PART VII

The door to the tavern swung open slowly, and three wondered in.

"Urm, who are we looking for?" Voldos asked, suddenly realising that neither him nor Bootus had met Elnroth.

"I'll find him." Sighed Illuga.

"I'll get a drink." Laughed Voldos, wondering towards the bar. Bootus sighed, and followed the elvaan. The two slouched at the bar while Illuga wondered around aimlessly.

"You think we're going to find him?" Asked Bootus. Voldos nodded.

"If he's anything like us he'll spend most of his time at the tavern." Joked the elvaan.

"And if he's not?" Bootus asked.

"Then we leave the new kid searching for him while we get horribly drunk." Voldos suggested. Bootus smirked.

"Sounds fun." The galka mumbled.

"No getting drunk." Illuga instructed calmly. "Light Warriors, meet Elnroth." Elnorth, the elvaan stood next to Illuga, waved nervously.

"Urm, hi." He said.

"We hear you mugged our friend." Bootus said, always enjoying being intimidating.

"Urm. I didn't." He stumbled over his words. "Not exactly."

"Well, I hope you did." Voldos laughed. "We're looking for links to a man named Sigmund. We hear he operates in the underworld a lot and that you might know him."

"Sigmund?" Repeated Elnroth. "You've got to be joking."

"What?" Voldos asked quickly.

"Sigmund is pretty much the figure of crime in this city. Runs a network of criminals bigger than you can imagine. I generally try to involve getting involved. I look out for myself, you see." There was a pause after Elnroth had finished speaking.

"Can you take us to him?" Voldos asked.

Vivli woke up, laying on the couch. She wasn't too sure how she had gotten there, so quickly sat up, feeling quite scared.

"Zin?" She called out softly.

"I'm here." Zinkata replied. He sheathed his sword. Apparently he had been practicing with it.

"What happened?" She asked.

"You fell to sleep." Zinkata answered. "Apparently you were pretty exhausted from just going outside." He didn't want to explain to her it was her fear exhausting her. He didn't want to bring that up at all.

"I'm alright." She said, getting up. Zinkata had walked over to her, meaning that she felt safe enough. The two weren't touching, but Vivli seemed to feel confident to stand on her own. Zinkata had noticed it often took a bit of time after she had slept for the fear to kick back in. She sighed. "I'm alright." She repeated, holding out her hands and tail as if trying to balance herself, but was actually just reassuring herself. She began to shake again and Zinkata moved in. "No I'm not." She whimpered as he took her in his arms.

"Come on, Viv, I'm right here." He told her. "You're perfectly safe. You're just standing on your own."

"This is so ridiculous." She sobbed.

"Yeah, pretty much." Zinkata said with a laugh. "Come on. You can do this." He let her go and she stood there, breathing heavily. "See? You're fine."

"Yeah." She laughed slightly. "Yeah."

"Now all you have to do is be fine when nobody is around." Zinkata laughed. She started shaking again. Apparently just the thought of being alone scared her. "Come on, you're doing well. Here, sit down for a minute." She did so, sitting in the couch. "Just get used to being on your own here, where it's safe. At least, not physically attached to me." He laughed again just because he was afraid of upsetting her. "I'll be stood right here." She nodded. She was alright. She was okay to be sat on her own. She felt oddly cold, but knew that she was getting better. At least in a sense. She didn't see being able to sit in a room without having to physically cling onto somebody as being much of an improvement, but she knew it was a start.

Elsewhere, Voldos, Bootus, Illuga and Elnroth walked though the busy streets of San d'Oria.

"So, where are we going, exactly?" Voldos asked over the shouting coming from the auction house.

"To the port." Answered Elnroth. "I don't know many contacts, let alone how to meet Sigmund, but I know somebody who might."

"Okay." Voldos said uncertainly.

"You'll like him." Elnroth joked. "He reminds me of you." Elnroth laughed aloud at this, leaving the others mystified.

The tiny goblin looked at them, roughly wiping his nose.

"What do you want?" It snapped.

"You're hilarious. You know that." Voldos said unemotionally to Elnroth.

"You want something?" The goblin barked.

"Why is a goblin inside the city walls?" Illuga asked.

"What? I have rights!" The goblin yelped. "I can be here!"

"You're a beastman." Bootus pointed out. "I'm pretty certain we're at war with you. So, no, you don't have any rights. Not here at least."

"Shut up!" The goblin snorted. "Now what do you want?"
"Sigmund." Voldos stated. "Where is he?"
"Sigmund?" The goblin snapped. "He'd be over in the blacksmith's workplace his cronies."

"What's he doing there?" Voldos asked.

"Probably getting things made. That's what you go to the blacksmith's for." The goblin stated. Voldos rolled his eyes.

"Thank you." He sighed to the goblin. He turned around. "And thanks Elnroth." Voldos said to him. "Now I won't have to kill you for harming my friend."

"Lucky me." Grumbled Elnroth. The three smiled, and walked away, leaving him standing and watching as they left. He cursed their Light Warrior status. It made sure he'd do whatever they said.

Sigmund held up the new golden staff he had in his hands. The yellow jewel embedded at the top was dull.

"What?" He cried to the blacksmith. "Why is it not working?"
"I-I-I don't know." Stammered the blacksmith. "I made the staff to your exact specifications. It must be the jewel you supplied. I-"

"This jewel is the right one." Snapped Sigmund. "I've spent months searching for it. It has to be."

"Maybe the mages of Windurst could do something." The blacksmith suggested in a frightened voice.

"Perhaps." Sigmund clenched his fists.

"I'm only a blacksmith. I can't-" The blacksmith began.

"No." Stated Sigmund. "You were a blacksmith." He fired lightning at the blacksmith, pinning him against the wall as he was fried by electricity. The blacksmith screamed in agony as Sigmund smirked.

"Put him down!" Commanded Voldos. Sigmund turned to face him.

"Ah, the great Lord Voldos!" Sigmund laughed. "And associates." He added with a sarcastic sneer as he saw Bootus and Illuga follow him in.

"We're associates now." Bootus grumbled to Illuga.

"I'm disappointed." Illuga whispered to Bootus.

"Set him down!" Voldos ordered. Sigmund released the blacksmith, and he slouched down. He paused, and suddenly unleashed a blast of electricity at Voldos. Voldos drew his sword, blocking it and attempting to deflect the lightning. It ran through Voldos, shocking him as he tried to force it back.

"Is thundera the only spell you know?" Mocked Illuga, blasting fire at Sigmund. Sigmund jumped back, and stones erupted from the floor, knocking Illuga over.

"No, I just prefer the devastating effect of lightning." He explained as he began to cast thunder spells on Illuga. Illuga went down, but only for a moment. An arrow flew into Sigmund from Voldos's bow, and the black mage let out a yelp. Bootus thundered towards him, and leapt at the evil elvaan. Sigmund flew upwards into the air, and blasted a lightning bolt down at the galka. Bootus took the hit, and turned to face the now flying Sigmund. Sigmund shot him out of the window, and he flew out with a crash. The other warriors ran out into the street outside as Sigmund floated out. "You are no match for my power!" Bellowed the evil wizard.
"We defeated Chaos." Laughed Voldos. "We can defeat you."

"Defeating Chaos only makes you vulnerable." Sigmund taunted. "You were the immortal warriors of the light, but now your destiny has been fulfilled. You only walk this planet by luck. I can destroy you."

"You can certainly try." Voldos said as he flung himself at Sigmund. Sigmund flew upwards, missing the blade.

"I am the lord of the underworld!" Laughed Sigmund. "I have many minions." He turned to a group of a dozen assorted thugs who had apparently been waiting outside the blacksmith's in case of trouble. "Destroy them!" Voldos sighed.

"Here we go again." He moaned.

"This is where it gets fun!" Bootus laughed, charging into the thugs, and sending them flying back with powerful punches. Voldos drew his sword and joined the fray. Illuga spotted that Sigmund had landed, and was retreating. He ran after the evil wizard with a determined look on his face.

Illuga spun around the corner of the street. Sigmund turned around.

"You are pathetic." Sigmund taunted.

"What are you doing, Sigmund?" Illuga asked. "This isn't about the crown, is it?"

"Not at all." Laughed the evil mage. "This all came down to the tiny stone you see here." He held up the staff, the dull yellow stone easily visible. "Sadly it is without power, but when it becomes full again, you will see my true power."

"Stone? Then why kill? Why murder? Why turn people against the crown?" Illuga asked as he blasted a fireball at Sigmund. Sigmund batted it aside and it flew into a stone wall, exploding in flames.

"The crown knew the location of the stone. Simple. Soon I found out." He laughed again. "What did you think was in that wooden box?"

"Voldos had it?" Illuga cried, surprised.

"His parents." Sigmund stated, blasting electricity at Illuga. Illuga was blown back into a building.

Bootus threw one thug into another and the two got up, running away.

"And let that be a lesson to you!" The galka cried after them sarcastically. Voldos spun around with his sword, cutting three down at once. The two sighed, looking at each other. The battle was over. They heard a cry of pain.

"Illuga!" They announced together, running to him.

"It was all quite simple." Sigmund explained. "I was hoping to make those fools hand it over to me willingly, but you interfered." Illuga was still screaming in pain as he was electrocuted. "So now I'll have to kill them one by one." Sigmund suddenly let out a scream and the electricity stopped. He fell forwards, turning to face Voldos. "How many times are you going to shoot me with arrows?" He snapped.

"I dunno." Voldos shrugged. "How many hits do you think you can take?"

"Bah!" Spat Sigmund. "I'll have my revenge!" Sigmund suddenly rocketed down the street, leaving the three standing.

"I think this is the kind of thing we should tell Zinkata." Bootus commented.

Vivli was stood by the fireplace, looking into the crackling flames. Zinkata had lit it because she had said she was cold. She was actually quite proud of herself. She was stood by the fireplace and Zinkata wasn't even in the room. She wasn't even shaking. Zinkata was stood in the doorway to see if she was alright, so it wasn't that bigger accomplishment, but it was a step in the right direction. Vivli was still cold, and found herself beginning to shake again. She stepped closer to the fire. Zinkata rushed in and came to her.

"Hey!" She protested. "I was doing fine! I was just a little shaky."

"No, it's not that." Zinkata laughed.
"Then what?" Vivli asked, her voice soft but quite clearly confused.

"Viv, you're in a dress, standing next to a burning fire." Zinkata announced. Vivli looked at the flames as they burnt brightly. Vivli blushed. There was no fireguard, so she could have been one very toasted mithra.

"Urm, thanks, Zin." She said with a slight laugh.

"Sheesh, we're in a house resting and I still have to rescue you." He joked. Vivli laughed. She moved in, hugging him, tightly. "You're not feeling anxious again are you?" He quickly asked, concerned.

"No, I just thought you deserved a hug." Vivli smiled warmly. Zinkata laughed.

"Breaking something up, are we?" Bootus roared as he walked into the room. Vivli quickly let go in shock. Zinkata laughed, looking around to the three. He walked purposefully over to them.

"Check it out." He said, pointing to Vivli who was left behind.

"Looking good Viv. You're getting better." Voldos cried to her for encouragement.

"Pfft, I could do that." Bootus laughed.

"What? Stand across the room?" Illuga mocked.

"Yeah." The galka answered.

"But you haven't been through what Vivli's been through, right?" Zinkata said to Bootus, emphasising that he should not be mocking her. Bootus caught the hint and was silent. Vivli walked over to them regardless, and Zinkata hoped it was just because she wanted to be part of the conversation.

The five moved to chairs and sat down nevertheless. Vivli was careful to sit next to Zinkata, just because she wanted to be close to him, but thought of it as a safety net as well. Voldos and Illuga recited the story, with Bootus throwing in various 'witty' comments along the way. Illuga emphasised the jewel and the five sat in thought after this for some time. Vivli subconsciously played with the ruby she always wore around her neck (usually hidden by her robe, it was now easy to see since she was just in her dress). She finally decided to speak up.

"It's obvious he's taking it to Windurst." She stated. "It's the magic capital." The others nodded in agreement.

"We have to get there before he does then." Zinkata decided. "Any idea how?" Bootus dove into his bag and pulled out a green pearl.

"Let's give Cid a call."

An hour later and the five were stood assembled just outside San d'Oria.

"What are we waiting for?" Illuga asked impatiently.

"You'll see." Zinkata replied smugly. In the distance, a small black airship appeared, rocketing towards them at high speeds. "I present to you the Raven II, the fastest airship ever built."

"Raven II? What happened to the Raven I?" Illuga pondered.

"We crashed it into San d'Oria." Zinkata answered matter of factly. Illuga gulped as the Raven II landed.

"Where we headed?" Cid called from above as he flipped down a loading ramp. Cid had become the personal pilot for the Light Warriors ever since he had built the original Raven eight months ago.

"Windurst." Zinkata answered. "And fast." Vivli had frozen at the ramp.

"What's wrong with her now?" Illuga asked.

"She gets really airsick." Bootus answered with a smirk. Zinkata helped her on board.

"Oh, great." Illuga answered, making sure he didn't spend too long next to the mithra. The Raven II began to rumble, and burst into the air.

"Windurst, here we come!" Yelled Zinkata.