Tellah used the last of his reserves to cure Cecil of his most grievous wounds, and Rydia used hers to cure Tellah. Her legs began buckling underneath her; Cecil picked her up and carried her out of the caves.

"We should rest," Cecil said, glancing down at Rydia's heavy lidded, faraway stare, his brows furrowed as he tilted his ear to her nose and mouth to check her breathing.

"She's worn out from magic, probably for the first time in her life. Even if she's not fully depleted, the first time is always a painful adjustment," Tellah responded. He was beginning to feel the tell-tale exhaustion from reaching his limit as well. "Give her a second, and she'll be herself soon enough. She won't be able to cast until she's had a good long rest, but she'll be fine to walk. We should be able to make it to Damcyan with your blade alone."

Cecil opened his mouth to say something, but Tellah cut him off.

"We don't have the time to spare. I have a bad feeling about Damcyan." Without the distraction of battle, he felt the evil in full force, a taunting scratch inside his skull, digging through the back of his eyes. Cecil saw the worry in his face and thankfully agreed.

"I'll carry her until she can walk again," he said. He shook Rydia's body gently. "Hey, Rydia?" he asked. Rydia murmured something, her eyes struggling to focus on his. "We're going to keep going, and I'll hold you until you're ready to walk. We can't rest yet."

Rydia let out a low whimper and closed her eyes. Cecil shook her again. Tellah grew impatient and started walking, the green from the mountain base pasture turning into desert shrubs. Far ahead, Tellah could see the renown golden white sands of Damcyan's land. He could still hear Cecil cajoling her behind him.

"Rydia, if we make it to Damcyan, I promise to buy you anything you want - candy, desserts, whatever you want. We looted a lot of gil from the desert and cave monsters. But only if we keep walking."

Rydia and Cecil caught up to Tellah, and Rydia soon offered to walk again. As they rounded the mountain, Castle Damcyan came into view: a gorgeous building of ancient architecture in the vast desert, singing comforting promises of respite to weary, sunburned travelers. It's towers were tall and proud, and its stones were sun-bleached white from the intensity of the desert sun. A weight lifted off of Tellah's shoulders as he regarded the castle. It looked much as he'd remembered in his youth, and he suddenly felt silly for worrying as much as he did. They set off, taking advantage of the mild warmth of dawn, before Ifrit's breath fell on them in unrelenting waves.

As the sun rose proudly towards the center of the sky, the group started growing weary. Tellah's mouth grew as dry as the sand around him, and there was very little moisture left, making the suffocating air rasp against his throat coarsely. Rydia started slowing down, unable to keep up with the grown men. Finally, Cecil called the group to a halt, realizing that Rydia was not sweating as much. Tellah was antsy, but he knew it was the right call. He opened his last tent kit, and they took refuge underneath the canvas. He scanned the scenery, blinking back false mirages as they falsely begged his visit to non-existent bodies of water.

Tellah took Rydia's ice rod, it's nature making it easy for him to create ice crystals to melt into water with very little magic cost. He taught Rydia the methods by which she could also manipulate a weapon's specialty to work for her. She watched, giving her rapt attention as Cecil tore off his armor, sighing in relief as the desert winds cooled the sweat on his damp garments to bearable levels. Satisfied with their lesson, Tellah gave them each water to wet their parched throats and prevent dehydration from truly taking hold.

Rydia let out an exaggerated groan as she sat on the sand, lifting her hair off of her neck. She began sweating once more with a vengeance, the neckline of her dress stuck tightly to her shoulders. Tellah took off two of his scarves and tied them tightly around his shins and ankles, relieving some of the pressure from his travels.

"We should start again in a few hours; as soon as the sun starts moving down," Tellah said. Cecil nodded and watched the area for nearby monsters. Rydia was now blowing air up towards her sweaty forehead, her ruddy cheeks puffing up between breaths. Cecil took pity on her.

"Let me help," he said, bending down to gently tug one of Rydia's curls. Rydia relented, dropping her hands to her lap as he began braiding her hair. She sat still, grimacing only slightly as Cecil gently tried to untangle the worst of her knots. "This is what we do to keep our hair from bothering us when we wear our helmets. The braid stops it from getting caught in the cracks of the armor and keeps our hair from getting matted across our eyes when we're sweating." He finished the braid. Rydia looked up at Tellah, tilting her head left and right as she showed it off.

"How do I look?"

"Absolutely beautiful!" Tellah said, sweeping Anna into his arms and spinning her in the air. Anna giggled, covering her mouth with small hands. "I think yellow is your color." The seamstress smiled at them.

"I think so, too. We have a whole selection of yellow dresses and skirts near the back of the store if you'd like to look at more," she said, gesturing further ahead.

"What do you think, Bananna?" Tellah asked, walking her towards another rack. Anna looked down at her dress, the ribbon in her hair brushing against his chin. She pulled the fabric on her chest forward to look at the lace.

"I really like this one!" she said, smiling up at him. His heart swelled the way it always did when her cheek dimpled, like Claire's used to.

"Ah, I see," he said, setting her down and pacing in mock ruminations. He circled her and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "What if we buy two dresses, then?" Anna smiled, wagging her finger at him in lecture.

"We said only one dress, Daddy! If we buy two, we can't buy cake! You promised we'd get cake!" It was Tellah's turn to laugh.

"I will buy the lead in her school musical two dresses and cake! Now go ahead, pick your second!" he said as he nudged her towards the rack. She squealed, jumping up and down before picking one and running to the dressing room. Tellah smiled at the seamstress as they heard her singing behind the curtain. When it opened, Anna came out twirling, finishing her song. She struck a pose at the last note, and Tellah clapped enthusiastically.

"How do I look?" Rydia repeated. The braid was lopsided and lumpy, giving her head an odd egg shape. Her doll like face was faring no better - it was filthy with cave mud and sweat leaving gray trails down her face.

"You'll look better once you have the helmet on," Tellah said. Cecil snorted.

"I never said it would be fashionable," he retorted. "Rosa could always make the most beautiful braids. But I do wonder…" He picked up the helmet from the floor and placed it gently over Rydia's head. She almost fell back from the weight as the visor suddenly slammed shut, but Cecil caught her as she lost her balance.

"Now how do I look?" Rydia asked, her voice muffled. She lifted her hands to frame her head with open palms, preening and tilting it much like she had earlier. The piece looked comically large and outlandishly menacing on her narrow shoulders, especially with the way Cecil was holding her up.

"Much better," Tellah said reassuringly, trying not to laugh. She giggled, at first a rather echo-ey and ominous sound bouncing around inside the helmet before reverting to normal when Cecil took it off.

"Let's eat now, while we're resting. Rydia, if you're still tired, you should try taking a nap before we go," Cecil said, digging in his pack for travel rations.

"I don't feel tired yet," Rydia said, shrugging. Nonetheless, Tellah set up a sleeping bag for her and she fell asleep minutes after eating.

If there had been even a slight breeze, he was sure he wouldn't have been able to hear Cecil exhale audibly through his nose, watching Rydia with the pensive expression that seemed to dominate his gentle features whenever they weren't preoccupied with battle or travel.

"That girl will forgive you, you know," Tellah said. He also watched as Rydia snored softly, her mouth slightly open. A drool puddle grew on the pillow.

Cecil shook his head, a minute movement. "I don't deserve her forgiveness."

Rydia twitched in her sleep, her arm jerking across her chest. She whimpered; her face grew concerned for a moment. Tellah stroked her arm until she stilled. She curled herself into a ball, the nightmare seemingly forgotten.

"You cannot deem yourself worthy or unworthy of it," Tellah continued. "Ultimately, it's her choice - and you would do well to remember that when she does. Who are you to tell her she's wrong?"

Cecil nodded. He stood and put away their leftovers.

"We don't have much left. We may need to go without if we don't make it by morning light tomorrow," he said, changing the topic.

"It's not much farther," Tellah pointed out. "Maybe a half day at the rate we're walking, provided we don't stop often."

Cecil agreed. They came up with a rest schedule: Cecil decided to sleep first for an hour. Tellah would wake him, allowing him to sleep the next hour before they had to go. Rydia slept through Cecil's watch, finally waking during Tellah's and keeping him company. She spoke of her life in Mist quietly, of her human and summon friends alike with a forlorn tone. Tellah listened intently, realizing that prior to the fire, not much had really changed since the last time he had visited. Cecil rose soon after, and they determined that it was time to continue moving forward.

Cecil put his armor back on, his helmet clicking back into place and making him look like the evil figure Tellah had come to find out was merely an image. Once the tent was discarded and everything they could carry was repacked, Rydia, with her limited replenished magic, cast more ice crystals with the rod for their travel during the afternoon. She soon began running in front of them again.

"Don't run too far ahead of us!" Tellah called out. Rydia slowed down. Tellah remembered his conversation with Cecil the day before, of his offer to lodge Rydia until his return. "In fact, come back; I have a question for you."

"Sorry!" She called back sheepishly, her nose wrinkling slightly as she smiled wide. She had turned to walk to them but suddenly came to a stop, squinting at the sky behind Tellah and Cecil. "What's that?" she asked, pointing up. They followed her finger and saw distant specks near the horizon. Cecil took a few steps towards it, shielding his eyes from the sun with his hand as he watched the objects grow bigger and more familiar.

"The Red Wings," he muttered. He snapped back, and Tellah felt his blood turn to ice at Cecil's unadulterated horror. Even when he was struggling to break through the surface of the water to breathe during the fight with the octomammoth, he hadn't looked as terrified as he looked now.

"It's the Red Wings' entire fleet! They're headed towards Damcyan!" he shouted, breaking into a sprint towards the castle. Tellah didn't say anything, he only followed as he could go. His face grew numb with the terror coursing through him, spreading until he felt no pain from the exertion. He felt his lungs resist holding air for long, gasping for breath as he ran. Rydia and Cecil were much further ahead of him. He tripped face first into the sand, sliding across from the momentum. His face and hands were scraped from the fall, grit embedded into his skin. He must've made some noise because before he knew it, Cecil and Rydia were by his side, trying to get him to stand. He cried in pain, his ankle too injured to put any weight on it. He cast Cure. Though he was able to mend the broken bone, he couldn't stand. He grew lightheaded from the use of his nearly devoured magic power, drained as he was.

"He can't walk, Cecil!" Rydia said, wringing her hands. Cecil looked from the castle, to the Red Wings, to Tellah. The Red Wings were now within hearing range, a small rumble in the distance. He took Rydia's hands.

"Rydia, can the chocobo you summon carry Tellah?" Cecil asked. Rydia looked Tellah up and down.

"I think so," she said. Tellah grabbed their clasped hands.

"She's still exhausted, she shouldn't summon anything," he said. Cecil shook his head.

"I can't leave you here, not like this," Cecil responded. "Rydia, I hate to ask, but can you try?"

"We're really good friends! He won't say no!" Rydia said, pulling away from Cecil and Tellah. She raised her hands once again, bringing them down and twirling as familiar orbs floated around her. A sound like tearing fabric behind her, and suddenly a chocobo blinked into existence.

He flapped his wings in greeting, tilting his feathered head at Rydia. She started swaying, her face pale.

"Carry…carry him?" Rydia asked, pointing at Tellah before collapsing into Cecil's arms. The chocobo pecked Cecil's helmet, upset at the state of his summoner.

"Please, help us!" Cecil begged, shielding his exposed face with armored glove. It stopped its attack, then knelt for Tellah to hop on his back. Cecil put Rydia on him first, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Hold on tight, okay, Rydia?" She merely grunted, her face buried in glistening golden feathers.

"Come on," Cecil said, sticking his head under Tellah's arm and lifting him up with a shoulder. Tellah bit back a groan, avoiding as much pressure on his foot as possible. Once he was also mounted on the chocobo, they were running once again-this time much faster as Cecil no longer held back.

"Hold on tight, Anna!" Tellah said, one arm around her waist and the other around the reins of the chocobo they were on.

"It's not my first time, Dad!" Anna said, rolling her eyes at him.

"I know, but you have to resp-"

"Respect the bird, stay confident, and don't let go. You can trust me, you know!" She craned her neck to smile at him.

"I know, darling." He squeezed her gently.

"But…" Anna trailed off, moving slowly to brace herself.

"Anna…" Tellah warned.

"I think we can go faster! HYAH!" She tapped her foot on the bird's wing, and it squawked, speeding up in response. Tellah nearly fell off.

"ANNA!"

She laughed, her hair whipping his face.

The rumbling grew louder and louder, a scream of terrors to come as it flew overhead. There was no way to beat it to Damcyan.

Tellah held onto Rydia and the chocobo, watching helplessly as cannons shot massive projectiles into the castle. The sound carried back to them, massive booms and cracks as the defenses crumbled rapidly under the aerial onslaught.

Tellah wailed, the primal noise drowned out by the cacaphony of man-made disaster and murder.

Anna...!

Cecil kept running, head tilted down. Rydia remained silent, head peeking around the chocobos thick neck. She was gripping the summon tightly, emotionless.

Once both towers were devoid of soldiers and artillery, one of the hovering airships began a gradual descent. The propellers blasted up the sand, obfuscating the attack from their view. The cloud expanded rapidly towards them and Cecil threw himself to the ground, slamming his visor shut with one hand and slowing his fall with the other.

"Don't breathe in the sand!" He shouted through his hands. Tellah barely had time to register the words in his horror, but the chocobo dug its heels in an unceremonious halt and snapped him to the present.

Just as the cloud reached them, Tellah managed to pull Rydia flush into his chest, sheltering her with his robes. He burrowed his head on top of hers. With only the faint sound of idling engines at Damcyan's castle, Tellah heard the light ticks from grains of sand hitting Cecil's armor as the impromptu sandstorm passed through. Tellah ventured a glance up as the ticking slowed, his eyes immediately watering from the debris that hovered in the air and fell from his exposed hair.

The Red Wings were marching back onto the grounded airship in organized military formations, smoke blowing upwards from the rubble in their wake.

Tellah stood to the side of the pub exit, watching the patrons leave in a single file line from the crowded room after an enthralling performance. He was holding a bouquet of red roses, dressed up in his finest robes. It was the first time Anna performed professionally, and he was so proud he decided to dress as formally as he had when he'd gotten married.

"It was like Claire was back on stage, Tellah. Anna is such a beautiful young woman now," Raslan said as he hobbled past, his cane supporting him as he exited.

"Isn't she? Thank you for coming," he said, smiling back at him. The room had nearly emptied when Anna came out, holding her canary yellow dress up with one arm as she ran, the other outstretched to hug Tellah. She was breathtaking: her hair in large, sleek rolls and her mother's pendant hanging on her collarbone.

"Did you see, Father? It was full! They all came to see me!" she said breathlessly, her smile as wide as can be. Tellah swelled in pride - he'd done whatever he could to help her dreams come true. When Anna was happy, so was he.

"Of course I did, sweet child. You were amazing, just like your mother," he said, handing her the flowers. Anna bounced on her heels, unable to keep still in her excitement. He smiled. "What do you think? Shall we have a late night dinner to celebrate?"

Anna was about to respond when one of the back up singers called her name.

"A traveling bard saw you perform, and he's interested in collaborating with you before he goes to Baron!" she shouted, waving her to return. Anna gasped. She turned to Tellah, hesitant to speak.

"Oh, go ahead. I'm old and need my beauty sleep," he said. Anna kissed his cheek and hugged him. When she pulled away, she didn't fully let go.

"Thank you for being here. My dreams wouldn't have come true without your encouragement," she said, her thumbs running circles on his shoulders.

Tellah waved her away, willing the unexpected tears to go away.

"No need for that. I'll see you at home. Don't stay out too long, okay?"

She hugged him again, giving him one last smile as she turned to walk back to her friends.

"Okay."

Just as quickly as they had landed, the Red Wings had taken off and headed south. Another cloud rolled through, prompting him to hide again. Tellah was shaking, holding Rydia as if his life depended on it.

Please...Great Spirit...please, not my daughter...

The cries of men and shrieks of women and children carried to them, a chaotic medley of horror and loss as flames bloomed out of the crumbling castle, a flourish of Death as he came to drag unwilling victims into his twisted embrace. Every second he waited for the sand to pass was torture. Tellah prayed, begged, and bargained with powers he had never truly believed existed. He heard Cecil stand and looked up. The worst had passed, but they couldn't risk running with the air quality being what it was. It was only a half hour until they reached the castle. In that time the sounds of the dying became faint.

Not my daughter…

None of them spoke, the growing silence pregnant with fear and shock. The castle was a pile of rocks, no longer reaching to graze the sky but slumped on the ground - no longer full of promises, only specters. The scent of gunpowder grew heavier and denser as they approached. His chest was squeezing harder and harder. He tried to keep his breathing normal, but they came across a soldier facedown on the ground and he broke. His heart was pounding, his head was pulsing and he was gasping for air. Rydia glanced back at him and held his hand. Tellah didn't notice.

Cecil bent down and checked the soldier's pulse. He shook his head as he stood.

"Cecil?" Rydia asked. Cecil turned around. "I can't hold Chocobo here anymore." He came up and pulled her down from the bird. The chocobo knelt, and Cecil helped Tellah down, letting him lean on his shoulder to limp forward. Tellah took a few minutes to let his breathing slow down. He couldn't let his emotions win, not when Anna needed him most. Rydia pressed her forehead against the bird's beak, whispered something to it, and let it fade away, green orbs materializing where it stood and re-entering her body. Blood drained from her face - a pallor so deep she looked gray. She knelt on the floor, her head tucked between her legs.

"Are you okay?" Cecil asked them both. She took a moment before sitting up and nodding. Tellah didn't respond. Cecil extended a hand to help her up. "Tell me if you need to stop."

They approached the broken gate, Cecil holding hands with Rydia on his left and holding Tellah up on his right. They took a moment to brace themselves, fearing the worst. They stepped through, a harrowing scent of copper and cinders invaded their senses.

Not her…

Rydia clung to Cecil, shutting her eyes for a second. A soldier rushed past them, only stopping when he saw Tellah's limp. He reached into a burlap sack he carried on his shoulder and threw a potion at him. Without skipping a beat, he went on his way.

Tellah opened the stopper and let it spill into his mouth. The cool, flavorless drink coursed through him, going straight to work on his face, hands, and swollen ankle. He stopped limping; he could now put weight on his foot.

"Let's follow him - he'll know where the injured are," Cecil said. They gave chase, weaving past broken furniture and statues into the wide throne room where extravagant rugs and curtains torn and burnt from the attack lay in piles on the ground, the stone underneath pocked heavily. Mosaic glass shards were scattered across the floor, fallen from circular windows letting in the unrestrained desert winds. There were nurses checking the wounded in a makeshift triage to their left. Bodies of the deceased were lining up on the right. Two soldiers stood vigil in front of two corpses on a wide table, and as the party passed, they saw the crowns laying on the chests of the couple. One of soldiers was shaking, eyes wide open but unseeing.

"Even the king and queen…" Cecil muttered numbly. Tellah didn't respond. He was staring ahead at the platform where the thrones used to be.

Where Anna lay.

Tellah cradled Claire's body in his arms, her blood trailing down his arms onto his lap. Her head hung back like that of a rag doll's. He sobbed into her neck. Her skin was cold, and he was too late. Lydia threw open doors to closets, wardrobes, and chests. She shoved aside the clothes and threw back any items in her way. She made her way towards the kitchen and stepped past Elizabeth's body when a quiet gurgle made her pause. She stood at the doorway, tilting her head up. She gasped.

"I found Anna!" Lydia said, using her whip as a rope to loop around the wide ceiling beam. She pulled on it, her legs pushing against the wall to help her climb up. As she reached the top, her leg curled over and she pulled herself up to straddle it. In front of her was Anna cooing quietly in her blankets. She picked her up, tucking her into her elbow and checking for injuries.

"She's okay!" she called down to Tellah, tossing her hair back to take a better look at the infant. "It's a miracle she didn't fall," she said to herself, letting Anna curl her small fist around her index finger. Tellah ignored her, still crying over his wife. She sighed, preparing to jump off. She pulled Anna up high to her shoulder and leapt, her legs bent up to her chest as they absorbed the impact. She shook the whip loose from the beam and tucked it into her belt.

"Tellah." He waved her away. She bent down and showed him his child. Anna quieted when she lay her eyes on her father, chubby arms reaching for him.

"She's gone, Tellah. You need to focus on Anna now. It's the best way to honor her," she said. Tellah finally looked at his child. His last reason to live.

"Anna?" he said, his voice shaking. She didn't move. He ran to her, gingerly touching her face, unable to look at the arrows jutting out of her chest. "Oh, Anna!" Grief pulled apart his heart bit by bit, cell by cell, leaving tattered remnants in their stead. He heard a sniffle to his right, and he looked up to see Edward, tears streaming down his face. Edward's eyes met his: a huge mistake. He stood up, stalking towards the bard.

"You. You're that bard." Tellah didn't recognize his own voice. It was deep and dangerous, cold. Edward stepped back, raising his hands in defense.

"You're the one responsible for this!"

The bard shook his head.

"No! Please-"

Tellah didn't let him finish his sentence. He tackled him to the ground, the air forced out of Edward's lungs as Tellah landed on him.

"You spoony bard!" He pulled his arm back and swung, connecting cleanly with Edward's jaw.

"Please, things are not as you believe!" he said, holding Tellah's arm back from swinging again.

"I see quite well how they are!" he spat. With one hand incapacitated, Tellah used his other to wrap around Edward's neck.

"I beg you-"

Tellah squeezed. Edward gasped.

"Hear my words..!"

"Choke on your words," he growled.

"That's enough, Tellah!" He heard Cecil say behind him.

"Please, I implore you-" Edward breathed out, losing his grip on Tellah's arm.

"Know this pain - Anna's pain!" he shouted into his face.

"But…Anna and I -" Edward's face was purple, his voice trailing off as his hands fell to his sides. Cecil was approaching them when-

"Edward, Father…Please, stop this," Anna said. Rydia squeaked, nearly jumping out of her skin. She was the closest to Anna; with her focus on the argument in front of her, she hadn't seen Anna move. Tellah leapt off of Edward and rushed to his daughter, cradling her in his arms. Edward stirred, coughing and holding his neck. Cecil pulled him up by his elbow and towards them.

"Father…Edward - he is the prince of Damcyan. He disguised himself as a bard to avoid attention." Her voice sounded feeble. Tellah glanced up at Edward, who was still watching Anna. She placed a feeble hand on Tellah's arm, drawing back his attention.

"Forgive me, Father, for running off with him. Edward...I'm in love with him, Father. But I could not stay without my father's blessing. I was about to return, when…" Her voice gave out.

"The Red Wings laid siege to us, led by a man named Golbez." Edward finished for her.

"Golbez?" Cecil asked, surprise in his voice. Tellah stroked Anna's cheek gently. Her mouth twitched in an attempt to smile.

"Yes. A figure clad in armor of deepest night - his strength beyond that of mortal man."

"You're going to be okay," Tellah mouthed to Anna. Anna shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. She glanced down at the various arrows located all around her chest. She glanced back up, and he knew that she knew. She knew she was dying.

"And the Red Wings' purpose?" Cecil asked.

"Our Crystal - and then they rained fire upon us. I lost my mother and father. Then Anna tried to shield me from their arrows-!" he cried. Tellah couldn't believe it.

"You love this man that much?" Tellah asked. A tear rolled down Anna's face.

"Father, please…forgive me. I was so…selfish. Edward…I…love you." Her eyes shut, her face relaxing as breath became air. The arrows stilled.

"Anna!" Edward said, his tears renewed.

"Anna?" Tellah shook her. She didn't respond. "Anna!" No one spoke, letting the gravity of the situation sink in. Tellah was too late….again. It was too much for one man to bear.

"This…Golbez. Tell me more of him," he said, glaring at Edward. Edward had yet to look at him since his attack. Coward, Tellah thought. Look at the man whose life you destroyed.

"I've heard he came to Baron only recently. It seems he is using the Red Wings to steal Crystals…" His voice strangled and he stopped speaking once again. Cecil clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, beginning to pace.

"Tears do not bring back the dead, boy!" Tellah snapped. "Anna's death must be avenged. I'll find this Golbez!"

He kissed Anna on her still warm forehead before setting her down gently. He stood and strode past them, but Cecil gripped Tellah's shoulder.

"Tellah!" he said, his face stained red with rage. "Not alone!" Tellah shoved him aside. Cecil crashed into one of the few standing pillars in the throne room, caught off guard by the unbridled strength of his anger.

"She was not your daughter!"

He glanced down at Rydia. She had been watching the events unfold silently. She stayed emotionless even when she looked at Anna. He looked back at Cecil almost apologetically.

I hope you never find out how this feels, Cecil.

"Her killer will die by my hand," he said with finality as he walked away. He went past the throne room, past the halls, past the gate, straight to the dock. A captain was standing next to his ship, monitoring the crew as they rolled barrels onto the deck. A long line of survivors stood waiting for them to finish.

"Where to?" Tellah asked. "I have coin."

The captain shook his head, still watching the men work. "Mysidia, but there's no room. Find passage on the next ship. We'll be back in a few days." Tellah pointed his staff at the man's neck. He didn't have any magic left, but the captain didn't need to know that. The man froze, finally giving Tellah his undivided attention.

"Make room," he said, pulling gil out of his pocket. "I have coin." The captain looked at his outstretched hand and nodded.

A/N: Well...take this moment as your daily reminder to hug your loved ones, y'all.