He can't open his eyes. He doesn't have the strength for it.

Wherever he is, it's warm and dry and dark, not like what he remembers from when he could see. Everything there was cold and wet and –

He feels something shake inside him.

I will find you, a hissing and familiar voice says deep in his core, I will find you and you will die this time.

He tries to say something, to respond, but his vocal chords won't listen to him. Instead, he relies on his hearing – maybe the voice is a recording, or some kind of joke.

"This is a waste of time," he hears the Flaming Amarant snarl angrily, "We should be trying to find Eiko and figure out what the hell we're supposed to do now, rather than baby some stupid thief."

"I'm not going anywhere until he pays for stealing my axe."

"We must wait for the judgment of Daguerreo," her Majesty's voice says, and he wishes she had better news for him than that. "When we know their decision, we can act accordingly. Beatrix is currently looking for Eiko."

"Your Majesty, you do realize the severity of this situation, do you not?" a male voice – vaguely familiar but unnamed – speaks up, "Daguerreo has grown increasingly hard on thieves in the past few years, and I doubt we wish to stay and watch an execution."

He moans in defeat, and the voices all silence around him. He still can't see, but at least they know he's alive. Maybe that's not so great.

Two hands grip him by the neck and drag him up into a sitting position – his head reels from the movement and he gasps as pain shoots up his body.

"You stole my axe, you stupid, filthy little bastard! I should have your head on a platter!"

"Lani!" her Majesty exclaims, "Don't shout at him."

He gags a little as fingers tighten. "I'll do what I wish, your Majesty."

"Lani," the unknown male voice says levelly.

A sigh and the hands move away – he tries to keep his balance but fails, falling back against the bed once more.

"I can't open my eyes," he rasps.

"You have very little energy. Please rest."

"He won't have long," Amarant growls, "I can hear those scholars coming back."

Sure enough, moments later a door opens somewhere to his left.

"Queen Garnet?"

"Yes?"

"We have been asked to direct you and your comrades to the main library, where Lady Eiko is waiting."

"And the thief?"

"We will deal with him presently. Thank you for your vigil, you may leave."

There is shuffling around him and then the door slams. A sigh, and he forces his eyes to open as much as possible. Everything in his half-lidded view is blurry, but he can make out four men in robes at the foot of his bed.

"You have been charged with theft, attempted second-hand dealing, and bringing malicious forces to the very doors of this haven. Daguerreo has, in the past, allowed you to stay here safely, but enough is enough. You have endangered the lives of every person inside these walls, discounting a member of Alexandrian royalty and her convoy."

He can't breathe.

"While the theft can be dealt with a temporary expulsion from our home, endangering the lives of people and bringing a vicious beast such as Leviathan to our doors cannot be tolerated."

"I thought... Leviathan was..."

"We have lost our protector, as have many other cities, and gained a terrible beast."

Another man picks up suddenly. "We have stated the charges. What is your response?"

He can't breathe and can't respond.

"Very well," the first states tersely, "Given the severity of your crimes, we have decided that the best course of action would be expulsion from Daguerreo."

That voice laughs inside him and he goes white-hot with fear.

"But Leviathan-"

"Leviathan is no longer our problem, but yours."

If he were any other person he would be sobbing right now, but he can't find that kind of power in him. Two of the men come to either side of his bed and say, "If you cannot move, we will carry you."

This isn't happening.

He doesn't move and so they drag him out of the bed with strength he didn't think they had. If he could, he would move and fight back, but his muscles are sore and his stomach is twisting in knots.

The two drag him along, through hallways and down stairs, while the other two proceed ahead of them to operate the gate. His eyes are open but he doesn't really want to look at anyone or anything, so instead he gazes at the stone floor beneath him. He's never going to see it again.

"We do not believe in the death penalty, so we have made sure the way is clear for you. How you leave is your business," one of the four men says quietly.

He doesn't respond.

Eiko sighs and looks at the group. This hasn't gone quite how she had thought it would – they were supposed to do something different, she supposes. Oh well – too late to worry about it. They've got bigger fish to fry, anyways. The world isn't in chaos, after all, so they must've done something right.

"We need to go to Esto Gaza," she tells the assembled group, frowning as they do so. "I know, I'm sorry I brought us here. I guess it wasn't what I thought it was... We should start northward as soon as possible.

"Where is Esto Gaza?" Eumol asks, looking down at his atlas, "I cannot find it on the map."

"It's on the Lost Continent. We'll have to spend another six days at sea, if I'm right about the course."

Eumol bites his tongue and doesn't respond.

"-How you leave is your business."

Eiko blinks and walks over to the balcony of the second floor, looking over the railing and towards the entrance. She realizes suddenly that four scholars are dragging the thief away, and a voice inside shrieks for her to stop them.

"Amarant!" she exclaims, "They're taking him away!"

"So what?" the hunter growls, crossing his arms, "Does it matter? We've got bigger problems."

"Please," she begs. The strangest look comes over the hunter's face just then – a foreign, nameless emotion that begs further inspection. She realizes that it's directed not all at her; instead, part of it is looking to Garnet, sitting beside the small summoner.

"Please," Garnet echoes Eiko.

Amarant vaults over the balcony and lands with a heavy thud behind the procession. The four scholars turn to look to him, the thief between them not even looking at the ground anymore, but through it. Eiko feels that maybe they're doing what they were supposed to do now.

"How may we be of assistance?" one scholar asks.

"Where are you taking him?"

"We have decided upon expulsion from Daguerreo as punishment for his crimes. We were taking him to the exit."

Amarant snorts and Eiko leans over the railing a little – Garnet follows her lead but doesn't see anything, just hears it.

"We want him," the hunter states firmly, crossing his arms, "As he was the one who stole our companion's axe. We find it only fitting that we get to decide what to do with him."

They look unimpressed, and one says, "We do not adhere to bounty hunter rhetoric, and we do not want blood on our floors."

"Leave him with us," Amarant demands, adding in a more pacifying tone, "We're leaving shortly and he'll be out of your hair before we decide what to do."

The most commanding and severe looking scholar responds with a question. "Who are you to be commanding us, bounty hunter?"

Eiko winces, but Amarant doesn't seem phased.

"I am the Flaming Amarant, from the Mist Continent." His back straightens; the little summoner has never seen him so powerful as in this moment, "I am also one of her Majesty, Queen Garnet's escorts, and as such have been given the honor of fulfilling one of her wishes. She requests the thief come with us."

She glances to the side and sees Garnet nearly in tears; just beyond her are the others, staring over the railing in ill-concealed surprise at her big brother's sudden change in posture and tone.

"I see," the leader of the scholars mutters, frowning in annoyance. "She demands the thief go with you, to be killed as penance to another companion? Seems unlike the Queen I have heard so often of."

"I never once mentioned death," Amarant snarls, crossing his arms once more. "Her Majesty is too benevolent and soft for death. We have..." He smirks, "We have a better use for him."

Eiko is surprised he's lying so unabashedly. They just didn't want him to be left outside and killed.

"I understand," the scholar responds slowly, looking to the distracted thief who can't even stand on his own legs. "I must admit, giving him to those who he has taken from seems fitting."

Amarant looks to the other three scholars. "Do you also find it fitting?" he asks them.

A slow, unanimous agreement comes over the four, who look to the unresponsive thief.

"We have rethought our decision upon your expulsion," the leader tells him; he twitches a little and looks up half-heartedly. "You will be expelled and will not be allowed to return to our domain... however, we will allow you to stay in company of the Queen of Alexandria. Once she and her entourage leave, we will close our doors to you forever."

A moment of silence.

"Do you understand these terms?"

The thief looks down and nods quietly, pulling himself to his feet as the two on either side release him. Eiko watches him glance up at Amarant and then wince, and a voice echoes in her head as though through a long tube:

You will just make it easier, Little One.

She watches Amarant lead the other upstairs and fixes her gaze on the four-armed man when he enters their meeting.

"What's your name?" she asks, causing him to look up in surprise.

"It... It's Jack," he rasps.

Behind him, Amarant snorts.

"Jack...?" Garnet repeats, before smiling faintly, "The same Jack I met in Alexandria?"

The thief looks absolutely shocked that she would even remember him, much less talk to him, and bows out of respect instead of ulterior motives. "Yes, your Majesty. Alleyway Jack."

"How did you happen to get here from Alexandria?" Beatrix asks, frowning.

"I..." Jack's four hands fumble with each other. "I don't remember."

Amarant suddenly looks vaguely hostile and Steiner is snapping out a response. "Do not take us so lightly after we went through the effort to save your life."

"I'm not – I just..." Jack shakes his head and two of his hands come up to cover his face. "I just... don't know. I was just... here."

Eiko winces when someone laughs through that pipe connecting her to the thief. Jack catches it and looks at her through dirty nails, trying to pin whether or not she had heard what he had.

"Jack," Eiko tests the name and finds it okay on her tongue, "It's alright. Don't worry about it, okay? We'll figure it out."

Jack knows what she's talking about – she can see it on his face – and that's all that matters to her.

"We'd better finish buying supplies," Eumol speaks up suddenly, looking mild and not at all uncomfortable with the new addition to their group, "We're going to have to bargain for some extra rations."

Garnet nods slowly and Eiko smiles at the Burmecian while the others look almost offended.

Beatrix stands suddenly to attention and says, "Allow me to examine your injuries, Jack."

The thief looks confused but nods, allowing the general to lift his battered shirt and feel out the circular scar where a branch once was. Garnet did a decent job, considering...

Eiko shudders and feels as though someone has stepped on her grave.

There are footsteps coming from down the stone hall and so Eiko shifts to look towards the hallway. Three more scholars – not the same as the four from below – appear, each carrying a bundle of fur.

"Her Majesty, Queen Garnet, and her Highness, Eiko Fabool, if it suits you both, we have gathered some fur coats for you and your companions for your journey."

The foremost scholar bows halfway and holds his pile in front of him.

Eiko smiles and says, "Thank you very much," reaching out and taking the furs.

Garnet adds, "That is very kind."

The furs fit them all relatively well – Amarant's is actually too big, which surprises Eiko – but she finds them one short. Jack is staring at his feet, leaning halfway against the railing, looking as though he's contemplating jumping.

"I know it might be too much to ask," Eiko begins, looking apologetically at the scholars, "But might you have a coat that might fit Jack?"

One of the scholars glares at the thief hotly and Jack says, "Don't worry about it. I don't... I don't need one." He tries a laugh, which dies quickly, "It's not like I'm gonna live that far, right?"

Garnet suddenly frowns and narrows her eyes in Jack's general direction. "Do not assume such things!" she snaps, before turning her head almost to the scholars. "Please, if you have any furs at all that might be suited for our companion... I shall pay Daguerreo once I return to my kingdom, if that is what you will require."

Jack looks a little shocked at the queen and Eiko isn't surprised. After all, living like a thief – and she can see now that he really did live that lifestyle – well, it hardly prepares you for royalty like Garnet.

One of the scholars seems to be thinking the same thing, because he raises his head and says, "Of course, your Majesty. There is no need for money; if you trust this man and wish to have him accompany you, we will do our best to help him."

"Thank you," Garnet returns, bowing her head slightly.

The scholars turn and leave, allowing the group to breathe a little easier. Eiko can tell that the formalities are killing their morale. Unfortunately, she can't think of anything to help relieve their worry. Instead, she simply sits down and hopes that by the time they get to Esto Gaza, the Eidolons will have spoken again.

The waves are choppier than they have been in the last two trips across the ocean, and that's a bit worrying for Eumol. He knows that so long as Beatrix is standing guard with him in the makeshift control room, they'll be fine, but once she loses her faith in him...

He's not a sailor by nature. It was just pure, dumb luck that one day, when he was very young, his father had decided that he needed to learn how to sail a ship. At first, they had stuck to small things – sail boats, skiffs – nothing of true power or importance. But every time his father allowed him to take control...

Well, things happened. The winds turned pleasant and seemed to shift in the direction he did. The sun would be covered some times, keeping them cool in the open air. Sometimes, when given a night lesson, Eumol would swear that the stars were aligning themselves in directions just for him.

Of course, the wind didn't always stay calm, and the sun could beat down on him as though he were in a furnace. The stars, of course, never rearranged themselves for him – he was just good at making the best out of bad wind, and the stars were just easy for him to read, after hours of studying at night.

Eumol isn't, therefore, a sailor by nature, but by nurture – if his father hadn't decided to take him out on a skiff one day, he would be standing on the shores of Burmecia right now.

He wishes, sourly, that his father had crashed the skiff before he had been born.

"Eumol," Beatrix speaks up, "Are you alright?"

The Burmecian realizes that he's clenching the soft wood of the wheel too tightly and loosens his grip. "Yes, ma'am. I'm fine – just trying to concentrate on things other than the situation at hand.

"Not necessarily a wise decision," Beatrix responds, "But something we all seem to be doing, lately."

The sun is beating down but clouds are appearing – they'll cover it soon enough. Everyone is on deck, taking in the pleasant weather before whatever storms might hit. Eiko is talking with that new character, Jack, and Garnet is sitting in the sun, head tilted up and eyes thankfully shut, Amarant sitting silently at her side. Lani is at the bow, speaking with Steiner in seemingly light tones... Eumol wonders how light they really are.

"You don't need to stay here, ma'am," he speaks up, looking over his shoulder, "I can manage, if you'd like to go on deck."

"There is nothing for me down there," she says, and he realizes that she's moved beside him. A glance shows her staring down at the group with an almost bitter look.

"Your Queen is there, as is your husband."

Eumol is careful to keep his eyes to the horizon as he says this, and even though he can feel Beatrix's glare, he keeps himself nonchalant.

"The Queen is well protected for the moment."

"And your husband?"

He glances to her and finds her looking away at the horizon – looking beyond it.

"Relationships make little difference in our current situation. I will stay here."

Eumol gulps silently and nods. The clouds are approaching, and he wonders if there's going to be a physical storm, instead of simply a metaphorical one.

Amarant is the only one awake below deck. At least, he thinks he is – he can't see anyone else really, so who knows. He wonders if that rat will be able to navigate through this storm – the boat is pitching back and forth, and there's the sound of rain against wood and the feel of wind through gaps in the planks. They've been sailing for three full days now, and the sky had only been pretending to be a storm for the last two. Still, it makes no difference – Eumol and Beatrix are in the cabin and Lani is on the deck, drenching herself, so they're sure to be forewarned if something goes wrong.

Lightning far way brightens the hull and Amarant is awarded a clear view of Eiko, who is sitting against the wooden walls a few feet away from him, staring into the furthest corners of the dark. The lightning also renders his eye useless for the moment, and so he spends about ten minutes regaining his night vision.

Eiko isn't just staring; she's watching Jack from across the gloom. He is curled up, with hands clasped over his ears as though blocking out noise. Instead of focusing on the strange, four-armed thief, Amarant watches Eiko. She's only eleven, but she looks so grown up – so adult – that he can't help but feel some form of worry for her. She should be playing in the Lindblum gardens, having history lessons in the library, or...

Those are should haves that never happened and he needs to get used to it.

The ship rocks violently, tilting the bow up and down with ferocity previously unseen in this storm. Jack yelps, suddenly, sitting up straight and staring at something beyond the walls.

"Jack?"

Amarant looks to Eiko and finds her pale and almost afraid.

"I'm sorry," Jack rasps, "This is my fault!"

The boat rocks again and Amarant gets to unsteady feet.

"What have you done?" he growls.

"I'm sorry."

Lani burst down into the hull, soaking wet, terrified, and out of breath.

"Leviathan!"

Garnet raises herself up and makes a noise that worries Amarant to no end. Jack crawls forward, towards her, but Lani's axe blocks his path.

"If we throw you to Him, we might be alright," Lani snarls, barking out a laugh that reminds Amarant of times long past, "You'll serve a purpose after all!"

"No!"

Lani reaches for the four-armed thief, but Steiner's hand blocks hers and he says, "Lani," in a level voice that holds something foreign to Amarant's ears. His comrade backs away slightly.

"Jack," Garnet calls through the dark, and the thief scrambles forward, grabbing her hand and bowing his head low.

"Everyone, stay here," Eiko commands, turning and climbing up to the deck.

"I'm sorry, your Majesty," Jack rasps, "I'm so sorry – I didn't come with you!"

"No one expected you to, Jack," Garnet responds softly, "It wasn't required of you."

"You don't understand," the thief exclaims, "I had dreams! Commands in my sleep to come with you, and I ignored them!"

Lani stiffens and Amarant turns away. He doesn't want to hear this – he doesn't want to think that even this stupid thief has more right to be at Garnet's side than him. No images dictate to him, no voices guide him. He doesn't want this stupid thief to have more purpose than he does.

"And now He's come after me, and I can't tell you why he's following me!"

"I can't listen to this," Amarant growls, turning to the ladder. "I'm going to do something productive."

He takes the ladder in three leaps and is pitched into a storm. In the center of the deck, under the looming bluesilver shadow of Leviathan, is the bright white light of Eiko's trance.

Something about it seems different from how it used to be. The light is purer, less shaded by pinks and purples and almost completely white. Her horn is long but curved, ivory in color and emitting its own personal glow. The most striking things are her wings – now almost seven feet in span – and her bright, pupil-less eyes.

She looks like an angel – like a tiny Eidolon.

"You are not allowed here, Leviathan!" she shouts, wings unfolding, "Leave us!" Her voice sounds like her own, but there are deeper inflections – he can hear Old Man Thunder and even Fenrir under her soft tones.

Leviathan responds in a deep voice, and Amarant reels as he realizes that the Dragon can now speak to him as well as any other Eidolon.

"Little summoner, I have no reason to listen to you. You hold no sway over a God!"

His wings encase the sky.

"You are hardly a God! The bastard son of Bahamut and the sea – hardly immortal, hardly powerful! You are the one who holds no power here!"

"I have become more than Bahamut gave me! Through the blood of the weak Carbuncle, I have become a God!"

"So that's how you can speak to Jack..."

A deep, guttural laugh shakes the sea.

"His form deceives even you, blessed summoner."

"Leviathan," Eiko snarls, looking not at all sweet or pure, "Leave us now, before I become truly enraged!"

A hand lands on Amarant's shoulder and Garnet and Jack are beside him.

"She's so bright," Garnet whispers, "I can nearly see your face."

"You might have the blessings of Gods, but you are still only human!"

Light explodes from Amarant's sister-in-name, filling the deck, the sky, and perhaps the entire world. When it clears, Eiko is out of trance, swaying on her feet, and the only remnant of the Water Dragon is a single scale on the deck.

Amarant bounds forward and sweeps the little girl into his arms as she falls, half-unconscious.

"You..." Jack falls to his knees, eyes wide, "You destroyed him!"

"No," Eiko whispers to Amarant and the wind, "Just... gone. Judgment... I can send them to judgment."

"Eiko," Amarant rasps, "What have you done?"

"It's complicated... So, so complicated..."

"Amarant," Garnet calls. He looks to see her being held steady by Jack, looking out towards Eiko. "It's a bad storm – we should take cover."

"Yeah," he mutters, standing with Eiko in his arms, "Yeah, come on."

"Big brother," Eiko mumbles in an almost sleepy voice, "We're so close..."

"I hope," he tells her, allowing himself to squeeze her shoulder slightly. He will never tell anyone else, but he's sure that in this moment, he loves the little summoner like a real sibling.

The storm has subsided completely. It's still night – very close to dawn, but still dark – and Jack can't sleep. That girl... Eiko? She is something to behold. That was no ordinary girl on that deck – that was no ordinary trance he had seen. Something deep inside him makes him feel like he should protect that girl – like she is his only chance at salvation.

It doesn't surprise him that he's on the back deck, looking at the stars in a clear sky. He can't stand it below. Something about the others smothers the part of him that brought him this far – something makes that piece of him hurt.

"It's awfully late to be stargazing."

Jack turns to see Eiko leaning against the back wall of the cabin, gazing at him mildly. She has no wings now, and her horn is almost insignificant compared to her trance.

"What did you do?" he asks, because he needs the answer like water.

"I sent Leviathan to his judgment. He will be tried."

"By who?"

"I don't know. It doesn't matter – it'll take years, and by then... well, this will be over."

She glows still, and he can see it, even if it's faint. It's as though her skin is barely concealing the fire of that angel from the deck, barely containing it. She could burst at any moment.

"...What are you?" he rasps.

She paces forward and sighs, leaning against the railings. "I'm just Eiko Carol. The last summoner..." She laughs, almost bitterly – it doesn't fit her – and adds, "The only one here who has nothing left to lose."

"I don't have anything to lose, either," Jack grumbles, surprised when the summoner laughs openly.

"You have your life, Jack! You have everything to lose."

"So do you, little kid. After all..." He picks at his memory – it was so long ago – and then smirks, "After all, I still owe you dinner, don't I?"

She blinks and looks at him for a long while, before smiling a sad, melancholy smile. "I knew you were that guy from Treno. No... You don't owe me anything. I wouldn't be able to go, anyways."

"Why not?" He crosses all his arms and pouts, "It's because I've four arms, isn't it?"

"No," she whispers, "No... It's..."

She is silent and so is he. Something isn't right and it worries him.

"I have a time limit right now, Jack."

"What do you mean, a time limit?"

She frowns and looks about – as if expecting someone to be hiding, spying – and then grabs one of his hands, pulling it free and pressing it against her chest.

"Hey – you're a little too young for me-"

She stares at him and he stares at his hand. Her skin is glowing, her cheeks are a little red, her eyes are bright and alive, but...

He presses his hand flat and is rewarded with no heaving chest, no fluttering heart.

"Jack," Eiko whispers, sounding like a drum in his head, "You can't tell them."

"I... You have my word."

Nothing moves beneath his hand. She is alive and well and utterly dead.