Audience of One
Chapter Sixteen
Garnet pulled herself over a rock, sending a few pebbles down the incline she was traveling on. She was reaching the outskirts of Madain Sari, but with the mist, it was hard to see the land in front of them. Which way to the Iifa Tree? Or Conde Petie? The Black Mage Village? Garnet paused and adjusted her rucksack on her sore back. Her head had been killing her since she had started moving that morning. Amarant and Lani had found a lucky little pocket in the meager trees that the mist didn't infiltrate. But it was disorientating beyond that and Garnet felt somewhat sick to her stomach as she braced her legs and navigated down the small hill littered in loose rocks. Behind her, Amarant emerged over the crest and followed her. When Garnet reached the bottom, she stopped to look around at the blankets of mist. She never thought she'd see it again. It was like she had been transported five years into the past. Garnet glanced to Amarant before she began on again, hoping a ray of sunlight would come through and give her an inkling of what direction she needed to be going. Garnet stopped walking again, however, her dark eyes darting all around them. Finally, she turned to Amarant, gripping the straps of her backpack.
"How can you stand to live in this mist? It's even worse than it was all those years ago."
"It hasn't been like this long," Amarant replied curtly, pacing a few steps forward. "I'm not gonna let the mist drive my family out of the home we've created for ourselves."
Garnet now jogged a bit to come to his side and they walked together. Hopefully in the right direction, Garnet thought. "What made you come back here? To be honest, I wasn't really expecting you and Lani to be together."
Amarant laughed gruffly, shaking his head. His dark red locks brushed against his shoulder. "After the shit show we came back from, I just wanted to be alone for a long time. I came back here 'cause I knew Eiko was staying in Lindblum. I didn't know Lani had the same idea as me. She was squatting in Eiko's old house, making fish stew like she owned the place. Just kind of happened, I guess, us sticking together. Life has a funny way about it."
"Funny indeed…" Garnet said quietly, a lock of onyx hair coming to frame her bruised and scarred face. They were quiet a few beats as their boots crunched through the dirt. Garnet glanced around them. It was so silent and eerie with the mist encasing them. She didn't remember ever being so unnerved when it plagued the Mist Continent during their travels. Maybe it was just because she felt so far out of her element. Which had been the story of her life for nearly a month.
"You came all this way for Zidane?" Amarant's rough voice cut through her mind in the next moment and she arched her eyebrows, looking to him. "Why is he even out here? I figured he'd be warm and cozy at the castle by this point."
Garnet lowered her eyes, watching their feet step in tandem. "He doesn't want to be the king, Amarant. Zidane came here to continue Vivi's work with the Mages and Genomes."
"So that means the little guy…?"
"About a year ago, yes," Garnet nodded. "Zidane told me he'd write. When I failed to hear from him, I got worried. Everyone did."
"You know he's good at surviving in the shadows, hiding under rocks," Amarant said. "Zidane's kind of like a rat. He knows where the water is. And he doesn't think he needs anyone else's help."
Garnet was quiet as she followed Amarant's slow tilt across. Through the haze, the silhouettes of trees were becoming noticeable. It gave Garnet some hope that perhaps she'd be seeing Zidane soon after so long. Amarant came to an abrupt halt, however, his body tense. Garnet slowed to a stop and turned towards him. "Amarant?" He hushed her, though, remaining absolutely still. She furrowed her brow, looking at the mist surrounding them.
"Someone's following us," Amarant's voice was husky and low. Garnet's eyes darted to him.
"What? Who?" Garnet shook her head. "I don't hear anything."
Amarant's hand slowly lowered to his belt where he withdrew the smallest of throwing daggers. In the next moment, he whirled around, hurling the dagger into the thicket behind them. It disappeared and there was only more silence. Garnet came to stand beside Amarant and they both stood quietly, waiting for something, anything, to happen. Amarant's bold brow was knitted together as he readied another throwing dagger. He tugged at the belt of his glove, shucking iron claws from the hems. Garnet grabbed her dagger. Her palm was sweaty as she gripped the hilt. She looked in every direction, unsure of what Amarant had heard. He then threw his dagger to his right and that's when a laugh rang out. Garnet's eyes widened as, slowly, a figure emerged from the mist. It was Astrid. She had caught Amarant's dagger by the blade and was smiling as she came to stand in front of them, carelessly dragging her sword through the dirt.
"You've got pretty tuned ears, merc," Astrid said, disregarding the dagger on the ground. She then raised her sword. "I see you've collected yourself a bodyguard, Garnet."
Amarant lifted his claws, standing tall like a brick wall. "Oh, look, another mist-goon. What do you want?"
"I'm here to get you out of your contract early," Astrid grinned with her gleaming coal eyes. "I just want her. I want nothing to do with you, ginger."
"Heh, revenge straight from the depths of hell," Amarant scoffed.
"You'll regret those digs," Astrid told him. "Once I've collected what I need from Garnet, you and your little family will be at my mercy. And I will not be kind."
"And what exactly do you want from me?" Garnet asked, raising her dagger that seemed so puny in the tense scene. "If you intend on slitting my throat, don't count on it. Remember how you said I had no friends? Well, here's one right here. The tides are turning, Astrid."
"Oh, you don't even know how you've already shifted the board, Garnet," Astrid laughed. "Come with me and your friend won't have to join the army of so-called mist-goons."
Amarant swung his claws to his side, cutting through the air violently. He tilted his chin up, a small smirk present. "Go ahead and try."
Astrid could only smile back and her boot crunched through the dirt. Everyone had their weapons drawn as they stared each other down. There was a beat of stillness before Astrid lunged forward, diving between Amarant and Garnet. The duo spun away from each other. Astrid spun on the balls of her feet and let out a shout as she swung her sword like a baseball bat. Amarant lifted his hand, catching the blade deftly between two of his gleaming claws. Garnet came from the back, rearing her dagger for attack, but Astrid strafed, making Amarant stagger. Garnet ground her teeth together as she immediately ducked, narrowly missing another hack from the twirling Astrid. The lifeless girl howled with delight as she choreographed herself seamlessly with nothing to lose. Astrid turned on Garnet, swinging with endless energy. Adrenaline coursed through the queen's body, her heart thumping in her ears, as she dodged back and forth, bringing her dagger up only to skirt off the sword, sending sparks flying. Amarant flew into the scene, locking Astrid into his elbow. He span in a circle, hurling her quite a distance. Astrid rolled and coughed but was up in the next beat, grabbing her sword from the ground. Amarant was quick to attack again, slashing his claws down. He caught Astrid in her arm and she let out a yelp, countering immediately by drawing her sword up. Amarant back pedaled, a lock of his crimson hair getting sliced in his hurried movement. Amarant staggered back, his shoulders rising and falling, as he held his claws up, dripping with black blood.
"I don't know why you even bother trying to help and protect her," Astrid sneered as her torn sleeve soaked in the abomination that oozed from her white skin. "If you even knew what she was guilty of, you'd agree with me."
Amarant flung his claws to the side, sending droplets of blood everywhere. "Shut up and fight for it if you want it."
"I'm just getting warmed up," Astrid replied nastily, immediately lunging forward. She faked towards Amarant, who drew a dagger from his belt, but Astrid then swung right, slashing unexpectedly at Garnet. Her meager dagger went sailing through the air and she gasped sharply as a terrible pain came over her. Garnet's wrist had been cut diagonally and it was deep. Immediately, she felt woozy, but she kept on her feet, dodging Astrid's attacks. She scrambled away quickly.
"Dagger, catch!" Amarant shouted, throwing a dagger up in the air. Astrid reared her foot back, nailing Garnet in the stomach. The queen fell across the dirt, the dagger spearing the ground just inches from her head. Astrid turned on Amarant now. Garnet writhed on the ground, trying to pull herself up, but her eyesight was bleary and unfocused. Distantly, she heard Amarant's grunts and Astrid's shouts as they sparred back and forth. Amarant swung his arm, as thick as a tree trunk, and met Astrid's throat violently, sending the girl down as well. Amarant pressed his boot to Astrid's collar bone and glanced to where Garnet was attempting to find her way up.
"Some bodyguard you are," Astrid choked from beneath his foot. Black stained her ghastly white lips and she grinned. "I rubbed poison on my blade. I figured it'd be enough to slow an animal like you down. But it may be a bit more fatal for the frail little canary."
"Son of a bitch," Amarant scoffed. He brought his boot down harder. "I'm gonna snap your fuckin' neck."
"That would accomplish nothing, my sweet merc," Astrid grinned despite the pressure being brought down on her. "I know you must hate losing." Amarant lifted his eyes in the next moment, only to duck, narrowly missing a spiraling sword from behind meant for his head. He readied his claw again, standing in front of the fallen queen, to see two other dead girls poised a few meters off. They looked just as dastardly as Astrid. Slowly, Astrid came to her feet and wiped the black blood from her lips. She picked her sword up and pointed it towards Amarant. The mist languidly moved between them. Only Garnet's short, ragged pants could be heard. "Give her up. We have the antidote."
"You don't look like someone who tells the truth," Amarant stood tall, his jaw clenched tightly. "A poisoned blade is a little cliche."
"We'll cut your head off and spear it to a pike if we have to."
From the ground, pain was seeping through every fiber of Garnet's being. All she could do was keep moving and tell herself not to black out. Amarant's vibrant hair rustled in her vision and she fell on her back against the ground, her breaths shallow. With every pulse of pain, she also felt a glimmer of anger. One of revenge. Something frustrating. It was too soon to be the end. For just a moment, she could have sworn she was looking at the dull ceiling of that farmer's hut in Burmecia. She could almost feel the tight shackle around her ankle. Garnet ground her teeth together as she was threatened with passing out. Her nostrils flared as her head ran against the dirt. Her eyes lay on the gaping wound on her wrist where clumps of blood oozed out. She was sweaty and unnerved by the mist around her. It felt like it was closing in. Weakly, she looked to where Amarant stood between her and Astrid. It wasn't what Garnet wanted. This wasn't Amarant's war to fight, she was realizing. She was a fool. Garnet didn't realize the stakes had become so high. She let out a moan as another wave of pain wracked her. The darkness was setting in. She couldn't fight it.
"Not much longer and she'll slip into a coma," Astrid told Amarant, still with her sword aimed towards him. "Then all will be lost."
Amarant glanced to the fading Garnet, lowering his claws at his side. "What do you want with her?"
"You're a little picture type of guy," Astrid shook her head. "Don't you want to go home to your family?"
Amarant tilted his chin up, his face stony. "It's the summons, is that it?" Garnet groaned as she tried to lift her head. "You don't know what the fuck you're doing."
"You're a little brighter than I gave you credit for," Astrid chuckled. "But you're out of your element."
"Well, then," Amarant shrugged, black blood still dripping from the edge of his claws. "Guess you'll have to kill me after all."
Garnet tilted her neck up in that moment, bewildered eyes searing into the back of her companion. No, she wanted to scream. Her body wasn't cooperating, however. Panic, pain, rage, and anxiety was welling up in her. Garnet felt like she couldn't focus as her body flashed in hot bursts and her mind riveted in all directions. Her head thunked back against the dirt and her eyes whirled. She heard Amarant take a few steps forward and she wanted to leap up and hold him back. Her body, though, felt like it was beneath pounds of bricks and her mind was swirling away from her. Her emotions were stewing together chaotically inside of her. Garnet's teeth were grinding together as she was able to faintly see Amarant raise his claws. Distantly, Delta was drawing an arrow back in a bow. Amarant's attention wasn't on her, however. His eyes were following the side stepping Astrid, who never lost her grin. Garnet could only procure moans and short gasps as she craned her quivering neck. Amarant was watching Astrid intently, especially her boots, as a means to guess which way she would fake it. The man was beginning to realize just how much of a blind eye he had turned to the happening of the mist and was understanding just how much help Garnet really needed. From the ground, though, the queen was trying so hard to get his attention. Delta's arms weren't even quaking as she held the bow steady, one coal eye drawn shut. It was all slow motion for Garnet as she heard the pluck of the string. Amarant's tuned ears heard it, too, and he turned just in time for the sharp pointed end to meet his right shoulder. It sent him backwards, where he landed just beside Garnet. He hunched on his elbow as he brought his hand up in an attempt to rip out. But the cocky Astrid saw the tables turn and she kicked his hand away and shoved him onto his back.
"You stupid fool," Astrid sneered, raising her sword up. It was aimed directly towards Amarant's chest. "You can't even do one thing right."
Just as the sword began cutting through the air, Garnet couldn't contain herself a moment more. "No!" She screamed, surprising everyone. Astrid paused, looking to the shaking queen on the ground. In the next moment, the lifeless girl was gasping sharply as she realized dark swirling clouds were coming from above and the mist was blown clear out of the area. The wind was violent and streaks of lightening flashed through the ruminating storm. Astrid held a lock of onyx hair behind her ear as she only gazed at the sudden interruption, her mouth slightly agape. She turned around quickly when suddenly a tall staff struck the center of the scene. Lightening chased it down and in the blink of an eye, an old man with glowing blue eyes, a long beard, and flowing silk robes appeared. His slender, wrinkly hands lifted, and the entire area was sent into chaos of lightening strikes, fire, and thick smoke. The force knocked everyone off their feet. Astrid's eyes and throat were burning. As she wheezed and coughed, she reached for her neck, realizing she had been grazed by a bolt. Garnet's anger didn't stop there, though, as fire and lightening wound together, causing an explosion that echoed across the entirety of the continent.
…
The small creek that ran through Black Mage Village bubbled as it rushed over mossy rocks. It was soothing for the young lady of Lindblum and she hummed as she tenderly plucked the weeds that grew around the tulips and forget-me-nots. A few meals and a good nights sleep had done wonders for her. She was puzzled by her lack of visions recently, but she considered it a decent trade-off for a restorative rest. Freya and Steiner were busy sharpening their weapons. Mikoto was packing everyone supplies. Liam was sort of just listlessly wandering through the village, completely owning the fact he was out of his element. Eiko just wanted to do something that felt normal. She didn't want to be reminded of what she was doing or why she was back on the Outer Continent. In the years since she left, she couldn't say she missed it all that much. She was thriving in Lindblum. It's where she belonged, she told herself. But life wasn't that simple, she was reminded. Eiko yanked a thick clump of weeds from the ground and tossed them to the other side of the small creek. She dusted her dirty hands and sat on the edge of the deck, swinging her legs back and forth. She wondered how Regent Cid and Lady Hilda were. Did they miss her? Were they worried? Eiko tucked some hair behind her ear, watching as a school of minnows tried to wiggle upstream. She felt like one of them in that moment, running in place with absolutely no idea of direction. Eiko wanted to think she was still fiery girl who fought for what she wanted. Honestly, though, she just wanted a break from it all. She wanted everything to go back to normal. What was to become of Alexandria, or the world, if they failed this time? Failure wasn't an option. It never was.
"Hey, you," legs came to stretch down beside her and Eiko looked to her right, seeing Zidane. The brown in his hair was practically all gone. The sunlight he had enjoyed before the mist had replenished his innate blondness. But it looked like Mikoto kept it nicely trimmed. It fell in boyish layers to his jaw. Otherwise, he hadn't changed much. His face was still bright, like he hadn't aged a day. For as much as he had been through, it didn't come across in his facial expressions. Eiko was calmed by his presence and the ever present feeling of loving him had returned the moment she had seen him. "How are you holding up?"
"Oh, fine. You guys really need a gardener, though," Eiko said, gesturing to the long flower beds that were overgrown and unkempt.
"That's Mr. 678's job, but he doesn't like to come outside much anymore," Zidane shrugged. "Not that I can blame him. The mist really killed the energy here."
"Mikoto said you were injured. Why are you up?" Eiko furrowed her brow.
Zidane laughed and shook his head. "She's a worry-wart. I'm feeling a lot better. The stitches won't split now. They're healing up nicely."
They were quiet for a few beats as they listen to the water ripple past them. Nearby, a frog croaked on a rock before taking a plunge into the cool, shallow creek. Eiko stole glances at Zidane from the corner of her eye, watching as he looked at the unloved flowers. Maybe he was considering cleaning them up. Eiko looked around at the deserted town for a moment. "The mist really does have everyone frightened, doesn't it?"
"Natural instinct, I guess," Zidane replied, pressing his hands to the edge of the rugged deck. "The mist has never been a good thing for anyone."
"Have you had any visions lately?" Eiko looked to him now. Zidane only shook his head silently. "I wonder why you, me, and Dagger were the only ones getting them. And… what does it mean when they've stopped?"
"Maybe it's because we're all so close," Zidane said, watching the frog paddle through the water. "Maybe they were only happening to help lead us to each other."
"I hope Dagger is near…" Eiko tilted her chin down. "It was so scary the last time I saw her, Zidane. It… it wasn't the Dagger I knew. Something inside of her broke."
Zidane sighed. "So I've been hearing." He was quiet again as the frog perched on another rock. "I'm sorry, Eiko. It's all my fault."
Eiko stared at the tulips wavering in the breeze. "When this is all over… will you come back to Alexandria?"
"I don't know," Zidane told her. "I don't know what's going to happen."
She pursed her lips and looked at the side of his tense face. "If you have the opportunity to be with Dagger, will you take it? That's what I'm asking you."
"Again, I don't know," Zidane's intense blue eyes met hers. "With everything that's happened, Eiko, I don't know what I want or where I should be. There's gotta be somewhere I can go where things like this don't just continue to happen."
"Did you ever think that defying what you really want is the reason you keep getting punished? Maybe it's the universe giving you a sign."
"What kind of message is that?" Zidane sighed and shook his head. "'Hey, we see you're trying to protect the one you love, so let us just hurt her more!'"
Eiko stood up now, looking at him with a form of annoyance. "You hurt her the most, Zidane."
He was about to open his mouth to reply when, suddenly, large gusts of wind began coming through the trees. The branches and leaves rustled and creaked. Eiko turned around, gazing over the top of the forest to see a spiraling storm cloud not too far off. Ruminations of fire and lightening were merging together. Zidane's boots thunked to the deck as he raced into the clearing to watch the weather phenomenon. His hair whipped across his forehead as leaves scampered past him. Eiko stood at the stairs, holding onto a wooden pillar. Her eyes were as wide as saucers. The thunder rumbled loudly, nearly shaking the ground. Freya came around the corner, holding her hat down against her head.
"What's going on!?"
Eiko's eyes never left the stewing clouds, her purple hair lifting in the wind. "It's Ramuh."
"So that means…?" Freya slowly trailed off as the storm became more intense. Everyone braced themselves against the wind and a large explosion was heard. The boom came through the trees, making Zidane stagger. When he looked up, a large plume of smoke was filling the sky.
"Dagger!" Eiko shouted from the deck. "We have to get out there, that was not supposed to happen!" The trio took off back into the village to gather the supplies Mikoto had put together for them.
…
Blank was wiping his brow after nailing shut another barrel on the deck of the Blue Narciss Marx. It had been days since he had heard from anyone. Most nights, he didn't sleep. He propped himself up against the railing and listened closely for the sound of a flare. Maybe no news was good news, though. Perhaps they had found Zidane and Garnet. Maybe it would all be over soon and they could go home. Blank tossed his hammer onto the table Freya had requested come up from the mess. He reached for the bowl of rice and scrambled eggs he had made himself earlier. It was getting cold, but he ate it without another thought. He glanced up and down the deck, trying to think of what to do next. Most of the supplies had been properly wrapped and secured so they wouldn't spoil. He had mopped the deck and hung all the bedding out to air. He still marveled at what a fine ship the Blue Narciss Marx was. It was, in his opinion, Regent Cid's greatest invention. Blank didn't think boats could get any faster than the one he had just captained. Blank leaned against the railing as his fork scraped against his bowl. Just feet away from him was a wall of mist. Blank could only shake his head as he had his lunch. What was the world coming to? Would there ever be a time they enjoy peace for longer periods? Or were they all resigned to simply waiting for the next thing to go wrong?
Blank's mind wandered towards his long lost little brother. He remembered all the guilt and anguish he felt when Zidane went missing. He had really given his all and done himself in pretty bad. Ever since then, Blank couldn't help but think they lost the Zidane they once knew. He would never be the same again. Blank didn't understand all of it, but he knew Zidane had his reasons. Blank speared an egg and lifted it from his bowl, inspecting it. Zidane was like those airship models he loved so much in his youth and dutifully put together. He remembered when Zidane accidentally knocked one off a table, causing it to shatter. Of course when he tried to put it back together, it was never the same. It was just like him. No matter how hard he or anyone else tried, the pieces that once made Zidane up were fractured and didn't fit together. And all anyone could do was just accept that. For Blank, it was a painful reality and he felt powerless to help Zidane. Not that his little brother let anyone. Ever since the Mist Wars, Zidane had become withdrawn. He was decided he could do it all on his own, no matter how screwed up the situation was. Happiness was never his first choice. Neither was luxury or fun, the two words that defined his youth.
His thoughts were abruptly cut off when a flash of lightening through the thickets of mist caught his attention. Blank lifted his chin, noticing black clouds sailing overhead, getting sucked into the mist. The waves became choppy and Blank pushed away from the railing, turning to look at the upset sea. How had he not noticed a storm moving in? Just ten minutes before, the skies were clear and all was calm. An explosion sounded from behind, making Blank yelp. He dropped his breakfast and it exploded across the recently mopped and brushed deck. Blank rushed back to the railing, trying to force his eyes to see through the mist. The air had become gray and dark. It had to have been smoke. Hurriedly, Blank wound the anchor up and raced into the bridge. He pulled the wheel hard to starboard before he fired the engines up, turning sharply towards where the beach would be. Without even the slightest hesitation, Blank had the engines move the Blue Narciss Marx forward and he disappeared into the smoky mist that held the Outer Continent prisoner.
…
The moment Steiner, Liam, Eiko, Freya, Mikoto, and Zidane emerged from the dense forest, they all broke out into runs. Zidane was the fastest as he lead, his arms pumping, his rucksack beating against his back. Though he couldn't see more than two feet beyond him, he ran without regard for safety or caution. The dark smoke penetrated the area and everyone's lungs burned. Zidane slowed as he came to the outskirts of the damage done. His shoulders rose and fell heavily as the rest caught up to him. There was the cackling of fire as it burned the grass. Slowly, everyone moved together, seeing where the world had been scorched to oblivion. Freya stomped a small murmuring fire out and tilted her hat up on her head.
"I thought Ramuh was only capable of lightening. How did this happen?" The Dragoon asked, wandering forward to extinguish another small fire.
Eiko knelt down, running her fingers through some warm ash. She stared intently at it on her fingers. The ash was practically sparkling. "I don't know," the young girl finally said, standing up. Nearby, Mikoto was holding a singed flower that she delicately caressed. "It's like Dagger fused two eidolons together."
"Is that possible?" Steiner furrowed his brow.
"At this point," Eiko shook her head. "I believe anything is possible."
They continued on. The damaged area was vast and also ghastly silent. Zidane held a dagger at the ready as he slowly combed through the destruction. Liam's boots crunched through the crispy grass and he paused, looking around. Garnet was incredibly powerful, he realized. Liam didn't know much about the realm of magic or eidolons. He had really only read fairy tales about them and overheard old geezers shouting about the mystic summons in bars with great vigor. The first time he had witnessed an eidolon summon was when Eiko cast Shiva to bring the Alexandrian Insurrection to a screeching halt. It seemed, though, that Garnet's powers were even more destructive than Eiko's. Liam kept walking. He could hear the lapping waves of the ocean nearby. It was a familiar sound that reminded him he was still indeed was on the same planet. Liam came to a pause, however, when he saw a large figure laying not too far away from him. The man had broad shoulders and arms the size of tree trunks. He had long crimson hair that splayed around him. In his chest, an arrow protruded out. He was still, but Liam could see he was breathing.
"Hey," Liam called out. "There's someone over here!" Zidane and Freya were quick to follow Liam's voice. The young engineer turned and pointed. Zidane gasped sharply, practically shoving Liam out of the way as he staggered forward onto his knees beside the still body.
"Amarant! Hey, can you hear me?" Zidane patted at his cheek and, for a moment, Amarant's eyes fluttered. "Amarant! Come on!"
Freya knelt on the other side of him, tugging at his vest to see how much blood he had lost. "The arrow's in deep. It may have even hit bone."
"Well, look who it is…" Amarant's voice was husky with pain as he weakly opened his eyes. He tilted his head to look at Zidane. "Someone finally came out to play."
"What the hell happened?" The thief held his arms out at his side.
"It's those damn mist-goons," Amarant scoffed. "There were three of them." Amarant suddenly tried to sit up, groaning in pain as he looked everywhere. He then sighed and resigned to laying flat again. "Dammit…"
"You're the only one here," Eiko emerged from the mist, coming to stand at Amarant's feet.
"They took Dagger, then," Amarant shook his head.
"Dagger was with you?" Zidane perked up, arching his eyebrows.
"Yeah, until her clone showed up."
"Astrid," Zidane's eyes pierced Freya. The Dragoon then went back to inspecting the lodged arrow. "Do you know where they were taking her?"
The mercenary let out a wheezy cough, wiping at the blood on his lips. "Probably back to their little rat hole in Madain Sari. They want Dagger's summons."
"A second extraction!?" Eiko exclaimed, her hands curling into fists. "A summoner can't survive two in a lifetime."
"What?!" Steiner bellowed, his jaw becoming unhinged.
"Dammit!" Zidane stood, jerking his knee up as he paced away. He ran his hands through his hair as he let out a long sigh. "Well, we gotta go after them. If they're in Madain Sari that means they have access to the jewels."
A humming sound suddenly filled the scene, growing louder and louder by the moment. Everyone turned towards the shore, noticing a large boat cutting through the mist. Freya came to her feet and smiled as she heard the engines die down. The boat turned in the shallow water, stopping just beyond the crystal sands. Blank emerged from the bridge, tossing the anchor overboard with a big splash. "You guys okay?! I heard an explosion." Zidane rushed forward, overjoyed by the sight of his brother.
"Blank, thank the gods you're here!" Freya called across the water. "Did you bring the table to the deck?"
"It's all ready," Blank confirmed.
"Good. We have a patient," Freya gestured to Amarant on the ground. She then turned towards her team. "Steiner, grab Amarant's legs. We gotta get him on the boat."
"What the hell is this?" Zidane held his arms out, gesturing towards the long and stunning boat. The waves lapped across his boots, but he didn't pay it any mind as he looked at the tall dragon wings that accented the back.
Blank grinned as he leaned against the railing. "It's a beauty, huh? Say hello to the Blue Narciss Marx. Fastest boat ever created."
"Well, good," Zidane said, trudging forward into the ocean now. "We're gonna need it."
…
"Gods, she's heavy!" Delta panted as she held Garnet's legs beneath her arms. Felicia backpedaled with Garnet's head bobbing against her chest as they followed Astrid back to Madain Sari. Their white skin was tarnished with blackened scars and burns. Dark blood dripped from them, leaving a trail in the short grass. But the lifeless girls paid their wounds no mind. Nothing was mortal when you were already dead. Astrid had given Garnet the antidote before they left and she had driven Amarant's arrow even deeper into his chest to stave him off for the time being. The explosion had been massive. No doubt everyone on the continent heard and saw the summon. Astrid was certain it had lured Zidane out from Black Mage Village. That was good, she reasoned. She had a few choice words she had been saving for him, as well as a silver dagger straight into his heart, so he could know what it felt like to be hurt and broken. As soon as the extraction was over, the three would do away with Garnet permanently. She had no business on Astrid's playing field. Garnet was nothing more than a pawn that she could easily swipe off the board and declare check mate. Once she could harness the power Garnet could call upon, nothing would stop Astrid from taking total control. Everyone would have no choice but to relent to her rules. They would have to play nicely, whether they liked to or not.
Astrid kicked a rock off the side of the narrow bridge leading to the Eidolon Wall. She paused at the tall archway, looking around the crumbling holy place. "Put her in the middle," Astrid directed, stepping out of the way of her sister's. The two complied, laying Garnet down on the ground. The queen's head tilted into the pebbles and dirt. Her eyes fluttered for a moment, but she couldn't gather the energy to become fully alert. Astrid pulled a faceted, glinting garnet from her pocket and tossed it up and down as she examined the unconscious girl. She looked at the drawings on the wall. It was an amazing thought, that as a child, Garnet had once prayed to these walls, devoid of cracks, and vibrant with fresh paint. Garnet had been blessed by these figures painted into the stones that shaped her people. Poetic, Astrid thought, that she'd have her life extinguished in the very spot she had taken her first breaths. Astrid's boots crunched through the dirt as she came to loom over Garnet's still body.
"So, how does this work?" Felicia tilted her head. "You're not a mage, Astrid. Will the eidolons even listen to you?"
"They'll have no choice but to," Astrid caught the garnet in her hand, sending it back up in the next beat. "Their master is about to die. These are centuries old, wise, mystic creatures. They'll know better than to simply allow themselves to fade into oblivion." She knelt down, reaching for the necklace around Garnet's neck. She turned the colorful little river rocks in her hand before she grinned and came back to her feet, pacing away. "We'll wait until dusk. A book in that hut told me that's when the spirits are most active. The summoners buried beneath this tattered civilization will be restless at that time. I can use their energy and then send Garnet back into their arms."
Weimar appeared in the entry of the Eidolon Wall, his helmet beneath his arm. His brown hair was rustled on top of his head and his coal eyes gleamed in the misty light. Astrid furrowed her brow and turned to him. "They're all here."
Astrid then grinned, tossing her garnet up in the air again. "Oh, this is going to be fun!"
…
Zidane sat criss-cross on a barrel on the deck of the anchored Blue Narciss Marx. He watched as Amarant grunted and squirmed as Eiko and Freya worked on getting the arrow out of him. Liam was beside Zidane, leaned against the railing, with his arms crossed over his chest. He was distracted as he still processed everything from the shore. Steiner was a pacing, anxious mess. Blank couldn't start the engines until Freya had finished operating. The rolling sea was just begging for her to make a mistake or miss her objective. Mikoto had rushed back to Black Mage Village to tell the others of what had happened. Liam licked his lips and looked to Zidane, watching as his tail waved back and forth behind him.
"What did you guys mean by extraction?" Liam finally asked him. Zidane arched his eyebrows.
"Exactly that. They're going to take Dagger's eidolons away from her."
"And… this has already happened before?" Liam furrowed his brow.
"Weren't you there, in Lindblum, during the Mist Wars when Alexandria attacked?" Zidane replied, pressing his hands to the barrel beneath him. He still remembered that dark night with the bright flashes over the cliffs edge. He could hear the shrill screams of women and children. He saw the flailing bodies get sucked into the air, hurling towards the monstrosity that was Atomos. More clearly, Zidane recalled hearing the grass beneath him crunch as Garnet crumpled to her knees, hot, salty tears streaming down her rosy cheeks. He could still feel her hands wrapping around him desperately, her stomach flopping, unable to watch a single second more of the mayhem. But Zidane couldn't tear his eyes away. He watched fires explode. Sparks fly. He listened to the torment. Zidane blinked rapidly, returning to the deck of the boat. "That was Dagger's eidolon, used by Queen Brahne. She stole them the first time."
Liam lowered his eyes to the floorboards, shaking his head. "Just when I think the stakes can't get any higher… the wire just gets thinner and thinner."
Amarant howled and Freya's arm came up with an arrow covered in splotchy crimson patches. A spurt of blood rose from Amarant's chest like a fountain, but Eiko was quick to press a linen to it. "Godsdammit!" Amarant shouted, clenching his teeth together. "Why didn't it just hit me in the heart, for fucks sake!"
"When we find Garnet," Liam looked back to Zidane as Amarant pounded his fists against the table. Freya began warming a needle over a flickering candle. "What's next?"
"We have to stop the mist," Zidane unfolded his legs and they now dangled off the barrel. "We have to find the source. If we stop the mist, we'll stop Astrid."
"For good?"
"Hopefully," Zidane could only shrug. "Leave it to her to find a way to cheat death."
Liam watched as Freya began closing the wound, stitch by stitch. "There's a barrel of weapons down in the mess." Zidane's eyes turned on the side of Liam's face. "I think it's time I finally draw a sword and fight for what I want. Things are going to get really bad, Zidane, before they get better. And I think I'm ready to die for what I love."
Zidane shook his head. "No one is going to die, Liam."
"You don't know that," Liam's green eyes pierced his. "All I know, Zidane, is that it just can't be Garnet." And with that, he pushed away from the railing and barreled down the narrow staircase nearby.
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