When Azlyn arrived at the central plaza of Revenant's Toll, she saw that her friends were waiting by the door to the bar. She waved to them, seeing the throngs of adventurers growing in the far distance of the markets by Rowena's House of Splendors.

It was in that glance that she saw someone whom she didn't expect to see. Red hair, those Miqo'te ears—She stared in strange fixation before a group of adventurer's cut through and blocked her sight over yonder.

By the time they moved, she lost sight of him… or what she assumed had been him.

"Azlyn! Come on, we don't have all night!" Kida shouted to her, and she shook her head.

"I'm coming!" She turned back to the Seventh Heaven bar, and ran over to her friends. Getting inside to the Rising Stones had been a slight adventure, pushing through the thongs of dancing, singing, and merry making people enjoying a day's end of hard work. That same wandering bard played in the corner stage, singing tales of a land far beyond the Ruby Sea.

The eight of them slowly made their way over to the Solar, where many of the Scions were awaiting by the door for them. They greeted them with a small wave before entering together. Minfillia stood by her desk, seeing all of the Scions and their group of adventurers come in.

Getting comfortable, they all circled around the large oak desk where Minfillia worked. Kida had enlisted N'thuzu Tia and Ozwin to drag the long couch over with a screeching sound before plopping comfortably on the cushions. About five of them could sit upon it—Kida happily sat on the edge of the arm, propping a leg up next to N'thuzu Tia who leaned back.

"If we are all ready, I believe it time to speak on the discoveries that Urianger had made with due haste." Minfillia clapped her hands together. This drew their attention to her, and Urianger who stepped up to stand beside her.

"As all here assembled now know, it its final hours of our order's headquarters, the Waking Sands did play host to a most unexpected visitor. I speak of the Ascian clad in white, Elidibus. Unwelcome though his presence was, his words that day did serve to confirm a truth long suspected: That the Ascians are eternal beings, to whom physical destruction is as a temporary inconvenience."

Ozwin snorted, shaking his head. "Pains in the asses they are."

"Touché." Kida commented back.

Azlyn had been behind the couch they moved, leaning her forearms on the backside. Her hand had been in reach of Ozwin to which she lightly smacked his head from behind. "Shh."

"Ow. Jerk."

Minfillia smiled to their group. "In the intervening time, Urianger and I have striven to discover a means by which the Ascians might more permanently be slain."

"And 'tis my belief that we have found the thread that will allow us to unravel the twisted skein of their existence. In the moments prior to Leviathan's most recent manifestation, the Sahagin elder who summoned him was observed to undergo some manner of ascension." Urianger spoke following Minfillia's words, before turning to Y'shtola. The Miqo'te conjurer tapped her chin. "The aetheric readings taken by Y'shtola at the time of this transfiguration have proven most enlightening."

Y'shtola hummed. "The disruption of the flow of aether was sudden and dramatic. So tangible was the agitation, I scarce had need of my goggles."

Azlyn agreed. The energy had been as she pointed out.

"The significance of Y'shtola's readings might better be understood in the context of mine own, taken at the instant of the Lord of Levin's demise. Unlike the primal, the Sahagin was not subject to aetheric dissipation." Urianger added.

Minfillia postulated to their group. "Before discussing our new discoveries, it may benefit us all to recall what we know of aetheric behavior."

Urianger nodded. "Azlyn, pray tell us what you know when a lifespan ends."

"What?! Me… uh…" Azlyn straightened behind the couch as eyes turned to her. She felt like she was back in the classroom of the Studium. It shouldn't be any different from what she learned about before. "Well if we're speaking of a lifespan for the material world, our spirits dissolve into the flow of aether when our material bodies perish. Thus our spirits return to the aetherial realm." The girl scratched behind her neck recalling what she knew.

Minfillia smiled. "Correct, and in turn the restless energy which suffuses that plane streams back into our world, giving rise to new life."

"Effectively the cycle of life, death, and rebirth." Koroko Koko put together from their meaning. "Could the same be said for the primals?"

Azlyn grinned to their caster. "Yes. Essentially anyways. The only main difference is that in order for a primal to manifest a physical presence in this material world, they must consume vast quantities of Aether."

"The crystals." Roll surmised.

"While they consume these crystals of aether, they too are brought forth by the idea of what their followers wish. For Ramuh, for instance it was the consolidated fervent wish of the sylphs to be protected within their homes. That and the crystals give birth to the form we know as primals." Azlyn explained, it was fairly obvious after encountering multiple primals in the last half year.

Kida drummed her fingers on her thigh, thinking aloud. "So these primals aether—when killed—get returned back to the flow of aether—as they continue the cycle of coming back and returning when they are slain. Not immortal beings, but brought back when called upon by the prayers of their followers."

"And that's why they don't leave corpses behind." N'thuzu Tia remembered the time he had cleaved the moogle king and watched the form dissipate. "Because they don't actually have a physical form, but rather aether given shape."

"This is a very complicated way of explaining how the aether behaves." Ozwin shrugged. "How does this affect our Ascian friends?"

"The so called Immortals." Azlyn sighed behind him. "They exist in a manner all on their own it seems."

Y'shtola bounced off of her words. "Quite. Even as the Sahagin elder fell to the Admirals' musket shot, we witnessed the release of an aetherial cloud which immediately took possession of a nearby minion."

Urianger nodded. "A soul that dissipateth not upon the death of flesh."

Thancred who had been silently listening stepped off the side of the couch to speak his mind. "The secret to life everlasting. And in the claws of a Sahagin, no less. But I wonder what would happen to one of these obstinate spirits should there be no suitable host for it to claim?"

Minfillia interjected to answer his question. "If mortal death entails a return to the aetherial realm, it seems doubtful that the soul of an immortal would venture there."

"Nay it merely withdraweth a distance unto the shore of the aetherial sea perchance, but no further."

Azlyn blinked. "A space between our world and the aetherial realm… that would explain a few things."

Minfillia smiled to her conjectures. "The Ascians took control of Thancred by means of a Crystal of Darkness—an artifact which, if our theories are correct, serves as a gateway to the place that Azlyn has just described."

They all straightened up at this. Thancred however, looked sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck in shame. "I was hoping people had forgotten about that."

Mjnt smiled over to the rogue scion. "'Tis alright Thancred, it was not your fault."

"Sorry Thancred," Azlyn winced, knowing how much pain he felt about that. He still looked guilty about it.

"For a mercy, the weary road of our research hath brought us unto an answer."

Y'shtola ignored Thancred and jumped to Urianger's last words. "The Sahagin ascended to an immortal state, but he did not possess a Crystal of Darkness through which to flee this realm. Thus was he consumed by Leviathan." She smiled. "If we could entrap the spirits of defeated Ascians in like manner, and thereby deny them resurrection…"

Azlyn realized what she was getting toward. "We stop them the chance to retreat and find another vessel. That… that might work."

They all buzzed at this new revelation. "So we don't just slay them, but we need to fashion something to capture their essence." Roll reconfirmed. "What item or thing can we use for this?"

"So we trap them in an eternal prison?" Ozwin sat in disbelief. "If it was any other meeting, I'd be skeptical. "But having dealt with everything up to this point, why not? Sure let's do it."

"These feats are, of course, far easier said than done. At present, we lack a visible means to entrap and extinguish an Ascian soul as Roll's mentioned previous. Yet I believe it to be possible. The pieces of the puzzle lie before us—we have but to put them together."

"Like a puzzle." Azlyn murmured.

"Aren't you good at those?" Kida pondered to Roll.

The Au Ra smirked. "Heh."

Urianger turned to the Antecedent and bowed. "Then I shall depart at once to convene with the sages of Sharlayan. Together shall we divine the steps by which our goals may be achieved."

"I have the utmost faith in you, Archon."

He nodded, before turning back to everyone. He gave a brief goodbye to them before heading out of the Solar. It was just when he reached for the doorknob that he faltered, and slowly turned to face them once more.

Everyone had been speaking quietly in their groups feeling that their meeting had been over. However Urianger's voice had rung clear in the air.

"Beg pardon, Antecedent, but I would raise one final matter. Even now—a Sharlayan survey party seeketh to ascertain the fate of the Students of Baldesion."

The room went quiet, as a few eyes turned to Azlyn and then over to Minfillia who worriedly looked to the table. Her eyes lowered.

"Their findings shall soon be known to us. Though you harbor feelings of dread, I bid you surrender not to sorrow, but abide instead in hopeful prayer."

Minfillia appeared recovered the must to speak up, she nodded with a grim smile. "I shall, Archon. Thank you."

Urianger retreated, giving the room a bit more to speak about before Minfillia adjourned their meeting for the night. With everything that happened, from morning to then, it was obvious to all that rest was needed.

The Scions went to rest, bidding their group a good nights rest. Roll looked over to Azlyn.

"I'm heading back to the house. I'm going to sleep."

Shortly after she teleported, so too did Richiro, Ozwin, and N'thuzu Tia to join her. Koroko Koko smiled warmly, patting her hand and inquired upon her health.

"How are you feeling Leader?"

Azlyn hummed. "Tingly."

Kida laughed as she leaned on the counter. They were enjoying a drink from Tataru's storage when a pair of recently joined scions approached them. Tataru waved over at them when she smiled to explain. "I was hoping you could spare a bit of your time Azlyn—these two wished to speak with you about your adventures!"

Mjnt had been hanging behind quietly, and turned her attention to the pair. One had been a Highlander Hyur, bulky in muscle and tall. The other had been an Elezen, dressed in robes fit for casting.

"Forgive us interrupting your time so late at night." The caster replied to them. "We'd been hearing stories from the Doman children, and they were saying how strong you were."

The Highlander Hyur smirked, flexing his muscles. "We may have promised the children a contest of strength tomorrow morning, to showcase who's the strongest—our Warriors of Light, or us!"

Azlyn slowly blinked, "Wait what?"

"It does appear you've been challenged." Koroko Koko chuckled. "Shall you arise to the challenge leader?"

"I mean—I guess, but what's this about? The Doman children? You mean Yozan and Koharu?"

"The very same!" Tataru chirped. "They have been so excited to speak of you—especially after stargazing with you the other night. They wanted to do that more often."

"Stargazing." Mjnt smiled warmly. "How quaint a pastime. It would be nice to sit and relax after all the troubles we've encountered."

"Well I don't see why we couldn't do something tomorrow morning…?" Azlyn offered as she finished the rest of her drink. "I'll meet with the children tomorrow morning, and we can orchestrate something for them."

The two recently joined Scions nodded in approval. "Excellent! And don't hold back, we wish to see the true strength of the Bloody Princess! We shall look forward to tomorrow!"

After they bid goodbye and left, Azlyn quizzically looked to Kida who shrugged back to her. "You signed up for it. I'd like to see how you'd fare solo against them."

"I'd rather not fight at all if I can help it. Any tips?"

"Don't expose your weaknesses?" Kida smirked, and stretched. "Well, I for one, will head back to the house. Get some zzz's in and tell everyone to reconvene in the morning. You coming or staying here?"

Koroko returned her empty saucer cup to the end of the counter. "I too, shall head home. It has been a long day of work. I shall be back in the morning however."

Mjnt nodded, "I wish to see what will happen, however, I have made promises to my Lord to return in the morrow. There appears to be some cultists activity that he needs investigating."

"Is Lord Haurchefant wishing for assistance?" Azlyn quirked her head, wondering if there was something she could do to help. He was one of the few Lords who helped her when they were looking for the Enterprise.

"I shall extend your words to him and see what he says. Pray, I wish you good luck in your fight."

"Bye guys, I'll be here for the night then. I think… there's something I want to do before I go to sleep." She couldn't shake the sight she saw when she was in the plaza. Maybe… maybe it was just her imagination. But it'd be best to investigate herself.

"Don't stay up to late, you hear?" Tataru reminded with a stern voice. "You've been busy as of late, and rest is paramount to your health!"

Azlyn laughed warmly, and stood up. "Then I will be back within ten minutes. I wish to stretch my legs in the marketplace and I'll be back before you know it."

"I'm counting the minutes, best be quick!" The bookkeeper promised, raising one finger up to postulate to her. "I shall prepare a cot for when you return!"

With the rest of the group disbanded and teleporting away, Azlyn walked out from the Rising Stones back to the crisp cool air of Mor Dhona. Her first place of business had been the marketplace by Rowena's House of Splendors. The time they were inside discussing Urianger's had taken more time than she considered, as there were few people out. The shops and stalls were closing down, and there was no one fitting the description she saw when she first teleporting there.

She frowned. "Maybe it was just a wishful thought and nothing more." Azlyn turned back on her heel, and steadily walked back to the bar. There was nothing else that she could do, save go to sleep and await the next days' activities to come. The brilliant light of the crystal tower beyond the town past the aetheric charged fields kept the outposts aglow. She wondered, what could that tower mean—especially since its appearance.

"What mysteries lie beyond those crystal walls? I wonder…" She sighed slowly, and shook her head. "I guess I should head back, no use worrying."

When she returned back to the Rising Stones, she found Tataru waiting patiently for her by the bar. The Lalafellin bookkeeper had been cleaning up when she arrived.

"Finished up?"

Azlyn smiled, "Yeah, it seems I might have imagined it."

"Imagined it?" Tataru questioned, her head tilted to one side.

She didn't wish to explain, and instead opted to change the topic entirely. "I'm tired—do you mind if I head to bed?"

Tataru gave her a smile right back, but there lay concern in her eyes. "Not at all, get some sleep. Everyone's been working hard of late. Good night!"

It wasn't long before she walked beyond the doors that led to some of the spare rooms filled with cots. She could see Yda and Papalymo playing what appeared to be Triple Triad, while Y'shtola was reading a book nearby.

Thancred was already asleep, sleeping on his right side away from the door.

"Staying the night again?" Y'shtola looked up from her page to smile to her.

"Yeah." Azlyn smiled before flopping upon a cot in the far corner. "G'night."

There had been an echo of good nights that chorused between them, and Azlyn soon found herself deep in sleep. When she awoke the next morning she groaned and stretched—she could see Yda had been sleeping on the cot next to hers, as her stuff was placed on a tabletop nearby. She did note that Yda's head was buried underneath the blankets and out of view. A slight snoring could be heard within.

She opted to stretch her limbs, getting the kinks out of her arms and lower back. Azlyn had jumped into a few quick poses before rolling out from her positions and heading out into the Rising Stones for a quick bite to eat.

What greeted her upon her arrival had been a bit of a surprise, as a flock of the Doman children excitedly ran to her.

"Azlyn! They told us you'd be out soon!" Yozan's eyes brightened as he continued. "She's up you guys!"

Koharu waved happily to her, and the other two children—one she learned was named Rokka, and the other boy was called Shiun.

Yozan jumped right into speaking, it appeared that he wanted to be the leader of their group already taking charge of the conversation. "We heard you all were off fighting "Primals," and they're some of the strongest enemies you could ever face! I wish I could've seen you in battle!"

The Au Ra scratched her cheek, wondering how early did these children wake up to wait for her. "If it wasn't for my friends, it'd be an ever tougher fight."

The children smiled to each other before Koharu interrupted. "Anyway, Azlyn! Guess what we decided to start!"

Yozan gaped in mock horror before speaking a hair louder than her. "We all want to be heroes, so we finally founded our very own Doman Adventurer's Guild to protect all the Domans!"

Azlyn chuckled in mirth. "That sounds like such an excellent idea!"

Rokka leaned over Yozan's shoulder to give her a wide grin. "Do you think you could train us today Azlyn? Maybe you could show us how you fight primals!"

They all seemed to be in agreement with his question.

"What's this commotion about?"

Azlyn recognized the burly voice from last night—and turned to see the pair from previous. The caster waved to her, while the Highlander Hyur gave a wink to Azlyn. It appeared they were waiting for an opportunity to come into the conversation.

The Doman children seemed to recognize the pair right away. "Mister Boulder and Mister Coultnenet!"

Koharu laughed giddily when the one called Mister Boulder knelt down to tap her playfully on her arm.

"Good morning Azlyn! My companion and I but recently became full members of the Scions, and I believe proper introductions have yet to be made. I am known as Hoary Boulder, and this bookish fellow is Coultenet. Though we remain largely unproven as adventurers, we have taken it upon ourselves to instruct the Doman young lines in the arts of combat."

"We're not younglings anymore, we're adventurers Mister Boulder!" Yozan complained willfully.

Now it was starting to make sense why they approached her group last night asking for a mock battle this morning. Azlyn nodded her head. "I am Azlyn Ahz'el, one of the Fated group as well as an honorary Scion of the Seventh Dawn. It is wonderful to make your acquaintance Hoary Boulder and Coultenet." She formally bowed. "Speaking of the arts of combat, our young adventurers were requesting some special training. Do you think they might benefit from watching a mock fight?"

Hoary Boulder gave a contented laugh of his own, and started to flex. "A demonstration of skill at arms? Why I would be honored to cross swords with you. How 'bout you Coultenet? Are you up for some early morning exercises?"

The Elezen made adjusted his mage's hat with a small smile. "A combat trial between us shall prove most beneficial—and less dangerous for our young adventurers as the monsters seem a bit too strong." it was in this moment when Coultenet smirked to Hoary Boulder. "Hoary, if I didn't know you better, and I do, I'd say you were merely seeking to test yourself against a legend."

Azlyn widened her eyes. "Legend? I'm just a mere traveler—nothing more!" She tried to reassure them, however the children began to get excited at the thought of seeing them fight.

Hoary Boulder laughed loudly, drawing some attention to their side. "Well, Mayhap I am, but what matters the motive when the children stand to learn so much from the lesson? No need to be modest Azlyn, and don't hold back, you hear! I know all about your skills, and wish to experience them first hand!"

The girl nervously chuckled, and then noticed a few more gathered around. Thancred had been munching on an apple while Y'shtola had crossed her arms over her chest.

"Oh? I do believe we have quite the spectacle this morning." Thancred looked to Azlyn. "Starting trouble early on?"

"A demonstration is all." Azlyn returned to the conversation with a shrug. "Shall we head out of Revenant's Toll in the open plains nearby Fogfens? There should be enough room for us there."

The children cheered happily, before running out from the Rising Stones. She could hear them shouting about gathering people to watch the event. Before she could stop them, they were already out the doors happily laughing.

"Well, looks like the ruse worked." Hoary Boulder nodded in appreciation. "Thank you for humbling our request, we know it was a bit abrupt from last night."

"It's no problem—they are eager to start adventuring." Azlyn chuckled.

"I wonder what you were like growing up Azlyn—were you just as rambunctious or studious?" Thancred questioned openly. "I can see either way given your parents."

"Hmmmm…" Azlyn tapped her chin. "I did enjoy a good book—but I also liked finding trouble."

Y'shtola laughed, shaking her head. "So both. Let us not tarry longer, the children will like bring the entire outpost if you let them."

"Oh boy." Together they all left the Rising Stones, and went to the proposed area to fight. By the time they all arrived, they could see a large crowd forming. Even peculiar to the sight of Mor Dhona's people, Azlyn spied a few from her group of friends. Kida waved happily with a set of pom-poms, while Koroko Koko sat with a set up beach umbrella over a lawn chair. Roll and Ozwin were speaking to one another before noticing her stare.

Thancred and Y'shtola went to join them, and it wasn't long before another trickle of people started to show up. Yda all but sprinted from town leading some more individuals from town to their sparring grounds.

"We didn't miss the match did we!?" Yda gasped as she skidded to a stop. "I almost had a heart attack when I awoke and found no one present!"

"Nope, they just arrived." Kida gave one set of poms over to the girl. "Let's cheer her on!"

"Slept in a bit Yda?" Thancred spoke jovially.

"Just a bit!"

Azlyn was brought a bit further away from the groups with Coultenet and Hoary Boulder.

"That's quite a few people." Azlyn looked over her shoulder once more.

"Are you ready to begin?" Hoary Boulder grinned wide. "I sure am!"

"Well let's not disappoint them." Coultenet replied, wiping his hands upon his robes. "Shall we?"

Azlyn could hear behind her Kida shouting. "KICK THEIR BUTTS AZLYN!" The crowd behind lit with laughter, and the Au Ra shook her head.

She smiled, and looked to her hands. She imagined her greaves as they magically appeared around her knuckles and palms. Feeling the course of energy pulse through her, to her core and legs as she grounded herself, she smiled up to the pair. "No holds bar, just as you requested."