As Emiri spoke and as Grigori left them with all of these vague allusions, a lot of uncertainty came to Wesley’s mind. He had no doubt the others had similar doubts. He imagined that Jaakuna and Savayna, and everyone else who hadn’t encountered the Creature had doubts regarding Grigori’s claims. This being a man, if he could pass for that, who claimed to have a warning for the Ascendants, and said they weren’t to worry about Venat nor Zodiark(and Levi by association). They didn’t know him. He was practically a stranger, yet he had an air of familiarity about him.
And then, as Nadeline would speak about their encounter with the Creature, Wesley found himself conflicted. There was a part of him that wanted to agree with her., but something beckoned him to doubt those words. While it was true that the Creature essentially embodied the essence of rotting corpses and the mist that came from it was like experiencing Venat and Zodiark’s mist - just intensified several times over. He remembered how it felt to be in the presence of that thing and how it seemed to enjoy toying with the lives of anyone who opposed him. There was no doubt in Wesley’s mind that he was a vile creature that posed an immediate threat, but was he a greater threat than all of those who came before him?
“I’m not entirely sure.” Wesley admitted after a long moment of silence. “Grigori wasn’t specific about much of anything. The evil he spoke of could be the Creature, sure, but it’s also possible that Grigori is setting a trap for us.”
“Never thought of you as one to be so negative, Wesley.” Jaakuna commented.
“I believe in anticipating all possible outcomes. Could he be referring to the Creature? It’s possible, but it’s also possible that Grigori might be leading us into a false sense of security so we take our eyes off of Venat and Zodiark.” Wesley didn't like it, but someone had to consider the possibilities. There was also a slight hint of fear in Wesley’s voice about someone worse than Venat and Zodiark being at large.
“So, what do you suggest we do?” Savayna asked, “that monk didn’t give us any real clues about where this ‘so-called’ evil was at. All he said was follow the winds of the sea. If anything, he’s staying true to his monk visage. Honestly, what did he--” Savayna was interrupted by Wesley’s sudden gasp. “What?”
“It could be nothing, but what if the ‘the winds of the sea’ are referring to the Sandsea? It’s constantly windy there.” Wesley turned to Nadeline, “darling, does your tome say anything about that about the Sandsea?”
“It’s with the rest of my belongings,” She lamented.
Emiri stared at Nadeline, causing the blonde to stare right back at her in confusion. Without breaking eye contact, she reached into her bag, pulling out Nadeline’s tome. She held it out for the princess to take back.
“That’s--is this some form of new spell?” Nadeline asked, actually surprised as she would take her tome back.
“Actually...I stole it,” She admitted.
There was a small moment of silence, interrupted only by Grant’s rather awkward cough. Nadeline let out a sigh as she opened the great book, flipping through its pages.
“No reply?” Emiri asked, surprised.
The princess looked up at her for a moment. “Your boyfriend is infecting you with his recklessness. I’d advise you to take something for it, but I fear it’s incurable,” She told her simply as she returned to the book. “The Sandsea...well, it does refer to a location to the west of it, a gorge referred to as the Valley of the Dead.”
“Coincidence?” Grant asked.
“I THINK NOT!” Jaakuna suddenly stated as a matter-of-factly, his arm raised with his index finger pointed up, and a ponderous expression on his face.
“Hopefully you don’t catch his stupid as well,” Nadeline warned Emiri.
“Don’t hate because I’m beautiful~” Jaakuna flipped his hair, emulating a certain Viera that everyone knew and loved.
Michel and just about everyone gave a scowl, though it was Wesley who would push this back into the direction the matter about the Sandsea. “The Valley of the Dead - that’s where King Raithwall’s tomb is located.” Wesley recalled, nearly forgetting such a crucial detail.
“No wonder Grigori was so on your case, considering it’s connected directly to your lineage, so that explains his frustration,” Emiri said, earning a sigh from Wesley. “Does that mean we should go there?”
“Go and do what?” Grant asked.
Jaakuna formed a magnifying glass out of mist and put it up to his eye. “WE INVESTIGATE, OF COURSE!” He spoke enthusiastically, stroking his beardless chin, and gave everyone a dramatic look.
Nadeline gave him a glance, though ignored him as she continued, “I’m more concerned to what awaits us if we choose to go. It can’t be something we can take on so lightly,” She said.
“Hmm...it’ll likely have a welcoming party awaiting us.” Grant seemed to agree.
“Bah humbug!” Jaakuna let out a scowl, “whatever happened to your sense of adventure!? Last time we went to the tomb, it went great. Killed a few monsters, scored some loot from that moving wall of death, and I got Belias.” Jaakuna casually noted to Emiri and Nadeline, “though, we did hit a bad patch there when GRant kidnapped us.” He glared at Grant for a moment.
Grant shrugged. “Sorry, bro,” He replied.
Nadeline rolled her eyes. “Sense of adventure--can you take this seriously?” She couldn’t help but get annoyed. “We’ve enemies at nearly every corner and now this! We haven’t even been able to deal with anyone, and now suddenly another enemy pops up! Need I remind you that two out of those three want your girlfriend?”
“Hakuna Matata.”
“I’m officially ignoring you for the rest of the conversation.”
Emiri shook her head, though she seemed troubled. “It does seem a bit overwhelming. First Venat, then Levi, now this...how are we supposed to handle any of them?” She asked.
“I’ll repeat myself,” Jaakuna cleared his throat, “Ha-ku-na Ma-ta-ta.”
“And what does that even mean?”
“It’s something I heard from an old Garif pal of mine. He was one of the more interesting fellows I met from there. It’s apparently something that was said long ago before they got all uptight about everything.” Jaakuna said to Savayna, “his meaning of it was a little too complex for me to understand, but essentially it means not to worry. No matter how dire a situation, if you stress too much about it, then it’ll only drive you insane like Nuttiline here.” Jaakuna gave Nadeline a glare, non-vocally telling her that’s what she gets for ignoring him.
“Okay, then what do you propose we do next?” Grant asked.
Jaakuna put his hand on Grant’s shoulder, smiling, then looked to Savayna, “good thing he’s pretty, huh?” He laughed, though collected himself a moment later. “I’m suggesting we go to the Sandsea, go to the Valley of the Dead, and check that shit out. And if shit goes sideways, then we have our handy, dandy Espers to help us out.”
“Not exactly a foolproof plan.” Savayna couldn’t help but state the obvious.
“When have we ever had a foolproof plan, huh?”
Espers. Emiri shifted her weight from one foot to the other, wondering. Mitron had helpfully shut Chaos up, though admittedly she wondered if that was a good thing. “I don’t know,” She ended up speaking up. “Just...waltz on over? I feel like…”
“Like?”
She fell silent.
“What’s up?” Jaakuna looked at Emiri with curious eyes.
“Like...this is what it wants,” She said slowly. “Sort of like it’s daring us to go and try to challenge it. Something like that.”
“You seem certain.” Nadeline raised an eyebrow at her.
She shook her head. “Just a feeling.”
“Even if it is, we’re much stronger than we were before. We survived Zodiark and Venat, so honestly, why all the negativity?”
“Not that I’m one to agree with Jaakuna, but he’s right,” Savayna said, shrugging. “Instead of wasting time worrying about what might happen, we should just go there and do what we do best.”
“But even he said it--we survived, we didn’t beat them.” Grant couldn’t help but point out.
“What didn’t kill us made us stronger.” Jaakuna professed proudly.
“...we didn’t kill them either…”
Jaakuna scowled, glaring at Grant. “I liked you better when you sounded like a woman.”
“I don’t think that will ever stop you from taking jabs at me,” He rolled his eyes.
Though Jaakuna was going to open his mouth, Michel would beat him to the punch. “I believe we’re getting off-course again,” Michel gave Jaakuna a glare, which prompted the blonde to let out a huff, but he seemed to understand. “Bottom line is we have a location and something to investigate. I, for one, don’t doubt what Grigori said to be the truth. I can’t say why, but I feel like I can trust him. Even if it turns out to be false, maybe you six should go to the Tomb of Raithwall.”
“You will not join us?” Nadeline asked.
“I feel he’s interested in actually living,” Meli smirked.
“Living? I assumed he had something else to do,” Grant said blankly, missing her sarcastic remark entirely.
“Yeah...it’s a really good thing you’re pretty,” Meli shook her head, much to his confusion.
Jaakuna snickered, though said nothing.
Ignoring him, Michel focused on Nadeline. “I have my own purpose in all of this,” Michel stated, grabbing Meli’s hand, “I mean we do. While you lot will be handling things on the Creature front, Utena will organize. Of course, I will need to get our mistress’ permission, so if you’ll excuse us.” Michel held out his hand and one of his portals appeared. He guided Meli with him as they had stepped through it.
“Try your best not to die!” Meli cheerfully told them, giving a half-hearted wave.
“Gee, thanks…”
And as the portal closed, they were left with the big issue of getting to the Sandsea the quickest. Most of Jaakuna’s fastest unsafe vehicles were in Rabanastre. Given the severity of their situation, haste was recommended. “So, how shall we get there the quickest?” Savayna asked, looking around to the group.
Emiri’s eyes light up as she raised her hand, waving it around. “Oh! I could try that dark teleporting again!” She volunteered, somewhat excited.
“You...know teleportation magicks…?” Nadeline asked, uncertain. “You’d have to be at Aloa’s level to pull it off successfully, you know.”
“We’re going to the Sandsea, right? I’m sure I can do it,” She said, motivated.
“Ah...what about the Ifrit?” Grant asked.
Thank you, Grant. Jaakuna didn’t want to be the one to say it because Emiri seemed psyched to use her teleportation magick, but he remembered what it felt like the last time she used that magick. Suffice to say, it wasn’t a feeling he’d welcome with arms wide open.
“Last I heard it was undergoing repairs,” Savayna stated, “though that was when we left for Rabanastre a few days ago. Roman did promise it would be fixed by the time we returned.”
“Oh, my baby - my true love!” Jaakuna said lovingly, thinking fondly of his Ifrit. “I miss her so much; I hope my brother has been treating her with care.”
Savayna rolled her eyes, though that did bring up a more...secure solution than Emiri’s questionable mastery over whatever teleportation magick she had. “I think it’s a safe bet. No offense to you, of course, but who knows what’ll happen to us if we leave our transportation in your hands. For all we know, we could end up sliced in half. If that happened, Ivalice would be domed, and it’ll be because you almost had it.” She bluntly stated, shrugging one shoulder.
She understood, but it still sucked to hear it. Emiri hung her head in defeat as Grant patted her back. “There, there, I’m sure you’ll get your chance someday,” He assured her.
“Let us go to see Roman, then.” Nadeline suggested.
”A wonderful suggestion!”
Deep within the Tomb of Raithwall, the shadows surrounded a relic in the middle of a circular room. Their mist surrounded their bodies, all ranging from different colors of the spectrum. It swirled and twirled around to form a single tornado of mist, both of transparency and solidified forms, the collective mist would pour into the relic which had a more dominant shadow hovering over it, its body seeming to absorb the mist through the relic.
Whatever it was -this relic that was ancient in design - was shaking. FOr a few minutes, it had been doing that, in the last ten seconds, it was starting to tremble at a more frequent rate than before.
And when it shot up, the shadow phased through it, but the relic stopped above it.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze. This relick, which had previously been gold and pure in its make, had been robbed of all life and light, and had been rendered into nothingness. It lost its color and had been sucked into the hovering shadow.
As it would touch the ground, a huge shake throughout the entire tomb - not just the room - would be felt. All of that mist that had been gathered and sucked into the shadow had been sent through the tomb, shaking it inches from its foundation, causing it to tip just slightly, and sand flowing in from the sandsea itself through the cracked walls of the tomb. In doing so, all of that corrupted, putrid, vile mist throughout Ivalice.
To the naked eye, this was simply a natural occurence. To those who didn’t have the Eye of Ivalice, it was her natural wrath causing a shift in weather. However, to those who were gifted, they knew. To those who were connected to the Wood knew exactly what this was.
“The Reckoning has begun.”
And it would be so fitting that it happened just as Aloa and Emette walked through the entrance of the Chamber of First Light, a point in the tomb that was just one room away from where Raithwall, the Dynast-King rested.
“Welcome, Viera and Angel of Truth. I feared you wouldn’t make it in time.”
