Thanks for the recent influx of views and reviews, guys! Thanks, Kel, for putting a little note about me in your story, too! Anyway, just wanted to mention that if you have any questions, please PM them to me, because it's a lot more difficult on my computer to get to the review and reply section on my stories, than it is to simply answer PMs!

Thanks again!

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"Have we received news from Bevelle?"

"Nay. We have no contact from the company of elite Paladins we sent to protect the temple."

"What we do know is that Maester Mika himself is gone. We do not know how, but he is gone. The dragons have completely assimilated the entire city, and are securely roosting there. A direct assault would be…catastrophic."

"What of the excavation in Besaid? Any news from there?"

"Yes, actually. They found…well…they found something."

"What is it?"

"I believe the scholars onsite referred to it as a 'Repository'. They claim it was not left there by any particularly…human means."

"What, we talking dragons?"

"No. Something not entirely of this world."

"…I see. What exactly is this Repository?"

"It was apparently a very large and very well-sealed vault that was buried in the ground in a very careful and precise manner."

"And its contents were…?"

"Very large quantities of what the scholars called 'Spice'. However, this spice is not the kind of substance we know, as in the kind one may use for cooking. Apparently, each color of this substance denoted its usage, some being food ingredients or such."

"Anything else?"

"Yes. There were precisely ten 'capsules' also stored with the spice. We managed to open two of them, but the eight others refuse to open, and they clearly contain something other than the two we did open."

"What did the two capsules you opened contain?"

"The first contained…treasure. Lots of it. Jewels, gold, and more, all of them strangely designed and made. The second contained only a very old and very strange chest, its make very…similar to the architecture of the time of the Dragon Priests and their masters."

"I see. Did you open it?"

"Unfortunately, we can't. It requires some sort of offering to open."

"What kind of offering?"

"A soul."

"What?! A soul?"

"Yes. Dragon runes on the box specifically demanded that a soul be sacrificed to open the chest."

"Hmmm…we will provide you with a soul gem, so that you may open the chest when you return. The council expects a full report."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"You are dismissed, Knight Salvius."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Hmmm…Kira, I would like to request that you make the trip to the Lucan coast. A certain individual, skilled in both the construction, upkeep, and usage of a crossbow, is living. His name is Blueyes, and his experience with hunting vampires in his own world will prove useful with our dragon hunting attempts."

"Yes, Grandmaster Jynna."

"Go, and quickly."

"What do we do, Grandmaster? High Paladin Mcginnis was killed in the defense of Bevelle, troop morale is lower than ever, and until we can get ahold of the crossbows, our bows are useless against dragons. They're too damn slow, and they require more focus and concentration."

"We don't give up, that's what we do. The Kliva haven't made any particularly heavy moves, as of late, and that gives us the time we badly need to prepare. Unfortunately, those dribbling buffoons holed up on that ridiculous fort in Kilika still refuse us entry. All those idiots do is sleep, eat fish, and complain."

"Well, they are prinnies, Grandmaster."

"I know. Let's just hope we make some progress, and soon."

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A week later…

"Keep working, men! We're almost there!" A foreman exclaimed as several groups of men pulled ropes that were tied off at the shafts of the capsules of the vault.

The Besaid Excavation site was situated in a beach that was on the wilder and less travelled side of the island, a massive work that had reached several hundred feet before reaching the Repository. The vault itself had been painstakingly lifted out of the ground and placed on the beach, in order to make efforts at opening the sealed capsules less strenuous on the workers.

"So…do we do it?" Salvius asked, holding the pink crystal containing the soul in his hand, and looking at the excavated chest from the capsule.

"Well, Grandmaster Jynna did say to do it." Hughes, another paladin, responded dully, and leaned against a rock.

"I know…" Salvius sighed, tossing the crystal up and down, but his thought was cut off by the sounds of a woman's voice.

"You there! Are you the commanding officer here?" They looked over, and saw a woman dressed in summoner's robes walking over to the tent, a strange-looking white dog with light blue eyes padding behind her whimsically.

"Yes, yes I am. I'm Knight Salvius, and this is Knight Hughes. This is a Lennox-sanctioned excavation. May I ask you who you are?" Salvius answered with some hesitation, and extended his hand.

She was a strange sight, as many summoners were. She wore a long black skirt, simple black boots, a strapless one-piece black dress that exposed her shoulders and much of her back, and she also wore elbow-length gloves and a black blindfold. She had her pitch-black hair in a pixie-cut style.

"My name is Dani, and this is my dog Sceolang. I'm a summoner of the Yevon religion. May I ask what you're digging for? She answered his question quickly, and changed the subject.

"…We received some information about a possible dragon artifact hidden here, and the two of us were sent to oversee the excavation project." Hughes shrugged, and began explaining.

"I see. And this is one of your finds?" Dani pointed to the chest curiously.

"Yes. We recently obtained a soul gem that will open this chest and reveal what is hidden inside." Salvius held up the pink crystal as he spoke.

"I see. May I watch you two open it? I've heard about the wondrous artifacts of the dragon age, that while dark and dangerous at times, were truly masterpieces." She requested politely, her strange dog sitting on all fours patiently outside.

"I don't see a problem with it. You mind, Salvius?" Hughes smiled and spoke in a friendly tone.

"I guess it won't be a problem…" The other knight kneeled down, slowly pressing the diamond-shaped soul gem into the single slot that acted as the keyhole.

The box began glowing with a brilliant red light, and even burst into flame as the seals were unlocked within the chest.

Azhidal

The two paladins and the 'summoner' heard this, deep in their thoughts, spoken by an unnatural voice. The chest finally slammed open, revealing a simple but ornately forged mask. It was the color of aged bronze and rust, and covered the entire face when worn. Even the eye slits prevented the eyes of the wearer from being seen.

"I-Is that…?" Hughes gasped as he saw it.

"The 'Bitter Destroyer' existed, after all…" Dani commented quietly, and they both turned in surprise.

"Bitter Destroyer?" Salvius asked curiously and suspiciously.

"The dragons called it Azhidal, but you don't need to know that, since you won't be leaving this camp alive." Dani continued, smiling menacingly.

"Wha—" Before Hughes could even draw his sword or respond, Sceolang had gone for his throat and torn it out. Dani drew her own blade and drove it into Salvius' stomach seconds later, killing him almost instantly as she sliced upward into his heart.

"G-Gahhh…" He only uttered a gasp of shock as he fell to the ground.

"Sorry, but this belongs to my Lord." Dani grabbed the mask, and stepped outside with her dog.

The entire camp was in ruins, destroyed by dragons flying overhead.

One landed, Dani recognizing it as Bveldel, one of the oldest dragons.

"It is done, then? We have Azhidal?" His deep voice boomed out, and Dani nodded.

"Yes. I shall return it to him immediately." Dani responded with a bow, and gestured for the dog to follow as she mounted him.

"Good. Our lord shall be pleased, for he is in a very angry state. He has learned that Cosmos possesses Dukaan. Hopefully the recovery of this mask will improve his mood." The dragon took off into the air, continuing the conversation.

Below, only the charred remains of the excavators, the few Lennox guards sent to supervise dead as well.

The Repository was left there, forgotten by both sides.