Mira opened the door of the Inn building, and greeted the morning sun with a sincere smile. "Ah." She breathed in the fresh air as she twirled around in her own little, but brief, world. Birds chirped, children were in glee, and everyone else had seemed to be enjoying themselves. "They're almost ready," Sho said, arriving from the Inn. "Oh-," she muttered, quickly fixing her white and red robe. Sho raised an eyebrow to her, before tinkering with her staff. Mira had then pondered to Sho. "Can I ask you something?" Mira asked. "Of course," she replied. Mira gave a sigh, as she was hesitant to ask her question. She turned around, and then back again. "Come on with it, Mira," Sho said. "Why have you changed?" she asked with a heightened tone. "What do you mean?" Sho asked. "You're... you're not yourself anymore. You use to smile a lot, and laugh," she replied. Sho only sighed in response. "The Princess awaits!" Emerin exclaimed as he and Fergus arrived outside to greet the two. "Let's go," Sho suggested, walking past Mira and toward the town outskirts. "She must be in a rush today," Fergus commented. "Well, a life is still in jeopardy," Emerin replied before following. "Let's go find the Princess!" Mira exclaimed to Fergus, pushing him forward. "Alright, don't get your trousers in a bunch," he replied.

"I can see it! The shrine the King told us about!" Mira said, pointing to the dark structure in the distance. "Good, let's not waste anymore time," Fergus replied. "Not another step!" a small but mischievous voice demanded. "I spoke to soon," Fergus added. The party naturally halted their movement, and peered their surroundings. "Who goes there?" Emerin asked, drawing his broadsword. "That voice could be that of a...," Sho said, and a small form rose from the shadows. "A goblin!" Mira shouted, quickly drawing her hammer and charging with no second thought. "What are you... NO!" the goblin shrieked, obviously dumbfounded. Mira's hammer came in contact with the goblin, a heavy force from the side, and sending him flying from range. "That's Mira for you," Fergus commented. She only gripped her hammer's hilt, and united with her friends. "Y...YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!" the goblin swore, slowly getting up and regaining balance. He drew his small dagger, and performed a distinct whistle. "GOBLINS-HO," he called. Seconds later, multiple other goblins came into view, wielding daggers, and standing behind their leader.

"Mark my words, crystal bearers! I am Zeklob, leader of the Goblins! We've been watching you... and those crystals... such value they hold," he went on, giving the party such hungry eyes. Drool eventually ran down his lip, as he went in a trance. "B-Boss?" a goblin asked. "Y-Yes! We are here to take your crystals! And sell them for a limitless amount of gil!" Zeklob announced as he pointing his dagger to the party. "We've no time for this," Emerin said to his comrades with a sigh. "You could ask for them," Fergus proposed. He had made a small gesture to Sho. She comprehended, and began to whisper a chant. "W-We can ask for them?" Zeklob asked in disbelief. "I wouldn't see why not," Fergus replied. He glanced to Sho to check her status, she was just about finished. "May we have your crystals?" Zeklob asked with a nervous smile. "No!" Fergus replied loudly, and soon after, Sho raised her staff into the air.

"Sleep!" she casted. The goblins shrieked as a blanket of fog overcame them. "N-No! You'll pay for this!" Zeklob swore as he succumbed to sleep. His goblin companions son followed his lead, their small and pudgy bodies dropping to the floor. "Let's go!" Emerin commanded. "Please," Sho agreed, and the Warriors of Light made for the Chaos Shrine.

The large stone doors echoed as they opened, revealing the contents of the old and worn structure. Damaged and destroyed pillars stood overhead, and bats flew aimlessly around. "Garland must be there," Emerin predicted, pointing to the next room ahead, closed by two more stone doors. "Everyone ready?" Sho asked as she prepared herself for what to come. "Ready as ever," Fergus replied. "Mm-hmm!" Mira exclaimed. "Alright," Emerin concluded, as he and his party moved forward, and opened the doors ahead.

"Princess Sarah!" Mira cried. A young woman laid on the ground, silent, near an odd tablet. However, a cloaked man stood over her. "With you in my possession, Cornelia will be mine!" Garland roared. "Garland!" Emerin called. The armored male turned to the Warriors of Light. "Who goes there?" he asked. No reply, they only stood with their weapons in hand. "The King's lapdogs, I see," he said to himself. He faced the party, his expression hidden under his helm, and slowly shifting into a fighting stance. "Come at me, then! I'll tear you limb from limb!" he proclaimed.

"With pleasure!" Fergus replied, his two daggers in hand, and charged with swift accuracy. "Ragh!" Garland roared as he performed a quick slash with his claw, but Fergus ducked, and pierced his armor with one of his daggers. Garland jumped back, and sprinted onto one of the shrine's ancient pillars. "Play fair, now," he insisted, a dark ball of energy appearing in both of his hands. "Fire!" Sho casted. She pointed her staff to Garland overhead, and instantly a ball of flame was hurled toward him. Garland didn't have much of an option to avoid the spell, considering his current position. Instead, he raised his hand to the flame, and it had been instantly absorbed into his ball of energy. It simply grew larger.

"Nng," Sho grunted in frustration. "Haa!" Emerin yelled as he leaped onto another pillar to the side of Garland's. He tightened his grip on his hilt. If he were to evade Garland's next attack, he'd be able to land a hit. Garland had the whipped his hand to Emerin's direction, and a ball of energy shot toward him.

Emerin grit his teeth as the ball came in range. He could see the tendrils of electricity swirling around it's form. There was not a second to lose. Emerin swung his sword, and just in time, it divided. He was a bit surprised that he was left unharmed. The remains only then dispersed as soon as Emerin's blade cut through it's magical surface. Garland was left awestruck, until he was blasted with a lump of ice, that sent him falling from the pillar. "Hmph!" Sho snorted in satisfaction. But then, suddenly easily, Garland regained his balance and floated to the ground. He was unaware Fergus was charging behind him, however. A painful cry escaped his helm as he felt Fergus' daggers plunge into his flesh. But that cry soon became angry. A fearsome whirlwind grew around him, that forced Fergus away, falling onto Princess Sarah. Surprisingly, she grunted softly. Fergus was speechless. He moved up and looked into her face. She was beautiful. She opened her eyes, and looked at Fergus'. There was a long silence, but their eyes had said everything to each other. "LOOK OUT!" she cried as Garland appeared from above Fergus, with a rumbling laugh.