Catherine was astounded when Doctor Monberaux announced that Alain, two Tarutaru, and a Samurai had arrived. For a few seconds she imagined Rost appearing round the corner with them, but was mistaken. They met in the kitchen where she and Hanaa had still been sipping the tea given to them. She asked if they were unharmed and how they had managed to get out of prison, but Alain was more concerned with where Prishe was and what condition she was in. Ulmia and Brute were still alone with her in the patient room, so it was safe to say that she was still unconscious and unable to wake up. Hanaa asked what the sudden rush was for.
"I got some answers from that woman we saw in Riverne, her name is Esha'ntarl. That boy is visiting crystals and stealing the light from them. He wants to let the Emptiness spread like a disease and kill off everything. It's destroyed Tenzen's home and this land is next."
The Hume Samurai bowed in greeting to them and let Alain continue.
"The boy is heading north looking for somewhere call Pso'xja and already has a head start, so we need to leave soon."
Hanaa squinted, "We could leave now. Those two from Tavnazia don't want our help."
"No, I need to speak to Prishe about her amulet and why it looks like the one that boy gave me. I need to know what it's for. She might be connected to him as well, for better or for worse. These secrets they are keeping from us must be for a reason. Time's against us, so even if Brute argues I need to see her."
The doctor protested, urging against the possibility of violence as pointless, as even if he did barge in, Prishe would not be able to reply. Alain shook his head and insisted that he had to try and if he could not wake her then they would need to leave and concentrate on the boy. Catherine agreed, but was worried how Brute might respond. The Galka had already threatened the doctor to keep quiet about something. She shared this and Alain looked angry. Suddenly he stormed out the door towards the patients' rooms.
Everyone followed behind but did not catch up in time, Alain pushed open the patient room that he had originally woke up in. Inside, Ulmia and Brute turned around with shock and stood in front of Prishe's unconscious body. The Galka pointed at the door and ordered them out. While everyone else hung back at the door, Alain walked forwards.
"I'll try to wake Prishe. If I can't then we'll leave," Alain stated.
"No," was the stern reply.
"I wasn't asking permission."
Brute struck forwards with a mighty fist, only to have it caught in the air by Alain as a black aura grew around him. This took everyone by surprise, not least Brute who tried with all his strength to push down. Alain shifted sideways and moved his hand, tossing Brute over into the corner and through a wooden table. Brute stood back up and battered his fists together preparing to attack again.
"Stop it both of you!" Ulmia cried. "This fighting is pointless! Brute, if he thinks he can wake her then let him try! You aren't protecting Prishe by denying help and acting like this, you're hurting her!"
Brute growled an inaudible curse then said, "You're no Dark Knight, Hume. I've fought plenty in my time and not even fellow Galka could hold back my fist. That aura around you felt as dark as it looked, it was evil. You're some kind of monster."
Catherine gasped as Alain looked to the ground and sighed. The black aura was gone as soon as it arrived as if in conjunction with Alain ignoring any anger or hate he might be feeling. She went to his side and held his hand; he looked at her with longing eyes as if ashamed of his display of power and seeking redemption. Though she would not say it, she had never seen a Dark Knight do anything similar either and more than that; the feeling that black aura gave off scared her. He pulled away from her hand and stood next to the bed where Prishe slept.
"…Do either or you know where Prishe got her necklace? This one I have looks identical and the boy we're chasing is the one that gave it to me. Are they connected? Is Prishe like him?"
Ulmia shook her head, "No, that isn't possible. I admit that your necklace looks similar, but the one Prishe wears was a one of a kind gift from Cardinal Mildaurion many years ago. I don't know where she got it from…but no, whatever boy you are talking about has nothing to do with her."
As Alain leant over the unconscious girl his pendant slipped forwards and there seemed to be a reaction. There was a flash of light blue from both as if they were speaking to each other. There was a humming sound as Tenzen stepped forwards, cradling the hilt of his Great Katana as it seemed to shake violently. Ulmia stepped back behind Brute for fear that something was about to happen. Catherine wanted to move forwards but she was entranced by the blue lights. There was another flash, this time brighter than before.
-
Alain opened his eyes after the flash and was instantly aware that he was no longer inside Doctor Monberaux's hospital, or anywhere inside Jeuno for that matter. Dull orange brick walls lined three sides of him with no visible windows or doors and where the roof should have been was only darkness. There was a thud as Tenzen fell at his side, appearing out of no where. They stood up at the same time. Alain grabbed the Samurai by the neck.
"Did you do something? Where are we?"
Tenzen pushed him away, "I did nothing, calm yourself!"
He looked around again. Was he to blame? Had he teleported again somehow and only taken the person who was standing closest? No, that could not be it; Prishe was just as close, if not closer, than Tenzen had been when there was a second flash. Then he realized; was this something to do with the pendants reaction to each other? He looked down at his to see it was dormant once more.
"No exits, no breeze, yet breathable air," Tenzen mused as he looked around. "It appears that we only have one possible path to take; we should search for clues to where we are and how we got here." He paused and looked over to him, "Alain, you are looking at me as if you still believe me to be to blame – I assure you that I am not. You saw my sword shake, yes? I will explain in time but not while we may be trapped by our enemies, who could be listening to us at this very second."
He sighed, "All right, sorry. I have a hard time trusting Samurais. Let's go."
Drawing his scythe from his shoulder, Alain stood side-by-side with Tenzen as they cautiously walked down the only passage open to them. He noticed that the Samurai did not draw his weapon, but kept one hand around the tip of the sheath at all times ready to flick the hilt up in a second. Whatever lay ahead seemed to turn the air colder and a dark purple mist was present, obscuring their eyesight.
There was more than that however. Something felt strange and it was a feeling that Alain recognised. While in Dynamis it had had the same feeling of cold death and the same ever present darkness lingering over everything and distorting it. If they had been drawn into that ghost world again he suspected that they would need to fight through to try and get out, but against enemies that were neither alive nor dead that could prove a problem.
A moan rumbled down the passage as they approached an overpass. Tenzen gripped the hilt of his Great Katana as once more it shook and hummed as if answering the monstrous sound. In a large brown chamber, thick with purple mist, they appeared at an upper balcony overlooking a small square ground level with no visible way down. At the same time, they both noticed that there was something on the ground in the centre of the square. It was not moving and heavily obscured by the mist, but something was definitely there. Tenzen leant over the edge of the balcony and Alain copied, to try and see what was there.
"That's…Prishe?!" Alain exclaimed.
It was a small body lying on the ground within the mist and was not moving. When they both turned back, an open archway had appeared within the wall that had been blocking off the south of the large room. Even if they were being drawn into a trap, they could not leave Prishe there and ran through the new opening. They took a left after a short passage which led to stairs going down. In the middle of the large room, the stairs joined with a set leading down to where Prishe was and another set leading up to the opposite balcony on the far side.
At the bottom of the first set Alain froze on the spot while Tenzen continued past him down to the unconscious girl. He had spotted someone watching from the other balcony. A tall looming figure stared back, concealed by the mist. It was not the boy they had been chasing, they were far too tall. The figure, now fully aware that he had been spotted, shifted sideways and strode towards the stairs opposite him. Alain tightened his grip around his Scythe and prepared to attack.
He pulled back in shock, "Rost…"
"Alain, so good to see you again," the Elvaan Samurai replied.
His former companion had not changed since the last memory he had of them being together; fighting in Tu'Lia with Catherine close by. Everything after that was missing, as if stolen, but he knew they had met at least one more time before they ended up in Delkfutt's Tower. Rost's Great Katana was not in a sheath and pointed out by his side, as if he had been expecting them all along. Alain pulled back his Scythe and gritted his teeth.
"You'd use another innocent girl to draw me out? You're pathetic, Rost!"
The Samurai smirked, "Still as clueless as always. I did not lure you here, nor did I touch that girl. I was trapped here along with my companion while we were searching for something. This trap has backfired twice over now. First, it allowed me to see the silent boy's dreams and then it brought you here. You will break this place and release us all from its grip."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Alain stated. "You're helping that boy? You don't understand what he's doing! He's trying to kill us all! He's spreading the Emptiness! What are you doing this for?"
"A purpose," was the cold reply.
Alain was not expecting Rost's free hand to shoot up and point a flat palm at him. A magic circle appeared around Rost as a spell was activated without speaking any words. He could not react fast enough as a purple circle appeared around his feet and chains shot up around his boots, holding him in place. Alain looked down in shock and tried to pull free, but the magic chains were too strong. With a snap of his fingers as he began to descend the stairs, glowing yellow bands appeared at Alain's sides before enclosing around his upper body, pinning his arms to his sides and causing him to drop his Scythe to the floor. Rost stood in front of him as he fought to break free. The Samurai moved closer and put his mouth to his ear.
"It's you that does not understand, Alain. What is life without purpose? You and I have been given a purpose; it is a gift from rival Gods. Paradise is lost to me, but my faith has been renewed ten fold. I will do what I was created to achieve, I will be a God's weapon. I do not care about anyone else, their lives are meaningless."
Alain stopped struggling, "You're insane."
"I didn't expect you to see sense, when have you ever? You have your God and I have mine. We died in Tu'Lia but were called back from the Mother Crystal with the silent boy. I will not forsake that gift just because other people will die as a result. We are destined to fight and for one to be left standing. I wonder; if I kill you here it will even make a difference? It's hard to tell within this place."
Rost raised his Great Katana, but suddenly leapt back as Tenzen rushed up the stairs to Alain's side. Tenzen pulled his sheathed katana from the side of his belt and held it up in front of Rost.
"And you must be my replacement," Rost smirked.
"Stand down," Tenzen ordered.
As Rost readied himself to attack, Tenzen flicked his finger upwards, as if summoning some deep power from within the Great Katana itself. The blade shook and resonated as it caught on fire, filling the room with amber light. It burned brighter than any Red Mage enhancement spell and filled the air with magical essence. Rost took a step back, in shock at the power coming from Tenzen's blade.
Another roar rumbled through the chamber, as if in defiance of the sword's power. They all turned and looked beyond where Prishe lay as a circular portal of some kind appeared. From it appeared the boy, still wearing the rags that looked like the ones Alain had worn for so long. He looked at them all and then at Prishe before kneeling at her side. Alain tried once more to break the magic holding him and was successful. He took up his Scythe from where it had landed and ran towards the boy, leaving Tenzen to handle Rost.
There was a few seconds where everything seemed to slow down. It gave him time to consider what he was about to do. Was he really going to strike the silent boy down? The boy had no armour and would be instantly killed. This was not the same as defeating a wild animal or a Beastman, was it really the right thing to do? He relented, but by then it was too late to stop his strike.
Just as the blade of his Scythe was about to touch the neck of his intended target, the boy vanished instantly. Alain stumbled and then swung on the spot, to see him at the top of the stairs behind Rost. Tenzen was equally as shocked and has been unable to trace the boy's movements either. Touching a wall next to them both, the boy opened a similar portal as he had appeared from and disappeared inside it with Rost following behind. Tenzen ran up the stairs but by the time he got there it was gone.
Turning back around, Alain fell backwards in shock as a winged beast stuck its face in front of his. The dark purple monster with a belly the colour of blood held its chin and almost chuckled with amusement at frightening him. Something felt familiar about this creature, but Alain was not sure why. Tenzen appeared at his side and held his flaming blade up between them, causing the monster to retreat slightly.
"So it truly is Phoenix! How is it that you exist in such a form?" the beast roared.
Tenzen lowered the blade, "Phoenix leant her power to me in order to save Vana'diel. She has told me who you are, Diabolos. You are the Avatar of Dreams and this is the Shrouded Maw – the gateway to your Realm of Dreams."
Looking back at the creature, Alain was stunned. They were in the presence of a real Avatar, not a shadow of one that Summoners could control. Then he looked to the blade in which the Avatar of Rebirth was apparently stored. How Tenzen could have convinced a being of such power to side with them was beyond his comprehension, but he would not take such an ally lightly.
"The Emptiness cannot be defeated by any power that Phoenix possess," Diabolos replied and scratched his bony chin once more. "I suppose you will try to ask my assistance now as well, resurrecting old ties? You have ruined what little I was willing to do by freeing that boy."
"Hope is not lost," the Samurai insisted.
"What hope has your kind got?" the Avatar sternly asked. "You are tainted, just as the other four races are. Yes you might fight and struggle, unwilling to face annihilation, but do you not see what is at work here? The Emptiness is not without its purpose. Who am I to stand in its way? Who is Phoenix to dare such a thing?"
Alain stood up, "There has to be some way!"
Diabolos thought for a moment, "Perhaps there is. Though your bodies would be consumed along with everyone else's, your consciousness can live on in my dreams. Join me in Dynamis and you would escape the inevitable pain that will rain down."
"…You coward."
Tenzen and Alain looked down and saw Prishe slowly getting to her feet. Eventually she managed it, refusing Alain's hand to help her. She looked up at the Avatar of Dreams and repeated her insult. The winged beast pulled forwards, but then remembered that Phoenix burned nearby.
"You want to run and hide in a dream? What kind of Avatar are you?"
The mist seemed to clear around them and the room became brighter.
"We need to fight if we want to stop this Emptiness!"
Diabolos retreated closer to the portal from which the boy had appeared as the light in the room seemed to grow again. Landing on the floor and retracting his wings, the Avatar shielded his eyes and questioned how such a small girl gave off such powerful energy. Then, as if realizing something, he lowered his thin claw and sneered.
"This is not my dream," the Avatar said. "It is yours."
Around them all a brilliant white light spread, consuming everything. Alain lost all sense of direction as it felt like he was being pulled away from the Shrouded Maw to somewhere more familiar. He was not the one doing this; he knew it for certain this time. It was Prishe. If the Avatar spoke truthfully, then they had all been inside her dream manifested and now she was waking up.
Alain stumbled forwards as his knees gave way. He fell against the side of a bed and smacked his chin off the top. As he toppled backwards he saw Tenzen stumble next to him and a familiar roof above. Nokum-Akkum and Renene appeared at either side of his face and asked why he fell over. Sitting up, he rubbed his forehead and asked if they saw anything that happened. Everyone in the patient room seemed oblivious. Desperately seeking proof that he was not going crazy, he looked to Tenzen who was clearly shaken as well.
The Hume Samurai explained that somehow they had both been drawn into the Shrouded Maw, the area between reality and dreams, and met with the Avatar known as Diabolos. Hanaa called them crazy and said that all they did was stumble and fall over, no time had past since the pendant flashed twice. Alain stood up and confirmed that they had travelled somewhere, even though it seemed like everything else had stopped in the mean time. He went on to say how they had seen Prishe and she had argued with the Avatar after waking up. Reluctantly, he then mentioned Rost and the boy they were chasing being there and that Rost had somehow learned Black Magic.
"Rost?" Catherine questioned. "How is that possible? I mean…the Shrouded Maw? If you were both taken there maybe what you saw was just a dream of some kind, Diabolos trying to trick you for some reason."
"No, they were really there," he insisted. "Diabolos had trapped them there but we accidentally set them free somehow. Now they can go straight to the crystal, it's our fault! We need to hurry there, we need directions. Can Phoenix show us where to go?"
Everyone was confused, he realized that they had not seen Tenzen's sword erupt in magical flames that were strong enough to hold back Diabolos. The Samurai reluctantly explained that Phoenix had given a part of herself to his blade in order to help fight the Emptiness and that he had hoped to recruit more Avatars to their side. Catherine pointed out that Bahamut was already preparing to attack the cities of Vana'diel so he would find no help there and that there was something wrong with the Elemental Avatars which was causing their lesser versions to sometimes fail to summon.
"Mostaru are working again!" Renene shouted louder than was needed. "Mr Carbuncle still won'taru play, the doggie appears instead of him."
Tenzen looked surprised, "You are speaking of Fenrir? He was one of the Avatars that I hoped to seek the assistance of…as was Bahamut. For you to summon a lesser version of him, Fenrir's flow must be being disrupted by the crystal line fading and is feeding small parts into those attune to such things, like Summoners. Of the five Avatars that fought a great evil once before, we can only focus on Carbuncle."
They wanted to know what battle Tenzen was talking about. He described a fight that Phoenix had shown him in which she, Fenrir, Carbuncle, Bahamut, and Diabolos all fought many years ago. It was an alliance that he had hoped to forge once more to help protect the crystals from the danger the boy posed. But now Diabolos was content with hiding in the Realm of Dreams, Fenrir was being adversely affected by the fading crystals, and Bahamut had resorted to some failsafe plan that amounted to the total genocide of five races.
"Renene said that she can't summon Carbuncle, so he's probably being affected like you believe Fenrir to be," Catherine stated. "I'm not sure trying to find him would solve anything."
Alain stated, "Rost and the boy are the real danger. We need to get to Pso'xja as fast as possible, before it's too late! We don't have time to try and find Carbuncle, he might not even agree to help – all the others didn't."
Tenzen nodded, "A fair point. To avoid putting our faith in only one option, we should split up and pursue both. If one fails at least the other might succeed. Phoenix can convince Carbuncle to help us, I am sure of it. I will seek him out and speak with him. I will leave the boy and his protector to you."
Renene announced that she would join 'The Adventure to find Mr Carbuncle' as she wanted to make sure that he was alright. Nokum-Akkum rolled his eyes and then raised his hand while looking at the ground, signalling that he would have to go along with Tenzen as well. Alain asked if his friend was sure that was alright, given his sworn oath not to let him run off alone, but the Tarutaru huffed and said that he had to look after Renene (triggering a kiss attack that he was unprepared for).
"Man, I feel like I got hit by a meteor…" someone mumbled.
While Nokum-Akkum frantically tried to pull away from Renene, and creating quite the spectacle as he did, no one saw that Prishe had not only woken up, but sat up in bed and was watching along with them. She stretched and yawned loudly, grabbing everyone's attention. Ulmia cried with relief and ran to her while Brute watched on with folded arms and a content look on his face.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay," Prishe insisted. "Hey you two, what happened to Diabolos?"
The looks everyone gave at that point annoyed Alain. It was looks that said 'they weren't making it up after all?' despite everything they had described. Nevertheless, they had been proven truthful. Everything that happened in the Shrouded Maw was real, at least, as real as it could be. Prishe said that she heard them talking, about Carbuncle and the boy that had spoken to her.
"Wait…the boy spoke to you?" Alain questioned. "Rost implied that he never spoke."
"Who's Rost? Never mind. That pale kid spoke to me, heard him clear as day."
Catherine asked, "What did he say to you?"
Prishe paused with an open mouth and then closed it again, before saying that she could not remember for some reason. It was hard to tell if that was a lie or the truth, given that she had so many secrets already. She tapped the middle of her forehead with her finger, but eventually gave up.
"You said we don't have much time, right?" she asked. "Let's get going."
It seemed like she was inviting herself along, but Alain would not allow that this time – not without answers. He walked over to her and was sure that both pendants reacted to each other again. He asked her to tell them the truth, to reveal whatever it was that she was trying to hide from them all and that it was the only way he would let her travel with them. At first she threatened to break his jaw, but hesitated as she met his gaze.
"Fine…"
Ulmia and Brute both cried at once, "No!"
"Shut up the both of you," was the rude response from the girl. "I'm not a baby; I don't need you two making decisions for me or trying to protect me. I don't know what's going on, but there's a connection between what happened to me, these pendants, and that boy that spoke to me. Since it seems like this guy here fits in somewhere as well, he should hear about…that thing."
Both Ulmia and Brute regretfully accepted that they could not stop her from speaking. Everyone gathered round, prepared to hear her story.
