Bringer of Nightfall

by RoseDragonWitch

Now hailed as a hero throughout the Source, what next awaits the Warrior of Light, soon to become a Warrior of Darkness? The time has come to move on only now we are heading to not a different country, but rather an entirely new world! The path to the First is open to us and a new battle awaits… the most epic one yet… discovering the truth of what lies at the heart of the Star...

22. Word from On High

Chapter 18: Word from On High

Everyone was ready to leave in less than an hour after Claire returned to Slitherbough. She could tell that some of them were still a little put off by her sudden disappearing act, but she did feel much more like her old self than she had a few days ago; and this time apart seemed to do a world of good for her own spirits. Mayhaps they could sense that change in her and that may have been the reason they didn't seem eager to bring it up, but she could just feel that they wanted to talk to her about it.

Just as the others were packing up some food for the road, Y'shtola came back to them, having finished informing the Blessed that she would be leaving now and they wished her a safe journey once again.

"Though it pains me to leave, it is time I returned with you and the others to the Crystarium," Y'shtola said to her. She then hesitated and Claire tilted her head, wondering what was wrong when Y'shtola then asked her, in a somewhat quiet tone, "But before we go, I might I speak with you in private? I will await you in my chambers."

Claire was surprised by the request, but she nodded in agreement and followed her back to her chambers. Y'shtola made sure to check that no one was listening in before she closed the doors and came back to her as she waited in the dark.

"Thank you for coming," she said, "I thought to keep my suspicions to myself, but after witnessing your victory at Rak'tika Falls, I fear they prove true, and so I must share them with you."

Claire felt as if the very bottom of her stomach dropped and she felt a cold sweat appear on her forehead from what she was about to hear. She braced herself for the worse as Y'shtola took a deep breath and said, "From the first when we met at Fort Gohn, your aether has appeared… tainted. Suffused with an overabundance of light not unlike the sin eaters. When you defeated the Lightwarden, I fear the light which poured forth from it was not negated by Hydaelyn's blessing. Rather, it was absorbed into your being."

So she was right… in a sense. It was as bad as she had thought it would mean. Yet, when Y'shtola seemed taken aback by her lack of surprise, Claire confessed softly that she did overhear her yelling at Urianger earlier.

She believed that was the first time she had ever seen Y'shtola turn red and it would have been funny if the situation wasn't so dire.

Y'shtola even went to the door just to double-check that no one else was out there and listening in.

"I thought that I felt someone else nearby then, but with my frustration with Urianger clouding my thoughts… I wasn't paying attention," she heard Y'shtola hiss under her breath. "Well, this should teach me to be more cautious."

She looked back at Claire, before lowering her head and adding sadly, "Urianger also suspects as much, though he is unwilling to share his thoughts on the matter."

Again, this was something that Claire was aware of… and she could not deny that it bothered her greatly. In fact, she felt more upset about that then the fact that there was a light trapped inside her. Still, she had to ask…?

"What does this mean for me?"

Y'shtola did not look at her directly and could only shake her head in a helpless way… though Claire felt that she was just reluctant to say what the possible outcome would be.

"One thing is certain: with every Warden you defeat, the danger to you grows greater," she said again, not answering the question, "Greater perhaps than we can imagine. If you begin to feel anything strange—anything at all—pray inform me at once."

Claire felt slight queasy again at that moment, but she honestly didn't know how she would be able to explain that after all this. She only nodded her head grimly before Y'shtola gripped her shoulder, telling her that she should hurry before the others began to worry and that she would join them in a few minutes.

Claire didn't really answer back as she left, able to track the others down just outside the front entrance, and were ready to go. Thancred had just finished telling her that they took one last patrol of the perimeter and Minfilia added that the antidote had been given to all the poisoned Blessed and that the damage had been relatively minor, when Y'shtola appeared.

"Sorry to keep you all waiting," she said, "Shall we be off, then?"

"Art though certain this is best?" Urianger asked her wonderingly, and Claire did not miss how she turned to look back at the entrance to Slitherbough with a look of longing in her face.

"…I'll not deny there is a part of me that wishes I could stay," she confessed, "For two years I have lived with the Blessed, learned their culture, even going so far as to adopt Master Matoya's name as my own. I but pray I did honor to it."

Claire was about to make the suggestion that if she wanted to stay, they would understand and not begrudge her for it, but Y'shtola just looked back at them and said in a slightly more stern term, "Now is not the time for doubt or hesitation. Come, we must return to the Crystarium."

While she did say that she wished she could stay, Claire felt that she was deliberately turning their attention away from that subject and not really giving herself the chance to really try and voice how she felt about this whole thing.

Still, Claire decided to respect that and they turned to head back to the road to take them back to Lakeland.

The journey south was pretty uneventful for the most part. She did confess to the others that she had paid a trip back to Ishgard, and told them a little more about the Firmament and how it would soon be part of the reconstruction effort.

"Right, you spent a great deal amount of time there," Thancred stated, and she saw how his eyes flickered to her necklace that sat snugly on her throat. "Well, I'm sure that Alphinaud would be thrill to hear of that as well. But you could have told us that you were leaving."

"I'm sorry," she answered, "I just… I needed time to really think about all that. I was only gone for a single day back in the Source though…?"

"Time between the two is slowly starting to sync together," Y'shtola confessed, "At least, according to what the Exarch said that it happens… the time between two worlds is nearly impossible to gauge completely. Who knows? After a time, time in the Source could speed up and a year there could be only hours here?"

"Well, as useful as it is for you to spend so much time here, it's a bit of a pain while waiting for you to come back," Thancred said, "Just next time, let us know where you're going so that we don't need to worry so much?"

Claire promised she would as they reached the edges of Lakeland and they followed the path south until she could make out the now familiar spire of crystal in the distance.

*Later*

As they looked around the hustle and bustle of the city, Y'shtola was asking where the Exarch was. They were just wondering if they should head to the tower or track down Captain Lyna, when a voice spoke up.

"My friends!" called the voice she loved so much and gave a sweet smile when Alphinaud appeared with the Exarch walking beside him. Alphinaud caught her gaze and his eyes lit up as he said, "Tis good to see you all again!"

It was funny though because he didn't even look at Y'shtola until she spoke.

"Alphinaud! It has been too long," she said, making him jump slightly when he turned from Claire to her.

He was able to cover this with a clearing of his throat and asked instead, "I assume your presence here means you've brought word of the Warden hiding in Rak'tika?"

They all looked to her, which she took as a cue to explain. She gave them a quick rundown of what happened in the Greatwood, including the Eulmorian soldiers, the ruins of Ronka, and the Lightwarden.

"Found and slain, you say?" Alphinaud questioned before shaking his head with a rather charmed grin and finished, "I should have known."

"Eulmore has but recently dispatched soldiers to all corners of Norvrandt to defend them," the Exarch said, sounding unusually tired, "I am glad to see their efforts were wasted on the Greatwood."

"Speaking of Eulmore, what came of your meeting with Vauthry?" Thancred asked.

"Yes, about that," the Exarch said, looking ready to explain, "It proved to be…"

But as he opened his mouth, he suddenly staggered where he stood and almost fell over. Alphinaud immediately reached out to steady him and prevent him from falling over, but Claire saw how the Exarch's hood slipped slightly and the man quickly gripped the edge of it, as if terrified of it falling off.

Not for the first time, she wondered just what it was that the Exarch was hiding beneath that cowl.

She had her suspicions before… but looking at him now, she could not help but wonder why he was hiding his face. Why? Perhaps it was just over the irritation she felt over her friends keeping things from her, for a brief moment, she was seized by a strong desire to march over to him and force that hood back to see what he was trying to hide from her.

No sooner did that thought drift across her mind was she horrified at herself and forced that thought down inside, scolding herself for even entertaining the thought. What he kept to himself was his business and she had no right to try and force those secrets that he may not be comfortable revealing.

Still, she could not help but wonder what he felt that he had to hide from them.

"Exarch, you mustn't push yourself," Alphinaud scolded, helping to steady him as the hooded man gave his head a tiny shake as if to clear the cobwebs, "Your time away from the tower has clearly taken its toll. No doubt you all are tired as well, having traveled so far."

He then looked to them all and added, "Why don't we all take a much-needed rest before we discuss our findings?"

"I thought to propose the very same," Y'shtola said, though Claire quickly noticed how she was looking directly at Claire as she said that and added, "After your clash with the Warden, you deserve a chance to recuperate."

She wanted to reassure her that she was doing very well right now and didn't need them to be fretting that something was wrong. But Thancred chimed in his thoughts of agreement and merely pushed the matter off that they would reconvene after everyone had time to settle in.

Claire could see their point, but once again, she felt only frustration stir inside her. Perhaps she was overthinking it, but she could not help but feel like a misbehaved child that was being sent off to bed with no dinner. Or worse… just a tool that was being put away in a safe little box until she was needed again. Then there was the fact that she felt true anger in, especially at Urianger, for keeping quiet about her condition.

Why did he feel the need to not say anything? Was he worried about upsetting her or just wasn't aware of it? But judging from what Y'shtola snapped at him earlier, she did make it sound like she would have been astonished if he generally did not know—or at least suspect that something was terribly wrong.

Y'shtola could sense it right away and felt the need to tell her… but not until after beating the Lightwarden… she supposed she could understand that she wasn't sure what was happening… but it still made her feel both angry and even hurt that they didn't think it important enough to at least warn her ahead of time that something like this could happen.

She just frowned as she turned, not giving any of them a glance back as she walked across the courtyard and headed off in the direction of the Pendants.

In truth, she supposed that it was a relief to get away from the noise of the Crystarium, for she was suddenly finding her senses so much sharper than before… even the most minor of noises was causing her ears to ache and she wrapped her cloak around her shoulders a little tighter as she began to walk along the now familiar road to the inn. She wasn't sure where the others were heading off too right now, but right then and there she found she couldn't bring herself to care.

It was still only midday and so the sun was directly above her and she was suddenly feeling a little dizzy as she found the inn. She stumbled slightly before giving her head a hard shake and stepped up to the inn keeper.

After making her way to her room and leaned up against the door as she let out a sigh of relief. Pushing herself off against the door and she took a few steps inside before gazing down at her body and Y'shtola's words echoed inside her head.

She didn't see anything wrong with herself… nothing that clearly stood out…? But she pressed the back of her hand against her forehead as she suspected a fever may be coming in. Is it possible that the light that was absorbed inside her was what was causing her sicknesses all of a sudden? Looking back, she realized that it all started off small with minor headaches—which these days were now full migraines—and they started just after defeating the first Lightwarden.

That all made sense to her now. Her health and the worsening of her condition became more painful with time… with every Lightwarden she killed. But with two more Wardens still left to go… what was going to happen to her next?

That was when she felt a familiar presence and she turned her head to find Ardbert gazing back at her.

"So there's a light sealed inside you, is there?" he asked, "You shouldn't know it from the outside. You look the same as you ever did to me."

So he had been listening in? Of course he had been.

"And what if that changes?" she asked, venting some of her worries to him, "What if it overwhelms me?"

He seemed taken aback by that and said, "Damned if I know. It's not as if I can lift a finger to help myself, much less you."

Ah, Ardbert… as comforting as he had always been since she first met him.

Mayhaps he realized this and seemed to be now giving the matter some serious thought as she waited; wondering what he was going to say.

"Have faith in your friends," he said, "Look out for them, and hope that they look out for you. What more can you do?"

He seemed to be trying so hard to try and comfort her that it came out rather awkward, as if he wasn't completely sure he believed them. But the idea that he was at least trying to cheer her up made her smile.

But then his slightly cheerful mood faded as he became his usual sullen self and brooded on whatever thought that was bothering him.

"Think he was telling the truth?" Ardbert asked, and if she had to be honest, she wasn't sure if he was really speaking to her or just voice it out loud at this point, "Emet, I mean. All that rot about Hydaelyn being no different than any other primal… if so, what would that make Her 'blessing'? Are we just slaves to Her will?"

He figured it out. Guess she shouldn't be surprised that those similar thoughts crossed his mind… but she was more surprised that he came and brought it up so suddenly like that. She looked away, her own fears echoing inside her that made her heart feel as if it was being held in a vice-like grip and someone was twisted it around violently.

He seemed to comprehend that he wasn't helping and quickly changed the subject.

"Ahh—let's pay him no mind," Ardbert added, "Lies are the Ascians' stock-in-trade."

Perhaps, but she still could not find the reason that he would be lying about this. As much as she hated to admit to it, Emet-Selch's explanation made much more sense than anything else she had ever heard. But still, that didn't mean that she believed everything he said. She did not believe that he was fully lying to her but nor could she rightly claim that he was telling the truth… there were still some parts about this that were missing. It felt as if she were trying to solve a very complicated puzzle with missing pieces and she knew that until she could find those pieces, nothing was going to fit into place.

She voiced this to Ardbert, who seemed like he agreed with her choice of words and only grimly nodded before he heaved a sigh and turned his gaze back to the window where the midday sun was shining brightly.

"Villains, heroes—all a matter of perspective, they'd have you believe," he said thoughtfully, "One man's fond memory another's waking nightmare… Me, I'm no saint or savior—just another sinner. And I know damn well I'm in no position to judge…"

Not a saint or a savior… just another sinner…?

She heard that line before… and used it herself on more than one occasion. No one can go through life without carrying a multitude of sins upon their backs. Even those who tried to do good… only to have it backfire in the end… what kind of sin was that, she wondered?

She wanted to tell him, yet again, that it wasn't his fault for any of this, but for once he wasn't frowning as he looked to the sky. Instead, she asked him what he was thinking of and he seemed to find the answer pretty easily.

"When I saw the people of Slitherbough look up at the sky and celebrate the return of the dark… felt good," he confessed. "It was moments like that that I cherished—much more than the thrill of adventure. The quiet after the storm." He looked at her and finished, "I always took comfort in that."

There was something just comforting about it… for in that moment it felt like all the burdens that you carry were just lifted off your shoulders and you did your part. To see the people happy and at peace with the world… it reminded her of why she wanted to become an adventurer… not just to make a living for herself or see the world… but perhaps, in her own small way, that she could make someone else's day just a little brighter.

There was no shame in that… and it was the reason she always did her best to make herself useful to people.

When she first began, she started off just getting lost running around Summerford Farms and running into people who needed something done. She saw the smiles on their faces and it felt good knowing that she did her part in helping make someone's day… which was what led her being noticed by the Admiral… then by the Scions… then Eorzea… Ishgard… Ala Mhigo… Doma… and now the First…?

Still though, despite all of that… she did find some comfort that reminded her of when life was so much less complicated. Perhaps it was the one thing that kept her sane after all this time?

She sighed at that, enjoying the memories for a moment before she began to unstrap her gauntlets. Though that was when Ardbert looked back to her and noticed what she was doing.

"H-Hey! What are you…?" he began as she pulled off her armor and drop the pieces off before she left in a heap next to the bed.

"Relax," she answered back, too tired to really care too much about modesty as she was still wearing her swimsuit under her armor.

After informing him of that fact, he seemed relieved before asking, "You always wear a bathing suit in battle?"

"No," she answered with her eyebrows raised at him, "But since I figure I have multiple eyes watching me at all times, I figured it was a good idea."

Now he was turning silver… a sign that he was blushing.

"Well, I'll leave you to some privacy," he told her with a cough as he walked to the door.

"You going far?" she asked him.

"Not terribly," he answered back as he held up his hand and retreated to the door, "You're the only one who can see me after all… why would I walk out on the one person I can complain about to?"

He then gave her a rather cheeky grin before walking right through the door and she shook her head fondly for a moment. She waited a couple minutes before believing that he was going to leave her be for a little while, and she was grateful for that as she finished pulling off the rest of her battered armor, that now looked more like twisted shrapnel than useable armor. She did manage to find some new gear while running around the Qitana Ravel and decided that she would try to make something of that later on.

But as she was looking through her bag, she found the package that Lord Edmont had gifted her here mere hours before and she pulled it out to admire it once again. Her hand went over the gown and she found herself overwhelmed with emotion once again as she wiped a few stray tears away while sitting on the bed and let the soft fabric glide over her fingers. Unable to really stop herself, she stood up and pulled it on, just wanting to wear it at least once and see how it felt.

She wasn't sure how he was able to find it in her size, but it fit like a glove and she twirled about in her room in the stunning gown… feeling like royalty at that moment.

It was such a nice feeling to be able to dress up in something that was supposed to be pretty and flowery once in a while. Something that didn't involve wearing it into battle. She smiled at that as she spun around once more and enjoyed the way that it moved about and caught a slight breeze as she spun.

Suddenly eager to see what she looked like, she went to the mirror in the room and stepped in front of it… and her face fell at what was looking back. There was nothing wrong with the dress… it was perfect in every way and she did look stunning in it… like some High-born lady in Ishgard… it was her hair that caused the frown. She knew that it must now look something like this by now… but seeing it like this was enough to really show her how serious things were.

Half of her hair was still in that bright pink… but the other half had no turned completely white. She ran her fingers through it, for now it was just past her shoulders at this point and she felt disturbed by it. Because now she understood why her hair was turning white… a side effect of the light inside her now having a true physical change.

And if this was how it looked like after three Wardens… she feared the changes that awaited her with the defeat of two more.

*That Night*

Claire wasn't sure what it was that first stirred her from her sleep. One minute she was sleeping off the sickness she was currently feeling, and then she felt an odd chill going down her spine.

Perhaps her dark dreams had something to do with that because she could feel the ghost sensation of a cold hand around her throat... but it was just for a fraction of a moment that she wasn't sure if she truly felt it or it was just from the chill from the open wind and the night air.

Night air?

She raised her head, slightly surprised to realize that it was already dark out. This startled her because she only planned on a short nap and it had been the afternoon when she laid down.

She rubbed her eyes, planning on closing the window when she heard it. There a strange commotion outside... muffled voices that sounded panicked and fearful.

She couldn't believe she didn't notice it right away, but that certainly was enough to get her to snap out of it. Still slightly groggy, she rolled out of bed and quickly changed into some spare pieces of armor and heaved her sword onto her back before making her way out of the room to speak with the inn keeper. When she emerged from her room and made it to the front entrance, she could see the man was wringing his hands together and looking frightful; causing her to worry even more and she needed to know what was going on.

He was quite relieved when he saw her, and told her that they were informed that nothing short of a veritable army was now flocking to the Crystarium. The Exarch already was at work to quell the situation before it got out of hand and that the people were taking shelter inside the Crystarium. He told her that if she wished to help, then she was free to assist the townsfolk, for soon a barrier will be going up from the tower to protect the city.

Immediately snapping back into focus she ran out to see what she could do. At once, she found that the few people outside were quickly retreating into their homes or even just the nearest buildings that they could find, before bolting the door closed.

After looking around, she headed to the courtyard in front of the tower to see what was happening. Thankfully, there were hardly people around here, aside from the few guards that were on duty.

"Claire!"

Her head jerked up in time to see Alisaie sprinting to her, her face caked with sand, signaling her return from the desert.

She skidded to a stop, almost knocking into her before gasping out, "I've only just returned from Amh Araeng, yet I find the Crystarium moments from being beset by sin eaters!?"

Alisaie was looking truly upset at this news—not just upset but disturbed—and she went on, "Where are they coming from? This shouldn't be possible—we restored the darkness!"

She didn't know why she was looking to her for answers, Claire didn't know any more of what was going on than she did. This came as much of a shock to herself. After all, aside from a few stray eaters on the road, she had not heard of any sin eater attacks at all in this area ever since the night returned. The few that were seen stalking the roads were weak creatures that the city's guard were more than capable of handling on their own. So why were they suddenly launching the attack?

She tried to find something to say to calm her down, but thankfully, Alphinaud ran up to them, slightly out of breath.

"Well, this is a fortunate coincidence," he panted as his sister immediately turned her attention to him.

"Brother! Tell me you have some idea why this is happening!" she demanded. Alphinaud caught his breath, saying that they didn't have much time to explain the situation, but the Exarch was preparing to deploy the barrier but they needed to activate special instruments to anchor the barrier down. He confessed that he was just on his way to activate them when he happened to run into them here. He didn't come out and say what he wanted, but Alisaie was already guessing at where his train of thought was going and agreed to help.

He instructed them on each of the apparatus that circled the Crystarium and he told her to go to the ones that were located on the western side of the city and quick instructions on how to activate them.

By the time Claire made it to the second tower, she could hear the blaring of alarms going off from inside the city, warning people that the threat was at their doorstep. The noise was enough to make her feel as if her head was being pounded by hammers and she gritted her teeth together as she ignored the ringing in her ears.

She managed to pull down the lever in time and listened to when it clicked into place and the noise paused so that the barrier was activated.

A barrier, very similar to Seiryu's Wall in the Burn slowly rose up... but she could tell that this was much tougher than the one back home. The protective wall did rise up and created a shield for the city before it seemed to fade and it became clear.

But she wasn't fooled, she knew that the wall was up and it wasn't going to be letting anything through anytime soon. With the tower charging it all the energy that it needed, she knew that it wasn't going to let them down... for whatever else the Allagans may have been, she knew better than anyone that they knew how to make a good barrier that was made to last.

And it seemed not a moment too soon. For no sooner did the wall go up did she see them appear out of the darkness. Nothing short than an army of sin eaters covered the sky and they were upon the city in mere moments—flying straight at them, their dead, sight-less eyes as black as the night sky.

Thank goodness they made it in time and she retreated to watch from the railing in case they somehow got through the barrier. But there was no need to worry for it was as if they were flying straight into a brick wall.

She gritted her teeth as the mindless creatures were just throwing themselves one after the other at the invisible wall—not even realizing the futility of such an act—shrieking all the while. Now she had seen the eaters when they were 'hungry' before but she also knew that they had no minds of their own, no other thought inside their head other than raw instinct to feed.

She couldn't remember seeing a more horrific and pitiful sight.

Seeing them sent shivers down her spine and the light that was inside her suddenly reared up as if it was something blazing—it felt as if her blood beneath her skin was burning and she hugged herself tightly, momentarily terrified by the feeling.

She used her own will to overpower it and felt as if she had just smacked the surge of light… like getting a dog to behave while it was growling at her.

She shook her head, not liking this when she heard her name being called and she turned to see both twins running towards her.

"Excellent," Alphinaud said with a grin, "The barrier is holding."

"That's good news for the Crystarium, but what of the rest of Lakeland?" Alisaie demanded as she leaned over the railing to get a good look at the lands beyond the glittering wall.

Claire suddenly had a flashback vision of Holminister Switch and knew that it could only end in another slaughter.

"Lyna and the city guard have taken to the field," Alphinaud informed them, "Thancred and the others have already joined them. Let us do the same."

"How do we go about that?" she asked.

"We ought to join the vanguard as soon as possible," he answered with no small amount of certainty, "If the number of eaters we just saw is any indication, we'll be facing a formidable host."

Claire turned her head back to the lands beyond this wall and knew she was right. There were people out there dying and she had to step in and do what she could. No matter how bad she felt, and shoved her next migraine out of concern; she had to be there.

She was vaguely aware of Alisaie saying her name and she looked back as they gazed at her, as if suddenly worried.

"Are you sure you're feeling up to this?" Alphinaud asked her, "I know that you only just got back from Rak'tika and from all accounts, the battle had been fierce."

She shook her head and promised, "Nothing I can't handle. I slept in for most of the day. I think I can handle this."

Was she imagining it or did they suddenly look doubtful? Thankfully with the arrival of another eater ramming into the shield and they knew that they couldn't waste time talking.

"I'll be fine," she said as she strode past them both, focusing only on the battle ahead.

"I'll be fine," she whispered again to herself, as if trying to convince herself of that as well as to the twins.

...

It had started to pour by the time that they ran out of the Crystarium. The only part of the Crystarium that they could get through was the front entrance where reinforcements were heading out and survivors of Lakeland were flocking to the city for protection.

She stepped out and immediately she was soaked to the skin. She brushed her bangs out of her face as she ran on ahead with Alphinaud and Alisaie close behind. In no time they hit the road where they saw men and women of the guard all fighting against flashes of white.

The air was filled with the sounds of clashing metal against flesh and the shriek of the empty creatures as they hungrily lunged for them. Another annoying thing about sin eaters was that, unlike wild beasts, these things didn't fear death and so didn't feel any fear about charging straight in.

"What lovely weather," Alisaie grumbled from behind her, "Just what we needed."

Well, at least it wasn't hailing right now. That could always make it worse. Though she wasn't dumb enough to say it out loud in case the gods heard and decided to teach her a lesson.

"It seems the battle has already begun in earnest," Alphinaud said hurriedly, "Make haste!"

She gritted her teeth, knowing that this fight wasn't going to be easy but her blade was already in her hands and she prepared to charge ahead. She took a few deep breaths, pausing for a moment as her fingers brushed against the red unicorn on her throat, before she felt herself calm and her mind became cleared.

"Let's go," she said and she led the way with the twins' right behind.

They came across the first wave of sin eaters right away. With the rainstorm happening around them she couldn't tell exactly where they were, though if she had to guess they were on the edge of the Forest of the Lost Shephard at this point. The Crystarium guard were all giving it all they got, most were able to hold up, but many others—either inexperienced or simply worn out from the fighting, were struggling to find their footing. But for every eater they brought down, another arrived to take their place and they were quickly being overwhelmed.

"They need our help!" Alisaie cried, her rapier already in hand as she and her brother sprinted for the nearest group. Claire ran ahead to deal with the largest group of eaters, and the guards who were just barely holding out.

She could feel the light inside her blazing painfully as she rammed her blade into the nearest eater, sure that it now had a bigger headache than she did at the moment.

She managed to get the rest of the eater's attention and they quickly turned to her, ignoring the rest of the guard, who were able to find their footing and helped kill the eaters while their backs were turned since they were drooling over her.

She left them to catch their breath as Alphinaud caught up with her.

"More eaters," Alphinaud warned, who had caught up to her, "Don't let your guard down."

He said this as she ran at a heard of sin eaters in the form of giant bears. They were slowly making progress as they pressed on, allowing their allies to catch their breath and fight off the stray eaters that were apart from the main force. But it wasn't long before they found where a majority of them were gathering.

"Those eaters… they're moving towards Radisca's Round," Alphinaud pointed to the angel-like eater leading a small army of twisted eaters.

And that got her attention. What was going on here? She thought sin eaters were supposed to be dumb. Since when do they lead armies of themselves?

"We should follow—but we cannot neglect those in need of aid!" Alphinaud said, pointing forward to another struggling group of guards.

Luckily, Claire had a simple solution to this.

"Then make it fast!" she yelled as she charged ahead, taking on a dozen or so eaters at once without taking her eyes off the retreating form of the angel-eater. By that time they fell every giant spider and bear, she ran off without even staying long enough for the guards to thank them. She just flew along the ground, finding a strange surge of satisfaction to see these soulless being slaughtered. Perhaps if she was less focused on her task, she may have been taken aback by her own thoughts.

The twins, however, seemed to have noticed that she had a lot on her mind.

"Is it me? Or does she seem unusually aggressive now?" Alphinaud cried to his sister.

"Yeah, she does," Alisaie panted before rounding on him and demanding, "What happened? Did you two have a fight or something?"

"What?! NO! At least… not that I can remember…?" Alphinaud stuttered before he heard a loud battle cry and looked back to see that Claire had lobbed off the head of one of the eaters and left it to stagger and fall before she yelled for the wounded guard to get back and to safety. He gulped at the sight before following after.

Claire could feel her heart beating almost painfully in her chest as the twins finally caught up to her, and Alisaie was pointing on ahead to the faint shape of the Round appearing through the darkness.

"If it's this bad here, I shudder to think what it's like elsewhere," she cried and they raced ahead, worried about what could be waiting.

When they got there, they saw that there wasn't room to stand from all the fighting all around them. It was disturbing to see the blood splattered upon the ground before being washed away by the rain while the scattered bodies of both the guard and sin eaters laid scattered upon the ground. At the foot of the mostly worn-away tower she could see the forms of Y'shtola and Urianger fighting together, back to back, as sin eaters swarmed around them.

"A timely arrival, Claire," Y'shtola called even though she wasn't even looking in her direction, "I have my hands full here."

"Mine own magick as shall suffice to aid Y'shtola," Urianger cried, "I bid thee offer succor to the guard."

Claire ran passed them, drawing as many of the eaters off the guard as she possibly could before running across the fort to aid those that she could. Suddenly, the angel-like sin eater that escaped from them before, had appeared and was now drawing aether into its blade.

"The eater's aether swells," Y'shtola cried, having just caught up to them, and was now pointing to the angel, "I would hate to find out what it intends to do next. Defend me—let none interrupt my incantation."

So she did, running around Y'shtola this time as she began to gather aether into her staff, but she could see just what she was planning as Urianger called for her to draw the lesser sin eaters all together.

"Master Matoya has a few tricks up her sleeve," Y'shtola said as they all looked to her and she gave a rather playful wink, "Allow me to demonstrate."

Though Claire made sure to be the most annoying thing in their eyes as they all flocked to her, she did back off as Y'shtola brought down a meteor upon them, killing all the eaters in one swoop.

"A most impressive trick indeed..." Urianger gasped out as the eaters all laid there smoking upon the ground before dissolving.

"As if you've none of your own," she panted, and she leaned upon her staff for a moment as she caught her breath, "Let's make for the Imperative, shall we?"

Note to self: Don't anger Y'shtola. While she long since knew that, it was a good reminder once in a while.

Yet now, with the Round mostly free of eaters, they felt that it was time to move on. The remaining guard could deal with the couple stragglers as they broke away and headed to the west, heading off in the direction of the Imperative, where she dreaded how the fighting was going there if so many eaters were able to make it just to the round.

They ran, feeling herself sliding slightly through the mud, before they came across several other dead eaters laying in the road.

"Someone hath made short work of these eaters…" Urianger stated and no sooner did he say that did two figures in white race to them. She feared, just for a wild moment, that they were even more eaters, at least until she saw the smaller one waving at her.

"Claire!" Minfilia cried, right on Thancred's heels as he heaved his gunblade upon his back, looking as if they just clawed their way out of a warzone, "You'll be glad to know that the locals have all taken shelter."

She let out a sigh of relief to see them both alive as Thancred gestured for them to follow and called out, "Nevertheless, we can't allow the eaters to gain any ground. With me!"

They bolted up the hill where even more were waiting for them when they were just within sights of the Imperative. At the foot of the hill that it stood upon, another angel-like eater was finishing killing almost all the other guard that were bravely fighting against it.

"Gods damn it all, we're too late…" Thancred cursed as the ground was littered with bodies and Claire wanted to scream in rage. Thancred took control of the whole thing by shouting out, "I'll follow the eater. You press on to the imperative."

And he immediately ran off after the angel sin eater, with Minfilia crying out, "I'm staying with you!"

Normally, she would fear for the younger girl, but she trusted Thancred to keep her out of trouble, and the rest of them began to sprint for the last few yalms to the stronghold's front door.

"These eaters are too organized," Y'shtola shouted over the noise of the shrieking eaters and the cries of dying soldiers, "They cannot merely be acting on instinct."

Claire agreed wholeheartedly on that, but they would worry after helping those still in the outpost. By the time they arrived, they could see even more bodies on the ground and even more eaters descending from the skies to attack those who remained.

"It is as we feared," Alphinaud groaned, but he held his grimoire up, "But our task is as it ever was—turn the tide!"

So she race ahead to get everyone attention as the guards struggled to hold their own. The strange thing was that as soon as they saw her and the others, they seemed to come alive and fight with even more spirit than ever before. It was as if the sight of reinforcements coming was enough to help them all find their second wind and they were now pushing back as hard as they could.

"The lives of the wounded are in our hands!" Alphinaud declared as the eaters began to come to them in wave after wave… wave of fang, tooth, and claw as they thrashed about hungrily, as if they were wild creatures dying from hunger.

The guards were struggling to keep up and she knew that if she could just keep them all focused on her, then they would have a chance to survive. She played the part of a wall between them and the eaters, and she told herself that as long as she stayed alive, then everyone behind her would live. So she stood there and refused to budge as she taunted them to her.

"Have care," Urianger warned as a larger eater—yet another one of the angel-like Valkyries—appeared above their heads, "That is no ordinary eater."

Claire glared up at it as it sliced through the air with his great sword. She blocked it with her own as it shrieked out in pain as she dealt it a hard blow with her own sword. The sound of its cry suddenly drew the attention of the lesser eaters around it and actually began to form a circle around it. More so than that, they formed glowing links of aether from them and to the angel… as if borrowing their strength. And when Claire tried to slash at it again, it didn't so much as leave a crack upon the armor it wore.

"More eaters…" Y'shtola gasped, "They're protecting it, somehow. We shall need to deal with them first."

Of course… it was using these other eaters as shields… so long as even one remained then there was no hope of seeing this one fall. So she decided to draw all the eaters to herself, knowing that if sooner or later, she would find the right ones and kill them in this huge huddle of eaters. It certainly took a while, but with everyone around her lending their aid to weaken the eaters before she was able to butcher them and leave their main enemy here vulnerable again.

But once it realized it was in danger again, it held up its sword as power began to swell up within in.

"I feel a swell of aether!" Alphinaud cried, "Gather around me, quickly!"

They all gathered around Alphinaud, who managed to block the worst of the damage, but it still left its mark. Claire stood in front of him as it brought its blade swinging down and as it passed her by, she could feel it go through her armor and a sharp pain hit her side. She gritted her teeth, now screaming on the inside as she leapt up and began a vicious sword fight with it as she forced it to back away from the others.

But even as she forced the angel back, more eaters just kept flocking to it. Godsdamnit, was this never going to end?!

"And yet more still come!" Alisaie cried, before rounding on her and her brother as she ordered, "Claire buy me some time! Alphinaud—I'll need aether."

If she had a plan to get them out of this, she was more than happy to listen. And as a distant memory came back to her when least she asked for aether, she could feel herself grinning at the thought.

"Right," Alphinaud cried as he also realized where this was going, "Channel your aether into Alisaie!"

They all began to offer a little bit of aether as the eaters were beginning to rally, but Alisaie had enough.

"Forward!" Alisaie cried, "We fight for those who cannot!"

Her ethereal blade appeared in her hands and she swung killing all the servants around the angel-eater, leaving it on its own. It was almost said to realize that it didn't even seem to notice that it was standing alone against them as she brought an end to it.

She could feel the pain in her side from where the blade struck, but she forced the pain down as she turned back, realizing that there was still so many eaters in the sky… this was going to take all night.

…

Ardbert watched with his hands shaking as the guards fought and died all around him. The battle had continued on for a great deal of the night and it didn't look as if it would end anytime soon. No, this was no war… this was just a massacre. Plain and simple. If only he could just help…? Mayhaps he could help save the few who were left standing…?

"We need only hold out a little while longer."

He looked back in time to see a young-looking medic tending to another of the Crystarium guards, who was wheezing as he leaned up against a tree… looking like he was struggling just to breathe. But the medic was tending to a deep wound in the man's shoulder as he offered words of encouragement to just hold on.

"Reinforcements are coming, remember?" the medic asked, "The captain said so. We're going to be all right…"

All right? In the middle of this? Still, they may live, if he could get his friend out of there and to someplace to hide until help arrived then…?

Ardbert gasped when he noticed another eater. Unlike the others, this one was oddly beautiful, in the form of a slender woman with golden wings and her eyes wrapped as it slowly glided its way towards the two—and they hadn't noticed yet that they were in danger.

Panic gripping his heart, Ardbert turned and screamed out as loudly as he could, "Run! Run, damn you!"

But he may as well have not said anything at all for all the good it did.

"The Warrior of Darkness has returned," the medic said, trying to get his friend to stay with him, still not noticing the monster that was creeping up behind him, "The bloody night has returned! So stay with me, eh? You can't go dying now!"

These two would be dead in the next few seconds if something wasn't done. Without even thinking about it, Ardbert felt fury race through him as he reached for his axe and drew it. He had carried this bloodied axe with him for so long now that he had long since forgotten that it was constantly slung onto his back.

But he had no other reason to draw it over these last one hundred years… and so taking it in his hands once more was a completely foreign feeling yet felt so right at the same time.

Not that he had time to really pay attention to that.

"Godsdammit!" he cursed as he charged forward and began to plea to whatever god that could hear him from here, "Please let this work, please let this work…"

He reached the eater when it was nearly upon the two guards and he swung with all his might… only for his blade to go right through it like smoke. For that second… that one split second… had had believed that he could somehow force his attack to go through. Instead… he felt something within him crack and shatter apart.

He just stood there, his back to what was happening behind him. Even as he heard the medic's terrified voice, who finally realized the eater behind him, as he pleaded for help. Ardbert just heard the screams of terror and then a scream of pain that followed. He didn't look though… knew that he would never be able to handle it. Again he was powerless.

His hand clenched into a fist.

"Why did you spare me?!" he demanded before screaming out, not even sure to who he was screaming at as he wished that the ground would swallow him up into an endless void where he would no longer have to think or feel again, "WHY? WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS MERCY!?"

Mercy… this was a living hell. Why could he not just fade…?

"Forward! Forward!" another voice suddenly answered, "If you can still hold a sword, follow me! Wounded, to the rear!"

He turned around bitterly, about ready to scream at them all how bloody foolish they were… only for his voice to die when he saw a familiar form standing at the front of the guard.

An officer of the guard stood at the ready as Claire stood ahead, her blade on her back, but she was looking more than ready to continue onwards. The officer was rallying the few guard that remained standing, crying out to them, "Weapons at the ready! Let's make this count!"

He just watched on… as a conversant feeling entered his non-beating heart… one that was familiar… but not something he could remember emotion in a long, long time. In fact, it was so long that he almost forgotten the name to this strange sensation. He didn't dare think the word though, even to himself, for he feared that it would fade if he did recognize it.

'Fight and struggle,' he thought to himself, watching how the people behind her were now cheering, having found their second wind, 'Seek salvation by your own hands. Though the losses be grave, endure them. Though the victories be hollow, claim them.'

And he didn't take his eyes off her form even after she led the way forward into the next round of eaters that descended upon them.

*Claire*

The fighting went on with the sin eaters for the rest of the night and well into the morning. By the time she felt her blade slice through the last sin eater in sight... her arms were about to fall right out of their sockets and it was a struggle just to stand with her shaking limbs. It was with no small amount of relief when she sung her greatsword onto her back again and gave her aching arms a chance to rest as she began to hunt down her friends.

She was wounded and she could feel blood dripping from her side from inside her armor from where she was grazed before, and she had to hold onto her side to stanch the bleeding. She cast a quick healing spell, knowing that the repair was only temporary, but it would give her time to check on the others.

Those few of the guard who could still stand were helping those who couldn't and were now seeking treatment. It was finally safe for healers and medics to rush to the wounded men and women to finally treat them. There were a lot of wounded... thankfully, more of them wounded than dead... but there were still plenty who did not make it.

Claire glanced around, finding a sense of relief when she saw Alisaie, leaning up against the aetheryte crystal as she struggled to stand, a smear of blood on her cheek when Claire caught up to her.

"It seems we've driven them back—for the time being, at least," Alisaie croaked, stumbling over to give her a quick hug when she saw her still standing, "The wounded have been collected and are undergoing treatment now. Once they're ready to be moved, we'll have them carried back to the Crystarium." She then lowered her head and mumbled, "The dead as well, of course. Those whose bodies remain anyway…"

Those who managed to avoid becoming sin eaters at any rate.

Claire's eyes looked on sadly as she nodded in understanding and looked around them as Alisaie watched her expression. "The others are helping to treat the wounded," Alisaie reassured her, and Claire was glad to hear that the others were all still alive and in one piece, "I'm planning to assist in moving them, but even so, we simply don't' have enough hands. I'm sure you're fit to fall over after what we've been through—gods know I am—but if you could see to a few of the patients, it would be an enormous help. Captain Lyna is about somewhere, so you might also consider asking her if there are any other outstanding areas of need. We'll talk later."

She watched Alisaie limp away before she went around to the people who she could still help... for some... it was already too late. She just stayed by them as they drew their last breath... seemingly relieved to know that they weren't dying alone. Others were traumatized by the fighting and were left shaking and crying... mourning their friends in a shattered pile of grief... it was painful to see them like this and be unsure of how to help them.

They rain had finally stopped at this point, but the sky was still grey and gloomy… reflecting her mood perfectly to how she felt both inside and out.

Once she had helped to heal as many of the wounded that she could, and she noticed how many of them marveled at how quickly her healing spells did take effect even though she did warn them that it was best to seek out the rest of the medics to take care of them afterwards since her repairs were only temporary since she used up most of her magicks in the fight before.

Once she did all she could, she was completely spent and wanted to just collapse. Her breaths came out as labored and painful as she even wondered if she could be given a few minutes to rest, when she spotted Captain Lyna a short distance away, sitting on the ground next to a flight of stairs.

It was so unlike her to be sitting down with her head low like that, that Claire feared that something was terribly wrong and she went over to see what was going on.

When she approached, Lyna slowly raised her head to see who it was.

"Oh," she said, "I did not see you there. Is there something you need?"

"No, no, I'm fine," Claire reassured her, a little taken aback by her sudden quiet tone, "How are you feeling?"

"Injuries are part of and parcel of battle," she answered stiffly, as if her concern wasn't necessary, "While there's breath in my lungs, I shall see my duties done."

She then stood back as Lyna managed to climb to her feet.

"Don't pretend you are not of the same mind," she told her tiredly, but with a slight hint of shrewdness in her tone, "You fought well today. Saved a great many lives. Thank you. Unfortunately, this war is far from over. We must replenish our ranks and shore up our defenses before they attack again. Now, if you will excuse me."

She gave her a salute before she walked pass her without another word. For a moment, Claire believed her words that she wasn't badly injured and believed that she best return to her wounded soldiers to reassure herself that they were well...? But that thought quickly left her when she turned around to see that Lyna only managed to take a few steps when she suddenly gripped her leg and stumbled, falling to the ground with a loud 'thunk'.

Frightened, Claire immediately ran to her side, getting a good look at her wounded leg, and she could see the blood that was seeping through the gap. She quickly removed the piece of the greaves to get a good look at the injury, seeing it was angry red with a deep gash that stretched from her thigh down to her knee. When Claire removed her hand from the gash, her entire palm was painted red... Lyna shouldn't even be walking in this state!

Lyna didn't even look at her as Claire asked if she was alright.

"I…am fine…" she hissed before her hand curled into a fist and she began to punch the ground underneath her, "Completely… and utterly… fine!" She had punched the ground with every punch, but then it was as if someone had opened the floodgates and before anyone knew what was happening, she had lost control and was crying out, "Better than fine! Hale and hearty and still alive to mourn those who are not. Who I failed to protect when they needed me most."

Claire reached out a hand to try and squeeze out any remaining energies she still had for healing to at least stop the bleeding, but every word that Lyna was crying out felt as if she was being punched in the chest.

"We've come so far—so godsdamned far! I could have sworn the end was in sight. And now…" Her voice caught in her throat before whimpering, "Now they will never see it…"

Claire didn't know what to say... she could only watch as Lyna tried to prevent the tears from falling, but they were threatening to spill out at any moment.

Lyna was on the edge of dissolving into a weeping mess when a voice suddenly called out to them.

"IMPUDENT WORMS OF THE CRYSTARIUM!"

Her head jerked up in time to see three airships that were passing overhead, each one bearing the colors of Eulmore, and suddenly she heard Vauthry's voice echoing out from them. Weather he was on board or this was just a recording, she didn't care, she just felt disgust at the sound of his voice-knowing that nothing he said could be good. And sure enough...?

"THE TRAGEDY THAT HAS BEFALLEN YOU IS OF YOUR OWN MAKING. DIVINE RETRIBUTION FOR YOUR DEFIANCE. THE HEAVENS HAVE BEQUEATHED TO YOU A BENEVOLENT SAIVOR—ME!"

She couldn't tell which was bigger at this point; his girth or his ego.

"I OFFER YOU FREEDOM FROM PAIN AND SUFFERING—A PARADISE WHERE MAN AND SIN EATER MIGHT LIVE IN PEACE AND HARMONY..."

Harmony? With those things? How can one want to live in peace with one of those empty... things? Nothing good can come from them. This attack was proof of that.

"WHY, ALREADY OUR WINGED BROTHERS AND SISTERS REGARD ME AND MINE AS KIN, ALIKE TO THEM IN BEAUTY AND PURITY!" Vauthry's voice cried, "BUT YOU—YOU NOT ONLY REJECT MY PROFFERED HAND, BUT RAISE YOUR OWN AGAINST MY SIN EATERS. 'TIS ONLY RIGHT THAT THEY RESPOND IN KIND. LET THIS BE A LESSON TO ALL THOSE WHO WOULD WALK THE PAT OF SIN—THE WICKED SHALL NOT INHERIT THIS WORLD!"

Well, she didn't know if Vauthry was just trying to make himself sound better about this whole thing, or if he genuine believes himself as some kind of 'perfect' being, either way she found it very convenient it was that they came just after the battle.

She wasn't fooled. He was responsible for this. She didn't know how... or maybe even understand the full reason why... but he somehow did all of this.

She was biting her tongue the whole while as she finished helping Lyna with her damaged leg... informing her that she would need a few potions for the pain and a few days or rest, but she should make a full recovery.

She wasn't sure if Lyna even heard her though for she was still staring up at the sky looking lost in thought.

"Vauthry's ship is already gone," she said, "How flattering that he came all this way just to give his little speech." If nothing else, it seemed that his words angered her as much as it did Claire. After she felt satisfied with how she fixed up the injury, she reassured Lyna that it should be just fine... which finally caused her to look at her... before immediately looking away as if embarrassed.

"I apologize for my earlier outburst," she mumbled, "Rest assured that I have no intentions of allowing any of my wounds to affect the performance of my duties—especially not now."

Claire tried to reassure her that she didn't think less of her for her outburst... gods know how many times she wanted to do that, but Lyna instead asked, "If I may—could I ask that you seek out Thancred and Minfilia for me? They endangered themselves on my behalf, and I would feel better knowing that they are well looked after. Thancred, in particular, sustained quite an injury from that sin eater. I would not be surprised if he were in Spagyrics still."

She looked up, startled at that. She had wondered where they were, having not seen them since they separated the night before. But at least she knew they were alive. She nodded, and said that she would go and check on them right now, but only if Lyna promised to rest until her wounds fully recovered. Lyna did say she would, but Claire would be very surprised if she kept to it.

People like her couldn't stand to be stuck lying in bed when they had things that needed doing.

"Please… give them my thanks," as all she said as she helped Lyna to stand, which Claire then asked if she could inform the other Scions where she went if they asked for her.

She teleported back, feeling like she was about to drop where she stood and knew that another long walk was out of the question right now. She swayed slightly where she stood, having to hold onto the banister of the nearby railing to steady herself before she took a few deep breaths and headed off to the direction of Spagyrics, hoping that it wasn't too bad.

When she stepped inside, she was glad to find that Thancred was sitting on the bed, sporting a spectacular blackened eye.

He seemed surprised to see her and when she told him why she was here, he rolled his eyes-at least his one good one since the other was swollen shut at the moment-as he said,, "You're here for me? I'm sorry to put you to the trouble—I'm fine. Really. The eater landed an unfortunately solid blow, but the healers here have done wonders. I'm more worried about Minfilia. She's not taken it well."

"Why?" Claire asked, "Is she alright?"

He just shrugged a little put out.

"Could I ask you to speak with her?" he asked, "My attempts to reach out seem to have had the opposite effect. She's gone off to the Hortorium, ostensibly to fetch herbs for Chessamile, but… just talk to her, will you?"

It didn't sound like he was giving her a choice, but she agreed and headed out even though she was thinking longingly of her bed back in her room and sleeping in for the next week.

Her feet had wandered the streets so often that she was now fairly confident where she was going and let her feet carry her where she needed to go as her mind wandered. Images from the battle continued to play themselves over and over in her mind and try as she might she could not erase them from her thoughts.

She knew that once the adrenaline fully wore off, she would be having nightmares for a while.

But it seemed that she wasn't the only one whose mind was somewhere else right now.

She sighed wearily before descending the long stairs to find Minfilia. She eventually found the girl standing on the deck just looking out at the water below her; so distracted that she didn't even hear Claire approach. Minfilia didn't even look up when Claire was standing right next to her, and Claire had to give her a gentle poke to get her attention. Minfilia squeaked in shock and almost ended up tumbling in the water until Claire reached out to grab her arm and pulled her back before she fell in.

"Oh, Claire," she gasped, realizing who it was, "What are you doing here?"

"Thancred asked me to check up on you," she answered once the girl was steadied. But her explanation didn't seem to cheer the girl up. On the contrary, she seemed to grow more depressed when she heard Thancred's name.

"Thancred…" she sighed before confessing miserably, "It's my fault, you know. I jumped at the chance to help Lyna, but I was careless. And now…" she sniffled, "It's my fault."

She knew well enough to know that telling her that it wasn't her fault wasn't going to work and instead found something else that would hopefully take some of the guilt she felt away.

"You can make up for it," Claire told her gently, "By being there for him."

At the suggestion, Minfilia looked up hopefully as she asked nervously, "I… are you sure? I've brought him nothing but trouble thus far."

Who in the world told her that? If it had been Thancred she was going to march up there and give him another black eye. But Minfilia didn't notice her sudden irritation as she went on, as if just aching to get whatever was troubling off her mind.

"And what if it's worse, next time?" she asked worriedly, "All I do is make mistakes, put others in danger… I'm sure that he'll resent me. For being this weak. Maybe he already does."

She was a child. She shouldn't be worried about things like this. No one blamed her for this. She shouldn't be so hard on herself.

She just raised her eyebrows at the younger girl, who seemed to realize that she was ranting now, and cleared her throat as she remembered where they were.

"But you're right," she sighed, letting the matter go for now, "I can still help—if only by seeing these herbs safely to Chessamile."

Claire nodded encouragingly, and even helped her to gather the herbs from around the Hortorium to take back with them. Minfilia had gone on ahead of her and when Claire arrived, she found Minfilia dabbing at Thancred's face with a cloth that had the strong smell of herbs attached to it.

"I see you got roped into helping," he said, with a rather fond kind of amusement in his face as he glanced at her, "Some things never change, eh?"

She could not help but laugh at that, finding that whole thing to be fun all on its own before giving a shrug. She tried to work on that, but it was such an ingrained habit that she couldn't seem to help herself.

She just handed over the rest of the herbs that Chessamile needed, who thanked her for this small act of kindness. They were running dangerously low on their medicines and were struggling to keep up with the wounded that had been brought in.

"And we're still fighting it, I suppose," the older woman promised, "though with bitter medicine rather than sharp steel. But we'll win—I promise you that."

Claire noticed how she was now giving her a critical look and Claire knew that she must be looking far from pretty right now. She was bracing herself for Chessamile to start asking her if she was feeling well when Thancred and Minfilia approached.

Thancred seemed to be looking better... at least half of his face wasn't swollen now-but he seemed to be doing his best to keep a cheerful attitude when he came to talk.

"It seems that I owe you an apology for dragging you to yet another battlefield when you've just come off the front lines!" he told her. "In both cases, I'm sure your efforts said more than a few. With Spagyrics in good working order, the Crystarium's people will be well cared for."

She nodded back before asking if it was alright for him to be up so soon and he just waved his hand at her.

"More lie ahead, of course—battles only you can fight," was his only answer, "Not that we intend to let you do it alone. But that's a matter to discuss with the Exarch."

Ah, right... she wondered. They still had to deliver the bad news to him, didn't they? She wasn't looking forward to that. Privately she felt like she rather go out and face another primal threat then have to confess to the Exarch all that happened last night.

"You know the Exarch?"

They both looked up to see one of the guards standing there. A young Hum man, who was limping over and his pale face could still be seen even though it was coated in a fair layer of mud.

"We do," Thancred said, "Was there something you needed?"

"I need you to tell him something," he said, "For me." He looked down, and she felt true sadness at the way he was staring at his feet, his hands hanging limply at his sides... how many times had seen that?

"My dearest friend, you see… He was there on the battlefield with me," he croaked out, his voice thick with grief, "But only the one of us is here to speak of it. At the end, before the wound killed him, I heard his dying words. 'I never knew that our world was this beautiful,' he told me. 'I'm so glad that I got to see the night sky…'"

An odd chill went up her spine and Claire's heart clenched at that.

It was hard to tell... with that awful light bleaching everything it touched... but this world certainly was beautiful in its own way once one could see past all the light. She remembered how beautiful the sky looked to her after seeing it only days after arriving. How she felt must be nothing compared to how the people of this world felt. It was sad that no one seemed to see the beauty that still clung to life despite all that happened.

"I don't know how the Exarch feels about what happened out there," the man said, but now with an edge of determination in his voice with is grief, "I don't know if what Vauthry said is true—if our losses were our just deserts, and we doom ourselves to worse by continuing to fight this fight. But I believe in the Warrior of Darkness. In the Crystal Exarch. I don't think what they've done is wrong, and I don't think we're wrong to fight with them either."

In that moment, she felt nothing but true gratitude for this man for his kind words.

He looked downwards again, and he seemed to be losing his nerve with every word he spoke.

It took a couple minutes for him to find his voice as he merely choked out, "My f-friend... he smiled in the end. Just as he smiled when he raised his glass to celebrate the return of the night. That's how I want to remember him. So I… I want to tell the Exarch. Don't give up. Don't give in. Please."

None of them answered, all fairly struck by what his heartfelt words.

"We'll tell him," Thancred promised kindly, "You have my word."

The guard just nodded as he turned around and left, wiping his eyes, and stuttering for air as he was letting his emotions out once he had the chance to say what he wanted to.

She wanted to follow after him and reassure him somehow... but Minfilia was sniffling slightly, truly touched by those words and Thancred sighed.

He rubbed Minfilia's back in an oddly gentle way before he looked back to her.

"If you're ready, why not go on ahead to the Ocular?" he suggested, "You can keep the Exarch company while I fetch Alphinaud. Don't worry, I mean to borrow the swiftest amaro I can find, so we shouldn't keep you long."

*Exarch*

He knew what it meant the moment he made his choice.

He always knew that he would remain long after everyone else. He had seen countless people enter and leave his city while he was left behind to continue on as best as he knew how.

Yet it never seemed to get any easier.

This was far from the first attack on the Crystarium from sin eaters. Most definitely when the city was only beginning to grow in those first few years there were no shortage of eaters that would attack... but they were usually dealt with quickly enough. And once the city grew to a point that their defenses could block out all but the eaters on the level of a Lightwarden; the only attacks they had to fear were the ones from stray eaters who wandered too close to the front gates and were brought down by guards.

But certainly it was the first in his memory that a full army came to attack. He had seen the battle from his mirror as he concentrated on ensuring that the power from the tower flowed into the barrier to keep the city safe... but he had still seen enough to know how many died.

It was painful though for he could remember each and every single one of them... having lived long enough to have seen them born and grow... to him... they were as dear to him as his own children. And now he would soon be forced to bury them.

He stood there, as if in a daze, and just wondered…?

Minutes, or mayhaps hours, passed during that time and he heard the door opening as he turned to see who it was.

Claire entered, looking worn and tired, but he still forced a smile when he saw her in one piece.

"Welcome, my friend," he said graciously, "Tales of your heroism on the battlefield precede you—though I confess I found them more gladdening than surprising."

He saw the dark shadows under her eyes, and he wished that she would take the time to take better care of herself.

"I hear no few of our people have you to thank for plucking them from the jaws of death," he said, trying his best to keep up an air of optimism despite feeling as if his heart was filled with cracks-so he was unable to stop himself from adding, "Would that they had no needed saving to begin with. But the responsibility for that lies with me."

She looked surprised by that and asked, "Why would you say that? You are not to blame for this."

"I am the leader of this city, as such it is my job to protect...?" he began but she was interrupting him.

"No one believes that," she countered, "You have no control over the sin eaters. And besides...?"

She paused before telling him of the guard she spoke to shortly before arriving and he was taken aback by the sincerity in both her voice and the soldier's words.

"…One of our soldiers said that?" he asked in a stunned voice,

It hurt... it will always hurt... but to know that he had the full support of the people of the Crystarium... some of the terrible grief inside him lessened. Though he knew that he will secretly always blame himself for the lives that were lost here today, but it did give him the strength that he desperately needed to continue on with is mission.

"Thank you," he said to her, "Rest assured that I full intend to continue our work. I will not shrink from what must be done. Now least of all. Though I mourn the lost, I will not lose myself to grief. And even should regret be my constant companion, I will follow the path I have chosen to its end."

She tilted her head slightly as she gazed at him with a strange look in her eyes.

"We have some time before the others arrive, if you'd like to talk?" she offered gently.

And he understood immediately what she was trying to say.

"And if I were to confess any doubts I might harbor, no one need ever know?" he asked, and he was so tempted to speak his mind-to let someone know just how much pain he was in… how bitter and angry he felt. He opened his mouth, ready to speak... but paused just as the words were leaving his throat. No… now wasn't the time,

So with a great effort, he shook his head and gave another forced smile.

"No, I believe you have enough burdens without my adding to them," he told her softly, "Nevertheless… Thank you."

He smiled at her as she gazed at him with a faraway look.

"Is something the matter?" he asked.

"No... I just..." she paused here and he waited as she tried to figure out what to say.

"Have we... met before...?" she asked.

His entire insides felt as if they turned to ice. Why would she ask that now?

"Of course, my friend," he said, hoping that this was a joke, but was wise enough to know that there was no other reason she would ask him something like that. Right now his only defense was to play dumb and hope that she either bought it or he could miraculously come up with something to distract them. "We've met several times before today and...?"

"Don't tease me," she said, "I mean it."

She took a step forward and he had to resist the urge to step back, his old worries of her being able to see under his cowl rising up as she told him, "I don't know why it is... but whenever I listen to you talk, it all feels so... familiar...?"

His heart was now beating so hard and fast in his chest that it felt like it was trying to escape... he could hear it in his ears and he was startled that she couldn't hear it either.

Had she figured it out? Did she know... or at least, suspect... who he truly was?

He could feel sweat on his brow beginning to form and panic seeping in. He swallowed, having a particularly difficult time trying to do so, and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

She shook her head, running her fingers through her hair in a weary way.

"I do not know," she confessed softly, "I just feel... that I've seen you somewhere before… before ever coming to this world. Maybe we have met somewhere, but I just can't remember."

He gulped at that, his hand curling up to stop it from shaking.

"I just... I can't help but feel that I know you from somewhere...?" she began before she heaved a sigh and looked to the ground. She looked so dejected at that moment that it was all that he could do to stop himself from caving in and confessing the entire truth here and now.

He bit his tongue, reminding himself that now was not the time. She couldn't know yet. But soon enough…? Soon enough she would realize the full truth. She was on the track to figuring out who he was, but she couldn't hope to realize just the shear magnitude of what was going on here.

After taking a deep breath and forcing a painful smile on his face, he said, "I am sorry that you feel confused about this. But rest assure, that I see you as a friend and that it is my hope that you see myself as one as well. I promise that we can look more into this once this is over. But for now, let us focus on ending this eternal day from Norvrandt. And then… we will see what comes next."

He did not miss the slight irritation in her face when he all but brushed off her thoughts like that. He hated himself for doing it, but he knew that he was dangerously close to ruining all that he worked for by letting his affections take over. He had to play this part… at least, for a little while longer.

"Apologies... I really wish I could answer all of your questions," he whispered, "But… the truth is I wouldn't know how to. I am far more selfish than you could ever be, so please… allow me this one thing. For now."

She gazed at him, and he felt like she was seeing right through him. He didn't dare move until she looked away and nodded.

He sighed in relief just as the door opened up once again and the others arrived. He turned his attention to them as the remaining Scions began to file into the room. They informed him of the situation outside, of what was happening in Lakeland, that those who were still injured were being cared for, and the dead were being prepared to be put to rest.

It was painful to hear, but he nodded gratefully to their words of comfort and sympathy. When they finished, he felt that it was safe to discuss their plans further. But first, he wished to thank them for all that they had done.

"My friends," the Exarch cleared his throat, "With your aid we have weathered a brutal assault…"

He was going to say more about the suspicious nature of the attack, and even see if they could brainstorm ideas... when the door opened up and Emet-Selch appeared. He slumped inside, with his usual air of boredom, as if he had better things to be doing with his time than stay here.

"Sorry I'm late," Emet-Selch sighed, "Though I would not have been had anyone thought to notify me in advance."

He certainly wasn't making friends today. Given that everyone else here was still tired and clearly drained, the last thing that any of them seemed to want to hear was him complaining. Hoping that they could avoid a fight, he cleared his throat again.

"As I was saying, it was only with your aid that we weathered this assault," the Exarch stated to them all, gazing around at them, "Without it, the Crystarium and all who dwell here would now be gone."

"For each we saved, another perished," Alphinaud said, his face strained from the effort of the battle. "If there is anything else we can do to help—anything at all—you need only ask. This is our home too, and we want nothing more than to keep it safe."

To hear that they now consider this to be their 'home'... after everything... it meant more to him than he could ever say. He smiled at the young man, feeling a strange warmth in his chest that eased some of the pain there.

"Thank you. We are blessed to have you with us," was all he could say. He took a deep breath before he went back to the matter at hand and added, "As for the attack itself—Vauthry may call it divine retribution, but sin eaters are creatures of instinct. A coordinated assault is unprecedented. Moreover, in the absence of a Lightwarden, there should have been no compulsion for lesser sin eaters to congregate here en masse. All of which points to a single, unavoidable conclusion…"

It would have been one thing if the Lightwarden of Lakeland was still here. They could have turned it to thoughts that the warden was starved for aether and went out looking for it. But those sin eaters weren't just blindly attacking... rather they were the pawns being played out of a board and someone was directing them. Of this, there was no doubt in his mind.

And he was glad to see that the others understood what he was saying right away.

"That these minions of light answer to a higher power," Urianger spoke up before his eyes narrowed and he finished, "He who did claim kinship with them—who did boast of control, not in idleness, 'twould seem, but in earnest. Lord Vauthry."

"Indeed," the Exarch answered grimly, "What I mistook for bluster was in fact the truth. The sin eaters are his to command. But if he imagines this show of force will convince us to bend the knee, he is sorely mistaken."

No, if anything this just made the fires of anger burn even hotter. Vauthry may believe that he's untouchable... but they would show him how mistaken he is.

To do that, however, would require them to finish what they set out to do and that's to kill every Lightwarden. With only two left, their only options are Kholusia and Amh Araeng.

Alisaie then asked him, "I take it your meeting in Eulmore did not end well?"

"You could say that, yes," he answered lightly, remembering the shock of power that emanated from Vauthry in the mere seconds before his copy was destroyed, "But I am wiser for the experience, nevertheless. It appears he has mastered a technique which allows him to enslave the minds of others. A facet I discovered when he attempted to use it on me."

"That would go some way towards explaining the peculiar reverence afforded him by his subjects," Alphinaud spoke up in understanding, "There may feasibly be a handful of true believers among them, I suppose, but it would not surprise me if the vast majority were in his thrall."

Yes, and he feared that they may have to deal with that problem sooner or later. He wasn't sure the kind of 'damage' that his subjects had suffered through, he feared what it could mean for the people later on, but they would cross that bridge when they got there.

"Had I not anticipated his treachery, I might well have joined them," he sighed, very grateful for his tricks, "But seeing his invitation for what it was, I sent a glamour in my stead. I rather doubt such tricks will avail me a second time, however."

Alisaie turned to Alphinaud and asked if he had any luck in tracking down the warden in Kholusia during that time; which Alphinaud sadly shook his head-not having found a clue to where to begin looking.

"Sadly, I have nothing to report on that front," he answered, "What of Amh Araeng?"

"After a fruitless few days scouring ruins, I resorted to asking the locals," she admitted with a sour tone, "While no one I spoke to had any sign of the Warden, I did uncover a possible lead: an abandoned mine in western Amh Araeng. From what the Mord told me, it would be a perfect place to stay out of sight. Of course, I could never hope to explore such a labyrinth quickly or safely on my own, so I returned here."

It did sound like their most plausible solution... but he knew that they couldn't waste time searching that mine without a promise that their quarry was even there.

"Even should we all join in the endeavor, an exhaustive search could take weeks—and with no guarantee of finding anything," Y'shtola spoke up, pointing the very problem he was just thinking of.

They all fell silent as they wondered what their next plan should be. In all honesty, out of the two remaining locations, he felt that Amh Araeng would be the safer option... since heading to Kholusia would put them right in Vauthry's sights.

But again, the idea that they could be forced to spend weeks in one location wasn't wise either. Not only could they not be certain to even find the Lightwarden in the mines, but if they were forced to spend a prolonged period of time in Amh Araeng, then that only increased the chances of Vauthry's forces finding them.

"The Wardens harbor vast reservoirs of primordial Light, do they not?" Minfilia asked hesitantly, "Far beyond anything found in lesser sin eaters. And isn't it true that the Oracle could see the Light of a sin eater from malms away? Surely a Warden would seem like a blazing beacon by comparison?"

They looked to her, wondering what she meant when she finished, "To the real Oracle of Light, I mean. The real Minfilia."

They all were taken aback by her words. But she looked directly to Thancred, who was pointedly looking away.

"If we traveled to Amh Araeng, to the south where she halted the Flood, I could summon her back," she told him, "What do you think?"

He finally looked up and answered simply, "…Don't."

"Don't what?" the girl demanded as she took a step forward and her voice rising, "Do what I can? What we both know is right?!"

"Do not presume to know my mind," he snapped back, "You have no idea what you're proposing."

The Exarch felt that he was watching something very private, but could not bring himself to try and break it up as Minfilia continued yelling.

"But I do!" she gasped out, "I know why you never said anything. Because you thought you could keep me safe by keeping me in the dark. And… maybe I thought so too. But I knew, Thancred. I always knew."

Silence… no one dared to say a word. Until…?

"Oh, I see…"

Emet-Selch had spoken and was now looking at Minfilia with a great deal amount of interest as he said, "I thought you were a rather underwhelming reincarnation, but it all makes sense now. The Oracle leis dormant within you, doesn't she? But to draw on her true power, you must become one, both body and soul. To wit, one being must consume the other. Who shall be the lucky winner?"

So that was the cause of the tension in the air. If he was right… then that meant that before this was over… then the Minfilia of the Source and the Minfilia of the First…? One would be forever lost. He stared at the young girl, not really certain where to go from here. But it seemed that Thancred was not in the mood to listen.

"This doesn't concern you, Ascian," Thancred barked angrily.

"But it plainly concerns you," Emet-Selch reasoned, "Which is why your heart is ready to burst out of your chest. Despite the raging tempest in your bosom, however, you have never once opened up to your young charge. Now why would that be?"

Thancred just looked away from him, glaring at the floor and the Exarch saw how his hands were clenching tightly.

"Love…?"

The word was spoken so softly that the Exarch wasn't sure he heard him say anything at all. But Emet-Selch was giving Thancred much more attention than he had before. When he noticed that they were all looking at him, he said in a much more optimistic voice, "Well, I for one think it's a marvelous idea. Certainly more promising than any of your other suggestions."

He hated having to agree with an Ascian… but then again, what other choice was there? They managed to get along until now, but without the powers of the Oracle, he could not see how they could hope to find the remaining Wardens in time to prevent the Eight Umbral Calamity from coming.

And it seemed that Thancred realized this as well. He just glared down at the girl, whose surge of anger seemed to fade and she was just standing there with her eyes closed in a resigned kind of way.

"I'll meet you at the gates," Thancred ordered coldly before leaving, his coat sweeping the floor as he headed to the door and left them there.

Though no one said a word, the Exarch felt that they were all silently thinking the same thing.

To sacrifice a new friend to return an old…? However this story ended… one thing was certain. It was sure to break Thancred's heart.

*Garlemald*

The snow was falling in a light flurry across a nation made of iron and steel. Streetlights were set up upon every street corner as well as the slight thumbing of footsteps upon a metal walkway that sounded off every few yalms or so.

It was very cold that night, and it gave the rather dreary-grim city a slightly sad look, and the entire landscape with identical metal rooftops humming through some kind of magitek machinery going on inside to keep the inhabitants warm through the night. Aside from the occasional soldier or guard walking around, patrolling the streets for any signs of trouble, it felt almost as if the city itself was either sleeping… or was holding its breath for what was to come.

Through the shadows of an alleyway, a man with a rather worn face appeared. He came so silently and suddenly that if one were watching the corner where he appeared it would be as if he just popped out of thin air.

He was carrying around a few layers of dirt caked on and torn clothes that had seen better days—yet he walked through the streets as if he knew them like the back of his hand—before approaching a young elezen man leaning up against a light post.

"What did the scouts have to report?" Estinien asked him casually.

"Several skirmishes, but nothing of consequence," Gaius answered with a grim frown, "The fighting seems to have taken its toll on both sides."

"A stalemate, then. The Alliance has done well to hold the line for so long," Estinien said thoughtfully, before adding rather smugly, "But then they did have Ishgardian reinforcements."

"Nevertheless, neither side has any appetite for a prolonged engagement," Gaius countered with a serious tone, "Tis but the calm before the storm. And should the Empire choose to bring their full might to bear…"

Any smugness faded as Estinien added in a soft tone, "To say nothing of Black Rose."

This was a problem for both sides… knowing that only devastation could only come should they allow the Black Rose to continue on. They have been lucky enough to uncover several places stationed around Ilsabard where they were either creating or storing the Black Rose, before finding a way to safely destroyed it.

As far as they were all aware of, however, there was still at least one location left that needed to be taken care of if they hoped to rid the world of the threat of the Black Rose once and for all. Most of the materials that were needed to create the poison, as well as instructions on how to create it, were destroyed by their hands after infiltrating the castrums where it was being stored.

If they could find the last batch that was being stored here in the Capital then they were fairly confident that the worst of the threat would be behind them. The trouble they were facing right now was trying to figure out where it was exactly. As of this moment, they were theorizing that it could be somewhere within the palace itself, with the Emperor, as well as the one who wore Zenos's skin, currently living inside. But the palace was huge and well-guarded, so neither of them were much entertaining the thought of breaking in and risking running into a small army when they weren't completely certain that was where the Black Rose was.

Of course, the further they investigated, the more that they were slowly coming to the conclusion that it was not only very likely that the Black Rose was in there—it was the main operations to where the Black Rose was currently being made.

"All the more reason to hasten our search," Estinien sighed, "How close are your people to identifying our next target?"

"Close enough," Gaius stated, knowing that it was wise to ensure that there were no other locations where the Black Rose could possibly be before attempting to sneak into the palace. But there was another troubling thought that was playing along the edges of his mind and he thought it fair to share with Estinien, "Though I have received some troubling intelligence. One of our generals posted to the Ala Mhigan front recently disappeared without trace from the battlefield at the Ghimlyt Dark."

"Odd," Estinien said with a frown, "Dead seems unlikely, fled less so. I wonder where he'll turn up…"

Gaius gazed up at the palace in the distance, wondering if a part of him was not simply paranoid of the very idea of the Ascians controlling someone else's body that was causing him to think this way. But no matter how many times he tried to reason with himself, it always came back to the idea of an Ascian being involved.

But for the life of him, he could not see what would be the point. The idea of controlling the crown prince made sense… it was a position of power and influence and certainly Elidibus would have little trouble doing whatever he wanted in his position right now. But who else could be here and why take command over one of the lower level generals? It didn't add up.

"Were I a betting man, I would say here—in the capital," Gaius said. "Not that any deserter who valued his life would contemplate returning. But a corpse might, given the right encouragement."

"In the manner of His Royal Remains, you mean?" Estinien questioned, already guessing what he was trying to say.

"Elidibus plainly has no need of a new host, so the question becomes, who?" Gaius said, "It may be that another player has joined the game. Something to consider, at any rate. But come, there is work to be done."

They would worry about it later. They had a meeting with one of his scouts in a few minutes and he was hopeful that this information would help speed up the decision of their next course of action. They were so busy focused on what was coming next that they didn't notice the man who was watching them from the shadows of a nearby building. As soon as they left though, he took a few steps forward so that he stood just within the faint glow of the street light that cast darker shadows upon the mask-like helm.

He watched on until they were out of sight before he heaved a sigh, running a hand over the hilt of the katana that was at his side.

"These bloodless games make for poor sport," he said, his voice slightly muffled due to the helm. "Mayhap if Father…" but then he realized what he was saying and gazed down at his hand and corrected himself, "Nay, I am a stranger to him in this body."

Even if he were to appear before his father, there was no possible way that they would recognize him. Well, that certainly hasn't concerned him before now, and it still really didn't at this point. But still, he was growing tired of waiting around for something interesting to happen.

"Besides, there is but one hand that can make me whole again," he added, as his mind drifted back to his fond memories, "My enemy… my friend…"

And there they were again… those eyes… that woman's eyes that haunted his every waking moment. It was more than a passing daydream… it had become his complete obsession at this point. A part of him yearns to be able to forget it even just for a short time but it will not go away no matter how many times he tried… he kept seeing her face.

His enemy… his one and only friend… the one and only person he truly needed in this world. He was all but certain that she would appear by now, leading the charge against Garlemald and fight for those pathetic worms before battling against the cowards who preferred to kill from a distance.

He had learned of this Black Rose poison, heard it whispering in the shadows and he would lend an ear to it from time to time. The idea that they were planning to use it against the 'beast of the Alliance' angered him. The idea that they would target his prey, that they would dare to snuff out that image of battle perfection in his mind, was unforgivable.

No. He would not allow that to happen.

She belonged to him and no one else.

And before this was all over, he would battle with her again and this time… this next time… he would make it a battle of which that would make their last seem like a child's game in comparison.

Oh, just thinking about it was enough to send a wave of pleasure through his very soul and he hummed in contentment at the thought. Now, if only she would hurry and arrive in these lands…? Whatever was keeping her away must be important enough for her not to be appearing upon the fields of battle however and he was becoming impatient.

"I know not what entertainment occupies you, but if you will not clear the way for me, then I shall seize the reins of fate once more," he decided. Surely if she learned that he had returned—completely this time and not some pale imitation walking around in his body—that would be enough get her attention.

So, he would go through with his previous plan and retake his body and give her a reason to want to come here after him. So, he slowly began to walk forward, heading straight to the palace and see what he can learn of this 'poison' which Gaius was so concerned with.

Either way, he saw no need for it… only cowards would try to use poison to kill weakened warriors. He would destroy it, just to be on the safe side… after all, he reasoned with himself, there was no need to go out and fight when she would come to him. And she would come to him… of that he was certain about.

The threads of fate tied them together and he knew that they were destined to clash once more. More than anything though, he needed to see her again.

He knew that he would never rest until he saw those eyes once more.