Saito went up the steps, stopping before the cabin doorway. Joseph was inside chanting an incantation. Using the distraction, he turned inwards, took aim, and fired the handgun. Joseph yelled out in pain, clutching his hand. He had dropped his wand and the hand that once held it now had a hole shot through and was gushing out blood. Joseph turned to angrily regard his attacker, "Gandálfr. Did you come to kill me?"

The boy aimed his gun at the king. "It ends here, Joseph," he said firmly. "No more casting, no more explosions. Your attack on this city and my friends is over!" Joseph's eyes narrowed, "There's so much righteous fury in your eyes, it's almost blinding. Believe it or not, I was like you once. I suppose there's no going back now..." He dove down and grabbed his wand in his left hand. Saito shot at Joseph's head but the man vanished. "What the-!?"

Suddenly, he was standing next to Saito, a cloth now wrapped around his injured hand. "I must admit, that's the first time an enemy has drawn my blood. But now that I know how your weapon works, it's useless against me." Saito swung Derf, but Joseph vanished again, reappearing a short distance away. "This is the Void Magic which was bestowed upon me," he explained, dodging another attack. "It's called Acceleration. I asked myself, for what purpose did God grant me this spell? It's as if I'm being told to hurry."

Saito shot twice at Joseph, missing again. "You being here is keeping me from the task at hand," he brought out a knife in his left hand. "Partner, if he gets you with that, you're done for," Derf warned. Saito knew with the speed his enemy had, he could be cut to shreds in an instant. Thinking quickly, he dropped the gun and closed his eyes. This act surprised Joseph, as well as his sword. "Partner?"

"Y'know on my world, we have this expression called 'The Mind's Eye'," Saito said, gripping Derf with one hand in a fencer's position. "That's how I'm gonna track you, Joseph!" The king smiled, "Is that so? Feel free to try it then!" Saito waited as Joseph sped around the cabin at blinding speed. Suddenly, he felt a pain in his side as the enemy's knife slipped into his body. "So this is the great 'Mind's Eye'?" Joseph scoffed. Saito, through his pained expression, grinned. "Gotcha." He took his knife hidden under the cloak and stabbed it over, into Joseph's shoulder.

He roared in pain, releasing the blade he held, "You bastard!!!" Saito yanked the knife out, swinging around to slash the king with Derf, but was met by the muzzle of the handgun in his face. "I don't have to be Gandálfr to learn how to use this," he glared. "What do you think is faster? Your blade, or mine?" "Something you should know about that weapon," Saito said through gritted teeth. "It has limited ammo. And right now, you're all out." Joseph smirked, "I'll call your bluff." But just as he began to pull the trigger, a sudden explosion knocked the combatants away from each other.

Immediately following up, a stream of icicles burst through the blown apart cabin, imbedding into the king. No doubt who did that, Saito thought to himself as Tabitha and Louise landed on Sylphid. "Saito!!" Louise ran over to the downed boy. She gasped as she saw the bleeding hole in his side, the knife that was there had been knocked out during the explosion. "Stop his bleeding!" Tabitha ordered in a commanding tone. Louise immediately ripped off a piece from her dress and held it in place. "I'm alright," Saito said gamely, struggling to stand up.

"Stay down!" Louise pleaded, her eyes starting to tear up. "If you move too much, it'll bleed even worse! It'll be just like..." Saito knew she was talking about Siesta, and reluctantly stayed down, turning to see Tabitha confront her uncle. "Charlotte, I see you've inherited your father's powers," Joseph noted. He was pretty banged up by the exploits well and the wounds from the icicles prevented him from moving. Tabitha held a red orb in her hand, raising her staff as she spoke. "You killed my father, you broke my mother's mind and heart. I can never forgive your actions."

Joseph smiled in recognition of his defeat, "Nor should you. Go on then, do with me as you'd like..." Tabitha began to create a giant icicle, the intent clearly being to stab him. "Tabitha, no!" Said Louise. "You don't want his blood on your hands!" Tabitha paused a moment, "I... can't forgive..." Louise turned back to the boy, "Saito, you've got to stop her!"

"No," he said, to her shock. "I know exactly where she's coming from right now. I almost did the same thing to Sheffield, only stopping because I had to fight Joseph. I want to see them both punished, but if Tabitha wants to take this path, I'd respect her decision." He looks over at the mage, "You hear me? What happens next is your choice now!" Tabitha continued to swirl her magic, but just as she was about to strike him down, she closed her eyes and lowered her staff. "I'll hand him over to Romalia," she said quietly." Louise let out a sigh of relief, looking over to the king.

"If you're brought back quickly, your wounds can be treated and you'll live to atone for your actions," she said. "Saito, we've gotta bring you to a healer as well." But as the pink haired mage helped the boy get to his feet, a dark figure rushed into the cabin. It knocked Tabitha over from behind and grabbed the orb she was holding. Sheffield was now crouched next to her Master, the orb glowing dangerously. "I won't allow King Joseph to be subjected to something so degrading!" "You!" Saito reached for his knife.

"Stay back!!" Sheffield ordered, raising the orb. Everyone stopped in their tracks. "The incantation on this was nearly completed. From here, even my own power is enough to make it explode," she said, looking longingly at Joseph. "My lord's life is quickly fading. Please... leave me alone with him..." Saito was taken aback, but understood what she implied, and looked to Tabitha. The blue haired mage nodded, "Let's go."

Sylphid crouched down for Saito to be placed on her back, Louise and Tabitha hopping on with him. As the dragon flew away, Saito couldn't help but look back in frustration. "Damn it, we had them both and now they're getting away," he said bitterly. "This isn't how it was supposed to end..." "it's better this way," said Louise, looking back at the ship before leaning into him from behind. "Let's go home, Saito..." Her hand went over his own, helping to keep pressure on his wound. "Louise..."

Tabitha herself was silent, not looking back at the ship. A moment later, a great flash of red light burst through the skies. The shockwave of an almighty explosion went through the air, briefly rocking Sylphid despite her distance. "It's over..." Tabitha finally said.