Caution: Do not jump from high places

"Hah…hah…hah…guess…we…got out of that sparking thing…?" Lanz said between panting.

"We must not be careless, though. They can appear at any second, any pla… Oh no." Taion said to the party to give them some caution, but it was too late. An army of Ferronises and Levnises rumbled the land and on the top of the main ferronis…

Stood Ethel.

Silvercoat Ethel, one of the strongest commanders of Keves. Also the one who saved Noah, Lanz, and Eunie's lives when they were young.

And she stood tall on the top of the ferronis.

"There you are! You monsters!" Ethel shouted, gleaming her red eye. Her right eye glowed red in the sandstorm of the desert. It was the influence of the Moebius. The consul brainwashed her, and was now controlling her.

"Ethel! Why are you doing this?! Please, stop! I'm Noah! Don't you remember!?" Noah shouted.

"I said, I have no memory of saving you!" Ethel shouted, commanding some turrets to shoot the party.

"Noah! Stand back! We can't afford talking with her right now!" Lanz said, engaging his ether shield.

"Sparks…what happened to her…? She wasn't like this before…" Noah groaned.

"Must be the Moebius' stuff. But right now, we focus on surviving!" Eunie said, shooting at the levnises.

"At least she's not moving on her own. If she did, we're dead meat. We're gonna be sliced cheese if she uses her swords." Lanz said.

"Silvercoat Ethel…she is indeed famous around Agnus, too…" Taion said, engaging his Mondo.

"Really? She is?" Sena asked with her eyes big.

"Did we really live in the same colony…?" Taion sighed.

"Everyone, look!" Mio said, pointing her finger to the top of the Ferronis.

"What's happening, Mio?" Noah said, coming next to her.

"She's…trying to do something…Wait…Oh no."

"What is she doing?"

"I think she's…gonna start moving…! She's gonna hunt us herself!"

"What?! Sparks, Noah, what are we gonna do?" Eunie said, with a concerned face.

"We…sparks…my head's all…" Noah tried to make some plans out of this deadly situation, but it was not easy. In his head, there was only one thought.

He was doomed.

But…

Things started to change after a loud scream was heard across the desert.

"AAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!"

"Ack! That…surprised…me…." Eunie said, a bit shuddering.

"What in Aionios was that?" Lanz said, drawing his sword.

"I think…that was…Ethel's…?" Noah muttered.

"Ethel? You serious, Noah?"

"There's no mistake. That was Ethel. I know." Noah said.

"Then what should we do…? Looks like the firing stopped, too…" Mio said.

"Let's go see her," Noah said.

"Go see her? Are you crazy?"

"What made you think that, love?" Eunie asked.

"Just…out of instinct."

"Come on, again? Your instincts are correct most of the time…but…now…?" Lanz said.

"If you don't want to, I'll go alone."

"What? You crazy?"

"I'll go with him, too," Mio added.

"If Mimi goes…me too!" Sena said.

"Wait, are we all going?" Eunie exclaimed.

"For spark's sake…Taion, how about you?"

"Hah…I'll guess I'll go…Those three need protection…" Taion sighed.

"Eunie…?"

"Okay, okay, I'll go!"

"Sparks…"

(After a minute)

"Ethel! Ethel! You alright?" Noah shouted as he ran through the sandstorm.

"*Cough* *Cough* Mimi…I can't see a thing…" Sena said while coughing.

"Stick to me, Sena… He must have some plan…" Mio said, also coughing her lungs out.

"Ethel! Oh, there you…are…?" Noah said, as he stopped mid-running.

"Ugh….agh….who…are…aaagh!" Ethel screamed, wrapping her head with her hands. She was collapsed on the ground, bleeding out.

"Ethel…? Why are you…Oh my spark…! You jumped from the Ferronis, didn't you?" Noah said, as he kneeled down.

"Who…are…you…?" Ethel said, still experiencing headaches and pain from her bloody legs.

"Hah…hah…Noah…! Where is… Bloody hell!" Eunie shouted as she approached Noah through the sand.

"Eunie! Taion! I need your help! Ethel needs help!"

"Help? Exactly how is she…. Oh spark…Ethel? What did you even…"

"Eunie, I'll explain later."

"I think there's no need to explain. You need me to start healing, do you?"

"Yes. She needs one, right now."

"Hah…okay…" Eunie then stomped the ground with her staff, casting a healing spell. A green circle surrounded them, causing a healing reaction.

"Ugh…hah…hah…hah….." Ethel moaned and panted as her wounds slowly healed.

"Noah! Eunie! You alright! Lanz and Taion shouted as they arrived.

"They're alright, the one hurt is Ethel. Hey, four-eyes, I need help." Eunie said, calling Taion. Taion nodded, engaging his Mondo in a healing circle.

"Hah…hah…hah…." Ethel's breathing soon stabilized.

"Ethel…? You alright…?" Noah said, reaching Ethel.

"Hah…hah…Noah…? Are…you…Noah…?" Ethel said between heavy breaths.

"Yes! You finally remembered! It's me, Noah! And here's Lanz and Eunie, too!" Noah said, smiling wide.

"Whoa! She remembered us!" Eunie exclaimed, making her staff disappear.

"You…grew so much…you were so small when I first saw you…" Ethel said, as she slowly got up. Noah helped her during the process.

"That's right! We…it's been so long ever since we've met each other…" Noah said.

"Hey Ethel!" Eunie greeted her. Ethel gave Eunie a smile.

"And here are?" Ethel asked, turning to the Agnian squad.

"Ah! We are…uh…how should we explain…" Mio got startled.

"This is Mio, an Agnian off-seer. And this is Sena, her partner, and I'm Taion, the strategist." Taion introduced themselves.

"I see…but why are you guys acting together?" Ethel asked.

"There's a long…story about this…"

"Then we'll need a place to talk. How about I lead you guys into our colo…"

"Commander!" A man's voice was heard from behind.

"Bolearis! Don't worry, I'm okay." Ethel said, giving a smile to him.

"Thank the flames! What did I say about jumping off Ferronises? I said it was danger….Wait, you monsters!" Bolearis shouted, as he engaged his weapon.

"What? Ethel, why is he…"

"Looks like I'm the only one sober here, he's still under control. Along with everyone in the colony."

"Then what should we do now?"

"We fight."

"What?"

"But don't kill them. From my experience, a proper amount of pain makes them out of control of the consul."

"So a fight it is?"

"Let's give 'em hell!" Eunie smirked.

"She did…say…don't kill…them….though…."

So like that…

Hero: Silvercoat Ethel has joined the party!

Yes.

Silvercoat Ethel, jumping from a high place...

And whining about the pain of falling.

That's the story.