Sanctuary

by Mauled2Death

Pushing onwards to see his fate through, TJ's journey continues in book two of Frequency: Sanctuary. In order to gather his remaining memories he and his companions strive to defeat some of the greatest Agasuras Jienda has ever seen to collect the pages of a magical tome named Memorius Sanctum. Yggdrasil finds itself in a race against time to complete the book or die trying.

12. Beloved by the Sun

The Eighth Harmony: Beloved by the Sun

"Come as you are and I shall take you as you are. If you feel incomplete than I shall make you whole." (Freya)

The feeling of returning to the present was both familiar and unsettling. TJ opened his eyes as Peorth seemed to be looking over the pages and his heart ached at the sight.

Perhaps it had been many years since the events that conspired in the memories had occurred, but he was still racked with a guilt that may not have been his to bear. There were very few times where he had seen his guild master cry. Both of those times were tears of joy, but then, the sorrow was evident.

To lose a sibling...was a hefty price to pay. To lose people you cared about was also. Peorth lost her mother, her father, and her sister Freya. Su had lost her village and her family and Yuta also lost his family in that same battle. How they responded to that pain differed from person to person.

But what about himself? He remembered the moments in which he watched Avaritia vanish before his eyes. His battle with Straw Hat, with Trini and even Gula. Why did all of his both begin, and end, with someone falling by his hands?

He had sworn he would change, and he promised he would protect Peorth with all he could. Though she was but a child then, and neither by his hand or hers that her sister passed away, he wished he could have done something. He could only look at the aftermath of the scenario and what Kooh had become due to it.

But unlike him, she mastered her power. She overcame the challenges laid upon her and became Peorth's shadow, doing what he could not all those years. She had become strong and in doing so, loving of her cousin. TJ could not yet match her kindness, but he would work towards it as best as he could.

He turned his eyes to the guild master once more and he could see the adorable child of the past, now grown into a fine woman. His heart began to pound as her eyes shifted towards him and she smiled slightly.

"Have I done something to catch your eye TJ? Perhaps if you had seen a memory of us, I would not be averse to you sharing." She said with a slight chuckle.

"Eh?" His face flushed and he turned his eyes to his shoes. "N-no...nothing of the sort. It was just...you know, the usual. Nothing special!"

She tilted her head somewhat. "Is that so? Then it is no cause for concern." She closed the book with a solemn nod.

"Moving on, I am unsure of the inner workings of Memorius Sanctum regarding you still, but perhaps it will refresh some of your memories pertaining to spells. If you do recall any, take all the time you need to practice them, and if there are songs you need to master, please do not hesitate to call upon me."

He felt a bit of excitement at the prospect the two could perform another duet, but she did not need to know that part. "You bet."

The guild badge on her hip lit up and she shifted her eyes to it. "Excuse me for a moment." She tapped it twice and listened in. "Yes? ...What? She is there currently? Is that so? I shall go there immediately."

TJ knit his eyebrows as he watched her face tense and her voice turn to match it. "What's wrong Chief?"

Her expression darkened. "Elias...is under attack by Choen Palm."

He slammed his hands down as he rose to his feet. "What?! We have to go!"

Peorth knit her brows this time around. "TJ, I do not doubt your competence in battle or your ability, but I have concerns about this. I know that you and Choen Palm have a history. After what had happened recently, I cannot help but fear that another dispute between the two of you may not bode well, especially given the current circumstances."

He sat down as he pursed his lips. "You don't have to worry about me Chief. I'm ready to face off with her again. With you there she can't give me any commands and manipulate me. I'll be alright!"

She closed her eyes. "That is a point of contention yes, but it is not the problem at hand.

According to Kooh, Choen Palm has merged her piece of the Heart of Yggdrasil with her body. In doing so, she has found a way to tap into the power in ways we could not have predicted. This decision has both enhanced her physical and magical capabilities, while also allowing her to manipulate her body's shape at will. This battle will not be anything like the previous engagements you have had with her. She will have a strength that far exceeds what we know her capable of. I fear for your well-being greatly."

At those words he faltered for a moment but quickly shook it off. "You might be right Chief...and I'm worried about you too, but we can't leave Vanir and Kooh to fight her off alone. Something could happen if we don't intervene."

He gave her a confident smile. "I promise, I'll play it safe, but you should do the same."

"I can assure you that I will. If your mind is made I do not think I could dissuade you, so we shall go immediately. Constant vigilance, TJ. We do not have expansive knowledge of her abilities at the current time, so let us gauge her first before we attempt to properly challenge her."

"You got it!"

TJ drew his warp crystal as she approached and the two teleported to Elias.

They found themselves near the debris of one of the castle's walls.

"Wh-what happened?!" TJ cried out as he surveyed the area.

Flames rose up to the sky and clouds of both purple and grey smoke did so nearby. Many of the buildings in the shopping district were damaged-pieces of rubble littered the streets and screams of panic by the escaping citizens could be heard from afar.

"This is like Elfa all over again..." TJ said as he placed his hands to his temples and Peorth one to his shoulder.

"It is alright, TJ. The city's evacuation is under way already. But time is of the essence. Let us find out as soon as we can what the damage is and how we can lend our assistance to our comrades."

He swallowed the suggestion hard but nodded, understanding what the two needed to do.

Peorth climbed the rubble and offered TJ a hand. As he climbed over the wall also he spotted a certain awfully green brownie who stood behind a piece of rubble a fair distance away, frantically sweeping as her legs trembled.

As they approached the sound of her panic grew clearer. "Awawawawa..." She said as she watched the battle play out before her.

"Hey Skuld?" TJ asked as the two neared.

Her hair shot up as her entire body leapt from the ground and she shrieked. "Hya! Eh? Oh! TJ and Princess! Thank goodness you are here! M-Master and Kooh they are...they are...!"

Peorth approached and knelt down before placing her hands to the Brownie's shoulders. "Calm down and tell me everything that happened," She requested.

"Choen Palm came to the city and she started shooting things and attacking adventurers until me and Master got there and she said, "Oho! Good you have come Usurper! Now I shall cut you down and uphold my promises, as I am wont to do!' And then they started fighting and Master said to place seals so no more adventurers would enter the area but they just kept coming and-"

TJ listened intently to what she said, but he had to admit that she did a very convincing impression of Choen Palm.

"-they kept showing up while I finished warding the area but then Kooh came and she's been trying to save as many people as she can!" She stopped to take a breath. "But Master is hurt! I do not know how much longer he can keep this up! And I cannot help him!" She began to get teary-eyed and TJ felt his heart ache at the sight.

"Fear not Skuld. We shall lend our aid to Vanir. We will not allow our allies to fall in this battle, I can assure you of that." She rose to her feet and turned to TJ. "TJ, I wish for you to summon Velvet in your stead. It would be much safer to have the Einherjar challenge her first so you are not in harm's way. Skuld, I must request of you that you look over TJ's body in the meantime."

Skuld saluted the princess as she answered, "I will not disappoint!"

"You have my thanks. TJ, we begin!" Peorth said as she rushed out to meet with Kooh.

He gave a solemn nod as he drew his guitar and immediately began to strum it to the memory of learning Velvet's song, and upon completion she emerged from him and drew her weapons.

"I'll take things from here TJ! Leave it to me!" The familiar words and voice of his past companion brought him to the present and he found himself in her body once more. It was the first time he had actually used it, but despite how heavily armoured she was and the weapons she carried, he did not feel as restricted as he might suspect. Without a doubt, all of Velvet's training likely lead up to this. He was thankful she was so diligent in her practices.

He rushed onto the battlefield to catch a glimpse of Vanir backing away as Kooh attacked Choen Palm with Shattered Berg.

At the sight Vanir looked ecstatic as he shouted, "It's the Pink Panther and Princess Monotonè! You guys came for us! I knew you'd come through!" He held up his blade as Choen Palm descended upon him with her arm shaped like one, bone seemingly forming the blade-or something of the sort. "Hey, hey! Can't a man have a reunion with his compatriots without interruption?! Rude!"

She broke away from him and turned her focus to the two new arrivals.

"So you've returned, boy? Ha! How bold of you! It seems you too, wish to die! Good then, we shall settle this once and for all."

"If you want to hurt either of them you'll have to get past me first, Choen Palm!" Kooh roared as she held her dagger up before her.

"Kooh, use this!" Peorth shouted as she brushed her hand against her thigh and TJ caught a brief glimpse of it. As he told himself now was not the time for such thoughts, he spotted a weapon hidden beneath her dress that she drew and hurled towards her cousin.

As it landed in Kooh's hand, he got a better look at it. A beautiful dagger, a deep blue with a golden finish-a curved blade and a handle that seemed to fit snugly in the God's Governor's hand. Was she familiar with the weapon? "Thanks Princess!"

With the second weapon she engaged Choen Palm in a flurry of blows. Without a doubt, Kooh was fast, but with the second weapon her speed had increased substantially and though her adversary met her blow for blow, she seemed to be steadily overwhelming her. When the two locked blades, Kooh lifted a foot and kicked Choen Palm's arms aside, before she jumped as she spun and landed a blow across the face.

"Chance!" Vanir shouted as he leapt above the fallen Heartbreaker and slammed the blade into gravel. "Keh!" He pursued her with his sword in hand and TJ watched impressed for a moment, before reuniting with Kooh and Peorth.

"Princess, there are two things I need to ask of you." Her eyes shifted from Peorth to the ongoing battle and back.

"That is?" Peorth asked in response.

"I need you to take all of those wounded adventurers and get them out of here. So long as they're within the barrier there's a chance they could still be killed, or consider joining in the battle a second time. I don't want there to be any more unnecessary bloodshed."

She nodded. "I shall oblige with that wish. What else do you need to ask of me Kooh?"

"I need you to summon Garfitua's Hourglass from Memorius Sanctum."

At those words Peorth gave her a look of disapproval. Her expression did not change any, but the silence and stillness of her body just seemed to imply as such.

"I know how you feel about summoning Freya, but right now we really don't have the luxury of choosing our methods when it comes to winning this battle. I've been able to keep Choen Palm at bay with the help of Vanir, but our bodies are wearing down.

"You know how the Agasura are. With the powers she has, she has a constant supply of mana, and her stamina must have at least doubled or tripled since the last time you challenged her. Freya and I may share a body, but the way we are it's almost as if we're seperate. We just can't exist at the same time, so she can continue the battle if I can't. That aside, her magic may just be what we need." Peorth knit her eyebrows slightly, but she seemed to be relenting. "Trust me Princess. I'm not just a Keruz for show!"

Peorth closed her eyes. "As you wish, Kooh. But I must remind you that you must not let your guard down if you must use Garfitua's Hourglass. There is a time limit, and once expended you will return, but the energy you expended prior will not.

"Come, Memorius Sanctum!" Peorth shouted as she held out a hand. The tome appeared before her and she flicked through the pages with the wave of a hand. She reached out towards it and in a sphere of light Garifitua's Hourglass emerged from the book. She handed it to Kooh as she said, "I shall return. I leave TJ in your care."

"You can count on me Princess!" Kooh answered with a grin.

Following that Peorth immediately turned away and the three were left to combat the Heartbreaker.

"Let's go TJ!" Kooh said to him as she rushed into the fray.

"Right behind you!" He answered as he followed along.

Choen Palm was on the offensive against Vanir, but immediately broke away as Kooh dove at her and nearly cut across her flank.

"Over here!" TJ snarled as he bashed her with Velvet's shield and twirled his weapon around. With a single mighty swing he slammed it into the ground and tore all that asunder before him. "Hellbender!" A cloud of dust and gravel emerged in the wake of the weapon as did Choen Palm. "Kooh!"

Kooh followed after Choen Palm with a spinning slash from the air. She landed a cut on her face and parried her retaliation as she fell back. She twirled both blades and sheathed them before she created a series of needles and hurled them. Choen Palm raised an arm and they all pierced it, but the attack did not seem to faze her in the slightest.

"Is that the best you children can do?! You have not grown in the slightest since our last battle!" She dashed towards Kooh and stretched an arm out, the flesh grew and extended and nearly grabbed the Governor until TJ stopped its advance.

"Runic Blade!" He roared and as he held out a hand a massive blue, transparent sword appeared from the sky and descended upon the arm. It pinned it to the ground and Kooh managed to land safely.

TJ searched the area for the barista, thinking it a perfect opportunity for him to strike and found him running in the opposite direction. "Vanir? Vanir?!" He shouted after him. "Where are you going?!"

"I'm taking my loli and getting the hell out of here!" He shouted back as he scooped Skuld up under one of his arms. "Good luck kids!" Despite the distance, it seemed that the brownie was protesting.

"Don't let your guard down TJ!" Kooh shouted.

Her warning brought him back to his senses and as he did he clashed weapons with Choen Palm. His club met her blade and his shield met a hand. In the few moments he saw the clash, he caught a glimpse of the claws of the hand extending past his shield before forcing it back as they wrapped around his body.

"Urgh!" He shouted as his torso was squeezed and he struggled to maintain his hold on the weapon.

Kooh rushed through the clouds of dirt and smoke, both blades in hand and encased in ice, extending their range. She took two swipes at the Heartbreaker before she pulled back and thrusted Velvet out before her. The God's Governor grit her teeth as she vanished in a cloud of mist and reappeared behind Choen Palm. She leapt through the air as her body turned and she brought her blades down, one after the other. Both were blocked and Kooh hit the ground before she rolled backwards and engaged her once more. She tossed Velvet at her, but the Governor dodged her companion before she hurled her secondary dagger to where she was to land. A throne of ice emerged from the ground with the blade at the top of it and she created a shroud of mist to surround her.

TJ stopped in the seat of ice and stumbled to his feet, thankful that Kooh kept an eye on him despite how clumsy he was.

"What a foolish trick! I do not need sight to defeat you. I shall just kill the boy and be done with it!" Choen Palm said as the sound of her footsteps going away sounded through the mist.

"TJ, break the bond with Velvet right now! She's going to target you!" Kooh told him as she rushed after their adversary.

"I lied."

"Wh-" A blade pierced through the smoke and Kooh narrowly avoided it, a few of her hairs cut from one of her twin-tails. Following the attack a massive fist came through and hit her torso, flinging her back. She let out a pained scream as she tumbled away and stopped short of Velvet as she vanished.

TJ came to in his real body and his face was panic-stricken. "No...no not now!" As he broke out into a sprint he tried to wave away the mist. "Hang on Kooh, I'm coming now!"

He held out a hand as he said, "To me, Memorius Sanctum!" Once the gilded tome appeared before him he prepared for the next incantation. "Abide by the words of my contract and give me the strength to become the hope of this world!" At those words his wings spread out before him and his hair and eyes changed colour. He came to a halt before he prepared to dash. Without a moment of hesitation he shot off from where he stood and used his wings to propel him even further to catch Kooh and tumble away as a series of purple spheres rained down upon where she once was.

"TJ...above..." Kooh muttered weakly as she pointed to the incoming Choen Palm.

"Die Abellan!" She roared as she drew an arm back and hurled a massive violet spike towards the two.

His gem began to glow and Su emerged with her dagger at the ready to stop the strike. Sparks shot out from the collision and she reached out to the spike before she took hold and shattered it with a hand as she said, "Purge!" The spell shattered and fell like bright glass shards to the ground before they dissipated.

"Su you..." TJ began with a look of fear in his eyes.

"Do you really think you've got the time to be worrying? I'm fine. I'll stall for you, so either get her patched up, or get her out of the fight. As for you, it's high time you realized we don't have time for your usual screwing around and indecisiveness!" She hissed as she rushed in to engage Choen Palm.

"I'll patch you up right away Kooh." He said as he held a hand to her torso and a gentle glow healed her wounds.

"TJ...it's fine, you don't have to." She placed a hand to his and he gave her a puzzled look.

"I think I'm just about at my limit. Let Freya take over for me okay? If she can buy Princess enough time that'll be more than enough." Her lips curled into a smile, but her eyes did not follow suit. "Whatever you do though, I don't want you to fight this battle with the intention of winning. Just weaken her and escape okay?"

"But Freya she...can she even fight?"

Kooh laughed weakly. "You and Princess are such worriers. She'll be fine TJ, trust me. If it's to protect you, she'll definitely be more useful than I could be. I'm counting on you Little Lamb."

With those words Kooh reached into her pocket and drew Garfitua's Hourglass, but it was much smaller than it was when Peorth had summoned it. TJ gave her a second puzzled look as he accepted the artifact. Suddenly, it was surrounded by light and became it's usual abnormally large size.

It had already gained the golden glow acting as a sign that Kooh had used her mana to activate it, so it was his turn to fill the hourglass. He held it close to his chest and the mana from within him trickled into the hourglass in the form of blue grains of sand. Once he had filled it to a substantial level he took a deep breath and flipped it over.

The hourglass emitted a powerful light as did Kooh, and once it subsided the once wounded God's Governor was replaced by her healthy counterpart, who now levitated towards the ground.

As she took her first breath in ages, she touched down and turned her eyes to TJ. She beamed and immediately walked over to embrace him without speaking a word. "Little Lamb...how good it is to see you! I have missed you dearly!"

"I-it's good to see you too, Freya, but we'll have to get better acquainted later! I really, really need your help! We need your help! Choen Palm is here and the city is under attack and you might be strong enough to help us fend her off! I know it's sudden, but will you help us?"

She blinked, a look of surprise on her face. She placed a hand to his cheek and rubbed her thumb against it gently. "Was she the one who did this to you? Was she the one who hurt you?"

His eyes slowly shifted away. "Well no...technically yes? Possibly?" He shrugged.

Oddly enough, or perhaps as expected, considering that she was Peorth's sister, she had no reaction whatsoever. Her expression remained unchanging, and something about it was even more unsettling than her potentially reacting any other way. "I swear to you, Little Lamb, that I will have her prostrate herself before you and beg for your forgiveness!"

He stepped back with his mouth agape. "H-hold on, that's not necessary! We just need to rough her up a little, that's all!"

She shook her head. "That will not do. Nobody shall walk away unscathed after disgracing you in such a manner. I will not excuse anyone who dares to lay a hand on my Little Lamb! If she does not comply I will flog her. Even more so, I am not averse to drowning her!"

"Freya?! That's! Not! Necessary!" TJ said as he gestured his frustration with curled fingers while he waved his arms in front of him.

She smiled at him, and there was no denying there was beauty in it, but even more so he was terrified by it for good reason. She picked him up by his arms and kissed him on the forehead before she placed him at arm's length and stepped back.

Amidst his panic a single thought came and went. Freya's recent action had made him realize that she was indeed an adult-a tall one like her sister, and he was rather short. Something he realized on a daily basis, but thought little of in most situations.

The thought was drowned out by his mind blanking on him due to her kiss. That's for lovers, is what he told himself.

"I will protect you. Fear not." The thoughts subsided immediately and made room for his fears to settle in. He was very afraid, not for his sake but for hers, and potentially for Su and Choen Palm's. She clasped her hands together as she prayed, "O star of the sky that bestows upon us your light, grant me your power in this time of need! Guide my path as I seek to quell the teeming evils from driving our world into darkness! God Ah, heed my plea as I embrace the light from yourself and my ancestor Undine! Allow me to awaken and walk the path of light once more as your Governor!"

Silence. There was, without a doubt a myriad of ways that Freya could defend herself, and by extension her comrades, but how could he convince himself that would actually be the case?

He watched on solemnly as two pillars of water emerged from the cracked ground beside Freya as she raised her arms up, her palms facing skyward. A string of water swirled and coiled around her body, the head like a dragon that descended upon her and consumed her whole.

With that strength, could she really rival Choen Palm? Could he? He clenched his fist to his chest as he lowered his head. He had lost to her three times already, and he had lost many good companions in the process of their engagements. That was not even including the times prior to losing his memory. Was it possible that Freya and Kooh could join the fallen? What of Peorth?

He cursed his weakness and the words of the darkness that spoke to him rang in his mind once more. Was it possible with that strength he could defeat Choen Palm? He took hold of his ponytail and felt the white strands amidst his fingers.

What was most important to him? Protecting his allies? Or defeating his enemies? Had he not already come to a conclusion on that matter?

The pillar of water that Freya had become burst and a gentle mist fell upon the area as she was reborn as God's Governor of Water. A stream of water surrounded her like a mantle, while a robe fluttered to the ground covering a majority of her body, but upon the revealed skin he could see runic markings. Her hair and eyes had become a deep sea blue, the latter gaining a familiar glow. She looked to him solemnly before she approached again.

She embraced him once more as she gently closed her eyes and smiled. "You are afraid...are you not?"

With her arms wrapped around him it was hard to breathe, but he still got enough air to resist pulling away. Her presence was calming, her embrace warm and her scent that of the sea. Their proximity was accompanied by the sound of it, and TJ could not help but think of Orca Beach. "A...a little..." He muttered under his breath. He did not want to admit it and yet...something about her made it hard to hide.

"You need not fear, Little Lamb. I will protect you with all that I am."

His face flushed as he closed his eyes and resigned. He held her in turn and nodded solemnly. Her gentle maternal presence reminded him of someone, but he could not put his finger on it at the time. Disregarding that, he wanted to make the most of that moment-to burn the image and the feeling that accompanied it to his mind so that someday, perhaps he would recall it. That, and who the vague memory was of.

"The time to fight has long since passed. I shall go." At those words she flew away and joined the battle as TJ watched.

He clenched his fists with renewed resolve. The use of the Chaos Frequency was not something he needed now. With the strength of his friends he was able to defeat Gula while using it to a minimum degree. He also defeated Avaritia without it-without a doubt, he could defeat Choen Palm. At the very least, he would be able to hold her off.

The time to fight was upon him.

As he rushed into the chaos of the broken Elias, he caught a glimpse of a series of sparks from Su's Lucent Dissonance and saw as she rushed down the Heartbreaker with a series of Arrows of Light.

"'S about time you clowns decided to get in this!" She shouted as she took a pair of swipes at her mark and followed it with a roundhouse kick.

Judging by the way she fought, she could no longer force herself to use her broken arm but still performed all her casting and attacks with her weapon arm.

In the wake of Su's attacks, bolts of water rained down from the sky like bullets and pelted the Heartbreaker if she was unfortunate enough to be caught within Freya's barrage.

"Come now, is this the best you children have to offer? You have hardly even scratched me with your mediocre attacks!" Choen Palm roared with laughter as she went on the offensive and forced Su back. "Vanish!" She raised a hand skyward and a dark sphere appeared above it, releasing a series of violet magic missile type spells that followed after Freya.

TJ ran towards Su as he closed his fist and held it out before him to release a flash of light. "Sunlight!" He shouted as the sphere expanded and burst.

Choen Palm covered her eyes while TJ augmented Su's weapons. She stormed towards their adversary and cut a swath across her arm and thrusted her dagger behind her to meet Choen Palm's blade. Moments before Su was torn in half by the weapon she back flipped onto the Heartbreaker's shoulders and pulled her down with both legs.

The moment the two hit the ground, TJ raised a hand as he shouted, "Gotcha! Thunderbolt!" With a strum of his weapon a single bolt came down from the sky and struck her arm, only leaving a smoking trail in its wake.

"Weak," She cackled.

"Broken Wings!" Su shouted as she hurled her dagger and it struck Choen Palm's blade. As she appeared on it, she grabbed the blade and followed it with a spinning kick, but found her leg grabbed mid-air.

Choen Palm slammed Su into the ground once, but released her grip as a body of water swirled around her. It rose up and imprisoned her in a sphere.

TJ began to strum his guitar and Arrows of Light surrounded him before he held out a hand. "Twenty-five Arrows of light!"

He watched the spell soar towards her and used the opportunity to prepare songs to bolster his allies' spells, physical and magical defenses.

Choen Palm held out one of her hands and a massive maw opened up upon the palm and engulfed the water prison, releasing her from its grip. "Gula! Banishment of Light!" She shouted as she held the same hand out once more. An odd portal like a black hole opened before it and engulfed all of the Arrows TJ had fired. She laughed as some of the wounds she had received began to heal and both TJ and Su looked on in awe.

"Watch those spells dumbass! She knows the ins and outs of the Contemptuous Arts so don't make her stronger would you?!" Su hissed.

At that moment, Freya descended from the sky like an arrow and collapsed against the ground into a puddle of water. Choen Palm dodged the blow, but judging by the result, perhaps that was not the attack. The puddle spread out and three clones of Freyas emerged from within, each took up her appearance.

"A five versus one hmm? Fine then, come at me." Choen Palm said as she grinned devilishly.

The Freyas nodded to one another and TJ and Su took the opportunity to go on the offensive.

Choen Palm matched each Governor strike for strike-despite their dual-blades, she was able to fend them off with a single blade and her claws. Su dove from above and came down with a slash before she performed a low sweeping kick. The Heartbreaker leapt over the blow and leaned back moments before one of the Freyas cut her throat open.

She used her hand to backflip upon touching down and jumped back while she kicked one of the clones to the ground. She raised the blade and cut its torso in half, causing it to return to water and her to sink ankle-deep into the puddle.

While she cursed her foolishness, TJ came to a skidding halt as he placed a hand below his outstretched arm. "Radiant Blast!" He shouted as a powerful, short-ranged jet of light was fired from his hand and knocked the Heartbreaker out of the puddle and to the ground.

"You're not through yet!" Su shouted as she stomped the ground and the earth rose up forcing Choen Palm into the air. She pointed her dagger at the rising target. "Spear of Heaven!" A thin but quick beam of light fired from the tip of her weapon and moments before it made contact Choen Palm opened the maw and devoured it. "Shit!"

As she touched down, the remaining Freyas joined hands and held out their free hands, causing a pair of water dragons to rise up from the ground and pursue the Heartbreaker. When one of them seemed to devour her, Su immediately rushed to the location, while TJ followed suit leading to the two being caught off guard.

From within, they could hear Choen Palm's next incantation. "Sloth, Envy, Pride! Ungodly Retribution!" The dragons both burst as a beam of massive violet energy surged forth through each and into one of Freya's clones. TJ and Su both dodged aside and the latter tumbled away as the beam grazed her leg.

"God fucking damn it!" She snarled as she gripped the bloody wound.

"Su!" TJ shouted as he rushed to her side. "Are you alright?!" He helped her to her feet and pulled her aside behind some rubble.

"Forget about me stupid! Get her!" She pointed to Choen Palm before she started shoving a hand in his face. "Look dumbass!" The Heartbreaker had one hand outstretched, likely that which fired the beam, but her blade had returned to a normal human hand and was pressed against the gem in her chest. "That strike of yours actually hurt her. The one thing that stupid bitch didn't account for is your one biggest weakness-the revealed gem." Su grinned devilishly, but weakly. "Put the hurt on that thing and she'll crumble from the pain."

He gave her a puzzled look as he sat her down. That was his weakness? But he had never heard that before, nor could he recall any instances where someone had used it to defeat him. How did she know that? He shook off the thought as he drew his guitar and began to strum it to heal Su's wound. "How's that? Any better?" He asked once he finished the song.

She got to her feet and shook it gently. "It's not bad, the pain's not there but the bleeding isn't gonna stop so easily. Whatever the hell she used, she did it full well knowing we won't be able to heal it up right off the bat." Su clicked her tongue. "Bitch isn't entirely stupid, I'll give her that. Let's not screw around too long though, we don't have healing spells on our side so we're at a huge disadvantage. This battle is kill or be killed, got it?"

He knit his eyebrows. That was exactly what he was most concerned about, and had gravely hoped that it would not prove to be the case. But what choice did he have? What could he have expected, entering a battle with the Heartbreaker, and his arch nemesis?

He closed his eyes to mull over the thought. Choen Palm was a powerful enemy, and one that he was close to overcoming, but at a greater cost than he could afford. Someday, he would have to overcome her because she stood between him and the Agasura King. The Sinners, Choen Palm and eventually Asmodeus, his ultimate enemy.

If Asmodeus was God Ah's Right Hand, could someone like him really rival such a being? That being Adonai and Amae had called Father, he knew not what it was but it had a presence that made him realize that his existence was small in comparison despite being the Abellan. It made him realize his own powerlessness and he hated to think about it, but he could not deny it either. He could not run away from the fate he had chosen, neither did he want to see those involved in that very fate die because he was too scared to be that which they believed him to be.

He shook off his unease once more and clenched a fist to his chest. If he could do it once, he could defeat Choen Palm again. With Peorth, Su and Freya by his side, he would do all in his power to see the battle through, if not to save all those that he could.

Think TJ! What spells can you recall now that you've remembered another part of your past? He slapped both cheeks as he let the thought sink in. If Choen Palm had a few new spells and tricks up her sleeve, he would just have to put those he recalled to work.

"I'm ready Su! Let's go!" He said with confidence.

"That's a good expression. Back me up and I'll rip that gem out of her chest yeah?" She said with a grin.

TJ's wings grew while Su's shrunk and he leapt onto the piece of rubble before him while Su stormed towards the Heartbreaker. He leapt from where he stood and jumped a second time to the rooftops of the stores and leapt from one to the next while he eyed the positions of his companions. Freya remained locked in combat with their adversary, remaining in flight but using it as extra mobility as she flew to and fro in a flurry of strikes.

He eyed Su's position and called to mind a prayer. Perhaps it was a simple one, but it was one that would definitely be more effective than a common spell. "By the strength of my conviction I call upon thee! Become that which will bind and throttle the muzzle of evil incarnate! Gleipnir!" He dove from the building with a single backflip and aimed both hands down towards Choen Palm. Golden chains surged forth from them and circled around her before they confined her. As he neared the ground he performed a second backflip and wrapped the chains around his wrist as he skidded to a halt.

"Let's see you devour these, Choen Palm!"

She opened her mouth to speak but no words came and instead she silently grit her teeth.

He turned his focus to his companions. "Su! Freya! Now's your chance to strike!"

"I shall take you up on that offer Little Lamb." Freya answered with a confident smile. She raised a finger skyward and the water of her mantle surrounded her from her head to her feet. Following that she outstretched both hands and it took it's place before the palms, then fired out in a powerful wave. "Howling Torrent!" The high pressure stream of water collided with the Heartbreaker and she struggled to keep her ground. Eventually it came to be too much for her to stand and she was slowly pushed back before she lost her balance and was dragged away by the spell.

As she neared the end of the chain TJ let out a grunt of effort as he pulled her out of the stream and swung her around full circle.

"Bring her over here!" Su shouted as she pounded an open palm. "Divine Might!"

"I got it!" TJ shouted back as he turned on the balls of her heels and brought the Heartbreaker towards his companion.

"I've waited a long time to do this!" Su reeled a fist back and when Choen Palm came within her radius she threw it with the force of her whole body behind it. TJ was dragged forward due to the sudden change in force and skidded across the dirt towards them before he regained his ground.

A devilish grin spread across Su's face. "Oh I'm not done with you yet!" With a wave of her arm she summoned ten arrows of light and sheathed her dagger afterwards. She picked up the bound Choen Palm by her leg and hurled over her shoulder onto the ground before she lifted her by the hem of her dress' neckline. She let go as she raised a leg for a single high kick and raised her open hand. "Radiant blast!" As Choen Palm ascended from the initial attack she rose ever higher due to the second, but the onslaught was not finished yet. "Go!" She shouted as she pointed her finger to unleash the arrows. She took a step back, punched an open palm again and placed a hand to the ground. "Lucidity! Warden's Wrath!" A powerful beam of light erupted from the ground and took Choen Palm with it. "Oh that felt good! Alright she's all yours blue blood."

The time for the chain ran out and it faded from TJ's grip. "You don't have to hold back any for my sake Freya! She's all yours!" TJ shouted to her.

"Then I shall go!" The God's Governor clasped her hands together as a magic circle that featured her element's symbol at the center of it appeared beneath her. "Pentabind!" The water from her mantle surged up towards the airborne heartbreaker and wrapped itself around her waist and fettered her. Five spheres surrounded her and each wriggled and writhed before they each released intense jets of water that shot her hither and thither from one to the next. She raised a hand skyward and clenched her fist, causing them all to fire at once.

When the spell came to an end Choen Palm fell to the ground between them and Freya's mantle returned to her as she smiled proudly.

"You have wronged the Little Lamb, and in doing so you have committed a great injustice. One that I am willing to forgive, but will never forget. On your knees, peasant, and beg for his forgiveness!" She snarled. TJ looked at her with both shock and disbelief. She was super hardcore!

A faint chuckle escaped Choen Palm's lips. The three regrouped as they cautiously eyed the Heartbreaker. Burned, cut all over and badly wounded, she still rose again and laughed all the while. Her laugh became a haughty cackle as her body leaned to and fro until she stabilized herself. A single crimson eye peered through her white bangs as she grinned devilishly. "Beg? Peasant? Me? Ha! Ha ha ha! How cute! I know not where you come from Cerebian, but clearly you do not know who you are challenging!"

Freya prepared the daggers she wielded once more without a hint of fear. "I stand as God's Governor of Water, and Agasura like you will be struck down! No matter how many times you rise again, I will defeat you as the guardian of the Abellan!"

"Will you now?" Her grin grew wider as she leaned forward with her arms back. "Then come, Cerebian! Let me enjoy this to the fullest!"

"Prepare yourself!" Freya shouted as she took a stance and shot towards the Heartbreaker.

"Freya wait-" TJ's cry fell on deaf ears as the Governor soared off.

As she neared a magic circle appeared beneath her in flight and she immediately flew out of its range as a series of violet hands emerged from the ground and threatened to pull her into a crimson vortex.

"Safe..." He muttered with a sigh of relief."

"Now's not the time to get comfy stupid! After her!"

As Freya neared she clasped her hands together and a magic circle appeared behind Choen Palm, starting out as a tiny sphere of water that grew ever larger, eventually taking form of a tidal wave. She readied her weapons as she flew ever closer, and the moment she neared she was forced back as her wrists were shackled and she found herself trapped in a violet case while a series of tiny spheres fired lasers at her from all sides.

"What a fool you are." Choen Palm laughed as Freya's spell came undone and the water fell to the ground behind the Heartbreaker. She snapped her finger and a magic circle appeared above it and released a steady stream of miasma.

"I shall give your beloved Abellan the sight of your suffocation. Let this serve as a warning to all of you, that your titles mean nothing to me."

"Freya!" TJ shouted as he drew his guitar and augmented it.

"You find a way to break her out!" Su said as she made her way around the prism. "I'll keep her busy!"

TJ nodded gravely as he swung his guitar at the prism and found himself reflected. "Come on! Come on!" Time and again he bashed his guitar against the prism as the sound of Freya choking reverted in his brain.

He needed a new tactic. There had to be a spell that could counteract the prism. There had to be! He strummed his guitar and a thunderbolt crashed upon it, but to no avail. He clasped his hands together and lowered them to his side as he gained a powerful glow from the Radiance spell. He touched it with his finger and the prism made an odd sizzling sound at his touch, but it proved not to be enough. He slammed his fists against it time and again but none of it seemed to have any effect. "Fifty Arrows of Light!" He cried out as he summoned them one after the next-he fired each but they only hit the prism and dispersed afterwards.

"Su what do I-" His voice began to sound frantic, bordering hysterical.

"How should I know?!" She shouted as she was caught in an onslaught of blades.

She spread her wings and leapt away from Choen Palm while the latter plunged her arms into the shadows of a vortex. Su was grabbed by the leg and pulled into it before she was brought back out on the other side and crushed by the grip of a massive hand. Choen Palm's other hand became a maw once more that threatened to devour her within the next couple seconds.

TJ looked on with terror before he shook off the feeling and transferred the effect of radiance from him to her. At that moment Choen Palm dropped her and she managed to create some distance between her and their target but she looked at TJ with a mix of unease and thankfulness.

"You didn't have to do that! I can just return to the crystal if things get bad, stupid!" She shouted to him. She turned her eyes back to Choen Palm and only found a puff of violet smoke.

"Could you now?" She asked as she appeared behind her.

"Shi-"

"Poker face!" Her arm was covered in a sort of violet matter with crimson veins and she threw her fist forward toward Su.

The Governor of Earth blocked her torso with both arms as she prepared to make a hasty retreat into the crystal, knowing exactly what would follow that gesture. But her body remained corporeal. A wormhole opened up and from it a massive fist followed. It collided with Su and dragged her back into one of the palace courtyard's walls and through it, only coming to a halt after it broke through the palace walls and left her body within.

"Su?! Su!" TJ shouted. "Urrgh..." He collapsed to one knee as his eyes flickered to brown and his hair began to lose its snow white. "My...my powers...no...not now..."

Choen Palm emerged through the cloud of dust and chuckled under her breath. "How the mighty have fallen. The once mighty Abellan and his merry band of Cerebians now lay broken and beaten." She sauntered over to him and placed a finger to his chin. "Well? What will you do Abellan?" She smiled devilishly.

"It would be a simple matter to kill you right now and do away with your companions. But I am not so cruel and callous."

"Liar!" TJ snarled as he held out a hand before him. "Hailsto-"

Before he could finish the incantation she grabbed his wrist and crushed it using only a fraction of her strength. "Now now...there is no need for that, now is there? Shall we...say, parley?" She snapped her fingers and the miasma disappeared from within the prison, but Freya was not saved from the laser that both harmed and weakened her. "You dissolve the contract with the Cerebian, and I will not murder your friends. As I have in the past." She smiled mirthlessly and this enraged him further.

"I'll kill you!" TJ snarled as he gripped her wrist with his other hand and his eyes flickered to red.

"Oh?" She said as she held a hand out and repulsed him. "'Tis a shame, I suppose. Coming to some sort of an agreement could have been arranged." She snapped her fingers and the miasma began pouring into the chamber once more. "It is of little matter. I have already surpassed you in all respects, so I shall do away with you." She grinned. "The world has little use for an Abellan."

She began another invocation and TJ realized he neither knew what she was going to use or what the effects would entail, but he had to do something to stop her-so he ran at her with reckless abandon.

At that moment a voice pierced the sounds of the battlefield and brought both to a halt. "Warlord Style Awakening Technique! Descent of the Zealot!" A crimson blur descended upon the prism and when Peorth appeared between TJ and Choen Palm, she sheathed her weapon. The cuts appeared across the prism and it shattered. Freya faded away while Kooh took her place and slowly lifted herself from the ground.

She looked to Choen Palm as she struggled to her feet and laughed weakly. "Ahh...guess she couldn't manage it either. That's okay! I'm good to go!"

"You are not. Escape to the safe house. We shall settle this battle." Peorth said as she approached Kooh and offered her the warp crystal the two shared.

"But Princess..."

Peorth shook her head and took a step back. "This is a matter that I will discuss no further. Retreat immediately."

Kooh gave her a defeated smile before she took her advice and vanished from the field.

"So you have come to challenge me also, Cerebian?" Choen Palm grinned. "As it should be. If you cannot agree with them, kill them and drag them along against their will!" She cackled as she cracked her knuckles.

Peorth drew her weapon as she looked to the Abellan. "TJ, are you still able to fight?"

He nodded grimly. "I can, but...Su..."

Peorth nodded solemnly. "Go to her. I shall do battle with Choen Palm in your stead."

He nodded once. "I'll be back Chief. Just...just hang on!" He rushed towards the walls of the castle's courtyard and hopped over it with minimal effort.

Even as he went further away from her, he could not get the sight of Choen Palm out of his mind. The more he thought of her the deeper his anger ran, and he could feel his Agasuric blood boiling to greater degrees with every single second that passed. If he did not regain some semblance of control soon, he would eventually succumb to it.

He had his reasons for not wanting to outright kill Choen Palm, but what she had done and said was absolutely unforgivable. If she escaped his grasp again, the events of the past could repeat themselves. More of his allies could be severely hurt or killed, and both the fear and anxiety of the possibility caused his sense of self to dull. What could he do? What did he want to do? What would he do if push came to shove?

He rounded the corner and entered through the aperture Choen Palm created to find Su on her feet, using the wall to balance herself out as she made her way towards him. A long trail of blood was left in her wake and both of her arms hung limply at her side, but she persisted nonetheless.

"Su! What're you doing up? You need to rest!" He told her out of concern, but his voice had a vicious edge to it that he did not intend for.

"'S fine." She muttered as she looked up to him through her bangs. Her braid had come undone and her hat hung in her non-broken arm's hand. A single crimson eye looked at him through the dusty blonde hairs but even that showed the degree of weakness and exhaustion in her body. "You jumping Frequencies is healing up my wounds. At least, those that can heal." She managed a brief laugh.

"Don't fight anymore. You're in no state to do it. Just return to the crystal and let me and the Chief handle it!"

"Return?" She gave him a lopsided grin. "Like hell I can do that." He furrowed his brows. Now was not the time for her to be stubborn-under most circumstances she would be right, but in the state she was in she could not do anymore than she had thus far. "That bitch did something. She was ready for us, and she created a barrier of her own. I can't dematerialize to return to the crystal, so I'm stuck in this form." She laughed bitterly, weakly. "Guess she outsmarted me this time around, so we're gonna have to fight until this is settled."

His eyes widened as she explained the status of their situation. Was it possible that Choen Palm knew they were coming and prepared for them? Or had she only predicted their arrival and prepared a countermeasure? "Shit! Shit, shit, shit!" TJ frantically rubbed his temples. "I'm gonna-no...no...I can't...I have to..."

"Hey." Her words brought him back to reality and he looked into her tired eye. "I'm gonna be real with you here. We've got low mana. The second we got back from that Instance, we went to our place. We didn't go to the Guild Room and replenish it at all, so if you're thinking of using the Divine Arts or becoming the Molly, don't bother. You can't. Anyway, what I'm saying is either you fight her with the Arcane Arts or the Contemptuous Arts. Other than those two, we're out of options. It's gonna be a battle of endurance from here on out."

He bit his lip as he looked at his shoes. He could not heal Su, Peorth, nor himself. He had memories of spells and such pertaining to the Contemptuous Arts and Arcane, but as things stood his strength with the Arcane Arts would be minimized due to him utilizing the Chaos Frequency.

That matter aside, he specialized in support spells. From what he could recall, there were very few in his Chaos repertoire. Could he really manage given the circumstances?

"But as I am now...I've no experience. Or at the very least, a lack of. If it's a battle of endurance it's not one that I can do well because of the way I use the Contemptuous Arts."

She grinned. "Obviously I'd know that. You're the type of idiot who gets hit, but just hits them back harder."

He pursed his lips. "You did it too!"

She rolled her visible eye. "It was one time! Still, I suppose it's times like these that I can save your ass. I am the brains of this team after all." She grinned.

"Anyway, we'll just do like what we did on Toad Mountain. There's a spell similar to what we had done then that will let me take control of your body. If your memories are right I should be able to use it to take refuge in it also. Two birds, one stone."

He clenched his fist. "That's fine with me. Let's do it quickly, 'cause the Chief needs us."

She eyed him warily. "Freya not enough for you?" She shrugged the matter off. "Not important. Here I come." She took a step back before she leapt towards him. "Haunt!"

Her body split into a series of red and blue after-images that converged upon him from both his flanks. His body leaned back as his arms fell to his sides, and shortly after it adjusted and stood upright. TJ rolled his shoulders and gave an approving nod.

"Been a while since I did this. Is this what it's like to control an Einherjar?" He asked himself.

He frowned. "You know I can hear your thoughts loud and clear. Talking to myself is just plain weird." He answered.

"Making you as uncomfortable as possible is my duty.

"Anyway, I'll try to keep you in one piece but I ain't making any promises, so deal with it!" He said with a grin.

"Just don't...kill me I guess?"

Peorth swung her spear in a wide arc as Choen Palm leapt backwards out of its reach. The guild master continued her assault with a forward stab that immediately transitioned into a Burst Lancer.

"Why have you come here Choen Palm?! What is it that you seek in Elias?" She shouted as she reeled her spear back and used it to deflect a series of violet blasts.

"The better question is, what reason do I have to tell you, Cerebian?" She cackled as she descended on the guild master with a single blade.

Peorth grit her teeth as she held her ground, the growing presence of a second Agasura drawing her attention away. Going by her intuition she suspected it was TJ's presence, and she stalled the attack briefly before she finally deflected her assailant.

At that moment he descended upon the battlefield like a bullet and punched the Heartbreaker across the face before he grabbed her by the hem of her dress. He spun on the balls of his heels before he prepared to toss her in the opposite direction, then leapt off the ground and followed the action with a spinning kick.

Peorth blinked solemnly as she watched the Heartbreaker be flung away while TJ cracked his knuckles. Judging by the flow of movement, the choice of action and the sheer skill of it all, it was without a doubt Suuba inhabiting his body. Though it was somewhat more difficult to tell, her presence could be sensed from within.

"Suuba?" She asked to confirm her suspicions.

"Yeah? What?" TJ asked in turn.

"As I had thought..."

He crossed his arms. "So you want me for something or you just trying to confirm your suspicions? I'm busy dishing out an ass kicking right now if you haven't noticed."

"It is both the former, and the latter." She answered as she reached into her dress' pocket. "This may not be the time, nor the location, but I had received this from Vanir during my evacuation of the wounded and deceased. He suggested that I give it to you."

He pursed his lips. "Did he now? Well, whatever, let's see it."

He approached the guild master and the moment he took the note Choen Palm appeared behind him with her blade coming down upon him like a reaper's scythe.

Only a hair's breadth before the blade decapitated TJ he drew his guitar and pulled away from neck to base of the weapon before he got a safe distance and went on the offensive with a wide swing.

Choen Palm dropped below the range of his weapon and took a swipe at his legs but was stopped by Peorth's foot. The guild master twirled her spear around before she thrusted it at her target three consecutive times, all misses. Following it she was flung off of the weapon before Choen Palm retreated a short distance.

"How cocky you've become God's Governor!" She cackled as she grinned maniacally. "But it is no matter. You may be in control of the boy but that changes little. After all, I did choose to hold back..." The piece of the Heart of Yggdrasil contained within her emitted a powerful crimson light and a surge of wind to match.

"She has strengthened herself at the cost of a greater mana output. Brace yourselves!" Peorth answered as she renewed her battle stance.

"Did she?" Su asked before she emerged from TJ's body leaving him doubled-over for a couple of moments.

In that time frame she took the note from his hands and unfolded it. "Great, yep...whatever." Her eyes scanned the note as the Abellan came to and an angry vein began protruded from her forehead. Following it she crumpled the paper in her fist. "That fucking ass-clown! Who the hell does he think he is?!"

TJ raised his head before he opened his eyes in surprise. "Huh? Su? Ah Chief...! I'm uhh...me again. Just me."

"Yeah you are. And you're on your own for now, I have to do something."

"W-what?!"

"TJ, you must not let your guard down!" Peorth shouted as she rushed past him in an instant to clash with Choen Palm. "Her speed and strength..." The two broke away from each other and the latter rushed in for a second counterattack. "...have increased substantially within the few moments that just passed. Prepare yourself!"

"I've got your back Chief!" TJ shouted as he drew his weapon and took to Choen Palm's blindside.

Su took cover in an alleyway as she read the note thoroughly. In somewhat messy handwriting, it said:

I might be able to help you out with that little thing you were interested in Succubas, but you've gotta prove to me you've got what it takes to do some Vanir style magic. If your predecessor and his Human companion could pull this stuff off, you can too right? I'm expecting a lot! 3

He was goading her. Without a doubt, he was absolutely goading her, and it annoyed her to no end. But what really aggravated her was that he had the nerve to draw a heart at the end like it was the most natural thing in the world.

And all this after he decided to fuck off in the middle of a battle. She would gut him the moment she got the information she wanted out of him, but for the time being she decided to set that aside.

In much cleaner handwriting, there was more beneath the initial message, along with a set of characters that the God's Governor had never seen before. Perhaps that was a part of the incantation? The note continued:

To perform the incantation you need to focus your mana into your hands, but not in the same way you would when refining it into a spell. You have to keep it as is, and release it to draw the runes! Follow the designs exactly as you see them and use the name of the incantation to complete it!

I should warn you though, that the use of the spell is very, very dangerous! The strength of the spell increases the longer it is in effect, but the mana cost does also! Please use this with caution!

Caution huh? She snorted as she scanned the runes for a moment and stuffed the paper into her pocket. If any of them had the luxury of being cautious they would avoid fighting that bitch. But she was not one to make mountains out of molehills.

She looked down and clasped her available fist. It only took one hand to perform the incantation, so she would do just that. TJ could hold his own until she was done-he was a big boy.

She held out her hand and pointed a single finger before she began to draw the runes in the air-a crimson trail of mana was left in its wake as she drew every rune that was listed for her to do.

"Brute Force!" TJ snarled as he hauled the guitar over his shoulder and slammed it into the ground. His body was strengthened and the concrete shattered before the weapon as Choen Palm caught a glimpse of the attack and fled beyond his reach.

"Gun Lance!" Peorth shouted as she spun her spear around and hurled it at an incredible speed. She spread her wings and bolted after it as Choen Palm and her grabbed it at the same time, one from the head and the other the shaft.

"Too slow Cerebian!" Choen Palm cackled as she took a swipe at her with her blade.

Peorth lowered herself before the blade could reach her and used her wings to push her further down while she brought Choen Palm down with her.

She turned her body over and slammed the Heartbreaker into the ground before she reeled her weapon back and a magic circle appeared beneath her. This circle featured a blade lodged in a stone. "Warlord Style Awakening Technique! Heavenly Rain!"

Peorth reeled her weapon back and with a single movement a flurry of stabs was unleashed from her weapon.

"I'll follow your lead Chief!" TJ shouted as he raised a hand to the sky and a dark sphere appeared in the palm of his hand. He clenched his fist upon it and black sparks and crimson lightning surged from it before his entire arm was coated in a violet smoke. "Wrath! Envy! Sloth! Punishments of the Sinner! Heathen's Gauntlet!"

He grounded himself where he stood and the miasma cleared as a massive violet hand emerged from the remnants and gripped Choen Palm. The arm turned over and the fist closed tighter, revealing the bulging green veins all along it.

A grin spread across her face and Peorth became wary. "TJ, be on your guard! I will try to assist!" The guild master landed upon the arm and put her wings away before she stormed towards the Heartbreaker.

She could hear the name of the sins being listed off as she approached and moments before she came in range the arm began to rumble and flung her off as Choen Palm broke free from its grasp. Black fire spread from where she was to it, and prior to it spreading the arm shrunk and seemed to constrict upon its original caster.

The Heartbreaker stepped back and pulled on it, forcing TJ to fly towards her and tumble across the ground, tangling himself in it before being set aflame. He let out long agonizing screams as his body was set aflame in its entirety.

"TJ!" Peorth shouted as she spread her wings to rush to his side. "Broken Wings!" She hurled her spear in his direction but did not reach her intended target.

The spear was caught by Choen Palm and the moment Peorth appeared on it she was tossed across the concrete. As she tumbled away and struggled to her feet, the spear followed shortly after. The weapon narrowly missed as she leapt off the ground with a little assistance from her wings.

"Show me your terror Cerebian! I will feast on your fears!" The Heartbreaker snarled as she ran after the weapon and transformed her entire body into a strange four-legged, eyeless creature with a massive maw, that dove towards the spear as Peorth reclaimed it.

It almost seemed to devour her but Peorth managed to force the maw open by keeping her spear upright. With her feet planted firmly against a series of small teeth for grinding and her hands between the massive front teeth, she attempted to force the jaw open.

"If you believe that you will best me...with such techniques...you underestimate me!" She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and opened them again with renewed resolve. "Divinity Exertion!" A gentle wave of light was emitted from her body and pulsed around her, and through Choen Palm. "Once more!" She released a second wave before she prepared her next stance. "Conqueror's Spirit!" A crimson energy surged around her like flames crackling to life. With a strained grunt of effort she forced the maw open and reclaimed her spear before she broke out of the bind.

She took two stabs at the lower jaw of the maw as it fell away and bashed it aside before she shot to TJ's side with one powerful beat of her wings. As she skidded to a halt she tore the remnants of the spell that bound him and clasped her hands together. "Exile of Darkness!" A golden sphere surrounded him and as it faded away just he was left. His clothes, skin and hair were burnt and he gasped for air as he tightly gripped one of his arms where the fire burned through his skin, revealing the muscle beneath. The guild master looked sadly upon him but he still offered her a smile.

"Don't look so sad Chief. I'm okay!" He said giving her his best smile, but she could see right through his front.

"Revenge is sweet, is it not boy?" Choen Palm said as she approached the two grinning. Both of her hands were bleeding, but the fact seemed to bother her little. Peorth stood before him and took up her battle stance as she glared at the Heartbreaker. "Do not look so angry, Cerebian. The real fun is just beginning!"

Peorth grit her teeth. "I cannot help but suspect that she is only becoming stronger the more we wound her. I had heard this was a trait that Agasura could adapt but...I had hoped this would not be the case for her. We must be cautious."

TJ managed to get to his feet and took a deep breath. "Kooh said we should get her to retreat but...I dunno if it'll be that easy." He drew his guitar and held it in a battle stance. "It hurts a bit, but I'll recover given time. We'll get through this Chief."

Without looking back, she nodded once. Her eyes remained trained on the Heartbreaker but her vision instantly distorted the moment she vanished from sight.

"To your left Chief!"

"Sagacity!" Peorth spun on the balls of her heels to deflect Choen Palm's attack and stab her once before she reflected anything that followed it with Windmill.

TJ leapt over her head and brought his guitar down upon Choen Palm but found the blow caught. Pain echoed through his body and he faltered before he fell to the ground and stumbled.

"You're mine now," The Heartbreaker snarled.

"Not!" Su shouted as she held out a hand. "Zealous Creature!" The runes she had drawn surged to TJ's side and surrounded him as he was cradled in a sphere of black and crimson energy that forced the Heartbreaker back. "Ball's in my court now!" She rushed to his side and took refuge within him once more with Haunt as the energy was released like that of a barrier and repulsed both ally and adversary alike.

His wounds began to heal rapidly, his body had grown in size slightly and became more muscular, and a crimson trail was left in the wake of his eyes.

"If that asshole barista thinks I'll get beaten out by some dead old guy, he's got another thing coming! And so do you, Choen Palm!" He roared as he turned to her.

"It's time someone avenged all those you killed in Hanamah!" A maniacal grin spread across his face. "You won't enjoy this!"

"Beware, Suuba! We must not act so rashly in battling her! She will only grow stronger the more we harm her!" Peorth shouted.

"And so will I!" At those words she shot off the ground as she reeled a fist back. "Bone Crusher! Choen Palm blocked the attack but the sheer weight and strength of the blow put a crack in the bone of her blade. As she touched down she zipped past her in the blink of an eye and followed the attack with a roundhouse kick across the face.

"You're slow, Heartbreaker! Far too slow!" TJ clenched both fists at his side. "Spite!" Where Choen Palm stopped a massive violet spike tore through the ground and grazed her as she dodged aside into Peorth who grazed her with her spear and followed it up with a stab and a spinning strike.

"Suuba you are letting the Agasuric blood cloud your senses! You must not let yourself be blinded by revenge and slay Choen Palm! You must not forget that she has merged with the Heart of Yggdrasil! Should she die, it may be lost forever!"

"Stop your complaining!" TJ roared in turn as he leapt after her and tackled her to the ground before he somersaulted to hurl her. Choen Palm dug her claws into one of his arm before she was thrown and reversed the throw.

He flew across the street and smashed through the window of the beauty shop.

Before Choen Palm could follow up the attack Peorth's spear landed in her way and the guild master kicked her as she ripped the spear out of the concrete. "This will not do...I must..."

Choen Palm wiped the blood from her mouth and grinned. "Come now Cerebian! Is that truly the best that you have to offer?!" She spit out the remaining blood and raised her head to look down on her opponent. "You bore me!"

Peorth closed her eyes. She would not let such simple derisions get the better of her. But she had to act quickly, not out of fear of Choen Palm, but for TJ's safety, and the future of the Cerebians.

TJ had little mana and had to resort to using the Contemptuous Arts in order to continue to combat her, but he also ran the risk of successfully killing her in doing so. She was hesitant about using the rest of the mana left in her pool in order to combat Choen Palm, but this had proven to be a race against time. Either Choen Palm would surrender and potentially flee, or Suuba would gore her.

To ensure the former, she would have to act. "Release, Memorius Sanctum!" Peorth shouted with a wave of her hand. All four wings emerged from her back and her hair turned snow white.

"So you have finally decided to stop holding back, have you Cerebian? Good! Show me the extent of your strength!"

Peorth closed her eyes as she held her spear skyward. "By the extent of my resolve I speak these words. Lend me the strength and wisdom of my ancestors to pierce the veil of darkness that encroaches upon our world! Allow me to become the guiding light for the forsaken souls! Valkyrie Stance!"

Her spear gained a powerful glow and extended with the light that it created and she held it in one hand behind her back, the head of it faced the ground as she focused her eyes on the Heartbreaker.

"I shall do whatever it takes to protect my allies and safeguard the hope of the Midgardians! You shall take no more lives this day, Choen Palm!"

"Try it Cerebian!" She cackled as she rushed towards her.

Peorth took off from where she stood and the head of the spear met the blade, the former immediately deflected the latter. "Swallowtail!" Peorth bashed Choen Palm's incoming claw aside, thrusted the spear into her chest and dragged her into the air with an upwards thrust. At the peak of her ascent she brought the spear down and dug the weapon further into Choen Palm's stomach. She ripped the bloody weapon out and spun it above her head before she leapt and prepared to plunge it through her again. As the spearhead came down upon the Heartbreaker she seeped into the shadows while a field of spears emerged around the guild master.

She leapt out of the shadows while Peorth recovered from the stance, and at that moment TJ shot out from the ruins and kicked her aside before he touched down.

He began to pull shards of glass from his back and tossed them aside. "You need to be more careful Su…" He muttered as he sighed. "That weird skill you used does make me a lot tougher and it helps me heal quicker, but this stuff still hurts."

"If it's not life threatening, it's not worth making a big stink about," Su answered.

Choen Palm shot out of the cloud of dust she kicked up and brought down her massive claw like a hammer where the two once were.

"TJ, Suuba, ware your mana! It is constantly decreasing!" Peorth shouted as she came to a halt and armed her spear. "Broken Wings!" She hurled the weapon and Choen Palm stepped aside from the blow. She reappeared on it shortly after it drifted past her target and she hurled it again, grazing Choen Palm's left arm.

"Then I'll just hold back on the spells!" TJ shouted as he rushed towards her reeling a fist back. He threw the punch and Choen grabbed it, while Peorth appeared on her spear again moments after it drifted past him and hurled it skyward.

"I will cut you down!" The Heartbreaker snarled as she took a swipe at him and cut his shoulder. He narrowly avoided losing an arm by bashing the blade aside with his free fist. He raised an arm and slammed his elbow into her wrist to break the hold she had on him as Peorth descended upon her, spear first.

Choen Palm fell away as Peorth touched down and took her stance once more. The flesh from her arm burned and hung from her triceps, but it was for a limited time. She gave them a grin as beads of sweat ran down her cheek and tentacles the same colour as the arm emerged from within and connected to the rest, pulling it back together.

"That hurt, Cerebian. I did not appreciate that." She said as she rolled her shoulders.

"We have only begun." The guild master answered, but deep down she knew that she too, was pushing her limits. TJ would not last as long as she would either, and if he went beyond that…

"It seems this will not be enough to tide you over." She said before her lips curled into a malevolent grin. "Pride, Wrath, Envy, Sloth! Punishments of the Sinner! Spirits of the Fallen! Rain death upon my adversaries! Hornet Nebula!" A magic circle appeared beneath her as she raised her hand skyward, a second appeared above the entirety of the battlefield.

"I will not let you!" Peorth shouted as she took off from where she stood towards Choen Palm.

"It's useless! Sloth, Envy, Pride! Siphoning Rush!"

As she outstretched her second hand Peorth shot up on an arc towards Choen Palm but found herself forced back nonetheless as a few blue spheres were dragged from within her.

"This will not do…" She muttered as she looked to the sky. Above them a black hole opened and from within a pink sphere gathered energy to it as it grew in size. "Defend yourself TJ!"

"Well this is shitty. Any ideas?" Su asked as she looked skyward for him.

"We're gonna have to just take a guess on this one…" He answered.

As the sphere reached its maximum capacity it began to release a powerful noise before it unleashed a myriad of needles from within that rained down upon them like a shower of bullets.

"Surrogate Rotor!" Peorth roared as she held her spear above her head and rapidly twisted it to deflect the incoming projectiles.

"To my side, Temperantia!" TJ roared as his crystal lit up and Ardoss emerged from it.

"I'll back you up!" He shouted as he clapped his hands together. "Sorcerer Style Awakening Technique! Banshee Isle!" He outstretched both arms and the wind immediately kicked up and surrounded the three in the form of a series of small hurricanes that pulled the thorns away and fired them into the surrounding buildings.

The Hornet Nebula spell faded as did Banshee Isle, calming the winds, but the needles remained.

"Well done TJ! Now we must strike back!" Peorth shouted as she took off towards Choen Palm again.

"Right!" He shouted as he ran after her.

"Wrong!" Choen Palm shouted and both found themselves pinned down.

"I cannot act…a disabling type spell?!" Peorth looked to TJ over her shoulder as the needles that were blown away gathered around them.

"Neither can I…" TJ muttered uneasily.

"Got any more tricks?" Su asked through him.

"Not that I can…" He paused. "Maybe we can!" He clenched his fists. "Gula!" He roared. The moment the needles shot towards them, those that were aimed for Peorth changed their trajectory to him and pierced him from all sides. Following the event, an orb like the black holes Choen Palm once summoned appeared on both hands briefly and vanished shortly after.

"I think you fucked that one up dude," Su added.

The needles shattered and a crimson pulse emanated from TJ's body as he let out an enraged roar. Strength welled up within him and his eyes flashed a deeper shade of crimson.

"I feel so…strong!" He said as the hold from the second portion of Hornet Nebula faded.

"Huh…handy."

"Oh…? So the Sinners are beyond my control hmm? How fascinating…" Choen Palm muttered as she placed a couple fingers to her lips, and her elbow in her free hand. "Nevertheless, it will not stop me from crushing you."

"So long as I stand to fight, that will never come to pass!" Peorth roared as she stood tall and defended him.

"Try it Cerebian! Pride, Envy-"

"Not this shit again…" TJ muttered. He plunged his right hand into his left arm and removed his bloody fingers. "Out of the way, blue blood! Savage Impulse!" When Peorth dodged aside TJ clawed the air before him and four crimson streaks were created in the wake of the gesture. He followed it two more times and each soared towards the Heartbreaker. She dodged each one but failed her incantation in turn.

Peorth followed up the attack with an underhand stab and two more following the first. The first blow missed but she pressed the assault and managed to hit the Heartbreaker the following times before she was repulsed once more.

As Peorth skidded away she placed her spear upright to take a breath and turned to TJ. He was doubled-over, and as he caught his breath Su fell from within him and staggered to her feet.

"Well…shit. I don't think I can keep this up any longer. We've exhausted a shit-load of mana, and me being here the whole time really…doesn't help…a fuckin'…thing…" She collapsed to the ground and vanished.

TJ rose to his full height and wiped the sweat from his brow. "Looks like Choen Palm's spell wore off, so Su is safe for now…" He took a deep breath and clenched his fists with renewed resolve. "It's just me now…but I can still fight!"

He ran towards Peorth and she turned her focus back to Choen Palm who rapidly approached. The guild master deflected the blade and the two met each other strike for strike, both pushing themselves to their limits in order to find a single opening in their adversary.

Choen Palm broke away from Peorth allowing for her to pierce her shoulder, and the moment she pulled her weapon back TJ descended between them and stomped the ground, causing it to shatter and rise in a wave of concrete and dirt.

"You're not through yet!" He roared as he picked up a shattered piece and hurled it, followed by a second. "Avaritia!" He held a hand up and a small group of larger pieces rose into the air before he hurled them at the Heartbreaker, who chose not to flee but shattered them with her hand.

As he took a breath Peorth caught a glimpse of his eyes flicker to their usual brown and she gasped. "TJ, you must not-"

He drew his guitar and clashed weapons with Choen Palm. Peorth decided to save what she had to say for later and instead rushed to his aid.

"Lust, Envy, Pride! Cell of Yearning!" Choen Palm shouted as Peorth's spear was thrust out at her and the guild master froze.

She attempted to finish the action but her body would not respond. She reeled her weapon back and attempted it a second time, but the moment she thrusted her body froze up and refused to act. She placed her spear on her back as she opted out for using her hands, but even then she could not bring herself to touch Choen Palm. Her body began to feel hot, and whenever she looked at Choen Palm she had the growing desire to protect her. It was wrong, and as she came to this realization she backed away from the two as she was overcome with despair.

"Game over, Boy." Choen Palm cackled as she began to force his guitar back.

"Not yet…not…yet…" His eyes turned brown once more and his strength subsided substantially. Choen Palm slapped the guitar out of his hands and brought her blade down on him a second time but he managed to hold it back with one of his hands. She tried to knock it aside with her free hand but he blocked it.

She kissed her teeth in annoyance. "Why do you resist? Your fate is already decided!"

"Chief…Chief don't lose hope!" He said to her as he continued his struggle. "There has to be a spell that you can use! Whatever it is, no matter…how dangerous it is! Please! Please don't fear for me! If it can stop Choen Palm…if it can save even one more person! Don't be afraid!"

Still ailed, she looked to TJ with fear in her eyes. Was she asking him to eliminate them both? But she could not do such a thing even if she wanted to…and if she could she would not.

Despite all of it though, she knew of one spell that could potentially change the fate of the battle, but in doing so, his life would be at risk once more. If she was to utilize it, there would likely be no point of return for either of them. She had to choose between that, and watching her beloved be killed before her. She clenched both hands to her chest as her tears fell upon them and ran down her arms. She could not bear such a thing once more.

She lowered her head as her wings surrounded her and spread out to their full length. With a single beat she took off the ground and rose into the sky above the two. As she opened her eyes she began another prayer, "Warriors of the battlefield, by this would that thou lay down thine arms. Close thine eyes and let the Valkyrie's song put thy comrade's weary souls to rest. As thy time draws ever nearer thou too shall find Valhalla certes. I will follow thee and make a heaven of hell, to die upon the hand I love so well." Her wings surrounded her once more before they spread out and released her barrier. "Midsummer Night's Dream!" Blue spheres surrounded her, and eventually took the shape of blue and black butterflies that descended upon the battlefield as Peorth did the same.

She stumbled as she landed, and took a knee as she caught her breath. That spell had exhausted her mana completely and would do the same for the others. She managed to get to her feet as she looked upon TJ and Choen Palm, both frozen in time. The butterflies continued their descent and perched upon the two to steadily drain their mana so long as the spell was in effect.

She checked the battlefield and caught a glimpse of TJ's rucksack, covered by his coat and she staggered over to it and reclaimed it. She made her way to TJ, as she fought to keep her breath and drew the warp crystal before she pulled him away from Choen Palm.

"Forgive me TJ, for doing this to you. Let us away." She said as she held out the warp crystal and the two vanished from Elias.

Upon Peorth's leaving, the remnants of her barrier faded away and the butterflies returned to tiny spheres of mana that rose to the sky and vanished afterwards.

Choen Palm fell over and her wicked grin changed to that of shock and confusion as she scoured the area for her adversaries. "What?" As she picked herself up her body struggled to rise and she collapsed in the dirt. "Tch…that Cerebian. It would have been wiser to strike her down first…" She closed her eyes in both ire and frustration as she dug her fingers into the dirt. "Next time she will not be so fortunate!

"But for now…I must return. Dr. Truong may be able to recover that which I have lost." She pulled herself over to one of the bits of rubble to pick herself up off the ground. She leaned against it as she formed a triangle with her fingers, a pink sphere forming between them. She extended her hands and finally vanished from Elias.

It was dark. What had happened? TJ's eyelids had felt heavy, and he heard the sound of a girl crying. Was he dreaming? What had happened to his fight with Choen Palm? Had he lost?

He felt water running down his stomach and he managed to open his eyes just barely, but was struck by a long lasting dizzy spell.

He could hear the familiar sound of an Iris Stone, and see the starry night sky, something he often did not see in the familiar cityscapes he would typically reside in. He lowered his head and saw the girl who was crying-her hands tightly clenched against his top and her icy blue hair, her face buried in his chest as she sobbed.

"Chief? Chief…don't cry…" He uttered as he tried to move his hand and stroke his hair. His body did not respond-he could hardly even feel a thing in the whole of it. There was hardly any mana coursing through him, and with all of his will power he only managed to make his fingers twitch. What a sorry state he was in…

"TJ…?" She asked as she raised her head, tears ran down her face, eyebrows knit and her lips curled sorrowfully. "Thank goodness! Thank goodness you made it through! Forgive me…forgive me…!"

He chuckled gently. "You don't have to apologize. I dunno what you did, but we're both alive. Heck, we all survived that encounter thanks to you." He looked around the surrounding area and noticed the two were in the city of Belos, the scenery seemed to say it was prior to the crack of dawn.

"I'm…sorry to ask this of you, but you think you could help me up? My body feels like…a bunch of wet noodles. I can't seem to move my joints." She obliged and rose to her feet before she took his hand and draped it over her shoulder. She placed the other hand around his waist and made her way over to his house.

His face flushed as she pulled him along, but the moment was short lived as two things caught his attention. The first being that his gem emanated an odd crimson glow. It flashed like a warning signal every couple of moments. The second he heard the sound of sizzling-he was not sure where it was, and he could not bring himself to turn his head to see, but judging by the sound it was close. He strained his eyes to get the slightest glimpse and he saw it where Peorth's hand was. A black and crimson aura was emanated from where she touched like a miasma and it was actively hurting her.

"Ch-Chief…your hand!"

"It is fine. A pain like this is naught in comparison to that which you have experienced." She answered, keeping her eyes set on their destination.

"Chief please!" He uttered desperately.

She closed her eyes solemnly for a few moments. "TJ, allow me to be selfish once again. I cannot allow you to bear the weight of our sins without any sort of atonement."

He grit his teeth as he looked at the path she walked towards his house and closed his eyes too. He hated to see her suffer, but he wanted to respect her wishes as she did his. Could he in good faith, turn her request down? He bit his lip as he resigned to her fervor.

The two eventually arrived in the house and Peorth temporarily released her hand on TJ's waist to create a small sphere of light. It levitated away from her into the center of the room, and as it did it revealed Kooh who had arrived in the house and collapsed at the entrance, and the still sleeping Curt.

"Kooh?!" TJ cried out in shock as Peorth grit her teeth.

"Wait for me Kooh. I will return for you anon." The guild master added as she cautiously stepped over the body and brought TJ along.

She carried him up the stairs and into his room before she rested him on his bed. "I will return TJ. I must aid Kooh."

He nodded and offered her a weak smile. "I know Chief. Do your thing, I'll be fine."

She gave one last nod of acknowledgement before she rushed out of the room.

The moment she stepped out he let his body relax and pain echoed across his body. It felt as if he was being stabbed by thousands of needles from his head to his toes, and the aura he emitted spread from where Peorth had touched to his entire body. He had been fighting it back as best as he could so he did not harm his guild master, but the feeling afterwards was overwhelming. The world seemed further and further away, and darkness encroached on his vision.

Then he heard it-the sound of song, the same that he had heard in the Gourmet's Valley…but the voice was not the same as that he had heard then. It was that from when he had lost to Su…the voice that lent him power. Was that…Adonis?

Was he dying? He struggled with all his might to keep his eyes open, to remain conscious, but the sound grew ever louder and his body seemed to be ejecting his spirit. He tried to stave it off as best as he could but…

Peorth finally laid Kooh down in one of the other rooms and exited as quickly and quietly as she could. She closed the door behind her and turned to the direction where TJ had lay, the terror of her own decision rapidly settling in.

"What can I do for him?" She muttered under her breath. "I have neither the power, nor the knowledge to remedy a blight of this caliber." She tightly gripped her arm as she closed her eyes.

"Father, Mother, what should I do? What can I do?" She stepped into his room and pulled up a chair to sit by his side.

She could only watch solemnly as he groaned in agony, tossing and turning as he tightly held the crystal in his chest.

"TJ…be strong…" She whispered as she reached out to him only to be forced back by the sheer intensity of his aura. Some of the skin on her fingertips was peeled off and she looked at them somberly.

She could not bear to watch him suffer like this. Perhaps if she was God's Governor of Ice still, she could do something for him, but she had no magic save for simple healing spells that anyone with the slightest knowledge of the Divine Arts could use. She clenched the bedsheets as she bit her lip furiously.

Why was the truth that when TJ needed her most, she could never be there for him? He fought during the fall of Asgard while she was forced to flee with her Keruz. She was not there during the collapse of Iris' party, nor when he was integrated by the Demon King. She could not even find him after all the events that had conspired. Trinidell had succeeded where she had failed, and when the two were reunited she had let him down once more.

What was the best course of action for her to follow? What would her mother do if she was here now? She closed her eyes gently as she recalled one of her memories.

As a child she sat in her mother's lap as she taught her about a variety of spells in one of her tomes. She flipped through the pages as she spoke of learning something more challenging and stopped on a page randomly.

"Mama, what's this?"

Remedi looked surprised for but a moment, only to return to her usual graceful smile. "That, my love, is a spell you use to give your companions eternal sleep. It is…one that is best used if they are…in great pain.

"It is not something you need know now. Perhaps when you are much, much older you may find a time where it would be of use. Come, let us study a spell within your skill level."

Peorth opened her eyes as she gazed down upon TJ. Was this one such time where the spell would be of use? She would not be the first to have taken his life but…under the current circumstances, it would be possible that he would not remain.

According to RoboCurt's report, Avaritia had mentioned that if need be, she would strike him down and have him transmigrate from their first meeting place. The world beyond theirs, somewhere in the heart of the Sea of Sky, and where she had met her mother for the last time. She knew not how she would return without the aid of the Artimen Clan, but she was not entirely unwilling to take the risk.

If it could spare him that suffering…if it could prevent the revival of Asmodeus…if it meant that they could meet again in a better time…

She clasped her hands together and began her prayer.

Suddenly a powerful crimson glow was emanated from the crystal and Su emerged, her body rapidly distorting, and it clearly not that of a physical being. Her enraged crimson eyes glared down upon Peorth as if she looked at a lesser being.

"What…have you done?!" She snarled. "Why did you get in my way?! Did you think this was just about revenge? Do you know how many times Choen Palm escaped our grasp?!"

"I am aware." Peorth answered, meeting the gaze without flinching.

"Why did you interfere?! She's gonna get away and come back at her strongest you stupid bitch! This was the closest we've ever been to defeating her without having to sacrifice our allies, or the hope of the world!"

"I did what must be done. We cannot defeat her as we are now. TJ has only begun his training as the Abellan, and if we were to murder Choen Palm the Heart of Yggdrasil may be lost forever."

"I'd rip the damn thing out of her chest before I finish her off!"

"We did not have the time, nor the mana to commit ourselves to such a risk."

"So you decided to risk TJ's bacon with that retarded final spell of yours?! What the hell goes on in that thick fuckin' skull of yours?!" She grit her teeth in fury. "I don't know what it is with you and that moron you call a cousin, but you're getting in my way. I'm all he needs. Neither of us need your constant interference! So stay out of my way, and out of my business!"

"Just as you see TJ's business as yours, it is mine also. I will do whatever I must in order to protect him, and the well-being of the worlds we reside in."

Su's glare sharpened. "Fuckin' good for you. But you're clearly not cut out for that, Your Highness. If you think you can have both, you're dead fuckin' wrong. So choose. Your ideals, or the Abellan." Su scoffed as she turned away and faded into crimson dust.

Peorth gasped quietly at those words and grit her teeth as the spirit vanished. Were her ideals greater than her ability to see them through? Could she not protect both TJ, and the world she was tasked to look after? In this moment, she had to choose.

If TJ could not pull through this, Adonis would be released and it would only be a matter of time before their world was torn asunder. But if she was to put him to rest, there was a possibility that the two could meet again, and start over at the cost of his memories, and those that they had created since his awakening. Her heart ached at the thought, and she tightly clenched her hand to her chest as she tried to force it away.

She was a queen before she was a lady, and that thought alone was reason enough for her to choose the greater good over her own wishes. It was…the rational choice.

As she prepared the prayer the door burst open and Vanir stepped in along with Skuld. "Hold it right there Queenie!" He shouted as the two hurried over to the bed.

The brownie carried a potted plant over her head with both arms. If memory served her, it was a Dione's Tranquility. But why would the two come bearing such a plant? Perhaps…did they suspect what she was going to do? Even so…an Elfa style funeral in Belos would not be a simple feat. The thought of transferring the body to the Desert City made her heart ache further.

"I know you're looking for a solution and all, but that's not how you should go about that." Vanir said as he let out a sigh. "Had to run home and grab some things before coming here. Looks like we're not too late." He put his bag down and started to rummage through it before turning his head to his brownie. "Alright Skuld, let's get started. You know what to do."

She nodded solemnly before she made her way to TJ's bed-side and set the plant down. "You may want to stand back or hold your breath, Your Highness!" The brownie suggested as she started drawing runes with her finger.

"Skuld's right. One whiff of that stuff and you'll conk out for a good long while." He pulled a rope out of his bag and wrapped it around his arm. "I'd heard that if you create an extract out of the pollen of the plant and mix a few other things in there, you can make a sleeping potion. This stuff is so potent people would almost think you dead. History books say that a bunch of hired swords used it on one of the previous Elias kings. It took two years for him to wake up from the effects of it."

He glanced at Skuld who just finished drawing the runes and held the pot with both hands, while she turned her head away. "Bombs away!"

The bulb of the plant closed and spewed a torrent of pollen spores around TJ's face, and with it he finally stopped thrashing and came to a peaceful rest.

"That should hold him for a while." Vanir took his place at the opposite side of the Abellan's bed and tossed the end of the rope to his companion.

"What are you doing Vanir?" Peorth asked as she tilted her head curiously. She had to admit, that her heart found some solace in knowing that there indeed was a third option.

"Making sure that this kid doesn't lash out and potentially maim and/or murder the two of us for tampering with things we really shouldn't be."

"That being…?"

He tied the rope tightly and dusted his hands off. "Attempting sealing magic." He smiled wryly. "If the journal says I did it and it worked, I must've done it. And it must've worked. I'll take any checkpoint I can get at this juncture."

She looked at him solemnly, blinking slowly. He had a courage that she lacked-the courage to glimpse into the future, and not fear the outcome. With Memorius Sanctum she could glimpse into TJ's future, only a tiny amount further, but she feared that if she was to tamper with it she could put him in harm's way. She envied Vanir's willingness to do so, but she felt that the path she had chosen was for the best. She would find her way forward, letting herself discover what the world held for the two just as they had in the past.

"I see." She said smilingly ever so slightly. "Then I leave TJ in your care."

"Hey hey, slow down there Queenie! What we're doing is nothing but putting a bandage on it. It won't hold forever, you know. This happened before right? How'd you keep the seals in tact the first time?"

If her memory served her, the last time such an event had occurred was after Kimara, but not to such a degree. It was Amu that requested that Peorth stay at his side, and at her behest that she looked after him throughout his stay in the Elias General Hospital. Was it possible that Amu was in fact the Abellan's lady-in-waiting? She had heard such a figure existed, but she had no definitive proof of it save for that which she read in textbooks. Nonetheless, the fact still stood that someone had maintained the seals, and if it was Amu, Peorth would need her aid once more.

"I believe an old companion of his, and a guild member of ours had performed such a feat."

"Seriously? Well, you might wanna go get that person. But before you do, I want you to check this out for yourself. It'll help you explain it to them when you see them." He looked to TJ. "Skuld, eyes up there. That part of the seal is coming undone, let's patch it up."

"Okay!" She answered as she continued to draw runes without a break. She was a very diligent companion in many respects, Peorth recalled.

"Hrmm…you Cerebians have some kind of ability to see mana and such things right? It should work on this too. What's it called again? Magic vision?"

"Mana se-"

"Mana Sensory, of course! Do that."

She closed her eyes for a moment, and once she opened them her sclera shifted from circles into triangles. As that occurred she could see her own mana like a faint aura that surrounded her, that of Skuld's, of Vanir's and of TJ's. All but his had a calm demeanour to them, but his had become wild and unstable. Above him she could see a magic circle that featured a hexagram-upon each pointed end was one of the seals, and she could see how each encroached upon itself, slowly burning away like a lit sparkler. As Skuld drew the runes, she was able to temporarily restore and protect the seals from further encroachment, but after the enchantment wore off the process would begin anew. She struggled to consistently maintain those that had remained. It had seemed that some of them had already come undone prior to this point, leaving only three of the six seals intact.

"I see…so these are what repel Adonis." Perhaps what she saw on the outside was truly, only the negligible remnants of what slipped past his guard. Somehow he had restrained his inner demons and still remained amidst his allies without them detecting the current state of affairs. She had to commend his strength of spirit.

Nevertheless, time was of the essence. With the image in mind, she could easily convey the urgency of the matter and what needed to be done to Amu. She just needed to hold to the faint hope that Amu was indeed the one that she need seek out, and recruit the aid of.

"I go." She said as she drew her warp crystal and vanished to Elfa.

Vanir rolled his visible eye. "She of little words. Never changes."

TJ found himself surrounded by darkness-his body was falling through the unknown, and as he did he recalled a similar event. He could see both his bare hands and legs falling before him amidst his locks of hair. It was as if he was submerged in water, but his lungs were still filled with air and he was surrounded by nothingness. As he fell further his surroundings turned a deep blue for a spell, and even further green.

He tilted his head ever so slightly, and he saw something unexpected. It was a tree, planted within the nothingness. Upon one side of it, he saw his companions-there were leaves and buds growing from the branches. Ardoss stood on one with his arms and legs crossed as he leaned against the trunk. Velvet sat a little higher and her legs gently waved to and fro. Even Su was there, hanging from a branch with her legs, her arms crossed, seemingly deep in thought.

The other side remained barren, and upon it he could see his siblings exactly as he remembered them. Avaritia seemed to be gazing out into the nothingness with a hopeful look in her eyes. On the other hand Gula sat against the trunk on a lower branch looking bored.

Was this…inside of the Heart of Yggdrasil? Or perhaps within TJ's body?

He continued his descent past the roots of the tree and further down into the unknown. The world turned a deep crimson as he fell further and further, finally coming to a halt with two other people, both chained by their arms and legs.

The first, had to be Adonis. He was the spitting image of TJ, his eyes carrying a fury that TJ lacked along with the colour of an Agasura's. His hair was long, spiky and black. Similar to TJ's in the past, but it had grown out much more than his had at the time.

"So it seems that we finally meet." Adonis said as he grinned devilishly.

"You…" TJ uttered as his eyes flickered to the odd feeling that crept down his arm. "Ahh!" A snake coiled around his arm before it began to glow a bright gold. It blinded him for a moment before forming chains that hung from the roots of the tree. The design of it…was without a doubt Gleipnir. Once his chain came to be, Adonis' vanished and he clenched his fist.

"Ahh…freedom is not far. It has been far too long since I could manifest. It seems your happy little parade has finally come to a close."

"No… no I won't let you!" TJ snarled as he tried to force his way to his sibling. The chain forced him back and a second snake began to coil around his arm. He shook his head as he realized that here, he had little control over his situation. He could not manifest his powers, nor break free of his bindings.

He lifted his head to gaze at the third person that was bound like the two were, and found himself at a loss. There was a woman he had never seen before. She had long pink hair that draped down her curvaceous body, and though her head was lowered, there was not a doubt in his mind that she was beautiful. But unlike Adonis and all the others, they looked nothing alike.

Another set of chains vanished from Adonis, but as it did the previous chains reappeared on his recently released arms.

"Tch! Some fool is tampering with the ritual!" He glared at the sky but his cocky grin returned. "No matter. I only need to quicken the undoing of these blasted seals. Once I am free, I will ensure Father's revival. No longer will you stand in my way!"

He closed his eyes and began to sing the same song TJ had heard on his way down, and that which he had heard in the past. If that was indeed Adonis, and the same song that he had heard in the near past…the strange darkness he had come across was in fact Asmodeus!

He struggled to break free of his chains but to no avail. If only he could remember any of the songs he had known in the past, perhaps he could aid his allies in maintaining Adonis. But as it stood there was nothing that he could do, so he solemnly closed his eyes and hoped with all his might that they could pull him through this hardship.

"That's the way Skuld. Oh!" He pointed to one of the lines from the hexagram itself and followed it with his finger. "Be careful, this guy's pretty clever. Guess he figured going right for the seals themselves was too hard and too obvious. He's targeting some of the ley lines. Don't let him catch you off guard."

"Yes Master!" She answered and he patted her on the head. She smiled.

"Alright cool, I'll leave it to you for now. I'm gonna go hassle some of the kid's friends and see if they can…be of use."

Vanir made his way to the door and the moment he turned the corner and exited the room, a pair of hands stopped him in his tracks and were slammed on each side of his body. "Gods!"

A girl with blonde ringlet curls lifted her head to grin at him. "Where are you off to at such a crucial time, Vanir?" It was the leader of the same-face sisters.

"Lucia…" He muttered his breath as he let out a sigh. "This isn't how you greet someone, you know!" He glanced in Skuld's direction and the brownie had stopped what she was doing while she watched the two-face flushed and eyes bugging out. "Shouldn't I be the one that's blushing?!"

"Eyes on me Vanir." She chuckled as she pointed to his and back to hers.

She's not cute at all, he thought. "Not cute at all." He added with a sneer.

"I do think your reactions are though." She said with a grin as she released him. That fact was true, and he really did not need her telling him for him to know. "Anyway, don't you think that you have something more important to do?"

He was hoping that he would be able to sneak out before she arrived, but it seems he underestimated her timing. His other self should have left better instructions for him to follow. He cursed his tendency to use point form notes.

"Yeah. Get help." She opened her mouth to speak and he crossed his arms into an 'x'. "By help I mean the free kind." He furrowed his brows as he eyed her cautiously. "What're you doing here anyway?"

"Me…?" She asked with a look of surprise. Her usual confident smile was not far behind, of course. "I had sensed a great Agasuric power coming from this location. An information broker cannot make a living without information, now could she?" She shrugged and he slipped back into the room. "Of course I couldn't leave TJ alone if he was in some sort of trouble…" She gazed at him from a single open eye. "My curiosity could not have brought me here."

"Keh!" He snarled. She was a terrible, terrible liar. He could tell when she was lying through her teeth, and he was willing to bet she came just to drag him into one of her deals. "Skuld and I have this under control, so shoo, fly!"

"M-Master I don't think we have this under control at all! There are too many ley lines coming undone at once! I can't maintain them all!" Betrayal of the highest caliber and at the worst possible time.

"Oh?" Lucia asked. His body seized up as he felt her arms drape around his shoulders and her lips approach his ear. "Is that so?" She whispered into his ear, and the hairs on his neck stood on end. "I see." She said in her silkiest, sexiest voice.

Vanir closed his eyes and grit his teeth. "Stop this." He uttered as he clenched his fists.

She chuckled as she pulled away from the barista and made her way to the Abellan's side. She stroked his hair and brushed her hands across his cheek, completely unaffected by the blight aura. "Well Vanir? What will you do? Will you not help him?"

"Watch. Me." He answered through grit teeth before he took to the other side of the Abellan. He reached out to him and pulled away at the force of the aura. "Ouch! Stupid shitty…" Figures that only a full-blooded Agasura could get through it. He may have only had the aura of one, but he still could utilize, and share Agasuric mana. It would not be as effective at a distance, but in this case beggars could not be choosers. He held both hands and started transferring mana to TJ. So long as he managed to fill the cistern he could ease up the strain on Skuld and slow down the encroachment process.

"Master, I don't think this is enough. I can't keep up with it…" Skuld muttered as she continued drawing runes.

"Just focus on the seals for the time being! So long as the ley lines remain intact the spell shouldn't come undone!" He knew how this scenario would end, but gods be damned if he gave in without a fight.

"Vanir. One should not be willing to trade his pride over the greater good." Lucia said as she turned her smile on him.

Fuck the greater good! Is what he wanted to say but he had a semblance of self-control. "Name your price, and do it quickly."

She made an OK sign with her fingers and winked. "Just a little bit of your blood is all that I ask."

"Scorpion woman," He snarled. "Stupid greater good…the things I do for people," He sighed. "I honestly don't get paid enough to do this."

"So I take it we have a deal?"

"Yeah you can have your blood, so you better pay the equivalent in mana, alright? I've got high expectations of you, Lucia."

She grinned, revealing all of her fangs. "Then the contract is complete. I will not disappoint, and look forward to doing business with you again!"

"Don't count on it."

Lucia cracked her knuckles and placed both hands upon his arm to start transferring mana to the Abellan.

"I think it's working Master! The encroachment is slowing down a bit." Skuld added with a cheerful smile. She was having a hard time. She could not hide it from him, but he did not want to discourage her at such a crucial moment.

"Good. Let's keep this up then." He said as he grinned. It was in essence, a race against time. Either they surpass the first threshold to hold back Adonis or he pushes through and continues to break the remaining seals. If any more came undone, it would only be a matter of time before he could break through whenever he so pleased.

The last thing Vanir needed was to hunt down the kid before fate called for it. It being a full-blooded Agasura would only make it more difficult than it needed to be.

As his train of thought came to an end, a train of girls burst into the room. Those being the same-face sisters, Maya, Monica and Naomi.

"I'm glad to see you made it girls." Lucia said with her usual confident smile.

Vanir was both glad, and upset that this was the cavalry. Though the use of a Cerebian at this juncture would do little good for him, he would take any other Agasuric Confidant in place of them. He could not think of a selki in their right mind who would make that journey though. The Cerebians really needed more friends.

"Heyy sis we're here! You left us wondering why you flew off in such a hurry but now that I'm seeing it for myself, guess there's no question about it." Maya said with a wave.

"Vanir's here too?" Monica said with a disgusted look. She was looking at him like he was some sort of insect! If he were not so busy saving the world he would lay into her. "Hi Skuld! How are you?" She dropped to her knees to hug the brownie.

"G-good. Really busy though. TJ needs a lot of help." She answered nervously, but continued unfazed. A real champion, that girl.

"Had a feeling that'd be the case. That surge of Agasuric energy could be felt all the way from Elias. Without this city's Save Stone, I'm willing to bet Agasura would flock here by the hundreds." Naomi said as she rubbed the back of her neck.

She shifted the lollipop in her mouth to the other side before she looked between the two. "Let's not spend too long beating around the bush. You guys look like you could use a hand, and considering Sis is helping out, you probably struck a deal right?"

"How right you are my dear Naomi." Lucia added as her eyes crinkled and her smile widened.

"Uh huh, figures. So tell us what needs to be done and we'll help out."

"If you'd be so kind, share your mana with the Abellan would you?" Vanir requested.

"Please and thank you!" Skuld commented with a tilt of her head.

"Alright girls, let's get to it." Maya said as she took up her position beside Vanir.

Monica stood beside Lucia and gave a nod of approval. "We're expecting a big payout Vanir!" She said with a grin.

"Snakes! The lot of you!" He hissed as he grit his teeth. Then he started hissing at them.

"I don't care that much about the payment to be honest," Naomi said. She took the place beside Skuld and joined in their effort. "I'd just hate to see the Abellan suffering like this. He's not a bad kid."

It honestly was a shame that of the four of them, the meanest looking one had the biggest heart. He would commend her for it, but she would take her unbridled anger out on him. Silence at times, was golden. So was life. He valued both.

With the help of all four girls and the barista, Skuld was able to repair all three seals and set her sights on correcting the erased ley lines. "We're making really good progress Master! At this rate I think we might be able to hold back the Demons," Skuld said excitedly.

"Don't get too excited yet. We're gonna need Peorth and that friend of hers here soon, 'cause once we pass the first threshold the girls can't do any more. We'll need either normal or divine mana to proceed. This is why I wanted to get help but a certain someone thought wall-slamming me was more important." Vanir hissed as he glared at Lucia.

She giggled and he made a variety of angry expressions for the duration of it. "Come now Vanir, is it not appropriate that we greet each other properly after such a long time? We both live in the same city but we hardly ever see each other. Are you truly not happy to see me?"

"Not at all!" He snarled. I'd rather have my ass kicked by the ice queen again than deal with you for all of five minutes!"

Naomi's expression looked bored. "Can you two at least try to be civilized for once in your lives? At least give the Abellan the courtesy of peace and quiet would you?"

"It's not my fault your sister is the absolute worst," Vanir muttered under his breath. He had a hundred other insults in his repertoire that could make the devil cry, but he had neither the time, nor the energy to waste telling Lucia those things. That, and he felt that she fed off of his negativity. If he was an Agasura too, he could win at life with all the terrible things her sisters said to him.

A crimson aura surrounded TJ before it gathered into the Heart of Yggdrasil, and it flashed but once more before it finally came to a rest. A crimson glow still emanated from within, but for the time being most of the danger had passed.

"That'll do girls. Next step will have to be Queenie and I."

"I have-" Peorth stepped into the room with those words and Vanir threw his hands back in a panic.

"Wah!" He shouted as he raised a leg too as if to defend himself in a rather mediocre way.

"-returned."

"Hello everyone!" An unfamiliar girl said as she followed after the guild master. She was clad in desert garb, from a gentle violet tunic with a series of markings on the front to a long white skirt, shemagh and sandals. Judging by her face though, she looked like she hailed from Aoich. Probably took up residence in Elfa for some reason or another. If so, she might be able to score him some leads on the botany of the Desert-finding Dione's Tranquility was a pain as is, but there were certainly some other goodies he wanted to get his hands on.

After TJ and friends trashed the place, they became rather wary of travellers so having an inside source would do one worlds of good.

"So this is that friend who can seal Adonis? Doesn't look like an adventurer type." Vanir said as he knit his eyebrows.

"You're right there." She laughed gently with a warm smile. Cute. Unlike a certain group of Vampanelars he could think of. And yet…he could see the shadows of suffering in it.

If she had ran with Peorth and her crew at any point, such an event was bound to happen. Like it or not, anyone who got involved with the Abellan would suffer. He was not known as the Calamity Trigger solely because of his Agasuric nature. The calamity he had wrought both in the far past and the near past would not easily be forgotten. For some kid, he was not to be underestimated…but he did not even reach the true extent of his ability.

"Technically I'm just a healer. I do know a fair bit about medicines and potions too of course! I guess in that regard I'm more of an alchemist."

"Forgive my imprudence, but I must request that we aid TJ first. I do not wish to see him suffer any longer than need be." Peorth said with an air of concern about her.

"Of course! Let's get down to it Chief."

Vanir looked shocked. Someone else actually called her Chief? Not that nicknames came as a surprise to him-she had several, but he assumed it was only TJ that referred to her in such a way. For reasons unknown. He set the thought aside to question her about the origin of it later, so he could focus on the current task.

"Queenie's right. Let's save the introductions for later. Come over here and help me transfer mana to him would you?" Vanir asked as he gestured to Peorth with a flick of his head in her direction.

Peorth nodded solemnly before she took her place at TJ's bedside while the other girls stood aside.

Amu made her way to the foot of the bed and cleared her throat before she took a deep breath. "It's been some time since I last did this. Is everyone ready?" She asked.

"I…uhh…don't have to do anything right? For this ritual or whatever?" Vanir asked with a hint of unease.

"No, I'll handle all of it. You can continue what you're doing."

"Alright Queenie, let's do this."

She nodded once more. "Both TJ and I are in your care." That was one heavy statement she just made.

Would they blame him if he screwed up and potentially doomed them all? After all of his previous failures, he wondered if it would bother him as much. He would just have to mark it down and hope his next incarnation does not screw up the way he did. Though there was nothing to it but to try and hope for the best.

"Yup I'll take care of ya'll." He said with a wry smile.

Amu placed her hands to her chest as a magic circle appeared beneath her. It bore the herald of the Asgardians, and judging by the runes and the shape of the ley lines, it was one that hailed from long before their time. Just what on earth had those Cerebians been passing down to their predecessors all these years?

"By my name and the will of my goddess Amae I pass judgement. Let my words and spirit pierce the heavens and the hearts of demons to save this soul their torment. Let this song be the chains that bind the darkness so that the light of hope may shine forth!" She closed her eyes as she began to sing, and the magic circle grew ever brighter.

Vanir had to admit, for such a small, frail looking girl, she had one hell of a voice! Despite the appearance though, there was something almost…disturbing about it. He found himself hard pressed to believe that it was indeed her own, due to the ethereal sound of it. It sounded oddly…familiar, yet still unsettling. Was it reminiscent of angels? He shook his head rapidly.

It couldn't be…could it? The last time he had heard such a voice was his battle with one of the last Sages from where he hailed from. The Anima…they sounded eerily like she did now. But they were wiped out. He made certain of that so…how?

"Vanir?" Peorth asked. Her creepy piercing blue eyes were staring at him like a wolf ready to devour its prey.

"Huh?" He realized his mana output had stopped and he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Uhh…ahem! Just needed a breather is all." He could feel Lucia watching him, and the notion made his hair stand on end.

There was definitely something strange here, but he could not put his finger on it yet. He would need to find out more about this Amu girl, and jot down that information for future reference.

As the song went on runes surrounded the group and the seal for Adonis began to change colour, starting with a single ley line and flowing throughout the whole thing. It changed from red to blue, and that which Skuld had affected eventually did also. It halted the encroachment and repaired all of the damaged seals in the process. The brownie let out a sigh as she collapsed to her knees.

"Looks like we're almost there. At that juncture there won't be any more I can do for him. I don't have divine mana within me, so it'll be up to you two." Vanir said as he watched the second aura surround TJ, this time green. It gathered into the Heart of Yggdrasil and it flashed once, causing the crimson aura swirling within to shrink further.

Vanir stepped back and leaned against the wall with a sigh. "Alright, my part's done. When your song is finished, you should help out Queenie, Amu."

"I'm kinda curious. Where'd you learn about all of this Vanir?" Maya asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It's a long story, and telling it without my whiteboard is troublesome, so I don't want to."

"Oh get off of it would you? You've got nothing better to do so you might as well indulge her." Naomi said as she rolled her eyes.

"Ugh…fine." He stroked his ponytail. "Where the hell do I even begin with him?

"Alright look, guys like TJ and I? We don't have bodies like yours."

"What do you mean by that?" Monica asked cautiously. What was she getting so hostile for? He had not even gotten snarky…yet.

"Cerebians, Agasura, and Humans have different body types. Each requires a different type of mana, and how we get it varies too. TJ and I are most similar to Humans, in that we don't rely on one type specifically. TJ can tap into all three types, but he has to get them the same way each respective faction does. While I have access to Agasuric and normal mana only. It's…complicated."

He crossed his arms. "In essence, it's the body makeup. The two of us rely on the 'circuit' system, while you guys rely on the 'flow' system. Our system requires a combination of mana to create spells." He sighed. "It'd help if I had some sort of diagram." He glanced at TJ and placed a fist into an open palm. "Alright check this out." He gestured them all over and they surrounded the Abellan.

"You see these scars?" He pointed to TJ's stomach, where there were three scars that branched out from the location of the Heart of Yggdrasil beneath his top. "Say these two here are his pools of mana. The one at the far left would be Order, and the right would be Chaos. The one in the center is the 'cistern'. In essence, where he stores his normal mana, but also where he combines it to create an intended effect." He traced a line from one, up the scar and to the center. "If he was to use Order, mana would move from the pool into the cistern, and spread it throughout his body temporarily. It'd return to normal following the process. Now if he was to switch Frequencies, mana would constantly flow into the cistern and spread it throughout his body so he could continuously use Order spells. In doing so though, it closes the circuit, so he can't use Chaos spells until he either neutralizes the effect or switches Frequencies again. Then again, you could force it, but that's just subjecting yourself to torture!" He laughed.

Nobody laughed with him. No one in the room seemed to have a sense of humour. He muttered about that fact under his breath.

"Anyway…" He said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Couple years back one of my student's guild mates brought back some diagnostics from the Dark Moon. They'd run some tests on the kid, and in the process created Agasuras using the circuit system as a basis, and replicas of the Heart of Yggdrasil." He placed a hand to his lips in thought for a moment. "Maybe replica isn't the right word. Let's say an imitation-that being, opal. The intended effect was that rather than trying to create Agasura, or Abominations as I call them, through injecting Agasuric mana into them, they create a replacement cistern. Through this, it collects mana and prevents overflow throughout the body."

Monica crossed her arms and pursed her lips as she took the information in. "So what happens if the mana overflows?" She asked.

"They turn into uncontrollable Agasura! Well…failures. If they can't control them, they're only a threat to the creators. Thus the opal stems the flow, and through a slow trickle the body adapts and rebuilds itself around that new type of mana. After an extended period of exposure, the body itself begins to transform to adapt to the change, and Agasuric characteristics begin taking form. Thus, the creation of Abominations." He crossed his arms this time too as Amu's song came to a close and she joined Peorth. "The tricky thing here is that it's not all that easy."

"What do you mean?" Lucia asked, her face showing genuine curiosity. For a know-it-all, blood glutton, stuck-up princess of a Vampanelar, she could be charming when she was not looking down on him.

"It all boils down to a matter of willpower. The weak-willed will easily be transformed into Agasura, but in doing so they'll come out weak, retaining a mostly human form, if not something lesser. Their strength would likely border the line between Human and Agasura, and in that regard they'd be nothing more than fodder. Those who resist and reject the Agasuric mana cause the circuit to pump out an increased input, and in doing so the body is further pushed past its limits, creating a stronger Agasura."

Those with the potential were not far from the Agasura he had become familiar with during his adventuring days. To think that Samson and a few others from Bastion managed to fight off similar creatures still impressed him to the day. But unlike those, what his companions had come across were immortal beings.

"Choen Palm herself took that approach. To think that she used a shard of the Heart of Yggdrasil to act as a cistern is fuckin' insane. But I guess she's not Asmodeus' party pooper princess just for show."

Her transformation ability was not something to be trifled with. If she had gotten serious against him, she may have actually killed him in the process. It was a good thing he did not have Skuld release the seals on him at the time, or that may have come to pass.

"Homegirl's got some insane strength of spirit to bear that much mana within her body." He chuckled. "But that's just the thing about Humanity. They have some of the most terrifying potential out of all the races. Their identities and abilities are so malleable that they can toe the line between races and still come out in one piece. Which is what I'm most concerned about."

If Dr. Truong could make Agasuras like that using Cerebians, what could he accomplish if he was to take this practice to Humans? If he was to follow in his own father's wake, it would only spell disaster for Jienda. That ideal they shared was what brought Vanir this far, and that very thing may just be the deciding factor in terms of whom would kill whom. Truong had Choen Palm at his side, but he felt certain she was not the only one who he recruited. Thankfully, Vanir had a special weapon of his own. With them at his side, he may be able to turn the tables, but he also ran the risk of dooming the world in the process.

"I'm curious about this flow system you mentioned. It's not that I don't understand how our body makeup works, but I'm interested in how that compares to the system you rely on." Naomi said as she took her lollipop out of her mouth and waved it at him.

"Hmm…the flow system? Well, it's as you'd imagine it to be. One type of mana that flows freely through the body. Since there's no need to switch between types, spells and stances come out quicker, and more often than not, if you know your stuff you won't need incantations. In our case, that being Skuld and I, it shortens the time it takes us to write the runes."

"Would you care to tell me what you meant by 'thresholds' earlier? I had not questioned it at the time but since you are explaining anyway, perhaps now is reasonable?" Lucia asked with her most charming smile. He glared at her.

"What is this?! An ask me anything?" Get out! He did not add the last part, but he wanted to. "To stabilize his body, we needed to pass three thresholds, those being each of his mana pools. The thing about TJ that differs from us is his mana capacity is huge. If we expend our mana, first we feel exhausted, and if we go further than that it will lead to lethargy, and then a complete collapse. TJ's can go above and beyond that point, but if he does he enters a 'failsafe' mode because his body senses his life is in danger. In that state, it attempts to forcefully restore his mana by taking it from the nearest source, that being, his inner demons.

"The problem? When he enters that state he's not conscious, so it's a free-for-all for whoever can take the reins of the body. If this time was any indication, Adonis saw his chance and tried to take it. By maintaining the seals and restoring his mana we managed to keep Adonis in check so he couldn't escape temporarily. Of course, that's all we can do. Just like the others, it's his willpower that will decide whether or not he can reclaim his body. If he fails, Adonis can take over and all hell will break loose. Bad end, in a nutshell."

A blue aura surrounded TJ before it came to rest in the Heart of Yggdrasil and Amu let out a sigh of relief. "It looks like the ritual was a success, but I can't help but feel that something still isn't right." She said as she cautiously eyed him.

"How do you mean?" Peorth asked as she knit her eyebrows.

"We've filled the mana pool, and the ritual was a success, but…his conscious self is still…missing." She looked down at his chest. "I'd only done this once before but…I'm going to give it another try. I'm going to glimpse into his memories."

Peorth tilted her head quizzically while the rest gave her puzzled looks.

"You can do that?" Monica asked with a dumbfounded expression.

"Probably just one of the perks of being the Abellan's attendant." Vanir said with a shrug. "I wouldn't wanna look through that, though. Gods know what hells he's seen."

Amu climbed onto the bed and rested her ear against his chest, directly against the Heart of Yggdrasil. Vanir's lips curled into a sliver of a grin as he glimpsed at Peorth who seemed to silently burn with jealousy despite her unchanging expression. Maybe she just needed a push in the right direction.

After a few moments Amu raised her head and placed a hand to her chest as she sighed. "W-well…that was quite the experience."

"What'd you see?! Spill the beans!" Monica said excitedly hopping at the end of the bed. From where he stood Vanir could see Skuld's hat and her eyes peering at the girl curiously. It was a good thing one of the two had self-control.

"It was…well it's hard to say really. They were just brief, distorted flashes of events in TJ's life…and I think some even before we met him." She closed her eyes for a moment. "In many of them, I saw you, Chief."

"Me…?" She asked as she connected the dots. "Well there is little doubt that I had a role to play throughout his adventures but…I know not what I can do for him."

"It's just a theory, but I want you to call out to him. He might not be conscious, but I think his spirit will hear you. The two of you share a very special bond, so perhaps through that you can reach him."

Peorth drew her shard of the Heart of Yggdrasil from her dress and eyed it for a moment. In the following seconds Vanir could see her steel her resolve before she held it tightly to her chest. "TJ, you are not alone. Please…please return to us…!"

Amu placed her ear to the Heart of Yggdrasil and listened in once more. "Keep going Chief. I think it's working."

The barista watched in silence as the event continued to play out. The thoughts of making a 'power of friendship' joke danced in his mind, but if it actually worked out for them he would feel rather underwhelmed by the course of events. Sooner rather than later, his joke would turn dry.

Skuld walked over and took his hand, her eyes focused on Peorth's struggle, and he gently squeezed it. Though he loved to spoil emotionally charged moments, perhaps just this once he would resist. He knew how Peorth felt, and seeing the typically monotone and expressionless princess desperately calling out to her comrade struck a chord in him too. In that regard, they were not so different. Only that she, with her voice may have been able to counteract the fate that threatened to claim her comrade.

"I…can see. It's clearing up, and I think I can hear his voice. It's faint, but he's calling you too, Chief. Keep going! This might be just what we need!"

Vanir placed a finger to his lips in thought for a moment. Perhaps like the Abominations Truong created, they needed a certain catalyst to complete their transformation? Those who had built up a resistance to the Agasuric mana, and any other injections they may have received often needed a push…something to seal the deal. "You know," Vanir began, "they say that nothing wakes a sleeping princess like the kiss of a handsome prince."

Eyes darted to him and he suddenly felt extremely small. Without realizing it he blurted out a terrible joke, and once again it was not well received.

"…Is that so?" Peorth's voice broke the silence, and everyone's' eyes, including his, darted to her. "Then so be it." The queen placed her hands to his cheeks as she leaned over the bed to press her lips to his. They all gasped, and solemnly watched in bated breath.

As Peorth pulled away and slowly opened her eyes, the gem emitted a powerful glow before the last remnants of the crimson glow faded away. After the effect he let out a gentle sigh, and the breaths he took as he slept were all that followed.

"I was just kidding!" Vanir shouted in his defense before the same-face sisters could tear him a new one.

"I…think that did it." Amu said with a look of surprise. "The first time it was a lot easier to fix the seals, but I suppose the effect can weaken over time. It was a good thing you were here Chief."

"Yes. I agree." She answered as she seemed to look through Amu more than at her. Her cheeks were flushed pink.

"An…actually good suggestion from Vanir? Did Hel freeze over?" Monica asked in disbelief. Terrible.

"I'm honestly surprised that suggestion didn't backfire on him." Maya said as she smiled gently. Gods-awful.

"I uhh…huh." Naomi muttered as she chewed the remains of her lollipop. No comment.

"You always know what to do, don't you Vanir?" Lucia said as she gave him that smile that said she was complimenting him when it was actually a brutal mockery. The worst!

"Good job Master." Skuld said as she beamed at him.

It was like falling in love all over again. Her smile healed all the terrible wounds those girls inflicted on his poor heart. "Come here Skuld! Let me love you, you precious child!" He picked her up and nuzzled her as she complained that it was rather embarrassing to do in front of all of them.

"Perhaps it would be best if we took any further discussions downstairs. We should not wake TJ, now that he is finally resting." Peorth said as she got up and moved robotically towards the door.

He could not help but hide his grin-or perhaps it was because his face was pressed to Skuld's and it was forcing his mouth into a smile. Perhaps there would be happiness for the two sometime during their lifetime. He would hate to have to see them part, but he knew their fates would not likely be so kind.

The girls had all gathered at the table while Vanir rummaged through the cupboards.

"What're you looking for Vanir?" Monica asked as she rocked back and forth with her chair.

"Coffee! After dragging me through the slog of excessive exposition I need my fix! Queenie-where's it at?"

"Coffee?" She asked as she tilted her head quizzically.

"Coffee." He answered as he exhaled through his nose. His expression said he was on the verge of going into his own 'failsafe' mode.

"…There is none."

He pointed at the group. "I am going to flip that table so fast your heads will spin."

"There is none," The guild master repeated. She neither moved, nor batted an eyelash.

"Gods! What is wrong with you people?!"

"TJ is not fond of coffee, and Suuba neither eats nor drinks."

Naomi looked surprised, Monica smiled and Lucia gave a nod of approval.

"You know a lot about him don't you Peorth?" Lucia asked.

"Yes. I feel that it is both important to understand my comrades in and out of battle."

Vanir threw himself onto the table between Skuld and Naomi and remained there. "What about Vanir? Vanir loves coffee! You haven't forgotten, have you Queenie?"

"I have not."

Skuld gave the barista a gentle pat on the back. Technically the ribs because of her stubby arms. It made him feel a little better nonetheless.

"I can't stay long everyone, since the shop needs me. Do you have any questions you need to ask?" Amu suggested with an affable smile. The only non-weirdo among all of those girls. Though to have that many in his house at once, TJ could be the next bachelor.

The first hand that shot up in the air was Vanir's. This was his chance to get some info out of that Amu girl. "Exactly how did you attain that power of yours? Sealing demons and whatnot?"

She gestured that it was not the case with both hands. "It's…not exactly like that! It's just a ritual passed down in my family!" A lineage thing? Not too surprising for the Cerebians. "My mom had taught me a song that could seal the Abellan's demons. She had told me it was a duty given to our ancestors and something our family carried to this generation.

If the Abellan didn't appear during her lifetime, that duty would fall to me and so on and so forth. In truth I didn't know TJ was the Abellan until I glimpsed into his memories during our stay in Aoich. That really surprised me!"

Vanir turned his head so his chin rested on the table. "So the song seals the demons? I guess it's true that music soothes the savage beast. So you're the only one that can do it?"

"You could say that." She laughed gently.

"So it is true…" Peorth said as she placed a finger to her lips thoughtfully. "What is the name of the ritual Amu?"

"The name? I dunno if it has a name itself…but my mom told me the name of the song. She said during her great-great-grandmother's lifetime, the song was known as the Abellan's Lullaby, but after that they had started calling it the Lullaby of the Cerebian Hero." She scratched her cheek. "I'm pretty bad with our native language so I can't tell you the others."

So she could not create the seals, but she could restore them. It raised the question of who initially sealed him in the first place. Perhaps God Ah? But why would God Ah go out of his way to sabotage Asmodeus? On the other hand, if Adonis had free reign it would be no contest right from the get-go. Knowing the gods, it was not entirely unlikely he did it for that specific purpose…that dick.

"So this whole thing doesn't bother you at all? I mean doesn't it kinda suck to have that dumped on you?" Naomi asked while she enjoyed another lollipop. The girl was a walking candy store!

"I don't think of it that way. It's kind of an honour…I think. Everyone is working so hard to protect Jienda by fighting Agasura and clearing Instance Dungeons…I'm not really that strong though, so I can't be of much help. But this…is something even I can do." She placed her hands to her chest as she closed her eyes and lowered her head. "It's a small duty, but one that carries a great deal of weight. With this, I can support everyone from the sidelines. Knowing that, is reason enough for me to accept who TJ needs me to be."

An angel! An angel descended upon this terrible, terrible land!

"Your efforts are greatly appreciated," Peorth added. Was…that an actual compliment? Her usual demeanour made it hard to tell.

"A-anyway I really should be going. If I'm too late Tetty's gonna scold me!" Amu said in a rising panic.

"I shall take you ho-"

"Princess, allow us." Lucia said before she turned to her sisters. "Monica."

Her faced curled into a grimace almost instantly. "Seriously?" She asked in turn. Must have gotten used to it. He could relate on a spiritual level to her, but he still thought she deserved it.

Lucia nodded and Peorth drew her warp crystal. "The least I can do for you is lend you this."

"Thanks Queenie. Well, let's go Amu." Monica said as she approached.

"I'm in your care." At her answer the two immediately vanished.

"Now then, since TJ has found some semblance of safety, I believe we should take this opportunity to talk business." Lucia said as she intertwined her fingers upon her waist.

"That would be for the best," Peorth answered.

It seemed that it was indeed business hour. Vanir would have to save the goofing off for later. The only time he would make jokes was out of it, or if he was talking to the kids. Among them, some semblance of professionalism was often required.

Lucia wore her usual confident smile which meant she was ready to get right down to business. "During your journey to the unknown Instance Dungeon, I had the girls look into the whereabouts of God's Governor of Wind. Maya-" She gestured to her sister and the girl waved in turn. "-had located him in the Haven Lemanin. Currently he's unaffiliated with any guilds, and spends much of his time within the Haven.

"As I mentioned before, convincing him to join your cause won't be easy for you. If you plan on going to see him, I'd recommend that you come up with a good plan."

Naomi clicked her tongue. "Why the hell is he so flighty? Is Jienda being in danger not reason enough for a God's Governor to get his shit together and help out? Honestly!" She placed a hand to her cheek and rested her elbow on the table. "Just get up in his face and tell him what's what."

"That'd probably be a bad idea," The barista pointed out.

"How so?" She opened an eye to glance at him.

"They'd scare the kid off like that." He laughed as he shrugged. "I mean let's be real here, if you waltz up to a guy and say, 'The world's in danger and we need you to save it' the poor kid would either piss his pants, or say you're bonkers. I mean, give a kid a sword and a green tunic and whatnot and maybe you'll have the makings of a hero, but that's not gonna fly around these parts. Gotta handle it with a touch of delicacy, you know?"

"Pardon my interruption, but before you explain any further," The queen interjected, "what means do you believe we should use to get in touch with him?"

"You could just ask us Queenie." Maya said as she pointed her thumb at herself, a proud grin on her face. "We can set up a meeting with the guy without terrifying him.

"I'm willing to bet by now he's heard of us, and if he hasn't I wouldn't doubt that he'd want to get to know us." Somebody was overly confident.

"I see. That would be very helpful, thank you."

"So back to the topic at hand, what have you got in mind Vanir?" Naomi asked.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment. "Best way to do it in my opinion, is to go big. Let's face it, the Agasura, no offense to the lot of you, aren't getting any stupider. We all know that there's a darkness just looming over the horizon, and it's only a matter of time until Asmodeus decides to show up…and fuck shit up. Big time.

"So how do you counteract this? Unite the Cerebians!"

Peorth tilted her head quizzically, while the other girls raised eyebrows.

"You're all looking at me like I'm talking nonsense." For once, he was not. At least what he considered common knowledge often came off as nonsense to them. This often ended with odd looks, especially after jokes. "Lemme' put it another way. While you guys were dungeon diving, me and Kooh were taken to pound town by Choen Palm. That woman is seriously brutal. If you have to jump into another dungeon, what's gonna happen while you're away?

"Consider this: if you were a military strategist, you couldn't tell your commander to take your best units and go for a pincer attack knowing that your back was exposed, could you?"

This got a reaction out of Peorth. She blinked, with a look of realization upon her face. Of all things!

"I see," She said. The expected reaction, but for her it was like understanding the laws of the universe.

"Good. But that's not the end of it. Remember that Choen Palm left Kimara Research, so that means there's no limit to how big the force you throw at her can be. If you're going to bring friends, I'd recommend only the best of the best, 'cause not just anyone will live through that experience.

"That aside, what I want you to see is you're gonna need more help than just Yggdrasil. At this juncture, it's not gonna be long before this turns into an all-out war, and having your forces disorganized won't do you much good. If you know there are guys that'll have your back if you need to go dungeon diving, it'll save your bacon. And hell, knowing you, you're not one to sit on the sidelines and stamp papers like a good princess are you?" He shrugged and chuckled.

"If you do that, even that flighty God's Governor of yours is gonna want in on the hero bandwagon!" That, and he could sit in his café and sip coffee instead of fighting for dear life against Choen Palm.

"I see." She said as she intertwined her fingers. "You raise a very good point Vanir.

"Perhaps it is time that I come out of hiding and reveal myself to my people."

"H-hold on Queenie, you sure about that? That's like putting a bullseye on your back!" Naomi cried out as she slammed her hands down and stood up.

"Calm down and let her speak Naomi. I'm positive that she knows exactly what she's doing." Lucia told her sister. The rowdy Vampanelar wore a defeated and apologetic expression as she sat back down. "Continue Princess."

Peorth nodded. "It has been many years since the fall of Asgard. My people have thought me dead for all this time and have taken to the field to see our duty through without a leader. I confess, that it is improper of me to show myself less than a year before we wage war against Agasura King Asmodeus, but should they need a leader, I feel it is only proper that I shoulder the burden. Should they accept me to lead them despite all my failings as their queen, then I shall do just that.

"After meeting God's Governor of Fire Amata, I had realized that perhaps there are still Cerebians out there who suspect that I am still alive and are waiting for my return. If they are, be they one or two Cerebians, then this will not be a wasted effort. Just as we rally to TJ and place our hopes in him, I wish for the Cerebians to also be able to look to me as a guiding light.

"I have also been meeting with some of the other guild masters occasionally, and they have shared some of their theories with me. Their help has been paramount in managing the Agasuric threat across Jienda, and has allowed me to prioritize my focus on Elias, Belos, and aiding TJ in his journey. Those being: Instance Dungeons, one-on-one training sessions and song training."

Vanir's jaw fell at that statement. If those two had so much free time why weren't they getting it on like rabbits yet?! The idiots!

At that moment Monica returned and closed the door behind her. "Jeeeez Sis, why couldn't you send one of the other girls to do it? I'm a full-fledged part of this team too, you know!" She complained as she stormed to her seat and pouted.

"Because you were just right for the job. Now let Princess finish speaking please." Lucia kept a calm demeanour even while talking down to her siblings. Absolutely unrelenting.

"Hmph!"

Peorth gave a solemn nod-or an apologetic bow(?) before she continued. "As the queen of the Cerebians and our Lady Amae's proxy, it is my duty to guide both Cerebian and Abellan alike.

"A student of Vanir's, now a guild master, knows quite a fair amount about the inner workings of our contract. Her name is Reina Godwin, but she has taken up the title of Keeper of Knowledge. She has shared much of her findings with us, and has also done so with her guild. A portion of this being the fact that if I or TJ were to die, that the Instance Dungeons such as the Pharaoh's Chambers or the Gourmet's Valley would not cease to be. The reason being, is that only an Agasura can kill another. The Instance Dungeons exist because our ancestors created them to seal away Asmodeus' minions. Though she does not know of TJ's Agasuric origins, she is aware that if there were any who could perform such a feat, it would have to be that of God Ah's family."

It seemed that Reina refrained from mentioning that Salem spoiled the secret that she was the queen and indeed not dead by any stretch of the imagination. Though the only proof that they had of TJ at the time was Samson's information from Iris and company, Vanir had informed them that he asked for his help. Better him spoil the surprise than have the group raid the Dark Moon and die by the hands of the Dark Moon Princess…for the umpteenth time.

Then again, the kid often referred to her as guild master Belldandy so apparently her terrible disguise actually tricked her, and the rest of the guild masters. He was as of yet to see it himself, but it must have been something. He knit his eyebrows in thought. One would think her deadpan voice would be a dead giveaway, but perhaps the looks were convincing enough to throw them off the trail. On the other hand, most of them had never heard her voice while not in disguise, save for Salem.

Peorth continued, "Perhaps given this knowledge, and should we put this plan into action, I can unite the Cerebians through their respective guilds.

"I do not wish to dismiss them from their current guilds, nor could we take in all those that wish to be part of Yggdrasil as there is a limitation to how much one guild may hold. Thus, in doing so they may keep their respective leaders, while I can still lead them as a queen."

"Good idea, but again you gotta handle it with delicacy!" Vanir added as he raised a finger. "People are like tiny, scared, forest animals."

Lucia raised an eyebrow as she leaned forward. "Tell us Vanir, what do you have in mind for this?"

A wide grin spread across his face. Hook, line and sinker. "I'd recommend you put on a little act. That'll definitely get 'em."

He rummaged through his pockets and drew a flyer for the Abio store. "Check this out." He spread it out so the whole group could clearly see the front page. "You take a couple of your best guys-I'd recommend TJ be one of them, and put on these outfits." It featured the Abio rangers' suits in red, green and blue. "You come in with a bang and nobody'll know what hit 'em.

"Of course, if you really wanna get them, you need to go for the double whammy." At this juncture they were all giving him confused looks. He was prepared for this, and knew by the end of it they would understand what he was getting at. "Since I've heard you've been disguising yourself, when you take off the helmet you gotta have that disguise ready underneath it to really knock 'em dead. You with me so far?"

"Yes." Peorth answered with a single nod. Thank goodness she was a smart kid or he would be here all day.

Vanir nodded proudly. "Used to watch a T.V show when I was a kid about a bunch of groovy detectives and their talking dog, catching criminals. Wasn't a kid who couldn't wait to see the villains get unmasked at the end and say their signature catchphrase.

"W-wait that's not the point here." He said as he slammed his hand on the paper to snap out of his nostalgia trip. "When you reveal your second disguise, you do one more big reveal! That's when you reveal that you're actually the queen of Asgard!"

Monica placed a fist into an open-palm with a look of realization. "I get it! Queenie was to reveal herself that way then everyone would be so surprised and amazed that they'd like her!"

"Close but not quite." Naomi said as she drew her lollipop. "When you think of a queen, you think prim, proper, and someone you should bow down to. If you get that same girl dressed as an Abio ranger, you're gonna rethink your way of looking at royalty.

"The importance of Vanir's plan is to put Queenie in the shoes of your everyday Cerebian. Think about how we felt when we met the Abellan for the first time. He might be their saviour, but he looks like a pre-pubescent teen with pink hair. Still, he was so…normal that we could approach him easily."

"Exactly!" Vanir said pointing at Naomi and rising. Her description of the Abellan was a tad on the hardcore side, but she was right nonetheless.

"So you wish for me to surprise my people to obtain their acceptance?" Peorth asked.

When she put it like that it sounded worse than it was. "P-pretty much." The barista answered as he smiled wryly.

"That's quite the interesting plan you have there Vanir." Lucia said as she smiled. He growled at her and her smile widened. Maya and Naomi shrugged at the sight.

"Do you have these suits prepared Vanir?" The queen asked.

He grit his teeth and turned away in defeat. "That…that's the one thing I can't do. You know how the Abio store is. They trade fancy items for astros-either that or you pay a fortune. I'm just a humble barista, I can hardly afford to feed my wife and children!"

"But you're not married, Master," Skuld added. She was now sitting in his lap.

He cupped a hand to her mouth. "I mean me and my brownie!"

All of the girls made defeated expressions, and he knew what that meant. His eyes darted to Lucia and her smile grew wider.

"Well Vanir, since Club Abio is indeed owned by the Abio Company, we received astros just for working under them, so we could help you in this endeavour…for a price."

He gnashed his teeth in his fury. "You…you witch!"

"I will-" Before Peorth could voice her thoughts Maya held up a hand. "Just…just let it be Queenie.

"These two are like this all the time. Trust me on this, you will not see Sis have this much fun any other time."

"I guess it's not all bad. His blood's pretty uncommon and has a good taste to it, so it works out." Naomi said as she shrugged. "So I guess you could say it's a win-win situation.

"Besides…" She leaned an elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand as she winked. "It's our job to help see you through hard times isn't it? Down here you might still be the queen of Asgard, but you're a friend of ours."

Monica nudged her with an elbow as she grinned. "Well said, Sis."

Naomi grinned back. "Oh shut up."

"I'm gonna throw this brownie at you!" Vanir roared as he lifted Skuld by her arms..

"M-Master?!" She cried out in a panic.

Lucia raised her hands in mock fear. "Oh noooo…"

"I accept the proposal of this plan. You have my utmost gratitude ladies, and you also, Vanir." Peorth said to them all. They all smiled back and told her she was welcome, and Vanir put Skuld back down.

"Then that settles that. I'll leave punching out the finer details to you, Princess Monotonè."

"It shall be done."

Lucia finally relaxed since the time for business had passed. "Tell me Princess, if what had recently occurred was any indication, it seems you harbour special feelings for TJ, no?" She asked.

Peorth's mouth opened ever so slightly, and remained agape as a short silence followed.

Lucia could be ruthless, and typically Vanir did not agree with her whatsoever. But this? This, he agreed with. Very much so.

"I'm interested! Time to spill the beans Queenie!" Monica said as she sat up.

"It is…not what you think…" The queen muttered under her breath.

"Denial is the first step towards acceptance," Maya added.

"It's fine if you come clean with us, Queenie. We're not gonna tell anybody," Naomi said. Though she was looking away, her face was flushed pink. It seemed that not even she could resist such a topic.

"I…even if I was to…I could never see those feelings to fruition." Peorth said as she closed her eyes.

"What? Why not?!" Vanir complained.

Monica glared at him. "What're you still doing here? It's time for girl talk!"

"What? I can't be an honourary girl?! I'll be Skuld's voice." Skuld smiled gently at the suggestion, his arms wrapped around her torso.

"Don't worry so much about it Mona. He probably knows a few things that could be of use anyway," Naomi suggested. "So what's stopping you Queenie?"

The queen closed her eyes. "At my father's behest I was betrothed to an earl by the name of Aurelius Rosario," She answered. "I am positive he did so keeping my best interest, and the kingdom's future in mind."

"Kill him!" Vanir snarled as he slammed a fist down.

"Who's this guy? Is he blackmailing you? We'll get his info and break his nose." Naomi said as a dark shadow was cast over her eyes.

"You can turn him down can't you Queenie? You should have the right to choose!" Monica complained as she clenched her fists.

"Forbidden love? It actually sounds kinda romantic!" Maya said with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Girls, please." Lucia said as she gestured for them to settle down. "I do believe Monica raised a fair point, though. Do you not have a choice in the matter, Princess?"

She closed her eyes slowly as she mulled the thought over. "Perhaps I do, but I find myself at a crossroads in the matter.

"Prior to my father's demise, he had created a list of suitors to whom he could arrange a marriage with to safeguard my future. The child that I was then…I had turned them all down and refused to get married to any of those he had selected. I did not make the choice easy on him in the slightest." Her expression looked somewhat pained.

"Following his demise, I had watched as my kingdom flew into a panic, and at that time I came to realize that my fate was upon me, and the burden that it would bring. I was too young to be a proper ruler, so many of the decisions were left up to my advisors while I studied at an even greater pace to fulfill the role of leader. My father's wish was that I would marry so keeping the kingdom under control would not be beyond our reach, should he no longer be able to rule.

"Alas, though my mother was no ruler, she had the charisma of one. Both soldier and civilian alike adored her, and she could stand proudly beside my father as his equal. She sacrificed herself, and became immortalized as a hero." Peorth shook her head. "I may be her daughter, but I can only follow the path she once treaded. I could not protect my people, nor save my kingdom.

"Thus…if my father's will requests that I be wed, then so shall it be done."

The whole group looked downcast at the reality of the situation. Not even Vanir could come up with something witty to counteract the heavy atmosphere, let alone say anything that could change her opinion. It sucked to be the kid in this scenario, but knowing who he was, he could not likely throw the kingdom on his back and see his duty through as the Abellan. He had to choose, and so did she.

"I…I don't think that's fair at all, Your Highness!" Skuld cried out as eyes turned to her. "I only know a bit about kingdoms and kings and queens but…why can't you love who you want to? Should people really be unwilling to follow you just because you're a girl? I think you're strong and cool, just like Queen Remedi, so can't anyone else feel the same? Are you really not enough to protect your kingdom? You and Yggdrasil have been protecting Jienda for decades!"

Vanir chuckled gently. "You know, Skuld's got a pretty good point. Is some earl really that big a deal? I mean, respecting your father's wishes and whatnot is a pretty respectable goal, but you can't forget that you're a person too." He said as he nodded confidently.

"But I must at-" Peorth began but was stopped by Naomi.

"You don't have to do anything. Just do what you think is best. Whether that's chasing after the Abellan or throwing yourself into a dungeon, you're doing things nobody else would have the balls to do." She said as she grinned.

"You have the right to decide what's best for you, Queenie. Follow your heart, wherever it takes you! Besides, there's still at least quite a few months before Asmodeus decides to show up, so you should make the best of the time you have with TJ!" Monica remarked with a thumbs-up.

They gave her puzzled looks and she gestured to calm down. "I'm not saying we're all gonna die or something! If she goes back to ruling the kingdom afterwards and stuff…that's what I meant!"

"Relax Queenie. If you can't be with TJ, I'll gladly do it in your stead." Maya said as she closed her eyes and nodded confidently.

The other Vampanelars, save for Lucia looked concerned for her.

"I mean, a boy like him is just ripe for the picking! I'd gladly take him off your hands and bring him home! Something about cute boys just makes me wanna make them cry an-"

"Maya, your 'S' is showing…" Naomi muttered under her breath before Lucia got up.

"Come with me for a moment Maya." She said smiling as she dragged her sister out of the chair and to the back. Despite her cries her sisters did not even look in her direction.

There was a long-winded scream, then silence. Lucia returned with Maya before she hurled her onto the couch across from Curt and took her seat. Maya looked like she had seen hells beyond their comprehension, and did not say nor breathe a word. Lucia dusted off her dress and took up her usual sitting posture as if nothing had happened.

"Now then," Lucia began, "Princess, as much as I respect your decisions, and of course those of your father's, I have to object to this matter. Your mother would not accept it if you solely decided to move according to the flow your life dictates. Did you think Confidants would exist if your mother did what she was told?" Lucia smiled, but it was unlike any of her usual confident smiles. She looked genuinely happy, for once. "Remedi may have been royalty but she was a free spirit nonetheless. Nothing could contain her, and as she did as she pleased, she spread much joy in her wake. If you strive to be like her, you need to consider her nature to truly understand her deeds."

"I'm with Lucia on that one. Your mom was definitely something else. Besides, you wouldn't like it if TJ had eyes for someone else would you?" Vanir asked. Her eyes were trained on him. He had her.

"Don't forget, he's got a lot of affection for you. Like Amu had said, a lot of his memories had you in them, so he takes from you quite a bit. Consider how you're gonna proceed from here.

"The Abellan, though he has a human shape, is practically a weapon of mass destruction. How you respond to him can change the outcome of your respective fates. Either he'll be the sword that cleaves all of your enemies, or the shield that will protect you and your allies." Vanir grinned.

"At the very least, give him the courtesy of being a potential suitor. No point in getting married before this whole thing's over, so let the time between now and then solidify your resolve. If TJ wins you over before that Aureli-what's his face guy, then you jump his bones and everyone's happy."

"She's gonna have a pretty tough time though, won't she? Doesn't TJ know nothing about love?" Naomi asked as she chewed her lollipop.

"Pretty much," Monica sighed. "That's a pretty rare case of amnesia he's got there."

"I wouldn't say that's the origin of it," Lucia chuckled.

Peorth was silent, but her eyes seemed to be swimming. "So, in theory, if I was to take your suggestions, where would I begin?"

There was a glint in everyone's eyes. The real fun was about to begin.

"You've gotta go for the dramatic! Call him out to Elfa Harbour before you depart on the ship and he'll come to you like, 'No Queenie you can't go!' and then you'd say, 'But I must!'!" Monica got really heated as she explained her plan. "Then he'd be like 'kiss me you fool!' and then the two of you live happily ever after!" She placed her hands to her cheeks as she wriggled happily.

"That plans got a few flaws in it Mona," Naomi said in a deadpan voice.

"I think you've been watching too much film noir, Casablanca." Maya added as she sighed and placed a hand to her face.

Monica pursed her lips in annoyance. "Well I don't see you coming up with anything better."

Maya chuckled as she grinned. "Boys don't know what they want, so you have to make them want it! I suggest the carrot and stick met-"

"Maya," Lucia said.

"Pass."

"So what about you Naomi? Got any worthwhile advice Queenie can follow?" Vanir had little expectation at this juncture. These sisters were way too out there to be of any use in matters of love.

Naomi rubbed the back of her neck gently. "Well I dunno…just be straight up with him." The barista's jaw fell. "W-what? It's reasonable right? As the older of the two…technically older of the two it's not that weird right?" She pursed her lips at the befuddled Vanir.

"Shy boys or girls just need their partner to take the lead sometimes. So stop looking at me like that!" She furrowed her brows at him and he smiled guiltily.

She had a better idea than he did, but he would not mention that if his life depended on it.

"I think you're on to something Naomi. Perhaps that is indeed what is needed in this scenario." Lucia said with an agreeing nod. "Any thoughts so far Princess?"

The guild master seemed to be thinking it over. "Perhaps you are right. But I always believed that one must save a direct confession for last." She answered in her usual way.

"Whaddya' mean?" The barista asked as he raised an eyebrow. Not that they could see it underneath his hat.

"To genuinely and truly win the love of another, one must be the only one that person has in their heart. It does require time yes, but this method creates a greater fondness and commitment for both sides of the couple."

His mouth fell agape again. Was she implying that she was going to conquer him? Impressive! He instinctually began to clap for her. "You're seriously one of a kind Queenie! If you're going for the complete conquest you have my full support."

"I get what Queenie said but what're you talking about?" Monica asked as she eyed him warily.

"Don't stress the details." If Peorth was going that route, she was gonna have her work cut out for her.

Succubas was glued to TJ by the hip, so the two would spend every waking moment together and likely have a much tighter bond. On the other hand, the Abellan and queen had history together, though torn apart by their lost memories. Supposedly, distance did make the heart grow fonder.

Vanir was not averse to either of them winding up together, but they each held their own ideals. Whichever's path he chose to follow could decide much more than just his own fate. Depending on how much Vanir tampered, he could change that outcome also. For the time being though, he would give the little princess a little push in the right direction.

"So how about you Sis? Any ideas you wanna share? Now's a good a time as any." Naomi said with a new lollipop in her mouth. He eyed her warily, mostly out of curiosity. She glared back at him.

"Me? No…matters of the heart are not my forte. But I do love a good story, so if there are any results do tell!" Lucia answered with a slight grin.

"You love them a little too much."

"Guess I'm up next huh?" Vanir said with a cocky grin spreading across his face. "Unlike all of you I'm gonna do this the right way." The three gave him dubious gazes. "What do you know about TJ, Queenie?"

"What do I know…?" She asked in response with a curious look. "There is much and more I know about him, both personality and history alike. What would you like to know?"

He swallowed hard. There was no doubt she knew a lot, so he had to ask just the right question. "Likes. His likes." Nailed it.

She placed a finger to her chin thoughtfully. "His likes…" After a short pause she gave a nod. "These are but a few: his favourite food is cheesecake, his favourite drink is strawberry milk tea, he loves the Abio Rangers, he prefers light, airy clothes, he loves string instruments, his favourite day is Thursday, his favourite season is Spring-" Vanir listened in awe as the list went on, as did the others, "his favourite type of pet is a brownie, he-"

"That'll do!" The barista said as he rose and placed a hand to her mouth. She continued on for a few moments before turning her eyes to meet his.

"Most of those things are too small to have an impact or they're beyond our control so we can't use them…but a brownie, we can do." The barista said with a nod of approval.

"But Master, brownies are really tough to win from LaDeck. You've had no luck winning one despite how much you play thus far right?" Skuld asked as she looked to him.

A single tear formed in his visible eye. "Don't remind me," He muttered sullenly.

A look of shock spread across the brownie's face. "Y-you're not going to get rid of me are you Master?!"

"What? No! There are very few circumstances that could convince me to give you up."

"T-they exist?!"

He grinned as he rubbed his nose with a finger. "Well…it's just a couple. The first being he would have to marry into the family."

"Aren't you against betrothals Master?" Skuld asked as she knit her eyebrows.

"I am! I couldn't have you get married! That's against the law! I'd be the one getting married and we'd have shared custody over you." All of the girls gave him strange looks at his suggestion.

"I don't know if I agree with that Master…what would be the second possibility?"

"Spending an unforgettable night together, obviously."

The looks changed from surprise to disgust-all save for Peorth. Her expression remained the same.

"Am I worth so little?!"

"You know I was gonna ask why you're the idiot in this situation, but I think it's rather fitting for you, barista…" Naomi muttered under her breath. That stung his pride, just a little. But he was used to that.

"I uhh…didn't know you swung that way Vanir." Monica said with a look of disbelief.

"I don't. It's just that he doesn't count. There's a 70% chance that a boy that cute is a crossdressing girl!" Vanir insisted in his defense.

"And if he's not…?" Maya asked.

"Well then I'll never hear the end of it from the kid." He muttered as he knit his eyebrows. Since the little incident with Samson, Reina changed. He flipped a switch in her he wish he had not.

He turned his eyes to Peorth and she still had her mouth slightly agape. "It was a joke! Just a joke! So stop looking at me like that already!" He could not tell if that look was serious or not, but it scared the daylights out of him. If push came to shove she could just impale him and hang him out to dry with the rest of the laundry.

"Back to the matter at hand, we might not be able to get a brownie, but I've got a little something that'll be even better."

He reached into his pocket and drew one of Toma's fashion coupons. A grand little item traded for special fashion sets adventurers would die for, and would kill to have. It was how he had gotten TJ's new threads, and how he would help the princess in her quest.

"With this, he'll be in for the best kind of surprise."

The girls and Vanir had all parted and gone their separate ways.

The Vampanelar sisters said that they would return to Elias to see the damage for themselves and what state Club Abio was in. Lucia remained determined to get it in the best condition both for the company's customers, and any Cerebians that may be in dire straits or fearful of the impending storm.

She assured Peorth that should she need their assistance, they would remain in touch. Naomi suggested that if she wanted to organize the guild masters and a location, that she and her sisters could help get the word out to the guild masters across Jienda-including those Peorth herself did not know. The queen told them when she had found a potential place and time for their summit, she would get in touch with them.

Vanir said he was going back to his café because he had no reason to hang around and that he would likely only get in her way. She did not think that would be the case, but he said it would be paramount that she be the only one in the general vicinity when she put his plan into action, since men could turn into beasts in the right situation.

To that end, he had asked what had happened to Curt and why he was fast asleep on the couch and she debriefed him on some of the recent events. He had Skuld heal him and leave a note before he went about his business. She was not sure why, but she was thankful that he lent his aid to her comrades.

Since the danger had passed, all that had remained in the house were TJ, Peorth and Kooh. She had decided to check up on Kooh first, and as she did she found her cousin sleeping peacefully. It would take some time and perhaps a hand from TJ, but she would heal eventually.

Following the event she went to the Abellan's room and found him awake. She also found him wriggling around in a vain attempt to break free of his bindings. She felt her heartbeat increase at the sight. Whether it was because he was awake and well or because of what Maya said about cute boys and teasing she felt unsure, but she decided to go to his aid nonetheless.

"TJ," She began, "you look much better."

"Uh huh!" He said with a gentle laugh. She smiled at the sound and her cheeks flushed pink. "Truthfully I'm not sure what happened exactly but…thanks for helping me Chief. Things probably would've ended much worse if it weren't for you."

She had caused him so much suffering and yet he still looked at her as his saviour. Her aspiration to protect him only grew stronger every passing day. Was it unusual for her to have such a desire? She knew not, but she would remember this feeling, and if it strengthened her resolve she would continue to nurture it.

"Allow me." She made her way to the other side of the bed and began to undo the knot Vanir had made. It took some time to finally get it undone, but once she had, she coiled the rope nicely and placed it in a corner-somewhere it would not get in the way or run the risk of tripping someone.

"Thanks Chief. How are you feeling? Choen Palm gave you a pretty rough time too…" He looked around and reached out for his guitar. "Just gimme a minute and I'll patch you up."

She placed a hand to his shoulder and shook her head. "You need not worry for my sake. My wounds are light and will recover in due time.

"It is you, that you should be concerned for. Your wounds may heal due to your Agasuric blood's influence, but your body will need time to recover from the effects of it."

Thanks to the Vampanelar sisters, Vanir and Amu, TJ's mana was recovered so the chances of Adonis being able to manipulate his body were nigh impossible. Though to be safe, and for her own peace of mind, she would prefer it if he was to take some time to rest and recuperate before attempting any magic.

"Yeah, you're probably right." As he laid back down she pulled the blanket over him and smiled gently.

"You should rest TJ. The danger has passed, and you have done very well."

"Haha thanks!" He grinned gently. "You should rest too Chief. You must be exhausted." He hid the lower half of his face under his blanket as his eyes looked from side-to-side. "You can…sleep here if you like…the bed is big enough for both of us."

She chuckled gently at the suggestion. "You have my thanks, but I will resist this time. Since you are unwell, I shall look after you until you feel better. You need not worry for my sake."

He nodded gently before he closed his eyes. "Night Chief."

"Good night, TJ."

She watched solemnly as within a matter of minutes he had fallen asleep and breathed quietly. As she had suspected, calling upon Adonis when in dire straits was a very exhausting action for him.

Even so, without Adonis himself, there was no denying that TJ had incredible power just using the Chaos Frequency alone. Utilizing it could give him remarkable strength, but she felt certain that it came at a great cost. All things considered, it seemed that the more he summoned Adonis, the more his seals came undone. If all six were to finally break, what would happen to him?

As a guild master, as a proxy, and as a loyal companion, what could she advise that he do? It would be a simple matter to propose that he refrain from using his Chaos Frequency, but she knew that limiting the powers of her companions could be both a bane and a boon to them. There was no doubt that it could reduce the likelihood of Adonis returning, but if TJ was put in danger because of it the chances were even greater.

She sighed gently as she closed her eyes. She felt fingers gently wrap around hers and saw a single outstretched hand. She would protect it…protect him. If she could be there for him…he would not need the Chaos Frequency, and he would need neither Su nor Freya to defend him.

Whether she was bound by duty or by willpower, her goal would remain the same.

Peorth found herself amidst her old comrades, walking through the corridor of a hotel.

"You really gave us a start there TJ." Straw Hat said as he laughed, the Abellan being carried on his back.

"I…I couldn't help it! You saw that thing right?! That…humbaba." He shuddered at the thought. At this point in time he wore a loose-hanging black t-shirt with a skull emblazoned on the front-his right shoulder remained free in it. He wore torn navy blue jeans and black, white and crimson sneakers. "It was like blehh!" He contorted his face to imitate the Agasura-one eye was half shuttered, his tongue lolled and his eyebrows went in opposite directions.

"That impression is spot on!" Kooh said as she laughed too.

"Don't worry about the details, we were there too." Straw Hat added as he grinned back to him. "I'm not sure if you getting that poison barf on you would've been better than you tearing up the entire floor."

"You completely exhausted your mana and nearly tore the place down. We were lucky it was just one floor, but they're gonna have us come and fix it when the construction team arrives a few days from now," Ardoss sighed.

"Mistakes are wont to happen. You are still young, Ardoss. If you fret to such an extent your hair will turn grey before you reach thirty." Peorth said as she chuckled gently.

The boy placed both hands to his head warily.

"Maybe the Monster Tower wasn't…the best place to visit on a vacation," Velvet said with a dry laugh. She was the one who suggested it, but Peorth thought it was a good idea nonetheless.

"It's fine, it's fine." Straw Hat said as he waved it off and TJ started to slide down his back. "Whoops close call there!"

"D-don't drop me…" TJ said with a tear in his eye.

"So who wants to play doctor?"

"It should probably be one of the guys huh? Since we probably shouldn't be peeping in your room. That's not a safe haven for girls, is it?" Star laughed.

"Hey we keep it pretty clean you know!" He said defensively.

"I will look after TJ," Peorth insisted.

"Princess?"

"You sure Princess?" Velvet asked.

"You sure you wouldn't rather have one of us do it?" Ardoss asked. "It is our long-awaited vacation."

She smiled affably, slightly. "It is no matter. You may leave this duty to me, everyone."

"You're a true champ Princess. I think I'm gonna cry! Wipe my tears please, TJ!" Straw Hat said as he sniffled.

"I-I can't move a muscle. Get one of the others to do it!" He complained as he frowned.

"Your room's 225 right guys?" Velvet asked as she pointed to the door.

"That's the one. Can you open the door Ardy?" Straw Hat asked as he gestured to it with his head.

Ardoss walked over and opened the door allowing everyone inside.

"It's…surprisingly clean!" Star said as she glanced around the room with surprise.

"You really don't have any faith in us, do you?" Des asked as he tipped his hat up slightly.

She grinned, but it was tough to tell beneath her mask. "It's all love here!" She made a heart with her fingers.

Straw Hat threw TJ off of his back and he landed on the bed with a light sound.

"I'm delicate you know! Try not to break me." He muttered as he eyed his companion.

"Delicate, but with monstrous strength like that? That should be my line!" The Warlord laughed heartily as he placed his hands to his sides.

"It was magic! Magic!"

"Alright, everybody out, save for TJ and the little princess. He needs rest, and lots of it! Doc's orders!" He chased everyone out by gesturing them towards the door.

"He's in your care Princess. I'll take these guys for a night on the town in the Big Apple so you two can relax." As he walked off the door nearly closed, but it remained slightly ajar.

"Allow me to help you TJ." She pulled the sheets out from under him and placed them over him.

"Are you sure you don't wanna go too, Princess? I mean…it's not everyday we get to visit the Big Apple. There's so much to see and do and…"

She placed a finger to his lips. "You need not say more. I am exactly where I wish to be, and I need not ask for mo-" She turned her head as she heard voices.

"There you are! I knew somebody was missing!" Straw Hat said. What he did remained unknown to the two.

"W-wait no don't! It was just getting good! Aaaah…" The door closed as the sound of Star's complaints faded into the hallway.

"Chief…Chief!"

She turned her head in his direction. He did not call her that…did he?

"Fast asleep huh?" She awoke to the sound of TJ's voice and his hand gently stroking her hair.

"Mmn…did I fall asleep? It seems I have let my guard down…my apologies." It seemed to be a dream in the form of past events. A very uncommon occurrence, but one that was not entirely non-existent for her.

"That's fine, but in turn will you do something for me?"

She nodded. "I shall oblige. What is it that you wish me to do?" She sat up and he gestured for her to come closer.

"Come closer…closer…bit more…" She leaned on her chair to fulfill that wish and he threw off the blanket to grab her by her arms. He pulled her into the bed and climbed on top of her as he smiled devilishly.

She caught a glimpse of a crimson glint beneath his bangs and she remained silent. It had to be without a doubt, Luxuria. Unlike their Agasuric brother, it seemed that she did not require the seals coming undone to manifest.

Peorth found herself pinned by the arms and gazed into the eyes that became visible as she came ever closer.

"What's wrong Chief? Don't you like me? Don't you want me?" Luxuria asked, and Peorth remained unflinching. She did not react in any way possible. It was without a doubt exactly what she wanted, and giving in to that desire would enrapture her in Luxuria's trapping. "Be true to your heart, and say what you want. What you really want." She pressed herself against the guild master and placed her head against hers as she gently nibbled her ear.

She rose up and eyed her face before she sighed. "You're a hardass both inside and out, aren't you? Whatever. Have it your way, you starfish." TJ's body suddenly fell limp and collapsed against her.

She looked to him, realized that Luxuria had gone away, and looked to the ceiling as her cheeks flushed. Such a feeling…she did not dislike it.

"Urgh…why am I lying on-" TJ lifted himself from the guild master and looked down in pure terror.

Grasping the situation at hand, Peorth decided it would be for the best if she quickly and concisely explained the scenario before him. In so doing, she could prevent potential panic.

"TJ I-"

"Ah…" He uttered.

"-understand that this situation may lead to misunderstandings due to the-"

"Ahh…!"

"-potential sexual connotations and/or undertones of our current positions, but I can assure you-"

He leapt off of her before he tripped over the bed frame and fell on his back. "Sorry! I'm sorry Chief!" At those words he got up, bowed and fled through the door.

"-that it does not…bother me."

She let out a gentle chuckle. That was certainly one way to his heart, but she was in no hurry. Whether he was ready or not, she would gladly take things step by step with him.

She would not worry or think about Auerilius Rosario in the coming days. She and TJ were here, now, and she would prefer enjoying the time she had with him than worrying over the events she could potentially find herself in, in future.