Here is the next chapter. In all honesty, I feel like it's been forever since I last updated. Well, here we are, back to the present. What's going to happen now?
The frozen continent
Zidane looked at the painting showing Kuja and his family.
"Do you regret all this?"
Kuja sighed.
"There isn't a single day I don't. But I just can't fight against it. This is my nature. I am one that creates war and misery. Only Ariane's powers managed to keep me from this path, and even then it was for only six years."
The mage let his head fall.
"I know hoping for Ariane to come back is foolish, so instead I pray I could see my son again. Even for just a moment."
"Do you miss him?"
"A lot."
He rose from his seat on the bed and turned to Zidane.
"I promise you I will do your friends no harm. You will be free to leave this castle. In exchange, I want the Gulug Stone."
Zidane thought a little.
"I guess that's a fair trade."
He handed the mage the triangular stone.
At the same time, Si'Nai POV
We all waited for a long time outside the room. Steiner was pacing back and forth, wondering how the princess was and Beatrix were doing. Leaning against a column, I couldn't help but wonder if Sari was fine. Suddenly, there was a flash of light and the second group appeared. Eiko, Dagger, Sari, Cid and Vivi came running to us, happy. I smiled when I saw Sari.
"You're alright!"
"You look fine too." She said after giving me a look. "Where were you?"
"That's a long story."
Eiko looked around.
"Where's Zidane?"
"He went alone in Kuja's chamber." Steiner answered. "But how did you escape?"
"Actually …"The regent started. He was cut by Eiko.
"There's no time! We gotta stop Zidane!"
We ran in the room in time to see Zidane giving the stone to Kuja. Vivi held his hand.
"Wait!"
Too late. Kuja took the stone.
"I'm sorry, Zidane. I wish things turned out differently, but I can't fight against my nature. I'm giving you a farewell present now."
Suddenly, two domes of glass surrounded me and Eiko. Green gas started to pour from it.
"Sleeping gas!"
Zidane turned to Kuja.
"You bastard! Why?"
"I need the eidolons to complete my plans. In fact, I need an eidolon more powerful than Alexander himself. This girl and your archer friend are summoners …"
My eyes widened. So he wanted to extract my eidolons? I felt my friends gasp at the idea. Closing my eyes, I gave them a single order.
'Be free'
As soon as they heard the order, the eidolons got off of me. The power shift was enough to make me faint. When I woke up, I was in the Blue Narciss and Sari was watching over me. She greeted me with a smile.
"Finally awake?"
I squinted a bit.
"Sari, what happened?"
"Well …"
My love looked away.
"After you released all of your eidolons, Kuja cursed and just took Eiko. Steiner used his sword to break the glass and Ayden carried you all the way to the Blue Narciss. We've been following Kuja ever since."
"Good. How long was I out?"
"Half of the day. According to the map, we're heaving to the Lost Continent, a frozen wasteland west to the Outer Continent."
"Okay. Better get up then."
Before I did, I closed my eyes and felt the presence of the eidolons in me. Sari smiled.
"They went into you one by one after we reached the Blue Narciss. I think that delayed your awakening."
I reached the deck and found Blank and Zidane talking.
"He headed toward some weird-looking structure."
"Is there something beyond there?"
I closed my eyes and asked the eidolons. Anima was the one to answer.
'Indeed there is. There is a town called Esto Gaza. The people around are very religious, believing in the Gate of Souls and believing in Shiva as a Winter Goddess. Many priests come from here.'
I reported what Anima told me to the others who nodded. Anima closed her eyes.
'Also, there is a volcano called Mont Gulug. Now that I think of it, it shares its name with the Gulug Stone Zidane gave to Kuja. I don't know much about this place. I am … one of the youngest Eidolons of Gaia.'
I nodded. Zidane frowned.
"Kuja wants to find an eidolon more powerful than Alexander. That's why he got Eiko. He wants to take her eidolons."
Dagger stomped the floor, earning a smile from Zidane.
"Don't worry, Dagger. He won't have it his way."
Sari closed her eyes.
"I guess he can only extract eidolons in special places. Otherwise, he would have done it at the Desert Palace."
"Nice thinking here." I nodded.
We landed on the Lost Continent and shivered. The place was cold … A tingle in my chest told me that another eidolon was around. I turned to the group.
"I'll catch you in Esto Gaza."
"Roger." Zidane smiled. "I wonder what it'll be this time. We didn't see the last one ou got near Oeilvert."
"You'll be seeing him soon, I promise."
I walked near a circular forest and met a blue Feather Circle, that strange manta-like monster. Feather circles were usually pink. I fought some of them in Fossil Roo. So when I saw it, I grinned.
"Jabberwock told me to give you his greetings." I told the monster.
The creature looked at me.
"You're kind. Do you have a moonstone?"
I searched my bag and found the stone Ixion gave me. As soon as the monster had it, it turned into a tall eidolon. The being had a feminine body, wings, a sword in her right hand, a cup in her left one, and her head spotted three faces. The right one was angry, the middle one was neutral and the left one was smiling.
'Thank you. My name is Asura, Eidolon of the Stars. What are you doing in such a faraway place, wanderer?'
"I'm following a man who kidnapped a friend. He plans on extracting her eidolons and I came here seeking your help."
Asura frowned.
'Really? Then you have it, summoner. Extracting eidolons is an atrocious thing. I won't let that man have it his way. Take me with you. My blade shall pierce his heart.'
I smiled as the woman entered into me. Asura was powerful, I could feel it. I soon joined the others at the entrance of Esto Gaza.
"Who was it?" Freya asked.
"Asura, the Queen of Stars. She's an eidolon with three faces."
Sari smiled.
"Asura's actions depend of the face she reveals. Angry, she's going all-out. Neutral, she will do something at random, either place a curse or buff us. Smiling, we're in for a mini-blessing."
I smiled.
"That's nice."
We entered the town. The bishop didn't give us a look.
"What do you beggars want? You are in a holy place. Keep the noise down. Hmph. Just like the other pointy-hats. No manners at all."
Zidane frowned.
"What did you just say? Have you seen some guys that look like my friend over here?"
The bishop hit the ground with his wand.
"How dare you address me so! I am the priest of Esto Gaza, the Holy Place in which you stand. Mind your tongue, child. Are you in league with that brazen crew?"
Zidane growled.
"Tell me where they went! Was there a little girl with them? My friend's life is in danger. Tell me what you know, now!"
The priest raised his hands.
"All life is equal. The living will return to the stars. Through the Path of Souls of the Shimmering Islands."
Zidane grabbed the priest by his collar, visibly annoyed by his ranting.
"What are you talking about? Didn't the black mages have a girl with them?"
Vivi stood up.
"She's our friend! Didn't everyone from the Black Mage Village come here? Tell me?"
The man snorted.
"I don't know why I should answer."
'Because they are by my side.'
Shiva appeared in a burst of ice, her voice as cold as the element she controlled. The priest bowed.
"Lady Shiva! Please forgive me. I didn't know you were blessed by the Goddess."
He closed his eyes.
"I just watched them. Besides, they didn't do anything wrong. They barged in, hundred of them! So, that was the dreaded black mage army … They headed straight for Mont Gulug without even looking at me."
Zidane frowned.
"Mont Gulug?"
"Yes, an ancient volcano extinct from days old. Legend has it say that a race of great moles once lived within the caverns. But that was very long ago. No mortals have entered those depths ever since the entrance was mysteriously sealed."
"And … about the girl?"
The bishop nodded.
"One of the black mages indeed carried a little girl with him."
I frowned.
"Eiko."
Zidane smiled.
"Alright, let's go then! To Mont Gulug!"
We were about to depart when the bishop stopped us.
"You are under the protection of Lady Shiva. Here, take this Blizzard Belt. This is the fragment of an armor made by the Goddess herself."
Smiling, Zidane took an immaculate belt covered with silver, wave-like patterns and having a thin silver buckle. He placed it around Dagger's waist, much to her pleasure. She gave him a big smile as Sari nested herself in my arms.
"They look cute together, right?"
"Right."
The rest of the team had gotten around the town and Beatrix soon came back with boots made of leather and dragon scales. I could feel the power coming from it.
"Another Artifact for you, General?"
"Two, actually. Steiner gave me the Dragon Blade you found in Oeilvert."
I smiled.
"I know some sets that're going to be finished soon."
We laughed a bit and went to the volcano. We had to save Eiko at all cost.
One more eidolon, two more Artifacts ... classic chapter. But it seems Kuja isn't as bad as he sounds. After all, according to his words, he's just a prisonner of his nature ... And yes, the Armors are soon to be complete. In fact, most will be after they went to the Shrines.
