Look, The next chapter!

Dis: i don't own, but i DO know the date of the next game's release. i don't own that either, i just know it.


So close, yet so far, little Spirit. Discordia, my beloved sister, was only the appetizer. Time is almost up, little Guardian, you had best hurry…

City of Gold, Garden of Rainbows, Rough Frontier, Land of Kings.

Only one Illusion left to break…

-Eris

The note was written in blood red. Arietta watched as the note swam in her vision, exhaustion settling over her suddenly. She didn't notice herself wobbling until Andriana's hands steadied her.

"She's tired, I don't think she's used to that much power at once," Andriana explained to Ladekhan.

"We should get back to Sheliak, you can both take a well-deserved rest there. Please, allow me to accompany you," the king said.

'Nashira's closer,' Gibari said, praying to whoever was listening that Andriana would hear him. 'Arietta doesn't look like she could make it to Sheliak.'

Using some of the stubbornness she learned from Kalas, Arietta steadied herself.

"I could too make it to Sheliak, Gibari," she said. Surprise flashed across Ladekhan's face before he regained his composure. Realizing Gibari had touched Arietta's pride, Kalas kept going.

'Prove it. Prove you can make it from here to Castle Elnath,' he taunted. Andriana giggled and prodded more.

"Come on, Ari, Gibari's right, Nashira's closer…"

"I said I can make it to Sheliak, so we're going to Sheliak," Arietta said, opening her Wings. She and Andriana left the ground. Ladekhan figured out what was going on and took to the sky with the two girls.

After about ten minutes of flight, the three made it to Castle Elnath. Ladekhan wasted no time in having a servant lead the two girls to a room for them to rest. Arietta was asleep before she even knew she was on a bed.

---

When she woke up, it was bright and sunny. Blinking at the light, she sat up and looked around.

"Good morning, sleepy head."

Andriana flopped down onto the bed.

"Morning?" Arietta asked.

"Yep. After that monster of an attack you threw, you passed out as soon as you got here. You just barely made it back to the castle." Arietta gave an odd look before the previous day came rushing back to her. NoteShrineflightRiverKingErisfireDiscordianoteredMiraErisErisERIS!

"So, Ari, where do we go next?" Andriana asked. Arietta got up and thought back.

"Mira," she said, "it's the Borough of Illusion."

"Isn't that where Kalas is from?"

"Uh huh."

"And where Ner- Nut- Kon- that forest is?"

"Nekton, yeah."

There was a slight pause.

"Alright, then."

"We should head to see the King."

"Yeah."

The two headed out of the room, greeted politely by passing knights. They made it to the throne room quickly.

"Ah, ladies, there you are. I was just about to send someone to wake you," Ladekhan greeted them warmly. "I trust you know where you must go next?"

"Yeah, your Majesty, we have to head for Mira. Melodia lent us her ship, it's in the Sheliak port right now," Arietta said.

"Is there news of the other Nations?"

"Yes, sir," Andriana piped up, "But it's not good."

"That's what I feared. This whole situation feels like Malpercio all over again…" Ladekhan sighed.

"Your Majesty, with all due respect, we should be going. If we waste any more time, we may be too late to save Mira," Arietta said, she herself not entirely sure why she was being so hasty.

"You won't be going to Mira," Ladekhan said gravely. Both girls opened their mouths to ask why, but were stopped when the king held up a piece of parchment.

You plan was admirable, little Guardian, to head me off at the pass. But order and planning are nothing to Chaos, and so I have broken the Illusion of Mira. My dear sister's death wasn't in vain. Time is running short, little Spirit, if you wish to save your beloved home and the Miran Duchess…

First was Gold, then Rainbow glitter, untouched Wilderness, then Kings and Clouds, last to vanish was Illusion.

I'll be on my Golden Throne, little Spirit… The clock ticks…

The note was written in blood-colored ink.

"King Ladekhan!"

One of the Royal Knights dashed into the room, looking winded and terrified.

"Your Highness, the scouts are reporting that Mira is gone! They say that the Nation vanished into thin air!"

"Wait, Mira's just…gone?" Andriana asked the knight. He nodded, eyes wide with fright.

"Your Majesty… This isn't going to turn into what happened last time… is it?" he asked.

"Not if we can help it!" Arietta said. She bowed to Ladekhan. "With all due respect, we have to leave."

"Yes, of course," the king replied. Arietta grabbed Andriana's hand and dragged her out of the room. They both ran to the port and yelled for the pilot to take them to Alfard.

The ship left the Sheliak port, and Arietta collapsed in one of the seats. She felt herself nod off, and before she knew it, she was sleeping. Andriana looked at her sleeping friend and sighed.

"You guys are working wonders for her, you know," she said to seemingly thin air.

'What're you talking about?' Gibari asked, breaking the silence that the Spirits fell into.

"She never told you?" Andriana asked.

'Told us what?' Kalas jumped in.

"When she woke up… the first time around, I mean… She told everyone who would listen about what happened to her. It was a fantastic story, but nobody believed her. Gabrielle did, I think, but she was always odd."

'Gabrielle?' Xelha asked.

"Her mother," Andriana said. "At first, the doctors and her family humored her, but when she wouldn't stop talking about people with wings and islands floating in the sky and evil gods being reborn, her father got fed up and put her into therapy. She stopped after a while, but she hasn't been the same. They didn't make her take any meds, but she just wasn't herself after that."

'What about you?' Savyna asked, 'Did you believe her?'

"At first, no, and I still didn't even after she Hellfire'd my bedspread to kingdom come. But since I've been here with her, she's actually happy. I honestly thought the thing with Robert would help her, but…"

'But he dumped her,' Kalas said bluntly.

'Kalas!' Xelha exclaimed.

"No, he's right."

"Now approaching Alfard Empire, please prepare to disembark. Repeat, now approaching Alfard, please prepare to disembark," crackled the loudspeaker. Arietta stirred at the sound.

"You let me fall asleep?" she asked indignantly.

"Yep!" Andriana beamed. There were various snickers and chuckles at that. There was silence for a few seconds after that.

"Well…" Arietta said, "this is it… Why does this feel like Malpercio all over again?"

'Because, for all intents and purposes, it is,' Lyude replied. I shuddered, and I could tell the six did as well.

"Well… On to Alfard. Today's the day Eris meets her match."


That's it, only three more chapters to go. The next one will be longer, I swear, becuase it has to cover how they get into the palace, the whole battle with Eris, and the aftermath. Next chapter's called Blind Trust, don't let me forget that.