Porom woke with memories of violence. Attempted. And not. Blood and pain and murder and all of it on her hands. But the spread of it froze with the power of one of the usurper gods. Serah.
Porom winced as she pushed against the rough cloth of a cot and found herself in a small room. A makeshift cell.
Porom hugged herself despite a stiffness in her shoulder from barely treated wounds. She leaned against the wall, folding her legs underneath her and letting go a painful breath. She felt bruises all over. Built-up damages from the portals.
The door opened. "You're awake?"
Porom startled alert. A woman entered the room with a guard behind her. She wore a sleeveless white dress with a bright, ornate headpiece that stood stark against her dark hair. A headpiece that couldn't be nailed to her skull. Queen Garnet Til Alexandros XVII.
Porom tried so hard to remember what the proper show of respect for royalty was. She only thought to respond, "I am, Your Majesty."
"I've been informed you're less dangerous with your power stripped away. But how is your sanity?"
Porom shook her head, lids drooping against warm eyes. "How are the people?"
"The damage reports show a mass frenzy that lasted minutes. Steiner has the exact statistics for casualties."
Her heart dropped. She was supposed to be a white mage, like Rosa, a healer. "I wish…" her voice caught and broke. "I wish there was something I could do to make it right. But I will not insult you by pretending there is."
Garnet stepped up to her. Despite her short stature, she seemed to loom over her. Despite herself, Porom winced as the queen lifted a hand. I'm so sorry, Palom.
"Come with me."
Porom blinked tears away. Garnet smiled softly with her hand outstretched as if to offer. "I know what it's like to lose what you've relied on. But the ones who brought you know better than I. Come on."
Porom slipped her hand out of Garnet's. Broken pawn of a god or not, she wasn't a child.
Garnet turned and swept out of the room. Porom straightened and followed.
"Your Majesty." A woman in a white coat stood with one hand on the handle of a sword against her waist. "You should take greater care."
"As you've said, Beatrix. Are all the guests gathered?"
"Per your orders."
Porom tried to cast white for her shoulder but found her reserves depleted. She almost wished she had an implant. Then again, she could have abused it just like Palom always did. If she was to live… no. She had to live. She had to get back home.
They traveled across a long hallway while Garnet explained that they made plans since Porom fell asleep, that the fight was days ago, and that they took care of her with the best white magic they had. Porom asked why they didn't just kill her, and Garnet dismissed it with some political nonsense.
Porom struggled to maintain her breath. It shouldn't be such strenuous exercise, but with her body in the shape that it was…
Garnet opened a door to reveal a sunlit room of marble with a hospital bed off on the darker side, a silhouette breathing heavily beneath the blankets. A neat half-circle of pillowed chairs and even a large harp centered in the light that streamed through the window. Porom longed for that light and to forget her pain.
Gods stood in the light by the harp as if they didn't know what it signified. They spoke with a man in armor, another young man with hair tied back, and two Burmecians, one short and one tall. A little girl in poofy clothes ran to join the crowd before stopping and staring at Porom.
"Who are you?" the girl asked.
"… No one important," Porom said.
"Really? Are you sure? Your hair looks too pretty to be unimportant."
"Leave her be, Eiko," Garnet said. "I'll tell you if anything exciting happens."
"Good!" Eiko ran to watch the hospital bed.
"Porom," Serah said when they joined. "Are you… you know, you?"
Porom's eyes caught on her own checkered wrists. She ripped the bracelets off and shoved them onto the closest surface. "Close enough."
Noel moved to Serah's side and said, "You're safe here, you know."
"I shouldn't be."
"Be yourself again," said Yeul. Yeul, once just a girl in Mysidia who couldn't summon a coherent spell if her life depended on it. Now, Porom saw her as Bhunivelze saw her: as the embodiment of Death in all its pale and hollow glory.
Porom couldn't think how to respond and a bedridden man spoke instead. "It's the same for all of us."
"Bartz?" Porom asked. A twinge of betrayal twisted in her gut at the reminder that he turned in the middle of the battle when she didn't.
Bartz struggled to sit up against the blankets and Porom asked, "You're sick?"
"Super," said Cinque with an odd thumb gesture.
Porom took to Bartz' bed and sat on the edge as Serah and Noel hung close. "It's a fever," Noel said. "We did some damage, then took his shards from him. His body hasn't kept up well."
Bartz' skin was clammy. Porom forced white magic into her veins, then channeled it through to Bartz.
"I've already done what I can for him." Garnet approached. Porom ignored her and kept channeling. She was a white mage. She was a healer.
"Slow down." Bartz' words slurred. "You're 'bout as empty as I am. You don't have to kill yourself making it up."
"Your Majesty." Noel turned to the queen. "Do you have any ethers?"
"Of course."
"Here." The Burmecian woman handed one to Porom.
She shook her head. "I don't need it."
"Of course, you need it." Serah took the bottle and unstoppered it. "Take it."
Porom blinked tears out of her eyes.
"You know." Bartz' voice grew fainter by the word. "The Guild needs you alive."
Garnet rested a hand on Porom's arm. "You can't help without mana. And you're sparkling like you're covered in diamonds."
Her last spell fizzled, and her body threatened to collapse. She probably ate away at her muscle mass.
Serah held the bottle up and Porom took it with shaking hands. Serah kept a hand on it as Porom took a slow sip. It filled her and her muscles stilled. Her skin cooled and her eyes focused.
"Now." Garnet faced the room. "I believe our priority should be helping the possessed."
"According to our new friends, Your Majesty, that won't be so easy," Beatrix said. "They are scattered to worlds far beyond our own and we have neither the time nor resources to find those who do not wish to be found."
Porom almost laughed for how impossible and naïve that sounded.
"Please, Your Majesty, reconsider," the man in metal said.
Cater rubbed at her head. "If it helps, it doesn't look like that's gonna be a problem anymore. After what happened on Gaia VII, we got most of 'em back."
Porom stood and regretted it. Blood rushed from her head and Serah caught her before she fell. "Who?" Porom asked. "Who's back? Is it Arc? Palom?"
"I'm still looking," Noel said. "But I bet they are. I caught traces leaving Gaia VII that might be ex-possessees and I bet if I can catch that signal, I'll find your friends."
"Anything from Hope?" Serah asked. "I'm still looking."
Noel shook his head. "The Council found something and wanted me to check in when I got a moment."
"I bet you'll find him on Gaia III soon." Porom sat on the ground by Bartz' bed. "What happened on Gaia VII?"
"Your master decided human bodies weren't gonna cut it," Sice said. "Planets are his next target."
"He can do that?"
"Surprising, isn't it?" Cater muttered.
"Hey, could we get through some introductions here?" the Burmecian kid asked. "I'm kind of lost."
"Of course." Garnet stood. "I am Garnet. This is Zidane. Beatrix and Steiner, my loyal guards. Serah, Noel, and Yeul, of Gran Pulse. Cater, Cinque, and Sice of Valhalla."
"Don't forget me, kupo! My name is Mog, kupo!"
Noel shifted. "We're kind of 'of Valhalla,' too. Not returning to Gran Pulse anytime soon."
Garnet turned to Porom. "You're of Gaia IV, as I understand it?"
"Earth," Porom whispered. "Porom of Earth."
"And Bartz of the Merged World. Finally, Freya and ki—Puck, of Burmecia."
"Don't forget me, Eiko!"
"And I am to understand that those of Valhalla are gods?" Freya asked.
Cater gave a toothy grin. "Once we deal with this tumor, we'll be the only ones you have to worry about."
"And you won't have to worry about us the same way," Sice said.
"Gods of what?" Freya asked.
"A bunch of stuff," Cater said. "But let's figure this out: we've gleaned that Bhunivelze is targeting worlds next and this doesn't look like one of 'em."
"Has Valhalla made a decision?" Yeul asked.
"Yeah!" Cinque pumped a fist. "Mog, Serah, and I are getting out of here!"
Serah fidgeted and Porom startled at a dark blob that twisted about the lady before Porom blinked and it disappeared. The threat remained and she remembered the need to kill—
"We'll work with you all in sorting this out," Noel said. "I wish not everyone had to be involved, but we don't believe in leaving out affected persons and those kinda span the cosmos."
Zidane rolled his shoulders and whispered, "Cosmos, huh?"
Garnet took a seat and shared ways in which her kingdom could provide. The setting sun lit her in a flare of orange and Porom edged away from her.
Yeul walked over and Porom pretended not to notice until Yeul said, "I'd ask about your health, but I see that would be meaningless."
Porom tried to focus on her instead of the pain. "I saw you on Ruin."
"I found business to attend there."
"And now you associate with the divine?"
"Every moment seems a new surprise."
The others discussed logistics. Yeul looked comfortable despite being so distant from the others and Porom found it an odd contrast to what she grew up with. Palom never fit in and he made certain of that. She found over time that he did it out of a need for attention.
"You hold information," Yeul said. "From Bhunivelze."
"Of course, I—" Thoughts stuttered. She couldn't bring up what she was just feeling such an urge to do. "What do you need to know?"
"You don't remember. That is expected. We've yet to receive a single answer from one formerly possessed."
"I remember needing to kill. Cause havoc. Make the worlds ready for salvation."
"And what after that?"
Porom couldn't think straight. "We had to kill. We had to save."
"Do not push yourself. But if you have something come back to you, then please write it down."
Porom heated and shame flooded her. Her knees buckled and she collapsed under the weight on her back.
Zidane insisted on talking to Porom when she fell, but Garnet assured him that it was better for them to leave her with the otherworlders.
"Freya, Puck," Garnet said. "I'd like to apologize again for the short notice and confusing message."
"Visitors from another world." Freya wouldn't take her eyes off where they left. "Gods, even. I think this is well worth the trip."
Steiner brought Garnet's attention to some military matter and Beatrix offered advice here and there. Freya spoke with Puck. And something knocked on Zidane's skull.
"Zidane?"
"This related to that problem from months ago?" Zidane asked Freya.
"I did not expect them to be real."
"Hey, Zidane, it's me! Listen, I have something you should know. It's about Amarant."
"… Vivi?"
"Lady Freya," Beatrix said. "Do you agree with Her Majesty?"
"Garnet has seen through many lies. I trust her more than most."
"Zidane!"
"Shut up," Zidane said under his breath. "Geez, it's like having a ghost talk to me."
"Ghost?" Freya asked.
"I trust that was a subjective judgement." Beatrix flipped her curls over her shoulder. "In these matters, you are well-versed."
"Amarant is dead!"
Zidane drew up short. The others went to the next room. "Are you coming?" Garnet asked.
"It's my fault! Amarant is gone somewhere and I should have saved him! We need to find him before his body disintegrates or his soul—!"
"Slow down, there." He caught Garnet's eye. "You said Amarant is dead?"
"Sort of!"
Steiner bowed to Garnet. "Your Highness, they say there is a visitor to see you."
"Let them into the antechamber, I'll decide whether to see them shortly."
"Vivi, calm down. Talk to me."
"What's going on?" the loveliest lady in the entire world asked. Zidane gave her an apologetic look and she returned it with an expectant one.
"The place where he died, there's temporal issues. Time and space broke and distorted themselves and Amarant's spirit got lost. But that means we can get him before he joins the dead and—"
"How do we find him?"
"We're gonna make sure his body gets back, but—but—but—"
"Vivi's trying to talk to me. He's not doing a good job of it."
"He's what?"
"Well. Look at that." Amarant took Vivi's place. Zidane locked up and his voice cut out. He pushed frozen muscles but found no give. Felt the knives against his hips as a balancing weight.
"You can't even fight without these, can you?"
Vivi's voice cut through. "Amarant! That was easy. We need you back on VIII!"
He unclipped the knives. No. He flipped them about in his hands, testing his reflexes. No!
"Zidane?" Garnet asked.
Steiner threw a chair at Zidane. Amarant kicked it back, but not before Steiner shoved Garnet away and steadied himself.
"You're still mobile," Amarant said. "What a surprise."
"All for my queen." Steiner engaged him and Zidane moved without thought. Amarant used him like a familiar mannequin on a stage.
Amarant relished Zidane's health and took every advantage. He jumped and rolled and danced about Steiner. He got comfortable with his new body first before committing to close combat.
This is stupid, Zidane thought. You're broken. You shouldn't make such drastic decisions without having your wits about you!
Amarant ignored him and went at Steiner. Zidane never found evasion useful around Steiner because this was the only time that he kept his patience. Amarant would only wear himself out if he kept away.
Steiner was ready and slammed Zidane back with the blunt of his blade. Zidane thought panic because that blunt meant Steiner would try to keep him alive for now. But Amarant would trigger him to switch.
A stream of red and black ripped between them and the air cracked. Zidane went still. Something bit his arm.
Amarant jumped back and took in the situation. Beatrix took up her position near Garnet, who refused to leave. Garnet pulled a dagger free. Freya and Puck were nowhere to be seen.
The red and black shifted into a cloak and a man with black hair and leather appeared out of it.
Amarant growled and lunged again.
Beatrix met him halfway and shoved him down. She placed a booted foot on his arm, near the wound, and pain clouded him.
She pressed down and Zidane's vision fuzzed out.
"Amarant, come on! You broke out of this!"
Amarant snarled. "I'm doing what I have to."
Vivi?
"I'm sorry, I didn't know he was here. But he's been twisted by the distortions and now we need to fix him and—!"
"SHUT UP!" Amarant surged upwards and Zidane blacked out.
Garnet spun threads of white magic through her fingers to create an intricate fabric that would stop the blood from Zidane's arm. But she couldn't get a clear shot.
Zidane threw himself at Steiner.
The newcomer moved in one fluid motion and slammed Zidane against the wall. Something snapped.
Garnet choked back a sob and hurried around the others to get to him.
"Identify yourself." Steiner told the newcomer while said newcomer and Beatrix made sure Zidane stayed down. They used chains and took away his weapons.
"Vincent. I've been hunting this spirit."
Garnet weaved magic around Zidane, laying the thick of it on his bleeding arm and head while searching for the break in his bones. But the arm wouldn't take. The thing that hit him must remain in the wound.
"Allow me." Vincent crouched beside her.
Steiner hovered. "Queen?"
He reached forward with clawed fingers and stuck two in the bleeding wound. A click and he pulled out a little metal ball. "This spirit's left a confusing trail in the dead roads. I got here too early and waited too long for him to catch up."
"I will escort you out of here and we will never see you again," Beatrix said.
"Beatrix, wait." Garnet got the bleeding to stop and reminded the crack in the skull to reset itself. "If he is another world traveler, we should direct our other friends to him."
"No need," Vincent said. "I have other people to meet with."
Beatrix took him and left. Garnet watched them go despite a tug at her chest that urged her to learn what else this stranger knew. The restraints they used anchored Zidane's hands and ankles together, but she knew she should leave him regardless.
Steiner recollected himself. "Your Majesty, it bears repeating that I do not believe Zidane should be allowed his weapons in the main of the castle."
"Noted, Steiner. Please take them away for now and put a guard on Zidane until further notice."
Steiner saluted and did as told.
Garnet put a hand to Zidane's cheek, and he glared at her in such a way as he looked like a different person. "Come back to me, okay? Both of you."
Zidane snarled and she left him to Steiner's care while she aimed to find a cure for such an ailment.
