Egil noted right away just how cold Valak Mountain was. Did Bionis life actually come here? They were crazy if they did, as far as he was concerned! Especially seeing as Alvis didn't seem the least bit bothered when he'd only put on gloves of all things!
"This is ridiculous." He hugged himself, trying to warm himself. "How can you stand this weather?"
Alvis shrugged. "I suppose I'm more used to it than all of you…" He turned to face them, chuckling a bit. "You all look like little robot-popsicles right now."
"If you find it so funny, maybe I should turn you into a Homs-kebab." Vanea huffed, pinching one of his cheeks. "You won't be laughing then!"
"How violent." Alvis pulled away, shaking his head. "And how do you know that? Perhaps Homs laugh in death."
"I may not know Homs anatomy, but… I'll take a guess and say that's impossible." Linada rolled her eyes. "Shall we keep moving? If we stay still too long we very well may end up frozen in place."
"I would rather not have my joints freeze in place, I agree." Egil stepped past his sister and Alvis. "Come on, then. That's enough of that."
No one seemed to have a complaint, seeing as everyone followed after him fairly quietly. That was fine by him, the faster they got off of this cold nightmare, the better. Though, of course, him leading left one problem.
He had no clue where he was going.
He looked back at Alvis, but the Homs seemed happy to simply follow after. In fact, he gave Egil a cheeky smile, as if saying he got himself into this mess and would have to get himself out. If he wasn't so set on this now, he would turn right around…
But he was set on this and he was sure Alvis would have a snarky comment if he turned around. So on he went, hoping he just happened to be going the right way and that was why Alvis stayed silent.
Turning forward again, he tripped over a damn rock covered in the snow. How was he supposed to have seen that?
"Egil…" Vanea held out her hand and he took it, pulling himself to his feet. "Are you alright?"
"Just fine." He wiped the front of his coat and pants off with a grunt. "Thank you, Vanea. I never realized how annoying the Bionis had become to traverse."
"You think this is bad, just wait until we hit Makna Forest." Alvis snickered.
"You really are enjoying yourself, aren't you?" Linada shook her head with a sigh. "Well, as long as it keeps your morale high…"
Alvis's smile dropped after a moment, something catching his eyes as he stared behind Egil. His face dropped into a frown and he pulled his sword free. "It seems we've got trouble."
Egil turned, being met with a giant and clearly dangerous creature breathing right on his face. "Ah, I see. Let's do something about this, then."
The fight was getting messy and there wasn't anywhere to run. Vanea was on her last limbs, Alvis toppled and dazed, and Linada only able to do so much about it all. Egil let out a hiss as he slapped Alvis back to reality and pulled him up by the back of his coat.
"It seems we could use some more firepower…" Alvis wiped his mouth off on the back of his hand. "And I think I know just where we could get that from."
"Oh?" Egil grimaced, jumping out of the way of the enemy's strike. "Where is that?"
Alvis tapped his chest, a smile on his face. "Inside of you. The question is if you can grasp that power."
His chest felt warm, as if Lady Meyneth was blessing him in some way. He held his hand over the piece, focusing on the feeling and the words Alvis had said. It was crazy to think any of this would help, but a piece of him was desperate. Desperate to do something as the monster slammed Vanea into a wall of ice.
And then he felt as if there was something in his grasp. He gripped at it, both hands reaching up. In his hands, two swords, feeling quite strange in his grasp for a moment. "What in the…?"
"Meyneth's Monado." Alvis hummed. "I knew you had it in you, now then… let's deal with this creature, shall we?"
Egil wanted to ask so many things. How he knew of Lady Meyneth, how he knew of the term Monado, why he knew Egil could do this… But the monster was the main concern, and so he would concentrate his efforts.
He lunged, allowing the swords to dig into the monster's leg and earning a yell from it. It swiped at him, and the only reason it didn't connect directly was that Vanea was back on her feet, using her whip to stop the blow.
"Egil, move!"
He didn't have to be told twice, moving back as she freed the monster's arm. Alvis moved in at that point, knocking it off balance while Linada quickly shot it in the foot, knocking it on its back for a moment.
They continued the fight, trying to keep it knocked down as much as possible. Thankfully this time it went a bit better, thanks to Egil having an actual weapon in his hands instead of simply his hovering drones and nails…
Soon enough, it finally seemed actually dead, and as Egil looked at its corpse, he spoke. "Tell me, Alvis. How do you know of the term Monado?"
Alvis had danced around the topic when Egil brought it up, insisting it would become clear in due time, even offering to show them something. Egil hadn't wanted to let it go, but Linada had been quick to chide him and remind him it would be for the best.
They could always ask more when they were out of the biting cold and he'd shown them whatever it was. Egil doubted it would help much, given his growing suspicions, but for now he would bite his tongue.
For the sake of Vanea and Linada.
"Brother…" Vanea spoke as they continued their trek. "How did you pull those weapons free?"
"I know not, I simply felt… a warmth, as if Lady Meyneth was embracing me." He glanced down at them as Alvis walked on ahead of them. "That Homs said it's Lady Meyneth's Monado…"
"The Monado… was that not something locked away by the remaining Giants and High Entia?" Linada spoke up, concern overcoming her features. "The weapon of Zanza-"
"I suppose it makes sense our goddess would have one as well." He cut her off, ignoring the tight feeling in his chest. "And if I am to carry her soul, I suppose I am to carry her Monado as well."
"I see." Vanea nodded. "Perhaps it was a blessing to assist us in any future conflicts, though…"
"I hope we see less from here on out." Linada groaned, cracking her neck. "There's only so much ether I can shoot."
"Yes, well… I have a feeling this is only the start of our troubles." He scowled at Alvis' back. "That one is sure to bring plenty of conflict from here on out."
"I'm afraid I feel the same." Vanea shook her head. "It almost seems as if he led us into that monster's grasp."
"Don't be silly you two." Linada clicked her tongue. "Egil was the one leading us, remember? If anyone led us to it, it was him."
"Well." He looked away with a huff. "He should have said something if I was leading our group right into a monster's den!"
Linada simply chuckled. "Whatever you say, Egil."
