I breathed a sigh of relief as my physical body melted away, taking with it the restriction of my powers that such a form imposed on me. My strength returned, and the wounds I had suffered no longer caused me pain. As my true being moved towards the Guardian City, I felt another being near me. I didn't feel like chatting at the moment, but the presence reached out before I could get away.

"Strong, aren't they?"

Ifrit was smiling at me, unaffected by his sudden summoning and return to the spirit world. I knew his smugness wasn't a result of victory – such things were trivial between Guardians themselves. But he knew of my disdain for serving mortals, and could have guessed that I wasn't keen to start again after a mere 500 years to myself.

"I saw nothing special, just a horde of kids. Although, that boy in black might have some potential."

"He's quite powerful, and very commanding for his age. Ask Quezacotl, he'll tell you the boy's a fine master."

I chuckled at that. Both Quezacotl and Ifrit were constantly summoned to the mortal world, seeing as how they were so giving of their time and talents to students in need of help. I had little desire to be anyone's crutch, and less still their other-worldly savior.

"I'm not gonna be anyone's babysitter."

"I don't think he's that kind of fighter. Diablos said they didn't summon a single GF when they defeated him."

"Well, Diablos can…wait, he's serving them too?"

"Yup, and it only took three of them. It happened fairly recently, I heard. You think you're angry about being a summon again, just listen to him rant and rave."

"Anyone else we know involved with them?"

"Shiva and Siren have joined them too, I believe."

I considered all this. "Six companions, now with six GFs fighting for them, and all under the age of 20? We should alert the rest of the spirit world, just in case."

"Oh, they all know by now, thanks to Diablos. And I'm sure news of the Brothers' defeat will spread quickly as well. No one's really concerned. In fact, some of the other ancient ones are hoping to be discovered – they say they've been waiting for a challenge."

"Like who?" I wondered aloud.

"Cerberus, Tonberry, a few others maybe," Ifrit listed them off. "I think even Bahamut is growing restless, with so many millennia between acceptable candidates."

"As if the Dragon King himself would ever serve a mortal being," I chortled. "Besides, who would take charge up here if He were running around fighting mortal's battles for them?" Ifrit roared with delight. Suddenly, amid our laughter, I felt myself being called into the physical world. It was as if my very essence was being pulled away, as a far-off voice wielded my name in battle. I was experiencing something unknown to me for such a long time: a summons. I sighed, wondering how my services could already be required.

"Excuse me, Ifrit. Duty calls."

And then I was gone.