Disclaimer: I don't own rights to the game, the characters, anything—as much as I wish I did.

Thanks to all who gave me ideas for this fic

A/N: Lucky 13. Enjoy. :)

I'll shut up now.

Luke wasn't sure how long it took him to awaken. The only thing that told him he was even awake was the splash of cold that was splayed across his brow. It dripped down to his ears, and he grunted. His first instinct was to sit up, but a firm hand appeared on his chest. Luke opened his eyes too quickly and was blinded by the morning sun blazing through the window at his bedside.

"Ah, it seems you'll live after all," Jade said happily. He removed the damp towel from Luke's forehead and proceeded to wring it out over a basin.

"What... Where am I?" asked the noble groggily.

"Currently, we're in the middle of a desert," Jade stated.

Luke gave a heavy sigh. Slowly, he began exploring the reasons why he happened to be in the middle of a desert, and it didn't take long for him to recollect the entirety of the previous night's events. He gave a horrified whimper. "D-Did I really...?!"

Jade was silent.

"I-I killed someone?!" He sat up, but Jade didn't stop him. "I...I..."

The colonel grabbed Luke's shoulder suddenly. "Luke, get yourself together. It wasn't your fault."

"B-But I--!"

"Even if it was an unnecessary death, you couldn't have helped it."

"But--"

Jade huffed quickly. "Luke. If you're going to survive, you're going to have to get used to killing humans. This may not be the best situation from which to learn that, but if you're going to be of any help in Akzeriuth, you have to realize that human life is not eternal."

Luke was stunned. "Jade! How could you--"

"I don't mean to sound cruel." Jade lowered his voice. "But if you don't get over this, you'll always be afraid. If you're always afraid, you'll hesitate, and if you hesitate, you'll die."

He was silent for a moment. Finally gathering the right words, Luke uttered a response. "Jade... Do you care about me enough to tell me all this?"

Jade grinned triumphantly. "But of course. If you died, we'd be in a mess of trouble with Kimlasca."

"Gee, thanks."

"My pleasure." Jade's smile faded as he changed the subject. "By the way, do you know who it was that was controlling you?"

"Wait, how did you know it wasn't me?" Luke sputtered.

Jade fixed his glasses thoughtfully. "I could tell. You were struggling the whole time, and I know you wouldn't do such a rash thing in the right frame of mind, anyway. I'll bet Dist did something to you at Choral Castle... Here, did I injure you when I knocked you out?"

Luke allowed the man to pull back his mess of red hair enough to view the lump that the spear had given him.

"Hmm..." Jade whispered to himself. "I could have done better."

"Where are the others?" Luke asked, ignoring the minor welt.

"Natalia and Anise are speaking with the late innkeeper's son," he answered. "It seems they're more or less stalling for you to feel well enough to walk. What do you think?"

Luke swung his legs over the bed. "I'm fine. Let's get out of here."

"Just one moment, Luke." Jade held up a cautionary hand just as Luke stood. The redhead halted. Jade sighed, working out the best way to word the point he had to get across to Luke. "Luke, do you know who it was exactly who Asch the Bloody is?"

Luke hesitated, then replied. "He's an Oracle Knight. One of the Six God-Generals."

Jade nodded slightly. It was as he expected. "No, I mean...Do you knowwho he is, personally?"

Luke looked confused, and when no answer came within a few seconds, Jade shook his head. "Ah, don't worry about it. Shall we see how the women are faring?"

"Yeah... sure." Luke gave him a faraway nod, then headed to the door. Jade followed slowly. Yes, he had to be right about Luke—but how would he tell him? Until he had more information, he decided it would have to wait. After all, speaking with people on a normal level definitely wasn't one of his strong points.

Immediately, Jade and Luke heard the girls' conversation with the innkeeper's son—or rather, their argument.

A husky male waved a finger before the Fon Master Guardian warningly. "I want you four out now. That brat's a danger to everyone around him!"

"How rude! To think, depriving a young noble the right to have a simple place to recover! It's completely unreasonable!"

"Even if he deserves it," muttered Anise, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah," continued the boy, "That kid's a murderer! Y'couldn't trust him with a herd of rappigs!"

Natalia raised a hand decisively. "Silence. As princess of Kimlasca, I order you to—"

"Ha!" The boy sneered. "Who do you think yer foolin'? You ain't no princess, and he ain't no noble! Besides, our companies are individually owned—the government ain't got no part in on our work. You couldn't stop us if you tried!"

"Now, wait just a moment!" she retaliated. "You have no right to talk to me that way! All we're asking is room and board until Luke recovers enough for us to depart! We're even offering to pay double the price you're asking for a night, and you still refuse us?!"

"Lissen, missy," the boy started. "I don't care who you are, who the kid is, or anythin'. I want you out of my sight immediately!" He pounded the ragged wooden counter top, upsetting several half-empty mugs of alcohol.

Jade made his entrance, Luke close behind him. "Good morning, everyone. Luke is up and about, and it seems we can head off to the Zao Ruins as soon as possible."

The three others present turned to them. Anise ran to Luke, hugging him violently around his middle. "My poor Luke! Does it still hurt? I'll make the mean old princess heal you! She didn't do a very good job last night, anyway!"

Natalia looked indignant beyond words. "Well! I healed him the best I could with a certain Fon Master Guardian hanging over him the whole time muttering about health problems and how much she loved his money!"

Jade grinned in amusement at Anise. She fumed, countering sternly. "If you were a good enough healer, you wouldn't be so easily distracted!"

"Okay, okay, that's enough." Luke shoved Anise away, then turned to Jade. "So, we're going to the Zao Ruins to look for Ion after all?"

"It would be best to look," Jade pointed out, "Though I'm sure whatever it is they wanted him to do has been taken care of, we can at least look around. It shouldn't be too hard, seeing as though they have the Tartarus, so if we get to the ruins and it's not there, we'll move on to Chesedonia after stopping back here for any supplies we may need."

"Hey, wait!" blurted the innkeeper's son. "Yer not coming back here! I want you out right now, and I never want to see yer faces again!"

Jade smiled. "Then I suppose it would be in our best interest to play along. He might pop a vein if we don't, though his idle threats are rather amusing."

"What did you say?!"

"Come along, children!" Jade guided the others out the door, leaving the irate teenager behind to send more mugs to the floor with his incessant beating on the counter.

"He reminds me of a certain someone," Jade observed.

Luke shot him a vile glare, but Jade quickly finished. "Yes, he reacted exactly as Dist would have."

Anise giggled. "Yeah, I wonder if he has a revenge journal, too."

"Most likely." Jade adjusted his glasses in the most sophisticated manner he could manage. "Right then, if we're adequately stocked, shall we head out?"

"Sure." Luke nodded.

"I suppose I can forgive Luke for last night," stated Natalia. "I hate to admit it, but we do need his hand with a sword. We're likely to run into plenty of bandits along the way."

Luke froze on the spot. "B-Bandits?"

"Yeah," Anise confirmed with a sigh. "They like to dress all in white so you can't see them and hide out just outside the city so they can rob you. As soon as we get away from the Oasis, we'll see less of them and more monsters."

"Y-You mean people? We're going to have to fight people?"

"Well, yes, Luke," Natalia provided. "They're just common bandits—nothing too special about them. Besides, hard as it is to walk through sand as it may be, we have Jade to back us up with fonic artes, so don't worry."

"Right..." Luke looked distant nevertheless. "Okay, then let's just get out of here as fast as we can. Don't slow us down, Natalia."

"Well, I nev—"

Jade cut her off gracefully, leading her to the eastern exit of the town. "Yes, we all know you wouldn't dream of it, Your Highness."

Anise chuckled again. "Yeah, let's get moving. It'll be tough in this heat, but it looks like we don't have a choice."

Jade returned a slight laugh in the same airy mood. "Indeed..."

The stars of the night sky glistened high overhead Kaitzur. Guy followed Van hesitantly. What was he doing at this hour, anyway? If he knew the commandant, it was nothing minor; that was certain. He led him past a tall stone fence, then turned suddenly.

"Gailardia."

"Yes?" he responded after a pause.

"I know this is a bit sudden, but will you join me in the Oracle Knights?"

"No. Under different circumstances, it would have been possible. Luke needs me."

"He has his friends," said Van cunningly. "Besides, if you join me, I'll give you something no other on Auldrant can give you."

"...What is that?"

"Hod. Hod will be reborn, as will all of its residents. Your family."

Guy stared back at him, his expression twisted somewhere between shock and confusion. "H-How is that possible?!"

"I can only tell you the details if you decide to join me."

"Well—wait, you mean you can bring my family back from the dead? Is there even a technology capable of that?!"

"Yes. It was developed over seven years ago." He paused for a moment to read Guy's expression. He proved more appalled than anything, so it was difficult to tell to which side he was leaning. "Guy," he reminded him, "I know this is a tough choice, but will you do this, if not for me, then for your family?"

Van extended a hand to him, but Guy didn't take it immediately. Joining Van would mean leaving Luke, perhaps even fighting him, but Van was offering to now return his family to him? How could he possibly make a choice like that?!

"If you're worried about Luke," Van started, "Don't be. I'll take care of him, as will the others. You're choosing between your family and kin of the man who murdered them. Do as you please." Van let his hand fall when he still got no response.

"Wait!" Guy said louder than was necessary. "Wait, Van! You...you used to serve my family. You're as much my family as they were! I can't just abandon you and everyone else. I...I'll do it. I'll join you."

"Master!" Guy snapped to reality with a start. He glanced down to the bouncing cheagle on the floor below him. He shook his head, looking around the room. Still on the Tartarus, but now with Ion. Right, that's what had happened.

"Master!" Mieu repeated, grabbing at his pants leg. "Master, I have to tell you a secret!"

"Hey, slow down, Mieu!" he said with a smile. "Now, what is it you have to tell me?"

"I saw them! They climbed out when we stopped!"

Guy's features became severe. "Wait, who? What happened, Mieu?"

"The others! Luke and Jade and everyone! Asch was there, too!"

"Did he leave as well?"

"Nope! He was letting them escape! You have to tell Ion, Master!"

"Wait, wait, wait," Guy said, holding a hand to the excited cheagle's face. "You mean Luke and the others escaped with Asch's help when we stopped earlier?"

"Yes, Master!"

Guy rested his brow in his hand. "What on Auldrant was he thinking?!"

Mieu looked up to him sadly. "I don't know, but he looked really nervous the whole time. Mieuuuu..."

Guy stood from the chair. "Thanks, Mieu, but Ion, Largo, and Sync are in the Zao Ruins... They should be back soon."

"What about Legretta?"

"That's a good idea. I'll report to her first, then." Guy made his way to the door on the opposite side of the room and entered the hall, Mieu hovering near his heels. He muttered something to himself about getting lost again.

As he rounded a corner, he nearly ran into an Oracle Knight. The soldier jerked back, giving him a haphazard salute. "Gailardia, sir! Is there any way I can be of assistance?"

"Yes, actually. Would you lead me to Major Legretta's chambers, please?"

"Right away, sir!" The armor-clad figure spun on his heel and returned to the hall from which he had come. He halted before one of the doors to their left and knocked harshly. "Major Legretta, ma'am! Sir Gailardia requests an audience with you, ma'am!"

"Right. Send him in."

"Aye, ma'am!" He opened the door, then stepped aside, saluting again. Guy closed the door behind him and stepped forward. Legretta's office was as he had expected it to be: utterly immaculate. Four trim bookshelves stood in easy reach, alphabetized and fitted perfectly. Her desk bore many stacks of papers, but each was carefully labeled and organized.

"You needed to speak to me?" she ventured. Her voice was edged with impatience, though she didn't appear busy; every last pen and document was in its place.

"Yes, ma'am," Guy began. "I have heard some rather interesting information recently."

"Oh?" The major raised an eyebrow.

"It seems Commander Asch aided the captives' escape while we stopped to restock at the Oasis."

Legretta straightened urgently. "Is that so? How did you obtain such news? Did you see him?"

"No, ma'am. I was just heading back to my quarters from breakfast at the time. I had allowed Mieu to come with me, and he claims to have heard something and sneaked off without saying anything to me on the way back."

"I see." She relaxed slightly. "The Fon Master is due back momentarily. I will pass the message on as soon as I can. I thank you for your help."

Guy prepared to respond when Mieu, seeing the comment directed at him, added, "It was nothing!"

Legretta glared down to the monster. "Tell me, Gailardia. Why is a creature such as that in your presence?"

"It's a long story," said Guy sheepishly.

Legretta grinned down to him, her sharp mind all ready searching for every possible way to exploit the little cheagle's every last ability. "It would make an excellent spy if we could train it."

"He can take orders pretty well. The Sorcerer's Ring makes sure of that," Guy admitted, kneeling to pick Mieu up.

"Ah, so that explains why it can speak a human language. May I see it?"

Guy slipped the gold ring from Mieu's body and handed it to the woman, and he winced at the close proximity of her hand to his. Luckily, she didn't notice. She turned it over scrutinizingly, finally letting her gaze rest on the outer rim. "This is a fon verse written in Ancient Ispanian. It's a catalyst for fonic artes."

"It appears so," observed Guy, "Do you think that's what's been allowing Mieu to breathe fire?"

"What an intriguing little trinket. You should put it to better use, Gailardia. I can hardly see it serving any purpose around the middle of a cheagle." She handed it back to him. "Unless, of course, you can't use fonic artes."

"Me? Fonic artes? No, I never have been the studious type."

"I see..." She extended her hand again. "If that's the case, then I shall see to it that it is used only by those that need it."

"But if you take the Sorcerer's Ring, Mieu won't—"

"Yes, I know. What does that thing have to say that's of any value, anyway? It will speak when I wish it to."

Guy gave her a hard glare, then reluctantly deposited the slim ornament in her gloved palm. He turned to the young monster by his side. "...Let's head back to our room now, Mieu."

He agreed cheerily. "Mieu mieu mieu!"

Luke was still uneasy from the previous night's events as the small group made its way through the howling desert winds. They walked in silence, and every second of it sent his unstable mind in a panic as to what they thought of him. As collected as they had presented themselves, he couldn't stop wondering. He was almost frightened by his sudden shock into intense paranoia.

Jade, of course, had shown no particular contempt towards him, but there was no guessing what went on in that man's head, anyway. Anise utterly ignored him, and he was actually glad; if anything, she made for the easiest read of the three. That meant one less to worry about. Natalia still seemed mad, but how much so? She had always been tough on him and his unruly habits, and he didn't expect her to let up on him, especially with what he had done... Luke shook his head violently to rid himself of the painful memory. His meek endeavor failed, and that same slash of blood burned itself into the back of his eyelids again and again. With a pitiful whimper, he tried not to glance at the chest of his coat where the evidence was still visible. He would destroy the damned thing if he had to, but he knew that a trivial thing like an article of clothing was certainly not what was causing him to dwell on that.

But it wasn't his fault! He clenched a fist somberly. No, but it washis fault—any murder was the fault of the man whose blade was bloodstained. And there it rested, stoically taking its place across his back, the devil that told him he was a killer, a criminal, a—

He suddenly halted and flung the thing aside. It landed with a soft thud on the sand a few feet away, and Natalia turned to see what had happened.

"Luke? What are you—"

Jade and Anise turned at the sound of Natalia's voice. The colonel looked mildly interested while still glum. "Luke? Are you tired of carrying that already?"

Luke remained silent for a moment. Hesitantly, he began to speak, but his little hope of forming any coherent sentences was lost under Jade's quietly searching gaze. "I...can't."

"Oh." Jade narrowed his eyes. "Are you still upset about that?"

"What is it?" Anise chimed in.

Instead of answering Anise, Natalia approached Luke comfortingly. "Luke, are you still upset over that man?"

"How can I not be?!" He roared, pushing her away. "I just...I just...killed aperson! Do you have any idea what that feels like?! And now he's dead, and there's no way to bring him back, and—"

Before he could continue, Jade stepped up to the noble and gave him a quick slap.

Luke's rant immediately changed direction. "What the hell was that for, you bastard?!"

"Luke, listen to me," Jade said calmly, "When you travel outside cities, you will cross paths with those that wish to kill you. Whatever their motivation may be, they would do anything to have you dead on the spot. By saying you're afraid to kill people, you're saying you would do anything to avoid fighting—and that includes dying. Would you throw away your life just so you didn't have to kill some anonymous thief?"

Luke's hands trembled. "I—"

The colonel continued tactfully. "I...never learned what it means for living things to die. I suppose that's why I can pursue my job as a soldier as I do. Since you were raised in comfort, away from the real world, I suppose it's to be expected."

"Yes," Natalia added, "Ordinary people have to fight to live. They're forced to live their lives inside a safe city behind safe walls, and if they have to leave it, they'll travel together under the protection of a handful of guards. Sometimes even children have to fight to survive."

Luke still stood there, carefully digesting the information. They were telling him to just stop feeling sorry for himself, weren't they? As if he hadn't heard that his entire life! So yeah, he knew there were people a lot worse off than he was, but that didn't mean he could just shrug it off like it was nothing! Maybe Jade could heartlessly slaughter any man standing on the face of Auldrant, but Luke fon Fabre certainly couldn't!

"If you don't want to fight, you don't have to." Jade turned sharply on his heel, then nodded to Anise and Natalia. They followed him, but Luke remained in place.

"Wait—"They turned to him, and Luke finally looked up. "I'll fight. I think... If it's kill or be killed, I really only have one choice." He retrieved his weapon and held it in front of him, letting the sand-dulled sun flash off of it. He slid it into its sheathe decisively. "I'll fight."

"Very well," concluded Jade. He looked eastward to the Zao Ruins flickering in the heat of the air, and just beside the heap of rock sat a familiar landship.

"Fon Master, you should slow down. You're still exhausted from opening the Sephiroth." Largo looked down to the boy, concerned.

Ion stumbled again, grabbing onto Largo's broad coat to hold himself up. "It's nothing! I can make it to the Tartarus, then Legretta can heal me."

Sync gave a disgusted snort. "You're weak!"

"That's no way to speak to your superiors!" Ion countered angrily. "'Weak' does not matter in the game Van is playing, and I'm on his side. Is this mutiny, Sync?"

"No! How did you get that out of what I said, anyway?! I swear, just because you so happened to have—"

"Quiet, you two," commanded Largo, stepping between them. Ion lost his grip on the Black Lion's coat and nearly toppled over, but Largo turned to catch him. "Shall we rest for a moment, Fon Master?"

Ion held Sync's glare and snarled out of the corner of his mouth to Largo, "No." He would have liked a rest, no, he would have loveda rest, but his untimely argument with Sync would make such an action decidedly submissive. If there was one thing Van had drilled into his head years ago, it was to never be submissive. Submission would let his subordinates see that he could be easily swayed, they would slack off, and then they would be less submissive themselves, meaning total disorder. Disorder did not fit into the military.

They soon came to the threshold of the Zao Ruins. Even leaving the relative coolness of the cave, it was a relief to be outside again. There was no telling how long the stagnant air in the depths of the ancient city had been fermenting itself, and the only thing preventing masses of poisonous mold to grow was the lack of moisture. It was most certainly not the most pleasant place to be.

As they approached the Tartarus, a soldier dashed up to them. He saluted Ion and gave his report. "Sir! The Tartarus is ready to depart, sir!"

"Good. Is there any other news of interest?" he asked patiently.

"Sir, a small group of people are heading this way, but they are unidentified, sir!"

"That must be...! We're leaving immediately. We have no reason to linger here."

"Sir, yes, sir!"

"Is that all?"

"No, sir! Major Legretta wishes to see you, sir!"

Ion grunted slightly. "Do you know why?"

"No, sir!"

"Well that's fine. Anything else?"

"No, sir!"

"Dismissed."

"Aye, sir!"

Ion faced the two God-Generals behind him as the soldier dashed back to the Tartarus. "Let's go. The heat of the desert plays tricks on your eyes, and they could be much closer than initially thought."

"Yes," Largo agreed. Sync didn't respond; he made his way to the bridge that had been lowered from the landship and climbed aboard. The other two followed suit.

The soldier was waiting for them as they entered. Ion almost breathed a sigh of relief as the door sealed shut behind him, keeping the sweltering heat where it should be. He faced the soldier with a nod, who saluted and led him off to Legretta's quarters.

"You may announce me," he whispered.

"Aye, sir." The soldier took a deep breath and pounded on the metal door four times. "Major Legretta, ma'am! Fon Master Ion has arrived, and he is ready to hear your report, ma'am!"

There was a discreet shuffling behind the door, then her voice sounded clearly. "Right. Let him in."

"Aye, ma'am!" He opened the door, gave Legretta a quick salute, then stepped away to admit the Fon Master.

The door closed behind Ion, and the boy stood before the center of Legretta's desk.

"Fon Master," Legretta said pointedly, "It seems there has been a bit of trouble amongst our men."

"Yes, please tell."

"Apparently Asch the Bloody has released our prisoners while we were buying supplies in the Desert Oasis."

Ion's mouth twisted into a malicious grin. "I am aware of this."

Legretta raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Oh, are you, Fon Master? How did you find out?"

"I was doing my rounds just before heading to bed last night. When I came to the prisoner's cell, it was empty. That means they left sometime between yesterday afternoon and that night. There had been no guards nearby, which meant someone had to have called them off duty when the escape took place. Only a God-General or I could have given that order."

"But why did you suspect Asch?"

Ion grinned again. "As you know, at the time of the capture, it was raining quite heavily. His boots were covered in mud, so the tracks were a dead giveaway. They were too large to be Sync's or yours and too small to be Largo's, not to mention only he and Sync had even left the Tartarus."

Legretta relaxed slightly. She stared at the paperwork that littered her desk intently. "I see. I presume due punishment has been issued, then?"

"I dealt with it immediately. I threatened to put him under a Curse Slot if he didn't do as I said. I tried to have him kill that useless Fon Master Guardian, but he failed."

"Oh, you mean by using Luke?"

"Yes. It seems his control over him is remarkable. Asch will be a wonderful asset to our team at Akzeriuth."

Legretta's expression became urgent. "But Fon Master, do you doubt your own abilities?"

"It's only a precaution," he told her, "After all, Sync failed to get anyone decent with his Curse Slot at the Fubras. Though I suppose at least forcing the Necromancer to cease fighting would be a huge blow against them in any battle, he doesn't have the desire to kill anyone on their side strongly enough to use it to our advantage."

"True, but the fon slot seal will probably interfere with Sync's ability to control him."

"There's no telling how much he all ready broke through," Ion observed. "Jade Curtiss is an intelligent man, and he should not be underestimated."

"Do you think you could...?"

"No, I've considered it all ready. He truly hates Dist, so I don't think that would be possible."

Legretta nodded knowingly. "That's fine."

"Thank you, Major." Ion smiled. "If that's all, I would like to retire to my chambers."

"Yes, you may go, Fon Master."

Ion nodded to her, then stepped out the door politely. He had other matters to attend, but he did want a rest and to change his clothes. Sand clung to sweat, making deserts especially uncomfortable. It was a shame battleships weren't equipped with shower stalls, because he would have traded anything for a good shower right about then. After all the complicated mess of events playing out, he could only daydream about such luxuries as taking showers.

He reached his room shortly, as it wasn't too far from the other officers'. With a sigh, he removed his tabard and robe, grunting at the sheer amount of sand that had accumulated. With a pang of regret, he wondered just how much of it was still in Legretta's office. He hastily brushed as much of it off as he could before changing into a fresh set of robes. Sand was just so impossible sometimes, he thought as he combed at least half a pound of the stuff from his hair.

His menial train of thought was interrupted by a soldier's frantic knocking on the door accompanied by an equally skittish voice. "Fon Master! Commander Asch is gone!"

Ion stumbled to the door and flung it open lividly, tabard still discarded on the floor and hair lacking its usual ornamental accessories. "What the hell?! You have to be kidding me!"

"No, sir! We've just—"

"I'vehad it with that—that—" Ion sputtered as he stormed down the hall to the man's quarters. "That original," he hissed, banging the door open.

It was, as he expected, empty. Ion began a vigorous and thorough search of the room, though the only thing of importance he discovered was a few spare uniforms. He snorted venomously, thrusting the armor back into the wardrobe. "Gone!" he fussed. "When did this happen?!"

"Sir! We only just found out!"

Ion panted heavily, then slowly began to relax his taut shoulders. He never should have gotten so wound up. And that was another one of Van's almighty unwritten laws: never show your true emotions. Even Largo and Legretta were better at that than he was. He mentally beat himself over and over again, and it was a few moments before he trusted himself to speak to the soldier in a reasonable manner. "This is unthinkable," he told him. "I want the First Division off this instant. Tell them to find Asch and Van. I want Asch alive and Van informed of this act of treason against the Oracle Knights. Asch is a threat to our plans."

"Yes, sir!"

"And," he continued, "Get this landship moving. I don't care how you do it, but I want this thing at Akzeriuth within 24 hours."

"Yes, sir!"

"Then schedule a conference for the God-Generals as soon as you can. I need to speak with them."

"Yes, sir!"

"That is all! Out of my sight!"

"Aye, sir!"

The retreating soldier's boots clanged down the hallway and refused to waver even when he had vanished from Ion's line of sight. Ion ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. How many more times must he utterly mess things up before they arrived in Akzeriuth?...

Thanks to Medomai (Apakoha) for betaing!