him. Hell, maybe they do and they don’t accept it. I honestly don’t know, but that’s not what I’m trying to say.” Jaakuna truly didn’t have a talent for getting to the point. “After I acted out in anger, Reia--not I, but Reia--brought up the point that Jaakuna needed to take a backseat to Jackson Darcone. And, while I hate it, she was right. If not to make sure the maester didn’t press formal charges against me, then for the sake of the treaty. And so that’s what I did. I made sure to handle things with care. This involved brokering a deal with Cassandra.” Jaakuna let out a sigh, though he kept his eyes Emiri. “I offered her Isaiah as a token of good faith, but she wanted my hand in marriage. So, don’t you see, Emiri. She didn’t give me any choice in the matter. She threatened war if I didn’t comply. It was only after I promised her another that she would back off.”

Emiri nodded in understanding, though she pouted. “I don’t like her,” She couldn’t help but whine, looking at Jaakuna with watery eyes. “I’m sorry. I mean it.”

“I’m going to let you in on a little secret,” Jaakuna got closer to Emiri, “I don’t like her either.”

She tried to hide her delight, but she couldn’t hide the smile on her face. “I’m still a little mad,” She admitted sheepishly, hanging her head. “It’s not fair...why did she have to be all over you like that?”

“Honestly? I think it’s because she hasn’t gotten laid yet.” Jaakuna shrugged lazily.

“If you fulfill that need of hers, I’m leaving you,” She told him bluntly.

“Oh but it is not I who will do that. A Darcone, sure, but not this one.” Jaakuna smirked mischievously, then snickered.

“As long as it’s not you, I don’t care. I want you to be all mine,” She huffed, crossing her arms.

“Oh trust me, I have no intention on getting involved on that crazy wench.” Jaakuna shuttered and hugged Emiri, as if to make sure she knew that he was never going near Cassandra ever again. “I’m going to let her be Roman’s problem.”

That was a bit on the meaner side--Roman was so kind, sending Cassandra after him was uncalled for. But if that was how it would be, then that was that. All those thoughts melted away as she felt his arms around her. Oh well, a problem for tomorrow. She hugged him back tightly, just enjoying the moment. This is what she wanted. As she lay her head against his chest, she could swear someone was calling her again. Maybe now that she knew what it was, she too would hear the Word.

And while Jaakuna found comfort in her arms and Emiri had finally gave into the moment, off in the distance, Jaakuna heard Lorenzo still calling for Aloa.

That father of Ultima’s Chosen One truly is an idiot.

[Hero]

At the crack of dawn, the odd pair departed. Vlyn thought he knew the way they were going, but was surprised when they ended up on the Paramina Rift. The drop in temperature didn’t seem to bother her at all, her hair billowing behind her. The woman was truly a force of nature, not even a single shiver sent down her spine. He was pretty cold, but he couldn’t help but question how she managed to keep a straight face as the winds blew snow at them.

“A small detour—it will not take long,” She would assure him as she began to walk up a cliff.

Following suit, he was glad when the winds finally died down, if only for a moment. Rubbing his arms, he followed Shion to the top, where a rusted blade sat, firmly imbedded in the ground. Shion would approach it, getting down onto her knees and offering a silent prayer. From this, he assumed it was a grave, and paid his respects as well.

“That was kind of you. I appreciate it,” Shion stated, her hands on her lap.

“A fallen friend?” He asked.

“What remained of him, yes,” Shion nodded, much to his confusion. At his expression, she would continue, “Surpassing the limits of our humanity is something only a select few are capable of. Even your race has extraordinary people that rise above the rest, do they not? This man…his name was Rio Eron. He, along with myself, Avria…were survivors of the destruction of Nepal. Despite living in the same village, we did not interact—it wasn’t until each of us were shipped off to Achadia did we start to get to know one another. He was a passionate boy, though his heart was heavy with wanting revenge against the country that destroyed his home. He gathered us together, his words filled with understanding and hatred. I disliked him. He was a man of words, I a woman of action.

“Still, as the years passed, I would seek out power. But the more I looked, the more I realized that I was helpless as a hume. Even if I had the best weapon or forbidden magicks, it was not enough. Rio agreed, so together, we sought out the gods themselves. Arvia was the voice of reason, though she would end up coming along. Sophia was intrigued, but she had nowhere else to go, and so followed as well. I think that despite her words, deep down, she agreed with our way of thinking. We were granted power only to find that said power was not so easily controlled.

“It was not something that was noticed right away. Perhaps I was gifted. Or just lucky—I had no problem with it, embracing that which did not belong to me. But Rio and Avria…they struggled. I wasn’t too surprised with Avria, her soul was so gentle, even with sword in hand she would not be able to fell an enemy. But Rio grew frustrated, and tried to keep it under wraps. We confronted him, but it was too late—the Mist warped him and his mind. Now that I think about it, I’m certain it was done on purpose. He was stronger than I was…but I was chosen instead of him to become the next Ashlesha Ascendant, with my friends thrown to the wayside.

“With his new form, he lost whatever humanity remained, and became a monster in every sense of the word except physical. He slaughtered many, regardless of their allegiance with the Empire, and became bloodthirsty. And when Avria stood up to him…he decided he had no further use for us. But he feared me. He feared I could overcome him. And so he let me here, to the Paramina Rift, and ambushed me upon arrival. We fought for what seemed like days…and then Avria arrived. She pleaded with him, tried to appeal to his old self, but the gods did not wish for this. His outer appearance would match his heart as he transformed into a monster, and without so much as a second glance, he murdered his best friend.

“As she died, he realized what he had done. He was quelled, though I could not let him get away with this injustice, and I slayed him. I buried them both here…and stuck his blade as a sort of memorial. The entire thing was set up as punishment, this much I am sure. I forsaked the power given to me, choosing to walk my own path. The gods were probably delighted to see my anguish…and so I made sure to leave my heart behind as well. I surpassed my humanity without their aid…and obtained true power. Until now, that is.”

Vlyn listened intently, though his gaze returned to the sword before them. “Rio Eron…it isn’t the same General Eron from Archadia, is it?” He asked, surprised. “I remember hearing about it…but the story went that he killed his subordinates and then himself.”

“And that is what history will remember,” Shion stated as she would stand, brushing the snow off. “I suppose I still pity him. I wanted someone to know the truth…and unfortunately, that would be you.”

He was grateful for that. “How did the Garif know of Avria?”

“She went to them, hoping to learn to control her power. Maybe if Rio had done the same, things would be different.”

“And Sophia knows of this? Wait…”

Shion shook her head at him, and began to walk. Vlyn followed, the realization dawning on him, though he couldn’t bring himself to confirm it. After a time, the grand gates leading to Giruvegan had come into view at last. Vlyn had never been so happy to see what amounted to a giant wall. Still, the trek had been completely silent, with him following in her footsteps as she led the way. Shion was deep, deep in thought the entire time, probably because of the story she had spun for him Still, it did little to distract her prowess in battle, as whatever unfortunate creature that chose to bar her path would quickly learn.

As they look looked at the gates, Vlyn finally had to ask, “What’s here?”

“The Great Crystal,” She replied, her hand on the door. To his surprise, the gate opened, allowing them passage. Rather than head on inside, she hesitated. “I appreciate the company, but this is where you and I will go our separate ways. You can tell them the truth, as I entrust it to you to do with it as you please.”

“But…Zodiark…”

“If he ventures here, he forfeits his own existence. I’ll need time…but if I succeed, then…” Her voice trailed off. “My path is laid before me. See to it that you do the same. If I fail, then this is goodbye.”

“You’ll be fine. I’ll—we’ll all be waiting,” Vlyn told her as she walked away. He would watch as she reached the Waystone, although once she was out of sight, he felt completely at a loss. Her story was too familiar. The Ashlesha Ascendant…No, it was not a coincidence. At the very least, he needed to confirm with Aloa. And if she agreed, then he would be able to say the truth.

---

Morning had come at last, and with it, a second chance. The mood of the castle was considerably uplifted since the announcement of Wesley's return. The details had been kept on a strict need-to-know basis, but to the city of Rabanastre, it was a relief. The start of the day was on the quieter side of things, the castle hushed as their lords were just rising. A grand breakfast had been laid out for the guests, though everything was fresh only one person was at the table, happily eating away. Keiran indulged himself as he pleased, happy with being the first to get up.

Soon after, however, Aloa would appear at the entrance to the hall, watching him carefully. For someone who was formerly serving Zodiark, he certainly seemed to be enjoying himself. Shion had assured her that he served Emiri--though Aloa had reason to doubt. It wasn't that she thought Shion was wrong, for all intents and purposes, it was the truth. For now. But when they would go to battle, would it remain that way?

Nadeline would join Aloa, mimicking her in staring at Keiran. "Comfortable, isn't he?" She said to Aloa quietly. "Despite all that's happened, I believe it best to address the little pet Emi had picked up."

"Perhaps it is because of his nature, there is little to be done. That is, if you favor keeping her life," Aloa warned Nadeline. “If you wish it, I can give it an attempt.”

The princess shook her head, instead choosing to join Keiran at the table. He definitely noticed her staring—Aloa was a little more subtle, but Nadeline was almost glaring at him, as if attempting to burn some holes through his skull. He stopped chewing for a moment, staring right back at her. She scoffed, crossing her arms. He grinned back, though she noticed it came off rather weak. She narrowed her eyes, realizing that he was paler than usual. “Are you alright?” She ended up asking.

“Wow, that’s really nice of you to ask!” He replied cheerfully. Her scorning look would cause him to backtrack. “Ah…well, Emiri isn’t feeling too well, so I guess I’m feeling it to. Like, it’s super hot in here. But I’m also freezing.”

A cold? Nadeline stared at Keiran intently, though she seemed to accept it. Before she could ask further, her father practically threw himself on top of her, hugging her tightly. “Good morning, my gorgeous daughter!” He greeted her happily.

“Good morning, Father. I’m glad to see you back to your too-energetic self. Quite the run you had last night, didn’t you?” She teased as he took a seat.

“That was a real mean trick! Why didn’t someone tell me Aloa already got to the room?” He whined.

“You enthusiasm was too much, they could not bear to disappoint you,” Aloa offered a solution as she would take a seat.

“More like he let Cassandra wrap him around her finger. Honestly, Father! Don’t let her wiles get the best of you!” Nadeline scolded him. “You let her use you! Have some dignity, for goodness sakes!”

---

Letting out a small whimper, Emiri managed to open her eyes. She was breathing heavily, her body feeling sore. She felt like she was on fire, though the chill in the room wouldn’t let her throw her blankets off of her. No, wait, the window was closed. Was she delusional as well? She was tossing and turning all night, unable to get very much sleep. She let out a groan as she forced herself to sit up, catching a glimpse of herself at the mirror above the vanity on the wall across from her. Her bangs stuck to her forehead from all she was sweating. What was wrong with her?

Her body screamed at her to get back into bed as she would place both feet on the floor. She stood, wobbling as the world around her suddenly started spinning. She managed to grab onto the bedpost for dear life, though found herself sliding down, unable to get a proper hold of it. On, the floor felt so nice and cool. She ended up laying flat on the floor, letting the coolness relieve her. No, she couldn’t stay on the floor! Getting herself on all fours, she crawled her way into the private bathroom, just in time to vomit. Great, she was sick.

Managing to stay on her feet, she brushed her teeth fiercely, wobbling over to where she had put her backpack down. She rummaged through, pulling out a shirt, though as she pulled it over her head, she realized she still had her nightgown on. Groaning yet again, she tried to pull the shirt off, only to find it stuck. Well, it wasn’t stuck, she just hadn’t the strength to pull it off. She let out a yell of frustration, struggling until she was out of breath once more. Wait, she had Keiran’s trick!

Concentrating, she felt the shirt dissolve into Mist, her magicks transforming her clothes, though to her surprise, she ended up naked. Shoot, she wasn’t really able to concentrate, was she? Well, since the clothes were off, she might as well take a bath. Wobbling over to the bathroom once more, she let the large tub fill with water. She watched it in a daze, not realizing until it was too late that she fell headfirst in. Panicking slightly, she splashed around hopelessly, though managed to sit up. She spat out water, coughing. Wow, did she almost drown herself? The thought melted away as the cold of the water seeped into her skin, and she leaned back, more relaxed.

[AlteredTundra]

As first light came to Rabanastre, as did the news about their king’s awakening. For days, the entire country--not just those in Rabanastre--didn’t know the fate of Wesley. Some speculated that he might not even wake. Some even thought he was dead and they were trying to explain the lack of his presence to the public. HOwever, as noted by the roaring and cheering throughout the great city, this was no conspiracy. Wesley himself held a morning greet as he stepped out onto the balcony and waved to his people; everyone cheered for their king and shouted to him as they wished him a speedy recovery.

And when Wesley stepped inside, he found his legs giving out once more. This was the fifth time he had tried to get up. It was a miracle he was able to stand for those long three minutes. He still wasn’t recovered from his coma. Of course, that was a given. He barely had time to stretch his legs, let alone actually properly heal. If he thought he’d be able to get back to his usual routine right after waking, then he was probably as arrogant as Zodiark was.

Thankfully, for Wesley, he had his sister to help him. Of course, thanks to his friends--namely Jaakuna--Wesley received a prototype Magicite Chair. As he would be led into the chair with the help of his sister and Alistair, Wesley would be pushed by the latter through the dimly-lit hallway, though the cyan magicite built into the chair illuminated a path and added a radiant light to the hallway; which in itself gave way to where exactly they needed to go; though Wesley knew these halls by heart so there wasn’t a need for a visual aid. Still, it did help him a bit. He didn’t have to think that much about it. He could just relax as he was pushed.

Eventually, as the Dalmascan trio turned a corner, they came to the Grand Hall where it seemed an elaborate breakfast was laid out for them. Wesley saw that most of everyone were present, though the absence of Jaakuna and Emiri were noted. No one seemed to have seen them since the two departed from Wesley’s room last night. Hopefully, they were okay. Wesley gestured a more well-behaved Cassandra to go sit next to Nadeline and away from any male. Meanwhile, Wesley had Alistair push him on the opposite of Nadeline, holding her hand and greeting her with a kiss. “Good morning, my queen,” he lovingly said to Nadeline, still holding her hand.

He looked around and saw quite the selection. There was quite the selection. Various main courses like omelets, pancakes, and egg-crusted bread cooked on a hot pan. Then there were various side-dishes like potato patties, sausage links, slices of thick bacon, and Wesley’s favorite, curry balls. Though Keiran had obviously helped himself, Wesley felt it would be rude not to join him in the venture of digging into this marvelous feast. Of course, Wesley would not only make a plate for himself but for his darling beloved, too. He only had two hands, so anyone else who would want a plate made would have to do it themselves. "What a glorious morning. My people cheered for me this morning. I went out to the balcony and greeted them.” Wesley suddenly spoke, breaking the long moment of silence that came with his arrival.

---

Safe to say that Jaakuna was not stressing as much as he was last night. With everything that happened and all that went wrong, there could’ve been so many wrong turns; while there were definitely a few turns that were unfortunate, there didn’t seem to be as many drawbacks from them as he had originally thought. Now, that being so, Jaakuna still had several things he would have to figure out. First and foremost, how was he going to explain to Roman that he was going to marry some uptight princess that he’s never met and how the fate of the treaty solely rests on his absolute compliance? There was also the matter of how if he didn’t do this, Emiri would go back to hating Jaakuna. So it not only involves politics but Jaakuna’s personal relationship depends on this.

He sulked for a few more minutes until he got up from laying down and just wandered around the room, searching for a decent pair of clothes to wear. Though he would think about just going out in some boxer shorts or something, Jaakuna had a bit more class than that. Without even so much as a warning, he popped into the bathroom while Emiri was relaxing. No manners at all. He popped the toilet seat up and decided to relieve himself by dropping a deuce. Grunting hard, Jaakuna let out a jovial sigh as he heard something drip into the water. Once satisfied he got up.

Walking past Emiri, Jaakuna glanced at her petrified face. “Might want to hurry up. I heard something about an early breakfast.” He casually noted, exiting the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

As he gathered up some semi-clean clothes, Jaakuna would put them on along the way to the Grand Hall. By the time he turned the second corner--just a few paces away from the hall itself--Jaakuna slipped his right leg into the respective pantleg, though as he did, it didn’t occur to him that part of the bottom of it was dragging along. Sure enough, Jaakuna fell straight on his face.

“Ow,” Jaakuna whined lightly, looking up as he would adjust himself properly. He saw everyone looking at him. While Wesley seemed to chuckle and smile, Savayna, who happened to arrive alone and around the same time, walked past him calling him a dumbass as she always had.

[Hero]

Grant let out a loud yawn as he walked the halls, clearly still sleepy. A lot had happened last night with a lot to think about, but his sleepiness was more credit to his not being a morning person. He roamed the halls, only stopping at a rather curious sight. Emiri had exited the guestroom, though the way she walked was...off. She swayed this way and that, almost as if zigzagging, though he found himself suppressing a laugh as she would turn too soon and bump into the corner of the wall. She let out a yelp, toppling over, though she seemed to have decided to stay on the ground, letting out a small groan. Taking pity, he walked over, kneeling down. "A little too early for alcohol, don't you think?" He asked, unable to hide his smile.

"I'm not drunk," Her muffled response came as she pressed her cheek against the floor. "It's nice and cool..."

"Come on, up you go," He said as he would help her to her feet. He brushed some dirt on her shoulder and smiled. "Let's go have breakfast." He began to walk, and she followed suit, though he noticed she left behind one of her sandals. Now that he was actually looking at her, it looked more like a child trying to dress themselves. He stopped, only for her to walk right into him. "...everything alright, there?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I think I caught a cold from being outside last night," She explained, nodding. "I forgot how chilly it gets. I think I'll probably be fine after I eat."

For some reason, he doubted it. Nonetheless they walked to the hall, Grant stepping over the fallen Jaakuna and managing to pull Emiri out of the path before she would walk into the wall again. The brunette saluted him in thanks, staggering over to a chair, though as soon as she sat down, she threw her head back, staring up at the ceiling. "This chair feels nice and cold..." She muttered happily.

Nadeline eyed Emiri for a moment, though she would turn her attention back to Wesley. "Of course it is, now that we're back together," She stated cheerfully, though that happiness would turn into annoyance as Lorenzo would start stealing from her plate. She smacked his hand, though she got the hint, deciding to serve him. He grinned at her, batting his eyelashes in appreciation, and would immediately begin to scarf down his food. She rolled his eyes, turning back to Wesley. "If your limbs need it, I'd be happy to help you heal, Wesley."

"The only kind of healing he needs would be the physical kind, if you know what I mean," Keiran stated, earning him a laugh from Emiri.

Grant nearly choked on his drink, though he managed not to spit it out. Lorenzo, on the other hand, did a spit take, showering Grant (much to his displeasure). "Oi, oi, oi, that's my precious little girl you're talking about!" He yelled, pointing a finger at him.

"Your engaged-to-be-married 'girl'. Although, she's not so much a girl as she is a woman," He pointed out rather seriously. "Besides, the duty of the Queen is to provide heirs, no? The sooner the better?"

If Nadeline didn't like Keiran before, she certainly made her distaste of him more than obvious now. Her father burst into tears, throwing his hands up. "I'm too young to be a grandfather! Why would you do this to me, my only child of mine!"

"Dear gods...Father, we talked about this, why are you getting so emotional?" Nadeline tried to reason with him, though any hope of that went out the window as he threw his head onto her lap, bawling. She patted his head gently, though she threw a death glare at Emiri. "Control him, will you?!"

"That one was kind of my bad. I was thinking it...and he said it," Emiri admitted, a small giggle escaping her, though it was following by a groan as she sunk into her seat.

"Emiri, I don't think you have a simple cold," Grant couldn't help but point out.

"I'm fine," She insisted as she looked at Grant, her cheeks flushed. "The room is only spinning a little."

"You're missing a shoe and your shirt is on backwards. You're not fine," Nadeline gave Jaakuna a look. "Jaakuna, why didn't you make sure she stayed in bed? She's halfway delusional at this point," She stated, pushing her father off of her as she would walk over to the brunette. Lorenzo blinked a few times, a suspicious look on his face as he looked at Keiran. Nadeline placed her hand on Emiri's forehead for a few seconds, shaking her head. "Go back to your room, you've got quite the fever."

"Nooo..." Emiri protested, though she let out a yawn. "I'm hungryyy...feed me, Naddie...pleeeeeaaaase..."

She was surrounded by idiots. Silencing Grant's snickering with a glare, she let out a huff, her hands on her hips. She wanted to take care of Wesley, so why was she stuck babysitting everyone else?! She felt like she was surrounded by children.

[AlteredTundra]

Whilst still on the floor, Jaakuna had attempted to get up but when he did, he would get stepped on by kitchen staff coming and going from the Great Hall to en-route to the kitchen; which from that gave Jaakuna a bad ache going all along his spine and back. Amidst this, he couldn’t help but hear how Emiri was very much unlike herself.

He finally got up and had dusted off any dirty that gathered anywhere on his body. Jaakuna took a seat next to Emiri. Just as he had and attempted to get his food, that’s when he really start to notice that how unlike herself that Emiri was acting. For one, he couldn’t help but notice how loose she seemed to be. It was as if she took a swig of Bangaa Ale and it obviously having a negative effect on her. Though, when she would state it was a simple cold, Jaakuna shrugged. Perhaps that’s what it was since Keiran appeared the same way. He deduced it was a byproduct of how Kei was feeling.

And on that note, Jaakuna went straight for the food. At least he would try to, but Emiri kept acting weirdly; which caused him to take noticed to his beloved. If there was anyone who should’ve noticeed this, it was him. Then again he was asleep by the time he got out of bed, so who was he to notice it before now?

Meanwhile, everyone else tried to enjoy what time remained of their breakfast. Wesley was enjoying his, though after Nadeline offered to heal him, he was going to respond, but Keiran beat him to the punch, then Lorenzo did. A few back and forths were exchanged before Wesley laughed, though it caused a slight discomfort. “Taking Keiran’s crude interpretation aside, I don’t think it’s something that could be healed by magic.” Wesley noted, much to Keiran’s delight. “It’s hard to explain. I ask Hashmal and he says that my body needs to rest. Though, I’m unsure exactly what he means. He’s kept it vague.” Wesley said, appearing bothered by it.

And as Wesley would continue to be bothered by it, emiri definitely was acting even more unlike herself the more time passed. She was acting loopier, her thoughts not all there, and there was an obvious drunk-like quality to her physical movements. Now Jaakuna was paying attention, though Savayna would shake her head as he would make a curious noise with half of a sausage link still in his mouth.

“Try saying that without your mouth full.” Savayna suggested, though not without sounding crass.

As he chomped on the link, he gulped down whatever was still in his mouth. He turned to Emiri, though not without a chastising remark from Nadeline, stating he should’ve noticed this before she got out of bed. “She was already up before I did. Hell, even when I took my shit this morning, I didn’t notice anything odd about her. She seemed relaxed in the tub--”

“Wait, you took a.--while she was..” Savayna wasn’t even going to finish that thought. She simply shook her head, mouthing dumbass under her breath.

As if the universe was sending him a sign, Emiri crossed the point of no return. She had officially been deemed unfit to sit at the table. Though, there was still the fact that she wasn’t exactly being a nuisance to him, so he could let it slide. Besides, he wasn’t finished eating. However, he felt a not-so-gentle nudge from Savayna, practically pushing him off of his seat. He shot her a glare, though he did get the hint.

“Alright Emiri, time to go back to the room.” Jaakuna attempted to grab her. The first try didn’t work, so he went for another and he was able to get her over his shoulder and he started to carry her out. They would walk all the way out of the hall and en-route to their own room.

What a glorious start to the day, wasn’t it?

[Hero]

Emiri let out a protest, trying to squirm away from Jaakuna. Nadeline shook her head, though she was glad when on Jaakuna's second try he would successfully lift her over his shoulder. The brunette wailed, though didn't have the strength to get out of his grip, pouting as he would lead her away. "I'll be there soon to give you medicine," Nadeline called out to her.

"Noooo...If I'm sick does that mean you'll take care of me? Naddie's too mean, I want it to be you, please...oh, okay, maybe I'm not doing as well as I would've thought." Emiri rambled on to Jaakuna, though she seemed to be losing energy. "I wanted those pancakes--KEIRAN BRING ME FOOD!" She seemed to have summoned enough energy to shout, causing the passerby servants to spare a passing glance.

Keiran froze in the middle of taking a bite, grumbling as he pushed away from the table. Grant watched him, unable to control his chuckles as he watched Keiran pile on some food onto a plate. "Your master beckons, be sure to tend to her quickly," Aloa said with a flat tone, more concentrated on eating.

As Jaakuna walked, she felt like she was flying! When he kept walking, however, the dizziness returned, and she groaned, reaching out towards the ceiling. "Noooo..." She said softly as she was lead away, though she admittedly enjoyed the ride. "I'm fine, I can walk--oh there's my sandal," She interrupted her own thought as she pointed to the spot where she had tripped earlier. "Keiran pick it up! That's a good boy!" She called out to Keiran, whose displeasure was immenant as Jaakuna opened the door. "Put it there," She ordered as she pointed to the end table, letting out a yelp as Jaakuna dropped her onto the bed.

"Anything else?" Keiran asked sarcastically.

"Don't get smart with me, I'll...mm, this bed is comfy..." Her threat literally melted away as she sank onto the bed, though she let out a laugh. "Go away Keiran, I want Jaakuna to take care of me."

"Good luck," He rolled his eyes, though he would take his leave with gratitude. As he went back to the dining hall, he sat back down, only to catch Nadeline's stare once again. "What?"

"Honestly...you're all going to drive me insane," She sighed.

[AlteredTundra]

Jaakuna was more convinced something was up with Emiri than he was before. Perhaps it was a cold or something similar to it, but what he did know was that she wouldn’t leave the bed that he just put her in. Everything that came out of her mouth has been all over the place, not to mention she interrupted her own self not once but twice. She was clearly delusional and Jaakuna had to make sure she would be okay. Though he did find it odd that in less than half of a day, she went from her normal self to...whatever she was right now.

He brought a chair next to the bed and sat in it, eyes on Emiri. As he kept them on her, he saw the reality of her condition. Or whatever you wanted to call it. Her pupils looked a bit wider than usual and as he felt her head, it abnormally hot. It felt so warm that Jaakuna’s cold hand would become positively warm after the fact.

He sighed, leaning back. Jaakuna would go to the bathroom and run a washcloth under some water as he would then come back in less than twenty seconds and fold it into a rectangle and place it on Emiri’s forehead. “Keep it on there; it’ll help you.” He told her, sitting back down and gazing upon her form.

---

During that whole debacle with Emiri acting strangely, the rest of the diners in the Grand Hall were still trying to enjoy their breakfast. Cassandra, at least, seemed unfazed by it, though Savayna couldn’t help but wonder what was up with Emiri. If that was a cold, then Rozarrians sure go through some shit when they’re ill. That caused her to look at Grant, who seemed abnormally pouty this morning. Come to think of it, he was like that most of yesterday too. She didn’t quite understand. Ever since after Zodiark, he had hardly looked at her, not to mention he barely said anything to her last night.

Usually, when Savayna looked at Grant, she would get some kind of reaction from him. As it would appear, however, this was not that case. No comment whatsoever, it was as though he was purposely ignoring her. Now that she thought about it, the last time that they spoke was before all of that shit happened in Archadia--some of which is still fuzzy. She shrugged at that since it didn’t seem to be too important. The only thing she wanted to know was why he practically ignored her.

“You okay? I hope whatever Emiri has isn’t contagious.”

[Hero]

His hand felt so nice that she almost protested as he removed it, though a majority of her rambling ceased. Her breathing was slow, as if her body was finally catching on to whatever was happening. She let out a breath, everything feeling hot to the touch, and she felt like she was burning--again. Albeit, this time it was different. Everything was uncomfortable, but she didn't have it in her to move. She watched Jaakuna, her hand reaching out to him, though she seemed relieved when it looked like he was just going to the bathroom. She stared at the ceiling for a moment, watching it spin around, until Jaakuna would return. He said something--she didn't quite catch it, but something on her forehead made her feel a lot better.

Letting out a slight sigh, Emiri turned her eyes onto Jaakuna. She shifted, clearly distressed, though she would not voice it. "I can't believe I'm burning up from a cold...we were only outside for a little..." Her voice was steady, as if gaining clarity of the situation. "I must be getting punished for something...you look bothered by something." She noted, though she closed her eyes. "Maybe I was bit by something and didn't notice..." She mumbled, opening her eyes and lifting her arms for a moment. Her eyes were unconcentrated, though her limbs seemed bare. She dropped them, instead suddenly having to focus a little more on breathing.

---

Grant seemed to nod in agreement at Savayna's statement,though would conveniently take a bite of toast so he wouldn't have to respond. Pretending like nothing happened, huh? He thought they were both adults, but if that was how she wanted to approach things, fine. He wasn't in the mood for games, nor did he want to cause a scene. He chewed slowly, although he noticed Keiran staring at him. He raised an eyebrow, and as Keiran opened his mouth, he closed it. He pointed to his own face, then pointed at Grant. What the hell was he doing? He placed his hand on his cheek, though his pinky caught some spare butter. Keiran grinned, though he seemed like he finished as Grant would wipe his face.

Nadeline was doting on Wesley (and her father, who would immediately start whimpering if she paid too much attention to her love) entirely, though on occasion she would stop and glare at Keiran anytime Wesley would speak to her. Keiran knew better; Emiri wasn't around to force him to say stupid things, so for now he was able to stay on everyone's good side. Or neutral side. Whatever was better. The princess would dab a napkin at her lips, properly laying down said napkin on her plate as she finished. Standing up, she smoothed her dress out as she let out a happy smile. "And time to play nurse, I suppose. I'll be back," She told Wesley, kissing him on the cheek. Her father stuck out his face, expecting the same, only to be sorely disappointed as Nadeline would ignore him.

As she walked out, Reia walked in, the two exchanging greetings. The Empress had already eaten, having at attend to some issues long distance. She scanned the table with a frown. "Hmm...I suppose Jackson isn't up?"

"He is, though he had to take Elizabeth back to her room. She was outright delusional," He informed her, though he let out a shout as he was kicked under the table.

"She's fallen ill--" Grant started to explain, though a sudden cough would cut him off. His throat certainly felt raspy, though he would solve it with some water before continuing. "Nadeline has gone to give her medicine. Shall I fetch him?"

"Considering I've revised his treaty in a way all three parties can agree...I was hoping to discuss it with him," She admitted. "Though he did mention in passing that another union would be happening, I wanted to know the details of that as well."

That must have been Jaakuna's 'alternate' idea. Grant had a feeling that he knew what it was, though he said nothing, his hand massaging his throat. He must've eaten something that went down the wrong way, it felt like a fish bone or something along those lines had been caught. "Any news from Stigma?" He asked, clearing his throat.

"Karolina is doing well. Though my Council would like to see my return soon...probably to finalized some decisions, though I've done mostly everything through messages at this point," She stated as she would take a seat, ignoring Lorenzo's cheer at the news of his wife. "The sooner this is done, the sooner I may return. Although I can't say this trip hasn't had its moments..."

---

"Knock, knock, Nurse Nadeline is in!" Nadeline sang quite cheerfully as she opened the door, a mischievous smile on her face.

Emiri let out a groan. "Don't kill me, I like living," She protested as Nadeline placed her hand on Emiri's cheek, lowering it to her neck. The princess frowned, unhappy with...something. "...What?"

"That's odd, you feel hotter than before," Nadeline noted, her hand to her chin. "Hmm...your body must be trying to sweat out the fever. You'll simply have to endure."

"Endure? This? I'm going to melt!" Emiri pouted, though she calmed down. "Isn't there a way to make it less hot?"

"Jaakuna has the right idea," She pointed out as she would sit. "Just in case there's any unknown poison, I better cleanse you." Holding out her hands, Nadeline waited. Emiri stared at her, though after a moment, the two looked confused. The princess blinked, looking at her hands. "That...was supposed to be an Esuna..." She said, mostly to herself, though she would try again. Nothing.

"Maybe you're sick, too," Emiri said, holding out her hand towards a bird on the window. The bird seemed to slow down, flapping its wings very slowly, though it would return to normal after a moment. "Oh. I'm sick, but I can still use magicks," Emiri stated.

Nadeline rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "I didn't get a chance to rest properly, I suppose," She shrugged.

Emiri grinned. "Was it 'cause you and Wesley were...getting physical--AH! NO! I'M SORRY!" Emiri's teasing quickly changed its tone as Nadeline would respond by putting a blanket over Emiri. "I'm suffocating! Jaakuna, stop her!"

The princess would stand, crossing her arms. "You'll be fine," She reiterated, though admittedly, she was more concerned about her lack of spells. As a test, she tried a Cure, but once again, nothing happened. Curaja? No. Holy? Nothing. Fire? Dangerous...if it actually worked. None of her spells would go to her command, though the loopy Emiri could. No, it was her own exhaustion. She couldn't let this get to her.

[AlteredTundra]

It was a new experience for Savayna to get the cold shoulder. She was usually the one to apply it, though Grant did seem uncharacteristically silent. There wasn’t even so much as an acknowledgement of her question. Instead, when Reia came into room, he chose to speak to her instead. She would let him talk to her, though she was a little hurt that he wouldn’t even give her a simple answer. Hell, he didn’t have to speak. A simple-fucking nod would’ve sufficed, but apparently he woke up extra grumpy this morning.

Before she would make the decision to take the high road, she quietly stomped on Grant’s foot so hard she might’ve heard something crack and stood up. She nodded to everyone butb Grant. She shot him a glare before taking her plate and bringing it to one of the kitchen staff waiting at the other end of the Grand Hall that led to the kitchen. There was a cart where it had other dirty dishes. She placed it on it and left, heading back to her room.

---

“I’ve been wondering the same thing, actually,” Jaakuna admitted, his eyes on Emiri.

It was definitely strange that she would act this way from a fever and one that seemed to arrive out of nowhere. He couldn’t hide his curious mind when he thought intensely about her condition and what might’ve caused it. The obvious choice was possibly an allergic reaction to something in the garden. There was also the possibility of something biting her. Who knows what crawled in that garden? Beautiful as it may be, it was foreign in every possible way, so to Jaakuna, it most certainly seemed plausible that something wicked resided in that garden. Foreign soil meant foreign danger. Though, that thought soon went away as JAakuna would remember that it was the Royal Garden. Obviously it wasn’t going to be dangerous, not if the official gardener had anything to say about it.

So he was back to square one regarding that thought, however, Jaakuna would hear Nadeline come in acting as if she was a nurse. WEll, not all false for she was a skilled healer. More so now that she had Ultima’s Seal unlocked. As Jaakuna watched her act rather...expressively towards Nadeline and then to him, he only smiled as to not alert her to his true thoughts. He did, however, notice her difficulty to bring about any sort of healing spell. He saw her try a few more times and nothing happened.

“You alright over there, Nadeline?” As he spoke, Jaakuna heard something. It sounded like a scream. Not just any scream, but that of someone he definitely knew. “What was that!?”

---

After storming off, Savayna hadn’t known where she ended up. She just started to walk, going wherever seemed quietest. She must’ve passed the same wall at least three times because she recognized a portrait of Wesley with his entire family. He was younger, though not by much. Only about five years so. He didn’t seem as poised as he was now and Cassandra didn’t seem as bitchy as she was now. Though, the portrait showed Sylvester to be an interesting person. He appeared to be very much like how Wesley looked, if not a little more...troubled. It was hard to grasp, but in just that one portrait--a portrait that was meant to show the picture perfect family--she saw that Sylvester had something on his mind. She didn’t know what, but it picked at her brain to find out more. But was it her place to do so? Where would she even begin?

Continuing down this thought pattern, Savayna found herself at the balcony, not even realizing that she yet again turned a corner.

“]Well at least it’s quiet here.” She let out a sigh, leaning against the balcony itself and looking at her view. From where she was in the castle, she saw the Giza Plains. Unluckily for her, it seemed it was Rainy Season. Though it provided a nice contrast for the deserts that surrounded it, she did find it stuck out like sore thumb. While everything was beige and hot, the Giza Plains were green and lush--like the fields in Archadia. Not to mention there was a refreshing breeze coming from the south. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make her feel at home.

And yet, the breeze only reminded her of Grant and how he was abnormally cold towards her. She didn’t understand why. Had she done something to upset him? Maybe Cassandra’s bitchiness was contagious and he was embodying that through his usual moody mannerisms. Or maybe her was back to being the Grant she knew before she fell for him. She honestly didn’t know and running them past Mateus wasn’t helping her either. He shrugged at every single one of them, offering no help whatsoever.

Savayna let out a sigh once more. She decided to just head back. Though, as she turned, she felt an intense pain through her temples, gripping it tightly. It caused her to go to her knee due to the intensity of it. And in that moment, she saw...flashes--flashes of her raging on about something. She heard someone’s voice call out to her and then she saw something chilly and blue as ice rage towards something of a darker shade of blue, though not as cold. She saw a burst of ice consume scattered petals of some blue flowers.

As it went black and Savayna blinked, in her periphery, cold winds whispered and the sound of shattering ice ringed in her ear as she closed her hands. The wind soon faded but the shattering sound still remained, ever-present and causing her to fall to both knees, gripping both sides of her head with both hands. The next thing was so earth-shattering that everyone would hear it: a roaring in ear-deafening octaves, a shriek being heard through the shallow halls and reaching those in the Grand Hall.

[Hero]

Grant clearly reacted, a stifled grunt leaving him at Savayna's uncalled for stomp. She was mad at him? She was mad at him? Really? Not only was she playing dumb, now she was just plain insulting his intelligence. He let out another cough, watching her leave with a dark look on his face. Keiran watched him, though it wasn't because of what happened, or rather, what didn't happen. Grant huffed, looking down at his foot. Apparently her heel was so strong it outright broke the buckle. He was lucky she didn't break his foot--clearly her intention--but damn it, why the hell was he being punished for her own ignorance? Did she really think he was going to forget what happened and act like everything was normal?

"God, Grant, you're such an asshole sometimes," Lorenzo chastised him as he would break the awkward silence left behind, throwing him a disapproving look. "If you don't say shit, no one's going to understand you. No one's a mind reader here."

Grant remained silent. Reia seemed to agree with Lorenzo, though she would refrain from commenting--as amusing as it was to see his relationship troubles, she had bigger fish to fry. Keiran, on the other hand, squinted at Grant. "Nothing? No smart comment defending yourself?"

"Of course not. He'd rather sulk; 'Oh woe is me! The love of my life is still in love with her ex and hasn't confessed to it! Wah!' How old are you again? You're a grown ass man, this is something that happens to teenagers," Lorenzo wasn't about to let his younger brother off easy, it seemed. "It's about time you stepped up and faced your issues. Staying quiet isn't going to solve anything."

At first, it looked like Grant was ignoring him, though a few seconds later, he would stand. He let out a sigh, turning to the direction and following where he thought Savayna was headed. Keiran watched him carefully. "It happens to one, and the rest follow suit, huh..." He muttered, a sly look on his face. "Different effects...I wonder how the rest will act," He said, looking specifically at Aloa, who seemed to have noticed his mumbling.

She narrowed her eyes, though shortly afterward, her ear twitched. "...Vlyn has come to Rabanastre. I will go to him," She said, locking eyes with Keiran for a moment, although she would also take her leave.

Keiran smiled, though he stretched his arms above his head. "How troublesome...hopefully the fever doesn't kill her, that'd be cumbersome," He sighed.

---

"Clearly, my exhaustion has gotten the better of me," She would outright admit, her hands on her back. "No rest for the wicked I suppose--" Nadeline's response was interrupted by the scream the three of them noticed.

Emiri immediately sat up, clearly alarmed. "That sounded like Savayna!" She realized worriedly, already moving to get up.

"You stay in bed," Nadeline immediately stopped her, alert yet composed. "I'll go see what it is--an attack on the Dalmascan Royal Castle is not one that will happen without consequence." She wasn't entirely sure if Jaakuna would stay or follow, though she gave him a nod as she would run out first.

"Nadeline! Wait!" She heard Emiri call out, though she would ignore it for now. The thought of being unable to cast magic didn't hamper her--Nadeline would figure it out later. Though as she ran, she realized that her self diagnosis was pretty spot on. Her legs weren't going as fast as she wanted them to, but she would have to endure. She spotted Grant ahead of her--he must have heard the same thing.

"Grant!" Nadeline called out to him, causing him to stop. "What has happened?"

Grant opened his mouth to respond, but a cold wind interrupted them both, causing their attention to shift to the balcony. Without prompt, a Shell would erupt around them, as if trying to shield them. Oh, so now her magicks wanted to work?! The thought flew out the window as she spotted Savayna on her knees. Grant was hesitant to approach, though the pair would notice something was wrong.

---

The Great Crystal stirred.

Honestly, it was something completely unexpected--for many a century Giruvegan remained hidden from the rest of Ivalice. But things were changing, often slowly, only truly being noticed by those that lived long enough to reminisce about times past. Even now, as the Mist seemed to dance around her, Shion found herself--if only for a moment--longing for simpler times. Perhaps the Mist affected her. Perhaps she was just tired. Either way she was moving forward, making quick work of the many enemies along the path she walked.

It was the first time she would be sure to watch her step--the crystal seemed to tremble. How even taking the ground underneath for granted was a luxury she could no longer afford! Though it was to be expected, as she was certain her arrival was a fated one. Whispers of the Mist seemed to accompany her, though finally, she would come to a halt. The Treaty Blade was singing--ah, how it called. As it would form in front of her, she would stab it into the crystal floor, watching the crystal seem to attempt to consume it. Fortunately, this was no mere blade, though it would give off light.

Letting out a sigh, she would close her eyes, holding onto the hilt of the blade for a moment longer. She would stand, though she would sink down, sitting on her feet the way she was taught to a long, long time ago. Her hands were on her lap, folded perfectly, her amber eyes remaining closed. She was surprised at herself--not an ounce of fear, it seemed. Perhaps she had finally come to get some closure, to gain that peace she strived for. Or perhaps Sophia was right in that she was eager to find death.

Either way, she waited for him. She was certain of his arrival.

[AlteredTundra]

Minutes passed and the images in her head would only get more and more intense for her. Each time she thought they would go away, she tried to stand up, hoping that it might be all over. But moving one inch proved to be an impossible task. Just that one inch of movement felt like a ton of pressure was being forced upon her shoulders and inside her head, making her legs weak and causing her to fall to the ground. This pain--this excruciating pain--had came out of nowhere, mounting itself in her core and caused her to cry out in such an ear-shattering shriek that icy mist ran amok.

She heard the voices of those she knew, but it didn’t bring her out of it. If anything, the images that she saw cranked up the torment inside her mind by a few levels. As a result, her already unstable mist surrounded her and threatened to swallow those nearby into its cold hands. Not even a spell like Shell and Protect could keep them safe for long. All the while, those images of fighting...something and as if her mind was gone in those visions pestered her to the point where not even Mateus’ pleas reached her.

When her eyes fell upon those nearby, ice danced in them. Nearly white like snow and solid. Each inch she made was like the sound of shattering ice and now she laid eyes upon Nadeline and Grant, their movements that of worry and concern. Or at least Nadeline’s was.

“Make...it stop..” Savayna said lowly, viewing the forms of Grant and Nadeline. Only brief periods between the immense pain she was going through allowed her to speak.

---

Jaakuna found himself feeling conflicted about what he wanted to do. There was a part of him that really did want to follow Nadeline's lead and find out what happened, but on the other hand, Emiri needed him by her side. After what happened in the last forty-eight hours, he couldn't abandon her when she needed him most. No, he would stay by her side. And when he looked towards her, he put his hand on hers, giving her an assuring smile. She did seem worried, so Jaakuna would reassure her that everything would be fine. "I'm not going anywhere." He told her, though deep in his heart, he wanted to go and check out Savayna. But, he wouldn't' say that to her--not when she needed him most.

---

“Centuries ago the Occuria ruled this city. FOr a while, before the inception of man, they were the only ones who existed. They flourished in their holy realm. No records exist as to how many of the Occuria were present or why they decided to close the gates and let the once divine city of Giruvegan to rot away and be subject to unimaginable beasts and be the center of the thickest of mist fields--even thicker than what resides in Nabudis.”

“There are legends that say the Great Crystal was forged in the image of the Occuria. It was said that they created it to emulate what they felt was perfection. The Crystal--the Great Crystal that hovers above the ruins of Giruvegan--it is said it is a living, breathing Nethicite. And within it are treasures and power that only the bravest of hunters seek out but do not dare go into in fear of what they might find. It is where The High Seraph herself was imprisoned due to her treachery to the gods. “

Out of the shadows, where a blue-haired maiden sat, poised and ready for whatever came her way, a being appeared before her. His form was young and his skin flawless. He had long, dark green hair and eyes that twinkled and reflected what the Great Crystal showed: gold and green, ruby and sapphire, indigo and burnt orange--all of those colors danced in his eyes. When he appeared before her in the multicolored light, it was not the form she had expected. This form, though young, would be familiar to her. The eyes, the clothes he wore, the weapons he brandished--all were of someone she would know well.

“Admittedly, my true form could not penetrate the barrier that surrounded The Great City. A pity since this is where I, like my sister, was sealed. So, you’ll forgive me if I had to borrow a vessel. I figured you’d welcome it though.” The voice that was layered would return to its recognizable voice. The voice that belonged to the vessel. “Is this what you wish me to use, Shion?” He said, using Michelangelo Sicarius’ voice. It was elegant and intelligent. Michelangelo knew how to speak clearly and make it seem non-antagonistic. “Or maybe you much prefer my ordinary voice? Please, do tell me, Blue Rose. I wouldn’t want you to think I’m here to fight you.” And so he would reveal his true voice--Zodiark’s authoritative, borderline-tyrannical, commanding voice finally revealed itself.

[Hero]

Grant held his hand out, stopping Nadeline from moving forward, instead forcing her back. What was this? Mateus? Or was it something else? It wasn't foreign, it felt so familiar, but why? The ice seemed to bring a chill to the normally heated Dalmascan day. Nadeline eyed the magicks, clearly at a loss as to what exactly what to do. She seemed to believe it was all coming from Savayna herself. Had she lost control? No, it was more than that, wasn't it? And like always, Ultima was back to ignoring her. What was the point of an Esper if they would offer no help?!

Nadeline felt Grant pushing her back further, shaking his head at her. "Simply backing away won't do anything! We have to do something!" She told him, her voice escalating as the winds seemed to pick up in volume. Grant shook his head, once more turning back to Savayna, and simply walked forward. As Nadeline moved to do the same, he held his hand out. "If you don't want me to do anything, just say it!" She couldn't help but tell him, annoyed.

The prince winced, frost starting to form on his body. God, the pain on his bare skin actually hurt. Still, he walked on, somehow managing to get within arms' reach of Savayna. He knelt down, taking her hands off her head, pulling her into an embrace. His Mist seemed to glow around him, doing...something, though Nadeline hadn't the slightest idea what it was that he was trying to do.

---

Emiri watched Nadeline leave, clearly disheartened. Something was happening, and it killed her to have to sit around and do nothing. Rather, she couldn't, even sitting up was about to be too much. She seemed to want to move to see what was happening, but Jaakuna's touch reminded her exactly what was happening. What was she doing? She shook her head at him, seemingly disagreeing, though she would lay back down. She held his hand tightly, though she looked at him. "Neither am I. Go see what's happening--make sure no one's hurt. I kinda have a bad feeling, and I'm useless just sitting here. At least you can do something," She urged him. "I can't really get up, so I can't run away!" She couldn't help but joke.

---

Now that was a surprise.

Shion opened her eyes, the incarnation of darkness before her. She knew he would come--what surprised her was apparently his intention was a non-confrontational one. But she knew him better than that, she was wary as always. The Mist seemed to whisper around them, filling the silence as Shion would simply stare at him for a moment. There was an almost thoughtful expression on her face, her thoughts known to no one. Nonetheless, she remained as she was, amber eyes focused. Why was he so predictable? Or rather, he had come far too quickly. Perhaps Sophia had told him of her location, though she supposed in light of things, those thoughts were pointless. She would close her eyes once more as she would stand, picking up her kimono and dusting it off.

"And so he appears in all his glory," She would finally talk, flipping her hair off her shoulder as she opened her eyes once more. "Speak as you please; that detail matters not. You've come, claiming not to want a fight. Never in my life have you ever had that intention. Why else would you come? Your little minions don't have what it takes to bring me down, and so you bend your knee to do the job yourself."

[AlteredTundra]

Jaakuna thought he did a good job at keeping his real feelings about what might’ve been happening with Savayna a secret. He should’ve known that, of all people, Emiri would be able to see what’s behind the mask that he put on. She obviously caught that he was worried and wanted to see what was happening. Still, he couldn’t help but feel as though him leaving would, yet again, be him abandoning her. He wouldn’t do that--not after last time.

“I get that, but after last time, I can’t leave you...” Jaakuna stated, though he would hear her say that while she couldn’t do anything, Jaakuna could. And then it hit him. She wasn’t going to hold it against him for leaving. Even more so, this wasn’t the Emiri who was feeling low about herself. This was the Emiri who loved him and their friends. “Fine, but the moment you need anything, I’ll come--just send me a signal.” Jaakuna told her. He would give her a tight hug and a kiss before ran towards the door, exiting it, and going towards the continued screams he heard off in the distance.

---

Savayna’s breathing had increased in the exact moment Grant’s mist had surrounded her, doubtless his attempt to try and ease the torment she was going through. But whatever it was--whatever had even caused this in her--it was rejecting GRant’s aid. At the moment he would try to ease her pain, Savayna’s mist, though not intentional, sent a counteractive pulse of mist that sent him back about five paces. Her own mist acted simultaneously, surrounding her in a skin-thick layer of ice, appearing as though it was a shell of some kind. Whatever was happening with her, one thing was certain: it had to be contained should the castle want to remain in tact.

And as that happened, Jaakuna would arrive on the scene. His eyes were widened as he noticed Savayna’s layer of ice mist. “What’s happening to her?” Jaakuna asked frantically, glancing at Grant and Nadeline for answers.

---

Zodiark simply observed Shion’s movements as she would speak. “Typical humes like you can’t possibly understand a perfect being like me, so of course you would assume that I am jesting. Even you should understand the predicament I am in, Blue Rose,” Zodiark simply would gesture to his surroundings. “I may be able to slip in and out of the Great Crystal as I please, but it hinders me from doing anything else,” Zodiark stated with that startling admission. “And yes, I understand by telling you this it puts me at a great disadvantage. I hope that, by me sharing this information with you, it might open the floor of an earnest conversation.”

[Hero]

He should've known it wouldn't have been that easy. Nonetheless, no one could say he didn't try. The ice was actually making him shiver, though he kept it under wraps, surprised to see Jaakuna join the scene. Upon asking what was happening, Grant shook his head. "It's..." He began, his voice soft, though it seemed fruitless, instead looking to Nadeline. "We have to--" He interrupted him with a cough, though he seemed determined to get it out.

Nadeline nodded in understanding, her hand on his. His eyes widened, though he gave her a grateful look, the two of them taking a few steps backwards. "We're going to go at this at a more 'logical' approach. In theory, what element opposes Ice?" Nadeline asked Jaakuna as she and Grant began to concentrate. The familiar Mists seemed to pour out of them, though admittedly Nadeline found it quite difficult to concentrate. Grant's overthinking was affecting him--but she managed, the pair creating a shimmering, plastic looking bubble. Rather than spread, Savayna's ice would stop right at it, though in only moments said ice would begin to form on its surface. "We can hold it for a little--do what you must!" Nadeline instructed Jaakuna.

---

'Earnest'.

A single laugh left her hips, her eyebrows raised in amusement, her mouth slightly open. Shion approached him, her arms crossed as she would look at Zodiark rather seriously. She looked like she was going to laugh more, but she did not--she simply shook her head at him in disbelief. "Enlighten me," She invited him, her hand out as if gesturing for him to continue. "The Keeper of Precepts comes to the one place he is powerless--all to approach a lowly Hume. One who is so beneath his station...One who he is aware has the means to rid him from the plane of existence. I admit, not even in my wildest dreams did I even play with the thought of you wanting to have a conversation with me." Her voice was rather airy, though polite, her honest thoughts in the open. And yet, as she approached him, she showed no fear--but not because he was at a disadvantage. "What in Ivalice could you possibly want to speak with me about?"