End of an Era

by Jula Mathis

A moment of weakness, a night of passion, her selfish wish will lead to their world's end.

25. Fractured End

Author's Note: Welcome to the Chapter 24 of End of an Era! Now that Sekundes' identity has been revealed, can the party bring themselves to stop her despite the atrocities she has recently committed? How is she able to exist even though two same things cannot exist in the Prime Dimension? Action and drama combine once more in this exciting finale for Act 2. We're going to end it with a bang in this chapter; from this point on, the party will never be the same.

With that said and done, let's get right back to the story!

---

Chapter 24: Fractured End

It was just as Jude and Milla predicted; their nemesis, the one who had threatened the very existence of this world, was none other than one that once fought by their side ten years ago. Pink eyes, fair skin, and the same long flowing blond hair that their Milla had before it was cut one month ago, the one that stood before them was expectedly a perfect mirror image of her prime self. Yet now there were a few differences aside from their hair; a single strand of crimson stood out from the Lord of Time and Space's tresses, her clothing consisting of a similar shirt she wore ten years ago, but now mostly black with an orange tinge on the areas that were once red. The two-tailed orange cape she wore while under the guise of a male was still worn, but the gloves and boots were cropped to merely cover up to her wrists and ankles. Her belt also still consisted of two swords, one hanging on each side; one side was a mere saber, but the other, the strange blue blade she had used in her recent battles with the party.

"What, are we just going to stand here with our mouths hanging?" the Fractured Milla questioned in her familiar haughty tone. "Look, I get the whole shock thing where you're all thinking 'but how is that possible; no two things can exist in the Prime Dimension' and all that nonsense, but come on, let's just get passed it all already."

"…Milla, how-?" Elle was the one to try and break her friends' silence.

"I might as well get it over with," the Demon King sighed. "It was ten years ago, the very moment I fell into the abyss. For a moment I saw her, the Milla of this world before I vanished into the darkness. It all happened in an instant, I didn't even know I died. Before I knew it, I was looking into the cosmos, exactly how my sister explained the reincarnation process. At least it seemed like what she described at first, but then he appeared.

"The moment I entered the Spirit Realm, I was quickly taken out of it and woke up in another place altogether, a realm completely overrun with Miasma and a maze of roads that hovered in the air. Chronos brought me to the Land of Canaan, he had reincarnated me shortly after I died; at that point, I was no longer Milla; I had been reborn as Sekundes, the Avatar of Chronos.

"At first he wanted me to fight against you when you arrived in the Land of Canaan; don't get me wrong, it's not like I wanted to fight any of you, especially since I kept my memories of my past life, but he thought I wasn't ready. Instead, well, I think you all remember what happened after that. But what you don't know about is what Ludger's sacrifice brought.

"As I continued my training with Chronos over the last ten years, he taught me that this world, this era, has been doing nothing but stagnating. Oh trust me, he gained a bit of an admiration for Humans, but he believed it was for Humans' sake that this era must end. This cycle, this never-ending cycle of death and rebirth, it has to end if we're going to make any progress. It's too bad she's just too stubborn to see things that way," the Avatar of Chronos glared at her prime counterpart.

"You call me stubborn, but let me remind you of our duty as another former Maxwell," Milla retorted. "Our duty first and foremost is to watch over the Human and Spirit Realms and maintain order in the two realms. Whatever threat there is to either realm, no matter how small or large, it was our duty to-!"

"Come on, you think I forgot all about that nonsense?" her Fractured counterpart waved off her lecture. "Maybe you're just looking at it from one point of view though. Like I said before, who exactly was it that made Sekundes the 'bad guy' here? And besides, would it be so bad if this era came to an end if progress-!"

"'Progress', are you listening to yourself right now?!" Jude interrupted now. "Those were the exact same words that Emeraude spoke!"

"Emeraude?" the name made her eyebrow twitch. "Oh yeah, her, I couldn't really stand her you know; I can't believe I dealt with her for three months before getting rid of her. Still, I got what I needed out of her; an enemy for you to all to focus on and this."

Revealing her left hand to the party, the comrades could not help but quickly recognize the modified Exsphere in her possession. It was the same device that Emeraude used in the Spirit Realm one month ago, the one that attempted to germinate the World Tree and the same one used to steal Milla's power. Yet there was something else as well, a peculiar piece of jewelry that was not there before; a Diamond Ring. The ring itself was in bad taste; poorly maintained and the diamond itself lacking any luster or shimmer. Yet even the party could feel a strange aura emanating from the ring, a power that resonated with the blue sword on her belt.

Despite having just heard her words, Elle was still in denial. Milla, her Milla, would never want this. Her Milla was crude, but kind. Her Milla was a good person, always willing to put others ahead of herself, despite her seeming selfish at first. Her Milla would never want to hurt her friends, or for that matter, innocent people. Her Milla… …her Milla would never want any of this.

"Stop it, Milla!" the child from ten years ago came forward as Elle screamed. "This isn't like you! This isn't like you at all! I don't know what Chronos did to you when he reincarnated you, but-!"

"'Milla'?" the Fractured version of the former Lord of Spirits scoffed. "Even after all this time, you're still going to call me that name? I hate to break it to you Elle, but that lady over there is this world's Milla," she sneered at her prime self. "Me, I'm just a leftover from a world that no longer exists; I'm just a Milla that was brought back to fulfill a certain task for a world in which I was never welcome; I'm just another Milla, Amilla. I am no longer Milla, the former Maxwell, I am Amilla Sekundes, the Lord of Time and Space!"

The blue sword on her belt was drawn now, a gust of cold air swirling around her as the blue steel unfurled before them, the winds settling within the steel itself. With the sword now drawn, she parted her legs at shoulder length, grasping the blade with one hand and her left arm angled forward, placing her in familiar fighting stance she and her prime self shared.

"I think I've said enough for now," Amilla commented as she readied her sword, her attention still focused on her other self. "You and me, we've got some unfinished business to take care of."

"Milla, don't!" her husband tried to stop the former Lord of Spirits. "She's just provoking you. Let us-"

"Jude, I appreciate your concern," his wife interrupted as she stepped forward. "But now that we know the truth, I am only more determined than ever to stop Sekundes. Amilla was once a Fractured version of myself, she and I share a bond no past incarnation of Maxwell or Sekundes were granted. We share the same sentiment, we share our thoughts, we share the same determination, but we do not share the same beliefs which is all the more reason why I must fight this battle alone. I and I alone must awaken her to the truth of her wrongdoings as we are both Milla."

"Still spouting your goody-two-shoes nonsense huh?" Amilla spat. "Hmph, I knew I wouldn't like you."

"Milla, I won't let you fight alone!" Jude said, trying to stand beside his wife once again. "I-!"

Clang! Out of instinct the young researcher raised his arm, blocking the sudden strike that came from the blond haired man with red eyes. It was strange, even though he was able to deflect the strike, his arm was still shaking from the shock. The way he held his scissor-like sword seem lazy as well, as if he wasn't even taking the situation seriously.

"It's been a while since I've had any kind of sparring practice," the man said as he tilted his head to the side, cracking his neck as he spoke.

"I think it's safe to assume you're not going to let me pass, right?" Jude questioned his opponent, readying his fighting stance.

"Don't worry Jude, we got this!" Leia tried to assure him.

The moment the editor took a single step however, a loud bang suddenly echoed in the area, followed by a beam of light that suddenly appeared from the sky. Quickly sensing the danger, Alvin quickly pulled his girlfriend away, the light leaving a small smoking crater no bigger than a single gald piece in the ground. From the corner of his eye, the former mercenary saw the literal smoking gun, his eyes quickly narrowing upon seeing the one holding it.

"Gillian!" the businessman spat upon seeing his cousin and his obedient servant standing from the corner of the shrine.

"We really need to stop meeting like this, Alfred," the young man said in mocking tone.

"Young Master, allow me to assist you," the former Great Spirit of Light requested, readying her staff as she went to his side.

"You still live, Kaon?!" Rowen exclaimed after remembering the events one month ago.

"A leg, an arm, my neck, even my soul; regardless of what the price will be, I will protect my master, no matter what the cost!"

"Milla, I'm coming!" the young teacher tried to charge this time.

"Elize, look out!" her plush warned.

A sharp pain suddenly ran through her right arm now, as if a jagged piece of metal had cut into a part of her bicep. Wincing, the magician was forced to step back, placing her left hand over her fresh wound and attempting to restore it with one of her healing artes. Even as she healed the cut however, her eyes turned to the assailant who struck her, looking to the ceiling of the shrine itself to find her former friend from many years ago.

"Zoe?!"

"A month of rest,

You thought it best," the Splintered magician sang.

"The snow still falls

And yet battle calls…

"A kiss of steel,

It's enough to make one keel.

The color red,

It suits the dead.

Your life is mine, don't you see?

It only belongs solely to me.

"Claritha," she ended her song, her voice speaking in a somber tone. "Release Restriction Levels One and Two. Integrate usage of Class Four and Class Three Spirit Artes."

"Acknowledged," her plush said. "Integrating usage of Class Four and Class Three Spirit Artes."

Bands of illumination expanded around the twisted songstress now, the rings quickly shrinking as they integrated themselves onto her flesh. The light was burning to the touch, her flesh steaming as the runes embedded themselves. Before Elize's eyes, she saw the whites of Zoe's eyes fade into darkness and her azure pupils bleed into the color of crimson. Even as the light dissipated, her body remained completely paralyzed and limp. The very torture she endured to gain activate this power, no ordinary person could have survived it, and yet…

"Zoe?

"Didn't I tell you last time, Elize?" her childhood friend spoke again, her voice still wrought with sadness. "The next time we meet, I'd be the one to break your heart."

"I don't think so!" the young cadet quickly jumped in front of her friend.

Blam! Blam! In quick succession, Elle had fired each of her pistols. Strangely her target did not attempt to move, simply remaining still as the projectiles fired in her direction. The bullets had hit their target it seemed, but strangely they had no effect, having seemingly gone through her with no signs of harm.

"What the?!" Elle exclaimed upon realization.

"ELIZE!" her target's scream suddenly echoed from behind them.

Though her turn was quick, the cadet had failed to react in time, only able to witness her friend being tackled off of the stairway with her foe taking hold of her. Instinct tried to force her to act, attempting to chase after the two of them, but it seemed someone else had something else in mind.

"You're not going anywhere!" a girl in dark clothing suddenly appeared before her.

"Get out of my way, Kid!" the cadet ordered. "Or would you rather have me go through you?"

"Elle, watch out!" her superior warned. "This is the same person that created the illusions back in the village."

"The stage has been set and all the actors are ready for the next act," the illusionist said with an eerie glee in her voice. "Come now, the show is about to begin!"

"Looks like your friends are all a little preoccupied at the moment," Amilla said, turning to her prime counterpart. "It's just you and me now."

"I wouldn't have wanted it any other way," Milla replied, readying her sword once more.

"You know I can make it easy for all of you. Just drop your weapons and get out of my way already," her counterpart said in a rather haughty tone.

"You know I can't do that. As long as you threaten the existence of-!"

"Yeah, yeah, I get your hero of justice bit already. God you're so stubborn. Fine, just know that this time I won't hold back!"

---

Clang! Clang! Clang! The fight had long since begun, but not once had it started that Jude was able to land a single blow against the man that stood before him. At first the young researcher wanted to believe his opponent's arrogant attitude was just a muse, that he was underestimating Jude because of his apparently meek demeanor. Unfortunately, it seemed as if he had every right to act so cocky and arrogant. The way he blocked every strike, the way he stepped out of every blow before it could be struck, it seemed so natural and effortless.

Already Jude felt exhausted, his body already drenched in sweat. Looking back at his opponent, he found him still standing there, his blade merely hanging from his side; to any other person, he looked wide open, but the young researcher's battle instincts could easily tell that his opponent was still at the ready. This young man, the way he fought, the way he looked down on his opponents, who exactly was he?

"Perhaps I overestimated the man who took the previous Maxwell as his wife," the blond-haired man shrugged. "I should have known better than to think anything more of a mere Human."

"You talk as if you're not Human yourself," Jude spat. "Tell me who you are!"

"You've got gall talking to me like that," the young researcher's words caused the man's brow to twitch. "But then again, it seems like I, Ratatosk, the Lord of Monsters, have become little more than a fairy tale in this era."

"The Lord of Monsters?!" Jude exclaimed. "You're a Great Spirit?! But why would you-?!"

The Great Spirit struck before the young researcher could finish, his easily on par with Jude's on pace. In the blink of an eye, he saw his opponent's blade shimmer as it swung forward, the young researcher barely catching the steel on his gauntlet as he blocked it. Instead of simply withdrawing however, his opponent continued his attack, swinging the sword twice more as he continued forward, forcing Jude to go the defensive, blocking the first slash and jumping slightly back to avoid the final.

"Blade Fury!" Ratatosk chanted his arte's name after delivering the final blow.

"Swallow Dance!" the young researcher quickly retaliated.

A jump kick, followed by the turn of his body while still in mid-air to deliver a second, it was easy enough for the Lord of Monsters to easily avoid, stepping back to avoid the first and blocking the second with the flat side of his sword. Yet he did not expect an immediate follow up to the attack, the young researcher springing forward as soon as he struck the ground, delivering a single punch with each step before sweeping at his opponent's legs. Again, it was easy enough for Ratatosk to avoid, blocking each of the punches and jumping backward to avoid the leg sweep.

Not allowing his opponent to continue his assault, the blond Spirit quickly jumped forward the moment he landed on his feet, bringing his weapon above his head and place both hands on its hilt, gripping the weapon with so that its blade faced the earth. The impalement was barely evaded on Jude's part, his body barely pivoting to the side to avoid it

"Talon Storm!"

Three quick kicks; it was an arte Jude had inherited from his new gauntlets one month ago. Though swift, each of the attacks were decidedly powerful, each equal in speed and strength. Though it was over in less than second, it had struck his opponent in one of his legs, abdomen, and face. The final kick should have been enough to knock out any ordinary man, but this was no mere man that Jude was dealing with; knowing he would still be able to stand, the young researcher placed all of his strength into his next punch.

Yet upon launching his fist, the young researcher suddenly found his hand suddenly halted by the flat side of his enemy's blade. Believing he could simply follow through, Jude attempted to deliver a second blow, only to find his opponent to disappear before his eyes. No, it wasn't just that he disappeared, the entire vicinity from which they stood suddenly began to grow dark, even the sight of his comrades and wife's battles disappearing from his vision. Within seconds, Jude found himself within a void of black, free of any sights or sounds. Yet it did nothing to deter him, the young researcher keeping up his guard as he attempted to look for his foe within the darkness. From every corner and inch however, he saw nothing but the void, seeing and hearing nothing but emptiness. He knew his opponent was still lurking within, and soon, he would hear his voice.

"Playtime's over!" a pair of crimson pupils suddenly opened before him.

Light suddenly ignited before Jude now, taking the form of blue flames that burnt around his enemy. The inferno rivaled the intensity of Efreet's fire, but strangely it did not burn to the touch, instead simply pushing the young researcher back like a strong gust of wind. The blaze would only last for a few seconds, but by the time they disappeared, the Lord of Monsters was already charging once more.

His speed was swift, the velocity in which he swung his sword almost impossible for the eye to register. The cold steel of his opponent's weapon met with his shoulder first, and then his leg; it was a struggle to match his pace, the young researcher barely able to deflect, much less counter any of his cuts.

"This is the final strike!" his foe announced before taking into the air.

Ratatosk's jump quickly turned into a flip, swinging his blade down like a hammer as he plummeted. Unable to evade or counter, Jude could only ready both of his gauntlets in front of him, blocking the strike head-on. The strength behind the blow was great however, but the young researcher had found the strength to keep his opponent afloat, at least for a few seconds. Lowering his arms, Jude simply jumped backward now, letting his enemy follow through with the rest of his attack. Thinking he was now vulnerable, Jude charged once more with his own fist, preparing for his Mystic Arte as he charged.

"It's time!" he charged with all his might.

Yet it was now that Jude realized the true nature of the Great Spirit's attack. In Ratatosk's left hand was a surge of violet Mana. The Mana itself was growing in size exponentially by the second, the aura creating the same scorching sensation as the blue flames from before. The Lord of Monsters was laughing now, as if the power of darkness had consumed him in that very moment.

"Darkness devours…," the Lord of Monsters chanted. "Ain Soph Aur!"

The air burst as they both struck the other, the power in both of their hands exploding. Almost instantaneously the light returned, the two fighters still standing despite the impact of their blows. For a moment it seemed as if they were evenly matched, that both were able to easily numb the pain from the other's arte. In truth however, there was only one victor, leaving one standing and the other to fall to the ground.

Jude had never fought an opponent like this before; he had fought soldiers, kings, monsters, and even his friends, but never a Great Spirit. His hands could barely catch himself as he fell to the ground, the impact of Ratatosk's blow still swelling inside of him, his insides practically on fire. A knot quickly formed within his throat now, the young researcher forced to cough it out, creating a thick patch of crimson on the floor beneath him. His body was trembling now, as if every muscle in his body had been torn and unraveled.

"Really, that was it?" his opponent shrugged as he beheld the spectacle before him. "I seem to give your kind too much credit."

"…no, it's not over yet…!" Jude spat, trying to stand once again.

"It is over…," his opponent simply said, beginning to walk past him and toward the shrine itself now.

Unable to accept defeat, Jude tried stand again, only to find his limbs unable to move according to his will. His body was paralyzed, quaking as he continued to lie on the floor on all fours. Even the fist he formed was shaking, the tightening of his hand somewhat. Yet even if he were to stand and despite his stubbornness, he knew continuing the fight would only be fruitless; he was bested today and there was no way he could even hope to defeat the Lord of Monsters in his current state. No, not by a long shot; it was clear too during their fight that he was holding back his true strength. If he truly wanted to, he could have unleashed even more of his power and annihilated Jude with his Mystic Arte.

"Damn you…" he could only curse as his opponent walked away.

---

Her breath was already short, her brow rank with sweat, and her staff heavy. One month ago, she had little difficulty fighting the former Splintered leader, but oddly in this short amount of time since their last battle, he had improved significantly. No, it wasn't mere improvement, it was because of another factor, one they hadn't even considered during their previous fight.

"Kaon!"

"Understood."

As if signaling their change in tactics, Gilford shot into the air twice with his rifle, his body then quickly retreating as his faithful servant immediately jumped into the fight in his stead. The mace-like head of her staff forced itself into the elder man's ribs for no more than a second, its user quickly spinning the weapon so that its other half could then strike the businessman. Though she could have followed with another strike, the two seemed to switch again, this time with the former Great Spirit jumping backward as her master aimed his rifle, taking little time to aim and firing the gun at his cousin. Out of sheer instinct, the former mercenary also fired his gun in the same direction, causing the two bullets to collide into one another. Yet unlike one month ago, the shots were not simply cancelled; the impact had simply revealed its true form as a small beam of light, the illumination quickly passing through Alvin's shoulder, piercing and burning him in the same instant.

"Damn it!" the former mercenary cursed.

"Hurts, doesn't it, Alfred?" the younger cousin smirked.

"What the hell, Gillian?!" Alvin swore, ignoring the recently made wound for the time being. "I thought I told you turn your life around, so why the hell-?!"

"Watch your tone when you speak to my master!" Kaon spat, readying her staff again as she spoke. "Ray!"

Beams of light suddenly escaped the head of her staff now, the rays charging forth at an almost impossible speed. In the blink of an eye, the light quickly enveloped everyone's vision, followed by the sound of a loud explosion which echoed from within the white. The glow would quickly dim, the former leader's smirk still beaming as he anticipated his victory. Much to his dismay however, his cousin and friends still lived.

"What the?!" Alvin could exclaim upon the sight before him.

It was Leia who came to their rescue this time, standing before him and Rowen with her left arm stretch forward and her staff planted firmly in the ground. For a mere second he saw her, he saw the 'other self' that still resided in his girlfriend. Little Queen, the other entity that was once a part of Sophie, had still not returned to her proper host; if anything, the power Leia was wielding seemed more concentrated than one month ago, as if it were her own to wield.

"Are you all right?" she questioned as the black barrier she created began to fade.

No, it was more than just borrowing her power at this point. It was faint at first, but now it was becoming more apparent. She tried to hide it over the last month with the way she fixed her hair, attempting comb it in a way to cover it up with her other strands, but now it was becoming impossible to hide. A thick strand of violet was now running down part of her bangs now, running from the root to the very tips of her hair. It wasn't just her hair however, for a moment he saw Little Queen as well, her translucent form layered on top of his girlfriend's as if they had truly become one.

"Leia…," he could only watch as her other self disappeared, leaving her panting on the floor.

"Now's our chance!" Gilford tried to charge in now.

"Young Master, wait!" his servant tried to warn.

Again his rage blinded him. The wounds from one month ago were still fresh; the way he spoke to him as if he were still a child, the way he showed him mercy, the fact that he would dare lecture him on how to live his life, and then his woman trying to tell him these lies about his cousin's struggling, Gilford would have none of it. Struggling, what would Alfred know about struggling? Eleven years, eleven years of living in the dirt, of moving from place to place, of scrounging in the garbage for food, of making shady deals with the corporations of Elympios, what would he know of struggle?!

"Alfred!"

A blunt force suddenly reverberated within him now, his body lurching forward and his body practically hanging from the point of impact. Much to his shock, it was his own servant that struck him, her face as monotone as ever even as her staff shoved against his stomach. The impact did little more than stun him in that one moment, his fists quickly clenching and teeth soon biting down on one another. Before he could question her however, he soon realized why she had stopped him; it was barely apparent, but there were water artes ready to be unleashed, as if placed in the ground by mines. There was no doubt the elderly man in Alfred's party was ready to unleash his Mystic Arte if he had crossed a certain threshold.

"My apologies, Young Master," his loyal servant said as she carefully withdrew her weapon.

"There's no need to apologize, Kaon," Gilford told the former Great Spirit. "It seems I've overestimated Alfred's friends once again…"

"I shouldn't have expected anything less from a former Great Spirit," Rowen complimented his opponent.

"It shouldn't be me you should underestimate," Kaon simply said.

Seeing the glint in the young man's eye, Rowen quickly realized what he had been planning. Before he could even warn his comrades, a piercing sensation suddenly shot through his arm and leg. Small spurts of red also escaped Alvin's limbs as well in that moment, a single projectile having pierced through them in a diagonal fashion. The two shots that were fired just moments ago, Rowen should have realized they were no mere signals, but they were shots meant to incapacitate them later on in the fight.

"Alvin! Rowen!" Leia cried.

Despite wanting to rush in and clobber both of her enemies, the editor's body was not responding to her will. The defensive arte she performed had weakened her, her nerves and muscles having become shot. She had decided to ignore Little Queen's warning when she used her power to defend them, a warning she should have considered before simply jumping in.

"Come on, why can't I move?!" she cursed herself.

"Looks like this time I won't miss," the editor looked up to find the young man now aiming his rifle at her.

Revenge… This would be his revenge against Alfred over the humiliation that he had been dealt one month ago. This woman, she had to be the reason why Alfred never returned, she had to be the one that made him who he was today. If he finally got rid of her, then maybe, maybe he would revert back to the way he used to be. Alfred, the man who taught him how to survive in this cruel world, the real Alfred would return once he pulled the trigger, he was sure of it. And yet…

"Di-!"

…and yet it was just like one month ago. His faithful servant had taken hold of the barrel of his rifle, pulling it to a different angle. Unlike the last time however, Gilford made sure not to pull the trigger.

"Young Master, now is not the time," Kaon urged him. "There are other matters that we must attend to."

If it had been one month ago, Gilford would have easily lost his temper at his loyal servant. However, that look in her eyes quickly reminded him of their new duty, a duty that took precedence over a grudge that had been sweltering inside him for many years. Saying nothing else, the young man eased the grip of his rifle, lowering the gun slightly but still keeping his finger close to the trigger.

"…this is me returning the favor of last month, Alfred…," he simply said as he began to walk away from the vicinity. "Let the shame of me sparing you and your woman's life haunt you until we meet again…"

Without saying another word, both the young man and his servant returned to the woods from which they appeared. It was strange even for Alvin to see his cousin show them mercy, even if he did try to insult him just now. The fact that he would just walk away despite everything that happened a month ago, he couldn't help but wonder what these 'other matters' the former Great Spirit spoke of.

"There's no shame in showing mercy, Gillian," the former mercenary tried to lecture despite his wounds. "All the same, you should be careful of what 'other matters' you may be getting yourself into…"

---

Clang, clang, clang! It was a desperate situation, one that Elize barely found herself in during the events of eleven and ten years ago. In the past, she could have relied on her friends to protect her if an enemy got too close, but this time, she had no one to rely on but herself.

Within the last month, Zoe's tactics had clearly changed. No longer was she simply relying on Claritha's artes it seemed; if anything she was now using her own weapons up close despite their apparent fragile nature. Over and over again she charged, swinging the blades on her forearms with the turn of her body, slashing them outward as if they were a pair of daggers, followed by the occasional kick. This constant offense had clearly put Elize at a disadvantage, even Teepo could do nothing to assist her as Zoe's own plush kept him at bay.

Yet it wasn't just her tactics that changed, even her demeanor from one month ago was different. There was no disturbing laughter, no sinister smiles, simply nothing but a blank face and empty eyes. Sadness, was it sadness that Elize was observing from Zoe's eyes?

"Hah!" the magician raised both of her weapons into the air now.

This was her chance she thought. Taking a risk, the young teacher jabbed her wand forward in a quick stabbing motion. The uneven edges at the tip pierced into her enemy's flesh, the attack stopping her foe for a moment. As she had anticipated however, the pain from her strike was dulled thanks to her own plush's abilities, nullifying any sort of pain Zoe could have been inflicted at the moment.

As expected, the magician quickly retaliated, the sharp edge of her chakram cutting outward, slicing the young teacher's right arm. Elize couldn't help but wince at the pain, her free hand immediately reaching for the fresh wound in response. She could find no respite however as her opponent continued her attack, stepping forward and cutting with her other weapon, her body then jumping forward to deliver two kicks. Again Elize was forced to be on the defensive, parrying the first cut with her wand and forced to block with her arms to avoid the kicks. The kicks were little more than a distraction she soon learned, the magician then throwing her chakrams to the sides in preparation for her next attack.

"Blades, dissipate!" Zoe chanted.

"Go Teepo!" Elize tried to retaliate.

"Teepo Vacuum!" the puppet attempted to suck in the weapons.

"I can't have that!" Zoe's own plush knocked him away.

Unable to rely on her companion, Elize could only prepare herself for the projectile blades. To the best of her ability, she managed to swat away the first chakram, only to watch it split in two upon impact. Defying the laws of gravity, the weapon then quickly swept backward, only to fly into the air. However, this attack was a mere distraction, the original second blade suddenly searing into Elize's shoulder, sawing into her muscle for a mere second before withdrawing from the other side. Screaming, the young teacher tried to strike at the escaping chakram in retaliation, only for the remaining two pieces of the other projectile to suddenly make their appearance, cutting at the sides of her legs.

"Elize!" her plush screamed.

With the last two cuts, the teacher found herself unable to stand any longer, her body forcing itself to kneel at the ground, her left arm the only thing preventing her from falling completely. In spite of her injuries, Elize attempted a single arte, one that could at least mend some of the wounds so that she could at least return to the fight. Her efforts were in vain however, her hand quickly tugged forward by another, forcing her to stare into the red eyes of her childhood friend.

"Can you not answer?" the magician questioned, the color slowly returning to her wilting eyes. "Can you truly not answer me, Elize?"

"Zoe…?"

"Who am I to you?" she questioned, her voice wrought with sorrow. "What exactly do you feel about me? Why do you…? Why do you…? Why do you insist that you don't know the answer?!"

The fight had come to a standstill, halted by the tears that now ran down the red-haired woman's face. Desperation, sadness, vulnerability, it was another side Elize had come to find in Zoe since their reunion two months ago. For a moment, she saw the young girl that consoled her during their days in Labari Hollow, the girl that promised to marry her and turn her into her bride. It was strange that she would see and feel these emotions again now of all times, and yet the truth remained.

"…because I don't know the answer, Zoe…," she regretfully replied. "…all I know is that I do love you, but what kind of love that is, I'm still not sure. You mean a lot to me, you really do, Zoe," she assured her, placing her hand over her wet cheek. "But I need more time… I want to know it what it really is I feel, how it is I truly feel about you, but in order for me to do that, I-"

"More time…," a third voice suddenly interrupted their conversation. "You know that's a lie. What you need is proof of what's truly in your heart."

Elize's eyes were unblinking in that moment, her jaw held aghast but what she was seeing. Claritha, the booster that Zoe had been using to amplify her powers, was answering for Zoe. It was different than Teepo; Elize had always believed that all the boosters used in Labari Hollow back then were merely used to convey the thoughts of its users, but this one was different. The aura of red that it emitted, the way it floated above of Zoe's head, the way its black button eyes seemed to stare straight into Elize's soul, this was no mere booster.

The look in Zoe's eyes had changed as well; no longer were they filled with tears, but they were simply blank. Her body was completely standing still and unmoving, not even breathing as she stood there. Even Elize's own hand easily slipped away from Zoe's, giving no resistance whatsoever as she freed herself. This puppet, the one that Zoe possessed… No, it wasn't Zoe who possessed the puppet, it was the other way around!

"Zoe, she needs to be shown…," Claritha spoke once again. "Show her what's in your heart."

"Get away from them!" Teepo tried to charge.

"Silence, Puppet!"

It was unlike Elize had ever seen, the beam of light that suddenly sprang from Claritha's hand and struck Teepo. The blast lasted no more than a second, but it was enough to send her puppet several feet backward onto the steps of the shrine.

"TEEPO!"

"Do it now, Zoe," the booster urged its puppet. "Express to her what has laid dormant for these many years, show her how you truly feel."

"Elize…"

"Zoe, wh-!"

Like the first time, it was sudden; the way Zoe's lips met with Elize's had caught her completely caught her off guard. The very surprise was the same, but this time, something was different. The movement of her lips was rough, the way she wrapped her fingers around her arms hurt, and the very nature of the kiss was forceful. The atmosphere felt very dark, very humid, very sick. The hint of peppermint breathing from Zoe's lips, she could not taste it this time, tasting the foul aroma of iron, of blood.

"Zoe, stop it!" she managed to break free for a mere second. "Zo-!"

Again she forced herself on her, this time almost biting her lower lip in an attempt to silence her. Her body winced at the touch, the magician's grip only tightening in response as she delved deeper into their 'embrace'. It was rougher this time, more painful; again she tried to break free, but her attempts only led to a stronger, more aching grip.

For a moment she found relief, only to find the same slithering feeling of disgust sink in a moment later as her lips met with her neck. Her nerves were twitching, her heart aching, the world around her moving more and more slowly. The way her nails scratched against her skin, the repulsive way she ran her fingers down her body, even the days in Labari Hollow seemed like paradise compared to this. End it, she just wanted it all to end then and there, before it got even worse.

And yet, from the empty eyes before her, she something within them. The swelling in her pupils, the tears that were locked away but could not force themselves out; what has happening to them now was against Zoe's will. She had to reach out to her somehow, she had to beg her to stop, she had to end this nightmare before the damage could be undone.

"Zoe, stop!" she pleaded at the top of her voice, tears streaming down her face. "Stop it now, Zoe!"

As if on cue, the magician's actions suddenly came to a halt. Now free, Elize's arms wrapped around herself, covering as much as her body as she could as if she were stripped of her clothing and dignity. Her first instinct was to escape, to get herself out of this situation, and yet, she then saw the empty eyes of her childhood friend tearing once again.

"…Elize…"

"Are you not going to show her, Zoe?!" the sound of the plush's voice was now speaking in a more forceful tone now. "You can't afford to stop now."

"…no, not like this…," she began to crawl away from the young teacher now, shaking her head as she spoke. "Not like this!"

"…Zoe, are you-?"

"I know what you want, Zoe!" Claritha yelled at the magician. "What you want, the person you desire, is right here. Don't tell me you're going to-"

"I SAID NOT LIKE THIS!"

"Zoe, that doll," the young teacher tried to speak with her once more. "She's-"

Before she could speak another word, the air around her suddenly shifted. It was sharp, it was swift, her eyes catching little more than a violet blur. As if immediately recognizing the new threat, the plush once again took the initiative as it raised its arm into the air, summoning several rays of light to rain down upon the visitor from another world.

"Zoe, we must be away!" the plush ordered as the effects of the arte were still fresh. "Now is not the time to dawdle."

"…Elize," the red-haired woman continued to stare with a teary-eyes look. "I…"

The purple-haired girl reappeared now, falling from the air as her fist plunged downward. Her voice screamed as she plummeted toward the ground, the wind hissing against her hand as she fell. Her aim was perfect, the blow to be decisive, but her arm's path was forced back as several more changes in the air appeared.

Several shots interrupted Sophie's attack, shots of a rifle that echoed from the nearby woods. Turning to the source, Elize immediately recognized the young man who had fired and the green-haired woman standing beside him.

"What are you doing, Zoe?" Gilford questioned. "We have other matters to attend to. The battle upstairs is just about over."

"…understood…," the magician could only say as she began to walk toward her commander.

"Zoe, wait!" Elize tried to call out to her friend. "Zoe!"

Yet her voice would not stop her this time, the two of them simply passing one another as the teacher's cries would go ignored. Even though no more words were exchanged, for a moment she saw Zoe's lips move, speaking a mere two words that would not escape in even a whisper. Elize's eyes would only wilt further upon hearing the deaf phrase, her body once again collapsing into her own weight as the three left without another word.

"It looks like I've made it in time…," the purple-haired girl breathed a sigh of relief as she approached the young teacher. "Elize, are you all right?"

"…kill me…," the young teacher said, her voice quivering with every syllable.

"What?"

"The words Zoe last said to me. '…kill me…' She wants me to do it, she won't let anyone else, I saw it in her eyes, Sophie!" the young teacher exclaimed, tears streaming down her face. "That look in her eyes; the lack of hope, the never-ending void of sadness, it was… …it was what I could have become if I hadn't met my friends eleven years ago! After all this time, I finally met Zoe again, the one person who always put a smile on my face when we were in Labari Hollow, the only person who would make me feel safe, the only person who made me happy, the only person I… Why Sophie?! Why can't I return that smile? Why can't I give her hope? Why…? Why…?!"

Again Sophie was forced to open her heart. The uncertainty, the tears, the turmoil, it was similar to her own many years ago, when she first struggled with her growing feelings for the man that would one day become her husband. Recognizing this, the purple-haired girl wrapped her arms around the young teacher's head, holding her tight against her belly as she let the tears soak the fabric of her tunic.

"…the heart is complicated thing…," Sophie said, trying to console her friend. "With every inch you unravel, you only find yourself deeper in its complexity and it becomes easier to lose your way. However, as long as you don't lose hope, as long as you continue your path, you'll find the truth you've been searching for."

---

The three of them were at a standstill, neither one able to act. No, it was more like Ivar was anticipating the worst. He knew what this young girl could do; the images she could create, the way she could manipulate the mind, he knew what she capable of, and yet, he found himself unable to act.

"Seriously, why are we stuck babysitting some kid?" Elle sighed, fully unaware of what their opponent is capable of.

"Says the child that stands before me," their opponent's words irked the cadet. "I suggest you run along home to mommy before things get messy."

"What did you say?!"

"Careful Elle," Ivar warned. "She just wants to get under your skin."

"Oh, I'm sorry, you don't really know your mommy, do you?" the very thought made the Seraph giggle. "You can't remember her in your world, nor can you bring yourself to see her in this one."

"Shut up, just what do you know about me?!"

"I know everything about you, I can see clearly into your heart…," their foe taunted. "Just like what I did to Maxwell; you'll be surprised how much guilt still lays dormant within her soul, how she believed becoming the new Lord of Spirits could somehow redeem her. It was truly pathetic, she truly thought Lord Sekundes was her sister when she appeared in her true form, appearing before her and then stealing her power."

"You did that to Lady Muzet?!" the former handmaid exclaimed.

"It wasn't just with her, but the rest of you as well," the illusionist giggled. "Whenever our lord appeared before you until now, I was there, creating the illusion of her male form, masking her true self from-"

Blam! The young cadet had fired a single shot from one of her pistols, her patience having already reached its limits. However, the bullet had struck nothing but air, her foe having disappeared at the last second, almost as if she was never there to begin with.

"That's right, run away!" Elle spat.

"Elle, don't! It's a trap!"

"I can see into your heart too, Ivar…," the illusionist's voice whispered into his ear.

Quickly turning to the source, the former handmaid found himself standing alone in the shrine. It was strange, all of this companions were missing now, despite the fact that they were all fighting their own battles within the same vicinity. Ivar knew it was a trap, keeping his swords at the ready for anything that were to appear.

"Ivar…," a familiar wispy voice soon caught his ear.

"Milla?"

Turning around, he found the former Lord of Spirits standing before him. Relief swept over him briefly as soon as he saw her, his feet naturally taking him toward his former master. He would take no more than three steps however, the world savior drawing her sword in that instant and swiping it at the head agent. Out of sheer luck, Ivar managed to block the attack with his own weapon. She had caught him off guard to an extent, but at the same time, the former handmaid had quickly seen through the illusion.

"You think you can trick me into thinking that was really Milla?" he couldn't help but boast. "I've served the former Lord of Spirits for half my life; I could easily see through your cheap parlor tricks, witch!"

"Indeed it is a cheap parlor trick," the illusion of his former master faded, revealing the form of the illusionist once again. "Too bad your friend seems to think otherwise."

"What did you do to Elle?!" he questioned before she disappeared once again.

"No, it's not true!" the cadet's voice cried before him now.

She was standing in front of him now, her body quivering and her eyes filled with uncertainty and fear. The grip on her swords was loosening, her feet slowly pulling her backward.

"Elle, what's wrong? Elle!"

He tried to approach her despite the terror in her eyes, only for her to retaliate by slashing at him, cutting his arm as he tried to reach her. That look on her face, the dread she reflected from her pupils, he knew just by seeing her expression that his words were falling on deaf ears and that her eyes were showing something other than him.

"Elle, snap out of it!" he tried calling out to her again. "Elle!"

"…no… I never…"

"You denied me something precious, Elle," the woman before her continued. "The husband I can never marry, the child that will never be borne, it's because he chose you that my family will never be!"

"No, I never meant for that to happen!" the cadet screamed. "I know I was just a little girl back then, but even then, I just wanted Ludger-"

"To choose a mere brat over his future wife and child, it was selfish of you to make him feel this way," the woman continued.

"But Mommy-!"

"Don't you dare call me that! You're no daughter of mine. You're a cheap imitation not even from this world; you're not my Elle. My Elle will never come to be because of the choice he made due to your selfishness!"

"No, that's not-!"

"You disgust me, Elle…," another familiar voice echoed behind her now.

"…L-Ludger…?" she turned around to find the man who sacrificed himself for her.

"To think I sacrificed myself so that a child like you can still live, what a waste," the prime dimension version of her father spoke. "I could have had a family, I could have lived on to take over Spirius, I could have brought a new era of prosperity to this world, and I threw it all away just so you could live."

"But it wasn't a waste!" she tried to defend herself. "I joined Spirius to continue to watch over this world, to make sure that everyone was safe; I even volunteered to be the first subject of the Promatus. I-"

"Those are just excuses," her 'mother' said now. "All you're doing is simply fixing what is needed now instead of preparing for the days to come. Tell me, what have you done to truly save this world, to help it grow and prosper? You left the legacy of the Kresnik family in the hands of a Board of Directors that you yourself should be leading. Have you ever even sat at one of those meetings to discuss the future? Have you ever tried mediating a debate between politicians and businessmen? Have you ever thought about the battles that weren't simply fought with men and weapons but with words?"

"Elle, what Mommy is saying is true, don't you agree?" Ludger said, his form fading into a familiar black tone. "What has my little girl done to make me proud?"

"Daddy, I…"

"Come Elle, you know that it wouldn't have to worry about this if you had let us be reborn," Victor continued, placing his hand on his daughter's face. "You know that is what you truly wanted."

"…what I wanted… No, that isn't what I wanted!"

Again she struck, both of her arms swinging her two blades outward, one after another. The first cut managed to strike steel, but the second had managed to pierce flesh. Her father had managed to jump backward to avoid her third strike, kneeling on the floor as his free hand took hold of his wound. Her father, this man before her wasn't her father. It was just as Ivar said, it was one of the weird illusions created by that girl.

"You think you can still trick me?" she spat, realizing the truth of the situation now. "Now you're gonna get it!"

Without a moment's hesitation, the cadet immediately reached for the watch in her pocket, placing both hands on its back and shifting the heirloom in front of her. In an instant, the contents of the watch quickly enveloped her, the gauntlets and boots that emulated her late father quickly embroidering her limbs and the similarly made lance falling naturally into her hand. Knowing full well this was merely an illusion, the young agent quickly readied her spear, charging straight for the illusion with all her strength, her weapon leading her charge as she screamed.

The blade of the spear impaled through her enemy with little resistance, ripping right through him like paper. A warm geyser of red quickly ran down the shaft of her spear, her glare only intensifying as the crimson rivers dripped into her hands. Yet her anger would only disappear as the illusion faded, the truth shocking her to no end.

"Ivar?!"

It was just as that girl wanted. Her illusions may have been 'cheap parlor tricks', but it was still enough to trick the young cadet in nearly killing her own superior officer.

"…Elle…?"

"Ivar!"

The wound was deep, just a few centimeters to the side of where his heart would be. The blood continued flowing from the crevice she created, showing no signs of stopping as it continued to drip to the ground. Though shaken, Elle tried to remove the spear from Ivar's chest, only to cause more of his life's essence to drip to the floor, the very touch of her hand on the weapon causing him to wince and cry immensely.

"Agh!"

"I'm so sorry, Ivar!" the young agent tried to apologize, still in a panic. "I didn't-!"

"Do you see how truly disgusting you are, Elle?" her voice echoed from behind her now. "Here you are claiming you're protecting the world that was left you, and yet you cannot truly discern friend from foe."

"Just shut up!"

Rage guided her thereafter, the cadet instead taking up her twin blades as she charged straight for the illusionist. The smirk only infuriated Elle further, causing her to increase her velocity and tighten the grip on her blades. The moment she cut into the girl however, her form suddenly fazed away into nothingness once more. She did not disappear completely however, the young agent's instincts informing her that her foe had appeared several feet behind her. Dropping her swords, she then equipped her dual pistols, quickly turning around so that she may fire upon her foe. To her frustration, the bullets again went through her enemy, only this time to reappear beside her in two separate forms.

"Too slow…," both copies whispered in her ear in a taunting manner.

"I said SHUT UP!"

Releasing her guns from her grip, she then fell back on her hammer now, swinging it around her body in at least three revolutions. Unlike the last two attempts, each of her strikes seemed to hit their mark, the second strike in particular causing one of the copies to disappear. Believing the remaining copy was the true Seraph, Elle's leg then swept against the floor, tripping her foe while catching the firearms she dropped, kicking them into the air in the same motion as she did so, her arms also releasing the hammer into the air the moment she stood.

"Now!" she chanted, preparing for the Mystic Arte she learned from the Prime Dimension of her father.

Taking up her blades from the ground, the cadet charged at the illusionist with both of her arms swinging, slicing at her foe relentlessly. For all her talk and illusions, her opponent seemed helpless when finally confronted in close quarters, the agent forcing even more of her strength into her arms with every subsequent blow. Yet a blunt whistle from the sky was becoming louder in her ears now, forcing her to drop her blades as her arms took hold of her hammer's shaft the moment it was within her reach, using it to strike her foe into the air. With her handguns also falling just in front of her, Elle released the hammer from her grip, taking hold of the guns and unleashing a barrage of bullets into the air, each of the projectiles perfectly meeting their target.

"Ritual of Destruction!" she chanted as she unleashed her barrage.

Within seconds, the illusionist was nothing more than a bullet-riddled corpse. It was done she thought; for all her talk and power, she really was nothing special in the end. With the Seraph dead, Elle believed she could now focus on taking care of Ivar's wound and then helping the others. However, before she could even take a single step, a cold voice tickled her ear once again.

"A fine end to your last act," the dark girl's voice sent a chill down Elle's spine. "However I'm afraid there will be no encore…"

Collecting her nerves as best as she could, Elle tried to turn around and fire at her foe, only to suddenly find her weapons knocked out of her hands. Again her eyes widened by the source of the strikes. Before her stood not one, but three copies of her opponent. In spite of being unarmed now, the young cadet attempted to strike at two of the copies, delivering a swift round of kicks as her body spun. Yet she suddenly found herself losing her balance, her head turning to the source only to find a fourth copy having stood behind her. Despite her efforts, the young cadet fell flat against the floor, only to have her limbs being crushed by the weight of two of the copies.

"The curtain call…," all four chanted as the remaining two began to close in on her. "You shall perish, but your despair shall not! An eternity without escape! Metempsychosis!"

In that instant, each of the four brandished the same wand in their hands. Before her eyes, the magician's tool suddenly extended, the lower shaft suddenly forming a jagged point. Again she struggled as her foes continued to approach her, each of them suddenly jabbing downward in quick successions to one another. The same sharp sensation quickly echoed throughout her entire body, each of her nerves becoming paralyzed and shot, the jagged steel tearing at her muscle and flesh upon being entered. The pain would only intensify as all four retracted their blades, tearing even more of her from within. The last descendant of Kresnik's bravado was quickly shut down at that point, her body remaining motionless as clear streams of water ran down the side of her face.

"ELLE!" her superior officer cried from the distance.

"Beautiful…," the Seraph commented with delight as she watched the pooling red rivers grow around her latest victim. "Such an exquisite display… May the red rose of blood bloom forth…"

"You're a monster!" Ivar tried to protest, only to find himself kneeling to the floor due to his current situation. "No Spirit would ever-!"

"Do not mistake the Seraphim for Spirits," the illusionist commented. "We may share a common ancestry, but through several millennia of isolation, we have evolved into our own separate species as you Humans would call it. Humans, are you even Humans? The people in these lands possess power that those in my continent have not possessed for many ages."

"That's enough, Symonne," the blond young man with ruby eyes interrupted. "I've retrieved the Celestial Record from within the shrine."

"And what of the new Maxwell, Ratatosk?"

"In her current condition, she will expire shortly," the Lord of Monsters reported. "A Spirit fully drained of her Mana cannot hope to exist for very long in the Human Realm. Even when she does return to the Spirit Realm, I doubt she can do much else to interfere as Lord Sekundes has drained her of her power. For that matter, even if she does recover from her current state and remains in the Human Realm, she'll be little more than just another member of their flock."

"You bastards…!" the former handmaid cursed.

"Shall I finish them off?" the blond man asked. "I know of your vow, Symonne, you cannot-"

"…what's wrong, can't finish the job yourself…?" the cadet spat, her voice and body still weary.

"Such a poor choice for last words, Elle Mel Marta…," the illusionist readied her wand again.

Ignoring her vow, Symonne readied her wand again, walking over to the cadet and preparing to lunge it once more. Her lips would only stretch further as she saw the girl's superior struggle to come to her rescue, only to find himself helpless as the spear ran further into his chest as he struggled to walk. It was a mere distraction however, the real attraction standing before her. In spite of her bravado, Symonne still saw the fear in her eyes, the look of regret one felt before passing into the next world. She wanted to relish this moment further, she wanted a clearer picture of this girl's final moments. And yet, she did not want to tarnish it further as the ripples in the crimson pool became too large, too uneven, too random for her taste. Raising her weapon once again, she smiled once more, her arm then plunging downward.

Yet her arm would stop the moment her weapon's tip was just about to pierce the young girl's heart. Her limb was paralyzed, halted as another took hold of her weapon. Her smile quickly melted into a sneer, her dark eyes then turning to the Great Spirit that stood beside her.

"…don't…" the Lord of Monsters simply said.

The look of determination in his eyes, she quickly recognized it from ages past. Many years ago, it would have disgusted her to no end, it would have easily made her throw herself into a fit of rage. And yet, she couldn't help but admire that look, that will to protect something dear. But why would he stop her from committing such an act? It was then that she remembered his history from many eras ago, his time spent amongst the flock as he had said. Smiling once again, she withdrew her weapon willingly, understanding the reason behind his actions.

"I see…," she simply said with a slight amusement in her voice. "So this girl is-"

"We cannot afford to lose your powers over a mere squabble, Symonne," Ratatosk said, obviously making a false excuse for his actions.

"Your right, it would be a shame for my existence to cease before this act has reached its climax. After all, it seems as if the curtain calls for the battle between the savior and destroyer," her attention turned to the remaining fight before them.

---

The ringing of steel, the clashing of elements, the taste of iron, and the smell of dirt and blood; Milla had experienced each of these things in the many battles she had fought in her life, but this battle now, this opponent that stood before her, was unlike anyone else she had ever fought. They were evenly matched in technique, evenly matched in the artes, they were equals on nearly every level, even their attacks were perfectly in sync with another, as if she were fighting her shadow. Yet this was more like fighting a mirror however, fighting a physical manifestation of herself in the real world. Amilla Sekundes, a former Fractured version of herself that had been revived to end this era; even Milla could not allow herself to lose another version of herself.

"You already beat?" her opponent shrugged, watching her gasp for air after their latest exchange. "Why don't you throw in the towel already?"

"Never!" she glared.

As expected, her prime counterpart did not heed her advice, her words instead reenergizing her, forcing her to stand and charge once again. Seeing this, the Lord of Time and Space pushed her left palm forward, chanting her arte's name as the incantation sprung forth.

"Fireball!"

Several bursts of flame shot forth, the former Lord of Spirits jumping to the sides and backward to avoid each of the blasts at the last moment. Despite being pregnant, she was still able to avoid each burst with perfect acrobatic efficacy, even using the small explosion from the last attack to launch her forward and into the air.

Seeing this, Amilla thought she knew what was coming next. Death Knell, their quintessential arte for when they both flipped in the air and wanted to strike down on an enemy below. She was prepared for this strike, waiting for Milla's body to turn forward and bring both arms above her head as she swung down. Yet what she received was something completely different, something unknown even to her.

If Amilla was herself from a Fractured Dimension, it was clear to Milla that she would know her artes and techniques by heart. However, the artes she inherited from Asbel's sword were another story. Knowing this, the former Lord of Spirits sheathed her blade, swing her left arm forward as she flipped, striking the scabbard across her counterpart's cheek as he landed, her body then turning as she drew her sword.

"Death by moonlight!" the former Lord of Spirits chanted as she freed her weapon.

This technique was definitely something new for Amilla, but the Lord of Time and Space still found enough opportunity to evade the circular blow, jumping backward as she swung her blue blade outward to parry the strike. Yet the single swing was not simply a block however, create a small pillar of ice in the direction she had swung.

The sudden arte had nearly caught Milla off guard, forcing her to jump slightly back as her foe sliced the air again, causing another pillar to appear from the ground. A third swing then followed, this time the cut being delivered to the icicles themselves, cutting them each upward before being hammered forward with the flat edge of the weapon. Again it was a new technique, but the former Lord of Spirits quickly saw through it, hammering her own sword downward in the same manner, striking with the edge instead so that she may cut each of the frozen projectiles in half with a single swoop.

"It's pointless for this to continue," Milla said to her counterpart. "Even if we were to use techniques we believe the other hasn't learned, we both know we could easily think of one or two ways around each attack. This battle is meaningless, Amilla, you and I were at one point Maxwell; have you really abandoned every aspect of your former self that you truly feel nothing for this world and its people? As you said, you may not like me, but what of Elle, Jude, and the others? Do you truly resent them so much that you would be willing to destroy this world?"

"It's because I don't resent them that I accepted my role as Sekundes!" Amilla quickly replied. "It's because you can't let go of your former role as Maxwell that we must fight. I'll give you another chance, Milla Mathis, drop your sword. I'm getting sick of this whole thing; make it easier for me to do my job so we can all be on our merry little way."

"You know I can't do that."

"…god you really get on my nerves…"

It was now that the Lord of Time and Space removed the saber from her belt. In the blink of an eye, she quickly disappeared from Milla's sight, the air above her quickly changing for a mere second. Sensing this change, the former Lord of Spirits met the challenge head on, slicing upward as the element of lightning followed her blade's path. Clang! The three blades met midway within half a second, the Demon King then withdrawing one of her own, attempting to use it to lunge at her prime counterpart. Seeing this, Milla quickly shifted her body slightly to the side to avoid the side, pulling all of her weight backward as she did so and shoving her left leg forward. Her kick managed to strike her nemesis in the middle of her back flip, using the momentum of her flip to switch positions while still in the air. Now above her foe, Milla then delivered a second kick, using her body as platform to jump even higher.

Seeing her prime self launch herself further, Amilla was forced to use her power once again. The atmosphere came to a halt per her will, the Lord of Time and Space taking this opportunity to land on the ground before taking to the air again. Jumping in from the back would be exactly where her prime self would expect her to reappear, so knowing this, she opted to jump directly in front of her, the effects of time once again taking place the moment their eye levels were in sync.

"Raining Tiger Blade!" the Demon King chanted as she struck downward with both swords.

Placing both hands on her sword's hilt, Milla was just barely able to catch her Fractured counterpart's strike, the two swords just barely stopping before her hair. Exerting the full extent of her strength into her limbs, the former Lord of Spirits managed to push her other self away, her left hand then springing forth as she cast her next arte.

"Sigil Spear!"

Amilla saw it coming, but she didn't bother to use another ounce of her power this time, instead simply blocking the strike and allowing the force behind it to send her back to the floor. Upon hitting the ground, she simply pushed against it once more, spinning her body with both swords extended outward as she chanted the name of another arte they shared.

"Shimmer Spin!"

Again the metals rang, each blow deflected away with little effort; even with two swords, Milla still knew every movement, every slight pause, and event the subtle change in motions of the arte. With the two locked in a stalemate once more, the two counterparts jumped away from one another, both of them standing at the ready. Even though they seemed evenly matched, the former Lord of Spirits found her body aching now, her limbs unwillingly being pulled to the floor by the weight of her own body. Exhaustion was quickly taking hold of her, the contents of her stomach beginning to bubble and her vision turning black.

"I guess I should give you some credit for catching up with me so far," her Fractured counterpart said, fanning herself in her usual arrogant tone. "Too bad we both know that you can't keep this up much longer."

Milla could only find truth in Amilla's words. It was nothing short of amazing that a mere Human could even stand up to a Great Spirit alone, even if that Human was once the Lord of Spirits. However the fact remained that her body was already at its limits; one more strike, she had to place everything she had left into this next attack so that this era could continue.

"…you're right, I can't keep this up much longer," she admitted. "In fact, it's over!"

With her voice crying into the heavens, the former Lord of Spirits poured the last of strength into her limbs, her body accelerating as fast as humanly possible. Her nemesis mimicked her charge, running at the same rate of speed with both of her swords at the ready.

"Shining Blade of Triumph…" Milla began to chant, turning blade toward the earth now, the metal screeching against its surface as she ran.

"Double Demon Fang!" Amilla cried, stopping as she delivered lightning fast two projectile strikes, one with each sword.

Yet the projectiles were easily avoided, the former Lord of Spirits jumping over the attacks, landing right before her nemesis before she could even recover from her attack. For a moment, she saw a look of shock on the Lord of Time and Space's face, how she seemed to underestimate her prime self despite no longer having the power of Maxwell. In that same blink of an eye, the former Lord of Spirits then struck, swinging her blade six times, slashing at her foe in almost the same instant as she continued her charge, her body moving with each motion of her cuts, never once stopping or hesitating with each blow until their backs were facing one another.

"Lunar Requiem!" Milla chanted as she sheathed her blade once more.

And with that, there was silence, as if time itself had stood still. Nothing was moving, not even the wind dared transgress this moment. Yet amidst the silence, there was but the sound of metal slinking into hollow wood. Slowly she returned her sword into its scabbard, as if her muscles moved at a crawl's pace. Yet this moment was not meant to last, ending once the steel clicked within its casing, the former Lord of Spirits then hearing a single thud from behind her. Without looking back, she knew she had defeated her nemesis once again. A sigh of relief escaped her lips now, but the damage was already done.

Her hands barely caught her from fully falling to the ground, her arms barely even able to keep her from succumbing completely to gravity's pull. Her stomach felt as if it was boiling again, the air searing the insides of her throat as she struggled for breath. She had won at least, she thought, yet this realization quickly melted as her eyes widened from the sights around her.

The fighting had come to a close for everyone, but not in the manner she had expected. Alvin and Rowen looked to have been seriously injured from their fight, with Leia strangely paralyzed by some otherworldly aura; Elize was nowhere to be found whatsoever, possibly still fighting at the base the stairs below; Elle was lying nearly unconscious on the ground, her wounds deep and still fresh; Ivar had been impaled with Elle's spear, his body unable to move as it would only cause the laceration to swell even further; Muzét was still unconscious as well, her breaths becoming shorter by the second; and her husband, Jude, had also laid defeated, face first in the ground and his right hand clenched in a fist. Milla's heart stopped the moment she saw each of them, the air around her growing heavy. The taste of iron filled her mouth as she bite down on her own teeth, fresh rivers of red flowing down her fists as her nails buried into her palms.

"…no…" the former Lord of Spirits couldn't believe her eyes. "No!"

"Don't get so melodramatic," her nemesis's voice echoed from behind her once again. "They're all still alive for now."

Rage quickly overtook Milla for the first time, the former Lord of Spirits focusing the last of her strength into her arms once again. Yet her weapon would not able to travel far, the steel suddenly flying out of her hands as a projectile struck the flat of the blade, knocking it out of her hand. Turning to the source, the former Lord of Spirits then saw her counterpart's party, each of them with a rather smug look on their face as if they were proud of the acts they committed that day.

"Don't you get it, Milla?" Amilla said, her body entering the side of her vision, using her powers to reverse the effects of her wounds. "You've lost."

It was never in Milla's nature to deny the truth when it was laid in front of her, but this, this was too much. Defeat, she would not accept defeat, not now, not ever! This world, this era, it still needed to continue. Even if it was no longer her responsibility as Maxwell, it was her responsibility as a mother to ensure her daughter would have a place to grow up and live. And yet the truth of the matter was… …it was… …she could not win this fight.

"We haven't lost yet!" a young, shrill voice suddenly echoed now.

A purple blur suddenly burst from down the stairs now, quickly zooming passed each of the Avatar of Chronos' party, charging at a speed the eye could barely register. Milla quickly recognized this sudden burst, seeing the visitor from another world for less than a second charge straight for her nemesis. Despite the apparent danger, the Demon King remained completely in place, not even attempting to draw either of her two swords as Sophie's fist came forward. Instead, she simply stood there with her arms at her hips, waiting for the impending strike, before her mouth suddenly spoke a single word that could not be heard.

An explosion of dust quickly filled the area, nearly knocking everyone within the vicinity backward. The punch itself was powerful enough to even stop a Great Spirit Milla thought; at the very least it should have knocked out Amilla, preventing her from rewinding time to heal her wounds. It was supposed to end the fight, but it seemed as if the fight was far from over.

With the dust now settling, a single figure now stood beside Amilla, having caught Sophie's punch with ease. This figure was dressed in several pieces of sleek-looking plastic-like metal that covered vital parts of his body, including his chest, upper arms, wrists, ankles, and upper legs, with the rest of his body simply dressed in a single black skintight suit. His redish-brown hair was long, flowing down to his back. Upon closer inspection, Milla immediately recognized the individual that was standing beside her counterpart, a person that once loyally served their enemy from one month ago.

"Psi?!" Sophie exclaimed upon recognizing the Demon King's newest ally.

Not speaking a single word, it was his turn to strike now, moving at a rate of speed even the purple-haired girl's eyes could not register. In less than a blink of an eye, his shoulder was already ramming into her abdomen, the force behind it quickly propelling her backward, forcing her to break through several trees in the process. The visitor from another world already found herself lingering into unconsciousness with that single blow, her hand trying to reach out to the boy as she tried to ask him a single question.

"…why…?"

"Good work, Psi," Amilla said, patting her newest comrade on the head as if he were a child.

"Amilla…!" the former Lord of Spirits seethed once more.

"I already said it once, didn't I?" her counterpart huffed. "Just stay down so I can do my job."

"You know that's not going to happen."

Much to the Lord of Time and Space's dismay, her prime counterpart's handmaid was standing once more. Though the spear was still lodged deeply within his chest, he still stood firm, the grip on his blades as strong as ever. Standing behind him were the former mercenary and the prime minister, each as focused as their comrade. The editor soon stood beside her boyfriend thereafter, as did the young cadet who positioned herself beside the elderly man. Stubborn, all of them were so stubborn; if only they would all stay down, then…

"You can put us down as much as like, but the fact remains that we will always find a will to stand," Milla lectured to her nemesis. "Come, this battle has to reach its end."

It was her headstrong attitude that returned him to reality; though hazy at first, the figures of his wife and her Fractured counterpart slowly came into view. No, it wasn't just his wife, it was also his friends, each of them badly injured, yet still standing. In spite of their current situation, the former Lord of Spirits still tried to stand strong, her body ready to topple over at any second. Seeing this, he tried to stand once more, tried to call her name, and yet nothing would abide by his will.

"…Milla…," her name escaped in little more than a whisper.

Once more she charged against his silent wish; he tried to stop her, he tried to scream, but nothing could be done. She had taken to the air once more, ready to chop down at her foe in a single hammer-like strike. Despite the danger, his wife's counterpart simply stood there, her hands still resting at her waist. But in the blink of an eye, the Demon King then struck, drawing the blue blade on her belt, slicing upward, the strike enough to cut straight into her abdomen, slicing at both his wife and his unborn child. A thick geyser of red then poured after the cut, raining down upon their foe. The job was done and already the tears for the life lost were already flowing.

"IVAR!"

It was clear as day for everyone; the former handmaid had managed to push his former superior in mid-air at the last second, taking the blow for himself. In that instant, the cut and slashed into his already sounded body, tracing the same path of Elle's spear, only to continue beyond and tear into the muscle that gifted him life. In bittersweet relief, he had not only spared the former Lord of Spirits and her unborn daughter, he also accomplished the duty he had always held dear to his heart.

"…Ivar…?" the former Lord of Spirits could only watch as her former servant's body struck the floor. "Ivar!"

"No way…," Jude found himself paralyzed once again. "That can't be…"

"Ivar!" Muzét was the next to scream.

"Someone hurry and get me a Life Bottle!" Elize ordered, having now run up the stairs.

"The blade's cut through his heart," Leia observed upon pulling the former handmaid off the ground. "Neither a Life Bottle or Resurrection arte could…"

"…you idiot…," it was his former superior's turn to talk now, her voice and eyes quivering as she spoke. "Why did you have to go and do that? If you had just stayed where you were, then…!"

"…why, Milla…?" the young agent could only ask the Lord of Time and Space. "Why would you-?"

Her tears, if anything were to reach her surrogate parent, it would be her sadness, her heart. Even back then, the haughty young woman would apologize if she had insulted the child too much, she would sympathize with her in some odd manner such as blaming Ludger for making her act a certain way or just try to laugh things off. She waited for this strange apology, she waited for some kind of reassurance, but what she received was something her Milla would never say.

"I told you before, Elle, I'm no longer 'Milla,'" her surrogate parent replied. "I am Amilla Sekundes now; sacrifices must be made to-"

"And just how many more sacrifices have to be made, huh?!" it was Alvin's turn to speak now.

"The Splintered, the innocent people who were killed at the EX Laboratories facility in Drellin, Nia Khera, and now Ivar, just how many more have to die?!" the editor exclaimed.

"As many that need to be sacrificed!" the Demon King quickly replied. "Don't think you're so high and mighty that you can talk down to me like you know it all! Do you remember what we did ten years ago? We destroyed many worlds, ended millions of lives, including those who resided in my own world! How are the lives I'm taking now any different than the ones we took back then?"

Silence befell that party after hearing her words. None of them could retort her answer, the sins of ten years ago once again coming to the forefront. It was true that they had destroyed millions of lives just so that their own world could continue to exist, that they couldn't simply all co-exist if they were to continue living. Regardless, the former Lord of Spirits found her words and spoke for her friends once more.

"Our actions ten years ago were sinful indeed, but our goal was the preservation of this world," Milla replied. "What of your actions, you claim you sacrifice those that have died in the name of progress, but progress of what? This era, our world, we simply cannot allow it to end. It's because of that-"

"But it will end, it has to end!" Amilla quickly interrupted. "Whether it's by my hand or someone else's down the line, everything eventually has to come to an end. Of course knowing you, you're just too short-sighted to see the whole picture!"

"Lord Sekundes," the dark Seraph tried to intervene. "We've obtained what we needed to here. I think this is where the curtain should fall for now."

"…you're right…," the Lord of Time and Space reluctantly agreed. "Let's go already."

A familiar long sword suddenly appeared in her hand now, a blade thought to have also been lost during the final battle eleven years ago. With a single swing, a portal opened before the Demon King and her comrades. Saying nothing more, each of her comrades began to walk through, one-by-one, giving nothing more than narrowed glances at their respective foes. All had left within seconds, yet their former comrade remained, their back turned to her prime counterpart as her last words were spoken from her mind's eye.

"…just leave the rest to me…," she said. "Go. Go live the life I was never given. Go play house, play Mommy and Daddy, play family, play as if this never happened."

Saying nothing more, the Demon King stepped through the portal, not even taking a look back at any of her former comrades or her prime self. Upon stepping through, the gateway quickly closed, leaving the entire party speechless.

Milla also did not what to say in reaction to Amilla's words. The words 'just leave the rest to me', what was it she was talking about? And why would she want to her to 'live the life she was never given'? Moreover, she was again deliberately trying to avoid striking Milla's abdomen during the entire fight. Again, there was something more to her nemesis then what was originally being let on, but what was being hidden, even Milla could not begin to comprehend.

"…Ivar…," their youngest comrade's cracking voice returned her to the present.

"Hey, come on, get up already!" the businessman tried jest, choking back on his own tears as he spoke.

"Come on, Ivar, quit fooling around," Elle tried shaking her superior officer. "It's supposed to be us that falls asleep whenever you tell us one of your stories. You're the one who has to be worrying about us, not the other way around. You're supposed to… Supposed to…"

"Oh god…," the young teacher could only remain speechless.

"Truly this can't be," the former conductor found his eyes beginning to swell. "We had all just become so close…"

"Ivar…," Jude still found himself speechless.

The former Lord of Spirits found her eyes burning as she continued to stare at the lifeless form of her former servant. Flashes of their time together became fresh in her eyes once more. She remembered during their childhood how he would always try to get her to ride a wyvern, only for the monster to chase after her handmaid instead as he had not mastered the ability to speak to monsters yet. She recalled when they were a little older how he tried to deliver her a new dress, only to trip on the very steps of the shrine and tear the clothes into pieces in the process. She remembered how he tried to stop her eleven years ago from leaving the village, how she pushed him fall down the stairs in a hilarious fashion after she used Sylph's abilities to launch her into the air. She remembered how he would always try to help her, try to make her life easier in any way possible, even if it always led to his embarrassment in one form or another. He may have been a klutz, he may have been easily jealous, but he always meant well, he always had a good heart, he was always her friend.

"…I'm sorry, Ivar…," were the only words she could find. "I'm so very sorry…"

---

"So this is your homeland?" Kaon questioned the illusionist. "It certainly reminds me of eras past."

"The Mana here is rich," Ratatosk was the next to comment, practically breathing it in as he stretched out his arms. "I feel like I can finally breathe here."

"Here we go again…," Gilford groaned, remembering the days when he first arrived in Elympios. "This looks no different from Rieze Maxia if you ask me."

The smell of fresh air, stars as bright as the sun, and the touch of a cold night air that wasn't freezing to the touch. It was a feeling that she thought she would never be able to experience again, a world free of spyrix or spyrite.

So this was the continent of Glenwood, a land that had long since been forgotten by Rieze Maxia and Elympios, a land where the blessings of the Primordial Spirits could not reach. It was a fascinating spectacle, but frightening at the same time. As much as the Demon King wanted to enjoy this moment, she knew full well that she still had work to do.

"If we're done admiring the scenery, we've got work to do," Amilla said in a matter-of-factly tone. "Symonne, what's our closest lead?"

"Based on our current location, I'd have to say our closest lead is the City of Ladylake, the Capital of Hyland," the dark seraph responded. "I'd say it's about a week's walk from where we are."

"Ladylake, a name out of a fairy tale," the magician solemnly spoke.

"Lead the way, Symonne," the Lord of Time and Space ordered. "This era isn't going to end itself."

Without saying another word, the illusionist did as she was asked, beginning to walk toward the west, the roads she had traveled apparently unchanged in the last few centuries. She would not travel for long however, a slight chill crawling down her skin for a brief second. For a moment, she couldn't help but look in the direction of where the air had blew, her eyes narrowing at the aura she thought she felt, a familiar aura that brought her disgust and anger.

"Is something wrong?" the Lord of Monsters questioned.

"…no…, just a change in the wind, that's all."

Paying the air no mind, the dark seraph simply continued on her way. Though alert for a few moments, each of her comrades also lowered their arms, taking the illusionist's word as they continued on their way.

Unbeknownst to them however, a single figure was hiding in the background, his back pressed against a nearby rock and his hat slightly tipped due in part to his wild, white hair.

"Seems like Little Miss Sunshine has finally come home," the wind seraph commented. "…looks like things are about to get more interesting…"

---

Silence. Not a single word, not a whimper, not even the sound of tears hitting the floor, all that was left was silence. All of their eyes were dried now, their voices hushed, and their spirits broken. Though their wounds were healed by the army's medics, their hearts were anything but restored. Before them, buried beneath this stone, amidst the shrine that he once protected, lay their comrade and friend, Ivar.

"…Milla…"

Jude couldn't help but worry about his wife as she simply stood over her former servant's grave. He could tell that she was still in complete shock over everything that had just happened, how even after all this time, he was still willing to sacrifice his life for her. For a majority of his lifetime, he knew that she saw him as little more than an annoyance than anything, and yet, she was still grateful for everything he tried and did. Perhaps she was feeling regret for feeling these things, maybe grief over the loss of one of a few people she had actually grown close to, or maybe it was anger over the acts her Fractured counterpart committed.

"Do you need any of you need anymore more time?" the monarch questioned. "The loss of a comrade, no, a friend is never easy."

"How are the villagers, Gaius?" Leia tried to change the subject.

"…I'm sorry…," his words tore the former Lord of Spirits further. "We did what we could but many have died from their wounds. For the few that remain, I will ensure their safety until the village can be rebuilt."

"And what about Muzét?" Jude questioned.

"She's still in shock over everything that's happened," he explained. "Her body seems frail and weak at the moment, she cannot even fly. Because she's never used her legs to walk, she is unable to even stand at the moment. I'm no expert on Spirits, but from I've observed and what you've all told me, I think it's safe to assume that her powers have been drained. What little power she has left is what's keeping her alive at this time."

"That's horrible!" Elize exclaimed. "So that means her powers as Maxwell were stolen by Amilla?"

"I'm afraid so," Rowen answered. "I think it's safe to assume that when Muzét became separated from us, that was when Amilla used Emeraude's Exsphere to drain her power. At this time, it's safe to assume she wields the power of both Maxwell and Sekundes."

Despite the conversation amongst her friends, the last descendent of Kresnik was still trying to make sense of everything that had just happened. The Milla she knew would never have done anything like this. Even though this wasn't her world, she still fought for it, she destroyed other ones just like it simply so they can continue existing. Yet her words just now, her actions, what could have happened to her that would make her want to turn back on it all, what happened during their time apart, what could have propelled her to kill Ivar?

"'Milla'?" her Milla's words were still fresh. "Even after all this time, you would still call me that name. I hate to break to you Elle, but that lady over there is this world's Milla. Me, I'm just a leftover from a world that no longer exists…."

"…I'm a leftover too," Elle's words had come much too late. "I'm not from this world either, but I… I still want to protect it. Ludger left this world in my hand, so I'm going to protect it no matter what!"

The cadet had spoken her words much louder than she anticipated, her voice having reached each of her comrades' attention. The moment she realized she had become the center of attention, her face started to burn a bright red, her body instinctively wanting to curl up into a ball and die right then and there. Yet a gentle hand fell on her shoulder, her gaze finding the visitor from another world standing beside her.

"I want to protect this world too," Sophie assured Elle. "Even though I'm not from this world, I know it's what Wallace and the rest of my family would want to do. If they were all still alive, I'm sure they would do everything in their power to protect your world as well."

"I'm sure by now we've all earned our tickets to hell after all the things we've done over the last eleven years or so," it was the former mercenary's turn to speak now. "Even so, I don't mind continuing down this path so nobody else will. If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, then why not, let's save the world again I say."

"Third time's a charm, right?" the editor added. "Even if she was our friend in the past, there's no way we can let her bring our world to an end, not after everything we've done to set it in its current course."

"The future will always be uncertain, but for the future that is but an arm's length away, we must fight to ensure that a future can even exist!" Rowen spoke.

"You all gave me a future I could never have dreamed, I can't let everyone's efforts go to waste!" Elize was the next to speak. "The children of the next generation, I want to give them a future like the one you all gave me."

"Even if our daughter will one day destroy this future we wish to create, I want to at least try to provide her with a future where she can live in peace, even if the odds are stacked against us!" Jude acknowledged.

"Well met my friends," the monarch smirked. "Ever since taking the throne, I believed it was solely my responsibility alone to have to place the burden of our world on my shoulders, but seeing your enthusiasm, I see that doing so would be impossible. Let us share that burden together for the sake of our world!"

"…for the sake of our world…," a wispy, yet weak voice spoke now.

"Muzét?"

Before all of them, the new Maxwell was now approaching them, coming forward in an almost deathly state. As Gaius had said, the new Lord of Spirits was unable to walk, her body sitting in a wheelchair as her slender arms struggled to push its wheels forward. Though it was merely used a disguise the day before, she was once again wearing the same long trenchcoat and fedora, as well as the large sunglasses as if she were attempting to hide her current state from her friends. Her breath was ragged and heavy, as if she were breathing in acid. Her normally smiling face was wrought with worry and pain, yet the same determination that all Maxwells had before was still as apparent as ever in her eyes.

"…for the sake of our world, I too must fight…," the new Maxwell tried to speak.

"Muzét, you shouldn't overexert yourself," her brother-in-law tried to order. "What you need now is rest."

"…still playing doctor even after all these years…," the weakened Spirit giggled. "I can see why my sister married you. Even though I cannot fight, I can still help. The Demon King, she has traveled to the Continent of Glenwood, a realm that has lacked the blessings of Maxwell and the other Great Spirits for several millennia."

"Wait, there's another continent other than Elympios and Rieze Maxia?" Leia questioned. "How's that even possible?"

"Even we do not know," the Lord of Spirits replied. "Glenwood and its surrounding lands were always beyond our predecessor's reach; it's as if another entity watches over that realm…"

"But why go to a realm where even the Great Spirits have no power?" Rowen inquired.

"…I don't know exactly, but I believe she's searching for something…," the former Lord of Spirits finally spoke. "Whatever it is, we must prepare ourselves and head over to Glenwood as soon as possible. What happened today, to the village, to the people, to Ivar, I can't allow it to ever happen again!"

Her voice and conviction were as strong as ever, and yet, there was something different. A different fire was ablaze in her pink eyes, her cool and focused demeanor nowhere to be found. Though they were glaring, it was clear that a pool of sorrow was swelling within. Her fingers were curled into tight fists, her hands shaking as if she had taken hold of her Fractured self's neck. Malice, rage, regret, and even grief were overpowering her all at once; though was focused, this was the first time she let such anger, such hatred, guide her path.

"Any ideas on how we're even going to get there?" the businessman questioned. "It already takes a few days by ship alone to head from Elympios to Rieze Maxia; I can't even imagine how long it'll take to venture off to some uncharted continent."

"My power may be drained, but we still have this…," the new Maxwell said, procuring a familiar dagger from her coat's pocket. "…it may have been borne from my power, but it still has use."

"But even if we were to use it, would it be able to transport us safely to Glenwood if the Great Spirits' influence doesn't reach that far?" Rowen questioned.

"It's a risk we're going to have to take, that's what you're going to say, right, Milla?" the young researcher questioned his bride.

"It is," she simply nodded.

"Guess it's time for another old-fashioned road trip," Alvin quipped, wrapping his arm around his girlfriend as he did so. "How 'bout it, Babe, isn't this the romantic getaway you always wanted?"

"Not even close!" Leia fumed. "But still, the world needs again. I'm sure we can still have that getaway once we're all done though."

"I guess it's time for another adventure…," Elle groaned.

"Then we don't have time to waste!" Milla ordered, her voice as determined as ever. "We must tread onward!"

"Onward, for the sake of the future!" Jude said, pumping his fist into the air.

"Onward!" their remaining friends chanted.

---

Skit: Gender Bender

Gilford: …I still can't believe it… So does that mean-?

Ratatosk: Something bothering you, Kid?

Kaon: I was simply explaining to Master Gillian that Spirits can assume the form of either males or females. Oddly he finds it rather disturbing.

Ratatosk: Oh, I see…

Gilford: Of course it's disturbing! (cheeks turn red) If your kind can assume the form of either gender, then would that mean… Would it mean that you could have both…? (feels even more uncomfortable and grows silent)

Kaon: Honestly, I can speak for myself and say that I've only taken my current gender for as long as we've existed.

Ratatosk: (evilly smirks) Perhaps you should ask Lord Amilla herself, I'm sure she'll give you an honest answer.

Gilford: Wait seriously?

Amilla: (walks in) My ears are burning… What do you want to ask me about?

Gilford: (embarrassed and uncomfortable) Well, I, uh…

Ratatosk: Go ahead, Kid, ask Lord Sekundes what's on your mind.

Gilford: A…all right. It's not that I want to offend you or anything, but I have to ask… (whispers into Amilla's ear)

Amilla: (face turns red from embarrassment) (hits Gilford) Wh…what the hell is wrong with you?! Seriously, you-! Ugh, the nerve of kids these days! That's not something you ever ask a lady! (walks angrily away)

Kaon: (panicking) Young Master, are you all right?

Ratatosk: (amused) So Kid, did you get your answer?

Gilford: …looks like a lady, but hits like a man… Either way, there's just some things in this world I'd rather not know…

---

Author's Note: And with that, Act 2 of End of an Era has come to a close. I tried to keep this chapter as short as possible and even contemplated splitting it in two, but I couldn't find an appropriate break anywhere for the split, hence the overly long chapter. In the future, the rival fights will be more spaced out between chapters, but because I thought it was all necessary to keep everything together, well, this is the result. In any case, we've got a bit of ground to cover, so let's get to it.

Regarding Ivar's death, I had planned this from the very beginning. I figured that I needed Milla's spirit to break at the end of Act 2; even though she seemed to finally achieve happiness after marrying Jude, I thought I would need to break her down in order to create more tension again for the future. It's one thing to have her entire village be burned down, but to also have one of the few people that was actually there to watch her grow up die as well, that was the last straw to break the camel's back. What this means in later chapters is we'll see a bit more of an unhinged Milla, more prone to anger but just as determined as ever in her goals (though she won't go as far as Jude did when Milla broke up with him so she won't be attacking any of her friends, but she will be more prone to not thinking clearly). As for why the party couldn't just heal Ivar, if they did heal him while he was still impaled, he'd probably still have the spear inside him and I'm not sure if Elize alone would be able to clot the wound fast enough by herself (Leia would have still been weakened from using Little Queen's power and Jude was barely conscious at this point so neither one would have been able to help). As far as Life Bottles go, my understanding is that they only revive those that are unconscious, they don't actually bring people back to life (although please correct me if I'm wrong and point me to the source if you can). I really did like Ivar, but unfortunately I think he was a necessary sacrifice to continue the story forward.

But what about Fractured Milla (or 'Amilla' as I will call her from now on)? I know she wasn't the type to just kill people and be all heartless about it in-game, but as shown in earlier parts of the story, she does feel regret for her actions. If anything, she is doing what she believes is necessary to reach her goal, but what exactly is her goal and what is she looking for exactly in the Continent of Glenwood? Tales of Phantasia and Tales of Symphonia fans probably know by now what she's looking for; all I can really reveal for now is that what she's looking for is loosely linked to Tales of Zestiria's epilogue in terms of this story.

Speaking of Tales of Zestiria, I'm sure some Tales of Zestiria fans might be thinking I've made Symonne more sadistic and perhaps even more powerful in this story. In regard to her power, I recall the Zestiria party having a conversation near the end of the main game in which they stated that Malevolence was actually holding her true potential back. I think that if she was using her true potential, she'd be able to peer into another's soul much more easily, making her illusions more extravagant and more believable, hence her ability to trick Elle into attacking Ivar. Also, I'm sure some Dead of Alive 5: Last Round fans recognize her "May the red rose of blood bloom forth" line; Marie Rose and Symonne share the same English voice actress, Christine Marie Cabanos, so I thought I'd throw in a little easter egg here (for that matter, I just felt it was right to have Zaveid show up at the end). As for why she's more sadistic, I'll reveal the reasoning for that later on.

With that said, Act 2 of End of an Era has now come to a close. I'll be taking a short break from this story so I can work on my Tales of Zestiria fics, Simply and Because. Both are one-shot stories that occur roughly concurrently, taking place a few years after Alisha's DLC but centuries (maybe even millennia) before the main game's epilogue. Though the stories will mainly focus on the Zestiria cast, there will be hints of what's to come in Act 3 of this story.

Simply will aid me for this fic in regard to one aspect I think I need work on as a writer. As we know in this story, Elize is questioning how she loves Zoe, and as such, Simply will focus on Alisha and Rose as a romantic couple. I'm still debating on whether or not to even make a lemon for it since I've never written on this kind of subject before and I'd rather not make something that I think is subpar. The timeframe of this story will take place over several years as the two characters grow older and age, with Alisha struggling to get over the social stigmatism of same sex relationships and the pressures of her family to marry and start a family.

Because will focus on another couple, but the story will take place roughly concurrently with Simply. The couple for this story will be one I don't think I've really seen in Tales of Zestiria fandom, that couple being Mikleo and Edna. I really enjoyed these two characters' interactions in the game, namely the way Edna always picks on Mikleo. I always saw this as her strange way of showing she loves him, though I don't think Mikleo ever got that message. This story will focus on Mikleo's growing frustrations with her over the years but slowly begins to unravel the true meaning behind Edna's actions.

Even though Simply and Because are side stories for End of an Era, both could also be read as standalones, even able to exist apart from each other. The main focus on both stories will be romance and drama (maybe more of angst in Simply) between the couples, but as I said earlier, a few events that occur in both stories will bleed into End of an Era, events that hint at Amilla's goals and a deeper understanding of what caused past eras to end.

In any case, I've rambled on for quite a bit. I hope you've all enjoyed reading End of an Era so far as much as I have writing it. If you would be so kind and leave me a review, it would be greatly appreciated. Your kind words inspire me to continue and improve my craft. Thank you again all so much for reading. I hope to see you again soon in Simply and Because or Act 3 of End of an Era.