For those confused, the palace isn't present in the game.
II
It was quiet back at the palace. Phacia figured that the visitor hadn't arrived yet. As she walked through the hallway to the meeting hall, all she could think about was how silly it all seemed to her. Salvation? Were Xenobia and Royce really this naive? True, Royce had been blessed with the gift of precognition (at least she claimed), but Phacia hadn't been one to trust Royce's premonitions. It wasn't that she was wrong, in fact, Phacia has yet to see a time where Royce was wrong. It was just that Phacia believed that the future wasn't written in stone. Often times it seemed that Royce was giving people the future she wanted to give them.
A prime example was the day Phacia and Xenobia had their duel. Royce told Phacia that her place in the Vile Tribe was assured and that she would be pushed aside and forgotten along with her old fashioned ways. That very same day, during their duel, Xenobia just so happened to know how to disable Phacia's magic. Since there was nothing she could do, Xenobia had an easy time knocking Phacia around. That day annoyed Phacia to no end for two reasons: one, she knew that Royce told Xenobia how to seal her magic, and two, Phacia knew that she could have beaten Xenobia had she been given a fair shot.
Phacia proved that day though that Royce's premonition was wrong. Many of the Vile Tribe cared about her, and she made sure to have a place in Xenobia's rule. If she couldn't rule the Vile Tribe herself, she just had to make sure that Xenobia didn't drive them into the ground.
But if this visitor was what Phacia feared...
She opened the doors to see Xenobia and Royce waiting for her. Xenobia, who flaunted her beauty quite openly, wore a black dress that only had a white collar around her neck a thin white fabric covering her breasts, long black sleeves, went almost down to the ground and was open to the side showing off her legs even more than Phacia's outfit. Her long blond hair, worn in a similar style to Phacia's, was extremely full and went almost to her waist, and her red high heels gave her a very dangerous and seductive look.
Slutty is more like it, Phacia thought.
Royce's attire was no better, and in some cases was even worse. She wore a dark red and black "robe" that had large red sleeves and black bands that wrapped around her body, her bust line was covered only by this weird metallic brace that made Phacia glad that she wasn't as well endowed as her and Xenobia. Her skirt was form fitting, and it sort of unravelled at the bottom in large black strips, and her high heels were black. She also held a staff in her hand, the source of her magic. She was the youngest of the three by about three years (under Phacia).
Phacia quietly walked over to her seat at Xenobia's left side and sat down, Xenobia shooting a sharp glance her way.
"And where have you been?" Xenobia spat.
"I went out. It was raining, and I wanted to see what it looked like at the Althena's Shrine," Phacia replied, not even looking Xenobia's way. Hearing that, Xenobia breathed in heavily.
"Green Earth again?" she growled, her pretty face getting twisted up into an ugly scowl.
"I don't see a problem enjoying the few gifts that Althena granted us. Besides, unlike the rest of the tribe we're not confined to the Frontier," Phacia explained, only making Xenobia even angrier.
"Well, you're lucky that our visitor hasn't arrived yet. If he had, then-"
"Oh... he hasn't arrived yet? I could have stayed out a little longer..." Phacia said, intentionally ignoring Xenobia, who's face was probably so twisted now it would probably stay that way for a good while (Phacia didn't know for sure as she never laid eyes on Xenobia or Royce).
"Sisters, please," Royce said, "Our visitor approaches."
The door opened and in walked (much to Phacia's surprise) a human! He had long white hair and pale skin that was almost white. His eyes were red and sharp, and he was wearring purple robes. Looking at him, Phacia recognized him instantly.
"Ghaleon!" Phacia shouted. Hearing the name of one of the Four Heroes made even Xenobia and Royce apprehensive, and they all shot up and began charging their magic, which inwardly made Phacia happy. At lease they had some common sense.
"So, this is the Vile Tribe," Ghaleon said walking inside and looking around, as if they weren't even a threat, "I must say, I expected more."
"What are you doing here?" Xenobia asked.
"Please ladies, lower your spells. I don't mean you any harm. In fact, I would love it if we could be friends."
"Friends with one of the Four Heroes?" Phacia asked spitefully, "You were one of Althena's guardians! Why would we desire a friendship with you?"
Ghaleon shrugged his shoulders, "Well, I just figured that you wanted to get revenge on the Goddess for banishing your ancestors to the Frontier. If you don't want my help though..." Ghaleon turned around and was about to walk out, but...
"Wait!" Xenobia called out, making him stop, "What do you mean by help?"
Phacia had to slightly turn to Xenobia in disbelief. Ghaleon turned back around and looked at the three of them with a calm smile.
"Like I said, you want revenge, and I can help you get it," he said calmly.
Xenobia looked like she was thinking, but then she looked up, "Sisters, at ease."
"What?" Phacia protested, "We aren't really-"
"We should at least hear him out, Phacia," Xenobia said turning to Phacia, who recognized what that tone meant. That was Xenobia's way of saying "know your place" without actually saying it. Phacia wasn't one to start arguments, so she took a deep breath and sat down. Once all three of them were sitting, Ghaleon took a seat across from them.
"So," Xenobia began, "why does one of the Four Heroes suddenly want the Goddess dead?"
"I never said that I desire the death of the Goddess. I just feel that her rule has met it's time. You see, what I want is absolute control over the Goddess. I want her body, soul, and all of her powers under my command. Of course, as a result, you get to exact your revenge on the people of Green Earth who are bathed in Althena's light."
Phacia noticed that Xenobia closed her eyes thinking again, was she actually considering this?
"But what do you desire from us?" Royce asked, "Surely you aren't offering this for free."
"My terms are simple," Ghaleon replied, "All I desire from you is access to your armies and your full suppport."
"And that's all you require?" Xenobia asked, shocking Phacia. All? That would mean giving him full authority over the Vile Tribe. She was just under the mark of surrendering the Vile Tribe completely.
"Yes, that's all. All you need to do is follow my guidance and I assure you that all of Lunar, and I do mean all of Lunar, will belong to you."
When she saw the glimmer in Xenobia's eyes, Phacia had to step forward.
"Sisters, can I speak with you?" Phacia asked getting up. Xenobia and Royce got up and followed her to the left corner of the room, "You don't seriously believe this man, do you?" Phacia whispered.
"I did say our visitor would be our salvation," Royce said.
"Besides," Xenobia added, "We need to make a move somehow. Sure we can fight back, but once the Four Heroes attack then we're right back to the Frontier."
"All the more reason not to trust him!" Phacia said, almost shouting, "He's one of them! For all we know this could be a trap!"
Hearing that, Royce turned to Xenobia, "While I don't like the thought of my premonition being misinterpreted, I think we should at least take what Phacia says into consideration. Maybe if he proves himself..."
Xenobia nodded, "Very well," she said now walking back to Ghaleon, "You'll have to forgive us, but this proposition is still a little suspicious. How do we know that you're going to be true to your word?"
"I see, you require proof that I am not trying to trick you. That's fair. If it's proof you need, then here's what we'll do. In one year, come to the magic city of Vane. I'll have a surprise waiting for you."
"One whole year?" Phacia questioned, "Why that long?"
"It's going to take me that long to get everything in order," Ghaleon got up and walked over to them, "One year, that's all I need. Can you wait that long for me?"
Xenobia's face was bright red as Ghaleon was standing over her, "One year, that's all."
Ghaleon smiled and turned around, "I look forward to seeing you again," with that said he walked out of the meeting hall, all three of them having different feelings on what just happened.
"So," Royce said after a few seconds of silence, "do we trust him?"
"We wait a year, like he said," Xenobia said, strangely in a soft tone, "If he proves himself to be one of us, then we let him help us."
Phacia looked at Xenobia strangely, "Sister, are you okay?" You sound funny."
"I'm fine, I just need to rest," Xenobia said walking off, clearly to her room. Royce turned to Phacia.
"I don't like waiting that long, but I believe in him. Unlike some people, I believe in my premonitions," Royce said also leaving. Phacia looked down seriously. Was he being serious? Could he be their salvation? He seemed so sure of himself. But he was still one of the Four Heroes. Why would he even consider helping them?
One year, that's as long as she would wait. Then she would decide whether or not to trust a human with the fate of the Vile Tribe.