Jack wakes up to icicles and fogged breath, shuddering and curled up as though he can keep warm just by himself. His teeth chatter as he stiffly reaches for his fur coat, pulling it on and fitting his lower set of arms underneath the cool skin. It only has two sleeves, but it's no matter – he's just glad to have the thing at all.

There's nobody else in the hull and he wonders if something's happened. With creaky bones, he clambers over to the ladder and shakily makes his way to the deck, unused to the cold.

The deck is splotched with snow, and icicles hang off of everything around them. Everyone is on deck – with the exception of the sailor Burmecian – and as he makes his way towards the bow, he can see that the ocean is iced over for miles. In the distance, through the light snowfall, he can just make out a landmass – a mountain.

"Finally, you grace us with your presence," Amarant growls from his left. "Nice of you to join us."

"Where are we?"

The bounty hunter nods to the shadowy mountain.

"That's the Lost Continent."

"Mount Gulug, to be exact," the woman general, Beatrix, cuts in, coming to stand on Jack's right, arms crossed and short hair spotted with flakes of snow. "A rather foreboding place, but if Eiko is correct..." She trails off, and then offers Amarant a strange, sad smile, "If she is correct, this may be the end of our troubles."

"Or just the beginning," the bounty hunter growls, turning and looking away. He adds, "We're probably going to walk the ice, so don't bring any more stolen goods with you."

"At least one of us will have had enough sleep to handle it," Lani growls, closer to the bow.

"If you hadn't been panicking over drowning, you would have had enough too," Amarant snaps. He then looks back to Jack, shifting and standing with a purpose the thief can't quite make out. "The queen asked me to watch you. Apparently, you need a babysitter."

Jack knows better than to argue, so he simply nods and lets the other stand close.

After a few minutes, the scenery begins to blur together and Jack almost wants to go back to sleep. He knows he can't – and that he really wouldn't, given the chance – because there is something... forbidden about him being here. Something feels as though it doesn't want him anywhere near this Lost Continent; he can only hope it's just his imagination.

There's a sudden grinding noise and the boat comes to a shaky, sudden halt. The Burmecian emerges onto the deck, wrapped in a thinner fur coat than the rest of them.

"We'll have to walk from here – the ice is too thick to separate." He walks to the bow and looks out over the ice, frowning a little, tail shifting under the fur coat. "It looks thick enough to hold our weight, as well, but..."

"We will be fine, Eumol," General Beatrix states firmly, arms crossed. "Your judgment is all we need."

Eumol's ears flatten and he looks very unsure – Jack isn't sure that he wants to listen to either of them right now.

"Well, come on then!" Eiko exclaims, dashing to put the ladder down, "We're almost there – no time to wait!"

"She's got more on her plate than she can handle," Amarant mutters quietly, shaking his head. "Her false cheer isn't hiding anything."

"Just pretend it is," Jack responds in just as low a voice, earning a bit of a startled glance from the bounty hunter, who probably didn't expect Jack to do much talking at all.

They go, single file, down the ladder, and it isn't until Amarant touches the ice that they all decide it will hold. The hunter looks a little worried, but Jack doesn't think much of it – ice, sturdy or not, is no fun to walk on. It looks to be a long way to that distant mountain, so he pulls his jacket tighter around him and takes to following the little girl in front.

He's not sure why he's here at all – the last time he saw these folks, they had been off to the Evil Forest, and he had been sure they'd never be seen again. That had been all well and good; after all, the Queen (bless her, still blind but stronger than he could ever be) had taken the two most fearsome bounty hunters along with her, and the two captains of Alexandria's military force.

Of course, there isn't a military to control, but it's the thought that counts.

Still, even as they had been leaving, Jack had felt that he was forgetting something important. Watching that intrepid group toddle off into the unknown had set off something in him, like a fire given kindling. It hadn't been until late at night, a few days later, that he remembered a dream he had had, a good few weeks before the entire disaster. Even now, only parts stand out to him, but he distinctly remembers the sound of howling winds – only, not wind, but more like wolves – and a frozen wasteland. Later on, he remembered a little more, but it was all vague, with a bright glow far away from him, and the voice of someone – someone deep and ancient – telling him to travel north, if he valued the lives of anyone other than himself... If, in the end, he valued the life of a young woman who could not see the future.

He hadn't remembered it until after the group had left, and even after remembering, he hadn't considered the Queen until after two bottles of some aged wine, miraculously safe in the wreckage of some Alexandrian's house. And the voice came back to him, in a very ominous tone, saying you must not fail, there will be fire if you fail, and then later, on his way to Treno, it became more pleading, please do not fail!

He still can't tell who the voice belonged to – it reminds him now of Leviathan, but it is far more benevolent than the sea serpent. He thinks that he can still hear it – but only in the quiet moments just before sleep.

It doesn't matter. He's here now – that should be all that matters.

It takes them a decent hour or so to cross the slippery, shady ice; at times, the Burmecian in the lead has them stop, so that he can check the thickness of the ice. With every passing moment and every short stop, Jack sees Amarant grow more and more agitated – he doesn't question it, but he files it away. It might be important, later on in this trip.

The moment they hit solid ground, they realize just how much further they have to go. While the location of Esto Gaza is, according to Eiko, just up the way, they've arrived during a soft snowfall and there is a thick layer of snow on the ground.

As he pulls his jacket as close to his body as possible, Jack debates on whether or not he should have just left Daguerreo on his own – after all, this is turning out to be a lot more trouble than it's worth.

At least, he thinks, looking ahead to the little girl leading them, If she's right, this'll all be over soon.

It takes them almost four hours to reach the plateau where Esto Gaza rests, and when the white columns and torch come into view through the snow, Beatrix can hardly contain her admiration. To build something so delicately shaped in the middle of such a harsh environment is an amazing feat – nearly as incredible as the idea that religious pilgrims regularly make their way up the mountain, and come back for more. She finds it to be a demonstration of how well people can adapt to any environment, and it gives her hope for those in Alexandria and the other Mist kingdoms.

"It looks in good shape," Steiner says from beside her, almost too quiet for the winds. She looks to him mildly – but without any real care. She can't care.

"Perhaps the Eidolons have not yet found it," she replies, marching forward even as the others slow to a halt. They can't afford to stop now – they're too close. She wants things to begin healing, but an open wound needs to be cleaned first.

She will help Alexandria heal, no matter the price.

The doors are light and open at her softest touch, revealing the city that she has only heard of in stories. It is just as graceful and beautiful as it was described, with white marble and glowing obelisks and –

"Welcome, travelers, to Esto Gaza."

The high priest looks over their ragged group and his smiling face smoothes into a pitying, fatherly mask.

"Has the journey here been difficult? I am afraid we have become overly complacent with our current weather."

"You're kidding me," Amarant growls from behind. "You're telling us that you don't know?"

"Know what, pilgrim? Is the outside world troubled?"

There's a squeak of almost outrage from the back and Eumol suddenly brushes past Beatrix, eyes narrowed at the priest.

"Troubled!" he exclaims, "Is the outside world troubled? It's in utter chaos! Tell me," he snaps, and Beatrix doesn't know him anymore, "Are there Burmecians here? Cleyrans? Any at all?"

"Why... yes. There are a few couples here, on their yearly pilgrimage. We are always open to-"

"I need to see them," the sailor says, eyes softening and going a little numb, "I need to see them. It's urgent."

"Follow me, then. I shall take you to them."

Amarant is growling under his breath but Beatrix ignores him – this really is more important at the moment.

They are taken to the shop – this is truly a gateway rather than a town – and there, they find four Burmecians and a Cleyran couple. Eumol's ears flatten and he steps towards them, faltering only once.

One of the male Burmecians turns to him and smiles brightly. "Another from Burmecia? We never see many others here, but-"

"Kal, stop being so insensitive," the female beside him interrupts, turning to look at the group and then Kal. "Can't you see that they're worn out already? We had enough trouble getting here, you should know!"

"I was just-"

"Hush." The woman turns to them and smiles as politely as possible. "Come, sit down and relax. You've made it safely."

"That's not what I'm here for," Eumol rasps, looking over the group in its entirety. "We didn't come here for religion. Kal... correct?"

"Yeah, that's me. What is it?"

Beatrix can tell by the other Burmecians' postures that they've realized something's up. It must be Eumol's anxiety, along with their groups' projected image, that sets their nerves.

"Burmecia," Eumol moans now, almost sagging to his knees but miraculously holding up, "Burmecia – and Cleyra – they're..."

"Has there been another attack?" the other male Burmecian asks, standing up suddenly, "Has King Puck sent for us?"

"Our kingdoms are... are..."

"Spit it out, man!" Kal exclaims, ears flattened back in nervousness.

"They're gone."

Beatrix had expected shock, then anger, and of course tears. Instead, they get blank looks – as though these Burmecians simply don't understand.

"What do you mean – gone?"

"I mean... I mean they've been destroyed. Demolished." Eumol shudders and whispers, "Nearly everyone died."

"King Puck!" Kal exclaims, standing now, "Is he – did he...?"

"His Majesty is safe. He was in Lindblum at the time... but Lindblum, too, has suffered... As has Alexandria..."

"Alexandria?" the unnamed Burmecian barks, eyes burning, "Alexandria will never suffer as much as we have – you come saying that our home is destroyed, but Lindblum and Alexandria have only suffered? It was probably their filthy plan to-"

As if they are the same person, Beatrix and Steiner have moved to either side of Eumol, swords drawn and pointed towards the Burmecian.

"Say that again, you cur," Steiner growls, "Speak ill of Alexandria in front of Her Royal Majesty and I will have your head."

"Steiner!"

Beatrix knows that the Queen would be repulsed to see them both with their swords drawn, but she doesn't replace hers quite as quickly as Steiner does. Those words are salt to the wound.

"Mad, blasted Alexandrians!" the Burmecian snaps, "The lot of you!"

Eumol has his ears back and eyes narrowed.

"You're here with your faith and your compassion, you moronic rat!" he snarls, stepping forward, "Show some of both towards myself and Her Majesty, Queen of Alexandria!" At this, Beatrix must step aside so that Eiko can lead Garnet to the front. "You are isolated here and all you have to show for my news is accusations?"

"Eumol," Garnet says, "That is enough."

Eumol retreats slightly, and the Burmecians as a whole look to Garnet.

"I am sorry for what has happened – to all the world. My kingdom is not responsible, but we are trying to help. Place blame on us if it will help you heal, but we have done nothing but support the Burmecian kingdom and King Puck. Your kingdom has suffered the rage of Leviathan, and our own kingdoms have had many Eidolons attack." She bows her head. "It has never been my wish to see people die."

The female Burmecian, next to Kal, finally stands and puts a hand on both males' shoulders.

"Sit down, you two. This is no time to be throwing around threats." She looks to their ragged group now, and Beatrix feels... remorse? No, not quite so melancholy...

"I believe you're here to do more than tell us what's happened?"

Garnet nods and the Burmecian sighs.

"Talk to the priest. He can help you. Thank you for telling us what has happened."

As they leave the storefront, Eumol leading with a limp, Beatrix glances back and finds one of the Burmecians in tears. She doesn't feel a thing.

The priest smiles and nods as they ask for a place to stay, and invites them into the tiny inn. Its mid-afternoon and they're already exhausted, but only for a little longer – only until they reach the summit of the mountain and solve all their problems.

They've slept well through the late afternoon and into the night, but now Jack's restless as all hell. He supposes it's because he's gotten the most sleep out of the entire group, but still...

Maybe it's more than that, he thinks as he stands on the terrace of Esto Gaza's pathway to the faraway mountain. It's as though a voice is echoing in his head, faint and tired, trying to tell him something important but unable to do so.

"I guess I'm not alone."

Jack looks over his shoulder and sees Eiko glowing in the shadows – ever since Leviathan, he's noticed her glow more and more, though he's not sure why.

He tries a grin, even though it stretches his skin uncomfortably, and says, "I guess you're not, sweetheart. Shouldn't young summoners be in bed?"

"I don't sleep very much anymore." The girl comes out of the shadows and walks to Jack's side. "It doesn't... matter, I guess."

Her eyes are on the mountain and so Jack turns his there as well.

"Mount Gulug," Eiko murmurs, "It used to look a lot... scarier."

"It's just a mountain," he tells her, "Nothing to be scared of there."

"No, Jack," she responds, looking pale and tired in the moonlight and her own glow, "That is the one place we should all be afraid of." Her eyes are drawn to the very top of the mountain and when he looks, he sees a strange orange glow coming from a large cavern. "That's where this is all going to end... for better or worse."

"How do you even know?" He can't help asking – it begs to be answered.

"...I'm not sure. I just... Can't you feel it?"

He stares hard and long, but nothing seems special about it. The voice continues in the back of his mind, hissing.

"Not really... But I'll take your word for it. You're the leader, after all."

Eiko blinks suddenly, and Jack's surprised to see her eyes shimmering with tears.

"The leader, huh?" she says shakily, "I used to be... just another part of the gang. Zidane... he was the leader."

Zidane... he remembers the monkey-boy. He had told that kid his real name, once... and he had later gone on to marry Queen Garnet. He remembers him being... okay.

"I miss him," Eiko whispers. "I wish he were leading me, and not..."

Jack looks at her and finds her in silent tears – he puts one arm over her shoulders and the other behind her back, pulling her close to his side.

"Don't worry," he says at long last, "You're doing a good job. And it'll be over soon, anyways, right?"

"I hope," she mumbles. "I hope."

Beatrix looks over the major obelisk as she waits for the head priest to finish counseling a young pair of lovers on their honeymoon. She has many questions to ask about Mount Gulug and the strange fires they have been seeing at the summit, and she knows that he will be able to answer them at least to some extent.

The head priest smiles as the couple leaves for the terrace, and then turns to face Beatrix with a comforting look on his face. It does little, however, to appease her, and instead she tells him directly, "I wish to speak with you about Mount Gulug."

"Ah, yes," he says, frowning now in thought, "Mount Gulug. I assume that you are attempting to journey to its summit... the conviction in your heart tells me that much." He comes forward and stops within a few feet from her. "What your heart does not tell me is why. Come, let us walk."

He leads her towards the terrace and she finds herself giving him a vague account of the last six weeks, attempting to stress the importance of their action. When she finishes, they are at the edge of the terrace, looking out to the mountain in question.

"I see," the priest says contemplatively. "The world has been greatly troubled in my mind for the last few weeks, and I see now why. It explains many of the goings-on here on this continent as well."

"Please," she says, "Tell me. What is going on at the top of that mountain?"

He sighs, and they begin to walk again; Beatrix is certain that walking must be the only way for this man to talk. She would be aggravated if moving didn't relieve some of her tension.

"Only a few months ago did we realize something was amiss at Mount Gulug. The flames you see at the topmost part are not made by man, but by a restless and vindictive Eidolon. It arrived there in the last throes of winter, and because of its presence the seasons have been thrown off irreparably. It has been winter for four months longer than normal. We have only seen the Eidolon leave once, on the back of a great animal, riding through the skies with fire at its tail. Once it returned, the fire began burning at all hours every day. We have, since then, decided to keep ourselves out of sight of the Eidolon, so that it might not visit its rage upon our city."

They've arrived onto a small balcony hanging over the edge of a cliff, looking out at the mountain through sheer red curtains. The light inside the room is dim and scarlet, painting the mountain in a more sinister view.

"If you indeed wish to visit the summit of Mount Gulug and return the Eidolon to its place in this world, then I will unlock the barriers and direct you to the safest route around the mountain, as opposed to through it." He smiles at her, "You are doing a noble thing, General. I will be glad to offer any assistance I might."

She smiles faintly as she looks at the mountain's glowing summit, and replies in a soft voice, "Thank you, priest."

"Feel free to stay here and reflect; I must go attend to another couple who desire my blessings."

She doesn't respond and the priest leaves. Mount Gulug seems to be drawing her every thought and every hope – perhaps...

"It is dark," a breathy, soft voice calls from behind. Beatrix turns to find a young adolescent girl standing in the curtained doorway, draped in purple robes and wearing a vacant, dazed expression. The general has heard of these girls before – young women with the gift of foresight, who live in religious holy grounds in order to better serve God...

Beatrix is about to respond when the girl continues, "The darkness – it consumes all within its grasp. Oh, it is the cold that inside freezes so completely... The heat from outside cannot penetrate the frost within. We cannot see through the darkness – do not worry; do not worry, for we shall be deft. Oh, the dark! Oh, the pain of losing those we love to the tides of time... These wounds shall heal. These times will pass. Dawn will come as always. It will not be the end. Tell them."

The girl sags against the doorway and her eyes blink back into focus. She stares at Beatrix, who feels something cold go down her back, and then says in a much more grounded voice, "I'm so sorry."

She turns away, even before Beatrix can ask her what she means.

They leave Esto Gaza at noon on the third day after their arrival. The head priest sees them off through the barriers set between Mount Gulug and the gateway city, and doesn't even flinch at Eumol's bland and vaguely disgusted look. Jack is surprised; usually people get pretty riled by dirty looks, but the priest barely bats an eye. Still, after a few hours of Eumol's glare as he stays behind, the priest will no doubt whack him one.

Even as Esto Gaza grows smaller behind them, the mountain looks barely nearer than before – at least to Jack. The others look almost optimistic, even if he knows they aren't feeling it. They're just doing it to make everyone else feel better – it's really kind of annoying. He doesn't feel optimistic at all.

The mountain's voices are still talking – they have been ever since they arrived. He wonders if he's the only one to hear them whispering, speaking of things he wishes he could understand, sounding as though they were coming through thick layers of cloth. He's sure there's more than one – there has to be, because one feels almost sinister, while the other reminds him of his dreams.

They're out of sight of Esto Gaza by the time night falls, and the mountain is now looming above them. They make camp next to the base of the mountain, inside a thick patch of trees, and while Amarant sets to making a fire, Jack digs a rock out from under the snow and sits. He doesn't like walking a lot and avoids it when he can, but today they haven't stopped in hours – he wonders if this is how they've been doing it since the beginning of the journey. It doesn't really matter, but he still would like to know.

They eat dried fruits and charred meat – gifts from the Esto Gaza priests – and after a while Jack looks up from the bones of his meal to see the others gazing into the fire, lost in their own worlds.

The mountain voices are still whispering by the time the two moons touch, the time when they all finally make their beds with thin wooden bedrolls and fur coats. They are the reason Jack is still up, even after Eiko's fallen into a fitful sleep; they call out through a veil he can't push aside, and it might very well drive him mad.

What he doesn't see, staring up at the branches clutching at the sky, is Lani, sitting up in the dark and looking over the group. She can't sleep; not for any particular reason, just because there's a bundle of nerves in her stomach that refuse to unwind long enough to let her rest. Her axe glows dimly, leaning on the tree beside her bedroll, and its presence is reassuring.

She takes it in hand as she rises to her feet, clutching its handle with the ease of someone far too used to its weight, and slides quietly through the trees. It listens to her soundless pleas for comfort but cannot give her any solace – it is a thing, a weapon, and weapons can't offer anything but pain.

"Damn it," Lani mutters, leaning against a tree far enough away from the campsite that no one can see her. This isn't working. What the hell are we even doing here? We don't even know what's up there... We don't even know what we're going to do when we get to the top. She looks to her axe, which is now once more leaning against a tree, and decides that no matter what, at least she won't be defenseless this time.

"It will not be over quickly."

Lani jerks her head up and looks towards the sky – above her is fire, as though the canopy had been ignited – as a booming voice speaks down to her, "I will take my time with you."

It isn't... it doesn't feel like an Eidolon's voice. It would almost be a normal tone, if not for its resonance and for the speaker's invisibility.

"What – What do you mean?"

Another voice speaks, one she knows – "I am not afraid of you."

And then the forest goes black as the flames are extinguished, as the stars fade away, as the very moons seem to disappear beneath black clouds of feathers –

"Lani."

Her eyes clear and she looks towards the camp – Steiner stands there in his coat, close enough to grab her but so far from her nightmare.

"...What do you want, sir knight?" She stretches her arms and tries to ignore the unease in her stomach at his closeness, "It's awfully late for a brave warrior to be awake."

"In that case," he says slowly, "Why are you still awake? You should be asleep." He smirks, "You were complaining only a few days ago of the meager amounts of sleep we've all been getting."

"Yeah, well..." She looks again to the sky and finds the stars in their places – the moons and the branches too. "I never said I was brave."

He comes closer and his hand lands on her shoulder. "Your eyes were distant. Another vision?"

"...I guess. More feathers. Nothing-"

I am not afraid of you. – Tell him! Tell him now, don't waste your opportunity –

Why should she tell him anything?

"Nothing but feathers and darkness. Kind of annoying, actually."

"Your legs are shaking," he says quietly.

Lani swears under her breath and finds herself loathing the man in front of her. "What does it matter to you, o' noble knight? You have a wife some few yards away – go take solace in her and leave me alone already!"

He leans close – only inches from her face – and hisses, "Do not speak of my wife, and do not shout."

He sounds angry but she knows how to read people pretty well; she can see that his anger is only a façade – underneath he's scared, terrified, and not just of his wife finding him so close to the bounty huntress.

"What do you want from me, Steiner?" Lani finally asks, sighing almost into his mouth because of how close they are, "Why are you here?"

His hand moves from her shoulder to her cheek and she feels something spike there, like a magical current that she can't control – not unlike her first time with the axe.

"I just want this," he murmurs. "Contact." A bit bitterly, "Warmth."

Her chest constricts tightly and she has to force something out to get him away – this has to end.

"I can't give that to you."

His eyes pierce hers and she wants to reach out and grab her axe – just for comfort, just in case.

But no, he's not going to try anything stupid – he just watches her for a moment and leans in the little way between their mouths.

The kiss isn't sloppy, but it definitely lacks calculation and when it's over he seems... unhappy. Worried.

Terrified.

"I'm sorry," he rasps, pulling his hand away, stepping away, "I'm so-"

She can't stand it.

"C'mere," she mutters, grabbing his arm and pulling him back, "Try that again with a little more care. I'm not ice."

He does so and she feels like turning into molten flame. He's kissing her as he had in the Village, and if he isn't careful –

His hand grasps her thigh and she decides to fuck being careful. Beatrix is sleeping and they're in shadows – featherless shadows, thankfully – and they both just need warmth.

His hand moves from her thigh to her stomach, sliding under fur and cloth and connecting cold fingers to heated skin. They trace curves and circles under her shirt and she pushes against him, hooking a leg around his waist and pulling him tight to her. He pulls out of the kiss for air and she uses that time to concentrate on pant lacings, working with shaky numb fingers.

He bites her lip and she lets go of the leather threats, allowing his hand to leave her long enough –

She sighs breathlessly as his hand slides against her, pushing past fabric and oh – she straddles him, holding on with ankles crossed and one hand clutching bark, moving her lips to his earlobe and he groans quietly – have to be quiet – shifting on his feet.

Lani knows what's next by the way Steiner's hand moves from her to the tree, and pulls her head back, hits the bark, and bites her lip, ready to become molten.

The sun has barely risen, but they find themselves already wide awake and prepared for another long day of walking. Jack has had a pitiful amount of sleep, barely getting more than three hours without the mountain voices speaking to him – or through him. He's still not sure.

Eiko is grinning, looking so sure of herself, and he wonders if she knows what's up there. Does she know this will have a happy ending? She must – she's a... something. She's something from another world.

Lani is barely able to keep her knees from knocking together – she has the hot-cold shivers of too much exertion after too little sleep, but she knows better than to complain. They'll reach the summit by tonight. They'll be done by tonight.

She looks at Steiner and decides that everything will be done by tonight. She'll take Red and bail, soon as possible. Leave the knight to look after her poor blind Majesty – Amarant's not a guide-dog.

Amarant has his hand on Garnet's shoulder, leading her from just behind Eiko, and he's sure that the queen only needs him to keep her from falling off the thin path they're now climbing. It's barely wide enough for Amarant to walk on safely – a little wider than that of Daguerreo – but Eiko's marching along so smartly that he has little fear for them.

At midday, they're almost two-thirds the way to the summit, and Beatrix – being behind Amarant – is given the task of handing out left over food from the night's dinner. They don't stop walking – Amarant simply puts an arm backwards to help Beatrix from falling off the edge, and allows her to go through his pack. She barely finds enough for everyone, and when she hands the last bit to Amarant, she realizes they won't have enough for everyone on the way back down.

She forgoes her own meal, returning it to the pack, only to have Jack hand her his own.

"I'm fine," he assures her, even though his eyes are rimmed with black and red, and his limbs are all shuddering under his thick coat. She accepts it because... well. She knows what it's like to have offers refused.

Her mind is still on Esto Gaza – still on the priest's story and the oracle's words. She wonders if they both know something she herself doesn't; the thought worries her but there's not much she can do to change the fact now. Instead, she forces her mind to speculate on what might be living in the cave on the top of the mountain – an Eidolon, yes, but which? Riding on the back of a fiery animal... a dragon, most likely, as those seem to be popular among the ancient gods.

Eiko stops them at a point where the pathway juts out far from the mountain, giving them a decently wide space to spread out in. She looks at them all and says, "We're so close... I can feel It. If – if you guys want to go back – we can. This would be it. If not... we should rest. So we can get in there at night. Daytime is bad luck against Eidolons."

No one speaks – everyone's too tired to do much of anything right now, rather than sit down on their bedrolls and try to get some rest. Jack looks at the distant ocean – visible from this altitude – and wonders if it's okay to run away.

He won't, but it's still an idea.

Beatrix is still looking towards the summit, now hidden from view. Be deft, she thinks, closing her eyes to get just a few more hours of sleep.

By nightfall, they're awake, decently rested, armed as best they can be, and fed their meager dinner portions. Eiko doesn't know who's up there, waiting, but she's not about to wait around to find out. The Eidolon most likely doesn't even realize they're here – she's felt the energy and it's chaotic. Whichever Eidolon is up there...

"It's been driven mad," she tells them quietly as they begin their final trek up the mountain, "It can't stand the power imbalance."

"Like a punk kid who's run away from home," Amarant grunts, shrugging his shoulders and flexing his clawed hand, "Easy enough."

"You'd say that," Eiko says, "But you're crazy too, Ama-chan."

Jack snorts from the back and Amarant casts a dark look over his shoulder.

The moons rise high as they climb to the great cavern at the summit, and Jack finds it increasingly hard to concentrate on anything. The voices, once shielded from his mind by a veil, have grown in volume and are still unintelligible – but the force of their words is enough to make him lose all focus to the outside world.

A sudden burst of warmth from in front of them causes them all to halt, looking forward. The mouth of the cave is ahead – much larger than anything Jack had imagined – and though it seems shaded, bursts of flame from within light the entrance, beckoning.

Jack hears two swords being drawn and turns his head – Steiner and Beatrix are both armed, with Lani holding her axe warily, ready to hit anyone who comes too close. He wonders why he ever thought he could get away using that thing; it looks so at home in her arms that the idea of anyone else owning it seems ludicrous.

"...Are... Are we all okay?" Eiko asks weakly, glowing bright in the dark. They nod to her and approach as one towards the entrance.

The cave is huge – it seems to take up most of the top of the mountain. Its one large cavern, with four bonfires in each rough corner, each large enough to roast a whole dragon in. In the middle of the vast cavern kneels a man – only, he's far too large to be a man, as he is nearly the size of a dragon himself, with a huge golden helmet and huge black horns –

Oh Gods, Jack realizes suddenly as the Man looks up, He's heard every thought.

"You have finally come," the Man says slowly, and His voice has the resonance of an Eidolon's but none of the feeling. "I have waited patiently ever since you arrived. I heard you coming."

He stands and they see a black blade hanging from his belt.

"Odin," Garnet breathes.

"Yet you come with these tiny things," Odin continues, ignoring Garnet utterly and focusing red eyes on Eiko. "Did you think that they would protect your human shell?"

"Odin – why are you here?" Eiko asks, voice deafening in the cave, "Why have you come to Mount Gulug?"

"You are asking the wrong questions, blessed summoner. There is no why – there is merely who."

"Then who sent you here?" Amarant shouts angrily, sick of the game already.

"The little thing speaks human tongue?" Odin looks genuinely surprised. "His clan died so many ages ago, but to have integrated into human society..."

"Answer him, Odin!" Eiko calls.

"He who rules us all has disappeared, leaving those under him to fend for ourselves on the physical plane. How treacherous of him, to leave us to this land and expect results. Many of us have revolted. I have not."

"What..." Garnet shudders under Odin's sudden gaze, "What do you mean – you haven't revolted? But you-"

"Little Queen. I remember you." His great eyes narrow. "You are the reason they revolt. Leaving He who rules us all to rot. I will bring him back – he will be restored, and you will find your judgment there."

"Oh Gods," Eiko whispers, eyes wide in sudden realization, "He's... We have to stop him!"

"You wish to challenge me, blessed summoner? Me, the one true son of the Gods – of He who rules us all?" Odin's hand falls to his blade and he says, "Certainly, you may try. But you know there is only one way to destroy me – and you have already used it."

Jack looks at Eiko's ashen face and whispers, "Judgment."

Odin lifts a hand and floats, the six-legged horse big enough to hold him appearing beneath him. "I shall be the one to send you to judgment!"

He raises his hand once more and now black swirls from his palm, casting the entire room into deep shadows barely broken by the four gigantic fires. Lani swears and the mountain voice – the one not belonging to Odin – screams in Jack's head, bringing him to his knees, one pair of hands clutching his head and the other wrapped around his stomach.

"Scream all you wish!" Odin cries from the dark center, "You will not find mercy here!"

"Nobody's screaming," Amarant growls, sounding muffled to Jack, who just wants –

There's a scream from his left and he looks up – his eyes pierce through the darkness and he sees Garnet barely dodging the foremost hoofs of the horse. With a swear, he rises to unsteady feet and dashes towards her, because the voice is screaming Save the Queen over and over.

"You cannot save her as you are!" Odin shouts, and Jack turns his head – oh Gods he's going to kill me –

Something explodes in his head as Amarant comes from the side and drags Jack out of the way of the blade. "You do need a babysitter," the hunter says, but it's so far away – his blood throbs in his head and his limbs and he sinks to his knees, sure that the voice screaming inside him is going to tear him in two.

"Jack!" Eiko cries, her voice alone making it through the noise in his head – he looks up and she's white-hot and bright as the sun.

Let go, the voice screams, let go! NOW.

He screams and he can't think of anything but pain – what spell is this that's causing such –

Eiko draws back with Amarant as Jack screams and struggles against himself – even Odin has halted his movements, watching with a deeply frightening grin.

"His form deceives you all!" he laughs, drawing the reins tight for a turn towards Garnet –

A blade, too small to damage him severely, lands close to his heart and he finds Steiner now defenseless, effectively drawing his attention away from Garnet. Beatrix sees it as well and realizes suddenly what everything means.

It is dark – but no matter. She shall be deft.

"Odin!"

The Eidolon turns towards her, smiles at her wickedly, and says, "Do you challenge me, little thing?"

She readies Save the Queen in response, falling back slightly and preparing for a charge. She can't see him as well as she should be able to and his hand emits more darkness, clouding him from her gaze once more.

"It will not be over quickly," he says, and she hears the six hoofs coming towards her, quickening through the mist.

She readies her blade and dodges a hoof, flying forward and landing a blow to his side. He may be as large as a dragon but she's slain dragons. He's nothing.

His voice gains the quality she had been dreading. "I will take my time with you," the Eidolon growls, and she can tell she's caused him considerable pain. He comes charging through the dark and she parries his huge sword, sliding under hoofs and nearly getting cuffed by Odin's boot. He fades into the dark once more, and she knows he must be circling.

She can't hear him – can't see him. "...I am not afraid of you."

She doesn't hear the hoofs and can't see his eyes – she stands ready but it's not enough – never enough to just be ready.

"Beatrix!" Steiner shrieks from in front of her and she knows now what the oracle meant. She is too cold. Even now, staring at her husband – the one man who could best her in a swordfight, even when she didn't hold back – she sees... nothing, really. A future never to come, even if she were to survive. Children she wouldn't dare have, a life she wouldn't dare lead.

The blade feels white-hot but it doesn't hurt, surprisingly. Odin sweeps her to the side like a rag doll but the thick hole in her chest barely even stings. She had figured as much – it wouldn't do to feel pain, not here.

She sees someone rise through the dark and a sudden burst of light – six arms come forward through the mist, clearing it, and grab Odin right off of his six-hoofed mount. Steiner rushes forward and grabs Beatrix even as the fog fades.

"You will be judged," Eiko's voice speaks – not Eiko but close – and there's a flash of light that sweeps all the darkness away and causes the bonfires to swell. All that is left of Odin now is his steed, which bursts from the cave in flames, taking to the skies and disappearing from sight.

"Beatrix," Steiner rasps.

She smiles shakily and puts a hand to Steiner's cheek. "This - ...This is good. I missed you, Adelbert. But I have to... I'm done, now."

"I – I can't-" He looks around, as if hoping that maybe someone could turn back time, or fix her, when the wound is too great for even a healer.

She shakes her head. "I rather enjoy the idea... of dying here. It's... comforting. I... I am sorry. I was..."

Bloody coughs and nothing can come from this, not now.

She sees Garnet and says, "You... you may have... the sword," to her husband. "Save the Queen."

The six armed Man, much the size of Odin, comes forward and says, "There is nothing to do for her. Let her go."

Beatrix smiles once more and then closes her eyes.

"...These times will... will pass. Adelbert, go."

Steiner pulls Beatrix close, and whispers to dead ears, "I can't let you go."