Audience of One

Chapter Eighteen

Freya deftly leapt forward, jumping lightly from each crooked pillar that still miraculously stood. With ease, she twisted her body, avoiding the whizzing arrows and hurled rocks. She reached the other side of the Eidolon Wall soundlessly, lifting her javelin in the next moment to deflect a spiraling hammer. Amarant's boots thundered along the top as he pumped his arms and followed a caving slope. He came into a slide, sending a plume of dust in his wake as he came down into the bustling, hurried scene, taking a few lifeless beings off their feet. Amarant swung his legs around, fending off the wave of angered mobs charging at him. In one swoop, his claws had emerged from his knuckles and he slashed upwards, painting the dirt floor with black ooze. Eiko was small enough that she was relatively unseen as she darted beneath elbows and dashed through the throngs of people heading for the wall. Eiko's heart was racing as she held her flute at her side and came towards Garnet. The queen was still unable to move, trapped between the stampedes of the battle. Dust was rising as boots scuffed against the ground. Just before she could reach her old friend, though, Delta and Felicia stepped between her, armed with their swords. Eiko immediately took off again, giving chase to the dead girls. Steiner held his glinting steel steady as he leapt down into the madness. An anger was mounting inside of him and any chance at holding back were completely obliterated. Steiner drove his sword through necks, slashed wrists, and jammed his swords into bellies and jerked upwards. He kept one eye on the hoards of angered people screaming as they rushed him and one on Garnet. Someone had to get to her and remove her from the scene. Steiner staggered as a brutish man, thick as a tree trunk, rammed the side of him. Sparks glinted off Steiner's armor as a pitchfork jabbed against him. Steiner ground his teeth together and planted his feet firmly before he lifted his sword again. For Liam, he was quite overwhelmed. He still found himself on top of the Eidolon Wall. He dodged the thrown rocks but certainly was not expecting a boomerang to whiz by him. Liam let out a sigh of relief as it just barely missed him. When it spiraled back around, however, it sent the engineer clear down into the chaos. Liam landed on his knees, ripping his slacks. He immediately saw boots in front of him and, only with reflex, Liam stabbed his sword forward, driving straight through someone's knee. Black blood spurted out, spraying Liam across his face. He jammed and twisted harder before the man keeled over. Liam then spun to his feet and slashed his sword through the back of the man's neck. He was breathing heavily as he watched the body slump to the ground. He had never killed anyone before. Liam didn't have much time to reflect, however, before he found himself back pedaling, staying just out of range of an angered woman armed with a broomstick. From above, Zidane watched the blankets of mist mix with the rising dust. He saw his friends fighting with everything they had to give. And smack in the middle lay Garnet, unable to move. Zidane's face was hard as stone, his damp hair lifting in the gentle breeze. This was it, he decided. It was the battle to end an era. This was the closing of a chapter in his life that had gone on far too long. In the next moment, movement caught the corner of his eye and he turned calmly to see Astrid just a few feet away from him.

"You don't want to come down to play?" She asked with a smile. Her black coal eyes were jarring, her blue lips horrifying. Astrid was nothing short of a disgusting, vile zombie in Zidane's eyes. Everything he had once known of her was gone, washed away by the bottomless fury and desperation she clung to. Zidane held his daggers firmly in his hands as he only stared at her with a look of poison.

"It seems like you get off on this," Zidane gestured to the scene below them. "You like causing everyone grief. You want everyone as miserable as you."

"It's called passion, Zidane, and you should try it sometime," Astrid came a bit closer to him. "This is what not giving up looks like."

"I never gave up. I learned to let go."

Astrid raised her sword as a blanket of mist came between them. "Well, now it's time to fight for what you want. That is… if you still care for it. I know the past year has been really rough for you, Zidane. Show me you're still the courageous boy who broke my heart."

Astrid then swung in the next moment. With his quick reflexes, Zidane flung himself into a back hand spring, his boots skidding across the crumbling Eidolon Wall. She let out a shout as she charged forward. Zidane brought his daggers together and caught her steel between them. Her arms shook as she desperately tried to send the tip directly between his eyes. Zidane twisted his back, sending Astrid over the fight below. She landed on the other side of him and jerked her elbows in, breaking contact between their weapons. She then began swinging with endless gusto. Zidane backpedaled, bringing his daggers up again and again to deflect her. Astrid reared her arm back and drove the sword forward. Zidane flailed his arms as he darted to the right, teetering on the edge of the wall. She had grazed him, just enough to tear his dark blue tunic. He felt warm blood oozing out. Zidane sidestepped along the edge, coming behind Astrid and slamming his boot into the small of her back. Astrid let out a cry as she surged forward onto all fours. She was quick to flip onto her back, sending a kick his way, too. He caught it, though, beneath his arm. She jerked her leg back and forth before she rolled back, sending Zidane staggering in her wake. In one deft move, she grabbed her sword and charged Zidane as he found his footing again. Astrid collided with him, knocking him over. Astrid straddled Zidane and brought her sword to his throat.

"You're making this too easy," she sneered, her hot breath coming over his damp skin. "It's like you want to die." The edge of her steel dug into Zidane's gloves as he struggled against her. He tilted his head to look out over the battle below. Astrid grabbed his jaw, though. "Look at me when I'm talking to you."

"What's the point?" Zidane replied tensely. "I have no respect for you, Astrid. If you wanted me dead, I already would be. Why do you keep dragging this out?"

"Maybe because I don't want you to die yet," Astrid whispered, her face only inches from his. "I want you to see me win. I want you to watch all your little friends die one by one. And I want you to become a loyal subject when I control all of Gaia. Then, Zidane, you can die." The cool steel was getting dangerously close to his throat. "First, I'll kill the little purple haired brat. Then the red headed bodyguard. And don't even get me started on the immense rush I'll feel when I slaughter a Dragoon. I want you front row when I grab the queen by her hair and use the dullest sword I can find to saw through her throat, painful and slow. It will be a spectacle, painting the walls red."

"You're even more pathetic dead than you were alive," Zidane ground his teeth together. With all his might, he pushed forward, shoving Astrid right off the side of the wall. She tumbled through the air and crashed to the ground. When she looked up, Zidane had leapt from the edge, coming straight for her with his daggers aimed full of purpose.

Across the Eidolon Wall, Amarant continued spearing the unending waves of angered, lifeless bodies. A trail of motionless ones were in his wake as he kept mowing them down. From behind, a farmer on the brink of a second death furiously pat his hands through the stirred dirt. He found one of Amarant's discarded throwing knives. His knees almost buckled as he staggered to his feet. With shaking arms, he lifted the dagger, narrowing his eyes as he watched Amarant gut an old wench, pulling bloodied entrails out of her as he shoved her down to the ground. When Amarant turned, he spotted the farmer just as his arm began to extend out to release the projectile. But a javelin came from the sky, piercing through his neck. He collapsed onto his face and was still. Freya landed soundlessly beside the figure, pulling her javelin free. She glanced around at the chaos still reigning down in the once sacred place. The numbers were dwindling, but there was still much to do. Freya adjusted her hat and looked to Amarant. They only gave each other silent nods before Amarant barreled forward at his next victims and Freya took to the air.

Eiko slid beneath a pillar that had fallen against a wall, just evading a slash from the scrambling Delta and Felicia. They were growing tired of the child's dodging but followed her endlessly as Eiko navigated through the madness of what had once been her home. She glanced over her shoulder as the two girls pumped their arms in pursuit. Eiko burst out from the Eidolon Wall, giving chase down the narrow bridge that would lead to town. She came to a skidding halt, sending pebbles off the side into the raging river below. Delta and Felicia now slowed, too, brandishing their swords. Eiko took a few steps back, her hand curling around her ivory flute.

"You can't keep running forever," Delta shouted over the roar of the nearby waterfall. "Wherever the mist is, we are. You're trapped. There's no where for you to hide."

Eiko smiled and tilted her head like she was an unassuming, adorable little girl. "I just wanted you out here so my friends would be safe from this." She then brought the flute to her lips, took a curt inhale, and played a twisty melody. Delta and Felicia furrowed their brows before they gasped and staggered about as the ground began to shake. Distantly, a howling wolf could be heard. The rocky ground began to jolt, as if an army of moles were trying to burst from the surface. It raced up from behind the grinning Eiko and diverted around her. With rapid speed, it aimed towards Delta and Felicia. In the next moment, it exploded, sending both the girls flying through the air. They cleared over the Eidolon Wall and beyond, disappearing without a trace. With any luck, they were far off the coast. And if the stars aligned, surely they couldn't swim. Eiko dusted her slacks off before she raced back towards the fight waging on.

Zidane was slammed into the wall and he quickly ducked, evading Astrid's sword which pierced off the rocks. Zidane swung his leg out, taking Astrid's feet out from underneath her. She rolled as Zidane drove his dagger into the ground with all his might. He cursed as he ripped it free, watching as she sprung back up and adjusted the grip on her weapon. She pointed the sword straight now, her elbows flaring upward. Astrid was breathing heavily as she side stepped. Zidane mirrored and they circled around each other. The hate that stewed between them was almost tangible as they kept their eyes on each of their movements. But Astrid slowed in the next moment, lowering her sword. Her eyes were as wide as saucers, directed towards the sky. Zidane paused for a beat before he looked over his shoulder. Delta and Felicia were spiraling overhead at incredible speeds. Zidane then looked across the Eidolon Wall, seeing as Eiko came jogging back in.

"Fenrir for the win!" Eiko cheered.

"That brat can summon eidolons, too?!" Astrid sneered, her face absolutely bewildered. She turned to a few of her people nearby. "Get the girl, too! Kill everyone else."

Zidane stepped forward, holding his arms out at his side. "Eiko, run!"

Just as she began to turn, the goons were already closing in on her. Eiko gasped sharply as hands reached out to nab her. She did her best to evade, but the circle was growing tighter and tighter as they all fumbled and bumped into each other to grab her. Suddenly, a thick arm came through, knocking them all over like heavy pins. Amarant grabbed Eiko by her vest, hoisting her onto his shoulder. Eiko held onto him for dear life as he soundlessly leapt to the top of the Eidolon Wall and disappeared on the other side. An entire hoard funneled out of the area in pursuit. Freya landed on a pillar, the wind rushing through her coat. She then followed as well, jumping high into the sky, clearing the raging waterfall. Astrid spun the sword in her hands, directing it towards Zidane again.

"Ready, soldiers?" Astrid lifted her hand. Zidane backpedaled towards the center of the Eidolon Wall, glancing over his shoulder to see the still petrified Garnet locked to the ground. Her dark eyes were full of fear and desperation. Zidane pursed his lips and looked around, watching as lifeless Knights of Pluto and Squad Beatrix converged on them. Steiner, Liam, and Zidane now all stood as a unified wall around the fallen queen. Mist drifted by as they all held their weapons steady. "Twelve to three. Put your swords down. The eidolons are ours."

"Zidane…" Steiner's voice was low as he struggled to even his breaths. "I… I can't do it. These were men under my command. I can't fight them."

"It's not really them, Steiner," Zidane replied, his face tense as he watched them become surrounded.

"But… they still have all their memories. They know who they are."

"They're not the same," Zidane reiterated. "Don't look at them as someone you once knew. You don't know them anymore, Steiner."

The captain's face was gleaming with sweat as he looked at the vengeful, hapless soldiers he used to call his comrades, and even friends. Just over a year ago, he had watched them perform their tasks to the best of their abilities. During the rare occasions he ate at the soldiers barracks with them, he recalled chuckling at their indecent jokes as he ripped bread apart and dipped it into chicken noodle soup. They had given their all for the Castle of Alexandria, a feat that Steiner never allowed to let be forgotten. Their names now sparkled on a bronze plaque outside the newly reconstructed barracks. Standing there in front of him in that moment, however, was an abomination of everything they sacrificed. Suddenly, that sorrow, all that stewing regret inside of Steiner, began to swell together into something completely different. It was anger. It was betrayal. His men deserved to be at rest. It pained Steiner to know what he had to do to make that possible, but he couldn't be afraid. He absolutely couldn't hesitate.

"I'm gonna throw a smoke bomb," Zidane whispered, glancing between the two men on either side of him. "And when I do, Steiner, you and I are going to charge. Liam, you have to get Dagger out of here."

"And go where?" The engineer whispered back, lowering his sword.

"Anywhere. Just hide. And don't come out until we come to find you, alright?" Zidane squared his shoulders as he reached towards his belt. "One… two… three!" Zidane hurled a smoke bomb to the ground and it immediately diffused, causing Astrid and her goons to break into coughing fits. Small little pops of reds and oranges burst overhead. Zidane surged forward, colliding with Astrid and sending her into a wall. Steiner swung blindly into the smoky mist, catching someone in their helmet and making them stagger. The sound of clanking metal began ringing out throughout the Eidolon Wall. Nervously, Liam looked back and forth before he sheathed his sword and knelt down.

"Everything is going to be okay, Garnet," Liam said gently, scooping her up into his arms. He darted towards a pillar where the smoke of the bomb was drifting towards. He glanced around once more before making a daring dash outside of the Eidolon Wall. The narrow walk way that was suspended above the rushing river was damaged badly and Liam was careful as he navigated through the torn up ground. He rushed down into Madain Sari as Garnet's head bobbed against his shoulder. He passed the bubbling fountain and continued down a series of crumbling, disjointed stairs before he paused, breathing heavily. It was a dead end, where a small balcony with frayed rope overlooked a lagoon. Liam turned towards a structure, however. "A hut…" He furrowed his brow as he slowly approached it. "Maybe I can barricade the door until it's safe."

Eiko's house hadn't changed much despite Amarant's family having once lived there, and the mist-goons squatting in it. A stone table with matching chairs were still the center focal point of the room. The bookshelves had been rifled through. A few cots were rumpled up against the walls and the rugs were skewed. Liam laid Garnet up against a nearby wall and went to the back door where he found a spacious balcony, complete with a kitchen, beside a gushing waterfall. Liam closed the back door and looked around the room. He grabbed a pike that had been forgotten against a dresser and jammed it up beneath the door knob. He then sealed the front door, pushing the dresser in front of it. Liam sighed as he leaned against it, wiping his satin sleeve across his damp forehead. Slowly, Garnet was regaining control of curling her fingers and toes. She let out an exhale as she stretched her legs out in front of her, pressing her head against the cool stone of the wall.

Liam stole a glance at the queen. It looked like she had been to hell and back. Faint bruises painted her cheekbones and forehead. She sported new fleshy scars through her eyebrow and along her chin. She had various scrapes and crusty, dried blood covered her. Garnet's onyx hair was knotted and falling halfway out of its ponytail. Though Liam didn't know the entirety of what she had been through, her aching body told quite the story. Liam pushed away from the dresser and came to kneel beside her. Garnet was slow to look at him. Despite all the damage she had suffered, Liam still only felt hope glimmering in his chest as he looked at her. She was still beautiful, even when war torn. Despite everything that had happened, Liam couldn't help but admire her laurels. She always stuck to them, whether they hurt her or not. He couldn't believe it, though. Part of Liam believed he was never going to see her again. She'd become the elusive queen who disappeared into the dark night. But there she was. Damaged, yes. But still Garnet.

"Do… do you need anything?" Liam asked lamely in that moment.

Garnet lowered her eyes and only shook her head. She was still reeling as she recalled how she couldn't move and yet an entire war was echoing around her. Zidane's face was penetrating her mind. He was there. He was real. Garnet licked her lips as she looked back to Liam. "Thank you…" she whispered with her hoarse, tired voice. "You saved me, Liam."

"It was a team effort," he sheepishly grinned. Liam then stood up and paced a few steps, looking around the small hut. He placed his hands on his hips. "Steiner and Zidane should be able to take care of the rest. I just hope Amarant and Freya can keep Eiko out of their reach."

Garnet pressed her face into her hands and shook her head. "This is all my fault. Gods… I didn't want any of you to get involved or come after me. I thought I made that clear when I leapt from the waterfall."

Liam turned towards her from where he stood across the meager room. He held his arms out at his side. "You really thought we wouldn't? At first, we thought we were looking for your body. After Eiko started having visions, we knew we had to find you."

Garnet looked up now. "Eiko… was having visions, too?"

"And Zidane."

Garnet was silent. Her eyes darted around before she shook her head. "What does it all mean…? Is it… the mist?"

Liam came to kneel in front of her again. "We'll figure that out after we stop this madness. We have to find the source of the mist."

As Garnet looked at Liam, she couldn't help but feel her heart break. This wasn't Liam at all. He was supposed to be comfy in Lindblum, staring at airship engines and grabbing tools. He should have been drawing his own blueprints for designs and presenting them to Regent Cid. The sword on his back, the words coming from his lips, it all seemed so foreign and absolutely wrong. The story, in her mind, wasn't adding up. It wasn't what she had intended or bet on. Salty tears bubbled in Garnet's eyes in that moment and she closed them tight, looking away from Liam. Concerned, he reached forward, tenderly touching her arms. He couldn't decide on what to say as his fingers wrapped around her wiry shoulders. All he could do was draw her close. Garnet collided with his shoulder and the broken sobs rang out in the old hut. Her body buckled with each cry, but Liam only held her and allowed Garnet to cry it out. He relished in feeling her against him and he pressed his cheek against the side of her head.

She leaned back from him now, desperately trying to wipe the warm, salty tears away from her flushed face. "We have to go back, Liam. We can't leave everyone to their own devices."

Liam sat back as well, shaking his head. "I don't know how much good we'll do, Garnet. Unless you want us to be distractions."

"They're our friends," Garnet insisted. "We all have to face the music together. I have to find out why this is happening."

"And we will. But you're in no condition right now. Surely there's a medical kit somewhere in here. You're covered in cuts and bruises."

She watched as he began rifling through a few drawers and moving things around on the shelf. Garnet's fingers curled against the cot beneath her and she came to her feet. She reached for the pike that jammed the back door and marched out into the overcast, misty gloom. Liam was quick to follow her, spinning on his heels for any goons hiding amongst the crumbling rocks surrounding them. The stairs creaked beneath Garnet's boots as she descended to a small storage room beneath the roomy deck. Liam only watched from the sloped archway as Garnet dug through a few baskets before she pulled a faded yellow rod out, painted with blue and orange triangles that were cracked. Liam's boots creaked against the steps as he came to her and pressed his hands to her shoulders.

"Garnet, we should wait. Like Zidane said."

"And do you see how well it worked out the first time he said that?" She furrowed her brow and shook her head. Garnet tried to push past him, but Liam's grip didn't let up. "I understand, Liam, you might be scared but…"

"The only thing I'm scared of is losing you again," Liam stepped in front of her, his green eyes tender and full of hurt. Garnet paused, only staring at him. "I don't care what's happened in the past, Garnet. I can't stand here and deny how I feel, though. I wouldn't have come if I was scared."

"After everything I've done to you, why do you still care about me?" Garnet whispered, the rod falling to her side.

Liam reached towards her cheek, gently running his thumb along a jarring bruise. "I'm not one for keeping score, Garnet."

"Well, you should," Garnet told him, warm beneath his touch. "Because I've got you dragged out here to a war that isn't even yours."

"It's not yours, either. You should be in Alexandria. Your people need you."

"This is my war, Liam," her voice was low and adamant. "There is no Alexandria if this threat isn't eradicated."

"You don't have to take responsibility for everything," Liam replied, shaking his head. "You act like everything that has ever happened is your fault."

"I'm not asking you to understand," she started to brush past him, but Liam grabbed her wrist, turning her back to him. "I've gotten all my tears and fears out, Liam. Our friends need us."

"Have you seen yourself recently? I know you're strong and you've got enough passion for the entire world. But, Garnet, you have to know when to stop and let others help you. That's all we're trying to do."

"Oh, and what good is that?" Garnet shot back, clearly hurt. "I'm not leaving my friends to clean up my own mess. This all started as a journey to satisfy my own desires and seek closure. Since when has it become a search and rescue mission?!"

"I just don't want you to get hurt anymore than you have," Liam told her tenderly. "Those… things… want to kill you, Garnet."

"Yes, well, they can get in line."

"I don't want it to be like that," Liam came closer to her. "Your friends care for you. They'd do anything for you, come hell or high water. And… and, dammit, I still love you. I can't live in a world where you're not, Garnet. Give the others time. Let things cool off. You're not hiding, there is no shame in resting. Please… just do this for me, alright?"

Garnet's dark eyes darted all over his face. "What did you say?" Liam furrowed his brow and shook his head, clearly confused. "That… you love me?"

"Of course I do," Liam said. "I've loved you since the moment I met you at your birthday gala."

"And, still, after all this time, I've never said it back to you," Garnet whispered. "Why do you love me when I am the way I am?"

Liam gently pushed a twisted onyx lock from the frame of her face, sighing all the while. "Because I don't blame you for any of that. What's happened to you is so unfair. But I admire you for facing the adversity without a shred of hesitation or fear." He could only shake his head as he pressed his palm against her jaw. "And I know, I'm a fool, Garnet. I just can't help the way I feel…" In the next beat, he came forward and pressed his lips against hers. Garnet didn't react at first. She allowed him to kiss her. Slowly, her eyes drew closed and she focused on the way Liam's lips felt against hers. She knew she could never give herself fully to him and it just wasn't fair to Liam. No matter how much he did, no matter how he changed for her, it would never be enough. Someone else owned her heart entirely and it wasn't up to Garnet to change that, uncaring of any damage it may have caused her. Liam's intentions were so true in how he kissed her, though. He really did love her. And how very sad that was, Garnet thought to herself. He chose a girl who wouldn't even choose herself. He pulled away in the next moment. "That wasn't appropriate. I… I apologize."

"No, Liam," Garnet shook her head. "I told you before that I was sorry. Now and forever. I meant that."

"When this is all over…" Liam licked his lips. "I still want to see you."

Garnet mustered up a grin. All her bruises and scars lifted with the movement. "Well, first… we have to make it out of here."

…

Amarant's boots came to a grinding halt against the rigid rocks across the river. Distantly, the gushing waterfall could be heard. Amarant glanced around with his dark eyes before he lowered Eiko from his shoulder. The young lady raked her hair back from her face and took a few steps forward. After a moment, Freya's feet found the ground soundlessly. The Dragoon tilted her hat up, looking over her shoulder. She then lowered her javelin and watched as Eiko rubbed tiredly at her face, shaking her head over and over again. Slowly, Freya approached her, placing her slender fingers to her wiry shoulder.

"It's okay, Eiko," Freya said gently. "They're not getting anyone's eidolons today."

"I messed everything up," Eiko was tense beneath her friends touch. "I did exactly what a stupid kid would do. I got us all separated. We have to get back to the Eidolon Wall. Astrid fights dirty."

"Eiko, you're not a stupid kid," Freya told her.

"We have bigger problems than that right now," Amarant nodded his head towards the edge of the cliff where ghastly white hands were clawing at the rocks, pulling up angered bodies of seamstresses, blacksmiths, farmers, and everyone else that thought Alexandria had done them wrong. There were dozens of them, their coal eyes showing no thought, only pure blood lust. Freya lifted her javelin, holding it diagonally in front of her. Eiko's fingers tightened around her flute as she watched them with a face of disdain. Amarant scoffed and threw his hands at his side, revealing his shiny claws. "We can't go any further west. My family's hideout is that way."

"We'll lead them back into Madain Sari," Freya said, her eyes never leaving their slowly approaching enemies. "Once we get them in an advantageous spot, Eiko will use a summon, like a trap."

"Why not just do it here?" Amarant glanced to her beneath his crimson hair.

"They're spread too thin," Eiko shook her head, standing between them, not even reaching their elbows. "I wouldn't hit all of them. Besides, these rocks wouldn't hold. We'd be goners, too."

"Well, then," Amarant straightened up and lifted one of his claws. It glinted in the sunlight trying to desperately break through the mist. "Let's get this show on the road."

The mercenary bolted forward, spinning on the balls of his feet. He deftly caught a short woman by the throat and she gurgled before falling over. A farmer ground his teeth together and raised his pitchfork as black ooze splattered from his arm. Freya nodded to Eiko before she soared upward through the thick rolling pockets of mist. Her ashen hair whipped around the frame of her face as she reached the peak of her jump where she hung for just a moment before rearing her javelin back and throwing with all her might. Eiko stayed on the outskirts, watching as Freya's attack pierced straight through a woman's shoulder, making her topple into another goon who then tumbled off the edge of the tall rocks into the river below. Amarant was in the midst of the fight, shaking off anyone who touched him. Black goo painted the rocks as he barreled through as many as he could. It seemed so endless, however. Eiko's bright blue eyes spotted a blacksmith loading a bow with Amarant as his target. She focused all her might and brought her flute to her lips. In the next beat, a shell surrounded Amarant and the arrow promptly broke in half. Freya reentered the scene from above, elbowing a man trying to touch her javelin. She went low, using her long leg to bowl a few more over. With Dragoon precision, she ripped her weapon free and rolled forward, springing up with such a speed that her javelin ripped the jaw off a man. Eiko grimaced as she heard the splattering of their death-plagued blood dribble to the ground. Freya sprung backwards on her hands, evading a slice of a sword. When her feet met the ground, she was in the air yet again, the mythril of her javelin glinting in the mist. From behind, Amarant's claw drove straight through the sword bearers chest and he fell forward on his face, absolutely motionless. Freya delivered yet another devastating blow, collected her weapon, and leapt back to stand with Amarant. They held their ground as the mist-goons continued to advance. They were the only ones standing between them and Eiko.

"Stand aside," an old woman who could have been mistaken as a witch in her past life growled. She held an oak staff that had been carved down to a sharp point. "The Lady of the Mist wants the girl. Not you. Your efforts are in vain."

Freya lowered her javelin, her face incredulous. "Did you say The Lady of the Mist?"

"… bunch of deranged bats…" Amarant muttered, shaking his head.

"She holds the means to make our prophecies come true," a farmer with an arm stained black piped up. "We have returned and Astrid will grant us our second chance."

"No one is going to take a bunch of lifeless, black oozing monsters seriously. Not even your families, no matter how much they miss you," Freya's voice was stone hard now. "What you need to do is rest peacefully. When has taking over the world ever worked?"

"A Burmecian could never understand," the witch cackled. Freya ground her teeth together and in the next moment, sprung forward, driving her javelin straight through her neck. She twisted with an anger Amarant and Eiko weren't quite sure they had ever seen from her. The woman's body slumped to the ground and Freya found herself breathing heavily now as she looked at all the mist-goons. They still seemed unswayed and hellbent on their mission. Freya back pedaled a few paces.

"You want her?" Freya pointed to the astounded Eiko. "Well come and get her!"

The Dragoon then spun around and gathered Eiko up into her arms in one foul swoop, immediately taking to the sky across the river. Amarant was quick in his pursuit. The mist-goons howled as they began stumbling around for the quickest passage to follow. On the other side of the river, it was difficult to see back from where they came. Freya landed on the roof of the hut and set Eiko down, who immediately sat, brushing her hair from her face again. Amarant's landing was loud as he knelt down, pressing his hand against the chalky rock roof. Freya walked to the edge of the hut and swung her javelin back and forth, trying to get the mucky black blood off the ends.

"Didn't think you had it in you," Amarant said as he straighted up now.

"I don't feel bad," Freya replied without looking to him. "They had their chance to live. They've sold their soul to the devil twice now."

Below, the hut door creaked open and in the next moment, Liam was staggering out, brandishing his sword without much confidence. When he spun around and pointed his weapon up, though, he immediately relaxed and let out a sigh, wiping his sweaty brow. He put his sword back into the sheath and put his hands on his hips. "What're you doing here? Is the battle won?"

"Far from it," Freya told him. Just a beat later, Garnet emerged to stand beside him.

"Dagger!" Eiko howled, coming to crouch at the edge of the roof. "We saved you!"

Garnet smiled, pressing her rod to her shoulder. "Now we have to go back and save Steiner and Zidane."

"Yes," Freya nodded, glancing in the direction of the Eidolon Wall. "Let us end this."

9