Saito, Tabitha, Illococoo and Tiffa stood on the balcony of the cathedral, gazing up into the night sky as a fleet of ships approached. "You ready?" He asked the blue haired mage, who nodded firmly in response. "Illococoo, it's time to fly," said Saito. "You've got it!" The girl glowed bright blue, transforming into Sylphid. Tabitha climbed up onto her back, but just as he was about to follow, a voice called out to him.
"Saito!" Julio came running over, a small box under his arm. "Before you go, there's something I wish to give you." He held out the box and Saito opened the lid. The boy gasped at its contents. Wrapped up in cloth, was a weapon he was very familiar with, seeing it on the hip of his former drill instructor. It was a SIG P226 handgun. "Where did you get this?" "It's a relic, supposedly from another world," said Julio. "We've kept it here in Romalia, believing this is some sort of weapon. Please make good use of it, Gandálfr." Saito removed the handgun from the box, his runes glowed brightly, his eyes narrowing.
"You can count on it," he nodded, hiding the gun inside his cloak. "Please be safe, Saito," Tiffa said nervously. Climbing up Sylphid, he looked back in determination at the half-elf. "Don't worry," Saito said with determination. "This won't take long!" Tabitha nodded to Sylphid and the dragon shot up into the sky. Within moments, they were flying just above the ships. "Which one?" Asked Tabitha, keeping an eye out for attacks. Saito looked over the fleet, singling out an area to the right, "Over there!" He pointed to a ship and Sylphid changed direction, speeding over as fast as she could fly.
It was just as well too, a shape was falling from one of them. A gargoyle was following but then suddenly retreated. "It's her!" Saito yelled. Tabitha nodded and Sylphid dove to catch up with the plummeting Louise, who was screaming Saito's name. Reaching out, he grabbed the girl and pulled her onto the dragon as she flew back upwards. "I've got you, Louise," he said, a reassuring smile on his face. She nearly broke down in tears and hugged the boy tightly. "Saito! It's really you!"
Breaking out of the hug, she got serious, "We've got to stop the explosion! Joseph's siphoned off my power and he's going to unleash it on Aquileia!!" "Tabitha!" He called to the mage. "On it!" She replied, and swung Sylphid around. "Tabitha can put distance between you and Joseph, just leave the rest to me," Saito said grimly. The dragon circled the ship in question and Saito leapt off onto the main deck. Rising up, he saw a man with blue hair standing on the upper deck. So, that's Joseph. And if he's here...
Saito drew Derf, ready for action. Just then, Sheffield landed onto the main deck, facing him down. "There you are!" He glared. "It's been too long, Gandálfr," she smirked, tossing a few seeds into the air. The runes on her forehead glow and the seeds turn into gargoyles. "I won't allow you to interfere with my Master's work," she said with confidence. "That's fine," Saito retorted, pulling his knife. "The one I'm after is you."
"Then come and get me!" She called out as her gargoyles surged forwards. Saito rushed in, slicing up her creatures with incredible speed. But just as quickly as he vanquished these, Sheffield dropped a few seeds to the deck and they turned into new gargoyles. Saito grit his teeth and gripped his blades. Clearly, this would be a fight where finesse wouldn't be a factor. As if on cue, a gargoyle took a swing at the boy, which he barely ducked.
"Hey Partner, I don't think this is gonna end anytime soon!" Derf warned. "I know," Saito replied. "I've gotta get to that woman..." He cut through three more gargoyles as Sheffield made several more. "Guess it's time to bring that out." Reaching back into his cloak, Saito pulled out the handgun. And just as the next wave of gargoyles approached, he fired at Sheffield. The creatures froze in their tracks as the enemy Familiar clutched her wound. Saito had shot her in the thigh, making her collapse to the floor. He moved forwards and brought his knife to Sheffield's throat.
She glared up at the boy, who had a dark look in his eyes. "I get you're trying to stop my Master, but why are you set on killing me?" Saito's eyes narrowed, "You remember that girl you killed the last time you tried to take Louise? I loved her, and you took her from me!" Sheffield's eyes widened as the boy aimed the gun at her chest.
"Partner, I get you want your revenge," Derf put in. "But right now, the priority is her Master. He's gonna blow up the entire city unless you stop him!" Saito grit his teeth in anger, his desire to kill Sheffield fighting against the rational part of his brain who wanted to end the threat to Louise. "You're lucky I've got better things things to do," he said to Sheffield. Bringing up his knife, he whacked the pommel against her temple, knocking the woman out.